Secrets of Spiritual Growth, Part 2

Harvest podcasts between Pastor Greg Laurie are brought to you by harvest partners to receive pastor Greg free online daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org. It asserted our Bibles to Ephesians chapter 6 and Luke chapter 11 were going to look at both of those passages in a few moments. Ephesians 6 and Luke 11 in the title of my messages secrets of spiritual success. Part two now. The question, why is it that some Christians succeed while others to make a profession of faith miserably miserably fail. Why is it that some seem to run the race of life in constant finishing line with flying colors and others just collapsed in a key why because of choices. Choices that people make each and every day it comes down to this, we make our choices in our choices make us know what life is filled with joy the moment you get up in the morning to the time you lay your head down on your pillow. You have made 100, maybe even thousands of choices. It it that's why it's hard to going to some restaurant to go to cheesecake factory and try to figure out what to order.

Their menu is like a telephone book.

It's too long there's too many options. That's why like In-N-Out Burger, I mean the name says it all in and out Burger you know your your options hamburger French fries soft drink maybe a mall pretty much that's it.

Now for those In-N-Out aficionados. There are some variations on the order you can order your regular burger you can order it with cheese.

You can order it.

Protein style which means no bread wrapped in lettuce or you can use some of those In-N-Out secret orders like ordering animal style. That means that an animal has three chewed your burger, which is a little gross for the digest better so check it out not to animal style means that they could patty with some mustard on it. Our number to give you a secret secret. All right, this is how many of you had animal style in an obligate. Here's the next level. Are you ready for the next level.

Let me restate that. Are you ready for heartburn.

This animal style with chopped chili pepper yeah have said I'm talking about okay and then he can get double double that he can get 4 x 4 and I heard you can even get 8 x 8. That is where but I would like to see someone needed 8 x 8 eight patties of me the call about the heart attack special.

I'm sure simple choices that don't mean a lot. Other choices mean a whole lot so here's the thing. If you want to grow spiritually, you will if you don't want to grow spiritually, you won't if you want to succeed you will. It's not the luck of the draw, or something that only happens randomly, it's because people made the right choice to do the right thing. What it comes down to.

We are either going to go forward as a Christian. We are going to go backwards.

We are either going to progress over going to regress reader to gain ground arugula lose ground and if you stand still, you will lose ground so this is a kind of a commitment where every day. I should be seeking to grow spiritually to progress to learn not just to hold my own not to just hold my position but to gain ground in my relationship with Jesus Christ.

Spiritual growth we all need to commit ourselves to it, and there are things that impair their growth and there are things that help that role.

So what we want to do is live lives that will honor the Lord and stay away from things that will drag us down spiritually. Second Timothy 222 says run from anything that stimulates youthful loss follow anything that makes you want to do what is right pursue faith and love and peace. Listen to this and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with your heart to see spiritual growth is based on doing what is good and not doing what is bad. All right, so we have discovered a couple of things together. Number one, we realize that we want to grow spiritually, we must love study and read the word of God that is essential. It's a no-brainer. It's Christianity 101. You have to love the word of God and you have to study the word of God. Joshua 18 says this book of the law shall not apart from your mouth when you meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do all that is written in it for then you will make your way prosperous, and you will have good success, this is what's amazing to me is there are people I will meet who are floundering spiritually and all think when we just ask a couple questions do you read your Bible every day and the look at me like what I carry my Bible. I have a lot of beautiful Bibles to select or choose from brother, but do you read your Bible every single day and in most cases when someone is struggling virtually the answer is no, I not seen reading the Bible. Make your problems go away but I'm sated you're going to grow spiritually, you need a regular diet of the word of God in your life but that's not all. You also need to pray that's are going to focus on this message before us now to be a successful Christian. I must have a prayer line know what is prayer will prayer simplify is hearing from and communicating with God.

There of course are different kinds of prayer that are identified in the Scripture Ephesians 6. Our first tax in verse 18 says, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful of this and with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints noticed that it says all prayer so noticing we should be people of prayer and listen you can pray publicly. You can pray privately. You can pray verbally. You can pray silently any position is acceptable for prayer.

You can pray, kneeling, standing, sitting, lying down, and even driving, but always keep your eyes open. Of course the funny thing we make a big deal about closing your eyes for prayer right.

