How to Never Stumble or Fall - III

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God don't want to hear from you. Would you consider emailing me you can reach me at greg@harvest.org again that's Greg harvest.org and you can also make me one of your friends on Facebook and drop me a comment when you did well and falling which is well wondering can I get a general answer is not in your own strength. You need a helping hand before we fall.

We don't think we will after we fall. We don't think we can get Pastor Greg Laurie has good encouragement using all of it. I tried to overcome this addiction. It's become a worse eviction. I've tried this got worse.

Okay Jesus is take my hand now let me pull you in 90. The edges was inducted into the national toy Hall of Fame with the divorce. You can draw a picture after picture complicated as you want to mess up, turn it upside down to shake and start over today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie says no matter how your life is messed up.offer you the chance to turn your lifelike side out and start over. Shaking is optional.

Case in point today from the Gospel of John.

In the gospel of Luke two Jesus is in the upper room with his disciples. He's headed to the cross.

He's told the he's headed to the cross.

He's going to break bread with them and tell them to do this in remembrance of him, but before that he is a fascinating conversation with Simon Peter.

Luke 22 verse 31 Jesus says Simon, Simon, Satan is asked to sift you as wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail when you are repented and turned to me again you'll strengthen your brothers.

Peter said Lord I'm ready to go to prison with you and even the die with you, Jesus said, let me tell you something before the rooster crows tomorrow morning you will deny three times that you even knew me look at Luke 22 verse 39 coming out.

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that you enter not into temptation of this place, being referred to by Luke as the garden of Gethsemane because he was withdrawn from them about a stone so he knelt down and prayed saying father if it is your will take this cup away from me.

Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done. When he rose from prayer he came to his disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow and he said why did you sleep rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation so that there in the garden of Gethsemane. There, sleeping when they should have been praying, here comes the temple guard and along with the Roman soldiers. They got swords and spears and shields and torches their coming to arrest Jesus but before that happens.

As the guards come in to grab Jesus. One guy named Marcus probably is first and Simon Peter, and that an attempt to defend Jesus pulls out a sword if slices off the ear of Malka's Jesus is like a knife. A you know. Yes, the picnic gear up, he puts it back in the guy in the heels of so the last earthly miracle of Jesus was covering the blunder of a disciple.

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

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

That leads me to his next step down verse 25 because he was standing by the fire warming themselves. They asked him again, you're not one of his disciples are usually denied and say no I'm not one of the household slaves of a high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off as did Nye see you in the olive grove with Jesus. Your sin will find you out. Oh yeah, right. You were there. That brings us to the third denial and here's something you may have missed between the second and third denial. There was a one hour interval of the long time. That's plenty of time to get out of there, but he stayed there.

He's he's compromise now is not thinking rationally and finally someone says to him. Yes, you were with Jesus and I know you're one of his disciples because your accent betrays you and then we read that Peter began to curse and swear and he took a note saying I never knew the man that we read curse and swear does not mean that Peter use profanity or swear like a sailor boy was one ABC took a no. He took an oath and swore to God he did know Jesus. Now this is the worst kind of taking the Lord's name in vain in the Bible says God gave them the commandments a specific commandment thou shall not take my name in vain that we've heard people doing others.

The obvious applications and people curse using the name of God but human someone uses the name Jesus to punctuate a sentence you for that. So was a Jesus Christ what's going on here when I see someone do that as a carefully my dad see you sometime. I don't even think people realize what they're doing but we could even take the Lord's name in vain in church because the phrase to taken in vain means to use it it it insincere and frivolous way so I might be singing this song with the name Jesus said, I'm singing the song I'm judging the person in the pew in front of me. How could she wear that church for. I'm thinking about lunch hamburger in and out Burger animals the way your singing Jesus. Jesus in your thinking Burger Burger. I hear doing it in and insincere frivolous way. But Peter did even more than that. Here's what he effectively did this people will take a note that this is swear to God I put my head of the stucco Bibles like a stock will be more important, not just what I stack a stack of Bibles I swear here's the Peter effectively said, I swear to God I never knew Jesus and guess what happened at the moment. He said that Jesus was let off of the courtyard archivists in the made eye contact with Peter to here's at work. I swear to God's is Peter. I never knew Jesus.

