How to Overcome the Devil | Sunday Message

Everybody Greg Laurie here. You're listening to the Grigori podcast and my objective is to deliver hopefully compelling practical insights and faith culture and current events. From a biblical perspective to find out more about our ministry. Just go to our website harvest.org so thanks for joining me for this podcast. Everybody I have a message for you with the title how to overcome the devil so like you to grab your Bible because you can have a Bible study in the book of Revelation. Turn to Revelation chapter 11. Again, my title is how to overcome the devil well spring is here and I means summer is right around the corner. Some of you may be planning summer. Hopefully it will be a better summer than last summer will be able to do some of the things we are wanting to do before wouldn't be nice if the devil took a vacation you know maybe take summer off go someplace really hot like Howell well. The devil never takes a day up. By the way, I heard a story about a man living in Chicago. It was very cold and he decided to go on vacation with his wife down to Florida so he went ahead and she was going to join them. The next day after his plane landed, he got to his hotel room and descended text to his wife. Here's the problem she had just changed her phone number so he got one number wrong in his text.

The text did not go to his wife.

It went instead to an elderly pastor's wife whose husband had just died. She read the text or phone let out a huge shriek and faith hit her family came running in to see what was wrong and he looked at her phone and here was the text she received dearest wife just arrived looking forward to your arrival tomorrow. PS it sure is hot down here. Well, I wish the devil took some time out, but he never does.

He doesn't take a month off. He doesn't take a week off. He doesn't take a day off. He doesn't even take an hour off the Bible says he's restless roaming about like a lion looking some for someone to devour. So here's my question for you. Have you ever been overcome by the devil. In other words, you find yourself being held captive to a sin and it get you again and again and again and you wonder can I ever get free from this. Do I have to always be end of the bomb of Satan, the answer is no. I want to talk to you about that in this message.

How to overcome the devil because we are in a war, but it's an invisible war. It is spiritual battle and Ephesians chapter 6 says there were no wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of the rulers of the darkness of this age is spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.

It's a very real battle, so we'll talk about that in a few moments, but in our series on the book of Revelation we are now officially at the halfway point here in chapter 11. By the way, there is a shift in the narrative that takes place in the book. Now let's compare to a movie.

It's sort of like John is been watching a movie if you will. He is there on the island of Patmos worries banished for his faithful proclamation of the gospel.

The Lord comes to him and gives him the revelation of the unveiling of the future.

The unveiling of heaven and the supernatural world.

Zoe sort of catapulted into the future and in up to this point. John's been an observer. He just tells us what he sees what he observed. But all of a sudden he goes from an observer to a participant so coming back to the movie analogy. Maybe you have a favorite film and you've wished you could be that person of the main character that you connect to it and you ask yourself what what I do if I was facing the circumstances that they're facing. So here's John watching the scene unfold before them. All of a sudden he's in the story.

He's right. There is a participant in it. As we come to Revelation chapter 10, a powerful angel appears to John and gives him a little scroll. We could call it a little book and the angel says I want you to eat the book eat the scroll interest or requested so he eats the little book of the scroll and its sweet going down and then it's better to give them a stomachache.

The sort like when you go to Krispy Kreme donuts or gray going down you know I think my record is 67 father with a little smaller so don't judge me, and I've eaten six washed and velvet some cold milk in their gray going down a little bit later.

What was I thinking. So here's John Keats's scroll were little book, so to speak. It's sweet at first and then it's better in this scroll, most likely was the message that was to be delivered and it was a message of judgment to the people.

So let's pick the story up now, in Revelation chapter 11 verse one John writes then I was given a reed like a measuring rod is the John C.

Was given to me in the angel that stood there said rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there but leave out the court which is outside the temple don't measure it, for that's been given to the Gentiles in the tread the holy city underfoot for 42 months and I will give power to my two witnesses, and no prophesy 1260 days close in sackcloth.

By the way, that's 3 1/2 years.

They are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the God of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours our enemy and if anyone wants to harm them. They must be killed in this manner their power to shut heaven, so no rain falls. They have power over waters to turn them to blood, and they strike the earth with all plagues is often as they desire interesting chapter 11 of the book of Revelation opens with the mention of the city of Jerusalem. Think about this. This was written some 2000 years ago. John is telling us that the end times events are gonna revolve around the city of Jerusalem. So here we are now in 2021 and as usual, the Middle East, Israel, and specifically Jerusalem is in the news Jerusalem. Ironically, means the city of peace yet more wars have been fought at her doorstep in any other city in the entire world.