Let's go ahead and close our eyes to know I were teaching our little granddaughter Stella to pray. It was a stellar. Let's pray and close your eyes down so she closed her eyes and open my eyes and see she was doing it and she was reaching for good with her eyes close and eating. It also technically see her eyes close, but have you prevented gathering of people praying everybody as her head bowed and so for the year, looking around at someone else's look around and you see each other. You're sort of embarrassed because your ugly quick others like you cheated that prayer is not valid.

There's some value in closing your eyes sort of you know, removing the distractions from life but in reality you can pray with your eyes closed their eyes open on your back on your stomach sitting down standing up running whatever position you read, you can pray any time any where.

I think sometimes we may think that our prayers will be more quickly heard by God up there offered in a place of worship. For instance, if I pray here today. We think maybe the Lord might cure them more than if I were to pray some more. Also not necessarily true God hears our prayers wherever we offer the look at some of the places people prayed in the Bible. Daniel pray in the den of lions.

David prayed in a cave and also in the wilderness. Peter prayed on top of and in the water after he say in our good buddy Jonah prayed from the stomach of a whale, so it seems to me that wherever you are, God will hear your prayer. The key is that we should pray frequently impact this phrase in verse 18, with all prayer speaks of the frequency of prayer should pray in the morning you should pray in the afternoon.

You should pray in the evening for the Bible says pray without ceasing, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Daniel the prophet was known to be a man of prayer. He was a godly man. He was influencing the king, and so as it turns out he had been so effective and successful. What he did his enemies hated him.

They wanted to bring them down to the problem in their eyes was Daniel had the weak spots.

He was a man of complete integrity. So the reason we cannot bring this guy down the list we find something concerning him and his God.

So what does Daniel do that we can get a month.

They thought is always praying three times a day because owner's house.

He opens up as Windows opens up the shutters and kneels down and faces Jerusalem will get them in that area is another great thing to be known as a person of prayer.

So they went to the king and the unwittingly signed a decree that condemned to death.

Any person who would pray to any God except him.

Daniel was made aware of this fact.

Daniel, you can no longer only ask you a question. What of the law was passed tomorrow.

That said public prayer is no longer allowed.

If you pray publicly it's against the law effective. You pretty in your home. It's against the law, would you stop praying.

Here's a Daniel, did we really Daniel 610. When Daniel learned the law had been signed. He went home he knelt down as usual in his upstairs room with his windows open toward Jerusalem he pray three times a day, just as he always had done, giving thanks to God. It didn't cause them to change one bit. The pray and I love this because the Bible tells us in first Timothy 28 people should pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands.

Pray everywhere. Should I ask the blessing of God on my meal when I'm out in public absolutely, you know that awkward moment when you're out dining with maybe family or others that are not believers in the food comes and you wonder should we pray, because normally you as a Christian family would pray. But now there's not believers present you don't know if you should pray or not so hello hello I don't know what I say.

Pray pray all initiated all think. Let's pray I don't think you mind if I pray let's pray. I figure they can just watch me as I pray if I want to, you know. And here's the cool thing about prayer. When you pray, you have the floor.

By that I mean when you're praying other people will generally listen and so you can say let's pray and so everyone bows her head there.

Not all believers and you can say Lord, thank you for this food you provided. It and thank you for the relationship we have, through Jesus Christ, and that he came and died on the cross and rose from the dead. He wellheads about her eyes are closing were just praying. Maybe somebody at this table needs Jesus. If you would like to accept Christ, whether to just slip up. God bless, I don't suggest you do that, but that pride be proceeded.

Here's something you might be surprised to hear me say when you pray for a meal.

Keep your prayers sure you know why we want to eat nothing worse than having the food right there. II don't commend but not limited here's the thing with a man, you need to know this about a man when you put food in front of a man. It's like a dog with food.

Is this the dog eats the food. The man wants to do the samurai were not that complex.

