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January 22, 2018 6:01 pm
Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners receive free email daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org okay. Quick question. How many of you have ever fallen unexpected like this, you felt something okay.
Pretty much everybody right so I've taken up racquetball again and I was playing the other day and and you know the funny thing you know, the doctor will say Greg get on a treadmill or go walking i.e. I hate treadmills and I hate cardio but I will run endlessly around in circles to chase a stupid ball with the rocket right so I was running to get a shot and I somehow pivoted and I landed flat on my back and my rocket went flat on the wood floor and made a tremendous God.
Some guy on the second level is on a treadmill.
He stopped and looked over to are you okay and I'm just laying there on the floor. Okay I was okay but I had to take a few Tylenol afterwards actually but but the thing is I wasn't planning on falling and a lot of times that happen.
Spiritually people fall in. They weren't planning on it but maybe in the way. Though they weren't planning on it. They were setting themselves up for. I think when a person falls away spiritually it's because there's been a neglect in their spiritual life because they're feeling to move forward. They naturally not immediately but in short order start going backward again and then one day you wake up and you say, how did I end up in the state. How do they end up in this place that I meant.
I don't remember when this happened. That's because it was gradual, sort of like the frog in the kettle illustration slowly heating up. The Bible warns about backsliding in Jeremiah 219 of the Bible says your wickedness will punish you. Your backsliding will rebuke you consider how evil and bitter it is for you when you first seek the Lord your God and have no all of me says the Lord God Almighty. Jeremiah 322 God says return for this people and I will cure you of backsliding. Yes, we will come to you for you are the Lord our God. I did we really need to be on the guard against this because the Bible actually says one of the signs of the last days is people will fall away from the faith. I was sure we know one of the signs of the last days that cashless society we know one of the signs of the last days is conflict in the Middle East. We know one of the signs of the last days is an increase in violence. Okay, those are all signs of the times. Here's another people will fall away from the faith, so we want to be very careful that we don't become one of those people because as I've already said if you're not moving forward, you're automatically going backward, but we can look now at the story of a backslider were talking about Simon Peter. And when you look at his denial of Jesus here in our series on recalling life studies in the Gospel of John were now following Christ to the cross, but we sort of go over to the side for a moment, a sidebar story if you will, as we look at how Simon Peter reacted to all the events that were happening, resulting in this full-blown denial so if you feel as though you let God down. I think you're going to find this a hopeful message because this is not only a story of how a guy fell, but it's also a story of how he was restored and if you fallen away from the Lord in some way shape or form. I'll give you an opportunity at the end of this message to make a recommitment to let's get to know Simon Peter, a little bit better. Definitely one of the most colorful characters in all of the Bible. Perhaps he is my very favorite. Probably because I relayed to him somewhat as many of us do. Simon Peter had a terminal case of foot and mouth disease.
You know there's so much Inc. given in the Gospels to the statements of Simon Peter. It's just nonstop action. Jesus was at a place called Caesarea Philippi. There he began to speak in great detail about the fact that he was going to be betrayed and beaten. Then crucified him. He would rise again on the third date. Simon Peter takes it upon himself to rebuke Jesus who rebukes Jesus, Simon Peter dead and he didn't just do it once. He did it over and over he can of God and Jesus face and said talking about you know what he is saying this is crazy talk.
Jesus, there's no way that you can die and be betrayed and all that.
And Jesus actually had to say get behind me Satan because at that moment the devil was actually speaking to the great fisherman big Peter.
He just kept coming back for more.
He was knocked out but he was never knocked out Simon Peter, the patron saint of ordinary flawed people like you and me. We can relate to him.
