Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - Forgiven and Free

January 30, 2025 | S25:E26

Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Forgiven and Free | January 30, 2025

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♪♪♪
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Greg laurie: god can change you on the inside, because
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You've tried to be a better person, you've tried to break
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Free from the power of alcohol, you've tried to turn away from
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That lifestyle of drugs, you've tried to live that sexually pure
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Life, but none of it has really worked, has it?
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Well that's because the problem is within.
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♪ this is the day the day when life begins. ♪
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♪ this is the day the day when life begins. ♪♪
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Greg laurie: the title of my message tonight is, "forgiven
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And free " and it's based on john chapter 8, i'll be reading
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From the bible in a few moments.
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You know, years ago my oldest son christopher,
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Came home with a rat.
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No plan, no cage, just a rat.
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He thought it would be a good idea to buy a rat.
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So he is got a rat on his shoulder.
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Like, "what prompted you to do that?"
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He said, "i thought the rat was cool, so i bought it."
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"so, all right, well we better get a cage."
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So we went and we got a cage and put the rat in there.
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I said, "what do you wanna name him?"
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He named him nicodemus.
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That's a guy from the bible, nicodemus the rat.
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And so christopher always an artistic guy, built a very cool
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Little house for the rat.
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Little house for him.
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I think it was out of some kind of wood, maybe balsa wood, but
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So he even put the name of the rat over the top of the door of
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The little house.
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And so we went to bed that night thinking it was so cool that
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Nicodemus the rat had his own little house there.
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We came back the next morning and the house was gone, because
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Nicodemus the rat ate the house.
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And that's because a rat is a rat.
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And if you're really old, it reminds you that a horse is
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A horse of course, of course.
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If you don't know what i'm talking about, you're not old.
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That was an old show called, "mr. rat."
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But you see that's the whole point.
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Sometimes we'd like to treat our animals as
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Though they are people.
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A lot of people treat their dogs as their own children.
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You know, they dress them up in humiliating outfits, they buy
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Food for their dogs that looks like people food, because they
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Think the dog will actually appreciate that, and worst of
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All, they push dogs around in strollers.
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People, this has to stop.
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How many of you push your dog in a stroller?
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You push it please get out now go.
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Seriously, go.
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No, i don't want you here, no i'm kidding.
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The only thing i can think of worse on that is pushing a cat
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In a stroller.
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I think even a cat would probably have more dignity
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Saying, "i'm not getting in that thing?"
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Dogs are thinking, "this is the good life, right?"
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But we treat dogs like people, but the reality is, a dog,
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He would rather just do what dogs do.
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He'd rather be eating roadkill, and drinking toilet water,
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And chasing a cat.
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Because a dog is a dog, just like a rat is a rat.
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You can't change the nature of an animal.
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The bible even says, "can a leopard change its spots."
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So then we ask the question, can people change?
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Are we just the victim of fate?
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No matter what happen in life, we have to deal with the hand
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That we've been dealt and therefore i have nothing
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To say about who i will be.
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No, i don't think that's true, people can change.
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But we can't change ourselves anymore than a drowning man
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Can save himself.
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We need someone else to save us, someone else to change us.
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Sometimes they think, well, if i just changed the outside, i'll
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Be different on the inside but of course that doesn't work.
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I think some people think that they lived in a new place.
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They would be a better person or their life would be better.
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You know, people from all around the nation and even the world,
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Come right here to california and specifically to southern
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California, why?
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Well, they've heard all these songs about california
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Over the years.
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I mean, california has more songs written about it than any
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Other state in the union.
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"california dreaming," "california girls,"
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"california sun."
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You heard about surf city because there's two girls
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For every guy, right?
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So you come to california and it doesn't quite measure up.
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Other people think, well, if i just got some new friends,
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I would be a better person.
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If i'm single or if i could just get married, i know i'd be happy
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If i'm married, then you get married and you say,
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"oh man, if i was just single again i'd be happy."
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Right?
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Then other people think, "well, i'll change my appearance,
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I'll go get some cosmetic surgery."
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Americans spend 16 billion dollars on plastic surgery.
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16 billion dollars and that's newport beach alone folks.
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No, i'm kidding, but you know, you're gonna change
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The way you look.
