Greg Laurie - Good News In A Bad World

March 10, 2025 | S25:E59

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

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Good News In A Bad World | March 10, 2025
  • ...
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  • Greg laurie: welcome to the harvest crusade, everybody.
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  • There's so much negativity, so much bad news.
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  • I have some good news in a bad world.
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  • Yeah, we've been doing these crusades 34 years.
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  • A lot has changed.
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  • We did the first one at a place called the pacific amphitheater
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  • In 1990.
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  • The top movies in the theaters were "home alone."
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  • That marks it in time.
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  • "pretty woman," the top tv shows were "seinfeld," "the fresh
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  • Prince of bel-air."
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  • And bill cosby was america's dad.
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  • Yeah, things have changed just a little bit.
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  • The top songs were "ice, ice baby" by vanilla ice.
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  • And "you can't touch this" by mc hammer, and "vogue" by madonna.
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  • And guess what?
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  • There were no smartphones, no smartphones.
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  • I think it might have been better back when there were
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  • No smartphones.
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  • The internet was just coming into its own.
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  • We used something called a 56k modem.
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  • How many of you remember the 56k modem, right?
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  • So that's what was going on in the world and in the
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  • Harvest crusade.
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  • And though a lot has changed, there's a lot of things that
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  • Haven't changed.
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  • For instance, there are certain things i know about you without
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  • Even knowing you personally.
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  • I know this about you.
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  • Everyone is empty inside.
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  • You're effectively born with what we could describe as a hole
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  • In your heart, so to speak.
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  • It's a void.
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  • And there's nothing that will fill this hole.
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  • Not relationships, not possessions, not
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  • Accomplishments, not sex, not fame: nothing.
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  • Comedian dave chappelle, when he first started making a lot of
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  • Money, was quoted to say, "the higher up i go, the less happy
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  • I am."
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  • End quote.
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  • You see, this is a loneliness for god himself.
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  • I remember, when i was a little boy, i was living with my
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  • Grandparents because my mom was living her wild life, getting
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  • Married and divorced over and over again and partying her
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  • Life away.
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  • So i'm living with my grandparents, and they would go
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  • To bed at night, and i remember this very vividly.
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  • My grandmother used to take her dentures out and put them in
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  • Some bottle of water, and it freaked me out.
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  • I still have nightmares about it, but anyway, she was a great
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  • Grandmother, but i just didn't need to see that.
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  • But you can't unsee it once you've seen it, and i would go
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  • Into my little bedroom and i would pull a blanket over
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  • My head.
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  • And i would have conversations with someone i called
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  • Mr. nobody.
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  • I would just talk to this imaginary person, mr. nobody,
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  • And you know what, in my way, as a little boy, i was trying to
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  • Talk to god.
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  • I just didn't know how, and then one day i discovered mr. nobody
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  • Had a name.
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  • His name was jesus, and he was very interested in me.
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  • Everyone is empty.
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  • Number two: everyone is lonely.
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  • Everyone is lonely.
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  • Lady gaga, through tears, in an interview said this, quote: "i'm
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  • Alone every night.
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  • All these people will leave, right?
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  • They'll leave, and i'll be all alone.
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  • I go from everyone wanting to touch me all day to just being
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  • In total silence."
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  • End quote.
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  • Do you know what the top words are for late night
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  • Google searches?
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  • Porn, lonely, and suicide.
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  • Wow.
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  • Porn, lonely, and suicide.
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  • Does that describe someone i'm talking to right now?
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  • You're lonely.
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  • You've even contemplated suicide.
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  • Some of you have possibly even attempted it.
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  • Number three: everyone feels guilt.
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  • It's built into us.
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  • The head of a mental institution once said, quote, "i could
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  • Release half of my patients if i could find a way to rid them of
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  • Their sense of guilt."
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  • End quote.
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  • The reason you feel guilt is because, how shall i say this,
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  • You're guilty.
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  • And it's good that you feel guilt.
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  • Guilt is sort of like a fire alarm.
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  • I don't know about you, but i have a hypersensitive fire alarm
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  • Near my kitchen.
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  • My wife cooks an egg.
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  • The alarm goes off.
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  • And why is it that alarms always go off at 3 o'clock in the
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  • Morning telling you it's time to change the batteries?
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  • Could this not happen in the afternoon?
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  • It has to be in the middle of the night, giving me a heart
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  • Attack, but the fire alarm effectively is warning you about
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  • Something, and when you feel guilt, that means your
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  • Conscience is working; but everyone is guilty.
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  • Maybe you come in here tonight with a lot of guilt because
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  • You've done things you're ashamed of.
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  • You wish you could undo those things but you can't; but the
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  • Good news is guilt comes because we've sinned, but god can
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  • Forgive our sin and remove our guilt, you see.
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  • And deep down inside, everyone is afraid to die.
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  • The statistics on death are really quite impressive.
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  • One out of every one person will die.