Another example of Peter and is crazy talk is at the transfiguration, I mentioned last time, how Jesus often took Simon Peter, James and John with him aside on different occasions and and it's not because they were elite disciples, but maybe because they were special needs disciples. They needed extra attention that's my view, at least in Canada prove the point Jesus allowed them to watch the transfiguration of Peter, James and John with them and anyone a Pinoy mountain they fell asleep as we'll see in a moment that something they did more than once they wake up in what standing before them. But Jesus Christ shiny like the sun on one side is Moses on the other sign is Elijah imagine that for a moment. By the way the miracle is not the Jesus shine like the sun on the day of the transfiguration, the miracle was that he didn't shine like that all the time because he was God incarnate, so he bailed his glory never avoided it was always there zero Christmas hymn says veiled in flash the Godhead see hail incarnate deity, so he sort of hit it, which is a rare moment he is, let it out like like that in no shining like the sun there is Moses representing the prophets give me the law. There is Elijah, representing the prophets because what they're talking about their talking about the death of Jesus, what a holy moment.
What a sacred opportunity. What a great time to see nothing but Peter thought it would be a good opportunity to say a few words, there is Jesus here is Moses there is Elijah.
Peter stands up and says it's good we are here actually ask you what you thought. It's good we are here he says we should build three tabernacles pretense one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. You must wonder, Moses turned to Jesus and said, is he with you.
Yeah, that's we call on the rock. Yeah well he's a wise he talking right it would. Something to say and I love it because one gospel says this he said because he did not know what to say. It's very important when you don't know what to say don't say anything so we bought those moments you want to see just the right thing and you end up seeing the worst thing imaginable. That's it just happened to Peter. It's good we are here. Here's a Peter was really say Lord forget the Caesarea Philippi.forget going to across and I this is where you belong. Shining in glory. Let's stay here. Let's never leave this place. It's good we are here and then of course another classic Peter story is, is when there was a great storm in the sea of Galilee is are often was, it was so horrible that even the season fisherman started to freak out, thinking they were going to die. They spend nine hours rolling against it. Trying to get back to shore again and then what happens. But Jesus appears walking on the water.
What a glorious moment again just take it all in, get a mental snapshot.
No Peter. He just has to say something in this case, do something Lord. He says didn't you tell me to calm you must wonder Jesus is really Peter okay right but income on its me and Peter throws one leg over the side of the boat and swings the other one over and steps down on the water. He that a given credit. Nobody else even tried this all right and he takes a step and he's on top of the water he takes another step. He still on top of the water as he makes his way to Jesus.
He probably takes in the reality of what's happening takes his eyes off of the Lord begins to sink, and that cries out Lord save me these going underwater Lord save me, you know, Jesus reaches down pulled him up on the top of the water and they walked back to the boat again classic example of Simon Peter either knocking it out of the park or striking out rarely anything in between. Whenever Peter committed to. He threw himself into it wholeheartedly, which sadly included this fall. You know, for the most part, with the exception of John the apostles went into hiding. When Christ was arrested not Peter was walking close to the Lord as was seen a few moments but he ultimately denied him and then he began to self-destruct, so that sort of get the backdrop here of what's going on and then will look at our text together. So course, Jesus has had the last supper in the upper room with the disciples and psyches, wash their feet really as the great servant he was and now he's getting ready to go and die for the sin of the world and up but before that he has a conversation with Simon Peter. So let's start with Luke and then woke make her way over to John's a good Luke 22 first and listen to verse 31 secures what Jesus says to Peter, Simon, Simon, Satan is asked to sift you as wheat. But I am pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith would not fail so when you have repented and turned to me again. You might underline turn to me again, strengthen your brothers. Peter said Lord I'm ready to go to prison with you, even to die with you, Jesus and Peter, let me tell you something before the rooster crows tomorrow morning you will deny three times that you even knew me well what a bombshell Jesus truck.
Can you imagine Jesus saying something like this to you all excuse me.
Hey Greg Greg, Mary, Mary, whatever your name is Satan's been asking for you by name that you would be taken out of the care and protection of God, and a lot of time to see the devil tempted be right on the doubles hassling me the doubles.
Give me a hard time.
The reality is most of us are probably never been personally tempted by Lucifer himself, yet understand some of the hierarchy of fallen Angels, there's the devil who's at the top of the heap. He was a powerful angel, maybe even an archangel, and that he was once a worship leader and then he fell from his position in heaven and became Satan or the devil well under him. He has fallen angels or demons, as we call them today of the Bible says he's the Prince of the power of the air.
