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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Angels and Demons | May 14, 2025
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- Greg laurie: welcome to "harvest with greg laurie."
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- This tv show is all about helping you get to know god
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- Better because god loves you and god has a plan for you
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- And god wants to transform your life.
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- And he's told us everything you need to know about him
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- And life in general in this book, the bible,
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- The user's manual of life.
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- So we're gonna be talking about what the bible says
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- And what god wants to do in your life.
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- Again, welcome, and god bless you.
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- ♪ this is the day, ♪
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- ♪ the day when life begins. ♪
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- ♪ this is the day, ♪
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- ♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
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- Greg: so i heard a story about god up in heaven and he
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- Knew things were bad on earth but he decided to
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- Dispatch an angel to see just how bad things were.
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- It was a top angel.
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- So the angel spent some time on
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- Planet earth, checking things out.
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- He returned to heaven.
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- He said, "lord, things are really bad down there.
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- Basically, mankind is 95% bad and only 5% of them are good."
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- So the lord wanted a second opinion.
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- He sent another angel down.
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- That angel returned after a time.
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- It said, "lord, it's as the other angel said, 95% of the
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- People are bad and only 5% are good."
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- So the lord thought, "well, i want to
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- Encourage the 5% that are good.
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- You know, at least let them know
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- That i appreciate what they're doing.
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- So to the 5% that were good, he sent them all a text.
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- You want to know what the text said?
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- Oh, you didn't get one either?
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- Now that's a silly joke, but actually, angels
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- Are real and they're actively involved in
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- The life of the follower of jesus christ.
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- We live in the natural world but co-existing
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- Is the supernatural world.
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- You and i live in the visible world,
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- But then there is the invisible world.
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- And this world is just as real as the
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- World you and i are living in right now.
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- The story is told in the book of 2 kings about
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- The prophet elisha and his servant, gehazi.
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- So one night, they were surrounded by enemy armies, and
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- Elisha was trying to get a little shuteye.
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- But gehazi was freaking out and he woke up the sleeping prophet
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- And he said, "master, master, we're surrounded by our enemies.
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- What are we gonna do?"
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- And elisha, probably a little irritated that his nap was
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- Interrupted, said, "lord, just open his eyes up,
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- And help him to see that those that are with us
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- Are more than those that are with them."
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- And the eyes of this servant, gehazi, were opened to the
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- Supernatural world, and the bible tells us in 2 kings 6,
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- "behold the mountain was full of horses
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- And chariots of fire, all around elisha."
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- See, he saw into that other dimension, the next dimension,
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- The dimension of angelic creatures.
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- Now, i pray that the lord will open our eyes as we take a
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- Biblical look at what is going on behind the scenes.
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- We're not only gonna look at angels,
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- We're gonna look at demons.
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- We'll look at the work that angels want to do and do in the
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- Life of the christian, and we'll look at the work of demons and
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- What they attempt to do in the life of the christian.
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- So if you're taking notes, here's point number one, angels
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- Sometimes deliver us from difficult situations.
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- Going back to the book of acts, in acts chapter 5, you remember
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- The story of when the angels busted the apostles
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- Out of jail, and the angel said, "go and tell
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- All the people about this new life."
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- We recently looked at the story of peter who
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- Was in prison in acts chapter 12.
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- And we read, "constant prayer was offered
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- To god for him by the church."
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- And so the lord heard that prayer and answered their prayer
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- By dispatching an angel to walk into the cell.
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- The light filled the dark place.
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- So angels definitely emanate light.
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- And then the little chains--they weren't little, probably big
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- Chains--around the ankles and the arms of peter, came off.
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- And then the door opened automatically,
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- And the angel accompanied peter out of the jail,
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- And then when he was outside, the angel just left.
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- "suddenly left," that's what the bible says.
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- I find that interesting. the angel did his job.
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- "okay, i got to get you out of prison.
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- That's my assignment. you're on your own now, buddy."
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- And then peter went over to that prayer meeting and tried to
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- Convince everyone that god had actually delivered him.
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- So that was an angel that was actively involved.
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- Here's point number two, sometimes angels stop
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- Us and other times they prompt us.
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- Sometimes angels stop us and other times they prompt us.
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- In acts chapter 8 we read that an
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- Angel prompted philip to go to the desert.
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- It's interesting, the angel didn't give him any details.
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- He didn't tell him what he was supposed to do when he got to
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- The desert, which actually was to ultimately share
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- The gospel with a visiting dignitary from
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- Ethiopia and lead the man to the lord.
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- The angel's job was to tell philip to go to the desert,
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- And that's exactly what the angel did.
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- So he was prompted by the angel.
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- I wonder if there have been times
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- When an angel has prompted me.
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- I can think of times where i've
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- Felt directly led to do something.
