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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - Jesus and the Open Heart

November 9, 2025 | 29:0

Greg Laurie - Jesus and the Open Heart
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#WordofGod #Jesus #Heart #Culture #KingdomofGod #Heaven #Healing #Blessing #Disciples #Children #GregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Jesus and the Open Heart | November 9, 2025
  • ...
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  • Greg laurie: you ask, "greg, if i become a christian, will i
  • 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:06.229
  • Have to give up anything?"
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  • The answer to that question is: yes, you will.
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  • You have to give up emptiness for fulfillment.
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  • You'll have to give up hopelessness for hope.
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  • You'll have to give up hell for heaven.
  • 00:00:18.408 --> 00:00:21.211
  • Sounds like a pretty good trade-in deal to me.
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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: well, i read an interesting article from "the
  • 00:00:47.570 --> 00:00:50.440
  • New york times," a former newspaper, that said there is a
  • 00:00:50.440 --> 00:00:54.344
  • Return of young people to church right now, especially men.
  • 00:00:54.344 --> 00:00:59.649
  • Did you hear about this article?
  • 00:00:59.649 --> 00:01:01.317
  • This article says, and i quote, "for the first time in modern
  • 00:01:01.317 --> 00:01:05.121
  • American history, young men are now more religious than their
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  • Female peers."
  • 00:01:10.493 --> 00:01:12.896
  • That's fascinating and good.
  • 00:01:12.896 --> 00:01:14.697
  • It's a good thing because that has not been the case in
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  • The past.
  • 00:01:17.967 --> 00:01:19.335
  • The article goes on to say, "at church, young men are
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  • Encountering calls to responsibility, sacrifice,
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  • And leadership.
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  • This is in contrast to the messaging of self-indulgence and
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  • Avoidance of commitment," end quote.
  • 00:01:33.283 --> 00:01:36.052
  • So that's good.
  • 00:01:36.052 --> 00:01:37.387
  • So they're not finding what they want and certainly not what they
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  • Need from the culture.
  • 00:01:41.524 --> 00:01:43.793
  • This to me is not all that surprising, because for a long
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  • Time it seems as though the progressive left has waged
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  • An all-out war on men.
  • 00:01:51.467 --> 00:01:54.470
  • Men are getting tired of hearing about
  • 00:01:54.470 --> 00:01:56.673
  • So-called "toxic masculinity" and patriarchy and gender norms
  • 00:01:56.673 --> 00:02:03.079
  • Are just a social construct, and on it goes.
  • 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:07.250
  • Young men want to be men, and they want to
  • 00:02:07.250 --> 00:02:09.619
  • Be masculine in the best sense of that term.
  • 00:02:09.619 --> 00:02:13.590
  • Now, before us here in the gospel of luke chapter 18, we
  • 00:02:13.590 --> 00:02:18.261
  • Have the story of young people coming to jesus.
  • 00:02:18.261 --> 00:02:21.331
  • There's two movements in this story.
  • 00:02:21.331 --> 00:02:23.666
  • The first movement is of young children coming to christ, and
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  • We read the famous statement of christ when he says, "let the
  • 00:02:27.737 --> 00:02:32.575
  • Little children come unto me, and don't forbid them for of
  • 00:02:32.575 --> 00:02:36.179
  • Such is the kingdom of heaven."
  • 00:02:36.179 --> 00:02:37.981
  • The second movement in our text is of a wealthy young man coming
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  • To jesus one day.
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  • We often call him the rich young ruler.
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  • And jesus looked at him, we read, and loved him yet this man
  • 00:02:48.358 --> 00:02:52.795
  • Walked away sad.
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  • He's the only person who ever encountered jesus and walked
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  • Away sad.
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  • Everybody else that came face to face with our lord and were
  • 00:02:59.969 --> 00:03:02.972
  • Touched by him in some way, shape, or form went away glad,
  • 00:03:02.972 --> 00:03:06.342
  • Went away happy, went away forgiven, went away healed; and
  • 00:03:06.342 --> 00:03:10.013
  • This guy walks away sad or sorrowful or, a better
  • 00:03:10.013 --> 00:03:14.083
  • Translation, deeply distressed and it's because jesus said,
  • 00:03:14.083 --> 00:03:18.454
  • Something to him he did not like, and he asked him to do
  • 00:03:18.454 --> 00:03:22.025
  • Something he did not want to do.
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  • He did not have an open heart.
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  • The children, they had an open heart.
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  • This man did not.
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  • So let's read about the children here in luke chapter 18 starting
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  • In verse 15.
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  • Read with me, if you would.
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  • "one day some parents brought their little children to jesus
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  • So he could touch and bless them.
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  • And when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for
  • 00:03:43.446 --> 00:03:47.317
  • Bothering him.
  • 00:03:47.317 --> 00:03:48.685
  • Then jesus called for the children and said to the
  • 00:03:48.685 --> 00:03:51.721
  • Disciples, 'let the little children come to me, and don't
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  • Stop them!
  • 00:03:55.925 --> 00:03:57.293
  • For the kingdom of god belongs to those who are like these
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  • Little children.
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  • I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the kingdom of
  • 00:04:01.564 --> 00:04:05.101
  • God like a child will never enter it.'"
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  • We'll stop there.
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  • Okay, so here's point number one, if you're taking notes.
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  • Jesus loves the little children, and so should we.
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  • Jesus loves the little children, as the song says,
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  • And so should we.
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  • He always made time for the kids.
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  • Last time we looked at the story of jairus and his
  • 00:04:23.786 --> 00:04:26.356
  • 12-year-old daughter who was very sick.
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  • In fact, she was at death's door.
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  • Jairus found the lord, was taking him home to touch his
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  • Little daughter, but by the time they arrived,
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  • The daughter had tragically died.
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  • And jesus went over to her and knelt down by the bed
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  • And whispered into her ear, "little lamb, arise,"
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  • And life returned to this little girl.
  • 00:04:48.911 --> 00:04:51.381
  • And then there's the story of the so-called nobleman
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  • Whose son was very sick, and jesus touched him as
  • 00:04:54.984 --> 00:04:58.621
  • Well, and that's--there's many other stories
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  • Of jesus touching children.
