The Gospel for Busy People

Everybody Greg Laurie here.

You're listening to the Greg Laurie podcast and my objective is to deliver hopefully compelling practical insights and faith culture and current events. From a biblical perspective to find out more about our ministry. Just go to our website harvest.org so thanks for joining me for this podcast now father we ask you to speak to our hearts as we open your word. We know your word is true.

We know that you can speak to us, to your word, especially as we focus on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

So bless our time together. We ask in Jesus name, amen. And I want you to grab your Bible and turned to two passages of Scripture Mark chapter 1 and Luke chapter 4 again Mark chapter 1 and Luke chapter 4 and again my title is the gospel for busy people. Well, I think most of you watching me right now probably has one of these devices, we call it a smart phone, you probably either have an Apple phone or an android phone, and these phones have changed our lives haven't thing in some ways are better and frankly, in some ways for workers. I remember when Steve Jobs came out with the first version of the iPhone in 2007 we had never seen anything like it. It was so revolutionary, so different than anything to the been made up to that point it was dubbed by some as the Jesus phone well no phone can live up to that, but the phone is affected everything that we do now know personally of tablets and we'll watches that give us data and information in real-time and were barraged with him for nation collectively we send out 200 million emails every single day. You can even have a conversation with the person anymore without it being interrupted by a phone. I mean if you're talking with someone in your bones in your pocket and you get a little buzz. You're so tempted the pull it out and see what it is and might be something from a newsfeed it might be a text might be an email there's an article I read in the Wall Street Journal that made the statement and I quote, even though digital technology has led to significant productivity increase.

The modern workday seems custom-built to destroy individual focus on the good through. I don't even think were able to have a proper conversation anymore. We have a whole generation, generation Z that is never known anything but this chat having it in their hands, and a poll was taken and they said they would rather text someone and have a conversation with them and then there's social media that has such a tremendous impact often in a negative way. Michael Hyatt made the statement focusing on everything means focusing on nothing and that's what I think is happening were just barraged with all this information and we are unfocused people. So I thought this is a great time to focus on Jesus read an article in the paper the other day about a guy was driving a big semi and he was looking out his phone and he ran off the road and that's I feel like a lot of people are right now were running off the road.

We've lost our focus. We've lost our purpose because were looking down all the time and really we should be looking up.

So were starting a brand-new series based on the gospel of Mark that I'm calling the gospel are busy people. Another thing you could call it is the gospel for people with ADD right people was short attention span to see Mark's gospel is a very fast pace. A series of trues laid out in this amazing book. He uses the word immediately. 42 times Mark uses the historical present tense hundred and 50 times. In other words, Jesus comes, Jesus heals. Jesus says all in the present tense.

Not the best tent so it's almost like you are there.

Mark almost reminds us of a breathless reporter giving us the events in real time as their unfolding and I think this is a gospel we can all relate to today because it seems like we collectively have a short attention span. Sometimes a question is asked when we have for gospel, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Well, the answer is, each gospel has a different object. Let's start with Matthew.

Matthew was written primarily to the Jewish person. There are many passages in Matthew that show how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies how he was the long-awaited Messiah of Israel.

It begins with a genealogy showing that Jesus is Messiah. Now Luke. In contrast, written by Dr. Luca physician by trade is very poetic. We have some very unique passages in his gospel that are not in any other gospel. For instance, a story of the prodigal son and the beautiful Christmas story is Luke tells it is like no other. Luke was primarily showing the sympathetic ministry of Jesus. Now John.

He comes from a completely different perspective. He goes back to eternity and starts his gospel with these words in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the word was God in John was specifically written to convince a nonbeliever to believe so or Matthew was written more to the Jewish mindset showing Jesus was the Messiah.

John is written more to a secular mindset showing that Jesus is the son of God and that brings us to the gospel of Mark.

It stands apart from the others. You need to Mark as he does not record all that many sermons of Jesus. In fact, Mark focuses more on what Jesus did. Then he does and what Jesus said it's a record of the achievements of Jesus, if you will, and its action pack from beginning to end. It says short, concise book of 16 chapters and by the way, it's probably the first of the Gospels that was written. So who is this guy Mark his full name is John Mark he's the author of this gospel and he is the nephew of Barnabas.

