The Refreshing Power of Prayer: Refreshing Reassurance

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If this program is impacted you, I love to hear from you. So just send an email to me at greg@harvest.org again it's greg@harvest.org you can learn more about becoming harvest partner by going to harvest.org bill deadline. Problem pressure is discontent.

Even believers can get worn out today. Pastor Greg Loring offers help in the Christian life sometimes we need a refresh because we find ourselves tired and exhausted but here's what Jesus says come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you that you use them spiritual refreshment right now and we might think that's pretty relaxing. If you're sitting in traffic sitting in the doctor's office you might be feeling bad news.

Many are sitting on what is God feeling fear retention as he sits on his throne know today on a new beginning. Greg Laurie helps us Into God state of mind power by just a taste of the sure. Have you ever been out running the hot sun and you're just sweating like crazy. I have to admit it's been a long time since I've been out running in the hot sun effective for a long time since I've been out running.

The closest I get to running.

I was jogging my memory, but there are times when I have run that I sweat a lot.

I know that when I'm in playing racquetball all run over accord to chase a little ball, but I would just think about the last time you were exhausted you were covered in perspiration and maybe you'd dove into the ocean or into a lake or into a swimming pool.

You went from hot and bothered to row five and refresh in the same is true when you're really dehydrated and you take a long drink of very cool water. It just refreshes you, I love the word refresh it such a perfect word to speak of starting again are returning to something fact even use a word for your computer sometimes I'm working on the computer and and I've loved it and I come back and things are sort of frozen or certain programs are working properly. So were told to refresh our computer screen. Sometimes that means you need to completely reboot will listen in the Christian life sometimes we need a reboot. Sometimes we need our refresh because we find ourselves hot and bothered we find ourselves tired and exhausted but here's what Jesus says come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you on the day of Pentecost, Peter said to the people times of refreshment come from the presence of the Lord, could you use them spiritual refreshment right now the place to find that is from God self-doubt. The Bible is very specific about where we as Christians can find spiritual refreshment.

Here's a point if you're taking notes number one, you will find spiritual refreshment when you read and study the Bible some 19 says the word of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. Now I know it's not always an emotional experience. When you open up the Bible and read it, but this is not about emotions. This is about replenishment.

This is about restoration. This is about getting perspective on life. Getting direction from the Lord. So as you open the word of God. It's going to refresh your soul and have you ever had a verse just jump off the page you maybe it's a virtue read before, but suddenly it has new meaning applied toward your particular situation. Yes, that's what it is you're finding refreshment from the word of God. Number two. Listen to this one. You will be spiritually refreshed when you think of others more than yourself, you'll be spiritually refreshed when you think of others more than yourself. Now I know this is counterintuitive in the selfie culture were living in today world trying to get more followers and social media were very aware of our image. Maybe we think of ourselves as an influencer and sadly we've heard stories of people who have literally died trying to get the ultimate selfie shot when the been on the edge of a clever some other dangerous situation, but actually the truth. This was when you stop thinking about yourself so much and think about others, it will refresh you spiritually.

The Bible actually tells us that he who refreshes others will be refresh himself. So is your giving to others, you find that you yourself are replenished, so do you want to be spiritually refreshed. Spend time in God's presence. Study the word of God put the needs of others above your own needs and you'll find it will happen yours a great verse in Proverbs 2513 it says reliable friends who do what they say. I like cool drinks and sweltering heat.

The refreshing would you let me be that friends who right now and offer you some perspective from God's work on how to be refreshed in your spiritual life.

The word refresh means to give new strength or to give energy to a means to reinvigorate and sometimes all we need to do is refresh our memories because of you're like me you forget things. I mean, I forget things all the time. Sometimes I forget where I parked my car at a Mulhall.

Sometimes I forget other things that I need my memory refreshed and even as a Christian. There are things that I know I've been a believer now for 50 years I've read so many passages of the Bible. But there are times I forget a passage or forget his spiritual truth but I forget a lesson that the Lord has taught me so I find I need to have my memory refreshed. Here's a problem we often remember what we ought to forget, and we forget what we ought to remember there are things I want to remember about forget them. Other things I don't want to remember that I can't get out of my brain against you for some of you to certain jingles that we've heard on the radio or television commercials songs that are still with us, or theme songs to television shows. I mean, why is it that I know all of the lyrics to the Flintstones TV show. I never consciously set down and said I'm going to learn these words when I know them.

I never wanted to memorize that. But there's passages all forget from Scripture, but I remember the lyrics to that song or weird songs are further on the radio so I need to jog my memory.

I need to refresh my memory effect. Peter tells us in first Peter 113. I think it's right to reference your memory as long as you live. Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. We hear from listeners all over some who listen to a new beginning. Pastor Greg's podcasts and even to the recent SoCal harvest Greg Laurie and I may help out our I watched on my cell phone and I crying and let him know that my son died in a car like and you never get outbreak that I have a grandson, Jonathan Bailey had an innate hate. They have to go to a yet not have the power to My current particle prayer will never forget what beautiful I want a clear and I want to let you know how my Greg Laurie come back by his be assured that when you request prayer will make sure to pray for your need. If you have a story of how one of Pastor Greg's outreaches is touched your life you call ensure it with us: 866-871-1144. That's 866-871-1144 was a part of Pastor Greg's new series called refresh the offer some solid refreshing counsel on the power of prayer.