Trust me and when we have to pray these long prayers over a meal. You don't have to pray for all the missionaries around the world. There's another time to do that. Just give thanks and eat the food. Something to consider in the Bible you will find a prayers in public were longer and prayers and that usually prayers in private. Were longer and prayers in public were shorter. A lot of times we pray long prayers in public and short prayers in private when it ought to be the other way around. And so, pray give thanks for what God is giving you were ever you are want you to notice something else about Daniel when he found out this decree had been signed that no one can pray to any God or they would be cast into a den of lions, we read that Daniel pray don't. What did Daniel pray for the sake God help me, or God deliver me your God save me from this faith know we read that Daniel pray giving thanks to God. I love that you see Daniel reminding himself that God was on the throne that God was in control of his life and that God was good to give thanks to the Lord. That's a great thing to get everything in perspective.

Lord you are in control now. Sometimes we have the luxury of taking our time and pray like Daniel had and other times we only have a moment to throw up a quick prayer. This is illustrated in the story of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was the cupbearer of the king when the Israelites are captive are captives of Babylon, and to be the cupbearer meant that you were in close proximity to the king all the time. Cupbearer was basically a person who would take the king's food before he ate it taste with the king was going to drink before he drank it. Somebody mom is going to poison the king you would die first. The king would say I will be leaving that today you are sort of the king's guinea pig, but more than that. You also because of your close proximity were confident of the king, sometimes even a counselor to the king. So one day the king noticed that Nehemiah was sad in them. I didn't want to say why was ever here is the deal. Nehemiah was a Jew and he heard that his fellow Jews were in distress because Jerusalem was lying in ruins, and it was burned down, and so forth and so we read that Nehemiah 25 that the king asked him why are you so sad and we read with a prayer to the God of heaven. Nehemiah reply if it pleases your majesty and your pleased with them your servant submitted Judy to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.

The heating of the time to go to was also open the windows like Daniel, he just offered a quick prayer.

They haven't sometimes you're in a situation in something comes up and you're like a moment you say Lord help me. You can sit with your eyes open you don't even after verbalizing you can say it out loud if you want to be just will God help me right now so it's asking you that question you're praying for. Give me the wisdom right now to answer this question, you get that call the boss wants to see you all. God help me.

Don't let me get for your call from the principal you get a call from the Oval Office. I don't know where calls going to come from you.

Go appear before a person of influence.

Lord, give me wisdom give me the right words. The main thing is pray.

Here's what you need to know. Prayer can be continuous all day long. The Bible tells us that Elijah wanted to the court of King Ahab, a wicked man and said the Lord God lives, before whom I stand, Elijah was aware of the fact that wherever he went. He stood in the presence of God. Listen, you are never alone wherever you go. God is with you, and you can commune with him and fellowship with him and prayed to him and hear from him. That's the idea of continuous prayer being in fellowship and communion with the Lord. So let's address a couple questions why should I pray short answer because Jesus told me to because Jesus told me to. Jesus said, locating one men ought always to pray and do not give, and he nominally told me to pray, but he left me an example of prayer Jesus was constantly praying. Here was God in human form walking our planet reading our air and yet feeling the need to be in constant communion with us.

Father, it was not uncommon when the disciples were praying. It's usually sleeping to see the Lord pray. We know while he was there, and is 70.

He pray father of its possible let this cup pass from me as he hung on the very cross of Calvary. His first statement was father forgive them for they know not what they do. Later he prayed, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, we read that he spoke first to his father in John 11 saying father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of those that were standing here so the believe that you sent me. Then he shouted Lazarus come for when he fed the 5000 people, we read that he looked up toward heaven and ask God's blessing on the food we read that the mothers brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. So here's my point. Jesus felt the necessity to pray constantly how much more should we pray all the time. Pray about all things he's given us an example to follow. And we to need to be people of prayer. Now that brings me to point number two why should I pray number one because Jesus told me to number two lesson we should pray because prayer is God's appointed way for obtaining thing.

Prayer is God's appointed way for obtaining things now that is not the only reason we pray though that may come as a surprise to some. I think something prayer is just a time of bringing your needs before God and there is a place for bringing your needs before God, but that is not the primary purpose of prayer will identify that in a moment. Having said that prayer is God's way of giving things to you that you need in your life were told over and James for two you have not because you ask not. I suggest to you that there are things that God may want to give to you things that God may want to do for you things that God may want to say to you that have not been given that have not been done and have not been said, because you have not asked you have not because you ask not. Maybe your thing was that I never know the will of God for my life. Could it be you have not because you ask not what is it that I never able to lead other people to Christ. Could it be you have not because you ask not.

