SM151129/The Grand Finale

Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners receive free email daily devotions were to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org now father were glad to be here and we look forward to hearing you now speak to us through your word so we commit this time of Bible study to you. We ask your blessing on it. In Jesus name, amen. When they never got to announces that I have a new book that is come out called the greatest stories ever told he can tell it's a very book over 800 pages. So in addition to me the book to read. You can do arm curls with it but I'm to be signing copies of this after the service here in Orange County if you'd like to get your own copy will as I said earlier, this is the final message from our God came near serious women looking at Jesus from all four Gospels, Jesus, and Quadra phonic.

If you will, and that each gospel writer brings a different perspective only followed him event by event miracle by miracle teaching by teaching through his great story. It's sort of been up flying over and I've called this series God came near, that's exactly what happened when Christ came.

One of the verses that is often quoted this time of the year is you shall call his name Emmanuel, well, which means God is with us. We wonder sometimes what is God like just look at Jesus because Jesus was God walking among us.

God became a man by man, becoming God, that's impossible.

But God literally became a man. He walked in our shoes.

He breathed our air.

He lived our life, he died our death. Indeed, God came near, in Jesus, God spelled himself in light spelled himself out in language that everyone of us can understand Jesus was God with skin on, and in this final message from this series were gonna look at three vignettes of three individuals that were impacted by Jesus after he rose again.

You may relate to one of these people were to look at Jesus and the skeptic Jesus and the failure and finally Jesus and you start first and yet of a post-resurrection appearance of Christ is Jesus and the skeptic. This is where Christ appears to the skeptical Thomas notice to that Jesus appeared to crowds of people after he rose on one occasion over 500 people saw him. I've always been impressed with the teachings of our Lord, to the great multitude, but I've also been impressed how he dealt with individuals how he met people where they were any reached out to them and love we have Jesus and Nicodemus, Jesus and the woman at the well. Jesus and Zaki is Jesus and the rich young ruler, and now Jesus and Thomas and it's a reminder that God will always reach us where we are is an interesting passage in Psalm 18 verse 26 that says of God, to the faithful.

You show yourself faithful to those with integrity. You show integrity to the pure you show yourself pure and to the creek and you show yourselves true. That's fascinating to each individual.

God makes himself known. For instance, he will always reveal himself to the true secret. So if you're not a Christian and you say to me I am a seeker of truth, I'm a seeker of God. My conclusion as you will find your way to Jesus Christ because God says those that seek me will find me see, God does not play hide and seek God is more willing to talk to you then you are willing to listen.

But if you say to me you're a seeker and you never find your way to Jesus Christ. I don't think you're really a seeker because I think if you are to find your way to the truth God will more than go out of his way to reach you. He always meets people where they are. If you come with sincerity. He will reveal himself if you play a little game with him. He will conceal himself on example is King Herod, a wicked twisted a moral man was playing games with God and wanted to meet Jesus our Lord appeared both form and did not speak a single word within to the also wicked man Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor will ultimately order the crucifixion of Christ Jesus at a great many things to him. So the point is, those who want truth will find it and they will hear it lipservice at the same before we read from John 20 so Jesus is. We crucified and he is risen again.

We've already talked about his appearance to Mary mag building there at the garden tomb, and his appearance to the two disciples on the Emmaus Road will now we find the disciples gathered together for prayer who shows up. But Jesus any breathes on them the Holy Spirit. So the next day they wanted a Thomas who wasn't there a Thomas they say you should have been at the Bible study last night. Are you why. Well, someone showed up who Jesus promises all believe that by the way, in the original Greek is implied. Anyway, he says all believe that when I could put my hand in the wound in his side and touch the wounds in his hand. Blade days later the get together again and get to is there Thomas Jesse Wells is there Jesus who shows up again, and a custom appearance just for skeptical Thomas and that brings us to our passage, John John 20 verse 8:26 days as the disciples were again inside. Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the door being shot and he stood in the midst and he said peace to you. Then he said to Thomas, reach your finger here, and look at my hands reach or he can hear and put it in my side.

Do not be unbelieving, but believing and Thomas answered and said to him, my Lord and my God is seen. Thomas is been called doubting Thomas and her mother that that's really a fair description. I think you could just as easily call him skeptical. Thomas.

