Don’t Make Deals with the Devil | Sunday Message

Hey there, thanks for listening to the great glory 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. If you are joining us for the first time in a brand-new series on the life of David called the house of David and I'd like you to grab your Bible. So many of you brought a Bible to church.

Some easier Bible. Those are real Bibles like that.

How many of you are following on a tablet or phone raise it up right now.

Okay that's good that's good. Grab your Bible and or electronic device. In turn to first Samuel 22 are also going to look at Romans 12 first Samuel 22 Romans 12 the title of my message is don't make deals with the devil to hurt about a peer hunter that was on the forest looking for a prey. He found a big giant bear. He pulled out his rifle.

He lowered it down. He got the bear in his sights. He carefully exhaled began to squeeze the trigger when suddenly the bear turns around and says to the hunter. Excuse me, but isn't it better to talk then to shoot the hunter was shocked number one that the bear spoke, and secondly, that the bear was British. Apparently Hunter didn't know what to say.

The bear continued on. We negotiate the matter to me what it is you're looking for.

The hunter said well I like that bag me a bear I want to first go to the bear, never getting somewhere because I want to full stomach. Let's negotiate so they disappeared into the forest together.

Apparently the negotiations were successful because a little time passed and the bear came from the forest alone. They both got what they wanted the bear God's full stomach and the hunter got a fur coat that some compromise works. That's how deals with the devil, for you never want to make a deal with the devil I have a friend who's a great negotiator. If I want something voter, purchase something. I asked him to do it for me. I call him the force of nature. The problem is you never want to personally negotiate with him because no matter what. He always comes out on top teaches that God, the devil is a master will see negotiator, but in reality he's a master manipulator.

Any deal you enter into with Jim is going to be a losing deal for you. That is why the Bible tells us in Ephesians 427. Don't give place to the devil.

Another translation puts it this way. Don't give the devil a foothold in your life. Listen. Satan is wicked. He's evil. He's coming he's been owning this crap for a long time and he's really good at what he does and he knows in general he can bring a believer down in one fell swoop. Therefore, he seeks to dismantle them a little at a time. Through this subtle strategy of compromise. Show me of Kristin that starting the compromise and I'll show you a Christian that is headed toward spiritual ruin. Okay so were back in her house of David series and cut it to get back into the story of where were at. David is running from. Saul remembered David the shepherd boy has been called by God to be the next king of Israel, the Lord is rejected King Saul because of his disobedience. David goes on in this season defeats the giant 9'6" Philistine named Goliath and he is celebrated by the people of Israel and once Saul discovers that David is going to take his place on the throne. He dedicates his life to the destruction of David and know at this point in David's life every crutch is been removed. His family has effectively abandoned him. His wife has betrayed him.

His best friend can help them in his father-in-law, King Saul wants to kill. So David has a momentary lapse of faith and he runs to his city known as Gath was sort of like Philistine Central.

In fact, Goliath came from the city of Pattern would David was thinking that he could walk to the city not be recognized what he was like a legend in envelopes in his own time. Everybody knew who David was. These immediately recognized. He realizes he's in trouble in these brought before the king, and so David pretends he's insane to get out of the mess of the predicament he's put himself in and then he runs from there and flees to a K called a dual now, David has royally messed everything up by taking matters into his own hands. Now is time alone. No one is with them, no family, no friends is alone with God. But David was going to emerge from this cave a different person then who he was when he went in and surely was feeling sorry for himself to get mad. I just did what God called me to do.

I was happy what's my little flock of sheep part of this. Come upon me. This isn't fair. This isn't right. Maybe even thought no one cares about me, no one loves me. My dad sure does and my brothers don't. My wife is betrayed me. My best friend Jonathan isn't here to help me. He might've thought, you know, things would be better if I weren't even here, people entertain thoughts like that when they get really down sometimes even entertain suicidal thoughts and then maybe if I just left this world all my pain would end. But what they don't realize is that pain will just begin for all of those are left behind, and I want you to know no matter what kind of a situation you're in, you are love and you are wanted and you are needed.

