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The requirement to Israel in the Old Testament was to listen to the voice of God. In the New Testament, too, Jesus repeats this command when He says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

Daniel read that the period was ending when God was going to restore the Jews to their land. Even though by law he was forbidden to pray, he continued to seek the Lord for the fulfillment of His promise to restore the Jews.

When we pray according to the will of God, the possibilities are limitless. We have the power not only to affect our personal lives, but also to affect nations and governments. This message will grab your attention as you hear specific instances where Derek personally witnessed history being shaped by prayer.

It does no good to pray if you have anything against anybody. First reconcile with your spouse, your sibling, your boss or your child. Then come to God with a clear conscience, and your prayers will not be hindered.

What an encouraging message this is! Learn that when we approach God in prayer, we must come to God in faith. Not a doctrinal kind of faith, not theology, but faith in God’s faithfulness, in His character, in His reliability.

In finding God’s plan for your life, the first step is being born again in Christ. The second step is presenting your body to God as a living sacrifice. Then, when those steps are taken, God begins to renew your mind—to change the whole way you think. His will is unfolded in three successive phases: it is good, then acceptable, and finally perfect.

Today we look at the process of restoration for Israel. We see how biblical prophecy not only predicts the re-gathering of Israel, but it also gives very accurate pictures of how that re-gathering will be accomplished. What a tremendous teaching.

Paul, in the book Ephesians, tells us that God “gave gifts to men.” What were those gifts? They were people – leaders who demonstrated the fivefold ministry gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The church needs these ministries to function effectively.

At the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Derek looked at all the scraps of paper inserted in its cracks and crevices and thought that sometimes there seems to be no answer to our needs. The Lord responded that one day He would answer all those prayer requests. So look up.

Today Derek will speak about the fruit of faith or faithfulness. There are three types of faith: faith to live by, the gift of faith, and the fruit of faith, which is an aspect of character, something that must be carefully cultivated. In some versions of the Bible this is translated “faith,” in others it’s translated “faithfulness.” These are like the two sides of one coin. On one side is depending—that’s faith. On the other side being dependable—that’s faithfulness.