Jesus' Prayer for You | Privilege of Prayer

We are glad you're joining us for a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast supported by harvest partners get more encouraging audio content. When you subscribe to pastor Greg daily defenses. Learn more and sign up@harvest.org God was answer your prayer. We need an answer to God was the word sort of remember the marriage made it in words and will so more devices � she pastor Greg Laurie points out that God wants wants to come to him in prayer.

Jesus is your father was your give you might say, hey, you are not really our door is always open, really, anytime in the morning (figures, maybe a little overly well today on a new beginning pastor Greg Laurie points out, we got advisors to come to prayer absolutely means, and surprisingly Jesus actually pray for Josh. He was with his family over at his grandmother's house and grandma put the food on the table a little.

Josh started the shout out. His mom stopped him just what you doing, we always pray before we eat our food and just said well we don't need to, and his mom said wise is because grandma knows how to cook.

Here's the thing. You can pray anywhere at any time, and what a privilege. Prayer is coming, for it was like a root canal like root canal surgery and who like to even go to the dentist by many of us, but you know let's say prayer was like a root canal and every time you prayed, you felt that pain we would still pray because we need to pray.

But here's the thing.

Prayer is like a root canal. Prayer is an painful prayer is just the commitment that we make what we call out to the Lord and we don't pray as much, as we ought to if there is a sin that's prevalent in the church today.

It would certainly be prayerless that the sin of omission. We talk about breaking God's commandments, but a sin of omission.

In contrast to the sin of commission where he did something wrong is not doing what I should do and so often we miss out of what God wants to do because we don't pray, listen, you can pray anywhere. Paul prayed in a dungeon.

Daniel prayed in a cave filled with hungry lions, Peter prayed on the surface of the water. Then he prayed underwater and Jonah prayed from the belly of a great fish, so the main thing is that we pray, and here's what God really cares about.

He doesn't care so much about the length of your prayer.

He doesn't care about the eloquence of your prayer.

He cares about the heart of your prayer. That's a goblet set up for them out of that stool of worship as well� So interested in your posture or your volume, or even your pitch though it's nice to have nice pitch, but he really looks on the heart more than any thing else and Jesus says your father knows what things you need a before you ask them now.

You might feel if that's the case why pray here's the answer. Pretty simple prayer is not informing God. Prayer is inviting God, let me say that again. Prayer is not informing God when I call out to the Lord in prayer and offer my petition. I'm not informing God of something he does not already know what it is inviting God into my situation in the my challenges in the my problems. This must be thought of as a relationship between a father and a child the value our prayers and keeps me in touch with God. You know sometimes people come up to me and say would you pray for me and I always tried to either do it there or do it immediately so I don't forget and sometimes all replacing crisis we call out to other Christians and say remember us in prayer.

And that's a good thing to do wife because Jesus said in Matthew 1819 if two of you agree on earth concerning anything they ask, it will be done for them by my father in heaven there is no question that there is power in unified prayer. That's what we need to pray with each other and we need to pray for each other. But let me add something else.

Even when we forget. I have really good news for you. Jesus Christ is in heaven interceding for you right now think about that.

That's true you know that is Hebrews 725 says he's able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Seven. Romans 834 it says who is he that condemns Christ Jesus who died more than that, who was raised to life.

Listen, is at the right hand of God and he's interceding for us. Robert Murray McShane, a writer for many years ago made the statement and I quote if I can hear Christ praying for me in the next room. I would not fear a million enemies distance makes no difference. He is praying for me." That a great quote live so true, so here's the question what does Jesus pray when he intercedes for us and none is revealed to us here in John chapter 17 that we often referred to the very familiar prayer our father who art in heaven how it would be her name. Your kingdom come, your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven, and so forth as the Lord's prayer. The Bible never calls out the Lord's prayer but we do.

I think if we are really accurate. We might call it the disciples prayer because to the point that was not a prayer that Jesus himself ever pray that was a prayer given in response to the request of the disciples who said Lord, teach us how to pray as John the Baptist talked to his disciples to break. So Jesus said okay. After this manner or in this way, pray our father who art in heaven, and so forth. So that is not really the Lord's prayer, Jesus never prayed. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us.

