How to Never Stumble or Fall: A Helping Hand

We are glad you're joining us for a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast supported by harvest partners get more encouraging audio content. When you subscribe to pastor Greg daily defenses. Learn more and sign up@harvest.org: would you go wondering him regularly goodwill answer is not in your own strength you need help before we fall. We don't think we will have to remove all we don't think we pastor Greg Laurie has good encouragement. Jesus is my actual toy Hall of Fame with it.

Of course you could draw a picture of one you must turn it upside down to shake and start over. Greg Laurie says no matter how your life is not offer you the chance to turn your life right side up and start over. Case in point today from the Gospel of John.

Luke 22 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 the 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 will strengthen your brothers. Peter said Lord I'm ready to go to prison with you and even the die with you, Jesus said, let me tell you something before the rooster crows tomorrow morning you will denied three times that you even knew me look at Luke 22 verse 39 coming out. He went to the Mount of olives as he was a custom in this disciples followed him to the place and he said to them, pray that you enter not into temptation of this place been referred to by Luke as the garden of Gethsemane because he was withdrawn from them about a stone so he knelt down and prayed saying father if it is your will take this cup away from me.

Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.

When he rose from prayer he came to his disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow and he said why did you sleep rise and pray, 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 his sword. It slices off the ear of Malka's Jesus is like a phase you know.

Yes, the picnic gear up, he puts it back in the guy in the heels so the last earthly miracle of Jesus was covering the blunder of a disciple. So coming back to our story know we shipped over to John 18 I'm reading from the new living translation starting in verse 50 Simon Peter followed Jesus as did another of the disciples that would be the apostle John, the writer of this gospel. The other disciple was acquainted with the 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 at the gate to let Peter in the woman as Peter, one of that man's disciples, are you know is that 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 first the Nile you're not one of that man's disciples, are you he said no I am not well he just didn't know you would've thought to be with us at old I just I did the thing I said I would never do I get to get out of here. No one was holding him here. He could have escaped if he wanted to but he did not do it. That leads me to his his next step down verse 25 as he was standing by the fire warming himself. He asked him again, you're not one of his disciples are usually denied and say no I'm not one of the household slaves of a high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off as did Nye see you in the olive grove with Jesus. Your sin will find you out. Oh yeah, right. You were there. That brings us to the third denial and here's something you may have missed between the second and third denial. There was a one hour interval. That's a long time. That's plenty of time to get out of there, but he stayed there.

He's he's compromise now is not thinking rationally and finally someone says 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, though he was one ABC took a no. He took an oath and swore to God he did know Jesus.

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

Oh hi Jesus literally right there will Jesus and the Bible says Jesus looked at him one week of expression that once you know we'll have looks we get) sweep of these looks down to directing up Johnny, look at me. All that means is stop. Stop it now, or so it says something ridiculous. We roll our eyes. Let's look are we looking at someone with anger because they cut us off on the freeway wherever looks. What kind of look did Jesus give to Peter was that I told you so look did he roll his eyes like a loser honey did I choose you. I don't think it was that 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 look through Peter never had anyone look to you. I'll restate the question. Do you have a mother you're only becoming where have you been nowhere mom look at me, look at you 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 for Greg Moore will have the second half of this message in just a moment. Sometimes, we can always make it pictured here is his church is coming to you is coming due on your TV screen or on your tablet or your computer or even your phone. We do it every weekend and it's called harvest home. We worship we have a message of the word of God. If you want to find out more, just go to harvest.org enjoy this this weekend for harvest at all. Just a word of thanks to those who support this daily study, especially our harvest partners. Your generosity allowed us to present this message today. Pastor Greg is examining the denial of Simon Peter today.

Contrast Judas Iscariot, and Simon Peter Judas going back to the garden of Gethsemane was given one last chance to repent when they came to arrest Jesus. Jesus said to Judas friend, why have you come Jesus was giving Judas up one last chance will curse you. This went on he betrayed the Lord and he hung himself.

So two men came short two men sinned against the Lord.

One went out into the zone life. One went out of web bitterly one left and never return. One came back again and was restored. That was Peter because three days later, Jesus rises again.

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

I think she's an actor. Okay senior lines not convincingly in my opinion, but I've fallen and I can't get R, but some if you've ever fallen. You know what it's like I was playing racquetball a while ago and I went for some shot and I lost my footing when in the air and landed on my back.

It was so loud. A guy upstairs on the treadmill 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. "The answer is not in your own strength.

You need a helping hand if you're flooding your back summonses.