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  • There are no exceptions.
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  • The bible speaks of those who are terrified by the fear
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  • Of death.
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  • Actor william shatner, best known for playing captain kirk
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  • On "star trek," is now 92 years old.
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  • And in an interview he said, quote, "i'm so not ready to die.
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  • It petrifies me. i go alone.
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  • I go to a place i don't know. it might be painful.
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  • It might be the end. my thought is it's the end.
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  • I become nameless after i spent a lifetime being known,"
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  • End quote.
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  • Someone needs to tell william shatner that there's hope beyond
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  • The grave.
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  • You know?
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  • And then he can truly "live long and prosper," trying to do the
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  • Little "star trek" deal there.
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  • Arnold schwarzenegger, our former governor here in
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  • California, was recently interviewed and he gave his
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  • Thoughts on death.
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  • I can't use the exact words that he used because there was some--
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  • Some bad words.
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  • But he says, "i know people feel comfortable with death, but i
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  • Don't because i will blanking miss the blank out of everything
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  • To sit here with you.
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  • That's gonna be gone, and and all the things that we do,
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  • That's gonna end; what the blank."
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  • That's what hopelessness sounds like, you see.
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  • That's what i used to think.
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  • I thought when you die, you simply cease to exist, and that
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  • Freaked me out, but that is not what happens.
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  • When you die, your body goes into the ground, but your soul
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  • Goes into the afterlife.
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  • There is life beyond the grave.
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  • And if you believe in jesus christ, you go straight
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  • To heaven.
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  • The moment you take your last breath on earth, you take your
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  • First breath in heaven.
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  • You close your eyes on earth and you open them in heaven.
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  • Now that's for the believer.
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  • Now the non-believer, they will face a certain judgment, and
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  • Just as surely as there is a glorious place called heaven,
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  • There's also a place called hell.
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  • I'll say a few words about that in just a moment.
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  • So yes: we're empty, we're lonely, we're guilty, we're
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  • Afraid to die, but there is a solution, and it's called
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  • The gospel.
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  • Did you know that the word "gospel" means "good news"?
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  • That's what it means, good news, and people need good news today
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  • In a bad world.
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  • Generation z has been dubbed the hopeless generation.
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  • Ed sheeran is among the 21st century's biggest global pop
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  • Stars, but in a recent interview, he said he found
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  • Himself suicidal after the death of two of his friends, and his
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  • Wife got very sick, and he and his wife were plagued with fear,
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  • Depression, and anxiety.
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  • Think of all of the success that ed sheeran has had, but he's
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  • Filled with fear, depression, and anxiety.
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  • Does that describe someone--
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  • I'm talking to you right now?
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  • According to a report that just came out for the centers of
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  • Disease control, 60% of female students experienced feelings of
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  • Sadness or hopelessness in the past year, and 25% of them have
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  • Made a suicide plan.
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  • Wow, that's scary.
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  • Here's the problem: we're looking down way too much.
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  • We're looking down on these phones and engaging in something
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  • That is called doomscrolling.
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  • It's when you're just reading depressing news and there's a
  • 00:10:06.140 --> 00:10:09.744
  • Lot of scary things happening in our world.
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  • I just read today about talk of a potential nuclear war.
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  • This is scary stuff, and so what do we do?
  • 00:10:17.585 --> 00:10:20.822
  • Jesus said, when you see these things begin to happen, look up
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  • Because your redemption is drawing near.
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  • It's time to look up.
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  • Stop looking down, start looking up.
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  • Life can be like a puzzle.
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  • How many of you like puzzles?
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  • Raise your hand.
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  • I don't like puzzles.
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  • Now, my wife loves puzzles.
  • 00:10:45.246 --> 00:10:47.048
  • If she sees a puzzle, she'll stop.
  • 00:10:47.048 --> 00:10:48.816
  • "oh great, look, a puzzle," and she'll start putting
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  • It together.
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  • I'll just keep walking.
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  • I think, "what a waste of time."
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  • So the other day she was assembling this huge puzzle in
  • 00:10:55.790 --> 00:10:59.027
  • Our front room, and she was almost done and i was upstairs.
  • 00:10:59.027 --> 00:11:02.530
  • She said, "greg, greg, come help me.
  • 00:11:02.530 --> 00:11:05.233
  • I'm missing a piece of the puzzle."
  • 00:11:05.233 --> 00:11:08.569
  • So i came downstairs and i got down on my hands and knees and
  • 00:11:08.569 --> 00:11:11.406
  • Searched and i finally found it.
  • 00:11:11.406 --> 00:11:12.907
  • I said, "cathy, here it is."
  • 00:11:12.907 --> 00:11:14.542
  • She said, "there's a final piece of the puzzle."
  • 00:11:14.542 --> 00:11:17.612
  • It's completed, and life can be that way.
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  • We think, "well, if i just do these things, i'll be happy
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  • And complete.
