The 7 Love Letters of Jesus to His Church | Sunday Message

Everybody Greg Laurie here.

You're listening to the Grigori podcast and my objective is to deliver hopefully compelling practical insights and faith culture and current events.

From a biblical perspective to find out more about our ministry. Just go to our website harvest.org so thanks for joining me for this podcast. Let me tell you what the Bible says about love. The Bible says God is love is a really better definition of love than that God is loving, just what God loves you and he proved it by sending his own son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for you. Jesus said in John 316 for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have ever lasting life. That's it. God wants a relationship with you coming back to Valentine's Day for a moment number one I was in elementary school we had to give Valentine's Day cards to everyone in the class so no one would feel left out there reminds me of an episode of The Simpsons cartoon TV show, in which little Lisa Simpson gave a Valentine's card to the nerdy and unpopular Ralph Whigham because no one else was giving him any and it was a cute little card on the front of it. It was a little train and the words were there. I choose to choose you. Rob took this personally and thought Lisa had chosen him and pursued her for the rest of the episode, but I want you to know something God has chosen you. He show show chose you, and were told in Ephesians 14 he loves us because of this he chose this and picked us out for himself as his own children before the foundation of the world. So God loves you he chose you. He wants a relationship with you and he doesn't want anything to break that relationship and sometimes in his love, he has to correct us and that's what we see in these love letters of Jesus to the seven churches enter the devil, just as surely as there is a God in heaven who loves you. There is a devil who hates you and wants to destroy you.

Satan wants to entice you and get you to break your fellowship with God in fact God is the devil's goal each and every day you want to get you distracted, defeated, and ultimately destroy Jesus ended up this way. In John 1010. Speaking of the devil. He said he comes only to steal, kill and destroy.

So we have to understand that there is a God in heaven who loves us.

Once relationship with. Thus, there is a devil headed to hell that wants to distract us and destroys them.

By the way, the devil never takes a day off when the be nice. We found out that Satan takes Mondays off. I did would still get herself into trouble.

By the way, even without him, tempting us, but be that as it may, the devil never takes a day off. He doesn't take an hour off. He doesn't take five minutes off and thought Revelation 1212 says the devil is come down you in great anger, knowing he has a little time. Listen to this. Even if some Christians don't necessarily believe in the devil believes that Jesus is coming back now that you motivate us to live a godly life, but knowing this time is limited. Knowing his days are numbered.

Satan is trying to wreak as much havoc as he possibly can, but don't let that scare you. Because the Bible reminds us greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. We need to be aware and we need to be prepared. So were looking together at the book of Revelation. Remember, Revelation is singular, not plural rights of uncolored revelations Revelation reveals it unveils a lot of things that unveils the afterlife. It unveils the future it shows is a God who is in control of everything that is happening and is in control of everything that is coming. Revelation reveals the future to us, but Revelation also reveals us to us. It shows us what Jesus thinks of us in the church today and what we must be avoiding in the first chapter of Revelation, Jesus identifies himself as walking in the midst of the church. So he's with each one of us as your gathering together watching this wherever you are. Jesus is there with you and he is something he wants to save you know seven churches are what were looking at that 456 American 77 churches are addressed by Jesus. He sends these love letters. If you will.

We already looked at two of them.

We looked at the church of Ephesus and the church of Smyrna. Remember in Revelation to the church of Ephesus was a church leaving its first love not losing it because they knew world was so they could return to it again. Maybe that describes you right now. You had a passion that is been replaced by passivity. Your worship is been replaced by works. Your inspiration is been replaced by perspiration. Remember what Jesus said to the church of Ephesus, remember from where you will fall and repent and do the first works quickly absented up this way the 3R's of getting right with God. Remember, repent, repeat. But then we come to the church of Smyrna, which is a suffering church this time of church history when millions of believers gave their lives for the Lord because they would not say Caesar is Lord, but instead said Jesus is Lord, but rather than weakening them. Persecution actually strengthen them. Know this, the church is never been stronger historically than when it is been persecuted when believers are persecuted. It seems they have almost a finding of fact on them. I mean I think of the believers were persecuted they would estate in Jerusalem forever.

