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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - The Gift

December 16, 2024 | S24:E5101

Greg Laurie - The Gift
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#GregLaurie #Forgiveness #Gospel #IdentityinChrist #Religion #Jesus #Christmas #Sin #Righteousness #inActive #Gifting/Talent #EternalLife #VirginBirth #Savior #Messiah #HarvestwithPastorGregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - The Gift | December 16, 2024
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  • Greg laurie: the greatest gift you can share in this christmas
  • 00:00:05.070 --> 00:00:09.108
  • Season is a gift of eternal life, and people need to see it
  • 00:00:09.208 --> 00:00:14.313
  • And hear it.
  • 00:00:14.446 --> 00:00:15.647
  • And this is how you can have a happy christmas because for
  • 00:00:15.781 --> 00:00:16.815
  • Some, christmas is not a happy time.
  • 00:00:18.751 --> 00:00:22.554
  • Some people find themselves depressed in the
  • 00:00:22.554 --> 00:00:24.790
  • Christmas season.
  • 00:00:24.790 --> 00:00:26.125
  • Maybe i'm talking to someone that feels down and
  • 00:00:26.125 --> 00:00:29.495
  • Depressed right now.
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  • Christmas cannot make you happy.
  • 00:00:30.896 --> 00:00:33.632
  • Only christ can make you happy.
  • 00:00:33.632 --> 00:00:37.002
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
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  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪
  • 00:00:42.574 --> 00:00:47.880
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
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  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
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  • Greg: well, i wanna talk to you about the gift.
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  • First of all, i wanna talk to you about the gift that god has
  • 00:01:05.297 --> 00:01:08.634
  • Given to us.
  • 00:01:08.634 --> 00:01:09.968
  • Then i wanna talk about the gift that we can give back to god.
  • 00:01:09.968 --> 00:01:14.139
  • And thirdly, i wanna talk about the gift
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  • That we give to each other.
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  • So let's start with the gift god has given to us.
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  • Do we really appreciate this gift?
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  • Now, this gift is not under your christmas tree.
  • 00:01:24.817 --> 00:01:27.786
  • This gift cannot be purchased with money.
  • 00:01:27.786 --> 00:01:31.623
  • In fact, if you're a christian, you already carry this gift in
  • 00:01:31.623 --> 00:01:35.160
  • Your heart.
  • 00:01:35.160 --> 00:01:36.528
  • And if you don't have this gift, i'm gonna tell you how to
  • 00:01:36.528 --> 00:01:38.564
  • Receive it in a few moments.
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  • I'm talking about the gift of christmas, which is the gift of
  • 00:01:40.499 --> 00:01:44.603
  • Eternal life.
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  • God has given to every christian the
  • 00:01:46.405 --> 00:01:48.707
  • Gift of eternal life.
  • 00:01:48.707 --> 00:01:50.042
  • Romans 6:23 says: "the gift of god which is eternal life
  • 00:01:50.042 --> 00:01:55.347
  • Through jesus christ."
  • 00:01:55.347 --> 00:01:56.715
  • That's the greatest gift you have.
  • 00:01:56.715 --> 00:01:58.650
  • Now, you'll get certain things under the tree, but they'll
  • 00:01:58.650 --> 00:02:01.887
  • Quickly go out of style or they'll be yesterday's tech.
  • 00:02:01.887 --> 00:02:05.757
  • You know, you get the new phone and the moment you get it, like,
  • 00:02:05.757 --> 00:02:09.628
  • A week later, they come out with a new updated version and that
  • 00:02:09.628 --> 00:02:13.432
  • Drone or new outfit will one day be as dated as a betamax or a
  • 00:02:13.432 --> 00:02:18.203
  • Mood ring, right?
  • 00:02:18.203 --> 00:02:20.272
  • But then again, some gifts become more precious with the
  • 00:02:20.272 --> 00:02:23.575
  • Passing of time.
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  • Maybe it's a family heirloom like your grandfather's watch
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  • That he gave to your dad who gave it to you and you can pass
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  • It on to your son as well.
  • 00:02:32.918 --> 00:02:34.920
  • Maybe it's a photograph, something really precious,
  • 00:02:34.920 --> 00:02:37.789
  • Something you would grab if your house was on fire, something
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  • That has personal meaning to you.
  • 00:02:42.094 --> 00:02:44.463
  • Or maybe it's money put into a savings account by your
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  • Grandparents which you did not appreciate when you were a kid.
  • 00:02:47.900 --> 00:02:51.770
  • You wanted toys.
  • 00:02:51.770 --> 00:02:53.539
  • "we put some money in a little account for you," grandma said,
  • 00:02:53.539 --> 00:02:57.943
  • And that's how grandma sounded, which is sad.
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  • Like this.
  • 00:03:00.812 --> 00:03:02.181
  • But then when you hit the age of 18, you looked in that account
  • 00:03:02.181 --> 00:03:05.784
  • And found out how much had developed, how much more you had
  • 00:03:05.784 --> 00:03:08.921
  • With interest since they started making those deposits, and you
  • 00:03:08.921 --> 00:03:12.024
  • Had a new appreciation for it.
  • 00:03:12.024 --> 00:03:13.859
  • Some things become more valuable with the passing of time,
  • 00:03:13.859 --> 00:03:17.796
  • Including star wars figures in their original packaging.
  • 00:03:17.796 --> 00:03:22.801
  • I read the other day that a first generation star wars
  • 00:03:22.801 --> 00:03:25.871
  • Figure in original packaging can sell for 40--from $45,000
  • 00:03:25.871 --> 00:03:30.375
  • To $60,000.
  • 00:03:30.375 --> 00:03:33.245
  • Can you believe that? i wish i had saved those things.
  • 00:03:33.245 --> 00:03:35.948
  • A luke skywalker with a lightsaber just sold
  • 00:03:35.948 --> 00:03:39.384
  • For $35,000.
  • 00:03:39.384 --> 00:03:41.887
  • So check that out.
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  • You want to know how to spend $35,000, there it is.
  • 00:03:43.222 --> 00:03:47.659
  • And in the same way, this gift that god has given to us, this
  • 00:03:47.659 --> 00:03:50.629
  • Gift of eternal life, will only grow more valuable to you with
  • 00:03:50.629 --> 00:03:55.100
  • The passing of time.
