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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - Our Future Is In God's Hands

March 6, 2026 | 27:29

Greg Laurie - Our Future Is In God's Hands
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#Harvest #Pastors #Future #HandofGod #TrustGod #Christianity #LoveofGod #WalkwithGod #GregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Our Future Is In God's Hands | March 6, 2026
  • Greg laurie: see, we talk a lot about this life, we could call
  • 00:00:05.771 --> 00:00:07.773
  • It the "beforelife."
  • 00:00:07.906 --> 00:00:09.274
  • It's not really all that long compared to eternity, but
  • 00:00:09.408 --> 00:00:12.144
  • Eternity has no end whatsoever, and i ask you, where will you
  • 00:00:12.244 --> 00:00:13.312
  • Spend the afterlife?
  • 00:00:15.914 --> 00:00:17.282
  • Listen, you decide in this life where you will spend
  • 00:00:17.282 --> 00:00:19.618
  • The afterlife.
  • 00:00:19.618 --> 00:00:21.453
  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins. ♪♪
  • 00:00:24.690 --> 00:00:31.096
  • Greg: have you ever wondered how long you will live?
  • 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:39.638
  • I read an article the other day that said ai, artificial
  • 00:00:39.638 --> 00:00:43.042
  • Intelligence, now can tell us how long we will actually live.
  • 00:00:43.042 --> 00:00:48.514
  • They based that on your medical history, place of residence,
  • 00:00:48.514 --> 00:00:52.384
  • Working hours.
  • 00:00:52.384 --> 00:00:53.752
  • They'll tell you effectively the date of your death.
  • 00:00:53.752 --> 00:00:56.488
  • I'm not so sure i'd want to know that, actually.
  • 00:00:56.488 --> 00:01:00.125
  • And i read about this young millionaire who's trying to
  • 00:01:00.125 --> 00:01:04.296
  • Extend his life.
  • 00:01:04.296 --> 00:01:06.165
  • He's 45 years old, he's spending $2 million a year on
  • 00:01:06.165 --> 00:01:10.436
  • Anti-aging regimens.
  • 00:01:10.436 --> 00:01:12.438
  • He follows a strict diet, sleep, wind-down ritual, exercise
  • 00:01:12.438 --> 00:01:16.542
  • Regimen, and a round of daily supplements.
  • 00:01:16.542 --> 00:01:19.411
  • He undergoes countless medical tests, and his goal is to get to
  • 00:01:19.411 --> 00:01:24.149
  • The biological age of 18, then he will move back in with his
  • 00:01:24.149 --> 00:01:28.954
  • Parents again, and so.
  • 00:01:28.954 --> 00:01:30.422
  • No, and he actually said that he felt the length of his life was
  • 00:01:30.422 --> 00:01:35.961
  • Not up to god, it was up to him.
  • 00:01:35.961 --> 00:01:38.230
  • Okay, we'll see how that works out.
  • 00:01:38.230 --> 00:01:40.833
  • You know, the bible says it's appointed unto a man one to die
  • 00:01:40.833 --> 00:01:43.869
  • And then comes the judgment.
  • 00:01:43.869 --> 00:01:45.370
  • God has an appointed day for birth and death.
  • 00:01:45.370 --> 00:01:48.173
  • We have everything to do with that little dash in the middle,
  • 00:01:48.173 --> 00:01:51.743
  • But then there are people that break all the rules, they don't
  • 00:01:51.743 --> 00:01:55.214
  • Follow an exercise regimen.
  • 00:01:55.214 --> 00:01:57.349
  • Like pearl cantrell that made it to the ripe old age of
  • 00:01:57.349 --> 00:02:01.353
  • 105 years.
  • 00:02:01.353 --> 00:02:04.723
  • So, she was interviewed, and by the way, she also had 17
  • 00:02:04.723 --> 00:02:08.794
  • Children, and so she was asked how did you make it to
  • 00:02:08.794 --> 00:02:13.165
  • 105 years?
  • 00:02:13.165 --> 00:02:14.500
  • She said it's very simple, i eat bacon every day.
  • 00:02:14.500 --> 00:02:19.104
  • I like pearl cantrell.
  • 00:02:19.104 --> 00:02:22.141
  • Then i watched a news program about a guy who made it
  • 00:02:22.141 --> 00:02:24.743
  • Past 100.
  • 00:02:24.743 --> 00:02:26.111
  • They asked him what his secret was, he said i eat a hotdog
  • 00:02:26.111 --> 00:02:29.281
  • Every day.
  • 00:02:29.281 --> 00:02:30.616
  • So, you know, really, you can live a healthier life, i'm not
  • 00:02:30.616 --> 00:02:34.686
  • Advocating living an unhealthy life, but ultimately it's all in
  • 00:02:34.686 --> 00:02:38.924
  • The hands of god.
  • 00:02:38.924 --> 00:02:40.259
  • God determines the length of your life.
  • 00:02:40.259 --> 00:02:43.362
  • And here in psalm 31 verse 14 david writes, "i am trusting
  • 00:02:43.362 --> 00:02:48.367
  • You, o lord, saying, 'you are my god,' and my times are in
  • 00:02:48.367 --> 00:02:53.505
  • Your hands."
  • 00:02:53.505 --> 00:02:55.073
  • My times are in your hands.
  • 00:02:55.073 --> 00:02:57.442
  • There's another translation that puts it my future is in
  • 00:02:57.442 --> 00:03:01.580
  • Your hands.
  • 00:03:01.580 --> 00:03:02.915
  • And by the way, david did not write these words laying on the
  • 00:03:02.915 --> 00:03:06.618
  • Beach somewhere or having a nice little glass of iced tea.
  • 00:03:06.618 --> 00:03:10.956
  • No, he wrote this when he was on the run.
  • 00:03:10.956 --> 00:03:14.293
  • He was being hunted down by king saul, because after david had
  • 00:03:14.293 --> 00:03:19.364
  • Been anointed to be the next king of israel and saul realized
  • 00:03:19.364 --> 00:03:23.835
  • Who his successor was, he made it his mission in life to
  • 00:03:23.835 --> 00:03:27.573
  • Destroy this young man.