Let me help you get back up again grabbed my hand and you pull them up right so maybe you think I've fallen and I tried to make this better and it's gotten worse. I've tried to overcome this addiction and it's become a worse addiction. I've tried to fix this, it's gotten worse. Okay Jesus is saying, take my hand now let me pull you up. You have to reach out to me. You want to call out to me. You have to ask me for forgiveness and I will extend this forgiveness to you. Listen, I don't know what trajectory your life is on right now but I know this God can change her story changes today yeah will my dad did this to 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. I make my choices and then my choices make me live Christ living inside of me and he will give me the power to live the life he's called me to live, you know yesterday at the baptism of I'll take a few moments with every person.

Often, when did you come to Christ. No 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 in our here today getting baptized and our kids are with this. I'm looking at that old family changed because you know here's what can happen. You know the peer to get the words and the kids are are you know caught between the two parents. They remarry and they divorced 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 people to Christ. But I didn't just baptize people who live crazy lives in baptism and little kids to and you know I was want to make sure child understands and so semi-came up to me would you baptize my son so I talked him baptize them and then they said would you baptize his little brother. I said hold the oldest evasive piece for said you know that's kind of young and you know it's not a bad thing to wait till later to baptize a little one so they understand what they're doing, you know, because it says repent and be baptized. What is a four-year-old repent of, you know I've had on a timeout slightly whatever it is, so I civil will let me talk to you little kid's name is Graham.

So I sat down on the beach with them. I said so Graham you want to be baptized.

It easy casts.

I said no only who Jesus is. He says Jesus is God and God is Jesus isolate the sprig.

Then Graham says, and then there's the Holy Spirit who, while so we talked a little bit more and I talking the way I see it as this little child wants to get closer to God, knowing as much as he knows in his little four-year-old boy whom I do say no to him so I took him out night baptized him and it was such a great moment and it reminded me of a young lady that came to me. I was at our church a Maui last Sunday a young lady came and said I came to Christ at one of your crusades when I was four years old. I said you came to Christ, the 14th is yeah I said I don't get mad at me holding you now. She looked like she was 21 she says I'm 30 and I been walking with the Lord.

All these years, so someone can come to Christ 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 know. Forgive us of our sin. So I want to close with this thought is, or someone listening to me right now. It 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 wherever they are.

Help them to see their need for you and help them become to you now, we would ask from Pastor Greg Laurie and if you'd like to follow through and do his 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 and if you missed any part of today's presentation.

You can get a replay@harvest.org were able to make these online versions available. Thanks to our harvest partners and others who helped to make this outreach possible.

Again, just go to harvest.org and look for the title how to never stumble or fall.

Pastor Greg Rick said to make available your new book is called Revelation, a book of promises. Now many Bible students know Revelation promises a blessing to those who read here and keep the words of this book. That's right so it seems. Even the Bible acknowledges that revelation is no ordinary Bible study.

That's right, it stands out from every other book of the Bible.

Of course it's the final book at the end of your Bible and the word Revelation means unveiling because it's not God's desire to conceal but to reveal in Bible prophecy is not given to scare us but to prepare us and there is a special blessing attached to this book.

In particular, and it's in the first chapter of Revelation, and that promise is blessed is the person that reads, hears and keeps the words of this book.

So they've it's interesting because that phrase read means to read out loud so there's a blessing on you if you will simply read this book but then it says you must hear it you know Jesus will often say he that has ears to hear, let them hear our amount a vernacular would be. Listen up.

Pay attention so I have to read it. I have to hear it and then finally I need to keep it.

Meaning I need to take these Jews in this book and apply them in their own life. What we study Bible prophecy is not just to know more about the future but it's for us to know how we should live in the present and we have a book, a commentary if you will, on the book of Revelation.

Here's what I've had a lot of people say to me for the first time I understood how this book applied to me. I think this is very understandable, but a very relevant book, especially for the times in which we are living simply titled Revelation, subtitled a book of promises so order your copy of this book.

Revelation a book of promises yet it's writing will rush a copy back to you to thank you for your investment in these daily teaching opportunities. It's only through listener support that we can continue to come your way. So get in touch today for Pastor Greg's new book Revelation, a book of promises by the way, where including a custom bookmark along with the book it shows the timeline of God's end times events graphically. It helps you see the order of events very clearly. It comes automatically with the book, so send your donation today to a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 24 hours a day at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg, you mentioned our need to come to Christ for forgiveness of sin in today's broadcast. Yes, maybe there someone who would like to do that right now like to take that step. Maybe you could help them with that, 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 sin 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. Listen we want to send you some resources that will help you grow spiritually.

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

It'll help you get started. Living your life for the Lord. So can we send 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 anytime 24 seven 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 returns to his high opening series book of Revelation will consider a special group of people and scriptures who preach the gospel right in the midst of the great tribulation.

That's next on join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible teacher Greg Moore new beginning as a podcast, made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God if this shell has impacted your life. Share your story leverage you on your favorite podcast and help others find help