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- Like, right now, i need to do this thing.
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- There's no doubt about it, i need to go
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- To this person and talk to them.
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- I need to take this step of faith.
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- I need to do this other thing.
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- That may have been an angel, of course,
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- Doing the bidding of the lord.
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- The classic example of an angel stopping someone is the story of
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- Balaam and his donkey, one of the more
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- Humorous stories in the bible, i have to say.
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- So there was this guy named balaam.
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- He was sort of a prophet for hire.
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- He was kind of more of a profit, p-r-o-f-i-t,
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- Than he was a p-r-o-p-h-e-t.
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- So he was hired to curse the children of israel, and he was
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- On his way to do the very thing that god did not want him to do.
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- So god dispatched an angel.
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- The job of the angel was "stop balaam
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- From cursing the people of israel."
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- So the interesting thing is the angel goes and appears in a way
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- That the donkey saw him, but the prophet did not.
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- So the donkey's walking along with balaam
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- Riding him and suddenly the donkey sees this
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- Angel, standing in his path with a sword drawn.
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- Hey, this jackass wasn't stupid, and he looked and saw that
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- Powerful being and just stopped, and balaam
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- Became frustrated and started to beat the donkey.
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- And then the angel positioned himself in a
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- Way where the donkey could not get by.
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- They're in this little path where there's a wall there.
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- So the donkey sort of hits the wall
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- And the prophet's leg is hit.
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- Now balaam is really angry and he starts beating the donkey.
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- An amazing scene.
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- And then the bible says the lord opens the donkey's mouth.
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- And the donkey says to balaam, "why are you beating me?"
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- And the prophet, without missing a beat, says,
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- "because you're making me look like a fool.
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- If i had a sword with me, i'd kill you," balaam says.
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- To the prophet, the donkey says, "hold on.
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- Now, haven't i been a good donkey?
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- Have i ever done anything like this before?"
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- Balaam's like, "no, you have a good point there.
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- You've actually been a very good donkey."
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- Wonder what the angel's thinking.
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- "what is with this guy?
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- Does he normally talk to a donkey?
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- I mean, this isn't 'shrek' here. i mean, what is happening?"
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- And balaam is so blinded by, what, his ambition, or whatever
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- It is he was about to do, that he doesn't realize he's having
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- An in-depth conversation with a donkey.
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- And then finally, the angel of the lord appears
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- And balaam now, for the first time, sees the
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- Angel of the lord standing there.
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- And the angel says, "why did you beat your donkey three times?
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- I came to stop you because you were headed for destruction."
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- When god's trying to stop you, don't
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- Keep going in that same direction.
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- I wonder how many times we've been headed for destruction and
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- God changed our course by directing an angel
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- To stop us from where we were going.
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- Greg: angels, they're actively involved
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- In the life of the believer.
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- You could call them god's secret agents
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- Or maybe god's navy seals.
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- You know, the navy seals, they go around the world
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- And they do these amazing operations.
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- A lot of times we don't even know they
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- Were there, but they get the job done.
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- Angels are the same. they do the bidding of god.
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- The bible says that they protect us.
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- The bible says the angel of the lord
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- Encamps round about those that fear him.
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- That means if you're a believer, you
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- Have angels watching over you.
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- Now, do christians have guardian angels?
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- I don't know.
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- There is a reference in scripture where jesus spoke of
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- The children's angels, "their angels," he said.
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- So maybe kids have guardian angels.
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- Some kids need guardian angels.
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- But if we have personalized angels or not, this much we
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- Know, angels are involved in our lives,
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- Protecting us, also they're ministering to us.
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- We read that they're ministering spirits sent to minister to
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- Those who are the heirs of salvation, that's us.
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- And finally, they escort us because one day, when our life
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- On earth is done, the angels will escort us to glory.
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- So they protect us until god is done with us and
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- Then when our work is completed in this world,
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- We're escorted into god's glory by angelic beings.
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- So it's so great to know that the lord has us
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- Covered and we have angels all around us.
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- ♪ this is the day, ♪
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- ♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
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- Greg: all right, the title of this message
- 00:10:45.812 --> 00:10:47.314
- Is "angels and demons."
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- So let's talk a little bit about demons.
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- In the book of acts and in our life in general there are many
- 00:10:52.285 --> 00:10:55.889
- Instances in the acts of the apostles where we see demons at
- 00:10:55.889 --> 00:11:00.360
- Work opposing the work of god, trying to stop the work of god.
- 00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:06.667
- Demons are fallen angels. they're not created as demons.
- 00:11:06.667 --> 00:11:10.604
- They are angels that rebelled against god,
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- Following satan, and now they're part of his world.
