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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie- Happiness: We Can Work It Out

July 2, 2026 | 27:29

Greg Laurie- Happiness: We Can Work It Out
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#Devil #WordofGod #Heart #EternalLife #Heaven #Obedience #Sin #Rejection #Future #GregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie- Happiness: We Can Work It Out | July 2, 2026
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Greg laurie: by the way, paul did not say work
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  • For your own salvation; he said work out your own salvation.
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  • You can't work for your salvation.
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  • Salvation, the forgiveness of sins,
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  • Eternal life is a gift to you from god.
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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: okay, quick poll.
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  • How many of you love to exercise, you love to work out?
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  • Raise your hand up. okay.
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  • I noticed it's people kind of doing like this.
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  • "yeah, it's me."
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  • How many of you hate exercise and you hate to work out?
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  • Raise your hand up.
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  • Oh, interesting. it's about even.
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  • I go to a gym twice a week, and it's a good gym, you know.
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  • And i've been to gyms over the years,
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  • And there are certain kinds of people in gyms.
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  • First of all, there's the guy who always puts too much weight
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  • On the barbell or whatever it is.
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  • Too much weight. he does three or four reps.
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  • He makes too much noise.
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  • But the guy that drives me crazy,
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  • And there's always one of these guys in every gym,
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  • He's the guy who sweats too much.
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  • Right?
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  • And then they leave the sweat on the bench.
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  • You know, it's like--
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  • And you go over and you're looking at a pool of sweat.
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  • Or i knew a guy that used to get on a treadmill and
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  • He perspired so much literally, i'm not exaggerating,
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  • There would be puddles around it afterwards.
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  • People wouldn't get in the treadmill on his right
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  • Or his left, you know.
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  • So there's always these strange people that hang up.
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  • But, you know, maybe you decide,
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  • "yeah, i want to try to get in shape and exercise
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  • A little bit more."
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  • I'm up to 100 crunches a day, by the way.
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  • Pretty good. yeah.
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  • Nestlé's crunches, very good.
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  • How many of you have heard that joke?
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  • Raise your hand.
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  • Most of you didn't. awesome.
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  • Okay. yes.
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  • But then, you know, sometimes if you haven't worked out
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  • For a long time, you go to a gym and you maybe overdo it
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  • And then you're so sore the next day
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  • You never want to go back to the gym again.
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  • Well, look, we need to stay in the best shape we can stay in
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  • Because the bible says our body is the temple of god, right?
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  • 1 thessalonians 5 says, "may god himself,
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  • The god who makes everything holy and whole,
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  • Make you holy and whole spirit, soul, and body."
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  • I'm not a disembodied spirit.
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  • God has placed my soul in a body,
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  • So i want to take the best care that i can of this body.
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  • The bible says, of course, bodily exercise profits little,
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  • But godliness is profitable for all things.
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  • Someone quote that as a rationalization to never
  • 00:03:05.185 --> 00:03:08.354
  • Work out, but the bible actually says it profits a little.
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  • You know, so it profits some.
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  • Now, if you work out and you're more focused on your body than
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  • You are on your spirit, you have your priorities out of whack.
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  • But if you only think about your spiritual life
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  • And you never do anything to maintain your physical health,
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  • That also is an imbalance.
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  • So you want to find that right balance,
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  • That sweet spot in there; and i bring that up
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  • Because that is true spiritually as well.
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  • We need to work out what god has worked in.
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  • So let's look at our text.
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  • It's philippians 2 starting in verse 12.
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  • Paul writes and says, "therefore, my beloved,
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  • As you have always obeyed not only in my presence
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  • But now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
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  • With fear and trembling, for it is god who works
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  • In you both to will and do of his good pleasure.
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  • Do all things without complaining and disputing,
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  • That you may be blameless and harmless children of god
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  • Without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
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  • Among whom you shine as lights in the world holding fast
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  • The word of life.
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  • So i may rejoice in the day of christ that i have not run
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  • In vain or labored in vain."
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  • We'll stop there.
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  • So paul says work out your own salvation.
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  • Notice your own.
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  • Underline those two words: your own salvation.
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  • You can't hire someone to work out for you.
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  • Wouldn't that be nice?
  • 00:04:38.077 --> 00:04:39.512
  • "i don't feel like going to the gym.
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  • Go work out for me. i'll pay you for it."
  • 00:04:40.847 --> 00:04:42.715
  • Well, that may benefit the person who's working out,
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  • But it won't have any effect on you.
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  • You can't have someone get saved for you either.
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  • It's your own salvation.
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  • It's a personal choice.
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  • Look at verse 12 again.
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  • Paul says, "my beloved, as you've always obeyed not only
  • 00:04:56.929 --> 00:04:59.599
  • In my presence but also more in my absence--"
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  • Remember, paul wrote this from prison,
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  • And he had a special bond with the christians in philippi.
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  • That's the epistle that we're looking at.
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  • It's to the believers there.
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  • We call it the book of philippians,
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  • But it's a letter to people living in philippi.
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  • And he loved these folks, and they loved him.
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  • And so, they were in great agony when they found out
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  • Paul was in prison.
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  • And so he's saying, "guys, it's okay.
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  • I'm okay, and you're okay."
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  • In fact, verse 12 from the new living translation
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  • It would go as follows:
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  • "dear friends, you were always so careful to follow
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  • My instructions when i was with you,
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  • But now that i'm away you must be even more careful to put
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  • Into action god's saving work in your lives,
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  • Obeying god with deep reverence and fear."
  • 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:50.950
  • Basically paul's saying,
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  • "look, i know you guys love me and i love you.