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Botox is very popular now.
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You know, some people get so much botox, it's like their face
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Doesn't work anymore.
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They have to tell you how they're feeling.
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Are you mad or happy because you have the same basic expression.
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See, that's not gonna change who you are on the inside.
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God can change you on the inside, because you've tried to
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Be a better person, you've tried to break free
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From the power of alcohol.
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You've tried to turn away from that lifestyle of drugs, you've
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Tried to live that sexually pure life, but none of it has really
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Worked, has it?
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Well that's because the problem is within.
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Some will say, "the answer is within."
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No, the problem is within.
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The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart.
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And the bible tells us the heart who we are on the inside is
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Desperately wicked, who can really know it?
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God can change our heart.
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And i wanna tell you a story about a girl
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That messed up big time.
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She got caught having sex with some guy,
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And everything just blew up.
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And that's happening to so many men and women today with sex
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Hookup apps like tinder and pure, all you gotta do is swipe
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Right and get yourself into all kinds of trouble.
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And then a girl finds herself pregnant, and the first thing
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She might even consider or someone else might encourage her
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To do is, "go get an abortion."
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Abortion is never the right choice, because you're taking
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The life of an unborn child made in the image of god.
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This is personal to me, because i was conceived out of wedlock.
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My mom had a fling with some guy in between husband, she was
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Married and divorced seven times and voila, i was conceived.
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I'm so glad my mom didn't go and get an abortion.
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I read a quote recently from steve jobs, of course the
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Founder of apple, probably made the phone
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You have in your pocket.
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He was put up for adoption because his mother got pregnant
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And didn't want to raise him, so she put him up for adoption
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And a family took him in and raised him.
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And jobs said quote, "i wanted to meet my biological mother to
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Thank her, because i'm glad i didn't end up as an abortion."
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Yeah that's, that's true.
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You know, it's important to know.
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You say, "well, no greg, you're wrong about this, actually life
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Begins at birth."
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No it doesn't, life begins at conception.
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In fact the bible tells us in psalm 139, "i'm like an open
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Book, you watch me grow from conception to birth, all the
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Stages of my life were spread up before you.
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The days of my life are all prepared."
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But listen, girls get into trouble morally.
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But this is a story of a woman who made the wrong choice and
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She ended up being caught by a bunch of religious people and
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Brought and thrown at the feet of jesus.
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You know, i don't know girls, some of you may think that
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Some guys gonna come and meet your deepest needs.
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You're putting all your hope in a relationship with a man.
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Some of you guys think a girls is gonna
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Meet your deepest needs.
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Look, there's a place for relationships.
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I'm so thankful to be married to a wonderful woman
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Like cathy all these years
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But there's a hole deep inside of you, that a man can't
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Fill and a woman can't fill, only god can fill it and
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It's a relationship with him through jesus christ.
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How many of you have heard of marilyn monroe?
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You know, she died a long time ago, but she's become an
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American icon.
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She was called in her day, the blonde bombshell and she lived
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Such a tragic life.
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Marilyn monroe, according to a new book that has just come out
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Called the private life of a public icon, said that marilyn
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Was conceived out of wedlock.
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She spent the rest of her life searching for a father.
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She was involved with a succession of men and in the
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End, all those men let her down.
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And she ultimately died of a drug overdose in 1962.
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The author of this book concludes quote, "she put all
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Her hopes in the men she was with.
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It's what she was looking for, she was looking for a father,
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She was looking for a savior.
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And he says she was a lady born at a turmoil and she spent the
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Rest of her life looking to be saved."
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End quote.
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Well, she never was tragically that we know of, but the story
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Before us in the bible is a story of a woman who made bad
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Moral choices, but she was saved by jesus christ.
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And you can be saved by him tonight and forgiven by him,
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Regardless of what sins you've committed,
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If you're a man or a woman.
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It's right here in john chapter 8.
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Let me read to you from the bible, if you brought a bible,
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You can read along.
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I'm in verse 3.
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"teacher, they said to jesus, this woman was caught in the
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Very active adultery, and the law of moses says to stone her,
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What do you say?
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They were trying to trap him into saying something they could
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Use against him."
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I love this part.
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"jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.