- 00:11:14.408 --> 00:11:18.879
- Now, listen, when there was this angelic rebellion, two-third of
- 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:23.917
- The angels stayed on god's side, but one-third of the angels
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- Went on the devil's side or lucifer's side,
- 00:11:27.954 --> 00:11:31.758
- And don't underestimate the power of demons.
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- They have great power.
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- Here's point number four, the devil is not alone.
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- He's not alone. i've already alluded to this.
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- He has a well-organized network of
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- Demon powers doing his bidding.
- 00:11:47.874 --> 00:11:51.545
- What is their objective?
- 00:11:51.545 --> 00:11:53.480
- It would appear that the purpose of demons are twofold, to hinder
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- The purposes of god and extend the power of satan.
- 00:11:57.718 --> 00:12:02.189
- Again, to hinder the purposes of god, to stop god and his people
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- From doing what the lord wants us to do, and then to extend the
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- Reign and power and influence of satan.
- 00:12:12.032 --> 00:12:15.168
- Jesus summed up satan's agenda very simply in john 10:10 when
- 00:12:15.168 --> 00:12:19.372
- He said, "the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy."
- 00:12:19.372 --> 00:12:26.446
- All right, so let's read now some verses
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- Together out of revelation chapter 12.
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- We'll look at how the enemy attacks us
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- And how we can overcome him.
- 00:12:35.555 --> 00:12:37.591
- Revelation 12, starting in verse 7, we read these words,
- 00:12:37.591 --> 00:12:41.928
- "then a war broke out in heaven: michael
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- And his angels fought with the dragon."
- 00:12:45.265 --> 00:12:46.967
- By the way, the dragon is just another word for satan.
- 00:12:46.967 --> 00:12:50.337
- "and the dragon and his angels," that would be the devil and his
- 00:12:50.337 --> 00:12:53.173
- Demons, "fought, but they did not prevail, nor was there a
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- Place found in heaven for them any longer.
- 00:12:56.843 --> 00:12:59.880
- But the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called
- 00:12:59.880 --> 00:13:04.050
- The devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he is
- 00:13:04.050 --> 00:13:07.721
- Cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
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- Then i heard a loud voice in heaven saying, 'now salvation,
- 00:13:11.925 --> 00:13:15.262
- And strength, and the kingdom of our god, and the power
- 00:13:15.262 --> 00:13:17.798
- Of his christ has come, for the accuser of the brethren,'"
- 00:13:17.798 --> 00:13:21.434
- You might underline that phrase, i'll come back to it.
- 00:13:21.434 --> 00:13:24.237
- "'the accuser of the brethren, who accused them before our god
- 00:13:24.237 --> 00:13:28.742
- Day and night, has been cast down.
- 00:13:28.742 --> 00:13:31.344
- And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb,
- 00:13:31.344 --> 00:13:34.080
- By the word of their testimony, and they
- 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:36.283
- Did not love their lives to the death.
- 00:13:36.283 --> 00:13:38.752
- Therefore,'" verse 12 says, "'rejoice,
- 00:13:38.752 --> 00:13:40.687
- O heavens, and you that dwell in them!
- 00:13:40.687 --> 00:13:42.622
- Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the seal for the devil
- 00:13:42.622 --> 00:13:46.226
- Has come down to you, having great wrath,
- 00:13:46.226 --> 00:13:48.428
- Because he know he has a short time.'"
- 00:13:48.428 --> 00:13:51.598
- Wow, powerful words.
- 00:13:51.598 --> 00:13:53.667
- We learn a lot about the devil
- 00:13:53.667 --> 00:13:56.169
- And his agenda from these verses.
- 00:13:56.169 --> 00:13:59.606
- Here's some takeaway truths,
- 00:13:59.606 --> 00:14:01.274
- The devil knows his days are numbered.
- 00:14:01.274 --> 00:14:04.211
- The devil knows his days are numbered.
- 00:14:04.211 --> 00:14:07.280
- Again, we read there in verse 12, "he knows he has
- 00:14:07.280 --> 00:14:10.684
- A short time," and he's not happy about it.
- 00:14:10.684 --> 00:14:14.354
- You might be surprised to know
- 00:14:14.354 --> 00:14:15.689
- That the devil believes the bible.
- 00:14:15.689 --> 00:14:18.725
- He hates it, he opposes it, he's in rebellion against what it
- 00:14:18.725 --> 00:14:23.096
- Says, but he believes the bible is true.
- 00:14:23.096 --> 00:14:27.434
- In fact, he even quotes the bible to jesus during the
- 00:14:27.434 --> 00:14:30.136
- Temptation in the wilderness, saying, "since you are the son
- 00:14:30.136 --> 00:14:34.875
- Of god, why don't you do thus and so."
- 00:14:34.875 --> 00:14:38.745
- Not only does the devil believe the bible is true, the devil
- 00:14:38.745 --> 00:14:41.748
- Knows jesus christ is god and he's powerful.
