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June 23, 2021 3:00 am
Prayer is more than an intercom to heaven. Prayer is a lifeline to the God who loves us and sustains us . . . and who holds our future in His hands. And today, Pastor Greg shows us how to steward this privilege appropriately.
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A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.
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Today's episode of a new beginning is brought to you by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Learn more@harness.org and while you're there, browse our library of free e-books designed to help you grow in your faith even over the prayer is not changed on James you today on a new beginning read Lori helps us understand the doctor brother is to invite God my life so I'm inviting them into the things that I am dealing with prayer is getting closer to God. That's what you should or transactional relation. When we pray we focus on asking God for something today on a new beginning after Greg Laurie points out that back and there's the relational career more than the intercom to have prayer is a life God who loves this stage and who holds our future today. After Greg shows his overall looking things a lot like when I go to the market with my wife. My wife would for certain things in the market and I look for other things.
My wife looked for practical things like a Milken butter and seasonings of the Staples and I look for what things that are important to me like chips maybe pretzels and fruit men. I love summer fruit do you only if you love summer fruit.
It's about fruit. I believe God teaches. We've got nectarines, we've got great. We've got cherries and watermelon. I love all the fruit of summer so you know will me that the checks them some budget directly back and forth in, and then we get there and my wife will tell me you don't need any of these things right now so well. You will of the things are important to us things that were looking for will listen to this God is looking for some things to what is God looking for will number one God is seeking lost people in Luke 19 Jesus said the Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost and Jesus told the story of a shepherd.
What 100 sheep, and one of the sheep. One is great and he searched until he found it means you have the market ever been shopping then lost sight of one of your children. That's a terrifying thought. So I got three other goods.
I'm going to forget some kids, maybe not. I really never know you search you search frantically obsessively until you find the child.
That's how God feels he loves all people. He wants all people to believe in him he's seeking people to believe, will we share our faith will reflect in the heart of God. Number two God is seeking true worshipers. Jesus said in John four God is a spirit and those that worship him must do so in spirit and truth is the father is seeking such to worship him. So as we were just thinking God is looking for someone whose heart is turned toward Jim someone who really understands what worship is first set this all and God is looking for us to be a true worshiper not only of what we sing and how we live.
Number three God is seeking spiritual fruit in Luke 13 seven we read of a farmer looking for fruit on a street and Jesus is looking for spiritual fruit or another way to put it results in our life tangible results that would show that were really growing in our faith is one of his followers. Number four. God is looking for someone to stand in the gap in Ezekiel 2230 God says I look for someone among them who would make up a wall and stand in the gap before me a BM that I should not destroy it, but I found no one. God is looking for people that care enough to pray people that would pray for, will our nation that God would send an awakening to America people that would pray for others.
He's looking for people who will stand in the gap. And lastly, God is looking for intercessors in Isaiah 5916 we read, he saw there was no man and wondered why there were no intercessors.
God is looking for people to pray and it's interesting door that is you there in Isaiah 59 for he wondered, could be translated astonished. In other words, God is astonished that people are not praying knowledge to savor the sake of an illustration that train was far. Let's say that every time you uttered a prayer. It was like having a root canal. While you could see how that would cut you do not want to pray is talk about prayer.
So awesome. You would still pray you would just say well it's going to hurt but it's worth it but prayer is not like a root canal.
Prayer is not painful but yet many of us do not pray. Why is it we don't pray, let me offer some possibilities or what I should really say excuses number one, we don't pray more, because we say well I don't have the time right well I'm so busy I just don't have the time to use my question to you how much time you spent on social media latest research says people in the United States check their Facebook twitter and other social media accounts 17 times per day.
Basically once every waking hour teenagers spend nine hours every day consuming media and it's so true. I mean if you see someone driving a radically they're not drunk there texting or they're looking at their Facebook page of their Instagram page. Everyone is walk around staring at their phones. I'm amazed when I'm sitting on it intersection I see someone crossing like five lanes and maybe insert turn. But there like this whole time just in the I'm thinking, what if someone ran the red light you get hit. People are crazy about the social media you stand in line to get a couple copy everyone just staring at the phone the old days the old days we used to talk to each other by gone now were just like this the whole time. You know, so don't tell me you don't have time to pray and listen. What if you pray as often as you check your Instagram your Facebook page, like 17 times a day so import it this way, quote one of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove that the last day that prayerless.