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  • He always took time for kids.
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  • And it's always important to take time for children
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  • Because they don't stay children very long.
  • 00:05:08.264 --> 00:05:10.867
  • They grow so quickly, don't they?
  • 00:05:10.867 --> 00:05:13.202
  • Did you know that from birth to age five, a child's brain
  • 00:05:13.202 --> 00:05:16.672
  • Reaches up to 90% of its adult size?
  • 00:05:16.672 --> 00:05:20.543
  • All of these experiences are happening to them that shape
  • 00:05:20.543 --> 00:05:23.146
  • Them in their cognitive, emotional, social, and spiritual
  • 00:05:23.146 --> 00:05:27.383
  • Development, so take time with your children, take time to
  • 00:05:27.383 --> 00:05:31.287
  • Speak to them, take time to listen to them,
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  • To pray with them.
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  • I read that there are 940 saturdays between a child's
  • 00:05:36.626 --> 00:05:40.496
  • Birth and them leaving for college, 940 saturdays.
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  • Number two, we need to bring our children to jesus.
  • 00:05:45.401 --> 00:05:49.639
  • We need to bring our children to jesus.
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  • Our job as parents is to point our kids to christ.
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  • Listen to this, parent.
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  • If you don't take a proactive interest in your child's
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  • Spiritual welfare, somebody else will.
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  • Most likely it won't be good.
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  • Don't leave it to the public school system to teach your
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  • Children values.
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  • Don't leave it to the media to teach your child what is right
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  • And wrong.
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  • That is your job as the mother or the father, and specifically
  • 00:06:15.965 --> 00:06:19.902
  • You're told, proverbs 22:6, "train up a child in the way he
  • 00:06:19.902 --> 00:06:24.607
  • Should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
  • 00:06:24.607 --> 00:06:28.845
  • Very important.
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  • What does that mean, to train up a child in the way that they
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  • Should go?
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  • One way to translate it is create a thirst in them in the
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  • Way that they should go.
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  • So our objective as parents is to create a thirst in our child
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  • For god.
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  • Hopefully they'll see something in us that they will want to
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  • Emulate, that they'll want to copy.
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  • And i'll tell you, here's one way that you can keep your
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  • Children from coming to christ.
  • 00:06:57.206 --> 00:06:59.208
  • Be a hypocrite.
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  • Be a hypocrite.
  • 00:07:01.077 --> 00:07:02.411
  • Now, look, we're--we all have moments of hypocrisy, and we all
  • 00:07:02.411 --> 00:07:05.548
  • Do and say things as parents we wish we had not said or done.
  • 00:07:05.548 --> 00:07:09.085
  • And by the way, there's nothing wrong with apologizing to your
  • 00:07:09.085 --> 00:07:12.021
  • Child every now and then, say, "you know, mom shouldn't have
  • 00:07:12.021 --> 00:07:15.157
  • Done that.
  • 00:07:15.157 --> 00:07:16.492
  • Dad shouldn't have said that.
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  • I'm sorry, okay?"
  • 00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:19.195
  • But having said that, you're gonna have moments of
  • 00:07:19.195 --> 00:07:20.963
  • Inconsistency, but there's a difference between that, excuse
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  • Me, and outright hypocrisy.
  • 00:07:25.568 --> 00:07:28.204
  • The word hypocrite literally translated means to be an actor,
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  • And it's when your child starts seeing that you're putting on
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  • A performance.
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  • You're two people.
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  • You're the person that greets people at church and you're the
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  • Person that is tyrannical in the home.
  • 00:07:42.218 --> 00:07:46.022
  • They see how you talk to total strangers.
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  • You show more consideration to a stranger who knocks at your door
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  • Than to your spouse or to your children.
  • 00:07:52.395 --> 00:07:55.064
  • Or they see you screaming, losing your temper, getting
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  • Drunk, using profanity.
  • 00:07:57.867 --> 00:08:00.736
  • Little eyes are watching and little ears are listening, and
  • 00:08:00.736 --> 00:08:04.874
  • They're now deciding if they too want a relationship with god
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  • Like you have.
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  • So don't be that person.
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  • The bible says bring them up in the way of the lord.
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  • Don't knock them down.
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  • Create in them a thirst to know god like you know god.
  • 00:08:19.355 --> 00:08:23.659
  • One of the best ways to get somebody hungry or thirsty is
  • 00:08:23.659 --> 00:08:27.630
  • Eat a meal in front of them.
  • 00:08:27.630 --> 00:08:29.265
  • Well, i don't know if that's completely true.
  • 00:08:29.265 --> 00:08:32.301
  • Watching some people eat makes me not want to eat ever again.
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  • But let's just say you're enjoying a nice meal.
  • 00:08:37.373 --> 00:08:39.508
  • Maybe after church you say, "we're gonna go get
  • 00:08:39.508 --> 00:08:41.677
  • A bite of lunch.
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  • You wanna join us?"
  • 00:08:43.012 --> 00:08:44.380
  • They say, "well, i already ate, but i'll come along and just
  • 00:08:44.380 --> 00:08:47.216
  • Drink a glass of water."
  • 00:08:47.216 --> 00:08:49.385
  • So you go to the restaurant and everybody orders their lunch,
  • 00:08:49.385 --> 00:08:52.121
  • And they're drinking their glass of water.
  • 00:08:52.121 --> 00:08:54.657
  • And then the burgers arrive and then the fries arrive glistening
  • 00:08:54.657 --> 00:08:59.328
  • In the sun and so the person drinking the water says, "can i
  • 00:08:59.328 --> 00:09:04.433
  • Have one fry?"
  • 00:09:04.433 --> 00:09:05.935
  • "oh, sure, have as many as you want."
  • 00:09:05.935 --> 00:09:07.970
  • Why is it that when you eat somebody else's food it tastes
  • 00:09:07.970 --> 00:09:11.807
  • Better than when you order it?
  • 00:09:11.807 --> 00:09:13.175
  • Have you noticed that?
  • 00:09:13.175 --> 00:09:14.510
  • That one fry, that one bite, which is so good, is so
  • 00:09:14.510 --> 00:09:17.780
  • Wonderful and--then you want your own, right?