You may remember Barnabas because he traveled with Paul and let's just say that John market was much younger than the others got up to week start. He was given the opportunity to go on a missionary journey with his uncle Barnabas and the great apostle Paul, and I don't know what happened but Mark got cold feet wanted to go home maybe was just homesick and he bailed on them. So Monday one of their next missionary journey and Barnabas suggested they take Mark along always opposed O'Donnell wanted to go along because he didn't stay with us on the last journey and so this was about a setback for Mark but whatever company was able to repair his relationship with Paul because later Paul writes of Mark in second Timothy 411. He's been helpful to me in ministry. Something about this guy is a kid. His uncle is Barnabas. He is a personal friend with the apostle Paul, and then add to this the fact that he was very close to Simon Peter affect Peter refers to Mark as his son in first Peter 513, and in fact, many believe that the gospel of Mark was actually written by Mark but dictated by Peter so it is believed by many. And I happen to agree with them that this is effectively the gospel according to Peter, but yet at the same time Mark was there.

He was a young man, but he did witness the ministry of Jesus.

Later on in the book of acts we read that Peter was put in prison. You remember that story. Next, 12, and that they were praying for him and Peter showed up at her house as an answer to their prayer because God delivered him from the jail. What house was that that was the house of John Mark that he lived in with his mother Mary out. I mean, so this guy was right in the epicenter of so many biblical events that were so incredibly significant.

So here's the reason I bring all this up as is market a huge setback. You know he he walked away from the apostle Paul and Barnabas at one point but then he made a recommitment and he ends up being a bona fide gospel author quite the distinction, and so maybe you've had a setback in life. Maybe you've done something you regret maybe you bailed on something you would committed to or you had a lapse of faith but know this, your setback can actually turn out to be a set up in your tents can be turned into a testimony when our nation, the United States of America was forming. When we were still fighting with the British Empire Gen. Washington was put in charge of the Continental armies of the United States which this was a ragtag collection of all types of people ranging from farmers to common workers to people who were scholars with the point was it was a very interesting and disciplined army in general Washington once was in the Queens Army, I should say the king's army at that time was a discipline soldier and he was trying to lead this motley crew of troops in one of the problems that he had was they would just walk up the field of battle with no explanation with no warning about good section of his army would disappear and it was watching to Nuno's own words describe this group of people is here today and gone tomorrow.

He was at his wits end.

He didn't know how to rally these troops to fight for the independence of what would become the United States of America will a friend of Washington's great patriot name Thomas Paine wrote a simple little booklet called the American crisis in a minute. Quote a just a couple of lines from the probably sound familiar to you. Thomas Payne writes in his little booklet quote. These are the times that try men's souls.

The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from service to their country. But he that stands now, deserves the love and thanks of many women."

These are the times that try men's souls by think were in another time I got right now in America, don't you, a time that is trying our soul were in a political season were conflicted were divided were fighting with each other almost in a way that I've not seen maybe in my lifetime and we just wonder how we ever going to turn America around again. I think we need to be turning to God. The problem is in the same way. We need to still have our summer soldiers and are sunshine patriots or I would put it a different way are have parted Christians in our clause I believers who are not really followers of Jesus as they ought to be. So this is a time for us to rally.

This is the time for us to get back in the battle and serve the Lord because we are a spiritual battle in our nation today so if you fall in if you failed if you stumble. God give second chances. We certainly see that in the life of John Mark and to the point. The Bible is filled with the stories of people who fail were given second chances, so the backdrop of the gospel of Mark is the believers were suffering and wrong according to the Roman historian Tacitus Nero the Caesar over Rome at that time had declared war on the Christian.

He had a hand in burning room down and then he blamed it on the followers of Jesus Christ with nothing to do with that. So the Christians were forced to flee to the catacombs to survive. So Mark wanted to write a book that would encourage these believers. He wanted to show Jesus in the present tense able to deliver them during their times of crisis as the Bible says of God, is a present help in times of trouble. So I hope is you might be going through your own difficulties.

Maybe you're being harassed for your faith. Maybe you're being hassled for what you believe. I pray that this newest series I were doing in the gospel of Mark would be a great encouragement to you. So let's read some of this gospel together. Grab your Bible or your phone or your tablet or were you ever you have your Bible and read these words would be if you would. I'm in Mark chapter 1 on the read verses 1 to 8 and by the way, this is from the new living translation. This is the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the son of God.

