Does Prayer Influence God? - Part 2

MTV intensified the child for Friday, September 30 and knows everything in our prayers influence him one way or the other.

Today's podcast helps us understand what happens when believers commit to praying diligently) or influence God doesn't does it not so, I want to answer about full sticky questions that often times also laying back there in Oman and when we pray once in a while the crop up, and when they do they diminish our faith at the moment when our heavenly father wants us to come to him with confidence and assurance and boldness sellable to clear that up. So when you turn if you will do very familiar passage in the sermon on the Mount seven chapter of Matthew and beginning the seventh verse some of the simplest things that Jesus ever said about prayer and often times people have the idea of all I have to do is just ask and I'll get it. What you have to remember is this that the purity of our heart. Listen the purity of our heart affects the response of God. The repetitions listen to what he says in verse seven of Matthew seven. Ask and will be given to you seek and you will file knock and it will be open to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be open.

They asked the question of what man is there among you who when his son ask for a loaf, will he give him a stone or if he asked for a fish, he will give them a snake will the if you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask him. That's the kind of God is he is a good God who desires to give his children good things.

Now there about four questions I want to answer all of the haunting questions are so laid-back in our mind that sometimes causes a problem and so oftentimes people will respond and they will say will look if these things are true, then why so let's look at about four of them. What you listen carefully so you be sure you hear what I say not what I don't say is the first somebody says when it got already knows all of my needs. You say he is omniscient, he knows all of my needs. If he knows all of my needs and why do I need to talk to God about something he knows it all. Anyway, will you settle on the number one you not informing him that you not coming with information and so therefore we are to pray to him, even though we know he says your father knows what you need before you ask, why should you ask because his what you doing your honoring God. You see, God wants us to ask. He wants us to ask because what it says is it says we understand who you are. We know that you the resource and so becoming he says you have not because you ask not listen. Just because God knows your needs is not the son because he knows that he's going to meet them. You don't ask, why not because you either taken for granted.

Are you too prideful to ask is a lot of want to bother God and ask you how can you bother on missions you came bother God we use a lot of thing. God's inches those little things in life and a lot like what, for example, listen, if it's something that you find that you would like to have an answer for God is interested. You need wisdom and direction something God's interested there's some need in your life with its financial, physical, material, relational, whatever is God's interested.

He cares about what's going on in your life. So just because he knows is not a sign not to pray. Second question, I think that often comes up is this.

If God has already predetermined what he's going to do in a given situation or should I pray looks like that's a total waste of time if these are the term alternative. Why should I pray is a very good reason to good reasons why we should pray when God is Artie predetermined exactly what he's going to do a situation number one. Think about it when you and are praying about something that naturally got Artie knows what is going to do. Why should I pray is the reason because as you and I begin to pray whatever God is up to what he's going to do is gently patiently quietly, sometimes quickly, sometimes over time he's going to begin to work in our will and our desire and what happens is he brings us into harmony with his wills so that when he does what we ask him to do all he does what he has chosen to do. We going to be in harmony with his will. There's no peace what is no harmony.

You can have peace with God when you are out of harmony with him to say for example your friend is sick very very sick and does God know what is going to guess he does with the gardener Artie knows what is going to do, then why should I talk to God about it when he is Artie made up his mind. You don't know what is going to do. And second, let's suppose for example that God knows he's going to take that person out the same going to call them home to call her home. Lisa got Artie knows why should I pray because when God begins to work in our life and brings us into harmony with his will. What he's doing is preparing us with the awareness of his presence.

So when we walked through that storm a valet we going to have peace.

That's one way. A second reason is this, and that is sometimes when God already knows what is going to do. And here he wants us to pray because you may be the very instrument that Godzilla used to bring it to pass. Let's say for example your friend is sick. God burned you deeply. You begin to cry out to God for that healing but first you Melissa will of God and not the longer you prate the stronger you become in your feelings. What I want you to see is this God uses you as the instrument to do without you. Surely he could but he uses as is the instrument then what happens God becomes glorified in the process of faith is strengthened and what are we doing we are motivated to then pray stronger, more fatefully, more often about other situations and circumstances. So just because he has determined what he's going to do does not mean that you and I should not pray God works in cooperation with us.

