“Dealing with Depression” | Sunday Message

Hey there, thanks for listening to the Greg Laurie part just a ministry supported by harvest partners on Greg Laurie encouraging you if you want to find out more about harvest ministries. To learn more about how to become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org so we are wrapping up for Elijah series were in first Kings chapter 18 in the title of my message is dealing with depression.

Okay, so I was walking up the stairs in my house with my yeti cut yeti cup is one of those metal thermos cups filled with ice and water and I was putting the finishing touches on my message titled, dealing with depression and my toe caught the top of my top stair and I started to stumble forward. I was trying to regain my footing while keeping my yeti cup aloft. I didn't want to spell it right and so I'm correct. Rent a couple steps and then I lost my footing again and would face first into a built-in desk. I open my eyes. There's blood on the floor. I will give you too many details on that thing I checked on my teeth here. Yes they are but I face planted into this thing hard back really hurt so we went down to the ER and they said all you you you split everything open. I had a whole going from inside of my mouth to be outside of my mouth so they had to put five stitches on the inside of my mouth which is a lot of fun and mother sits on the outside and then I hit my nose as well and then they did x-rays know this because I want to make sure it was okay because my back hurt and so they said would you like to get in a wheelchair to go get your x-ray said no no I can walk in, bring that wheelchair back. Let's go you know so to the guys pushing me along really nice guy. He says he bends down. He says I'm not supposed to see anything but I'm a Christian and I listen to you on the radio every day so let me pray for you. So the whole time is like praying for me. You know, is great God has his people everywhere.

That's me so so I got up at my face was all swollen and it still a little swollen in the inside care, but I'm getting better so thank you for your prayers. So when I hit the ground I called out to Kathy. I've fallen and I can't get up.

I think for their commercial and it happened to me that I needed help and so now looking at the last message in this Elijah series and in this sense, this is where Elijah falls, but he gets up again you look at this fall and is recovering.

And then of course is big event unknown Carmel fire coming down from heaven, but before the fire, filled something else had to happen, bring me to point number one of your taking note notes if you want to see God work. We must do our part. Again, if we want to see God work. We must do our part first Kings 1830, then will I just said well the people come here to me. They came to him and he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down so will immediately go right to the story of the fire coming from heaven, but don't miss this point before the fire fell, the altar had to be repaired, and I ask you this question. Does the altar of your life need to be repaired. What we mean by that I mean is there a hole in your foundation. Is there a problem in your spiritual life.

You no longer read the Scriptures every day as you once did.

Prayer is no longer a part of your life as it once was your church attendance is erratic at best. Maybe your altered needs repair will say things like I want the fire of God to follow me again, but you need to first repair or altar to the church of Ephesus who Jesus commended him and critiqued. He said you know you guys your discerning hard-working, that's great, but I have this against you, you have left your first love. Then he says remember then from where you will fall in and repent and do the first works quickly. I called the 3Rs of getting right with God. Remember, repent, repeat.

First, remember, was there a time in your life spiritually. When you were closer to God than you are right now was a time where you're more passionate in your face as you start by remembering then you repent means change your behavior. You know it's interesting because Jesus says, remember from where you have fallen. We don't think of leaving one's first love is a form of falling, but according to Jesus, it is remember from where you have fallen, and do the first works quickly or repeat Qu�bec and do those things again. As the apostle Paul said get back get back get back to where you want to belong because Paul McCartney is usually my newest some fall who said it is sort of like a marriage.

How many of you are married richer in your merit. Nice how many of you are happily married, raising not as many handsets interesting, though there were everyone razor him this argument except this couple richer but really, but you know if in your marriage.

You feel like you've lost the romance or that spark and you don't feel the love you need to get back and do the right things again just to loving things.

Don't wait for the emotion of love. Make the motion and the emotion will catch up you know we talked about the need in America for a spiritual awakening that's so true.

