Greg Laurie - Happiness - What Do You Live For?

January 28, 2025 | S25:E24

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

#GregLaurie #Visions/Dreams #Purpose #Love #LoveofGod #Lifestyle #Passion #Religion #Jesus #Evangelism #Choices #Ministry #Peopleinyourlife #LoveyourNeighbor #inActive #Calling #Heart'sDesire #LightoftheWorld #HarvestwithPastorGregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Happiness - What Do You Live For? | January 28, 2025

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♪♪♪
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Greg laurie: now, when we hear someone say, "for me to
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Live is christ," we wonder, you know, are these people
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In touch with reality, really, to live is
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Christ, and what does it even mean?
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Some will say, well, you know, some are so heavenly-minded they
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Are no earthly good, and my counterpoint to that is some are
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So earthly-minded they are no heavenly good.
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♪ this is the day, ♪
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♪ the day when life begins. ♪
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♪ this is the day, ♪
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♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
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Greg: i saw an advertisement, and i believe it was a computer
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Magazine, quite a few years ago, and it's a
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Picture of a guy shaving in the mirror.
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And it asked this question, is it an alarm clock or
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A calling that gets you up in the morning?
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I thought, well, that's a good question.
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And they were selling some, who knows what, computer item.
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But i thought it was a bigger question.
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Is it an alarm or a calling that gets you up in the morning?
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I mean, what makes you tick?
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What do you get fired up about?
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Everybody is passionate about something.
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What do you get up for in the morning?
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I know it doesn't hurt if i smell coffee in the morning.
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Throw in some bacon and eggs and now we're talking.
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Come on, the smell of bacon in the morning.
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For you vegetarians the smell of brussels sprouts and kale or
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Whatever you enjoy, but i'm talking about more than that.
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I'm talking about what really gets you moving in life, what
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Gives your life purpose or a sense of meaning, raising it
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Above the level of mere existence because, you know, we
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Don't want our lives to just be some blip on the screen.
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We don't want to be just another statistic,
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We want our lives to matter.
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So my question is, what is your master passion in life?
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If you were to sum up what you live
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For in one word, what would it be?
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Well, some would say, "for me to live is, you know, to just live.
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My to live is to live."
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You know, their philosophy would be take it one day at a time.
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They just sort of exist almost in an animal-like state, just
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Kind of following impulses and desires and so forth.
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Hey, they just sort of live for the moment.
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They live for the next paycheck.
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They live for the next weekend.
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They are just sort of existing.
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Paul talks about people like this.
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He says their god is their belly.
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And some people's gods are bigger
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Than other people's gods, right?
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But when he said belly he didn't mean their
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Actual stomach, he meant their appetites.
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In other words, their god is their appetite.
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They just live for satisfying the
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Appetites that they have in life.
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Man, that is just a really lame way to live.
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Number two, there are some that would say,
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"well, for me to live is pleasure."
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You know, you're just living for pleasure, living for that
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Experience, living for that rush, living for
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That buzz, living for that excitement.
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They might seek it through drinking.
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They might--they're not happy till, you know,
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They get that buzz, right?
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Or some, they're not happy till they're passed out, i suppose,
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Because they do it every night, or they want that drug high, or
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They want that adrenaline rush or whatever it is.
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They live for pleasure.
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One person said living for pleasure is one
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Of the least pleasurable things a person can
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Do, and i think that's really true.
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Others might say, "well, you know what?
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I live to get even.
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I don't get mad, i get even."
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Their philosophy is not live and let live,
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Their philosophy is live and let die.
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"if you get me, i'm going to get you back."
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And there's--a lot of these people
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Happen to be driving cars, i think.
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You know, like, you're at the light and the light turns green.
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It's not even a second.
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It's not half a second.
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It's just like a fraction of a second.
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Mah, they lay on the horn behind you.
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They tailgate you the whole time, cut you off.
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These kind of aggravated people that are basically always in a
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Perpetual bad mood and they're always at war with someone.
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They always have their nemesis.
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They always like to be in a fight.
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They love to be in a conflict.
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This--there are people like this that live for these things.
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Another might say, "well, i--man, i live for possessions.
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It's to get stuff.
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And then when i get that stuff i want to get more stuff, and then
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When i get that other stuff i need to get rid of this old
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Stuff so i can make room for new stuff."