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  • You know, if i just get through high school, now i get through
  • 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:27.555
  • College, now i get my degree, now i begin my career.
  • 00:11:27.555 --> 00:11:32.160
  • Okay, well, now i'll get married.
  • 00:11:32.160 --> 00:11:34.462
  • Okay, maybe i'll marry someone else instead.
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  • I get divorced and marry again.
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  • Oh, now we'll have kids.
  • 00:11:39.734 --> 00:11:41.069
  • It's kids; kids are the answer.
  • 00:11:41.069 --> 00:11:42.470
  • You have kids.
  • 00:11:42.470 --> 00:11:44.172
  • How do we get rid of these kids?"
  • 00:11:44.172 --> 00:11:45.707
  • It's like they're 40 and still living at home, right?
  • 00:11:45.707 --> 00:11:51.179
  • And it just goes on and on and on.
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  • You're looking for the missing piece of the puzzle.
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  • Look up.
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  • God's holding the missing piece of the puzzle.
  • 00:11:58.953 --> 00:12:01.155
  • He's got it.
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  • It's him that you're actually looking for, so i wanna read a
  • 00:12:06.627 --> 00:12:11.432
  • Passage from the bible.
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  • It's in romans chapter 10 and it says this: "how can they call on
  • 00:12:13.601 --> 00:12:18.106
  • Him to save them unless they believe in him?
  • 00:12:18.106 --> 00:12:21.509
  • How can they believe in him if they've never heard about him?
  • 00:12:21.509 --> 00:12:25.580
  • How can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
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  • How can anyone go and tell them without being sent?"
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  • This is why the scriptures say how beautiful are the feet of
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  • Those that preach the good news.
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  • This is what i want to talk to you about tonight.
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  • The good news.
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  • The good news of the gospel, the good news of your sins being
  • 00:12:44.499 --> 00:12:49.303
  • Forgiven, but it says preach it.
  • 00:12:49.303 --> 00:12:51.506
  • Now, i know people don't generally like preachers.
  • 00:12:51.506 --> 00:12:55.343
  • We use the word "preach" in a negative way.
  • 00:12:55.343 --> 00:12:57.478
  • "hey man, don't preach to me."
  • 00:12:57.478 --> 00:12:59.680
  • So let me use another word.
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  • Recommendation, right?
  • 00:13:02.517 --> 00:13:05.153
  • A recommendation for you.
  • 00:13:05.153 --> 00:13:07.822
  • Like, you know, we're in a town we've never been to before.
  • 00:13:07.822 --> 00:13:10.391
  • We wonder if there's any good restaurants, and so we go to
  • 00:13:10.391 --> 00:13:13.427
  • Yelp and read the opinions of complete strangers.
  • 00:13:13.427 --> 00:13:18.032
  • Oh, they say this is good.
  • 00:13:18.032 --> 00:13:19.467
  • This got a high rating on yelp.
  • 00:13:19.467 --> 00:13:21.369
  • Let's go there.
  • 00:13:21.369 --> 00:13:22.737
  • So it's a recommendation.
  • 00:13:22.737 --> 00:13:24.071
  • I have lots of recommendations.
  • 00:13:24.071 --> 00:13:25.540
  • I have opinions on all kinds of things.
  • 00:13:25.540 --> 00:13:27.475
  • Here's my recommendation to you:
  • 00:13:27.475 --> 00:13:30.178
  • I recommend that you put your faith in jesus christ and follow
  • 00:13:30.178 --> 00:13:34.015
  • Him, and you'll never regret it.
  • 00:13:34.015 --> 00:13:39.654
  • That's the good news.
  • 00:13:39.654 --> 00:13:41.722
  • The good news is i can have my sin forgiven.
  • 00:13:41.722 --> 00:13:46.060
  • The good news is i can have the hole in my heart filled.
  • 00:13:46.060 --> 00:13:49.797
  • The bad news is i am separated from god by something
  • 00:13:49.797 --> 00:13:53.668
  • Called sin.
  • 00:13:53.668 --> 00:13:55.169
  • The bible says, "all of sinned and fallen short
  • 00:13:55.169 --> 00:13:57.805
  • Of god's glory."
  • 00:13:57.805 --> 00:13:59.740
  • There's two words used in the bible for sin.
  • 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:01.776
  • There's more than two but two in particular.
  • 00:14:01.776 --> 00:14:04.045
  • One means "to cross a line or to trespass."
  • 00:14:04.045 --> 00:14:08.015
  • So if you've been walking along, you see a sign that says
  • 00:14:08.015 --> 00:14:10.418
  • "no trespassing,"
  • 00:14:10.418 --> 00:14:11.752
  • It means don't step over that line, don't climb over that
  • 00:14:11.752 --> 00:14:14.856
  • Fence, no trespassing.