The Holy Spirit was poured out on them in the day of Pentecost. It was awesome and they would've just had a nice little holy hovel, but persecution began against the church led in many ways by a man known as Saul of Tarsus later to became the great become the great apostle Paul when it came to faith on the Damascus Road but they spread out everywhere preaching the gospel and so to the persecuted believer Jesus says be faithful unto death, and I'll give you the crown of life. Listen to this. One of the signs of the end times is persecution that the most persecuted people on the earth today are followers of Jesus Christ and we even see persecution happening in the United States, so what should we do, how should we react when persecution comes our way. You might be surprised by my answer if you're being persecuted, be happy about it is a what yes that's what Jesus told us Jesus says in Matthew 511 God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you, because you're my followers be happy about it says Jesus. Be very glad for a great award awaits you in heaven is not great persecution is actually a confirmation you're a child of God. So now we come to a different kind of problem in the church. Satan realizes that he can't destroy the church through persecution instead of weakening them.

They've turned into this lean mean preaching machine so he changes his tactics and he decides to infiltrate the church are part of the old expression. If you can't be them, join them as we come now to our next church called the church of Pergamum's the devil effectively joins the church.

Revelation chapter 2 verse 12 read with me if you would into the angel of the church in Pergamum's right these things says he that has the sharp two-edged sword.

I know your works where you dwell or Satan's throne is and you hold fast to my name and you did not deny my faith even in the days in which anti-Best Buy people martyr was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Yields interesting that's mentioned twice where Satan dwells. Listen, the devil is not the equal of God.

God is omniscient, which means he knows everything. The devil is limited in his knowledge, God is omnipotent, which means all-powerful, the devil's limitations to his power in God is omnipresent, which means present everywhere but the devil can only be in one place at one time so the doubles in San Francisco.

He can be in Moscow and if he's in Moscow. He can't be in wherever so the point is, he seemed to have said his seat in this city where the church was in what's happening here with this churches are starting to compromise. It starts with little things and it ends up in big things. That's the way sin works little things turn in the big things ever notice that some animals are really cute when their little and then they look kinda weird sometimes even creepy when they get bigger.

Take for instance a little girl lobby go. I mean what what a cute little guy he is. But then as he gets older he looks like this. II hope I'm not going to be getting emails from good lobby goats or maybe the text we hey man what's up with the disc at her no, but that they're not as attractive when they're older as they were when they were younger about this adorable little elephant seal. I mean look good. Have you want to give them but then he grows up into this side. That's a weird looking creature and what about this cute little duckling.

He is a must school be done, but then as an adult he ends up looking like this. Then there's the baby slob, the slowest animal in the world. I think you see them at the DMV. Sometimes if you saw the movies utopia. You know what I'm talking about. I've drank it so I've seen it many times, so there cute when their little not so cute when they're larger. By the way, that smile is a little bit alarming to me once more adorable than a baby platypus. I mean look at it. It looks like a little stuffed animal you want to set it up on your bed but then it ends up looking like this.

What is with that that is a weird looking creature Foxley we have this little monkey cute little monkey who grows up into an adult and ends up looking like so the point of this all is to say little sins turn into big sin little compromises turn in the big problems.

Did you know that the venom of a baby rattler is more potent drop per drop than an adult rattler.

I've seen baby rattlers in the wild and in their just little little rattle little things. If you know you want to pick him up will be be regular these of all he bit me. It didn't even hurt feeling weak feeling think you know don't mess around with sin.

This is the problem with the church of Pergamum as they were tolerant of sin. Look at verse 14. I've a few things against you, because you have those who hold the doctrine of Baylon, who taught Bailey to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality case or whose Baylon who malic was the king of the Moabites, the enemies of Israel. He wanted to destroy the nation Israel. So he hired Baylon the prophet, not her know where he found Baylon the prophet. I think you get a spell prophet PROM IT instead of the biblical spelling Baylon seem to be a prophet for hires a billing says look man, I want you do curse these Israelites curse them in the name of God, so we don't have to deal with them on the battlefield incredibly billing the prophet agrees, yes I will do that with the Lord comes to Baylon and says I don't want you to do that. But Baylon decide to do it anyway. So the next day he gets his donkey knees riding along and all of a sudden this donkey just stops and that steps you succumb of is go, let's go, and that in the donkey Stockton and then the donkey walked a little further and there in between two rock walls and the donkey slams up against the wall, hitting Bingham's leg know he's angry. Baylon pulls out a stick and he's beating his donkey he so angry and the Bible says the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey who said why are you beating me that's amazing.