I was on the phone call recently with the consul general for the nation of Israel is offices based in Los Angeles and I was talking with him with a couple of other pastors and he was giving us, giving us an update on what is going on there in Israel and in Jerusalem in particular, he pointed out to us something we already knew, of course, which is that the number one sponsor of terrorism in the world today. As I ran and I and Freda previously Iran would work through proxy organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas.

In other words, they would fund these terrorist groups to do their dirty work, but the consul general told us something.

I was not aware of pieces of the first time Israeli forces are engaging with Iranian forces in Syria.

Now you see once a watt, why does it matter to me. Well, the Bible tells us in the last days, a large force from the north of Israel will attacker identified is me God we'll talk about this in the future. Message one of the allies marching with me, God will be none other then I ran so the Bible is told is that Iran would ultimately attack Israel sin, we learn about the hostilities between Iran and Israel. The Bible student should be careful attention Benjamin Netanyahu of the Prime Minister of Israel made the statement and I quote there is no moderation and I ran it is unrepentant, unreformed, and it calls for Israel's eradication it promotes international terrorism" and so this is a nation that is set itself to the destruction of Israel. I saw a little video about how Iran is not set up something they call missiles city and they have all of these missiles in a high-tech underground base and they threaten to use them against Israel and God. This is why I any attempts to build some kind of bridge to Iran or have some kind of an agreement with Iran is something that should be entered with great caution because they've shown themselves to be very hostile power they will in fact be a role in the end times events but Jerusalem.

Jerusalem would be at the center of the end times events in Zechariah 12 three it says on that day when all the nations of the earth are gathered together against her. I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations and all who try to move it will injure themselves, but for this prophecy that were reading about now to be fulfilled.

Some things have to take place 1 Has Taken Pl. The others haven't number one Jerusalem has to be in Jewish hands and it is but that didn't happen until quite recently.

In fact, it was the Six-Day War.

In June 1967 that Jerusalem came once again under the control of the Jewish people living in their homeland of Israel. Secondly, the third Temple must be rebuilt because John is describing a temple there is no Jewish temple in Jerusalem today of the first and second temples are gone, they have not rebuilt the third one. And so here this is something that still has to happen in the future, but what does the Bible tell us it tells us that this coming world leader known as the antichrist will help the Jews rebuild their temple and then he will desecrate it and this is called the abomination of desolation with hat, which happens at the halfway point of the seven year tribulation.

Remember the great tribulation period starts peacefully as antichrist or the beast emerges on the scene with overtures of the laws of the peace in entreaties that are signed and actually are followed for a certain period of time a new economic system know may come by yourself without his Mark will get that when we come to Revelation chapter 13 so he rebuild the Temple. But here's what Jesus said about it. Matthew 24 verse 15 when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place. Let them dinner in Judea flee to the mountains.

Pray that your flight would not be on Sabbath day for then great tribulation will come upon the world and is not seated since the beginning of time, nor ever shall be.

So what is the abomination of desolation is what it is antichrist rebuild the temple, but then he erected image of himself and commends people to worship it. So he desecrates the temple showing his true colors commenting on this in second Thessalonians to four we read these words.

Antichrist opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or his worship so he is as God sitting in the temple of God, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and pretended miracles, all of them are lying wonders, so any movement toward rebuilding the third Temple should be observed and noted by the Bible student and they would seem to me that this event of the rebuilding of the temple would happen in the early part of the tribulation. And before that can happen, the church must be caught up to meet the Lord. Yes, it's through peace then antichrist is going to deceive people.

There's a great cry in our world today. Peace at any cost. People don't want any more wars we want globalism no walls no borders.

This is a cry of so many evening tearing the Ranger people are oppressed or freedom is taken away, we want to have peace.

People say will antichrist will give them what they want. First Thessalonians 53 it says when they shall say, peace and safety.

Sudden destruction shall come upon them as a woman ready to give birth. Okay so these are dark times coming in the tribulation. But in the midst of this darkness, God is going to raise up to bright lights.

We call them the two witnesses, two men that will be raised up by the Lord to minister truth to people for 3 1/2 years now.

Who are they are not identified by name, but I think we might be able to figure out who they might be look at first six year of Revelation.