Oh hi Jesus literally right there will Jesus and the Bible says Jesus looked at him when we can of expression that once you know we'll have looks we get right parents. We got these looks down to directing up Chrissy, Johnny, look at me. All that means is stop. Stop it now, or so it says something ridiculous. We roll our eyes. Let's look are we looking at someone with anger because they cut us off on the freeway.

We have our looks. What kind of look did Jesus give to Peter was that I told you so look did he roll his eyes like a loser honey did I choose you.

I don't think it was know I can say with certainty because the Bible doesn't tell us, but here's an interesting thing the Bible says Jesus looked at Peter for a better translation. Jesus looked through Peter never had anyone look to you all restate the question.

Do you have a mother you're only becoming where have you been know her mom look at me, look at never. He looked if you look right through. I think it was a look of love and I'll tell you. I think it was a look of love, because Jesus predicted this ride. He said you're going to deny me, but don't forget the resident when you overturned, you will strengthen your brothers. Peter you going to mess up. Trust me, it's going to happen. Roosters are involved. But when you of return you will strengthen your brothers, Peter, you're coming back. I don't think Peter heard you're coming back part because the Bible says he went out of web master Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment. We hear from so many listeners who have found strength through Pastor Greg's ministry and it often helps them in life's most difficult times dear Pastor Greg, I was gifted yearbook as it is in heaven. About two months ago from a friend. I couldn't put it down.

At the beginning of this year, my brother, and 10-year-old nephew died in a tragic house fire that did my grandparents homestead to the ground in minutes before the firefighters could arrive. We went through 2 1/2 months with no answers until my poor father discovered my brother's remains in the rubble. Authorities believe my brother had been too close to the explosion and basically is made into dust. My brother had a propane tank in the house a small heater keeping the pipes from freezing in the tank exploded and took their lives. When sent these last three months have been a nightmare. As you can imagine, I'm writing to say I believe it's mostly thanks to you and your book that I have been walking closer to Jesus than I ever have and through discovering and I've been able to be a solid rock of unwavering faith for my family and my parents since I've read your book I found your podcasts and I listen every single night while doing my computer work and even when I'm driving up until now I was a lukewarm Christian.

I'd never actually read the Bible and wasn't thirsty.

To learn more. Your sermons on trials and suffering have brought me so much hope more than I can really explain. You have changed my life for the best were blessed to hear when Pastor Greg's messages helped especially in a time of trial, would you consider sharing your story with us.

If so: leave us a message at 1-866-871-1144 1-866-871-1144 will just word of thanks to those who support this daily study, especially our harvest partners. Your generosity allowed us to present this message today. Pastor Greg is examining the denial of Simon Peter today. Contrast Judas Iscariot, and Simon Peter Judas going back to the garden of Gethsemane was given one last chance to repent when they came to arrest Jesus. Jesus said to Judas friend, why have you come Jesus was giving Judas up one last chance will curse you. This went on he betrayed the Lord and he hung himself. So two men came short two men sinned against the Lord. One went out into goods all life. One went out of web bitterly one left and never return. One came back again and was restored. That was Peter because three days later, Jesus rises again. Oh yeah. Remember, you not only said he would be crucified.

He said he would rise again from the dead. Here's the message that went up from the Angels go tell the disciples and Peter is risen not go tell the disciples and Peter, James and John, or go tell the disciples in Matthew or go tell the disciples and Mary know. Go tell the disciples and Peter. Why was Peter singled out because he needed an encouraging word, maybe there's someone here today that needs an encouraging word as well. You fallen away, and you don't know how to get back your like the lady in the commercial I've fallen and I can't get up not making fun of that lady, but I don't think she actually fell. I think she's an actor.

Okay senior lines not convincingly in my opinion, but I fallen like ticket R but some if you've ever fallen. You know what it's like I was playing racquetball a while ago and I went for some shot night lost my footing when in the air and landed on my back. It was so loud. A guy upstairs on a treadmill subset are you okay I'm likely there I think so.