  • 00:09:17.780 --> 00:09:21.250
  • So that's the idea.
  • 00:09:21.250 --> 00:09:22.918
  • Live in such a way that they will look at you and say, "i
  • 00:09:22.918 --> 00:09:26.322
  • Want a relationship with god like they have."
  • 00:09:26.322 --> 00:09:30.126
  • That's what it means to train up your children in the way of
  • 00:09:30.126 --> 00:09:33.763
  • The lord.
  • 00:09:33.763 --> 00:09:35.097
  • So the parents are bringing their kids to christ here in
  • 00:09:35.097 --> 00:09:37.066
  • Verse 15.
  • 00:09:37.066 --> 00:09:38.401
  • They brought their little children to jesus so he would
  • 00:09:38.401 --> 00:09:41.570
  • Touch and bless them.
  • 00:09:41.570 --> 00:09:43.372
  • The jewish culture at the time was for the father to lay his
  • 00:09:43.372 --> 00:09:46.776
  • Hand on a child and pronounce a blessing over them.
  • 00:09:46.776 --> 00:09:51.514
  • So that's what they're asking for.
  • 00:09:51.514 --> 00:09:53.349
  • They want jesus to put his hand on their children and
  • 00:09:53.349 --> 00:09:57.186
  • Bless them.
  • 00:09:57.186 --> 00:09:58.554
  • In mark's gospel, talking about the same story, it says jesus
  • 00:09:58.554 --> 00:10:02.391
  • Took them into his arms and fervently blessed them.
  • 00:10:02.391 --> 00:10:06.729
  • So he was passionate about this.
  • 00:10:06.729 --> 00:10:08.631
  • He wanted to do it, and i think jesus enjoyed being with kids
  • 00:10:08.631 --> 00:10:13.469
  • Because all of the time he was having these debates with the
  • 00:10:13.469 --> 00:10:16.572
  • Religious leaders.
  • 00:10:16.572 --> 00:10:18.174
  • They're always confronting him, trying to trap him, trying to
  • 00:10:18.174 --> 00:10:22.411
  • Pin him into a corner and here come the kids, and they wanna
  • 00:10:22.411 --> 00:10:25.848
  • Just play and they wanna laugh and they wanna listen, and jesus
  • 00:10:25.848 --> 00:10:30.219
  • Is enjoying himself immensely.
  • 00:10:30.219 --> 00:10:33.089
  • So when the disciples start pushing the kids away, he says,
  • 00:10:33.089 --> 00:10:35.725
  • "what are you doing?
  • 00:10:35.725 --> 00:10:37.126
  • Let these little children come on to me.
  • 00:10:37.126 --> 00:10:39.428
  • In fact, even more, you can learn from these
  • 00:10:39.428 --> 00:10:42.465
  • Little children."
  • 00:10:42.465 --> 00:10:43.933
  • And then jesus takes the child and uses them as an example, he
  • 00:10:43.933 --> 00:10:48.304
  • Says, "you guys, don't stop the children from coming to me.
  • 00:10:48.304 --> 00:10:51.774
  • In fact, learn from the children."
  • 00:10:51.774 --> 00:10:53.542
  • Look at verse 17.
  • 00:10:53.542 --> 00:10:54.910
  • "the kingdom of god belongs to those who are like these
  • 00:10:54.910 --> 00:10:57.513
  • Little children.
  • 00:10:57.513 --> 00:10:58.881
  • I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the kingdom of
  • 00:10:58.881 --> 00:11:01.851
  • God like a child will never enter it."
  • 00:11:01.851 --> 00:11:05.254
  • Now, the conventional thinking is a child should become as an
  • 00:11:05.254 --> 00:11:08.924
  • Adult to know god, but in fact jesus says the opposite.
  • 00:11:08.924 --> 00:11:12.862
  • An adult should become as a child to know god.
  • 00:11:12.862 --> 00:11:16.098
  • Isn't that interesting?
  • 00:11:16.098 --> 00:11:17.666
  • You should become like a child.
  • 00:11:17.666 --> 00:11:19.802
  • What does that mean? back to diapers?
  • 00:11:19.802 --> 00:11:22.905
  • Hopefully not.
  • 00:11:22.905 --> 00:11:25.474
  • You should not be childish, but you should be childlike.
  • 00:11:25.474 --> 00:11:29.779
  • And not childish and immature, but rather childlike.
  • 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:34.016
  • What does it mean to be childlike?
  • 00:11:34.016 --> 00:11:35.818
  • It means you come in complete honesty to god.
  • 00:11:35.818 --> 00:11:39.488
  • You're not putting on an act.
  • 00:11:39.488 --> 00:11:41.757
  • You're not living behind a facade.
  • 00:11:41.757 --> 00:11:43.993
  • You're honest to god.
  • 00:11:43.993 --> 00:11:45.861
  • Heard a story about a mother who had a big dinner party.
  • 00:11:45.861 --> 00:11:48.230
  • She invited too many people over and it was a lot of work, and
  • 00:11:48.230 --> 00:11:51.967
  • She finally got all the food on the table.
  • 00:11:51.967 --> 00:11:54.136
  • She was absolutely exhausted, so she said to her 6-year-old
  • 00:11:54.136 --> 00:11:57.840
  • Daughter, "honey, why don't you offer the prayer to god, giving
  • 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:01.343
  • Thanks for the meal?"
  • 00:12:01.343 --> 00:12:02.845
  • Little girl said, "mommy, what do you want me to pray?"
  • 00:12:02.845 --> 00:12:05.147
  • The mom said, "just pray what you always hear mommy pray."
  • 00:12:05.147 --> 00:12:08.651
  • So the little girl prayed, "dear god, why did i invite all these
  • 00:12:08.651 --> 00:12:12.621
  • People over here to dinner?"
  • 00:12:12.621 --> 00:12:15.658
  • Maybe a little too honest but true.
  • 00:12:15.658 --> 00:12:18.761
  • Children are very honest.
  • 00:12:18.761 --> 00:12:20.763
  • You know how a child feels. if they're happy, they laugh.
