The Importance of Prayer in the Life of the Believer: Prayer Helps Overcome

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. If you would like to know how you can become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org that's harvest.org there is a way by which God helps us overcome her anxiety and worry.

Lying is full of worry is into his home, family troubles or financial trouble.

Your knees are shaking me along rear chase our words away and vice versa.

Today Pastor Greg Moore helps control the tricks so you know, in the middle of my worries come in like flaming arrows right there turn your worries into prayer and some majorly and minorly greater today. Change leads Pastor Greg Laurie is presenting a series called with every growing Christian needs to know.

Today we focus on prayer, but your long as we investigate the proper role of rear helping believers life was.

He got even provides a model like to rob ourselves of. Let's review what we've learned. If you want to be a growing Christian you must up prayer life of ease and 618 says we should pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful of this and with all perseverance and supplication for all the same.

Notice it says pray always with all prayer you can print any position at any time any where.

The main thing is pray. Okay so let's answer question number one. Why should I pray why should I pray simple answer because Jesus told you to.

You really don't need any more answer than that, but I'll give you a few more reasons but Jesus said, locating one men ought always to pray and not give up. And by the way, Christ himself was a model of prayer.

He was always praying in the garden of Gethsemane is contemplating the horrors of the cross. These praying father rivets possible let this cup pass from me on the cross. These praying for his enemies saying father forgive them for they know not what they do. Before you raise Lazarus from the dead.

We read in John chapter 11, he looked up to Kevin and prayed father, thank you that you care me and then he shouted Lazarus come for before Jesus fed the 5000.

We read. He looked up to heaven and ask God's blessing on the food.

Mothers would bring their children to Jesus so he would lay his hands on them and praying for them.

Now listen if Jesus felt the need to pray, how much more should we feel. Point number two we should pray because prayer is God's appointed way for obtaining thing that's right.

Prayer is God's appointed way for obtaining things that is not the only purpose of prayer.

That's not the only reason we should pray.

But having said that, the Bible does say in James 42 you have not because you what ask not. See if you don't ask God for there may be times in your life when you don't have what you need. Did it ever occur to you that you have the sickness and you've never actually asked the Lord to heal. You know, I think you know that I don't believe God heals everybody but at the same time he does heal some and it's possible you could be ill and you continue to be ill and you've never actually prayed and said, Lord, would you heal me of this.

You might have financial challenges, and you don't know why the girls are always in case you don't know why you're always struggling question. Have you prayed about it, Debbie said, Lord, what you provide for me right now. Could it be that you have not because you ask not what. Maybe you find that you never have the opportunity to lead others to Christ. Those doors never open up for you. Here's a thought. Could it be that you have that because you ask not. Prayer is the way that we obtain things from God. We always say Lord of this is not your will. Don't give this thing to me.

But if it is please to because the Bible promises that my God will supply all of my needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus doesn't say he'll supply all of my creeds, but it says will supply all of my needs so that's how we obtain things from God. There's another one. Prayer is the way by which God helps us to overcome our anxiety. Prayer is a way by which God helps us overcome our anxiety and worry, and life is full of worry, isn't it when I could talk for 25 minutes about all the things going on in our crazy world and all the threats that we face and the dangers we face. But how much is your life just your own personal challenges, like the school of troubles there's health troubles as family troubles or financial troubles but is been set up. Your knees are shaking me along the figures what the Bible says about that. Philippians 46 visa versus every believer should commit to memory, don't worry about anything but pray about everything.

And it goes on to say, and if you do this the peace of God that passes all human understanding, will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

How many of you ever worry you were okay and I I worry too and worry is not a virtue. By the way. Sometimes we may think it is heard about a guy that was a real worrywart always worrying worrying and finally just stopped one of his friends at the I notice you don't worry anymore.