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They kept demanding an answer and he stood up and said, 'all
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Right, stone her.
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Let the first one among you, who has never sinned throw the first
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Stone.' then he stooped down again and he wrote in the dust.
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And when the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by
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One beginning with the oldest, until only jesus was left in the
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Middle of the crowd with the woman."
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Now this is an amazing story.
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Jesus, saw all of these men that wanted to condemn this woman.
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He said, "alright, let the first one among you, who is sinless
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Throw the first stone."
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God among us.
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God with skin on.
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God had a face, and it was jesus.
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He knew everything about every one of these guys, and he wrote
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Something in the sand that made them leave from the oldest
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To the youngest.
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I wonder what he wrote.
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Maybe he wrote the ten commandments of the law.
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"you shall not steal."
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And he looked up at one of those guys caleb, that's you.
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"you shall not lie."
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Looked up at another guy.
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"you shall not commit adultery."
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Looked at a few of them and they all had guilty consciences,
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And they left from the oldest to the youngest.
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It could have been the ten commitments that he wrote.
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Maybe he wrote their secret sins down.
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You know, some of us live double lives.
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We think we have everything covered up, nobody knows.
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God sees everything.
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God knows about everything that you say and do.
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There are no secrets with god i can tell you that right now.
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You know, you can fool all of the people, some of the time.
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You can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't
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Fool god any of the time.
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Maybe you have a secret sin right now,
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God knows all about it.
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Maybe he wrote their secret sin, but whatever it was, they left.
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They all left, and now this woman is alone with jesus and
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She's probably thinking, "i am so dead right now."
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Oh but no, that's not what was gonna happen at all.
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In fact, she was with the perfect person.
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See these religious men were sent away and jesus had
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Condemned her condemners, and that is what he'll do for us.
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He'll drive away the devil.
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Listen, when you're not a christian, you can be
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Manipulated by, controlled by, even possessed by the devil.
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Demon possession is still real today.
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There's nothing you can do to keep the devil away.
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You say, "well, i'll wear a crucifix."
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Satan's not scared of crucifixes.
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You say, "well, i'll wear garlic around my neck."
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That may keep your friends away, but it won't keep
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The devil away.
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The only power the devil fears is the power of jesus christ,
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You see?
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Greg: you know, the bible says: "a good person
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Leaves an inheritance for their children's children."
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God encourages all of us as christians to manage
00:13:38.294 --> 00:13:41.964
Our money well so we can be a blessing to our families
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And to others.
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Harvest has a special gift for you today, an opportunity
00:13:47.102 --> 00:13:50.840
To set up a will or a living trust completely free of charge.
00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:56.245
Here's how you can learn more.
00:13:56.245 --> 00:13:58.314
Greg: i'm excited to announce that here at harvest
00:13:58.380 --> 00:14:00.716
We partnered with our friends at freewill.
00:14:00.716 --> 00:14:04.220
Freewill is an easy to use estate planning tool
00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:07.022
That allows you to make planned gifts to organizations
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Of your choice.
00:14:10.226 --> 00:14:11.694
It's a creative opportunity to support the work we're doing
00:14:11.694 --> 00:14:14.930
Here at harvest ministries.
00:14:14.930 --> 00:14:16.632
So as you make your plans, i hope you'll consider
00:14:16.632 --> 00:14:19.501
Investing in this ministry so we can continue
00:14:19.501 --> 00:14:22.538
To preach the gospel and teach the word of god
00:14:22.538 --> 00:14:25.174
For years to come.
00:14:25.174 --> 00:14:26.508
You can learn more at freewill.com/harvest.
00:14:26.508 --> 00:14:30.546
Greg: but the devil condemned this woman because she was
00:14:33.682 --> 00:14:36.285
A sinner, and we're all sinners and the devil condemns us
00:14:36.285 --> 00:14:38.787
As well.
00:14:38.787 --> 00:14:40.823
But when we put our faith in christ and we're forgiven of our
00:14:40.823 --> 00:14:43.993
Sin, the bible says "there is no condemnation to those who are
00:14:43.993 --> 00:14:48.297
In christ jesus."
