The Refreshing Power of Prayer | Sunday Message

Everybody Greg Laurie here. You're listening to the Grigori podcast and my objective is to deliver hopefully compelling practical insights and faith culture and current events.

From a biblical perspective to find out more about our ministry. Just go to our website harvest.org so thanks for joining me for this podcast and I have a message for you with the title, the refreshing power of prayer. Could you use some refreshment right now. I think we all could.

Let's pray together. Father, we ask you to speak to us know as we open your word because we know it's a lie. It's powerful, and sharper than any two aged sword and we pray that you will bring encouragement, hope, and yes refreshment to everyone who was watching it wherever they are. We commit this time. Do you know in Jesus name, amen. If you have a Bible and I hope you do or a Bible app on your phone or tablet. Go to Matthew chapter 20.

Again, the title of my messages. The refreshing power of prayer. Have you ever been out running in the hot sun and you're just sweating like crazy. I have to admit it's been a long time since I've been out running in the hot sun. Objective for a long time since I've been out running. The closest I get to running. I was jogging my memory, but there are times when I I have run and I sweat a lot.

I know that when I'm in playing racquetball. I'll run all over accord to chase a little ball, but I would just think about the last time you were exhausted you were covered in perspiration and maybe you'd dove into the ocean or into a lake or into a swimming pool. You went from hot and bothered to revive and refreshed and the same is true when you're really dehydrated and you take a long drink of very cool water.

It just refreshes you, I love the word refresh it such a perfect word to speak of starting again or returning to something perfect even use a word for your computer sometimes I'm working on the computer and and I've left it and I come back and things are sort of frozen or certain programs are working properly. So were told to refresh our computer screen. Sometimes that means you need to completely reboot will listen in the Christian life sometimes we need a reboot. Sometimes we need our refresh because we find ourselves hot and bothered we find ourselves tired and exhausted but here's what Jesus says come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you on the day of Pentecost, Peter said to the people times of refreshment come from the presence of the Lord, could you use some spiritual refreshment right now the place to find that is from God himself. Know the Bible is very specific about how we can find refreshment for our souls.

Here's a point if you're taking notes number one, you will find spiritual refreshment when you read and study the Bible because the Bible says in Psalm 19. The word of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. Now I know it's not always an emotional experience. When you open up the Bible and read it, but this is not about emotions. This is about replenishment. This is about restoration. This is about getting perspective on life for getting direction from the Lord.

So as you open the word of God. It's going to refresh your soul and have you ever had a verse just jump off the page you maybe it's a virtue read before, but suddenly it has new meaning applied toward your particular situation. Yes, that's what it is you're finding refreshment from the word of God. Number two. Listen to this one.

You will be spiritually refreshed when you think of others more than yourself, you'll be spiritually refreshed when you think of others more than yourself. Now I know this is counterintuitive in the selfie culture were living in today or all trying to get more followers and social media were very aware of our image. Maybe we think of ourselves as an influencer and sadly we've heard stories of people who will literally die trying to get the ultimate soapy shot when they've been on the edge of a cliff or some other dangerous situation, but actually the truth. This was when you stop thinking about yourself so much and think about others, it will refresh you spiritually.

The Bible actually tells us that he who refreshes others will be refreshed himself so is your giving to others, you find that you yourself are replenished, so do you want to be spiritually refreshed. Spend time in God's presence.

Study the word of God put the needs of others above your own needs and you'll find it will happen yours a great verse in Proverbs 2513 it says reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks and sweltering heat. The refreshing would you let me be that friend to right now and offer you some perspective from God's work on how to be refreshed in your spiritual life. The word refresh means to give new strength or to give energy to a means to reinvigorate and sometimes all we need to do is refresh our memories because of you're like me you forget things.

I mean, I forget things all the time. Sometimes I forget where I parked my car at a Mohawk sometimes I forget other things and I need my memory refreshed and even as a Christian.