It began just as the prophet Isaiah had written look. I'm sending my messenger ahead of you and he will prepare the way he is a voice shouting in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord's coming clear the road for this messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preaching people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turn to God to be forgiven all of Judea including all of the people of Jerusalem came out to see and hear John. They confess their sins and he baptized them in the Jordan River is close were woven from course camel hair and he were a leather belt around his waist and for food he ate locusts and wild honey. John announced someone is coming soon. Who is greater than I am so much greater. Says John, I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals, I baptize you with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. There, John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ. He was a radical. He was a revolutionary. He was like a rock star.

Everybody wanted to see and hear John as Mark writes all of Judeo, including the people of Jerusalem went out to see John. You have to understand that John was not just a prominent figure.

He was super prominent of the ancient Jewish historian Josephus actually wrote more about the life and ministry of John that he wrote about Jesus Christ himself and so John what was a significant figure US wife will understand Israel had not heard from God for a long time from the time of the last Old Testament book the book of Malachi to the emergence of John was 400 years. Think about that Israel, which was so used to profits and in miracles and angels hadn't heard from God for 400 years and then, seemingly out of nowhere, but right in God's schedule emerges.

This colorful colorful character. John the Baptist and the other simple job to do, which was to prepare the way of the Lord.

John was the last of the Old Testament prophets, the lust of the Mohicans.

If you will. And not only was he the last of the Old Testament prophets. He was the greatest of all of the profits of the Old Testament. Jesus himself said in Luke 728 I tell you of men born of women there is never been a greater profit.

John the Baptist. No unit we read the story of John a week. Think what I understand he was a great prophet but greater than Isaiah greater than Jeremiah greater than Elijah the prophet to perform miracles only to the point.

John never called fire down from heaven. John never stopped it from raining. John never raised a person from the dead.

John never wrote a great Old Testament book, like Isaiah and others so why was John the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Here's the answer. John and John alone was a direct Harold and forerunner of Jesus's greatness was a direct result of his nearness in connection to Christ out.

He was dressed in an unusual way. Because he was an unusual guy interesting archaeologists recently discovered an image of John so we can see exactly what you look like.

So here's what John look like no that's actually Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty and just kidding, but it kinda gives you an idea of how John may have appeared to the people of that day, and despite this great calling on his life. Despite this great popularity that he had was a really humble guy a look at verse seven of Mark chapter 1 he said someone is coming was greater than me so much greater and not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.

Let me update that John is saying I'm not even worthy to tie his shoes and he's so great, but John understood exactly what his role was even though he was a great public figure very popular. His mission was to get out of the way and prepare people for Jesus. That's that's amazing. And guess what, that's our mission as well. You might say that John's motto was, I must decrease and he must increase. Can you imagine if you put that on your mirror you saw this or get ready in the morning.

I must decrease and he must increase, if you put that on your Instagram account before either the post I must decrease and he must increase without was John he was setting the stage for Jesus, now Jesus enters the scene go back to Mark chapter 1. Look at verse nine he came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee. And he was baptized by John and immediately coming out of the water. Notice the way the Mark writes coming out of the water. When he came out of work coming out of the water where there Mark puts us right there. You know uses very urgent kind of a rider coming from the water, he saw the heavens parting in the spirit descending on them like a dog.

Then a voice came from heaven, which said you are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. A look at this immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan for 40 days he was out among the wild animals and the Angels took care of the Trinity.

Did you know the Trinity, or lease the word Trinity is not in the Bible but the Trinity is in the Bible. I don't know that there's a clear verse in all of Scripture than this, showing us the Trinity and action we have Jesus the son being baptized.

We have the Holy Spirit coming upon him as a dove, and we have the voice of the father saying this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

No, Mark does not give us a full account of the temptation of Christ, as do Matthew in Matthew chapter 4 and Luke Luke chapter 4 bubble start here and then I would go over to look for a little more detailed look at verse 12 of Mark chapter 1. Immediately the spirit drove him into the wilderness. The spirit drove him into the wilderness it.

This is not suggesting Jesus didn't want to go, what it is saying that this was something that was urgent that the Holy Spirit was doing because this was something Jesus had to go through so no time basking in the glory of God.