  • 00:12:20.763 --> 00:12:23.532
  • If they're sad, they cry.
  • 00:12:23.532 --> 00:12:25.301
  • If they fall, they come running for help,
  • 00:12:25.301 --> 00:12:27.403
  • Usually to mom, not dad.
  • 00:12:27.403 --> 00:12:30.039
  • But children come with a complete helplessness,
  • 00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:33.309
  • Especially when they're really little.
  • 00:12:33.309 --> 00:12:34.743
  • They're absolutely dependant on the parent for everything, and
  • 00:12:34.743 --> 00:12:39.548
  • We in the same way come with complete helplessness to god,
  • 00:12:39.548 --> 00:12:43.586
  • Totally in need of his forgiveness.
  • 00:12:43.586 --> 00:12:46.255
  • Another thing, we need to evangelize our children.
  • 00:12:46.255 --> 00:12:49.992
  • Evangelize them.
  • 00:12:49.992 --> 00:12:51.827
  • They're never too young to start reading the bible to them.
  • 00:12:51.827 --> 00:12:55.631
  • I remember when i was speaking with pastor chuck smith once.
  • 00:12:55.631 --> 00:12:59.201
  • He told me that his mother would read the bible to him when he
  • 00:12:59.201 --> 00:13:02.504
  • Was just a tiny little guy.
  • 00:13:02.504 --> 00:13:04.506
  • She'd be pushing him in the swing.
  • 00:13:04.506 --> 00:13:06.575
  • He was around 21 at this time.
  • 00:13:06.575 --> 00:13:08.244
  • No, not really. he was very little.
  • 00:13:08.244 --> 00:13:10.946
  • He said, "when i was just a little child, a little toddler
  • 00:13:10.946 --> 00:13:13.949
  • Even, my mother was reading the scripture to me.
  • 00:13:13.949 --> 00:13:16.952
  • My mother was getting me to memorize the scripture."
  • 00:13:16.952 --> 00:13:19.788
  • And he still remember these scriptures he had memorized as a
  • 00:13:19.788 --> 00:13:23.125
  • Child well into his later adult years.
  • 00:13:23.125 --> 00:13:25.928
  • It's never too soon to start getting the word of god into
  • 00:13:25.928 --> 00:13:29.565
  • Your kids.
  • 00:13:29.565 --> 00:13:30.900
  • I remember talking with dr. james dobson, and i asked
  • 00:13:30.900 --> 00:13:33.435
  • Him, "dr. dobson, when did you become a christian?"
  • 00:13:33.435 --> 00:13:36.205
  • He said, "when i was 4 years old."
  • 00:13:36.205 --> 00:13:38.641
  • I said, "really, 4 years old?"
  • 00:13:38.641 --> 00:13:40.876
  • Yes, that was when he marked his conversion, to when he was 4
  • 00:13:40.876 --> 00:13:45.814
  • Years old.
  • 00:13:45.814 --> 00:13:47.149
  • You never know when they'll make that commitment, so you need to
  • 00:13:47.149 --> 00:13:49.585
  • Present the gospel to them and build a bridge to them and keep
  • 00:13:49.585 --> 00:13:53.689
  • It understandable.
  • 00:13:53.689 --> 00:13:55.024
  • When i talk to kids, i get down on their level.
  • 00:13:55.024 --> 00:13:57.626
  • I communicate with them in a way they will understand.
  • 00:13:57.626 --> 00:14:00.296
  • I think this is one of the problems with devotions with
  • 00:14:00.296 --> 00:14:03.599
  • Our children.
  • 00:14:03.599 --> 00:14:04.967
  • "we should have a devotion and a bible-reading."
  • 00:14:04.967 --> 00:14:07.369
  • That's a good idea. do that.
  • 00:14:07.369 --> 00:14:08.904
  • But they don't need, you know, a 2-hour message from leviticus,
  • 00:14:08.904 --> 00:14:13.008
  • All right?
  • 00:14:13.008 --> 00:14:14.376
  • Keep it short. keep it simple.
  • 00:14:14.376 --> 00:14:16.412
  • Don't be boring.
  • 00:14:16.412 --> 00:14:18.080
  • Engage them.
  • 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:19.782
  • Ask them questions so they understand what it is you're
  • 00:14:19.782 --> 00:14:22.718
  • Saying to them.
  • 00:14:22.718 --> 00:14:24.086
  • They're so open, especially in those earlier years.
  • 00:14:24.086 --> 00:14:28.123
  • And you give them the same gospel that saved you, the story
  • 00:14:28.123 --> 00:14:31.760
  • Of the life, death, and resurrection of jesus christ and
  • 00:14:31.760 --> 00:14:35.064
  • Give them an opportunity to respond.
  • 00:14:35.064 --> 00:14:38.467
  • What a joy it is to pray with your little children to ask
  • 00:14:38.467 --> 00:14:41.971
  • Jesus to come into their hearts.
  • 00:14:41.971 --> 00:14:44.340
  • So let's shift gears now in our story.
  • 00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:46.608
  • We've talked about jesus and the little children.
  • 00:14:46.608 --> 00:14:49.778
  • Now we come to the so-called rich young ruler.
  • 00:14:49.778 --> 00:14:54.683
  • Like many young men of today that we talked about earlier, he
  • 00:14:54.683 --> 00:14:58.887
  • Came to jesus.
  • 00:14:58.887 --> 00:15:01.256
  • He was a ruler, which meant tha--you had to be at least 30
  • 00:15:01.256 --> 00:15:05.160
  • Years old to be a rule, a religious ruler, but he
  • 00:15:05.160 --> 00:15:07.997
  • Was young.
  • 00:15:07.997 --> 00:15:09.365
  • So he's in his early 30s.
  • 00:15:09.365 --> 00:15:10.799
  • He's climbed his ladder, his corporate ladder, if you will.
  • 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:14.603
  • He's been very successful.
  • 00:15:14.603 --> 00:15:16.305
  • The bible says he was very rich.
  • 00:15:16.305 --> 00:15:18.841
  • So he's a wealthy young man.