What we need to do our part and what God will do his part so what's our part second Chronicles 714 the Lord says if my people, which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then the Lord promises I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land. We want the Lord to heal our land and doesn't America need to be healed right now. Every time you turn around that there's another one of these tragic shootings like what just happened in Texas and in it happens constantly acts of violence with guns with knives with cars with you name it.

People use these weapons to destroy other people and everyone calls for all these new laws and restrictions when we need more gun control. We need more self-control. Okay, what we really need. We need to get talk to the heart of the matter, the heart of the matter, the heart of the matter is a matter of the heart hearts need to change what we done. We push God out of everything push God out of the classrooms get those 10 Commandments down from being posted in there. Don't you dare have a prayer before a class to let the kids even prayed on their own time.

Stopped out at all because Tony would teach the Bible as literature. We don't want any of it. We don't want God in our culture we say and then were shocked when we sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. When we redefine what a man is what a woman is what a family is. The reality is that family is the foundation of our nation. It's been said a family can survive without a nation but a nation cannot survive without the family and you take any of these problems were having today, 74, 85% of those that have committed these acts of violence came from broken homes and specifically fatherless homes. You don't tell me there's not cause-and-effect. There, but one the last time you heard some politician or anyone get up and say we need to restore the family again. We need people to stay married and raise their children right even more in the way of the Lord, and I can hear that you're adjusting more laws passed. Nothing will change.

Only God can change the heart. Let's do our part to because a man outrightly start with your home, you need to repair your altar is your home. The home it should be. Men are you being the spiritual leaders that God is called you to be make sure that happens. It starts with us. So back to our story rebuilt the altar. Now the big contest is ready to happen the shootout at the Carmel Corel. The battle of the gods will. I just come out of hiding is hard to miss is a very hairy dude he chooses off bail says to King Ahab limits of the shootout. Let's have a contest.

Whoever has the right, God let that God answer by fire.

Amazingly, Ahab agrees to this agreement. Why because as I pointed out hashtag sin makes you stupid. And he should never should've agreed to this because he was going to lose for sure. And so now Elijah says summon all the prophets of bail. The 450 prophets a bill of 400 prophets of Ashtoreth were supported by Jezebel.

So there stands Elijah 850 total one but we know who's gonna win this one. Now let's see what happens first Kings 1827. About noon time Elijah began mocking them saying you love to shout louder.

He scoffed for Shirley. He's a God baby he's daydreaming or he's relieving himself or maybe he's away on a trip or is asleep and needs to be wakened so they shouted louder and following their normal custom. They cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out. They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice would still there was no sound, no reply.

No response. There so Elijah is having a little fun at their expense.

He mocks them. That's one of the reasons I like Elijah. He was a mocking prophet and I am a mocking preacher and so he says they maybe are God's asleep. Isn't it great to know God doesn't fall asleep ever fall asleep and then someone wakes you up and you didn't know you were sleeping when we deny your sleeping. I don't know why wasn't what you were just admit it. Sometimes I get sleepy after I eat something heavy and I ate this really thick chicken sandwich a while ago and and I said dynamite is going to close my eyes and I went into a food coma and also know my eyes, about 10 minutes later and I literally didn't know where I was like where am I what happens during need to go to some kind of rehab for this. I don't know is my great to know God isn't going to food coma's God is never asleep at the wheel is always paying careful attention to us and what is happening in our world someone 21 Ford says he that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps second Chronicles 69 the eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him to God for just a way God is alert God is aware God is omniscient, which means all-knowing God is omnipotent, which means all-powerful God is omnipresent, which means present everywhere. That means that he's watching you and me and us and others simultaneously. How does he do that I don't nobody does. He's got. Elijah also yields this and I have to draw attention to it. Maybe you got is daydreaming or is relieving himself. Yes, that's what it meant they maybe are God sitting on the toilet. He was really mocking them big time and is is he the because she'd yell louder just yell louder and so there yelling louder. They're cutting themselves, and it's so clear that nothing is going to happen because their gods are not real as that passage says that we already read.