00:14:48.297 --> 00:14:49.665
It's like you're in a courtroom and god the father is the judge
00:14:49.665 --> 00:14:54.904
And the devil is the prosecuting attorney, and your defense
00:14:54.904 --> 00:14:59.241
Attorney is jesus.
00:14:59.241 --> 00:15:01.443
So the devil gets up and makes his case.
00:15:01.443 --> 00:15:03.379
He says, "all right your honor, we have here, greg laurie.
00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:07.349
You know, some people think he's a wonderful guy, but i know
00:15:07.349 --> 00:15:09.618
A few things about him and i'm gonna tell you everything that
00:15:09.618 --> 00:15:13.289
Greg has ever done wrong."
00:15:13.289 --> 00:15:14.857
And he starts reading off a list and he's reading all these
00:15:14.857 --> 00:15:18.093
Charges, two months later, he's still reading and reading.
00:15:18.093 --> 00:15:23.365
I'm thinking "i'm so dead, i'm not getting outta here alive."
00:15:23.365 --> 00:15:27.236
And i look over at my defense attorney jesus, he's just like
00:15:27.236 --> 00:15:30.639
Doodling on a tablet.
00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:32.374
Like "what are you gonna say, what are you gonna say
00:15:32.374 --> 00:15:34.410
To defend me?"
00:15:34.410 --> 00:15:36.078
He doesn't seem worried.
00:15:36.078 --> 00:15:37.579
I'm thinking "i'm the one on trial, why isn't he helping me?"
00:15:37.579 --> 00:15:40.416
He doesn't object, he just listens.
00:15:40.416 --> 00:15:42.918
Finally, the devil is all done, he says, "so this man, greg
00:15:42.918 --> 00:15:45.454
Laurie has broken your commandments, your honor.
00:15:45.454 --> 00:15:48.457
He's sinned against you and your own word says,
00:15:48.457 --> 00:15:51.026
'the soul that sin shall surely die.'
00:15:51.026 --> 00:15:53.529
So i think he should be condemned to death.
00:15:53.529 --> 00:15:55.931
I rest my case."
00:15:55.931 --> 00:15:57.399
And he sits down smug look in his face.
00:15:57.399 --> 00:16:01.036
I said, "jesus, what are you gonna do?"
00:16:01.036 --> 00:16:02.838
He says, "don't worry greg."
00:16:02.838 --> 00:16:04.606
He says, "your honor, permission to approach the bench."
00:16:04.606 --> 00:16:08.644
The judge says, "permission granted."
00:16:08.644 --> 00:16:10.746
Jesus walks right up to the front, leans in and says to the
00:16:10.746 --> 00:16:13.649
Judge, "hey dad,
00:16:13.649 --> 00:16:19.154
We both know greg is guilty as charged,
00:16:22.992 --> 00:16:27.096
But we also know i already paid the price for all of his sins."
00:16:27.096 --> 00:16:31.600
And the judge says, "that's right."
00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:36.405
And he pounds down that gavel and he says "case dismissed.
00:16:36.405 --> 00:16:40.476
This man is forgiven."
00:16:40.476 --> 00:16:42.277
Only jesus christ can do that for you and forgive you of all
00:16:42.277 --> 00:16:46.148
Of your sin.
00:16:46.148 --> 00:16:51.487
So jesus says to the woman, "woman,
00:16:51.487 --> 00:16:54.656
Where are your accusers?"
00:16:54.656 --> 00:16:56.191
You know, it's truly interesting, he said, "woman."
00:16:56.191 --> 00:16:58.861
You could miss this very easily in the original language,
00:16:58.861 --> 00:17:01.363
The greek.
00:17:01.363 --> 00:17:03.032
This is a term of respect, it'd be like saying ma'am or lady.
00:17:03.032 --> 00:17:07.736
Now this girl had been called a lot of things and i guarantee
00:17:07.736 --> 00:17:11.006
She was never called this before.
00:17:11.006 --> 00:17:13.876
Woman, lady, ma'am, with respect.
00:17:13.876 --> 00:17:16.478
By the way, it's the same term that jesus used of his mother,
00:17:16.478 --> 00:17:19.882
When he hung on the cross when he said "woman,
00:17:19.882 --> 00:17:23.986
Behold, your son."