There are things that I know I've been a believer now for 50 years I've read so many passages of the Bible. But there are times I forget a passage where I forget his spiritual truth where I forget a lesson that the Lord has taught me so I find I need to have my memory refreshed. Here's a problem we often remember what we ought to forget, and we forget what we ought to remember there are things I want to remember about forget them and are things I don't want to remember that I can't get out of my brain.

I think it's true for some of you to certain jingles that we've heard on the radio or television commercials songs that are still with us, or theme songs to television shows. I mean, why is it that I know all of the lyrics to the Flintstones TV show. I never consciously sat down and said I'm going to learn these words when I know them. So here it is Flintstones or the Flintstones of the monitored Stone Age family from the town of bedrock. There are keys right out of history, let's go with the family down the street through the courtesy of Fred's 2 feet member how you got that old car going Flintstones there. The bullet that when I know this. I never wanted to memorize that. But there's passages all forget from Scripture, but I remember the lyrics to that song or weird songs that firm on the radio so I need to jog my memory.

I need to refresh my memory. In fact, Peter tells us in first Peter 113. I think it's right to refresh your memory as long as you live. Alright so were starting a brand-new series and I'm simply calling refresh things we must not forget, as Christians and in this message. The first in the series I want to talk to you about the roof rushing power of prayer by talking to somebody right now who really doesn't know how to pray at all. I mean think about some of the things we see the work it's okay kids say your prayers. Remember now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep if I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take. This is a good prayer to teach to a child, are you not saying that that's on the lesson you may die in your sleep tonight and I just pray that God takes your soul really.

So, will they remember to pray that prayer, sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite. Are you going to traumatize your job know we don't need to teach our kids prayers. We need to learn how to pray. You member the first time you ever pray that it's kind of awkward. It's a little scary to pray out loud, especially in front of other people will let me ask you this, you member the first time that God answered your prayer. How wonderful that was, in light of this, why don't we pray more often. Why do we put off prayer. Why do we avoid praying, let me offer some observations about that. Maybe we don't pray more, because we think we don't have the time, but is it really true. Let me ask you this. How much time you spent on social media every day.

The latest research says people in the US, check their Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts 17 times per day.

That's once every waking hour teenagers spend nine hours every day consuming media and you see people doing it constantly. There there walking across crosswalks would trump a gumbo site looking at their phone not even looking up.

They go to a restaurant were apparently were there to have a nice meal and socialized in the whole family will be looking at their phones the entire time. This is missing the whole point we can waste so much time doing it.

Imagine if you prayed 17 times a day instead of checking your phone, someone put it this way and I quote one of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be approved at the last day that prayer looseness was not from lack of time." How true is that then you factor in all the hours we spent binge watching television shows on Netflix or Amazon prime or some other outlet we can waste so much time so don't say you don't have time to pray. The fact is you will make time for what matters to you.

Number two. Maybe we don't pray because we don't think prayer is all that important that we would never admit that out right but do we really think it's important. I'm telling you it's very important in the book of Joshua. There is a story of the Israelites were led out of the bondage of Egypt into this new land flowing with milk and honey. Remember there was an obstacle in their path.

It was a mighty city of Jericho, a huge fortress.

There was no way they could bring that down militarily, but the Lord said, I'll give you that city so they prayed and they called on God to give them the battle plan which I have to admit was pretty unorthodox.

They march around the city's yell blow trumpets for the work and the walls of this fortress crashed and they took control after that there was another little city called AI much smaller than Jericho. Not nearly as difficult to conquer. They didn't pray about that. They just said hey we took down Jericho AIB a piece of cake and they went in and were soundly defeated because they didn't pray about it. We need to pray about everything the Bible says in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

It doesn't say and some things are only of the big scary things it says in everything by prayer and supplication. We should pray maybe another reason we don't pray more is because while we don't think prayer really works. Again, we wouldn't admit that, but that may be the case. We don't think it really works.

But we have to understand what the objective of prayer is is only God is a genie and he'll grant whatever wish we have the objective of prayer is not to align God with my will is to align me with his will.