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  • And i wish i could be there with you,
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  • But i need to tell you something.
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  • You need to grow up spiritually.
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  • In other words, don't start slacking because
  • 00:06:02.795 --> 00:06:05.531
  • I'm not there because it's god that works in you.
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  • It's not paul that works in you both in will and do
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  • Of god's good pleasure, it's god that is working in you."
  • 00:06:13.339 --> 00:06:16.909
  • Because there might be some there--
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  • There might have been some there, i should say,
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  • That thought they needed paul around
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  • To live the christian life.
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  • This can happen with us as well.
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  • We can find ourselves too dependent on people
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  • For our spiritual growth, and listen to this.
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  • Sometimes people can become idols in our life.
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  • This happened to the children of israel.
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  • Moses led them out of egypt and through the wilderness.
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  • He wasn't able to bring them actually into the promised land.
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  • But you remember on one occasion,
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  • He had to leave the israelites because god had summoned him
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  • To mount sinai to receive the commandments.
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  • And in his absence moses left aaron, his brother,
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  • As their babysitter,
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  • Which was a very bad choice because everything fell apart
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  • Because basically after moses had been gone
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  • For a while the people came to aaron and they said,
  • 00:07:11.664 --> 00:07:14.767
  • "hey, where is this man, moses," in exodus 32,
  • 00:07:14.767 --> 00:07:18.604
  • "who brought us out of egypt?
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  • Make us some gods who can lead us
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  • Because we don't know where moses has gone."
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  • Why didn't they say, "hey, the lord is the one
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  • Who's led us out of egypt?"
  • 00:07:28.548 --> 00:07:29.882
  • No. they said, "moses did it.
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  • Moses led us out of egypt, and if moses is gone we need
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  • Another god to take his place."
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  • So it was aaron that had the bright idea to bring
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  • All of their gold and all their bling, and he was going
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  • To melt it in the shape of a golden calf,
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  • Which would have been one of the images
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  • That they would have been accustomed to in egypt,
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  • And then they're worshiping this golden calf.
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  • Meanwhile up in mount sinai, moses has done receiving
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  • The commandments.
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  • He's walking down with these tablets written with
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  • The very finger of god and he hears noise back in the camp.
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  • It sounds like some kind of a war and it turns out
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  • They're actually having a party, and he comes down and finds
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  • The israelites dancing naked in front of a golden calf.
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  • Not good at all.
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  • And aaron says, "i know this looks bad.
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  • I can explain everything.
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  • You see, what happened was we took our gold,
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  • We threw it on the fire and the golden calf came out.
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  • So what else could we do?
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  • We strip off our clothes and worship it."
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  • That's not what happened.
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  • You were the one that made the golden calf.
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  • You were the one that told them to bring the gold.
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  • But here was the problem.
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  • Moses was their first god.
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  • Excuse me.
  • 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:48.694
  • Yeah, moses was their first god, and the golden calf was
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  • Their second.
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  • They'd let moses take the place of god in their life.
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  • Is that happening to you?
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  • Is your whole christian life dependent on someone else?
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  • Maybe your parents.
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  • Maybe your husband, or your wife, or someone else.
  • 00:09:05.211 --> 00:09:09.115
  • And, you know, if they're not around,
  • 00:09:09.115 --> 00:09:11.250
  • You just fall apart.
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  • As long as a strong believer is in your life you're good,
  • 00:09:12.618 --> 00:09:15.588
  • But the moment they're not there with you you just collapse.
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  • Listen, can i just say two words to you?
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  • Grow up.
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  • Grow up and become a man of god.
  • 00:09:23.529 --> 00:09:25.464
  • Grow up and be a woman of god and build your relationship
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  • On god because there's one thing you can be sure of in life.
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  • Maybe two things.
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  • Many more things, but i'll just say two for now.
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  • You can always be sure that god will be there for you;
  • 00:09:38.311 --> 00:09:41.247
  • And number two, you can always be sure that eventually people
  • 00:09:41.247 --> 00:09:44.317
  • Will let you down.
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  • People will let you down. you know why?
  • 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:48.721
  • Because they're sinful just like you are.
  • 00:09:48.721 --> 00:09:51.257
  • And we're all going to fall short.
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  • We're all going to make mistakes.
  • 00:09:52.758 --> 00:09:54.093
  • We're all going to disappoint.
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  • When the lord says, "have no other gods before me,"
  • 00:09:56.028 --> 00:09:58.464
  • That would include putting people there as well.
  • 00:09:58.464 --> 00:10:01.834
  • So basically paul is saying, "guys, come on.
  • 00:10:01.834 --> 00:10:04.971
  • It's time to grow up."
  • 00:10:04.971 --> 00:10:07.573
  • And how are they to do that?
  • 00:10:07.573 --> 00:10:08.908
  • Verse 12.
  • 00:10:08.908 --> 00:10:10.276
  • Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
  • 00:10:10.276 --> 00:10:14.981
  • By the way, paul did not say work for your own salvation;
  • 00:10:14.981 --> 00:10:19.385
  • He said work out your own salvation.
  • 00:10:19.385 --> 00:10:23.189
  • You can't work for your salvation.
  • 00:10:23.189 --> 00:10:26.125
  • Salvation, the forgiveness of sins,
  • 00:10:26.125 --> 00:10:29.295
  • Eternal life is a gift to you from god.
  • 00:10:29.295 --> 00:10:33.132
  • The bible says it is by faith through grace
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  • That you've been saved.
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  • Not of yourself, it's the gift of god.
  • 00:10:38.838 --> 00:10:43.175
  • So what does this mean there when paul says work out
  • 00:10:43.175 --> 00:10:45.311
  • Your own salvation?