  • 00:14:14.856 --> 00:14:16.490
  • And another definition of sin is "to fall short of a goal," sort
  • 00:14:16.490 --> 00:14:20.595
  • Of like an archery game, and we're shooting our arrows into
  • 00:14:20.595 --> 00:14:24.031
  • The target.
  • 00:14:24.031 --> 00:14:25.399
  • Now i may shoot my ten arrows and miss the target, hit a tree,
  • 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:30.304
  • Hit a cow in a field somewhere.
  • 00:14:30.304 --> 00:14:32.907
  • I did, and then you might shoot your arrows and get nine of them
  • 00:14:32.907 --> 00:14:37.278
  • In, but you still miss the mark.
  • 00:14:37.278 --> 00:14:38.913
  • So here's what it means.
  • 00:14:38.913 --> 00:14:40.248
  • It means every one of us break god's commandments, the
  • 00:14:40.248 --> 00:14:43.284
  • Ten commandments.
  • 00:14:43.284 --> 00:14:44.619
  • You shall not lie.
  • 00:14:44.619 --> 00:14:45.987
  • You shall not steal.
  • 00:14:45.987 --> 00:14:47.321
  • You shall not take the lord's name in vain, and you shall not
  • 00:14:47.321 --> 00:14:50.424
  • Commit adultery, and on it goes.
  • 00:14:50.424 --> 00:14:52.226
  • Every one of us have broken those commandments.
  • 00:14:52.226 --> 00:14:54.462
  • You'll say, "but hey, i haven't broken as many as some people."
  • 00:14:54.462 --> 00:14:57.565
  • Check this out.
  • 00:14:57.565 --> 00:14:59.033
  • One sin is enough to keep you out of heaven.
  • 00:14:59.033 --> 00:15:02.003
  • The bible says, "if you offend him one point of the law, you're
  • 00:15:02.003 --> 00:15:05.806
  • Guilty of all of it."
  • 00:15:05.806 --> 00:15:07.141
  • Then it's to fall short of the mark.
  • 00:15:07.141 --> 00:15:08.509
  • Well, what's the mark?
  • 00:15:08.509 --> 00:15:10.111
  • The mark is perfection.
  • 00:15:10.111 --> 00:15:11.746
  • Jesus said, "be perfect as my father in heaven is perfect."
  • 00:15:11.746 --> 00:15:15.549
  • You said, "great, who can live up to that?"
  • 00:15:15.549 --> 00:15:17.485
  • Answer: nobody.
  • 00:15:17.485 --> 00:15:19.086
  • That's why jesus christ died on the cross for your sin.
  • 00:15:19.086 --> 00:15:24.292
  • That's why.
  • 00:15:24.292 --> 00:15:28.963
  • You say, "but greg, i'm a good person."
  • 00:15:28.963 --> 00:15:32.233
  • And i don't dispute that.
  • 00:15:32.233 --> 00:15:33.567
  • I'm sure you're a very good person.
  • 00:15:33.567 --> 00:15:35.269
  • I've met some really good people who are not christians:
  • 00:15:35.269 --> 00:15:39.173
  • Honest, helpful.
  • 00:15:39.173 --> 00:15:41.742
  • I mean, if you needed your tire changed, they would help you,
  • 00:15:41.742 --> 00:15:45.079
  • And the christian would say, "i'll go pray about that.
  • 00:15:45.079 --> 00:15:47.782
  • I can't do that right now, you know."
  • 00:15:47.782 --> 00:15:50.217
  • Then they're good people, okay, but it's not about if you're a
  • 00:15:50.217 --> 00:15:53.387
  • Good person or not.
  • 00:15:53.387 --> 00:15:55.656
  • It's like you're not good enough to get to heaven on your own.
  • 00:15:55.656 --> 00:15:59.927
  • Heaven is not for good people.
  • 00:15:59.927 --> 00:16:01.896
  • Heaven is for forgiven people.
  • 00:16:01.896 --> 00:16:04.298
  • You need to be forgiven of your sin.
  • 00:16:04.298 --> 00:16:07.268
  • This is the good news.
  • 00:16:07.268 --> 00:16:10.604
  • And if i believe in him, i'm forgiven.
  • 00:16:10.604 --> 00:16:13.341
  • Listen to this.
  • 00:16:13.341 --> 00:16:14.675
  • There's going to be some bad people in heaven, and there's
  • 00:16:14.675 --> 00:16:19.647
  • Gonna be some good people in hell.
  • 00:16:19.647 --> 00:16:22.583
  • "so you lost me there, preacher."
  • 00:16:22.583 --> 00:16:26.520
  • There's gonna be some bad people in heaven, and by this i mean, i
  • 00:16:26.520 --> 00:16:30.391
  • Don't care what kind of a life you've lived; if you turn from
  • 00:16:30.391 --> 00:16:33.894
  • Your sin and ask christ to forgive you, you can have the
  • 00:16:33.894 --> 00:16:37.598
  • Hope of heaven.