  • 00:03:27.573 --> 00:03:28.974
  • I mean, david was going from shepherd boy to the king of
  • 00:03:28.974 --> 00:03:33.679
  • Israel and it was not gonna be an easy road.
  • 00:03:33.679 --> 00:03:36.315
  • In fact, i think david might have thought more than once,
  • 00:03:36.315 --> 00:03:38.750
  • "you know what?
  • 00:03:38.750 --> 00:03:40.118
  • It actually was a lot better when i was just tending
  • 00:03:40.118 --> 00:03:41.720
  • The sheep.
  • 00:03:41.720 --> 00:03:43.055
  • Back then i knew who my real enemies were--lions, bears,
  • 00:03:43.055 --> 00:03:46.692
  • Ultimately goliath," but now he's dealing with a different
  • 00:03:46.692 --> 00:03:50.329
  • Kind of enemy.
  • 00:03:50.329 --> 00:03:51.663
  • He's entering into the world of politics and intrigue.
  • 00:03:51.663 --> 00:03:54.733
  • He's dealing with this man, king saul, that wants to destroy him,
  • 00:03:54.733 --> 00:04:00.005
  • And this is where he's writing these words.
  • 00:04:00.005 --> 00:04:02.507
  • At one point he said of his life, "there is but a step
  • 00:04:02.507 --> 00:04:05.978
  • Between me and death."
  • 00:04:05.978 --> 00:04:07.879
  • In other words, because of the fact that he was a fugitive and
  • 00:04:07.879 --> 00:04:12.117
  • Running for his life meant that he did not know if he would make
  • 00:04:12.117 --> 00:04:16.221
  • It another day.
  • 00:04:16.221 --> 00:04:17.589
  • But then he says, "but my times are in your hands."
  • 00:04:17.589 --> 00:04:22.060
  • You know, david was going to become not just a king but the
  • 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:25.097
  • Greatest king in the history of israel.
  • 00:04:25.097 --> 00:04:28.133
  • You know, they still speak of david in israel today.
  • 00:04:28.133 --> 00:04:31.303
  • The israeli flag, what is it?
  • 00:04:31.303 --> 00:04:32.971
  • The star of what? david.
  • 00:04:32.971 --> 00:04:35.374
  • One of their defense systems is called the sling
  • 00:04:35.374 --> 00:04:38.510
  • Of david.
  • 00:04:38.510 --> 00:04:39.878
  • There's a folk song that's still popular in israel today that
  • 00:04:39.878 --> 00:04:43.315
  • They teach the little children with the lyrics, "david, david,
  • 00:04:43.315 --> 00:04:47.019
  • Melekh yisra'el, hai, hai, veqayam," which means david is
  • 00:04:47.019 --> 00:04:51.390
  • The king in israel.
  • 00:04:51.390 --> 00:04:53.191
  • But the most significant thing about david is that he would be
  • 00:04:53.191 --> 00:04:56.962
  • In the royal line of the messiah.
  • 00:04:56.962 --> 00:05:00.432
  • And in fact, jesus christ would identify himself as the son
  • 00:05:00.432 --> 00:05:05.570
  • Of david.
  • 00:05:05.570 --> 00:05:07.105
  • The reason that mary and joseph went and had their baby in
  • 00:05:07.105 --> 00:05:11.743
  • Bethlehem after that decree was given by caesar was because it
  • 00:05:11.743 --> 00:05:16.381
  • Was the boyhood home of david, and that's who their genealogy
  • 00:05:16.381 --> 00:05:21.153
  • Traced back to.
  • 00:05:21.153 --> 00:05:22.954
  • And the bible uniquely describes david as a man after god's
  • 00:05:22.954 --> 00:05:27.359
  • Own heart.
  • 00:05:27.359 --> 00:05:28.727
  • Actually, that verse is found in acts chapter 13 where paul says,
  • 00:05:28.727 --> 00:05:33.565
  • Describing what happened to david, "god removed king saul,
  • 00:05:33.565 --> 00:05:37.169
  • And then the lord said, 'i have found david, the son of jesse, a
  • 00:05:37.169 --> 00:05:40.472
  • Man after my own heart.
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  • He will do everything i want him to do.'"
  • 00:05:42.674 --> 00:05:46.211
  • How could david be a man after god's own heart when he was
  • 00:05:46.211 --> 00:05:51.316
  • Guilty of gross sin?
  • 00:05:51.316 --> 00:05:53.418
  • We know david committed adultery with bathsheba.
  • 00:05:53.418 --> 00:05:56.555
  • We know he tried to cover it up.
  • 00:05:56.555 --> 00:05:58.590
  • We know ultimately he played a role in the murder of
  • 00:05:58.590 --> 00:06:02.728
  • Bathsheba's husband, uriah, yet god describes him as a man after
  • 00:06:02.728 --> 00:06:07.866
  • His own heart.
  • 00:06:07.866 --> 00:06:09.468
  • Well, the answer to that is found in the book of psalms.
  • 00:06:09.468 --> 00:06:12.671
  • You see, this is a man who had a heart toward god.
  • 00:06:12.671 --> 00:06:15.907
  • When he sinned, he owned it and he repented of his sin, and
  • 00:06:15.907 --> 00:06:21.246
  • Ultimately he did do everything god wanted him to do, not
  • 00:06:21.246 --> 00:06:26.151
  • Flawlessly but faithfully.
  • 00:06:26.151 --> 00:06:28.820
  • Now, he first came into the public consciousness when he
  • 00:06:28.820 --> 00:06:32.391
  • Took down the 9 foot 6 inch giant of a man known as goliath
  • 00:06:32.391 --> 00:06:38.330
  • There in the valley of elah.
  • 00:06:38.330 --> 00:06:40.665
  • Goliath had been coming down into the valley day after day
  • 00:06:40.665 --> 00:06:44.136
  • And challenging israel, saying, "send me a representative of
  • 00:06:44.136 --> 00:06:48.006
  • Your people and he'll fight me.
  • 00:06:48.006 --> 00:06:49.975
  • I represent the philistines, he'll represent israel.
