The Importance of Prayer in the Life of the Believer

Notes: The Importance of Prayer in the Life of the Believer

Ephesians 6

Luke 11

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

SERIES:

What Every Growing Christian Needs to Know

Thursday, September 24, 2015 — 7:00 p.m.

Every believer should acknowledge that there is a long way to go. We all need to keep growing spiritually.

Some start their Christian race with a burst of energy and succeed and some fail.

We make our choices and then our choices make us.

It all comes down to discipline.

Planned neglect.

2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV

[22] Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

If you want to be a growing Christian:

1. You must read, study and love the word of God.

Joshua 1:8 NKJV

[8] This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

2. To be a growing Christian, you must have a prayer life.

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

[18] praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-

Pray always with all prayer.

We should pray all ways and always.

The Lord hears all prayers anywhere and everywhere.

You don't have a better chance of being heard in certain places.

The main thing is praying always.

Daniel 6:10 NKJV

[10] Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Nehemiah 2:5 NKJV

[5] And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it."

Some times we have time for prayer, other times we only have time for a quick prayer.

1. Why should I pray?

Jesus told us too.

Luke 18:1 NKJV

[1] Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

John 11:41-43 NKJV

[41] Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. [42] And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." [43] Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"

Jesus was a great role model for us about how to pray.

Do not give up in your prayer.

2. We should pray because prayer is Gods appointed means for obtaining things.

James 4:2 NKJV

[2] You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

3. Prayer is the way by which God helps to overcome our anxiety and worry.

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

[6] Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Turn your worries into prayers.

4. Prayer is one of the ways in which we can prepare ourselves for Jesus coming.

When you pray about something God may say no, grow or go.

If the request is wrong, God says no.

If the time is wrong God says slow.

If you are wrong God says grow.

The Lords Prayer is not just a prayer to pray, but it is also a template of how to pray.

Luke 11:1-4 NKJV

[1] Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." [2] So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. [3] Give us day by day our daily bread. [4] And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

Contemplate the awesomeness of God.

A.C.T.S.

Adoration

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication

The secret to answered prayers:

1. You must pray according to the will of God.

Never be afraid to ask God to overrule your prayer.

The objective of prayer is to get into alignment with God.

1 John 5:14 NKJV

[14] Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Nothing lies outside the reach of God, but there is a lot outside of the will of God.

With a big God we have small problems!

2 we must surrender to the will of God.

3. We must forgive others.

Luke 11:4 NKJV

[4] And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

Forgiven people should be forgiving people.

Matthew 5:23-24 NKJV

[23] Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, [24] leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Right now, are you harboring a grudge towards someone?

The person getting hurt in holding a grudge is the person with the grudge.

Ephesians 4:32 NKJV

[32] And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

4. As much as you can, stay out of the place of temptation.

Luke 11:4 NKJV

[4] And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

5. Don't give up!

Luke 11:5-10 NKJV

[5] And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; [6] for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; [7] and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? [8] I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. [9] "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Ask, Seek, Knock! Don't give up!

Luke 11:9 NKJV

[9] "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Ask- implies requesting

Seek - denotes asking but adds action.

Knock - adds persevering.

Maybe your prayer has no power in it because it has no heart in it.

Do you really know how to pray?

Valor - Letters to Live By Introduction

Notes: Valor - Letters to Live by Introduction

September 22, 2015

Harvest OC

First night

Greg is challenging us all to come to every Valor Men's Study.

We will worship, then listen to a pastor teach and then break into small groups every Tuesday.

We are going through the epistles of Paul while in prison, plus Ephesians.

We are all called to be experts on the Bible, to strive to know the Word and their truths.

We are going to study the word and what that means to us, and how to live it out.

When we study we need to listen to how it speaks to us, it's not homework. We need to listen to how it leads us.

These books are written to guide us. Paul's words are written to liberate the people.

Jesus is the greatest liberator that has ever lived. He has freed us from sins and death.

Jesus will speak to us from the thrones of Heaven and in our hearts.

We will see how Jesus is the deity of God, and how He is a servant to man.

We will get to see a high view of Jesus. Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and 2 Timothy.

We have started this race tonight but we are called to finish our spiritual race well.

Some of us here are excited and grounded in the Lord; others are here in need and desperation.

God will meet all of our needs.

Fallen but Forgiven

Notes: Fallen, but Forgiven

Matthew 26

Pastor Greg Laurie

SERIES: God Came Near

Sunday, September 20, 2015 — 10:00 a.m.

Have you ever fallen unexpectedly, the type where you don't catch yourself? Have you ever done that spiritually?

Today we are looking at how Simon Peter has fallen and recovered through Jesus. Jesus named him Peter, meaning "the Rock".

The past cannot be changed, but our response to it can be.

Matthew 26:31-35 NKJV

[31] Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' [32] But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." [33] Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." [34] Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." [35] Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples.

Luke 22:31-32 NKJV

[31] And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. [32] But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

The devil has his minions but he is not omnipresent. However, he did come after Peter specifically.

Whenever the devil comes knocking, you should let Jesus answer the door.

When God allows you to go through a fiery trial, He has a purpose.

God will not keep you in there longer than you need to be.

Romans 8:34 NKJV

[34] Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Why did Satan target Peter? Because Peter was a threat.

The devil will try to stop you from making a difference. That means that if you are doing good, you maybe thrown into a trial.

1. Peters first step down was self-confidence.

Matthew 26:33 NKJV

[33] Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble."

Never boast of your commitment to Christ, you can boast about how much Jesus loves you.

You are the disciple Jesus loves.

Peter not only boasted of his confidence, but he also contradicted what Jesus said.

Confidence always seems to happen right before you fall.

Pride goes before a fall.

2. Peter's second step down was a result of prayerlessness.

Matthew 26:41 NKJV

[41] Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Pride and prayerlessness go hand in hand.

Prayer is not just for petition, but for protection and preparation.

When you wake up in the middle of the night with worry, you pray about it and ask the Lord to worry about it.

Not praying could be a sin.

John 4:17 NKJV

[17] The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,'

3. Peter fell because he trusted in human efforts instead of Gods power.

Matthew 26:51-56 NKJV

[51] And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. [52] But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. [53] Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? [54] How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" [55] In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. [56] But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

Our two secret weapons as a church: prayer and preaching.

Register and vote, be an influence for good.

We need to pray for America like never before!

The last miracle that Jesus did before the cross was covering a disciples blunder.

4. Peters fourth step down was following at a distance.

Matthew 26:58 NKJV

[58] But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.

Just like a lion attacks the herd animal that follows at a distance, Satan will also attack the stragglers.

Matthew 26:69-75 NKJV

[69] Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." [70] But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying." [71] And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth." [72] But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!" [73] And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you." [74] Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. [75] And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly.

Following at a distance Peter was cold, so he found fire in the enemy's camp. Peter was now in the wrong place with the wrong people, it was just a matter of time before Peter did the wrong thing.

He swore, not like using profanity, but an oath.

Matthew 26:74 NKJV

[74] Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed.

Anybody can fall into sin, however, just like Peter, we can all be restored shortly after when we come to Jesus.