Larry, Janet and Paul Neville all share together on this message.
Saturday September 26, two groups of believers had prayer events in Washington DC. Over 100,000 people joined in-person and 100,000's more online to pray for America and the world. That is exciting.
If nothing else is accomplished by all the challenges America and the world are facing, getting America to pray together is a miracle.
Jesus taught us to watch and to pray.
The last night that Jesus was with his disciples he tell them this, "Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain; 32 but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith]" (Luke 22:31 Amplified Bible).
1. The Indispensability of Prayer
Meaning: Indispensability =The the fact that someone or something is so good or important that you could not manage without him, her, or it:
The truth is that we can't manage without PRAYER.
There are many things in life we know to do and how to do, we may not need to pray about them. Other things are too complicated that we must pray. If your sister, or brother, is addicted to cocaine, you probably better not try to fix them independently. A loved one is diagnosed with stage 4 cancer? Prayer is the answer. So many things in life are just too complicated. It is better to pray about and get God involved. He knows what's going on. He knows what might be done in the right way to help.
Prayer engages in action with God.
During the prayer march Saturday, someone interviewed Billy Graham's grandson. He said that his grandpa told him: "Let me give you some advice, I would have done less preaching and more praying."
2. The Warning to Peter
"Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I've prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out" (31-32 Message Bible).
This was perhaps the worst night Peter and the Disciple's lives. It was the most historic night in all of history. Jesus tells Peter and others, the devil is going to test you; he wants to separate you from me.
The Devil's Goal in everything he does, to separate you from Jesus.
I wonder how many men and women God was preparing for leadership in His church, but the devil separated them from Him?
Our Vision is to win people to the Lord, build them through disciple-making and then send them into their full destiny in Christ. I have worked with so many whom I could tell God wanted to be discipled and molded for ministry, but the devil sifted and separated them.
3. What did Jesus do? He Prayed for Peter and Prophesied to Peter.
"When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start" (V. 32 Message Bible).
Peter is not even being sifted by the devil yet, but Jesus is already declaring victory over him.
Notice that Jesus did not pray that Satan would not put him through the test.
He did not pray, let him have the easy road, no hard testings or trials, and keep him from all suffering and pain.
Jesus prayed for him but didn't just stop him. He could have stopped him. But he didn't stop him. Why? Peter had to learn the value of being tested so that he could help others. So that Peter could write to us: "Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you" (1 Peter 4:12, NLRT).
Paul also wrote out of his personal experience.
"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer" (2 Corinthians 1:3-6 NLT).
Jesus is our High Priest who knows our needs because He went through what we do.
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).
4. The Challenge to Prayer Today
The devil wants to separate our Nation from God and each other. Our Nation is experiencing challenges with the Pandemic, Financial, Social, and Spiritual. We are in a spiritual battle over the soul of America. Most of the things our Nation is facing are too big for any leader or politician. We need God to intervene.
Romans 8:22-28 (Message paraphrase) "All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are really birth pangs. But it's not only around us, it's in us. The Spirit is arousing within us and we're also feeling these birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of our own are yearning for full deliverance – heaven. That's why waiting does not diminish us any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us but the longer we wait the larger we become and the more joyful our expectancy. Meanwhile, the moment we get tired of waiting, God's Spirit is right along side, helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray it doesn't matter. He does our praying in us and for us, making our prayer out of wordless signs our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves. And God knows our pregnant condition and keeps us present before Himself. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something for good, because God knew what He was doing from the very beginning."
Psalm 107:6, Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses.
Isaiah 65:24, "It shall come to pass, That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.
Romans 1:12 TPT, Now, this means that when we come together and are side by side, something wonderful will be released. We can expect to be co-encouraged and co-comforted by each other's faith!
Paul is going to Jerusalem to take a special gift from churches. He knows there are those in Jerusalem against him.
Romans 15:30-32 NKJV, Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.
WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER when we PRAY TOGETHER!
Larry & Janet Neville
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