What's more amazing to me is without missing a beat benefit because you're not doing what I want you to do in the Bible, the donkey says, haven't I been a good donkey have and I always done what you want me to do and says that you have to grieve in a very good donkey starting this conversation with here is what Palin didn't know the donkey seem to have more sense than Baylon did.

Because the donkey saw an angel of the Lord was sword drawn, the Angels probably thinking only they had been this guys talking to his donkey finally be angel makes himself visible and Baylon sees what's going on, but the agent was trying to stop and so Baylon didn't do exactly what Baylon wanted him to do what he came up with a little planning to listen Baylon look I've an idea here is what you need to do get your really foxy babes from Moab to go sexually entice those young Israeli boys to come in to their tents and make them work sure about your little altars and you worship your false gods and no go for it and God will judge them and that's exactly what happened. So what is is saying to us, will Baylon the sin of Baylon is compromise. He wanted to do something.

Even when God told him not to do it there. People like this today. They said why would Christian. I want to go to heaven but I can't want to live like hell. I still want to party. I still wanted she they still want to lie, I still want to do whatever I need to do whatever I want to do in and got say no that's compromise that is the doctrine of Baylon don't live that way. So we need to follow the advice Jesus gives here to Pergamum as for 16 repent welcome you quickly and fight against those with a sort of my mail. He that is an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying this is God's wake-up call, let me just say this.

My talking to somebody right now that says there were a Christian, but your sleeping with your boyfriend or your girlfriend.

You say you're a Christian, but you're having an affair on your spouse.

You say you're a Christian, but you're lying on your tax returns use. You say you're a Christian and you and you regularly tear others down to denigrate them and slander them hold on now, you're like the people in the church of Pergamum and you're like being them you're compromising, and that is not what God wants, bringing us to our fourth George identified as Syed Tyra. So they go from compromise with Pergamum as to full-blown acceptance of sin in the church of Thyatira Revelation 2, verse 19 God or Jesus says I know your works, your love, your servant, your faith and your patience and as to your words, your last are more than your first soap commence on the other.

Some of you doing pretty well. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality. Anything sacrificed to idols.

I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. So, Jessica, Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab. She was a wicked woman who was the Queen of Israel and she believed in the worship of false got a bail. Jezebel was the one to put the contract out on the prophet Elijah and said I'm in a put that man to death and she actually influence the whole nation so the church of fire Tyra had grown tolerant of sin have you grown tolerant of sin in your life are the things you know you should not be doing but your conscience doesn't seem to be kicking in anymore.

You know, we have a little smoke alarm in our kitchen and its overly sensitive wedges this morning.

Kathy was cooking something in the alarm goes off all throughout the house.

There smoking euros third smoke any good on the kids and there's like hardly any smoke at all portly. The fire department did not come in overly sensitive smoke alarm better to have that then one that doesn't work maybe one of a very tender heart, a sensitive conscience and when you do something wrong when you think something wrong you feel guilt and remorse over it. Rejoice. That means your conscience is working but if you can go and sin if you can go and do things that the Bible says are wrong before God and not feel any pain of guilt or any remorse something isn't working. Pray that God will re-sensitize your conscience. Jesus tells them to repent. Now we come to the church of Sardis and Revelation chapter 3 verse one to the angel of the church in Sardis write these things says he that has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars I know your works, you woman named that you are alive, but your dad, be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die forever not found your works perfect before God's care with these churches. We looked on, we see the natural regression of sin. Sin always pulls you down so you begin to lose your passion like the believers in the church of Ephesus, consider moving forward. You're starting to move backwards and you start compromising like the churches of Pergamum's the fire Tyra and you end up dead like Sardis. As I've said before, no one generally plan some backsliding. But one day you wake up and you state what happened what happened to my life.