He wasn't asking for anything more than what the others had seen. He wasn't asking for a special revelation. He just wanted the same proof and he got it when he gathered with other believers. And you know what we miss a lot or not in church because we gathered together for worship and prayer and study of Scripture, we get any eternal perspective. Asaph was grappling with the age-old question of why the wicked prosper. He was wondering why is it that bad things happen to good people. Why is it that good things happen to bad people, how it that the people who are wicked who thumb their nose at God can live a relatively pain-free life and seemingly get away with it. How is that the people that love the Lord lose loved ones or get cancer.

This doesn't make sense to me says Asaph than he goes on to say in Psalm 7316. When I tried to understand this, it was oppressive to me. Listen until I entered the sanctuary of God.

Then I understood their final destiny as you gather together for worship and study the work. Suddenly you get the eternal view of things.

You know sometimes we come to church with big problems. Maybe you've come here with problems today, family problems, and that's probably because you just had Thanksgiving with your family and you are stuck in a room with them. Just so you have family from some of your health problems. Others have financial problems and then there's all the problems in the world around us today so we come maybe overwhelmed with all of our challenges and difficulties and problems in those questions to church, but we leave with the same problems but we believe with the different perspective.

See if you have big problems.

My question is do you have a small God. Because if you realize how big your God is, you'll realize how small your problems are in comparison. Big problems, small God big God. Small problems when I was with God's people worshiping. Then I began to understand a separate saying, essentially, I didn't understand why things are the way they are. Until I came into God's presence to study his word with his people.

Then my questions came into a proper perspective it's so important to be regular in church.

I was more appearance with think about the impact it has on their children when they are not regular in church when they set a bad example in sequela cycle to church this week or this month or let's cycle this particular time and and that's passed on. A study was done of that revealed that if both mom and dad attend church regularly, 72% of their children will remain faithful. In attendance, listen to this only dad attends regularly 55% remain faithful.

But if only mom attends regularly 15% remain faithful and if neither mom or dad attend regularly.

Only 6% remain faithful shows the impact of a father does Annette sorry girls thank you for towing the line but look what happens when a man steps in and assumes his rightful role of leadership in the home and look what happens when he doesn't.

And I think of him. Many people I talked to some.

Often wives were often wives and husbands all safe. You know my husband. He claims to be a Christian but he doesn't want to come to church with Dawson and he says he doesn't want us to go to church me and the kids and he wants us to stay home and you know watch football games with them or whatever. What should I do know what I say may surprise you. I think you should go to church. I don't do it in a mean way of me making a nice breakfast whatever he wants.

Say honey love you were going to church now, and I will see you when we get home and then we'll have dinner lunch together make a breakfast to make a much don't start with lunch.

It's weird but anyway you know when is he sitting there watching this football game is big fat share sit not as big fat fellow, he might just think how to be in church my family. You do it's right for you and your kids right now spiritually until your lame husband comes around. Let me flip that around. If it's the wife they love you dear, but were going to church because you need to do it's right for yourself and for your children and pray for that one that needs to kinda catch up. You know when you're getting ready to take a flight in your sitting there and the growth of the routine appears the exit doors and so forth. And then they said, should we suddenly lose cabin pressure oxygen masks will come down and I've always found it interesting how those say if you're with the child first put the mask on your self then put it on the child was doesn't make sense and signal to get the oxygen to the child first know first yourself in the child what because of your blacking out will be of no use of the little one so first you need oxygen now you can properly help your little one in the same way you need to get what you need spiritually. Then you can help your children so we miss out on so much for the next time they gathered together. Thomas was there and who shows up. But Jesus, you know, Thomas doesn't need a sermon he doesn't mean really an extended conversation Jesus comes to him in a way that he can understand. And Thomas simply says my Lord and my God in his skepticism gives way to belief.

Maybe you've come here today is a skeptic you a lot of questions but I'm telling you, you can leave today as a believer, but it's not enough to just acknowledge him as God, he has to be your Lord and your God is.

Thomas said Jesus and the skeptic. No vignette number two Jesus and the failure I'm talking about Simon Peter. You remember that Peter denied the Lord three times this was after boasting in the upper room that if even the others denied him. Peter would never deny him a Jesus predicted this would happen and on his third denial. The Bible says he cursed and swore. That doesn't mean that Peter use profanity. It's a word that speaks of taking an oath effectively in his third denial Simon Peter said I swear to God I never knew Jesus Christ at that moment the Bible tells us he made eye contact with the Lord.

