Angels and Demons, Part 2

Harvest podcasts featuring Pastor Greg Laurie are brought to you by harvest partners to receive Pastor Greg's free online daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org. Let's pray together.

Now, Lord, we come to hear your word. We come to offer our attention with intention, we come with ears to hear and eyes to see what your word says about the world were living and not just the world we see, but the unseen world as well. The invisible world. We want to know more about all that you're doing in our lives, so we ask you to speak to us as we open Scripture now in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

You can be seated. He turn in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 3 Genesis chapter 3 in the title of our messages. Angels and Demons part two excuse me this is a part of our series that we have been exploring together that were calling essentials what every Christian needs to know we been talking a little bit about this invisible world.

This supernatural world this world filled with these mysterious creatures that the Bible calls angels that surround the believer in any given moment. Some of these angels are holy about the majority of them are but some of them are unholy. We certainly find angels in both the old and New Testament. In fact, there are indirectly or directly 300 references the angels in Genesis to Revelation. In our lifetime. Together, we discovered a few things about the Angels number one, we discovered that there are many many angels about Daniel 710 tells us basically that there are 100 million angels. But I just want to count of how many key saws so maybe there's even more than that number two there are not only a lot of angels, but their ranks are well organized, is not unlike the military where you have various rankings. It's so in the angelic world as well.

Not only among the holy angels but also among the fallen ones back first Peter 322 tells us that Christ is going to be heaven and on his right hand there are angels, authorities empower. There are three rankings right there, angels, authorities and powers number three we found that two of the Angels at least are identified by name, that would be the super angel. The magic Angel the man himself, Michael the Archangel, who is quite a unique role throughout history, also be active in the end time events and then there's Gabriel who is given the unique privilege of announcing the birth of the Messiah to both Joseph and Mary now one of the angels come to do that brings us to excuse me. Point number four losing my voice hello Jim better carryout point number four. The Angels sometimes reveal the purposes of God to us again. The Angels sometimes reveal the purposes of God to us. You remember that were three angels that were dispatched to tell Abraham about the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah in Angel was dispatched to Zechariah to tell them he would be the father of John the Baptist, so I would suggest to you, you may have been spoken to before buying Angel, but you probably didn't know it because here's another thing about angels there, God's secret agents. They operate under cover there involved in what we would call special ops right you see there dispatched to a given place to do a certain task, not unlike the Navy SEALs or the Army Rangers or the Green Berets or the Delta force special forces that are called to accomplish something you don't know when they went in.

You don't know when they left. You don't necessarily know what they did exactly you just know the job was done. That's how angels work. They operate under cover doing the work of God. So sometimes the revealing the purposes of God. Also, angels help us to come to salvation and occasionally will guide us in Angel played a role in the conversion of Cornelius and there may have been times when an angel is actually spoken to you to go do a certain thing but you didn't necessarily know it was an angel case, employing an angel told Philip to go out to the desert. Maybe an angel is spoken to you as well. Number 60 angels protect us some 34 verse seven says the angel of the Lord guards all who fear him, and he rescues that. So when you been on those have those close calls on life and you wonder how you got through it.

No doubt it was your angel doing the work that God had called him to do, but what about when an accident happens. What about when a Christian dies is that meal that mean that some out. The angel failed in his mission. The answer is no, God is the one that determines the date of our death and the date of our birth and in the same way the Angels job is to protect us until our time of departure comes and then the Angels role changes and they are there to escort us to have you remember that after Lazarus died in the story of Lazarus and the rich man.

The Bible says he was carried by angels to Abraham's bosom. So there is an angelic escort waiting for you when your time to go to heaven, so were talking about angels, but the title of the messages Angels and Demons so worded Demons come from short answer.

Demons are fallen angels, again demons are fallen Angels as hard as it is for us to believe there was a rebellion in the angelic world, with many of the Angels turning against God and becoming evil over into chapter 6 we read that the Angels did not keep their own position, but love their proper dwelling.