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And they're just always collecting items and objects,
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And it's always that next shiny thing.
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It might be a shiny car, or a shiny ring, or a
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Shiny computer, or whatever it is they're
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Chasing after, but it's a object or a thing.
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Their philosophy would be he that dies with the most toys
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Wins, and i would just add a dot, dot, dot.
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He that dies with the most toys wins...
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Nothing, because jesus says what does it profit a man if he gains
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The whole world and loses his own soul.
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As i've often said, you've never seen
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A hearse pulling a u-haul trailer.
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You know, you're going to leave everything
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Here on this side in this life.
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So what do you drive--what are you driven by?
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What do you dream about? what are you passionate about?
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I think some people are just enduring.
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They're just waiting for the next thing.
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Their favorite day of the week is someday.
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You know, someday their ship will come in, someday their
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Prince will come, someday they'll get that
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Promotion, someday they'll build that dream
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House, or someday they'll retire.
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I read a stat that said 94% of people who responded to a survey
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Said they were enduring the present but waiting for
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Something better to happen, but the problem is life passes by so
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Quickly and before you know it a good deal of your life may be
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Behind you instead of before you, and you'll found
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That--you'll find that you've been living for nothing.
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So we need to think about this
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Because then the afterlife comes.
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So listen to this.
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Only those who are prepared to die are really ready to live.
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Now, i've talked about what people live for.
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Let me tell you what the apostle paul lived for.
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Philippians 1:21, "for me to live
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Is christ and to die is gain."
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And that brings me to point number one.
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When you live for christ, you will
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Accept god's will for your life.
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When you live for christ, which you all should--we all should be
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Doing, you will accept god's will for your life.
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See, paul went to rome to preach,
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But he ended up under house arrest.
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Now, how is that a good idea?
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Well, he was reaching an elite group of people
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That would have not been reached otherwise.
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So paul understood god had his hand in it.
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Look at verse 12.
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"the things that happened to me have turned
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Out for the furtherance of the gospel."
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Did it ever occur to you that you are where you
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Are because god wants you there right now?
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Maybe in effect you're chained to someone, and by that i mean
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Maybe you're chained to a non-believer.
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Maybe it's a non-believing husband, or a non-believing
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Wife, or kids that don't believe what you believe, or parents
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That don't believe what you believe, or a argumentative
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Co-worker that you sit next to in your office space, or some
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Guy on your construction site that's always giving
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You a hard time and you're thinking, "why do
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I have to be here with this person?"
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Did it ever occur to you that god
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Wants you there to reach that person?
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You know, sometimes the people that argue the most are actually
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Closer to coming to the lord than those that say nothing.
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I think a lot of times we think if someone is pleasant and nice
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And we share the gospel we think that's a good thing, and then
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When someone's argumentative that's a bad thing, but
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Sometimes it's the very opposite because it's been said when you
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Throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the one that
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Barks the loudest is the one that got hit.
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Try it after church. find some dogs, throw a rock.
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No, don't do it.
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Find a pack of cats.
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But see, you never find a pack of cats.
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They're very independent creatures.
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But the idea is the dog that barks
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A lot is just the one that got hit.
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So when you share the gospel with someone and one objects and
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They protest, and they scream, and they yell, it might be
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Because they're under the conviction of the holy spirit
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And god's working on their heart.
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So don't be discouraged, be encouraged.
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So paul is reaching the praetorian guard.
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Really quite significant.
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And god has put you where you are for his purposes.
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And he says in verse 14, "most of the brethren in the lord have
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Become confident by my chains and are more
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Bold to speak the word without fear."
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You see, examples of evangelism
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Spark others to be more evangelistic.
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So they're saying, "wow.
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If paul's chained up in a--under house arrest and is willing to
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Share the gospel with the praetorian guard,
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Certainly we who have freedom right now,
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Mobility, we should be doing the same."
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You know, if you've ever been around an evangelistic
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Christian, it can be quite contagious, and there are
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Some people, man, they're just always finding
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Opportunities to share their faith.
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And you think, "how do they do that?"
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They're just tuned in, i think, tuned in to the lord, tuned in
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To opportunities, looking for opportunities even.
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And you're going to run a person like that, and
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You think, "well, i think i could do that."
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Yes you can, as a matter of fact.
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So paul's example was inspiring other believers as well.
