Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - God's Solution to Man's Problem

May 7, 2026 | 27:29

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

#Devil #Temptation #Lust #Flesh #Mind #Thinking #Pride #Satan #Enemy #Attitude #Heart #Anger #Bitterness #GregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - God's Solution to Man's Problem | May 7, 2026

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Greg laurie: before there was a solar system, before there was a
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Planet called earth, before there was a garden called eden,
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Before there was a couple named adam and eve, a decision was
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Made in the councils of eternity that god would send his own son,
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That god would walk among us as a man and live a perfect life
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And die a perfect death and rise again from the dead.
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This was the plan.
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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: have you ever noticed on certain products there's
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A warning label warning you to not do a certain thing?
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I came across what could best be described as wacky
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Warning labels.
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They're real, but maybe they've gone a little bit too far.
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As an example, this is a real warning label on a baby
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Stroller, "warning: remove child before folding."
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That means somewhere someone folded the stroller with the
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Baby inside still.
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A warning on a brass fishing lure with a three pronged hook
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On the end, "harmful if swallowed."
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I think that's true of the fish.
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I hope a human didn't swallow it.
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A flushable toilet brush warns, "not to be used for
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Personal hygiene."
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Ugh, gross.
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A can of self-defense pepper spray warns users, "may
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Irritate eyes."
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That was kind of the plan.
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If i'm gonna spray someone, i hope it irritates their eyes.
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On a chainsaw, this is a real warning on a chainsaw, "warning:
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Do not hold the wrong end of a chainsaw."
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That's good advice.
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Warning on a hair dryer, "do not use while sleeping."
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How do you use a hairdryer while you're sleeping?
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Well, someone apparently has done it.
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And one more--well, actually, two more.
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"warning: this superman costume does not enable you to fly."
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Oh, great.
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So someone thought they could just jump off the roof because
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They were wearing that costume.
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Here's another one, it says, "warning: never try to catch a
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Falling knife."
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Yeah, that's a good idea.
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You drop a knife, let it hit the ground.
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"well, i'll catch it."
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No, don't, don't.
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And then one final one, and i should have heeded this one
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Because i didn't listen to this warning, warning on a household
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Iron, "never iron clothes while they're being worn."
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I have ironed clothes while wearing them.
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Has anybody else done this?
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Raise your hand if you have.
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So, you know, you get everything ironed and then you look in the
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Mirror and there's one little wrinkle.
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"oh, i'll just iron it."
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Well, i--what i did was even worse because i have a heavy
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Duty steam iron.
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I mean, this is a next level steam iron.
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It has a base, a reservoir water, it's nuclear
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Powered, okay?
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So, when you fire a burst of steam, it's like, poof!
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Like that.
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So, i'm aware--two people just woke up, i noticed, when i
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Did that--
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So, i'm wearing this shirt and i thought, oh, it's a wrinkle.
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I'll just blast it with steam, but i pulled it away from my
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Skin, i'd be okay.
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And i gave it a blast of steam and i screamed like a
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Little girl.
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Later that night i had my shirt off, don't try to visualize that
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Place, and my wife looked at me with this red welt.
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She said, "what happened to you?"
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I said, "don't ask."
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Okay, so that's good advice.
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Well, you know, there's warning labels, if you will, in the
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Bible as well, things that god tells us not to do and instead
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Things that we should do in their place.
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Let me give an example.
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Someone says, "happy is the man or woman who does not walk in
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The counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or
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Sit in the seat of the scornful."
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Those are things you should not do, "but his or her delight is
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In the word of the lord, and in it, do they meditate day
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And night."
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So, don't do these things.
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Instead, do these things.
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Well, we're gonna look here now at the very familiar story of
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Our first parents sinning against god because they didn't
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Listen to the warning label.
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That brings me to point number one, the theme of this message
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Is what happens when we don't follow the warnings.
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So, the lord placed adam and eve in the garden of eden.
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It was literally paradise.
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They could eat of any tree.
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I mean, imagine, god said, "this is all yours to enjoy.
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You can eat of all of the fruit of the trees of the garden and
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Behold the beauty i placed in it.
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One restriction.
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But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, don't eat from
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That tree."
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Scene two, adam and eve standing at the tree of the knowledge of
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Good and evil.
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The one place god told them to stay away from, that's where
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They were.
