Only Jesus!: The Way the Truth and the Life

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Visit our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org Jesus only. All we need is your great glory pointed out our salvation comes through Jesus only price he paid on the cross, Jesus is our Harley rings Jesus is the Lamb of God because of the resurrection of Jesus, you are open to the father 24 seven Road Jim through amazing driving wide beautiful woman girl grow things get tight tight titers do your bread on the mat with narrow roads have to be taken seriously. The Bible describes the narrow road that leads to heaven today on a new beginning after Greg Laurie points out there are few find is only found my message for our time together now is simply only Jesus to be looking at Mark chapter 9, when Peter definitely said the wrong thing at the wrong time. This happened when Jesus was transfigured, worries shine like the sun with Moses on one side and Elijah on the other.

This happened on the mountain top and then they get this sent down to a Valley for a rude awakening. And I think it we whatever we as Christians, we would always live on the mountaintop, we would always be in the state of perpetual blessing in good times and perfect health and no conflict but those times on the mountain tops prepare us for what is awaiting in the Valley and when I say the Valley I'm talking about the hardships of life. The reality of life and talk about that now. In this text looks look at Mark chapter 9 I'm reading from the new living translation and here's what we see Jesus went on to say, I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the kingdom of God arriving great power. Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James and John, and led them to a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched Jesus was transformed. His clothes became dazzling white far wider than any earthly bleach could make them and then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus. Peter exclaimed it's good that we are here let's make three shelters as memorials one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.

Mrs. first. He said this because he really didn't know what else to say, for they were all terrified, then a cloud overshadowed them in a voice from the cloud said this is my dearly beloved son, listen to him. Suddenly when they looked around Moses and Elijah were gone and they saw only Jesus with them. You might underline those two words.

Only Jesus they went back down the mountain and he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead, so they kept it to themselves, but they often ask each other what it meant when he said, rising from the dead.

This transfiguration this moment were Jesus shine like the sun is out a significant point in his earthly ministry. It's at the half way point of a very difficult journey.

So Jesus was looking back to the cradle and is looking forward to the cross and is giving to Peter, James and John a glimpse of glory or a taste of heaven. And there they see Moses and Elijah, and of course Jesus and now Peter says the wrong thing at the wrong time. Verse six. It's good we are here and I love this detail that's added. He said this because he really didn't know what else to say when you don't know what to say don't say anything, but Peter says it's good we are here that's the operative word here. Hey Lord this is blessing central.

We love hanging out with you and Moses and Elijah basking in your glory. Let's forget all this crazy talk about going to Jerusalem and dying. Let's stay here and now Peter gets a rebuke God from Jesus but from the Father in heaven would give her seven then a cloud overshadowed in a voice from the cloud said this is my dearly loved son listen to him. Suddenly when they looked around Moses and Elijah were gone and they saw only Jesus with them. The father steps into the conversation and effectively says Peter of my son says he's going to go to Jerusalem to suffer and die. That's what's going to happen and you need to believe him.

David tells you to take up your cross and follow them you need to do it now. Moses and Elijah are gone. And there's just Jesus and that's all we need. Only Jesus son Jesus and the law and the prophets you see animal sacrifices are no longer needed. We don't need a high priest to step in and represent us to God any longer. Jesus is our high priest, Jesus is the Lamb of God because of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

You and I have open access to the father 24 seven you can approach him through Christ. It's an amazing thing. It's Jesus only is going to save you. Not Jesus plus church tradition or Jesus plus moral living not to use it up in moral living but my point is Jesus is the one who saves you. He does the work and then as a way of honoring him and thanking him. We want to respond by living a godly life, but it only Jesus. Jesus only because sometimes, frankly, friends will disappoint you. Sometimes even family will disappoint you, but the Bible says in Proverbs 1824. There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother and their friend is Jesus pleasant friends come and go but Jesus comes and states and if you basking in your life. He's not gonna leave you and he's not going to forsake you. You have his word on that because only Jesus can heal a broken heart.