This was not from a lack of time so don't tell me you don't have time to pray. You do have time to pray. Number two, we don't pray more, because what we don't think prayer is all that important.
Now we probably would never admit that, but it's the truth. But if that is true if prayer is not important and why would Jesus Christ have spent so much time in prayer effectiveness is prayer life that cause the disciples to come to him and say Lord, would you teach us how to pray no lives a lot easier when you're pray about things because not only are you asking God to help you, but you're asking God for wisdom. The Bible says if any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who will give it generously and not hold it back. Listen, I need wisdom, don't you, there's a story Jericho falling. Joshua led the Israelites into the promised land. In this massive city of Jericho.
I stood before them in God's battle plan was amazing. He's okay just march around a march around the ball your trumpets and then on the last day give a shout on the walls will fall. There were no swords. There were no spares or were no shields, no weapons used than they did what God said in the walls of Jericho fell within. After that there was a much, much smaller city called AI. Joshua then pray about that one. All this is a PCK. Let's go take it and they were soundly defeated if they would've prayed about it, they would've seen it differently, so prayer really does matter number three we think prayer sometimes doesn't really work the I don't know for really works will say will maybe that's because were not praying God's way.
That's over looking at the Lord's prayer. It shows us how to pray how to bring your need for forgot and you have needs. I have been we have problems we have questions.
This is why we need to pray because prayer, among other things, is God's appointed way for us to obtain thing. There are things you need in life and God will provide them for you through prayer, James 42 says you have the because he was not maybe wonder why and why wander through life never knowing the will of God question. Have you prayed about it, you have not because you ask not say why is it that I have this illness that I gone.
The doctors and no one's been able to help me. Hey have you prayed about it, maybe you have not because you ask not wide-awake of this financial problem, and I can't seem to get on top of it.
I've tried everything.
Have you actually prayed about it, you have not because you ask not.
I think you know me well enough to realize that I'm nuts and God will always heal your God will always give you all the money you think you need, but I am saying that there's a place for asking the Lord to provide for our needs and so pray for Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message just a moment I want to promote about one thing, God loves you and a new, my friend, Pastor Greg Laurie brings us a deeper appreciation for the man and his mess, no matter how you live. No matter what the color is fair no matter what no matter what languages God loves you and wants to give you a new beginning. Any always shared the gospel any always emulated Christ and I think we can learn from his example. So I write about that a lot more this new book I've written called Billy Graham the man I knew it's an evangelist in the life of history's greatest event, get your copy of the new biography Billy Graham, the man I knew who harvest God or now, Pastor Greg, it's very practical in today's study about the privilege of prayer. Let's continue. Let's talk about how to pray. But before then let's talk about how not to pray. That's what Jesus addresses in the verses that precede what we call the Lord's prayer. Look at Matthew six. Starting in verse five and our Lord says this when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I see the you, they have their reward. But when you pray going to your room when you will shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place in your Father who sees you in secret will reward you openly when you pray, don't use vain repetitions is the key. Then there were the nonbelievers they think will be heard for their many words. Therefore, don't be like them, for your Father knows the things you amenable for you. Ask him. There noticed Jesus did not say if you pray, or if you have time in your busy schedule and pray always says when you pray he's assuming we understand the importance of prayer.
But here's insight that might surprise us that sin knows no boundaries going to go I get a W. I can send when I go to this place or hang out with these people but whatever think that one could sin when they're coming into God's presence to pray. But Jesus is showing you can still be guilty of hypocrisy and self centered to the primary problem of the Pharisees and used with the religious elite, the leaders of the day is for them. Prayer was theater. I was there performance. You know they would stand on the street corner. Sometimes someone would sound the trumpet that dented and they would prayer their great, beautiful, eloquent prayers and Jesus said you know what God doesn't care about stuff like that you're putting on a show you're praying to be seen by men.
You're so worried about impressing people. God's not impressed heard about a young lawyer that was opening up his brand-new office and his desk. It just arrived in his cherry come as well. So is sitting in his chair behind his executive desk in waiting for his first client to come in and amend comes up the stairs, a lawyer's easement picks up the phone and in talks to his imaginary secretary eyes adjust says I'm so busy right now.
