What Happens When Christians Pray Together | Why Your Prayer Lacks Power

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God this at our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org 10. Prayer is the only living because there's no hard and if we put so little hard in our prayers should not expect much hard coming up today.

Read Lori pointed out help energize as we discover is really with the Lord wants for each of you pray. Jesus said, seeking pray with persistence don't dabble Lord was everybody everywhere. Others get on their knees and pray earnestly wholeheartedly prayer and actually energize our faith energize our prayers today on Greg Laurie moved to a more immersive. God principles little to no okay let's grab our Bible chapter 12 chapter 12 Karen our series, upside down, living in the book of acts of yours a real key to how this early church turned their world upside down X12 verse one know about that time.

Here, the king stretched out his hand to harass some of the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword because he saw that it please the Jews. He proceeded further disease.

Peter also that this was during the days of unleavened bread, so when he arrested him. He put them in the prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep them intending to bring him to the people at Passover but I love verse five. Underline the whole verse. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. Constant prayer was offered to God or him by the church. Some vital insights into how to pray effectively the title of my messages. What happens when Christians prayed together. What happens when Christians pray together a lot, as shown in the story here is point number one, the prayer that has power is the one that is offered to God there prayer that has power is the one that is offered to God. Verse five again constant prayer was offered to God what is that all prayer offered to God will not necessarily.

Jesus told the story of a Pharisee who prayed thus with himself, which is a King James way of saying his prayer wasn't heard by God. It was sort of up performance. Sometimes prayers can be a performance.

Look at how eloquently I pray look at me that's not would prayer is about. Here's a real objective of prayer. It's not to get God to do it. I want him to do is to get my will in alignment with him right so in alignment with God. Jesus said in John 15. If you abide in me and my words abide in you shall ask what you will and it shall be done for you right so principle number two they prayed with passion and persistence.

They prayed with passion and persistence constant prayer. Underline those two words constant prayer was offered to God's phrase, constant prayer can be translated earnest prayer. This is not a flippant old Lord help bow Peter out.

This is old Lord deliver Peter, O Lord, don't.

Don't let Peter die Lord were calling on you with passion, with persistence we need your help, Lord, you know, much of our prayer is no power in it because there's no hard and it and if we put so little hard in our prayers should not expect God to put much hard in answering them. Jesus said, knocking the door will be open seeking you shall find, ask and it shall be given in the original languages keep asking, keep seeking, keep talking, pray with persistence. Don't give up.

God answers prayer. Three ways yes no him away, but we don't like weights and we don't like. No, we just want to hear.

Yes, it comes down to this. Sometimes God says go. Sometimes God says slow sometimes God says grow on me say that again. Sometimes God says go yes sometimes God says that way. Slow down.

Sometimes God says no grow. Let me illustrate. There was a time when the apostle Paul came to the Lord and ask for him to heal him.

Now we don't know what Paul needed to be healed sure you have a lot of injuries. He was beaten with rods. He was shipwrecked he was stoned at the kind of stone.

He took a lot of physical abuse.

Always a Lord I'm asking you to heal me and the Lord said, my grace is sufficient for you.

In other words, no problem looking to heal you, but my grace is going to carry you through this. So in effect, God said no but then there's Moses. He wanted to deliver the children of Israel because he himself was a Hebrew when he was in an elevated position as probably the Pharaoh and waiting because he was adopted in the family of the Pharaoh got tired of waiting on God when they took things and does own hands any killed an Egyptian who was beating a Jewish man and he was sent into exile for 40 years. He had the right idea, but he needed to wait on the Lord. Same thing is true of Jacob. He was given the birthright by God, but he didn't want to wait for it to come his way. So we took matters into his own hands and made a mess of his life. Listen to me wait on the Lord for his time there is a specific word to you who are young in how many of you are single raise her hand right you. How many of you are single since the right in the section of among those who are single.

How many of you were single. Want to get married.