Let's continue here before us. Now Matthew 20 is choose scenarios of prayer and in this text were going to find how to and how not to pray. How to and how not to pray.

In both of the stories Jesus asked the people before them. What is it that you want first, forget the look of the mother went to Sanchez.

She love them as mothers love sons and daughters and she was very ambitious for them and she asked Jesus to give something to them. That was completely inappropriate.

She stands as an example of how not to pray.

In contrast, we have another story of two men who were unable to see. They were blind. They called upon Jesus and the way they prayed, give us an example of how to pray. So let's start with how not to pray. Matthew chapter 20 verse 17 that Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the 12 disciples aside on the road and said to them, behold, were going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and of the scribes, the condemned him to death and don't deliver him to the Gentiles to mock and discourage and to crucify and on the third day he will rise again. Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to him with her sons kneeling down and asking something from you. By the way this mother's name is so long and the sons here are James and John and Jesus says to her, what do you wish, she said, grant that these two sons of mine may said wanted to write again and the other on your left in your kingdom. Jesus answered you don't know what you're asking for. Are you able to drink of the cup that I'm going to drink up and be baptized with the baptism I will be baptized with and they said we are able.

Jesus said, you will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I baptize with, but to sit on my right and on my left hand is not mine to give, but it's for those that have been prepared by my father, try to understand what's going on. Jesus is giving a detailed view of what is about to happen. He knew the future. He knew the thoughts of every person that he spoke to, and now we think this is what's going to happen to me. I'm going to be betrayed under to be handed over to the Gentiles. I'm going to be scourged under the be beaten on to be crucified on the rise again from the dead is he sharing this with the disciples. They're just not getting it because you see their view was that when Messiah came, and Jesus was Messiah that he would establish an earthly kingdom then and there. They were mistaken in their understanding of the role of Messiah because Scripture clearly teaches first Messiah would come and suffer and die for the sins of the world. Then he would return again and establish his kingdom. They missed the first part and only understood the letter part so they thought he would drive out the Romans and they would rule and reign with him in positions of great power. Hence, the request from Stallone, and Jesus is saying to them, he, do you know what you're even asking for. Are you able to drink of the cup that I'm about to drink of the said were able to respond to the event will weigh weight within the cup. We want to know about the cup before we say we will years ago I was in the Philippines is speaking and there is a delicacy over there called the balloons sexy a docket and die inside of this egg is a partially formed.some feathers a little beat and some fluid and I was over that home of a missionary and there were a lot of people there and they said in front of everybody. Greg we want to give you this balloon to eat that several out what is that, they said, let us demonstrate in summative VA can be broken open and I saw the duck said and I saw the feathers and their drinking the fluid and then they eat the egg in my goodness they said Greg you need to eat the egg. I said I don't think I can do that and then someone whispered in my ear.

If you don't eat the egg you'll offend the people.

I whispered back.

If I eat the egg grow up. I can't do it. I just can't go. There are somethings that you just don't want to eat. Somethings you don't want to drink what was the cup Jesus was going to drink the cup of the wrath of God Almighty. As the sins of the world would be placed upon him, and he recoiled from that you remember in the garden of Gethsemane. He prayed to the father father if it's possible let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.

So he says that James and John. You want to drink of the cup. Yeah, good of the cup. Give us a cup you think and you don't even know what you're asking for what it Stallone the mother and James and John want she wanted her sons to be on the right and left hand of Jesus, Stallone, by the way, happen to be standing at the foot of the cross. When Jesus was crucified, who was on the right and left hand of Jesus to criminals who are also crucified. I'm sure at that moment Stallone said, Lord, thank you for not answering my prayer solicited of Ghana said no to your request recently. Don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. It actually could be a very good thing because God sees the big picture.

That's how not to pray. Now let's talk about how to pray. Here's a couple of guys who prayed in the right way back to Matthew 20 verse 29. As they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed him, behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, have mercy on us.

Oh Lord, son of David and the multitude warned them that they should be quiet and they cried out all the more thing I have mercy on us.

Oh Lord, son of David, Jesus stood still and called them and said what do you want me to do for you.

They said, Lord, that our eyes may be open. Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed. So here's Jesus still on his way to the cross on his way. This suffer and to guys on the roadside crisis passing by.

They call out to him some dish still bothering him.

He's busy as things on his mind and they call out even louder. Actually, the word translated from the Greek would be they screen and Jesus stopped and he heard them and he answered their prayer.

Isn't it amazing to think that God cares about us. I mean he cares about the things that concern us. God is never too busy or preoccupied to take time for you. Listen, if it concerns you concerns. Kim so here were two men with a very real need and Jesus responded to the needs of what we learn about prayer from the story number one in times of crisis.