Why is it that I'm always struggling financially, just barely scraping by.

Could it be you have not because you ask not. Why is it that I'm ill and in this sickness is continued on her this problem. Could it be you have not because you ask not knowing that suggesting you that God will always give you everything that you ask for and I'm not saying that he will heal every person to ask for a touch but at the same time I am saying he will heal some one up there was something God wanted to do that had not yet happened because you simply had not prayed about it. What if you got to lose. I mean maybe the Lord will say no.

But what if he says yes you have not because you ask not to. We need to pray number two. Prayer is the way by which is usually number three. Prayer is the way by which God helps us overcome our anxiety and worry again number three. Prayer is the way by which God helps us to overcome her anxiety and worry. Life is full of troubles we have concerns about our future about her health, our family, our finances, the list goes on. There are things that happen that scare us, sometimes even terrify it's been said of your knees are shaking Neil on them so I have a suggestion for you instead of worrying, pray, how many of you worry raise up your hand how many of you never worry that I am concerned fairly handy. Okay then you're not alive.

Everybody worries a little and we all have that anxiety. I admit that I work and I don't say that. Probably I were no it's not a virtue. It can be a sin.

What we really are failing to trust in God. There are things that concern us things that alarmist things that cause us to be filled with anxiety. So what should we do the next time you're tempted to worry. Pray here's what were told in Philippians 46.

Don't worry about anything but pray about everything. Tell God what you need and think Murali is that if you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand lesson. His peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Now notice what that verse says and what it does not say don't worry about anything, pray about everything and God will take your problems away is that we just read no, it says don't worry about anything, pray about everything in the peace of God that passes all human understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus to see. Maybe God will take your problem a way that's possible, but maybe he will sometimes you pray and the problem is still there but here's what happens is you get perspective, you get perspective on what's going on and you see God for who he is and does she see a problem for what if you have a big God, you have a relatively small problem. But if you have a big problem.

It might be that you have a small God. In other words, you're not seeing God in his glory, and what he can do know your problem may not go away, the disabled person will pray and then when their prayer is done in the open. The rise of disability is still there, the parent of the prodigal will pray and whether prayer is completed. The prodigal is still gone. The parent of a child or a husband or a wife or anybody who has lost a loved one when they pray the problem is still there. I mean I am an things I I'm in the anxiety quite often because I'll just be hit by the reality still of the my son not being with me. It still in some ways incomprehensible to me and I'm overwhelmed at times. I pray so what do I pray God bring him back. I don't think that's likely. So here's what I pray.

God help me, like the psalmist said no, my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I tell you what God does for me.

He gives me his keys and he gives me the strength to get through what I am dealing with. And he will do the same for any person that will call upon him. I need prayer to get to the day I need prayer to get up in the morning. I need prayer to get through the afternoon and I need prayer to go to sleep at night. I am not ashamed to say that I need to pray because I need God's help and he gives it to me and give it to you as well. Number four. Prayer is one of the ways in which we make ourselves ready for the return of Jesus Christ. Again, prayer is one of the ways in which we make ourselves ready for the return of Jesus Christ in Luke chapter 21 verse 34 to 36. Jesus says that this is from a modern translation was be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get told by parties and drinking, and shopping. Otherwise that is going to take you by complete surprise and spring on you suddenly like a trap. It's going to come on everyone everywhere at once.

So whatever you do don't go to sleep at the switch, pray constantly that you will of the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming. And then upon your feet before the Son of Man. Jesus told us of that day and hour of his return. No man knows only the father take heed therefore he says and watch and pray so we need to be people of rare prayer is so important. If you want God to speak to you. You pray if you want them to provide for you to pray. If you want help with your worry you pray you want to be ready for his return.

You pray, but sometimes we pray in we don't like the answer, but will say God never answers my prayer we mean by the water. Pray for this didn't happen.

God doesn't answer my prayers. Holland knows as much of an answer is yes is this and it but we don't like that drive prayed and God said no that's an answer. Don't say you didn't answer your prayer. Say you don't like the answers that God gives to your prayer that would be more accurate but listen, here's something to consider when you're praying. If the request is wrong, God will say no.