- 00:14:41.748 --> 00:14:44.985
- He remembered that there would be demon-possessed
- 00:14:44.985 --> 00:14:47.020
- People that would say to jesus, "don't cast
- 00:14:47.020 --> 00:14:49.723
- Us into the pit before our time."
- 00:14:49.723 --> 00:14:52.425
- James reminds us the demons believe and tremble.
- 00:14:52.425 --> 00:14:56.997
- Oh, they're orthodox in their beliefs,
- 00:14:56.997 --> 00:14:59.199
- Meaning they believe the bible is true.
- 00:14:59.199 --> 00:15:01.301
- They believe jesus christ is god, and
- 00:15:01.301 --> 00:15:03.336
- They believe jesus christ is coming again.
- 00:15:03.336 --> 00:15:06.840
- So the devil knows his days are numbered.
- 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:10.343
- He knows his time is short.
- 00:15:10.343 --> 00:15:11.811
- He's, like, on a wild rampage, trying
- 00:15:11.811 --> 00:15:15.448
- To destroy as many lives as possible.
- 00:15:15.448 --> 00:15:18.652
- So let's close with just a few thoughts about how to overcome
- 00:15:18.652 --> 00:15:23.189
- The devil and the demons and these truths
- 00:15:23.189 --> 00:15:26.726
- Are found right here in revelation 12.
- 00:15:26.726 --> 00:15:30.363
- This is my sixth point in this message, the devil does not
- 00:15:30.363 --> 00:15:34.200
- Want you to know he attacks with accusation.
- 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:38.038
- One of his main strategies, accusation.
- 00:15:38.038 --> 00:15:40.674
- Going back to the story in the book of job,
- 00:15:40.674 --> 00:15:43.376
- The angels appear before god.
- 00:15:43.376 --> 00:15:44.978
- Satan is among them.
- 00:15:44.978 --> 00:15:46.780
- God asks lucifer what he's been up to.
- 00:15:46.780 --> 00:15:48.682
- He says, "walking around, looking at things going on."
- 00:15:48.682 --> 00:15:51.451
- And then the lord says, "have you considered my servant job, a
- 00:15:51.451 --> 00:15:54.821
- Perfect and upright man, one that fears god and shuns evil?"
- 00:15:54.821 --> 00:15:58.491
- The devil immediately begins to oppose and accuse,
- 00:15:58.491 --> 00:16:02.829
- "oh, you think job fears you for nothing?
- 00:16:02.829 --> 00:16:06.466
- Job fears you and follows you because you've blessed him,
- 00:16:06.466 --> 00:16:10.437
- You've given him a lot of cool stuff.
- 00:16:10.437 --> 00:16:12.272
- No wonder he follows you.
- 00:16:12.272 --> 00:16:13.773
- Let me have a little time with job.
- 00:16:13.773 --> 00:16:15.408
- I'll see what he's made of."
- 00:16:15.408 --> 00:16:17.444
- And the lord allowed the devil to bring a series of very
- 00:16:17.444 --> 00:16:22.716
- Horrible events into the life of job, and job came through all of
- 00:16:22.716 --> 00:16:27.487
- This with flying colors, never doubting god but yet, at the
- 00:16:27.487 --> 00:16:31.658
- Same time, it shows the strategy of satan, accusing,
- 00:16:31.658 --> 00:16:36.029
- Attacking, and that's what he does to us.
- 00:16:36.029 --> 00:16:38.932
- In revelation 12:10 it says, "the accuser of the brethren,"
- 00:16:38.932 --> 00:16:43.937
- That's us, "who accuses them before our god
- 00:16:43.937 --> 00:16:46.973
- Day and night, has been cast out."
- 00:16:46.973 --> 00:16:49.476
- This is how it works in your life and mine.
- 00:16:49.476 --> 00:16:52.278
- We're just going about our business, maybe reading the
- 00:16:52.278 --> 00:16:55.348
- Bible, maybe sitting in a church service, maybe praying, when
- 00:16:55.348 --> 00:16:59.519
- Suddenly a horrible thought comes to your mind.
- 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:02.756
- Do you know what i'm talking about?
- 00:17:02.756 --> 00:17:04.090
- A horrible thought, a wicked, evil thought, and you're
- 00:17:04.090 --> 00:17:07.827
- Thinking, "where did this come from?"
- 00:17:07.827 --> 00:17:09.996
- Boom, comes to your mind.
- 00:17:09.996 --> 00:17:12.532
- And then immediately, the devil says to you, "how could you
- 00:17:12.532 --> 00:17:16.069
- Think such a thing when you're praying?
- 00:17:16.069 --> 00:17:19.172
- How could you have such a thought when you're
- 00:17:19.172 --> 00:17:22.509
- Sitting in church, supposedly worshiping?"