Bridging not all of you adjusting again. That's a bad here's what I would say to you guys know I'd say take your time and wait and look for a godly man or a godly girl try to find someone is more godly than you are and wait on the Lord's timing don't rush because as Benjamin Franklin once said, keep your eyes wide open before marriage and have shut afterwards right. But here's what happens. We say no at my eyes are have shut before I get married I'm in love with this guy. I'm going to fix him girls, you're not going to fix it is probably going to get worse wait on the Lord and he will get to these things in his time and you'll be glad you did. So sometimes God says no.

Sometimes God says slow sometimes God says go herein or prayer answered so quickly blow your mind.

This is what's going to happen in our story now so there pray Lord deliver Peter.

That brings me to point number three. They prayed together they prayed together again. The title of my messages. What happens when Christians prayed together. Verse five. Constant prayer was offered to God for him by the shirts. There's power in United prayer Jesus said in Matthew 18. If any two of you shall agree on earth touching anything, they shall ask, it will be done for them of my father who is in heaven now that doesn't just mean to christen to get together to him, you know what I would really like to have a Ferrari. Let's agree together prayer you want to Fernie to be our okay let's break Lord will know that. So to me these two people that have been prompted by the Holy Spirit praying in accordance with the will of God. It will be heard of your father and answer but this is really important because when you overburden share your burdens with other Christians get a bunch of people praying I think it's a great thing when we can bring these needs before the church and we can all pray together case, let's see what happens next 12 verse 69 reading from the new living translation the night before Peter was to be placed on trial. He was asleep. Fasten with two chains between two soldiers others. The guard at the prison gate ugly upright light is in the cell and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter angel struck him on the side to wake him up. He was a been a deep sleep for the Adriatic, whacked up, get up in the chain follow-up is present and the angel said, get dressed and put on your sandals something apparent trying to get their kids ready for school, get up, get out of bed, wake up, put your clothes must go and other teams develop as risks and now the Angels is put on your coat and follow me and Peter left the cell and follow the angel he thought this was a vision.

He didn't realize it was actually happening the past.

The first and second guard both came to the iron gate leading to the city in this open for them all by itself. This is cool because it comes from a Greek word that we get the word automatic from so the big iron gate opens on its own you like at the supermarket, so he walks through the big iron gate.

Not really believing this is actually happening. They walked down the street in the angel suddenly leaves him. Peter finally comes to his senses and says it's really true the Lord to send his angel and save me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders plan.

When did this prayer get answer. It says in night before Peter was to be placed on trial. It was late went and got answer sooner. I do know.

But here's it's interesting sometimes God went to the last minute so you will see it's got right to sometimes also coincidentally oh. I was lucky, no, no, no, it was the Lord memo when the disciples were out of the sea of Galilee, fighting the huge storm they were exhausted. They didn't know what to do here comes Jesus and when did Jesus come. The Bible says in the fourth watch. You know, in the fourth watch as is for watches to the not in Bible times in the fourth watch was that time were it's still dark, but the sun is about to rise so was the very in, which means it did been in trouble for hours and hours. So the church is praying this is the night before Peter is going to go on trial and he would have been summarily found guilty and executed. In this kangaroo court of injustice always teaching the church, perseverance was teaching Peter Fay and reminding us all that prayer is warfare. The battle is not one through human strength. It's one on the knee to Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment, you know, there's nothing lying here in the word of God and worshiping the Lord together. I will encourage you to join us for something we call Harvest at Home every Saturday and Sunday harvest.org 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 now. Pastor Greg continues his message called what happens when Christians pray together. I love this fourth point. I love what happens next because this shows how human these people were not honest.