There was no answer because there were no gods to give an answer. So here is what was happening. The Lord was going to allow Israel to see the emptiness of their so-called gods said they would turn from those false gods and instead turn to him the true God. For most of us who given our lives to Jesus Christ. It probably was a little bit of process of elimination before we got there my book Lynn and Dylan, Allison, Jesus I talk about all these rock stars that had all the success and climb to the very top and found out there was nothing there and many of them came to Christ and I tell their stories, but first they had to come to the end of themselves. They had to see that their gods could not save so we make a God out of wealth or a God out of fame or a God out of success.

And then we get that thing we think will make us happy. And it doesn't. So we see the emptiness of our God, the Lord did a similar thing with Israel.

You know the accused me with Egypt. The Egyptians worshiped many gods they worshiped the Nile River as a God. They worshiped insects as gods they worshiped frogs is God's. So the Lord said you guys like that.

I'll give you more gods and you can shake a stick at.

He sent a plague of insects determine the Nile River to blood. He sent a plague of frogs so they could see the emptiness.

All of all of it in turn to the Lord and that's the world and all of its glory. It's empty and I will leave you wanting more.

You know, Satan can take things and make them seem appealing, but they're just dead on the inside troika filters people use on Instagram.

It's not real read about them. Instagram influencer who was only 28 years old but tragically took her own life. In this article about her another influencer wrote these words and I agreed with them. Quote social media does not bring happiness.

It does not bring fulfillment, it does not bring connection" very true, yet 69% of adults and 81% of teens use social media. This influencer went on to say, quote it's really just smoke and mirrors your showing an edited part of your life that you want others to see." That's true all look at my happy life, look awesome.

Everything is for me, smoke and mirrors filter special-effects.

It's not real and you know it's not real.

And other people know to buy the way, so this is the thing that's happening here, the people of Israel are realizing their gods are false. They're not real.

Now it's God's turn. Okay you guys done many minimum mesh blood everywhere get here let's mop this place up and he says all right now. Would you let the Lord answer. Let's cover the altar with water. By the way water was scarce. Don't forget there's been a drought that lasted over three years does the whole altar with water yet do it again yell as soon one more time. Why because he wanted everyone to realize that when this answer came. It was not a trick. It was the Lord and so everything was now set, bringing me to point number two.

Our job is to pray God's job is to answer our job is to pray God's job is to answer, so what are you facing right now Dupre problem.

Give a conflict given need to need God's provision, but you need God's healing. Are you looking for a mate to spend the rest of your life with our view are you looking for employment. Are you looking for something else. Have you prayed about it, you know the Bible says you have not because you asked not then Jesus said ask and it shall be given, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be open, so there's your part and there's God's part. Our job is to break God's job is the answer first Kings 1836 look at that with me at the time of sacrifice. The prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and I am your servant. I've done all these things at your command, and certainly Lord answer me so these people will know that you Lord our God, and that you are turning their hearts back again. I love the confidence that Elijah has in God, no screaming, no yelling, no cutting know anything Lord, will you answer this prayer right now.

So what happened then we could first Kings 1830 623 38 then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the will of the stones, the soil and then licked up the water in the trench and when all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried the Lord he is God, the Lord is God so the people realize. Now God was in control of the Lord wasn't on.

He was in a just bring fire from heaven. In answer to the prayer of the prophet he was now going to bring back the rain again. They'd been in a trot for over three years and so Elijah says it's going to rain. The Lord revealed that to him, but that there was not a single cloud in the sky in a weathermen get it wrong all the time. Don't think of no rain today and arraignments or it's going be rainy today and it's sunny. The best way I've found to get rain is wash my car by the way, bald man always know when it's raining first. Think about it, I'll be out walking with my wife Jos� starting the rate she says no it isn't my wife's ear is so thick know it's it's raining. No, it isn't. Yes, it is because I feel on the dome. The weather dome here. See but Elijah knew it was going to rain because the Lord revealed it to him, bringing me to point number three God answers prayer the way he wants and when he wants God answers for the way he wants and when he wants first Kings 1843 go look toward the sea.

