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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - Happiness: The Race We Must Win

July 7, 2026 | 27:29

Greg Laurie - Happiness: The Race We Must Win
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#Harvest #Joy #WalkwithGod #Lifestyle #Choices #Actions #Christianity #Encouragement #Inspirational #GregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Happiness: The Race We Must Win | July 7, 2026
  • ...
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  • Greg laurie: oh, you know, when you're running a race and
  • 00:00:03.146 --> 00:00:05.015
  • If it's a long-distance run and you're in the last lap, it's
  • 00:00:05.115 --> 00:00:07.684
  • Like your arms and legs are made out of rubber.
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  • You feel like your heart is going to burst out
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  • Of your chest.
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  • You can't even imagine finishing this, but somehow you press on
  • 00:00:14.090 --> 00:00:18.428
  • And then you win.
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  • And then you know what?
  • 00:00:19.763 --> 00:00:21.097
  • It was all worth it, wasn't it?
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  • Even though you wanted to walk off that track, even though you
  • 00:00:23.299 --> 00:00:26.536
  • Wanted to quit that race, press on.
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  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins. ♪
  • 00:00:33.043 --> 00:00:40.183
  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins. ♪♪
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  • Greg: so i started with the idea of the race of life.
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  • We're all in this race.
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  • We need to run this race to win.
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  • We've got to play by the rules, but what principles do we learn
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  • Here about running the race of life?
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  • If you're taking notes, here's principle number one.
  • 00:01:06.543 --> 00:01:09.779
  • You must be dissatisfied with where you presently
  • 00:01:09.779 --> 00:01:14.184
  • Are spiritually.
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  • You must be dissatisfied with where you are--
  • 00:01:16.486 --> 00:01:19.489
  • Presently are spiritually.
  • 00:01:19.489 --> 00:01:21.825
  • Paul says in verse 12, "it's not that i have attained or i'm
  • 00:01:21.825 --> 00:01:24.994
  • Already perfected."
  • 00:01:24.994 --> 00:01:27.063
  • Another translation of verses 12 to 14 would go as follows: "i'm
  • 00:01:27.063 --> 00:01:31.367
  • Not saying i have it all together or that i have it made,
  • 00:01:31.367 --> 00:01:34.571
  • But i'm on my way reaching out for christ who has wonderfully
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  • Reached out for me.
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  • Friends, don't get me wrong.
  • 00:01:39.943 --> 00:01:41.478
  • By no means do i count myself an expert in all this, but i have
  • 00:01:41.478 --> 00:01:45.381
  • My eye on the goal where god is beckoning us onward to jesus.
  • 00:01:45.381 --> 00:01:49.752
  • I'm off and running, and i'm not turning back."
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  • You see, paul was satisfied with christ, but he wasn't satisfied
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  • With himself.
  • 00:01:59.929 --> 00:02:01.498
  • So he's saying, "i have a long ways to go."
  • 00:02:01.498 --> 00:02:03.766
  • Do you realize that about yourself?
  • 00:02:03.766 --> 00:02:06.102
  • Do you think you have a long ways to go, or you're thinking,
  • 00:02:06.102 --> 00:02:09.439
  • "not me, man.
  • 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:10.940
  • I have arrived."
  • 00:02:10.940 --> 00:02:12.475
  • Well, i'm sure you've made a lot of progress since you first
  • 00:02:12.475 --> 00:02:15.478
  • Believed, but, oh my, it seems to me the more you know the lord
  • 00:02:15.478 --> 00:02:19.182
  • The more you realize that you have a lot of changing to do.
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  • And if anyone could have thought that he had arrived, it would be
  • 00:02:24.254 --> 00:02:28.091
  • The apostle paul.
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  • I mean, this is a man who has led countless people to christ.
  • 00:02:29.459 --> 00:02:33.763
  • He's established churches, he's written epistles and yet he is
  • 00:02:33.763 --> 00:02:38.701
  • Saying, "i have so much to learn and so far to go."
  • 00:02:38.701 --> 00:02:42.939
  • Can you imagine a group of christians sitting around with
  • 00:02:42.939 --> 00:02:45.141
  • The apostle paul?
  • 00:02:45.141 --> 00:02:46.643
  • Someone might say, "well, you know what?
  • 00:02:46.643 --> 00:02:48.578
  • God inspired me to share something with someone today."
  • 00:02:48.578 --> 00:02:52.515
  • Another might say, "the lord led me to give the gospel
  • 00:02:52.515 --> 00:02:55.952
  • To someone today."
  • 00:02:55.952 --> 00:02:57.287
  • And paul could say, "well, god gave me inspired letters called
  • 00:02:57.287 --> 00:03:00.223
  • Epistles that make up half the bible that will last forever."
  • 00:03:00.223 --> 00:03:05.361
  • "oh, wow. okay.
  • 00:03:05.361 --> 00:03:06.696
  • You win."
  • 00:03:06.696 --> 00:03:08.031
  • I mean, who could top this guy?
  • 00:03:08.031 --> 00:03:10.300
  • This guy was at the top of his game, but yet he says,
  • 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:14.737
  • "i have so far to go."
  • 00:03:14.737 --> 00:03:16.739
  • And it's just a reminder that no longer how long you've known the
  • 00:03:16.739 --> 00:03:19.676
  • Lord--no matter how long you've known the lord, i should say,
  • 00:03:19.676 --> 00:03:23.413
  • There's always room for growth; and i think one of the problems
  • 00:03:23.413 --> 00:03:27.250
  • Is we become satisfied with where we are, and one of the
  • 00:03:27.250 --> 00:03:32.355
  • Reasons that you might be self-satisfied is you're
  • 00:03:32.355 --> 00:03:35.825
  • Comparing your running with that of other christians.
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  • See, the other day i did a race with my grandchildren.
  • 00:03:40.630 --> 00:03:43.800
  • They all wanted to race me.
  • 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:45.168
  • "we want to raise papa."
  • 00:03:45.168 --> 00:03:47.003
  • And i thought, "wow, this--i could lose today because a
  • 00:03:47.003 --> 00:03:51.741
  • Couple of them are getting older, but we'll give it a go."
  • 00:03:51.741 --> 00:03:55.178
  • So we picked a spot.