- 00:17:22.509 --> 00:17:26.179
- You see, he sends the thought and then condemns us
- 00:17:26.179 --> 00:17:30.683
- For having the thought knock at our door.
- 00:17:30.683 --> 00:17:32.485
- Look, it's not a sin to be tempted.
- 00:17:32.485 --> 00:17:36.056
- It's only a sin when i invite temptation in for tea, right?
- 00:17:36.056 --> 00:17:41.194
- It's been said, "you can't stop a bird from flying over your
- 00:17:41.194 --> 00:17:44.364
- Head, but you can stop it from building a nest in your hair."
- 00:17:44.364 --> 00:17:48.835
- And in my case, the bird better bring some extra materials
- 00:17:48.835 --> 00:17:51.905
- 'cause there's no hair to work with.
- 00:17:51.905 --> 00:17:53.706
- But the point is, you know, you can't stop the temptation from
- 00:17:53.706 --> 00:17:56.810
- Coming, but you don't have to open the door.
- 00:17:56.810 --> 00:17:59.646
- Listen to this, when temptation comes,
- 00:17:59.646 --> 00:18:02.315
- Here's something you need to remember.
- 00:18:02.315 --> 00:18:04.517
- The problem is not in the bait, it's in the bite.
- 00:18:04.517 --> 00:18:08.121
- It's not a sin if the bait is dangled in front of you.
- 00:18:08.121 --> 00:18:11.257
- It's only a sin if you bite it.
- 00:18:11.257 --> 00:18:13.293
- It's only a sin if you go for it.
- 00:18:13.293 --> 00:18:15.328
- If you reject it, well, the bible says, "blessed,"
- 00:18:15.328 --> 00:18:18.331
- Or happy, "is the man that endures temptation,
- 00:18:18.331 --> 00:18:22.335
- For he will receive the crown of life."
- 00:18:22.335 --> 00:18:24.070
- So there's a reward for that.
- 00:18:24.070 --> 00:18:25.772
- So there's nothing wrong with being tempted.
- 00:18:25.772 --> 00:18:28.007
- It's not a bad thing if some horrible thought comes to your
- 00:18:28.007 --> 00:18:30.543
- Mind if you reject that thought.
- 00:18:30.543 --> 00:18:32.779
- The problem is when you take that thought into your mind,
- 00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:36.783
- Entertain it, and let it turn into something else.
- 00:18:36.783 --> 00:18:39.752
- Here's another way the devil comes.
- 00:18:39.752 --> 00:18:41.387
- He'll come to you and say,
- 00:18:41.387 --> 00:18:42.722
- "why don't you go ahead and do this sin?
- 00:18:42.722 --> 00:18:45.191
- No one will ever know.
- 00:18:45.191 --> 00:18:47.327
- I know you're gonna get away with this.
- 00:18:47.327 --> 00:18:49.295
- Listen, you can trus-s-s-st me." he's a serpent, remember?
- 00:18:49.295 --> 00:18:55.902
- So we stupidly say, "duh, okay," and we take the bite.
- 00:18:55.902 --> 00:19:00.907
- We go after that thing he offers, and then the devil comes
- 00:19:00.907 --> 00:19:04.310
- Right back and says, "you miserable hypocrite.
- 00:19:04.310 --> 00:19:06.813
- You call yourself a christian after what you just did?"
- 00:19:06.813 --> 00:19:10.116
- Now he's accusing you before god.
- 00:19:10.116 --> 00:19:13.153
- How do you overcome him? how do you respond to this?
- 00:19:13.153 --> 00:19:16.523
- Look at verse 11, revelation 12, "they overcame him by the blood
- 00:19:16.523 --> 00:19:21.427
- Of the lamb, by the word of their testimony, and they did
- 00:19:21.427 --> 00:19:24.998
- Not love their lives to the death."
- 00:19:24.998 --> 00:19:26.766
- Number one, they overcame him by the blood of the lamb.
- 00:19:26.766 --> 00:19:30.236
- Satan comes to you and says,
- 00:19:30.236 --> 00:19:31.571
- "you're not worthy to approach god.
- 00:19:31.571 --> 00:19:33.540
- Don't even think about praying." my response, "so true.
- 00:19:33.540 --> 00:19:37.043
- I'm so not worthy to approach god."
- 00:19:37.043 --> 00:19:40.413
- But i'm not approaching god on
- 00:19:40.413 --> 00:19:42.048
- The basis of what i've done for god.
- 00:19:42.048 --> 00:19:44.250
- I'm approaching god on the basis of what he has done for me.
- 00:19:44.250 --> 00:19:48.354
- Listen to this. this is an important one.
- 00:19:48.354 --> 00:19:51.457
- You will never overcome the devil
- 00:19:51.457 --> 00:19:53.993
- If there's unconfessed sin in your heart.