  • 00:06:49.975 --> 00:06:53.245
  • Whoever wins this battle, that will be the winner."
  • 00:06:53.245 --> 00:06:56.181
  • Come on, no one would take him up on it.
  • 00:06:56.181 --> 00:06:58.717
  • Then goliath is coming up in the camp of israel, right in
  • 00:06:58.717 --> 00:07:02.854
  • There face.
  • 00:07:02.854 --> 00:07:04.222
  • He's getting in their grill, as they say, right?
  • 00:07:04.222 --> 00:07:07.159
  • "come on, who's gonna fight me?"
  • 00:07:07.159 --> 00:07:09.027
  • No one would take him on until david arrived on the scene
  • 00:07:09.027 --> 00:07:13.965
  • Delivering bread and cheese to his brothers, basically a pizza
  • 00:07:13.965 --> 00:07:18.970
  • Delivery, and there he heard the taunting of goliath and said,
  • 00:07:18.970 --> 00:07:23.575
  • "i'll fight him," and of course he defeated him, and on the
  • 00:07:23.575 --> 00:07:27.512
  • Heels of that he became a folk hero overnight and he gained a
  • 00:07:27.512 --> 00:07:31.817
  • Huge following.
  • 00:07:31.817 --> 00:07:33.185
  • In fact, there were 300 men that dedicated themselves to david to
  • 00:07:33.185 --> 00:07:37.656
  • Follow him wherever he went.
  • 00:07:37.656 --> 00:07:40.859
  • And it was during this time now as he's running from saul,
  • 00:07:40.859 --> 00:07:44.696
  • Because once he becomes the hero, in the eyes of saul, he
  • 00:07:44.696 --> 00:07:49.401
  • Becomes a big zero because he's a threat to the throne.
  • 00:07:49.401 --> 00:07:54.239
  • And now while he's running from saul, he writes psalm 31, he
  • 00:07:54.239 --> 00:07:59.945
  • Writes psalm 27, and he writes psalm 54.
  • 00:07:59.945 --> 00:08:05.450
  • Here's a little backdrop to the story now.
  • 00:08:05.450 --> 00:08:08.753
  • We see that the philistines are up to their old tricks.
  • 00:08:08.753 --> 00:08:12.023
  • They attacked a little border town of keilah, and the farmers
  • 00:08:12.023 --> 00:08:16.461
  • Had just harvested their crops, and the philistines stole
  • 00:08:16.461 --> 00:08:19.130
  • Their crops.
  • 00:08:19.130 --> 00:08:20.499
  • And so, these farmers of keilah went to david; even though saul
  • 00:08:20.499 --> 00:08:24.903
  • Was king, they knew saul would do nothing about it.
  • 00:08:24.903 --> 00:08:28.507
  • He was sort of a lame duck king at this point, but they knew
  • 00:08:28.507 --> 00:08:31.476
  • David was a mighty warrior who was fearless, and they said,
  • 00:08:31.476 --> 00:08:34.779
  • "david, would you help us?"
  • 00:08:34.779 --> 00:08:36.381
  • And david prayed about it, and the lord said to him, "go, take
  • 00:08:36.381 --> 00:08:40.652
  • These philistines on," and he went and conquered them
  • 00:08:40.652 --> 00:08:43.722
  • In battle.
  • 00:08:43.722 --> 00:08:45.090
  • And then writing of that in psalm 31:21, david said, "praise
  • 00:08:45.090 --> 00:08:49.294
  • To the lord, he's shown me the wonders of his love while i was
  • 00:08:49.294 --> 00:08:53.031
  • In a city under siege."
  • 00:08:53.031 --> 00:08:55.367
  • But now this attack comes not from the philistines, but
  • 00:08:55.367 --> 00:08:59.604
  • From saul.
  • 00:08:59.604 --> 00:09:01.206
  • Now, saul and david were both believers in one sense.
  • 00:09:01.206 --> 00:09:06.244
  • Saul seemed to be lapsed in his faith, but saul had a
  • 00:09:06.244 --> 00:09:09.080
  • Good beginning.
  • 00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:10.482
  • When god appointed him to be the first king over israel, we read
  • 00:09:10.482 --> 00:09:15.153
  • He was a humble man.
  • 00:09:15.153 --> 00:09:16.988
  • We read that the spirit of god came upon him, he had tremendous
  • 00:09:16.988 --> 00:09:21.059
  • Potential, but he messed up.
  • 00:09:21.059 --> 00:09:23.461
  • And in his own words and in an autobiographical statement, he
  • 00:09:23.461 --> 00:09:26.831
  • Said, "i have played the fool and i've erred exceedingly."
  • 00:09:26.831 --> 00:09:30.969
  • So, because of his pride and his disobedience, god rejected him
  • 00:09:30.969 --> 00:09:36.207
  • From being the king.
  • 00:09:36.207 --> 00:09:37.976
  • You know, in life it comes as a surprise sometimes to us as
  • 00:09:37.976 --> 00:09:41.780
  • Christians to find that we're opposed not only by the world
  • 00:09:41.780 --> 00:09:46.084
  • But sometimes by fellow believers, and it doesn't always
  • 00:09:46.084 --> 00:09:50.088
  • Make sense.
  • 00:09:50.088 --> 00:09:51.556
  • You know, some christian that you know or someone you had a
  • 00:09:51.556 --> 00:09:54.926
  • Friendship with may turn on you, they may criticize you, and
  • 00:09:54.926 --> 00:09:58.597
  • That's what's happening to david.
  • 00:09:58.597 --> 00:10:00.432
  • Because consider this, not only was david going to ascend to the
  • 00:10:00.432 --> 00:10:04.369
  • Throne, but he married saul's daughter, michal.
  • 00:10:04.369 --> 00:10:08.006
  • So, saul's his father-in-law who's trying to kill him.
  • 00:10:08.006 --> 00:10:11.943
  • So, you think you have in-law problems?
  • 00:10:11.943 --> 00:10:15.313
  • So, this is the world he's dealing with, so he writes down
  • 00:10:15.313 --> 00:10:19.050
  • These words in what i've described as david's diary, the
  • 00:10:19.050 --> 00:10:23.154
  • Book of psalms.