  • 00:10:45.311 --> 00:10:46.679
  • Well, remember he's entrusting these words to christians.
  • 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:50.616
  • Remember when we started this series, we pointed out
  • 00:10:50.616 --> 00:10:52.752
  • That he addresses them as saints.
  • 00:10:52.752 --> 00:10:55.354
  • Saints is an interchangeable word for christian.
  • 00:10:55.354 --> 00:10:57.890
  • So these words are written to believers.
  • 00:10:57.890 --> 00:11:00.793
  • He's saying to follows of jesus and really in effect,
  • 00:11:00.793 --> 00:11:04.830
  • To us as well.
  • 00:11:04.830 --> 00:11:06.399
  • Work out your own salvation.
  • 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:10.369
  • What does this mean?
  • 00:11:10.369 --> 00:11:11.871
  • It means to live out one's faith.
  • 00:11:11.871 --> 00:11:14.106
  • Another way to translate it would be carry it out correctly,
  • 00:11:14.106 --> 00:11:18.844
  • Excuse me, or work it to full completion,
  • 00:11:18.844 --> 00:11:24.250
  • Work it to full completion.
  • 00:11:24.250 --> 00:11:26.919
  • The idea is take what god has given you
  • 00:11:26.919 --> 00:11:29.455
  • And work it out in your life.
  • 00:11:29.455 --> 00:11:31.190
  • It would be like a conductor having an incredible
  • 00:11:31.190 --> 00:11:33.826
  • Musical composition handed to him
  • 00:11:33.826 --> 00:11:36.262
  • And there's a whole orchestra.
  • 00:11:36.262 --> 00:11:39.031
  • But notes don't jump off of paper and play themselves,
  • 00:11:39.031 --> 00:11:42.802
  • You've got to read the music and then you've got
  • 00:11:42.802 --> 00:11:45.237
  • To play the music.
  • 00:11:45.237 --> 00:11:47.173
  • Everybody has to work out their part and play the music.
  • 00:11:47.173 --> 00:11:50.976
  • The same is true for us.
  • 00:11:50.976 --> 00:11:52.978
  • We need to work out what god has worked in.
  • 00:11:52.978 --> 00:11:57.316
  • But then he adds this distinction.
  • 00:11:57.316 --> 00:11:59.085
  • Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
  • 00:11:59.085 --> 00:12:03.923
  • By the way, paul is not suggesting
  • 00:12:03.923 --> 00:12:06.192
  • You can lose your salvation.
  • 00:12:06.192 --> 00:12:08.661
  • I don't really think you can.
  • 00:12:08.661 --> 00:12:10.663
  • I think it's a gift given to us by god.
  • 00:12:10.663 --> 00:12:13.365
  • But what he is saying is as you work it out,
  • 00:12:13.365 --> 00:12:16.102
  • Recognize your own inability and innate weakness.
  • 00:12:16.102 --> 00:12:21.006
  • Let me say something that might surprise you.
  • 00:12:21.006 --> 00:12:23.142
  • The christian life is not hard to live;
  • 00:12:23.142 --> 00:12:27.246
  • It's impossible.
  • 00:12:27.246 --> 00:12:30.182
  • It is impossible to live as a christian in this crazy culture
  • 00:12:30.182 --> 00:12:34.754
  • We're in today apart from the work of the holy spirit
  • 00:12:34.754 --> 00:12:38.691
  • In your life.
  • 00:12:38.691 --> 00:12:40.226
  • So in my ability, i can't do it.
  • 00:12:40.226 --> 00:12:42.428
  • In my strength, i can't keep the commandments.
  • 00:12:42.428 --> 00:12:44.764
  • In my own skills, i can't do these things god calls me to do,
  • 00:12:44.764 --> 00:12:50.136
  • But it is god that works in me both the will and do
  • 00:12:50.136 --> 00:12:53.272
  • Of his good pleasure.
  • 00:12:53.272 --> 00:12:54.774
  • So work it out.
  • 00:12:54.774 --> 00:12:56.408
  • Carry it to the goal.
  • 00:12:56.408 --> 00:12:57.777
  • Complete it but with self-distrust.
  • 00:12:57.777 --> 00:13:02.381
  • Greg: i know you've heard it before, but it's true.
  • 00:13:06.485 --> 00:13:08.687
  • God loves you and there's a wonderful plan for your life.
  • 00:13:08.687 --> 00:13:11.390
  • The bible compares us to clay on a potter's wheel.
  • 00:13:11.390 --> 00:13:15.294
  • The potter has a plan just like the artist has a plan
  • 00:13:15.294 --> 00:13:18.464
  • When he sits in front of a blank canvas or the musician has
  • 00:13:18.464 --> 00:13:21.433
  • A plan when he starts to play the first chords
  • 00:13:21.433 --> 00:13:24.136
  • Of what will be a new song.
  • 00:13:24.136 --> 00:13:25.771
  • But listen.
  • 00:13:25.771 --> 00:13:27.106
  • As clay on the potter's wheel, we can sabotage the plan.
  • 00:13:27.106 --> 00:13:31.076
  • We can be resistant and say no and unfortunately
  • 00:13:31.076 --> 00:13:33.979
  • We'll never find out god's ultimate plan for us.
  • 00:13:33.979 --> 00:13:37.016
  • So here's my suggestion to you.
  • 00:13:37.016 --> 00:13:38.784
  • Be pliable clay in the potter's hand.
  • 00:13:38.784 --> 00:13:41.420
  • As the old song says, "have thine own way, lord.
