Feeling a bit disconnected in your walk with Christ?
Well, Pastor Greg Laurie has a great new book called What Every Growing Christian Needs to Know that'll help. Let's say you're feeling lethargic and tired. You know, if you have a diet of social media and you don't take time for the Word of God, this is going to have a damaging effect.
So this is just one of the things we talk about in this new book called What Every Growing Christian Needs to Know. Available at harvest.org. Is there something troubling you right now? Commit that to the Lord in prayer. Yet for many, prayer is the last resort.
Well, we've tried everything and all we can do now is Go. Pray. What are you talking about? That's the first thing you should do. Pray about everything.
Pastor Greg Laurie reminds us, God can make the impossible possible, even probable. maybe even unequivocal. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. With God all things are possible. Day when the lost are found.
This is the day for a new beginning. Amazing graves now squeeze the sound. But can you hear all the angels are singing? This is the day, the day when I begin. Ever lose your electricity at home?
It's surprising how much we depend on it, right? We know the power's out, but when we walk into a room... What do we automatically reach for? the light switch. muscle memory.
We take that connection for granted.
Well today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie points out the connection we each have with God through prayer. And when we ignore that connection, it starts to feel like the lights are out in our face. Good encouragement coming from the book of Acts today. Heard a story about three guys who are making their way through the forest together. They came to a large, raging river, and they needed to get to the other side.
So they decided to pray. The verse guy prayed, Lord. I pray that you will give me the strength. To cross the river. Suddenly, boom, he had bulging biceps.
He swims across the river. It took him about four hours. He almost drowned twice, but he did make it to the other side. The second guy's watching this. He's thinking, oh, okay.
I'm going to pray a little differently. He prayed, Lord, give me the strength and the tools to cross the river. Boom. He too had bulging biceps, but he also had a robo.
Now it took him about two hours to get across. He capsized twice, but he did make it. A third guy watching all of this said, Lord. Give me the strength, give me the tools, and give me the intelligence to cross the river and poof. He turned into a woman.
She checked the map. Walked 100 yards up. The way and walked over the bridge.
Okay, so. I just lost all the men.
Well, there's clearly a right and a wrong way to pray. And we've all had times in life, and some of you are having that time right now where you're in a desperate situation. And you need God to intervene in your situation right now. And you need to understand that God can change circumstances if necessary. He can change the course of nature through prayer.
But most of all, what changes in prayer is you. You're changed through prayer. God often will allow hardship and difficulty, challenge and need, sometimes even tragedy, so he can reveal himself to us and put his glory on display. Because really when we pray, we're acknowledging our weakness. And this is hard for a lot of people because we think, I can figure this out.
I can resolve this conflict. I can save my own family. I can get everything resolved. I'll do it. And it doesn't work.
And we have to call on God and say, Lord, I'm weak. I need your help. Come through for me. This maybe is a little harder for men than it is for women sometimes. And why is it it's harder for men?
Because we're stupid. Remember my joke in the beginning? But listen, guys, consider this for a moment. Who is the strongest man who ever walked this earth? Don't say Superman, he's not real.
Samson isn't the right answer. Most of you got it. It's Jesus. Strongest man who ever lived. He was omnipotent.
He was all powerful. And yet we see Jesus spending hours in prayer, calling on his father.
So if Jesus felt he needed to pray, how much more should we be praying? Here in Acts 12 is a story about the power of prayer. Things are looking very dim for the believers at this moment. And it looked like it was going to be the worst ending imaginable. But God changed things for them.
Now, at this point, historically in Acts, a new wave of persecution has hit the church. The first wave with Saul of Tarsus hunting down Christians, arresting them and executing them. It effectively come to an end with a conversion of Saul. And he is now... being molded into the man God wants him to be and he will dominate the second section of the book of Acts as the Apostle Paul.
So now Herod comes back with a wave of persecution against the church. But now we also see that the church has sort of shifted gears. If they were in first gear, they're in second or third gear now, because now they understand they are to take the gospel to everybody, not just Jews.
So the Lord showed Simon Peter. That he was to go with the gospel to others, and he brought the centurion named Cornelius and Simon Peter together.