They rebelled against God, and that rebellion was led by another high-ranking angel by the name of Lucifer.

More on him in a moment, but Lucifer is the one that led the rebellion of one third of the angels against God, and there are multiple references to this in the Bible we read of Beelzebub and his demons. In Matthew 1224 read. We read of the devil and his angels. In Matthew 1241 we read of the Dragon and his angels.

In Revelation 12, seven, and of course Jesus said colors created for the devil and his angels so what is the objective of a demon.

What is it demon come to do. The objective of demon seems to be twofold. Number one, they are here to excuse me gender the purposes of God and extend the power of Satan. Again, they think they hinder the purposes of God and extend the power of Satan understand when we say all I was tempted by the devil the other day, chances are it wasn't the devil himself login in the Lismore my message next Sunday when I deal with the topic. What the devil doesn't want to than the so you don't want to miss that message. Now do you bubble point out of the message that the devil is not God's equal meaning that the devil though is a powerful spirit being is nowhere near being the equal of God, which means he can only be in one place at one time while God is omnipresent he can be everywhere at once. Lucifer, Satan the devil can only be in one place at one time.

Therefore, when you and I have been tempted. How many of you been tempted great. Yeah okay when you are tempted role in the same boat here. That was probably one of his demon. One of his minions doing his dirty work for them and their objective again is to extend his kingdom and try to hinder God's kingdom. The apostle Paul talked about the fact that he wanted to go to a certain place in first Thessalonians 218 but Satan stopped us all also spoke in second Corinthians 12 about an affliction he had described as a thorn in the last and then he went on to say it was a messenger of Satan said to buffet him. So demons are there to oppose us as we seek to do the work of God.

But the question obviously arises will why is it devil. Why is it devil to begin with, and if there is a devil. We come they will come often to think of them as sort of a caricature like a cartoon figure you know Redskin pointed ears little horns tips for clothes appointed tail and so forth. And they always have the devil wearing a goatee which I personally resent you know I wife what's with the goatee, but this is the image we have of the devil and and because we don't always take him seriously. We might dismiss him as a mere metaphor. For instance, if you're really sick, you might say all manner, the devil of a cold. You know or if you're going with abandon toward something you might say hey I have a devil may care attitude or to heat your work. One might describe it as having a devil of a job you want to bless someone you say give him the devil, or if you've done something wrong moment you have been devil to pay when you want to disagree with someone, you will say only for a moment to play the devils advocate you're talking about someone who is in there and they suddenly walk in the room you say speak of the devil which is the great thing to have said, when you walk into a room.

Because of this caricature I character I this caricature of him. We contended dismiss him, but we have to be careful to understand that the Bible identifies a real powerful spirit being known as Lucifer that is alive and well and is active in the world that we are living in CS Lewis gave this insightful statement about the devil and his demons, and I quote there are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devil in demons. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe in the field and excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves.

Lewis says are equally pleased by both errors in hail a materialist or a magician with the same the lie" that so well said, you know.

Either we disbelieve and by the way, the devil is fine if you want to believe in him because he's good with that. He thinking here. This is great. All manipulate your life and you don't even think I'm there. That's a good deal for me or you can have an un-healthy interest in him and the demon dollars and there are some people that see demons behind every rock and everything's about the devil all the time. That's an unhealthy thing as well. We need a balance goal view of who Satan is, because frankly, he loves the attention the devil is the ultimate ego testable tell you why that is true in a moment, but we asked the question, where did the devil come from a what are his tactics.

What are his strengths what are his weaknesses. What can he do what can she do let's answer some of those that start with number one, where the devil come from residents often phrase how can a God of love create someone as horrible as the devil in the very question itself is accusation.

Then, what's up with God treating someone as evil as Satan. Why would God do such a thing. Obviously, implying it was a bad decision on the part of God will let's clarify the issue. God did not create the devil. Now the Lord created a spirit being known as Lucifer, the son of the morning, a powerful angel Lucifer rebelled against God because he, like the other angels, like all of humanity was given a free will he exercise that will in the wrong direction. Any rebelled against God.

