Secrets to Answered Prayer: Don't Quit on Prayer, Persevere Through

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We hope to be persistent in our prayer were not bothering you repeatedly after Greg Laurie reminds us, God invites us to keep asking for praying for God's will in our life. We just can't back down. We can't give up. We have to keep seeking we have the keep asking me of the keep talking Joan and you give it just one little round one single log. You probably given three or four to the door you knock again today on a new beginning after Greg Laurie says we should practice the same persistence in our prayers is speaking to us from the Hawaiian Islands today at the Maui satellite.

Jesus said after this manner therefore you should pray 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 as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil or the evil one, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Now we come to the first secret answered prayer. If you don't get this one right. Nothing else really matters. It teaches us to pray, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

If I have unconfessed sin in my life. All of the prayers in the world will really accomplish nothing God says is on the money here is heavy that I can't hear is other. My arm is short that I can save but your sins have separated you from me. The summit set up by regard or hang onto iniquity in my heart. The Lord will not hear me if you confess your sins it's like you just hung your bone up on God.

There still may be relationship that doesn't go away because that's given to you as a result of your believing in Jesus, but fellowship and communication can be severed temporarily, but it can be reconnected to the confession of sin, something will. I don't really know that I have any sense to confess all we have to go back to the first part of the Lord prayer our father who art in heaven, the more we see God in his glory, the more will see ourselves and our sinfulness. So here's the point we have to come and admit our sin and we have sin to just trust me when I tell you it's a good thing on a regular basis on a daily basis and maybe even on an hourly basis to say forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us.

Aquino principle number two for having your prayer answered in the affirmative.

Another secret. This is a big one. You must forgive others go back to the Lord for again our father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And I think were okay with the part about being forgiven by God, here's the big one are we willing to forgive other people listen forgiven. People need to be forgiving people. You need to forget is there someone right now that you need to forgive that has sinned against you. Here's a Jesus says if you come and you bring your gift in the temple and you remember that someone has something against you, go to that person and seek reconciliation with them then bring your gift to the altar and interesting you say that they have something against you, you might say, well, that's their problem actually know it's coming. Your problem to you need to deal with it and we need to go to that person and you need to forgive them know another way that verse is translated. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us is forgive us our debt as we forgive those who are indebted to us enacting that's accurate because the word that is user present also implies that and that's why it's often translated that way.

First, we have to be forgiven up our debts was in your debt is so high, there's no way you could ever pay it back the debt of sin. That's all we all have to just basically go Chapter 11 spiritually and declare complete bankruptcy and common total dependence to God who will forgive us in Colossians 3 it says that Christ canceled the debts that were against this taking them out of the way nailing them to the crossing the 10 Commandments condemns you and condemns may we all fall short. And so Jesus took that debt that we owed and he hated for us.

He came to pay a debt he did not. Oh, because we owed a debt we could not pay. So forgive us our debts our sins as we forgive those who are indebted to us or have sinned against us.

Okay secret answered prayer number three. Jesus taught us in the Lord's prayer to pray lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil actually a more accurate translation would be, deliver us from the evil one. So really what is Jesus teaching us to pray were effectively saying the God God, don't put me in a place where there's more than I can handle. Lord help me to not be tempted above my capacity to resist. Here's the good news according to first Corinthians 1013, the Bible tells us that God will not allow us to be tempted above which we are able. But what with the temptation make a way of escape, that we may be able to bear it loose paraphrase God will give you more than you can say so. There are temptations out there, but we are to is much as possible.

Keep ourselves out of the way of it as a bumper sticker in a car that said leave me not into temptation.

Then I went on to say, I can find it myself to. That's a problem we unnecessarily put ourselves in situations where were vulnerable. We all know where our weaknesses are. We all know what we could easily fall so be practical.

I'm seeing God help me, but there's also a part that I planted as well, but I want to talk a little bit about what temptation is and then I want to talk about the best place to be when temptation comes, here's something you need to know about temptation. Hey, it's tempting the devil been doing it for a long time and is pretty good at what he does remember our first parents in the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve. They saw the forbidden fruit.

It was pleasant to the eyes.

The Bible tells us, and of course desirable to make one wise, and it was great to the taste that sin you know it looks good. First of them want to take a bite of it. The effects of a chicken and the Bible tells us that the wages of sin are death but temptation is going to come but the best place to be when temptation comes is in the will of God. You know Jesus was tempted in the wilderness right and Jesus was tempted Shirley Morgan to be tempted.