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Already, they're setting themselves up for trouble.
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They were in the wrong place and then they heard the wrong voice
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And then they did the wrong thing.
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So, here they are standing by that tree and, of course, the
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Devil comes and he tempts them.
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And we see what happens when you don't listen to the warning.
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Genesis 3:6 says, "when the woman saw that the tree was good
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For food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes and
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Desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.
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And he gave to--she gave to her husband with her, and he ate."
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That brings me to point number two, every temptation in life
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Fits into three categories.
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It's identified for us in 1 john 2:15 to 16.
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It says, "love not the world, neither the things that are in
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The world.
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For all that is in the world--the lust of the eyes, the
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Lust of the flesh, the pride of life--is not of the father but
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Of the world."
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The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life.
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Every temptation is in one of those categories.
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First, there's the lust of the flesh, things that feel good.
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We read in genesis 3:16, "when the woman saw the tree was good
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For food," it feels good.
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The lusts of the flesh would include temptations that are
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Physical in nature, whatever appeals to you, you're drawn to
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That thing.
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It's the pleasures of life.
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Now, you can have legitimate pleasures in life as
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A christian.
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The bible even says, "in his presence there are pleasures
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Forevermore," but they are good pleasures, godly
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Pleasures, satisfied.
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But then there are ungodly pleasures, sinful things that we
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Might pursue.
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The bible even warned, "she that lives her pleasure is dead while
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She is living."
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Okay, so that's the lust of the flesh.
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Then there's the lust of the eyes, things that look good.
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We read in genesis 3, "eve saw that it was pleasant to
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The eyes."
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Most temptation comes through your mind first.
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You are the air traffic controller of your mind.
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You decide what thoughts are gonna be there and what thoughts
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Are going to be rejected, but you'll find that most sins that
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People engage in, they think about first, they contemplate it
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First, they fantasize about it first, right?
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And so, this is why we have to guard our thoughts and be
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Careful about what we expose ourselves to.
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David fell into sexual sin when he was on his balcony, looking
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Around, and he saw the beautiful bathsheba bathing herself.
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Now, he couldn't have seen the first thing, but it's that
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Second look that gets you into trouble, or maybe the super long
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First look, depending.
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And that is why job says, "i've made a covenant with my eyes
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That i will not look on a woman lustfully," so the lust of
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The eyes.
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And finally, there's a pride of life, things that make you feel
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And look good.
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The devil says to them, "go ahead and eat of this fruit.
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It's desirable to make one wise and you'll be as a god," he says
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To adam and eve, "knowing good and evil."
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No, it's not wrong to want to look good.
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You know, it's fine to want to give some attention to the way
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You appear.
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In fact, some of you should give more attention to that and i'm
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Looking at you right now.
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No, i'm not actually, i'm not, but i'm thinking about it.
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No, i'm not.
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But then there are people that are obsessed with that.
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That's all they think about.
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You know just by visiting their instagram page, right?
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So, here's the thing.
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We have to find the balance in all of these things.
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The pride of life is an obsession with self, wanting to
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Appear more important than we are.
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This is what got lucifer, once a high ranking angel, ejected from
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His former position in heaven.
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And then he became satan, or the devil.
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He wanted to be worshiped.
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So, these are the things we should stay away from.
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The world with its allure is the external foe, the flesh with its
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Evil desires is the internal foe, and satan with his
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Enticements is the infernal foe.
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My next point, because of adam's sin we all suffer.
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Because of adam's sin we all suffer, but let me make
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This point.
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If you were in the garden, you would have done the same thing,
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And so would i, so it's easy to blame them but this is just
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Human nature, all right?
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But we're all affected by this decision he made.
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Romans 5:12 says, "when adam sinned, sin entered the world
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And adam's sin brought death and death spread to everyone, for
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Everyone has sin."
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Death, illness, disability, age, all a result of the fall.
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If adam and eve had not sinned, we would never get sick.
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If adam and eve never sinned, we would never die.
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If adam and eve never sinned, i would have hair.
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You see, it's all connected.
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We all share in this.
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Now, let's see what happens after sin is entered the world.
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Go to genesis chapter 4, starting in verse 1.
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I'm reading from the new living translation.
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"now adam knew his wife eve and she became pregnant.
