Jesus and the Man Who Needed a Second Chance | Sunday Message

A New Beginning presents a new book from Pastor Greg Laurie. We are offering a brand new resource called The House of David Devotional and it's based on the great Psalms of David as well as the life of David. So I'm going to put this brand new devotional in your hand so you can learn from this man of God. Or your gift of any size at harvest.org.

It's the official companion resource for the new Amazon TV series also called The House of David. Hey there, thanks for listening to the Greg Laurie Podcast, a ministry supported by Harvest Partners. I'm Greg Laurie encouraging you if you want to find out more about Harvest Ministries and learn more about how to become a Harvest Partner, just go to harvest.org. So I was around 18 years old when I gave my first sermon. I was at a camp for Calvary Chapel up at Idlewild Springs in the mountains. And I don't know why they let an 18 year old kid preach, but they asked me to give a message.

Pastor Chuck was in the front row. A lot of people I knew. I was very nervous. I wanted to do it right.

I didn't want to mess up. And so I got up in front of everyone. I was speaking from Ephesians chapter six which talks about spiritual warfare. And from the King James it says that you put on the armor of God so we can withstand the fiery darts of the wicked one. Fiery darts is King James for flaming arrows. So instead of saying fiery darts of the wicked one, I got up and said and we need to guard ourselves against the diary farts of the wicked one. Chuck was laughing so hard I thought he was going to have a heart attack.

He turned bright red. No one remembered the rest of my message. All they remembered was I said fart in a sermon. Well there's more things I've said over the years. Not that long ago actually I was speaking on David of Bathsheba, speaking of David. And I was talking about when David first saw her the Bible says she was a woman of unusual beauty. But instead of saying Bathsheba was a woman of unusual beauty, I said Bathsheba was a woman of unusual booty. Now that may have been true.

I don't know. But that's not what I meant to say. Another time I was wrapping up a message. It was at the end right before I was going to invite people to come to Christ. And I would usually say something like let's pray. But instead I said let's pee. Thankfully no one took me up on that. And another time this is my last one.

These are my bloopers. I was speaking on Simon Peter. And I said and Jesus turned to Peter.

Well that's what I meant to say. But instead I said and Jesus turned to peepers. I called him peepers. Okay so that's my new name for Peter. So I want to talk to you about Simon Peter. And because he is the man who needed a second chance.

As I said this is a part of our Jesus and you series that we will continue on until Easter. You know Peter is so easy to relate to. He was hopelessly human just like us. There's no more relatable person probably in all of the Bible than Peter. And you wonder why would God choose someone like Peter? Because he failed in a spectacular way. He openly denied that he knew Jesus three times. Yet Jesus chose him to be one of his apostles. And not only that but to in effect be the leader of the apostles. Why would God choose a loser when he could choose a winner?

Another way to put it. Why would God choose you or me? Let's just say you knew the future and you knew what was going to happen. And let's say it was a couple weeks ago and you decided you were going to bet on the Super Bowl. If you knew the outcome would you bet on the Chiefs or would you bet on the Eagles right? You'd bet on the winner because the Eagles demolished the Chiefs and they celebrated by destroying Philadelphia. Because that's that's how Eagles fan fans roll.

When they win, when they lose, whatever happens let's destroy stuff okay. So you would bet on a winner not on a loser. So why would God choose someone like Peter? Why would he choose someone like us? Well God looks at the big picture. We look at the small picture. We see the immediate. He sees what's going to happen. Jesus did not choose Peter because of his perfection.

He chose him because of his potential. And he did mess up. And maybe I'm talking to somebody right now who has messed up horribly in life. You've said something you wish you had not said. You've done something you wish you had not done.

But here's what you need to know. Failure doesn't have to be the end of your story. God gives second chances and third ones and fourth ones and on it goes. I love Joel 2 25 where God says, I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten. So let's start with the first time Peter and Jesus came together. Peter was out fishing. He was a seasoned fisherman.

Normally a successful one. But on this particular occasion they had fished all night and caught nothing. And so Jesus shows up and he says, hey why don't you get back into your boat and go out into the deep water and you'll have a great catch. Now they might have thought who is this guy and what does he know. I mean Jesus was not a fisherman. He was what we might call a land lover.