So everything is in high gear, everything is moving in the right direction, and the devil attacks again because Satan hates it when we are advancing, he hates it when we're making a difference, and he especially hates it when we're pulling people out of hell and having them change their membership to heaven, right?
So. Here's a story, one of my favorite stories in the Bible. I know I say that about a lot of stories, but this really is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Acts 12, verse 1.
Now about that time, Herod the king stretched out his hand. To harass some of the church. He killed James, a brother of John, with the sword, because he saw that it pleased the Jews. He proceeded further to seize Peter also.
Now, this was during the days of unleavened bread.
So when he had arrested him, he put him into prison and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, 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 for him by the church.
So the first thing King Herod does is he murders James. This is James of James and John. These guys did everything together. They were close brothers. And this must have been so devastating for John to lose his beloved brother.
Remember, it was James and John that wanted to be seated on the right and left hand of Jesus when he came into glory. It was James and John who were nicknamed the sons of thunder.
Now one of the sons of thunder has passed into heaven. And this is just showing the wickedness of Herod. You know, sometimes we get confused because we see the name Herod so many times in the New Testament, and you need to understand there were a number of Herods, all related to each other. This was a devilish dynasty. First there was Herod the Great.
He wasn't called that because he was a great man, but because he was a great builder. There are structures in Israel today still standing built by Herod the Great, like his retreat called Masada. And he also rebuilt the second temple. He spent over 40 years doing so.
So he was a man who was very paranoid. He had been declared by Roman authorities to be the king of the Jews.
So when those wise men came from the east saying, we want to worship him who's been born the king of the Jews, that was the most inflammatory rhetoric you could use with a paranoid tyrant like Herod the Great. And of course, he gave the order to execute all those baby boys born in Bethlehem.
So that was the first Herod.
Now, the Herod that we're reading about in this story is Herod Agrippa I. He is the grandson of Herod the Great. He's already martyred James.
Now he intends to martyr Peter. And then later, Paul would stand before Herod Agrippa II. This is a classic example of the sins of the parents being visited on the children. I don't believe in what some describe as a generational curse, where there's a curse on your family and you need to break that curse, but I do believe. Godless and godly behavior can be passed on as a legacy.
And we've seen it in families where it just seems like every generation is as wicked, if not more wicked, than a generation before. And we also know that if you've been raised in an alcoholic home, it's far more likely you might become an alcoholic. If you come from a divorced home, it's more likely that you yourself will get divorced. In fact, some people will even excuse. Their behavior, well, it runs on my family.
This is the way we are.
Well, I was raised in an alcoholic home. I was raised in a home where a lot of divorce happened. I'm not an alcoholic. I don't drink at all, and I've been married over 47 years, so God can change the narrative. God can change the narrative in your family.
He can break that cycle of sin, but the Herods say we're a wicked bunch. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. We really enjoy hearing when people appreciate Pastor Greg's messages. I just wanted to let Greg know that he has inspired my life. I feel like he's an older brother and he's given me so much hope and love through the word of Christ.
I just retired as a law enforcement after forty one years and Thank you for everything you do in bringing the word of Christ to the lost and to the needy. Take care. It's a blessing to know that listeners are hearing these messages, and God is using His Word to touch hearts. How have Pastor Gregg's studies impacted your life? Would you let him know?
Send an email to Greg at harvest.org.
Well, we're in Acts chapter 12 today. As Pastor Greg presents his message, What happens when Christians Pray Together? Let's continue.
So Herod gives the order to arrest Simon Peter. He is delivered to four squads of soldiers to keep him. He's behind two gates, chained to two guards, and guarded by 14 more.
Now, normally you would be chained maybe to one soldier if you were a high-risk. but to have a soldier on each arm by the way i think both of those soldiers heard the gospel right Hey, you get chained to a preacher, you're going to hear a sermon, right? And I'm sure he shared the gospel with those men. And so, here now is this bleak situation. James is already dead.
Now, Peter is surely going to be next.
So, what did the church do? We read these words.
So, the church organized a protest and stormed Herod's palace. No, actually, that's not in there. Oh, no, here it is. The church had a boycott of all products made in Rome. No, we don't read that either.