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  • My wife went a ways away.
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  • Three feet.
  • 00:03:58.381 --> 00:03:59.716
  • No, it was further, but--so we're all getting ready to run,
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  • And we take off and i beat them.
  • 00:04:02.285 --> 00:04:05.255
  • And, you know, that's--so what?
  • 00:04:05.255 --> 00:04:08.791
  • I beat a bunch of grandkids.
  • 00:04:08.791 --> 00:04:10.126
  • You know, that's kind of sad.
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  • I should have let them win, but it was game on.
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  • Okay?
  • 00:04:15.932 --> 00:04:19.168
  • But that's the point.
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  • I beat children in a race.
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  • Okay.
  • 00:04:22.839 --> 00:04:24.507
  • So i could say, "i'm pretty fast.
  • 00:04:24.507 --> 00:04:26.976
  • Yeah, i beat old christopher.
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  • He's 4 years old."
  • 00:04:28.378 --> 00:04:31.848
  • So what?
  • 00:04:31.848 --> 00:04:33.483
  • Now, if i'd raced with someone who was younger and athletic, i
  • 00:04:33.483 --> 00:04:37.954
  • Would have done horribly.
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  • If i would have raced against an athletic runner, if usain bolt
  • 00:04:39.289 --> 00:04:44.661
  • Came over and we had a run together,
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  • I would have done horribly.
  • 00:04:48.965 --> 00:04:50.767
  • So my point is simply this.
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  • If i'm comparing myself to people much weaker than me, i'll
  • 00:04:52.201 --> 00:04:55.972
  • Always seem like i'm doing better.
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  • But if i compare myself with other people who are really
  • 00:04:57.907 --> 00:05:00.610
  • Running well, i'll see, "oh, man, i have a long ways to go."
  • 00:05:00.610 --> 00:05:04.247
  • And that's what will happen.
  • 00:05:04.247 --> 00:05:05.581
  • "well, i'm not as bad as that guy."
  • 00:05:05.581 --> 00:05:06.916
  • "well, he died a year ago."
  • 00:05:06.916 --> 00:05:08.384
  • "i know.
  • 00:05:08.384 --> 00:05:09.719
  • I'm not as bad as him."
  • 00:05:09.719 --> 00:05:11.054
  • Try comparing yourself with someone that's doing well.
  • 00:05:11.054 --> 00:05:14.257
  • See, that sense of self-satisfaction is
  • 00:05:14.257 --> 00:05:16.392
  • Not a good thing.
  • 00:05:16.392 --> 00:05:17.794
  • Paul did not compare himself with others; he compared himself
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  • With himself and with jesus christ.
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  • The plan here is progress, not perfection.
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  • We will never be perfect ever.
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  • Point number two, get rid of extra weight and the things that
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  • Would hinder you.
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  • Get rid of extra weight and the things that would hinder you.
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  • Verse 7, "what things are gain in me
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  • I count it loss for christ.
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  • Yes, i count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge
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  • Of christ my lord, for whom i have suffered the loss of all
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  • Things and count them as rubbish that i may gain christ."
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  • Paul's saying, "look, i'm looking back on my life.
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  • I was a pretty accomplished guy.
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  • You know, i was raised in an incredible family.
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  • I studied under gamaliel.
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  • I knew culture.
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  • I knew languages.
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  • I knew scripture.
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  • I was an intellectual.
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  • I was an orator.
  • 00:06:09.779 --> 00:06:11.114
  • I was a great debater.
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  • That stuff to me now it's rubbish."
  • 00:06:12.715 --> 00:06:15.952
  • That's sort of the british word. i love the word rubbish.
  • 00:06:15.952 --> 00:06:18.087
  • Just rubbish, absolute rubbish.
  • 00:06:18.087 --> 00:06:20.757
  • Actually, the word that paul uses here for rubbish is
  • 00:06:20.757 --> 00:06:24.527
  • Translated from a word that means excrement.
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  • If you don't know what that is, i'm talking about poop, folks.
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  • That's what i mean.
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  • So we could put it in another way.
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  • Dog dung, if that makes you feel better.
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  • But you get the idea, right?
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  • "that's what it is to me.
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  • All these accomplishments, it's like dog dung in the doggy bag.
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  • Who cares about it?
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  • I don't want it anymore."
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  • And then he says, "but i'm laying aside this weight."
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  • Hebrews 12 says, "lay aside the weight and this sin that so
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  • Easily besets you in the race of life."
  • 00:06:54.924 --> 00:06:58.060
  • So you need to ask yourself periodically as you're running
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  • This race, as you're walking with christ is there someone or
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  • Is there something that's slowing you down.
  • 00:07:04.700 --> 00:07:08.638
  • See, if i'm on a diet and i'm hanging out with a person that
  • 00:07:08.638 --> 00:07:12.241
  • Likes to eat pizza and mexican food 24/7, they're a bad
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  • Influence on me.
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  • It's better if i'm with someone else who's on a diet, maybe even
  • 00:07:18.881 --> 00:07:21.717
  • The same diet, and we'll kind of hold each other accountable.
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  • But i'll tell you what.
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  • If i'm watching someone else eat, it's torment to me, okay?
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  • I want what they have.
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  • So maybe there's someone who's a bad influence
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  • On you spiritually.
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  • You know, you're trying to walk with god, but when you're around
  • 00:07:36.132 --> 00:07:38.734
  • Them they're saying, "oh, come on.
  • 00:07:38.734 --> 00:07:40.203
  • Chill out. relax.
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  • Let's try this. let's do that."
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  • They're not a good influence, or there's something that's slowing
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  • You down.
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  • Maybe it's something you're doing that's impeding
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  • Your spiritual performance.
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  • In the book of genesis we have the story of abraham.
  • 00:07:53.649 --> 00:07:56.652
  • God told him to leave his homeland and go to a land that
  • 00:07:56.652 --> 00:08:00.223
  • The lord would reveal to him, and also to leave his family;
  • 00:08:00.223 --> 00:08:05.027
  • And abraham obeyed, sort of.
  • 00:08:05.027 --> 00:08:08.231
  • He brought along his nephew lot, who was like a spiritual dead
  • 00:08:08.231 --> 00:08:12.401
  • Weight on him, and it caused a lot of friction
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  • And a lot of problems.
