How to Never Stumble or Fall - III

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Would you consider emailing me you can reach me at greg@harvest.org again that's Greg harvest.org and you can also make me one of your friends on Facebook and drop me a comment when you went on falling, which is well wondering should I get up again will the answer is not in your own strength. You need a helping hand before we fall. We don't think we will after we fall.

We don't think we can get Pastor Greg Laurie has good encouragement using all of it. I tried to overcome this addiction.

It's become a worse eviction is gotten worse. Okay Jesus is take my hand. Let me pull you in 90. The edges of the National Toy Hall of Fame with a divorce. You can draw a picture after picture complicated as you want to mess up, turn it upside down to shake and start over today on a new beginning. Greg Laurie says no matter how your life is messed up.offer you the chance to turn your life right side up and start over is optional. Case in point today from the Gospel of John to Jesus is in the upper room with his disciples. He's headed to the cross. He's told the he's headed to the cross. He's going to break bread with them and tell them to do this in remembrance of him, but before that he is a fascinating conversation with Simon Peter. Luke 22 verse 31 Jesus says Simon, Simon, Satan is asked to sift you as wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not bail when you are repented and turned to me again will strengthen your brothers. Peter said Lord I'm ready to go to prison with you and even the die with you, Jesus said, let me tell you something before the rooster crows tomorrow morning you will denied three times that you even knew me look at Luke 22 verse 39 coming out.

He went to the Mount of olives as he was a custom in his disciples followed him to the place and he said to them, pray that you enter not into temptation know this place been referred to by Luke as the garden of Gethsemane because he was withdrawn from them about a stone so he knelt down and prayed saying father if it is your will take this cup away from me.

Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.

When he rose from prayer he came to his disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow and he said why did you sleep rise and pray less to enter into temptation so that there in the garden of Gethsemane.

There, sleeping when they should have been praying, here comes the temple guard and along with the Roman soldiers. They got swords and spears and shields and torches their coming to arrest Jesus but before that happens. As the guards come in to grab Jesus. One guy named Marcus probably is first and Simon Peter, and that an attempt to defend Jesus pulls out his sword.

It slices off the ear of Malka. Jesus is like a phase you know. Yes, the picnic gear up, he put it back in the guy in the heels so the last earthly miracle of Jesus was covering the blunder of a disciple. So coming back to our story.

Now we shift over to John 18 I'm reading from the new living translation starting in verse 50 Simon Peter followed Jesus says that another of the disciples that would be the apostle John, the writer of this gospel.

The other disciple was a corner with a high priest, and he was allowed to enter the high priest courtyard with Jesus, Peter had to stay outside the gate and the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching that the gate she let Peter in the woman as Peter, one of that man's disciples, are you know you said I am not because it was cold, the household servants in the guards and made a charcoal fire. They stood around and warming themselves and Peter stood with them, warming himself, and know a woman asks him this is this verse the Nile you're not one of that man's disciples, are you he said no I am not well he just did. Now, you would've thought the P what is it all done I just I did the thing I said I would never do I get to get outta here.

No one was holding him here. He could've escaped to be wanted to but he did not do it. That leads me to is his next step down verse 25 as he was standing by the fire warming himself.

He asked him again, you're not one of his disciples are usually denied and say no I'm not one of the household slaves of a high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off as did Nye see you in the olive grove with Jesus. Your sin will find you out.

Oh yeah, right. You were there. That brings us to the third denial and here's something you may have missed between the second and third denial. There was a one hour interval. That's a long time. That's plenty of time to get out of there, but he stayed there.

He's he's compromise now is not thinking rationally and finally someone says the him yes you were with Jesus and I know you're one of his disciples because your accent betrays you and then we read that Peter began to curse and swear and he took a note saying I never knew the man that we read curse and swear does not mean that Peter use profanity or swear like a sailor, though he was one ABC took a no. He took an oath and swore to God he did know Jesus.

