Short Prayers That Will Change Your Life The Power of Short Prayers I Jentezen Franklin

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: Jentezen Franklin at Free Chapel

Episode: Short Prayers That Will Change Your Life | The Power of Short Prayers
Host: Jentezen Franklin
Date: February 16, 2026

---

Main Theme:

The Transformative Power of Short, Sincere Prayers
Jentezen Franklin delivers a passionate message about the effectiveness of short prayers, refuting the notion that length or eloquence is required for God to hear and act. Using Scripture, stories, and personal experience, Franklin demonstrates that concise, faith-filled prayers—offered with urgency and sincerity—can change lives, move the heart of God, and produce miraculous results.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Short Prayers in the Bible (03:42–07:12)

• Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer:
  Jesus warns against "vain repetitions" and the idea that longer prayers are more persuasive (Mt. 6:7-8).

  "They fall into the trap of thinking that long prayers are better prayers, that the more they talk, the more persuasive they become... That is not true." (01:38–02:00)

• Examples of Effective Short Prayers:
  • Elijah: 64-word prayer brings fire from heaven (05:00)
  • Peter: One-sentence prayer heals a lame man (05:08)
  • Paul: 14-word prayer frees a demon-possessed woman (05:21)
  • Hezekiah: 29 words extend his life by 15 years (05:35)
  • Jabez: 33-word prayer leads to blessing and influence (06:08)
  • Jesus: The Lord's Prayer—68 words, yet comprehensive and powerful (06:58)

  "Almost every miracle in the Bible was the product of a short prayer, not hours and hours of somebody praying." (04:52–05:00)

2. Urgency, Faith, and Heart Over Length (03:08–03:42)

• God Responds to Sincerity:
  God desires prayers from the heart, not religious formality.

  “I’m not interested in words. I want to hear your heart. And when you pray, pray from your heart, with faith.” (03:21–03:42)

• Illustration:
  A mother urgently crying out "Oh Jesus, save my baby!" highlights how God responds to desperate, faith-filled cries more than elaborate prayers (03:47–04:13).

3. When and Why God Moves (07:12–11:03)

• God Leaves His Purpose for Our Possibility:
  God, though busy with divine purposes (e.g., giving the Law to Moses at Sinai), diverts attention to sincere prayer (Habakkuk 3:2-3).

  "When you pray, God will leave where He is to come to where you pray." (09:38–09:41)

• Short Prayers Unlock God's Attention:

  "God loves prayer so much that He will leave his purpose to find a possibility." (10:14–10:17)

4. Stories Illustrating God’s Response to Possibility (11:45–17:07)

• Neil Armstrong and Mr. Gorski (Humorous Illustration)
  You never know what potential is "walking into your backyard"—prayer brings out the unexpected possibility (14:29–15:41).
• Henry Ford Fixing a Broken Car:
  Like Ford, God "cannot stand seeing one of His creation on the side of the road not doing what it was created to do." God will restore what is broken if we pray (17:07–18:49).

  “If you will pray, God can fix it.” (17:14–17:18)

5. Jesus’ Ministry Interrupted by Short Prayers (19:06–23:34)

• Limited Time, Infinite Compassion:
  Jesus had three years to accomplish His mission but was never too busy to be interrupted by a heartfelt, short prayer.
• Examples:
  • Woman with the issue of blood: Touched the hem of Jesus’ garment with a silent prayer of hope; Jesus stopped everything (21:35–22:01)
  • Children: Jesus made time for “unimportant” children, overruling his disciples (22:09–22:51)
  • Lepers: Cried, "Lord, have mercy on us," and He healed them (23:01–23:26)
  • Peter: "Lord, save me," and Jesus walked on water to rescue him (23:26–23:34)
• Key Quote:

  “God says to the whole universe, ‘Wait... when I hear one of my children call with a heart of urgency and passion in prayer, I’ll stop everything for a possibility.’” (23:34–24:04)

6. God Sees Possibility in People (24:08–27:05)

• One Person Matters:
  The parable of the shepherd leaving 99 sheep to rescue one (24:08)
• Seeing with Faith:
  God looks past what we are now to see what we can become—our potential.
  • Example of Ray Charles: “I've never seen an ugly woman” (25:48), paralleled with God seeing possibilities, not just brokenness.

7. Calvary & the Power of a Nine-Word Prayer (27:05–33:18)

• The Thief on the Cross:
  While dying, Jesus pauses the most important event in human history (the Crucifixion) to answer a short prayer:

  "Lord, when you come into your kingdom, remember me." (30:11)
  Jesus responds,
  “This day you shall be with me in paradise.” (33:01)

• Point:
  Salvation is always one sincere prayer away—regardless of past failures.