  • 00:08:15.538 --> 00:08:16.873
  • And finally after conflict developed, abraham and lot
  • 00:08:16.873 --> 00:08:21.811
  • Parted ways and then the lord spoke to abraham again.
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  • My point is lot was a bad influence on abraham.
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  • And is there someone that's a bad influence on you, or even
  • 00:08:30.052 --> 00:08:33.189
  • Worse are you a bad influence on someone else?
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  • Don't be that person.
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  • Be a good influence 'cause we're running the race and we want to
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  • Run the race well.
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  • We want to run from what is wrong, we want to run toward
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  • What is right, and we want to run with like-minded people.
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  • Number three, in the race of life we must run
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  • With the right motive.
  • 00:08:57.146 --> 00:08:59.348
  • Run with the right motive.
  • 00:08:59.348 --> 00:09:01.150
  • Paul speaks of only one receiving the prize.
  • 00:09:01.150 --> 00:09:05.788
  • Running for the gold, if you will.
  • 00:09:05.788 --> 00:09:08.324
  • Man, i don't think most olympians want
  • 00:09:08.324 --> 00:09:11.661
  • To win the bronze.
  • 00:09:11.661 --> 00:09:12.995
  • I mean, the bronze is great.
  • 00:09:12.995 --> 00:09:14.330
  • I'd be thrilled if i won the bronze, but the gold is better.
  • 00:09:14.330 --> 00:09:16.832
  • Everybody knows it.
  • 00:09:16.832 --> 00:09:18.167
  • Silver is good too, but the gold's best 'cause if you win
  • 00:09:18.167 --> 00:09:20.836
  • Gold you get the top position and they play the national
  • 00:09:20.836 --> 00:09:23.806
  • Anthem of your country.
  • 00:09:23.806 --> 00:09:26.175
  • So you run for the top award.
  • 00:09:26.175 --> 00:09:29.245
  • But our primary motive is not running for an award or a
  • 00:09:29.245 --> 00:09:32.882
  • Reward, but there are our rewards promised to christians.
  • 00:09:32.882 --> 00:09:37.086
  • But our primary motive is found in philippians 3:10.
  • 00:09:37.086 --> 00:09:40.389
  • Paul says that, "i may know him and the power of his
  • 00:09:40.389 --> 00:09:44.727
  • Resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being
  • 00:09:44.727 --> 00:09:49.165
  • Conformed to his death."
  • 00:09:49.165 --> 00:09:51.000
  • That's our motive, that i may know him.
  • 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:54.570
  • The amplified translation, which is an expanded greek
  • 00:09:54.570 --> 00:09:58.474
  • Translation, states that verse as follows.
  • 00:09:58.474 --> 00:10:01.377
  • Paul speaking, "my determined purpose in life is that i may
  • 00:10:01.377 --> 00:10:05.748
  • Know him," then he defines what that means, "that i may
  • 00:10:05.748 --> 00:10:09.118
  • Progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with
  • 00:10:09.118 --> 00:10:12.722
  • Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of
  • 00:10:12.722 --> 00:10:16.959
  • His person more strongly and more clearly."
  • 00:10:16.959 --> 00:10:20.730
  • That i may know him.
  • 00:10:20.730 --> 00:10:22.431
  • Our mission statement at harvest is knowing god and making him
  • 00:10:22.431 --> 00:10:26.535
  • Known, and i fear that a lot of people know about god instead of
  • 00:10:26.535 --> 00:10:30.206
  • Knowing god.
  • 00:10:30.206 --> 00:10:31.707
  • They can say things about god, even say things from scripture,
  • 00:10:31.707 --> 00:10:35.544
  • But is there that deep fellowship
  • 00:10:35.544 --> 00:10:38.547
  • And relationship with him?
  • 00:10:38.547 --> 00:10:41.017
  • Jesus said, "many will say to me in that day, 'lord, lord, did we
  • 00:10:41.017 --> 00:10:44.120
  • Not prophesy in your name?
  • 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:45.921
  • In your name did we not cast out demons?
  • 00:10:45.921 --> 00:10:48.090
  • In your name did we not do wonderful miracles?'"
  • 00:10:48.090 --> 00:10:51.594
  • And then jesus says, "i will say to them, 'i never knew
  • 00:10:51.594 --> 00:10:55.398
  • You, you workers of iniquity.
  • 00:10:55.398 --> 00:10:57.967
  • I never knew you.'" they knew about jesus, but he didn't know
  • 00:10:57.967 --> 00:11:01.404
  • Them at all.
  • 00:11:01.404 --> 00:11:02.905
  • Number four, paul had a clear objective and focus in life.
  • 00:11:02.905 --> 00:11:07.076
  • Paul had a clear objective and focus in life.
  • 00:11:07.076 --> 00:11:09.812
  • Verse 13, "this one thing i do."
  • 00:11:09.812 --> 00:11:14.216
  • Greg: have you ever asked yourself the question,
  • 00:11:18.254 --> 00:11:20.256
  • "why do i exist?
  • 00:11:20.256 --> 00:11:22.358
  • Why am i here on this earth?
  • 00:11:22.358 --> 00:11:24.393
  • What is the meaning of my life?"
  • 00:11:24.393 --> 00:11:26.896
  • Let me tell you what you should not try to live for.
  • 00:11:26.896 --> 00:11:30.366
  • Don't live for the pursuit of happiness.
  • 00:11:30.366 --> 00:11:32.968
  • The most unhappy people are the ones
  • 00:11:32.968 --> 00:11:35.304
  • Who are living for happiness.
  • 00:11:35.304 --> 00:11:37.540
  • You chase after those things and you'll always come up empty.
  • 00:11:37.540 --> 00:11:41.544
  • Now listen to this: you were prewired to know god.
  • 00:11:41.544 --> 00:11:45.915
  • You have been made to have a relationship with him.
  • 00:11:45.915 --> 00:11:49.251
  • The answer for this question on earth as to why we exist
  • 00:11:49.251 --> 00:11:53.022
  • Is actually answered in heaven, where we hear about worship
  • 00:11:53.022 --> 00:11:56.959
  • Going toward the throne of god, and the statement is made,
  • 00:11:56.959 --> 00:11:59.695
  • "for your pleasure you have created all things."
