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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - Reflecting On The Past, Preparing For The Future

April 22, 2026 | 27:29

Greg Laurie - Reflecting On The Past, Preparing For The Future
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#Past #Preparation #Future #Faith #Faithfulness #Belief #Actions #TrustGod #Believe #Church #BodyofChrist #Failure #WordofGod #VoiceofGod #Calling #Doubt #Unbelief #Prayer #SeekGod #GregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Reflecting On The Past, Preparing For The Future | April 22, 2026
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Greg laurie: see, faith is not mere intellectual assent.
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  • It's also action.
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  • Faith is belief plus action.
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  • It's believing god even when the odds are against you.
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  • It's taking risks.
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  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins. ♪
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  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins. ♪♪
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  • Greg: as i look back over the years, two words sort of pop out
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  • To me.
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  • One is faithfulness and the other is faith.
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  • On the part of god, it's been his faithfulness to us.
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  • And on our part, it's been a willingness to take steps
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  • Of faith.
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  • First, there's the faithfulness of god.
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  • Over the years, we've weathered mighty storms, we've withstood
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  • Withering attacks from the enemy.
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  • But as jesus promised to the church, "you are the church and
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  • The gates of hell shall not prevail against you."
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  • Now, have you ever thought about the context of that?
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  • The gates of hell.
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  • Gates don't attack you.
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  • The idea is you're storming an enemy fortress.
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  • Think of a castle that belongs to the enemy.
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  • You're storming the castle and the gates won't stop you.
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  • So, that's what he's saying.
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  • They won't prevail against you as we're advancing and moving
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  • Forward as followers of jesus christ.
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  • But god has been faithful to us, to protect us, and to guide us,
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  • And to provide for us each step of the way.
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  • 1 thessalonians 3:3 says, "the lord is faithful, he will
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  • Establish you and guard you against the evil one."
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  • And god's done that for us.
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  • Lamentations 3:22.
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  • "the steadfast love of the lord never ceases; his mercies never
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  • Come to an end.
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  • Great is your faithfulness."
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  • And we have found that to be true.
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  • And god called us to start this church and we've watched it grow
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  • And we give him the glory.
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  • But that brings us to the faith part.
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  • If i were to sum up what we've done all these years in one
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  • Word, it would be: faith.
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  • We took steps of faith.
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  • You see, faith has seen something before it is
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  • Actually happened.
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  • It's been said, "faith builds a bridge from this world to
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  • The next."
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  • I don't claim any special revelations from god as to how
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  • This all came about.
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  • I never had a detailed blueprint of where it was going to lead.
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  • But i can say, along with scripture, as it says in psalm
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  • 16:5, "the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; i have a
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  • Beautiful inheritance."
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  • Does that make sense?
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  • The lines have fallen in pleasant places.
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  • Sometimes in life, especially when you're younger, things
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  • Happen to you that make no sense.
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  • "why did god let this happen?"
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  • "why didn't god let that happen?"
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  • "this doesn't make sense to me now."
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  • But then you know what 20-20 hindsight is as you get further
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  • Down life's road.
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  • I mean, really further down life's road, way down in the
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  • Shadow where the light isn't.
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  • And then you look back on your life, you can see that god has
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  • In--been in control all the time and the lines have fallen for
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  • You in pleasant places and indeed, romans 8:28, "it's been
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  • True for you that all things have worked together for good to
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  • Those that love god."
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  • And so, what is faith?
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  • We say, "use faith."
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  • "have faith."
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  • "apply faith."
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  • Well, what is faith?
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  • According to the bible, hebrews 11:1, "faith is the substance of
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  • Things hoped for, it's the evidence of things not seen."
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  • Or as the new living translation puts it, "what is faith?
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  • It's a confident assurance that what we hope for is going
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  • To happen.
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  • It's the evidence of things we cannot yet see."
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  • Augustine said, quote, "faith is to believe what we do not see.
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  • And the reward of this faith is to see what we believe."
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  • End quote.
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  • See, faith is not mere intellectual assent.
  • 00:04:10.816 --> 00:04:13.252
  • It's also action.
  • 00:04:13.252 --> 00:04:14.953
  • Faith is belief plus action.
  • 00:04:14.953 --> 00:04:17.923
  • It's believing god even when the odds are against you.
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  • It's taking risks.
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  • C.h. spurgeon,
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  • The great british preacher said, quote, "believing
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  • And obeying always run side by side."
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  • And that's how it goes.
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  • You know, you're willing to just see what the lord will do.
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  • And where do we get faith?
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  • The bible says, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word
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  • Of god."
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  • So, when i read the bible, when i study scripture, when i
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  • Memorize the words of this book, my faith will get stronger.