Speaking of genies. I heard about a lady that was walking on the beach and she saw something embedded in the sand and she reached on the pick it up and it was a lamp and and as she rubbed it a genie appeared. This is a true story, of course, and the genie said oh master, I will grant you one wish whatever you want. I will be yours. Lady said one which would up in the three witches.

He said you know we have the cup back because of covert. Okay, I think sometimes people are blaming everything on covert these days right yeah covert. We can't do three witches right now, all while one wish Susan.

She pulls out a map of the Middle East that she happened to be carrying with her and she said genie. This is the Middle East. And there's conflict in this part of the world all the time. My wish is for peace in the middle east and then she said no, let me change that on the go big if I only get one wish. I want worldwide peace global peace.

That's my wish genie I want peace in the world. The genie said that kind of a big one. I don't know if I can really do that you have any other wishes. She said well, I've always wanted to find one good man, a man that would love me who would complement me who would not sit around on the couch and watch sports on TV who would help me with the dishes and like the things that I like you said to genie my wish is for one good man. The genie looks at her for a moment and says get that map out again so know God is not like you genie he's a father in heaven, and the objective of prayer is not to get God to do what I want Jim to do. It's to align my will, with God's will.

Jesus said this in John 15. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done on the you from the original Greek. It would come out something like this, Jesus speaking. If you maintain a living communion with me and my word is at home in you. I command you to ask at once for yourself. Whatever your heart desires and it will be yours know we immediately gravitate toward that latter part of the verse. Whatever my heart desires. Yeah, don't forget the condition Jesus says if you maintain a living communion with me and my word is at home and you coming back to studying the Bible. If I'm studying Scripture, memorizing Scripture understanding the message of the Bible. My desires are going to change and thus my prayers are going to change as well. So here before us now in Matthew 20 is two scenarios of prayer and in this text were going to find how to and how not to pray. How to and how not to pray.

In both of the stories Jesus asked the people before them.

What is it that you want first were going to look to the mother what to sons. She loved them as mothers love sons and daughters and she was very ambitious for them and she asked Jesus to give something to them. That was completely inappropriate.

She stands as an example of how not to pray. In contrast, we have another story of two men who are unable to see. They were blind and they called upon Jesus and the way they prayed, give us an example of how to pray. So let's start with how not to pray.

Matthew chapter 20 verse 17 that Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the 12 disciples aside on the road and said to them, behold, were going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and of the scribes and the condemned him to death and deliver him to the Gentiles to mock and discourage and to crucify and on the third day he will rise again. Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to him with her sons kneeling down and asking something from you. By the way this mother's name is shalom and the sons here are James and John and Jesus says to her what do you wish, she said, grant that these two sons of mine may said one at your right hand and the other on your left in your kingdom. Jesus answered you don't know what you're asking for. Are you able to drink of the cup that I'm going to drink up and be baptized with the baptism I will be baptized with and they said we are able Jesus in you will indeed drink Mike up and be baptized with the baptism that I baptize with, but to sit on my right and on my left hand is not mine to give, but it's for those that have been prepared by my father, try to understand what's going on. Jesus is giving detailed view of what it's about to happen. Remember we just finished studying Revelation and it's the unveiling of the future Jesus was God walking among us. He knew the future. He knew the thoughts of every person that he spoke to, and now we think this is what's going to happen to me. I'm going to be betrayed under to be handed over to the Gentiles. I'm going to be scourged under the be beaten on to be crucified, and on the rise again from the dead is he sharing this with the disciples. They're just not getting it because you see their view was that when Messiah came, and Jesus was Messiah that he would establish an earthly kingdom then and there.

They were mistaken in their understanding of the role of Messiah because Scripture clearly teaches first Messiah would come and suffer and die for the sins of the world. Then he would return again and establish his kingdom. They missed the first part and only understood the letter part so they thought he would drive out the Romans and they would rule and reign with him in positions of great power. Hence, the request from solo, the mother of James and John. By the way James and John were given the nickname sons of thunder by Jesus. You don't get a nickname like that for no reason. I think they were alive today, they would probably be outlaw motorcycle guys or something all tatted up. You know, kind of rough dudes I think. Don't forget on one occasion there was one city that the disciples went to.