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Number two, when you live for christ, as we
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All should, you'll be a person of prayer.
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Again, when you live for christ, you'll be a person of prayer.
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Have you ever wondered what to pray for
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When you pray for fellow believers?
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Paul actually gives us an answer here.
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Look at philippians 1, verse 9.
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"and this i pray," he's saying to the church of philippi, "that
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Your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all
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Discernment and that you may approve the things that are
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Excellent and that you may be sincere and without offense till
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The day of christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness
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Which are by jesus christ, to the glory and praise of god."
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Interesting.
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So paul's praying that they would grow in both love and
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Discernment, love and discernment.
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You know, sometimes it seems to me as
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Though the two are mutually exclusive.
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In other words, some people seem to be
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Very discerning but not very loving.
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Others are loving, but they're not discerning, and by that i
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Mean they just accept everything and everyone.
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"it's all good, man.
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We all love the lord, you know.
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Whatever they believe, it doesn't matter."
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Well, actually it does matter.
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There is a place for discernment.
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But look at what paul says here in verse 1--actually
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Verse 9, that they would grow in love.
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"this i pray, that your love will grow still more."
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Love is a mark of a true christian.
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Don't say to me, "i love jesus, but i don't love the church."
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You can't love jesus and not love the church.
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You can't love god, who you can't see, if you're not willing
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To love your brother or sister who you can see.
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And so a mark of real faith, of real love is that you'll love
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Your christian brothers and sisters.
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Jesus said, "by this shall all men
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Know you are my disciples," what?
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If you have what one for another?
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Love one for another.
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So we should be loving.
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Greg: you know, when jesus hung on the cross,
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Three times he called out to the father, at the
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Beginning, middle, and end of the crucifixion.
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His first words from calvary were, "father, forgive
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Them for they know not what they do."
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Then as all the sin of the world was placed upon him, he said,
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"my god, my god, why have you forsaken me?"
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And finally, he said to the father,
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"into your hands i commit my spirit."
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This is a reminder to us that we should call on god at the
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Beginning, middle, and end of our life.
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You know, if you're young and you're watching me right now,
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Remember the best thing you can do is commit your life to jesus.
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I became a christian at the age of 17.
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That was about 51 years ago, and
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I've never regretted that decision.
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The bible says, "remember the creator
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In the days of your youth."
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But then in the middle age sometimes we're preoccupied.
00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:53.382
We're getting our family going, we're pursuing our career, and
00:12:53.382 --> 00:12:56.986
We forget about god, but listen, god has not forgotten about you.
00:12:56.986 --> 00:13:00.689
Keep god at the forefront of your
00:13:00.689 --> 00:13:02.291
Life and certainly at the end.
00:13:02.291 --> 00:13:04.627
When we're at eternity's door and we
00:13:04.627 --> 00:13:06.695
Know we'll see him, call out to him.
00:13:06.695 --> 00:13:09.431
Call out to the lord at the beginning and
00:13:09.431 --> 00:13:11.934
The middle and the end of your life.
00:13:11.934 --> 00:13:14.970
Greg: now, paul tells us how living for christ
00:13:17.473 --> 00:13:19.809
Affects us in this life and the afterlife.
00:13:19.809 --> 00:13:22.745
Look at verse 21, philippians 1 still.
00:13:22.745 --> 00:13:25.314
"for me to live is christ and to die is gain, but if i live on in
00:13:25.314 --> 00:13:30.586
The flesh, that will mean fruit for my labor.
00:13:30.586 --> 00:13:33.489
Yet what i shall choose i cannot tell, for i'm hard-pressed
00:13:33.489 --> 00:13:36.492
Between the two, having the desire to depart and be with
00:13:36.492 --> 00:13:39.929
Christ, which is far better, nevertheless to remain
00:13:39.929 --> 00:13:43.332
In the flesh is more needful for you.
00:13:43.332 --> 00:13:45.668
And being confident of this, i know that i will remain and
00:13:45.668 --> 00:13:48.437
Continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that
00:13:48.437 --> 00:13:53.042
Your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in
00:13:53.042 --> 00:13:56.378
Jesus christ by my coming to you again."
00:13:56.378 --> 00:14:00.015
Look again at verse 21. "for me to live is christ."