00:17:23.986 --> 00:17:26.321
A term of great respect, "woman, lady, ma'am,
00:17:26.321 --> 00:17:30.025
Where are your accusers?"
00:17:30.025 --> 00:17:32.895
She says, "well lord, there are none."
00:17:32.895 --> 00:17:34.596
He says, "neither do i condemn you, go and sin no more."
00:17:34.596 --> 00:17:44.640
Forgiven and free.
00:17:45.307 --> 00:17:47.342
You say, "but wait greg, she got caught in the act of adultery.
00:17:47.342 --> 00:17:50.612
How could he forgive her?
00:17:50.612 --> 00:17:52.514
She hadn't even turned from her sin."
00:17:52.514 --> 00:17:54.349
Well, actually he knew that in just a short time, he was gonna
00:17:54.349 --> 00:17:57.553
Go on the cross and die for every sin this woman
00:17:57.553 --> 00:18:01.190
Had ever committed.
00:18:01.190 --> 00:18:02.558
But here's what happened, when she watched jesus forgive her
00:18:02.558 --> 00:18:05.828
When the religious leaders condemned her, she believed
00:18:05.828 --> 00:18:08.697
Right there on the spot.
00:18:08.697 --> 00:18:10.532
Again, he says, "ma'am, lady, where are your accusers?"
00:18:10.532 --> 00:18:14.903
She says, "i have none lord."
00:18:14.903 --> 00:18:18.173
That's when she believed.
00:18:18.173 --> 00:18:20.142
How long does it take to become a christian?
00:18:20.142 --> 00:18:22.511
Does it take years?
00:18:22.511 --> 00:18:24.713
Does it take months?
00:18:24.713 --> 00:18:26.448
Does it take days?
00:18:26.448 --> 00:18:28.317
Does it take hours?
00:18:28.317 --> 00:18:29.651
Listen, it can happen in an instant.
00:18:29.651 --> 00:18:31.954
You can come in here as a nonbeliever and you can leave
00:18:31.954 --> 00:18:34.690
Here as a believer.
00:18:34.690 --> 00:18:36.492
You can come in here on your way to hell, and leave here on your
00:18:36.492 --> 00:18:39.695
Way to heaven, if you'll believe in jesus christ tonight.
00:18:39.695 --> 00:18:48.937
Remember the story of the thief on the cross?
00:18:48.937 --> 00:18:52.307
And by the way, he was probably a lot worse than a thief.
00:18:52.307 --> 00:18:55.444
The word that is used here for him would speak of someone
00:18:55.444 --> 00:18:58.080
Guilty of a capital crime.
00:18:58.080 --> 00:19:00.115
He was probably a murderer, an insurrectionist.
00:19:00.115 --> 00:19:05.787
So he was hanging there next to jesus,
00:19:05.787 --> 00:19:07.723
All three of them crucified.
00:19:07.723 --> 00:19:10.392
And initially both of those criminals join the crowd in
00:19:10.392 --> 00:19:15.297
Saying, if you're really the son of god save yourself and then
00:19:15.297 --> 00:19:19.067
Jesus says the first of seven statements to the father.
00:19:19.067 --> 00:19:22.604
And the first statement was "father, forgive them for they
00:19:22.604 --> 00:19:25.073
Don't know what they're doing."
00:19:25.073 --> 00:19:27.009
And right there the thief believed.
00:19:27.009 --> 00:19:30.913
And he turned to jesus and he said, "lord, remember me when
00:19:30.913 --> 00:19:34.316
You come into your kingdom."
00:19:34.316 --> 00:19:36.084
And jesus said, "today, i say to you, you will be with me
00:19:36.084 --> 00:19:39.454
In paradise."
00:19:39.454 --> 00:19:41.657
Talk about being at the right place at the right time,
00:19:41.657 --> 00:19:45.127
Right next to jesus.
00:19:45.127 --> 00:19:47.796
See that thief believed on the spot and he was forgiven
00:19:47.796 --> 00:19:51.433
Of his sins.
00:19:51.433 --> 00:19:52.935
And that's what jesus said for this woman.
00:19:52.935 --> 00:19:54.803
He forgave her of her sins.
00:19:54.803 --> 00:19:56.772
Four things happen now.