And they weren't all that responsive to the message of Jesus and James and John, the sons of thunder suggested wire should be called down from heaven on the people who lived in that city.

Jesus is like a vague I didn't come to toast people, but to save people so you wonder, how do they become the sons of thunder. Check out their mother gives us a little hint. She says I want my sons, James and John to sit on your right and your left hand when you come into your glory. They should be thankful God did not answer that prayer. Mention of God came to you and said I will give you what ever you want, just ask for what would you pray for that actually happened to Solomon when he was a very young man. He had ascended to the throne to rule over Israel.

Now that his father David was gone.

The Lord said, ask what you want Solomon and I'll give it to you.

Solomon said, well, Lord, I need wisdom to rule your people. The Lord said Solomon because you have not asked for riches or a long life for the death of your enemies, to give you the wisdom you prayed for, to give you all these other things as well. Is that not the perfect example of what Jesus taught us when he said seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added on to you so here now are James and John and their mother asking for this think and understand how insensitive this was what it Jesus just say I'm in a suffer and die. Is it okay whatever.

By the way we want to sit on your right and left hand when you come in the glory.

This would be like someone save you well.

I just came back from the doctor's office and I found out I only have two weeks to live.

And then you say all well interesting take. Can I have your car in your house to me what that's exactly what they were doing and Jesus is saying that I may do you know what you're even asking for. Are you able to drink of the cup that I'm about to drink of the said were able there required to respond to the event will wait, wait, what's in the cup.

We want to know about the cup before we say we will years ago I was in the Philippines is speaking and there is a delicacy over there called the balloons. It's actually a docket and die inside of the Sigg is a partially formed dock some feathers a little beak and some fluid and I was over that home of a missionary and there were a lot of people there and they said in front of everybody.

Greg we want to give you this Beaulieu to eat that several out what is that and they said, let us demonstrate and someone took VA can be broken open and I saw the duck said I saw the feathers and their drinking the fluid and then they eat the egg in my goodness they said Greg you need to eat the egg I sent. I don't think I can do that and then someone whispered in my ear. If you don't eat the egg you'll offend the people.

I whispered back.

If I eat the golf grow up.

I can't do it. I just can't go there and there's some things that you just don't want to eat something you don't want to drink what was the cop Jesus was going to drink the cup of the wrath of God Almighty. As the sins of the world would be placed upon him, and he recoiled from that you remember in the garden of Gethsemane. He prayed to the father. Father, it was possible. Let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.

So he says that James and John. You want to drink of the cup.

Yeah, good of the cup. Give us the cup you think and you don't even know what you are asking for what it's alone. The mother and James and John want she wanted her sons to be on the right and left hand of Jesus so long. By the way, happened to be standing at the foot of the cross. When Jesus was crucified, who was on the right and left hand of Jesus to criminals were also crucified. I'm sure at that moment Saloom said Lord think you for not answering my prayer is a great theologian Garth Brooks once said, quote some of God's greatest gifts are on answered prayer card to the matter is all prayers are effectively answer. Sometimes God says no. Sometimes God says slow sometimes God says go listen to this. 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, and the timing is right and you are right, God says go so he said no to solo home and her two boys, James and John, the sons of thunder. Why because he loves to listen of God is said no to your request recently. Don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. It actually could be a very good thing because God sees the big picture. That's how not to pray. Now let's talk about how to pray.

Here's a couple of guys who prayed in the right way back to Matthew 20 like a verse 29.

As they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed him, behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, have mercy on us. So, Lord, son of David, then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet and they cried out all the more Satan, have mercy on us. Oh Lord, son of David, Jesus stood still and called them and said what do you want me to do for you. They said, Lord, that our eyes may be open. Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. So here's Jesus still on his way to the cross on his way to supper and to guys on the roadside crisis passing by the call out to him some dish don't bother him. He's busy as things on his mind and they call out even louder. Actually, the word translated from the Greek would be. They scrape they screamed. I guess they believe that old adage, the squeaky wheel gets the oil right. And Jesus stopped and he heard them and he answered their prayer. Isn't it amazing to think that God cares about us. I mean he cares about the things that concern us.