  • 00:11:59.695 --> 00:12:03.399
  • You see, so often we spend our life pursuing pleasure
  • 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:06.435
  • When in reality, if we pursue god, we'll find the pleasure
  • 00:12:06.435 --> 00:12:10.372
  • We're looking for.
  • 00:12:10.372 --> 00:12:12.208
  • The bible says, "in his presence there is fullness of joy,
  • 00:12:12.208 --> 00:12:15.511
  • And on his right hand there are pleasures forevermore."
  • 00:12:15.511 --> 00:12:18.748
  • Why do you exist?
  • 00:12:18.748 --> 00:12:20.549
  • You exist to have a relationship with your creator.
  • 00:12:20.549 --> 00:12:24.720
  • Your father in heaven who loves you.
  • 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:27.389
  • Then, he has a plan for your life that will unfold,
  • 00:12:27.389 --> 00:12:31.026
  • And you'll see how he'll guide and lead you.
  • 00:12:31.026 --> 00:12:33.929
  • You exist to know god and bring him pleasure.
  • 00:12:33.929 --> 00:12:37.433
  • So if you wanna be a happy person and you want to
  • 00:12:37.433 --> 00:12:39.769
  • Experience pleasure, don't pursue those things, pursue god,
  • 00:12:39.769 --> 00:12:44.373
  • And then you'll know why you're on this earth.
  • 00:12:44.373 --> 00:12:47.676
  • Greg: mary of mary and martha fame also had
  • 00:12:51.614 --> 00:12:55.050
  • This one thing in her life.
  • 00:12:55.050 --> 00:12:57.987
  • The lord came over to their home for a meal, and martha was
  • 00:12:57.987 --> 00:13:01.190
  • Frantically trying to prepare something in the kitchen and she
  • 00:13:01.190 --> 00:13:05.761
  • Got upset 'cause mary wasn't helping her.
  • 00:13:05.761 --> 00:13:08.264
  • And so she complained to jesus, and i love what the lord says.
  • 00:13:08.264 --> 00:13:11.200
  • "martha, you're so upset about all these details."
  • 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:14.603
  • He says, "there's only one thing worth being concerned about
  • 00:13:14.603 --> 00:13:17.606
  • Right now and mary has discovered it.
  • 00:13:17.606 --> 00:13:20.442
  • Don't take it from her.
  • 00:13:20.442 --> 00:13:21.777
  • Martha, i appreciate it.
  • 00:13:21.777 --> 00:13:23.512
  • I love your meals.
  • 00:13:23.512 --> 00:13:24.847
  • You're a fantastic chef.
  • 00:13:24.847 --> 00:13:26.949
  • But you know what?
  • 00:13:26.949 --> 00:13:28.350
  • Mary's kind of tuned in to what really matters.
  • 00:13:28.350 --> 00:13:31.086
  • Right now we're talking together.
  • 00:13:31.086 --> 00:13:32.688
  • So if you were smart, you'd take off the apron
  • 00:13:32.688 --> 00:13:35.891
  • And sit down and listen in.
  • 00:13:35.891 --> 00:13:38.194
  • I'm sure you'd learn something."
  • 00:13:38.194 --> 00:13:39.795
  • So sometimes, you know, we're all frantic in all these things.
  • 00:13:39.795 --> 00:13:42.264
  • We're doing many things.
  • 00:13:42.264 --> 00:13:43.599
  • Let's not forget the one thing.
  • 00:13:43.599 --> 00:13:45.167
  • Sometimes the many things can take the place of the one thing;
  • 00:13:45.167 --> 00:13:49.305
  • And as i've often said, the main thing is to keep the main thing
  • 00:13:49.305 --> 00:13:52.608
  • The main thing.
  • 00:13:52.608 --> 00:13:54.343
  • Principle number five, we're almost done here,
  • 00:13:54.343 --> 00:13:56.312
  • Don't look back.
  • 00:13:56.312 --> 00:13:57.680
  • Don't look back.
  • 00:13:57.680 --> 00:13:59.014
  • Have you ever tried to run and look over
  • 00:13:59.014 --> 00:14:00.916
  • Your shoulder behind you?
  • 00:14:00.916 --> 00:14:02.585
  • More than one race has been lost when the person who was in the
  • 00:14:02.585 --> 00:14:06.522
  • Lead position cannot avoid the temptation to see if that other
  • 00:14:06.522 --> 00:14:10.860
  • Person was there and, boom, they hit the finish line or the
  • 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:14.530
  • Ribbon just a little bit before.
  • 00:14:14.530 --> 00:14:18.000
  • So we can't look back.
  • 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:20.002
  • Paul says in verse 13, "forgetting the things that are
  • 00:14:20.002 --> 00:14:22.771
  • Behind and reaching forward to the things that are before."
  • 00:14:22.771 --> 00:14:27.610
  • What does that mean?
  • 00:14:27.610 --> 00:14:30.112
  • To forget does not mean to fail to remember.
  • 00:14:30.112 --> 00:14:32.615
  • I mean, there are things that i remember
  • 00:14:32.615 --> 00:14:34.583
  • That i can't necessarily forget.
  • 00:14:34.583 --> 00:14:37.419
  • When paul uses this word forget, it means don't be influenced or
  • 00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:43.392
  • Affected by it any longer.
  • 00:14:43.392 --> 00:14:46.262
  • I read an interesting article in the paper about a group in new
  • 00:14:46.262 --> 00:14:49.265
  • York city that decided to shred their regrets for new year's.
  • 00:14:49.265 --> 00:14:56.305
  • So they brought photos of ex-boyfriends, bad medical
  • 00:14:56.305 --> 00:14:59.408
  • Reports, stacks of unpaid bills.
  • 00:14:59.408 --> 00:15:02.244
  • They put them all in a giant shredder in times square where a
  • 00:15:02.244 --> 00:15:06.215
  • Garbage truck would cart them off forever, and in the article
  • 00:15:06.215 --> 00:15:09.852
  • One person was quoted to say, "i feel liberated," after shoving a
  • 00:15:09.852 --> 00:15:14.423
  • Photo of her ex fiancé with his new girlfriend into the
  • 00:15:14.423 --> 00:15:18.093
  • Industrial-sized machine," the article says.