Tell him to call back later have so many clients I just don't have time. He hangs up the phone, so this would impress this guy and then the other guy walks up in the lawyers is okay.
How can I help you in the Mensa run from the phone company and get a hook up your phone so impressed.
That's how it is for us and were trying to impress God with the things that we say and do think it was a problem with the Pharisees. They had ritualized memorized prayers that they would pray over and over. I'm not a big fan of memorized prayers and sometimes parents will save their children okay members say your prayers before you go to bed.
No better yet teach them how to pray.
I was with my grandchildren the other day and we were getting ready to eat, and we decided every kid should price is beautiful. You know, for every one of them had their own way to approach the Lord and of the older ones are little more perceptive and little Christopher is just a little guy. He actually said I don't know how to pray is so cute get also work started teaching them how to pray these figuring it out and were like that.
You know I don't really know how to pray, but you know some of the prayers we teach our kids. I mean really think about this prayer that has been prayed by children for so many years. Is this a good prayer to pray 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 really. So basically you save your child. You know you might die the night in bed and if you should die before you wake. Just pray God takes your soul go to sleep.
Sleep time. Don't let the bedbugs bite all that were traumatizing our children who write some of these things for kids rock-a-bye baby in the treetops when the wind blows the cradle will rock what you put a cradle about baby on the top of the trees US psycho when the bow breaks the cradle will fall down will come baby cradle and all all your brilliant you put your baby in a cradle in the top of the trees and he's fallen to the ground so here's another one. Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling.
So basically Jack is at a serious head injury.
That's not enough about this one. Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye or and 20 blackbirds baked in the park who wants a pipe filled with perks or they ally when you put them in the oven or were they dead either way.
I don't want to pipe full of perching up with these crazy ritualized repeated prayers. Listen, God doesn't hear prayers like that it's possible to pray with no thought of God whatsoever. Jesus told the story of two men that went up into the temple to pray, one was a Pharisee and he actually pray this prayer. It's unbelievable.
He's a God.
I thank you. I'm not like other men. He said I don't commit adultery if I don't cheat I don't said I'm not nearly as bad as that tax collector over there for tax collector and Jesus said you want to know who got hurt. You heard that other guy who simply said God be merciful to me a sinner.
Listen, you can pray without thinking of God, and you can worship without thinking of God. We've all done it. You've your hands lifted your worshiping in your thinking. Why would she wear that the church Lord I just present wind which you wear that and you're just Lord your so good to go to In-N-Out Burger. After this, they get a burger animal style with chopped jalapenos CVs are probably my thoughts more than yours, but by the way, something on that subject when you go to In-N-Out try burger animal style with chopped jalapenos. You'll thank you for this. And sadly, this is all you remember from the sermon as well.
Sometimes people use prayer as an opportunity to pose seen it you know you have a little group of people praying on the pray Lord I thank you for all they've been able to do for you as I was reading your word for two hours this morning on my knees I just rejoice in the eight people I lead to you and is topic you're just bragging them. Prayer sometimes people use prayer as an opportunity to gossip Lord, we pray for Jim, who is having an affair and his wife. Oh Lord, I just realized his wife's ear and the little prayer circle.
Oh Lord, comfort her, gossiping in prayer. Sometimes we pray to impress divert addressing nor brushing a braid or breast think the grade in wonderful God for that.
I was blessed as we why you doing that you train on presently. What about people like pray you know when you're out in public and summonses goes.
Pray for the food and then they have been because show the performance.
They pray really loud and and Lau won't stop with the long prayers. When the food is, okay you know when let's pray for everybody everywhere alleges Lord, thank you for the food. Let's eat our food. But you know prayer can be a strange thing for a lot of people. But here's something you need to understand why do we pray will. Jesus says in verse eight. Your father knows what you need before you ask all of that's the case, and why pray I have I can change my why pray every people safe here. I've been wrestling with God in prayer but I hope you lost. I'd hate to see what would happen if God did what you want him to do. So here's the thing we need to know about prayer. God knows what you need before you pray. So the objective or prayer is not to change God. It's a change you you're not telling God something is not aware of prayer is not to inform God. Rather, it's to invite God. I'm inviting them in the my life. I'm inviting them in the my challenges I'm inviting them into the things that I am dealing with. Think of prayer as a conversation between a father and a child that valuable prayer as it keeps me in touch with God. Prayer is getting closer to God. That's why you should pray prayer today.