This was straight to work and that's pretty much the piecing of Mark, Jesus has a job to do, but it also shows us something very important. Often, trials or testings or temptations come after moments of great blessing mean here is Jesus in the Jordan River being baptized by John having the father-son of having the father say this is my beloved son in whom I am well please and the Holy Spirit come upon them the form of a dove, and immediately right on the heels of that, he goes into the wilderness to face Satan.

After the dove came the devil after the blessing came, the trial, we all know what it's like to be tempted.

We've all felt the presence of temptation have only heard about a guy whose wife yield from upstairs and asked her husband a honey do you ever get a shooting pain across your body like someone's got a voodoo doll of you and they're stabbing it. He said no and then she yelled what about now. Now look at this a silly joke. Voodoo dolls are real, but Satan is in temptation is real as well? Where's the best place to be when you're being tempted. Here's the answer in the will of God. Jesus was in the will of God and to the point Jesus is always the will of God. Jesus said I always do the things that please my father.

He was never out of harmony with this father, let me correct that there was one moment when Jesus was separated from the father and that is a moment all the sin of the world was placed upon them as he died in our place as of substitution are substitution and he cried out those words, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me.

But apart from that moment Jesus is always in sync always in harmony with the father always doing the things that please the father and the Holy Spirit led him to this place that he was in no here's the thing. The reason I bring this up with a lot of times when more tempted were being tempted because we put ourselves in a place of vulnerability you put yourself in a play she should not be you find yourself hanging out with the wrong people at the wrong time about to do the wrong thing and then you scratch your head and say how did that happen out of that habit you set yourself up for the fall. That's what would Jesus was doing.

He was led by the spirit.

Now he faced three temptations by the devil and in effect, you and I will face the same three temptations in life. Here's the first one knowing going over the Luke, chapter 4, who fills in some gaps for us that we don't have here in Mark's gospel Luke chapter 4 verse three Satan says to Jesus if you are the son of God told the stone to become a loaf of bread. By the way, in the original language. A better translation would be, since you are not yet. So Satan was not challenging the deity of Christ in a way he was affirming it. So what he was saying this since you're the son of God Jesus and human fasting for 40 days and 40 nights.

And obviously you're on the very brink of starvation, why don't you tell that rock to turn into a piece of bread interesting notes worth noting that Jesus never did a miracle for his own benefit.

Know Jesus had to get from point A to point B. He walked there like anybody else you know if they had to walk from Galilee to Jerusalem. He could have lifted themselves over there if he wanted to but he would walk with his disciples. Thus Jesus was tired like we are. Jesus was sleepy like we are. Jesus was hungry when we are uneasy could have done whatever he wanted.

He could have been eating and In-N-Out Burger gone forward in time, grab that thing eating that the disciples would say Lord, what is it that you're reading over there.

He could've said something like, it is not for you to know these things just featured fish and unleavened bread. Now get back to you just met them in Jerusalem popped over there were no he put himself under the restraints of human frailty, a look.

Jesus had a physical body, he was tempted and tested, but he did not have the inward vulnerability to fall so he felt the presence of temptation, but being God he didn't really have a sinful nature that would incline him to give into it. The Bible says he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh so yes he had a body yes he bled like any man. He had tears like any man, but he was God walking among us fully God and fully man.

There's never been a man that walk the earth like Jesus.

So if this is the case, what is the point of it being tested.

Here's the answer ready for to show us how to face temptation is giving us a model showing us what we should do when temptation comes our way. Hey, Jesus says, Satan, why don't you turn a rock into a piece of bread. What is Christ say he says it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

I look we face this temptation all the time. Here's the essence of what Satan was saying to Jesus put the physical before the spiritual to come to us and say he looked man, you need to have a little fun.

You know you can play now and pay later. Don't worry about the repercussions of sin you'll be okay. You're the exception God's okay with this, you can trust me, Satan says that was the hissing of the snake in case you missed it was in the Bible says the devil is a liar and he is the father of lies and sometimes people get their lives out of whack. You know the reported physical things before spiritual things look, there's nothing wrong with eating food God is given us food to enjoy it and read together, but there's a difference between eating to live in living to eat some people are obsessed by their appetite thereof satisfied food thereof assessed by things are obsessed by sensual things and they let those things become more important to them than God himself. So just put God in his rightful place in your life. It's fine to have a career but don't put your career above God. It's great to have a relationship but don't put a relationship above God. So by saying men show not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from God. Jesus is simply pointing out that we should have our spiritual priorities in order and put God first, here's another thing we don't miss this.