8. Short Prayers for Healing, Family, and Salvation (35:10–46:02)

• Application:
  Franklin extends an invitation for listeners to pray short, faith-filled prayers for healing, family restoration, and salvation.
  • Healing: “Lord, I just need your healing.” (40:02)
  • Family: “God can fix that son. God can fix that marriage.” (42:39–43:05)
  • Salvation: “Jesus, I surrender to you my entire life…wash me and cleanse me…” (46:19–46:45)
• Call to Prayer:

  "The power of short prayers is when they're prayed with urgency and faith. God will refuse to leave you in a state of brokenness and abandonment. He will fix it." (39:16–39:34)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s Priority for Prayer:

  “God will leave dusting off the Milky Way and creating galaxies to come to a back street minor prophet named Habakkuk.” (11:22–11:37)

• Prayer vs. Worry:

  “You don’t have to worry. You can pray. Rather pray than worry.” (43:05–43:12) "Be anxious for nothing. Pray about everything, worry about nothing." (34:59–35:10)

• On Salvation:

  "You have to say, I don't have anything I can do to save myself, I need a savior, Jesus." (44:48–45:20)

• Closing Blessing: (Numbers 6, paraphrased)

  “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you... and give you peace… You are blessed.” (48:53–49:28)

---

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Opening and Message Setup: 00:01–01:27
• Scriptural Basis for Short Prayers: 01:27–07:12
• Illustrations from Bible History: 07:12–11:45
• Stories of Unexpected Possibility: 11:45–17:07
• Jesus' Earthly Ministry & Prayer Interruptions: 19:06–24:04
• God Sees Beyond Our Present: 24:08–27:05
• Calvary and the Ultimate Short Prayer: 27:05–33:18
• Challenge to Pray and Altar Call: 35:10–46:45
• Benediction and Blessing: 46:45–49:28

---

Overall Takeaways

• Length or eloquence are not prerequisites; faith, heart, and urgency are.
• God eagerly responds to short, sincere prayers even when He is “busy with purpose.”
• Every person is a possibility to God, regardless of past or present circumstances.
• Healing, family restoration, and salvation are just “one short prayer” away.

---

“I'm telling you that you're one prayer away from God fixing what is broken and messed up in your life.” (17:14)

“The power of short prayers is when they're prayed with urgency and faith. God will refuse to leave you in a state of brokenness and abandonment.” (39:16–39:34)

---

Transcript

[Jensen Franklin]

Hello, this is Jensen Franklin, and thank you so much for joining us for this week's podcast. Our goal is to provide you with biblically based teachings that will challenge, inspire, and equip you to live for Jesus. If you haven't already, I'd love for you to go ahead and subscribe today to this podcast so you can get the latest updates from us and you don't ever have to miss a new message. Let's go right into the service. Record it at Freechapel. I believe it's going to bless you today.

[Pastor]

All right, I want to go right.

[Assistant Speaker]

To the word of God in Matthew the sixth chapter and the seventh verse, Matthew, chapter six. I'm continuing today in our book that we are doing a series out of entitled the Power of Short Prayers. I want you to understand that when I wrote this book and preached these sermons, a lot of the things that I'm going to share with you, we began last week. And I'm going to go to part two today. But it's five pages a chapter because I wanted short prayers and I wanted short chapters. But these are the prayers that I have prayed for 40 years now.

[Pastor]

And I don't hope they work. I don't think that they work.

[Assistant Speaker]

I don't kind of wish and hope. And I know these prayers have done miraculous things through the blood of Jesus Christ. And if I can inspire you to pray, I can inspire you to be like Jesus because he was a prayer warrior. Now look with me In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus is about to teach. He is about to teach the Lord's Prayer to his disciples. And two verses before he would give them that great 68 word prayer, he says this. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. Catch this part, you may have just ran right over it. For they think that they will be heard for many words. They think they'll fall into the trap of thinking that long prayers are better prayers, that the more they talk, the more persuasive they become to God in making his hand move. That is not true. And Jesus rebuked them for praying many word prayers with no heart and no passion. It is James that said in James.

[Pastor]

5 and 16, the apostle James that it is the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. It's the fervent, which means red hot.

[Assistant Speaker]

The passionate, the passionate, purposeful prayer avails much.

[Pastor]

And Jesus said, don't think that you'll be effective by praying religious prayers over and over in vain repetition, trying to impress people with many Words. I'm not interested in words. I want to hear your heart. And when you pray, pray from your heart, with faith.

[Assistant Speaker]

And when you do, you will carry a sense of urgency.

[Pastor]

It's just like a mother who doesn't have time to pray when her child runs out in front of a car.

[Assistant Speaker]

Or truck and she in great urgency.

[Pastor]

And sincerity and fervently says, oh, Jesus, save my baby. And suddenly the car stops and suddenly something happens and is spared. There is an urgency about that kind of prayer. A passionate, purposeful prayer, prayed with faith that God said is better than some long liturgical, never ending, word salad prayer that is not heartfelt.

[Assistant Speaker]

God is after a conversation with you.

[Pastor]

If you ever recognize that nothing will.

[Assistant Speaker]

Be impossible through prayer.

[Pastor]

Short prayers produce profound results in the Bible. As a matter of fact, almost every really every miracle in the Bible was.

[Assistant Speaker]

The product of a short prayer, not hours and hours of somebody praying.

[Pastor]

Elisha prayed a 64 word prayer and.

[Assistant Speaker]

The fire fell from heaven and consumed the sacrifice.