Some of the Bible says we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and all that is talking about sort of the rankings. The military now sort of the rankings under the devil. So the doubles sort of like the commander-in-chief.
The devil can only be in one place at one time. In contrast to God is omnipresent God can be everywhere at the same time.
If the doubles here. He can't be in Los Angeles and if he's in Los Angeles and Campion Moscow visa Moscow, he can't be somewhere else so it's pretty rare that Satan himself would come and tempt a person, though it's possible, but it was probably a demon doing his bidding, which is in effect the same thing.
It's a powerful demon power doing the work of the devil. It's one of his minions know not the kind of minion that the cute minion with one eye, but one of his demon power so in this case. In particular, the devil himself was gunning for Simon Peter presented Jesus. He said Satan has come and ask that you be taken out of the care and protection of God that I love you. Jesus says, but I have prayed for you. Then when you will return. You can strengthen your brothers. Listen at the devil ever comes knocking at your door. Make sure US Jesus to answer it is your no match for him that all I've prayed for you.
Jesus says, notice what Jesus says and when you have returned, you can strengthen your brothers returned yeah buddy. You're going to fall away. No, Peter says, not me. I will never deny you. You actually will and to be specific.
You'll do it three times and also a little detail before the rooster is grow twice sort of the steps that led to Peter's backsliding. If you're taking notes write these down will also put them up on the screen to help you with the verses you might want to look these up later shares step number one to Peter's fall self-confidence. Self-confidence.
Look at verse 33 of Luke. He said Lord I'm ready to go with you both to prison, then to death and Jesus said Peter the rooster will not grow this day before you deny three times that you know me by the way, in Matthew's gospel talked about the same topic finds Peter saying even if all are made to stumble, I will never be made to stumble. No understand what Peter is doing. He's making himself look good at the expense of others.
I like it when people do that when you come and see no nobody else is working as hard as I'm working on your best person you not really be have to diss other people just do what you do and do it well. Don't do it at the expense of others. But the reason Peter made this statement as Jesus had just revealed that Judas Iscariot was a traitor and then he said no Judas pay whatever you do, do it quickly, and Judas left the room and then Peter says, hey, if everyone denies you all never deny on the redo would Judas fit I learn about the rest of these guys in this room, but I'm telling you, you can depend on Simon Peter Jesus just telling member on the rock.
Jesus is will since you brought it up buddy, you're going to deny me three times. There is no way that will ever happen. Self-confidence in the Bible says pride goes before a fall. And it's a person that says I will never fall that often falls don't ever say I will never fall in that area. I see that person did that thing I would never do that.
No careful buckaroo pride goes before a fall. Listen you need us were all vulnerable in any one of us could fall in any area. If we were to lower our guard.
Don't ever think you're above that recognize your weakness. Recognize your vulnerability vulnerability, but also recognize the power of God and his desire to sustain you.
So don't worry about it as I like the devil can just pick us off at will and taken you down tomorrow to sometimes people of fallen descendents. A.
The devil made me do it. Knowing tenant tempted you even make you that's exactly what what you said, you know, what did you do need to just chill out and be of the forbidden fruit. She said the devil typically was a double fall. The serpent strictly well yeah he tricked you but you give into it, saying, so here is the devil now attacking inheres Peter being prideful and this was a big mistake and that brings us to the next thing that he did that resulted in him falling number two prayerless nests prayer list nests. We could also say a lack of prayer I don't even know the word prayerless. This exists, I think it ought to do good work, so lack of prayer prayerless.
This, but one away say that because come now to verse 20 she's reversed 39 of Luke 22 coming out.
He went to the Mount of olives as he was a custom and his disciples followed him when he had come to this place. He said pray that you may not enter into temptation when he was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw.