00:19:56.772 --> 00:19:58.440
He promises four things to her and what he promises to her,
00:19:58.440 --> 00:20:01.944
He promises to us as well.
00:20:01.944 --> 00:20:03.879
Number one; her sins could be forgiven.
00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:07.950
I want you to know no matter what you've done, let's say
00:20:07.950 --> 00:20:10.118
You've had an abortion, let's say you've murdered somebody,
00:20:10.118 --> 00:20:14.156
Let's say you've committed adultery or done whatever
00:20:14.156 --> 00:20:17.859
You've done.
00:20:17.859 --> 00:20:19.361
Whatever sin you've committed, jesus died for you on the cross,
00:20:19.361 --> 00:20:23.098
And bore the judgment of god in your place, and you can be
00:20:23.098 --> 00:20:26.401
Forgiven of that sin right here right now.
00:20:26.401 --> 00:20:31.340
God promises you that.
00:20:31.340 --> 00:20:35.611
The bible says "if we will confess our sins, he's faithful
00:20:35.611 --> 00:20:38.347
And just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us
00:20:38.347 --> 00:20:41.183
From all unrighteousness."
00:20:41.183 --> 00:20:43.585
To confess our sin simply means that we acknowledge they exist
00:20:43.585 --> 00:20:47.022
And we're sorry for them.
00:20:47.022 --> 00:20:49.124
A lot of times, we don't wanna do that.
00:20:49.124 --> 00:20:51.226
We wanna blame our sins on someone else.
00:20:51.226 --> 00:20:53.028
"it's not my fault, it's their fault."
00:20:53.028 --> 00:20:55.664
That's what adam said after he got busted eating
00:20:55.664 --> 00:20:59.635
Of the forbidden fruit.
00:20:59.635 --> 00:21:02.170
The lord said, "hey adam, did you eat of the fruit
00:21:02.170 --> 00:21:03.839
I told you not to eat?"
00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:05.207
He said, "it's the woman you gave me.
00:21:05.207 --> 00:21:08.277
Everything was fine until she came along.
00:21:08.277 --> 00:21:11.380
I lay down, i take a nap, i wake up a rib is missing
00:21:11.380 --> 00:21:14.116
And she's here.
00:21:14.116 --> 00:21:16.251
It's her fault."
00:21:16.251 --> 00:21:17.686
No, no, you have to take responsibility.
00:21:17.686 --> 00:21:19.554
If your life is in a bad place right now, it's because
00:21:19.554 --> 00:21:22.958
You've made bad decisions, but god can forgive you.
00:21:22.958 --> 00:21:26.028
Her sins can be forgiven, your sins can be forgiven tonight.
00:21:26.028 --> 00:21:29.164
Number two; her sins could be forgotten.
00:21:29.164 --> 00:21:32.501
Jesus did not mention her past.
00:21:32.501 --> 00:21:35.537
See, the bible tells us god speaking, "their sins and
00:21:35.537 --> 00:21:38.740
Inequities will i remember no more."
00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:41.610
Listen, god will take your sins, he'll throw them into the sea
00:21:41.610 --> 00:21:45.047
Of forgetfulness, and he'll post a sign that says
00:21:45.047 --> 00:21:47.849
"no fishing allowed."
00:21:47.849 --> 00:21:50.352
You can put your sin behind you, forgiven and forgotten tonight.
00:21:50.352 --> 00:21:55.357
Yes, you can have a brand new start with jesus christ.
00:21:55.357 --> 00:22:01.296
Number three; she did not have to fear the judgment day.
00:22:01.296 --> 00:22:06.601
She did not have to fear the judgment day.
00:22:06.601 --> 00:22:08.770
He says, "neither do i condemn you, go and sin no more."
00:22:08.770 --> 00:22:12.474
Listen, there is coming a judgment day people.
00:22:12.474 --> 00:22:15.544
One day we'll stand before god almighty, and in that day it
00:22:15.544 --> 00:22:19.514
Will not be about how good of a life you lived, how many moral
00:22:19.514 --> 00:22:22.984
Things did you do.
00:22:22.984 --> 00:22:24.653
It'll really come down to this, what did you do
00:22:24.653 --> 00:22:26.988
With jesus christ?