The guy says I don't worry anymore is printed what your secret guy says I hired someone a worry for me hundred finally got I got to get out on the paper wanted someone to worry for me what you pay is guided to that idea $5000 a day. While that's a lot of money, you know, that kind of money to pay him. He says that's for him to worry about. That doesn't work, try praying instead it says if you will pray about it. Instead of worrying about it. God's peace will keep your heart and mind, and the word therefore keep means to protect or to mount a guard in the wording that Paul uses sort of describes a Roman sentry like a Roman guard guarding the room guarding the heart pulses of you pray about it.

Instead of worrying about it. Got guard run your heart and your heart will a piece so you know, in the middle of the night when those worries come in like flaming arrows right there.

Here's what you do Lord to give everyone of these to you turn your worries into prayers because that's how God helps us overcome our anxiety and worry. Also, prayer is one of the ways in which we make ourselves ready for the return of Christ. Prayer is one of the ways by which we make ourselves ready for the return of Christ. Luke 21 Jesus says, take heed to yourselves.

Let your hearts be weighed down with carousing and drunkenness and the cares of this life. So the day of the Lord comes upon you unexpectedly watch therefore, and pray always that you will be worthy to escape these things. Speaking of is coming. Jesus said in Mark 13 that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the sun but only the father take heed therefore and watch and pray for you don't know when the hour is so prayer is not an option for the believer we need direction in life you all over Yogi Berra are not Yogi bear Yogi Berra, and Yogi was known for his amazing statements. It was Yogi that coined the phrase, it ain't over till it's over.

Sometimes the things he said, seem to contradict themselves, but there were really quite clever. One of the Yogi Berra statements was quote if you don't know where you're going, you might wind up someplace else. I love that. But here there's some truth there a few don't know where you're going, you might wind up someplace else.

Yeah that's true. So we need direction from God, don't we. We need to pray for his will to be revealed to us.

Here's a way to sort a sum it up when you pray about something God may say no, consider this. If the request is wrong, God says no. The timing is wrong, God says slow. If you are wrong, God says, grow, but if the request is right in the timing is right and you are right, God says go on to hear that again no okay I'll say to get area. If the request is wrong, God says no. If the timing is wrong, God says slow. If you are wrong, God says, grow, but if the request is right in the timing is right and you are right, God says Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment. Hearing about listeners who found Jesus through Pastor Greg's teaching is so encouraging. Pastor Greg early last year. I found the Lord and accepted him there and harvest Christian Fellowship before that someone had told me that I'd be a believer in Christ, I wouldn't have believed God is so my best to you and your family. If you had your life changed through Pastor Greg's teaching would you let him know just drop him an email and great harvest on Oregon. Again, that's great harvest or gene well today.

Pastor Greg is presenting a message called the importance of prayer in the life of the believer available@harvest.org Pastor Greg continues now. So, are there secrets to answer prayer. Well yes and no. I mean if you think this book is a secret. Maybe there are if you've never open the user's manual of life, then I guess it's a secret, but the fact is God is proclaimed very clearly in Scripture how to have our prayers answered in the affirmative, he gives his principles to follow, probably the greatest example of that is a template he gave that we call the Lord's prayer and that is not like the prayer to pull out in case of emergency, though there's nothing wrong with praying the Lord's prayer but it's more than that the Lord's prayer is not just a prayer to pray. It is a template for prayer.

It is a model for prayer again. Remember, Jesus gave this prayer and response to the request of his disciples who said he knew what John taught his disciples to pray. Lord, teach us to pray, so he gave them this prayer know if you want to get real technical this really isn't the Lord's prayer. By that I mean Jesus never prayed the prayer were about to read. This is not a prayer he needed to pray because he never send us. He did not have asked for forgiveness from the father.

It's been called the Lord's prayer.

The Bible never calls it the Lord's prayer is traditionally known this way. So I'll refer to it as such. If you want to read the Lord's prayer. If you want to read the prayer that only Jesus to pray in your spare time.

Read John 17 that your homework assignment read all the way through. That's the Lord's prayer, but this is our prayer. This could be called the disciples prayer the believers prayer but will call the Lord's prayer because that's how it's known and it's Luke chapter 11 ever get to read verses one that came to pass, as he was praying in a certain place. When he seized one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples and he said to them when you pray, say, our father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins, but we also forgive everyone it was sinned against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Notice how the Lord's prayer begins our father who art in heaven for award of personal petition is offered. I just sit back for a moment and contemplate the awesomeness of God.