Here's what we read again, verse 5. Constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
The walled doors remained closed. One door was open. The door of prayer, the door into the presence of God. Yet, for many, prayer is the last resort.
Well, we've tried everything, and all we can do now is go. Pray. What are you talking about? That's the first thing you should do. Pray about everything.
That's what Paul tells us in Philippians 4. He says, don't worry about anything. Pray about everything. And the peace of God that passes all human understanding will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Nothing is too small to pray about.
Is there something troubling you right now? Commit that to the Lord in prayer. Nothing is too big to pray about. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. With God, all things are possible.
So the church wisely went to prayer. Yeah. It's been said Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint. Upon his knees.
Now, here's some vital insights into how to pray effectively. The title of my message is: What happens when Christians pray together? What happens when Christians pray together? A lot. As shown in this story.
Here's point number one: the prayer that has power is the one that is offered to God. The prayer that has power is the one that is offered to God. Verse 5 again, constant prayer was offered to God. You say, What? Isn't all prayer offered to God?
Not necessarily. Did you know it's entirely possible to pray a prayer with no thought of God whatsoever? Oh, we've all done it. I mean, even when we worship, what is worship? Worship is prayer set to song.
Have you ever had your mind wander in worship? You're thinking, oh Lord, I love you so much, the lion and the lamb. And really, what you're thinking about is what you're going to eat after church. Or there's some other thing that's entered your mind. How could they come to church wearing that?
Or whatever it is that's happening. And you may have no thought of God at all. 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 a performance. And sometimes spurs can be a performance. I think it's a great thing, by the way, when Christians are in restaurants and their meal comes and they say grace together.
Do that. Absolutely do that. Just don't make a show out of it. You know, don't stand up and say, Lord, we thank thee for this food today. Hallelujah.
People are like, what's going on over there? And here's another tip. Don't pray too long. Why do some people feel they have to pray for all the missionaries in the world? When the food comes, can we do that?
After let's eat the food, don't let the food get cold anyway. But it can be a performance, you know, Isaiah. Said, I saw the Lord sitting on his throne. He was high and lifted up, and his glory filled the temple. And I said, Woe is me.
But sometimes a prayer, it'll be more like, look at me. Look at how long I can pray. Look at how eloquently I pray. Look at me. That's not what prayer is about.
Here's the real objective of prayer. It's not to get God to do what I want him to do. It's 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, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done. for you. Uh Another translation, more from the original Greek, would go as follows. Jesus speaking, if you maintain a living communion with me and my word is at home in you, you will ask at once for yourself whatever your heart desires, and it will be yours.
So we gravitate toward the latter end of that statement. Oh yeah. Whatever my heart desires, awesome. Wait, hold on. You have to maintain a living communion with Him, and His Word needs to be at home with you.
So, get in alignment with the will of God. You say, Well, how do you know the will of God? By careful study of the scripture. Nothing lies outside of the reach of prayer except that which lies outside of the will of God. That is why Jesus in the Lord's Prayer taught us to pray, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and so forth. But notice, In that prayer, we should pray, and it's a model for prayer, not just a prayer to pray. Pray in this way, pray in this manner. Your kingdom come, your will be done. Effectively, I say, Lord, this is what I think I need.
This is what I know I want. But if this is somehow outside of your will, please overrule it. and veto it, right? That's a good thing to pray. Don't be afraid to pray that.
Don't be afraid to pray that. Because coming back to James and John, what was their desire? Lord, we want to be on your right and your left hand. Jesus said, not going to do that for you. Thank God for unanswered prayers.
Who was on the right and left hand of Jesus when he died on the cross? Two criminals. You didn't want to be there.
Sometimes God will say no, and I'll come back to that in a moment. For your own good. All right, so principle number two: they prayed with passion and persistence. They prayed with passion and persistence. Constant prayer, underlined those two words, constant prayer was offered to God.
This phrase constant prayer could be translated Earnest prayer. Another way you could translate it is stretched outwardly. Have you ever reached for something or dropped something in between the seat and your car and the... and you're reaching your kid, you know. That's how they were praying.