So Lucifer became Satan when he rebelled against God. So the devil was not created by God, the devil became what he is by his own volition, but God certainly allowed it. When did this happen we don't know for sure but in Genesis chapter 1 and verse 31 we read God saw everything that he made and behold it was good.

By the time you get to Genesis 3 there's a side serpent attempt he needs so it must've happened between Genesis 1 and three this great angelic rebellion and it didn't start that way because Satan also known as Lucifer was once a high ranking angel Ezekiel 28 says you were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty, you were in Eden, the garden of God, and you were anointed as a guardian sheriff in Sawyer again you you were on the holy mountain of God. He walked among the fiery stones. You are blameless in your ways from the day you were created, until wickedness was found in you through your widespread trade.

You were filled with violence and you said so I drove you in disgrace from the mountain of God that I expelled you a guardian cherub from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud because of your beauty and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor, so I threw you to the earth and I made a spectacle of you for King fascinating set of verses the devil was beautiful, magnificent computer seen a really beautiful girl for a really handsome guy that knows how attractive they are in everything they do. Sort of draws attention to themselves. You know that they've never met a mirror. They didn't like and there's everything it's about them. The world revolves around them. Every conversation ultimately ends up being about them. That's what Lucifer was like he was as magnificent spirit being that clearly was a wonder to behold and actually it was a dream beauty became his downfall. He allowed his perfection to be the cause of his corruption. You see, Lucifer was not satisfied with worshiping God. He himself wanted to be worship and so Satan wants a beautiful powerful angel of God lost his former exalted position in heaven. Lucifer became Satan when he yelled of the year and that's recorded in Isaiah 14 when it says how you are fallen from heaven all Lucifer, son of the morning how you are thrown down to the ground. You weaken the nations you said in your heart by Willis and they heaven all exalt my throne above the stars of God all sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north. Yet Jesus said yet. Isaiah says, rather you will be brought down to hell.

Lucifer means Star of the morning, which he once was. Satan means accuser, which he now is Jesus. As I saw Satan fall as lightning from heaven when Satan fell. He did not follow nobody took to achieve the one third of the angels with him now. That's the bad news. The good news is two thirds of the Angels are still with us. We have more angels than he had any in any minute. No butter. Even more importantly we have the Lord Jesus Christ on our side. Okay so that's the biggest but the devil though he is fallen still has access to heaven. How do we know this because we read in the book of Job. How the Angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan was among the end God directed his remarks to the devil himself and said so were reviewed. There, and Satan said all I've just been going back and forth across the earth watching everything that's going on.

That's is so creepy is in it, just checking everything out. You know the Bible describes the devil, as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Like a hungry beast of prey is looking for his next meal. He's ready to pounce. You know you've seen those shows on television where there lion and the pride of lions. There, hanging out, you know, soaking in the raisin and along come the antelope. You know they're just kinda sizing them up and see which one of my getting it today and there's usually that antelope behind all the other general 20 people like the room to go to the go go which way do I go in the Lansing that looks like lunch to me because I don't work too hard. Eddie lunges in the speed at which they can cover ground and once they sink their claws into the prey and dry them down. You know it's over with for that animal and in the same way the devils watching he's looking he's looking for vulnerability.

He's looking for weakness. He's looking for his next prey to bring down that is his basic agenda.

Listen, the devil never takes a vacation budget, which he did want to be great if I could announce do just what I just found out the devil is taking August off every year. We can of August devil free.

You know what we would still get ourselves into trouble.

Even without the devil but know the devil doesn't take a month off. He doesn't take a week off.

He doesn't take a day off. He doesn't take an hour off. He never takes a moment is always busy with as well organized network of demon powers helping him to accomplish his purposes and what is the purpose of the devil. What things could be said, but let me sum it up this way. In the words of Jesus. He said that the speaking of Satan has come only to steal, kill and destroy.