Only Jesus can give you the strength to go on when it's getting hard. As David wrote in Psalm 23.

Yay though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me. That's how we get through the valleys of life. That's how we get though the storms of life. That's how we get to the hardships of life. We realize were not alone, that God is walking with us through it. Shadrach me shack and Abednego discovered that they walked to their fiery furnace and there was 1/4 person with them that the king said look like the son of God. I believe Jesus was walking with those three young teenage Hebrew boys when it's all said and done, it's only Jesus when you're on your deathbed. It's only Jesus who will save you and it's only Jesus and you will stand for Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here encouraging you to join us as we give her what we call harvesting that home is worship. It's a message of the word of God. You can watch it with your family and your front room where you can watch it on the go on your tablet on your phone or your computer. Take it with you think the word of God with you. Join us for harvested home Harvest so witnessing the Transfiguration of Christ by way of Mark's account in Mark chapter 9. Pastor Greg points out, there's even more to be learned.

Following that amazing event, so another dissenting from this mountaintop. This place of mega blessings to face a crisis to face the conflict in the valley if you will, and they're going to realize that not only Jesus can save them. But only Jesus can overcome the devil go back to Mark chapter 9 and under read verses 20 to 24 so there was a father who art a demon possessed boy.

He brought his boy to the disciples asking for some help, but they were not able to help this man or this boy George Strait picks up in Mark chapter 9 verse 20 they brought the boy to Jesus the demon saw Jesus in a once told the boy this power. The boy fell to the ground with spit running from his mouth Jesus as the boys father.

How long has he been like this. The father said will from the time he was a child. Many times it throws them into the fire and into the water to kill if you can do anything to help us take pity on us and Jesus said why do you ask me that the water was faith can do all things at once and father cried out and said with tears in his eyes, Lord, I have faith, help my unbelief powerful story. Now we come from the mountaintop to the Valley and crisis hits often after the mountaintop there is the Valley going back to the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness when the event happened that happened after the father spoke another time. Remember, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by his cousin John the baptizer and the father said this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. In the spirit of God came upon Jesus in the form of a dog and we read immediately he went into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. So after the dove came the double. A lot of times after the blessing comes the challenge after the blessing comes the temptation.

We should not be surprised when those things happen. Notice that as Jesus approaches this demon possessed boy. The devil effectively tightens his grip verse 20 says the demon saw Jesus and once held the boy in his power. Listen to this.

When you seek to share the gospel with someone expect Satanic opposition your entering into a time of spiritual warfare.

Remember the parable of the sower. Jesus said this order went out the sow seed, some seed fell on the roadside and the bird stated he said these are they that hear the word of God and Satan comes immediately to take it away. So the devil attacks and were trying to reach people so this boy was coming closer to Jesus and the devil wants to stop him from coming his forefather's that is within he doesn't know what to do for his son and he says to Jesus in verse 22. If you can do anything to help us take pity on us and the Lord is a very strong reaction to this a good verse 23 Jesus says why do you ask me that the one who was faith can do all things effectively. Jesus is saying what you mean. If I can if I can help you. Course I can.

Don't forget I was just transfigured with Moses and Elijah. Don't forget, I walked on water and I healed a blind man and I raised a person from the dead. If I can of course I can.

I can handle this.

But here's what he's saying you need to have faith right now. It's a very good idea for us to remember God's faithfulness to us in the past were facing trouble in the moment because we say all God forgot about me God's abandoned me know. Yes, it I love how when you read some 107 and reflects on the faithfulness of God to the nation Israel, and it talked about how the Lord delivered them from the bondage of Pharaoh, how the Lord fed them in the wilderness with manna how the Lord brought them through the Red Sea and then the refrain that is stated over and over again is all dead men would praise the Lord for his goodness and his wonderful works to the children of men, so they wrote it down.

I encourage you keep a journal and write down how God has answered your prayers and then the next time you're facing the challenge reflect back on God's faithfulness to you in the past which will remind you. He will also be faithful to you in the present and the future because Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever. See this man's faith was weak because he put his eyes on his problem. Instead of putting them on the Lord.