  • 00:16:37.598 --> 00:16:39.367
  • You know that's true.
  • 00:16:39.367 --> 00:16:43.004
  • The bible tells the story of when jesus was crucified,
  • 00:16:44.972 --> 00:16:48.075
  • There were two men on each side of him.
  • 00:16:48.075 --> 00:16:51.212
  • Sometimes they call them the thieves on the cross, but they
  • 00:16:51.212 --> 00:16:53.714
  • Were probably guilty of a far worse crime than stealing.
  • 00:16:53.714 --> 00:16:57.985
  • They were probably murderers, maybe terrorists.
  • 00:16:57.985 --> 00:17:01.222
  • They're hanging on the cross, each side of jesus, and one of
  • 00:17:01.222 --> 00:17:05.693
  • Those men turned to jesus and says, "lord, remember me when
  • 00:17:05.693 --> 00:17:08.963
  • You come into your kingdom."
  • 00:17:08.963 --> 00:17:10.598
  • And jesus says to that man, "truly, truly i say to you:
  • 00:17:10.598 --> 00:17:15.302
  • Today you will be with me in paradise."
  • 00:17:15.302 --> 00:17:19.273
  • Boy, talk about being at the right place at the right
  • 00:17:19.273 --> 00:17:21.976
  • Time, right?
  • 00:17:21.976 --> 00:17:23.344
  • "today you will be with me in paradise" and that man was
  • 00:17:23.344 --> 00:17:27.681
  • Forgiven of his sin.
  • 00:17:27.681 --> 00:17:29.016
  • A bad man made it into heaven, but then there can be a good
  • 00:17:29.016 --> 00:17:32.286
  • Person that makes it to hell, and by that i mean they trust in
  • 00:17:32.286 --> 00:17:35.990
  • Their own good works.
  • 00:17:35.990 --> 00:17:38.292
  • And they end up separated from god.
  • 00:17:38.292 --> 00:17:40.127
  • Now you say, "greg--hell--i can't believe in hell.
  • 00:17:40.127 --> 00:17:43.731
  • How could a god of love send people to hell?"
  • 00:17:43.731 --> 00:17:46.233
  • Listen, god doesn't send anyone to hell.
  • 00:17:46.233 --> 00:17:50.237
  • The last thing that god wants is for any man or any woman
  • 00:17:50.237 --> 00:17:54.108
  • Uniquely made in his image is spend eternity separated from
  • 00:17:54.108 --> 00:17:58.279
  • Him in this horrible place called hell.
  • 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:01.449
  • Hell was not made for people.
  • 00:18:01.449 --> 00:18:03.517
  • According to jesus, hell was created for the devil and
  • 00:18:03.517 --> 00:18:06.854
  • His angels.
  • 00:18:06.854 --> 00:18:08.956
  • No one will end up in hell unless they want to end up
  • 00:18:08.956 --> 00:18:12.326
  • In hell.
  • 00:18:12.326 --> 00:18:13.694
  • That's your choice.
  • 00:18:13.694 --> 00:18:15.029
  • You can choose where you spend eternity.
  • 00:18:15.029 --> 00:18:17.565
  • You can be with god, worshiping forever, as we've done tonight.
  • 00:18:17.565 --> 00:18:22.269
  • Or you can spend eternity away from god, worshiping yourself,
  • 00:18:22.269 --> 00:18:27.174
  • But here's the good news.
  • 00:18:27.174 --> 00:18:28.676
  • I don't have to go to hell.
  • 00:18:28.676 --> 00:18:30.344
  • I can go to heaven because christ died for my sins.
  • 00:18:30.344 --> 00:18:35.316
  • [applauding, cheering]
  • 00:18:35.316 --> 00:18:41.021
  • So what do i need to do to be forgiven of my sins?
  • 00:18:41.021 --> 00:18:45.693
  • I need to be, according to the bible, saved.
  • 00:18:45.693 --> 00:18:49.263
  • I love that word, "saved."
  • 00:18:49.263 --> 00:18:51.565
  • The bible says, "whoever will call upon the name of the lord
  • 00:18:51.565 --> 00:18:54.268
  • Will be saved."
  • 00:18:54.268 --> 00:18:56.103
  • You're like a drowning person that needs to be rescued.
  • 00:18:56.103 --> 00:19:00.307
  • You're like a person trapped in a burning building that needs to
  • 00:19:00.307 --> 00:19:04.044
  • Be rescued, and jesus went to the cross and died in
  • 00:19:04.044 --> 00:19:08.048
  • Your place.
  • 00:19:08.048 --> 00:19:09.416
  • Christ came to pay a debt he did not owe because we owed a debt
  • 00:19:09.416 --> 00:19:13.654
  • We could not pay.
  • 00:19:13.654 --> 00:19:17.158
  • He died for you.
  • 00:19:17.158 --> 00:19:19.660
  • He died for me.
