A New Beginning presents a great book to show you how to easily share the gospel by Pastor Greg Laurie. The book is called Tell Someone You Can Share the Good News. And I wrote it with this thought in mind. I acted as though I were sitting down with an individual and sharing truths I've learned about evangelism. And it's something that is really important to me.
And I want to share what I've learned with you in this book, Tell Someone. Yours for a gift of any amount at harvest.org. Don't let another person form your view of God. Find out for yourself who God is.
Some wonder if God is even up there. Others think his wrath is locked and loaded and aimed in our direction. Pastor Greg Laurie brings us important insight. There's a lot of people today that are afraid of God. They don't understand that God loves us.
The Bible says it's the kindness of God that brings us to repentance. And they need to find out for themselves who the Lord really is. This is the day. When the lost are found, this is the day for a new beginning. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.
But can you hear all the angels are singing? This is the day, the day when I begin. We all have friends and acquaintances.
Some acquaintances may be a friend of a friend, so we don't know them very well. We may even know a friend of a friend of a friend. your next door neighbor's aunt's gardener's sister.
Well, God knows each one of us individually, and He wants a close friendship with each of us. Today on a new beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how that intimacy forms the bedrock for our redemption. and for the way God cares and provides for us. Today, the title of my message is The Power of Yeah. Forgiveness.
And we're in 2 Samuel 2. Chapter 9. It's a story of how David treated another prince. Person, and it shows us the love of God.
So we pick it up. In verse 2, 2 Samuel 9. David says, are you Ziva? Yes, sir, I am, Zeba replied. And the king asked him, Is anyone still alive from Saul's family?
If so, I want to show God's goodness to them in any way I can. Zebra replied, Yes, one of Jonathan's sons is still alive, but he is crippled. Where is he? the king asked. In Lodabar, at the home of Makr, son of Amamiel.
So David sent for him and brought him from Machr's home. His name was Mephibosheth. He was Jonathan's son and Saul's grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low in great fear and said, I am your servant. David said, Don't be afraid.
I've asked you to come. and I want to be kind to you, because of my vow to your father Jonathan, and I will give you all the land that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, that you may live here with me in the palace. Mephibosheth fell to the ground before the king. Should the king show such kindness to a dead dog like me? But Phibosheth ate regularly with David as though he was one of his own sons.
We'll stop there. Another great story. By the way, this word kindness can be translated grace.
So David is effectively saying, Is there anyone left in this family that I can show grace to? I love that he used the word grace. Grace is God's unmerited favor. There's nothing you can do to deserve the grace of God. It's undeserved, it's unearned, it's unrepayable.
That's why the Bible says, For by grace you have been saved through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast. To a man named Zeba. A servant of Saul mentions Mephibosheth. And notice what he says. Yes, there's someone named Mephibosheth, and he is crippled.
So? What's that all about? What a thing to say, and what a creep this guy was too. Don't ever name your kids Zeba. You know, I know there's, I we like to use Bible names, and they mark it's fine, just some names are not good.
You know, Joshua, great, Jonathan, fine, David, really good. Ziva, no. No Delilah's. No bills or pubs. Don't name your child Judas.
No. I know they're Bible names, they're not good ones. Zeba was a creep. See, he was in control of the estate of Saul, and he did nothing to help. Poor Mephibosheth.
He probably wanted to keep everything for himself. Where did Mephibosheth end up? The Bible says he was living in a place called Lodobar. Load over. That's a depressing sound of a town already.
Load bar, right? It was an obscure spot on the east side of the Jordan, kind of a barren desert. In fact, The name Lodabar means the place of no pasture.
So here was Mephibosheth, the potential heir to the throne, living in Lodobar. Living like a low life, eating low-fat food. Listening to J-Lo. I don't know, Jesus. Had to stay with the low thing, right?
He was unloved. He was unwanted. He was undeserving. He was. Unmeaded.
And David reaches out to him. I just love this story. There's this guy in the middle of nowhere, no promise, no hope. David says, where is he? I want to help him.
And David finds him. And we read that David sends for him. 2 Samuel 9:5, David sent for him and brought him from Makar's home. He sent for him, he brought him. I'm not going to give up on this.
I'm persistent about this. And this is how we must see our friends that do not yet know the Lord. We must bring them to Jesus. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about four guys who had a friend who was disabled. And they thought, if we can just get him in front of Jesus, we know he'll be healed.