Jesus had no sin to be forgiven up okay so that's the disciples prayer here in John chapter 17. This is the real Lord's prayer. This is a prayer that only Jesus could pray. So it really gives us an insight into his desire for us for as he prays it shows us his heart.

And by the way Jesus Christ prayed a lot that's interesting is that he was God walking among us, yet he always was praying to the father. Luke 612 says one day Jesus went to a mountain to pray and he prayed to God all my before Jesus chose the 12 apostles. We read in Luke 612, he prayed all night and it was while he was praying that we read about him being transfigured, we see him praying in the garden of Gethsemane. As he contemplated the horrors of the cross, saying father of its possible let this cup pass from me. We also see him praying from the cross. In fact, this first word from Calvary were father forgive them for they know not what they do and then he closed by saying father, into your hands I commit my spirit. So he was always praying. So what is the point of it is if Jesus himself felt the necessity to pray being God, much more should we pray being well us with all of our flaws with all of our shortcomings will all of our weaknesses, how much more should we follow the example that Jesus said for us to pray, and here's an interesting thing about this prayer that we can read the moment he prayed it out loud where his disciples could hear it. We could have done it privately and we would've never heard the prayer but he prayed it out loud. He wanted them to hear this prayer he wants us to hear this firm by the way you are spoken of in this prayer as well so he prayed it in a way that they could all hear another's prayer can be broken up into three sections. First, he prayed for himself versus 1 to 5. He told the father that his work on earth was finished. Secondly, he prayed for his disciples versus 6 to 19. He prayed that the father would keep them and sanctify them, and then he closed the prayer by praying for you and me and the whole church that would come in, so that's in the verses 20 to 26 of John 17 so let's start with point number one Jesus began by praying for himself. By the way, that's not a bad thing to do RA Torrey a great preacher once it quote a prayer for yourself is not by any means necessarily a selfish prayer." So don't feel it self-indulgent to pray for yourself absolutely pray for yourself, and bring your needs before the Lord. Mr. Greg Moore will have the second half of this message just a moment we send these daily studies via radio satellite in our podcast. We don't always know how these messages are touching lives. But when we hear the stories of our listeners, heartaches and regrets were encouraged to know the impact on people's lives and why I write Lori. I think the one on that more and long journey yelling and I I only my great love. 819 or Mary, I will be not only my baby to be united with him. Story's forgiveness story to tell of how Pastor Greg studies to you, so why not call the insured's just call 1-866-871-1144 again, 866-871-1144 today. Pastor Greg is introducing us to a prayer.

Jesus prayed not just any prayer. Prayer he actually prayed on our behalf. So let's read all the great Lord's prayer John 17. I like to read verses 1 to 6.

At this moment and Jesus spoke these words and lifted his eyes to heaven, and said father, the hour has come. Glorify your son that your son may glorify you as you have given him authority over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him in this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work you have given me to do. And now, oh father, glorify me together with yourself, with the glory that I had with you before the world was. There was so much there. But here's something very interesting. Look at verse when he lifted his eyes to heaven and allotted to make a big deal about how you pray will teach our children the let's pray close your eyes and Folger hand right and then the kids get in trouble if they open their eyes right I've ever been a little prayer gathering. Let's praying and then your eyes are open for some reason in somebody else's eyes are opening these each other and it's like an awkward prayer moment like you're both cheating is cheating to open your eyes when you pray because Jesus here. Look at what it says. He says he lifted his eyes they haven't and said he looked up and he pray.

So what we say. Let's pray you don't have to bow your head and close your eyes you can. That's one way to pray. It is not a bad way.

By the way, because it's blocks things out right but you can lift up your eyes and and look at the Lord, as you pray, you can pray on your knees you can pray sitting down. You can pray down on your face. You can pray laying down.

There's many positions we read about in the Bible where people pray but listen to what is praise. He says the hour has come is a very important phrase, he would often use it. In fact, when his mother wanted Jesus to show his power and his first miracle that he performed at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, he responded dear woman, what is that to you my hour has not yet come in John seven we read about the religious leaders wanting to arrest Jesus. It says the leaders tried to arrest him, and no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come will know Jesus is my hour has come, what hour the hour of his betrayal is arrest his crucifixion and resurrection from the dead.