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And when she gave birth to cain, she said, 'with the lord's help,
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I produced a man!'
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Later, she gave birth to his brother and named him abel.
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When they grew up, abel became a shepherd, while cain cultivated
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The ground.
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When it was time for harvest, cain presented some of his crops
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As a gift to the lord.
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Abel also brought a gift--the best portions of the firstborn
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Lambs from the flock.
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The lord accepted abel and his gift, but he did not accept cain
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And his gift.
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This made cain very angry and he looked dejected.
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'why are you so angry?' the lord asked cain.
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'why do you look so dejected?'"
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Then the lord gives this ominous warning.
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'you will be accepted if you do what is right.
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But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out, because
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Sin is crouching at your door, eager to control you.
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But you must subdue it and be its master.'"
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Okay, we'll stop there.
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The book of genesis can be divided into three sections.
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Chapters 1 and 2, generation; chapters 3 to 11, de-generation;
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Chapters 12 to 50, regeneration.
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In chapter 3, we saw the beginning of man.
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In chapter 4, we read of his progress and results as he sins
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Against god.
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Bottom line, mankind wrecks everything he touches because
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We're sinful by nature.
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If history tells us anything, it tells us this.
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Man is not basically good, man is basically bad.
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Bad to the bone, sinful to the core.
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History is a space in which cain's acts ultimately became
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Thrown nuclear weapons.
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We just take new technology and find ways to use it to make
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Things even worse.
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And it's not the way it began.
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I mean, here's adam and eve, they're having their first child
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And they'd never seen a pregnancy before and much less
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A birth.
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I was talking to a pastor friend of mine a while ago and he told
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Me about his daughter's wedding and he wanted to say something
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Very profound because he was performing the ceremony.
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So, there she is, standing with her groom, and he looks at her
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And he says, "i was there when you were conceived," and he
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Meant to say, "i was there when you were born," okay?
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So, it's--i mean, he was there when she was--but still, it's
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Just not what you want to hear on your wedding day from
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Your dad.
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But that's the way that went.
00:12:59.645 --> 00:13:02.982
Well, adam and eve were present for both conception and birth.
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Now, you wonder if adam's thinking, "what's happening to
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My beautiful wife?
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Eve, putting a little bit of weight on all of a sudden.
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Have you found, like, a high carb tree out there or
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Something or?
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Why are you knitting those little socks?
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What's going on here?"
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Well, she was gonna have a baby and she had her first child,
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Cain, and then followed by abel.
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And they both brought their offering one day and god
00:13:29.241 --> 00:13:32.545
Accepted the offering of abel and he rejected the offer of
00:13:32.545 --> 00:13:36.348
Cain, bringing me to point number five.
00:13:36.348 --> 00:13:37.983
Being exposed to truth does not guarantee you will follow it.
00:13:37.983 --> 00:13:42.855
Cain and abel were both raised in the same home.
00:13:42.855 --> 00:13:46.458
They both saw the same things, but one walked with god and one
00:13:46.458 --> 00:13:51.897
Did not walk with god.
00:13:51.897 --> 00:13:53.265
One was a true worshiper and the other was not a true worshiper.
00:13:53.265 --> 00:13:57.970
One was accepted, the other rejected.
00:13:57.970 --> 00:14:01.707
And this reminds us there's a right and wrong way to
00:14:01.707 --> 00:14:04.176
Approach god.
00:14:04.176 --> 00:14:05.511
And it comes down to this: the why, or the motive.
00:14:05.511 --> 00:14:09.615
Because as far as god is concerned, motive is everything.
00:14:09.615 --> 00:14:13.385
One day, we, as christians, will stand before the judgment seat
00:14:13.385 --> 00:14:18.557
Of christ.
00:14:18.557 --> 00:14:20.059
This is not a judgment about whether or not you get
00:14:20.059 --> 00:14:22.628
To heaven.
00:14:22.628 --> 00:14:23.996
In fact, it's a judgment in heaven where rewards are given
00:14:23.996 --> 00:14:26.832
Out for faithful service.
00:14:26.832 --> 00:14:28.834
And the bible says god will test every man's work to see what
00:14:28.834 --> 00:14:32.905
Sort it is.
00:14:32.905 --> 00:14:34.273
In other words, the why of what you did.