[Pastor]

Simon Peter prayed a one sentence prayer and a man who had never walked.

[Assistant Speaker]

Stood up and ran. One sentence.

[Pastor]

It was the apostle Paul in Acts chapter 16 who prayed a 14 word prayer. And a demon possessed woman and witch.

[Assistant Speaker]

And a in the occult, the power of Satan was broken off of her life.

[Pastor]

It was Hezekiah in Isaiah 38 who prayed a 29 word prayer and God. And why did he pray? He was given a death sentence.

[Assistant Speaker]

God sent his prophet and said, set.

[Pastor]

Your house in order, you're going to die.

[Assistant Speaker]

He prayed 29 words and the prophet was sent back by God and and said, God's going to give you 15 more years. 29 words of prayer produced 15 more years.

[Pastor]

The Prayer of Jabez is a 33 word prayer.

[Assistant Speaker]

Oh, that you would bless me indeed.

[Pastor]

That you would enlarge my territory, give me more influence, Bless me, bless me in an unusual way. Oh, that you would bless me indeed, enlarge my territory. Let your hand be upon me. Don't take your hand off of me and keep me from evil. He prayed that prayer and God granted him what he requested, 33 words. A man who was born out of sorrow, the Bible said, became very powerful because he prayed a short prayer. Even the Lord himself, when asked, teach us to pray.

[Assistant Speaker]

He did not go through some kind of thing that was never ending.

[Pastor]

He had 68 words of power.

[Assistant Speaker]

And he said, if you pray this.

[Pastor]

Prayer, learn this prayer, speak this prayer.

[Assistant Speaker]

It will cover you and your family in miraculous ways.

[Pastor]

I want you to see a prayer.

[Assistant Speaker]

This morning in the book of Habakkuk.

[Pastor]

And it's a man crying out because he did not see in his generation.

[Assistant Speaker]

What others saw in their generation concerning a move of God. And he got hungry for it. And in Habakkuk, chapter three and verse.

[Pastor]

Two, he said, oh, Lord, I've heard your speech. And I was afraid. O Lord, here it is.

[Assistant Speaker]

Revive your work in the midst of the years, Lord.

[Pastor]

I want you to do what you.

[Assistant Speaker]

Did in times past.

[Pastor]

My family and in my life and in my nation.

[Assistant Speaker]

And then verse three. Look at this. And God came from Teman. He prayed, And God came from where he was. I know God is omnipresent. I know he's all in all places at all times, but he does not manifest at all places. And the Bible said God was in a place called Teman. Let me tell you what that means. Teman was part of a famous mountain called Mount Sinai. It's a horseshoe ridge and Teman is one side and Mount Paran is the other. All of it is Mount Sinai. How many of you would agree? Mount Sinai. God is doing something very purposeful up there. What's he doing? He's going to give Moses the ten commandments on that mountain. He's going to give Moses the tabernacle plan on that mountain for which spoke of Jesus Christ coming to die for our sins. He's going to download a moral code into all of the things that would form the five first books of the Bible. It all was coming down on that mountain. So God is busy. He's purposeful.

[Pastor]

He's. He's after doing what he purposes to do.

[Assistant Speaker]

But the scripture said when a prophet prayed, lord, will you not revive your.

[Pastor]

Work in my time, in my generation?

[Assistant Speaker]

And God left where he was to come where prayer was. He left Teman to come where this prophet was.

[Pastor]

When you pray, God will leave where.

[Assistant Speaker]

He is to come to where you pray. It's where God did his stuff. It's where God did mighty powerful things. And yet when the prophet said, will.

[Pastor]

You revive your work, God, we need you to do and finish what you started.

[Assistant Speaker]

And God left one place to focus.

[Pastor]

And manifest his presence in another place.

[Assistant Speaker]

Because a man prayed a short prayer.

[Pastor]

God loves prayer so much that he.

[Assistant Speaker]

Will leave his purpose to find a possibility. When you pray, you are lifting to.

[Pastor]

God potential and possibility that is inside of you.

[Assistant Speaker]

And God will stop his purpose and come running to your possibility when you pray.

[Pastor]

This is a terrible thing to not.

[Assistant Speaker]

Be a person of prayer.

[Pastor]

You are missing so much more God has for your life when you pray and you don't have to pray long prayers. Nothing wrong with long prayers. I love to walk and pray and be with God every day and I.

[Assistant Speaker]

Do it for a long time.

[Pastor]

But I started with short prayers. If you'll ever pray short prayers, you.

[Assistant Speaker]

Will become a person of prayer if.

[Pastor]

You'Ll do it consistently and daily. Take moments to recognize, I need your help, God, and I'm going to pray short prayers.

[Assistant Speaker]

This is the power of short prayers. And God came from Teman to the place of prayer.

[Pastor]

I love that God will leave.

[Assistant Speaker]

Dusting.

[Pastor]

Off the Milky Way and creating galaxies to come to a back street minor prophet named Habakkuk.

[Assistant Speaker]

When he prayed, God will leave his purpose and come to your possibility.

[Pastor]

Why?

[Assistant Speaker]

Because he loves you. In 1969, Neil Armstrong, the story is told, Neil Armstrong, the astronaut went and of course was the first man to walk on the moon.