Elijah says to his servant.

He went up and look is nothing there. Do it again do it again seven times. His servant went than the seventh time he went and he said will, there's a cloud as small as a man, sin rising from the sea. So Elijah said you go tell Ahab catch up your chariot and get down before the rain stops you see at insight and when you are walking in faith, you will see things that other people do not see you'll see an opportunity when someone else does not see it you'll see the hand of the Lord leaving you what someone else doesn't notice it. The believer sees invisible thing because faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. According to Hebrews 11 one. A storm was coming. Elijah knew it. No one else did we as Christians know a storm is coming to the world because were seen Bible prophecies fulfilled before our very eyes.

All these things that are happening in our world music what's going on.

It's crazy. It's crazy if signs of the times right in front of us to tell us to get ready. We know antichrist is coming we know a tribulation period is coming we know judgment is coming but best of all, we know Jesus is coming. That's our message.

Jesus said in Matthew 16, three USA today will be stormy for the sky is red and overcast. You know how to interior interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the time. So this is kind of a funny twist in the story is one funny little things in the life of Elijah, not just him telling the false prophets are God's numb. The toilet, but this too. So he says that he had to get back in the palace. Are you getting your chariot picture rain tires on his committee did rain personally given the chariot so they have ghost. I'm amazed that Elijah even cares about King Ahab, I want you to get home safely.

And as the king is making his way back to the palace of Scripture tells us that Elijah passes him on foot. How fast do you have to run to beat a chariot pulled by horses.

It's like Elijah has become Sonic the Hedgehog was not all about. Amazing and so when King Ahab gets home. He's going to now give Queen Jezebel news first Kings 19, 120 have got home he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he killed all the prophets a bail so Jezebel sent this message to Elijah May the God strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them referring to the false prophets. Now this verse. Elijah was afraid and fled for his life.

So when Jezebel heard of what happened.

Now the profitability been killed. She put a contract out on hey wax, the hairy guy's days are numbered. I want you to do this in 24 hours. Why why this wickedness answer evil cannot tolerate righteousness if you ever notice that the most intolerant people are the people that talk the most about tolerance. They say Christians are intolerant. I think that's not true. I think Christians are very tolerant. You can think someone we don't agree with in any way will still show kindness to them. Love to them share their point of view, of course, are going to try to persuade them to believe what we believe from the Scripture, but were very tolerant in that regard.

That doesn't mean we endorse these things or agree with these things will work tolerant in as far as were willing to engage in conversation, but other people are completely intolerant. Their view is not only can you not oppose my view. You can even hold of you. I want to silence you. I want to cancel you. I don't even want you to have a voice in this conversation.

Why light cannot comprehend darkness and we wonder why don't people come to Jesus Christ sometimes rules a little science. I just can't resolve the science of the Scripture. Another my two others contradictions in the Bible is a show me when I can't but still there. There are no referred someone else might say something of hypocrites in the church all the hypocrites, immigrants, here's the real reason people come to Jesus Christ, according to Jesus, people do not come to the light less their evil deeds be exposed if it is not that they can't believe that Jesus was the son of God, is that they don't want to follow him because it may mean or will mean that they have to turn from their sin and they don't want to do that. So Jezebel so quick to threaten is going to face judgment herself. The Bible tells us that she was ultimately eaten by dogs and Elijah predicted this. I told this Bible story to a couple my grandkids there really dig in it. You know fire from heaven rain all the school stuff and then dogs later pop. I know how this is what happened.

Okay, listen, sin will have its pound of flesh like Shylock in the merchant of Venice. He wanted his pound of flesh.

Satan will get what he wants to give you a few good times a few pleasures and paydays, in your to pay up if you like it or not. The Bible says the wages of sin is death notice it's wages you work for now you can get paid. You don't want that payment at all, so Elijah hears his threat from Jezebel. You would think Elijah the guy who called fire from heaven. The guy who raised a boy from the dead guy who stopped the rain, you're afraid of the threat of one woman.