He knelt down and prayed same father a pitcher will take this cup from me and nevertheless not my will but yours be done. And when he rose from the Prairie came to his disciples that would be Peter, James and John. He found them sleeping from sorrow and he said why do you sleep rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation. Other were sleeping again from sorrow. So let's understand these guys are broken heart of the world was falling apart around them. They left everything to follow Jesus and all of a sudden he's being arrested and everything seems to going off the rails and Judas, one of their own guises abandon them and even betrayed Christ so they don't know it's happening there just so in pain and so they fell asleep from sorrow effectively cried themselves to sleep. What Jesus on the do stay awake and pray pray that you don't enter into temptation. And I think there are times the Lord might be telling us to pray, we don't pray we get ourselves into a lot of trouble, but we don't pray because we need to pray for wisdom that we need to pray for protection, and we need to pray for provision in the Bible. Since you have not because you ask not. I suggest you there are things that God would like to do in your life and give to you that may not be happening because you simply failed to pray about it. Ask and it shall be given, says Jesus seeking you shall find, knock and the door shall be open so it was powerlessness and now we shift over to John chapter 18 see what else happened.
The Peter over to John 18 now we read in verse 15 Simon Peter butter when reading from the new living translation Simon Peter follow Jesus, as did another of the disciples. The other disciple was associated with a high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest courtyard with Jesus it's assumed that this other disciple is John the author of this gospel and John often referred to himself in this way of the disciple whom Jesus loved, he would use his own name, Peter had to stay outside the gate.
The verse continues on to say. Then the disciple presumably John knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching that the gate and she let Peter in a league of this storm that's Peter you're not one of that man's disciples, are you know I am not Peter because it was called the household servants and the guards made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves. And Peter stood with them, warming himself. Here's Peter's third step down step number one. Self-confidence step number two prayerless this step number three keeping his distance from Jesus keeping his distance from Jesus. A good verse 15 Simon Peter followed Jesus ago will wait it since he followed Jesus's and that good yet good but Luke gives us a detail that's important. Says he followed at a distance so he was close enough to sorta see what was going on but he was far enough away where he was in a bit of trouble watching shows on television. You know where they show the predators like the Lions are the alligators.
Even then and there, waiting for an unsuspecting animal, and often though be a flock of you know whatever gazelles you know, jumping along in their altogether zebras frighten the lion in alliance don't like to waste energy they just sit there, the sun, their weight and for the one guy that separates from the pack. The slow one, so there goes all the gazelles room from the one guy in the bag to the room. The room you know Ken is looking around lances that looks like lunch to me and he grabs that one and he pulls it down.
That's what happens to us all with God's people were moving in harmony.
There is safety in numbers. Praying for one another, encouraging one another when you're the straggler when you're far away from everybody so you come in sorta herein enough to kinda know what's going on but dreaded distance, you know, when you come to church. You always sit in the back row and it's okay to sit in the back room that seriously.
Sometimes these are the ones who are the last to get here. I don't get it.
Now I know you when you're working. It's hard to get in on time but you don't this worship. If you can avoid it.
Okay if you can't get here until you get here. At that time find you're welcome but but you know when worship is happening you want to be a part of that engaged in it until be the first to leave I can get outta here, you know indicates be a part of what God is and this is why we encourage you to get involved in these Picchu groups of virtue group the Bala group, a small group make a big church. A small church meet some people develop some friendships of Christian brothers and sisters that you can I engage with and even have an accountability to have people to pray for you and and help you through life.
You know there's a great things to do. Don't be the straggler W the person following that, a distance was too much of the world to be happy in the Lord, but too much of the Lord to be happy in the world that some miserable. No man's land for the theologically it sucks don't go there after Peter was doing. Oh yes, he was following distance not as closely as he should. Now we come to his fourth step down verse 18. He was warming himself that the enemy's fire warming himself of the enemy's fire verse 18.
They stood around this fire made out of charcoal, warming themselves and Peter stood with them, warming himself now. He hoped to go unnoticed in the larger crowded worm himself at the fire. He was already following at a distance. He was just a train wreck waiting to happen.
Now we want to give him some credit. He was around. The others were nowhere to be seen believe Peter's there but but you know he he's already compromising because here's a problem. He was at the wrong place at the wrong people. Now is going to do the wrong thing right. This isn't rocket science people I talk to people and struggle with different things. I've been a struggle with with porn. I struggle with gambling. I struggle with drugs. I struggle with alcohol okay well I didn't see you at church last Thursday night. Where were you in a bar, gambling, and looking at porn during idiots really seriously you hang around with the wrong people of the wrong places in your shop when you go and do the wrong thing.