It says they have power to shut heaven, so no rain falls in the day of their prophecy so they can shut heaven up so it won't rain their power over waters to turn them to blood, and they can strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. By the way, that would be kind of a cool superpower to strike with plagues when you desire in the someone cut you off of the freeway cycle can send you plague your car will be filled with frogs that would be a bad thing to do. They will do anything like that. Of course, but they can stop rain, turn water and the blood strike the earth with plagues bring fire from heaven will two guys come to my attention and that would be Moses and Elijah, of course, Moses was the one that touched his staff to the Nile River and return the blood of Moses was the one that brought plagues upon Egypt, through the power of God. Elijah was the one that said it would not rain, but according to his word.

Elijah was the one who called fire down on Mount Carmel in his contest with the prophets of bail. So needless to say, you wouldn't want to mess with these people. There's a story in second Kings about Elijah. There was a new king who took the place of King Ahab and and he fell out of his bed effectively was injured and so he sent his servants to go to the profit of the false gods to get some direction and they encounter the prophet Elijah and he said what you guys doing why you going to some false temple is are not a God in Israel they can speak to you. So they go back to the king. This again we were running your air and we ran into this guy that said this in the case of one of these say he said was never not a God in Israel that you can call on the king said one of the look like this it will king he was sorry, Harry. The king says it's Elijah and so he says go get Elijah. So a captain with 50 soldiers goes and finds Elijah sitting up on a little hill and he says the king says come down immediately, all men of God alleges is a prime amount of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your 50.

Guess what Elijah was a man I got there torched now is second captain of 50 comes and says all men of God. The king want you to come down right now like this is a bomb amount of God, let fire come down from heaven heaven and consume you and your 50 soldiers and again the fire fell 3rd guy comes along. Also, with 50 soldiers says all men of God.

I'm a family man here some pictures of my family, pretty please come to the Lord says go down with him, but my point is you didn't want to mess with a prophet like this, so the Lord has brought Elijah back by the way, Elijah never died, Elijah was caught into a chariot of fire. As you will recall something one of the witnesses might be enough. Who also did not die. We don't know with certainty, but my opinion is it's probably Moses and Elijah, one other detail on that. Remember when Jesus was transfigured to prophets appeared with him. Who were they Moses and Elijah Moses, representing the law and Elijah representing the prophets. Well, we read that tie in verse six they had the date of their prophecy, no prophecy in the New Testament does not always refer exclusively to predicting the future.

Its primary meaning is to speak forth or to proclaim or preach so effectively. These two witnesses are going to preach the gospel and bring God's truth. The people for 3 1/2 years in the rendered divine protection. No one can stop them enter the antichrist look at Revelation 11 verse seven when they finish their testimony, you might underline that phrase when they finish their testimony, the beast, by the way, this is the first time is referred to as the beast. The P citizens out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them and kill them in their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified. But we know the city is Jerusalem.

That's where Jesus was crucified the beast or the Antichrist strikes out at these two prophets and he succeeds with notice it's not until they have finished their testimony looks like these two witnesses have been in God's witness protection program. Up to this point.

By the way, you are to you will not die a day before the appointed day, the God has selected and were indestructible.

As I've said to you before until were finished with what God has called us to do so when I Christ kills the two witnesses and lays there bodies in the streets of Jerusalem for the whole world to see a look at verse nine Revelation 11. Those from the tribes and peoples and tongues see the dead bodies for 3 1/2 days, and any will not allow their bodies to be put in the grave so antichrist is so angry at these two prophets who have spoken up fearlessly for the truth. He lays there bodies out on display effectively desecrating them in the whole world is watching. I read up book of commentary from 100 years ago and the commentator was wondering how this could ever happen, he said. How could all of the world sees something at the same time. Well we know the answer today because we have something called a cell phone and we carry them around in our pockets. 80% using 96% of Americans have cell phones and I read that 17 billion mobile devices will be in use by 2024 so you can pretty safely say most people either have a cell phone or they have access to a cell phone so it seems to me like these prophets are laying there in the streets and everyone can watch them.

They can observe them. Maybe everybody will have free Internet at that time.

Maybe the antichrist will bring free Wi-Fi for everyone who knows. But listen, this gets even stranger verse 10. The people take the tragic death of these two men of God and turn it into this twisted celebration.