Yes he was.

Why oh why simple answer. James 517 because Elijah was as human as we are.

We put spiritual leaders on pedestals, Bible teachers and preachers others all there so spiritual that they never get down. They never get depressed like I do every day is great for them there human just like you and here's a man of God who got really down first Kings 19 for he went alone into the wilderness traveling all day sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed he might die and he said Lord. I've had enough take my life.

I'm no better than my ancestors who've already died.

By the way Elijah was not the first man or woman of God to feel this way.

Moses became so blue. He has got to take his life. Joan after the great revival of Nineveh said the same thing. Even the apostle Paul got so down.

He said he despaired of life again. Elijah was human as we are and emotions can get the best of us. So let me wrap this message up with some ways to deal with depression when I say this I want you to know that I believe there is something called clinical depression, and you can go to your doctor and you can talk to him or her about that.

I'm not talking about clinical depression. I'm talking about the kind of depression we all may face from time to time we get down of the dumps or down in the doldrums or whatever it is to hear some things you can take into your mind as you find depression closing in on and on.

You number one times of depression and vulnerability.

Often, after great victories, times of depression and vulnerability vulnerability come after great victories forget Elijah just had the greatest victory of his life affect everything in his life and build to this moment.

You know he's goes into the corridor.

Ahab and says the Lord God lives, before whom I stand, there will not be Raymond according to my word great entrance. The Lord calls them into obscurity for sitting by a little brook called Sheriff where the birds brought them food every day and a drink from the brook and the brook dried up. Then the Lord a little eyedropper to some poor widow woman who cared for him so he was off the grid and then the Lord so that you're ready and he goes in. Is this amazing moment on Mount Carmel and now this right comes in he goes into depression. Maybe Elijah was hoping that Ahab would come around spiritually. Maybe even thought that Jezebel would believe, but it was the opposite. Jezebel was angry and threaten Elijah's life so he was down, so maybe you took a bold step of faith for the Lord to do something for his glory and it went well but immediately afterwards you have the spiritual attack, your marriage was unraveling your kids turn from Christ. Instead of to him you feel like a failure as a parent, or even as a Christian and you find yourself slumping into depression. I found this for myself. To that times of depression can ship me after great victories like take any crusade we've ever done.

We got some great one.

Over the years and I just know the next day on the B in the dumps. It just kind of this emotional thing and so I anticipate it now, and I learned how to expected. By spending time around, the greatest evangelist of all time. Billy Graham. So as he was wrapping his ministry up.

I was just starting my crusade ministry. He asked me to join him for his offense and I was helping them with sermon preparation.

Spent a lot of time around him before, during and after the Crusades I think of one crusade in particular in Portland, Oregon.

Nothing Portland Oregon. There, there's more dogs and that's it, even churches. Okay, so here we are Portland, Oregon.

The stadium is Pat Johnny Cash got up and say and then Billy got up and preached it was revival like it was a electric and after Billy was done we came down from the stage and he was walking he had, where little bit behind him and the ushers, holding crowds of people back on both sides and people are sick. Billy Billy we love you we love you Billy silica L's agon immunities as tenant has his head down, walking forward that we get in the car when driving. So I'm sitting shotgun next to TW Wilson, the longtime friend of Billy Graham was driving in the backseat.

Billy and his son Franklin so I turned out around facing Billy as Billy was a great message tonight. Amazing.

Billy looked to me with those steely blue eyes and said it's just gospel. I turned back around. I know I did trying to complement what was all about this just gospel J then I thought of something else I turmeric riser Billy I love your point when you said Christ can re-sensitize your conscience, Billy said all he can. But I learned a lesson. Billy did not want to reflect on the glory of all of it. He did not want to complement so we got back to the hotel and someone had given us some roast beef sandwiches to eat there really good when they were made hours ago another call we get to the hotel. He invites us up to his room. Billy disappeared for a few moments and reemerges in his pajamas and his dress shoes.