You're just setting yourself up and that's a Peter was doing change the people you hang around with chains and places that you go to. I mean realistically, he should the been in this place now is for step down the first denial for 17 one of them says you're not one of that man's disciples, are you he says no I am not they were thought we were at the zoo boo Jesus talk about this.
Maybe I should get out of her. Why didn't he run, here's the answer. This is a profound point abated before, but I'll make it again. Why did he run ready for sin makes you stupid. Sin makes a stupid term like someone who's drinking people who were drinking don't know how stupid they're behaving.
They think the really funny why I'm really funny when I'm drunk and so you want to, you're really obnoxious all the time. I'm a whole different person now much worse person please don't go behind the wheel of a car and injure somebody worse is kill them, but you know the drunk person. The person coming under the influence thinks are so clever they're so witty. This is so great and they find out the next day what they actually said and did their little bit shocked by sin is sort of like that in front of intoxicating and if you're not thinking clearly and think of Sam's anything in it with a woman named Delilah, who tells them she wants to cut off his hair so he'll have no strength solely hangs around with her, with his head in her lap.
Is that smarts, he will curse you know the rest of that story and so that's what happened. Sin makes you stupid.
Peter should've got out of there. He should've run, but send is blinding him despite the fact that Jesus predicted this very thing. Now look at the six step down verse 25 and as Peter was standing by the fire warming himself. They asked him again. One of his disciples argue he denied it say no I am not one of the household slaves of the high priest watches no a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off said then I see you out there in the olive grove would Jesus, Peter denied it and immediately a rooster crow okay put all three gospels together. There's another denial in the middle of all of this case it was three denials in total. By the way, Luke tells us a full hour had passed between the second and third denial. How were why when you've gotten out of there again signature stupid.
He's not thinking clearly. He wants to be near Jesus. He wants to help Jesus but is afraid to make his stand and now is sin is coming to hunt you your one of knowing that you're the guy who cut off milk is his ear that story the guy he was the servant of the high priest probably leading the charge. I'll get on your comes off.
Jesus heals the guy. I remember you I remember you clearly hear the guy that actually does know how to use a sword very well and another was no denying it. And now Matthew's gospel gives us a very important detail. That's as Peter began to curse and swear, what is at me doesn't mean Peter use profanity, nor does it mean that he swore like a sailor, though technically it was one but it's an interesting phrase in the original language that means to take an oh so effectively. One was pronouncing death on the himself. There were taken an oath before God.
Here's what he was saying. I swear to God I take an oath before God himself. I never knew Jesus really do have to go that far my way that's clearly taking the Lord's name in vain.
When you see something like that so he took an oath that he never knew Jesus and then the rooster crows again.
And if that wasn't bad enough, according to Luke at that very moment after the third denial after taking an oath. I never knew Jesus. Jesus was led outside of the house of Caiaphas, and he made eye contact with Peter, Isaac, Jesus met the eyes of Peter because we read immediately. While he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. This is Luke 22 and the Lord turned and looked at Peter and Peter remembered the word of the Lord that he had said before the rooster crows shall deny me three times. And Peter went out and wept bitterly when a moment by the way, that phrase Jesus a computer to be a rate better be translated Jesus look right through Peter Anderson that ever have someone look right through you. Ask your question.
There's looking at you. Let me restate it give a mother you baby or cross-examine your rustic, the officer says have you been you're just nervous or nervous nervousness member years ago. We're going to Israel and were leading the tour over there and I you know they're very careful about security in Israel and they don't use all the machinery like TSA doesn't that they're very different that they look at people and they pick people out and they further cross-examine them.
So here I am in a group with bunch of people to go to Bible studies, New Zealand, someone from the government comes a business sees me know what you doing why you went to Israel and likely likely deleted tour. I'm a pastor what's in them your church. It's called harvest and how long is your tour of it's like eight days okay and where you state also not getting nervous and I do nothing wrong I'm nervous like when I was 12 I stole a toy I'm I was just nervous as under pressure. You know they kept asking me questions again were you going all in the given the pastor and are asking all these questions and you know you're under pressure. What he felt horrible.