I didn't plan on falling. Maybe you didn't plan on falling but you fell in you wondering can I get up again will the answer is not in your own strength. You need a helping hand if you're flooding your back summonses. Let me help you get back up again grub my head and you pull them up right so maybe you think I've fallen and I tried to make this better and it's gotten worse. I've tried to overcome this addiction and it's become a worse addiction. I've tried to fix this, it's gotten worse. Okay Jesus is saying, take my hand now let me pull you up. You have to reach out to me. You want to call out to me. You have to ask me for forgiveness and I will extend this forgiveness to you. Listen, I don't know what trajectory your life is on right now but I know this God can change your story changes today will my dad did this so my mom did that to my grandparents in this pattern of said shut up. I don't care if any man be in Christ is a new creation old things that pass the way everything becomes fresh and you I'm sorry said shut up, but I think sometimes we use a pattern of sin or bad behavior, and family to excuse our the rest to come a point where we just say I'm responsible for my own actions and I make my choices and then my choices make me live Christ living inside of me and he will give me the power to live the life he's called me to live, you know yesterday at the baptism of all. Take a few moments with every person on us and when did you come to Christ will tell me their story heard amazing stories. I wish I could film them right there. But one guy just covered in tattoos and he said I was a heroin addict and he showed me a hole in his arm that was still there give you so much heroin over the years get a permanent hole in his arm but he was just radiating the love of Jesus, because God had changed his story. I talked to couples were on the verge of divorce.

Our marriage is falling apart and we came to the Lord and I were here today, getting baptized and our kids are with this.

I'm looking at that whole family changed because you know here to get help.

You know the appearance of get the worth and the kids are are you know caught between the two parents. They remarry in the divorce again and now the kids follow that same pattern, and then they have kids and they follow the same pattern in these sins go on for multiple generations but then you look what happens.

Christ intervenes changes this. And instead of ungodliness going to multiple generations.

Godliness goes to multiple generations that have that's why were so committed to calling Christ. But I didn't just baptize people who live crazy lives in baptism and little kids to and you know I was want to make sure child understands and so so we came up to me would you baptize my son so I talked to my baptize and then they said would you baptize his little brother is an oldie old to see the city's poor said you know that's kind of young and you know it's not a bad thing. The way till later to baptize the little one so they understand what they're doing. You know is it's as repent and be baptized. What is a four-year-old repent of, you know I've had all the timeouts lately.

Whatever it is, so I civil will let me talk to this cute little kid's name was Graham so I sat down on the beach with them. I said so Graham you want to be baptized. It easy casts. I said no only who Jesus is. He says Jesus is God and God is Jesus isolate the sprig. Then Graham says, and then there's the Holy Spirit who, while so we talked a little bit more and I thought G the way I see it as this little child wants to get closer to God, knowing as much as he knows in his little four-year-old man, whom I do say no to him so I took amount night baptize them and it was such a great moment and it reminded me of a young lady that came to me. I was at our church a Maui last Sunday a young lady came and said I came to Christ at one of your crusades when I was four years old. I said you came to Christ, the 14th is yeah I said I you don't get mad at me holding you now.

She looked like she was 21 she says I'm 30 and I've been walking with the Lord.

All these years, so someone can come to Christ and for right from my point is simply this, young or old, whatever life you lived.

We only Jesus we need to come to him and we reach out to him. He'll take hold of us. Forgive us of our sin. So I want to close with this thought is, or someone listening to me right now that does not have the certainty that they will go to heaven when they die. Is there someone listening to me right now that is not sure that their sin is forgiven. You can come to Jesus and be forgiven of your sin, because he died on the cross for you. This can be the day where everything changes but there might be somebody else here or wherever you are, that has fallen and you can't get up and it's no joke. Will the Lord can lift you up, but you must admit sure sin, and he will forgive you and restore you.

So really close now in prayer. I'm going to extend this invitation for you to get right with God. Let's pray father I pray for every person here every person listening or watching whatever they are.

Help them to see their need for you and help them become to you now, he would ask prayer Pastor Greg Laurie if you'd like to follow through and do as pastor Greg suggested and make a change today in your relationship with the Lord.

Pastor Greg will help you with that before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes at if you missed any part of today's presentation. You can get a replay@harvest.org we are able to make these online versions available. Thanks to our harvest partners and others who help make this outreach possible. Again, just go to harvest.org and look for the title how to never stumble or fall, or to get a permanent copy on CD. Call 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 pastor Greg were making available the book, I still believed by Jeremy Camp.

Yes, of course, most of our listeners know Jeremy for his music, but his story is riveting. It deals with his wife's his brand-new wife's terminal illness and you sometimes the Lord heal someone miraculously right before her eyes.