I think he left his slippers at home and we sat around and ate cold corner of roast beef sandwiches and just laughed and talk about all kinds of things about we talk about everything except that crusade is that that doesn't make sense to make total sense to me to get back to normal. Don't focus on your emotions focus on God this and you're not as good as people think you are and you're not as bad as people think you are your God's servant. Just do your job, give him the glory and keep moving. That's it.

But we become so focused on the sanction out. Yes but I feel so depressed yeah will you know just press on.

I read about a sign at the end of an airport runway that has these words inscribed on it, quote, keep moving. If you stop you are in danger and a danger to those who are flying." Right. You can just keep Parker playing on the runway. We have other planes taking off and landing.

Keep moving in the same is true for each of us, but Elijah stop me was paralyzed by fear, discouragement and depression. He was not thinking clearly, bringing me to my next point about dealing with depression when you are depressed do not isolate but surround yourself with friends when you're depressed, do not isolate but surround yourself with friends first Kings 19 for then he went on alone in the wilderness traveling all day. Elijah sure they had a trusted friend who could encourage him often. When were down. We separate from people and we should do the opposite. Even Jesus asked Peter, James and John to sit with him in the garden of Gethsemane. Reason being, according to the Scripture.

His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of graph Jesus did neither sermon you don't need to preach a sermon to Jesus, but he did need a little companionship, and that helps you people give you perspective and I'll tell you the truth. Elijah was all alone.

I read that research reveals that three out of every five Americans feels lonely. Experts have long known that loneliness and isolation of long ranging effects on the mind and body, ranging from anxiety and depression. Vulnerability to illness yet this research revealed 1 to 2 friendships can dramatically decrease loneliness. Point number three. Don't ignore the practical when you're feeling down.

Don't ignore the practical when you're feeling delicate first Kings 19 verse four Elijah sat down under a solitary broom tree prayed that he might die that out enough Lord. He said take my life. I'm no better than my ancestors who've already died and he lay down and slept out of the room treating Naz was sleeping, an angel touched them and said get up and eat. He looked around and there beside his head was a big spread on hot stones and a jar of water. So we ate and drank and sat down again.

I love that sometimes you don't need a sermon you need a sandwich. Does this make sense were looking for spiritual things Lord, just fill me with spirited just eat something and not viewing something take a nap and then you wake up. Don't deny you took a nap. It's okay. We give you permission to refresh, we give you permission to recharge right and this is practical. The angel says it you know what your this hot big spread on stones and some cool water to refresh you right now and then Elijah left that place bring me to point number for my last point when you're feeling down. You need perspective from God's word when you're feeling down. You need perspective from God's word first Kings 19 eight. He got up and eat and drink and the food gave him enough strength to trouble 40 days and nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.

There he came to a cave where he spent the night. The Lord said to him what you doing here, Elijah. When you're feeling down, you need to look up any need to listen to the right voices. Elijah listen to the wrong voice, the voice and the threat of Jezebel are you listening to the wrong voice right now the voice the voices of social media. The voices of Twitter who are these people who cares what they think you know you who is this person zero followers. Oh anybody. Come on until someone criticizes the stop listening to those voices listen to the voice of God.

You see what how do I hear God's voice open this book is voice will speak to you. He says low in the volume of the book. I have come listen to trusted Christian friends listen to pastors listen to those who walk with the Lord for a while. The hope you get perspective alerts is what you doing here so we syndicate qualities in the cave. A big windstorm comes by blowing the Bible says the Lord was not in the wind. Then there's fire fire everywhere, the Lord was not in the fire.

Then there's an earthquake shaking everything it says the Lord was not in the earthquake and after.