He wept bitterly. Jesus look right through. How do you think that went down giving Jesus a computer and did this do you think Jesus rolled his eyes across seriously, do you think he looked at them with anger and scorn. Nine of I think you looked at him with love like none and I told you so but a little bit of and I told you so you know, like I told you so but a buddy. I told Mike member told you, but just remember everything I told you I said when you've returned, you'll strengthen your brothers. I think you looked at him with love. I think Peter was broken hearted person.
Jesus is taken to the cross.
These crucified that he rises again three days later in the message goes out from the risen Lord and what is that message go tell the disciples and who and Peter is risen by Peter when I go tell the disciples and James and John go tell the disciples and Matthew go tell the disciple know no go tell the disciples and Peter. The reason he was singled out was what he just needed some extra encouragement you need that right now you feel like is as old man. I've just messed up so many times I've fallen back to the same sins over and over again. It's too late for me. You know you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Well first of all, you're not a dog and these are not tricks. God can change any person even if they've messed up many many times did Peter fail. Yes he did.
Did he deny the Lord again. Yes. Was he still a believer, you better believe it because Jesus said when you are converted or when you return you'll strengthen your brothers. His setback was temporary and Peter would be back and he would be able to use this failure is a way to encourage others but also failed because he could tell people that there is a God who gives second chances, but also serve as an example of the simple fact that nobody is above falling into sin.
Nobody. Anyone can fall.
But here's what we want to see computers favor. He wept bitterly in the Bible says godly sorrow produces repentance, you can cry for your sin, especially if you get busted for the repercussions of your sin right back to been pulled over by an officer enough, you're breaking the speed limit and you get pulled over your so sorry why you sorry that you break the speed limit. Know that you were watching more carefully for comps right it's a different kind of sorrow for the proper sorrow was I'm sorry. I know what I did was wrong and I want to change. I want to do it anymore. Godly sorrow produces repentance. Repentance means to change your direction, Peter went out and wept bitterly with Jesus forgave him again. Go tell the disciples and Peter. He's risen in Jesus not only forgive me, recommissioned immobile see that later. In the Gospel of John.
So in conclusion, maybe you have fallen spiritually, maybe quite expectedly, you're like that lady in the commercial I've fallen and I can't get up.
I'm not making fun of her. By the way, though I think she's an actress, but Tom, I'm not making fun of anyone who falls in can't get up, but maybe you feel that way.
Spiritually, and I've fallen and I can't get up.
Well, you can get up on your own. But God can pull you up God to help you get back in your feet again. Jesus forgave Peter and he will forgive you as well is it one dissociating do not even worthy to be here at church can I tell you little secret you've never been worthy to be a church you've never been worthy to pray you've never been worthy to read your Bible. Would using your Worthington though none of us ever were worthy on that one week when you did so well and did to our devotions every day and prayed and fasted lead for people of the Lord.
You weren't even worthy and that wonderful week. This is never been about worthiness. This is always been about the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for us, giving us access to the father and I will always be about that. So let's lose the worthy stuff worthy no one's worthy, but I'm invited. I have access not because I deserve it. I don't deserve it.
I deserve judgment, as do you. But God says I love you and I won't have a relationship with you. This is exactly why Jesus was going to the cross to die in our place and to bear all of our sins as he shed his blood for us in the rise again from the dead, so we can have this relationship with God.
Going back to the Garden of Eden were our first parents sin that big wall when up that separates us from God.
But now the wall is torn down through the death of Jesus, so I can know God, but it's only through Jesus.
I can know God and he calls me to himself.
So were going to close now in a prayer in a moment, and I want to extend an invitation to someone here tonight. Maybe it's your church for the first time or you been here before, but this is all start and it makes sense to you and you want Jesus. I talked to a young man last Sunday third service here at harvest orange county & he said he just commonly was looking into this. Want to know more about it and heard about us and wanted to know more about Jesus. He had questions and so we talked for a while and and were discussing this and I said well you know what I I just pray that you will come to Jesus and and I'm just thinking about anything know what I need is guys ready to come to Jesus right now I don't think he really needs to way that arms can ask him if I pop the question I'm asking a question.