  • 00:15:18.841 --> 00:15:20.843
  • He probably had a tricked-out bmw chariot, and he came
  • 00:15:20.843 --> 00:15:26.715
  • Cruising up, thinking that jesus would want this guy in his
  • 00:15:26.715 --> 00:15:30.853
  • Team immediately.
  • 00:15:30.853 --> 00:15:32.621
  • And he approaches the lord because he knew there was
  • 00:15:32.621 --> 00:15:35.457
  • Something missing in his life, and i think the thing that
  • 00:15:35.457 --> 00:15:38.894
  • Probably got him really interested is watching jesus
  • 00:15:38.894 --> 00:15:42.631
  • With the children.
  • 00:15:42.631 --> 00:15:44.066
  • He saw that vulnerability.
  • 00:15:44.066 --> 00:15:45.868
  • He saw that love.
  • 00:15:45.868 --> 00:15:47.202
  • He saw that compassion, and he liked what jesus said about the
  • 00:15:47.202 --> 00:15:52.741
  • Children and becoming like a child.
  • 00:15:52.741 --> 00:15:54.877
  • And this young man, as we'll see in a moment, thought of himself
  • 00:15:54.877 --> 00:15:57.980
  • As a very good person, and relatively speaking he was.
  • 00:15:57.980 --> 00:16:03.085
  • He thinks he had kept the commandments since he
  • 00:16:03.085 --> 00:16:05.721
  • Was a little boy.
  • 00:16:05.721 --> 00:16:07.089
  • It's doubtful. no one really does.
  • 00:16:07.089 --> 00:16:08.557
  • But he tried to be a good person, a religious person
  • 00:16:08.557 --> 00:16:13.362
  • And--but yet he thought jesus was even better than him.
  • 00:16:13.362 --> 00:16:17.833
  • So he thinks, "if i can understand who jesus is, i can
  • 00:16:17.833 --> 00:16:21.737
  • Get to that next level of goodness."
  • 00:16:21.737 --> 00:16:25.340
  • So let's read his story.
  • 00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:26.675
  • Luke chapter 18, verse 18, "once a religious leader asked jesus
  • 00:16:26.675 --> 00:16:30.312
  • This question: 'good teacher, what should i do to inherit
  • 00:16:30.312 --> 00:16:34.883
  • Eternal life?'
  • 00:16:34.883 --> 00:16:36.251
  • 'why do you call me good?' jesus asked him.
  • 00:16:36.251 --> 00:16:38.454
  • 'only god is truly good.
  • 00:16:38.454 --> 00:16:40.289
  • But to answer your question, you know the commandments: "you must
  • 00:16:40.289 --> 00:16:43.325
  • Not commit adultery.
  • 00:16:43.325 --> 00:16:44.693
  • You must not murder.
  • 00:16:44.693 --> 00:16:46.061
  • You must not steal.
  • 00:16:46.061 --> 00:16:47.396
  • You must not testify falsely.
  • 00:16:47.396 --> 00:16:49.531
  • Honor your father and mother."'
  • 00:16:49.531 --> 00:16:51.867
  • The man replied, 'i've obeyed all of these commandments since
  • 00:16:51.867 --> 00:16:55.771
  • I was young.'
  • 00:16:55.771 --> 00:16:57.139
  • When jesus heard his answer, he said, 'there's still one thing
  • 00:16:57.139 --> 00:17:00.209
  • You haven't done.
  • 00:17:00.209 --> 00:17:01.844
  • Sell all of your possessions, give the money to the poor, and
  • 00:17:01.844 --> 00:17:05.481
  • You will have treasure in heaven.
  • 00:17:05.481 --> 00:17:07.449
  • Then come and follow me.'"
  • 00:17:07.449 --> 00:17:10.085
  • We'll stop there.
  • 00:17:10.085 --> 00:17:11.887
  • And then it says finally when he heard this, he became very sad
  • 00:17:11.887 --> 00:17:17.593
  • Because he was very rich.
  • 00:17:17.593 --> 00:17:18.994
  • So let's give credit where credit is due.
  • 00:17:18.994 --> 00:17:21.230
  • Here's an important man, a vip for sure, and he comes to jesus
  • 00:17:21.230 --> 00:17:26.702
  • And bows before him.
  • 00:17:26.702 --> 00:17:28.103
  • Another gospel says he kneeled before jesus.
  • 00:17:28.103 --> 00:17:32.374
  • You would have thought the first thing christ would have done is
  • 00:17:32.374 --> 00:17:34.610
  • Said, "man, we need you on the team.
  • 00:17:34.610 --> 00:17:36.345
  • And by the way, could you underwrite our mission?
  • 00:17:36.345 --> 00:17:39.348
  • Because seriously you have some extra cash here.
  • 00:17:39.348 --> 00:17:41.917
  • We could really use you."
  • 00:17:41.917 --> 00:17:43.252
  • I heard a story about a very wealthy man who called the
  • 00:17:43.252 --> 00:17:46.321
  • Church, and the secretary answered, "yes, can i help you?"
  • 00:17:46.321 --> 00:17:50.492
  • "yeah, i wanna talk to the head hog at the trough."
  • 00:17:50.492 --> 00:17:53.862
  • She said, "what?"
  • 00:17:53.862 --> 00:17:55.197
  • "i wanna talk to the head hog at the trough."
  • 00:17:55.197 --> 00:17:58.100
  • She said, "well, sir, we don't call our pastor the head hog at
  • 00:17:58.100 --> 00:18:01.770
  • The trough."
  • 00:18:01.770 --> 00:18:03.105
  • And he said, "okay, fine.
  • 00:18:03.105 --> 00:18:04.473
  • I wanted to give him $200,000 for your ministry."
  • 00:18:04.473 --> 00:18:07.809
  • A few moments passed.
  • 00:18:07.809 --> 00:18:09.144
  • All of a sudden a voice is heard on the other end, and the pastor
  • 00:18:09.144 --> 00:18:12.281
  • Says, "head hog at the trough here."
  • 00:18:12.281 --> 00:18:15.817
  • "yeah, let's get this guy on the team.
  • 00:18:15.817 --> 00:18:18.220
  • He has potential."
  • 00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:20.055
  • But what jesus says to him is very surprising.