The Bible is now on is the book of acts is about this story. So here's all the believers their praying together there praying with passion. God is intervene send an angel to deliver Peter. What happens next, go to acts 12 verse 12 when he realizes that his people realize he been delivered from prison he went to the home of Mary the mother of John Mark where many were gathered for prayer. He knocked at the door of the gate and his servant girl named Rhoda came to open it when she recognized Peter's voice. She was so overjoyed instead of opening the door she ran back inside and told everyone. Peter is standing at the door pure out of your mind a set when she insisted they decided maybe it's his angel. Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking when they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.

He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord led them out of prison. Tell James and the other brothers what is happened. He said he went to another place now you gotta see the humor in this story. Apparently God to get Peter out of a prison, but he couldn't get them into a prayer meeting. No doubt a prayer meeting for him. So this is how my warped cartoonist mind sees a story so there praying all Lord deliver Peter Lord, hear our prayer. Don't let Peter die, Lord, hear us right now. Paul Lord knows I'm not in this gate anyway. Lord deliver Peter and the knocking again. They wrote it, would you go get the door she opens the door, there stands Peter she shuts it walks back it just to standing at the door. We don't know. It's Peter it's not Peter it's probably is angel. First of all up in angel months at my door omelette limit right and so now I love how it says they went to investigate this together. Verse 16 Peter continued knocking Dana open the door and they were amazed and makes me think that maybe Elkanah went over together� Check this thing out here open the door. There is liquid you guys doing when you I just got delivered from prison. I would rather not get rearrested again and thrown back in again. But why do I bring this up because it shows how though they prayed with passion. Though they prayed together they had their moment of doubt. My fourth point is, they prayed doubting and we've all done this and I bring this up because sometimes people say you must pray and faith. And if you prayed for God to heal you and you're not healed it's because of your lack of a hold on now, buckaroo will lack faith at times we all fall short at times and they lack faith in this moment, but God heard and answered their prayer got to go could sometimes you'll be praying for something a boom it censored so quickly. You can even really measure the time, but again this is shows how things can change as a result of powerful prayer. Let's pull the camera back and wrap this up in the beginning of the story we see an all powerful king Herod wrecking havoc on the church.

Herod had on his side.

The power of government the power of the sword and the threat of prison. The church had no political power, no military power with the other.

The ultimate power. The power of God Almighty.

That power was unleashed through prayer, so I don't know what you're dealing with right now I don't know what you're grappling with. I don't know.

Can a problem you're being challenged with. But God is in control, but this is a reminder death comes to every person.

The famous and the unknown, the powerful and the week you may drive a Ferrari, you may drive a previous may drive ride a Harley here right Vespa doesn't really matter. Death will come to every person and you don't know when this life is going to end. No one does.

Somehow we think were were entitled to live long lives but then something happens in your life is shorter than you expected. You don't make that decision. But you have everything to say about the little � in the middle to go to a cemetery.

You'll see them date of birth and the date of death. And then there's a � the � is all about what you do with it how you live your life and listen. You decide in this life where you will spend the afterlife and so's people don't know what's going to happen.

The Bible tells us very clearly. And if we put our trust in Jesus Christ.

We don't have to fear death doesn't mean we look forward to it.

It doesn't mean that we as Christians have a death wish.

But what it means is we know when that day comes, will be ready to meet the Lord.

As Paul said, I would desire to stay here with you, but I would decided apart to be with Christ, which is far better. All you far better.

Paul also said to live his life that die is being so when that day comes that dcom's and we as Christians going to the presence of God.

But there's someone listening to me right now that is really frightened by this topic, you think about it all the time you think about your mortality. You worry about it. Listen, let's get it resolved.

Right now I am telling you on the authority of Scripture.

If you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you can have peace in the midst of the most difficult circumstances like Peter had when he was imprisoned. If you put your faith in Jesus Christ.