Can you imagine that how you would feel if you just denied that you knew Jesus, and you saw Jesus and the Bible says Peter went out and wept bitterly to know Jesus is risen again from the dead and the message goes out and the messages go tell the disciples and who Bible students, tell the disciples and that's Ryan and Peter not go tell the disciples and Thomas or go tell the disciples and Matthew go tell the disciples and John notes go tell the disciples and Peter. Why was Peter singled out encouraging because he was down and he had failed he do it know there was an encounter between our Lord and Peter that is not recorded in Scripture.

But we know it happened because were told over and Luke 24, 34, the Lord was risen and appeared to Simon Peter. It was there that we assume Jesus extended forgiveness to be so. I think Simon Peter understood that he was forgiven by God, but I don't think he thought he would ever be used by God again. He probably thought I'm no longer going to be a leader.

I won't be his spokesman. I won't do anything for him. So we went back to what he knew best fishing for the good by trade, so I just said to the other guys hey guys, I'm going fishing. They said it will go with you if you ever wish you could just do that thing a little sign in your office door gone fishing his getaway disconnect. Peter didn't know what to do next. So is Dr. Bob and around the Sea of Galilee and it's early morning and he hasn't caught a single fish. He shares a voice calling from the shore up boys did you catch anything that's kind of an interesting phrase boys at the word that is used not gentlemen, but boy, it's almost like a father speaking to his sons and Peter my fantasy: voice, full-grown adult male boys. The voices did you catch anything they wanted to throw the net on the other side of the boat and you'll catch many fish and Peter thinking where I heard this before, so they throw the net on the other side and pull in so many fish. The net is breaking John.

Usually, the spiritually perceptive one says it's the Lord. So they make their way now into the shore and there there looking at Jesus, who is prepared breakfast for them. They realize all this time it was Christ calling out to them and that brings us to John 21 go over there now. If you would John 21.

Let's read about what happened verse 12.coming up some breakfast, Jesus said, no, there's the disciples dared ask him who are you, they knew it was the Lord and Jesus serve them the bread and the fish.

This was the third time Jesus and appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. After breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these underline that phrase if you want Jesus yes Lord Peter said you know I love you then feed my lambs. Jesus told Jesus repeated the question. Simon son of John. You love me, you know that I love you replied Peter.

Jesus said all right then, take care of my sheep 1/3 time he has some Simon son of John, do you love me Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question of third time Lord you know everything you know I love you. Jesus said then feed my sheep breakfast with Jesus. How cool is that man. I would love to get up in the morning and have the Lord cook me breakfast. You know my favorite meal of the day is breakfast. Second only to lunch and dinner and I don't understand people that don't want breakfast because I wake up hungry, how many are with me, you wake up hungry. My wife, she's not hungry in the morning. I'll say you want to get some regular, so I'm not hungry. Sometimes he forgets to eat lunch. How do you forget to eat lunch. This is even a remote possibility for me, but they have breakfast prepared by Christ himself and noticed before this, though the Jesus poses the question to them. He says verse five. Do you have any food. Did you catch anything you know God likes to ask questions. Remember, in the garden of Eden after Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit Lord God comes to them in the cool of the day walking in the garden, asking the question, Adam, where are you, and then he asked the question have you eaten of the tree I commanded you not to eat that they got us a question because he was ignorant of what it happened that got us a question because he did not know where Adam was, of course not godly.

Where Adam was coming. That's like me playing hide and seek with my grandkids. I can always find them because they usually go to the hiding place. I showed to them and they go back to the same hiding place.

Even after I found them there, so it's hard. God knew exactly where Adam was. He wasn't asking the question to know the location of Adam.

He was asking the question to elicit a confession from Adam. He wanted out and disable Lord I'm hiding because I sinned against you and it didn't do very well. He said what's a woman you gave me. Hey, it's not my fault I take a nap.

I wake up and she's here in a rib is missing. You know he pass the buck God was asking a question to get a confession he saying the same thing right here to his disciples, while boys are the fish biting.