If the timing is wrong, God will say, slow. If you are wrong, God will say grow, but of the request is right in the timing is right and you are right, God will say go want to hear that again. Listen if the request is wrong, God will say no. If the timing is wrong, God will see slow Susie.

If you are wrong, God will say grow the request is right, the timing is right and you are right, God will say go.

So here's the question. Is there something we can do to cause God to say go more often. Is there something we can do to see our prayers answered more often in the affirmative. My answer to that question is yes. I think there are some things that we can do. Let's see if we can discover them together in the most well-known prayer in all of the Bible in Luke chapter 11 turn there with you if you would we call this the Lord's prayer beautiful poetic prayer that probably one of the most well-known statements from the Scripture one that many have committed to memory in a way the Lord's prayer is not a completely accurate description of it because the Bible never calls that that we call it that. I don't know came up with the first but this is not a prayer. Jesus would've ever pray because one of the parts of it says forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Jesus would never prayed a prayer like that it wasn't a prayer he prayed. It was a prayer he gave in request or in response to the request of the disciples who asked him, Lord, teach us to pray you want to read. The real Lord's prayer. If you will go over the John 17 and there you will read the prayer that only Christ could break so more accurate description of the prayer were about to read might be. We can call it the disciples prayer because it's really our prayer, but for reference will continue to refer to it as the Lord's prayer, but I just wanted to mention that. Let's read it now. Luke 11 verse one.

Now it came to pass as Jesus was praying in a certain place when he sees one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples might underline that phrase teach us the real come back so he said to them when you pray, say, our father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us are or are indebted to us.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, or more literally the evil one and another gospel says that he then said, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. The Lord's prayer. Beautiful words but I noticed I want to point out to that, they said, Lord, teach us to pray didn't say Lord, teach us a prayer Lord teaches the prayer the pullout when things get really bad that some people treat the Lord's prayer when crisis that our father were never in Hollywood. So, like, we can put it behind us. In case of emergency. Pray this prayer. There's nothing wrong with praying this prayer verbatim.

It's a beautiful, powerful prayer, but it wasn't given merely as a prayer to pray. It was given as a model for prayer or a template for prayer.

Another gospel tells us Jesus said after this manner therefore you should pray so. It is a structure for our prayer. So how should I pray I should pray our father who art in heaven.

When I approach God in prayer. I am speaking to the all powerful, all-knowing creator of the entire universe however noticed that it does not say this is how you want to pray for our Creator in heaven. He is that that somehow Jesus told us to address how about our sovereign, who art in heaven.

God is indeed our sovereign, that is not what Jesus taught us to break or even our God, who art in heaven, though he is our God. That is not what Jesus said. He said after this manner therefore you should pray for our father who art in you realize what a revolutionary idea that was for his first century Jew here you see that the Hebrew people would be raised of the great respect for God they would approach God to the high priest would offer the animal sacrifice on their behalf to think of calling God father was unthinkable.

In fact, one of the reasons they crucified Jesus was because he called God his father, but now Jesus, the Lamb of God who is taken away the sin of the world is died in our place is open up a new relationship between us and God the father and now we too can call them father, after the Lord was risen.

He said to Mary Magdalene, ISN, and I go to my God and your God in the my father your father is my father. Now I can call them that. Why because I've been adopted into the family. That's why the Bible tells me in Romans. I haven't received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but one of adoption, whereby I cry Abba father ready to take to the step further because there are moments Abba father means daddy or populates a more affectionate term so it's not just father. It's daddy pop father. There's tenderness.

There's intimacy there and some of us struggle with this because I don't know, dad. You had or have maybe would've father that was distant and cold and maybe hard, never affirmed you. Maybe some of you had fathers were mean and austere, maybe even some were abusive others of you never had a father to speak of. You basically abandon you. So when you think of your father in heaven.

It's hard because you sort of attach the qualities of the weaknesses of your earthly father dear heavenly father, we need to think differently.

God the father is not like your earthly father, God the father loves you unconditionally. God the father will be there for you no matter what he will never abandon you, God the father loves you with an ever lasting love. He's my father, who art in heaven, my father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name.