  • 00:03:55.100 --> 00:03:56.468
  • Now it's already valuable, but your appreciation of it is going
  • 00:03:56.468 --> 00:04:00.839
  • To grow, and especially if you have a better understanding of
  • 00:04:00.839 --> 00:04:04.977
  • What it actually is.
  • 00:04:04.977 --> 00:04:06.878
  • What does it mean to receive eternal life?
  • 00:04:06.878 --> 00:04:09.748
  • What does it mean to receive this gift we're talking about?
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  • One of the things that's included in this gift is
  • 00:04:13.252 --> 00:04:16.054
  • Something called justification.
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  • We hear that word, we may even throw the word around, but do we
  • 00:04:18.523 --> 00:04:21.960
  • Really know what it means to be justified?
  • 00:04:21.960 --> 00:04:24.963
  • The bible says in romans 5: "therefore we've been justified
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  • By faith and we have peace with god through our lord jesus
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  • Christ, through whom we have access by faith into this grace
  • 00:04:31.770 --> 00:04:35.474
  • In which we stand."
  • 00:04:35.474 --> 00:04:36.942
  • Okay, so the word "justify" has a twofold meaning.
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  • First, it speaks of the forgiveness of sins.
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  • So let's just start there.
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  • When you put your faith in jesus christ who died for you on the
  • 00:04:45.450 --> 00:04:48.954
  • Cross and shed his blood for you, and you turn from your sin,
  • 00:04:48.954 --> 00:04:52.658
  • God forgives you of every sin you have ever committed,
  • 00:04:52.658 --> 00:04:57.162
  • Just instantaneously.
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  • Our god has this big eraser and he wipes it away.
  • 00:04:59.197 --> 00:05:03.402
  • I love a passage that i came across in micah recently, 7:19:
  • 00:05:03.402 --> 00:05:08.140
  • "god hurls our sins into the sea and there they sink
  • 00:05:08.140 --> 00:05:12.244
  • Like a stone."
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  • That's amazing.
  • 00:05:13.578 --> 00:05:14.913
  • And then we're also told in scripture that god forgives our
  • 00:05:14.913 --> 00:05:18.450
  • Sins and he forgets them, jeremiah 31:34,
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  • God says, "i'll forgive their inequity,
  • 00:05:21.887 --> 00:05:23.889
  • And their sin will i remember no more."
  • 00:05:23.889 --> 00:05:26.858
  • So god not only forgives your sin,
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  • He forgets your sin.
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  • Sometimes we dredge up old sins and we beat ourselves up over
  • 00:05:31.163 --> 00:05:35.567
  • Them, but god has forgiven you.
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  • Why would you choose to remember what god has chosen to forget?
  • 00:05:38.170 --> 00:05:42.441
  • So god's forgiven your sin, god has forgotten your sin.
  • 00:05:42.441 --> 00:05:46.678
  • As corrie ten boom once wrote: "god has taken our sins.
  • 00:05:46.678 --> 00:05:50.182
  • He's thrown them into the sea of forgetfulness and he has posted
  • 00:05:50.182 --> 00:05:53.952
  • A sign that says, 'no fishing allowed.'"
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  • So that's what god has done for you.
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  • God has forgiven you.
  • 00:05:59.891 --> 00:06:01.927
  • But if that--if that was all he
  • 00:06:01.927 --> 00:06:03.328
  • Did, that would be more than enough.
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  • But in the place of that, he has put his righteousness, because
  • 00:06:04.663 --> 00:06:10.535
  • Justification has a positive side.
  • 00:06:10.535 --> 00:06:12.838
  • The word "justified" means to put to one's account.
  • 00:06:12.838 --> 00:06:16.875
  • So he puts the righteousness of christ in your account.
  • 00:06:16.875 --> 00:06:20.278
  • Acts 13:38 says: "brothers, listen, in this man, jesus
  • 00:06:20.278 --> 00:06:25.283
  • Christ, there's forgiveness for your sin.
  • 00:06:25.283 --> 00:06:28.019
  • Everyone who trusts in him is freed from guilt and is
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  • Declared righteous."
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  • Listen, i stand before you today as a righteous man.
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  • You wanna know what a righteous man looks like?
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  • Here i am.
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  • You're saying, "i don't know, greg.
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  • I saw you drive earlier.
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  • I'm not so sure you're--" i didn't say i always
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  • Behave righteously.
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  • But positionally, because i've received the gift of eternal
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  • Life, i'm declared righteous, as are you.
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  • I'm a righteous man looking at righteous men and righteous
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  • Women because of what jesus has done.
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  • I'm a living breathing saint.
  • 00:07:02.287 --> 00:07:04.956
  • You wanna know what a saint looks like?
  • 00:07:04.956 --> 00:07:06.358
  • Here i am.
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  • You don't have to--well, you don't have to call me
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  • Saint gregory.
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  • But i'm looking at saints.
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  • You're all saints because the word "saint" is used
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  • Interchangeably in the new testament with the
  • 00:07:19.171 --> 00:07:21.640
  • Word "believer."
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  • A believer is a saint and a saint is a believer.
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  • So this is something god has done for us through the gift of
  • 00:07:26.711 --> 00:07:31.049
  • Eternal life.
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  • It's like this.
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  • Let's say you got carried away with a credit card and you found
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  • Yourself in debt for $10 million.
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  • You would never repay this debt, ever.
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  • And some billionaire heard about your plight and decided to pay
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  • Your debt off.
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  • You were so thankful.
  • 00:07:47.332 --> 00:07:48.667
  • And then that billionaire said, "why don't you go check
  • 00:07:48.667 --> 00:07:51.069
  • Your balance?"
  • 00:07:51.069 --> 00:07:52.437
  • And you went down to the bank and found he had put $20 million
  • 00:07:52.437 --> 00:07:55.907
  • Into your account.
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  • That's what god has done for you.
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  • He's not only removed your sin, he's not only forgotten your
  • 00:07:58.610 --> 00:08:02.080
  • Sin, and of course, forgiven your sin, he has put the
  • 00:08:02.080 --> 00:08:04.816
  • Righteousness of christ into your account.