But the best place to be is walking with the Lord in God's will. You know we make things very hard only hang out with the wrong people at the wrong places ultimately can lead us to do the wrong thing. How can we set a hedge of protection undermined and keep our thoughts clean. Pastor Greg will address that question.

Next, Pastor Greg Laurie talks about his new book, Billy Graham and the man I knew. Billy said to me I'm just a country preacher. He was just a country preacher but God elevated him and offense thousands of young people, and when he spoke those kids listen, you could've heard a pin drop. God has forgiven you.

That's why Christ died on the cross and that's why he rose again so you might be. Forgive your city will even instant salvation certainly do now is you write this incident. Every link farm boy would go on to be the greatest evangelist in history so I write about that a lot more in this book I've written called Billy Graham the man I knew, get to know the country preacher Sean millions come to Christ, Pastor Greg introduce you to Billy Graham, the man I knew a brand-new biography available for your gift of any size and harvest.or we've caught up with Pastor Greg on the island of Maui today. He was there preaching at a satellite campus for his home church in Southern California and he's taking time today to bring us insights and a joy more productive. Prayers must continue know the Bible says blessed is the man that walks out of the counsel of the ungodly, or stands in the way of sinners or sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the word of the Lord in and it does the meditate therein night that someone in them puts it all together noticed that this guy is walking. Then he standing then he sitting took in a works like this you're walking along through life and then you see something that grabs your your walking in the understanding, all while look at this awesome sure I must have this shirt, especially with a hat and those patents know I'm standing next thing you know I'm in there sitting down find the stuff on that's how temptation work to see notice it walking in the counsel of the ungodly, standing in the way of sinners sitting on the seat of the scornful.

So the key is you gotta keep walking because temptation generally comes to us in the mind. It comes as a five is sort of not on the door of the imagination. It's been said you can't stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop them from building a nest in your hair. Now my Casey better bring us all material because there's so much to work with them and I used to by the way have a beautiful wave that I would look at all the time. Now the way was gone and they just have beach but anyway so here's what we need to remember we need to guard our minds go back to someone. His delight is in the word of the Lord and it doesn't meditate day and night.

You know, when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness how to respond to the devil.

He quoted Scripture he occupy grounded every Christian can occupy these shows us how to resist temptation and yes temptation can be resisted about the Bible says blessed is the man that resistor endures temptation for when he is tried to receive the crown of life.

Good news. Temptation can be resisted and it says blessed is the man or happy is the man. So we want to be a happy man or happy woman say no to temptation and say yes to God and guard your mind on my computer.

I often overfill the hard drive is because I never throw photograph way. I have so many pictures of my family, my grandkids and I keep them all and so every now and then when I'm trying to open a Word document little thing will come up on my screen hard drive is full soul and do the tries to delete a few things you don't want to be great if our minds are so full of the word of God when the devil comes with this enticement, it would just be a little sign that says hard drive full so don't walk in the counsel of the ungodly, but meditate. Think about ponder the word of God. Lord, don't leave me in the temptation: we be tested above my capacity to resist. So the key is you need to know the word of God.

In fact, it's a great thing to memorize the word of God. The psalmist of your word about you in my heart that I might not sin against you not know about you but sometimes I can't remember the order of the books of the new testament that I could get all of these cute little girls high paid to either one of you know the order of the New Testament books you do with your name I recognize you your my granddaughter will what are those New Testament books (sound seems very good. Lucy a.

How many of you could do that right now.

Do the books of the New Testament and you know the Lord's prayer. Sometimes I forget how does any good thing.

Our father Ward in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread right that somehow goes as right so that's why we should memorize scripture of these cute little girls can do it you can do it to very good girls.

Okay. Point number four, of having your prayers answered in the affirmative.

Don't give Jesus said ask and it shall be given seeking you shall find, knock and the door shall be open, so this is really important.

We have to be persistent in our prayer.

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, what if the request is right, and the timing is right and you are right, God says go, we don't give up.

It's interesting that phrase Jesus uses ask and see cannot. There's an ascending intensity. So imagine yourself in a restaurant you know and wouldn't why is it that when you sit down immediately. A server comes they take your order. Do you know which one order you say no and then they like disappear from month what happens.

I don't know but anyway so the server comes to give you some coffee whatever and maybe want some more coffee and so you ask and they don't, then you ask again is Tuesday and they don't come in the new Austin that finally you just get up walk over and get the coffee fortress up that speaks of intensity.