  • 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:21.695
  • He took the judgment of god upon himself, so i don't have to face
  • 00:19:21.695 --> 00:19:25.766
  • That judgment.
  • 00:19:25.766 --> 00:19:28.335
  • And then he rose again from the dead.
  • 00:19:28.335 --> 00:19:31.238
  • The bible tells the story of a very hardened man who was a
  • 00:19:31.238 --> 00:19:34.975
  • Roman soldier in charge of a jail, and they arrested the
  • 00:19:34.975 --> 00:19:39.713
  • Apostles paul and silas and threw him into this dungeon,
  • 00:19:39.713 --> 00:19:45.419
  • This hellhole.
  • 00:19:45.419 --> 00:19:47.421
  • And the bible says, at midnight paul and silas began to sing
  • 00:19:47.421 --> 00:19:50.324
  • Praises to god, and the other prisoners were listening, and
  • 00:19:50.324 --> 00:19:54.528
  • That word "listening" means they listened with pleasure.
  • 00:19:54.528 --> 00:19:58.365
  • Because they've probably never heard anyone sing in a prison
  • 00:19:58.365 --> 00:20:00.935
  • Like that before.
  • 00:20:00.935 --> 00:20:02.336
  • Then an earthquake came, and the walls of the prison shook and
  • 00:20:02.336 --> 00:20:06.073
  • Collapsed, and the roman soldier in charge pulled his sword out,
  • 00:20:06.073 --> 00:20:09.643
  • Ready to kill himself.
  • 00:20:09.643 --> 00:20:11.011
  • Because of his prisoners escaped he'd be held responsible.
  • 00:20:11.011 --> 00:20:14.181
  • And paul says, "stop, don't hurt yourself, we're still here."
  • 00:20:14.181 --> 00:20:17.785
  • And that roman jailer said, "sir, what must i do to
  • 00:20:17.785 --> 00:20:22.056
  • Be saved?"
  • 00:20:22.056 --> 00:20:23.424
  • And paul said, "believe in the lord jesus christ and you will
  • 00:20:23.424 --> 00:20:27.161
  • Be saved."
  • 00:20:27.161 --> 00:20:28.495
  • That's it.
  • 00:20:28.495 --> 00:20:34.101
  • Now we all know the story of the sinking of the titanic.
  • 00:20:34.101 --> 00:20:38.205
  • We know how jack and rose were on board.
  • 00:20:38.205 --> 00:20:43.377
  • Kate winslet and leonardo dicaprio, and we don't
  • 00:20:43.377 --> 00:20:46.213
  • Understand why jack couldn't fit on that door with rose, right?
  • 00:20:46.213 --> 00:20:49.917
  • Well, come on, can somehow work that out, couldn't you?
  • 00:20:49.917 --> 00:20:54.321
  • That's not a true story.
  • 00:20:54.321 --> 00:20:57.625
  • But the story of the titanic has captured so many people, and we
  • 00:20:57.625 --> 00:21:02.496
  • Remember this horrible tragedy that just happened of this small
  • 00:21:02.496 --> 00:21:06.533
  • Submersible craft that went down, and the people in it died
  • 00:21:06.533 --> 00:21:11.438
  • And they were on their way to visit the titanic.
  • 00:21:11.438 --> 00:21:13.574
  • Well, i want to tell you a true story from the titanic--the hero
  • 00:21:13.574 --> 00:21:18.445
  • Of the titanic.
  • 00:21:18.445 --> 00:21:19.780
  • You probably never heard of him.
  • 00:21:19.780 --> 00:21:21.115
  • His name was john harper.
  • 00:21:21.115 --> 00:21:23.017
  • John harper was a well-known evangelist from scotland.
  • 00:21:23.017 --> 00:21:26.754
  • He had been asked to speak in america, so he boarded passage
  • 00:21:26.754 --> 00:21:29.923
  • On the titanic.
  • 00:21:29.923 --> 00:21:32.126
  • And of course that ship was declared unsinkable, wasn't it?
  • 00:21:32.126 --> 00:21:36.497
  • But it hit an iceberg.
  • 00:21:36.497 --> 00:21:37.831
  • It began to take on water.
  • 00:21:37.831 --> 00:21:39.733
  • Some of the most wealthy people in all the world were on board,
  • 00:21:39.733 --> 00:21:43.737
  • And harper had his daughter on board.
  • 00:21:43.737 --> 00:21:46.573
  • He got her safely on a lifeboat, and he took his life jacket,
  • 00:21:46.573 --> 00:21:50.678
  • Knowing he wasn't going to survive, and gave it to
  • 00:21:50.678 --> 00:21:53.347
  • Another passenger.
  • 00:21:53.347 --> 00:21:55.015
  • And then as he went into the water, he was hanging on to a
  • 00:21:55.015 --> 00:21:57.818
  • Piece of debris and he swam over to people and he said, "are
  • 00:21:57.818 --> 00:22:01.722
  • You saved?"