  • 00:13:41.420 --> 00:13:44.423
  • Have thine own way.
  • 00:13:44.423 --> 00:13:45.758
  • Thou art the potter; i am the clay.
  • 00:13:45.758 --> 00:13:48.160
  • Mold me and make me after thy will.
  • 00:13:48.160 --> 00:13:50.729
  • While i am waiting, yield it and still."
  • 00:13:50.729 --> 00:13:54.033
  • Don't sabotage god's plan, embrace it.
  • 00:13:54.033 --> 00:13:57.036
  • It's good.
  • 00:13:57.036 --> 00:13:58.571
  • Greg: let me just fire a few verses at you,
  • 00:14:00.973 --> 00:14:02.775
  • And i'd encourage you to write these references down
  • 00:14:02.775 --> 00:14:05.444
  • Because sometimes the devil will attack us and he'll say to us,
  • 00:14:05.444 --> 00:14:11.116
  • "you're not a christian. you're a hypocrite.
  • 00:14:11.116 --> 00:14:14.553
  • God didn't save you.
  • 00:14:14.553 --> 00:14:15.888
  • Christ hasn't come into your life.
  • 00:14:15.888 --> 00:14:17.723
  • You psyched yourself into it.
  • 00:14:17.723 --> 00:14:19.859
  • This isn't true. the bible isn't true.
  • 00:14:19.859 --> 00:14:21.527
  • None of it's true."
  • 00:14:21.527 --> 00:14:22.862
  • Have any of you ever had doubts like that come to your mind?
  • 00:14:22.862 --> 00:14:26.198
  • Raise your hand if you have.
  • 00:14:26.198 --> 00:14:27.533
  • That's not a sin. that means you're a human.
  • 00:14:27.533 --> 00:14:31.503
  • And just because a fiery dart or a doubtful thought
  • 00:14:31.503 --> 00:14:36.542
  • Comes to your mind doesn't mean that you're not a believer;
  • 00:14:36.542 --> 00:14:39.245
  • It just means you're being attacked.
  • 00:14:39.245 --> 00:14:41.013
  • So the best way to deflect those flaming arrows that come
  • 00:14:41.013 --> 00:14:45.417
  • Your way, be it a doubtful thought or a hopeless thought
  • 00:14:45.417 --> 00:14:50.289
  • Or a lustful thought or a hateful thought
  • 00:14:50.289 --> 00:14:53.559
  • Or whatever it might be, is filling your mind up
  • 00:14:53.559 --> 00:14:56.662
  • With god's word.
  • 00:14:56.662 --> 00:14:59.398
  • So the devil attacked jesus in the wilderness, right?
  • 00:14:59.398 --> 00:15:02.768
  • And every time the devil tempted jesus,
  • 00:15:02.768 --> 00:15:04.970
  • Christ came back with these words: "it is written."
  • 00:15:04.970 --> 00:15:08.407
  • "hey, why don't you turn a rock into a piece of bread?"
  • 00:15:08.407 --> 00:15:10.442
  • "hey, it is written," christ says,
  • 00:15:10.442 --> 00:15:12.278
  • "men shall live by god's word, not by bread alone."
  • 00:15:12.278 --> 00:15:15.581
  • "hey, why don't you throw yourself off the top
  • 00:15:15.581 --> 00:15:17.850
  • Of the temple?"
  • 00:15:17.850 --> 00:15:19.718
  • "it is written you shall not tempt the lord your god."
  • 00:15:19.718 --> 00:15:22.288
  • He came back to god's word over and over.
  • 00:15:22.288 --> 00:15:24.456
  • Here's a few verses that assure us that we're saved.
  • 00:15:24.456 --> 00:15:28.827
  • 1 john 5:10, "anyone who believes in the son of god
  • 00:15:28.827 --> 00:15:31.563
  • Has his testimony in his heart."
  • 00:15:31.563 --> 00:15:34.967
  • Romans 8:16, "his spirit bears witness with our spirit,
  • 00:15:34.967 --> 00:15:38.804
  • That we are the children of god."
  • 00:15:38.804 --> 00:15:42.708
  • John 5:24, "i tell you the truth.
  • 00:15:42.708 --> 00:15:45.444
  • Whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me
  • 00:15:45.444 --> 00:15:48.580
  • Has eternal life and will not be condemned,
  • 00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:51.817
  • And he's crossed over from death to life."
  • 00:15:51.817 --> 00:15:54.653
  • He has it. it's yours.
  • 00:15:54.653 --> 00:15:57.189
  • God's giving it to you, and god's not taking it back.
  • 00:15:57.189 --> 00:16:00.592
  • It's yours to keep.
  • 00:16:00.592 --> 00:16:02.094
  • And then, of course, my favorite assurance verse,
  • 00:16:02.094 --> 00:16:04.029
  • 1 john 5:13.
  • 00:16:04.029 --> 00:16:06.065
  • "these things we write to you that believe in the name
  • 00:16:06.065 --> 00:16:09.335
  • Of the son of god, that you may know
  • 00:16:09.335 --> 00:16:12.838
  • That you have eternal life."
  • 00:16:12.838 --> 00:16:15.507
  • Here are five litmus tests to show that you are really saved,
  • 00:16:15.507 --> 00:16:20.679
  • Five litmus tests.
  • 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:22.014
  • And by the way, they all come from 1 john.
  • 00:16:22.014 --> 00:16:24.650
  • Here's number one.
  • 00:16:24.650 --> 00:16:26.051
  • Did you confess jesus christ as lord?