That was not his area of expertise. But there was something about Jesus saying that to Peter that caused Peter to respond. And it's interesting what Peter said. He said we fished all night and we've caught nothing. Nevertheless at your word Lord we will do it. And the phrasing there in the original language is a nautical term. As if Peter were saying we fished all night and caught nothing. Nevertheless captain of our boat we will do it. I wonder how he said it. Did he say it sarcastically? Did he say we fished all night and caught nothing.

Nevertheless captain of our boat. Like as if you know anything about this. No I don't think he said it that way. I think Peter understood that Jesus knew what he was talking about. So they obeyed.

And they pulled in so many fish they couldn't contain them all. And what does Peter do? You would think he would say thank you Jesus or can you show up tomorrow at the same time. But instead Peter says depart from me I am a sinful man. In other words Lord you may have some idea of wanting to use me because Christ did say to Peter follow me and I'll make you a fisher of men. Peter's saying don't waste your time on me. Lord you don't want me on your team. I'm only going to disappoint you.

I'm only going to let you down. But Jesus saw Peter for what he would become not what he was. You know we might see a lump of clay. God sees a beautiful vase. We see a blank canvas. God sees a finished painting.

We see a piece of coal. God sees a refined diamond. We see problems. God sees solutions. We see failures. God sees growth. We see weakness. God sees a warrior. We see an unfinished story. God sees a glorious ending. Peter just saw sin. Jesus saw a spiritual leader. And Jesus knew Peter would fail. Let me say something that might surprise you. The only thing God expects of you is failure.

Oh no Greg you're wrong. He expects us to succeed. No God knows the future right. He knows you're going to fall short.

He knows you're going to mess up. So it did not come as a shock to Christ when Peter fell short in this area. But often through failure we learn things we would not otherwise learn right. It's been said their doorway to success has often entered through the hallway of failure. See I think the objective is to fail forward.

Does that make sense? To fail forward means I learn from my mistakes right. It's been said if at first you don't succeed relax you're just like the rest of us. And so we all fall short. We all have our moments of failure.

But God can take our endings and turn them into beginnings. Well the gospels they're just full of the adventures and misadventures of Peter. The great statements.

The bad statements. And you gotta love this guy because he was always talking. In fact the fact is Jesus spoke to Peter more than any other person in the Bible. And he also corrected Peter more than any other person in the Bible.

But Peter was just constant commentary. You know there are people like that. Maybe you're one of those people.

The problem is sometimes when you're one of those people you don't know that you are. But you are. You need to ask someone else am I always talking?

Do I dominate the conversation? That was Peter. You know he was always saying something. It was Will Rogers that said quote never miss a good chance to shut up. Not a great statement.

Just shut up. Plato said and he said this to me personally. Wise men speak because they have something to say.

Fools speak because they have to say something end quote. I think we feel like why I need to say something. And you know as you get older sometimes you start losing your filter. You know and grandpa starts saying crazy stuff. And then those inside thoughts become outside thoughts. Like you start talking. You're verbalizing what others maybe are thinking. That was Peter.

Always commenting on everything that was happening in any given moment. So here's an occasion where he said the right thing. Jesus and the disciples are at a place called Caesarea Philippi. Jesus turned to them and says who do people say that I am? They said well some say you're Jeremiah.

Others say you're Elijah. Jesus said okay who do you say that I am? Peter inspired by God himself said you are the Christ the Son of the living God. Jesus said flesh and blood did not reveal that to you Peter but my Father in heaven and you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.

Quick commentary. Jesus was not saying he was going to build the church on Peter. God forbid that Jesus builds his church on any man or woman. No he was saying I'm going to build my church on the statement you just made that I am the Christ the Son of the living God. The church is built on Christ not on a person. See that's important.

But it was an awesome statement and it was an insightful one. Peter just hit a home run. All the others are probably thinking oh man I wish I would have said that. And Jesus said you know I the Son of Man I'm going to be betrayed and I'm going to be crucified and I'll rise again on the third day. Well Peter thinking he's on a roll takes Jesus aside and says Jesus this is crazy. You can't talk like that. This can never happen to you.