  • 00:15:18.093 --> 00:15:21.797
  • "another lady visiting from ecuador sees the opportunity to
  • 00:15:21.797 --> 00:15:25.768
  • Banish three unpleasant thoughts: her high cholesterol,
  • 00:15:25.768 --> 00:15:29.271
  • Her high blood pressure, and her bills."
  • 00:15:29.271 --> 00:15:32.041
  • So that's fun, but guess what?
  • 00:15:32.041 --> 00:15:35.110
  • The bills still have to be paid, and you probably still have high
  • 00:15:35.110 --> 00:15:40.849
  • Blood pressure, and your boyfriend
  • 00:15:40.849 --> 00:15:42.918
  • Is still with that girl.
  • 00:15:42.918 --> 00:15:45.220
  • Now, you can shred all you want.
  • 00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:48.157
  • It's a nice sentiment, but it isn't going to change anything.
  • 00:15:48.157 --> 00:15:52.461
  • But when the bible says we can forget these things, it means we
  • 00:15:52.461 --> 00:15:55.531
  • Don't have to be influenced by them any longer.
  • 00:15:55.531 --> 00:15:58.834
  • And to be effectively forgetting something,
  • 00:15:58.834 --> 00:16:01.937
  • I must first be forgiven.
  • 00:16:01.937 --> 00:16:04.173
  • There can be no forgetting without forgiveness, for the
  • 00:16:04.173 --> 00:16:08.110
  • Bible says in ecclesiastes 3:15, "god requires
  • 00:16:08.110 --> 00:16:11.680
  • That which is past."
  • 00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:13.415
  • Because god forgives and forgets, we can do the same.
  • 00:16:13.415 --> 00:16:18.187
  • Let me say that again.
  • 00:16:18.187 --> 00:16:19.521
  • Because god forgives and forgets, we can do the same
  • 00:16:19.521 --> 00:16:23.125
  • Because the lord says, "their sins and iniquities
  • 00:16:23.125 --> 00:16:26.261
  • Will i remember no more."
  • 00:16:26.261 --> 00:16:28.330
  • Now, this does not mean that god is having a lapse in memory.
  • 00:16:28.330 --> 00:16:32.868
  • What god is saying is, "i'll no longer
  • 00:16:32.868 --> 00:16:35.170
  • Hold your sin against you."
  • 00:16:35.170 --> 00:16:37.006
  • In other words, "your sins no longer affect your standing with
  • 00:16:37.006 --> 00:16:40.075
  • Me or influence my attitude toward you."
  • 00:16:40.075 --> 00:16:42.978
  • To forget means we break the power of the past by living for
  • 00:16:42.978 --> 00:16:48.684
  • The future.
  • 00:16:48.684 --> 00:16:50.619
  • Put things behind you.
  • 00:16:50.619 --> 00:16:52.287
  • Jesus said remember lot's wife.
  • 00:16:52.287 --> 00:16:56.258
  • "why should i remember lot's wife?"
  • 00:16:56.258 --> 00:16:58.794
  • Ah, because she made a big mistake.
  • 00:16:58.794 --> 00:17:02.031
  • You remember her story?
  • 00:17:02.031 --> 00:17:03.932
  • God was delivering lot and his wife and his family out of sodom
  • 00:17:03.932 --> 00:17:07.603
  • And gomorrah, which he was judging, and the angel of the
  • 00:17:07.603 --> 00:17:11.140
  • Lord said, "come on, this is the way out, and don't look back."
  • 00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:16.245
  • All right?
  • 00:17:16.245 --> 00:17:17.579
  • So they're walking away and now god's judgment is raining on
  • 00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:20.282
  • This city, and quite honestly that would be
  • 00:17:20.282 --> 00:17:22.451
  • Very tempting to look at.
  • 00:17:22.451 --> 00:17:23.786
  • Okay?
  • 00:17:23.786 --> 00:17:25.120
  • So we might say, "god's being a little hard on lot's wife.
  • 00:17:25.120 --> 00:17:27.456
  • I mean, she looked back."
  • 00:17:27.456 --> 00:17:28.791
  • Yeah, she looked back and the bible says
  • 00:17:28.791 --> 00:17:30.125
  • She became a pillar of salt.
  • 00:17:30.125 --> 00:17:31.794
  • So she's like walking along, she looks.
  • 00:17:31.794 --> 00:17:34.263
  • You know, frozen in time like one of those people at pompeii
  • 00:17:34.263 --> 00:17:39.101
  • That were caught in the explosion of lava from,
  • 00:17:39.101 --> 00:17:42.604
  • I think, mount vesuvius.
  • 00:17:42.604 --> 00:17:43.972
  • But anyway, so this is lot's wife looking back, but it's
  • 00:17:43.972 --> 00:17:48.811
  • Interesting because the phrase that is used for her looking
  • 00:17:48.811 --> 00:17:51.413
  • Back means to look with longing.
  • 00:17:51.413 --> 00:17:54.249
  • It was deliberate.
  • 00:17:54.249 --> 00:17:55.584
  • It's not just, "oh, wow."
  • 00:17:55.584 --> 00:17:56.919
  • No.
  • 00:17:56.919 --> 00:17:58.420
  • It's more like, "i'm looking, and i'm going to look
  • 00:17:58.420 --> 00:18:01.256
  • If i'm supposed to or not."
  • 00:18:01.256 --> 00:18:02.925
  • It's intentional.
  • 00:18:02.925 --> 00:18:04.493
  • Have you ever looked at something with longing coming
  • 00:18:04.493 --> 00:18:08.130
  • Back to krispy kreme?
  • 00:18:08.130 --> 00:18:11.166
  • Have you ever walked in there when the signs lit up and see
  • 00:18:11.166 --> 00:18:14.503
  • Those little glistening donuts come that little conveyor belt?
  • 00:18:14.503 --> 00:18:20.642
  • Here they come.
  • 00:18:20.642 --> 00:18:22.177
  • First thing, you know, they go on the little grease thing, get
  • 00:18:22.177 --> 00:18:24.980
  • Kind of cooked, and now the glaze.