What did Jesus do when he was tempted by the devil.

He quoted Scripture. Now remember, Jesus was God and be God. He could've said Satan be banished and Satan would've left. He had that authority and power over the devil back when he would encounter demons the demons would say to him through the people they were possessing. Don't send this to judgment before our time. Did they recognize the power and authority to Christ that we didn't do this, he faced the devil as we should face the devil is able how a first of all, we quote Scripture is giving us a model. This is what you do when you're tempted you quote the word of God. This is why you need to study the Bible. This is why you need to memorize the Bible over and someone 19 verse nine it says how can a young man cleanse his way by taking heed according to your word. Someone 19 verse 11 says your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Look, it's good to carry a Bible in your briefcase or in your purse or have a Bible app on your phone but the best place to carry the word of God is in your heart so don't just get it in your mind getting your heart committed to memory and then when you are tempted, you can pull out the appropriate Scriptures to defend your self so the devil realizes that this first temptation is not working now.

He does something really strange seems strange to us. Perhaps he's giving Jesus a hack if you will, a shortcut he's effectively saying them. This next temptation look Jesus. We both know why you're here you're here to purchase back that which was lost in the garden of Eden, and then it make you a deal. You cannot refuse that Godfather imitation I would to give you what you want, I'll give it to you on a silver platter.

All you have to do is give me the satisfaction of worshiping me for a moment.

Look at Luke chapter 4 verse five the devil took Jesus to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and the devil said to him, all this authority I will give to you and their glory.

And it's been delivered to me and then the devil says I can give it to whomever I wish.

Therefore, if you will worship before me. All of this will be yours. Notice Jesus is not refuted.

Notice Jesus is not so, you're wrong. W can do that and I'll tell you why he didn't say that the devil and he was wrong because the double was actually telling the truth. In this instance, the Bible says that Satan, by the way, is a fallen angel, a very powerful fallen angelic being is the God of this world, the prince of the power of the air, so when our first parents, Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden and fellowship with God was cut off curse came upon the world. It's effectively under the control of the devil. Jesus came from heaven on a rescue operation. The planet Earth to buy bad that which was lost in the garden.

The devil say look under the make this easy for you. Jesus. No pain, no suffering, no crucifixion. I'll give it to you if you'll just worship me. But here's what Jesus did he refuse this offer would give verse eight Luke chapter 4 Jesus answered and said get behind me Satan, for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve or destroy the woman that was really good on the mall and look at the new outfits that were coming out and her husband said no I don't want to go to the mall every time you go you buy something.

She said no just going to browse. I will buy anything. No, you always find something that I want you to go.

We can afford it. I just can look he said all right. Look but don't buy anything. She said okay so she comes home a few hours later with a brand-new outfit. He goes what I asked you not to go by an outfit or whatever. Jesus will. I went into this. I want by the store.

There was this cute outfit in the window on the manikin and so I walked in and asked if I could try it on because I can't believe you did that would happen. She says the devil himself appeared and he came and appeared in the dressing room and said you look great in that outfit and then the husband said you should've said get behind me Satan. She said I did as a get behind me Satan and then the devil said it looks good from the back to covet seriously when the devil tempts you, you don't listen to him.

You don't want to have extended conversations with him you want to put them behind you and that's exactly what Jesus did. Now we come to the last temptation of Christ, at least in the wilderness. Luke chapter 4 verse nine the devil brought Jesus to Jerusalem, set him on the pinnacle of the peak of the temple and Satan said if you are the son of God, throw yourself down from here. Notice the devil then says, for it is written, he will give his angels charge over you to keep you in their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. While it doubles quoting the Bible. Did you know the devil knows the Bible to the story is told of the famous comedic actor WC Fields was known to be an alcoholic and one day someone was surprised to see Fields actually reading from the Bible is that I can't believe the you WC Fields are reading the Bible, why, and Fields responded, looking for loopholes led to the devil's been doing for a long time reading it, quoting it out of context. Miss using it. Looking for loopholes.

If you will closing thoughts. Every Christian is going to be tempted. But listen, it's not the bait that constitute temptation and sin. It's the bite. Just because the bait is dingle before you doesn't mean you're sending by the way, it's not a sin to be tempted.