  • 00:08:04.816 --> 00:08:07.786
  • And then there's a hope for the future because it's the gift of
  • 00:08:07.786 --> 00:08:11.556
  • Eternal life.
  • 00:08:11.556 --> 00:08:13.658
  • Now, when you're younger, you may not appreciate this as much
  • 00:08:13.658 --> 00:08:18.263
  • As when you get older.
  • 00:08:18.263 --> 00:08:20.232
  • Because when you get older, you know, you're closer to the end
  • 00:08:20.232 --> 00:08:24.870
  • Of your life than the beginning of it and you're gonna enter
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  • Into the afterlife.
  • 00:08:28.540 --> 00:08:30.008
  • So knowing that god has given you eternal life,
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  • Everlasting life.
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  • Jesus said, "i am the resurrection and the life.
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  • He that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
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  • And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die."
  • 00:08:41.386 --> 00:08:45.524
  • This is truly the gift that keeps on giving: the gift of
  • 00:08:45.524 --> 00:08:50.629
  • Eternal life.
  • 00:08:50.629 --> 00:08:51.997
  • So that's the gift god has given to us.
  • 00:08:51.997 --> 00:08:53.431
  • Now let's talk about the gift we give to god.
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  • If i were to give you a really nice gift after church, you
  • 00:08:57.068 --> 00:09:00.605
  • Would say, "thank you."
  • 00:09:00.605 --> 00:09:01.940
  • Then you might say, "oh, hey, i got a gift for you too," when
  • 00:09:01.940 --> 00:09:05.544
  • You hadn't at all.
  • 00:09:05.544 --> 00:09:06.912
  • You open up your trunk and there's something you bought for
  • 00:09:06.912 --> 00:09:09.180
  • Yourself or someone else.
  • 00:09:09.180 --> 00:09:10.549
  • "i got this for you, greg."
  • 00:09:10.549 --> 00:09:11.883
  • "this is a woman's dress."
  • 00:09:11.883 --> 00:09:13.251
  • "oh, for your wife. give it to her."
  • 00:09:13.251 --> 00:09:14.719
  • I mean, you know, but your inclination is to reciprocate if
  • 00:09:14.719 --> 00:09:19.190
  • Someone gives you something nice.
  • 00:09:19.190 --> 00:09:21.626
  • So god gives us this gift of eternal life.
  • 00:09:21.626 --> 00:09:24.362
  • We think, "can i reciprocate?"
  • 00:09:24.362 --> 00:09:26.097
  • Short answer, no,
  • 00:09:26.097 --> 00:09:27.832
  • But there are things i can do for god, things i can
  • 00:09:27.832 --> 00:09:31.036
  • Give to god.
  • 00:09:31.036 --> 00:09:32.370
  • David wrote in psalm 116: "what shall i give to the lord for all
  • 00:09:32.370 --> 00:09:37.842
  • He has given to me?
  • 00:09:37.842 --> 00:09:39.578
  • I'll offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and i'll call on
  • 00:09:39.578 --> 00:09:43.348
  • The name of the lord."
  • 00:09:43.348 --> 00:09:44.683
  • So, hey, why don't you just start with, "thank you"?
  • 00:09:44.683 --> 00:09:47.652
  • If someone gives you a nice gift, say, "thank you
  • 00:09:47.652 --> 00:09:50.855
  • Very much."
  • 00:09:50.855 --> 00:09:52.390
  • When we worship the lord, we're saying, "thank you very
  • 00:09:52.390 --> 00:09:55.327
  • Much, lord.
  • 00:09:55.327 --> 00:09:56.661
  • Thank you for this gift of eternal life.
  • 00:09:56.661 --> 00:09:58.964
  • Thank you for my health.
  • 00:09:58.964 --> 00:10:00.665
  • Thank you for my family.
  • 00:10:00.665 --> 00:10:02.968
  • Thank you for my church.
  • 00:10:02.968 --> 00:10:04.636
  • Thank you for my friends.
  • 00:10:04.636 --> 00:10:06.004
  • Thank you for everything you've blessed me with.
  • 00:10:06.004 --> 00:10:09.007
  • I give you the glory for it."
  • 00:10:09.007 --> 00:10:10.375
  • Listen, there are three things every one of us can give to god:
  • 00:10:10.375 --> 00:10:14.412
  • Time, treasure, and talent.
  • 00:10:14.412 --> 00:10:17.315
  • Time, treasure, and talent.
  • 00:10:17.315 --> 00:10:19.184
  • For sure, there's your time.
  • 00:10:19.184 --> 00:10:20.719
  • We all have x amount of hours in a given day.
  • 00:10:20.719 --> 00:10:23.421
  • You give your time to the lord.
  • 00:10:23.421 --> 00:10:25.090
  • "lord, this is yours to use for your glory.
  • 00:10:25.090 --> 00:10:27.892
  • I wanna invest it in you."
  • 00:10:27.892 --> 00:10:30.495
  • The bible says, "redeem the time because the days are evil."
  • 00:10:30.495 --> 00:10:33.698
  • And the word "redeem" means make sacred, why--and wise use of
  • 00:10:33.698 --> 00:10:37.168
  • Every opportunity.
  • 00:10:37.168 --> 00:10:38.637
  • So give your time to the lord.
  • 00:10:38.637 --> 00:10:40.005
  • Give your talent to the lord.
  • 00:10:40.005 --> 00:10:41.573
  • You have abilities, you have talents, everyone does, that are
  • 00:10:41.573 --> 00:10:44.509
  • Given to you by god.
  • 00:10:44.509 --> 00:10:45.877
  • Give that talent to god.
  • 00:10:45.877 --> 00:10:47.212
  • "god, how can i serve you?"
  • 00:10:47.212 --> 00:10:48.546
  • And finally your treasure.
  • 00:10:48.546 --> 00:10:50.048
  • "lord, you bless me with these finances and i want to invest
  • 00:10:50.048 --> 00:10:53.118
  • Back into your kingdom."
  • 00:10:53.118 --> 00:10:56.121
  • And that's something we all can do.
  • 00:10:56.121 --> 00:10:58.456
  • And one thing we can do is open our treasures to the lord.