That is many things he does through thoughts of things he could do about it is that is prayer has this awesome aspect to that I think oftentimes we forget. Then there's another question that oftentimes comes up that's this that is does the success of God's eternal decrees depend upon our prayers that what is God's eternal decree is simply this, God's plans that he therefore creation determined to bring about, regardless that is there some things God's going to do, no matter what prayer not pray he's going to get it done. And so we think about some of his degrees you think about, for example, he chose Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, his 12 sons.

The nation of Israel. God chose them as his chosen people and he says here's what I'm going to do and my friend.

It doesn't make any difference what goes on in this world and how many councils meet and how many wars are going to doesn't make a difference when God decrees something he's going to get it done and so therefore our prayers have absolutely no effect on those things that God is the predetermined that he will do unconditionally that there some things in a condition. For example, he says if my people who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, then he says, and repent of their sins exist then I'll hear from heaven and heal their land. That's conditioned upon. What if they pray, but there's some things that God says this is what's gonna happen know if Ann's butts and no prayers going to have any effect on so is God influenced in his decrees by prayers. Absolutely not have absolutely no effect upon whatsoever. Some things he will do no matter what, but that's not where problem lots. Because you see. Suppose there was a way not to pray about those things that God has decreed those predetermined things that he predetermined long time ago. In doing about that but you and I are responsible for our life. And if we don't pray for the consequences that we don't pray about our life.

There are consequences we fall in the sin we become discouraged. We get depressed we become fruitless and barren in life and life doesn't count as it ought to live because you see, prayer is the thing that keeps us connected know it's prayer is like that powerline and where this prayer there's power, whether it's prayerless knows there is no power.

You keep wondering all wise and I keep falling in the San Joaquin do this and why I want my sermons affected both warrant to my witness is effective and want to want to understand this.

While this and while that I'd ask a simple question how much time do you spend before the father seeking wisdom and guidance and direction and his power in your life and missing his insights into his word and the strength to do what you know that God wants you to do. That's the powerline you cut it off and you got a problem when I'm talking about those things that short-circuit the powerline we doubt will of God Artie knows why should I pray were these are determined what difference does it make it makes all the difference in the world because were responsible for our own life for our own actions and lack of actions in life that you may say what I don't much like you telling me that all the be praying.

Sorry you know what Jesus said we ought to.

He said men ought always to pray and think not faint not. Don't give up when things are going to give up and quit when things are not going your way.

Don't get so impatient you just quit praying because God doesn't do it on your time schedule.

God wants to build something else. He won't such a connection with us this that the very power of God fuses through your life, what did Paul say he said I want to experience resurrection power.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead, which is the same house that was in his life all through those years. He said that's the kind of power I want in my life. You want the power of God in your life that you gotta get connected and when you get connected with him in your prayer life and it becomes the heart and core of what's going on inside of you know it's going to happen. You have a peace and joy and contentment list God's going to begin to use you in people's lives you so I want to be used of God and start prayer that don't pray this don't pray. Oh God, please use is what you pray… Amen is what you pray. God get me fit to be used in oil. Do you wear you out you get fit to be used and he'll go to work in your life so you got a choice you can live your life selfishly to yourself doing your own thing.

Look back over the years and think what happened in his death in the Bible talks about. Gotta wipe away all tears you so make us cry in heaven. I can't prove this naturally. None of us know exactly what's going to happen, but I have a sneaking suspicion. One glimpse of what we could've done who we could've been what we could've accomplished how we could've impacted other people's lives and we didn't when I think of anything that should make us tear up in the judgment even though it's a judgment of rewards that would be now there's one last question is our prayer change God's mind. So when you turn to a passive Scripture.