[Pastor]

And the story is told that he.

[Assistant Speaker]

Lived beside a man that was named Mr. Gorski.

[Pastor]

Mr. Gorski was a fine man, a.

[Assistant Speaker]

Sharp man, and he was a kind man. He would take the Armstrong brothers, he had a brother, and they would, he would play baseball with them in the backyard, he would fix their bicycle, he would be kind, just show them fun things that boys like and.

[Pastor]

But his wife, Mr. Gorski's wife could.

[Assistant Speaker]

Not stand children and she didn't like him even spending a minute with those children next door. One day the Armstrong boys were playing ball in the backyard and one of.

[Pastor]

Them little kid threw it over the hedges.

[Assistant Speaker]

And so Neil had to go through the hedges and the ball rolled up to a window that was open at his neighbor's house, Mr. Gorski. And when he went to retrieve the ball, he heard Mrs. Gorski and Mr. Gorski in a marriage fight. And boy, they were going at each other and finally they calmed down, he.

[Pastor]

Picked the ball up and about that.

[Assistant Speaker]

Time he heard Mr. Gorski say, Honey, when, when are you going to forgive me? When are you going to ever love me again? When are you going to ever hold me? I'm just going to give you the G rated version. When are you going to give me a kiss? And she said, never.

[Pastor]

And he kept on.

[Assistant Speaker]

Please, honey, please, I'm so sorry. I know you're mad at me because I didn't do this and didn't do that. And finally she said, I tell you when I'm going to forgive you. When that dumb Armstrong kid next door walks on the moon, I will forgive you and give you some sugar. So when he stepped onto the lunar surface of the Moon.

[Pastor]

And he said, this is one small.

[Assistant Speaker]

Step for man, one giant leap for mankind. He then at some point said these strange words. Good night and good luck, Mr. Gorski.

[Pastor]

I said all of that to say this.

[Assistant Speaker]

You never know what possibility is, is.

[Pastor]

Walking into your backyard. You never know the potential and the possibility of that little baby that you just dedicated to the Lord. You never know the possibility even in your own life. And when you start praying things that seem out of reach, things that seem extraordinary abundantly above all you could ask or even imagine God can cause God possibilities in your life when you begin to pray. And God will leave his purpose and find a possibility and connect himself to it. If it is a fervent, sincere heart that says, God, I want you to show me who you are and show me what you can do. I surrender my life to you. Use me for your glory. Look out. God will stop everything and turn and say, I see a possibility.

[Assistant Speaker]

There was a true story of a man who was broke down in his car on the side of the road. He had his hood up many, many years ago. And there pulled up behind him, a limousine chauffeur got out and opened the door. And a man who looked like he stepped out of a magazine stepped out of the back of that limousine. This is a true story. He walked over in a three piece suit tie and he said to the owner of the car, what's the problem? He said, I don't know, it just broke down and I can't get it to start. He said, would you mind if I have a look at it? I know a little bit about these cars. And the man looked up at him and said, sure. He thought, how strange a man in a suit is going to work on my car. He goes up under the hood and he peeps around the hood after about three minutes and he says, would you turn the ignition and see if it'll turn on? And sure enough, he hit it and the car cranked right up. The man took his handkerchief and was.

[Pastor]

Wiping the grease off of his hands.

[Assistant Speaker]

And started to go back to the.

[Pastor]

Car without saying anything.

[Assistant Speaker]

And the guy said, wait a minute, who are you and why did you do this? He said, my name is Henry Ford and I cannot stand seeing one of.

[Pastor]

My creation sit on the side of the road not doing what I created it to do. I want to tell you that God will not leave you on the side of the road in a state of brokenness and abandonment. When things break down, if you will pray, God can fix it. If you will pray, God can fix it. Fix your marriage. If you will pray, God can fix your addiction. If you pray, God can change your life. I'm not up here just talking religious talk. I'm telling you that you're one prayer away from God fixing what is broken and what is messed up in your life. He's waiting for the possibility to get involved if you'll ask. The Bible said, you shall receive knock and it shall be opened. Seek and you shall find. And then Jesus said, you have not because you never ask. Tell somebody. God can fix it if you'll pray. I'm telling you, he's the good shepherd and he sees the possibility. I don't care if you're broken down. I don't care if everybody else is passing you by and laughing at you because you got in the ditch and got messed up in something. I want you to know if you'll pray, God can fix it. That's the power of short prayers. You don't have to be dignified. You just say, lord, help me, I need you. I'm tired of this emptiness. I need your purpose and your plan. Give it to me. And he'll come, right? He'll leave where he is and come.

[Assistant Speaker]

To wherever prayer is. He'll leave his purpose and be interrupted with a possibility. When you pray short prayers. Now track with me. Watch this Jesus ministry.

[Pastor]

He was 33 and a half when.

[Assistant Speaker]

He died on the cross. He was a young man, 33. Do you understand? When he started his ministry, he was 30. He never preached a sermon, never taught a message, never healed, never did anything until 30 years of age.

[Pastor]

He was just identifying for the first.

