What Every Christian Needs to Know About Prayer: The Core Principles of Prayer

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This program is impacted you love to hear from you. So just send an email to media Greg harvest.org again it's greg@harvest.org you can learn more about becoming harvest partner by going to harvest.org.

One of the practices and procedures for prayer Pastor Greg Laurie, his son try to make it too hard. All you need to kneel to pray) and bring no human framework ever you are, pray publicly if you pray privately.

You can pray verbally pray silently free kneeling, you can freestanding you can pray lying down and you can even pray driving your eyes on the main thing is in will incite instruction for the believer we can spend our whole lives studying always find new things that speak to our heart. What are the essential core principle believer should know Pastor Greg Laurie is presenting those in this current series called essentials today on a new beginning. We did get to the subject of prayer. Why do we pray, how do we force on prayers coming your way today.

Why is it that some seed in the race of life and others fail.

Here's a simple answer because of choices that we make hundreds, maybe even thousands of choices we make every day and every week we make our choices and that our choices make us but if you want to know what it takes to be a strong Christian.

It comes down to award a lot of us don't like. It's a word called discipline.

Who likes to discipline themselves. You know you use discipline when you say no to that dessert you use discipline when you get up and go to that workout you use discipline when you say no to temptation you use discipline when you open up the Bible each and every day.

If you want to grow strong spiritually. You need to apply yourself. Now I'm not suggesting that all comes to human effort. God is the one that changes us, but God works through us.

The Bible says work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, then it goes on to say, for it is God that works in you both to doing the will of his own pleasure, so the ideas you work out your salvation not work for your salvation, but work it out. You know the apostles John and Paul once said, we can work it out the Beatles.

I'll give you but you know so you work out what God has worked in fact, the word work out there, as Paul uses it speaks of going into a mine and pulling out the gold or the silver or whatever is in that mine.

So you work it out. But God will work through you, but you have to apply yourself. There's God's part. There's are part you show me a believer who is successful in their Christian life and I will tell you they have discipline, you show me anyone who was exceeded in any field in life and there's probably discipline applied on a regular basis. Heard about a concert violinist in New York's Carnegie Hall.

She was as though she became so skilled. Her answer was interesting.

She said its planned neglect. She planned neglect everything that was not related to her goal and her goal happened to be to be a great violinist and our goal is to be a strong Christian second Timothy two says run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do what is right pursue faith and love and peace and enjoy the companionship of those a call on the Lord with a pure heart notice there's things I run from other things. I run to so I run from anything that stimulates youthful lust and by the way, you don't have to be youthful to have youthful lust ever heard of a dirty old man or a cougar. There are people that are well-known in years and are acting like adolescent still youthful lust.

They can be an issue throughout life run from anything that stimulates youthful muscle run from that. But follow righteousness, faith, and peace, along with those a call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Okay, what we need to do to grow spiritually.

What we've already talked about one of these things if I want to grow spiritually. I need to read study and love the word of God. Let me say that again if I want to grow spiritually. I need to read study and love the word of God. Joshua 18 says this book of the law, so not depart from your mouth, but you meditate in it day and night and observe to do according to all that is written in it. God says that'll make your way prosperous, and you'll have good success. Now this is not true of some Christians. This is true of all Christians. A smart believer will take time to study the word of God and memorize the word of God. By the way, you don't outgrowth so that you reach a plateau in your life spiritually, we just say yeah he is to read the Bible, but I'm going to be on that now you're not. That would be like somebody say yeah I used to be a double eating thing now. Every day I would sit down to put food in my mouth open to it and swallow it, but I moved beyond that now know you.

You can't move beyond that you will not live very long time over the whole breathing thing I read with the best of them, but I don't do it anymore dead in about four minutes okay and you don't outgrow these things either. Alright so number two.

This is really our focus to be a growing Christian you must have a prayer life know what is prayer. Prayer is communicating with and listening to God. Prayer is communicating with and listening to God.

Ephesians 618 tells us that there are different kinds of prayer. It says, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. There's different kinds of prayer you can pray publicly. You can pray privately. You can pray verbally. You can pray silently, you can pray. Kneeling, you can pray standing. You can pray lying down and you can even pray driving.