That's is NJ he may come with some enticing temptation. He may come with something that dazzles you might even have an element of enjoyment it in the beginning but the endgame. The ultimate result is to steal, kill and destroy. Why would God allow this to happen. Why would the Lord allow Lucifer, Satan the devil to exist because he gave him a free will and he gave us a free will. The devil is described anyways in the Bible. One illustration, one picture of member is he is the Dragon Revelation 20.

He is the Dragon the old serpent devil. The devil and Satan, and it was the Dragon that took one third of the angels with him in this rebellion. Number two is identified as Beelzebub, Beelzebub, the document Jesus was casting demons out of people. The Pharisees said he did it by the power of Beelzebub the prince of the demon. The name Beelzebub meant Lord of the flies and the Jews later changed to Lord of the dunghill. So that's what Satan is the Lord the dunghill. He's also identified as a prince of this world. Jesus at the time of judgment for the world is come when the prince of this world would be cast out. And if I am lifted up from across all draw everyone to myself this is really important. The prince of this world.

Remember when Jesus was being tempted by Satan and the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time and said all this power is been delivered on the me and I can give it to whomever I want and the power of it Job you will just worship me.

I'll give it to you effectively. The enemy was saying Jesus, I know why you've come.

You come to purchase back that which was lost in the garden being in on the make you an offer you cannot refuse, to give you what you want, it's all yours if you give me the momentary satisfaction of worship. I want you to work for me this is what I've always wanted the devil is a I want to be worship course Jesus resisted that temptation, but it sums up an interesting point. All the kingdoms of the world. Notice Jesus did not refute this. The reason he did not refute it is because it was true. He is the prince of the power of the air is also identified as the God of this world so he is the one that controls so much of our culture today. Have you ever wondered why things are as dark as they are, it's because there's a mastermind behind it and it goes deeper than politics or one's political worldview were talking about a spirit power that infiltrates culture by spirit power that infiltrates government spirit power that infiltrates lives the prince of the power of the year that Sue Lucifer is in a play. What he pulled a lot of people down his little from Rose that the basis of temptations. He's got a lot of mileage out of drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll as link. I'm amazing how amazed how generation after generation takes is one hook line and sinker. I mean look at any given Fourth of July and you just see all these young kids out there doing the same stupid things that we did when we were kids, you know.

And the sad thing is they get older, their kids are probably going to do the same thing.

Hey, let's go out and smoke and drink and party and have sex and and likely the only generation that ever discovered that in on. I look at the kids doing what they're doing and I think what I used to do when I was a kid, which is pretty much the same thing and I have friends that I went to high school with that steed in that lifestyle, and I gave my life to Christ at the age of 17, when a different direction and then when I reconnect with these people and I look at them. Some of them even physically how the world is chew them up and spit them out there into the third and fourth marriages and they have substance abuse problems all kinds of other family problems because of the decisions they made and if you like seeing what was it worth it. Was it a good why did you enjoy it. You know what the endgame of the devil is to steal, kill and destroy the devil's clever is also you don't like that Luer you're not into that. They got another one for you because he also comes to us as an angel of light. John 844 Jesus said you belong to your father the devil you carry on your father's desires his rerun reference second Corinthians 1113 Paul says are false apostles. There full Jew by disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

And I'm not surprised.

For even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light missing her might be a person that will say why I'm not in the immorality. I'm not into all these other things I want to be a spiritual person I want to be a moral person I want to be an upright person I want to be a religious person doubles its relay all I've got that covered two I'm an angel of like check out my New Age mysticism.

Check out all the beliefs I can offer you, Kim.

It's really fun as I could put things together. It's like religious Mr. potato head. You know, customize our unity, but the eyes here you can put the no therapy.