[Assistant Speaker]

30 years, seeing what life is like for everyday, average person. Every feeling, every emotion, every hurt, every joy. And then he had three years to establish a worldwide kingdom.

[Pastor]

No tv, no satellite, no Internet, no nothing. No money, no resources.

[Assistant Speaker]

He was a carpenter's son.

[Pastor]

And he had to get the message of salvation to the entire planet in every language, all over the world. He had 12 men that he would choose to help him. And they were not Harvard graduates. They were not the most skillful, the most talented, the biggest, the baddest. They were ordinary common people. So every moment that he was in, when he came up out of that water and he fasted for 40 days and came out of the wilderness from it was on.

[Assistant Speaker]

Game on.

[Pastor]

I've got three years. So everywhere he walked, he walked in divine purpose. And it was all headed to Calvary.

[Assistant Speaker]

And Jerusalem and dying on that cross.

[Pastor]

Now listen to me.

[Assistant Speaker]

I need you to just listen a minute.

[Pastor]

He was very purposeful in every sermon he preached, in every location he went to. But one thing you will notice, as he was going about his purpose on an urgent mission and limited time to get the job done with a crazy task that is so far out of reach it seems impossible.

[Assistant Speaker]

And yet he was constantly being interrupted with short prayers.

[Pastor]

He's important.

[Assistant Speaker]

He's doing important stuff. He's acting out the New Testament.

[Pastor]

And as he's going, here comes a.

[Assistant Speaker]

Woman with an issue of blood, and she reaches out and tags on the hem of his garment and pulls the string and. And Jesus stopped and he said, I know I'm on my purpose going to Calvary, but I just felt a possibility. And she said, if I can but touch the hem of his garment, I.

[Pastor]

Will be made whole.

[Assistant Speaker]

That was a little prayer, a little.

[Pastor]

Prayer, a little reach out to Jesus.

[Assistant Speaker]

And suddenly he stopped his purpose and turned to a possibility. And he said, who touched me?

[Pastor]

Bring her to me.

[Assistant Speaker]

And he healed. It was little children that came to him.

[Pastor]

They wanted to. They wanted to. They wanted to jump in his lap. They wanted him to notice them, probably had sticky fingers, a little booger on their nose. The unimportant. He's the king of kings. He is established in a kingdom. He doesn't have time for you. And yet Jesus said, suffer. The big shot disciples said, he's not, are busy. Don't bother the Master.

[Assistant Speaker]

And Jesus said, you leave them alone. I have time. Because he is willing to interrupt what he's doing when he sees somebody pray with purpose and power.

[Pastor]

And he says, I see a possibility.

[Assistant Speaker]

Nobody is unimportant to it.

[Pastor]

The lepers that nobody else would touch, they cry out, lord have mercy on us. And he says, well, I'm going over here and I need to get this sermon down on the Beatitudes, and I need to get this one down, because they don't really need it. But I'll put the brakes on everything, because I just heard a short prayer. Oh, you're going to drown, Peter. Peter just said, lord, save me. Three words. And Jesus said, I walk on the.

[Assistant Speaker]

Water to get to him. Just a short prayer with passion and purpose can move.

[Pastor]

And God says to the whole universe, wait, I know I got this going on. I know we got China going on. I know we got Russia going on. I know America's in a mess, but when I hear one of my children's call with a heart of urgency and passion in prayer, and they're praying in faith, I'll stop everything for a possibility.

[Assistant Speaker]

You are a Possibility.

[Pastor]

You count. Jesus left the 90 and nine, he said, told the parable, the good shepherd left the 99 sheep to find the 1 possibility. You are that possibility. 1 matters to God. 11 person matters to God. People don't have time for you. Your family may not believe in you, but God sees possibility. When he sees one person call his name and reach out to him in prayer.

[Assistant Speaker]

I'm saying to you today that he.

[Pastor]

Doesn'T see you like you are.

[Assistant Speaker]

He sees you as a possibility of what he could make out of you. Ray Charles is amazing American icon artist. He. I love his singing. I love his music. I would put him in the top five of American artists, wouldn't you? I mean, he is something. He sings Georgia, and he's just one of the best. And he's gone on to be in heaven. He had struggles and he told on himself. He said his greatest weakness was women. He said, I loved women. And they asked him. One reporter asked him one time, said, why are you attracted to. So this is before he got right with the Lord. He said, why are you attracted to all these women? He said, I've never seen an ugly woman.

[Pastor]

That's what he said. It's amazing how good people look when.

[Assistant Speaker]

You'Re blind to what they look like.

[Pastor]

People see you one way, but God can be blind to what you look.

[Assistant Speaker]

Like right here, right now.

[Pastor]

He sees beyond where you are and what you're into. He sees your possibility. He sees your potential. He believes in you more than you believe in yourself. He believes that by his power and his blood and his call that you can be mighty and you can be victorious and you can be faithful, free. He sees you. He understands. He sees potential. He sees possibility. And it's amazing how good people can look when you're blind to what they look at. Like right now. Quit looking at that person as an addict right now. God says, I see you free. I see you delivered. I see you changed. I see you washed.