  • 00:10:58.456 --> 00:11:01.660
  • And that brings us to the story before us in scripture, the
  • 00:11:01.660 --> 00:11:05.864
  • Story of the wise men.
  • 00:11:05.864 --> 00:11:08.166
  • In matthew 2, verse 9: "the star which they had seen in the east
  • 00:11:08.166 --> 00:11:13.905
  • Went before them, till it came and stood over where the young
  • 00:11:13.905 --> 00:11:17.475
  • Child was."
  • 00:11:17.475 --> 00:11:18.843
  • Notice it's not the baby; the young child.
  • 00:11:18.843 --> 00:11:21.479
  • This is speaking of jesus.
  • 00:11:21.479 --> 00:11:22.847
  • "when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly
  • 00:11:22.847 --> 00:11:25.750
  • Great joy.
  • 00:11:25.750 --> 00:11:27.085
  • And when they came to the house," not the manger, the
  • 00:11:27.085 --> 00:11:29.187
  • House, "they saw the young child with mary his mother, and they
  • 00:11:29.187 --> 00:11:32.991
  • Fell down and worshiped him.
  • 00:11:32.991 --> 00:11:34.826
  • And when they opened their treasures, they presented gifts
  • 00:11:34.826 --> 00:11:38.296
  • To him of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
  • 00:11:38.296 --> 00:11:40.965
  • Then, being divinely warned in a dream they should not return to
  • 00:11:40.965 --> 00:11:44.002
  • Herod, they departed for their own country another way."
  • 00:11:44.002 --> 00:11:48.106
  • We'll stop there.
  • 00:11:48.106 --> 00:11:49.541
  • So they came to worship the newborn king.
  • 00:11:49.541 --> 00:11:52.110
  • This is the message of christmas.
  • 00:11:52.110 --> 00:11:54.612
  • Not, "let it snow."
  • 00:11:54.612 --> 00:11:57.082
  • Nor is it, "let us shop."
  • 00:11:57.082 --> 00:11:59.884
  • It's, "let us worship."
  • 00:11:59.884 --> 00:12:01.886
  • "we have come to worship him," these wise men, these magi, said
  • 00:12:01.886 --> 00:12:06.891
  • To king herod, and they opened their treasures, verse 11,
  • 00:12:06.891 --> 00:12:12.197
  • No leftovers.
  • 00:12:12.197 --> 00:12:13.832
  • The very best to be given to the king.
  • 00:12:13.832 --> 00:12:17.635
  • You know, it's interesting that they brought such unusual gifts:
  • 00:12:17.635 --> 00:12:20.605
  • Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
  • 00:12:20.605 --> 00:12:22.807
  • Come on, what about a stuffed camel, a playstation, an
  • 00:12:22.807 --> 00:12:27.278
  • Original luke skywalker figure?
  • 00:12:27.278 --> 00:12:29.347
  • I mean, something.
  • 00:12:29.347 --> 00:12:30.882
  • Weird gifts to give to a little child.
  • 00:12:30.882 --> 00:12:33.084
  • But they had an insight into the mission of this child who would
  • 00:12:33.084 --> 00:12:37.555
  • Be the messiah.
  • 00:12:37.555 --> 00:12:38.923
  • Gold because he was a king, frankincense or incense because
  • 00:12:38.923 --> 00:12:43.595
  • He was our high priest that would stand in our stead
  • 00:12:43.595 --> 00:12:48.066
  • Before god.
  • 00:12:48.066 --> 00:12:49.400
  • And finally myrrh, which is an embalming element because this
  • 00:12:49.400 --> 00:12:53.538
  • Little child would die for the sin of the world.
  • 00:12:53.538 --> 00:12:57.475
  • But they opened their treasures.
  • 00:12:57.475 --> 00:12:59.377
  • And i think when you've had a true conversion, it will impact
  • 00:12:59.377 --> 00:13:03.681
  • You in every area of your life, including your finances.
  • 00:13:03.681 --> 00:13:07.852
  • If a person has really met god, it should affect everything,
  • 00:13:07.852 --> 00:13:12.490
  • Including their money.
  • 00:13:12.490 --> 00:13:14.592
  • Martin luther said this and i quote, "there are three
  • 00:13:14.592 --> 00:13:17.228
  • Conversions necessary: the mind, the heart, and the wallet."
  • 00:13:17.228 --> 00:13:21.800
  • Some of us have not had the conversion of the wallet yet.
  • 00:13:21.800 --> 00:13:26.137
  • But there is a connection because the gifts that god has
  • 00:13:26.137 --> 00:13:28.873
  • Given to us are not to be hoarded.
  • 00:13:28.873 --> 00:13:31.609
  • They are to be shared.
  • 00:13:31.609 --> 00:13:33.678
  • That's why the bible says, "don't lay up for yourself
  • 00:13:33.678 --> 00:13:36.514
  • Treasures on earth where moth and rust corrupt and thieves
  • 00:13:36.514 --> 00:13:40.552
  • Break in and steal, but rather lay up for yourself treasures in
  • 00:13:40.552 --> 00:13:44.789
  • Heaven where neither moth nor rust can corrupt nor thieves
  • 00:13:44.789 --> 00:13:48.827
  • Break in and steal."
  • 00:13:48.827 --> 00:13:50.461
  • You can't take it with you but you can send it on ahead.
  • 00:13:50.461 --> 00:13:54.732
  • So keep this in mind: do your giving while you're living, then
  • 00:13:54.732 --> 00:13:58.169
  • You're knowing where it's going, right?
  • 00:13:58.169 --> 00:14:00.705
  • That's something we all should do.
  • 00:14:00.705 --> 00:14:02.173
  • Why?
  • 00:14:02.173 --> 00:14:03.508
  • Because wealth comes and goes.
  • 00:14:03.508 --> 00:14:05.810
  • Proverbs 23:35 says: "in the blink of an eye
  • 00:14:05.810 --> 00:14:09.113
  • Wealth disappears.
  • 00:14:09.113 --> 00:14:10.648
  • It will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle."
  • 00:14:10.648 --> 00:14:14.519
  • Have you ever seen that happen?
  • 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:15.854
  • Like, "wait, where did my money go?"
  • 00:14:15.854 --> 00:14:17.856
  • Just go to disneyland someday and see how fast your
  • 00:14:17.856 --> 00:14:20.758
  • Money goes.