  • 00:22:01.722 --> 00:22:03.390
  • Then he said, "believe in the lord jesus christ, and you'll
  • 00:22:03.390 --> 00:22:05.993
  • Be saved."
  • 00:22:05.993 --> 00:22:07.361
  • He swam from person to person in the icy waters of the ocean,
  • 00:22:07.361 --> 00:22:10.964
  • Saying, "are you saved?"
  • 00:22:10.964 --> 00:22:17.771
  • One survivor recalls clinging to one of the pieces of debris from
  • 00:22:17.771 --> 00:22:23.210
  • Titanic, and harper floated near him.
  • 00:22:23.210 --> 00:22:25.846
  • Harper cried out, "man, are you saved?"
  • 00:22:25.846 --> 00:22:28.415
  • He said, "i'm not."
  • 00:22:28.415 --> 00:22:30.150
  • Harper says, "believe in the lord jesus christ, and you'll
  • 00:22:30.150 --> 00:22:32.920
  • Be saved."
  • 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:34.254
  • And then john harper drowned.
  • 00:22:34.254 --> 00:22:37.191
  • That same man in a public meeting four years later
  • 00:22:37.191 --> 00:22:40.127
  • Remembered that fateful night.
  • 00:22:40.127 --> 00:22:42.129
  • And he said, and i quote, "there alone in the night, with 2
  • 00:22:42.129 --> 00:22:45.599
  • Miles of water under me, i believe, i was john harper's
  • 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:49.737
  • Last convert."
  • 00:22:49.737 --> 00:22:52.506
  • You see?
  • 00:22:52.506 --> 00:22:59.279
  • And i ask you tonight, "are you saved?
  • 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:02.449
  • Have you believed in the lord jesus christ?"
  • 00:23:02.449 --> 00:23:04.551
  • You say, "i don't know if i am or not.
  • 00:23:04.551 --> 00:23:06.920
  • How can i know?"
  • 00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:08.255
  • Listen, here's what i wanna say in closing: if you want a
  • 00:23:08.255 --> 00:23:12.292
  • Relationship with god, if you wanna have your sin forgiven, if
  • 00:23:12.292 --> 00:23:16.096
  • You wanna know you'll go to heaven when you die, if you
  • 00:23:16.096 --> 00:23:18.465
  • Wanna fill that hole in your life, if you wanna stop living
  • 00:23:18.465 --> 00:23:21.735
  • In guilt and fear of death and all the other things of this
  • 00:23:21.735 --> 00:23:26.774
  • Life without god, start here: realize you're a sinner.
  • 00:23:26.774 --> 00:23:31.512
  • We're all sinners.
  • 00:23:31.512 --> 00:23:32.846
  • We've all broken god's commandments.
  • 00:23:32.846 --> 00:23:34.214
  • Just own it, admit it.
  • 00:23:34.214 --> 00:23:36.016
  • Stop blaming everybody else.
  • 00:23:36.016 --> 00:23:37.584
  • Take responsibility: "i'm a sinner."
  • 00:23:37.584 --> 00:23:39.953
  • Number two: recognize christ died on the cross for you.
  • 00:23:39.953 --> 00:23:44.358
  • The crucifixion was not an accident.
  • 00:23:44.358 --> 00:23:46.493
  • It was not a mistake.
  • 00:23:46.493 --> 00:23:47.895
  • Jesus came to this earth to go to the cross and die for the sin
  • 00:23:47.895 --> 00:23:51.765
  • Of the world.
  • 00:23:51.765 --> 00:23:53.133
  • Jesus put it this way: "for god so loved the world, he gave his
  • 00:23:53.133 --> 00:23:56.570
  • Only begotten son, and whosoever believes in him, should not
  • 00:23:56.570 --> 00:24:00.340
  • Perish but have everlasting life."
  • 00:24:00.340 --> 00:24:04.445
  • [applauding, cheering]
  • 00:24:04.445 --> 00:24:10.717
  • Christ died for you because he loves you.
  • 00:24:10.717 --> 00:24:13.887
  • Because he knew there was no other way for you to be made
  • 00:24:13.887 --> 00:24:16.490
  • Right with god, and then you need to repent of your sin.
  • 00:24:16.490 --> 00:24:20.494
  • The word "repent" means to change your direction in life.
  • 00:24:20.494 --> 00:24:24.965
  • The bible says, "god has commanded people everywhere
  • 00:24:24.965 --> 00:24:28.168
  • To repent."
  • 00:24:28.168 --> 00:24:29.536
  • It's actually a military term.
  • 00:24:29.536 --> 00:24:30.904
  • It means to do an about-face.
  • 00:24:30.904 --> 00:24:33.407
  • So stop running from god, run toward god.
  • 00:24:33.407 --> 00:24:36.977
  • Stop living that life you've been living.
  • 00:24:36.977 --> 00:24:39.112
  • Repent and then receive christ into your life.