Don't let the devil whisper in your ear. Oh just take your life. No no no don't do that your loved by God, your loved by people more than you will ever realize the lookout. Things change quickly for David.

First Samuel 22 one.

David escaped to the cave of a dual and so when his brothers and all of his father's house herded. They went down there to him. Wait, what his father, his brothers have come to him now this is the father that wouldn't even acknowledge the existence of his son with the prophet Samuel came to Bethlehem looking for the next king of Israel was one of the sons of Jesse.

That's David's dad but now the father comes to him and his brothers are there as well. I must've been reassuring to David is any great when you can reconcile with someone you been estranged with you know sometimes we drift apart from people there might be a member of our family might be a close friend from our childhood and we don't see them for years and we don't even know why. Were not talking to about we just aren't meant something happens that brings us together. Maybe it's an event may be at the death of a loved one or something and then we start communicating again and fellowship is restore. That's what's happening for David how reassuring this must've been and I think his dad and his brothers are finally getting David like while we underestimated this kid.

He's not just the weird kid watching the sheep writing songs this guy's a warrior, this guy's legitimate this guy is going to be the next king and plus he's been a man of integrity because David is handled success very well, you know, I think one of the greatest test of a person's character is not failure, but success. What happens when you succeed. Some people you give him a little power they have a little success and it goes to their head and they become an altogether different person you know what I'm talking about.

Take mall cops for instance not and I respect their doing a job okay but if you're a mall cop let me just say you're not law enforcement. You're not a police officer. You are a mall cop you argued little thing you drive around, which is not very intimidating. Honestly, maybe a little light, but it's a weird little thing you driving what when you arrest someone to a casino get up and hold on to me and will go to the little mall jail together. I don't know but I've seen some people with a little authority it goes of their head a little success that goes with their head a little money it goes of their head David Hout at all. He was still that humble, loving, caring young man that was described in the Bible is having being the man after God's own heart, but it wasn't just his family that showed up. Look at who else shows up first Samuel 22 two.

Everyone was in distress. Everyone who is in debt and everyone who is discontented tethered to him and he became captain over them and there were about 400 men with Jim. How one a motley crew. This was a ragtag army that there there actual cause of the case and would be 3D distress in debt discontented. This was not actually the cream of the crop. Everyone who was in distress. It needs under the pressure of stress. Suddenly David finds himself surrounded by stressed-out people without to send those who are in debt which means people that had a number of creditors so there around them to then everyone who is discontented or literally people who are bitter of soul. People who had been wrong and mistreated. Are these the people you want to hang around with.

That was David's new team, but out of this group of misfits and unhappy, discontented, stressed-out people, God was going to bring a mighty army. They would later be known as David's mighty men of valor, and they would rule with David when he finally extends to the throne. Listen to this, God seems to specialize in taking the outcasts of this culture and turning them into men and women of God.

Let me say that again God specializes in taking the outcasts of the culture and turning them into men and women of God. You know, we if you go to client go go one person really like that. The others are. I think I should clap and match are really what is true. Think about it. We take the apostles we put on pedestals apostles there were so amazing they were just like you and me.

Peter was a hotheaded, impulsive, outspoken guy that Jesus call then take James and John called the Sons of thunder for nothing. One occasion they wanted to call fire down from heaven on a city that was not hospitable toward them and there's Matthew the tax collector what he's working for the occupying force of Rome. He's considered a turncoat and trader by his fellow Jews.

And then there's Simon the zealot. That's what we call a more like Simon the terrorist money was dedicated to the violent overthrow of Rome that these were not the best people to have on your team and Jesus transforms them in to the apostles and he turns the world upside down with them. The apostle Paul sums it this way in first Corinthians 126 from a modern translation.