  • 00:10:23.154 --> 00:10:24.489
  • Again, psalm 31, look at verse 7, "i'll be glad and rejoice in
  • 00:10:24.489 --> 00:10:28.326
  • Your mercy, for you have considered my trouble.
  • 00:10:28.326 --> 00:10:31.997
  • You've known my soul in adversity."
  • 00:10:31.997 --> 00:10:35.066
  • Now, his army of 300 multiplies to 600, bringing me to my first
  • 00:10:35.066 --> 00:10:40.805
  • Point, sometimes the ones you help the most hurt you
  • 00:10:40.805 --> 00:10:44.876
  • The worst.
  • 00:10:44.876 --> 00:10:46.945
  • Sometimes the ones you help the most hurt you the worst.
  • 00:10:46.945 --> 00:10:50.949
  • It might be a fellow believer, as i mentioned earlier.
  • 00:10:50.949 --> 00:10:54.185
  • I've told you the story before of a crab fisherman who had a
  • 00:10:54.185 --> 00:10:57.422
  • Bucket full of crabs and he was walking along with them, and he
  • 00:10:57.422 --> 00:11:01.026
  • Didn't have a lid on it and someone noticed that.
  • 00:11:01.026 --> 00:11:02.727
  • He said, "hey, how do you keep those crabs in that bucket?
  • 00:11:02.727 --> 00:11:06.731
  • Don't they want to climb out?"
  • 00:11:06.731 --> 00:11:08.066
  • He says, "oh, yeah, there's no problem though, when one starts
  • 00:11:08.066 --> 00:11:11.036
  • To climb up the others reach up and pull him back down."
  • 00:11:11.036 --> 00:11:14.773
  • That's called jealousy, and sometimes it happens among
  • 00:11:14.773 --> 00:11:19.077
  • Believers, but here in the process or in the midst of all
  • 00:11:19.077 --> 00:11:22.514
  • This, david has faced betrayal by his father-in-law and
  • 00:11:22.514 --> 00:11:27.252
  • Ultimately by his own son, absalom.
  • 00:11:27.252 --> 00:11:29.821
  • Look, here's the bottom line, people are gonna hurt you in
  • 00:11:29.821 --> 00:11:33.291
  • Life, and the reality is you are going to hurt people in life
  • 00:11:33.291 --> 00:11:37.595
  • As well.
  • 00:11:37.595 --> 00:11:38.930
  • Sometimes you'll be hurt by people that you tried to help,
  • 00:11:38.930 --> 00:11:42.534
  • And the only way you can deal with this is keep short accounts
  • 00:11:42.534 --> 00:11:46.104
  • And forgive them.
  • 00:11:46.104 --> 00:11:47.706
  • Even if they don't deserve your forgiveness, forgive
  • 00:11:47.706 --> 00:11:50.942
  • Them anyway.
  • 00:11:50.942 --> 00:11:52.277
  • It'll help you sleep better at night.
  • 00:11:52.277 --> 00:11:55.246
  • Greg: you know, sometimes i hear people say,
  • 00:11:59.217 --> 00:12:01.453
  • "the reason i don't wanna become a christian is because i will no
  • 00:12:01.453 --> 00:12:04.756
  • Longer be in control of my own life."
  • 00:12:04.756 --> 00:12:07.025
  • Hey, everybody, i'm greg laurie talking to you about who's
  • 00:12:07.025 --> 00:12:10.729
  • Really in control here.
  • 00:12:10.729 --> 00:12:12.230
  • You know, actually, you're not in control of your own life if
  • 00:12:12.230 --> 00:12:15.166
  • You're not a christian.
  • 00:12:15.166 --> 00:12:16.501
  • I hate to break this to you, but someone else is in control,
  • 00:12:16.501 --> 00:12:19.771
  • And it's the devil.
  • 00:12:19.771 --> 00:12:21.406
  • The bible says that the devil, called the god of this world in
  • 00:12:21.406 --> 00:12:24.743
  • Scripture, blinds the minds of those that do not believe,
  • 00:12:24.743 --> 00:12:28.379
  • And holds people captive.
  • 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:29.914
  • In fact, we're told we should pray they would be taken out of
  • 00:12:29.914 --> 00:12:33.485
  • The captivity of the devil.
  • 00:12:33.485 --> 00:12:35.353
  • The reality is it's only when you become a christian that you
  • 00:12:35.353 --> 00:12:38.857
  • Are really set free.
  • 00:12:38.857 --> 00:12:41.192
  • So you may be saying you're in charge of your life and you say,
  • 00:12:41.192 --> 00:12:45.130
  • "i am the captain of my ship.
  • 00:12:45.130 --> 00:12:46.765
  • I'm the master of my destiny."
  • 00:12:46.765 --> 00:12:49.067
  • Actually, you aren't.
  • 00:12:49.067 --> 00:12:50.468
  • Let jesus be the captain of your ship,
  • 00:12:50.468 --> 00:12:52.904
  • And you'll experience the freedom you've wanted all along.
  • 00:12:52.904 --> 00:12:56.007
  • Greg: you know, we live in a culture that does not
  • 00:12:59.911 --> 00:13:01.713
  • Value forgiveness.
  • 00:13:01.713 --> 00:13:03.114
  • In fact, forgiveness is seen as a sign of weakness.
  • 00:13:03.114 --> 00:13:07.252
  • Our culture values vengeance and payback.
  • 00:13:07.252 --> 00:13:10.989
  • Many operate by the old adage "don't get mad, get even."
  • 00:13:10.989 --> 00:13:14.959
  • But forgiveness doesn't mean condoning bad behavior or
  • 00:13:14.959 --> 00:13:18.863
  • Dismissing it, it doesn't even suggest necessarily
  • 00:13:18.863 --> 00:13:23.835
  • Reconciliation, it just means you forgive.
  • 00:13:23.835 --> 00:13:28.606
  • You say, "well, no, shouldn't we be reconciled to people?"