  • 00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:26.615
  • You just wait.
  • 00:18:26.615 --> 00:18:28.283
  • You just wait for them.
  • 00:18:28.283 --> 00:18:30.586
  • It's amazing, and you look with longing.
  • 00:18:30.586 --> 00:18:34.323
  • At least i do.
  • 00:18:34.323 --> 00:18:36.391
  • Or you go to the pet store and you see that cute dog.
  • 00:18:36.391 --> 00:18:39.428
  • "oh, i want him."
  • 00:18:39.428 --> 00:18:41.196
  • You look with longing.
  • 00:18:41.196 --> 00:18:42.531
  • Or you walk through the mall and you see the cute outfit
  • 00:18:42.531 --> 00:18:44.766
  • In the window.
  • 00:18:44.766 --> 00:18:46.101
  • You look with longing.
  • 00:18:46.101 --> 00:18:47.436
  • Or you look at something else.
  • 00:18:47.436 --> 00:18:49.838
  • The idea is that's what she was doing.
  • 00:18:49.838 --> 00:18:51.673
  • Don't look back.
  • 00:18:51.673 --> 00:18:54.009
  • Jesus said, "no man, having put his hand on the plow and looking
  • 00:18:54.009 --> 00:18:57.546
  • Back, is fit for the kingdom of god."
  • 00:18:57.546 --> 00:18:59.915
  • So look, if you're going to run the race of life, you need to
  • 00:18:59.915 --> 00:19:02.618
  • Put the past behind you.
  • 00:19:02.618 --> 00:19:04.086
  • Stop living in the past.
  • 00:19:04.086 --> 00:19:06.688
  • Don't revisit the so-called good old days 'cause that's what
  • 00:19:06.688 --> 00:19:10.159
  • Defeated israel in the wilderness.
  • 00:19:10.159 --> 00:19:12.694
  • Remember they said, "oh, we remember the old days back in
  • 00:19:12.694 --> 00:19:15.531
  • Egypt when, you know, we used to eat garlics and leeks and onions
  • 00:19:15.531 --> 00:19:20.002
  • And now all we have is a stinking manna.
  • 00:19:20.002 --> 00:19:22.237
  • We're so sick of it."
  • 00:19:22.237 --> 00:19:24.273
  • Garlics, leeks, and onions?
  • 00:19:24.273 --> 00:19:25.607
  • Man, their breath must have stunk.
  • 00:19:25.607 --> 00:19:28.977
  • But they had sort of taken the life of bondage in egypt under
  • 00:19:29.044 --> 00:19:32.414
  • The whip of the pharaoh and sort of imagined it as the greatest
  • 00:19:32.414 --> 00:19:37.686
  • Life ever when it was the worst life ever.
  • 00:19:37.686 --> 00:19:39.321
  • And sometimes, you know, when we've turned our back on our old
  • 00:19:39.321 --> 00:19:42.124
  • Life or we're walking with christ, the devil will come to
  • 00:19:42.124 --> 00:19:44.826
  • You and maybe bring back one of those memories
  • 00:19:44.826 --> 00:19:47.062
  • Where you had a little fun.
  • 00:19:47.062 --> 00:19:49.364
  • "hey, remember that time that this happened?"
  • 00:19:49.364 --> 00:19:51.833
  • You're like, "yeah, i remember.
  • 00:19:51.833 --> 00:19:58.473
  • Yeah, my old girlfriend.
  • 00:19:59.408 --> 00:20:00.809
  • Oh, i remember my old girlfriend.
  • 00:20:00.809 --> 00:20:02.144
  • I better look her up on facebook.
  • 00:20:02.144 --> 00:20:04.246
  • Who's that old lady?
  • 00:20:04.246 --> 00:20:06.615
  • Oh, i am as old as she is."
  • 00:20:06.615 --> 00:20:10.352
  • Don't live in the past, live in the moment
  • 00:20:10.352 --> 00:20:14.389
  • And look to the future.
  • 00:20:14.389 --> 00:20:17.392
  • The devil won't remember of the misery you used to have.
  • 00:20:17.392 --> 00:20:20.562
  • He won't say, "hey, remember that time, you know, you drank a
  • 00:20:20.562 --> 00:20:23.932
  • Lot and you threw up all over the place?
  • 00:20:23.932 --> 00:20:25.667
  • Remember that?"
  • 00:20:25.667 --> 00:20:27.002
  • No.
  • 00:20:27.002 --> 00:20:28.437
  • "hey, remember that time you were so desponding you actually
  • 00:20:28.437 --> 00:20:30.305
  • Thought of killing yourself?
  • 00:20:30.305 --> 00:20:31.640
  • Remember that?"
  • 00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:32.975
  • No, he won't remind you of that.
  • 00:20:32.975 --> 00:20:34.309
  • He'll remind you of a few fleeting pleasures because the
  • 00:20:34.309 --> 00:20:37.112
  • First step to going back is looking back.
  • 00:20:37.112 --> 00:20:39.815
  • You see?
  • 00:20:39.815 --> 00:20:41.149
  • So forgetting the things that are behind and reaching forward
  • 00:20:41.149 --> 00:20:44.486
  • To the things that are before.
  • 00:20:44.486 --> 00:20:45.821
  • Let me add one other thing to this forgetting the past.
  • 00:20:45.821 --> 00:20:48.824
  • It's also forgetting past victories, and by that--i think
  • 00:20:48.824 --> 00:20:53.262
  • It's a good thing that we reflect back on what the lord
  • 00:20:53.262 --> 00:20:55.364
  • Has done, but listen to this.
  • 00:20:55.364 --> 00:20:57.933
  • Sometimes successes are harder for people
  • 00:20:57.933 --> 00:21:00.936
  • To get over than failures.
  • 00:21:00.936 --> 00:21:03.839
  • What do i mean by that?
  • 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:05.173
  • Success is, "oh, man, we had this great success.
  • 00:21:05.173 --> 00:21:07.409
  • It was just fantastic."
  • 00:21:07.409 --> 00:21:08.744
  • "okay, good.
  • 00:21:08.744 --> 00:21:10.078
  • But that was then and this is now."