Okay, so the ideas we start by asking that I'm asking God.

But then I'm seeking. I'm going to go to the next level. I'm looking to give up on this. I'm seeking, and now I'm knocking them.

The idea of knocking is I'm counting on it door. Another words in a way I'm not going to take no for an answer, but we don't always know the will of God explaining when you're like praying for the salvation of a loved one. We are praying for our country to have a spiritual awakening Amanda. We need that right now.

More praying for God's will in our life where we just can't back down. We can't give up. We have to keep seeking. We have to keep asking, we have to keep knocking and then the Bible says the door will be open. God prayed for my mother to come to Christ for over 30 years.

I was beginning to wonder if God would ever hear my prayer, but he did finally and it was all in his time, give the Bible says he makes everything beautiful in his time. We don't want to rush it.

We don't to be ahead of the Lord when I want to be behind the Lord. We want his perfect will.

In his perfect let me just say this.

In closing, you know all the things I've shared in this message are really for believers only.

Only the believer has the privilege of praying.

Only the believer can know that when he calls out to the Lord shall be heard no nonbeliever can see God help me, God save me. But as far as a prayer life relationship. This communion this is for Christians only. If you're not sure if you have a relationship of God hears what you're like you're like a person caught in a riptide you're out in the ocean and you're in trouble and you see a lifeguard on the shore and you say help in the lifeguard comes to your aid. I member years ago I was here in Hawaii with my son, Jonathan, and I was just helping them to get some waves and all of a sudden I got caught in a riptide and I'm not like the way out.

I'm close to the shore and I'm sort of embarrassed that I can't get my feet on the ground. I like I don't know 1215 feet out and I getting pulled out and I'm trying to get my be done.

I'm holding Jonathan above the water and there is this a female lifeguard that's easy and she starts running toward me.

I never said hello but she's running toward me and I like on.

I don't want to be saved. I'm so close to the sword. Finally, if you regards it okay okay and may God bless her for coming out there but anyway there's something in him, guys. Especially we don't want to say we need help.

Are you afraid to call out to the Lord and say God I need help. The Bible says whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved, and what you need to do is call out to him right now. That's the prayer you know that God will hear you hear it immediately. Would you like to do that right now you like to be forgiven of all of your sin.

Would you like to have this relationship with God is your father in heaven who will hear your prayer and answer your prayer. Listen, he's just a prayer away.

I like to lead you in a simple prayer and in if you want your sins forgiven. If you want to know that you go to heaven when you die if you want a fresh start in life. If you want to know God in a personal way. Wherever you are, to stop what you're doing and pray this prayer with me right now. Just pray this in fact you could even pray it out loud after me just pray Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. I discern from my sin. Now, and I choose to follow you from this moment forward as Savior and Lord is God and Fred as my father in Jesus name I pray that you listen welcome to the family of God. Now you can start praying and you'll know that God will hear your prayer you can start growing spiritually it's the greatest adventure of all a relationship with God in Jesus Christ, so the beautiful island of Maui hello Greg Lord cameo appearances from his granddaughters having a some important principles on productive prayer. Glad you joined us today. You're on a new beginning. And if you have just prayed those words with Pastor Greg and meant them sincerely the Lord is heard you and forgiven you of your sin. The Bible says Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness and would like to send you some materials to help you begin to live this new life we call it our new believers gross packet just asked for and will send it to you free of any charge if you prayed for the first time today with Pastor Greg write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go to harvest.org and click know God. Now the title of today study secrets to answered prayer. Look for that title@harvest.org to get an instant replay. What we been hearing from so many listeners who been a joy.

Pastor Greg's new book called Billy Graham the man I knew and 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 bends 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.

Can 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 canned heat Johnny Winter and Santana so we sort of went undercover and engaged in conversations with many of the young people were there and even got up on the stage at his rock concert and preach the gospel in 350 young people came to the Lord. Most people about heard the story is 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 member. 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 when Billy came on the stage. The greatest applause was safe for him. Here's what I love this Billy just what's his authentic self.

So Billy were suits when he preached and he would come out wearing the 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 is this 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 to us 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, what 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 and we won't be mentioning this much longer. So contact as soon 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 when next time a respite from the chaotic, stressful lives really. Pastor Greg shows us where we can find peace and rest.

Jesus offers next time beginning and cast with meat by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God learn how to become harvest partner sign up for daily devotions and find resources to help you grow in your faith harvest.org