This is still small voice and the Lord said here so Johnny Cash had a similar experience Johnny's career was blowing up traveling all around the country and he started taking amphetamines to keep him going. But he couldn't get to sleep at night so we started using barbiturates, so the combination of these two drugs in his lifestyle began to take their effect on his life he was pulling away from friends and family. He felt useless and he said quote I never wanted to see another Don so Johnny Cash went to Nick and Jack cave on the Tennessee River. It's a system of caves, some are larger than 2 to 3 football stadiums, people have lost their lives in these caves over the years because they go in they become disoriented and can't find their way out. That was Johnny's intention to just get lost in that cave and as he walked further and further rented became pitchdark. He couldn't see anything. He didn't know which way was out.

He said the lack of light was appropriate for at that moment I was as far from God as I've ever been in the Lord spoke to Johnny and guess what you said what are you doing here saying that you said Elijah what are you doing here Johnny and Johnny realize at that point, God still had a plan for his life and he mid found his way. Finally out and he said God saved me from killing myself.

Maybe somebody listening to me right now finds himself in a cave of sorts. You know and maybe you put yourself in that cave you made some bad decisions, and now you're reaping the inevitable consequences of that decision in your state.

Why did this happen to me Lord, Lord, same what are you doing here why did you go there you know what would happen. You knew what would happen rather and and this surprises you, what you doing your you should not be here. Jesus could've asked that question of Simon Peter Wendy's warming himself by the enemies of Christ around a fire after he had already denied the Lord once and was going to do it again. The look of is that what you doing here, the Lord had ascended to Samson when he laid his head down on the lab of Lilo was about to give him a permanent haircut. Samson what are you doing here, he could say it to some people right now and I struggle with drinking. I don't know. It's such a struggle and when I was at the bar the other day way, what are you what a bar what you do in their why were to a church here over here doing the wrong thing in realm of the wrong people and now things are crashing down and you is a why is this happening.

What are you doing there, get out of that place only need God to get me.

I will sometimes are things that God will do. And there's things that we got. Like Jesus said to that man was disabled. He asked him do you want to be made whole. Why would he ask God to fish swim, not everybody wants to be whole. Not everybody wants to be free from whatever addiction it is that has not everybody wants to be free from the lifestyle they've chosen, not everybody wants to be free from this sin that has a hold of them, but some do it if you want to be free if you want to be healed is a yes Lord, heal me call out to him and he will hear your voice you hear your prayer and just like he help Johnny. Just like the Lord helped Elijah will help you, but you need to call out to him. Maybe there somebody listening to me right now watching review are you need to call out to the Lord. I can get out of this cave I can get out of the spot. Amen. Yes, you can reach out to Jesus Christ and he'll save you. So I raised the question earlier and I asked do you need to repair your altar. So as you look at your own life. Would you say you know what I'm kind of in a cave right now I've got myself into a bad situation. The bad relationship. Something else I do should never have done this. I want to get out of this. This is a time to examine yourself and make a decision to do the right thing or to make sure your walking with the Lord as you want to have you left your first love is so you can return to it. But then there's a person who doesn't even have a relationship with God. Yet, you know, you think all these things in this world are going to satisfy you when you found the empty is the time for you to see the emptiness of the false gods of this culture and see the true and living God standing right in front of you that can happen for you right here right now. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, he rose again from the dead three days later and then he says I stand at the door of your life and I knock it if you hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in of US Jesus to come into your life. Yet if not you can do it right here right now that's pretty father we come before you thankful for everything Jesus did, Lord Jesus, thank you for laying your life down for us, no one took it from you. You gave it of your own accord, and we pray for any person here watching, listening, wherever they are. If they don't have a relationship with you.

Let this be the moment they believe what I had to about her eyes are closed and were praying.

Maybe there someone here that would say I need Jesus. I need my sin forgiven. I want to know that when I die I will go to heaven.

I'm tired of chasing after the empty things of this world. I want a relationship with God. I want peace I want joy I want purpose. I want happiness and I want to go to heaven when I die. Pray for me. If that's your need. If you want Jesus to come into your life forgive you of your sin wherever you are, pray these words after me, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know the true, the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.

I put my faith in you know Jesus I choose to follow you from this moment forward in Jesus name I pray, amen. Everybody, thanks for listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org and find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God