Heaven forbid. And Jesus turns to him and says get behind me Satan because you are seeing it from a human point of view not God's. Poor Peter. One moment he was inspired by God. The next moment he is inspired by the devil. But then one of the classic Peter moments in the Bible is at the transfiguration. He took, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John. And then he went a little bit of distance from them and there he appeared with Moses on one side and Elijah on the other. Moses representing the law.

Elijah representing the prophets. And the Bible says Jesus was transfigured or was shown like the Son. We say well that's a miracle. No it was not a miracle that Jesus shined like the Son on that particular occasion. It was a miracle he didn't shine like that all the time. He was God walking among us.

But he shrouded his glory you see. And so here's a moment where he just said hey in case you don't fully know who I am check this out. You know there it is.

That's who I am. Whoa. Now that's a moment to take in. Don't take your stupid phone out. You know I think we miss so many moments because we pull our phones out for everything.

Can we just experience it every now and then? You know. Well they're watching to just be quiet. Behold the glory of God. Now Peter thought it would be a good opportunity to say a few words. So here's Jesus. Here's Moses. Here's Elijah. Peter says it's good we are here.

Who asked? Let's build three tents. One for Jesus. One for Moses.

And one for Elijah. And I love the commentary in the gospel that says this he said because he did not know what to say. Have you ever done that? Said something because you did not know what to say.

Think about this. When you don't know what to say don't say anything. There's an old proverb that says better to be silent and thoughtful than to open your mouth and dispel all doubt. So he said that. I wonder if Moses turned to Jesus and said, do you know that guy? Yeah he's with me.

What's up with him? That's Peter. He just says whatever he's thinking. That was just a classic Peter moment. Peter had his ups and downs. He had his highs and lows. But the worst of all was when he openly denied the Lord.

And that's what I would like to focus on for a few moments. Starting with Luke 22. When Peter began his regression. When he fell.

And there were a number of steps that led to his fall that we can learn from. So it all started when Jesus was with the disciples. And he turned to Peter and said these words.

Luke 22 31. Simon, Simon, Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail.

And when you have returned to me strengthen your brothers. Put yourself in Peter's sandals for a moment. Imagine you are just hanging out with Jesus.

Having a great time. And suddenly Jesus turns to you and says your name twice. And then says, Satan has been asking for you by name. And in the original language it can be translated, the devil has been asking excessively that you would be taken out of the care and protection out of the care and protection of God.

How scary would that be? But then Jesus adds these words, but I have prayed for you. This reminds us of the fact that the devil is not omnipresent, which means present everywhere. God is omnipresent.

He is everywhere. The devil can only be in one place at one time. You know sometimes we will say the devil was tempting me the other day. I wonder if many of us have ever been tempted by the big guy himself.

Probably by one of his demon forces. One of his minions. Not those kinds of minions. You know the demonic minions. But in effect you were tempted by the devil.

I am not denying that. But Satan himself was personally asking for Peter. I want that fisherman. I want that dude. I want him and I want you to give him to me right now.

He has been asking for you by name. And Jesus says, but I prayed for you. And this reminds us of the simple fact that whenever the devil comes knocking he has to get permission from Jesus first.

He can do nothing in the life of the child of God without the father's permission. That is illustrated in the book of Job. You remember the devil came with a series of attacks against Job. And the Lord said that he had put a hedge of protection.

A wall of protection around Job. And he has done the same for us. So here is what Jesus is saying. Buddy you are going to mess up. You are going to fall. He has been asking that you be taken out of the care and protection of God. But I prayed for you. But when you have returned you will strengthen your brothers. Jesus is saying in effect I know you better than you know you.

And you are going to fail but you are going to return. But I love the fact that he said I prayed for you. You know it is so wonderful when people pray for you. I was coming out to speak and some young man said can I pray for you Pastor Greg before you speak.

Absolutely. I always welcome prayers. When people say we pray for you and your family I have to thank them. And if any of you have prayed for me thank you for that.

It means so much. I remember once I was talking to Billy Graham and I said Billy would you pray for me. And he started to pray for me and I was thinking this is going to be so heard by God. Billy Graham is praying for me. This is heard in heaven.

