It's Time to Pray | Praying Daily for Forgiveness

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When you subscribe to pastor Greg daily defenses. Learn more and sign up@harvest.org are you willing your sins are gone. Today pastor Greg Laurie will just get back to the real place. We need to repent of our sin.

We can move forward. The more we grows, the more we realize we need to with all our sin because first on one line. We will confess our sin is just to forgive us our sin. All on righteousness.

Wipe the slate from God – the reason Christ died and that's why is a barrier to our prayer today on a new beginning. Greg Laurie continues her series in the book of Nehemiah learning so much for me in my leadership build the walls today will see the importance of prayer. Prayer like a great revival that have robbed your Bible insert the Nehemiah chapter 9 the title of my message is it's time to break. I can think of a better way to start than break so let's do that now. Father what a privilege it is that we can call you father that we can access your throne through Jesus Christ.

Not because were were the because we been good Boys and Girls Club this week, but because of his blood that was shed for us, giving us access to a new and living way. Now we pray that you will speak to us as we open your word and that we will learn more about how to pray with passion, so we commit this time a Bible study to you now in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Now of course the overall theme of this great book is about building specifically rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, but it's also about building our lives. By the way walls mattered in those days, not to just keep enemies out there a greater significance. They were there is a center of power effectively.

That's where the elders would be in the walls there.

They were very important so Nehemiah arrives on the land he faces a lot of opposition a lot of obstacles, but he manages the finish the job. Now there at the completion of the walls and it's time to bring Ezra out of mothball. See this great priesthood been there at the beginning, but he hadn't been active in recent years, so they said let's bring him back out to preach a sermon and in Ezra preferred three hour so there's a lot of pent up energy and old Ezra right he could hardly wait to speak in as he spoke and open the word of God to the people they were deeply moved and they wept over their sin and that so we are in the story. Nehemiah chapter 9 verse one.

Let's read together. By the way I'm reading from the new living translation on October 31, the people assembled again and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their head. Those of Israeli dissent separated themselves from all corners, as they confess their own sins and the sins of their ancestors, they remain standing in place for three hours while the book of the law of the Lord their God was read aloud to them. Ever. Three more hours. They confess their sins and worship the Lord's are there any take away point for us. Yes, there are about four you're taking notes. Point number one.

The people prayed with fervor.

The people prayed with fervor and we should to verse three says for three more hours. They confess their sin and worship the Lord and then point number two they separated themselves from ungodly influence. They separated themselves from ungodly influences verse two they separated themselves from all corners are modern interpretation would be that just get away from bad influences ungodly people or places the pool is down spiritually. Point number three they heard God's word and they acted on it. They heard God's word and they acted on it. It's not just hearing it. It's doing what it says. The Bible must be our model for how we think and live sometimes people say even Christians will I just did what I felt God wanted me to do what is that even me to what the Bible tells you to do because your feelings can mislead you.

Emotions can deceive you.

So I don't know what the Bible says about the subject will then talk to someone who's been a Christian longer than you talk to a pastor and asked the question, does the Bible address this area because I'm dealing with this right now. Seek God's word has something to say to you spend time in it every morning in the afternoon in the evening, continue in the word of God. That is the secret to spiritual success that brings me to my fourth and last point they confess their sin so they were cursor own history cement.

We messed up so many times and we confess our sin. Verse 33 we have sinned greatly and you gave only what we deserve. At some point are you willing to confess your sin to God. It's so easy to point the finger at someone else is not my fault taking marital problems. I'll talk to couples and then the husband will say to me it's my wife it's totally your fault I'm a perfect husband.

I'm always there for her. I shower her with love and affection he gives and she won't even talk to me she's the worst wife ever. That's what were getting the divorce voices know this is when he's the worst he mistreats me he abuses me to wait and then I talked to the boat together and I find there's more to the story, and each of them shared with me. The point you need to accept responsibility for your actions and the same is true with us individually before the Lord. We need to say Lord I've sinned against you when civil Greg. I don't know that I'd actually send that much of Doug. I certainly haven't sin today you probably just send when you said that call pride under there's different kinds of sin right there sin is of commission which is obvious breaking a commandment line stealing, slandering, gossiping, lusting, those two are obvious sins that the sin of commission. But then there is sins of omission, a sin of commission is doing what you should not do a sin of omission is not doing what you should do what I'm told over and the book of James to him that knows to do good and does not do it to him it is sin. So maybe on the way in the church you know you saw somebody over there. They look like they could use a prayer, a hug or a word of encouragement you summon person in need. Whatever you walk right by Lord magical help seat services full man come on maybe the Lord prompted you when we receive the offer and I want you to give you pretty much my money no way that's going to happen maybe. Yesterday the Lord lead you to share the gospel with somebody sitting with only my comfort zone to do that. Could that not also be a sin to him that knows to do good and does not do it to him. It is sent to. There's lots of ways that sin can infiltrate our life. So my point is simply this. We all need to confess our sin on a regular basis.