  • 00:16:26.051 --> 00:16:29.621
  • Because 1 john 4:15 says, "if anyone confesses
  • 00:16:29.621 --> 00:16:32.291
  • That jesus is the son of god, god lives in him and he in god."
  • 00:16:32.291 --> 00:16:37.329
  • Did you confess christ as lord?
  • 00:16:37.329 --> 00:16:39.264
  • Did you ever tell anyone you were a christian?
  • 00:16:39.264 --> 00:16:42.534
  • I'm not saying that all you have to do is confess christ as lord
  • 00:16:42.534 --> 00:16:45.204
  • Because you could do that and not be a christian;
  • 00:16:45.204 --> 00:16:48.040
  • But having said that, i think if you are a christian
  • 00:16:48.040 --> 00:16:50.376
  • You should confess him.
  • 00:16:50.376 --> 00:16:52.578
  • Sometimes we have people walk forward in invitations,
  • 00:16:52.578 --> 00:16:55.180
  • And you've heard me quote the verse where jesus says,
  • 00:16:55.180 --> 00:16:58.017
  • "if you'll confess me before men,
  • 00:16:58.017 --> 00:17:00.352
  • I'll confess you before the father and the angels
  • 00:17:00.352 --> 00:17:02.821
  • In heaven."
  • 00:17:02.821 --> 00:17:04.156
  • And the reason i do that is it helps people to see this is
  • 00:17:04.156 --> 00:17:06.759
  • A serious commitment that you must make.
  • 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:10.062
  • And i'm not saying that's the only way to confess him,
  • 00:17:10.062 --> 00:17:12.431
  • But it certainly is a way to confess him.
  • 00:17:12.431 --> 00:17:15.801
  • Being a christian is not something
  • 00:17:15.801 --> 00:17:17.503
  • That is hidden but is open.
  • 00:17:17.503 --> 00:17:19.905
  • Number two, do you obey the commands of jesus christ,
  • 00:17:19.905 --> 00:17:23.709
  • Or did you obey them?
  • 00:17:23.709 --> 00:17:25.944
  • Because 1 john 5:3 says, "this is love for god to obey
  • 00:17:25.944 --> 00:17:29.915
  • His commands, and his commands are not burdensome,
  • 00:17:29.915 --> 00:17:33.485
  • For everyone who is born of god overcomes the world."
  • 00:17:33.485 --> 00:17:37.456
  • Did you keep his commandments?
  • 00:17:37.456 --> 00:17:38.924
  • Don't tell me you're a christian and you're blatantly breaking
  • 00:17:38.924 --> 00:17:42.361
  • The commandments left and right.
  • 00:17:42.361 --> 00:17:45.397
  • If you love him, do what he says.
  • 00:17:45.397 --> 00:17:48.867
  • And if you don't do what he says,
  • 00:17:48.867 --> 00:17:50.335
  • Really how much do you love him?
  • 00:17:50.335 --> 00:17:52.871
  • You know, jesus did not say, "you are my friends if you do
  • 00:17:52.871 --> 00:17:56.442
  • Whatsoever you agree with."
  • 00:17:56.442 --> 00:17:59.678
  • He said, "you're my friends if you do whatsoever
  • 00:17:59.678 --> 00:18:01.947
  • I command you."
  • 00:18:01.947 --> 00:18:04.883
  • Some will say, "well, what if it's hard?"
  • 00:18:04.883 --> 00:18:06.385
  • So what?
  • 00:18:06.385 --> 00:18:07.719
  • If he commands you to do it, you do it.
  • 00:18:07.719 --> 00:18:09.054
  • It's whatsoever.
  • 00:18:09.054 --> 00:18:10.823
  • You say, "well, what if you disagree with the bible?"
  • 00:18:10.823 --> 00:18:13.158
  • Change your opinion.
  • 00:18:13.158 --> 00:18:14.526
  • You're wrong, and the bible's right.
  • 00:18:14.526 --> 00:18:18.397
  • It's as simple as that.
  • 00:18:18.397 --> 00:18:20.365
  • Number three, if you're a christian or if you claim
  • 00:18:20.365 --> 00:18:23.535
  • To have been a christian, were you unhappy or miserable
  • 00:18:23.535 --> 00:18:26.638
  • When you're sinning, were you unhappy
  • 00:18:26.638 --> 00:18:29.007
  • Or miserable when you're sinning?
  • 00:18:29.007 --> 00:18:30.676
  • 1 john 3:9 says, "everyone that has been born
  • 00:18:30.676 --> 00:18:33.145
  • Of god does not habitually sin because god's seed remains
  • 00:18:33.145 --> 00:18:36.748
  • In him and he's not able habitually to sin
  • 00:18:36.748 --> 00:18:39.785
  • Because he's been born of god."
  • 00:18:39.785 --> 00:18:43.322
  • Listen, a christian will not be sinless,
  • 00:18:43.322 --> 00:18:46.692
  • But a christian will sin less and less and less.
  • 00:18:46.692 --> 00:18:53.098
  • I think what happens is the more you become like christ
  • 00:18:53.098 --> 00:18:55.267
  • The more you realize you're not like christ,
  • 00:18:55.267 --> 00:18:58.604
  • And the more godly become-- you become the more you realize
  • 00:18:58.604 --> 00:19:01.440
  • How ungodly you really always were.
  • 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:04.676
  • So there's always the awareness of sin,
  • 00:19:04.676 --> 00:19:06.645
  • But at the same time there is change in our behavior,
  • 00:19:06.645 --> 00:19:09.281
  • There is change in our actions, there is change
  • 00:19:09.281 --> 00:19:11.583
  • In the things that we say and do.
  • 00:19:11.583 --> 00:19:14.453
  • That's bringing forth fruits in keeping with repentance.