The 32nd chapter of Exodus 32nd chapter vexes there was happen, Moses has been a phone of Mount Sinai, and he's receded and commandments and and God is seeing what's going on in is what the Lord said to he said they corrupted themselves in verse nine of the 32nd chapter says the Lord said to Moses, I've seen this people beholder and obstinate people now then let me alone that my anger may burn against them, that I may destroy them and I will make of you a great nation, and Moses cries out to get his what he says. He says now. Why does your anger burn like this you brought them out of Egypt with a mighty hand while you let the Egyptians stated that their God is brought about that a killing in the wilderness, turn from your anger and change your mind about doing harm your people remember Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and so forth. So the Bible says in verse 14 so the Lord change his mind about the harm which he said he would do this. People that is this mean that you and I can go to God. When God's decide he's gonna do something and change God's mind.

No, think about this now who place the burden for God's people on Moses heart. God did, why did he do it because he saw the corruption of their heart. He knew what was going on that and after having this being big party with this golden calf worshiping a golden calf.

It did not bring them out of Egyptian bondage and so here is God saying I'm going to punish them, and Moses crying out and saying please change your mind, don't do that. So what happens, God burdens Moses heart.

Moses has his awesome compassion for the nation of Israel.

He cries out to God, please, please, please, please give them another chance. God's is okay alright so God change his mind. Now listen carefully… Amen that three things never change. With God's character his purposes and his promises.

They never change.

God knew the condition of the people he placed upon Moses heart this awesome bird to pray for them that God knew nobody was going to guess he did and what happens Moses and his compassion for them in his passion for them in his love for them sees how they are corrupting each other and they kill 3000 sometimes you and I will come to God and ask him to do this or do that or do the other unit we can find out God knows all along what's best.

And so while he heard his prayer because he's a God of grace. He honored Moses petition as intercessor, but ultimately God accomplished his will and that is he destroy those who were corrupting the people.

Can you and I pray and persuade God to change his mind about things don't drive at best, not the issue.

The issue is listen. Whatever God chooses to do. He's going to do their prayers have an effect. Yes, they do they see a better way of expressing it is not so much that we change God's mind, but that God responds to ours. According the situation in his awesome wisdom so we not convincing God we don't convince God to answer our prayer.

He's willing to we get ourselves in a position before him, whereby he is able to freely grant is the petition of our heart so we don't pray and ask them to change something that he's decreed that will happen.

We ask him to deal with those things in our personal lives that he chooses to deal with, which is every aspect of our life. And when we come to him with a pure heart. We seek his will, he will show us sometimes quickly, sometimes we will not know until he acts, he will show us his will, he will accomplish his purpose. He will bring us into harmony with his will and purpose when it is not for us what we want, he will meet the desires of our heart and the needs of our heart because that's who is our father, a loving heavenly father is good is powerful, who loves us unconditionally and who is kind to us. Does it make a difference when you pray or not. He asks yes it makes a difference with you. As a make a difference when you print out about your own life. Yes, what about the people your friends yes what I people you don't know yes because that's how much God loves us. He's willing to use you to impact somebody else's life. I watch this because more than likely before you trusted Jesus Christ as your personal savior.

You know what God was doing answering the prayers of somebody or somebody's praying for you to get saved. That is the grace of God and father how grateful we are we think about the fact that we can talk to you and that you listen to us all of us would think in terms of being like an act like an aunt compared to you, and even that would be small enough but you said no you my children I'm your father. I'm here to meet your needs and the gaijin Legion to grow you up to be like my son, and to use you to make you fruitful and productive for the kingdom, and one day I'm going to come get you and bring you home not going to reward you for thank you for being that kind of a wonderful loving Jesus name, amen. Thank you for listening to part two of this prayer influence God if you'd like to know more about Charles Stanley orientates ministries find intense tantalizing podcast is a presentation of intense ministry in Atlanta, Georgia