[Assistant Speaker]

See you cleansed. Watch I close. Listen. Calvary was his purpose. And watch this Calvary being his purpose.

[Pastor]

He carried the cross. They laid him on the cross, nailed the nails in his hands, the crown.

[Assistant Speaker]

Of thorns on his head. His back was beaten.

[Pastor]

Weak from loss of blood. They raised that cross up in the.

[Assistant Speaker]

Middle and the thud of it hit and his body shook.

[Pastor]

And on one side was a thief. He cursed him with his dying words.

[Assistant Speaker]

He cursed the Savior and went into eternity.

[Pastor]

But there was another thief on the other side.

[Assistant Speaker]

Listen carefully.

[Pastor]

Who would pray a nine word prayer.

[Assistant Speaker]

Now, how many of you Understand, Calvary is as important anything and everything that would ever happen on planet Earth.

[Pastor]

Had Jesus not died on Calvary, we.

[Assistant Speaker]

Would all be lost with no hope of eternity, life, afterlife, and we would be bound for hell.

[Pastor]

But as he was dying, speaking the last words, Father, into your spirit, into thy hands I commit my spirit, Father. It is finished. He's speaking his last words. And right in the middle of it.

[Assistant Speaker]

Before he could get it's finished out of his mouth. The thief who has never gone to church one day of his life, who has never helped anybody, all he did was steal and steal and steal and steal again. They didn't crucify somebody for stealing the first time. This was multiple, over and over, chance after chance after chance. He never forgave anybody. He never did anything good. He never, never helped anybody. He did nothing to earn it. He simply. In the middle of the most important.

[Pastor]

Plan of heaven, angels are holding their breath, watching, demons are watching, Hell's having a party, Satan is laughing, he's dying.

[Assistant Speaker]

He's dying.

[Pastor]

And right in the middle of it.

[Assistant Speaker]

Here comes a short prayer that puts.

[Pastor]

The whole kingdom of God and plan of salvation on Paul's. Because the thief cries out nine words.

[Assistant Speaker]

Lord, when you come into your kingdom, remember me. And Jesus says, death.

[Pastor]

Hold it. I hit the brakes. I pause everything. I hear one more possibility. I'm going to stop my purpose on this cross for one miserable thief who has done nothing to deserve my forgiveness, nor has he deserved to go to paradise with me. But because he's praying a short prayer, I see a possibility. It's never too late. Oh, I don't know, some of you've had children that died in terrible accidents. Some of you had things happen. And I just want you to know it didn't take a lot. We act like if you pay your tithes and you come to church every week and all of that, that has nothing to do with your salvation. James said that when you have faith, it will manifest in the work. So you know that you have faith when it starts changing your lifestyle. But don't get it wrong, you don't add one bit to your salvation. You're just like that thief. You have nothing to offer him except Lord. Call on his name. Ask him to forgive you. Ask him. And in that moment, without you earning it at all, notice his response. I love it that he said, lord.

[Assistant Speaker]

Everybody look at me, Lord, he didn't look like a Lord. But see, that's a passionate prayer of faith. You're Lord, I feel it. Can you imagine being that close to the blood. And, you know, we preach about him and stuff, and we celebrate him in.

[Pastor]

Type through the bread.

[Assistant Speaker]

And that man was probably having blood splattered on him from Jesus. And he says, lord, watch when you come into your kingdom. He didn't look like a king, but.

[Pastor]

In that quick, short prayer, he was saying a lot.

[Assistant Speaker]

You are Lord.

[Pastor]

Every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory, glory of the Father. And you are king of kings. And you don't look like a king, but you got a kingdom. And I see it in your eyes. And I want to be a part of it. And instantly Jesus said, this day you.

[Assistant Speaker]

Shall be with me in paradise.

[Pastor]

It is finished. Now I can die. Grab hold of my coattail. We're going to paradise. And he dies. And can you see Jesus walking into paradise?

[Assistant Speaker]

And Abraham and Isaac and David and all those before the angels, they're all whispering, I know why Jesus is here, but what's he doing here? You know they gonna ask that about you a lot. Come on, somebody.

[Pastor]

Do you understand what I'm saying? I am not saved. I am not kept by my works, by my trying real hard. I'm saved by the mercy and the grace and the love of Jesus Christ. He died for me. He took my sin. He washed me, he cleansed me. And he said, you're mine. Come, go to heaven with me. I have a home in heaven. I have a past, forgiveness. I have a purposeful living. And I got it all in Jesus.

[Assistant Speaker]

And I'm simply teaching you today that prayer can change anything and everything.

[Pastor]

See, here's.

[Assistant Speaker]

Here's a fact, and I'm closing.

[Pastor]

We say.

[Assistant Speaker]

That you can pray. You don't have to worry.

[Pastor]

Pray about it, don't worry about it.

[Assistant Speaker]

But this is a generation that says I'm going to worry. And the reason is because we don't pray.

[Pastor]

Be anxious for nothing.

[Assistant Speaker]

Pray about everything, worry about nothing.

[Pastor]

Lord, help me today to be my best for you.