Have you been successful. Are you satisfied are you pleased with the course. Your life is taking.

Are you willing to admit your failure.

Let me ask you, how's it going for you right now. Are you pleased with your spiritual life. Are you walking with the Lord in the way that you feel you ought to be.

There are things going the way you hope they would go or are you failing and if you are feeling. You can say to God, I need your help.

So when they come with the net full of fish and peters dripping wet and he takes a seat by a fire that Jesus had built and is looking at the fish that were there and brought other fish to cook in the bread and he probably didn't want to make eye contact with Jesus and others awkward moment to look at someone and that and then they look at you and you look away is probably one of those things is looking Jesus, look, you look away so they sat there in an awkward silence. Peter may have been having a flashback to quality what was the last time I saw Jesus in the glow of the fire. All right, I remember when I denied him for the third time and now Jesus breaks the silence with this question Simon son of Jonah, do you love me more than these. Notice Jesus does not say Peter, but instead he says Simon Jesus would use his name is interchangeably depending on how he was behaving when he was living in behaving as he should. Jesus: Peter and when he was misbehaving. Jesus called him Simon. She is given name was Peter. He was born as Simon, but Jesus gave him a name.

Even a title Simon which mere Peter which means rock. It sort of like when you're in trouble in your parents use your full name, you know, you know you're in trouble. I like when I was a kid I would get in trouble in my mom would say Gregory idiot Lori. That's my middle. And by the way, I been ashamed about for years, but I made that up. But anyway, my middle name is actually Mitchell like, who cares, but when your full name is used. You know all I'm in trouble. So Jesus says Simon not Peter Simon. Do you still love me notice no more than these more than these he only asked that once every Peter and said, though all deny you. I will never deny you okay Peter you still love me more than any of the others, Peter says, oh Lord, you, you know that I love you and he would not cite not say he loved him more than the Simon, are you still boastful and proud.

Have you learned anything that you learned a lot you been deflated and humbled. He had passed. Now the test, the Christ. But before them. And Jesus says, feed my sheep see this meeting with Peter was his recommissioning had already been forgiven. Now Jesus is say no I go out there and feed my C feed my lambs to the work. I called you to do. Here's a take away truth for each of us. God can still use us even when we fail.

The main thing is learn something from your mistake mistake I like to call it failing forward because many times we will fail.

But we won't learn anything from the failure so I think if we can learn from our mistakes, we can, in effect, fail forward, but we don't learn from our mistakes and were just a fool. Peter learns and he was recommissioned now that brings us to our final vignette Jesus and you. That's right, and use it well. I don't see my name written in the story overture here because what Jesus says now is not only directed to his disciples 2000 years ago.

It's directed to you and me as well.

So here's the scene. Jesus is of course risen. He's preparing to ascend to heaven so he takes his disciples to a high mountain, probably to give them a big picture perspective, and now to them.

He gives his final charge always been interested in the last words of people.

Sometimes those words are given on their deathbed. Sometimes those words are given and the people don't even realize they are giving her last words here are Lord is giving his last words before he ascends to glory. So we need to turn over to Matthew 28 turn over there with me if you would Matthew 28 McGinnis started in verse 16 Marie, just kidding. Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you alone I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Amen. Very familiar words, there often called the great commission. But for many, they are instead the great omission why is it that we don't share our faith with others, or maybe a couple of reasons I could cite.

I'm sure they're more what is a fear of failure were afraid that if we tell someone about Jesus. They may laugh in our phase.

They may make fun of us. They may walk away hand some cases they can even physically assault you.

You never know this day and age it's a fear of failure, but sometimes I suggest you one of the reasons we don't share our faith is a fear of success after success and by the enemy. What if that person wants to accept Jesus in their life. What oh I do now. And so we don't respond to this command of the Lord into things I want to bring to your attention about this great commission number one in the Greek it's a command that's what we don't call it the great suggestion.

The Lord is commanding us to go into all the world and to preach the gospel.

Another thing I'm out is in the original language it's implied that these words are given to every follower of Jesus, not just to the original 12 not merely to the professionals.

Preachers, pastors, missionaries of these words to make disciples are given to every follower and disciple of Jesus that means you if you are his disciple, your commanded to go and make disciples of others.

And if you're not making disciples of others. You are not being the disciple he wants you to be.