I am taught to say what is that mean that been set apart your name me your name be glorified, how it would be your main to say that means in my life and character as a follower of Jesus. I want to set Jesus Christ apart and I want to live a holy life.

Therefore I need to ask myself of my interests and ambitions and pursuits. Is this for his glory. Can I write hallowed be thy name over what I'm about to do. Can I write hallowed be thy name over my career choice or the choice of a boyfriend girlfriend husband or wife can I write hallowed be thy name.

Over the programs I watching TV or the movies I go to or the music I listen to. Can I write hallowed be thy name over the things that I'm engaged and if not that I should change notice before a word of personal petition is offered. I consider I am speaking to the Almighty God our father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Now this brings us to principle number one how to have your prayer answered in the affirmative and also we are shown the purpose of prayer. The primary purpose of prayer. If you want to see her prayer answered in the affirmative. If you want God to see us more often. Here it is. You must pray according to the will of God. You must pray according to the will of God our father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done.

Sometimes God will answer our prayers differently than we thought he would record a story of three men who were hiking through the forest and they came to large raging violent river and they wanted to cross over so they decided to pray, the first man pray God give me the strength to cross the river and suddenly God gave a big beefy arms and he dove in, swam across almost drowned twice, but he made it to the other side's argument watching this.

This is a true story. By the way, notice, and actually second. Then said God give me the strength and the tools to cross the river to move his arm became large and muscular and also a little canoe was provided in the climate and panel across the river. He capsized wisely, made it to the other side. The guy watching all of this the Lord give me the strength and the tools and the intelligence to cross the river and prove he became a woman not done. She checked the map type 100 yards upstream and walk across the bridge, but here's the thing. What is the primary objective of prayer.

It is to line mine will up with the will of God to pray and is not overcoming God's reluctance is laying hold of his willingness listen. Prayer is not getting my will in heaven is getting God will honor. So here's the goal Lord what you want. I want to pray according to your will, because I'm told over the book of first John chapter by verse 14. This is the confidence we have in him. If we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And we have the petitions desired of him. Listen, nothing lies outside the reach of prayer, except that which lies outside the will of God. So here's how I pray.

I pray for what I think is right, but I always add nevertheless not my will but yours be done. Actually heard a preacher say never pray now your will for my me done, not your will, but my be done and then the preacher said. Instead, you should break my will be done. Okay, you go ahead and do that and I'll stand here and watch lightning strike you someday you crazy.

The Bible teaches me to pray, not your will, which is me, not my will but yours be done. Listen when you lose a little bit.

You begin to realize God knows more than you and I figured Linda while you will actually think God for unanswered prayers are another way to put it.

You'll thank God that he said no to you what an earlier time, because you realize what 2020 hindsight he didn't know what you were talking about. And now you say Lord, that thing I didn't want was the best thing for me to think I didn't want was the worst thing for me. I get it now. Thank you Lord your kingdom come, your will be done.

Don't ever be afraid to pray.

Sometimes a person might come in their you know how many and their sectors, something else is going on there to pray from Elsa (and all pray Lord purchase person heal this person right now.

We ask this in faith, but then I'll always add the Lord you might have a purpose. We don't know about.

So, nevertheless, not our wills, but yours be done.

That's a copout, somebody that's not a copout. That is an acknowledgment that I don't know everything, but God does them asking him to use executive privilege and do we want to do where he wants to do it because God's will is better than my own. Having said these things now we come to personal petition verse three.

Give us this day our daily bread that we wrote the Lord's prayer.

Here's how it would look our father worn in heaven, hallowed be your name. Give us this day our daily bread, sort of a hello God, how you doing here's what I need. Let's go is my grocery list. Nothing wrong with bringing your petitions before God. But that's not how the prayer is structured.

My father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, set apart your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven now, Lord, give me this day my daily bread. Here's what we sometimes wonder why is it that this all-knowing and all-powerful, omnipresent God who created the entire universe would care about you and I as individuals.

As Job said in chapter 7 verse 17. What is man that you make so much of him that you give him so much attention, why would God care about my needs and even my one. Why would he commit himself to providing my daily bread.

Many reasons can be cited to let me just draw one that significant. Why because he loves you. That's why loves you and guess what he loves to bless you, our God is generous is not stingy maybe had a stingy day. No, you have to earn it that you dear chores, no go do them goddesses out here on here's a little more take a little more what I don't deserve it.