[Assistant Speaker]

You just prayed a short prayer.

[Pastor]

Lord, I want to think about you today. I want to love you today. I want you to be lord of my life. And here's what I feel today. I really feel this in my heart. I want to give a threefold altar call. I'm going to pray today for people who need a prayer, a short prayer for people who need healing. If something in your body is messed up, you may be have an injury, you may have an accident, you may have a disease. But I'm going to ask the Lord, like they did in the Bible, to heal you today, quickly, speedily. You know, that's a Bible term, that he shall arise with healing in his wings. And there's one verse that said in Isaiah 58 that your health will recover speedily.

[Assistant Speaker]

We claim that this morning. Secondly, it's a healing call. It's a family call. Secondly, that every family that's in crisis.

[Pastor]

If you got anybody in your family that's lost, I'm asking you to see.

[Assistant Speaker]

Them with Ray Charles eyes this morning.

[Pastor]

Not in their present condition. Be blind to how they look right.

[Assistant Speaker]

Now and see a possibility.

[Pastor]

And do you know that the Bible said that Jesus, when he saw their faith, talking about the men who tore the roof off and let their friend, who was paralyzed, down on a cot? The scripture said when Jesus saw their faith, he healed that man. That man had no faith. And maybe your friend or your relative is so far into an addiction or a bondage or some horrible situation that they can't help themselves or believe for themselves, but God can see your faith and heal them.

[Assistant Speaker]

A healing call. And lastly, a salvation call.

[Pastor]

That whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And in this room this morning and in all of our campuses and all of you online and even in the prisons and the prisons that we are going into, live this very moment.

[Assistant Speaker]

I'm.

[Pastor]

Telling you, he sees you. He doesn't see your shame and your failure. He sees your possibility.

[Assistant Speaker]

And he's waiting on you to call upon his name.

[Pastor]

And he will save you, and he will help you, and he will be with you, and he will make a way for you. I believe he'll open every door that's supposed to open in your life. But you got to be like that thief.

[Assistant Speaker]

Say, lord, King of Kings, help me. Help me. Stand to your feet all over this room. Here's the first altar call number one.

[Pastor]

Everyone in this room who needs a healing touch, get out of your seat.

[Assistant Speaker]

And come stand down here as quick as you can.

[Pastor]

I'm gonna pray a prayer. Secondly, second altar call everyone who needs a miracle in your family.

[Assistant Speaker]

Now look at me.

[Pastor]

If you've got a brother, a sister, a dad, a mom that needs a.

[Assistant Speaker]

Miracle, I want you to come and.

[Pastor]

Stand in for them this morning. I know it's going to get crowded. I'm sorry you came to the wrong service, but we're going to do it wrong. We're going to do it right, like I feel the Lord wants us to do. Lastly, if you need salvation and you know you're far from God, nobody will know if you come Forward to not nobody but God, but get out of your seat and say, I'm making a gesture with my physical body to move toward Calvary where he shed his blood.

[Assistant Speaker]

And died for me. And just get out and come as.

[Pastor]

Close as you can.

[Assistant Speaker]

I promise this will make sense in just 30 seconds.

[Pastor]

The power of short prayers is when they're prayed with urgency and faith. God will refuse to leave you in.

[Assistant Speaker]

A state of brokenness and abandonment.

[Pastor]

He will fix it. He will help you.

[Assistant Speaker]

He will move when his people begin to pray.

[Pastor]

He's not too busy. You're not unimportant. He stops everything for one sinner who had done nothing good his whole life. How much more will he stop for you?

[Assistant Speaker]

And I.

[Pastor]

Every one of you that need healing in your body, raise your.

[Assistant Speaker]

Hand just like this and say, lord.

[Pastor]

I. I just need your healing. Just say it. I need you to heal my body. I want to recover.

[Assistant Speaker]

I want you to heal, restore my health, heal my wounds.

[Pastor]

And Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, for all glory will go to Jesus. I ask you to stretch forth your hand to heal. To heal all manner of sickness and disease. To heal wounds and tendons and muscles, and to heal, Lord, hearts. And heal cancer. And heal people, Lord, who are struggling with an addiction. So set them free this morning. Deliver the oppressed. Some are broken down, some are on the side of the road. They're not making any progress, they're stuck. But in the name of Jesus, Lord, you're the Good Samaritan. You come by when we're broken and beaten and you pull us out of the ditch and you pour in the oil and the wine into the wounds. So pour your oil of healing onto that sickness right where they're standing, right where they are, in the prisons, wherever they are, at all of our campuses. Heal the sick, Lord. I know with man it's impossible, but with God, all things are possible. And, Lord, I ask you for that healing by whose stripes we are healed. I ask you to extend life. I ask you to give years. I ask you, oh God, to cause recovery to come and mobility and people to be able to do what they thought they would never get to do again physically. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus, I want every person in this room now who needs a miracle in your family or in your marriage, throw your hand up right where you are. You may be a single mother and you may say, I've got such needs. I'm telling you, if you'll pray, God can fix it. God can fix that, son. God can Fix that daughter. God can fix that marriage. It's broken down, but it's not abandoned. Jesus is stopping by. He just pulled up behind you and he's got oil that will fix it. So in the name of Jesus, I pray for every family that has a raised hand across this congregation and across those who are watching and in every room. Lord, I pray for your power to flow to homes and to families. Oh, God, I don't pray this with some low key hope you'll do it. I've watched you as I've raised five children. My wife and I, Lord, have been married 38 years and we've watched your faithfulness, God. And every time the enemy thought he could have our children today, every one of them love you. Every one of them love serve you. Every one of them call you their Lord and master and Father, I praise you that you are no respecter of persons. And we see possibility. They shall be saved. They shall be saved. They shall be saved. Hallelujah. You don't have to worry. You can pray. Rather pray than worry. So right now, just pray about your family for a moment. And while I've been speaking, you've had somebody on your mind. Call their name out in prayer. God will see your faith for them and he'll move in their life. You might get a call from them, you might hear from them sooner than you ever imagined. In Jesus, mighty name, we claim our families. Hallelujah. And lastly, a healing call, a family call. Lord, lay a blessing on our families. Healing and restoration on our families. Lastly, a salvation call. If you're in this room today or.