As my friend Erwin. Luther said and I quote temptation is not a sin. It's a call to battle," you know, we may think of a really spiritual will never be tempted. Let me tell you that that is not true. The fact is, if you are really spiritual. If you are really living a godly life. You will be tempted.

Why, because the devil does not want you to succeed. He will oppose you. So if you're watching this right now and you're saying Greg I get tempted all the time.

What's wrong with me. Maybe it's not what's wrong with you. Maybe it's what's right with you member the story.

The book of Job and God was bragging on his servant Job, and he said, have you considered my servant Job, a perfect and upright men. When the fears God and shuns evil and the devil heard God say this. What happened a series of attacks came against God's man name Joe and sometimes the attacks were facing our result of living a godly mountain on godly life. You're going to get tempted to your last day on earth heard a story about an old preacher who was asked by a young man preacher when you stop being tempted by the sins of the flesh, not wise old dude dude said son. I wouldn't trust myself until it been dead for three days and that's true you're going to get tempted to the very end.

But it might be an indication you're actually on the right track question can temptation be resisted. Answered yes YES event, God will not allow you to be tempted above your capacity to resist because first Corinthians 1013 says there is no temptation taken you but such as this, the man, but God it was people will not allow you to be tempted above your ability to resist.

Listen, but will with the temptation make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Think about it. Think about the last time you are tempted was a way out answer, of course, it was sometimes it's as simple as walking out a door. Sometimes it simple as hitting the off button. Sometimes it's as simple as terminating a conversation. There's always a way out and listen to this. Not only is there a way out, but there's a blessing attached to the man or woman that resist temptation. James 112 says happy is the man who endures temptation for when he has been approved you will receive the crown of life which the Lord's promise to those who love him so if you're going through a trial right now.

You're going through a time of testing or temptation know this, you can get stronger through it instead of weaker. Let me conclude with this thought were talking about Jesus were talking about how Jesus began his public ministry. Why did Jesus come to go back to what I said earlier, Jesus came to buy back that which was lost in the Garden of Eden. What was lost. Are relationship with God were separated from God by our sin. But Jesus paid the price on the cross for each of us so we can come into this relationship with the Lord, and you can come into a relationship with him right now.

I talked a little bit about the devil. Let me say something that might shock some of you, the devil is real, I think you probably know that the devil is powerful. The devil is more powerful than you.

If you're not a Christian you have no protection against Satan is a will all just were across you think Satan cares if you were cross are not well were garlic around my neck. Will that might keep your friends away, but it won't keep Satan away while you some holy water others no such thing as holy water will you need you need Jesus. The only thing that can protect you from the power of Satan is Christ himself. Jesus died on the cross to destroy the works of Satan and you can be free.

You can be changed. You know, maybe there's something you're doing right now that you're ashamed of a lifestyle that you're trapped in an addiction that has a stranglehold on you and you don't see any way out. Jesus can transform you, Jesus can forgive you, Jesus can give you a second chance.

I talked about Mark who messed up when he was a young man but he was given a second chance God can give you a second chance right now and forgive you of all of your sin was in the same Jesus was born in a manger and was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, died on the cross also rose from the dead in the stands right now at the door of your life in the Knox and he says if you'll hear his voice and open the door. He will commit.

Would you like to have Christ living inside of you. Would you like to be free from the power of the devil. Would you like to find this meaning and purpose in life that can only be found in a relationship with God through Jesus in a moment nominally join the simple prayer that I would ask you to pray this prayer after me if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life if you want to be forgiven of your sin or listen or if you want to make a recommitment to Christ because you messed up like John Mark did earlier in this life God gives second chances and third ones and forth once in Monaco's. So if you need Jesus in your life if you want his forgiveness. If you want to know is certainly that you go to heaven when you die, or if you want to make a recommitment to Kim why don't you pray this prayer with me right now is pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I am the center but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin.

I churn from my sin. Now I choose to follow you from this moment forward as my Savior and Lord is my God, my friend, Jesus name I pray, amen. Everybody Greg Laurie here. Thanks for listening to our podcast and to learn more about harvest ministries. Please subscribe and consider supporting this show. Just go to harvest.org.

By the way, if you want to find out how to come into a personal relationship with God. Go to know God.org that's key NOW GLD.org