Let me repeat that if you are his disciple, then you are commanded by Jesus to go and make disciples of others and if you are not making disciples of others. You are not being the disciple he wants you to be. So here's my question to you. Are you doing your part to fulfill the great commission. I know some of your thing about Greg Greg Greg, the evangelist is telling us to evangelize what else is new.

Hey now, Ken called to be an evangelist would listen were all called to evangelize. Nobody gets off the hook here. We should all be doing our part because these are the words of Jesus and understand when he gave them he saved them for the end of his earthly ministry.

These are his final words before he ascended to heaven therein big deal to him and they should be to us. I was interviewed by website the other day called the blaze and they asked me the question of why am I ramping up my ministry instead of considering retirement as many people my age often do first was a really okay I get it. It's true.

I mean, okay, I'm 40 and +22 years, but I'm not. I'm not scaling back and I'm not cutting back.

Yes, I am ramping up because I'm trying to do what I can do while I can do it why well listen. I actually believe the stuff I preach. Okay, I believe it and I believe that the gospel is the only answer for our country and I believe a spiritual awakening is the only answer I believe life is short. I believe eternity is closing. Yes, folks, I believe that Jesus Christ is coming back again so I want to do what I can.

While I Besides I don't like the golf so what am I going to do you know I got a job to do and by the way, I love my job I love to preach. I love to teach and I love to share the gospel with people, listen were called to go to bring this message and their opportunities were never we go. I mean, this is why Jesus came to the earth in the first place.

I want to become so we can assault one another on Black Friday and what is with I saw a video to see other day of of people in some store and remember which one it was, but dump and so there was this lady and she had some box of something in her little child could have been more than three had little boxes like it there. Walking along and some other woman lunges forward grabs the box out of the child's hands first and then the other one to make it in the big fight. Your punches are being thrown and I'm thinking it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. What is this why was Jesus born so we can go shopping.

Why was he born so we can say let it snow no listen. He was born to die, that we might live. God came near to us that we might come near to him.

As CS Lewis once said, the son of God became a man, so men might become sons of God.

So were called to go out and share this message and listen look in verse 20 to make disciples. What is that mean teaching them to observe all things that I've commanded you.

The great commission is to fold it preaching the gospel and it's making disciples what is that mean for me to the best of your ability. Share your faith try to lead people to Jesus, and if they believe in him take them under your wing, get them on their feet spiritually help them integrate into the church and go out and do it again and again and again and again. Have you done that. If you don't want to be done it twice. Having done it 100 times. Keep doing it, but some of us have never even done it. We way over complicate this thing we call evangelism. Jesus said, lift up your eyes and look the fields are white on the harvest opportunities are everywhere, as in a restaurant a few weeks ago with some of our pastors we get lunch on Wednesday and this one waitress servers help this many times in so working to bantering back and forth become a joke with her a little and this time she said I want to talk to you guys about something serious said okay what is it she said I want to know when your church services are set okay with her. 810 and 12 on Sundays. What you asked why would he come to church fantastic will hold a seat for you, and were glad you're going guy I need to really get right with God, and I want to do it this Sunday and I said no, you're not going to do it on Sunday.

She looked at me like what I I said you're going to do it right here right now so let's do it.

She said here. I said right here.

Good news is I know the owner of the restaurant. He's a Christian to recovered there so I thought, there's no harm no foul here to pray right now you ready. She said yes and I littering a prayer that she has Christ to come in her life right there on the spot. Listen, I'm telling you, there are opportunities like that were ever you go. Just sort of lift your eyes up and look and ask the Lord to lead you, so you see, making disciples is helping people come to faith. And this is coming back to an earlier point where I said sometimes were afraid of access and success like let's say you pray with that person than the accept Jesus you like all now there my responsibility yeah actually they are what why do you need help. First of all, invite them to church. Now you need to invite them to join you, perhaps, or introduce them to some other Christian friends need to make them a part of your life like you know if I want a new believer in my life. Why, well you know we have a lot of liberties as Christians in. We like to do a lot of things that will maybe would stumble a new believer all really.

Hey, maybe you shouldn't be doing that stuff when you should be living in a way that whatever you did, would be fine if it was observed by a new believer because discipling isn't just preaching to a person. It's modeling for a person what a Christian looks like see this is how Christians live. This is how Christians drive. Oh, this is this is all Christians are in the real world they need that example that's were called to do one final movement in this message.