And it was. But not because he was Billy Graham but because Billy goes to the father through Jesus just like you and I do. And our prayers are heard in heaven as well right. But it was kind of cool to have Billy Graham pray for me too. But Jesus says I am interceding for you. A commentator from days gone by named Robert Murray McShane made this statement and I quote if I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room I would not fear a million enemies.

Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me end quote. Isn't that a great statement? Because the Bible tells us in Romans 8 34 who is he that condemns Christ Jesus who died more than that was raised to life is at the right hand of God interceding for us. So who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword. Yes he was praying for Peter. You are going to stray Peter. You are going to mess up but you will be back.

You will return to me. This brings us to the first step to Peter's fall. It was self-confidence.

The first step to Peter's fall was self-confidence. Matthew 26 33. Peter answered and said even if all are made to stumble because of you I will never be made to stumble. So Jesus says one of you is going to betray me. And they all said is it me Lord.

Is it me. Now if Judas was as obvious as we think he was they would have all known it was him. So often when you see a religious painting of Jesus and the disciples or a depiction of it on film you always know who Judas is. Everybody else is in white robes.

He is in a black leather robe with a collar turned up and sunglasses right. There is Judas always lurking in the shadows. If he was as obvious as we would think he might have been they would have all pointed in unison and said it is Judas isn't it. But instead they said is it me. So this is a moment to be concerned. But Peter thought this is a moment to boast. Even if all deny you says Peter I will never deny you James and John sons of thunder.

I don't know about them. Matthew don't forget he used to collude with the Roman government. I don't know if you can trust that guy.

But you can depend on me. And then Jesus says well since you brought it up Peter before the rooster crows twice you will deny three times that you knew me. Peter says no Lord I will never deny you. Now that might sound commendable that Peter is boasting of his love for God but actually he was contradicting Jesus.

So self-confidence. You know sometimes we'll see a person fall into sin and we'll say I would never do anything like that. Oh shut up. You are capable of committing any sin as am I.

Now that doesn't mean we can't or it doesn't mean we should nor does it mean we will but it means we could if we chose to. So don't ever say oh I would never do such a thing. You are capable of doing the worst thing imaginable. We all are as that old expression says but for the grace of God there go I. The Bible says pride goes before a fall and a haughty spirit before we fall. So destruct before destruction rather.

So that was his first step down. I will never deny you. I will never let you down. Oh actually you will. Self-confidence.

Be careful. The Bible says let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Peter's second step down was a result of prayerlessness. Prayerlessness. I don't even know if prayerlessness is a word but I've been using it for so long it's a word to me. It just means not praying about things. And Peter wasn't praying when he should have been because now we find ourselves in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is getting closer to his death on the cross. He knows what's coming and he's under intense pressure. In fact we read that he cried to the Father, Father if it's possible let this cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will but as you will. And Dr. Luke points out he sweat as it were great drops of blood.

What does that mean? Some medical experts may think that that may have been a description of what is called hematrydrosis. Hematrydrosis is a condition you can have when you're under intense stress and pressure you can have blood mixed with your perspiration.

So you're effectively sweating blood. Jesus was sweating blood because being omniscient knowing the future knowing exactly what was about to happen knowing the torturous things they would do to him knowing that he would be nailed to a cross and worst of all knowing that he who is sinless and holy would have to bear everything that was sinful and unholy as he bore the sins of the world. He recoiled and he said, Father if it's possible let this cup pass. And by the way he didn't just say it quietly, Father if it's possible let this cup pass.

The Bible says he screamed it out and he screamed it repeatedly, Father if it's possible let this cup pass from me. So he asked one thing of Peter, James, and John. He said to them, can you guys just watch with me for one hour?

And then as he's dealing with this horrible thing that's about to happen he comes back and he finds them asleep. He goes, guys come on watch and pray. See because of the self-confidence they didn't think they needed to pray but they should have been praying.

Here's the problem, they were slumbering and sleeping when they should have been present and praying. But you know really when you stop and look at this all Jesus was saying is, can you guys just be with me? You know sometimes when a person is hurting they just need you to be there. You don't even have to have the right words you just have to be there. Sometimes the best words are no words because if they're the wrong words they can be hurtful.