  • 00:14:20.758 --> 00:14:22.126
  • "well, i've spent how much on lunch and how much over here?"
  • 00:14:22.126 --> 00:14:26.431
  • It flies away like a bird.
  • 00:14:26.431 --> 00:14:28.733
  • That's how wealth can be.
  • 00:14:28.733 --> 00:14:30.068
  • So we want to invest it.
  • 00:14:30.068 --> 00:14:32.837
  • And that brings me to point number three.
  • 00:14:32.837 --> 00:14:35.406
  • When we have this gift that god has given us, we can give it
  • 00:14:35.406 --> 00:14:40.144
  • To others.
  • 00:14:40.144 --> 00:14:41.479
  • You can regift.
  • 00:14:41.479 --> 00:14:42.847
  • In fact, you should regift.
  • 00:14:42.847 --> 00:14:44.682
  • The greatest gift you can share in this christmas season is the
  • 00:14:44.682 --> 00:14:49.754
  • Gift of eternal life, and people need to see it and hear it.
  • 00:14:49.754 --> 00:14:55.193
  • And this is how you can have a happy christmas because for
  • 00:14:55.193 --> 00:14:58.363
  • Some, christmas is not a happy time.
  • 00:14:58.363 --> 00:15:02.200
  • Some people find themselves
  • 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:03.534
  • Depressed in the christmas season.
  • 00:15:03.534 --> 00:15:05.270
  • Maybe i'm talking to someone that feels down and depressed
  • 00:15:05.270 --> 00:15:09.707
  • Right now.
  • 00:15:09.707 --> 00:15:11.075
  • According to the national institute of health, christmas
  • 00:15:11.075 --> 00:15:13.444
  • Is a time of year that people experience a high incidence
  • 00:15:13.444 --> 00:15:17.548
  • Of depression.
  • 00:15:17.548 --> 00:15:19.384
  • Hospital and police forces report high incidences of
  • 00:15:19.384 --> 00:15:23.254
  • Suicide and attempted suicide in the holiday time.
  • 00:15:23.254 --> 00:15:27.392
  • One north american survey reported that 45% of respondents
  • 00:15:27.392 --> 00:15:32.297
  • Dreaded christmas.
  • 00:15:32.297 --> 00:15:34.866
  • Why is that?
  • 00:15:34.866 --> 00:15:36.401
  • Well, for some, it's sad because maybe they don't have a home to
  • 00:15:36.401 --> 00:15:40.538
  • Celebrate in.
  • 00:15:40.538 --> 00:15:41.873
  • Their parents are divorced or they themselves have broken up
  • 00:15:41.873 --> 00:15:45.743
  • With their husband or wife or they lost a loved one and that
  • 00:15:45.743 --> 00:15:50.148
  • Loved one was with them last christmas and they're not with
  • 00:15:50.148 --> 00:15:52.617
  • Them this christmas.
  • 00:15:52.617 --> 00:15:53.985
  • Or something else is going on or maybe it's because they're
  • 00:15:53.985 --> 00:15:57.288
  • Expecting christmas to make them happy.
  • 00:15:57.288 --> 00:16:00.291
  • Christmas cannot make you happy.
  • 00:16:00.291 --> 00:16:03.027
  • Only christ can make you happy.
  • 00:16:03.027 --> 00:16:05.730
  • So we have to kind of keep our focus.
  • 00:16:05.730 --> 00:16:07.598
  • It's--right?
  • 00:16:07.598 --> 00:16:12.503
  • It's not presents under a tree; it's his presence in our life.
  • 00:16:12.503 --> 00:16:18.843
  • That's the message of christmas.
  • 00:16:18.843 --> 00:16:20.611
  • You will call his name emmanuel, which means god is with us.
  • 00:16:20.611 --> 00:16:24.916
  • You're not alone.
  • 00:16:24.916 --> 00:16:26.250
  • So you find your joy and your happiness in christ himself.
  • 00:16:26.250 --> 00:16:30.955
  • But if you wanna have a happy christmas, understand this
  • 00:16:30.955 --> 00:16:35.326
  • Simple biblical principle from jesus when he says, "it's more
  • 00:16:35.326 --> 00:16:39.731
  • Blessed to give than it is to receive."
  • 00:16:39.731 --> 00:16:43.234
  • And the word "blessed" is interchangeable with the
  • 00:16:43.234 --> 00:16:45.803
  • Word "happy."
  • 00:16:45.803 --> 00:16:47.305
  • So allow me to paraphrase that, jesus speaking: "it's more
  • 00:16:47.305 --> 00:16:50.875
  • Happy-making to give than it is to receive."
  • 00:16:50.875 --> 00:16:54.912
  • That's counterintuitive.
  • 00:16:54.912 --> 00:16:56.347
  • "oh no, it's much better to receive."
  • 00:16:56.347 --> 00:16:57.915
  • No, actually, it isn't.
  • 00:16:57.915 --> 00:17:00.084
  • You will be happier giving than you will be receiving.
  • 00:17:00.084 --> 00:17:05.023
  • And the greatest gift we can give is our love and the
  • 00:17:05.023 --> 00:17:07.625
  • Gospel itself.
  • 00:17:07.625 --> 00:17:09.127
  • So i have a ten-step solution for depression.
  • 00:17:09.127 --> 00:17:13.131
  • If you find yourself depressed, ten steps
  • 00:17:13.131 --> 00:17:16.567
  • To be free from depression.
  • 00:17:16.567 --> 00:17:17.902
  • You might want to write these down.
  • 00:17:17.902 --> 00:17:19.904
  • Step number one: do something for someone else who has greater
  • 00:17:19.904 --> 00:17:24.175
  • Needs than you.
  • 00:17:24.175 --> 00:17:25.510
  • Write that down.
  • 00:17:25.510 --> 00:17:26.878
  • Do something for someone else who has greater needs than you.
  • 00:17:26.878 --> 00:17:29.814
  • Step number two: repeat step number one, nine more times.
  • 00:17:29.814 --> 00:17:35.286
  • Now, i know that's oversimplified and i know
  • 00:17:35.286 --> 00:17:41.959
  • There's a such thing as clinical depression.