Take a good look friends and who you were when God called you into this life. I don't see many of the brightest and best among you know many influential nominee from high society families is not obvious that God deliberately chosen men and women at the culture overlooks and exploits abuses. God shows these nobodies to expose the hollow pretensions of the somebodies well said. Think about your life. I think about my. It's not like God got some great prize when the 17-year-old Greg Laurie believed in Jesus.

I was just a mixed up kid going the wrong direction in life and I'm sure you have a similar story so now these rejects are going to be a mighty army under David this is Sue. David is against all odds. He's taking on the establishment he's taking on King Saul and his power, and he's going to be God's man. So here he is in this cave, looking around at his ragtag army organ to become mighty men of faith and he starts getting perspective again he start seeing the potential and at this point. He writes Psalm 57, which says verse for my solos among lions, I must lie down among those who breathe for the fire.

Even the sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows ;-) what are you looking at the same people were looking at these other stressed-out people.

These are the people in debt these other depressed people all you David says but I see them for what they will become delivered.

God sees the same when he looks at you. What you see when you look in the mirror.

Let me put it another way, when you see when you look in a magnifying mirror those are just no fun art you see your flaws. You see your shortcomings.

God sees you differently than the way you see yourself. We see a blank canvas. God sees the finished training we see a failure. God sees potential we see the past God sees the future. We see a mess.

God sees a message we see a zero. God sees a potential hero. He sees things differently than you do.

This ragtag army of David would become mighty men of God. So David is rejoicing back to some 57 which he wrote at this time. He says my heart is steadfast. The Lord will sing praises to God, all right he's done well he's passed the tests now a big test is going to come his way.

It will appear to be a great opportunity but in reality it's a test let's go back to first Samuel 24, reverses 3 to 7 from the new living translation at the place where the road passes some Saul went into a cave to relieve himself will understand what that means. Saul was sitting on a different kind of thrown at this moment and so he's going to the bathroom as we would say and it so happened that David and his men were hiding further back in the very K now is your opportunity. David's men whisper to them.

Today the Lord is telling you I will certainly put your enemy in your power to do as you please. So David crept forward and cut a piece of that hymn of Saul's role. Verse five, but when David's conscience began bothering him because he cut Saul's robe. He said of the men. The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king, I shouldn't attack the Lord's anointed one for the Lord himself, his chosen him. So David restrained his men and did not let them kill King Saul is not an interesting twist in the story. Here is a test okay David, here's your moment. You can slit his throat. You can put an end to this. Saul is been pursuing David for years.

Here's day in day out trying to take his life throwing javelins out of pursuing them with armies. David could've ended. It is David going to be merciful or is David going to be an angry and bitter man like King Saul and this reminds us of the devil who pursues us constantly. He doesn't let up.

Would it be nice if Satan took a day off just one day. Hey, double could you take Mondays off. Just don't bother me just what you'd still get yourself in trouble. Even if the devil wasn't hassling you, but having said that, the devil never takes a day off. He doesn't take an hour off. He's always seeking his prey. The Bible describes them as a roaring lion walking about, seeking whom he may devour the book of Job, we have an interesting story.

The angels of God appear before the Lord and Lucifer was among them that we think it's a double doing in heaven. The devil is not what you think.

Yes, first of all, he doesn't have Redskin, he doesn't have pointed ears. He doesn't have a horn horns.

He doesn't have a goatee. One of the always give a goatee's number pointed tail and he doesn't walk on hook that some caricatures someone came up with. But the reality is, the devil is a beautiful angel Lucifer is how he was known in heaven, but he rebelled against God. Isaiah 14 tells us Satan wanted the number one spot. He wanted to be God. So we lost that high ranking position in heaven, and he took one third of the angels with them.

Now Satan also known as the devil is a fallen angel and those angels I went with them are called demons that so they came from.