David said in Psalm 83 when I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars. What is man that you should think of us mere humans.

You should care for us. I was in Hawaii recently speaking at our church. There and I will went out very late at night and looked up in the sky and I was stunned by how many stars I could see you just don't see that many starts here in California just incredible, overwhelming, and the think my God, my creator, my father made all of that yet he cares about what I care about God is never too busy or preoccupied to take time for you. Listen, if it concerns you concerns. Kim so here were two men with a very real need and Jesus responded to the needs of what we learn about prayer from the story number one in times of crisis. They pray and so should we in their time of crisis. They prayed and so should we listen. This is what prayer is for to put us in touch with God. Psalm 50 verse 15 says the Lord speaking call upon me in the dim trouble and I shall rescue you and you will honor me, are you in trouble right now my talking to somebody facing a crisis you don't see any way you can resolve it. Maybe it's a family crisis. Maybe your marriage is coming apart. Maybe over prodigal child. Maybe it's a health crisis. You've got bad news from the doctor and you're scared maybe at some other kind of a crisis call on the Lord. The Bible says you have not because you asked not pray about that thing that is troubling you.

I love what Ephesians 618 says Paul writes, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this and with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. I love how Paul use that word all so many times, with all prayer and all perseverance for all the saints, the Texas translation would be all y'all ought to be praying all the time. Y'all just all the time praying about everything. This is what we need to be doing. They prayed with passion and persistence as well.

Again, as I said they didn't just save have mercy on us.

They screamed the word out and that's all we need to pray as well just keep praying about that thing that is troubling you let me come back to some things.

We all other be praying for when you're praying for the salvation of a loved one, you're praying according to the will of God because the Bible says God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Keep praying for that person you care about when you're praying for the restoration of a family you're praying for the will of God. God is established the family. A man and a woman coming together in marriage committed to one another for a lifetime. He will bless this bond. This is why Satan is always attacking it and always trying to redefine it and to break it apart but the family is so important for the health of a nation, you know it's been said that a family can survive without a nation but a nation cannot survive without the family. Pray for the family but pray for your family. Make sure your family is drunk and speaking of the nation. When we pray for a spiritual awakening in our country were praying according to the will of God. Now I'm speaking to Americans here, but I know we have folks that watch us in Australia and Japan and the UK and Sweden and all over the place because you come in effect right now there's a little comment section depending on how you're watching this right now but if you're watching on YouTube or Facebook or it harvest.org you can comment and I would love you to tell me where you're watching from right now but wherever you are, whatever your nation is pray for a spiritual awakening in your nation. These men called out to Jesus, not interesting because another gospel identifies one a particular and his name was Bart Emmaus, so there were two men praying but one was more noticeable than the other and it was Bart Emmaus, crying out in his prayer was heard by Jesus.

I level we read here verse 32 Jesus stood still and he called them and said what do you want me to do for you.

They said, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

Jeremiah 2913 God says if you seek me you find me. If you seek me with all of your heart you bring your need to Jesus.

You watch how he will meet your need. Now there are things that can hinder our prayers and I want to close with this sort of obstacles to prayer things that if we do these things it can stop God from intervening in our life. So let's find it. With these barriers are and get rid of them.

Here's one unconfessed sin will hinder your prayer. Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayer. Isaiah 59, says the Lord's hand is not short that it can't say his ear is not close that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins of kid's face that he will not hear the psalmist says in Psalm 6618. Have I regard iniquity in my heart.

The Lord will not hear me and the word that he uses.