What happened to my marriage would happen to my health. I made all these bad decisions. How did I get here.

I never wanted to go to this place, but here I am started to little compromises that led to this slippery slope of sin. Sardis is a church that looks good on the outside but their dead on the inside. Have you ever been to a Hollywood set, you realize that when you watch these movies and TV shows that a lot of times are not real buildings or just the fa�ade of the building and behind it are are are pieces of wood, holding it up. And so in many ways this is a church to look good on the outside but there were dead on the inside is not a description of someone in talking to you right now. Everyone thinks you're just the greatest Christian of all time, but there's a deadness inside of you. That's what was happening with this church. So what can a dead church do let me personalize it.

What can a believer do if they feel that they're in a deadened state or the great physician. The Lord himself gives his prescription for recovery enough you're not feeling well and you go to the doctor if you don't do with the Dr. says that's not on him.

It's on you heard about a patient to went to his doctor and said you know dog it's been one month since I saw you and I feel worse than I felt. On the day I came to your office. The doctor said what did you follow the instructions on the medicine I gave you the person said yes I did. The bottled said keep tightly closed yet will you and so you close enough you're dumb but open it in, take the medicine and so Jesus is giving his medicine here is, here's what he saying here's what you need to do if you find yourself feeling spiritually dead.

It's all found in his description of himself in verse one of chapter 3.

He says he's the one who holds the seven spirits of God and seven stars. The seven spirits are a symbol of the Holy Spirit in his fullness when many believers. The is to be empowered by the holy spirit.

Let's think about a brand-new car you drove it off the lot.

You are loving it ran perfectly for a week maybe a week and 1/2 and then one day just stopped. So you have it towed back to the dealer you say what's wrong with this car you sold me you rip the often and they look inside your car in the turn on the ignition in your you're on empty. Your fuel is gone is the did you fill it up with just what you want to fill this up was just yes you do, sometimes in our life as Christians.

What were going along were starting to sputter and were starting to stall. We don't know what's wrong you need a refill. You need to be filled with the spirit of Ephesians chapter 5 says be filled with the spirit speaking yourself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord and that phrase be filled needs to be filled over and over again. So God wants to fill you with the spirit he wants to refill you. That's what they needed they needed a refill of the Holy Spirit.

Now we come to the church of the last days, as we will discover in the book of Revelation. I believe personally were in the last days I'll make a case for that and by that I mean I believe Jesus could come for us in our lifetime. So we want to be ready. You don't want to be a part of the church of Thyatira. You don't want to be a part of the church of forgiveness. You definitely don't want to be in the church of Sardis but you do want to be in this church is really you choose what church are going to go to. You decide what church you're going to be. It's really up to you.

This is the church, now of Philadelphia that's alive again.

Revelation 3 verse seven to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write these things says he that is holy and is true.

He who was the key of David. He who opens and no one shots and shuts and no one opens I know your works. I've set before you an open door, and no man can shut it for you of a little strength, and you've kept my word, and you have not denied my name. Here's some take away truths from the church of the last days the church we should all be a part of number one. Jesus is given to us in on precedented open door. Let me say that again Jesus is given to us as the church today and unprecedented open door. Do you know that we have the ability for the first time ever to literally fulfill the great commission and our lifetime. I mean think of all the technology we have at our disposal, and even what were doing here at Harvest at Home and then this is on our YouTube channel and these messages are heard in our radio broadcasts and on our website and there's so many ways we can communicate now through films and other ways that getting the gospel to people in unexpected ways. The door here is a symbol of opportunity and the key is a symbol of his authority. Paul said in second Corinthians 212 when I came to troll asked to preach Christ's gospel a door was open unto me by the Lord. We should pray for these open doors Colossians for pulses, pray for us to that God will open the door and give us many opportunities to speak about Christ so God opens doors up there, there might be an open door in your life right now with the neighbor. There were close close of the gospel close to anything spiritual, and suddenly there open are you just met somebody or an opportunity came up. Look for open doors there out there pay attention, you know, coven ships our country in the world was devastated. Needs change the world. That's not an understatement number not beyond it yet of for a time, we had to shut down our church building. Now it's open again were having life services following protocols are provided by the CDC, but coven closed one door and opened another what I'm doing right now. I wasn't doing before we we would have our services and and we would film them and broadcast some of this is something we started since coven jet which is a special online worship service. You all were watching Harvest at Home and become a part of our extended church family. So I have to rejoice that I'm speaking to many people.