So the bad news is one third of the angels rebelled against God. The good news is two thirds of the angels are still on our team. Okay, so we got the majority there and we have the Lord himself, which is the most important thing of all. But up in heaven the angels are appearing Lord scissor Satan. So what you been up to. Here's what the devil says in response, he says, well, I've just been patrolling the year watching everything that's going on you might be surprised to know that the devil believes the Bible is true. He hates it.

He's opposed to everything it says. But he believes the Bible is true because the Bible says even the demons believe and from and Satan believes what the Bible says about his ultimate judgment because Revelation 1212 says of Satan. He is come down to us with great wrath, knowing this time is short resin. Another translation puts it, the devils come down to you with both feet.

He has had a great fall.

He's wild and raging with anger and he hasn't much time and he knows it doesn't not explain things wisely so angry wisely agitated. Why is he pursuing us because he knows his days are numbered. That's King Saul. He can let it go. David could've said hey you know I'm just tired of this.

I'll give God a little assistance. I'm sure the men were rude among come on David kill this guy, this time to curator Don Wright do it. I can David's I can do it is the Lord's anointed God put them in a position to here's point number one if you're taking notes.

We need to do God's will the right way at the right time.

We need to do God's will the right way at the right time. That's very important. Listen, God will accomplish his will and his time. The Bible says he makes all things beautiful in his time, but it's hard. We get impatient with God. Don't really Lord one is my husband going to come to you when is he going to believe I'm in it help you out. Lord, I have a plan to nag him into heaven. The plan is not going to work. It may drive him further away all my prodigal child Lord, they need to return to you that I'm willing pursue them and make it so hard for them and you want to drive your child away from the faith.

Or maybe your single Lord I'm single I want to get married.

I'm tired of waiting.

I'm 18 years old and come on Wayne person Christian guide asked me out a Christian girl I would go find a nonbeliever in Leedom see you move away. Famous last words you need to do God's will and God's time in God's way and here's what was happening with David. Saul was still technically King. He was a bad king but he was in that position of authority. David said I'm not can account God put them there.

I'm not taking them out if God wanted to come out.

You can, but I'm not can it be the one to do it. This is why he is called a man after God's own heart like a verse like his conscience began bothering him after he cuts also broke the leak, but that shows a tender heart. Listen if you have a tender and sensitive conscience. Thank God for that and don't tamper with it.

Point number two. We should not take vengeance on people even if they deserve it. We should not take vengeance on people even if they deserve it. David chooses to forgive Saul and not take vengeance.

That's God's job. Now I told you to turn to Romans 12 right to Romans 12 verse 14 Paul says bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them. Pray that God will bless them.

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do all you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge leave that to the righteous anger of God.

For the Scripture say I will take revenge all pay them back, says the Lord. Their dad's son, our job to be people back that's God's job. Why no, that's a tall order.

We live in a world of conflict. We have division and discord everywhere.

It's only amplified on social media.

We live in a culture that believes in the adage, don't get mad, get even right in the society were living in the exaltation of vengeance and violence is everywhere you look, and it feels like payback is always the answer never forgiveness bringing me the point number three.

Instead of taking vengeance. We should instead forget to get really quiet in here know it's a it's one thing to not take vengeance.

I really want to shoot you back. Okay, I won't get you back know what I'm supposed to forgive you. On top of that, yes, actually you are. Forgiveness is not justice suggested in Scripture it's commanded. Ephesians 431 says be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you not look I don't know about you but this doesn't come naturally to me. How many of you would describe yourself as somewhat passive.

You never get angry at people and you never want to hit back when you're hit Reggie are people like this that many here but there's some how many of you are more of the nature of someone hits you, you want to hear them back raise her hand up your church. Don't like I'm one of you I'm the person you hit me. I want to get you you insult me I have a better insult for you and it's common right now.

So to not fight don't pluck some just Know that's or not supposed to do. I'm not bragging, I'm acknowledging receipt is not a good thing I don't defend it.