  • 00:13:28.606 --> 00:13:30.942
  • Yes, if possible, but the bible says as much as it's possible
  • 00:13:30.942 --> 00:13:35.246
  • Live at peace with all men.
  • 00:13:35.246 --> 00:13:37.448
  • Some people, you can't live at peace with them,
  • 00:13:37.448 --> 00:13:40.285
  • But you can forgive them.
  • 00:13:40.285 --> 00:13:42.153
  • And they don't deserve your forgiveness, but you should
  • 00:13:42.153 --> 00:13:45.123
  • Forgive them for your own peace of mind.
  • 00:13:45.123 --> 00:13:49.093
  • Forgiving someone means you're surrendering the right to get
  • 00:13:49.093 --> 00:13:53.198
  • Even, not giving them what they deserve.
  • 00:13:53.198 --> 00:13:55.533
  • And that's another reason that david was a man after god's own
  • 00:13:55.533 --> 00:13:58.870
  • Heart, is he was a forgiver.
  • 00:13:58.870 --> 00:14:01.105
  • He had multiple opportunities to kill king saul and he would not
  • 00:14:01.105 --> 00:14:06.978
  • Raise his hand against him, even though saul was attempting to
  • 00:14:06.978 --> 00:14:11.349
  • Kill him.
  • 00:14:11.349 --> 00:14:12.717
  • And even more, he extended grace to the grandson of saul, the son
  • 00:14:12.717 --> 00:14:18.189
  • Of saul's son jonathan, and that boy's name was mephibosheth, and
  • 00:14:18.189 --> 00:14:23.995
  • Jonathan was a bright light in this dark place because jonathan
  • 00:14:23.995 --> 00:14:28.766
  • And david became close friends.
  • 00:14:28.766 --> 00:14:31.002
  • And even though jonathan was, really, the heir to the throne,
  • 00:14:31.002 --> 00:14:34.339
  • He understood that god had called david to that role,
  • 00:14:34.339 --> 00:14:37.342
  • Not him.
  • 00:14:37.342 --> 00:14:38.676
  • And so david forgave, and i think that's so important.
  • 00:14:38.676 --> 00:14:41.980
  • You know, sometimes you hear people say today i'm just--i'm
  • 00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:45.149
  • Mad at the church.
  • 00:14:45.149 --> 00:14:47.018
  • I'm mad at the church.
  • 00:14:47.018 --> 00:14:49.153
  • The church hurt me.
  • 00:14:49.153 --> 00:14:51.556
  • I've heard that far too many times, but to me that is an
  • 00:14:51.556 --> 00:14:55.693
  • Excuse, okay?
  • 00:14:55.693 --> 00:14:57.061
  • What do you mean the church hurt you?
  • 00:14:57.061 --> 00:14:59.397
  • "i went to church and i had a bad experience."
  • 00:14:59.397 --> 00:15:01.799
  • Okay, so now you're mad at the entire church of jesus christ
  • 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:06.504
  • Around the entire world because you had a single bad experience
  • 00:15:06.504 --> 00:15:11.075
  • In church?
  • 00:15:11.075 --> 00:15:12.443
  • Maybe it wasn't them, maybe it was you, i don't know.
  • 00:15:12.443 --> 00:15:15.580
  • Maybe you did have a bad experience, but now you're never
  • 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:18.683
  • Going to go to church again?
  • 00:15:18.683 --> 00:15:20.518
  • Are you sure that's not an excuse?
  • 00:15:20.518 --> 00:15:23.655
  • That would be like saying i went to a bad restaurant and i had a
  • 00:15:23.655 --> 00:15:26.190
  • Bad meal and i'm never eating in a restaurant again.
  • 00:15:26.190 --> 00:15:30.561
  • I don't think that's gonna happen.
  • 00:15:30.561 --> 00:15:31.930
  • Or going to a doctor, "i didn't like the way this doctor treated
  • 00:15:31.930 --> 00:15:35.500
  • Me," or, "he didn't do what he should have done properly so i'm
  • 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:38.336
  • Never going to a doctor again."
  • 00:15:38.336 --> 00:15:41.239
  • Listen to this, jesus christ established his church, and one
  • 00:15:41.239 --> 00:15:46.978
  • Day you're gonna need the church more than you realize.
  • 00:15:46.978 --> 00:15:52.083
  • I have a friend who lost his daughter in a tragic
  • 00:15:52.083 --> 00:15:55.954
  • Automobile accident.
  • 00:15:55.954 --> 00:15:58.156
  • Actually, his name is david.
  • 00:15:58.156 --> 00:16:00.458
  • We played tennis that morning, and his sweet little daughter
  • 00:16:00.458 --> 00:16:05.463
  • Named yvette was cheering me, not her father, on in the game.
  • 00:16:05.463 --> 00:16:11.002
  • She wanted me to win, i love that.
  • 00:16:11.002 --> 00:16:13.604
  • And then we were gonna have lunch that day and i got a call
  • 00:16:13.604 --> 00:16:17.408
  • Expecting him to tell me where were we gonna go to lunch and he
  • 00:16:17.408 --> 00:16:20.578
  • Gave me the tragic news.
  • 00:16:20.578 --> 00:16:21.913
  • There had been an automobile accident, he and his daughter
  • 00:16:21.913 --> 00:16:25.083
  • Were in a car and it flipped upside down.
  • 00:16:25.083 --> 00:16:27.919
  • So, i went to the hospital and i'm there in the room, and there
  • 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:32.490
  • He is, his daughter has died, and he doesn't know this yet.
  • 00:16:32.490 --> 00:16:37.128
  • And though i'm a pastor, i didn't know what to say to him
  • 00:16:37.128 --> 00:16:42.233
  • And i was just dumbfounded.
  • 00:16:42.233 --> 00:16:43.968
  • We were all so stunned, and someone got a call in to pastor
  • 00:16:43.968 --> 00:16:47.171
  • Chuck smith, and in comes chuck, and i remember what he was
  • 00:16:47.171 --> 00:16:51.409
  • Wearing, an old white t-shirt and white pants splattered with
  • 00:16:51.409 --> 00:16:55.847
  • Paint because he was painting that afternoon.