I wasn't speaking to before we rejoice in that number two God is given. This is not enough strength to do what he has called us to do God's given us enough strength to do what he has called us to do. We read that this church was making a comeback in verse eight Jesus says you have a little strength, by the way that's on the negative criticism it's accommodation that he is giving to this church. The picture here is of a sick person coming back to life. As you may know, I got cold without the number of months ago and ends. I started with the usual congestion in a little bit of a fever. I had a mild case.

Thankfully, but one thing that stayed with me for a while was fatigue. It took me a while to get my energy back. I would get up and do some energy tired and discuss it for like an hour. That's not me I'm I'm a very busy active person but thankfully my strength is come back again. But that's a picture here of the church of Philadelphia. That's like a sick person coming back to life.

The rounded full health yet but but they're getting there there there are out of the bed, now they're standing up again. They're starting to move around again this would appear to say of the church of the end times is going to experience revival what is revival, it's returning to original condition. What is original condition at the church of the first century the church.

The change the world the church to turn the world upside down. So this last days church of Philadelphia is coming back there making a come back there. Strength is returning a church that is going to open doors of opportunity he gives him a promise and this shows this is the church of the last days. In verse 10 he promises to keep them. He promises to keep us from the great tribulation. Verse 10 says Jesus we can all keep you from the hour of trial that will come upon the whole world to test those that dwell on the earth. Overall going to go through trials and tribulation life as followers of Jesus.

Jesus even said in this world you will have tribulation, be of good cheer. I've overcome the world.

But there's a difference between personal tribulation and what we call the great tribulation. The great tribulation.

Is a global event look in verse 10 he says I'll keep you from the hour of trial that will come upon the whole world to test those that dwell on the earth. This is a global event that will affect everybody. Secondly, it's a specific period of time.

Jesus calls it in hour of trial is not 60 minutes and seven years in total. So he says I'll keep you from that, it is my firm belief that the Lord will call us home to heaven before the tribulation period begins. I believe the church will not go through the tribulation.

I don't even think the tribulation period can begin until the church is removed. Now we come to our final church in the book of Revelation. The seven of seven churches. Remember I said in the beginning we start with an apostolic church and we end up with an apostate church.

Some churches make the Lord we other churches make the Lord angry. This church makes the Lord sick buddy love them anyway. Look at Revelation 3 verse 14 to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write these things saith the amen the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. I know your works. You're neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth now give the King James version. We have Jesus and I will spew you when that's a very nice way of putting it. I will spew you and your feeling nauseated and excuse me, I think I have to go spew. I don't know why you have a British accent, but I'm to go spew with this translation says all vomiting and that's exactly the word he I will regurgitate you it makes me sick to my stomach.

This is a pretty harsh criticism that Jesus is giving of this church and he says I'd rather you be hot.

I'd rather you be called, but if you are lukewarm. It turns my stomach. No, stop and think about most things that you eat are generally good hot or cold of rent since copies great hot copies great cold tea is great. Hot tea is great cold as well. Milk the same. I like hot Mildred belittled cocoa and it that really helps her milk is cold. That's very good as well.

Same with fish. Fish is great grilled or boiled or or a poached button.

I love it. Sushi style. I don't know if you like sushi I love sushi myself but but who wants fish that has gone mushy that was once warm and I was cooled down. Jesus is saying lukewarm. This makes me want to throw up. I hate to throw up. I mean, I don't know who likes to put it like when my wife is nauseated. She goes and filling sections going about them that I should even have done that. She doesn't such a ladylike way. You don't even own habits to grandma comes on.

I feel much better.