Beginning from Pastor Greg Laurie's practical series based on the Lord's prayer. There's much more yet to come. As this study continues. We hope you heard all of today's insight but the interruptions often happen.
If you want to catch what you may have missed. Go to our website@harvest.org and look for the title today. Study how to and how not to pray. What we been hearing from so many listeners who been enjoying Pastor Greg's new book called Billy Graham the man I knew at right now. Pastor Greg is revealing some of the surprises found in the book.
These are 10 things about Billy.
You've likely never heard before. Give us another one today. Pastor Greg on this one is kind of a fun one, but I need some psychedelic rock in the background to set the scene here it is. Billy was a preacher with a genuine appreciation for culture.
Even psychedelic rock so here's what happened. So to link 16 supports the whole rock scene is exploding in all these bands are for meaning kids are growing their hair out long. A lot of preachers would say I want nothing to do with that but Billy embraced it and tried to understand it. So here's something I actually learned while I was writing this book. He went to a concert featuring the Grateful Dead you imagine Billy Graham at a dead concert and I don't know if he was wearing a tie-dyed T-shirt, but in performing at the concert were Grateful Dead Kim he Johnny Winter and Santana so we sort of went undercover. I don't know the Billy did a great job going undercover. You know I remember I would be with them and he would pull a ball cap over his head as though that would hide his face, ending his face look like it should have been on Mount Rushmore. His profile was so well known, and I know when I went out with the many were the bulk of people still recognize them.
But anyway he went undercover and engaged in conversations with many of the young people were there and even got up on the stage at this rock concert and preach the gospel in 350 young people came to the Lord. Most people are better this story, here's another story Billy embraced contemporary Christian music, a leader in his Crusades.
I know this because I watched it happened. There were a lot of these great bands or forming back in those days DC talk audio adrenaline. Of course Michael W Smith until Billy started having them on his platform on youth night. Not everybody on his team agreed with this. I remember there was some spirited discussion on the topic. Of course I was in favor of it because it was a way to build a bridge to his audience and I think at times when there would be some band that would play before Billy and they get a lot of applause, but would Billy came on the stage. The greatest applause was safe for him. Here's what I love just Billy just what's his authentic self. So Billy worsens when he preached and he would come out wearing a suit preach as he always preached, but those kids loved him and they hung on his every word, but this shows me even in his later years, Billy was flexible and willing to adapt to the changing culture. You know, the apostle Paul said he became all things to all men, and I think one of the problems in the church today is were answering questions. No one is asking were not answering the questions that are being asked. Billy always had a great interest in knowing what people were dealing with. He wanted to understand the people he was speaking to, and he always wanted to build a bridge. Billy Graham was a bridge builder, not a bridge burner. He was a peacemaker not a troublemaker. He always wanted to bring people to Christ. And so this is one of the things that bring out my new book that I just wrote called Billy Graham the man I knew and I love to send you a copy for your gift of any size and whatever you send was here at Arby's ministries we can promise you it will be used to reach more people with the gospel and with the teaching of the Word of God. So whatever you can send it's appreciated and will send you your copy of Billy Graham, the man I knew, yet it's a fascinating read and inspiring read, and you can be one of the first to receive Billy Graham, the man I knew will send it to say thank you for your investment in the mission of this ministry. It's an investment in touching lives like this one.
This listener wrote thank you Pastor Greg is because of you. 24 years ago that I gave my life to God.
I was higher than a kite up all night and started watching you on TV and you spoke so frankly to me.
I knew what I had been doing was putting me in a whole thank you again when you know your support helps us reach people like this and with your investment.
Let us thank you, with Pastor Greg's new book, Billy Graham, the man I knew just write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's a 24 seven phone number 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org for there's a lot more to learn about effective prayer that subject again next time. Pastor Greg continues his message how to and how not to pray sure to join us. Your new beginning and thanks for letting to a new beginning.
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