One put the fire in the top of whatever you want, it's all good, all roads lead to God will believe basically the same thing, let's have somebody I'm in the spiritual things you're being misled to bullying the devil can come. He was an angel of light. Which brings us to up our last description of him. He's the father of lies. The reference already referred to John 844 Jesus said you belong to your father the devil, he's a liar and the father of lies. Listen sometimes the devil can just outright. Line a person believes it is like good other people are a little more discerning so he'll candy coaches line with enough truth to make it appealing, but enough air to make it lethal. And here's an illustration of that the text that we turn to Genesis 3, verse one here is now the fallen angel Lucifer coming to Eve as a serpent and tempting her verse one, another serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made any set of the woman has God indeed said, you shall not eat of every tree of the garden. The woman said to the server and what we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God is said, you shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.

Then the serpent said, you shall not surely die. God knows in the day you eat of it your eyes will be open and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food. It was pleasant to the eyes and a tree desirable to make one wise, he took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate in the eyes of them both were opened and they knew they were naked and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves covering right off the bat we can see where the problem is he was at the wrong place at the wrong time listening to the wrong voice. Why was she hanging around the one place God told her to avoid.

God said to not eat of the forbidden fruit. And here's the disorder. Like, you know, leaning against the tree seem like a good place to hang out.

The one place God said to stay away from like telling a little child. Whatever you do don't open that cookie jar you know what that's all going to do were the same way, so she listened to the wrong voice.

How does he come as a serpent or a snake. You know when I was a kid, I was like a snake fanatic. I love snakes. I don't know why I'm not really all that fond of many more. But when I was a young boy I collected snakes of all kinds.

I had corn snakes and gopher snakes and king snakes and bowlers.

I read books about snakes. I thought about snakes.

I talked about him as a weird kid okay and I even wanted to become a her pathologist. One day someone who studies reptiles ideas love them and and so I Get old cages stepped in cages with all these snakes in them and I would even get my mom did drive me the Wymore and that she hated the snakes she said one day she was in the house and she felt quite snakes I got. Knowledge is sort of slithering across the front room floor. She says he was editor of the glass door to open it up and let them go inside or how it might not snake or he's gone now, which he put up with that.

I have no idea why. So I dies it will you take me to buy a snake. I there's a pet shop that had what I wanted, so she drove me in our Ford Star liner that was a cool old car by someone on the road the other day perfectly restored and what a great car that was it. I hated it then, but now they're classic, you know, so we drove in the old board Star liner and we pulled up to the pet store and I got my snake and put them in my little terrarium in the trunk and we drove home and we open the trunk and the snake was God mistaken gotten out of the car. My mom said I'm never driving that car again and she had to drive in a couple weeks later she was very reluctant to free the snake was in there still, but she got in the car seat so I hope that snakes not guarantees drive along the chief comes to an intersection. She's at a red light. She's waiting for to turn and all of a sudden the cold coil drops in her ankle.

It's a snake hole no, she opens up the door of the car puts her other leg out shoves out runs into the intersection screaming snake in the car as a police officer there is a snake in the car because over the car.

He looks up there. One of the hoses came loose and fell to guess what she said I never driving the car again and she gave me the car. There's a tip to you kid you want to get a car was a snake. It will be yours. Soon, you know snakes are not affectionate animal you are you a good job. You know you stand with the dog at any given moment. Dogs are very upfront with their emotion unit on happy even look like her smiling some bunch of no tongue hanging out of the side of their mall tailwagging. You know the dogs angry you noted on said cats. I don't know you know hard to read him, but snakes are even worse snake. No expression.

