The Refreshing Power of Prayer: An Open Invitation from the Lord

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When you subscribe to pastor Greg daily depots. Learn more and sign up@harvest.org. Why don't we pray more and we don't pray more, because we think we don't know. We're all never coming up today.

New beginning pastor Greg Laurie says that's no excuse for prayer was spent on social media every day so don't say you don't have time to pray as you will make time for what matters to you, man of the piece of paper and said, never do something, you are so it was your jaw hitting the floor. Imagine what Tatian will today on a new beginning we have in the Tatian from God himself. Any time in prayer, no cell phone required Greg Laurie is offering insights to help encourage great truths of God's word starting a new series, but I'm simply calling repress things we must not forget, as Christians and in this message I want to talk to you about the refreshing power of prayer by talking to somebody right now who really doesn't know how to pray at all you know when we are with the little children before they go to bed. Sometimes will see 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.

I think of the time the lesson you made in your sleep and I and I just pray that God takes your soul really. So, will they remember to pray the prayer sleep. Try and don't let the bedbugs bite. All you 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 remember the first time your prayer was answered.

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 spend 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. Assuming media and you see people doing it constantly. There there walking across crosswalks would trump a gumbo side 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 set of checking your phone, someone put it this way and I quote one of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove out the last day that prayer looseness was not from lack of time." How true is that then you factor in all the time that we spend 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 was a story of the Israelites leaving Egypt and going into this promised land flowing with milk and honey it 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 crash, 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 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 progress 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 down to pick it up and it was a lamp and an ice erupted.

A genie appeared. This is a true story, of course, in the genie said all master I will grant you one wish whatever you want. I will be yours. Lady said one Westwood up in the three witches.

He said you know we've had the cup back because of cold. Okay, I think sometimes people are blaming everything on cove with these days right all Jacob and we can't do three witches right now, all while one wish season.

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. I'm of the go big and finally 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 God sound like a 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 is 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 unto 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 one 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 the 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. Your great glory will have the second half of his message just a moment whatever you send us an email, text or post a comment on social media. We read every word. Pastor Greg, I don't know if you ever seen this or not but I just wanted to say thank you for all you do. I was raised in the church and was saying in a very yummy like a lot of folks who grew up in church, I fell away and one day I heard you on the radio and your message me I needed to My life right with God thinking were so great here changed lives through harvest ministries and if you have a story to tell of how these studies have touched your life, that of a family member. I hope you'll contact us today.

Email Pastor Craig and Greg at harvest on again. That's great@harvest.org will today. Pastor Greg is offering some very practical principles on the power of prayer and you can get a replay of this discussion@harvest.org gerbil forest. Now Matthew 20 is choose scenarios of prayer and in this text were going to find how to and how not to pray.

How to how not to pray.

In both of the stories Jesus asks the people before them. What is it that you want first, forget the look of the mother went to Santos. She love 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 were unable to see.

They were blind. 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 reasons of the scribes, 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 so long 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 wanted to write again, 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 said, you will indeed drink my cup to 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 a detailed view of what is about to happen. 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. I'm 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 this 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 latter 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 Stallone, 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 the 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 fire should be called down from heaven on the people who lived in that city.

Jesus is likely 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 here and 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 yet 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 or 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 with it all yeah 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 some and 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 to them. A.

Do you know what you're even asking for what it Stallone the mother and James and John want she wanted her sons to be on the right and left hand of Jesus, Stallone, by the way, happened to be standing at the foot of the cross.

When Jesus was so fine, who was on the right and left hand of Jesus to criminals who are also crucified.

I'm sure at that moment Stallone said, Lord, thank you for not answering my prayer got 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 Stallone and her two boys, James and John, the sons of thunder.

Why because he loved solicitor of Ghana 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 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, saying, 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. So here's Jesus still on his way to the cross on his way.

The suffer and to guys on the roadside crisis passing by the call out to him. Some of the dish still bothering 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 screen they screamed, I guess. I believe that old adage, the squeaky wheel gets the oil right and Jesus stop 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. I was stunned by how many stars I could see you just don't see that many starts here in California just incredible overwhelming to 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 decline 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 in times of crisis. They pray sociably today on a new beginning good insight on prayer from Pastor Greg Laurie and he is more insight to come in his message called the refreshing power of prayer.

What were making available a fascinating new book called the Jesus music Pastor Greg you wrote a book called the Jesus revolution talking about the Jesus movement go.

How much is Jesus music linked to the Jesus movement yeah Dave, I would see it's very linked.

It was well they say the music of the 60s was a soundtrack of a generation then that's true, and the Jesus music which would be late 60s onto the 70s and relieved of the present day is also a soundtrack of a generation, but it's a Jesus generation and it's very important music because it was borne out of revival. It was revival music in its early stages. It's worth noting that in the beginning we call the Jesus music and later became an industry known as contemporary Christian music, but it really started with just songs about Jesus and I had a front row seat we were attending Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa in 1970 which was the epicenter of the Southern California Jesus movement and all these bands were forming before our eyes every week. It was like a new band. There was bands with things like love song.

Of course, gentle faith, joy, country Bay mustard seed faith.

Lots of faith.

Back in those days, but what was really unique was these were songs that were written to speak to people they were songs that express his newfound faith that these musicians had found after coming to Christ, and so was very exciting to see and then it became a whole industry and others contemporary Christian music stations. Of course, and in huge events and concerts that happen all around the world. But it started very simply and it started in revival and we have a brand-new book that sort of tracks the history of Jesus music back in the late 60s early 70s. Yes we do. It's called the Jesus music written by Marshall Terrell, by the way, there's a documentary film put out by the year when brothers and kingdom productions by the same name an amazing film, but this book the Jesus music written by Marshall Terrell tells you the story and I was able to have some input in the writing of this book because I was there. I wrote the introduction to the book as well and as a matter of fact, some of you may recognize Marshall's name because we have written three books together. One of them is Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon. The another is Steve McQueen the salvation of an American icon, and of course Billy Graham, the man I knew. So Marshall is a great writer is a good researcher and this is gonna take you back to the beginning of this music to the present day. There's a lot of stories you read, and a lot of things you will learn and I'm sure you did not know about some of your famous artists out there and have touch our lives in so many ways. Yet such an interesting book, you'll love it. Even if you're a relative newcomer to Jesus music again is the new book called the Jesus music and would be glad to send a copy your way to thank you for your partnership with us in making the studies available each day. It's only through listener support the best possible so thanks so much for your generosity. Writer set a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.

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