[Assistant Speaker]

Watching me, you're not here by accident.

[Pastor]

I believe all of heaven has hit pause in the moment that you cry out to God. He will stop whatever he's doing. You know, this is biblical because Luke chapter 15 said that the angels take a praise break and start rejoicing over.

[Assistant Speaker]

One lost soul, one that comes home.

[Pastor]

That means they are aware of every.

[Assistant Speaker]

One, one that gives their heart to Jesus in any given moment. And so is the father, Jesus Christ. He's ready to save you, Pastor.

[Pastor]

Pray for me. I need salvation. I'm far from God. I'm like that thief. I really can't raise up a bunch of things that should make me worthy to be saved. Good. You can't get saved till you find out you're lost. A lot of religious people are going to go to hell with religion, and they're as lost as they can be. You have to say, I don't have anything that I can do to save Myself, I need a savior, Jesus. So if that's you, and you would say, I want to get right with God, unashamedly raise your hand high and.

[Assistant Speaker]

Say, I want salvation right here, right now.

[Pastor]

Beautiful. Raise those hands. Unashamed. Unashamed, you say, well, I'm a little bit embarrassed. I don't know what people to think. I could care less when I got saved. I threw my hand up. And I know this prayer works because I prayed it changed my life. Throw the hand up and keep it up. If you see anybody around you, just take your hand and put it on their shoulders and act of support. Everybody in this room and everybody listening to me, pray this prayer out loud.

[Assistant Speaker]

Behind me with faith and urgency. It's your choice, it's your decision.

[Pastor]

He said, behold, I stand at the.

[Assistant Speaker]

Door and I knock.

[Pastor]

I just need you to open the door and I'll stop everything in heaven and I'll record your name in the Lamb's book of life and I'll call.

[Assistant Speaker]

You mine from this day forward. Pray it with a sincere heart.

[Pastor]

Say, jesus, I surrender to you my entire life. I want to be like you. I want you to change me. I want you to transform me, wash me and cleanse me in the blood of Jesus. I take my stand with you. You are Lord, you are king. And I want to be a part of your kingdom. And I ask in faith and you see my possibility. And I receive your forgiveness, your grace. I don't earn it, I don't deserve it. It's a free gift. And I receive you into my heart as my savior in Jesus name. I am free. I am forgiven. Everybody give the Lord the biggest shout of praise that you can because you don't understand what just happened, but heaven does. The possibility of God was just released. The favor of God was just released. The forgiveness of God was just released. And now I preached on this blessing in this prayer last week and I'm going to speak it over every person's life. This is a powerful blessing from Numbers chapter six. It's the oldest prayer God gave Israel 3,600 years ago. I speak it over you today as a child of God. If you prayed that prayer, go straight back to that booth back there called Next Step and tell them you prayed the prayer. We're going to give you a 21 day devotional, going to help you in your new walk with God and get signed up to be baptized in water just like Jesus did and like he commanded all of his followers to do. If you're not from this church and you're visiting today, go home and tell your pastor you want to be baptized in water. Because Jesus said that you bury the old you in that water and when you come up now, you're forgiven, you're cleansed. You're going to the thief was never baptized. He didn't have time. He's the thief that stole heaven and he and he just got in on the coattail of Jesus. But since you're going to be here on earth, you might as well say goodbye to the old you and hello to the new you. So receive this blessing right here, right now. Are you ready? Raise your hand and receive it. That's how they did it in the Bible days. And now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you. May the Lord be gracious unto you. May he lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. And so shall I put my name on them, the next verse says, and I will bless them. You are blessed. God bless you. We love you so much.

[Jensen Franklin]

I really want to say thank you for joining us this week. If you haven't already, make sure you click on the subscription button and leave us a review. It helps this podcast reach even more people when you comment when you give us your feedback. For more messages and inspirational materials, download the Jensen Franklin app or you can head over to JensenFranklin.org I want to thank all of you who give generously to help us produce weekly content like this to reach the world with the message of Jesus. God bless you and we'll see you next time.