- 00:19:53.993 --> 00:19:58.164
- You will never overcome the devil
- 00:19:58.164 --> 00:20:00.033
- If there's unconfessed sin in your heart.
- 00:20:00.033 --> 00:20:03.036
- Look, when sin remains unconfessed,
- 00:20:03.036 --> 00:20:06.206
- There is a wall between us and god.
- 00:20:06.206 --> 00:20:08.908
- Again, "if we'll confess our sin," 1 john 1:9,
- 00:20:08.908 --> 00:20:12.579
- "he's faithful and just to forgive us our sin
- 00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:14.981
- And cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
- 00:20:14.981 --> 00:20:16.950
- You say, "but what does it mean to confess our sin?
- 00:20:16.950 --> 00:20:19.285
- Does that mean i have to confess every sin i've ever committed?"
- 00:20:19.285 --> 00:20:22.689
- No, because you probably don't even
- 00:20:22.689 --> 00:20:24.057
- Realize how many sins you've committed.
- 00:20:24.057 --> 00:20:26.859
- But it means that you say, "i acknowledge i've sinned, lord."
- 00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:30.697
- The word "confess" means to agree with.
- 00:20:30.697 --> 00:20:33.233
- And in this case, you're agreeing with god so, like, if
- 00:20:33.233 --> 00:20:35.368
- You and i went out for a burger and we both said, "that was an
- 00:20:35.368 --> 00:20:38.037
- Awesome burger," we agree together.
- 00:20:38.037 --> 00:20:40.940
- So when i'm confessing my sin, i'm agreeing with god.
- 00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:44.177
- God says, "sin is bad." "i agree, lord.
- 00:20:44.177 --> 00:20:46.779
- It's bad. i confess it," okay?
- 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:49.816
- But if i don't confess my sin,
- 00:20:49.816 --> 00:20:51.618
- The devil can get a foothold in my life.
- 00:20:51.618 --> 00:20:54.754
- In ephesians 4:27, we read these words, "don't give the devil
- 00:20:54.754 --> 00:20:59.559
- An opportunity to lead you into sin."
- 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:02.462
- Another translation puts it this way, "don't let
- 00:21:02.462 --> 00:21:05.665
- The devil get a foothold in your life."
- 00:21:05.665 --> 00:21:07.467
- Okay, how could he get a foothold in our life?
- 00:21:07.467 --> 00:21:10.303
- Listen, now, as the verse continues on, "by holding a
- 00:21:10.303 --> 00:21:13.706
- Grudge, by nurturing anger, by harboring resentment,
- 00:21:13.706 --> 00:21:19.279
- And by cultivating bitterness."
- 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:22.148
- So, if i cultivate bitterness, i can give
- 00:21:22.148 --> 00:21:25.885
- The devil a foothold on my life.
- 00:21:25.885 --> 00:21:27.453
- You say, "what does that mean 'to cultivate bitterness'?"
- 00:21:27.453 --> 00:21:29.422
- Cultivate, you know, i'm--it's like i'm planting something, i'm
- 00:21:29.422 --> 00:21:31.758
- Watering it, i'm tending to it, i'm letting it grow.
- 00:21:31.758 --> 00:21:35.662
- You know, bitter people are not happy to keep it to themselves.
- 00:21:35.662 --> 00:21:39.165
- They wanna go and talk to others.
- 00:21:39.165 --> 00:21:40.800
- "what do you think about this?
- 00:21:40.800 --> 00:21:42.302
- I think it's wrong. do you think it's wrong?"
- 00:21:42.302 --> 00:21:44.304
- Don't cultivate bitterness or harbor bitterness.
- 00:21:44.304 --> 00:21:48.608
- Another way is harboring resentment.
- 00:21:48.608 --> 00:21:51.344
- "that person hurt me, and i refuse to forgive that person."
- 00:21:51.344 --> 00:21:55.648
- Now the reality is, maybe that person didn't
- 00:21:55.648 --> 00:21:57.817
- Hurt you, but you think they did.
- 00:21:57.817 --> 00:22:00.486
- Regardless if they did or they did not, harboring resentment
- 00:22:00.486 --> 00:22:04.557
- Can give a foothold to the devil.
- 00:22:04.557 --> 00:22:06.993
- Nurturing anger, that verse says.
- 00:22:06.993 --> 00:22:09.162
- You nurture it instead of saying, "i don't want this
- 00:22:09.162 --> 00:22:12.265
- Anger, i want to extinguish this fire," you nurture it.
- 00:22:12.265 --> 00:22:15.234
- You're putting gasoline on the fire of anger.
- 00:22:15.234 --> 00:22:18.404
- You like to keep it going, you like to be mad.