Just keep your eyes open you can pray with your eyes open and you can pray with your eyes closed as somehow we may think that the proper way to pray is the folder hands and the closer rise above our heads and that's a wonderful way to pray and the reason that's a great way is it shows reverence toward God, and it also by closing awry sort of seals out the distractions for a few moments, but you can pray with your eyes open I've ever been praying and everyone as her eyes close the open your eyes at me or look around. Then somebody else opens, arrive you see them if you like you can your cheating all so awkward you know I we are praying for a meal the other day with the grandkids in and so we said of the kids took everybody closer eyes and bow their heads and in all the kids are praying and so I'm looking around watching and Stella, one of my granddaughters is eating a French fry, but she has her eyes close all time so is really cute, but the main thing is to pray as we can get hung up on it.

All you need to kneel to pray need to close your eyes a break know you can pray. You can pray on your run or your walk. You can pray wherever you are, in fact, the Bible tells us that I can print any position at any time anywhere. You know sometimes I may feel as though God would hear my prayer more if I was in the church sanctuary that if I were on a street corner or in some other place, but that's simply not true. Think of the places people prayed from in the Bible, Daniel reported he pray from a lion's den and David. We prayed out of the field. Peter prayed on top of the water and under the water. First, it was Lord of it. You tell me to come and then it was Lord you underwater prayer.

Speaking of underwater prayers. Jonah prayed from the belly of a whale or great fish God will hear you where ever you are. The main thing is you are is Ephesians 6 is praying always and by the way the word all speaks of the frequency of prayer, the frequency of it sonic you just do your token prayer in the morning and you're good to go do your praying throughout the day your praying in the morning your praying in the afternoon.

Your praying in the evening that for the means of the Bible says that your to pray without ceasing, for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ concerning you. I think we all remember the story of the prophet Daniel. He was raised up to a position of great influence in the kingdom there and its amenities. They wanted to bring them down with the problem was. Daniel lived a scandal free a lot. It was a man of integrity. There were no skeletons in his closet so his enemies surmise that they could bring them down. It was going to have to be concerning him and his God, and they knew that Daniel had a habit not to be showy, but this was his habit. Daniel prayed three times a day in his house and he would open up the windows and do that so everyone could see. So these guys got the king to unwittingly sign into law a decree that no one can pray to any God, but Kim and if they prayed to another God.

That was a violation of the laws awarded Daniel do when he found out this law had been passed. Daniel 610 says when Daniel learned a lot been signed. He went home and no doubt is usual in his upstairs room with his windows open toward Jerusalem and he pray three times a day, as he always it done giving thanks to God your enemies know that you pray, you can pray anywhere. I think it's a beautiful thing when a Christian family, or even an individual, bow their head in a restaurant and give thanks for a meal right I love that when I see people praying in a public way. First Timothy two way, Paul writes, I desire that men pray everywhere lifting up holy hands without Ralph and Downey everywhere. Now it would've made sense to me if Daniel's prayer would've been God help you know what this thread is coming out of this Ptolemy be thrown into a prison or a den of lions. But it's interesting. It says he prayed as he always had and he gave thanks and is prayer gave thanks for what did he know about the law that was pressuring it, but he knew about a God that was more powerful than any law passed by any man, and he knew God was in control. So that's an important thing for us to remember when we pray we are to give thanks and to the Lord for he is good and his mercy endures forever.

Just give thanks not because you feel good not to be because things are going well, but because God is good and God is in control.