Listen to this, the more we grow spiritually. The more we realize we need to grow spiritually, let me put it another way, the more we see of Jesus, the more we see how unlike Jesus, we are and that's not a bad thing because as I see the need of my life as I look in God's mirror of his word. That's a good thing because I want to change more and more pain can be the tool that brings me to see my real need for God as your great glory will have the second half of this message in just a moment.

So many suitors have commented on the help they received from these daily messages God's word ministers to them and often gets them through some of her darkest hours dear Pastor Greg, I wanted to let you know how much your daily radio ministry is meant to my wife and I at the beginning of the pandemic. My wife started chemotherapy for breast cancer.

It was a difficult time for us both, but I was thankful that I was able to be home during this time to help many mornings I would make breakfast and we listen to a new beginning on the radio while we ate your messages and especially your kindness that you always express for preaching was so important to us to give us hope to face this difficult challenge. Looking back, with my wife now healed of her cancer both passage having memories of those morning spent listening to you.

We will always be in your debt for your messages and your kindness. Thank you. These daily studies minister to you and your family. Would you let us know tell us your story by calling 1-866-871-1144 special number 866-871-1144.

What were taking a look at the great revival recorded in the book of Nehemiah.

As Pastor Greg brings his message today called, it's time to pray at our church over in Hawaii.

I was there a couple of months ago and is speaking on Sunday and a couple nights before or just even my legs cannot hurt the can the throb. Both legs flopped and never had that before the why didn't really walk that much today what's going on and then the next night. It was even worse. Rose actually can a below grade pain, so I thought what is happening here so I went to my computer and Google did this and in this never ends well when you you know when you try to figure out your own medical issue right so I put in achy legs. I didn't know what else to put a key legs that took me straightaway to Billy Ray Cyrus achy Breaky heart right that didn't help at all, though I did the little dance he does. I'm not sure know so I'm in achy legs and I did. I read about just stop and it just alarms you even more. I and so I went to church that Sunday and and so I'm getting ready to go speak in a gentleman comes up to me at this hi Greg, I'm a doctor I'm retired now and I just wanted to say I like to serve the Lord.

Maybe in the mission field or something of a heart specialist on what's great and I told him about opportunities that he could have been an hour talking. I thought Dr. I hate to bug you but listen I requested that if your doctor this always happens the right, talk, listen, I've the weirdest thing my legs cannot hurt so he asked me all these questions and many is okay, and after a while he says okay I'll tell you what you have. You have restless leg syndrome doesn't sound good, restless leg syndrome I civil hello what is that mean in his answer was so simple he says you need to take magnesium magnesium you take magnesium now.

I don't think I do accept it. No vitamins at all other vitamins and Krispy Kreme donuts is a magnesium no take magnesium back I'll get you some know that they can all get you some. I want to get you just the right time so I went over to South to give me a bottle of magnesium pills.

He says take these right now and you'll feel better in a few hours really just because they're hurting even worse now.

Doc says take them three hours later, all the pain was gone. Cited. Thank you Dr. but more importantly, thank you, Lord, right. So here's my point. Pain comes our way in life and it brings us to God, who gives us a solution to our pain. I don't like the pain but it got me to the one who can remove the pain. So when I come to the Lord and I've sin in my life.

He says here's what you need to do. You need to confess your sin because first John 19 says that we will confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our send and cleanse us from all on righteousness. What is the meaning confess your sin. It's a word that means to agree. So let's say you and I walked out of the church and we look up in the sky in a safe letter that cloud up there. That's a beautiful cloud formation is a man.

I agree that is really beautiful is in it. We just agreed on something so here's godly says that's a sin that I don't like any guy I so agree. I don't like it either you agree with God you see it for what it is you don't make excuses for it. You don't rationalize it, you own it take personal responsibility if you will confess your sins before God, he is faithful and just to forgive you your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

Think about that all unrighteousness. Wipe the slate clean. Some of say what we don't need to do that because were justified before God.

That's ridiculous with the second.

It is true.

When you become a Christian, you are justified. That means that you are positionally made right with God. That means all your sin is forgiven and the righteousness of Christ is placed in your account so that's covered you're a child of God.

This is not about whether or not you're a child of God confessing your sin is not so you become a child of God that something you should do as a child of God.

We don't confess our sins as Christians to be a child of God. Rather, we confess our sins because we are child of God and we want to be enclosed fellowship with our father sure like my wife and I asked her to marry me years ago by the way she says it was a really lame proposal.

She says you never really did a properly eating get down on one knee were just sitting in some restaurant you said well I guess for getting married, okay. So if you're single. Don't do that okay. However, I have been married 43 years, so there is that okay but anyway I digress. It just because I got a great wife not because they did it right proposal again, so okay, she accepted my proposal were married so that yesterday I wake up in the morning. Is it Kathy you marry me you might think all that. So sweet.