- 00:22:18.404 --> 00:22:20.907
- You know, some people are perpetually mad about something.
- 00:22:20.907 --> 00:22:24.177
- It's not the same thing.
- 00:22:24.177 --> 00:22:25.578
- They're just always angry about something.
- 00:22:25.578 --> 00:22:28.781
- By doing that, you give the devil a foothold in your life.
- 00:22:28.781 --> 00:22:31.984
- And finally, that verse says, "holding a grudge."
- 00:22:31.984 --> 00:22:34.554
- Holding a grudge. "you hurt me.
- 00:22:34.554 --> 00:22:36.122
- I'm not gonna forget. i'm not gonna forget.
- 00:22:36.122 --> 00:22:38.991
- I'm gonna remember this forever."
- 00:22:38.991 --> 00:22:40.893
- This is really problematic in marriage, you know, when you're
- 00:22:40.893 --> 00:22:43.730
- Having a disagreement with your spouse and they say, "well, i
- 00:22:43.730 --> 00:22:46.299
- Remember the time you said to me, 25 years ago."
- 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:49.836
- Wait, what? twenty-five years ago?
- 00:22:49.836 --> 00:22:53.039
- Don't harbor a grudge.
- 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:55.007
- Don't give the devil a foothold in your life.
- 00:22:55.007 --> 00:22:58.311
- These believers overcame the devil by the blood of the lamb
- 00:22:58.311 --> 00:23:02.548
- And by the word of their testimony.
- 00:23:02.548 --> 00:23:05.084
- See, when i'm walking with jesus christ,
- 00:23:05.084 --> 00:23:07.854
- I proclaim the gospel to other people.
- 00:23:07.854 --> 00:23:11.057
- Listen, in the spiritual battle the way we move forward,
- 00:23:11.057 --> 00:23:14.861
- The way we gain ground, the way we take enemy
- 00:23:14.861 --> 00:23:19.031
- Territory is by preaching the gospel.
- 00:23:19.031 --> 00:23:22.201
- The devil will not be able to stop us, see?
- 00:23:22.201 --> 00:23:25.171
- So they overcame him by the blood of the lamb,
- 00:23:25.171 --> 00:23:27.740
- By the word of their testimony.
- 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:29.208
- They were gaining ground through proclaiming the gospel.
- 00:23:29.208 --> 00:23:34.013
- And then finally, "they loved not their lives to the death."
- 00:23:34.013 --> 00:23:37.517
- What does that mean?
- 00:23:37.517 --> 00:23:38.851
- It means that these folks realized
- 00:23:38.851 --> 00:23:40.686
- That their lives belonged to god.
- 00:23:40.686 --> 00:23:43.222
- They realized that their times were in
- 00:23:43.222 --> 00:23:45.191
- His hands and that god was in control.
- 00:23:45.191 --> 00:23:48.261
- We can overcome the devil. why?
- 00:23:48.261 --> 00:23:50.229
- "because greater is he that is in us,"
- 00:23:50.229 --> 00:23:52.732
- Jesus says, "than he that is in the world."
- 00:23:52.732 --> 00:23:57.503
- Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart
- 00:24:01.407 --> 00:24:04.410
- And you have seen your need for jesus christ.
- 00:24:04.410 --> 00:24:07.947
- Jesus christ is the son of god who
- 00:24:07.947 --> 00:24:10.950
- Came from heaven to this earth.
- 00:24:10.950 --> 00:24:13.219
- He was born in a manger. he died in a cross.
- 00:24:13.219 --> 00:24:16.923
- He rose again from the dead. why?
- 00:24:16.923 --> 00:24:19.025
- Because he loves you and he wants a relationship with you.
- 00:24:19.025 --> 00:24:22.562
- Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
- 00:24:22.562 --> 00:24:24.764
- I don't wanna be a religious person.
- 00:24:24.764 --> 00:24:26.432
- I don't think you wanna be one either.
- 00:24:26.432 --> 00:24:28.534
- I'm talking about relationship with god.
- 00:24:28.534 --> 00:24:32.205
- Jesus who died and rose again stands at the door of your life
- 00:24:32.205 --> 00:24:36.576
- And he knocks and he says if you'll hear his voice
- 00:24:36.576 --> 00:24:39.479
- And open the door, he will come in.
- 00:24:39.479 --> 00:24:41.514
- Question, have you asked jesus christ to
- 00:24:41.514 --> 00:24:43.983
- Come and live inside of you?
- 00:24:43.983 --> 00:24:45.818
- You might say, "well, i think so, i'm not sure."
- 00:24:45.818 --> 00:24:47.887
- Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle of the
- 00:24:47.887 --> 00:24:50.356
- Night, do you think you would be aware of it?
- 00:24:50.356 --> 00:24:53.025
- I'm sure you would.