  • 00:21:10.078 --> 00:21:12.381
  • You know, i'll have people come up to me and say, "oh, man,
  • 00:21:12.381 --> 00:21:14.549
  • Remember the old days, the old days, jesus movement days?
  • 00:21:14.549 --> 00:21:18.020
  • Remember those days?" "yeah, those were awesome days."
  • 00:21:18.020 --> 00:21:20.022
  • "remember that? it was so great."
  • 00:21:20.022 --> 00:21:22.057
  • "yeah."
  • 00:21:22.057 --> 00:21:23.392
  • "wow, just remember--" hey, you know what?
  • 00:21:23.392 --> 00:21:24.726
  • That was like over 40 years ago.
  • 00:21:24.726 --> 00:21:27.262
  • God's doing some amazing stuff right here right now and i'm
  • 00:21:27.262 --> 00:21:30.832
  • Excited about that, and i'm looking forward
  • 00:21:30.832 --> 00:21:33.235
  • To what the lord will do.
  • 00:21:33.235 --> 00:21:35.771
  • So let's sum up and conclude.
  • 00:21:38.173 --> 00:21:39.608
  • Number one, you must be dissatisfied with where you are.
  • 00:21:39.608 --> 00:21:42.978
  • Number two, get rid of extra weight and things that would
  • 00:21:42.978 --> 00:21:45.414
  • Hinder you.
  • 00:21:45.414 --> 00:21:46.982
  • Thirdly, run with the right motive.
  • 00:21:46.982 --> 00:21:48.550
  • Fourth, have a clear objective and focus.
  • 00:21:48.550 --> 00:21:50.852
  • Five, don't look back.
  • 00:21:50.852 --> 00:21:52.421
  • One last point and i'm done.
  • 00:21:52.421 --> 00:21:53.822
  • You must press on even when it gets hard in the race of life.
  • 00:21:53.822 --> 00:21:58.727
  • If you want to be a happy person, press on
  • 00:21:58.727 --> 00:22:01.196
  • When it gets hard.
  • 00:22:01.196 --> 00:22:02.631
  • You'll be happy after you win the race.
  • 00:22:02.631 --> 00:22:05.233
  • Oh, you know, when you're running a race and if it's a
  • 00:22:05.233 --> 00:22:07.636
  • Long-distance run and you're in the last lap, it's like your
  • 00:22:07.636 --> 00:22:10.272
  • Arms and legs are made out of rubber.
  • 00:22:10.272 --> 00:22:13.141
  • You feel like your heart is going to burst
  • 00:22:13.141 --> 00:22:15.010
  • Out of your chest.
  • 00:22:15.010 --> 00:22:16.678
  • You can't even imagine finishing this, but somehow you press on
  • 00:22:16.678 --> 00:22:20.882
  • And then you win.
  • 00:22:20.882 --> 00:22:22.217
  • And then you know what?
  • 00:22:22.217 --> 00:22:23.552
  • It was all worth it, wasn't it?
  • 00:22:23.552 --> 00:22:25.821
  • Even though you wanted to walk off that track, even though you
  • 00:22:25.821 --> 00:22:29.024
  • Wanted to quit that race, press on.
  • 00:22:29.024 --> 00:22:33.362
  • Verse 13, "i press toward the goal for the prize of the upward
  • 00:22:33.362 --> 00:22:36.998
  • Call of god in christ jesus."
  • 00:22:36.998 --> 00:22:39.201
  • The word that he uses here for pressing comes from the greek
  • 00:22:39.201 --> 00:22:42.104
  • Word agonizo.
  • 00:22:42.104 --> 00:22:45.240
  • Can you guess what english word we get from that?
  • 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:48.610
  • Agonize.
  • 00:22:48.610 --> 00:22:50.312
  • Yes, sometimes it's hard, sometimes it's painful,
  • 00:22:50.312 --> 00:22:54.316
  • But what's that expression?
  • 00:22:54.316 --> 00:22:55.884
  • No pain, no gain.
  • 00:22:55.884 --> 00:22:57.219
  • That's true in the spiritual life too to some degree.
  • 00:22:57.219 --> 00:22:59.921
  • Yeah, the theme of philippians is happiness and joy.
  • 00:22:59.921 --> 00:23:03.692
  • 19 times in four chapters paul mentions joy, rejoicing,
  • 00:23:03.692 --> 00:23:08.663
  • Or gladness, and that includes running and finishing
  • 00:23:08.663 --> 00:23:12.401
  • The race of life.
  • 00:23:12.401 --> 00:23:14.469
  • Paul said to his friends at the church of ephesus,
  • 00:23:14.469 --> 00:23:17.906
  • In acts 20:24, i want to finish my race with joy.
  • 00:23:17.906 --> 00:23:24.112
  • Finish my race with joy.
  • 00:23:24.112 --> 00:23:26.248
  • Listen, it's not enough to start the race of life,
  • 00:23:26.248 --> 00:23:29.718
  • We must finish it, otherwise we've been running in vain.
  • 00:23:29.718 --> 00:23:34.956
  • In his last epistle, the apostle paul wrote in 2 timothy 4:7,
  • 00:23:35.023 --> 00:23:39.161
  • "i fought a good fight.
  • 00:23:39.161 --> 00:23:40.495
  • I finished the race.
  • 00:23:40.495 --> 00:23:42.063
  • I've kept the faith.
  • 00:23:42.063 --> 00:23:43.565
  • Henceforth there remains a crown of righteousness for me and all
  • 00:23:43.565 --> 00:23:48.069
  • Who love his appearing."
  • 00:23:48.069 --> 00:23:49.538
  • That's the objective.
  • 00:23:49.538 --> 00:23:50.906
  • You finish this race that you have begun.
  • 00:23:50.906 --> 00:23:54.976
  • Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart
  • 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:02.117
  • And you have seen your need for jesus christ.
  • 00:24:02.117 --> 00:24:05.587
  • Jesus christ is the son of god, who came from heaven
  • 00:24:05.587 --> 00:24:09.624
  • To this earth.
  • 00:24:09.624 --> 00:24:10.992
  • He was born in a manger.
  • 00:24:10.992 --> 00:24:12.961
  • He died in a cross.
  • 00:24:12.961 --> 00:24:14.596
  • He rose again from the dead, why?