It's part of the sinful aspect of who I am, God tells me to forgive the Lord's prayer, Jesus gave us the example he said forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us. Listen to this forgiven people should be forgiving.

What grade they don't deserve forgiveness. Okay.

Point taken.

Do you widow you don't. So God forgive you right. Should you not been forgive others as well beloved CS Lewis said about this he said quote everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely thing until the of someone to forgive culture.

Oh I love forgive this time for forgiveness until were the one that has to extended to someone was hurt us. I like you have been hurt in life, you know, with my crazy childhood. My mom married and divorce seven times. After about the third dad I got tired of calling them. Dad, my mom would literally bring home a man who was a complete stranger to me and say Greg this is your new dad and I throw out that I'm I'm done with this.

I started getting hard and it became an angry young man getting in trouble in school. Very rebellious because of the life I've lived in and you know is I became a Christian I had to forgive my mom later forgive these others either forgive a lot of people I would didn't stop after became a Christian I bet people hurt me like you've had people hurt you. I've had people slander me lie about me, but God tells me to forget. But listen to this forgiveness is not giving into the person who hurt you. It's getting free from the person is getting free from the I know it sounds virtuous when I say I forgive that person. But in a way, it's the only way I can maintain my own sanity because I'm not gonna walk around angry at someone, that hurt me. I don't want to live that way and I don't think you want to live that way easier.

Listen forgiveness is not only good for you spiritually. It's good for you physically and even psychologically, a time magazine just did a story. What they didn't just do it.

It's been out for a while but the cover story was called, should all be forgiven and I quote from it. Scientists and sociologists have begun to extract forgiveness in the active forgiving from the confines of the confessional, transforming it into the subject of quantifiable Easter is another way of saying they're taking it out of the church in nursing. This is something that we've studied and the writer of this article went on to say again I quote several psychotherapists are testifying. There's nothing like forgiveness for dissipating anger. Many marriages and vanishing depression is not interesting there not seem to because the Bible says you should do it, do not seem to it because Jesus tells you to think. Hey, we've studied this, we found that when you forgive people admittance a marriage ended, removes depression and makes life better for you. In general, science is catching up with the Bible again. God had it right all along that it's good to forgive. It's good for you physically, spiritually, and it's not an option back to our story. So Saul is done is business he's left the cave and David's a safe distance from Emily yells at a King Saul, do you notice a little draft in the old robe. I'm holding a piece of it right here. I could've killed two but I didn't know Saul seems to change his tune. First Samuel 24 verse 16 Saul called back. Is that really you, my son, David, and he began to cry and he said to David, you're a better man than I am for you repeatedly. Good for evil human amazingly kind to me today for the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me. You didn't do it who also let his enemy get away when he had them in this power may the Lord reward you for your kind that you show me today and I realized you're surely going to be king in the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your role looks good and improvement right.

That's a much. He said these things, but he didn't really mean them because he returned to his murderous ways. Shortly after this, as they say the proof is in the pudding and I don't even know what that means because I've eaten putting I've never found proof, but I think the idea is someone really is.

Sorry, no change, and if they don't change. Are they sorry the answer is no. The Bible says godly sorrow produces repentance so purely sorry for something you will change your behavior. Oh sure, Saul cried a few tears you can do the same. Chopping and onion but they were tears of repentance free continued on in his path, but I love this because David was not a fool. He didn't go home. Saul is okay Saul I know you know I'm the king. Everything's cool.

I'll go back with you will have meals together. They would like yeah okay see you later he kept his distance. Why does he had a few javelins thrown in his direction from King Saul.

He didn't trust him and he was right to not trust him. So Saul went back to the palace.

He had no intention of abdicating this throne if he had, he would've given his royal robe and crown to David at that very moment, bringing me to point number four. You can't make deals with the devil.

You can't make deals with the devil so I have five grandchildren of one grandson and four granddaughters boys are very different from girls and what they want for Christmas or birthday's and that's why asked my grandson Christopher what would you like for Christmas.