00:14:34.273 --> 00:14:37.977
So you think, "well, if i have a beautiful voice and in worship i
00:14:37.977 --> 00:14:41.480
Sing louder than everyone, that will be pleasing to god."
00:14:41.480 --> 00:14:44.483
Maybe and maybe not.
00:14:44.483 --> 00:14:46.151
Because if your heart's in the wrong place, it's not pleasing
00:14:46.151 --> 00:14:48.754
To god at all.
00:14:48.754 --> 00:14:50.122
And that person that's always off pitch may be more pleasing
00:14:50.122 --> 00:14:53.592
To the lord than the person with the beautiful voice.
00:14:53.592 --> 00:14:55.794
Or, when we receive an offering and one person gives a lot of
00:14:55.794 --> 00:14:58.731
Money and another person doesn't give as much, god will be
00:14:58.731 --> 00:15:02.801
Impressed by the motive of why the person did what they did.
00:15:02.801 --> 00:15:06.272
God looks on the heart, bringing me to my next point.
00:15:06.272 --> 00:15:09.375
The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.
00:15:09.375 --> 00:15:12.611
It's all about the heart, the why of why we do things.
00:15:12.611 --> 00:15:16.415
And so, in the book of isaiah it says, god's speaking, "these
00:15:16.415 --> 00:15:20.185
People draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are
00:15:20.185 --> 00:15:23.555
Far from me."
00:15:23.555 --> 00:15:24.924
See, abel was a true worshiper.
00:15:24.924 --> 00:15:27.259
His heart was in the right place.
00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:28.894
Cain was not.
00:15:28.894 --> 00:15:30.262
And we're given an insight as to what really happened in hebrews
00:15:30.262 --> 00:15:33.032
11 when it says, "by faith abel offered to god a more excellent
00:15:33.032 --> 00:15:37.636
Sacrifice than cain."
00:15:37.636 --> 00:15:39.238
Well, cain was ticked off, angry that god did not accept
00:15:39.238 --> 00:15:43.008
His sacrifice.
00:15:43.008 --> 00:15:44.610
In fact, and the word that is used for anger here in verse 5
00:15:44.610 --> 00:15:47.212
Means he burned with anger, causing the lord to even say,
00:15:47.212 --> 00:15:51.617
"hey, buddy calm down a little bit, you know, why are you
00:15:51.617 --> 00:15:54.653
So angry?
00:15:54.653 --> 00:15:56.021
Why do you look so dejected?"
00:15:56.021 --> 00:15:57.723
The fact is, cain's true colors are beginning to show.
00:15:57.723 --> 00:16:02.094
The lord is saying, "you need to not go this way because this is
00:16:02.094 --> 00:16:05.230
Not gonna end well for you."
00:16:05.230 --> 00:16:07.166
Bringing me to point number seven, god wanted confession
00:16:07.166 --> 00:16:10.436
Because that's the only way to forgiveness.
00:16:10.436 --> 00:16:13.205
"well, why are you doing what you're doing?
00:16:13.205 --> 00:16:15.307
You don't want to do this," and cain should have said, "you're
00:16:15.307 --> 00:16:17.643
Right, i'm overreacting.
00:16:17.643 --> 00:16:19.244
I'm sorry, lord.
00:16:19.244 --> 00:16:20.612
I repent," but he's just angry and he's justifying his
00:16:20.612 --> 00:16:24.316
Own anger.
00:16:24.316 --> 00:16:25.651
It's a weird thing about anger, isn't it?
00:16:25.651 --> 00:16:27.319
How you can feel so right about it until the adrenaline
00:16:27.319 --> 00:16:30.923
Wears off.
00:16:30.923 --> 00:16:32.257
Like when you're driving and someone does some crazy
00:16:32.257 --> 00:16:35.894
Thing, right?
00:16:35.894 --> 00:16:38.864
They offer a hand gesture in your direction and you just are
00:16:38.864 --> 00:16:43.702
So filled with rage or they cut you off or they, you know, roll
00:16:43.702 --> 00:16:48.540
Their window down and yell something, you know, and then
00:16:48.540 --> 00:16:51.543
You do something you regret later and you need to just
00:16:51.543 --> 00:16:55.714
Calm down.
00:16:55.714 --> 00:16:57.049
That was cain.
00:16:57.049 --> 00:16:58.417
He was just losing it.