00:22:26.988 --> 00:22:29.024
See if you believed in him as you can tonight,
00:22:29.024 --> 00:22:32.994
And you're forgiven, then you know you'll be in heaven.
00:22:32.994 --> 00:22:35.464
But if you did not believe in him, you're in big trouble.
00:22:35.464 --> 00:22:39.468
And once you die and face the judgment of god, there's no
00:22:39.468 --> 00:22:42.571
Second chances or third chances, there are no chances after
00:22:42.571 --> 00:22:46.308
Death, but there are thousands before.
00:22:46.308 --> 00:22:49.845
But the bible says "it's appointed unto a man once to die
00:22:49.845 --> 00:22:53.315
And then comes the judgment."
00:22:53.315 --> 00:22:54.950
But you see, she did not have to be afraid of the judgment
00:22:54.950 --> 00:22:58.153
Because jesus said, "neither do i condemn you," then he said,
00:22:58.153 --> 00:23:02.190
"go and sin no more."
00:23:02.190 --> 00:23:05.527
New power to live a new life.
00:23:05.527 --> 00:23:08.730
Back to that earlier question, can a man, can a woman,
00:23:08.730 --> 00:23:11.733
Really change?
00:23:11.733 --> 00:23:13.402
Answer, not on their own, but jesus can change them, you have
00:23:13.402 --> 00:23:18.473
To call out to him.
00:23:18.473 --> 00:23:20.442
Years ago, i was at the beach with my younger son jonathan,
00:23:20.442 --> 00:23:24.446
And he was just a little guy.
00:23:24.446 --> 00:23:26.915
And i was helping him catch waves, and i lost my footing.
00:23:26.915 --> 00:23:31.520
And suddenly i found myself caught in a riptide.
00:23:31.520 --> 00:23:34.389
Now the irony of this, is i wasn't that far from the shore,
00:23:34.389 --> 00:23:38.827
But it was out deep enough where i couldn't get my feet on the
00:23:38.827 --> 00:23:41.396
Ground, so i'm holding jonathan up above the water and there's a
00:23:41.396 --> 00:23:44.633
Lifeguard watching me.
00:23:44.633 --> 00:23:46.268
And she realizes that i'm in a riptide, so she starts
00:23:46.268 --> 00:23:49.438
Swimming towards me.
00:23:49.438 --> 00:23:50.839
I'm like, "i can't get saved 12 feet from the shore,
00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:55.143
This is so lame."
00:23:55.143 --> 00:23:57.479
She's swimming toward me with her you know, flotation device,
00:23:57.479 --> 00:24:01.650
And finally i got my feet on the ground, i said,
00:24:01.650 --> 00:24:03.752
"i'm okay, i'm okay."
00:24:03.752 --> 00:24:05.687
I think i would've rather drowned than have to be saved
00:24:05.687 --> 00:24:07.889
That close to shore.
00:24:07.889 --> 00:24:11.293
But see here that's us.
00:24:11.293 --> 00:24:13.128
"well, i don't wanna call out to god.
00:24:13.128 --> 00:24:15.030
I can do it myself, i can get myself out of this."
00:24:15.030 --> 00:24:17.933
No, you can't.
00:24:17.933 --> 00:24:19.901
You can't change yourself, you can't break free from those
00:24:19.901 --> 00:24:22.938
Addictions on your own.
00:24:22.938 --> 00:24:24.940
You can't change your eternal destiny, only god can do that.
00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:28.443
And the bible says, "whoever will call upon the name of the
00:24:28.443 --> 00:24:30.812
Lord will be saved."
00:24:30.812 --> 00:24:32.614
You've got to call out to him and he'll forgive you and save
00:24:32.614 --> 00:24:35.851
You tonight.
00:24:35.851 --> 00:24:44.125
Maybe you've been caught in the act of your own sin.
00:24:44.125 --> 00:24:47.829
Well listen, you can be changed if you come to jesus.
00:24:47.829 --> 00:24:50.599
Just like this woman did, you can be forgiven and free.
00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:55.003
Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart and you have seen
00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:03.378
Your need for jesus christ.
00:25:03.378 --> 00:25:05.580
Jesus christ is the son of god, who came from heaven
00:25:05.580 --> 00:25:09.518
To this earth.