00:14:00.015 --> 00:14:04.253
Now, when we hear someone say, "for me to live is christ," we
00:14:04.253 --> 00:14:06.589
Wonder, you know, are these people in touch with reality,
00:14:06.589 --> 00:14:10.259
Really, to live is christ and what does it even mean?
00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:14.763
Some will say, well, you know, some are so heavenly-minded
00:14:14.763 --> 00:14:16.999
They're no earthly good, and my counterpoint to that is some are
00:14:16.999 --> 00:14:20.769
So earthly-minded they're no heavenly good.
00:14:20.769 --> 00:14:23.772
And i think when you're really heavenly-minded,
00:14:23.772 --> 00:14:26.141
When you're really living for christ,
00:14:26.141 --> 00:14:27.910
You will be of the greatest earthly good.
00:14:27.910 --> 00:14:31.347
C.s. lewis said, quote, "the christians who did
00:14:31.347 --> 00:14:34.049
The most for their present world were precisely those
00:14:34.049 --> 00:14:37.820
Who thought most about the next world," end quote.
00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:41.790
And i think that's true.
00:14:41.790 --> 00:14:43.359
You see, real spirituality is practical,
00:14:43.359 --> 00:14:47.429
And paul was a balanced christian.
00:14:47.429 --> 00:14:49.431
And the most godly men and women i've had
00:14:49.431 --> 00:14:51.367
The privilege of meeting over the last 40 plus years
00:14:51.367 --> 00:14:54.703
Have always been very down to earth.
00:14:54.703 --> 00:14:57.907
You know, not holier-than-thou kind of people looking down on
00:14:57.907 --> 00:15:02.144
You, but very genuine people, often fun-loving people, people
00:15:02.144 --> 00:15:09.218
With a self-deprecating sense of humor, not that spacey,
00:15:09.218 --> 00:15:13.188
Wide-eyed, one clown short of a circus look.
00:15:13.188 --> 00:15:17.760
You know what i'm talking about?
00:15:17.760 --> 00:15:19.962
Heavenly-minded people are gracious, they're approachable,
00:15:19.962 --> 00:15:23.666
They're assessable, and religious people are just weird.
00:15:23.666 --> 00:15:28.737
I so don't want to be a religious person.
00:15:28.737 --> 00:15:31.674
I--you know, when they get this religious vibe and they talk
00:15:31.674 --> 00:15:34.877
Religiously and they look at you weird
00:15:34.877 --> 00:15:37.146
Religiously, it's like, "just stop."
00:15:37.146 --> 00:15:39.081
And here's my suggestion.
00:15:39.081 --> 00:15:40.482
They were always weird to start with, okay?
00:15:40.482 --> 00:15:44.320
Their faith in christ did not make them weird.
00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:46.288
They were weird, and now they just talk
00:15:46.288 --> 00:15:48.324
About jesus and they're still weird.
00:15:48.324 --> 00:15:51.293
Now, maybe they're saved weird, i don't
00:15:51.293 --> 00:15:52.962
Know, but they're weird, okay?
00:15:52.962 --> 00:15:54.530
It's all i know.
00:15:54.530 --> 00:15:56.332
Your faith in christ will not make you that person.
00:15:56.332 --> 00:15:59.702
If you have faith in christ and know what it means to live for
00:15:59.702 --> 00:16:02.304
Christ, you'll have your feet on the ground but your heart and
00:16:02.304 --> 00:16:06.008
Your thoughts will be in heaven, and i think paul
00:16:06.008 --> 00:16:09.945
Is an example of this in so many ways.
00:16:09.945 --> 00:16:12.881
I mean, there's no greater example
00:16:12.881 --> 00:16:14.984
Of this than jesus himself.
00:16:14.984 --> 00:16:17.686
You know, jesus was a practical man.
00:16:17.686 --> 00:16:20.489
He was god in human form walking among us,
00:16:20.489 --> 00:16:23.692
But jesus lived a real life on planet earth.
00:16:23.692 --> 00:16:26.662
He was a real, living human being,
00:16:26.662 --> 00:16:29.798
But he was god walking among us.
00:16:29.798 --> 00:16:32.568
So paul is saying to live is christ, and that was pretty much
00:16:32.568 --> 00:16:36.739
Not just paul's motto but, i think, the motto of
00:16:36.739 --> 00:16:39.441
Pretty much everyone in the early church.