00:16:58.417 --> 00:16:59.752
And god gives him this interesting warning in verse 7.
00:16:59.752 --> 00:17:01.520
"listen, you'll be accepted if you do what is right.
00:17:01.520 --> 00:17:03.956
But if you refuse to do what's right, watch out!
00:17:03.956 --> 00:17:07.092
Sin is crouching at your door, eager to control you.
00:17:07.092 --> 00:17:11.663
But you must subdue it and be its master."
00:17:11.663 --> 00:17:13.899
The lord's saying, "cain, you're flirting with disaster.
00:17:13.899 --> 00:17:18.604
Sin is like a crouching beast, poised and ready to strike and
00:17:18.604 --> 00:17:23.742
Ruin your life if you don't get control of it."
00:17:23.742 --> 00:17:27.346
Greg: what should you do if you see a christian brother or a
00:17:31.250 --> 00:17:34.386
Sister overtaken in some sin, you know, if they mess up,
00:17:34.386 --> 00:17:38.457
If they fall?
00:17:38.457 --> 00:17:39.825
Well, you should go and try to help them.
00:17:39.825 --> 00:17:42.327
You should go and try to restore them.
00:17:42.327 --> 00:17:44.463
Not everybody likes it when you tell them they're not doing
00:17:44.463 --> 00:17:48.000
Well spiritually.
00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.368
They'll say things like, "hey man, don't judge my journey."
00:17:49.368 --> 00:17:52.871
Come on, come up with something better than that.
00:17:52.871 --> 00:17:55.107
But you're really trying to help them.
00:17:55.107 --> 00:17:56.542
If someone has stumbled and fallen into sin, you wanna help
00:17:56.542 --> 00:17:59.711
Them get up.
00:17:59.711 --> 00:18:01.046
I mean, it would just be like if someone fell into a pit.
00:18:01.046 --> 00:18:02.981
Hopefully you're gonna try to pull them out of the pit.
00:18:02.981 --> 00:18:05.184
Now, judging by how some people treat others who have fallen
00:18:05.184 --> 00:18:10.089
Into sin, you would think the bible says, "if you see a
00:18:10.089 --> 00:18:13.559
Brother or a sister who has overtaken in sin, you who are
00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:16.728
Spiritual should kick him when they're down and tell as many
00:18:16.728 --> 00:18:20.165
People about it as possible.
00:18:20.165 --> 00:18:21.800
Make sure you post something on social media, too."
00:18:21.800 --> 00:18:24.503
No, here's what the bible actually says.
00:18:24.503 --> 00:18:27.106
"if a brother or a sister is overtaken in sin, you who are
00:18:27.106 --> 00:18:31.543
Spiritual should seek to restore such a person in a spirit of
00:18:31.543 --> 00:18:36.048
Meekness, lest you yourself also be tempted."
00:18:36.048 --> 00:18:38.717
Allow me to paraphrase that.
00:18:38.717 --> 00:18:41.220
Restore them because it could be you someday.
00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:44.323
We all have the capacity to fall and fall big, so when we see
00:18:44.323 --> 00:18:48.627
Someone that's down, the objective is not to destroy
00:18:48.627 --> 00:18:51.630
Them, it is to restore them, to help them.
00:18:51.630 --> 00:18:55.634
Tell them the truth would help them get back up on their feet.
00:18:55.634 --> 00:18:59.571
Have you fallen into sin?
00:18:59.571 --> 00:19:01.840
Have you seen that commercial on television of the old lady who
00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:04.843
Says, "i've fallen and i can't get up"?
00:19:04.843 --> 00:19:07.146
Well, maybe you've fallen and you can't get up.
00:19:07.146 --> 00:19:09.748
You need someone to help you out.
00:19:09.748 --> 00:19:11.116
Jesus is there to lift you up and forgive you and give you
00:19:11.116 --> 00:19:15.487
A second chance.
00:19:15.487 --> 00:19:17.422
And if you know someone who's stumbled and fallen, help them
00:19:17.422 --> 00:19:20.492
To get back up again.
00:19:20.492 --> 00:19:22.027
We serve a god of second chances.
00:19:22.027 --> 00:19:25.297
Greg: bringing me to my next point, the devil is always
00:19:29.168 --> 00:19:31.670
Looking for trouble.
00:19:31.670 --> 00:19:34.239
He's looking for a life to ruin.