  • 00:24:39.112 --> 00:24:43.417
  • What did paul say to that roman jailer?
  • 00:24:43.417 --> 00:24:45.719
  • He said, "believe on the lord jesus christ."
  • 00:24:45.719 --> 00:24:49.256
  • You need to say, "jesus, come and live inside of me.
  • 00:24:49.256 --> 00:24:52.893
  • Forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:24:52.893 --> 00:24:55.462
  • I want to know you in a personal way."
  • 00:24:55.462 --> 00:24:58.198
  • Right now, jesus stands at the door of your life and he knocks.
  • 00:24:58.198 --> 00:25:02.536
  • And he says if you'll hear his voice and open the door, he will
  • 00:25:02.536 --> 00:25:06.039
  • Come in.
  • 00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:07.407
  • Only you can open the door of your heart, so to speak.
  • 00:25:07.407 --> 00:25:12.045
  • Someone else can't open it for you.
  • 00:25:12.045 --> 00:25:15.082
  • You need to open it yourself.
  • 00:25:15.082 --> 00:25:18.519
  • You must do it now.
  • 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.887
  • Now is the time.
  • 00:25:19.887 --> 00:25:21.221
  • Today is the day of salvation, the bible says.
  • 00:25:21.221 --> 00:25:23.156
  • Don't sell to it in a week or in a month or in a year.
  • 00:25:23.156 --> 00:25:26.493
  • Listen, you may never have another opportunity like you
  • 00:25:26.493 --> 00:25:29.796
  • Have right here right now.
  • 00:25:29.796 --> 00:25:32.866
  • Don't let it slip by.
  • 00:25:32.866 --> 00:25:35.736
  • Because you don't know how long you're gonna live, nor do i,
  • 00:25:35.736 --> 00:25:39.406
  • Someone's name is gonna end up in that obituary
  • 00:25:39.406 --> 00:25:41.608
  • Column tomorrow.
  • 00:25:41.608 --> 00:25:43.777
  • It could be any of us here right now,
  • 00:25:43.777 --> 00:25:46.446
  • So prepare to meet your god.
  • 00:25:46.446 --> 00:25:53.654
  • Greg: hi, my name is greg laurie.
  • 00:25:57.424 --> 00:25:59.092
  • I started searching for god at a very young age.
  • 00:25:59.092 --> 00:26:03.063
  • And my search led me into a lot of wrong directions, including
  • 00:26:03.063 --> 00:26:06.934
  • Drug use, and i almost destroyed my life completely, but someone
  • 00:26:06.934 --> 00:26:11.438
  • Told me about jesus christ, and it changed my life forever.
  • 00:26:11.438 --> 00:26:16.276
  • And i want you to know that whatever course your life is on
  • 00:26:16.276 --> 00:26:19.112
  • Right now, it can change if you realize there's a god in heaven
  • 00:26:19.112 --> 00:26:22.849
  • Who loves you.
  • 00:26:22.849 --> 00:26:24.184
  • He has a plan for your life.
  • 00:26:24.184 --> 00:26:26.753
  • I prayed this prayer to ask jesus into my life at the age of
  • 00:26:26.753 --> 00:26:30.490
  • 17, but here i am at the age of 70, and i can tell you i made
  • 00:26:30.490 --> 00:26:35.128
  • The best choice i ever could make.
  • 00:26:35.128 --> 00:26:37.197
  • You can make that same choice yourself.
  • 00:26:37.197 --> 00:26:39.433
  • You could just say, "jesus, help me, forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:26:39.433 --> 00:26:43.303
  • I want to go to heaven when i die.
  • 00:26:43.303 --> 00:26:45.238
  • I want a relationship with you."
  • 00:26:45.238 --> 00:26:47.908
  • If you would pray a prayer like that, god will hear you and
  • 00:26:47.908 --> 00:26:50.978
  • Answer you.
  • 00:26:50.978 --> 00:26:56.316
  • Male announcer: explore the life and legacy of one of the bible's
  • 00:27:00.554 --> 00:27:03.690
  • Most captivating and relatable people: king david.
  • 00:27:03.690 --> 00:27:07.561
  • From shepherd to warrior king,
  • 00:27:07.561 --> 00:27:09.896
  • David's journey is marked by incredible triumphs,
  • 00:27:09.896 --> 00:27:12.933
  • Heartbreaking failures, and a relentless pursuit of
  • 00:27:12.933 --> 00:27:16.269
  • God's heart.
  • 00:27:16.269 --> 00:27:17.604
  • For a limited time, you can receive "house of david: 30 days
  • 00:27:17.604 --> 00:27:21.408
  • With the man after god's own heart" with your gift of any
  • 00:27:21.408 --> 00:27:24.811
  • Amount to harvest ministries and request your copy of "house of
  • 00:27:24.811 --> 00:27:28.915
  • David" today.
  • 00:27:28.915 --> 00:27:28.915