Look at what it says those are dwelling the earth will rejoice over them and make Mary and send gifts to one another because the two prophets had tormented them, who dwelt on the earth, tormented them out of the two prophets tormented them they just told them the truth. Well the truth is tormenting to people who don't want to hear and just try speaking up for what is right, try quoting the Bible to a group of people that don't believe this is a stop we don't want to hear it. Who are you to say this to us, what are you judging us and they don't hear it at all going back to that a little scroll her book that John was told to eat. It was sweet and then it turned better. You know the word of God is sweet to the Christian but it's bitter to the non-Christian but it's interesting that the people accuse the prophets of tormenting them. That is what King Ahab said to Elijah when he approached them he says oh here's the one who troubles Israel. Elijah didn't trouble Israel, the king did and they reap the consequences of their sins. The ironic thing is, people will break God's commandments face the consequences that come with breaking those commandments and they get angry at God about it and does so this gets even stranger there giving gifts to one another. It's like an upside down Christmas is sort of an anti-Christmas you know you have Christmas in this anti-Christmas sales and we wish you and I for Christmas we wish you and that they Christmas or maybe they think of the dead prophets day I got you this gift in their celebrating ends like a party everyone to summon a great time. You know, partying away all the prophets are dead. We don't have to listen to them anymore. Then God interrupts their party. Look at verse 11. After the 3 1/2 days the breath of life from God entered them and they stand on their feet, so everyone's watching kids on screens in the bars. It's in the homes. Everyone's laughing having a great time. Look at Emily and their dead and all of a sudden they stand up again and everybody freaks out in front. We read that the people were afraid they were afraid great fear fell upon them and then there's a loud voice From heaven saying come up here in the ascend to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them in the same hour there was a great earthquake and 1/10 of the city fell. In the earthquake 7000 people were afraid, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

This reminds me a lot of the story of Bill's shots are in the Old Testament book of Daniel. Belshazzar was a young man who ascended to the throne.

He had no interest in following the God that had humbled his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar and effect.

Nebuchadnezzar came to faith and believe in God and proclaimed it to his whole kingdom of Belshazzar the boy king. He just wanted a party so Monday he had the bright idea of taking those special instruments and cups and plates and such that were used by the Jews in their worship of God. He said they lets fill them with wine.

Let's worship are false God. So it all these people gathered together forever.

The big party mocking God they were going out of their way to my God. Listen to me. The Bible says don't be deceived, God is not mocked whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap. Are you mocking God. That is a really bad idea because as Belshazzar is mocking the Lord and having a great old time. All of a sudden the Bible says suddenly I hand appeared writing on the plaster of the wall and it wrote these words, many, many tackle you Farson which means you been weighed in the balances in you been found lacking and I love the verse that describes the king's reaction.

Daniel 56 says when he saw that his face turned pale with fright in his knees knocked together in fear in his legs gave way beneath it. So imagine he was just terrified. Cecil the party was over a one day the parties going to be over for a lot of people who have rejected Jesus Christ so rejoicing breaks out in heaven. In the aftermath of this but now there's a war in the heavens. Look at Revelation chapter 12 verse seven and war broke out in heaven, Michael. We remember is the Archangel and his angels fought with the dragon and the dragon and his angels fought, and they did not prevail know is a place found for them in heaven any longer and that great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and Satan deceives the whole world.

He was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven now salvation, and strength in the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ to come for the accuser of the brethren who accuse them before our God day and night is been cast down, and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea for the devil has come down to you, having great anger because he knows he has been a short time now. In these powerful verses from the book of Revelation we learn a lot about our adversary the devil and his fallen angels that we now call demons today. In fact, I would add I think this is a chapter of the Bible.

The devil does not want you to read. Here's some points if you're taking notes. Point number one. The devil knows his days are numbered. Let me say that again, the devil knows his days are numbered. He's working through his network of demon powers and here we find this battle in heaven. I remember the Angels are referred to as stars right and Satan himself as a fallen star.

So this is the first instance of Star Wars in history.

No Luke Skywalker Noel Han Solo or Princess Leia. This is a heavenly battle between the angels of God under the direction of Michael the Archangel and Lucifer, the son of the morning. The powerful fallen angel and his demon forces, and they did not prevail. Verse eight says so late news they have this all access pass to heaven. Sort of. I'm okay and with the bandpass, but now he doesn't have that access into God's presence any longer and know basically Satan is dumped in Revelation chapter 12, you know, the grammatical construction of the phrase in the Greek indicates. Satan started this figure better be translated.

Michael and his angels had to fight the Dragon this is crazy because Michael's powerful is that Satan and God. There is no match their God is a need to fight with Satan. God is all powerful.

Satan is limited in his power. So this is more even match of Michael and Lucifer.

But Michael is more powerful than Lucifer, so he is losing this battle, yet he effectively chooses off Michael, if you will come on let's go. Michael's like you want some of this you sure go Lucifer is losing and he is being dealt with quickly and in a powerful way.

