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  PRAYER CAUSES THINGS TO HAPPEN
  by John Piper
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Summary: Prayer is a staggering privilege given by God that causes
things to happen that wouldn't happen otherwise.

Duration: 3:21 Topics: "Prayer Power", "Gods Sovereignty"
Scripture References: Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, James 4:2

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DESCRIPTION
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This sermon emphasizes the profound impact of prayer, highlighting how
prayers have the power to cause things to happen that would not occur if
we did not pray. It challenges the notion that God's sovereignty negates
the importance of prayer, emphasizing that prayer is a privilege that
allows us to participate in God's divine plan and bring about events in
the universe. The message urges believers to embrace this privilege and
not neglect the opportunity to partner with God in shaping the course of
events through prayer.

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CONTENT
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And it's simply staggering that God would ordain, now get this, that
God, the sovereign ruler of the universe, would ordain that prayers
cause things. They do. Prayer, prayers cause things to happen that would
not happen if you didn't pray.

I wonder if any Calvinists out there are squirming. Listen to this. When
James 4.2 says, you do not have because you do not ask, that does not
mean you would have anyway, even if you didn't ask, because I got a
plan.

The verse doesn't mean the opposite of what it says. It says you have
not because you ask not. That means prayer causes things to happen that
wouldn't happen if you didn't pray.

This is why this is a staggeringly glorious privilege to be taken by the
sovereign God of the universe who runs all things according to his
infinite wisdom and fold it in to his causality. This is breathtaking.
If you do not avail yourself of the privilege of bringing to pass events
in the universe that would not take place if you didn't pray, you are
acting like a colossal fool.

Aren't you? I'm just thinking logically here. If you are offered the
privilege of engaging with God in such a way that your request could
bring into being things that would not otherwise come into being, not to
avail yourself of that privilege is folly of the highest or lowest
order. That's why we pray.

God is beckoning us into our share in the running of the universe. Do
you not know that you will judge angels? Do you know who you are, child
of God?

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Video: https://sermonindex2.b-cdn.net/krzwmhDMvv8.mp4
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/john-piper/prayer-causes-things-to-happen/
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