00:19:34.239 --> 00:19:37.075
Jesus said of satan in john 10:10, "the thief comes only to
00:19:37.075 --> 00:19:41.480
Steal, kill, and destroy."
00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:44.416
So, we have to keep our guard up and be alert to this fact.
00:19:44.416 --> 00:19:48.387
Let me ask you, are you filled with anger for someone
00:19:48.387 --> 00:19:51.190
Right now?
00:19:51.190 --> 00:19:52.558
"well, greg, they hurt me."
00:19:52.558 --> 00:19:53.892
Okay.
00:19:53.892 --> 00:19:55.260
Maybe it's your parents, maybe it's your children, maybe it's a
00:19:55.260 --> 00:20:00.165
Neighbor, maybe it's a friend, maybe it's someone else.
00:20:00.165 --> 00:20:03.368
But if that anger is controlling your life, the person that's
00:20:03.368 --> 00:20:06.772
Being hurt is you, not them.
00:20:06.772 --> 00:20:09.141
It's eating you up inside.
00:20:09.141 --> 00:20:11.443
And the bible actually says, "don't let the sun go down on
00:20:11.443 --> 00:20:15.180
Your wrath, because when you do, you give the devil a foothold."
00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:19.251
Bringing me to my next point: sin is crouching at our
00:20:19.251 --> 00:20:21.920
Doors, too.
00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:23.422
He's ready to strike.
00:20:23.422 --> 00:20:25.424
He's looking for vulnerability.
00:20:25.424 --> 00:20:27.459
So, we want to be careful and protect our homes from the power
00:20:27.459 --> 00:20:31.029
Of the devil.
00:20:31.029 --> 00:20:32.364
Starting with this simple fact: i can't do this on my own.
00:20:32.364 --> 00:20:35.100
I need to pray and ask god to help me.
00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:38.737
And i want to say a word to fathers and mothers out there.
00:20:38.737 --> 00:20:42.207
You need to protect your home in every way.
00:20:42.207 --> 00:20:44.843
I know you may have alarm systems and you put all your
00:20:44.843 --> 00:20:47.980
Locks on and you've got everything right, and that's
00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:50.215
Fantastic, but also remember to have spiritual protection.
00:20:50.215 --> 00:20:54.987
Have a time where you get together with your family and
00:20:54.987 --> 00:20:57.356
Have a meal together and get rid of the devices.
00:20:57.356 --> 00:21:01.426
No phones, no tablets, no tv playing in the background.
00:21:01.426 --> 00:21:05.631
Let's just talk to each other.
00:21:05.631 --> 00:21:07.332
Let's pray together.
00:21:07.332 --> 00:21:09.034
Let's read the bible together.
00:21:09.034 --> 00:21:11.103
And men, i wanna say a word to you.
00:21:11.103 --> 00:21:12.671
You should be taking the initiative and leading in
00:21:12.671 --> 00:21:15.107
This area.
00:21:15.107 --> 00:21:16.475
Men need to be the spiritual leaders in their home, right?
00:21:16.475 --> 00:21:24.182
You can do this.
00:21:24.182 --> 00:21:25.651
You must do this.
00:21:25.651 --> 00:21:27.653
So, sin has now entered the world and cain acts on this envy
00:21:27.653 --> 00:21:32.057
And this anger, and you all know the story: he killed his
00:21:32.057 --> 00:21:35.227
Brother abel.
00:21:35.227 --> 00:21:36.762
Horrible thing.
00:21:36.762 --> 00:21:38.363
But god had a solution for cain's sin and all our sin, and
00:21:38.363 --> 00:21:42.234
That takes us back to genesis chapter 3 because the lord
00:21:42.234 --> 00:21:46.805
Promised he was gonna send a deliverer.
00:21:46.805 --> 00:21:49.975
After eve and adam ate of the forbidden fruit, the lord made
00:21:49.975 --> 00:21:55.013
This profound statement and this is the first messianic passage
00:21:55.013 --> 00:21:59.651
In the bible.
00:21:59.651 --> 00:22:00.986
By messianic, i mean the first verse in the bible that spoke of
00:22:00.986 --> 00:22:05.991
Jesus's coming.
00:22:05.991 --> 00:22:07.359
Genesis 3:14 to 15.