00:16:39.441 --> 00:16:42.678
You know, if you look at the church of the
00:16:42.678 --> 00:16:44.213
1st century, they changed the world.
00:16:44.213 --> 00:16:46.815
They changed the world.
00:16:46.815 --> 00:16:48.317
They turned the world upside down,
00:16:48.317 --> 00:16:50.019
And imagine it, they did it without media.
00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:54.156
You know, thomas didn't have a twitter account, peter didn't
00:16:54.156 --> 00:16:57.559
Have an instagram page, paul didn't have a facebook page, but
00:16:57.559 --> 00:17:01.597
They had a lot of followers and a lot of friends, and they
00:17:01.597 --> 00:17:05.801
Changed the world that was there at the time,
00:17:05.801 --> 00:17:09.338
The world that was under the rule of rome.
00:17:09.338 --> 00:17:13.375
And it's amazing to think about how they did it.
00:17:13.375 --> 00:17:16.345
The first christians did not out-argue
00:17:16.345 --> 00:17:19.114
The pagans, they outlived them.
00:17:19.114 --> 00:17:21.917
They didn't conquer paganism and dead
00:17:21.917 --> 00:17:24.053
Judaism by reacting blow by blow.
00:17:24.053 --> 00:17:27.523
Instead, the christians of the 1st century outthought,
00:17:27.523 --> 00:17:30.926
Outprayed, and outlived the non-believers.
00:17:30.926 --> 00:17:35.030
Their weapons were positive, not negative.
00:17:35.030 --> 00:17:38.434
They didn't stage protests, and they didn't hold boycotts.
00:17:38.434 --> 00:17:41.737
Have you ever noticed that?
00:17:41.737 --> 00:17:43.439
They didn't have a campaign to unseat the emperor.
00:17:43.439 --> 00:17:46.275
They would have died if they did that.
00:17:46.275 --> 00:17:48.343
It said they prayed and preached and proclaimed the message of
00:17:48.343 --> 00:17:51.580
The death of christ on the cross and his resurrection from the
00:17:51.580 --> 00:17:55.484
Dead, and they backed up that message with
00:17:55.484 --> 00:17:58.287
Actions to match and they changed the planet.
00:17:58.287 --> 00:18:02.558
They were out there loving, and giving, and healing, and doing
00:18:02.558 --> 00:18:05.794
All the things god called them to do.
00:18:05.794 --> 00:18:07.763
So the slogan of the first century church,
00:18:07.763 --> 00:18:10.632
The church that changed the world, was to live as christ
00:18:10.632 --> 00:18:13.735
And to die is gain.
00:18:13.735 --> 00:18:15.704
What would the slogan of the 21st century church be?
00:18:15.704 --> 00:18:19.274
What about my needs, man?
00:18:19.274 --> 00:18:21.577
Something like that, maybe.
00:18:21.577 --> 00:18:23.178
You know, i go church shopping and i'm gonna
00:18:23.178 --> 00:18:25.114
Try to find a church that meets all of my needs
00:18:25.114 --> 00:18:27.549
Or maybe i go to multiple churches.
00:18:27.549 --> 00:18:30.119
Well, listen, if we train people to be consumers
00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:33.055
Instead of communers,
00:18:33.055 --> 00:18:35.023
We'll end up with customers instead of disciples.
00:18:35.023 --> 00:18:39.928
So this is the church that changed the world, and i pray
00:18:39.928 --> 00:18:43.098
That we could be the church that changes our world as well.
00:18:43.098 --> 00:18:47.903
Paul lived for christ, but he was human.
00:18:47.903 --> 00:18:51.173
He was not perfect.
00:18:51.173 --> 00:18:52.508
Did you know the apostle paul was not perfect?
00:18:52.508 --> 00:18:54.409
He'd get irritated at times.
00:18:54.409 --> 00:18:57.679
You know, when he was being mistreated by the high priest's
00:18:57.679 --> 00:19:02.317
Servant and actually guy struck him, he shot back, "god'll
00:19:02.317 --> 00:19:06.188
Smite you, you whitewashed wall."
00:19:06.188 --> 00:19:08.257
Guy's like, "what'd you say?"
00:19:08.257 --> 00:19:09.591
"ah, didn't know you're the high priest servant."
00:19:09.591 --> 00:19:11.860
He got ticked off.
00:19:11.860 --> 00:19:13.195
Who likes to get hit in the face?