  • 00:17:41.959 --> 00:17:44.328
  • I'm not really dealing with that, but i'm just talking about
  • 00:17:44.328 --> 00:17:46.631
  • When you get down in the dumps and you wonder what's wrong.
  • 00:17:46.631 --> 00:17:50.301
  • Maybe you need to get your eyes off of yourself and ask yourself
  • 00:17:50.301 --> 00:17:53.504
  • The question, "how can i do something for someone else?"
  • 00:17:53.504 --> 00:17:57.308
  • It's a well-documented fact that volunteering elevates mood in
  • 00:17:57.308 --> 00:18:02.947
  • Most people.
  • 00:18:02.947 --> 00:18:04.816
  • And this phenomenon has actually been dubbed the helper's high,
  • 00:18:04.816 --> 00:18:09.754
  • The helper's high.
  • 00:18:09.754 --> 00:18:11.155
  • It's been assessed biologically in brain-imaging studies, that
  • 00:18:11.155 --> 00:18:15.526
  • You will receive a release of endorphins in your life that
  • 00:18:15.526 --> 00:18:20.698
  • Brings us--bring a sense of wellbeing when you do something
  • 00:18:20.698 --> 00:18:24.135
  • For someone else.
  • 00:18:24.135 --> 00:18:25.470
  • The helper's high.
  • 00:18:25.470 --> 00:18:26.838
  • That's amazing. i've heard of the runner's high.
  • 00:18:26.838 --> 00:18:29.440
  • I've never experienced a runner's high.
  • 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:31.576
  • Is there an eater's high? i think i've had that.
  • 00:18:31.576 --> 00:18:34.512
  • How about the helper's high?
  • 00:18:34.512 --> 00:18:35.847
  • You know what i'm talking about.
  • 00:18:35.847 --> 00:18:37.215
  • When you do something for someone else.
  • 00:18:37.215 --> 00:18:39.784
  • It can be a simple gesture, holding the
  • 00:18:39.784 --> 00:18:41.986
  • Door open for someone.
  • 00:18:41.986 --> 00:18:43.321
  • It can be giving a meal to someone, helping out
  • 00:18:43.321 --> 00:18:47.258
  • Someone else.
  • 00:18:47.258 --> 00:18:48.593
  • And this is why i encourage you all to get involved in serving
  • 00:18:48.593 --> 00:18:51.863
  • Here at harvest because it will be a blessing and a joy to you.
  • 00:18:51.863 --> 00:18:57.101
  • You know, if you only come to church and it's all about you
  • 00:18:57.101 --> 00:18:59.837
  • And this is what i need and this is what i want, you're gonna
  • 00:18:59.837 --> 00:19:02.974
  • Have something less than what you should be experiencing
  • 00:19:02.974 --> 00:19:06.744
  • In church.
  • 00:19:06.744 --> 00:19:08.079
  • A mark of maturity in your spiritual life is when you say
  • 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:11.849
  • I've received, now i wanna give back.
  • 00:19:11.849 --> 00:19:14.585
  • I wanna find a place where i can serve others.
  • 00:19:14.585 --> 00:19:17.021
  • You know, when you walk into this church and you're warmly
  • 00:19:17.021 --> 00:19:19.190
  • Greeted by someone and someone shows you to your seat or they
  • 00:19:19.190 --> 00:19:22.793
  • Help you park your car or they're ministering to your
  • 00:19:22.793 --> 00:19:26.264
  • Children while you're here, or the other things that folks do,
  • 00:19:26.264 --> 00:19:29.600
  • These are volunteers.
  • 00:19:29.600 --> 00:19:31.669
  • These are people that are doing this because they
  • 00:19:31.669 --> 00:19:33.838
  • Love it and they want to.
  • 00:19:33.838 --> 00:19:35.173
  • And you know what? they're blessed.
  • 00:19:35.173 --> 00:19:37.074
  • There's a blessing in it, and i want all of you to experience
  • 00:19:37.074 --> 00:19:40.778
  • That blessing because there's the helper's high.
  • 00:19:40.778 --> 00:19:44.482
  • So you could say to someone, "hey, you wanna come to church
  • 00:19:44.482 --> 00:19:47.018
  • With me this sunday and get high?"
  • 00:19:47.018 --> 00:19:49.253
  • "well, what kind of church is that?"
  • 00:19:49.253 --> 00:19:53.925
  • "it's a bible-teaching church and it's a helper's high.
  • 00:19:53.925 --> 00:19:57.995
  • Come and be a part of it."
  • 00:19:57.995 --> 00:19:59.664
  • So this is something that sometimes we miss out on.
  • 00:19:59.664 --> 00:20:02.800
  • And one of the greatest joys we can have is sharing the gospel.
  • 00:20:02.800 --> 00:20:07.338
  • Psalm 126:6 says: "those who go weeping, carrying seed to sow
  • 00:20:07.338 --> 00:20:12.310
  • Will return with songs of joy, carrying their sheaves
  • 00:20:12.310 --> 00:20:16.781
  • With them."
  • 00:20:16.781 --> 00:20:18.115
  • The bible tells us that there is joy in heaven over one sinner
  • 00:20:18.115 --> 00:20:22.553
  • That comes to repentance.
  • 00:20:22.553 --> 00:20:24.422
  • So it all comes down to this gift that god has given to us.
  • 00:20:24.422 --> 00:20:28.259
  • We must fully appreciate it.
  • 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:30.161
  • The gift we give back to god, which is our privilege, and then
  • 00:20:30.161 --> 00:20:33.864
  • The gift that we give to other people.
  • 00:20:33.864 --> 00:20:37.235
  • This is where you will find the happiness and joy of christmas,
  • 00:20:37.235 --> 00:20:41.539
  • But just in life in general, because again, as jesus said,
  • 00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:45.843
  • It's more blessed to give than it is to receive.
  • 00:20:45.843 --> 00:20:49.480
  • You know, 15 years ago, our son christopher died in a tragic
  • 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:53.351
  • Automobile accident.
  • 00:20:53.351 --> 00:20:55.219
  • It was the worst moment of our life.