Therefore regard means to hold onto or to cling to. So there is a sin in your life that you will not confess to God, confess it to him he say what you mean. Confess to admit it, confess means to agree with God to see sin for what it is. Stop rationalizing it stop justifying it something while everyone is doing it. You know, it's a sin. As God to forgive you. We need to be forgiven by God on a daily basis as Christians here's another one idles in your heart can hinder your prayers as well. You might say well I'm off the hook on this one. I don't worship any idles, don't you, we might have some little object that we bow down before. I doubt that. But some do but to an idol is anything or anyone that takes the place of God in our life is so can a lot of things can become an idol. John writes in his epistle, little children, keep yourself from idols. For some people there idol is their appearance. It's all about the way that they look be effectively worship themselves. You see them in Instagram doing this pose. I call it the pounding fidgets are like hold the phone up and they go who came up with that. This is not a good look. Stop doing the trout pout. It's not a good look.

Just my thought, okay, but some people worship themselves. Some people worship money they worship their possessions.

They worship the car they drive, they worship the house they live in you. What you mean, worship.

I mean, they're preoccupied with it and they think about that thing more than God himself. Bible tells the story of young men that came to Jesus. We call them the rich young ruler probably cruised up in the supercool Lord Cheruiyot hold in the latte of the didn't have Lucky's back then he says hey good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life.

Almost as though you think he Jesus your group of followers are kind of a ragtag bunch are they not what you have some fishermen a tax collector. Look at me I'm a ruler and I'm rich and I'm young so this guy was probably in his 30s, climbing his ladder very influential be great to have me on your team.

Here I am, what all I have to do to inherit eternal life. You would've thought Jesus was a come on and son, you're one of the team. Now let's go no Jesus is. I'll tell you what you need to keep the commandments. Any codes of view of the 10 Commandments to this young man and then the rich young ruler sent in response all these I have Since I been a young boy and we would've read at that point, and Jesus smacked him across the face would've made sense. What a joke kept all the commandments since he was a young boy. No one keeps all the commandments is only one man who ever walked the earth that kept all of the commandments that was Jesus Christ because of factors. No one can keep the commandments, God gives us the commandments to drive us to Jesus. The commandments open my eyes and they shut my mouth and show me that I sin, and I fall short of God's glory. But anyway, this young man says all these are kept from my youth up and I love how it then goes on to say. And Jesus looked at him and loved him, you love them that you're so cute look at you arrogant young man, thinking you've done it all alright. Jesus says I'll tell you what, take all of your stuff solid given to the poor, and follow me and the Bible says that men went away sad because he had many possessions. You see the problem with this young man is he worship things. Jesus didn't want to stop. It's possible of the young men would've said okay Lord, I'll do it. Lord, what is said never mind know he said this to only one man in the Bible. And that's because this man was ruled by his own possessions to someone else he might see if you want to follow me break up the relationship that is pulling you down spiritually to another.

He might say another thing. But you see idol in that young man's heart was his stuff. Yes idols can keep us from God. Here's another one unforgiveness in your heart can hinder your prayers. Unforgiveness in your heart can hinder your prayers. Mark 1125 says when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him that your father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Notice it doesn't say if you have anything against anyone, forgive him if they deserve it. Notices. Forgive because we've all been hurt by people have only been hurt by your parents. Perhaps hurt by your children hurt by your husband and your wife hurt by someone you thought was a friend to ended up a train you we been hurt in life and the Bible teaches us to be tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven us.

Listen to this forgiven people should be forgiving people and if you do not forgive. Bitterness will creep in, eating you up inside. It's been said, quote bitterness is an acid that destroys its own container" Jesus on the cross, said father forgive them for they know not what they do is they'll give me a break break.

That's Jesus I'm not Jesus know you're not normally but remember Stephen the first martyr of the church. He was put to death for his faith in Christ, what'd he pray said I see Jesus standing on the right hand of the father.

Then he said, Lord, don't lay this sin to their charge, listen, you need to forgive for yourself so you can be free.

One last thing. Unbelief can hinder your prayer. Unbelief can hinder your prayer. James 15 says if you need wisdom you want to know what God wants you to do as Kim and he will gladly tell you he will not resent you asking. But when you ask him, be sure you really expect him to answer for a doubtful mind as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

People like that should not spread to receive anything from the Lord yet. Pray for wisdom pray for provision. Pray for God's blessing and direction and expect him to answer, expect him to answer a lot of times we cancel our prayers out because were filled with so much doubt.