Mr. Greg Laurie led the second half of his message in just a moment whatever you send us a letter and email or post a comment on social media. We read every word. Going with Carolyn. Two hours every day whether it would look better. Greg on the radio you change the way I thought about God. God is the Best Way, God, thank you so much. It's so great to hear how these lessons God's word impacted this man and his family and a few of the story to tell Pastor Greg an email Craig harvest.again, that's great@harvest.org were considering the importance of prayer today. Pastor Greg just pointed out how Daniel prayed even when it put them at odds with the king. Pastor Greg continues, we also of the story of Nehemiah. He was a Jew, a living in Babylon in captivity. He was an up position of close proximity to the king. He was a cupbearer which meant that he would try the food before the king ate it. So if you drop dead. The king would pass on that this but it was more than a cupbearer he would become a counselor and a confidant of the king. So was a very significant position, but as I said, here is a Jewish man and he hears about the plight of the Jews in Jerusalem. Another city is lying in rubble and he was burdened about that and he knew we had access to the king. He was thinking about what he could do to help his fellow Jews in one day the king noticed Nehemiah was sad and he asked why and here's what the Bible says Nehemiah 25 with a prayer to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah says I replied, if it pleases your Majesty, and if you're pleased with me, your servant, sent me the Jew to rebuild to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.

I love that the king asked him a question with a prayer to the God of heaven. See you know sometimes you might get the call to go to the principal's office or the bosses office or the Oval Office who notes and you don't have time to go to your prayer closet you don't have time to have a long prayer so you just prayers are on your way. God give me wisdom. Lord, give me the right words to say it says consciousness or an awareness that were ever you go. You are with God and God is with you.

That is what gave Elijah the prophet, the boldness to go to the court of Ahab and say is the Lord God lives, before whom I stand, there will not be rain, but according to my work. But the point is, even though we stood in the presence of the king. He knew he stood in the presence of the King of Kings and when you kneel before God.

You can stand before any man, so why should I pray you're taking notes, are some the right why should I pray simple answer because Jesus told me to, I could stop right there.

Jesus said in Luke 18. One man ought always to pray and not give up. By the way, Jesus himself was a man of prayer. He loved us a model to follow. He was constantly praying in the garden of Gethsemane Jesus is praying, calling on the father and saying if it is possible, let this cup pass from me on the cross, Jesus is praying first father forgive them for they know not what they do and then later, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me.

John 11 when Jesus was raising Lazarus from the dead. It says Jesus looked up the evidence of father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me and then he shouted Lazarus, when Jesus fed the 5000 before he did it. He looked up toward heaven and ask God's blessing on the food. Then there was a time the mothers brought their children to Jesus so he would lay his hands on them and praying for them. So if Jesus felt the need to pray. Certainly, you and I need to pray number two. The reason I should pray this might seem self-serving, but understand what I'm saying. The reason I should pray is because prayer is God's way appointed Wayne for obtaining things because I'm told over and James were to you have not because US that's very interesting. Present you have not because US not so you might be saying that I am one of the God's will for my life but I don't know what his will is will I be prayed about it will help no hello maybe you have not because US not menu knowing I can make you know financial ends meet here and I'm always struggling and I don't know what to do. Have you prayed about it though. Hey, you have not because US.hey, I'm really sickening and I'm just getting worse and I don't know what to do will have you prayed about it, you have not because US not knowing not suggesting that whatever you pray you'll always know the will of God or whatever you pray you will always have more money than you need or whatever you pray you will always be imperfect.

Tell because our terms and God will allow difficulties in our life to cause us to trust in him all the more. But my point is, there are times when the reason we don't have a we need in life is simply because we have not asked the Lord about it so we should pray. Okay, here's another one.

Prayer is the way that we make ourselves ready for the return of Jesus Christ. Prayer is the way that we make ourselves ready for the return of Christ. Luke 2134 Jesus says to keep yourselves. Let your hearts be weighed down with carousing drunkenness and the cares of this life and that day come upon you unexpectedly is referring to the day of the Lord. Watch therefore, and praying always. Prayer is the way also by which God helps us to overcome our anxiety and worry and Alyssa MetLife's full of problems and challenges and were all concerned about our health and our safety, especially with all this going on the world right now and and and we turn on the news and there's so many scary things.

So what am I supposed to do one thing I could do as I can pray. Prayer is the way that God helps me to overcome anxiety and worry. It's been said.

If your knees are shaking kneel on the here's a good verse that every believer should memorize Philippians 46. Don't worry about anything but pray about everything.