Now this is the worst kind of taking the Lord's name in vain in the Bible says God gave them the commandments a specific commandment thou shall not take my name in vain that we've heard people doing others. The obvious applications and people curse using the name of God, but even when someone uses the name Jesus to punctuate a sentence you for that. So was a Jesus Christ what's going on here when I see someone do that as a carefully might answer you sometime but I don't even think people realize what they're doing but we could even take the Lord's name in vain in church because the phrase to taken in vain means to use it it it insincere and frivolous way so I might be singing this song with a name Jesus said, I'm singing the song I'm judging the person in the pew in front of me. How could she wear that church for.

I'm thinking about lunch hamburger In-N-Out Burger animals the way your singing Jesus. Jesus in your thinking Burger Burger.

I hear doing it in and insincere frivolous way. But Peter did even more than that. Here's what he effectively did this people will take a note that this is swear to God I put my head of the stucco Bibles like a stock will be more important, not just what I stack a stack of Bibles I swear here's a Peter effectively said, I swear to God I never knew Jesus and guess what happened at the moment. He said that Jesus was let off of the courtyard of Caiaphas in the made eye contact with Peter to here's at work. I swear to God, says Peter.

I never knew Jesus.

Oh hi Jesus literally right there will Jesus and the Bible says Jesus looked at him when we can of expression that once you know we'll have looks we get right parents regret these looks down to directing up Johnny, look at me. All that means is stop. Stop it now, or so it says something ridiculous. We roll our eyes. Let's look are we looking at someone with anger because they cut us off on the freeway wherever looks. What kind of look did Jesus give to Peter was that I told you so look did he roll his eyes like loser honey did I choose you. I don't think it was not. I can say with certainty because the Bible doesn't tell us here's an interesting thing the Bible says Jesus looked at Peter for a better translation. Jesus looked through Peter never had anyone look to you all restate the question. Do you have a mother you're probably becoming where have you been nowhere mom look at me look it never. He looked at him right through.

I think it was a look of love and I'll tell you. I think it was a look of love, because Jesus predicted this ride. He said you're going to deny me, but don't forget the resident when you overturned, you will strengthen your brothers. Peter you going to mess up. Trust me, it's going to happen. Roosters are involved. But when you of return you will strengthen your brothers, Peter, you're coming back.

I don't think Peter heard you're coming back part because the Bible says he went out of web for Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here inviting you to join me every weekend for what we call Harvest at Home.

It's a church service.

It's a worship service. It's a Bible study and its wherever you wanted to be in your home in your car sitting on a beach walking down the street watching it on your phone wherever you are getting hit with you and be ministered to every weekend. Join us for Harvest at Home@harvest.org will just word of thanks to those who support this daily study, especially our harvest partners. Your generosity allowed us to present this message today. Pastor Greg is examining the denial of Simon Peter today. Contrast Judas Iscariot, and Simon Peter Judas going back to the garden of Gethsemane was given one last chance to repent when they came to arrest Jesus. Jesus said to Judas friend, why have you come Jesus was giving Judas up one last chance will curse you. This went on he betrayed the Lord and he hung himself. So two men came short two men sinned against the Lord. One went out into the zone life. One went out of web bitterly one left and never return. One came back again and was restored. That was Peter because three days later, Jesus rises again.

Oh yeah. Remember, you not only said he would be crucified. He said he would rise again from the dead. And here's the message that went up from the Angels go tell the disciples and Peter. He's risen not go tell the disciples and Peter, James and John, or go tell the disciples in Matthew or go tell the disciples and Mary know.

Go tell the disciples and Peter. Why was Peter singled out because he needed an encouraging word, maybe there's someone here today that needs an encouraging word as well.

You fallen away, and you don't know how to get back your like the lady in the commercial I've fallen and I can't get up not making fun of that lady, but I don't think she actually fell. I think she's an actor.

Okay senior lines not convincingly in my opinion, but I fallen I can get R, but some if you've ever fallen. You know what it's like I was playing racquetball a while ago and I went for some shot and I lost my footing when in the air and landed on my back. It was so loud. A guy upstairs on the treadmill stubs that are you okay I'm likely there I think so. I didn't plan on falling. Maybe you didn't plan on falling but you fell in you wondering can I get up again will the answer is not in your own strength.