I know that I love you God loves to bless you and I think the picture might better be of a grandparent over apparent. This is not put parents down but it just means a grandparent. Well, we just tend to overindulge a little bit, don't you know we take the kids and were watching them only given back to mom and dad are all wired on sugar in the Avenue toy. You shouldn't have done that. I know, but you go by know you know the analogy breaks up very quickly. But here's my point is not hard for me to do something for my children. Nor is it hard for me to do something for my grandchildren. It's my delight.

Jesus said it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. And in the same way when you go to God. The Lord says I want to pour my blessings upon you, so you won't have room enough to receive it. Me show you my love. But here's an interesting thing I'm talked to pray, give me this day my daily bread notice.

It does not say give me this month my monthly bread. If God provided for you monthly. You would probably call upon him monthly, give me this day my yearly bread, no give me this day my daily bread. God arranges things in such a manner. Well I will have to be dependent upon him on a daily basis. Here's something else that prayer is acknowledging its acknowledging that everything that I have comes from God. Sure you can work hard, you can save and invest wisely and you can buy your own food and clothes and pay for your house or car. Whatever else, but here's what you need to remember that all came to you from God no matter what it can be from God.

Need to remember that Deuteronomy 818 says remember the Lord your God. It is he that gives you the ability to produce well. So the point is simply this pay. God gave you all those things.

You acknowledge that Lord give me this day my daily bread, and doing something Lord this food on the table that came from you everything that I have get from you.

My health from you, my children, my family, my grandchildren, my career anything else.

It's all from you, Lord, thank you for I give you the glory for in the Lord you keep providing for me that's what you're really praying give me this day my daily bread, prayer. If you want to grow spiritually and must be of vital and regular part of your life. Worrying and start praying, praying about everything communicating with God through the day and the nine when you get up in the morning when you lay your head back down on the pillow.

Pray it's a privilege of the believer. Having said that let me close by pointing out that unknown believer can offer their prayers, but only a Christian can truly pray she prayer is privilege. Privilege given to those that have relationship with God.

A lot of people off of the little prayers refers a learn as little children, and I will put our kids to bed at night and will say pray this prayer now with me now in the 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. Good prayer to teach a small child honey you might die tonight when this so as you pray if I should die before I weigh.

By the way, honey, don't let the bedbugs bite. Good night like your freaking your kids out here. That's a biblical prayer and if you're doing that prayer. It's time to move on. Okay.

But here's the thing we were little prayers that we been taught to pray and will pull them out here and there'll pray the prayer journal this is a really good prayer to print this sentence. Here's another none of that's not how it works is a little prayers for prayer. It's communication and that's only for the believer see until your relationship with God is a wall that separates you from him in your prayers will not go far. Isaiah 59 says, behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save nor is his ear heavy, and it cannot hear.

But your sins have separated you from God. So here's the point you need to get that barrier removed so you can communicate with the Lord and start talking to him and hearing from you.

The only way to do that is by admitting your sin and realizing that Jesus Christ, the son of God died in your place on the cross for you so you can come into this relationship with God and have this prayer life and more so in closing, if you never asked Jesus Christ to come in your life. If you've never asked for his forgiveness. You can do right now as we close in prayer and you can begin a whole new life of following.

Let's pray now father, thank you for the privilege of prayer.

Thank you that we can talk to you right now with confidence that you hear us and I pray for any care or those that are listening who may not yet know you, Lord, help them to see their need for you help them to come to you this day. We pray a hedge about her eyes are closing were praying maybe would like to asked Jesus Christ to come in your life you like to be forgiven of your sin you would like to discover his plan and purpose for you. You want to go to heaven when you die, if so I'm a lead you in a prayer right now and I want you to pray this prayer right where you said this is a prayer where you are asking Christ to come in your life.

So again, as I pray this prayer you prayer after me and this is where you're asking Jesus to forgive you.

Let's pray now for this after me, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but you died on the cross and shed your blood for every sin I've ever committed. I'm sorry for that sin and I churn from it now. I ask you to come in the my life and be my Savior and my Lord my God and my friend.

I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me for giving me in Jesus name I pray