  • 00:16:55.847 --> 00:16:58.850
  • He left what he was doing, came straight to the hospital, and it
  • 00:16:58.850 --> 00:17:02.820
  • Was like a master class on what a pastor does.
  • 00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:07.825
  • He walked into that pain, he walked into that difficult
  • 00:17:07.825 --> 00:17:11.462
  • Situation, he sat down, and he was gonna be the one now to
  • 00:17:11.462 --> 00:17:15.233
  • Break the news to david that his daughter had died.
  • 00:17:15.233 --> 00:17:19.070
  • And chuck handled it so beautifully.
  • 00:17:19.070 --> 00:17:21.806
  • I remember he said, "you know, david, when jesus was in the
  • 00:17:21.806 --> 00:17:25.643
  • Garden of gethsemane he said to the father, 'father, if it's
  • 00:17:25.643 --> 00:17:29.580
  • Possible, let this cup pass for me.
  • 00:17:29.580 --> 00:17:32.050
  • Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.'
  • 00:17:32.050 --> 00:17:35.286
  • David, your daughter is with the lord right now," and then he
  • 00:17:35.286 --> 00:17:38.322
  • Just went on to minister to him.
  • 00:17:38.322 --> 00:17:39.757
  • Now, there's no easy way to deliver a message like that, but
  • 00:17:39.757 --> 00:17:42.960
  • He did it in such a compassionate way, and i
  • 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:46.130
  • Thought, "thank god for pastors," you know?
  • 00:17:46.130 --> 00:17:48.866
  • When you need one, you need one, and they come in representing
  • 00:17:48.866 --> 00:17:52.503
  • The lord.
  • 00:17:52.503 --> 00:17:53.838
  • It's so easy to critique pastors and critique leaders, and i'm
  • 00:17:53.838 --> 00:17:57.241
  • Not saying we shouldn't be critiqued, but i'm saying maybe
  • 00:17:57.241 --> 00:18:00.611
  • We don't realize the important role they play in the world
  • 00:18:00.611 --> 00:18:04.482
  • Today and we should thank god for them and pray for them
  • 00:18:04.482 --> 00:18:07.952
  • Instead of be so quick to criticize them.
  • 00:18:07.952 --> 00:18:13.891
  • Now, i know it sounds self-serving because i'm a
  • 00:18:13.891 --> 00:18:15.960
  • Pastor, but i'm not really saying this about me, i'm saying
  • 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:18.830
  • This about pastors in general.
  • 00:18:18.830 --> 00:18:20.932
  • I know so many pastors, and any pastor that messes up, you
  • 00:18:20.932 --> 00:18:25.369
  • Better believe it's gonna be a story in the news and you're
  • 00:18:25.369 --> 00:18:29.173
  • Gonna hear every detail about how that pastor failed, and it
  • 00:18:29.173 --> 00:18:32.643
  • Does happen, but you never hear about the thousands that
  • 00:18:32.643 --> 00:18:36.047
  • Faithfully serve god for their entire life.
  • 00:18:36.047 --> 00:18:39.183
  • That's not a sizzling headline.
  • 00:18:39.183 --> 00:18:42.120
  • We want to hear all the sordid details or all the horrible
  • 00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:46.924
  • Things they might have done, and i think because then
  • 00:18:46.924 --> 00:18:49.927
  • Nonbelievers can say, "oh, you see, they're all hypocrites.
  • 00:18:49.927 --> 00:18:52.930
  • I hate the church.
  • 00:18:52.930 --> 00:18:54.298
  • I'm against the church," and on and on it goes, but there's
  • 00:18:54.298 --> 00:18:57.101
  • Nothing like the church, and the church steps in where other
  • 00:18:57.101 --> 00:19:00.872
  • People don't.
  • 00:19:00.872 --> 00:19:02.240
  • We step into so many situations where there's crisis, where
  • 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:05.776
  • There's need, we're there on the ground, christian
  • 00:19:05.776 --> 00:19:08.346
  • Relief organizations.
  • 00:19:08.346 --> 00:19:10.148
  • I think of our church in maui, how we were able to immediately
  • 00:19:10.148 --> 00:19:13.751
  • Extend help due--because of the generosity of people around the
  • 00:19:13.751 --> 00:19:18.456
  • Country that gave to our harvest maui relief fund, and we were
  • 00:19:18.456 --> 00:19:22.560
  • Able to help them with food and with clothing and with house
  • 00:19:22.560 --> 00:19:25.630
  • Payments and the basic necessities of life.
  • 00:19:25.630 --> 00:19:29.000
  • So, that's so important, get over your anger and stop
  • 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:34.205
  • Criticizing the church and find out how you can be a vibrant
  • 00:19:34.205 --> 00:19:38.809
  • Part of it because god has established it.
  • 00:19:38.809 --> 00:19:42.813
  • All right, that's point number one.
  • 00:19:42.813 --> 00:19:47.218
  • Point number two, god is in control of our lives and he
  • 00:19:47.218 --> 00:19:49.854
  • Determines how long we'll live.
  • 00:19:49.854 --> 00:19:51.656
  • I raised this earlier.
  • 00:19:51.656 --> 00:19:53.191
  • Let me elaborate a few more moments.
  • 00:19:53.191 --> 00:19:55.626
  • He is in control of this.
  • 00:19:55.626 --> 00:19:57.395
  • Again, in psalm 31 david writes, "i'm trusting you, o lord,
  • 00:19:57.395 --> 00:20:01.465
  • Saying, 'my times are in your hands,'" or my future is in
  • 00:20:01.465 --> 00:20:05.970
  • Your hands.
  • 00:20:05.970 --> 00:20:07.338
  • So, stop worrying about how long you're going to live.
  • 00:20:07.338 --> 00:20:10.942
  • And some people are doing this today, "oh, how long am i
  • 00:20:10.942 --> 00:20:14.345
  • Gonna live?"
  • 00:20:14.345 --> 00:20:15.680
  • And so, you know what?
  • 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:17.048
  • All of your tofu and all of your kale, it's not going to extend
  • 00:20:17.048 --> 00:20:21.519
  • Your life so have a few pieces of bacon and enjoy yourself.