So the devil and his angels cannot defeat these powerful angels from God so I mentioned in the beginning that the title of my message was how do we overcome the devil's only return to that and answer the question number two. The devil does not want you to know that his primary attack comes to accusation the devil does not want you to know that he primarily attached you to accusation Paul wrote were not ignorant of his devices in second Corinthians 211 Victor Hugo, the author of Les Miserables, made this statement and I quote a good general must penetrate the brain of his enemy." So our enemy is a devil. Let's try to penetrate his brain for a moment, verse 10, the accuser of the brethren who accuse them before our God day and night is been cast down one of the primary rate ways that Satan attacks us is to accusation. This is the way works. He tempts you. By the way, it's not a sin to be tempted because temptation comes at the worst time, like maybe you're listening to a message like right now and all of a sudden an evil thought comes into your mind.

And then the devil condemns you for having an evil thought is not a sin to be tempted. It's only a sin if you give in to the temptation. It's not the bait that constitutes sin.

It's the bites, and so maybe the devil comes and says why don't you think about that are why don't you go look at that are why don't you do this other thing in and then he'll say no one will ever know.

No one will ever be aware of what you don't go forward you'll have fun and so you go for it and then the devil comes back and says you miserable hypocrite. You call yourself a Christian. You say you're a child of God.

No believer in Jesus Christ would do what you've done. Don't even pray don't even read your Bible, that would be the ultimate act of hypocrisy.

Don't you dare show your ugly face insert see how this works. First, he tempts you and then he condemns you for giving in to the temptation we need to learn to know the difference between Satan's accusations and the Holy Spirit's conviction she wanted Christian sins.

And yes, we will set the Holy Spirit will convict or convince you of your sin wide to drive you into shame know to bring you back to Jesus. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit in John 16, eight when he comes still convince the world of its sin and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

So if you sin and you feel guilt and then you turn to the Lord, and you want him to forgive you.

That's a good thing right so like that smoke alarm that goes out is made you aware of a bigger problem so you respond to the alarm you responded to conviction, but if you feel killed and shame and you walk away from God. You're listening to the wrong voice. Satan will accuse you and use your own sins, and a hateful way to destroy you. So how do we overcome the devil. The answer is found right here in Revelation 1211. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. So first they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. So let's see you sin, the devil says your hypocrite. Your failure, you don't deserve to approach a lot of my responses. That's true. I don't deserve to approach God. I am not worthy. And I never will be worthy. Is he sometimes as Christians we get into this weird little works righteousness thing we think of.

I do X amount of good things, God will be happy with me anyhow hear my prayers. I read 10 chapters out of the Bible and and I actually talk to somebody about Jesus look. God doesn't hear your prayers based on what you've done. He hears your prayers based on what he's done in sending his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross in your place, so there's nothing I need to do to earn the favor of God is he sometimes people think God is mad at them, when in reality, God is not about them know that you are loved by God, your cherished by God and your prayers are welcomed by God centigrade got nowhere the you'll never be worthy. Forget about being worthy.

I approach God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1019 says, dear friends, we can boldly enter heaven's most holy place because of the blood of Jesus. This is the new life-giving way crisis open up for us, it's the blood of Jesus at the cross of Calvary.

Jesus dealt a decisive blow against Satan and his minions Colossians 214 says Christ obliterated the hand written document of ordinances against us.

And they yielded to the cross, having stripped off and away from himself. The principalities and authorities.

He boldly made an example of them. So here's the point. It's through the blood of the Lamb is through the blood of Jesus I can approach God. Ephesians 213 says you or sometimes far off the been made near by the blood of Jesus. A. John says that we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. Years ago I was having a meal with Billy Graham in his home and I was a young man at that point in my late 30s and so I asked Billy Billy if an older Billy could speak to a younger Billy what would you say to yourself, what would you save to a younger Billy that he should be preaching on more than he is now and without missing a beat, Billy said I would preach more on the cross and the blood of Christ because that's where the power is and I never forgot that there's power in the blood is the old song says what you need to apply the blood is that I have no idea what you're talking about K member in the Old Testament book of Exodus we have ears or lights that were display the lamina put the blood over there doorpost. In other words at the top of their door and on the right and left God's judgment came upon them on the Egyptians would pass over the house with the blooded than the place you go to apply the blood is a what is that mean it means that you come to God and say I'm sorry for my sin.

Thank you for sending Jesus to shed his blood for my sin and I apply the blood to the situation and I believe that I am forgiven I take you Lord at your word. You promised that you would forgive me of all of my sin. These folks overcame the devil by the power of the blood by the blood of the Lamb and also for the word of their testimony. It says by the word of their testimony.