00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:10.195
Let's look at it together.
00:22:10.195 --> 00:22:11.630
After adam and eve have sinned, "the lord said to the serpent,
00:22:11.630 --> 00:22:14.933
'because you've done this, you're cursed more than all
00:22:14.933 --> 00:22:17.302
Cattle, more than every beast of the field; on your belly you
00:22:17.302 --> 00:22:20.739
Shall go, and eat dust all the days of your life.
00:22:20.739 --> 00:22:23.241
And i will put enmity between you and the woman, between your
00:22:23.241 --> 00:22:26.812
Seed and her seed; he will bruise your head, and you
00:22:26.812 --> 00:22:30.148
Will bru--he--and you shall bruise his heel.'"
00:22:30.148 --> 00:22:32.584
That's the one.
00:22:32.584 --> 00:22:33.952
"he will bruise your head and you will bruise his heel."
00:22:33.952 --> 00:22:38.190
So, this is the messiah.
00:22:38.190 --> 00:22:39.591
So, here's what god is saying.
00:22:39.591 --> 00:22:40.959
"devil, i'm now putting you on notice.
00:22:40.959 --> 00:22:44.062
There is coming one who's gonna crush your head, but you'll
00:22:44.062 --> 00:22:47.766
Bruise his heel."
00:22:47.766 --> 00:22:49.201
And sure enough, satan struck out at jesus.
00:22:49.201 --> 00:22:52.404
He thought he had the ultimate plan.
00:22:52.404 --> 00:22:54.773
"i'll infiltrate their ranks," lucifer thought, "i'll get one
00:22:54.773 --> 00:22:58.677
Of jesus's very disciples to betray him," and he did, judas
00:22:58.677 --> 00:23:02.948
Iscariot, who betrayed our lord for 30 pieces of silver.
00:23:02.948 --> 00:23:06.785
"i'll make sure jesus is killed and murdered in cold blood on a
00:23:06.785 --> 00:23:11.390
Roman cross and that'll be the end of it."
00:23:11.390 --> 00:23:13.392
No, that was the fulfillment of it because jesus came to die on
00:23:13.392 --> 00:23:18.764
The cross and he said so repeatedly.
00:23:18.764 --> 00:23:21.600
In fact, the bible says of jesus, "he was the lamb slain
00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:25.270
From the foundation of the earth."
00:23:25.270 --> 00:23:28.540
What this means is, before there was a solar system, before there
00:23:28.540 --> 00:23:32.477
Was a planet called earth, before there was a garden called
00:23:32.477 --> 00:23:35.881
Eden, before there was a couple named adam and eve, a decision
00:23:35.881 --> 00:23:39.751
Was made in the councils of eternity that god would send his
00:23:39.751 --> 00:23:43.388
Own son, that god would walk among us as a man and live a
00:23:43.388 --> 00:23:47.125
Perfect life and die a perfect death and rise again from
00:23:47.125 --> 00:23:50.562
The dead.
00:23:50.562 --> 00:23:51.930
This was the plan and the devil didn't know it.
00:23:51.930 --> 00:23:55.066
And actually, in his weird way helped to bring the plan about.
00:23:55.066 --> 00:23:59.070
It blew up in his face.
00:23:59.070 --> 00:24:01.640
As we close now, let me ask you this:
00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:04.309
Has sin been bringing havoc into your life?
00:24:04.309 --> 00:24:08.814
Is there some sin or some vice that has gotten the control
00:24:08.814 --> 00:24:12.184
Of you?
00:24:12.184 --> 00:24:13.518
Remember what god said to cain?
00:24:13.518 --> 00:24:15.086
"you better master it or it's gonna master you."
00:24:15.086 --> 00:24:19.591
And the same is true for all of us.
00:24:19.591 --> 00:24:21.326
Now, i cannot master sin in my own power.
00:24:21.326 --> 00:24:24.229
I cannot overcome in--my sin in my own strength, but through the
00:24:24.229 --> 00:24:27.899
Power of god i can do it because greater is he that is in me than
00:24:27.899 --> 00:24:31.870
He that is in the world, all right?
00:24:31.870 --> 00:24:34.372
So, take--take whatever issue you're dealing with, whatever
00:24:34.372 --> 00:24:41.613
Sin you're struggling with, whatever vice seems to have a
00:24:41.613 --> 00:24:45.250
Permanent hold in your life, and i wanna tell you something.