  • 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:27.091
  • It worked out for pearl cantrell, didn't it?
  • 00:20:27.091 --> 00:20:30.428
  • Jesus said this, "which of you by worrying can add a single
  • 00:20:30.428 --> 00:20:34.599
  • Hour to his life?"
  • 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:37.468
  • God has a future planned for you, because we all know
  • 00:20:37.468 --> 00:20:42.206
  • Jeremiah 29:11, "'i know the thoughts that i think toward
  • 00:20:42.206 --> 00:20:45.943
  • You,' says the lord, 'thoughts of peace, not of evil, to give
  • 00:20:45.943 --> 00:20:48.412
  • You a future and a hope.'"
  • 00:20:48.412 --> 00:20:50.448
  • So, never be afraid to commit an unknown future to a known god.
  • 00:20:50.448 --> 00:20:55.152
  • Point number three, get your eyes off of your problems and
  • 00:20:55.152 --> 00:20:59.190
  • Put them on god.
  • 00:20:59.190 --> 00:21:01.459
  • Get your eyes off of your problems and put them on god.
  • 00:21:01.459 --> 00:21:05.029
  • Look at psalm 31 verse 23, "o love the lord, all you his
  • 00:21:05.029 --> 00:21:10.301
  • Saints, for the lord preserves the faithful and fully repays
  • 00:21:10.301 --> 00:21:14.772
  • The proud person.
  • 00:21:14.772 --> 00:21:16.340
  • Be of good courage and he will strengthen your heart, all you
  • 00:21:16.340 --> 00:21:20.344
  • Who hope in the lord."
  • 00:21:20.344 --> 00:21:22.880
  • What is your hope in right now?
  • 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:25.049
  • Is your hope in money?
  • 00:21:25.049 --> 00:21:28.085
  • Is your hope in your career?
  • 00:21:28.085 --> 00:21:31.889
  • Is your hope even in your family, as good as a family
  • 00:21:31.889 --> 00:21:35.459
  • Can be?
  • 00:21:35.459 --> 00:21:36.827
  • Is your hope in a politician?
  • 00:21:36.827 --> 00:21:39.530
  • All of these will fail you in some way, shape, or form.
  • 00:21:39.530 --> 00:21:43.701
  • Put your hope in god, he will never fail you, right?
  • 00:21:43.701 --> 00:21:52.143
  • Psalm 119 verse 114 says, "you are my refuge and my shield.
  • 00:21:52.143 --> 00:21:58.249
  • Your word is my only source of hope," his word.
  • 00:21:58.249 --> 00:22:03.187
  • And then we read over in romans 15:4, "such things are written
  • 00:22:03.187 --> 00:22:07.191
  • In the scriptures long ago to give us hope and encouragement
  • 00:22:07.191 --> 00:22:12.363
  • As we wait patiently on the promise of god."
  • 00:22:12.363 --> 00:22:15.299
  • We need hope in this life, and i think that's so very important.
  • 00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:20.037
  • I love the statement of corrie ten boom, she said, and i quote,
  • 00:22:20.037 --> 00:22:23.641
  • "if you look at the world you'll be distressed, if you look
  • 00:22:23.641 --> 00:22:26.777
  • Within you'll be depressed, but if you look at god, you'll be
  • 00:22:26.777 --> 00:22:30.648
  • At rest."
  • 00:22:30.648 --> 00:22:32.350
  • So, let's wrap this up, the story of david.
  • 00:22:32.350 --> 00:22:35.920
  • During this time he wrote in psalm 27 as well as psalm 31,
  • 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:40.624
  • "wait on the lord; be of good courage, and he will strengthen
  • 00:22:40.624 --> 00:22:43.361
  • Your heart.
  • 00:22:43.361 --> 00:22:44.729
  • Wait, i say, on the lord."
  • 00:22:44.729 --> 00:22:47.865
  • See, david didn't know the rest of his story, and you don't know
  • 00:22:47.865 --> 00:22:51.669
  • The rest of your story either, do you?
  • 00:22:51.669 --> 00:22:54.505
  • So, don't worry about it because someone is writing your story
  • 00:22:54.505 --> 00:22:58.676
  • And it's not you, it's god, and you know what?
  • 00:22:58.676 --> 00:23:01.979
  • It's a good story, and when you get to the end of it, you're
  • 00:23:01.979 --> 00:23:05.483
  • Gonna look back and say, "lord, thank you that you were in
  • 00:23:05.483 --> 00:23:08.419
  • Control of my life."
  • 00:23:08.419 --> 00:23:10.888
  • Let me close with this, what or who is your hope in today?
  • 00:23:10.888 --> 00:23:15.693
  • And my question is, will that hope sustain you in your
  • 00:23:15.693 --> 00:23:20.431
  • Last hour?
  • 00:23:20.431 --> 00:23:21.999
  • Only god can do that for you.
  • 00:23:21.999 --> 00:23:24.201
  • Here's the good news, as a christian i am indestructible
  • 00:23:24.201 --> 00:23:28.706
  • Until god is done with me, but when god's done with me,
  • 00:23:28.706 --> 00:23:31.909
  • That's it.
  • 00:23:31.909 --> 00:23:33.277
  • I don't decide the length of my life through all of my little
  • 00:23:33.277 --> 00:23:36.480
  • Health regimens and vitamin supplements and all that.
  • 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:40.050
  • Maybe i'll live a healthier life, but ultimately that's in
  • 00:23:40.050 --> 00:23:42.186
  • The hands of god, you see?
  • 00:23:42.186 --> 00:23:44.755
  • So, but until the lord is done, i don't have to worry about any
  • 00:23:44.755 --> 00:23:49.560
  • Threat against my life.
  • 00:23:49.560 --> 00:23:52.163
  • Jesus said, "you'll drink of any deadly poison, it will not
  • 00:23:52.163 --> 00:23:54.999
  • Harm you.
  • 00:23:54.999 --> 00:23:56.333
  • Venomous snakes will bite you and you will not die," there in
  • 00:23:56.333 --> 00:23:59.303
  • Mark 16.