It's just, we can reach out a little bit further. We're not going to give up. Another way you could translate this is: they prayed with agony. It's the same word used of Jesus in Luke 22, 44, when in the Garden of Gethsemane he prayed more earnestly. This is not a flippant, Oh Lord, help old Peter out.
Yeah. This is, oh Lord, deliver Peter. Oh Lord, don't let Peter die. Lord, we're calling on you with passion, with persistence. We need your help, Lord.
You know, much of our prayer has no power in it because there's no heart in it. And if we put so little heart in our prayers, we should not expect God to put much heart in answering them.
So they're praying passionately, persistently. Constant prayer was offered. And this is another problem.
Sometimes we pray for something once. And we don't have that prayer answered in the affirmative, and we conclude it's not the will of God. Why do you think that? Keep praying.
Well, I prayed for my husband to come to Christ, and I prayed it once, and he didn't come to Christ, so. Whatever. No, no, keep praying. Why? Because you know it is the will of God to save people.
So, when you're praying for someone to be saved, you are praying. In alignment with God's will, because scripture says God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Don't stop praying for that husband that doesn't know the Lord. Don't stop praying for that wife that needs Jesus. Don't stop praying for that son, or that daughter, or that grandchild.
Keep praying.
Jesus said, knock and the door will be opened, seeking you shall find, asking it shall be given. And in the original language, it's keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking, pray with persistence, don't give up. My mother came to the Lord toward the end of her life. I prayed for her for 30 years plus. That's a long time to pray, but thank God that prayer was eventually answered.
So don't give up and keep praying. That's true. Pastor Greg Laurie, with a good example from his own experience. Great encouragement today on a new beginning as Pastor Gray continues his practical studies in the book of Acts.
So many of us can think of people who prayed for us in our journey to the Lord. If you've not yet come to the Lord, there may be people praying for you right now. Pastor Greg, if someone is at the point where they want to make a change in their relationship with God. What would you say to them? I would say that God is just a prayer away.
You know, it doesn't take years to become a Christian, it doesn't take months. Frankly, it doesn't even take hours. It can happen so quickly. It just starts with You saying to God, I know I'm a sinner, I know that You love me? I know that you sent Jesus to die on the cross for my sin and pay for those sins and then to rise again from the dead.
And I want him to come into my life.
So here's my question to you: Have you done that yet? Because Jesus, who did die on that cross and rose again from the dead three days later, is alive and standing at the door of your life right now, and he's knocking and he's saying, If you'll hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in. Would you like your sin forgiven? Would you like to know that when you die you will go to heaven? Do you want Christ to come into your life right now?
If so, why don't you just stop whatever it is you're doing and pray this prayer with me? You could pray it out loud. You can pray it in the quietness of your own heart. But pray this prayer. to God.
Say, Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. but I know that you are the Saviour. who died on the cross for my sin. and rose again from the dead. I'm sorry for my sin, and I turn from it now.
and I choose to follow you From this moment forward, I ask all of this in Jesus' name. Amen. Listen. If you just prayed that prayer, the Bible promises that God has heard your prayer and has answered that prayer. The Bible says that we will confess our sin, He's faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
So. God bless you. You've made the right decision. The decision to follow Jesus Christ. Yeah, that's right.
And listen, Pastor Greg would like to help you get started off right living for the Lord. He'd like to send you his New Believer's Bible. It features hundreds of helps for new believers, and it's written in an easy-to-understand translation.
So contact us for your free copy of the New Believer's Bible. Call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300. Or write a new beginning box 4000. Riverside, California, 92514.
or go online to harvest.org and click Know God. And then thank you for partnering with us to help these daily studies continue. Your investments have eternal benefits. Why not make this a part of your personal ministry to partner in an effort that's making a real difference with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Thank you for your prayers and for prayerfully considering how God might lead you to help tangibly.
Online, you'll find us at harvest.org. And there you'll see the way we'd like to thank you for your donation right now. That's harvest.org. Or write us at a new beginning box 4000, Riverside, California, 92514. Or call us at 1-800-821-3300.
We're here around the clock to take your call again at 1-800-821-3300.
Well, next time, more insight on the power of productive prayer from our study in the book of Acts, chapter 12. Join us here on A New Beginning with Pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie. This is the day, the day when life begins.