00:19:13.195 --> 00:19:15.197
Not the apostle paul.
00:19:15.197 --> 00:19:16.698
When it was revealed to paul that there were some guys that
00:19:16.698 --> 00:19:19.535
Wanted to kill him, paul didn't walk out into
00:19:19.535 --> 00:19:22.070
The town square and say, "here i am, kill me," no.
00:19:22.070 --> 00:19:25.574
He was lowered over the side of the wall in a basket, why?
00:19:25.574 --> 00:19:29.611
'cause paul wanted to live to see tomorrow.
00:19:29.611 --> 00:19:33.182
You know, a christian doesn't have a death wish.
00:19:33.182 --> 00:19:36.285
We don't walk around saying, "man, i hope i die today."
00:19:36.285 --> 00:19:40.222
But here's what we do say, to live
00:19:40.222 --> 00:19:41.557
Is christ and to die is gain.
00:19:41.557 --> 00:19:43.825
I want to live today, and i want to live tomorrow, and i want to
00:19:43.825 --> 00:19:47.729
Live as many days as god has given me to live.
00:19:47.729 --> 00:19:51.266
And when that day comes when i'm called to heaven,
00:19:51.266 --> 00:19:53.769
Then that day will come, but i'm going to do
00:19:53.769 --> 00:19:56.371
Everything i can to live in this day.
00:19:56.371 --> 00:19:58.574
So paul was a practical guy, and he cared about the church.
00:19:58.574 --> 00:20:02.611
Look at verse 23.
00:20:02.611 --> 00:20:03.946
"i am hard-pressed between the two, having the desire to depart
00:20:03.946 --> 00:20:07.115
And be with christ, which is far better, but it's important for
00:20:07.115 --> 00:20:10.385
Me to remain in the flesh for you."
00:20:10.385 --> 00:20:12.788
Yeah, he wanted to help them, but notice what he says.
00:20:12.788 --> 00:20:17.960
He says having the desire to depart
00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:20.963
With christ, which is far better.
00:20:20.963 --> 00:20:23.365
Listen to this.
00:20:23.365 --> 00:20:25.834
Death for a christian is something that's going to happen
00:20:25.834 --> 00:20:30.973
As it will happen for every person, but paul understood that
00:20:30.973 --> 00:20:34.476
When death came, and it did come for him, it was a conscious
00:20:34.476 --> 00:20:39.214
Existence, not an unconscious oblivion.
00:20:39.214 --> 00:20:44.419
Bringing me to point number three.
00:20:44.419 --> 00:20:46.421
When you live for christ, you're not afraid to die.
00:20:46.421 --> 00:20:49.458
When you live for christ, you're not afraid to die.
00:20:50.726 --> 00:20:53.295
Again, only the person who has said to live is
00:20:53.295 --> 00:20:56.064
Christ, then can then say to die is gain.
00:20:56.064 --> 00:21:01.403
Heaven's better because it's immediate.
00:21:01.403 --> 00:21:03.939
Heaven's better because it's immediate.
00:21:04.006 --> 00:21:05.674
Verse 23, "i'll depart and be with christ."
00:21:05.674 --> 00:21:08.744
That's very important 'cause often people
00:21:08.744 --> 00:21:10.379
Says, "what happens when we die?"
00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:11.947
You go straight to heaven. simple answer.
00:21:11.947 --> 00:21:15.150
The moment you take your last breath on earth,
00:21:15.150 --> 00:21:17.019
You take your first breath in heaven.
00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:18.720
You don't go to a holding tank.
00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:20.255
He just--he did not say, "i'll depart and just kind of hang out
00:21:20.255 --> 00:21:23.792
For, you know, a few hundred years, or i'll depart and go to
00:21:23.792 --> 00:21:28.063
Purgatory, or i'll depart and go to a soul sleep," no.
00:21:28.063 --> 00:21:32.801
"i'll depart and be with christ."
00:21:32.801 --> 00:21:35.537
You go right into the presence of jesus christ.
00:21:35.537 --> 00:21:39.908
Many verses affirm this.
00:21:39.908 --> 00:21:41.276
2 corinthians 5:8 says, "we're confident, and i
00:21:41.276 --> 00:21:44.212
Say we're rather willing to be absent from the body
00:21:44.212 --> 00:21:47.749
And to be present with the lord."