Well, Jesus was speaking in a house that was packed with people. There was no way to get in there.
So these guys were very clever. And they climbed up on the roof and they began to tear away at that little thatch roof and remove the clay and they made a hole and the hole got bigger and they lowered their friend down.
So here's Jesus in this house speaking. All of a sudden, a clump of straw falls down, some dirt, a little shaft of light breaks through. Before you know it, this guy's coming down on a little cot, swinging a little bit. All four guys are dropping him down there. The guy's right in front of Jesus and Jesus says, hey.
Can I help you? Yes, I would like to be healed. And Jesus healed that man. But how did that man get to Jesus? Four friends did everything they could.
to get him in front of the Lord.
So here's old Mephibosheth, and it's just a picture of what God is like. I don't know how he viewed David. But I imagine he'd been filled with some bad information about the new king. People would say, Oh, David, he's bad. You should have been the king Mephibosheth.
Not this David. But then when he met David it was a whole new story. But he was afraid initially. 2 Samuel 9:6 says when he heard David wanted to see him, he was afraid. There's a lot of people today that are afraid of God.
They don't understand that God loves us. The Bible says it's the kindness of God that brings us to repentance. And they need to find out for themselves and discover for themselves. Who the Lord really is. You know, I think one of the problems that we have today is people We'll see hypocrisy in the church, and yes, there is hypocrisy in the church.
And you might say, well, I'm looking for a hypocrite-free church. And then I'll join it. Please don't because you'll ruin it. There are hypocrites in the church, but I want you to consider something. Let's define hypocrisy for a moment, biblically.
The word hypocrisy means to act. That's a technical definition, an actor. Every one of us has moments of hypocrisy, especially you, sir. Um All of us do. You were scowling at me and I saw that and I wanted to No, you weren't.
I'm just kidding. We all have moments of hypocrisy. Come on, we do. Oh, I shouldn't have said that. I shouldn't have done that.
I regret that. Yes. But when you say, I shouldn't have said that, I shouldn't have done that, I'm sorry. You're not a hypocrite, you had a hypocritical moment. Having that is not a bad thing.
That's human. That's what we're going to do. I'm not excusing it. I'm just explaining it. But there's a difference between someone who has moments of hypocrisy and someone that is putting on an act from beginning to end.
None of it's real. Jesus told a parable. About the tears and the wheat. He talked about a farmer who planted wheat, and he had an enemy. Who came in the night and planted tares among the wheat?
Now, a tares is a plant that initially looks just like wheat until it gets a little older and then it actually uproots the wheat.
So, in the same way, in the world today, we have real Christians and we have fake Christians. And sometimes those fake Christians are planted by the devil himself to drive people away from Christ.
So, they say, I'm a Christian. And then they do something horrible, and we say, see, they're all hypocrites. How do you know if that person is not just a fake from the beginning and a terror and never was a real believer? You see? I think actually, the presence of so many imitations is a confirmation that there's a genuine article out there as well.
And the genuine article is the true follower of Jesus Christ.
So don't let other people form your view of God. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. Mm-hmm.
So many listeners have commented on the encouragement they receive from these daily messages, like this one. Podcast, Greg, I love to listen to your podcast. I learned so much. And your style of delivering the good news is light-hearted and fun.
However, I know you take your responsibility of preaching the gospel very seriously. Thank you so much for not only what you do, but how you do it with love and humor. And by the way, I've watched and listened to you for a number of years, and your jokes never get old. God bless you. It's so great to know that listeners are hearing these messages and God is using His Word to touch hearts.
How have Pastor Greg's studies impacted your life? Would you let him know? Send an email to Greg at harvest.org. That's Greg at harvest.org.
Well, we're in 2 Samuel chapter 1 today for Pastor Greg's message called The Power of Forgiveness. Let's continue. Here is David now. He seeks out Mephibosheth and he brings him into his home and makes him a member of the family. Look at verse 11.
Mephibosheth ate regularly with David as though he were one of his own sons. By the way, that's mentioned four times in 13 verses. He was like one of his own sons. Come and eat at my table, son. You're like a part of our family now.
You're welcome here. You're loved here.
So perfect. And the Bible so often uses the picture of eating. as a symbol of communion and fellowship with God. Jesus said, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with him, have a meal with him.