You don't over think happy you know to be Saturday's mad inner his looks at you know eyebrows as high by two in the face right now I don't know if they feel any emotion. There brain is very limited. You know the cold-blooded animals they tended like warm you know it's what you'll find them sunning themselves on the stoner the wrap around the person's arm, preferably their neck if they can, because of the warmth it provides, but they are clever and they're able to get out of the tightest little spaces. Here's another little thing about snakes. It's interesting that you know that the venom of a baby rattlesnake is more portable than an adult. Seen a baby rattle or they're actually kinda cute in a weird way because everything just miniaturized you know and you look at it take little red and a little baby Robin worry about you pick them up little baby for a baby with his Q and deadly the same way will they all look a good little baby soon fidgeted small little compromise you know I can do this little thing one time, it will never lead to anything else I can handle this one thing, watch out an unguarded strength is a double weakness. Don't ever say I'll never fall in this one area. No matter what I would shut up. That's probably the area you'll end up calling it because you're so arrogant. The Bible says pride goes before a fall, and a haughty spirit before the structure don't ever say I would never fall in this area, you don't know what you're capable of.

Okay, you just keep your guard up at all times because it's these little deals we make with the devil so to speak, meaning the little compromises the small things that we lower our guard on that lead to bigger things later.

Most people do not fall for a big sin straightaway. It was a series of smaller things that led to the big thing right. Satan is smart. Don't underestimate them. Keep your guard up and watch your thoughts, because most temptations are going to start right here, the devil is going to come and just say, wouldn't it be fun to, and you have a choice. You can say not sound effects are a lot of side effects to better know why you have a choice. He hears and think you can be sitting in church with your Bible open on your lap listening. All of a sudden the devil comes a just a totally twisted thought and you can even believe this thought just came your will. Hello can anyone see this thing here right now to think this is not good and then the devil he so clearly says, how could you actually think that sitting in church.

What's wrong with you. I don't know you know you are such a hypocrite. Yes I guess I have got to get up and leave right now I think will get up and leave or stop that person is not a sin to be tempted. The sin is not in the bait. It's in the by, just because bait was dingle before you doesn't mean you've done anything wrong, let me restate that you never get tempted.

I wonder what's wrong with you. The very fact that you are moving forward spiritually means you will get tempted because the devil wants to bring you down so you face temptation and attack that probably means you're doing something right and the devil will come with things that are enticing things that are appealing. Remember their verse as the tree was good for food, and was into the minds and frugal good man.

By the way the Bible doesn't say it was an Apple where did that come from knowing either you of the delivered preacher say when she ate the stop of the alcohol. There's no Apple. I'm not against apples and I'm not against cats either but I am against cats eating apples that that no but here's the thing, and Apple would appeal to some people.

Not everyone loves apples. I'm not a big Apple fan now a nectarine that would tempt me using but I suggest there was a piece of fruit like you've never seen before. Probably pulsated what is this all listen.

What is this this is fruit. If you eat of it. It taste great. It looks great and you will become a god. Eve you'll be honest okay you will know as much is God in heaven, though in fact God's keeping your bathroom something for God really loves you. He would like to eat of this forbidden fruit mortal Satan will say the same thing to us in the back in order of God really loves you and let you do whatever you want to do. God really loves you. He would allow you to chase after whatever passion interest you have. God really loves you.

He would never allow this to happen to you. That's what he was doing with Eve.

He was challenging the word of God, he was challenging the love of God for her and she gave in. But we must resist. We must not even allow that thought to enter into our own thought processes and end up wanting that thing. And even worse doing that thing, and those temptations are going to come and they're never going to stop and are going to change, and he's going to adapt just like if you're, you know, playing tennis or some in your railing for search for leaders the balls going back and forth across and then he got the kind of weak back there over there's another vulnerability so you play with them for a bit and then you can start scoring points because you want to win the game to the devil. Let's rally for service he would trigger okay are you stronger or stronger, so all your we can all your week over here to okay good.good to know that things will start laudanum here in lob and all I see the area where you were strong, you're not as strong as you were before finally hit you here know it's always good to keep coming. Okay so that's what we have to always keep our guard up. The devil never takes a day off and we can take a day off from spiritual battle the Christian life is not a playground that's a battleground. We are either winning or losing were either advancing or retreating. So let's keep our guards. Let's keep our minds protected because the Bible tells us that we are to bring every thought into the captivity of the obedience of Jesus Christ of the devil attacks. He she gives into it. The devil attacks is not here's how this strategy works and you have to admit it's quite clever first to come as the entice or then he'll come as the accuser memory Peter principle come as the entice or the damn door. Daniel, the accuser that starts like this but whisper in your ear you know what you deserve a break today you you work so hard you know you. You're such a committed Christian up by the whim so proud of you to. You're doing a great job.