The same happens to us when we forget God's word to us. You see the way you build your faith is by reading the word of God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, then you will apply.

So that's why we need to know the Scripture, and memorize the Scripture and then Jesus says in verse 23. Anything is possible if a person believes a man have faith right now and I love the honesty of this man's statement in verse 24, with tears in his eyes. He says Lord, I have faith, help my unbelief that that's an honest prayer isn't to say Lord I believe. But my faith is not perfect. I and II have unbelief at times and we all have unbelief at times. We all have lapses of faith, at times, well of momentary doubts, but this man was honest and guess what Jesus meant him more than halfway and answered the man's prayer and he healed the child. Yeah, I would be nice if we could stay on mountaintops, wouldn't it no more problems no more troubles, but we all have to come and live in the Valley of life.

The reality of life, but God will be with us in those times, because really those mountaintops are preparing us for reality.

It's not necessarily more mountaintops we need in the Christian life. It's more day-to-day obedience or walking by faith and not by feeling there is coming a day in the future when there will be no more temptation no more devil, no more suffering and this is sort of a sneak preview of things to come, but Christ will return to this earth and establish his kingdom.

Read the story of a man who was convicted for murder, and he was being tried the man's defense attorney thought he had come up with an ingenious ploy and he went to the jury and he said ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you must find my client is not guilty of murder if there is a slightest doubt in your mind about his guilt.

You must not convict him and I'm going to produce one final witness the true murderer is about to walk to the door and he pointed over to the door and every eye in the courtroom look that direction, and the lawyer said see you do have doubts.

Therefore, I'm asking that you find my client innocent. So then the jury return after they deliberated over this for around five hours with a guilty verdict.

The lawyer was beside himself, he that this kind of a sentence would because he says Your Honor. I proved that you would've doubt about my clients guilt. How could you possibly find him guilty, and then the foreman of the jury. An older gentleman set them responsible as everyone looked toward the door. I watched your client in his eyes did not look toward the door because he knew no one was coming that what we found him guilty.

Listen were all guilty because we've all sinned against God, everyone of us have broken his commandment and fallen short of his glory. But one day Jesus is going to walk through that door and he's going to establish his kingdom. But until that day.

It is so important that we have a relationship with God. Remember when Jesus was born in the manger. It was so he could die on the cross for your sin, because were separated from the Lord by our sin. Remember Moses and Elijah were having an in-depth discussion with Jesus about his death and why that was so important and there were encouraging him no doubt for him to go through with this. Think how hard it was for Jesus to take the cross and carried to the streets of Jerusalem after he had already had his back ripped open with a woman with an even more to go hard it was for Jesus to bear all the sins of the world see that is what he was contemplating in the garden of Gethsemane being God. He knew what was ahead, he knew we would have to dig all the corruption all this sin upon himself and he did not want to do it and that is why he said to the father. If it is possible, let this cup pass from me.

Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.

But he did it.

He went on with that Eddie accomplished it. It died on the cross for your sins and rose again from the dead and now he offers you the ultimate gift and it's the gift of eternal life. You can reach out and accept this gift you can receive this gift. You can be forgiven of all of your sin. Would you like that to happen. Jesus, who died on the cross and rose from the dead stands at the door of your life right now only Knox and he says if you hear his voice and open the door he will come in.

Would you like Jesus to come into your life would you like him to forgive you of your sin. Would you like to receive this gift of eternal life is a yes I would would Roy do you do it in prayer. The Bible says that we will call upon the name of the Lord. We will be saved. So in a moment I would like to lead you in a prayer, a prayer that you could pray along with me where you would be saying that God I need Jesus in my life. I need my sin forgiven. I need a fresh start in life. I want to know with confidence that one day I will go to heaven, and if you will pray this prayer with me and mean it from your heart. God will hear your prayer and God will answer your prayer. This can be not just a game changer. This can be a life changer for you right here right now if you want Jesus to forgive you of your sin if you want to go to heaven when you die if you want your guild taken away. Pray this prayer with me. You could even pray it out loud if you like.