Now there's a teaching that would say whatever you want. You speak it into existence, you name it and you claimant you you cabinet and you grab it in God will do whatever you ask him to do. Thank God that's not true, and he'll overrule my request. Especially when they would hurt me but having said that, there is a place for faith and prayer. So with this much faith as you can muster. Bring your need to Jesus Christ.

I love the present one man who said Lord I believe but help my on belief, God will more than meet you halfway. As you bring your need to him let me close by asking you this you have any right now. Do you need a touching your body physically like blind Bart Emmaus and call out to Jesus you have a child or a marriage that needs help right now. Then call out to Jesus. Don't give up. Pray.

Jesus said knock and the door will be open. Keep knocking, keep asking, keep seeking. Be persistent in your prayer. But again, as I said earlier prayer is only the privilege of a child of God culture anyone can pray a prayer but if you want to cover prayer life. You need to be a Christian that sometimes you hear it said were all God's children. I know that sounds nice, but it's actually not biblical. I'm sorry to tell you we are not all God's children were all created by God were all loved by God, but were not all. By default, children of God to become a child of God, you need to be part of the family of God and to become part of the family of God. You need to be born into that family is a know you mean raised in a Christian home no not at all.

I wasn't raised in a Christian home.

I was raised in the opposite of a Christian home know the way you join the family of God is by being born into it. Or maybe I should see it being born again into it because Jesus said you must be born again or little or literally born from above you see your separated from God by your sin.

All of us are we all broken God's commandments. We've all fallen short of God's standards, but 2000 years ago, God loves you so much. He sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross in your place after Jesus was talking about in the story we read the Son of Man himself was going to go and suffer and die for their sins and for our sins and for all of humanity.

Sin, so I'm separated from God by my sin. But Christ died for my sin and about to turn from that sin about my faith in him, he will forgive me, so let me ask you, have you been forgiven of your sin is Jesus Christ living inside of you right now the Bible says, for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons of God, being a Christian isn't just believing a creed or reading the Bible are going to church being a Christian is having Christ living inside of you is Jesus living in your heart and life right now. You might say well I think so. I'm not sure if the family moved into your house at 3 o'clock in the morning and started cooking fish in your kitchen you think you would notice.

Not not comparing Jesus to a family moving in your house I'm guessing if someone came into your house. I think you'd be aware of it and in the same way if God Almighty has taken residence in your heart, you'll know it and if you don't know it. Maybe that's because he's not there yet. Would you like to ask Jesus to come in your life would you like to be forgiven of your sin. I began by talking about refreshment. Would you like to be refreshed again. Jesus said come to me all ye that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Are you burdened by your sin can all change right now Jesus is ready to step in your life and change everything. He'll give you the meaning and purpose of life you've been looking for. And then he'll give you hope beyond the grave in the afterlife to give you the hope of heaven, but you must ask him to come and live in your heart right here right now in a moment regular pray and I'm going to extend an invitation for you to believe Jesus Christ so if you need Jesus to come into your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want this huge burden of guilt lifted off of you if you won't want to find the meaning and purpose of your life than simply pray this simple prayer I will enjoy now if possible, bow your head. Maybe close your eyes. It be great if you could pray this out loud, maybe you're alone watching on the phone or tablet. Maybe you're in a room of people in your watching it on a TV screen wherever you are. Harbor you're seeing this right now. If you need Jesus pray this prayer out loud after me. Pray these words.

If you would, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I also know that you are the Savior, Jesus, I ask you to come into my life right now and forgive me of all of my sin I choose to follow you from this moment forward in Jesus name I pray. They met everybody Greg Laurie here. Thanks for listening to our podcast and the learn more about harvest ministries. Please subscribe and consider supporting this show. Just go to harvest.org and by the way, if you want to find out how to come into a personal relationship with God. Go to know God.org that's key NOW GLD.org