Jesus is preparing to ascend to the father. I want to go to one other passage. Can you handle that your fingers tired okay go to acts chapter 1 acts chapter 1 the route of the Gospels. Now that were in the book of acts.

This actually is connected to the event we just read about its commentary on it in the book of acts acts chapter 1 verse seven down to verse 10.

So here are the disciples guide with the Jeep gathered with Jesus on the mountain.

They asked him a question. Lord we would this time restore the kingdom to Israel. He said to them, it's not for you to know the times or seasons with the father as part of my authority are in his authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the year when he had spoken these things, while they watch. He was taken up in a cloud received him out of their sight.

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, he went up to behold, two men by them in white apparel said men of Galilee, what Houston GZ up into heaven. This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven.

I love that this is the ascension of Christ, notice or question verse six will you restore the kingdom to Israel to these guys still didn't get to their original understanding of the role of the Messiah was, he would come and establish his kingdom. Then and there, there, Casey would drive the Romans out of Israel and they would rule and reign with him.

But Jesus did not follow their game plan Jesus instead of going to a throne of gold went to across avoid and instead of a crown of gold. He wore a crown of thorns and he died in their minds. He failed. But then when they saw him risen again all now we get it. You're alive again. Okay, now we go to establish the kingdom. Jesus is a no that was never plenty that comes later when heaven comes to earth was always my plan to die for the sin of the world I live Jesus says to them. He says it's not for you to know the times of the seasons with the father is put in his own authority. The answer he gives to them 2000 years and years ago is relevant to us, we sometimes ask when is Jesus coming back one is Christ returning again and Jesus gives effectively the same answer of this paraphrase would be don't be so concerned about when rather be concerned about what you're supposed to be doing to their some people that love to study Bible prophecy. I enjoy. But if it does not impact you in the way that you live, you're missing the point in studying the Scriptures tell us that Christ is returning soon. Does not cause you to want to live up to live a more godly life than you're missing it it doesn't cause you don't want to share your faith with more people. You're not getting it. So, our focus should not be on merely the facts of Bible prophecy. It should impact us in the way that we live so he gave them power to go into all the world and these disciples empowered by the spirit left the world a different place. It was said of them. They turn the world upside down. Maybe relate to one of the people in this message.

If you come here today like a Thomas filled with questions and skepticism listen.

Jesus can turn skeptics into believers.

He can turn doubters into followers. You may not understand everything about God, but like Thomas, you can say my Lord and my God it's not just enough to say he's God and he's Lord.

He must be your Lord and your God or maybe relate a little bit tool Simon Peter failed the Lord you even denied your faith and you wonder is there forgiveness for me answer absolutely, if you will admit your sin and say to God you're sorry and turn from it. God will forgive you and give you a second chance in life just like you gave to Thomas. Just like he gave to Peter give it to you as well, Morgan appraisal phenomena give you an opportunity to get right with God and to come into this relationship with Jesus Christ. Maybe you're like that server and that restaurant I mentioned in your just waiting for someone to show you how to do it.

I want to do that for you right now and you can pray and ask Jesus to come into your life and be a different person when you leave then you were when you came in. He stands at the door of your life in the knots and he says if you hear his voice and open the door he will come in you would like him to come into your life. Respond to this invitation. Right now is we all bow our heads for prayer.

Let's all pray together. Father, thank you for sending Jesus Lord Jesus, thank you for coming. And now we pray for every person here every person watching and listening. That does not yet know you let this be the day they change their eternal address from hell to heaven from hopelessness to hope, from meaninglessness to purpose from the devil to Jesus, help them to come to you now. We pray that one has about in our eyes are closed and were praying. How many of you would say today Craig pray for me. I want Jesus Christ in my life.

I want him to forgive me of my sin. I want to go to heaven when I die, I want my guilt taken away. I'm ready to say yes to Jesus that your desire. If you want Christ to come of your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to go to heaven when you die, would you lift your hand up right now or ever, you're sitting all pray for you just lift your hand apart. I can see accomplishing your hand up review our publishing. God bless you. Anybody else raise your hand up right now. God bless you some of your watching on the screen. I can't see you, but the Lord sees you.