They pray and so should we in their time of crisis.

They prayed and so should we listen.

This is what prayer is for to put us in touch with God, some 50 verse 15 says the Lord speaking call upon me in the dim trouble and I shall rescue you and you will honor me, are you in trouble right now my talking to somebody facing a crisis you don't see any way you can resolve it. Maybe it's a family crisis. Maybe your marriage is coming apart. Maybe over prodigal child.

Maybe it's a health crisis. You got bad news from the doctor and you're scared maybe of some other kind of a crisis call on the Lord. The Bible says you have not because you ask not. Pray about that thing that is troubling you. I love what Ephesians 618 says all rights, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this and with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. I love how Paul use at work all so many times, with all prayer and all perseverance for all the saints, the Texas translation would be all y'all ought to be praying all the time y'all all the time praying about everything.

This is what we need to be doing. They pray with passion and persistence as well. Again, as I said they didn't just save have mercy on us.

They screen the word out and that's all we need to pray as well just keep praying about that thing that is troubling you let me come back to some things. We all want to be praying for when you're praying for the salvation of a loved one, you're praying according to the will of God because the Bible says God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Keep praying for that person you care about when you're praying for the restoration of the family you're praying for the will of God.

God is established the family. A man and a woman coming together in marriage committed to one another for a lifetime. He will bless this bond. This is why Satan is always attacking it and always trying to redefine it and to break it apart but the family is so important for the health of a nation, you know it's been said that a family can survive without a nation but a nation cannot survive without the family.

Pray for the family but pray for your family. Make sure your family is strong and speaking of the nation only pray for a spiritual awakening in our country were praying according to the will of God, pray for a spiritual awakening in your nation. These men called out to Jesus.interesting because another gospel identifies one a particular and his name was Bart Emmaus, so there were two men praying but one was more noticeable than the other and it was Bart Emmaus, crying out in his prayer was heard by Jesus. I level we read here verse 32 Jesus stood still and he called them and said what do you want me to do for you. They said, Lord, that our eyes may be open. Jeremiah 2913 God says if you seek me you find me if you see me with all of your heart you bring your need to Jesus.

You watch how he will meet your needs encouragement Pastor Greg Laurie our study today here on a new beginning is called the refreshing power of prayer. And there's more to come in this message will hear that next time. But to hear this inside again or even review what pastor Greg Broadus last time go online to harvest.org. Once again the message is titled the refreshing power of prayer investigate where making available a brand-new book called the Jesus music and it explores the humble beginnings of what we now call contemporary Christian music, yes I had a number of friends who were early Jesus music artists and you know they would need to load their gear into an old beat up van and drive all day through the desert to get to the church that was hosting them that play all the songs they knew and you know the church would take up an offering, which they gifted to the band for their efforts but sometimes it didn't even cover the cost of gas pray and then the drive at all. Van all night long back through the desert to get back home and then several days later, the do it all again Jan and I it was very humble, but these guys and gals all had willing hearts yeah and they were really innovators.

I think in many ways that doing something that is not been done up to that point and that is taking the message of the gospel and putting it in contemporary Christian music know by the way this has been done historically a Martin Luther took a lot of the old songs they would sing in the bars and put Christian lyrics to them, but this group of young men and women were forming.

These bands are performing as artist in a language that my generation understood. You know music is a way to communicate music touches the emotions it touches the heart and in him and that's why I've always work with music over the years because it opens people up to the message that I have, to teach them or to preach to them and and I've known a lot of these artist personally. The early artists that were just starting out the guys and love song. I was friends with Andre Crouch and other artists of the first phase of the Jesus music but I'm friends with the artist today that you care the Christian radio stations. These are great people that love God and their artists and so they're trying to take their art and use it in a way that glorifies God. But isn't that the best use of art so this is a book that tells you how it started and how it became what it is today. It's called the Jesus music and it's a beautifully done book.

It's hard cover thick glossy pages with lots of photographs and stories about these individuals that were really trailblazers and Broadus's music we've come to love and music that is so much a part of our life today so listen I want to send you a copy of this brand-new book titled the Jesus music written by my friend Marshall Terrill and I've written three books with and I want to give it to you for your gift of any size. So whatever you can send to us here at a new beginning will use that money to reach more people with the gospel with the teaching of the word of God and will send you your copy of the Jesus music. I hope some of you will be generous because this enables us to do more but whatever you send I'll give you a copy of this brand-new book that I know you're gonna love yeah that's right. And you know it would make a great Christmas gift for someone who enjoys contemporary Christian music or a great coffee table book for yourself, but the stories are fascinating.

So get in touch today with your investment in the work we do here each day and will be glad to send you the Jesus music upon request. Writers had a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.

We can take your call anytime around the clock again, dial 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.or will next time very helpful insight pastor Greg alerts us to things that can hinder our prayer more from his refresher join if you run a new beginning with pastor and Bible teacher Greg for my 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