He said a snake and I thought nothing says the birth of Jesus like a serpent right so about a snake, black king snake about this long and that he is really enjoying it now.

I don't if you know this but snakes there. They like protein. In other words they like life. Pray. So he feeds a little baby mice and that's what the snake eats. I'm sorry to tell you that you can try feeding them kale. I don't think they're going to go with. So the other day his father Jonathan said to Christopher you know I forgot one thing.

Okay let me backtrack so he has a snake secure the cage that he can't get out of it about 10 feet away from the cage is a hamster cage case of your remotes can help the benches so so the other day. Jonathan says his son Christopher hey buddy rechecked him a hamster lately 7-Up water and food.

So Christopher goes and checks in the hamster's cage. He can't find a hamster surgeon everywhere there's a bunch of sawdust. So the answer would high you know you can find many reaches in and pulls out the snake. Somehow the king snake got out of his cage and crawl into the hamster's cage. I imagine the conversation took place. The snake said to the hamster tell me what you're looking for. The hamster said well I would like to have a snakeskin coat excellent said the snake.

I would like a full stomach.

Apparently the negotiations were successful hamster God his snakeskin coat and the snake got a full stomach. Did you notice I reference back to the opening story. How many of you got that okay good listeners. How many of you missed it until I told you it doesn't matter we think we've got the devil under control. I got them in this one little area will never get out of this and of the doubles really good at getting into little openings in your life you give him an inch shall take a mile. I've told to destroy before I'm a tell you again because it makes a point years ago when I was a little boy I collected snakes. I love them so much and I have my mother drive me to the pet store and we bought a snake and we put it in the cage. It was secure. We got home and we open the trunk and there was the cage and the snake was gone. The snake was loose in the car you've heard of snakes on a plane. This was snakes in the car.

My mother said I'm never driving this car again. But a week later she had to drive the car and she was sitting in an intersection waiting for the light to turn green. Suddenly a cold coil dropped on her ankle. She opened the door, put her foot out jumped out of the car screaming and there was a police officer there. She said officer. There's a snake in the car. He walked over to the car and saw that a hose would come loose but she never drove the car again and she gave it to me so kids if you want to get cars through snakes work for me but that's the way a snake is that's the way the devil is so just one little area and then he gets a foothold in your life. Remember you give him an inch shall take a mile in the Bible says don't give the devil of foot hole.

He saw the you know, I wrote a book called a Lennon Dylan Allison Jesus about the spiritual journey of different rock stars and some people who had read the book started literally judge a book by its cover to Greg, don't you know these people and sold their souls to the double agreement over that came from this idea that the devil appears with Redskin pointed ears, goatee, horns and a pitchfork and he has a contract shall make you a famous rock star. I'll give you all the success in the world if you sign this and they sign their soul away. You can't sign your soul away. Your soul doesn't belong to you. Your soul belongs to God. You say so that I can even happen.

But you can make a deal with the devil. By that I mean you live a certain lifestyle you live the way he effectively wants you to live in your under his control. But here's the good news. When Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood for your sins. He broke the control of the devil in your life. From this point on all deals are off the not great. Colossians 214 says of Christ on the cross. He canceled the record of the charges against us nailing it to the cross. Let me wrap this message up and return to these men that came to David.

These men that were distressed in debt and discontented. It's just like us. We come to Jesus often when things are down, you know, occasionally someone believes in Christ when things are going well in their life, but generally they don't. It usually takes a wake-up call. Doesn't it. Everything is working well in your life.

You know the sky is blue. The birds are singing, the lights are green. The cell phones charged and then something happens you get the call from the doctor or you have the financial crisis so you have the family crisis or something else takes place. That's a wake-up call, and it causes you to evaluate your life and even to turn to God.