  • 00:20:55.219 --> 00:20:57.355
  • We were devastated, and we entered into a time of deep
  • 00:20:57.355 --> 00:21:01.292
  • Grief and we mourned for a long time, and i had people say to me
  • 00:21:01.292 --> 00:21:07.131
  • And my wife cathe and our son jonathan, "just take a vacation
  • 00:21:07.131 --> 00:21:10.735
  • And get away from it all."
  • 00:21:10.735 --> 00:21:12.069
  • We actually tried that.
  • 00:21:12.069 --> 00:21:13.437
  • We went on a vacation, and you can't get away from grief.
  • 00:21:13.437 --> 00:21:17.241
  • You can't get away from pain.
  • 00:21:17.241 --> 00:21:18.609
  • I wanna tell you what helped me in that time, because this is
  • 00:21:18.609 --> 00:21:22.313
  • Very important.
  • 00:21:22.313 --> 00:21:24.649
  • No thing helped me.
  • 00:21:24.649 --> 00:21:27.084
  • What i needed was god.
  • 00:21:27.084 --> 00:21:29.820
  • And one of the things that really encouraged us and lifted
  • 00:21:29.820 --> 00:21:33.758
  • Us in that difficult time was just coming to church.
  • 00:21:33.758 --> 00:21:36.827
  • "well, greg, you're a pastor."
  • 00:21:36.827 --> 00:21:38.195
  • Yeah, i'm still a christian too.
  • 00:21:38.195 --> 00:21:40.498
  • I needed to hear the word of god.
  • 00:21:40.498 --> 00:21:42.300
  • I need to--needed to worship the lord, and in the immediate
  • 00:21:42.300 --> 00:21:45.936
  • Aftermath of our son going to heaven, we had some guest
  • 00:21:45.936 --> 00:21:49.206
  • Speakers, and we would come to church and we would worship god
  • 00:21:49.206 --> 00:21:52.943
  • And it was so helpful to us.
  • 00:21:52.943 --> 00:21:55.313
  • And i'll tell you another thing that helped us.
  • 00:21:55.313 --> 00:21:57.281
  • It was helping others.
  • 00:21:57.281 --> 00:21:59.183
  • When we were down the road maybe 6 months or a year, and then we
  • 00:21:59.183 --> 00:22:03.020
  • Heard of somebody else losing a loved one, specifically a child,
  • 00:22:03.020 --> 00:22:08.192
  • We were able to minister to them because when you lose a child,
  • 00:22:08.192 --> 00:22:11.962
  • You feel as though your world just ended, literally, okay?
  • 00:22:11.962 --> 00:22:16.200
  • I'm just telling you how it really is.
  • 00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:18.769
  • And you don't know how you're gonna survive such a thing, i
  • 00:22:18.769 --> 00:22:21.305
  • Don't care how long you've been a christian.
  • 00:22:21.305 --> 00:22:23.708
  • But when you talk to somebody else who's come through it, they
  • 00:22:23.708 --> 00:22:27.511
  • Can really help you.
  • 00:22:27.511 --> 00:22:28.846
  • Like, let's say that you got cancer and you're a cancer
  • 00:22:28.846 --> 00:22:31.382
  • Survivor and you've come through in the other end and, thankfully
  • 00:22:31.382 --> 00:22:35.553
  • To god, and then you found out somebody else just
  • 00:22:35.553 --> 00:22:38.155
  • Found out they got cancer.
  • 00:22:38.155 --> 00:22:39.490
  • They feel like their world just ended.
  • 00:22:39.490 --> 00:22:40.825
  • The doctor told them they have cancer and you walked into their
  • 00:22:40.825 --> 00:22:43.294
  • Life and say, "let me tell you how jesus was with me
  • 00:22:43.294 --> 00:22:46.797
  • And how he helped me through this."
  • 00:22:46.797 --> 00:22:48.132
  • You have a unique quality to minister to that person in a
  • 00:22:48.132 --> 00:22:53.070
  • Capacity that nobody else has, you see?
  • 00:22:53.070 --> 00:22:56.440
  • So here's the deal.
  • 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.808
  • We're all gonna have pain in life.
  • 00:22:57.808 --> 00:22:59.643
  • We're all gonna have setbacks in life.
  • 00:22:59.643 --> 00:23:01.545
  • We're all going to experience things that don't make
  • 00:23:01.545 --> 00:23:04.014
  • Sense to us.
  • 00:23:04.014 --> 00:23:05.349
  • So here's my word of advice.
  • 00:23:05.349 --> 00:23:06.784
  • Don't waste your pain.
  • 00:23:06.784 --> 00:23:09.053
  • Use it as a tool.
  • 00:23:09.053 --> 00:23:10.855
  • Use it as a tool to help other people.
  • 00:23:10.855 --> 00:23:13.090
  • As paul said, "we comfort with the same comfort that we've been
  • 00:23:13.090 --> 00:23:16.994
  • Comforted with."
  • 00:23:16.994 --> 00:23:18.496
  • Because when you preach to hurting people, you'll never
  • 00:23:18.496 --> 00:23:21.332
  • Lack for an audience, and we live in a world full of
  • 00:23:21.332 --> 00:23:24.802
  • Hurting people.
  • 00:23:24.802 --> 00:23:26.137
  • "we don't know the back story.
  • 00:23:26.137 --> 00:23:28.339
  • We don't know why they're so agitated, why they're so upset."
  • 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:31.776
  • They're hurting and they need hope and they need help.
  • 00:23:31.776 --> 00:23:35.079
  • And most of all, they need jesus.
  • 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:37.381
  • And that's the greatest gift we can share with people in this
  • 00:23:37.381 --> 00:23:40.951
  • Holiday season, to tell them there's hope in a relationship
  • 00:23:40.951 --> 00:23:44.388
  • With god and tell them about the gift, the gift of eternal life
  • 00:23:44.388 --> 00:23:48.959
  • That god has offered to them.
  • 00:23:48.959 --> 00:23:50.728
  • "for god so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that
  • 00:23:50.728 --> 00:23:55.232
  • Whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have
  • 00:23:55.232 --> 00:23:58.235
  • Everlasting life."
  • 00:23:58.235 --> 00:24:00.337
  • Listen to this in closing.
  • 00:24:00.337 --> 00:24:01.672
  • This gift that god offers us, we either accept it or we
  • 00:24:01.672 --> 00:24:05.676
  • Reject it.