Would you like to accept Jesus Christ right now. He said I really would see some people that's what they want to do. They just on the how to do it will because they've never done it. How would they know so maybe you're the person I like to do this so like is is likely does it take you here to converter a month. No listen, it can happen just like that, just in a flash. We use a Lord forgive me of my sin and ask Christ to come inside. I prayed with him and let him in a prayer just like the we the people in all the time here and that was his moment.
This can be your moment right now is live some questions and got smart. You know what I believe. If you will come to Jesus. So many of those questions will be answered. Maybe not every single one but a lot of them will be the big ones will be resolved. You'll find what you're looking for so so I get all these things together than come to Jesus. Notes like this come to Jesus in the hope to work all those things out. This come to with as much faith as you have one final thing, there might be someone here that maybe even raised in the church, a maybe even raised in this church you knew me when I had a hair which is a long time ago and you you know you heard these things before but if you're really honest with yourself.
It's a backslidden it wasn't overnight, but it was over time, and I'm not walking with God and doing stuff I know shouldn't be doing on living a miserable compromise life will look simply to come back to the Lord. It's time to come home to your father who loves you and he will forgive you. Just as surely as he for gave Simon Peter returned to me. The Lord says you backsliding children and I will smack you around know somebody says return you backsliding children. The Lord says, and I will heal you.
That's what he says come on here. I'll give you a big hug and I'll forgive you. Just like the father did for the prodigal son with her son return him to the father smack him around to see some of the stick know he threw his arms around this my son was dead is alive again. He was lost is that can happen for you really close now prayer you need to come to Jesus or come back to Jesus wanted to do it right now little pray father, thank you for loving us so much that you sent Jesus to die on the cross in our place. Thank you Jesus for coming and making that great sacrifice and then rising again and now you're here with us in this place ready to come to the heart of any person who calls out to you.
I pray that your Holy Spirit will convince those that don't know you of their need for you.
We pray that you bring them to yourself. No letterheads about and her eyes are closed and were praying.
How many of you would say tonight Greg I want Jesus, you been talking about this. I want Jesus Christ in my life. I want him to forgive me of my sin. I want to go to heaven when I die and I want to know the meaning and purpose of my life. I want this relationship of God. Would you pray for me that your desire. If you want Jesus Christ to come in your life you want him to forgive you of your sin, you want your guilt taken away. You want to discover his plan and purpose for you.
I want you to raise your hand up wherever you are and to pray for you. You want Jesus Christ raise your hand appropriate for you.
God bless you.
God bless you raise your hand up Iraq and see it. Please, bless you. God bless you to anybody else raise your hand up there in the back of bless you, bless you little guy. There bless anybody else raise your hand up.
This is your moment when you waiting for God bless you sir are there on the Isle. Anybody else bless you on the Isle, she was well young lady there still time. I'll pray for you. God bless you young men back there in the very corner. God bless you as well bless you too.
Yes, I went one more moment. You want Jesus in your life you want your sin forgiven when an offer that is, the Bible says whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
You call out to him.
Anybody else raise your hand. Now let me pray for you tonight. God bless you. No letterheads are still down.
How many of you would be honest enough to say a backslidden some of it. Some of you may be in a worse state than others, but you'd be honest enough to say I'm not where I should be spiritually I've drifted. I wandered off for some runoff but I want to come back to the Lord.
I want to be healed is Jesus promises I want to come back to Christ again to make a recommitment of that your desire raise your hand if you want to make a recommitment to Christ. We pray for you � and nobody else raise your hand up Iraq and see it please God bless, don't be embarrassed. This is the place to do it. Think of this as a hospital for hurting people here to help you. Anybody else raise your hand if you need to come back to the Lord, bless you father thank you for each one of these. Now I pray you give them the strength to stand up and follow you, we commit them to you now in Jesus name we pray, and met