  • 00:18:20.055 --> 00:18:23.492
  • This man says, "good teacher," emphasize--emphasis on the
  • 00:18:23.492 --> 00:18:27.829
  • Word "good."
  • 00:18:27.829 --> 00:18:29.164
  • "good teacher, what must i do to inherit eternal life?"
  • 00:18:29.164 --> 00:18:33.769
  • He thinks christ is at the next level of goodness, and jesus
  • 00:18:33.769 --> 00:18:37.639
  • Says, "no one is good but god."
  • 00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:39.141
  • Now, what was that all about?
  • 00:18:39.141 --> 00:18:40.709
  • Well, really jesus was saying, "i am god because only god
  • 00:18:40.709 --> 00:18:44.713
  • Is good."
  • 00:18:44.713 --> 00:18:46.048
  • No one is good except god, well, who was better than jesus?
  • 00:18:46.048 --> 00:18:49.084
  • He was a very definition of goodness.
  • 00:18:49.084 --> 00:18:51.853
  • So effectively he's saying, "young man, you are talking to
  • 00:18:51.853 --> 00:18:55.991
  • God at this very moment.
  • 00:18:55.991 --> 00:18:57.893
  • Oh, you want eternal life?
  • 00:18:57.893 --> 00:19:00.062
  • Okay, well, obey the commandments.
  • 00:19:00.062 --> 00:19:02.264
  • Don't commit adultery.
  • 00:19:02.264 --> 00:19:03.932
  • Don't murder, don't steal, don't lie.
  • 00:19:03.932 --> 00:19:06.068
  • Honor your father and mother."
  • 00:19:06.068 --> 00:19:07.502
  • And then this guy says, "all of these commandments i have kept
  • 00:19:07.502 --> 00:19:11.673
  • From my youth."
  • 00:19:11.673 --> 00:19:13.175
  • It would have made sense if the bible then said, "and jesus
  • 00:19:13.175 --> 00:19:16.445
  • Smacked him across the face."
  • 00:19:16.445 --> 00:19:19.214
  • "what are you talking about, willis?
  • 00:19:19.214 --> 00:19:21.850
  • You have not kept all the commandments since you've
  • 00:19:21.850 --> 00:19:23.952
  • Been young.
  • 00:19:23.952 --> 00:19:25.287
  • You've broken these commandments.
  • 00:19:25.287 --> 00:19:26.655
  • No one keeps them."
  • 00:19:26.655 --> 00:19:28.223
  • Because jesus took them to the next level.
  • 00:19:28.223 --> 00:19:30.325
  • He said, "you've heard that it has been said you shall not
  • 00:19:30.325 --> 00:19:32.995
  • Commit adultery, but i say to you if you've looked on a woman
  • 00:19:32.995 --> 00:19:36.498
  • With lust in your heart you've committed adultery.
  • 00:19:36.498 --> 00:19:39.835
  • You've heard that it's sa--been said you shall not murder, but i
  • 00:19:39.835 --> 00:19:43.538
  • Say if you have hatred in your heart toward your brother you've
  • 00:19:43.538 --> 00:19:47.276
  • Broken that commandment as well."
  • 00:19:47.276 --> 00:19:48.610
  • So we've all broken these commandments in one way, shape,
  • 00:19:48.610 --> 00:19:51.880
  • Or form.
  • 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:53.215
  • And by the way, the commandments were never given to make
  • 00:19:53.215 --> 00:19:55.951
  • You righteous.
  • 00:19:55.951 --> 00:19:57.286
  • No one keeps them.
  • 00:19:57.286 --> 00:19:58.654
  • The commandments are not given to make us righteous.
  • 00:19:58.654 --> 00:20:01.423
  • They're given to show us we're not righteous.
  • 00:20:01.423 --> 00:20:04.593
  • The commandments are like god's moral mirror.
  • 00:20:04.593 --> 00:20:07.796
  • Sometimes when i look in the mirror, i don't like what i see,
  • 00:20:07.796 --> 00:20:11.233
  • Especially if it's a magnifying mirror.
  • 00:20:11.233 --> 00:20:13.735
  • Those are frightening, right?
  • 00:20:13.735 --> 00:20:16.738
  • And so we look at god's moral mirror, we look at those
  • 00:20:16.738 --> 00:20:20.008
  • Commandments and we realize, "i fall short."
  • 00:20:20.008 --> 00:20:22.778
  • But i'll tell you which commandment this rich young
  • 00:20:22.778 --> 00:20:24.980
  • Ruler was really breaking.
  • 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:27.182
  • It's the last one.
  • 00:20:27.182 --> 00:20:28.517
  • You shall not covet.
  • 00:20:28.517 --> 00:20:30.252
  • Oh, that was his problem.
  • 00:20:30.252 --> 00:20:32.054
  • You shall not covet.
  • 00:20:32.054 --> 00:20:33.488
  • Covet means a greedy desire to have more.
  • 00:20:33.488 --> 00:20:37.626
  • It means to pant after something.
  • 00:20:37.626 --> 00:20:41.229
  • And so we've heard it said the bible says money is the root of
  • 00:20:41.229 --> 00:20:45.233
  • All evil.
  • 00:20:45.233 --> 00:20:46.568
  • The bible does not say that.
  • 00:20:46.568 --> 00:20:47.936
  • Did you know that?
  • 00:20:47.936 --> 00:20:49.271
  • That is not a verse in the bible, money is the root of
  • 00:20:49.271 --> 00:20:51.907
  • All evil.
  • 00:20:51.907 --> 00:20:53.275
  • Here's what the bible actually says.
  • 00:20:53.275 --> 00:20:54.609
  • Listen, there's a big difference.
  • 00:20:54.609 --> 00:20:56.345
  • "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil; while some
  • 00:20:56.345 --> 00:21:01.249
  • Have coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and
  • 00:21:01.249 --> 00:21:04.786
  • Pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
  • 00:21:04.786 --> 00:21:07.856
  • So it's not just the lo--it's not just money.
  • 00:21:07.856 --> 00:21:10.625
  • Money is neutral.
  • 00:21:10.625 --> 00:21:12.394
  • Money isn't good.