  • 00:24:05.676 --> 00:24:07.545
  • There's no neutral ground.
  • 00:24:07.545 --> 00:24:08.879
  • God says, "i've given you the gift of eternal life.
  • 00:24:08.879 --> 00:24:12.049
  • I offer it to you at no charge.
  • 00:24:12.049 --> 00:24:14.785
  • Would you like it?"
  • 00:24:14.785 --> 00:24:16.120
  • You either say, "yes, thank you very much,"
  • 00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:18.889
  • Or, "no, i don't want it."
  • 00:24:18.889 --> 00:24:20.224
  • You say, "well now, greg, i'm not comfortable with either one
  • 00:24:20.224 --> 00:24:22.693
  • Of those responses.
  • 00:24:22.693 --> 00:24:24.028
  • I would say, 'let me think about it.'"
  • 00:24:24.028 --> 00:24:25.563
  • Really?
  • 00:24:25.563 --> 00:24:27.598
  • So let's say that i took everything that i had and
  • 00:24:27.598 --> 00:24:30.801
  • Liquidated it and bought you this amazing gift that cannot be
  • 00:24:30.801 --> 00:24:34.171
  • Returned and offered it to you.
  • 00:24:34.171 --> 00:24:36.140
  • I got this for you because i love you.
  • 00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:38.175
  • And you said, "let me think about it."
  • 00:24:38.175 --> 00:24:40.544
  • Seriously?
  • 00:24:40.544 --> 00:24:41.879
  • I just offered you this incredible gift, and you're
  • 00:24:41.879 --> 00:24:44.215
  • Saying, "let me think about it"?
  • 00:24:44.215 --> 00:24:46.784
  • Can you see how that would be insulting to me?
  • 00:24:46.784 --> 00:24:49.720
  • So god says, "i've given you the ultimate gift.
  • 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:52.089
  • My son died on the cross.
  • 00:24:52.089 --> 00:24:54.358
  • He was beaten and tortured for your sin.
  • 00:24:54.358 --> 00:24:57.094
  • But i want you to have the gift of eternal life."
  • 00:24:57.094 --> 00:24:59.330
  • "oh, wow, nice.
  • 00:24:59.330 --> 00:25:00.931
  • Hmm. let me think about it."
  • 00:25:00.931 --> 00:25:02.666
  • What? that is a rejection.
  • 00:25:02.666 --> 00:25:06.036
  • Jesus said, "you're either for me or against me."
  • 00:25:06.036 --> 00:25:09.206
  • Have you received this gift yet?
  • 00:25:09.206 --> 00:25:11.075
  • Do you know that when you die, you will go to heaven?
  • 00:25:11.075 --> 00:25:13.911
  • Is christ living in your heart?
  • 00:25:13.911 --> 00:25:15.613
  • If not, he can come in right now.
  • 00:25:15.613 --> 00:25:18.883
  • Jesus says, "behold, i stand at the door and i knock, and if you
  • 00:25:18.883 --> 00:25:23.087
  • Hear my voice and open the door, i will come in."
  • 00:25:23.087 --> 00:25:32.596
  • Greg: there are so many things to be worried about right now,
  • 00:25:36.834 --> 00:25:39.236
  • Aren't there?
  • 00:25:39.236 --> 00:25:40.571
  • Worrying about terrorism, worry about your personal safety,
  • 00:25:40.571 --> 00:25:43.974
  • Violent crime, the economy, the list goes on.
  • 00:25:43.974 --> 00:25:47.177
  • Here's what the bible says: "don't worry about anything.
  • 00:25:47.177 --> 00:25:50.848
  • Pray about everything.
  • 00:25:50.848 --> 00:25:53.384
  • Turn your panic into prayer."
  • 00:25:53.384 --> 00:25:56.253
  • Jesus said: "come unto me all of you that are laboring and are
  • 00:25:56.253 --> 00:25:59.557
  • Heavy laden.
  • 00:25:59.557 --> 00:26:00.891
  • I will give you rest."
  • 00:26:00.891 --> 00:26:02.259
  • Give your burdens, give your problems, over to god and let
  • 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:06.597
  • Him give you his peace in your heart.
  • 00:26:06.597 --> 00:26:10.834
  • Let me send for you at no charge what i call a new believer's
  • 00:26:10.834 --> 00:26:14.939
  • Bible to help you grow in a relationship with god and learn
  • 00:26:14.939 --> 00:26:20.344
  • How to turn your panic into prayer and your worry
  • 00:26:20.344 --> 00:26:23.814
  • Into worship.
  • 00:26:23.814 --> 00:26:26.850
  • Greg: you know, we say to a new believer, "start reading the
  • 00:26:31.021 --> 00:26:34.592
  • Bible," but they don't know where to start, do they?
  • 00:26:34.592 --> 00:26:37.561
  • So we have a special edition of the bible called the new
  • 00:26:37.561 --> 00:26:41.865
  • Believer's bible.
  • 00:26:41.865 --> 00:26:43.467
  • I wrote thousands of notes for it, and i sort of see it as what
  • 00:26:43.467 --> 00:26:48.238
  • I would do if i was sitting down with a person over a cup of
  • 00:26:48.238 --> 00:26:51.141
  • Coffee and explaining the basics of the christian life to them.
  • 00:26:51.141 --> 00:26:56.046
  • There's over 10 million copies of this bible in print.
  • 00:26:56.046 --> 00:26:59.683
  • But here's the exciting news.
  • 00:26:59.683 --> 00:27:01.652
  • We have personally given out 700,000 of these at no charge to
  • 00:27:01.652 --> 00:27:06.957
  • People to help them in their spiritual journey.
  • 00:27:06.957 --> 00:27:10.861
  • So we need your help to keep doing this.
  • 00:27:10.861 --> 00:27:13.731
  • So let's invest in the spiritual future of people that are going
  • 00:27:13.731 --> 00:27:18.135
  • To come to christ who will get a copy of the new believer's bible
  • 00:27:18.135 --> 00:27:22.106
  • For themself.
  • 00:27:22.106 --> 00:27:23.440
  • Thank you for your financial support.
  • 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:25.242
  • Together we can change lives.
  • 00:27:25.242 --> 00:27:28.078