You no longer have to fear death because Jesus said I hold the keys of death and got Eagleton because of I got them, they would have been lost by now because I always am losing keys are the only one right Jesus as the key he has control and he said I am the resurrection on the life and he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live is whoever lives and believes in me, Jesus speaking shall never die Osher. Our bodies are going to the ground unless the Lord comes for us in the rapture before that that can happen, but if not, our bodies going to the ground, but they'll be resurrected again but our soul goes immediately into the presence of God. That is our hope we have as followers of Jesus Christ. So were going to close now with the word of her and I want to ask in an invitation to anybody here if you're not sure that you're ready for the afterlife. If you're not certain that you go to heaven when you die, respond to this invitation will give as we pray, listen, Jesus died on the cross for your sin. That's why he came to this earth. He paid the price for every wrong you've ever done any rose again from the dead and now he stands at the door of your life, and he knocks he says if you hear his voice and open the door to commit. Peter was knocking at the door of the house. They finally let a man Jesus is knocking at the door of your life. We let him in. This is your moment to do so. Let's pray father I pray for any that may not know you.

Let this be the day they believe in you. Let this be the day they asked Jesus into their life and have the whole and the certainty to go to heaven and ask this now. Jesus. Amen Greg Laurie important prayer today here on a new beginning. If you'd like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg will help you do that before today's edition of a new beginning wraps up yesterday.

We have a group of close friends of the ministry there unsung heroes behind the scenes.

That's right.

And then we want to sing about these unsung people for a minute that way yes I have a special song I've written for all of you right now and I'm going to sing it a cappella.

So are you ready, not really, but you wouldn't want me to do that you would turn the radio off immediately when the we do want to say thank you and we want you to know that your labor is not in vain.

You know the Bible tells us that we should be faithful as we serve the Lord and your father who sees you in secret will reward you openly. So first, just let me say thank you to every harvest partner and what is Arbor's partner at someone who stands with us every month and they support us with the regular financial gifts. This enables us to respond to the great opportunities we have new places to go with our broadcast new people to reach with the gospel with the teaching of the word of God, but I could use some more harvest partners.

So, would you prayerfully consider that and when you stand with us, you help us to do more than were doing.

Even at this moment and the need is so great in our nation, and there's so many people that have never heard the gospel and you know we have thousands of people accept Christ listening to our radio broadcast alone so become a harvest partner and in advance. Let me say thank you. Yeah, that's right, and would invite you to find out more about becoming a harvest partner by going to harvest.org/partner Pastor Greg is inviting a thousand new harvest partners to team up with those given all the Lord has called us to do in the coming months and given all the places where these studies are heard. That's really just a small handful of new friends in each community who agree to join us. So can we count on you and will say thank you and some special ways. This month we are sending Pastor Greg's new book called Steve McQueen the salvation of an American icon.

So let us invite you to get in touch to find out more. Again, go to harvest.org/partner or call us at 1-800-821-3300. You can reach us anytime around the clock again at 1-800-821-3300 and then here's pastor Greg once again let me close with this thought. Would you like Jesus Christ to come into your life would you like your sin forgiven. Would you like to fill the hole in your soul. Would you like to go to heaven when you die. If so just stop what you're doing and pray this prayer with me. You can print out loud if you like you can pray it in the quietness of your heart. If you choose, but pray this prayer.

This is a prayer of asking Jesus Christ to come into your life.

Pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead, I'd sure from that sin.

Now, and I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for hearing this prayer in answering this prayer in Jesus name I pray, amen handed you just pray that prayer if so I want to congratulate you and be the first to say welcome to the family of God. Yeah that's right you have a whole new life in front of you now, and to help you begin living this new life. Pastor Greg would like to send you some free follow-up resources called our new believers growth packet. It will help you get started in living your life for the Lord. So can we send it to you just ask for the new believers growth packet. You can call us at 1-800-821-3300. We are here to take your call around the clock that's 1-800-821-3300 or write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 four. Go online to harvest.org and click on know God.

The next time will consider a man named Barnabas and learn the important role in nourishment place in the body of Christ join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie new beginning as a podcast, made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God if this show has impacted your life.

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