  • 00:19:14.453 --> 00:19:18.423
  • But notice that it says that if you are born of god
  • 00:19:18.423 --> 00:19:22.628
  • You will not habitually sin.
  • 00:19:22.628 --> 00:19:24.663
  • It doesn't say you won't sin at all.
  • 00:19:24.663 --> 00:19:26.899
  • 'cause some will say,
  • 00:19:26.899 --> 00:19:28.233
  • "well, i've reached sinless perfection."
  • 00:19:28.233 --> 00:19:29.568
  • No, you haven't. "no, i have."
  • 00:19:29.568 --> 00:19:31.937
  • Well, you're lying, and that's a sin,
  • 00:19:31.937 --> 00:19:33.572
  • And you haven't.
  • 00:19:33.572 --> 00:19:36.475
  • Because the bible says that we say we have no sin,
  • 00:19:36.475 --> 00:19:38.610
  • We deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
  • 00:19:38.610 --> 00:19:42.214
  • So we'll never be sinless this side of heaven;
  • 00:19:42.214 --> 00:19:45.350
  • But having said that, if you can sin habitually--
  • 00:19:45.350 --> 00:19:51.590
  • Okay, that's the key.
  • 00:19:51.590 --> 00:19:52.925
  • In the greek it says if you habitually sin.
  • 00:19:52.925 --> 00:19:54.993
  • It's not like, "oh, i sinned. god, i'm sorry.
  • 00:19:54.993 --> 00:19:57.262
  • I repent."
  • 00:19:57.262 --> 00:19:58.597
  • That's one thing.
  • 00:19:58.597 --> 00:19:59.932
  • It's a person that sin and then sins the next day
  • 00:19:59.932 --> 00:20:02.568
  • And the next day.
  • 00:20:02.568 --> 00:20:03.902
  • In fact, they're living in a pattern of sin.
  • 00:20:03.902 --> 00:20:05.837
  • They're living in a lifestyle of sin.
  • 00:20:05.837 --> 00:20:07.806
  • This is the choice they make over and over and over.
  • 00:20:07.806 --> 00:20:10.676
  • If you live that way, according to scripture
  • 00:20:10.676 --> 00:20:13.178
  • You're not really born of god.
  • 00:20:13.178 --> 00:20:15.113
  • Now, you've all heard of the story of the prodigal son,
  • 00:20:15.113 --> 00:20:16.915
  • Right?
  • 00:20:16.915 --> 00:20:18.450
  • How many of you have heard the story of the prodigal pig?
  • 00:20:18.450 --> 00:20:21.687
  • Yeah, that's in the bible too, the prodigal pig.
  • 00:20:21.687 --> 00:20:25.090
  • It's in 2 peter 2.
  • 00:20:25.090 --> 00:20:27.192
  • It says, "it would be better if they had never known
  • 00:20:27.192 --> 00:20:28.927
  • The right way to live than to know it and reject
  • 00:20:28.927 --> 00:20:31.363
  • The holy commandments that were given to them.
  • 00:20:31.363 --> 00:20:33.432
  • They make this proverb come true:
  • 00:20:33.432 --> 00:20:35.400
  • A dog returns to its vomit,
  • 00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:37.836
  • And a washed pig returns to the mud."
  • 00:20:37.836 --> 00:20:41.540
  • I know the bible is true for many reasons, but here's one.
  • 00:20:41.540 --> 00:20:45.310
  • Not just because it predicts the future accurately,
  • 00:20:45.310 --> 00:20:48.547
  • Not just because everything that it's said i found true
  • 00:20:48.547 --> 00:20:50.949
  • In my life, but because i've seen a dog eat its own barf.
  • 00:20:50.949 --> 00:20:56.288
  • That's what it's saying.
  • 00:20:56.288 --> 00:20:58.090
  • A dog returns to its own vomit.
  • 00:20:58.090 --> 00:21:00.158
  • Dogs are so weird that way, right?
  • 00:21:00.158 --> 00:21:02.594
  • I've watched a dog throw up and eat it.
  • 00:21:02.594 --> 00:21:05.030
  • What's going on?
  • 00:21:05.030 --> 00:21:06.365
  • What's going on on the dog mind there?
  • 00:21:06.365 --> 00:21:08.533
  • "need a hot meal. there it is."
  • 00:21:08.533 --> 00:21:11.770
  • Really?
  • 00:21:11.770 --> 00:21:13.238
  • Then later they'll wash it down with some toilet water.
  • 00:21:13.238 --> 00:21:16.241
  • Then they'll lick us in the face and people will say,
  • 00:21:16.241 --> 00:21:18.810
  • "oh, you know, a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's."
  • 00:21:18.810 --> 00:21:22.614
  • Oh, do you eat barf and drink toilet water?
  • 00:21:22.614 --> 00:21:25.917
  • 'cause that's what that dog just did.
  • 00:21:25.984 --> 00:21:32.124
  • So a dog returns to its own vomit.
  • 00:21:32.124 --> 00:21:34.293
  • Why does a dog do that?
  • 00:21:34.293 --> 00:21:35.661
  • Because it's a dog and dogs do doggy things.
  • 00:21:35.661 --> 00:21:40.065
  • Here's my simple point.
  • 00:21:40.065 --> 00:21:41.433
  • They're just doing what comes by nature.
  • 00:21:41.433 --> 00:21:44.336
  • So coming back to the issue i raised earlier,
  • 00:21:44.336 --> 00:21:47.272
  • A prodigal will always return to god but a pig won't.
  • 00:21:47.272 --> 00:21:51.877
  • So are you a pig or a prodigal?