- 00:24:53.025 --> 00:24:54.494
- And in the same way, if christ has come
- 00:24:54.494 --> 00:24:56.462
- To live inside of you, you will know.
- 00:24:56.462 --> 00:24:58.798
- And if you don't know, maybe he has not come in yet.
- 00:24:58.798 --> 00:25:02.535
- He's just a prayer away.
- 00:25:02.535 --> 00:25:04.403
- All you need to do is say, "jesus,
- 00:25:04.403 --> 00:25:06.372
- I want this relationship with you.
- 00:25:06.372 --> 00:25:08.374
- I want you to forgive me of my sin.
- 00:25:08.374 --> 00:25:10.676
- I want to go to heaven when i die."
- 00:25:10.676 --> 00:25:12.778
- Would you like to do that?
- 00:25:12.778 --> 00:25:14.146
- Would you like christ to come into your life?
- 00:25:14.146 --> 00:25:16.782
- If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
- 00:25:16.782 --> 00:25:19.919
- You can pray it out loud or you can pray
- 00:25:19.919 --> 00:25:21.888
- It in the quietness of your heart.
- 00:25:21.888 --> 00:25:24.323
- But this is a prayer where you're asking
- 00:25:24.323 --> 00:25:25.925
- Jesus christ to be your savior and lord.
- 00:25:25.925 --> 00:25:29.061
- Pray this with me now, lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner,
- 00:25:29.061 --> 00:25:33.733
- But i know that you're the savior who died on the cross
- 00:25:33.733 --> 00:25:37.670
- For my sin and rose again from the dead.
- 00:25:37.670 --> 00:25:40.072
- Now come into my life.
- 00:25:40.072 --> 00:25:42.942
- I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
- 00:25:42.942 --> 00:25:47.280
- Thank you for hearing this prayer
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- And answering this prayer.
- 00:25:49.315 --> 00:25:51.217
- In jesus's name, amen.
- 00:25:51.217 --> 00:25:54.020
- Did you just pray that prayer with me?
- 00:25:54.020 --> 00:25:56.422
- If so, i want you to know on the authority of scripture that
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- Christ himself has come to live inside of you.
- 00:25:59.225 --> 00:26:02.495
- And i would love to send to you at no charge
- 00:26:02.495 --> 00:26:05.631
- Something called the new believer's bible.
- 00:26:05.631 --> 00:26:08.234
- It's a very friendly translation of the new testament
- 00:26:08.234 --> 00:26:11.137
- You'll find very understandable
- 00:26:11.137 --> 00:26:13.272
- And it's filled with hundreds of notes that i wrote
- 00:26:13.272 --> 00:26:16.509
- That will encourage you in this commitment you've just made
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- To follow jesus.
- 00:26:19.245 --> 00:26:20.713
- Let me send that to you at no charge.
- 00:26:20.713 --> 00:26:23.115
- And let me be the first to say to you,
- 00:26:23.115 --> 00:26:25.217
- Congratulations, and welcome to the family of god.
- 00:26:25.217 --> 00:26:30.022
- Greg: greg laurie here.
- 00:26:30.723 --> 00:26:32.091
- You know, at harvest ministries we're committing to reaching
- 00:26:32.091 --> 00:26:34.493
- Unexpected people in unexpected places with an
- 00:26:34.493 --> 00:26:37.897
- Unexpected message.
- 00:26:37.897 --> 00:26:39.532
- And thanks to your financial support, we've been able to
- 00:26:39.532 --> 00:26:43.936
- Touch people all over the world with the hope of jesus christ.
- 00:26:43.936 --> 00:26:48.407
- Your gifts today not only help us reach millions across the
- 00:26:48.407 --> 00:26:52.178
- Country through this television program, they also help us to
- 00:26:52.178 --> 00:26:56.382
- Bring hope to people in their biggest need, whether through
- 00:26:56.382 --> 00:26:59.952
- Our evangelistic events or our relief efforts, together we've
- 00:26:59.952 --> 00:27:03.889
- Been able to minister to so many people devastated by the fires
- 00:27:03.889 --> 00:27:08.027
- In lahaina on the island of maui.
- 00:27:08.027 --> 00:27:10.062
- And also, your support has helped us partner to bring
- 00:27:10.062 --> 00:27:13.532
- Medical help in the ongoing conflict in israel.
- 00:27:13.532 --> 00:27:16.802
- So i'm asking you today to continue to support this
- 00:27:16.802 --> 00:27:19.939
- Ministry so we can do everything possible to fulfill the
- 00:27:19.939 --> 00:27:24.210
- Great commission.
- 00:27:24.210 --> 00:27:25.578
- Let's do this together, and let me say in advance,
- 00:27:25.578 --> 00:27:28.581
- Thank you and god bless you.
- 00:27:28.581 --> 00:27:28.581