Your soul holy and you're so wonderful that you're so strong it wouldn't even matter if you compromise in this little area are to be given a little over here because Emily Carlstrom you are.

It'll be fun. And you know it, besides everybody else is doing it and I'll tell you what I won't tell anyone. If you want just doing lots, I say is a no no. Okay, can you do know the devil comes back and says you pathetic hypocrite look at you you call yourself a Christian, after what you just did you call yourself a follower of Jesus, don't even think about showing your ugly face in church again.

Don't open the Bible, that would be so hypocritical to read the Bible don't pray don't you dare call out to God that would be so wrong and you know the thing is, will listen to the stuff that will believe this stuff this is a strategy first season tempted. Then he comes to us as the accuser Bible calls them one who accuses us before God day and night, so here's the thing.

When you sin you're going to feel guilt and that's a good thing. Did you know guilt can be good. You know what guilt is a major conscience is working. The time to be concerned is when you don't feel guilt the timely concern is when you can sin against God. Again and again and feel no remorse or sense of wrongdoing because the Bible says in Hebrews, whom the Lord loves teach Jason which means that when you a son or daughter goes astray, the Holy Spirit will convict you of your sin and say that strong he'll call you on it because he loves you don't do that that's wrong. Stop it now. Just like a father just like a mother reproves her child. You know I correct my own children.

I don't correct someone else's boy, I would like to at times, you know, you see a child talking back to his mom and just being naughty and you Felix and let me step in here know you can't do that. That's not my privilege, but it is with my children in the same way God disciplines his own children. So if you are without discipline.

If you can do things that you know are wrong. If you don't feel remorse. I have to wonder are you a child of God.

But if you feel busted the moment you cross the line and come under the conviction of the spirit. I say hallelujah your conscience is working in the spirit is working now here's what we need to know when I feel bad for the wrong that I've done I need to respond appropriately. We need to know the difference between the spirits conviction in the devil's accusation, the devil will use your sins in a hateful way to drive you away from the cross.

The Holy Spirit will convict you of your sins in a loving way to bring you to the cross. Let me put it another way, Satan will always try to keep you from across the Holy Spirit will always bring you to the cross, artwork you send, you know you've said no. I can't believe I just did to the devil's is run go getaway don't go to God. Holy Spirit says repent now so) is not Lord I'm sorry. I know that was wrong. I repent of that sin. I ask you to forgive me right now in Jesus name.

That's what you need to do go straight to the cross. The devil say no don't do that. Don't do that don't wife because he knows that when you're forgiven right with God and then after you've asked God for forgiveness. You don't need to keep going over and over it again. You should not choose to remember what God's chosen to forget your God has a big array search and he's used it in your life and be thankful your sin is not only forgiven but it's got because God is said their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. But in contrast, all the devil will try to drive you away in despair. Don't listen to him. As I pointed out, he is a liar and he is the father of lies.

Illustration Judas and Peter both of them in their own way betrayed the Lord on that night Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Peter denied knowing Christ, and I believe that if Judas had wanted it. He could have been forgiven by Jesus, don't you think. Here's why believe that because in the garden of Gethsemane when Judas came to identify Jesus as the one the authorities were looking for and he would do so by kissing him.

Jesus said to them, friend, why view come.