00:21:47.749 --> 00:21:49.418
Thirdly, heaven is better than earth because all my questions
00:21:49.418 --> 00:21:53.322
Will be answered, all my questions will be answered.
00:21:53.322 --> 00:21:58.193
We all have questions in life.
00:21:58.193 --> 00:22:00.696
I really wonder if when i get to heaven i'll have my list.
00:22:00.696 --> 00:22:03.465
"lord, it's good to be here, but i have this list."
00:22:03.465 --> 00:22:07.035
I kind of think once i see him i'll just say, "never mind.
00:22:07.035 --> 00:22:11.873
It's all good, very good."
00:22:11.873 --> 00:22:15.077
But we'll know all things in that day.
00:22:15.077 --> 00:22:17.979
1 corinthians 13:12 says, "right now we see him perfectly as in a
00:22:17.979 --> 00:22:21.917
Poor mirror, but then we'll see everything with perfect clarity.
00:22:21.917 --> 00:22:25.954
All that i know now is partial and incomplete, but then i will
00:22:25.954 --> 00:22:29.458
Know everything completely just as god knows me now."
00:22:29.458 --> 00:22:32.928
And i believe that when i get to heaven, i'll
00:22:32.928 --> 00:22:35.797
Spend all eternity learning and learning.
00:22:35.797 --> 00:22:38.100
I don't think it's like god dumps
00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:39.735
All this knowledge into my brain.
00:22:39.735 --> 00:22:41.837
I'd be like some weird bobblehead.
00:22:41.837 --> 00:22:43.672
You know, just huge head, little body walking around, no.
00:22:43.672 --> 00:22:46.541
I think you're learning and learning and growing and
00:22:46.541 --> 00:22:49.378
Discovering all through heaven, and then ultimately
00:22:49.378 --> 00:22:52.514
When heaven comes down to earth again.
00:22:52.514 --> 00:22:55.450
This is the hope of the christian
00:22:55.450 --> 00:22:57.319
And only the christian.
00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:59.221
And lastly, heaven is better because i'll
00:22:59.221 --> 00:23:01.923
Be with christ, be with christ, i'll be with him.
00:23:01.923 --> 00:23:06.228
Yes, you'll be reunited with loved ones that have preceded
00:23:06.228 --> 00:23:08.830
You, yes, all of your questions will be answered, yes, you'll
00:23:08.830 --> 00:23:12.868
Trade in your tent for a mansion, yes, it'll be so much
00:23:12.868 --> 00:23:16.972
Better on every level, but yes, you will be with christ,
00:23:16.972 --> 00:23:21.243
And that's what makes heaven heaven.
00:23:21.243 --> 00:23:23.178
So wrapping this up, what do you live for?
00:23:23.178 --> 00:23:27.516
If you'd say, "for me to live is money," then for you
00:23:27.516 --> 00:23:30.585
One day to die is to leave it all behind.
00:23:30.585 --> 00:23:34.756
If you'd say, "for me to live is fame," then one day for you to
00:23:34.756 --> 00:23:37.826
Die is going to be that you'll be forgotten.
00:23:37.826 --> 00:23:41.463
If you'd say, "to me to live is power," then i'm telling you one
00:23:41.463 --> 00:23:44.566
Day to die will be for you to lose it all.
00:23:44.566 --> 00:23:47.102
But if you'd say to live is christ,
00:23:47.102 --> 00:23:49.771
Then you can also say to die is gain.
00:23:49.771 --> 00:23:54.509
Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart and
00:23:58.413 --> 00:24:01.583
You have seen your need for jesus christ.
00:24:01.583 --> 00:24:05.086
Jesus christ is the son of god who
00:24:05.086 --> 00:24:08.056
Came from heaven to this earth.
00:24:08.056 --> 00:24:10.292
He was born in a manger.
00:24:10.292 --> 00:24:12.427
He died in a cross.
00:24:12.427 --> 00:24:13.995
He rose again from the dead. why?
00:24:13.995 --> 00:24:16.097
Because he loves you and he wants a relationship with you.
00:24:16.097 --> 00:24:19.634
Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
00:24:19.634 --> 00:24:21.870
I don't want to be a religious person.
00:24:21.870 --> 00:24:23.672
I don't think you want to be one either.
00:24:23.672 --> 00:24:25.607
I'm talking about relationship with god.