He wants to marry me again. Yes Greg, I'll marry you. Okay thanks in the next morning Kathy, will you marry me kinda cute when you said that yesterday but we have been very kind of a long time. And yeah, I'll marry you day number three Kathy will you marry me Greg, you have restless brain syndrome. Another go with the legs. Taking too much magnesium. What's going on. I don't have to keep asking her to marry me were married so in the same way you become a Christian, Christ is in you, you don't have to keep asking Jesus into your heart again and again and again and again. You don't need to be born again again and again and again you're born again. We got the cover so this is not about if you're a child of God. This is about. Are you a child of God, enclosed fellowship and communion with your father. That's why I need to confess my sin. And guess what Jesus taught us in the Lord's prayer. Give us this day our daily bread right then forgive us our sin is we forgive those who sin against us. Another words do this all the time. Do this regularly do this continually, just as you pray for daily provision. Pray for daily forgiveness that the classic illustration is the prodigal son he ran away from home drug. The family name to the gutter finally came to her senses and decided to return home. He said to his father. Father, I've sinned against heaven and you are no longer worthy to be called your son. Take me on as a hired servant and the father could've said that's true now gone work with the hired hands.

You're not a son anymore, but the father didn't even listen is that all pay someone get the ring put it back on his fingers compliance on ship. Let's get the fatted calf regulates a barbecue this, my son, who is dead is alive again and he was lost is down see this is a returning to his father again and fellowship, communication, and that's why we need to confess our sins because we sin each and every day, sort of. These people do. They prayed with fervor.

Number two, they separated themselves from ungodly influences. Thirdly, they heard God's word and acted on it. Partly investors steps for us to follow as well. Pastor Greg Laurie with practical insights from our studies in Nehemiah and he'll come back before today's addition of a new beginning is finished to close in order prayer, but if you missed any of the four characteristics Pastor Greg highlighted today. Be sure to listen to the full study by going to harvest.org look for the title it's time to pray or simply subscribe to our podcast by going to Google podcasts Apple podcasts or spot a fine yesterday were making available your new book, Lennon Dylan, Alice and Jesus. The spiritual biography of rock 'n' roll. You may ask you this what is it that drives your interest in cultural icons, especially in the music industry. I've always been a fan of pop culture always been interested in it. You have to understand that God has called me to be an evangelist and evangelist builds bridges to the culture. He lives in or she lives in.

Take Paul on Mars Hill recorded in acts 17.

At that time Athens was the cultural and intellectual center of the planet. It also was a city that had thousands of altars are directed to various idols, various gods of the worship so Paul went sightseeing and took in the sights and sounds of Athens and the Bible says his spirit was disturbed and so he got up in front of the people in the town square. There effectively. The Areopagus and begin to speak to them, but it's interesting how we started. He said men of Athens, I perceive that you are spiritual. One translation says religious, we might say today I see your into spirituality.

Then Paul quoted their own poets to build a bridge to the message that was based on the gospel so I take this concept and I use it I might preach it all off and start one of my evangelistic messages that I would do one of our events that we call harvest crusades and I might start by quoting the movie start quoting a rockstar coating.

The billionaire seen something that lines up with what the Bible tells us as an example, I would quote actor Jim Carrey who would say I wish everyone could be rich and famous and have everything they ever dreamed of. So they would realize that's not the answer. I'm not basing my message on what actors are rockstar say, but I use that to build a bridge to my listener and then I tell them what the Bible said okay so no shift gears over this book I've written titled Lennon Dylan Allison Jesus. So I'm exploring the lives of these people who had it all who been there done that about the T-shirt and in some cases had been the T-shirt and I'm showing through their lives that the things this culture offers are not really going to meet the deepest needs of our life successes and going to do it on a new record isn't going to do it. Global fame isn't going to do it a bunch of cars and mentioned that will do it a bunch of girls that will do it no they need Jesus and I told the stories of those that found the answer they were looking for became believers.

People like Richie purée Carrey live grin of Kansas, Alice Cooper beyond the Mucci Roger McGuinn of the birds and many others that I also told the tragic stories of those that did not find the answer and how their lives ended like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse in Chester Bennington, and the list just goes on. So it's a book that shows what happens when you make the right and the wrong choices, but ultimately it's a book that I think will offer hope and say to you, there is no one that you know that is beyond the reach of God is right, and maybe even looking for some help in reaching out to someone who seems so far from God. Maybe the things of this world of captured their attention.

This can be such a great resource. Read it for yourself and then pass along to someone who needs this message again is called Lennon Dylan, Alice and Jesus and will send it to say thank you for your investment in spreading the gospel through harvest ministries and a new beginning were completely listener supported and were so thankful for your partnership so call us today at 1-800-821-3300.

We are here to take your call around the clock again.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or just go online to harvest.org well next time Pastor Greg launches the final message series. In the book of Nehemiah important final insights from this account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.

But before we go for today.

Pastor Greg comes back to close our time together. Let's pray together now. Father, we come before you is broken people as sinful people as people in need of forgiveness and we pray that your Holy Spirit will now search our hearts if there is something Lord in our life that were doing some activities some advice, some sin some relationship or whatever it is, pattern some lifestyle things we say whatever it is.

Lord, would you show us now show us now that we would just see it dishonors you just please issue that separates our communication with you, Lord, we don't. We want to be as close to you as we possibly can the Lord show us what that would be an early beginning Greg Laurie podcasts made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for daily devotions and learn how to become a harvest partner harvest.org