I like to throw up. I don't throw up. I hated I yelled out you might think a big thing to me that I dread every moment, but then you finally do it and you get that poison out of your system, but I don't know about you but I don't want to make Jesus throw up. So it's lukewarmness snow. Let me ask you a question. What is your spiritual temperature right now. According to the Bible. You're either boiling hot, you're freezing cold or your miserably lukewarm. One of those three, and it's actually better. According to Jesus, to be called than it is to be Luke warm. Let me explain the word cold here means frozen or icy cold. Jesus would rather we either boil or freeze rather than simmering down to a tepid tastelessness. One of the signs of the last days is people would have cold heart by Matthew 2412. This sin will be rampant everywhere in the love of many will grow cold. What does this mean to be called means to. You're not a believer you don't have a heart for God you don't want to talk about spiritual things. Your you're just a non-believer. You say all that's the worst date of all porting to Jesus. Lukewarmness is works to see if you're cold if you're not a believer there still hope that you will come to Christ. But the problem with the lukewarm person is they know enough to get them into trouble too, so there's cold then there's hot the word hot beans to be boiling hot, it comes from the Greek word zest dose we get our English word zest from the Bible says in Romans 1210 we should be fervent or hot in spirit. Another translation says we should maintain that spiritual glow and so it's good to be on fire for the Lord and sometimes our hearts begin to cool down member.

Those two disciples on the Emmaus Road in the Gospel of Luke, who left Jerusalem discouraged after Jesus had been crucified and Jesus of course, join them on their journey they didn't know was Jesus in the open to them. The Scripture all the things concerning himself and his or walking along the thinking man this guy really knows the Bible. I'm in the way he describes the stories in the Bible. You would think he was there. You think you wrote it. Getting warm ties but they did know was Jesus came to the end of their journey they said down. They have a meal and Jesus acted as though he would leave and they said no stay with us and then he revealed himself and they realize it was Jesus.

And then he disappeared and I love what they said. After that, they said did not. Our hearts burn within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us whenever burning heart. You want to be on fire for the Lord open up God's word but see lukewarm people there. No hot hot, following the Lord. They're not cold complete nonbelievers affect their usually the last to know the reason. Lukewarm look in verse 17 Jesus is you. Sam read to become wealthy have need of nothing, don't you know your miserable, wretched, poor, blind and naked. You see, here's something you may be lukewarm and not even know it. You maybe lukewarm. If you're completely bored right now and I'm not implying that everyone who is bored of my sermons is lukewarm but then talking about these things your disinterested yet. If you're on far you like tell me more.

You're leaning in.

If you lukewarm you like come on this rep the support you done yet. Who cares about this. I've done my little token thing and watch the sermon. I have other things to do. No, don't be a lukewarm person but listen to what Jesus says. He says as many as I love verse 19 I rebuke and chasten that can be translated as many as I dearly tenderly love.

I started by talking about love and the way that God shows us he loves us, among other things, as the Telus.

The truth. Hebrews 12 says the Lord disciplines those he loves any cheese, since those he accepts as his children if the Lord is chasten you abide cheese. And I mean he's convicted you of your sin and by convicting you.

I mean, there's a sense of guilt that I alluded to earlier, I shouldn't be doing this. That's a reminder that God loves you. You see, he chases the one he loves. I love how David wrote in Psalm 23 of the Lord your rod and your staff they comfort me. So what you do if you become lukewarm. What is the answer to come out of lukewarmness. I'll close with this you have to enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ. See you can be a religious person and have no relationship with God. You can go to church and not of Christ living inside of you going to a church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going into a donut shop makes you a cop to joke but you get what I'm saying. Some people go to church. They do the things outwardly but prices not living inside of them. The look of the words of the Lord. A very familiar verse. Many of us have committed it to memory. Revelation 320 Jesus says to the church of Laodicea. Behold, I stand at the door and not if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come here come in and dine with him, and he with me know you've heard me quote this verse before, if you've ever seen me speak.

I address it to nonbelievers and you say will was given to the church. Great guy.