I know I've had the wrong word said to me many times and sometimes in our attempts to comfort will will torment. And sometimes a person just needs you to be there and you might just say I don't know what to say that maybe they just found out they have cancer or maybe they just lost a loved one and now you think it's time to give them a sermon. They don't need a sermon they need a friend. It's called the ministry of presence and Jesus was saying can you guys just be with me watch and pray I'd really appreciate it.

He comes back they're sleeping. So the second step down was prayerlessness. You see Peter had no idea that the storm was brewing. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine his world as he knew it was about to change within minutes because here comes Judas Iscariot with the temple guard ready to arrest Jesus and Peter should have been praying and that was a sin of omission. You know there are sins of commission and omission. A sin of commission is when you do what you should not do. A sin of omission is when you don't do what you should do. The Bible says to him that knows to do good and does not do it to him it is sin.

So to not pray can be a sin. Number three Peter fell because he trusted in human efforts instead of God's power. So here they are now excuse me in the garden of Gethsemane. Here comes Judas and the temple guard to arrest Jesus and here's what happened next. Matthew 26 and verse 51 we read these words as they're approaching.

Suddenly one of those who was with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Excuse me. Sorry. Let me just climb my throat.

You know like oh I'm down. I hate to do that in front of people. Sorry. Apologize. I'm tired of apologizing. Just deal with it.

Just deal with it. So he cut off his hair and Jesus said to Peter put your sword in its place for I will take the sword will perish by the sword. Don't you think I cannot now pray to my father you know provide me with 12 legions of angels. Now now imagine this scene and in a way I sort of admire Peter and understand what he did but it wasn't the right thing. Here comes Judas one of their own. He betrays Jesus. Jesus sees Judas and says friend why have you come. One last chance to repent. Judas betrays him of all things with a kiss.

In fact it's implied in the original language. It was multiple kisses. Kissed him over and over. He told the temple guard the guy I kissed that's Jesus. And now they come rushing in to arrest Jesus. Peter is so angry he pulls out a sword and he starts swinging and off comes the ear of the high priest's servant. Lands on the ground. Jesus stops. Reaches down. Picks up the ear and heals it. If someone came at me like that and was arresting me and their ear happened to come off I'd just say no I don't know it's down there somewhere. Oh here it is. I wouldn't have healed him.

I'd said yeah you get what you deserve loser. Not Jesus. The last miracle Christ performed was covering the blunder of one of his disciples and healing the ear of a man that wanted to kill him. But see this is the problem with Peter. He was doing it through human efforts. He was doing it in his own strength.

The problem with Peter is he was boasting when he should have been listening. Sleeping when he should have been praying. And now he's fighting when he should have been surrendering. He was fighting with the wrong kind of weaponry. This was a spiritual battle.

But he missed that opportunity. But Jesus covered for him bringing us to the next step of Peter down number four. Warming himself by the enemy's fire. Go over to Matthew 26 verse 69. So Peter sat outside in the courtyard and a servant girl came to him saying you also were with Jesus of Galilee. He denied it.

Before them all saying I don't know what you're saying. And when he had gone to the gateway another girl saw him and said to those that were there this fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied it with an oath saying I do not know the man. A little later those who stood by came and said to Peter surely you're one of them for your speech betrays you. And Peter began to curse and swear saying I don't know the man.

Immediately a rooster crow. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him before the rooster crows you'll deny me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly.

Wow. So here he's now warming himself by the enemy's fire. He was cold. He was disoriented. He was afraid. And he sees this fire and he's standing there with the wrong people at the wrong place and he's about to do the wrong thing. And his first denial happens.

Then his second and then his third. Now after his first denial you'd think you'd say hey are there any roosters around here. Think Jesus said something about a rooster right. When you go to Hawaii there's roosters everywhere. I don't know why there's random roosters waking you up every morning you know. And then he denies them again.

By the way a period of time passed between each of these denials. But here's what's interesting. One of them says you are with them.

Your speech betrays you. What she was saying is you have the Galilean accent. You know when you travel around the country or around the world for that matter you notice people have different accents right. If you're in the south it's like hey how y'all doing. If you're in the New York it's like whoa what are you looking at me.

You want some of this. Where do you get some coffee. You know I'll talk to someone where can I get some coffee.