00:24:25.607 --> 00:24:29.277
Jesus, who died and rose again, stands at the door of your life
00:24:29.277 --> 00:24:33.648
And he knocks, and he says if you'll hear his
00:24:33.648 --> 00:24:35.784
Voice and open the door he will come in.
00:24:35.784 --> 00:24:38.587
Question, have you asked jesus christ
00:24:38.587 --> 00:24:40.922
To come and live inside of you?
00:24:40.922 --> 00:24:42.924
You might say, "well, i think so, i'm not sure."
00:24:42.924 --> 00:24:45.060
Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle of the
00:24:45.060 --> 00:24:47.429
Night, do you think you would be aware of it?
00:24:47.429 --> 00:24:50.098
I'm sure you would.
00:24:50.098 --> 00:24:51.733
And in the same way if christ has come
00:24:51.733 --> 00:24:53.535
To live inside of you, you will know, and if you don't
00:24:53.535 --> 00:24:56.805
Know, maybe he has not come in yet.
00:24:56.805 --> 00:24:59.608
He is just a prayer away.
00:24:59.608 --> 00:25:01.443
All you need to do is say, "jesus,
00:25:01.443 --> 00:25:03.512
I want this relationship with you.
00:25:03.512 --> 00:25:05.413
I want you to forgive me of my sin.
00:25:05.413 --> 00:25:07.716
I want to go to heaven when i die."
00:25:07.716 --> 00:25:09.818
Would you like to do that?
00:25:09.818 --> 00:25:11.186
Would you like christ to come into your life?
00:25:11.186 --> 00:25:13.855
If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
00:25:13.855 --> 00:25:16.958
You could pray it out loud or you can pray it in the quietness
00:25:16.958 --> 00:25:20.295
Of your heart, but this is a prayer where you're asking jesus
00:25:20.295 --> 00:25:23.431
Christ to be your savior and lord.
00:25:23.431 --> 00:25:26.067
Pray this with me now.
00:25:26.067 --> 00:25:27.402
"lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner, but i know that you're
00:25:27.402 --> 00:25:31.706
The savior who died on the cross for my sin
00:25:31.706 --> 00:25:35.677
And rose again from the dead.
00:25:35.677 --> 00:25:37.178
Now, come into my life.
00:25:37.178 --> 00:25:39.981
I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
00:25:39.981 --> 00:25:44.386
Thank you for hearing this prayer and
00:25:44.386 --> 00:25:46.488
Answering this prayer.
00:25:46.488 --> 00:25:48.390
In jesus's name, amen."
00:25:48.390 --> 00:25:51.092
Did you just pray that prayer with me?
00:25:51.092 --> 00:25:53.428
If so, i want you to know in the authority of scripture that
00:25:53.428 --> 00:25:56.364
Christ himself has come to live inside of you,
00:25:56.364 --> 00:25:59.568
And i would love to send to you at no charge
00:25:59.568 --> 00:26:02.671
Something called the "new believer's bible."
00:26:02.671 --> 00:26:05.140
It's a very friendly translation of the new testament you'll find
00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:08.510
Very understandable, and it's filled with hundreds of notes
00:26:08.510 --> 00:26:12.213
That i wrote that will encourage you in this
00:26:12.213 --> 00:26:14.883
Commitment you've just made to follow jesus.
00:26:14.883 --> 00:26:17.652
Let me send that to you at no charge, and let me
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Be the first to say to you congratulations
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And welcome to the family of god.
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Greg: hey, greg laurie here.
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As you probably know, we are being devastated in this state
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By a series of fires that are causing incredible damage.
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Power is out for thousands and thousands of people.
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People have lost their home, thousands have been evacuated.
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Well, this is happening right in our backyard.
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Many of our people come from l.a.
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We have churches we've helped to plant up in los angeles as well.
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So we've established something called the harvest relief fund.
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If you would like to support our outreach efforts for those that
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Have been affected by these fires, just go to
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Harvest.org/relief.
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I'm reminded of the story of nehemiah where the walls of
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Jerusalem were lying in charred rubble.
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Nehemiah came up with a plan and they started to build,
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And that's what's going to happen.
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Homes are going to be rebuilt, but most importantly we want
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To see lives rebuilt.
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Thank you for anything you can do.
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Greg Laurie - Happiness - What Do You Live For?

January 28, 2025 | S25:E24

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