He was given the people in the church and needed to get Jesus in their heart is not ironic. We start with the church at Ephesus that's leaving their first love and we and with the church of Laodicea word crisis on the outside trying to get in the sea on the outside of your life trying to get in everybody needs to us Jesus to come into their life. John 112 says for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons of God, but notice what he wants to do he says and I will dine with them, dine with them. This is a very important Greek word that is speaking of the evening meal are the last meal of the day.

Now this is loss on us who live in a fast food culture in the didn't have drive through restaurants. Back in those days I was in the McDavid's are in and out, falafel or whatever it is, know that the the meal was a big deal. The meal was like a form of entertainment, especially the final meal of the day, you would relax and cushions a low table in and you would have a meal and communicate. You want to have this meal with people you're comfortable with.

Nobody wants to go out and have a meal with someone is trying to sell them something or someone that wants to debate about something know you want to spend time eating with people that you're close to people that you can be yourself around people well people that you can steal food from that the mark of true friendship when you're sitting down with family or friends and they are fries and you don't even ask you stick a fry needed rightness of my wife does this all the time. She takes lightly and starts eating it. What you doing this is my food. Men are very territorial about food. By the way, think of a dog with the food � ever watch a dog eat there like eating look around periodically. But as I don't mess with their food, even if it's a friendly dog team I growl at you. That's all manner, much as he will say, can I have a bite of what you're reading and and the thing I meeting, I met the end and I've saved the one by the one I'm looking forward to. Can I have a bite and there's that final by the Micah here in the cheats it, but I get my revenge a desert because what were having dessert shall sometimes put it on her for can be talking you know that paying attention and going for the kill finish the desert. It's gone. But anyway, but when you're with family when you're with friends. You know you share food together. Here's what Jesus is saying is the time together. Let's hang out you and me you open your heart to mean all open mind to you. Let's have a long conversations.

Let's spend time together. You want to do that. I mean, what an offer we should be banging on his door and instead he's knocking at ours and he's asking permission, he could say look, I sent the doorknob to be don't open up chicken in know he doesn't save Jesus as a gentleman he won't force his way to any person's life. He says I stand at the door and I knocking up you'll hear my voice and open the door so you have a choice.

You either open the door you leave it closed and by not opening it. You're leaving it closed.

Let me put it another way, by not saying yes you're saying no is that what you want to say that Jesus Christ right now.

Jesus said, you either formally or against me. You are there with me or you're opposed to me. Some of you if you think that you realize a crisis been knocking at the door of your life going back to your childhood maybe you heard that knock recently for the death of a loved one or you heard that knock again when you got a bad report from a doctor or, again, you heard the knock when you were having marital problems, something that sort of awaking you to your need for Christ he's knocking open the door because of you open the door to him now. Jill open the door to you then the door to heaven is a you're going to go to heaven because you put your faith in Christ, if you stand up for Christ. Now he'll stand up for you in heaven. Then, if you say yes to him, though still say yes to you, then if you say no to him now. He'll say no to you that you decide where you will spend eternity by what you do with Jesus Christ was knocking at the door of your life would you like him to commit.

Would you like to be forgiven of your sins. Would you like a fresh start by talking to somebody right now who is never asked Jesus to come in to their life or I may be talking to someone who did it is a younger person. The red some stage of their life, but you a lot of other things to crowd him out you made these compromises. A near and if you're in a miserable web of compromise would you like to recommit your life to Christ, you can do it right here right now like the close of the prayer in this prayer I want to give you an opportunity to US Jesus Christ to come into your life. So listen if you want your sins forgiven. If you want to know that you go to heaven when you die if you want to fill that big hole in your heart if you want to get rid of your guilt is sort of relationship with God, stop what you're doing and pray this prayer with me right now. Again, as I pray you pray in fact you could pray these words in them about the pray out loud after me. This is a simple prayer but if you mean them from your heart. God will hear you and God will answer.

So if you want Jesus in your life right now.

You want to recommit your life to him pray this prayer with me. Let's pray father speak to every person watching help them to see their need for you and help them to come to you now. We pray just pray these words after me, Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner but I know that you are the Savior I turn from that sin. Now I repent of it that I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for hearing this prayer in answering this prayer in Jesus name I pray, amen. Everybody Greg Laurie here.

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