I am speaking to the Almighty God, the everlasting father the creator of the universe. But here's the good news is not just the father. He's your father he's your father in heaven.

Here's a good acronym to keep in mind when you're thinking of how to pray it acts a CTS. Aren't you impressed against all acts, but it's an acronym. A stands for adoration C stands for confession T stands for Thanksgiving at stands for supplication. So what I'm saying is, when you pray, it's always good to start with a adoration before you get the petition before you get the supplication. If you have the luxury of some type begin with adoration contemplating the greatness and awesomeness of God aimed for adoration C for confession confessional personal sin cheaper Thanksgiving and then asked supplication. Praying for others so our father who art in heaven, so here we are. Principle number one if you want your prayers answered in the affirmative.

You must pray according to the will of God. If you want your prayers answered in the affirmative. In other words, if you want God to say yes to you when you pray, pray according to the will of God. Jesus modeled this for us when he taught us to pray our father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done as some would teach something contrary to this, they would say when you break you tell God what you want and you ask it by faith and you don't doubt it. You speak it into exist because your faith is a force and you harness the force of faith in you pray this boldly to God.

I haven't heard one teacher say don't ever pray, not my will but yours be done. Okay whatever you're wrong if you hold that view. I'm in a go with Jesus on this one. If you don't mind to go with Jesus on all of it and she says God in human form taught me to break my father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Here's what I've learned about myself. I don't always know what's right big revelation.

Sometimes I think I do. A lot of times I have it all wrong.

So I am so glad that my father who knows all things, and as my best interest at heart will sometimes overrule my prayers for my own good Lord, I want this alert Sitton how that's not what you want create your brain is the size of the little green of sand. Okay, just to do this for you. Instead, you'll thank me later.

Trust me, and I do. Never be afraid to ask God to over don't rule your prayer if it happens to be outside of his will. You know sometimes God answers our prayer differently than we thought he would heard about three men who were going through a forest, they came to a large reaching violent rushing river. They want to get to the other side so they decided to pray, the first guy, pray first shrink to cross the river.

Suddenly Bilbo's arms were big and muscular in his legs doing any swim across the river almost drowned. It took him about two hours, but he barely made it but he got to the other side second guide. This is a true story right away. I was there I saw no I think you know this is a joke right to just second guy he sees it up as of the first guy he prays he says all right Lord I pray for the strength and the tools to cross the river need to have strong muscular arms and legs but God gives to him a boat and a paddle and takes in about an hour to get across. He capsized twice, but he made it there guys watching this, he says, Lord, I pray you give me the strength in the tools, but most of all the intelligence to cross the river. It turned into a woman. She looked at the map hiked upstream 100 yards and walked across the bridge to girls. Glad you came to church tonight so you see here the object of her prayer. The objective approach is not to get God to do and I wanted to do God I love you. I have a wonderful plan for your life. Come over here. You know sometimes my grandkids want to take me places and Lelah Christopher. He's little guy still grabbed my hand. He's pulling a blog like this. You know, and he takes me upstairs because he wants me to play with the trainer. He wants me to do something show he has his little plan. That's where like I can't come on this what I want. Who can do the look.

That's not the object of her prayer. The object of her prayer is seen Lord.

Were you going because I want to go there to what you think about this because I want to think that to what is your will on this because I want that to be my will to it so I want to get in alignment with God. And when I find God's will and I start praying. Accordingly, I will start seeing my prayers answered in the affirmative. The problem is I'm often out of God's will and sometimes even pray prayers that are contrary to his will. First John 514 says this is the confidence we have in him. If we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And we have the petitions desired of him. Listen to this.

Nothing lies outside of the reach of prayer, except that which lies outside of the will of God, God will only answer the requests that she inspires is he prayer is surrender and surrender to the will of God in its cooperation with that will sit will I don't know that's kind of a drag wave and pray. Does God want you to be a part of the process. So here's how it works.