I don't know about you, but I don't like to eat with people that I don't like to hang out with.
Some people say, Hey, you want to go get dinner? Yeah. I'll get coffee. A very small coffee. I know a place that serves it in little thimbles, right?
Because I'll meet with you, but I don't want to hang out with you. I don't want to have a meal with someone who gives me indigestion. Because it's going to be a debate or it's going to be some other problem, and that's okay. We want to have a meal with people we're comfortable with, with family and with friends. And this is the very picture here in Scripture of Mephibosheth having access to the king's temple.
table.
So Mephibosheth meets David. He realizes that he had it all wrong. As David welcomes him into his home.
So, what are the takeaway truths from this beautiful story? Number one, if you're taking notes, don't let another person form your view of God. Don't let another person form your view of God. Find out for yourself who God is.
But Phibosheth could have been influenced by others who told him who David really was, but he found out for himself and discovered the real David.
So get your own relationship with God. Number two, forgive your enemies if they deserve it or not. Forgive your enemies if they deserve it or not. David could have got a lot of people. paid them back.
And in many ways they deserved it, but he did not do that. He instead extended forgiveness. Abraham Lincoln was once criticized by an associate. Regarding his attitude toward his enemies, President Lincoln was asked: why do you always make friends of your enemies? You should destroy them.
And Lincoln replied, Am I not destroying my enemies when I make them my friends? Isn't that a great statement? God took care of the enemies of David. God will take care of our enemies. But one day, an enemy may turn into a friend.
Things change with the passing of time. Thirdly, leave the past in the past. Leave the past and the past. David could have been forever haunted by his treatment that came from others. I mean, he had a hard life.
You know, rejected largely by his father and mother. Not appreciated by his brothers. hunted down like a wild dog by King Saul, But yet he put it all in the past and he forgave his enemies. And here's the thing that happens. He understood that God was in control of his life.
It takes time to turn a shepherd boy into a mighty king. The funny thing about life Is that which you may think is good right now may in time turn out to be not so good? And that which you think is bad. may actually turn out to be good. Does that make any sense?
You might have something happening, you know. Oh, this is the best thing that ever happened to me. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. And then again, there might be something happening to you that you perceive as bad, but in reality, with the passing of time, it will be good because of what it produced.
See, that difficulty, that hardship molded you into the man or woman God wants you to be, and you needed to go through that first. And the same was true of David. He said, good kid. But he's got a lot of training to go through before he's going to be. A great king.
Time is away. of causing us to see things differently. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, God has made Everything beautiful for its own time, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. But here's the thing that really helped David. He had focus.
From his earliest days to his final days, he had focus, and he said, One thing have I desired of the Lord. And that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord. all the days of my life.
Now in closing. This is a beautiful story of us and God. God is like David. We're like Mephibosheth. Out of sheer love for Jonathan, David demonstrated Grace to his handicapped son.
And in the same way, out of love for us, And because of what Jesus did for us on the cross of Calvary. God extended his grace to each one of us. The Bible says. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. It doesn't say why we were yet Christians.
While we were yet sinners, when we were opposed to God. When we're the enemies of God. That's when Christ died for us. Secondly, Mephibosheth had nothing, he deserved nothing, and he could repay nothing. And he was hiding, but in the same way, we have nothing we brought to the table that made us deserving of what God gave to us, but he did it anyway.
Thirdly, Mephibosheth was adopted as a son and invited to eat at the king's table. And in the same way, you, when you put your faith in Jesus, are adopted into God's family. I don't know if any of you were adopted. I was adopted. By a man named Oscar Laurie, and he gave me his name, Oscar.
You didn't know my name was Oscar, did you? No, Laurie, of course. He adopted me, and maybe some of you were adopted. But we've all been adopted into God's family. The Bible says, For as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become children of God.
And now it's a privileged relationship. The Bible says God has not given us. The spirit of fear, but one of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. If you go to Israel today and you see a little boy or a little girl calling out to their father, don't be surprised if you hear them say, Abba. or to their mother, Ema.
Abba means daddy or papa. My sons call me dad. My grandkids call me Papa. You can call me Reverend Laurie. No, don't call me that.
I won't even respond. Please call me Greg. Pastor Greg, if you like, hey, you will do. But only my children can call me those other names, and only the child of God can call God. Abba Father.