That's a good thing. And most of his came to the Lord when we were in a place just like we were distressed we called out to Jesus and said Jesus. I've been a mess of my life. Would you help me and of course he says yes that was me when I came to Christ sure was. Many of you as well.

Jesus told the story of the prodigal son who went out away said all of his money on wild living in one day. The Bible says he came to his senses and he returned to his father. So we come to the Lord when were distressed and those who are in debt. Our all in debt spiritually. We owe a debt we could never pay the debt of sin. That's what the Bible says the wages of sin are death but as I've said before Christ came to pay a debt he did not know because we owed a debt we could not pay and finally those who are discontented that's many of us as well. You know sometimes people have to climb to the top to find out there's nothing there.

This book that I wrote. I explored many who had incredible success and it was then that they became drug addicts or alcoholics, or as some of them even took their own lives and we said, but why they have everything they have everything that I dream of when you think if I get to this place. I know I'll be happy.

Not my keep you going. But if you get to that place and go beyond the place and even beyond it more and realize there's nothing there. That's why these people are so empty and so sad and make the horrible choices that they make any Winehouse was incredible success are talented young lady. She had global thing she said, quote famous like a terminal cancer. I wouldn't wish it on anyone." These things are empty. Those who are discontented and she tragically died of alcohol poisoning, so you're now the people of Israel have a choice.

What king do you want to follow you want to will follow the wicked King Saul for the godly King David and we have this same choice in our life.

What king are you going to follow. Are you going to follow Jesus Christ the King of Kings and the Lord of lords. Are you gonna follow Satan. I don't like those options by just follow my own course because I am the captain of my ship know you are not your ship is sinking captain you're taking on water. You/you never were the captain of your own ship.

The Bible describes the devil is the God of this world who is in control of the lives of those that do not yet believe she is Christ who sets us free. Because of the blood he shed on the cross and then in his resurrection, and he's the king we should follow in one day as we follow this King he will take us into his kingdom. Remember that thief on the cross: the thief actually was probably a murderer. The Romans didn't crucify thieves.

But they didn't crucify insurrectionist so this man was guilty of a great crime. Whatever was with Doug criminal turned to Jesus and said, Lord, remember me when you come in your kingdom. And Jesus said, truly, truly, I say unto you, today you will be with me in paradise that men at the last moment believed and was forgiven of all of the sin that can happen for all of us of this is the moment we ask ourselves the question have I given the devil a foothold in my life. It is there some sin I am allowed to be a part of my life on a regular basis. I start to build a little place for it and it comes back you know gets out of its cage every now and then the that's I can work out well for you.

This is the time to acknowledge that acknowledge its power over you. If it has power over you and us alerted for you from it, but there might be somebody else here that would say men either. Some of that certain I'm so angry.

I'm so bitter. I want to get him will number one, you're not supposed to get up and even more you're supposed to forgive. That's not easy. Greg will I know that I know, but you should be tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. That's what the Bible says so. It's an act of obedience to forgive, to let it go. I'm not going to be haunted by this thing anymore not let this person what they did to me to have almost at power over me, there forgive and put it behind me. This would be the moment to do that. Maybe there's some other area. Examine yourself. Make sure you're right with God. But if you don't know Jesus yet this should be a great moment to pray and ask him to come into your life.

Let's pray now father I pray for every person here that we will examine ourselves that we will repent of any sin that is gotten a foothold in our life because Lord we want to be free and you you've given us this beautiful freedom Lord of there's someone we need to forgive is there someone we need to apologize to if there's something we need to do some step we need to take Lord help us to take and show us what it is Lord help us to take that step of obedience to you Lord for those that may have joined us who don't know you, let this be the moment they believe it.

If you are here are watching wherever you may be if you're not sure that Jesus Christ is living in your life.

If you're not sure that you're a child of God when you just pray this prayer with me.

We could all print out loud together actually, let's all pray this together, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.

I turn from my sin and I put my faith in you be my Savior and Lord my God and my friend 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