  • 00:21:51.877 --> 00:21:54.346
  • See, if you're a prodigal, you'll come home to your father.
  • 00:21:54.346 --> 00:21:56.848
  • If you're a pig, you'll go back to your own slop
  • 00:21:56.848 --> 00:22:00.185
  • Or a dog to its own vomit.
  • 00:22:00.185 --> 00:22:02.554
  • That is exactly the illustration before us.
  • 00:22:02.554 --> 00:22:05.557
  • Don't get mad at me for talking about barf.
  • 00:22:05.557 --> 00:22:08.527
  • It's in the bible.
  • 00:22:08.527 --> 00:22:10.762
  • Number four, did you keep yourself from the devil?
  • 00:22:10.762 --> 00:22:13.598
  • See, if you're really a christian,
  • 00:22:13.598 --> 00:22:15.434
  • If you've only been born of god, you'll keep yourself
  • 00:22:15.434 --> 00:22:17.536
  • From the devil.
  • 00:22:17.536 --> 00:22:18.870
  • 1 john 5:18 says, "we know whoever is born of god
  • 00:22:18.870 --> 00:22:22.541
  • Does not sin," habitually, "and he who has been born
  • 00:22:22.541 --> 00:22:25.577
  • Of god keeps himself from the devil,
  • 00:22:25.577 --> 00:22:28.613
  • And the wicked one does not touch him."
  • 00:22:28.613 --> 00:22:31.883
  • What does it mean to keep themselves from the devil?
  • 00:22:31.883 --> 00:22:35.520
  • Well, the idea is that you stay as close to god
  • 00:22:35.520 --> 00:22:39.091
  • As you possibly can.
  • 00:22:39.091 --> 00:22:41.193
  • See, i don't keep myself saved, but i can keep myself safe.
  • 00:22:41.193 --> 00:22:47.632
  • So the same is true in life in general.
  • 00:22:47.632 --> 00:22:49.801
  • If i go to this party, if i hang out with this person,
  • 00:22:49.801 --> 00:22:53.238
  • If i watch this thing on tv, if i go to that website,
  • 00:22:53.238 --> 00:22:58.143
  • Trouble always follows.
  • 00:22:58.143 --> 00:23:00.078
  • Okay, newsflash, don't go to that website,
  • 00:23:00.078 --> 00:23:02.981
  • Don't go to that party, don't hang out with that person.
  • 00:23:02.981 --> 00:23:06.218
  • The bible says that we should keep ourselves
  • 00:23:06.218 --> 00:23:08.286
  • In the love of god.
  • 00:23:08.286 --> 00:23:10.956
  • So the idea of that is stay as close as i can to the lord.
  • 00:23:10.956 --> 00:23:16.094
  • And another one, do you love other christians?
  • 00:23:16.094 --> 00:23:19.064
  • How much do you love god?
  • 00:23:19.064 --> 00:23:20.899
  • How much--how can you say you love god who you can't see
  • 00:23:20.899 --> 00:23:23.902
  • If you won't love his people who you can see?
  • 00:23:23.902 --> 00:23:27.873
  • Start there.
  • 00:23:27.873 --> 00:23:29.608
  • And so, these are simple litmus tests that show
  • 00:23:29.608 --> 00:23:32.711
  • That our faith is real.
  • 00:23:32.711 --> 00:23:34.880
  • Here's the key. look at verse 13.
  • 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:36.381
  • Don't miss this.
  • 00:23:36.381 --> 00:23:37.716
  • It is god that works in you both to will and do
  • 00:23:37.716 --> 00:23:41.052
  • Of his good pleasure.
  • 00:23:41.052 --> 00:23:42.621
  • It's god working in me.
  • 00:23:42.687 --> 00:23:45.023
  • It's not me trying to imitate jesus,
  • 00:23:45.023 --> 00:23:48.794
  • It's jesus living in me and jesus living through me.
  • 00:23:48.794 --> 00:23:54.733
  • Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart
  • 00:23:58.637 --> 00:24:01.440
  • And you have seen your need for jesus christ.
  • 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:05.076
  • Jesus christ is the son of god who came from heaven
  • 00:24:05.076 --> 00:24:09.181
  • To this earth.
  • 00:24:09.181 --> 00:24:10.649
  • He was born in a manger.
  • 00:24:10.649 --> 00:24:12.884
  • He died in a cross.
  • 00:24:12.884 --> 00:24:14.319
  • He rose again from the dead. why?
  • 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:16.455
  • Because he loves you and he wants
  • 00:24:16.455 --> 00:24:18.123
  • A relationship with you.
  • 00:24:18.123 --> 00:24:19.858
  • Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
  • 00:24:19.858 --> 00:24:21.927
  • I don't want to be a religious person.
  • 00:24:21.927 --> 00:24:23.829
  • I don't think you want to be one either.
  • 00:24:23.829 --> 00:24:25.730
  • I'm talking about relationship with god.
  • 00:24:25.730 --> 00:24:29.201
  • Jesus, who died and rose again, stands at the door of your life
  • 00:24:29.201 --> 00:24:34.105
  • And he knocks, and he says if you'll hear his voice
  • 00:24:34.105 --> 00:24:36.475
  • And open the door he will come in.
  • 00:24:36.475 --> 00:24:38.810
  • Question, have you asked jesus christ to come
  • 00:24:38.810 --> 00:24:41.546
  • And live inside of you?
  • 00:24:41.546 --> 00:24:43.148
  • You might say, "well, i think so.
  • 00:24:43.148 --> 00:24:44.483
  • I'm not sure."