You known a believer is walking closely with God and fellowship and friendship. They wanted tell others sort of like when we make a recommendation by go to yelp people give their opinions on everything. Who are these people we don't know, but they give their recommendation of their endorsement and maybe before we walk into the restaurant we check it out with all while they did get a good yelp review but if you really like something you going to tell others that just on the best burger on earth in this place. This is the greatest movie I've ever seen or hey man, you gotta listen to this song or read this book we give our endorsement ever really walking with Jesus. Should we not do the same for him.

We just going to talk about burgers in movies and books talk about Jesus, give your testimony tell people what Christ is done for you.

Listen to this. Every Christian has a testimony that some are more dramatic than others and some came from a life of crime or addiction or had all kinds of issues and others never got into those things.

But here's what we can all say when we tell our story of how we came to Jesus like that blind man was healed by the Lord, we can say once I was blind but now I see. Listen, I know your testimony is what it was. You were a sinner separated from God. You heard the gospel.

You put your faith in Jesus and Christ came inside of your life in these changing is a pretty accurate they overcame him. These people by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and finally they loved not their lives to the death. What is that mean means that these believers recognize that their lives belong to God. I go to Tyson when you became a Christian, you became God's possession. He owns you and that's a good thing. I mean I want to be owned by God right.

The Bible says you're not your own.

You been bought with a price. Therefore glorify God with your body because I belong to the Lord. I have his ID tag on me.

He's my child and I'm also called on the Bible, the bride of Christ. So I'm owned by him. I'm his bride, then I'm also called a friend of God. So there's many pictures. The Bible gives of this new relationship, but these folks recognize their lives belong to God and listen God is giving you your life is a gift he's given you the beat of your heart is a gift he's given you the breath in your lungs, that's all a gift from him.

So these folks recognize God is in control of our lives. We belong to the Lord, and he loves each and every one of us and that a great thing to know. So let me close by asking you this question.

Are you overcoming the devil are you being overcome by the devil. Maybe your end of the power of some addiction. Maybe it's alcohol. Maybe it's drugs. Maybe it's pornography maybe it's something else. It just has a grip on you and you can break free from it and it seems like when you pray God isn't listening and Satan whispers in your ear, and he says God will not share your press. Why don't you just ended all, and whether to just take your own life. Don't listen to Satan he's a liar and the father of lies. Listen God shares your prayers. God loves you and if you sinned against him. He will forgive you, no matter what you have done. Satan does not want you to know that there is forgiveness to Jesus Christ. But here's a God says if you will confess your sin, he is faithful and just to forgive you your sin and cleanse you from all on righteousness. What does it mean to confess it means to agree with God. So you say Lord I see things the way you see them. I'm tired of making excuses for my sin.

I'm tired of rationalizing that justifying it. I admit Lord I've said and I'm sorry for that sin.

And I ask you to forgive me. Maybe you're watching me right now and and you've never known this relationship with God, I've been talking about.

This is not a religion thing's is a relationship with God.

Jesus died on the cross. 2000 years ago for your sin and mine, and then he rose from the dead three days later and now he stands at the door of your life and Enoch's and he says if you hear his voice and open the door he will come in. Would you like your sin forgiven. Would you like to know was certainly there when you die you will go to heaven. I'm telling you right now if you will pray with me and asked Jesus to come into your life.

Everything can change for you.

You can change your eternal address from hell to heaven. In the course of your life can be changed from death to life from a hopeless life to a hopeful life. He's just a prayer away in the moment. I'm in a prayer.

Prayer number and ask you to pray this prayer with me if you would like Jesus to come into your life and in this prayer. I'm also going to ask some of you who maybe have sinned against God, and have not asked for his forgiveness to return to the Lord. Like the prodigal son. Prodigal daughter. It can happen for you right now so you want your sin forgiven, if you want to know that you will go to heaven when you die if you want your guilt taken away or you want to come back to Jesus Christ again make a recommitment pray this prayer with me right now. Pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross of my place. I'm sorry for my sin. I confess my sin. I churn from my sin and I choose to follow you now. From this moment forward. Thank you for hearing this prayer in answering this prayer in Jesus name I pray, amen. Everybody Greg Laurie here. Thanks for listening to our podcast and the learn more about harvest ministries. Please subscribe and consider supporting this show. Just go to harvest.org and by the way, if you want to find out how to come into a personal relationship with God. Go to know God.org that's key NOW GLD.org