I go you're from New York how'd you know. The way you said coffee. So we have different accents different ways we say things from different places. People tell me that I have a California accent. I say there is no California accent. They go oh no there is you've got the California accent.

Whatever. I don't ever say that but I guess we have an accent too. But really it was a put down too. Because in effect in Jerusalem they thought of themselves as sophisticated and educated and very religious and very devout. The people in Galilee they're like living in the sticks of backwood people you know.

And they sort of thought less of them. Oh you've got the Galilean accent. Obviously you're not really educated. You're not sophisticated. It was a put down.

You've got that accent. And then he comes to his next denial. And Luke's gospel tells us there was time that elapsed between these denials which means that he had means that he had plenty of opportunities to get this right.

But he went further and further into sin. And in his last denial it's really sad because it says he began to curse and swear. Now does this mean that Peter swore like a sailor?

He was one. But it actually doesn't mean that. It doesn't mean he used profanity. When it says he cursed and swore it meant he took an oath. As if to say I swear to God I never knew Jesus. In the worst imaginable version of taking the Lord's name in vain Peter took an oath swearing to God he never knew Jesus. The rooster crows. And then the Bible says and Jesus looked at Peter. Wait what's going on? So here he is by the fire.

He enters his third denial. The rooster crows and they're moving Christ from one place to another. And he makes momentary eye contact with Peter.

Can you see it? And the glow of the fire. What kind of look do you think Jesus gave Peter? You think he looked at him and rolled his eyes like really?

I think it was a look of compassion and love. Don't forget Jesus predicted this. He knew Peter was going to fail. He knew he was going to fall short.

And Peter went out and wept bitterly. Oh man. He says that's it.

That's the end for me. Did he fail? Yes. Did he deny the Lord? Again yes. Was he still a believer?

Absolutely. But he was a fallen believer. But don't forget what Jesus said. He said when you return you'll strengthen your brothers. Peter you're going to deny me.

Not once, not twice, three times. But you're going to return. And when you return you'll strengthen your brothers. In other words his setback was temporary. Peter would be back. His setback would ultimately become a setup for greater things. His mess would turn into a message. His test would be a testimony. And his disappointment would lead to a divine appointment.

His greatest test would lead to his greatest trust in God. And we have this story here to remind us that God gives second chances. I mean what a hard lesson to learn.

Peter you know what you're going through. They're going to be talking about it in church two thousand years from now. Okay so everyone's going to know this story. But this isn't the end of the story. Because they're also going to know what happened after. And they're going to know that I forgave you.

Because here's what happened. After Christ is crucified he rises again three days later. And then the message goes out, go tell the disciples and who?

Does anyone know? Peter. Go tell the disciples and Peter he's risen. Not go tell the disciples and Peter, James, and John. Or go tell the disciples and Mary and Martha. Go tell the disciples, no tell the disciples and Peter. In other words I want you to send a special message to Peter and here's what it is. I'm risen and I'll see you in Galilee.

So don't miss the appointment. Isn't that great that God gives second chances to all of us. And he did that for Peter and it will do it for us as well. Simon Peter a man of contradictions.

He was praised and honored and even rebuked by Jesus himself. One moment he's walking on water the next moment he's sinking. He had moments of incredible bravery and also moments of outright fear. And that's what makes him so relatable. Everything he went through we say that's like me.

That's what I do. Exactly. That's why he's here in the Bible. To show you that God uses flawed people. And God picks losers so to speak and turns them into winners ultimately. And can restore you no matter what you have done.

God can take your ending and turn it into a beginning. You see Jesus invaded Peter's world. What was Peter's world? Fishing. All about fishing. So what does Jesus do? He steps right into his world. Hello.

You want to catch some fish? Do what I tell you. Jesus did that for many people. How about that woman caught in the act of adultery and a horrible predicament. They said the law says she should be stoned. What do you say? He clears the room. Let him that's without sin cast the first stone.

They leave from the oldest to the youngest and he turns to her and says woman where are your accusers. Go and sin no more. Then there's that man that was disabled and he couldn't move and he had heard a rumor that if an angel touched the water he was near that he could be healed if he got there first. One day Jesus himself shows up. Asked him a question. Do you really want to get well?