The hour of both darkness and light, the hour of Satan's attack in the hour of our purchased salvation.

So now he's seeing the hours come. This brings us back to the why a prayer.

Why should we pray because God will allow circumstances in our lives to keep us dependent on him.

Let me ask a question if you never had a problem again. You never had an unpaid bill.

You never had a single sickness for you or any member of your family. You never had a single conflict a single problem.

You knew the answer to every question.

You always do the right decision to make. What you pray or else I would know you probably wouldn't as much as you think God will allow these things in our lives to keep us dependent upon him. This is very important so we call out to him because we need his help. That's why God doesn't give us all of his glorious gifts in one lump sum he's a father and he wants to hear from us in know this God wants to answer your prayer. You know how good is that we need an answer for. God wants to enter our prayer amendment sounds like a marriage made in heaven, and indeed it is.

I want to answer your prayer with him will I need by breads or excellent. Let's get on with it. Jesus said it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. You know some people are cheap.

Some grandparents are cheap. I don't get cheap grandparents you know your job as a grandparent is to indulge and spoil leave the parenting to your kit, you know.

Grandparenting is the reward for all that you would put up with your own kids and if their punishment for what they put you through the let them do that. You're the grandparent I want you to think about God, like a grandparent for a moment I know is called a father in heaven, but a grandfathers, a father to your father in heaven loves to indulge you not spoil you not give you things needlessly and certainly not things that would hurt you but he loves to lavish blessings on you. He loves to lavish provision on you.

It's his joy at your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. And so he says I'll give it to you but you must come to me. I heard a story about a very smart dad whose son was leaving for college, so the dad said I'll tell you what son I'm in the pay all of your bills all your tuition is covered. I'll take care of you for everything and give you a monthly check and the other boy said okay deadwood, here's the address to send it your own know I'm not sending it in any address you want to check you come home and I will see you and I will give you the check. Guess what the boy was home every month so the Lord says God bless you all.

Provide fruit, but I want you to come to me. I want to hang out with you.

I want fellowship with you.

I want time with you. That's why Jesus taught us in the Lord's vertebrate. Give us this day our daily bread. So that is the model before us.

Now let's continue on in John 17 more of Jesus prayer for you. Verse seven. They have known all things which you have given me are from you private given to them the words you have given me and they have received them. They have surely know that I came forth from you and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world. But for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours and yours are mine, and I'm glorified in them. Nine no longer in the world, but these are in the world I come to you. Holy father keep through your name those whom you have given me, that they may be one as we are.

While I was with them in the world.

I kept them in your name those whom you gave me. I've kept and none of them is lost except the son of perdition at the Scripture might be fulfilled.

There so Jesus was praying that we would be safe. So what is Jesus pray when he prays for us. What is Jesus say when he intercedes for us. He prays for us to be safe just like you pray for your family. Oh Lord, keep my family safe right that's is hard toward you member one time Jesus was hanging out with Simon Peter and Jesus turned to Peter and said, Simon, Simon, the devil is been asking that you be taken out of the care and protection of God. It would that freak you out. Jesus said that you pay Greg Craig, check this out. The doubles been asking for you by me to be taken out of God's protection. He could just stop there. Let it hang with anyone on the say hey but I pray for you that your faith would not fail or when you have returned. Strengthen your brothers. They Peter the doubles been asking for you by name but don't worry because I'm interceding for you and so here's what Jesus prays for us. If you're taking notes you might want to write this down. He prays for our preservation. He prays for our preservation. Verse 11 holy father keep through your name those whom you have given to me, that they may be one as we are God will keep you the Jewish priests were told to pronounce this blessing over the people of Israel repeatedly. You know it. Numbers 624 the Lord bless you. The Lord keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

The Lord bless you and keep you. Then, in the New Testament. First Peter 15 sales were kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time Jude 11 says to those who are called sanctified by God the father and preserved in Jesus Christ. Missing you are you are saying today on a new beginning. We are considering the Lord's prayer on our behalf pastor Greg Laurie is presenting his message called Jesus prayer for you from your study series in the Gospel of John, called simply life and he'll have a closing comment from the message before we leave for the day. So stay tuned. Yesterday we have a special guest you're in the studio. Maybe you can introduce them sure, but his new book is about the afterlife. Yeah, let me ask you first of all why do you think we are so fascinated about heaven and the afterlife.