  • 00:21:12.394 --> 00:21:13.762
  • Money isn't bad.
  • 00:21:13.762 --> 00:21:15.097
  • Money is what you make of it.
  • 00:21:15.097 --> 00:21:16.465
  • You can use it for god's glory, for the extension of the
  • 00:21:16.465 --> 00:21:19.301
  • Kingdom, to help other people.
  • 00:21:19.301 --> 00:21:21.436
  • You can do a lot of good with money.
  • 00:21:21.436 --> 00:21:23.372
  • It can be bad as well depending on what you spend it on.
  • 00:21:23.372 --> 00:21:27.642
  • It's the love of money, while some have coveted after.
  • 00:21:27.642 --> 00:21:31.847
  • So we think the person who is affluent loves money.
  • 00:21:31.847 --> 00:21:35.317
  • Maybe they do.
  • 00:21:35.317 --> 00:21:36.685
  • But you can have little to no money and still love money
  • 00:21:36.685 --> 00:21:40.322
  • Because all you do is think about it.
  • 00:21:40.322 --> 00:21:42.591
  • So it's the love of money, while some have coveted after.
  • 00:21:42.591 --> 00:21:46.461
  • That was this guy's problem.
  • 00:21:46.461 --> 00:21:48.196
  • Money was his god, and jesus put his finger on that and that is
  • 00:21:48.196 --> 00:21:52.267
  • Why he said to this man and this man alone, "sell everything you
  • 00:21:52.267 --> 00:21:56.438
  • Have, give it away to the poor, and follow me."
  • 00:21:56.438 --> 00:21:59.674
  • Why did he say that to him?
  • 00:21:59.674 --> 00:22:01.076
  • Because he knew money was his god, and he knew that his stuff
  • 00:22:01.076 --> 00:22:04.880
  • Was keeping him from a relationship with the lord.
  • 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:08.517
  • Jesus never said this to any other person.
  • 00:22:08.517 --> 00:22:11.386
  • So it's not some proof text for what every person needs to do to
  • 00:22:11.386 --> 00:22:15.657
  • Become a christian.
  • 00:22:15.657 --> 00:22:17.025
  • It was to this guy alone 'cause jesus knew that was his issue.
  • 00:22:17.025 --> 00:22:20.862
  • To another person, he might say, "break off that relationship
  • 00:22:20.862 --> 00:22:23.899
  • That's pulling you down spiritually and follow me."
  • 00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:27.102
  • To even another, he might say, "break free from this lifestyle
  • 00:22:27.102 --> 00:22:31.306
  • You're living in and follow me."
  • 00:22:31.306 --> 00:22:33.175
  • But here's the thing.
  • 00:22:33.175 --> 00:22:34.543
  • He said, "follow me."
  • 00:22:34.543 --> 00:22:36.111
  • Jesus was offering this guy a spot on the team.
  • 00:22:36.111 --> 00:22:39.047
  • "i want you on the team.
  • 00:22:39.047 --> 00:22:40.615
  • I want you in the band.
  • 00:22:40.615 --> 00:22:42.384
  • I want you to be one of my disciples.
  • 00:22:42.384 --> 00:22:44.519
  • Come on, follow me."
  • 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.854
  • When matthew heard those words, and matthew was also
  • 00:22:45.854 --> 00:22:48.690
  • Affluent--he was a tax collector for rome, sitting at his tax
  • 00:22:48.690 --> 00:22:53.995
  • Table, and jesus said two words to him.
  • 00:22:53.995 --> 00:22:56.731
  • He said, "follow me."
  • 00:22:56.731 --> 00:22:58.633
  • Matthew bolted up from his tax table and never looked back.
  • 00:22:58.633 --> 00:23:02.671
  • He left everything like no problem.
  • 00:23:02.671 --> 00:23:05.106
  • This is a privilege, the highest honor, privilege to be called
  • 00:23:05.106 --> 00:23:09.744
  • By jesus.
  • 00:23:09.744 --> 00:23:11.112
  • And this man couldn't do it, why?
  • 00:23:11.112 --> 00:23:13.215
  • Because he was very rich, and he went away sad.
  • 00:23:13.215 --> 00:23:17.586
  • Another way to translate that is he went away in distress.
  • 00:23:17.586 --> 00:23:22.491
  • Every other person that came to christ went away glad, happy,
  • 00:23:22.491 --> 00:23:25.727
  • Forgiven, healed.
  • 00:23:25.727 --> 00:23:27.062
  • As i said earlier, this guy goes away sad.
  • 00:23:27.062 --> 00:23:30.432
  • Now, contrast him with another wealthy, important person who is
  • 00:23:30.432 --> 00:23:35.504
  • Seeking god.
  • 00:23:35.504 --> 00:23:36.972
  • This guy is identified as the ethiopian eunuch, and his story
  • 00:23:36.972 --> 00:23:41.409
  • Is found in acts chapter 8.
  • 00:23:41.409 --> 00:23:43.778
  • So he worked for candace, the queen of ethiopia.
  • 00:23:43.778 --> 00:23:47.883
  • He was a member of her cabinet.
  • 00:23:47.883 --> 00:23:49.484
  • He was a vip.
  • 00:23:49.484 --> 00:23:51.453
  • He came to jerusalem visiting, wanting to have a relationship
  • 00:23:51.453 --> 00:23:55.323
  • With god.
  • 00:23:55.323 --> 00:23:56.658
  • He heard about the god of abraham, isaac, and jacob.
  • 00:23:56.658 --> 00:23:58.960
  • Wanted to know more.
  • 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:00.595
  • Instead of finding a vibrant faith, he found dead, lifeless
  • 00:24:00.595 --> 00:24:04.266
  • Religion, but he did manage to obtain a scroll of isaiah.
  • 00:24:04.266 --> 00:24:09.304
  • Now, back in those days, needless to say, they didn't
  • 00:24:09.304 --> 00:24:11.907
  • Print bibles.
  • 00:24:11.907 --> 00:24:13.375
  • So, to have a scroll of scripture was a precious object.