Just pray these words. If you would please or Jesus. I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who was born in the manger who died in the cross and who rose from the dead that Jesus come into my life. I choose to follow you from this moment fallen. Thank you for hearing this prayer and answering it. Jesus name I pray, amen Greg Laurie important prayer. Those were making a decision for the Lord today.

Today, some will remember for the rest of their lives.

And if you just prayed with Pastor Greg today here on a new beginning. First of all we want to welcome you into the family of God, and second, we want to help you get started, we want to send your free new believers growth packet to help you build a solid foundation for your new face, just ask for it is your right a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 origin call 1-800-821-3300. We are here to take your call 24 seven. Again, dial 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg were so glad to be talking about your new book, Billy Graham, the man I knew yes and for the last several days you been availing some surprises from Billy's life, things most of us never knew. Even though we saw him on TV so often preaching the gospel. That's right, what's the next on your list. Okay, here it is.

He didn't always make a great first impression. Let me explain.

I mean we would see billing on TV.

He always looked great. He sounded great when he was starting his ministry he arranged to have a meeting with the president of the United States. Billy was still a very young man and he was meeting with Pres. Truman. He showed up to the Oval Office and the pistachio green suit.

A hand-painted sigh and white bug shoes and any dared to touch the president he went into the office and said Mr. Pres., I want to pray for you and touch them on the children prayed for Truman and then afterwords he went outside and the press swarmed around him and he told them some of the things he said that the president and then they asked him if he would kneel and pray in front of the White House, which he and his friends did in their supercool suits with white lapels double-breasted looking very stylish and this did not make Truman happy one bit of egg Billy literally went to Truman later in life after he was out of the Oval Office and apologized to Truman for being a little too forward, and Truman said well you didn't know someone should have briefed you on what you could or could not do.

He didn't take it personally but but Billy learned from that. And from that moment on, whenever he spoke to a president, he did not disclose with the president said the him to other people and that he kept that in confidence, and that's why so many of them wanted to speak with Billy Graham because they knew he was a man who could be trusted. There was a lot of amazing conversations. Billy had with presidents.

I once asked Billy you have any regrets in life and he said yes. Then he told me the story of when he was speaking at a presidential prayer breakfast in Washington DC when Pres. Kennedy was in office and after it was over with the president said the Billy, would you drive with me back to the Oval Office or something. I want to talk to you about Billy said Mr. Pres., I'd love to, but I'm really sick with the flu and I would hate to get you sick. Maybe we could do it in a week and I'll come to see you and the president said that's fine but tragically was only days after that meeting that Pres. Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas Texas.

Billy said to me, I always wondered what he wanted to talk to me about.

So while but but he would speak truth to power others.

A chapter in my book were Billy meets Mr. history.

Winston Churchill himself. They had a prolonged and profound discussion about the second coming of Jesus Christ.

I include a lot of stories about Billy and the presidents that I think you'll find very interesting. Sometimes you'll find amusing and other times you'll find very moving. This is all my new book, which is simply titled Billy Graham the man I knew nothing to send you a copy of this book at no charge, but I'll give it to you for your gift of any size.

So whatever you can send was here at harvest ministries here at a new beginning. We will make sure we invested back into reaching more people with the teaching of the Word of God and the message of the gospel.

So get your copy of Billy Graham, the man I knew.

Yes, a unique look into the life of one of our generation's true heroes of the faith, Billy Graham, the man I knew is brand-new and will send you a copy to say thank you for your investment in these daily studies we can only bring them your way as listeners invest to help cover the cost of broadcasting. So thanks for your partnership couldn't come at a more strategic time writers today at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.

We can take your call anytime 24 seven at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org next time will she marry the sister of Martha offered an extraordinary gesture of kindness and love for Jesus, but she was criticized for what we can learn from that moment. Next time you beginning and everybody thinks or listening to an beginning this is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. So for more content can help you know God and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a harvest partner.

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