You want to change? And the man said yes and Jesus healed him right there. He invaded his world. And you know God invaded my world.

Didn't he invade yours? I mean the last thing I planned on doing on that day in 1970 at the age of 17 was becoming a Christian. I was going the wrong way in life making bad decisions, using drugs, hanging out with the lowest of the low lives. And no one even engaged me with the gospel.

No one took the time to say Greg here's how you can become a Christian. I remember I would hang around at the fun zone down at Newport by the ferry and I would lean up against the wall and my hair would hang in my eyes. Use your imagination. And I had a tough guy persona and people wouldn't come up and approach me and they would come up with their little religious tracts and booklets and they'd give them out to people and walk up to me and just kind of walk away. And I'd say give me one and I'd shove up my pocket.

Like I don't care. Give it to me. Then I would go home and read them and I'd try to figure them out. I had a drawer in my little room that I lived in and I would put all this religious literature in this drawer. It was sort of like my God drawer.

I didn't know what any of it meant and every now and then I would empty it on my bed and I would sit there and try to figure it out. How can I know God? I needed someone to tell me. No one told me. So Jesus just personally invaded my world and I'm walking across my high school campus and I come across a group of Christians singing about their faith and I hear the gospel for the first time.

It wasn't even presented to me. I was eavesdropping on it and then I realized what Jesus Christ could do for me and my life changed because He invaded my world and He's ready to invade your world right now in the best possible way. No matter who you are. Say well I've tried to make my life better. I've tried to improve myself and you failed haven't you? See you need God and you need to call out to the Lord and you'll be amazed at what He can do despite the predicament you find yourself in now. Despite the fact that you've made a mess out of your life as I said earlier He can turn your mess into a message. He can transform you but you must come to Him and say God help me.

That's what Peter did and Jesus changed him and maybe there's somebody I'm talking to right now that you're a Christian but you have denied the Lord in some way shape or form. You've fallen short. You've done something you wished you had not done. You've said something you wished you had not said.

Well God can forgive you but you must come to Him. We're going to close now in prayer and I'm going to extend an invitation for anybody here or watching. One of our screens. Harvest Riverside.

One of the overflow rooms. This is for everybody wherever you are. Christ is ready to come into your life. You see He went to that cross and He died for your sins and He rose again from the dead and He's alive and He's here and He's ready to come into your life. Jesus stands at the door of our life and He knocks and says if we'll hear His voice and open the door He will come in. If you've never asked Jesus to come into your life you can do it right here right now or maybe you've fallen away from the Lord you need to come back to Him.

You can do that as well. Let's pray. Father I pray that you will speak to every person wherever they are. If they don't know you I pray that your Holy Spirit will convict and convince them of their sin and bring them to yourself.

Help them to see their need for you. We ask in your name not what our heads are bowed and our eyes are closed and we're praying. Would you like Jesus Christ to come into your life? Would you like Him to turn your ending into a beginning? Would you like Him to give you a fresh start? Would you like to go to heaven when you die?

Or maybe you've fallen away spiritually and you need to come back to Him. Would you like to make a recommitment to Christ? If you want Christ to come into your life, if you want Him to forgive you of your sin, if you need a second chance in life, if you want to start this relationship with God I've been talking about wherever you are I want you to raise your hand up and I want to pray for you right now. Raise your hand saying I need Jesus today. Pray for me. God bless you.

Raise it up high where I can see it. God bless you. God bless all of you. God bless you.

You guys are Harvest Riverside. I can't see you. Raise your hand. The Lord sees you saying you need Jesus.

You're watching the screen somewhere. You can raise your hand wherever you are. Let me pray for you right now.

God bless all of you raising your hand. While our heads are still bowed maybe there's someone that would say man I've I've messed up. I've I've backslidden like Peter. I've denied the Lord.

I've done things I'm ashamed of. Would you like to come back to Christ again? Let me pray for you. Raise up your hand right now. You can make a recommitment to him today. Raise your hand up. God bless you. Father I pray you'll give the strength to every person who's raised their hand now to take the next step and make a public stand for you for we ask it in Jesus name. Amen.

Hey everybody. Thanks for listening to this podcast. To learn more about Harvest Ministries follow this show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org and to find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God.