Would you take a little step of faith and raise your hand as well saying I want Jesus wherever you are is raise your hand approved for you. God bless you. Anybody else given lifted her hand yet lifted.

Now let me pray for you publish a bless you anybody else raise your hand. Now let me pray for you.

You want Jesus Christ in your life. What I have just about maybe some of you would say no. I'm a lot like Simon. I know it's right that I've fallen away have been doing things I noise should not be doing as a Christian and I'm ready to turn from that and get right with God today. I need to make a recommitment. If you need to come back to Jesus Christ. Would you lift your hand up wherever your city and let me pray for you. You need to come back to him again, bless you publish anybody else raise your hand if you need to return the Lord your prodigal son or daughter raise your hand approved for your accomplish you that a razor can like you to stand your feet, lead you in a prayer to stand your feet your razor can. Even if you did not razor him what you want to make this commitment a recommitment to Jesus just stand up wherever you are standup.

That's right, you heard me right. Stand your feet.

Pray together.

You're not the only one standing by the way, others are standing out to stand up publish you even if you did not razor him what you want to make this commitment a recommitment to Jesus stand your feet to pray together publish the body else stand up now you guys watching the screen.

Stand your feet as well. Right where you are get up and will get a pray. So you can make this commitment to follow Jesus stand up anybody else. Wherever you are standup away one more moment might be a few more of you to stand up will pray together publish anybody else right you that are standing.

I want you to pray this prayer out loud after me again as I pray pray this prayer out loud after me right you stand pray this now, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you are the Savior. I'm sorry for my sin.

I turn from it now. I choose to follow you, Jesus.

From this moment forward, the Savior and Lord his God and friend.

Thank you for calling me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen, bless you. That's good. Pray the prayer of us to go arising well, that wraps up the God came their series and I want to add a PS Jesus said in acts 18 you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria the end of the your power.

Power to be a witness power to speak up and be counted.

Power to turn your world upside down. That power was poured on the early church and they were transformed and we say will is that still friends today absolutely because I'm to be a Pentecost.

Peter said this promise. Speaking of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is under you and on your children and even those who are afar off, affect as many as the Lord our God will call.

That means that this promise of the empowering of the spirit is still available to every believer, even now, so let me ask you this. You need greater boldness in your witness for Christ. Are you often afflicted with a severe case of chicken -itis when it comes to talking about Jesus you feel like you're lacking something in your spiritual life figures are you stricken with fear at the thought of telling others about Christ, then you need the power of see what would I have to do. The answer is so simple, it will blow your mind. You need to ask for.

Jesus said if you being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father listen give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him to my grandkids know if they want something they just really need ask and they may get some great stuff because I'm a grandparent. Missy is my privilege to indulge and spoil them so they might say that I have a toy and it's not the birth this Christmas and I might just say let's go get a toy and all you have to do with your father is asking because your father loves to give and your father wants to give to you the power of the spirit, so we don't need to lower the lights and we don't need to sing for two hours. We need to just ask for and receive it and let it empower us and that's over going to close this service. In fact, I'm going to lead you in a prayer not unlike the prayer I lead folks in.

When there accepting Christ in him and asked if you'd like to to pray this prayer out loud after me. This is a prayer where you will be asking Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Some of you might already pray the prayer okay good news. God gives refills. He gives refills so you may need a refill that most Bible says we filled with the Holy Spirit speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and that phrase could be translated constantly be filled with the spirit you don't fill your car up with gas. One time, especially if it's a Tesla. You never do. But you just plug that in, but you have to go get refills for your car again and again we need refills on life.

So let's close in prayer and let's ask for this power. Okay, it's all pray just pray this out loud after me, Lord Jesus, you cold call me to go into all the world you've called me to preach the gospel and to make disciples, but I need help I need your power. I need your boldness so fill me with the Holy Spirit give me all the power I need to share my faith open up a door of opportunity before the day is done. I receive that power in my life in Jesus name I pray the Lord you've heard our prayer you told us that you give the Holy Spirit to those that ask so we've asked Lord and we received now and we expect to see the impact of this very soon. So use us Lord to fulfill the great commission. As you charged us.

Thank you for this power we receive it from you now in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Of the Shiites