The Potter’s House Podcast
Episode Summary: Keep Praying | Pastor Venshard Dobbins
Preached by: Pastor Venshard Dobbins
Date: February 19, 2026
Episode Overview
This stirring sermon from Pastor Venshard Dobbins, delivered at The Potter's House of Dallas, centers on the enduring imperative to "keep praying." Drawing from Exodus 30, Luke 18, and 2 Chronicles 7, Pastor Dobbins explores the biblical and spiritual foundations for persistent prayer. He illuminates the altar of incense as a symbol of the believer’s prayer life, and passionately urges listeners not to neglect their spiritual gift of prayer, no matter their circumstances or delays in answered prayers. The sermon is marked by energy, fervor, and powerful calls to spiritual action and community intercession.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Scriptural Foundations of Prayer
- Exodus 30:1–10: Pastor Dobbins reads and unpacks the instructions for the golden altar of incense, emphasizing its construction (acacia wood overlaid with gold) and symbolic positioning outside the tabernacle’s veil.
- Insight: The altar, representing prayer, is where God promises, “I will meet you there.” (09:54)
- “God says, I will meet you right there at the golden altar of incense...God meets you in prayer.” (10:41)
- Luke 18:1–8: The parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge. Used as a model of relentless, faithful prayer.
- “You ought to always pray and not to faint.” (13:19)
- Persistency in prayer can ‘wear out’ opposition and demonstrate faith.
- 2 Chronicles 7:13–15: God’s promise to heal and restore in response to humble, persistent prayer.
- “My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.” (20:19)
2. Significance and Symbolism of Gold & the Altar
- Gold as a Metaphor: In-depth discussion on gold’s economic, cultural, and spiritual symbolism. Gold is likened to prayer: valuable, enduring, and a bridge between human and divine.
- “Gold was not only in the Garden of Eden, but also it's in the book of Revelation.” (27:18)
- The Altar of Incense: The design (acacia wood, overlaid with gold) as emblematic of humanity enfolded within divinity.
- “God has given you a structure called humanity, but he must be the strategy of heaven. In other words, God says, I’m gonna put my super on your natural.” (1:36:28)
- Power in Persistence: Just as with gold, the value of prayer comes not from sitting dormant but through active use and faithfulness.
- Notable quote: “You don’t even realize that you’re gold in motion.” (30:08)
3. Why People Stop Praying (The P3 Problem)
- Three Causes:
- Lack of understanding God’s Purpose
- Forgetting God-given Power
- Not knowing God’s Plan
- “We stop praying for three main reasons. I call this P3: purpose, power, plan.” (47:36)
- Biblical support is given for each:
- Purpose: Romans 8:28, Ephesians 2:10, Proverbs 19:21
- Power: 2 Timothy 1:7, Philippians 4:13, Acts 1:8
- Plan: Psalm 32:8, Proverbs 16:9, Jeremiah 29:11
4. The Dangers of Not Praying
- Direct and urgent: “If you stop praying...your healing will be delayed. If you stop praying...your flesh will win. If you stop praying...your kids cannot be saved.” (37:31–39:04)
- Stopping prayer invites spiritual stagnation, defeat, and even generational setbacks.
5. Reasons and Purposes for Prayer
- A comprehensive and practical list, including:
- Building faith, shifting atmospheres, motivating others, obtaining clarity, reducing distress, overcoming temptation, fostering unity, experiencing God’s glory, and manifesting breakthroughs.
- “We pray to build a better relationship with God. We pray to move mountains. We pray to develop patience.” (1:01:36)
- The act of praying is both for personal transformation and community impact.
6. Who You Pray To Matters
- Powerful rollcall of divine titles, emphasizing the authority, character, and sufficiency of God (1:06:34–1:13:15).
- “You pray to the God of gold. He is the God of the altar of incense.” (1:13:11)
- “Sometimes there’s a reason God hasn’t answered your prayer: because your prayer is not His prayer.” (1:08:20)
7. Spiritual Warfare and Authenticity in Prayer
- Warning against “strange incense” – unauthorized spiritual practices (e.g., witchcraft, sage burning, occultism).