You need a helping hand if you're flooding your back summonses. Let me help you get back up again grabbed my hand and you pull them up right so maybe you think I've fallen and I tried to make this better and it's gotten worse. I've tried to overcome this addiction and it's become a worse addiction.

I've tried to fix this, it's gotten worse.

Okay Jesus is saying, take my hand now let me pull you up.

You have to reach out to me. You want to call out to me.

You have to ask me for forgiveness and I will extend this forgiveness to you. Listen, I don't know what trajectory your life is on right now but I know this God can change your story changes today yeah will my dad did this to my mom did that in my grandparent in this pattern of said shut up. I don't care if any man be in Christ is a new creation old things that pass the way everything becomes fresh and you I'm sorry said shut up, but I think sometimes we use a pattern of sin or bad behavior, and family to excuse our interest to come a point where we just say I'm responsible for my own actions and I make my choices and then my choices make me live Christ living inside of me and he will give me the power to live the life he's called me to live, you know yesterday at the baptism of I'll take a few moments with every person. Often, when did you come to Christ will tell me their story heard amazing stories. I wish I could film them right there. But one guy just covered in tattoos and he said I was a heroin addict and he showed me a hole in his arm that was still there give you so much heroin over the years get a permanent hole in his arm but he was just radiating the love of Jesus, because God had changed his story. I talked to couples were on the verge of divorce. Our marriage is falling apart and we came to the Lord and now we hear today getting baptized and our kids are with this. I'm looking at that old family changed because you know here's what can happen. You know the parents of get the worth and the kids are are you know caught between the two parents. They remarry in the divorce again and now the kids follow that same pattern, and then they have kids and they follow the same pattern in these sins go on for multiple generations within you, look what happens. Christ intervenes changes this.

And instead of ungodliness going to multiple generations. Godliness goes to multiple generations that have that's why were so committed to calling Christ.

But I didn't just baptize people who live crazy lives in baptism and little kids to and you know I was want to make sure child understands and so semi-came up to me would you baptize my son so I talked to him baptize them and then they said would you baptizes of the brother is an oldie old to see the city's poor said you know that's kind of young and you know it's not a bad thing.

The way to later to baptize the little one so they understand what they're doing, you know, because it says repent and be baptized. What is a four-year-old repent of, you know I've had on a timeout slightly whatever it is, so I symbol will let me talk to this little kid's name is Graham.

So I sat down on the beach with them.

I said so Graham you want to be baptized. It easy casts.

I said no only who Jesus is. He says Jesus is God and God is Jesus isolate the sprig. Then Graham says, and then there's the Holy Spirit who, while so we talked a little bit more and I thought Jake the way I see it as this little child wants to get closer to God, knowing as much as he knows in his little four-year-old boy whom I do say no to him so I took about nine baptized him and it was such a great moment and it reminded me of a young lady that came to me.

I was at our church a Maui last Sunday a young lady came and said I came to Christ at one of your crusades when I was four years old. I said you came to Christ, the 14th is guys said I you know, don't get mad at me holding you now. She looked like she was 21 she says I'm 30 and I been walking with the Lord.

All these years, so someone can come to Christ at four.

Right from my point is simply this, young or old, whatever life you lived. We only Jesus and we need to come to him and we reach out to him. He'll take hold of us will forgive us of our sin. So I want to close with this thought is, or someone listening to me right now that does not have the certainty that they will go to heaven when they die.

Is there someone listening to me right now that is not sure that their sin is forgiven. You can come to Jesus and be forgiven of your sin, because he died on the cross for you. This can be the day where everything changes but there might be somebody else here or wherever you are, that has fallen and you can't get up and it's no joke. Will the Lord can lift you up, but you must admit sure sin, and he will forgive you and restore you.

So really close now in prayer.

I'm going to extend this invitation for you to get right with God. Let's pray father I pray for every person here every person listening or watching whatever they are. Help them to see their need for you and help them become to you now.

Prayer Pastor Greg Laurie and if you'd like to follow through and do as pastor Greg suggested and make a change today in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg will help you do that before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes that if you missed any part of today's presentation. You can get a replay@harvest.org were able to make these online versions available. Thanks to our harvest partners and others who help make this outreach possible.