It's a privilege of relationship. it has offered to each one of us. Does God seem distant to you? Far off, Disinterested. What is God like?
God is like a Father who loves us. A father who longs for relationship and communication and fellowship with us. A Father whose heart is broken when we run from Him, but at the same time, a Father who will welcome us with open arms if we will return to Him. Maybe I'm talking to somebody right now that's been running from God. Oh, God's against me.
God's angry at me. I'm afraid of God.
Well, you don't know who He is. He loves you. And he'll forgive you. They'll give you another chance.
Well, I've had hard times in life. Yes, I'm sure that's true. But God specializes, as we pointed out, in taking those who were dropped in life and picking them up again. He can change the narrative of your story. If you let them.
But you have to come to him and say, Lord, forgive me of my sin. I want Jesus to come into my life. Two thousand years ago the son of David Yes called himself Jesus Christ. went to the cross and died for our sin. And then he rose again from the dead three days later, and now he stands at the door of our life and he knocks.
And as I pointed out, he says, Behold, I stand at the door of your life and knock. And if you'll hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and will have An in-n-out burger together. He doesn't say that, but it's implied. In the original language, no it isn't. But what is implied is a meal.
a friendship, a relationship. This is what God wants with you, but He can't force it on you. You see, Mephibosheth had to respond. He could have said, No way, I don't want to come into your palace. I don't want to eat at your table.
I'm going to go back to Lodobar. He could have done that. He didn't do it. He accepted the invitation, and you and I must do the same. If you've never asked Jesus to come into your life, why don't you do it right here, right now?
And. If you're a prodigal son or daughter, why don't you return to the Lord? Maybe there's somebody here that would say, I need Jesus. I want this relationship with God you've been talking about. I want my sin forgiven.
I want to know that I will go to heaven when I die. I want to know God in a personal way. If you need to come back to the Lord again today. Pray this prayer out loud after me. Again, as I pray, pray this out loud after me right now.
Pray these words: Lord Jesus. I know that I'm a sinner. But I know that you're the Savior. Who died on the cross for my sin? and rose again from the dead.
I want a relationship with you. I want a friendship with you. I want to know you. I come to you now and I believe. And I turn from my sin.
Thank you for hearing this prayer. In answering this prayer, In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Pastor Greg Laurie, with an important prayer with those who are coming to the Lord or coming back to the Lord. And if you've just prayed with Pastor Gregg and you've meant those words sincerely, then the Lord has heard you and has forgiven your sin.
And we want to help you move forward in this new relationship with God. We'd like to send you Pastor Gregg's New Believer's Bible. The scripture text is in the New Living Translation, and Pastor Gregg has included hundreds of features and helps that will get you started off right. We'll send you the New Believer's Bible free of any charge when you get in touch and ask for it.
So call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime, 1-800-821-3300. Or write a new beginning box 4000-3000. Riverside, California, 92514. Or go online to harvest.org and click the words Know God.
Yeah. And then let us take a moment to thank you for praying for this ministry and for supporting it through your generous donation. It's an investment in kingdom business. Isn't that right, Pastor Gregg? Yeah, it's really true, Dave.
And I believe it's so important because, you know, the gospel saves lives. It saves eternal lives. Because when a person believes in Jesus, according to Scripture, they pass from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God. And then, of course, that changes the course of their future. That impacts their children and their children's children.
The gospel changes everything. And thousands and thousands of people respond every single year. Thanks to the Lord. Also, thanks to you for your investment in this ministry, enabling us to reach people. Wherever they are.
So if this is something you care about, I encourage you to make a financial investment. And a new beginning in Harvest Ministries. Yeah, that's right, and we really do appreciate your support. Thanks for partnering with us today. It can make a real difference, not just for today or this week, but for eternity.
So get in touch with your support today by calling 1-800-821-3300. That's a 24-7 phone number, 1-800-821-3300. Or write a new beginning box 4000, Riverside, California, 92514, or go online to harvest.org. Are you receiving Pastor Gregg's daily devotions? They're a great way to start your day with extra insight and inspiration.
Sign up for his devotions today at harvest.org.
Well, next time, as Pastor Gray continues his series in the Psalms, he brings us a reassuring study called The God of Second Chances. Join us here on A New Beginning with Pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie. This is the day, the day when life begins.