Jesus was God in the wall thinking you would. Judas was doing if you knew guy was coming. The trail would use a friend why view come. I'd say, strangle you right now that's what I wanted no Jesus offered him a final act of forgiveness and had Judas accepted, he could have been forgiven on the spot, but no, she kisses Jesus and then he realizes what he has done, but he never repented of his sin and he weeps and he hangs himself because he listened to the wrong voice Simon Peter G denied knowing the Lord, he did it not once but twice, three times and took an oath which means in effect, he said, I swear to God I never knew Jesus Kennedy made eye contact with the Lord after he said that he wanted Wes but then he stayed with his Christian friends and he turned to the Lord and Jesus forgave him. He listened to the right boys and that the right thing. So we have a choice or organist said it's not a matter of if it's a matter of when the Bible says if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. We will sin the question is what are we going to do when we sin, we can listen to the wrong voice and do the wrong thing. You listen to the right voice and do the right thing the wrong voice the devil good drivers from Jesus from church, from fellowship from the word of God from everything that could help us and say don't feel sorry for yourself, for you lights been so mean to you. We listen to the right voice it'll take us to the word of God to church to our Christian friends to the Lord in prayer to forgiveness and restoration in a relationship with God.

It's my choice who I listen to maybe have joined us here today and most of you have at least physically, this man here is fallen asleep in the second row, but he was just awakened by my bright green shirt is just St. Patrick's Day welcome back Sir. Actually he did not just me that all but it entertained me. But maybe if you're listening to this message.

Your thinking well I do feel guilty for my sin that I feel unworthy and that I don't feel like I I'm good enough to be a Christian will first of all let me say you are unworthy, you don't deserve it but I don't either. You don't deserve God's love, nor do why God does love you and he will forgive you because 2000 years ago Jesus went to across and took the penalty for every wrong you've ever done upon himself. He took every sin that everyone of us have committed any pain. The price for it and he rose again from the dead, and I don't care what you've done Jesus Christ.

The living son of God will forgive you right now if you will acknowledge her sin and turn from it and put your faith in him.

But the Bible says in verse 19 that we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. You can believe in Jesus. Don't be forgiven.

Or you can live in guilt and you can live in remorse and you can live in despair and a whole and hopefully won't do this but you could potentially end up like Judas do the wrong thing, and find forgiveness today.

And if you've never asked Christ to come in your life. I encourage you to do so right now and if you ask him in your life, but maybe you been living a compromise life you been playing with those baby rattlers, so to speak of. Turned out they have a pretty potent bite.

You don't know quite how you gotten into the mess you're in. But you would like to get out of it, and ask you to call out to the Lord today as we close now in prayer. Let's all bow our heads and father I pray for every person here every person listening to this message help each one to put their faith in you and find your forgiveness this moment we ask in Jesus name. When I heads about and her eyes are closed and were praying. How many of you would say today. Greg pray for me.

I'm ready to say yes to Jesus. I'm tired of living in jokes and despair and remorse.

I want to be forgiven. I wanted brush chance in life a second chance.

I want my slate wiped clean. Pray for me.

I'm ready to ask Jesus Christ to come in the my life that your desire. Wherever you're sitting would you lift your hand up if you want Christ to come in your life you want him to forgive you of your sin.

Just lift your hand up and I'll pray for you.

God bless you.

Lift up or I can see it please God bless you up there in the balcony. God bless you to up there in the balcony gun blasts over here in the cycle. Bless you. God bless each one of you. Anybody else in the very back. God bless you. God bless you all of you over here in the side of them. The balcony you want to make this commitment to Christ. Lift your hand up when we pray for you if you're out in the amphitheater.

There I can see what I'd ask you lift your head up as well. Taking the step of faith appear in our building. We call the court you lift your hand to. Maybe you fallen away from the Lord, you know, even trying to live in these two worlds.

And you know what's right and you're not doing it and you're ready to repent of that and totally commit your life to Christ. A recommitment would be in order affect your desire. If you want to make a recommitment to Christ. You lift your hand up right now and pray for you. God bless God bless all of the bless you, Lord. Think you know for each one of these. I pray you give them the strength to stand up and follow you and receive all that you have for them, but we ask it in Jesus name, amen