  • 00:24:14.596 --> 00:24:16.731
  • Because he loves you and he wants
  • 00:24:16.731 --> 00:24:18.867
  • A relationship with you.
  • 00:24:18.867 --> 00:24:20.235
  • Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
  • 00:24:20.235 --> 00:24:22.471
  • I don't want to be a religious person.
  • 00:24:22.471 --> 00:24:24.306
  • I don't think you want to be one either.
  • 00:24:24.306 --> 00:24:26.308
  • I'm talking about relationship with god.
  • 00:24:26.308 --> 00:24:30.011
  • Jesus, who died and rose again, stands at the door of your life
  • 00:24:30.011 --> 00:24:34.216
  • And he knocks, and he says if you'll hear his voice
  • 00:24:34.216 --> 00:24:37.219
  • And open the door, he will come in.
  • 00:24:37.219 --> 00:24:39.221
  • Question, have you asked jesus christ to come
  • 00:24:39.221 --> 00:24:42.090
  • And live inside of you?
  • 00:24:42.090 --> 00:24:43.558
  • You might say, "well, i think so, i'm not sure."
  • 00:24:43.558 --> 00:24:45.527
  • Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle
  • 00:24:45.527 --> 00:24:47.762
  • Of the night, do you think you would be aware of it?
  • 00:24:47.762 --> 00:24:50.565
  • I'm sure you would.
  • 00:24:50.565 --> 00:24:52.467
  • And in the same way if christ has come to live
  • 00:24:52.467 --> 00:24:54.769
  • Inside of you, you will know, and if you don't know,
  • 00:24:54.769 --> 00:24:58.440
  • Maybe he has not come in yet.
  • 00:24:58.440 --> 00:25:00.342
  • He is just a prayer away.
  • 00:25:00.342 --> 00:25:02.210
  • All you need to do is say,
  • 00:25:02.210 --> 00:25:03.545
  • "jesus, i want this relationship with you.
  • 00:25:03.545 --> 00:25:06.248
  • I want you to forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:25:06.248 --> 00:25:08.450
  • I want to go to heaven when i die."
  • 00:25:08.450 --> 00:25:10.485
  • Would you like to do that?
  • 00:25:10.485 --> 00:25:11.987
  • Would you like christ to come into your life?
  • 00:25:11.987 --> 00:25:14.589
  • If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
  • 00:25:14.589 --> 00:25:17.559
  • You could pray it out loud or you can pray it
  • 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:20.128
  • In the quietness of your heart, but this is a prayer
  • 00:25:20.128 --> 00:25:22.998
  • Where you're asking jesus christ to be your savior and lord.
  • 00:25:22.998 --> 00:25:26.768
  • Pray this with me now:
  • 00:25:26.768 --> 00:25:28.103
  • "lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner,
  • 00:25:28.103 --> 00:25:31.439
  • But i know that you're the savior who died
  • 00:25:31.439 --> 00:25:34.709
  • On the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.
  • 00:25:34.709 --> 00:25:37.779
  • Now, come into my life.
  • 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:40.649
  • I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
  • 00:25:40.649 --> 00:25:44.953
  • Thank you for hearing this prayer
  • 00:25:44.953 --> 00:25:47.022
  • And answering this prayer.
  • 00:25:47.022 --> 00:25:48.957
  • In jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:25:48.957 --> 00:25:51.793
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:25:51.793 --> 00:25:54.029
  • If so, i want you to know on the authority of scripture
  • 00:25:54.029 --> 00:25:56.698
  • That christ himself has come to live inside of you,
  • 00:25:56.698 --> 00:26:00.235
  • And i would love to send to you, at no charge, something called
  • 00:26:00.235 --> 00:26:03.939
  • "the new believer's bible."
  • 00:26:03.939 --> 00:26:05.740
  • It's a very friendly translation
  • 00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:07.676
  • Of the new testament you'll find very understandable.
  • 00:26:07.676 --> 00:26:11.012
  • And it's filled with hundreds of notes that i wrote
  • 00:26:11.012 --> 00:26:14.115
  • That will encourage you in this commitment you've just made
  • 00:26:14.115 --> 00:26:16.851
  • To follow jesus.
  • 00:26:16.851 --> 00:26:18.587
  • Let me send that to you, at no charge.
  • 00:26:18.587 --> 00:26:20.689
  • And let me be the first to say to you, congratulations,
  • 00:26:20.689 --> 00:26:24.693
  • And welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:26:24.693 --> 00:26:28.363
  • Greg: hey, greg laurie here, and welcome to my podcast.
  • 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:34.669
  • I have a very special guest: joel rosenberg.
  • 00:26:34.669 --> 00:26:39.007
  • Levi, thanks for being on my podcast.
  • 00:26:39.007 --> 00:26:40.742
  • Michael franzese.
  • 00:26:40.742 --> 00:26:42.344
  • Thank you for making time for me.
  • 00:26:42.344 --> 00:26:44.079
  • Because you deal with some very weighty, heavy subjects
  • 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:46.548
  • And i think when you can bring humor in
  • 00:26:46.548 --> 00:26:48.750
  • Is it actually helps the viewer to take in all that information.
  • 00:26:48.750 --> 00:26:53.355
  • Greg: is it hard to be a man of faith in what you do?
  • 00:26:56.758 --> 00:27:00.996
  • Mike johnson: it's not.
  • 00:27:00.996 --> 00:27:02.330
  • In fact, it's the only way i'm allowed and enabled
  • 00:27:02.330 --> 00:27:04.799
  • To do this job.
  • 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:06.167
  • Jon erwin: hollywood's not the hope of the world,
  • 00:27:08.169 --> 00:27:09.504
  • The local church is the hope of the world,
  • 00:27:09.504 --> 00:27:11.139
  • And i've always felt like it's my job to set a volleyball
  • 00:27:11.139 --> 00:27:13.875
  • That can be spiked at the local level.
  • 00:27:13.875 --> 00:27:16.678
  • Greg: no one is beyond the reach of god.
  • 00:27:16.678 --> 00:27:18.880
  • I mean, if god can reach michael franzese,
  • 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:21.483
  • Who can god not reach?
  • 00:27:21.483 --> 00:27:21.483