00:24:45.250 --> 00:24:47.953
God is bigger than that problem, he's bigger than that sin, he's
00:24:47.953 --> 00:24:51.756
Bigger than that addiction, and you can overcome it through
00:24:51.756 --> 00:24:54.926
Jesus christ, okay?
00:24:54.926 --> 00:24:56.294
But keep something in mind.
00:24:56.294 --> 00:25:00.599
1 corinthians 10:13 says, "there is no temptation taking you but
00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:04.603
Such as is common to man; but god who is faithful, will not
00:25:04.603 --> 00:25:07.973
Allow you to be tempted above your capacity to resist, but
00:25:07.973 --> 00:25:12.744
Will with the temptation make a way of escape, that you may be
00:25:12.744 --> 00:25:15.947
Able to bear it."
00:25:15.947 --> 00:25:17.315
Let me just paraphrase that.
00:25:17.315 --> 00:25:19.551
There's always a way out of every temptation.
00:25:19.551 --> 00:25:21.620
There just is.
00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:22.988
Sometimes it's as simple as the door.
00:25:22.988 --> 00:25:25.991
Sometimes it's as simple as the off button.
00:25:25.991 --> 00:25:28.560
Press it.
00:25:28.560 --> 00:25:30.462
Sometimes it's as simple as terminating the conversation.
00:25:30.462 --> 00:25:34.432
But then, instead of being in places of vulnerability, be in
00:25:34.432 --> 00:25:38.403
Places where you're being built up.
00:25:38.403 --> 00:25:44.609
Greg: hi, i'm greg laurie.
00:25:48.213 --> 00:25:49.548
Years ago, i was in the ocean with my son and we got caught in
00:25:49.548 --> 00:25:52.817
A rip tide.
00:25:52.817 --> 00:25:54.586
Problem is, we were only a few feet from the shore.
00:25:54.586 --> 00:25:57.689
The lifeguard comes to rescue me, i say, "i think i'm okay,"
00:25:57.689 --> 00:26:00.592
And i finally got my feet on firm ground.
00:26:00.592 --> 00:26:03.929
But the problem was, i was too proud to say i needed help.
00:26:03.929 --> 00:26:07.198
That's like us, drowning in sin, drowning in addiction, needing
00:26:07.198 --> 00:26:12.137
The help of god.
00:26:12.137 --> 00:26:13.471
Here's what the bible says:
00:26:13.471 --> 00:26:14.839
"whoever will call upon the name of the lord will be saved."
00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:17.909
Whatever you're facing right now, jesus is ready to come and
00:26:17.909 --> 00:26:22.314
Help you, to save you.
00:26:22.314 --> 00:26:23.815
You can just pray, "lord jesus, save me.
00:26:23.815 --> 00:26:26.151
Forgive me of my sin.
00:26:26.151 --> 00:26:27.719
I need a relationship with you.
00:26:27.719 --> 00:26:29.654
I need hope in my life."
00:26:29.654 --> 00:26:31.423
Pray that prayer.
00:26:31.423 --> 00:26:32.757
He'll hear it and he'll answer it.
00:26:32.757 --> 00:26:35.427
I want to send you a bible, at no charge, to help you get
00:26:35.427 --> 00:26:39.097
Started in a relationship with jesus christ.
00:26:39.097 --> 00:26:44.936
Greg: greg laurie here.
00:26:48.473 --> 00:26:49.841
You know, at harvest ministries we're committing to reaching
00:26:49.841 --> 00:26:52.243
Unexpected people in unexpected places with an
00:26:52.243 --> 00:26:55.647
Unexpected message.
00:26:55.647 --> 00:26:57.282
And thanks to your financial support, we've been able to
00:26:57.282 --> 00:27:01.686
Touch people all over the world with the hope of jesus christ.
00:27:01.686 --> 00:27:06.157
Your gifts today not only help us reach millions across the
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Country through this television program, they also help us to
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Bring hope to people in their biggest need.
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So i'm asking you today to continue to support this
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Ministry so we can do everything possible to fulfill the
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Great commission.
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Let's do this together, and let me say in advance,
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Thank you and god bless you.
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Greg Laurie - God's Solution to Man's Problem

May 7, 2026 | 27:29

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