  • 00:24:44.483 --> 00:24:45.817
  • Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle
  • 00:24:45.817 --> 00:24:47.452
  • Of the night, do you think you would be aware of it?
  • 00:24:47.452 --> 00:24:50.288
  • I'm sure you would.
  • 00:24:50.288 --> 00:24:52.023
  • And in the same way if christ has come to live
  • 00:24:52.023 --> 00:24:54.125
  • Inside of you you will know, and if you don't know,
  • 00:24:54.125 --> 00:24:58.029
  • Maybe he has not come in yet.
  • 00:24:58.029 --> 00:24:59.798
  • He is just a prayer away.
  • 00:24:59.798 --> 00:25:01.600
  • All you need to do is say,
  • 00:25:01.600 --> 00:25:03.134
  • "jesus, i want this relationship with you.
  • 00:25:03.134 --> 00:25:05.537
  • I want you to forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:25:05.537 --> 00:25:07.839
  • I want to go to heaven when i die."
  • 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:10.108
  • Would you like to do that?
  • 00:25:10.108 --> 00:25:11.510
  • Would you like christ to come into your life?
  • 00:25:11.510 --> 00:25:13.979
  • If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
  • 00:25:13.979 --> 00:25:17.082
  • You could pray it out loud or you can pray it
  • 00:25:17.082 --> 00:25:19.584
  • In the quietness of your heart, but this is a prayer
  • 00:25:19.584 --> 00:25:22.420
  • Where you're asking jesus christ to be your savior and lord.
  • 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:25.957
  • Pray this with me now.
  • 00:25:25.957 --> 00:25:27.626
  • "lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner,
  • 00:25:27.626 --> 00:25:30.362
  • But i know that you're the savior who died
  • 00:25:30.362 --> 00:25:34.366
  • In the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.
  • 00:25:34.366 --> 00:25:37.502
  • Now, come into my life.
  • 00:25:37.502 --> 00:25:39.938
  • I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
  • 00:25:39.938 --> 00:25:43.975
  • Thank you for hearing this prayer
  • 00:25:43.975 --> 00:25:46.611
  • And answering this prayer.
  • 00:25:46.611 --> 00:25:48.513
  • In jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:25:48.513 --> 00:25:51.082
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:25:51.082 --> 00:25:53.485
  • If so, i want you to know in the authority of scripture
  • 00:25:53.485 --> 00:25:56.454
  • That christ himself has come to live inside of you,
  • 00:25:56.454 --> 00:25:59.791
  • And i would love to send to you,
  • 00:25:59.791 --> 00:26:01.493
  • At no charge, something called,
  • 00:26:01.493 --> 00:26:03.628
  • "the new believer's bible."
  • 00:26:03.628 --> 00:26:05.297
  • It's a very friendly translation
  • 00:26:05.297 --> 00:26:07.132
  • Of the new testament,
  • 00:26:07.132 --> 00:26:08.466
  • You'll find very understandable.
  • 00:26:08.466 --> 00:26:10.468
  • And it's filled
  • 00:26:10.468 --> 00:26:11.803
  • With hundreds of notes that i wrote
  • 00:26:11.803 --> 00:26:13.371
  • That will encourage you
  • 00:26:13.371 --> 00:26:14.973
  • In this commitment you've just made
  • 00:26:14.973 --> 00:26:16.474
  • To follow jesus.
  • 00:26:16.474 --> 00:26:17.809
  • Let me send that to you at no charge.
  • 00:26:17.809 --> 00:26:20.412
  • And let me be the first to say to you,
  • 00:26:20.478 --> 00:26:22.414
  • Congratulations,
  • 00:26:22.414 --> 00:26:24.249
  • And welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:26:24.249 --> 00:26:27.552
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:30.889 --> 00:26:33.658
  • Greg: hey, greg laurie here, welcome to my podcast.
  • 00:26:33.658 --> 00:26:35.827
  • I have a very special guest, joel rosenberg.
  • 00:26:35.827 --> 00:26:40.165
  • Levi, thanks for being on my podcast.
  • 00:26:40.165 --> 00:26:41.900
  • Michael franzese.
  • 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:43.501
  • Thank you for making time for me.
  • 00:26:43.501 --> 00:26:45.236
  • Because you deal with some pretty weighty heavy subjects
  • 00:26:45.236 --> 00:26:47.439
  • And i think when you can bring humor in
  • 00:26:47.439 --> 00:26:49.908
  • It actually helps the viewer to take in all that information.
  • 00:26:49.908 --> 00:26:54.179
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:54.179 --> 00:26:57.916
  • Greg: is it hard to be a man of faith in what you do?
  • 00:26:57.916 --> 00:27:02.153
  • Male: it's not, in fact, it's the only way
  • 00:27:02.153 --> 00:27:04.089
  • I'm allowed and enabled to do this job.
  • 00:27:04.089 --> 00:27:07.258
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:07.258 --> 00:27:09.327
  • Male: hollywood's not the hope of the world,
  • 00:27:09.327 --> 00:27:10.662
  • The local church is the hope of the world,
  • 00:27:10.662 --> 00:27:12.297
  • And i've always felt like it's my job to set a volleyball
  • 00:27:12.297 --> 00:27:15.033
  • That can be spiked at the local level.
  • 00:27:15.033 --> 00:27:17.836
  • Greg: no one is beyond the reach of god.
  • 00:27:17.836 --> 00:27:20.038
  • I mean if god can reach michael franzese,
  • 00:27:20.038 --> 00:27:22.641
  • Who can god not reach?
  • 00:27:22.641 --> 00:27:24.442
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:24.442 --> 00:27:28.480