God puts a burden on your heart. Maybe it's for a loved one.

Maybe it's the pray for the salvation of someone.

Maybe it's that pray for some other thing that he put this burden on your heart and you pray and then you see God do the impossible and answer that prayer is a man I am a powerful man know you're just serve a powerful God you got in sync with the metal so we need to be praying Pastor Greg Lord practical encouragement today about the powerful privilege of praying to our powerful God, glad you joined us today on a new beginning and listen if you'd like to hear this inside again or maybe you missed a word or two of our study.

You can listen online@harvest.org just look for the title, the importance of prayer in the life of the believer or for permanent copy on CD. Just call 1-800-821-3300. That's a 24 seven phone number 1-800-821-3300. Well, it's a real thrill to have baseball great Darrell strawberry with us were making available is brand-new book called turn your season around, and you know Darrell, I'm sure you can see God's hand on your life.

You know, protecting you in the bad times. Certainly giving you the talent to reach the highest heights in your sports career. Do you think you were born for the game or did God just help you sort of bloom where you're planted. I think it was born to play baseball was there I was gifted to play all type of sports but baseball. I just had eyes for and I had that one-to-one competition that I like I like looking down the picture on the mountain staring at me and just feel like you just go fast for my master is not going to happen now and that was really a big thing about you know who I was and everything in it and I think I baseball talk me about the man that I would become in my faith because baseball is all about discipline you train yourself, you just click that. I remember when the Lord called me he says okay you play baseball for all those years you know how you got there, you were very discipline so you have to do same thing and displaying yourself in biblical principles you have to march out of train yourself and learn how to study, learn how to saturate yourself in the word you learn how to separate yourself from everybody baseball essay were at separate myself from everybody when I had to go train a workout by myself. I had to go to the ball field. I had to go run the bases ahead will talk to myself 1st to 3rd your work with nobody around is the same way God's word. You know you get in the fireplace and and do do the things that you need to do to be able to hear God because you can't hear God if there's a lot of noise around. I can hear the crowd when I was working out so I would eventually hear the problem play, but I would like amount because I was used to like working out on my own and run the bases. More first third being an owner on deck circle and started doing all the things I did on the baseball field so that's basically what I did in my journey with God. I just bought my journey from baseball and got used to gift that I had a baseball to do the same thing, and it's a ministry to bring about this appointment you just brought me to a greater place a greater understanding, just like I was when I went elsewhere baseball word goddesses being able spend that quality time you have to make the time by yourself, not with anyone else.

I think a lot of times people think you have to do it with everybody else know the church is important is important to go to church and and have your notepad in your Bible and write down notes and take it back home in Eagleman after the pastor sees you. I did a lot of that when I started growing in and to the man that got one. Be brief, but the baseball part of knowing who I was gonna be. I had confidence in that. So I had to have San come confidence going into my spiritual you know, the apostle Paul seem to be a bit of a sports fan himself because he used sports analogies, a lot of one thing that he said is it one who was of an athlete and fighting. He needs to discipline himself in and that's what you're talking about you discipline yourself and that prepared you for when the game was actually happening and one definition I go to the Christian life is long obedience in the same direction.

You know some people live from experience to experience, and the reality is there are times you'll have an emotional experience, and there are times when you won't but you get up each and every day and live the Christian life by faith and so we want to send you a copy of Darrell's brand-new book that is called turn your season around subtitled how God transforms your life.

It was my brother to write the forward for this new book by Darrell and we want to get your own copy that we will send to you for your gift of any size to help us continue to teach God's word and to proclaim the gospel. Yeah that's right in your investment is so important as we work toward the goal of reaching more people than we ever have before you know more than 150,000 people made professions of faith through Pastor Greg's ministry last year but were wanting to reach even more with this life-changing good news and your investment right now will help change lives. So when you send your donation today. Be sure to ask for the new book turn your season around. You can write a set a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest knothole next time.

Pastor Greg has more insight on prayer and its valuable place in the life of the healthy believers. This insight from the series. What every growing needs to know should and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions at harvest data work