Well, we should be because it's if you're Christian your future destination. It is not the default destination for every person.

Of course we decide in this life or we will spend the afterlife, but I think it's a really good thing to know is much as we possibly can about heaven. Paul in Colossians 3 said.

Set your mind on things above. Another way to translate that is think about heaven or the simplified think Kevin had some will say oh they're so heavenly minded.

There are no earthly good. But I bet people were so earthly minded.

There no heavenly good heavens are real places for real people, or we will do real things and I can think of a better person to help us understand more than the man sitting next to me right now and unfortunately it's radio so you can see what is right. A very nice blue sweater and his name is Lee Strobel, Nelly Strobel has written a lot of books are probably the best known would be the case for Christ, which was also made into a feature film. His books have sold like 14 million right right and it is just a prolific author or speaker apologist extraordinaire and these are just the things he's asked me to say so I think I know that at the scene of this but please a good friend in these he's a voice of wisdom and so leave written in the book the case for heaven subtitled a journalist investigates evidence for life after death why a book about heaven. Well, I think you're right in what you said that people ought to be interested in the afterlife.

I will go spend a lot more time there than we will hear the end and I think in light of the pandemic.

You know people are our conscious and aware of life and death issues more than perhaps at any other time in my lifetime. I was having lunch with my wife at a restaurant and this waitress was about 18 years old and that we are talking. She started to cry and resorts wrong.

She said I'm sorry, almost in coming to work today. Might we just lost a family member to covert and I thought, here's a young person maybe 18 years old. I never thought about life and death, but I never thought about the afterlife, but now she's full of questions. Now she's this account.

Death is come knocking on her family door. So I think people are more and more interested these days in the question of what what actually occurs when we close our eyes for the last time in this world and I think frankly Greg that extends to the question of hell as well.

I mean, you're one of the few pastors I know who's not afraid to talk about hell and and so I have two chapters in the book that examine the issue of hell, and it's an important topic that we need. I think is a church pay more attention to it is worth noting that Jesus spoke more about hell than all the other preachers in the Bible. That's rather that's executive others.

He knows the reality of it yet and so this is something we need to understand more the afterlife. What happens what happens to the Christian what happens to the non-Christian.

Here's some of the chapter titles near death experiences. Heaven, a guide on the edge of eternity. So if you want to clear up your confusion about heaven the afterlife you want to get a copy of this brand-new book from Lee Strobel. It's called the case for heaven will send it to you for your gift of any size to us here at a new beginning and will use those resources to reach more people with the gospel in the teaching of the word of God and is our way of saying thanks for sending your own copy of the case, for heaven by apologist, prolific author, my friend Lee Strobel. Yeah, that's right. And we hope you will ask for your copy today. Your investment helps. These studies continue to come your way and they help us reach out with the gospel like will be doing April 23 and 24th in Boise Idaho Boise harvest is coming your partnership helps make outreaches like as possible to get in touch today with your donation. You can call us at 1-800-821-3300 call anytime 24 seven that's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org you know there's nothing lying here in the word of God worshiping the Lord together. I will encourage you to join this verse, something we call Harvest at Home every Saturday and Sunday harvest.org you join Christians literally from around the world as we worship and we study the word of God together.

So join us for Harvest at Home and harvest when next time more insight on the security we find in Jesus Christ. But before we go. Pastor Greg has a final comment from today study Jesus prayer for you.

You don't lose something you love. You know it you don't go to Disneyland and lose your child and not even know you left up unless you don't care about your child right you don't lose something that's valuable to you. Maybe your favorite sunglasses are your wedding ring. I don't lose my wedding ring. Maybe it's because I can get it off my finger because I've gained weight since I got married right okay but the point is, you will lose something you love you hang onto it. It's valuable to you God loves you and he is not going to lose you is not going to forget about you that is not going to let go of you is going to protect his investment by 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