- “I gotta take a moment to come against everybody dealing with witchcraft.” (1:19:36)
- Emphasis on holding onto prayer as spiritual ‘horns’ for deliverance and breakthrough. (1:27:10)
8. Partnership with God – Humanity and Divinity United
- Insights on the altar’s composition: acacia (wood) representing humanity, gold signifying divinity.
- “God says, I value you so much, I put my gold over your wood. I put my divinity on your humanity.” (1:41:26)
- Believers must embrace their value and spiritual partnership with God.
9. Perseverance Brings Results
- Recounting Gabriel’s appearance to Zechariah as an assurance that persistent prayer is heard. (1:54:05)
- “He heard you. …The Lord told me to tell you he heard you.” (1:55:00)
- Reiterated: Don’t give up when you feel your prayers go unanswered; God is working.
10. Urgent Call to Prayer Warriors
- Emotional appeals for women and men to take their place as intercessors.
- “Where are the prayer warriors? I call you out. Pray. Keep praying. Keep believing. Don’t let nobody tell you your dream is dead.” (1:51:25)
- The image of “holding the horns” – gripping tightly to prayer in life’s storms.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the Power of Prayer:
- “Prayer is the bridge that’s going to push you over to the next dimension.” (33:25)
- “You don’t realize you’re sitting on gold. Oh, God, I’m trying not to preach too soon.” (30:08)
- On Persistency:
- “Wear the judge out. Wear the demon out. Wear Satan out.” (1:52:16)
- On Divine Value:
- “He says, I value you so much, I put my gold over your wood. I put my divinity on your humanity.” (1:41:26)
- On Who We Pray To:
- “You pray to the Advocate. You pray to the Almighty One. You pray to the Alpha and the Omega…” (1:07:51)
- On the Horns of the Altar:
- “These horns are what you hold on to until God changes your life.” (1:27:10)
- On God Hearing Prayer:
- “Let me just tell you what I’m trying to tell you: He heard you.” (1:54:55)
Important Timestamps & Segments
| Timestamp | Segment/Quote | Notes/Theme | |-----------|------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | 08:00 | Reading of Exodus 30:1–10 | The altar of incense | | 13:19 | Luke 18:1–8 | Parable of persistent widow | | 20:19 | 2 Chronicles 7:13–15 | If my people pray | | 30:08 | “You don’t realize you’re sitting on gold…” | Value and inertia of unused prayer | | 37:31–39:04| “If you stop praying…” | Listing consequences of ceased prayer | | 47:36 | The P3 Problem: Purpose, Power, Plan | Why people stop praying | | 1:01:36 | “We pray to…” list begins | Comprehensive motives for prayer | | 1:06:34–1:13:15| Naming God’s titles (“Alpha and Omega...”) | Focus on the object of our prayers | | 1:19:36 | Warning against strange incense/spiritualism | Authentic vs. counterfeit spirituality | | 1:27:10 | The horns of the altar | Holding onto intercession | | 1:36:28 | Humanity and divinity on the altar | “God’s super on your natural” | | 1:41:26 | Divine value and anti-suicide message | Affirming self-worth in Christ | | 1:54:05 | Zechariah and Gabriel: “He heard you.” | Assurance of answered prayer | | 1:51:25 | “Where are the prayer warriors?” | Call to action for intercessors | | 1:52:16 | “Wear the judge out. Wear the demon out...” | Persistent prayer to victory |
Closing Charge
Pastor Dobbins’ resounding message is clear:
“Keep praying. Keep believing. Never, ever, ever give up.”
(1:43:51)
He reinforces that our prayers are not in vain—God meets us at the altar, values us beyond our comprehension, and can turn every pain into promise, every tragedy into triumph. Prayer is both our privilege and our power; we must press on, trusting that God hears and responds.
For Further Reflection
- Who or what have you stopped praying for?
- What “gold” might you be sitting on in your spiritual life?
- Are you holding tightly to the horns of the altar in trial, or letting go?
- Do you recognize your value as acacia wood overlaid with God’s gold?
This summary was prepared to provide a comprehensive outline of the "Keep Praying" episode. May it encourage and inspire you to rekindle your prayer life and see breakthrough in every area God appoints.