00:25:09.518 --> 00:25:11.119
He was born in a manger, he died on a cross, he rose again
00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:15.090
From the dead, why?
00:25:15.090 --> 00:25:16.725
Because he loves you and he wants a relationship with you.
00:25:16.725 --> 00:25:20.161
Listen, i'm not talking about religion, i don't wanna be
00:25:20.161 --> 00:25:23.131
A religious person, i don't think you wanna be one either.
00:25:23.131 --> 00:25:26.134
I'm talking about relationship with god.
00:25:26.134 --> 00:25:29.838
Jesus who died and rose again, stands at the door of your life
00:25:29.838 --> 00:25:34.175
And he knocks, and he says, if you'll hear his voice and open
00:25:34.175 --> 00:25:37.279
The door, he will come in.
00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:39.347
Question, have you asked jesus christ to come
00:25:39.347 --> 00:25:41.783
And live inside of you?
00:25:41.783 --> 00:25:43.418
You might say, "well, i think so, i'm not sure."
00:25:43.418 --> 00:25:45.287
Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle
00:25:45.287 --> 00:25:47.556
Of the night, do you think you would be aware of it?
00:25:47.556 --> 00:25:50.592
I'm sure you would.
00:25:50.592 --> 00:25:52.260
And in the same way, if christ has come to live inside of you,
00:25:52.260 --> 00:25:55.397
You will know, and if you don't know,
00:25:55.397 --> 00:25:57.832
Maybe he has not come in yet.
00:25:57.832 --> 00:26:00.201
He's just a prayer away.
00:26:00.201 --> 00:26:02.404
All you need to do is say, "jesus, i want
00:26:02.404 --> 00:26:04.205
This relationship with you.
00:26:04.205 --> 00:26:06.041
I want you to forgive me of my sin.
00:26:06.041 --> 00:26:08.276
I wanna go to heaven when i die."
00:26:08.276 --> 00:26:10.412
Would you like to do that?
00:26:10.412 --> 00:26:11.813
Would you like christ to come into your life?
00:26:11.813 --> 00:26:14.382
If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me.
00:26:14.382 --> 00:26:17.485
You can pray it out loud or you can pray it in
00:26:17.485 --> 00:26:19.788
The quietness of your heart.
00:26:19.788 --> 00:26:21.990
But this is a prayer where you're asking jesus christ,
00:26:21.990 --> 00:26:24.459
To be your savior and lord.
00:26:24.459 --> 00:26:26.695
Pray this with me now, "lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner
00:26:26.695 --> 00:26:31.366
But i know that you're the savior, who died on the cross
00:26:31.366 --> 00:26:35.036
For my sin and rose again from the dead.
00:26:35.036 --> 00:26:37.872
Now come into my life.
00:26:37.872 --> 00:26:40.508
I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
00:26:40.508 --> 00:26:44.913
Thank you for hearing this prayer,
00:26:44.913 --> 00:26:46.982
And answering this prayer.
00:26:46.982 --> 00:26:48.950
In jesus's name, amen."
00:26:48.950 --> 00:26:51.820
Did you just pray that prayer with me?
00:26:51.820 --> 00:26:53.922
If so, i want you to know in the authority of scripture that
00:26:53.922 --> 00:26:56.725
Christ himself has come to live inside of you, and i would love
00:26:56.725 --> 00:27:00.395
To send to you at no charge, something called
00:27:00.395 --> 00:27:03.632
The 'new believers' bible.'
00:27:03.632 --> 00:27:06.067
It's a very friendly translation of the new testament
00:27:06.067 --> 00:27:08.303
You'll find very understandable, and it's filled
00:27:08.303 --> 00:27:11.539
With hundreds of notes that i wrote that will encourage you in
00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:15.110
This commitment you've just made to follow jesus.
00:27:15.110 --> 00:27:18.079
Let me send that to you at no charge
00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:20.315
And let me be the first to say
00:27:20.315 --> 00:27:21.650
To you, "congratulations,
00:27:21.650 --> 00:27:23.852
And welcome to the family of god."
00:27:23.852 --> 00:27:27.122

Greg Laurie - Forgiven and Free

January 30, 2025 | S25:E26

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