  • 00:24:13.375 --> 00:24:17.445
  • Probably because of his status and importance, they gave him
  • 00:24:17.445 --> 00:24:20.115
  • This hand-lettered scroll written by the scribes
  • 00:24:20.115 --> 00:24:23.685
  • From isaiah.
  • 00:24:23.685 --> 00:24:25.020
  • So it so happens he's in his chariot, probably with an
  • 00:24:25.020 --> 00:24:27.556
  • Entourage around him traveling along, reading aloud from isaiah
  • 00:24:27.556 --> 00:24:31.893
  • 53 that happens to speak of the suffering of the savior written
  • 00:24:31.893 --> 00:24:36.665
  • Hundreds of years before it happened.
  • 00:24:36.665 --> 00:24:39.067
  • He's reading out loud, sitting--standing in
  • 00:24:39.067 --> 00:24:41.403
  • This chariot.
  • 00:24:41.403 --> 00:24:42.737
  • And meanwhile, the lord had directed a guy named philip, one
  • 00:24:42.737 --> 00:24:46.041
  • Of the followers of jesus, to just go to the desert and wait
  • 00:24:46.041 --> 00:24:48.810
  • For further information.
  • 00:24:48.810 --> 00:24:50.412
  • When he sees this man from ethiopia coming, reading out
  • 00:24:50.412 --> 00:24:53.481
  • Loud from isaiah 53, he knew what to do.
  • 00:24:53.481 --> 00:24:56.685
  • He asked him, "hey, do you understand what you're reading?"
  • 00:24:56.685 --> 00:24:59.054
  • The guy says, "no.
  • 00:24:59.054 --> 00:25:00.689
  • How can i unless someone shows me the way?"
  • 00:25:00.689 --> 00:25:03.558
  • Philip then explain that this was about jesus.
  • 00:25:03.558 --> 00:25:06.561
  • This ethiopian man accepted christ, and he was baptized
  • 00:25:06.561 --> 00:25:10.532
  • Right there.
  • 00:25:10.532 --> 00:25:11.866
  • And then we read that he went on his way rejoicing.
  • 00:25:11.866 --> 00:25:15.036
  • Two powerful men, two affluent men came to hear the gospel.
  • 00:25:15.036 --> 00:25:20.075
  • One went away sad, the other went away glad.
  • 00:25:20.075 --> 00:25:23.712
  • It's really up to us.
  • 00:25:23.712 --> 00:25:25.580
  • Here's the offer of forgiveness.
  • 00:25:25.580 --> 00:25:28.016
  • Whatever it costs you, it's worth it.
  • 00:25:28.016 --> 00:25:30.919
  • The apostle paul said, "i look at all my accomplishments and
  • 00:25:30.919 --> 00:25:34.756
  • All the things i've done and these things are nothing
  • 00:25:34.756 --> 00:25:38.259
  • Compared to the excellency of knowing god."
  • 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:42.564
  • You ask, "greg, if i become a christian, will i have to give
  • 00:25:42.564 --> 00:25:45.066
  • Up anything?"
  • 00:25:45.066 --> 00:25:46.434
  • The answer to that question is: yes, you will.
  • 00:25:46.434 --> 00:25:49.204
  • You have to give up emptiness for fulfillment.
  • 00:25:49.204 --> 00:25:53.074
  • You'll have to give up hopelessness for hope.
  • 00:25:53.074 --> 00:25:56.778
  • You'll have to give up hell for heaven.
  • 00:25:56.778 --> 00:25:59.547
  • Sounds like a pretty good trade-in deal to me.
  • 00:25:59.547 --> 00:26:02.584
  • It's worth it.
  • 00:26:02.584 --> 00:26:03.952
  • So i determine how this will play out in my life.
  • 00:26:03.952 --> 00:26:07.255
  • So in closing, let me ask you this.
  • 00:26:07.255 --> 00:26:09.958
  • If this was your last opportunity to hear the gospel,
  • 00:26:09.958 --> 00:26:14.562
  • Are you gonna be like the rich young ruler and go away sad or
  • 00:26:14.562 --> 00:26:18.433
  • Are you gonna be like this other man i mentioned, the ethiopian,
  • 00:26:18.433 --> 00:26:22.270
  • And go away glad?
  • 00:26:22.270 --> 00:26:23.605
  • It's your choice.
  • 00:26:23.605 --> 00:26:24.973
  • What's holding you back?
  • 00:26:24.973 --> 00:26:26.341
  • Greg: hi, i'm greg laurie. i've got some good news for you.
  • 00:26:30.378 --> 00:26:33.081
  • God loves you, and god has a plan for your life.
  • 00:26:33.081 --> 00:26:36.918
  • Here's the problem: we're separated from god by our sin
  • 00:26:36.918 --> 00:26:40.388
  • Because we've all broken his commandments.
  • 00:26:40.388 --> 00:26:43.324
  • But the good news is that 2,000 years ago, god sent
  • 00:26:43.324 --> 00:26:46.795
  • His son, jesus christ, to die on the cross for your sin,
  • 00:26:46.795 --> 00:26:51.199
  • And then to rise again from the dead.
  • 00:26:51.199 --> 00:26:53.601
  • The same jesus who died and rose is alive and ready
  • 00:26:53.601 --> 00:26:56.905
  • To come into your life right now.
  • 00:26:56.905 --> 00:26:59.441
  • Would you like your sin forgiven?
  • 00:26:59.441 --> 00:27:01.509
  • Would you like to know that when you die you will go to heaven?
  • 00:27:01.509 --> 00:27:04.379
  • If so, pray this simple prayer with me right now.
  • 00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:07.682
  • Just say, "lord jesus, i know i'm a sinner, but i believe
  • 00:27:07.682 --> 00:27:11.386
  • You're the savior, who died on the cross for my sin.
  • 00:27:11.386 --> 00:27:14.856
  • I turn from my sin now, and i choose to follow you
  • 00:27:14.856 --> 00:27:18.359
  • From this moment forward."
  • 00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:20.729
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:27:20.729 --> 00:27:22.564
  • If you did, god in heaven has heard you.
  • 00:27:22.564 --> 00:27:25.934
  • Congratulations, and welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:27:25.934 --> 00:27:25.934