Let your requests be made known on the God and the peace of God that passes all human understanding, will keep your heart and your mind. By the way the word therefore keep is an interesting word for me is amount to guard the suggestion is absurd about a Roman guard standing there and so God will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus not to neglect Pastor Greg Laurie will have more from his message called what every Christian needs to know about prayer including a final thought from the study. Just a moment. So stay tuned. Hopefully you have the opportunity to hear all of today's study on a new beginning. Maybe you were able to take some notes if you'd like a chance to hear the message again or referred to a friend just go online to harvest.org look for that title. What every Christian needs to know about prayer test Greg. I think we both have a common admiration for children's author Sally Lloyd Jones yes she so talented being able to take the truths of Scripture and relay them in a way that kids not only understand but embrace and we have a couple of prime examples of that. Right now the way that we really do we have two resources that were offering this month for your gift of any size. One is a fantastic new book designed for children written by Sally Lloyd Jones with the title near and it's based on Psalm 139 know if you're familiar with that Psalm of the psalmist writes where shall I flee from your presence, no matter where I go, you're there if I go to the heights of heaven are the depths of hell you're there and paraphrasing a little bit but in her book, she puts it in a way that a child would understand it, here's here's the way I might read it to my grandkids with maybe some sound effects. God is my father who made everything and I'm a little explored of the white world is near me and he protects me, sees me and he knows me. He is strong and he looks after me is with me always. However far I go. He's always near me. I can climb the highest mountain bike in light of the highest star I can dive into the deepest sea line concealed far far away to the north pool still be there jungle. I could write you desert I can zoom as fast as lightning still be there. Even in the dark at night. There stays close and he will ever because I was little child loves this anomaly are we offering this book near but we have another companion book. It's hardcover with a little candle on it a little magnetic flap that opens and closes in it as the great Bible stories highlighted in it like the account of creation with the title God makes everything, then here's another one brightly colored illustration. God rescues Noah from the storm. Then God helps baby Moses little David beats Goliath and then Jesus loves IKEA send Jesus stop the storm so this is the Bible you give to your child or your grandchild and so they see mom and dad are grandpa and grandma curing their Bibles around them. They've got their little Bible that they can carry as well. This is designed for newborns to aides for these are great resources and I think you need to have them because it's going to be a blessing to the little ones that you can influence and will send these to you for your gift of any size. Now some of you can send a little bit more and invest in our ministry because we give you this beautiful resource and you're able to invest in our ministry of teaching God's word and proclaiming the gospel and some can't do as much financially but send what you can and will rush to your own copy of these two resources from Sally Lloyd, Joan, this book called near the special edition of babies carry along Bible.

We hope you contact us today so we can get these on their way to you will send them to thank you for your support right now and whatever amount the Lord leads and enables to write us today at a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us anytime 24 hours a day at 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or just go online to harvest.org when next I pastor Greg points out, when we see how big our God is will see how smaller problems really are more insight on the power of effective prayer. Next time on the new beginning.

Go pastor Greg has one more illustration from today's message about one guy that always was boring.

It just drove him crazy and he found a solution.

A friend of his came up terms and he you know you don't seem to be stressed out as you normally are you sure you know what I found the solution, worry his buddies to tell me so I hired someone to worry for me. Yeah I hardly got a worry for me. When you pay a guy like that idea $500 a day, you'll make that kind of money. How you get a babysitter. That's for him to worry about my try that. That's all you can remember from this message and remember that Joe don't worry about anything pre-about everything so turn your worries in the prayer so the next time your crypt with a worry for what they get prayer turn right up to the Lord. Yeah, I know, Lord. I bring this before you write. Lord, here's another one for you and here's even another Lord, and he just turned and in the prayers. Here's what the Bible says don't worry but pray.

If you do this the peace of God that passes all human understanding, will keep your heart and mind crises. So as you can see, prayer is not an option for a believer if you want God to speak to you if you want God to provide for you if you want God to help you. Do not worry if you want to be ready for the return of Jesus need to pray and harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God learn how to become harvest partners sign up for daily devotions and find resources to help you grow in your faith harvest.org