Yes, sometimes the healing comes in that third taken home to heaven and ultimate healing if you will, and Jeremy talks about feeling angry when he'd hear of someone else having that first kind of healing earthly here. Yes he wanted that kind of healing.

So much for his wife. You prayed for it so often what we do with those feelings when someone isn't healed and the way we want. And in the way that we pray for very hard question to answer. I've had the same emotions myself. Of course, because after the Lord called our son Christopher home. You know I would look around at people with you. Note 10 children and they're all healthy and I had two sons and one of them was taken and it made no sense to me. And there are certain questions that will be unanswered this side of heaven.

I wish I could answer that question for you, but when life is bad, God is still good. And God is still in control and God loves you so. As I've said before, when you don't understand what's happening, fall back on what you do understand. Don't trade what you do know for what you don't know what don't you know well what you don't know is why you're going to the hardship you're going through, or where your loved one is what would you do know is God's in control, God loves you. God promises ultimately to work all things together for good to those who love him and we know there's a haven't. We know there's an afterlife and that's very important because that means that if our loved one is taken from us in the dying faith.

We will see them again so that not only a part of our pastor also a part of our future and I in the case of the Jeremy and his wife Melissa did just got married did a beautiful honeymoon and there were newlyweds looking forward to life.

The cancer was gone and they felt that that it was part of their past and the cancer came back with a vengeance and and actually when she was in the hospital room. Suddenly all of the pain and pressure of that cancer, left her body and she said the Jeremy Jeremy, the Lord just healed me. So he ran out of the hospital room to grab a doctor. He was so excited and then she went right into the presence of the Lord, and he was devastated. He was on the floor in a fetal position, not understanding why God allowed this to happen.

Well, in a broad sense. Melissa was right.

She was healed, but not in the way that they were hoping the pain was lifted from her. She was taken in the presence of the Lord. But he's taken this story and these made a movie out of it and it's good to be coming up very soon and I've seen this film already. It is a powerful film. You will not want to miss it. It'll be in theaters nationwide and ultimately all around the world, but but hate we've got the book for you. And you know what, there are things in this book that Jeremy has written that didn't make it into the film, you only have so many minutes in the film.

There's a lot of details in this book that will really help your deck.

I can't think of a better way to prepare yourself to see this film then to read the book 1st so that's what we want to rush you a copy of the book written by Jeremy Camp, which is called, I still believe, oh yeah it'll bring a tear to your eye and will also bring a smile to your face.

It's a love story.

It's how people deal with tragedy and it's a book that gives hope even for people that feel they're in a hopeless situation. That's right. It is such a moving story and we want to send this resource your way to say thank you for partnering with us. We so much appreciate our harvest partners.

Those who believe in the work we're doing each day here on a new beginning, and in our nationwide evangelistic outreach is called the harvest Crusades. They make an investment each month in teaching believers and sharing the gospel with those who don't yet know Christ and would invite you to be a part of the team and to our first time, harvest partners and all those who give a one time gift today will send Jeremy Camp's book, I still believe you can either set a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or just go online and give securely@harvest.org pastor Greg you mention our need to come to Christ for forgiveness of sin than today's broadcast yeah maybe there's somebody listening who would like to do that.

They like to take that step. Maybe you could help them with that right now, I'd be delighted to listen if you would like to accept Jesus Christ into your life right now.

By that I mean if you would like your sins are forgiven and have the assurance that you will go to heaven when you die. Would you pray this prayer with me, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I think you for dying on the cross for my sin and rising again from the dead. I'm sorry for my sin, Lord, and I turn from it now and I put my faith in you to be my Savior, my Lord, my God, my friend. Thank you for loving me and calling me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen. Listen if you just pray that prayer in minutes. I want you to know on the authority of God's word that Jesus Christ has just come to take residence in your heart.

The Bible says these things we write to the believe in the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life lesson we want to send you some resources that will help you grow spiritually.

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

It'll help you get started in living your life for the Lord so can resend it to you just ask for the new believers growth packet. Our mailing address is a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click on know God when next I pastor Greg brings a powerful step-by-step study on how to follow the Lord's plans for a more successful and rewarding. Join us next time you're on a new pastor Greg Moore and Greg Laurie possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions@harvest.org