  • 00:23:59.303 --> 00:24:00.671
  • Now, some people have misinterpreted this and they
  • 00:24:00.671 --> 00:24:02.339
  • Think it's a good idea to hand rattlesnakes around in a
  • 00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:05.242
  • Church service.
  • 00:24:05.242 --> 00:24:06.577
  • Clearly this is not what jesus was advocating.
  • 00:24:06.577 --> 00:24:09.914
  • That's not trusting the lord, that's testing the lord and
  • 00:24:09.914 --> 00:24:12.683
  • That's plain loco, okay?
  • 00:24:12.683 --> 00:24:15.920
  • But what he is saying is that if you were bitten by a venomous
  • 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:18.856
  • Snake and it wasn't your time to go, you would survive it.
  • 00:24:18.856 --> 00:24:21.926
  • And in fact, this did happen to paul the apostle when he was
  • 00:24:21.926 --> 00:24:25.296
  • Shipwrecked on an island and he was warming himself by the fire,
  • 00:24:25.296 --> 00:24:28.999
  • And a venomous snake bit him and he just shook it off into
  • 00:24:28.999 --> 00:24:31.101
  • The fire because it wasn't his time.
  • 00:24:31.101 --> 00:24:32.903
  • But yes, his time did come, and paul was martyred for the faith,
  • 00:24:32.903 --> 00:24:37.908
  • Ultimately, but god had a plan until that time for his life and
  • 00:24:37.908 --> 00:24:42.746
  • Then we go into his presence in heaven.
  • 00:24:42.746 --> 00:24:45.015
  • So, stop worrying about these things and focus on living your
  • 00:24:45.015 --> 00:24:49.053
  • Life to the fullest for the glory of god.
  • 00:24:49.053 --> 00:24:53.057
  • See every day for what it is, it's a gift, it's a treasure,
  • 00:24:53.057 --> 00:24:58.062
  • Don't waste it.
  • 00:24:58.062 --> 00:24:59.730
  • I love what moses wrote, "lord, help me to number my days that i
  • 00:24:59.730 --> 00:25:03.634
  • May apply my heart to wisdom."
  • 00:25:03.634 --> 00:25:07.171
  • Here's the thing we should be more focused on: not how long
  • 00:25:07.171 --> 00:25:10.574
  • Will i live in this life, but rather where will i spend
  • 00:25:10.574 --> 00:25:13.110
  • The afterlife?
  • 00:25:13.110 --> 00:25:15.679
  • See, we talk a lot about this life, we could call it the
  • 00:25:15.679 --> 00:25:18.182
  • "beforelife," it's not really all that long compared to
  • 00:25:18.182 --> 00:25:20.985
  • Eternity, but eternity has no end whatsoever, and i ask you,
  • 00:25:20.985 --> 00:25:25.222
  • Where will you spend the afterlife?
  • 00:25:25.222 --> 00:25:26.991
  • Listen, you decide in this life where you will spend
  • 00:25:26.991 --> 00:25:29.660
  • The afterlife.
  • 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:32.263
  • Greg: have you ever heard the term "gospel" before?
  • 00:25:36.367 --> 00:25:38.602
  • It means good news, but before i can fully appreciate the good
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  • News, i have to know the bad news.
  • 00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:45.376
  • You and i, we're sinners, which means we've broken god's
  • 00:25:45.376 --> 00:25:48.612
  • Commandments, we've fallen short of his standards.
  • 00:25:48.612 --> 00:25:51.148
  • Good news, jesus christ died in our place.
  • 00:25:51.148 --> 00:25:54.451
  • He came to be a debt he did not owe because we owed a debt we
  • 00:25:54.451 --> 00:25:58.255
  • Could not pay.
  • 00:25:58.255 --> 00:25:59.623
  • If you will turn from your sin and put your faith in jesus
  • 00:25:59.623 --> 00:26:03.193
  • Christ, you can be forgiven and know that you'll go to heaven
  • 00:26:03.193 --> 00:26:06.463
  • When you die and find the meaning of life right here on
  • 00:26:06.463 --> 00:26:10.167
  • Planet earth.
  • 00:26:10.167 --> 00:26:11.502
  • You just call out to jesus and say, "forgive me, i want to have
  • 00:26:11.502 --> 00:26:15.439
  • A relationship with you."
  • 00:26:15.439 --> 00:26:18.409
  • I would like to send you a bible at no charge to help you get
  • 00:26:18.409 --> 00:26:22.046
  • Started in your new relationship with christ.
  • 00:26:22.046 --> 00:26:26.784
  • Greg: hey, greg laurie here. maybe you've seen this.
  • 00:26:30.888 --> 00:26:33.057
  • This is called the "new believer's bible," and a number
  • 00:26:33.057 --> 00:26:36.393
  • Of years ago, i wanted to do an edition of scripture with
  • 00:26:36.393 --> 00:26:41.265
  • Commentary that would make the bible more accessible to someone
  • 00:26:41.265 --> 00:26:46.136
  • Who's never read it before, like a new believer.
  • 00:26:46.136 --> 00:26:49.173
  • But today we live, of course, in a digital world,
  • 00:26:49.173 --> 00:26:52.977
  • So we've taken the curriculum from the "new believer's bible"
  • 00:26:52.977 --> 00:26:56.280
  • And we created this online community of people just like
  • 00:26:56.280 --> 00:26:59.750
  • You who are studying the word of god together.
  • 00:26:59.750 --> 00:27:03.187
  • By the way, this is free of charge, you can learn at
  • 00:27:03.187 --> 00:27:05.956
  • Your own pace, but most importantly, you'll experience
  • 00:27:05.956 --> 00:27:09.660
  • The power of god's word to transform your life.
  • 00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:13.297
  • The bible says of itself it's alive and powerful and sharper
  • 00:27:13.297 --> 00:27:18.135
  • Than any two-edged sword, so i hope you'll take your phone
  • 00:27:18.135 --> 00:27:22.039
  • Right now and join us online at harvest discipleship.
  • 00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:26.343
  • Let's learn and grow together.
  • 00:27:26.343 --> 00:27:28.812