Again, just go to harvest.org and look for the title how to never stumble or fall or get a permanent copy on CD by calling 1-800-821-3300 reaches anytime 24 hours a day at 1-800-821-3300 yesterday. I'm sure you seen all the 2020 memes about the mess we're in right now you as someone wrote. Has anyone tried unplugging it and then plugging it back in and of the world is just out of control on so many levels and things need to change and you have a new book called world changers that explains our culture can find its way back to God and his plan is a plan that will work even in the massive 2020 is not right. Yeah. Totally true. You know 2020 has been the craziest year. I think that very much any of us can remember it because nothing is gone is expected. There was a buoyant optimism of the beginning of this year 2020 sounded so futuristic, so many opportunities and all of a sudden, seemingly out of nowhere comes the coronavirus and on the heels of that social upheaval riots in the streets in some ways it looks like our country is starting to unravel and and I think that people are so uncertain and they're searching in the trying to figure out what's going on. There's never been a more important time for Christians to let their light so shine before men, that people might see our good works and give glory to our father who is in heaven.

It's time to be a world changer, so I've written a brand-new book called world changers and it's based on Hebrews 11, which is sometimes called the hall of faith instead of the Hall of Fame because it's the stories of great men and women of God who did extraordinary things.

And again I want to emphasize they were ordinary people, but they were willing to step out of their comfort zone and take a step of faith and the theme of Hebrews 11 is what these people did with their faith. How their faith motivated them, you know. Another interesting thing is some of these people were pretty flawed characters. Sampson made it into the hall of faith that we all know about his shortcomings and downfall but it's an interesting to note that none of their mistakes or sins are recorded in Hebrews 11 only their victories, and I think that's is the perfect picture of grace is God forgives us and he sees us in Christ, and he says your sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

So if you've messed up in life. If you failed and you feel that there's no more chances for you. You need to read this book because it's going to encourage you.

It's going to show you how people that failed, like Sampson, like David and others got up again and serve the Lord and really impact their culture the world you know Jesus said, go into all the world and preach the gospel while the world's a very big places net so let's personalize that for a moment go into all of your world and preach the gospel, you know some people say they want to cross the sea and be a missionary. How about crossing the street and talking to your neighbor about your sphere of influence. You can change your world. You just need to take steps of faith in this book is sort of like a blueprint on how to do it based on biblical characters that made an impact on the culture. There were living in, and then reminding us of how we can do the same in our culture today. Yeah, that's right.

And there's never been a time when our culture was more ready for solid answers and real hope and would like to send you pastor Grace new book world changers to thank you for your investment. It's an investment in change lives were working to change the world each day here on a new beginning in your investment helps us reach even further, so we hope you get in touch today. You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 and or someone to take your call 24 hours a day seven days a week.

Again, dial 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org will pastor Greg you mentioned our need to come to Christ for forgiveness of sin in today's program.

Yes, maybe there's somebody listening who like to do that right now that like to take that step. Maybe you could help them. I'd be delighted to listen if you would like to accept Jesus Christ into your life right now.

By that I mean if you would like your sins are forgiven and have the assurance that you will go to heaven when you die. Would you pray this prayer with me, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I think you for dying on the cross for my sin and rising again from the dead.

I'm sorry for my sin, Lord, and I turn from it now and I put my faith in you to be my Savior, my Lord, my God, my friend. Thank you for loving me and calling me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen. Listen if you just pray that prayer in minutes. I want you to know on the authority of God's word that Jesus Christ has just come to take residence in your heart. The Bible says these things we write to you the believe in the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. Listen we want to send you some resources that will help you grow spiritually.

So here's Davis some details and let me say God bless you and welcome to the family of God, and those resources pastor Greg mentioned are all included in something we call our new believers growth packet.

It'll help you get started in living your life for the Lord so can resend it to you just ask for the new believers growth packet.

Our mailing address is a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click on know God will next time pastor Greg brings a powerful step-by-step study on how to follow the Lord's plans for more successful and rewarding prayer life. Join us next time. When a new beginning.

Greg for possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor great free daily email, devotions@harvest.org