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  • And that is why we have always given place to bible study in
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  • All of our services.
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  • This is why we always say, "bring your bible with you."
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  • And to me, one of the most beautiful sounds is the rustling
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  • Of bible pages when i will say to you, or whoever is speaking,
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  • Will say, "turn in your bible to."
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  • It's not as exciting to hear the swipe of a screen, but it's okay
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  • Because i know some of you are reading the bible on your phone
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  • Or your tablet, and that's all good, but i think you all should
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  • Get a proper bible, though.
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  • You should.
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  • And carry it.
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  • But, you know, as long as you're opening up the word of god
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  • And letting it speak to you, that's where your faith is
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  • Going to grow.
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  • We've always believed that everything should focus
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  • Around scripture.
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  • Therefore, we offer theology without apology.
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  • And people will say, "well, you know, you can't teach these
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  • Bible studies and go too in depth.
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  • People won't listen to--stay for that or they"--maybe they won't,
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  • But i think people develop an appetite for what you feed them.
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  • And i think if you are raised on junk food, you're gonna want
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  • Junk food.
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  • But if you have good nutritious food put in front of you, you'll
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  • Long for it, you'll desire it.
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  • And we believe that god's word is powerful.
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  • I don't have to make it relevant.
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  • The bible is relevant.
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  • I just need to proclaim it and let god's word do what it does
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  • Best: change lives as it is moved in our hearts by the
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  • Holy spirit.
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  • So, we built our ministry on the principles of acts 2:42 to 47.
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  • And there we read, "they continued steadfastly in the
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  • Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and the breaking of
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  • Bread and prayers.
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  • Continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking
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  • Bread from house to house, praising god and having favor
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  • With all the people.
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  • And the lord added to the church daily those who were
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  • Being saved."
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  • So, we've summed it up in an acronym.
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  • Well.
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  • W-e-l-l.
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  • The early church, our church, operates off of this acronym.
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  • W, they were a worshiping church.
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  • We've always given an important place to worship in
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  • Our services.
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  • Starting with literally me standing up with a microphone,
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  • Leading worship a cappella.
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  • How sad that was.
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  • But we had a limited budget.
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  • Okay, so.
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  • So, then we moved on to guitars and bands and all the great
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  • Songs that have come throughout the years.
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  • So, you know, worshiping the lord.
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  • A worshiping church.
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  • But then e stands for an evangelistic church.
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  • This is so important because some churches grow by church
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  • Trends for growth.
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  • In other words, "we don't like this church anymore.
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  • We're coming to your church."
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  • Okay, fine.
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  • But i think the best kind of growth in a church is
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  • Evangelistic growth.
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  • And by that i mean, people coming to christ in the church
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  • Because--because new believers are the lifeblood of the church.
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  • You show me a church that doesn't have a constant flow of
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  • New believers coming in and i will show you a church that is
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  • Beginning to stagnate.
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  • So, we have a choice before us, we can evangelize or we
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  • Can fossilize.
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  • I prefer the former over the latter.
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  • So, we've always given prominence to that.
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  • And as you know, we give invitations in our services all
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  • The time for people to come to christ.
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  • And they do.
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  • So, an evangelistic church.
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  • Worshiping, w. e, evangelistic.
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  • L number one, a learning church.
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  • That's why we always study the bible together.
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  • And lastly l, a loving church.
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  • So, it's been done by faith.
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  • And you know what, faith can make the difference between
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  • Something happening or not happening.
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  • God chooses to work when we apply our faith in him.
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  • When the lord directed the children of israel to cross over
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  • The jordan river, they had to first get their feet wet.
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  • They had to take that step of faith.
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  • They didn't part first.
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  • First they got in and then the waters parted for them.
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  • When fire came down to mount carmel, when elijah was facing
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  • Off all of the prophets of baal, first, elijah had to pray.
  • 00:09:08.346 --> 00:09:12.851
  • Jesus could have healed everyone everywhere with just a word.
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  • Imagine.
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  • Jesus could have said, "i'm jesus and on the count of three,
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  • Everyone is healed."
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  • And they would have been.
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  • But that's not how he worked, is it?
  • 00:09:23.562 --> 00:09:25.163
  • He waited for someone to call out to him.
  • 00:09:25.163 --> 00:09:27.365
  • Like blind bartimaeus had heard jesus was coming up the road and
  • 00:09:27.365 --> 00:09:31.236
  • He said, "son of david, have mercy on me."
  • 00:09:31.236 --> 00:09:33.972
  • They said, "shh, quiet down, you're making too much noise."
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  • "son of david, have mercy on me."
  • 00:09:37.142 --> 00:09:39.911
  • And jesus stopped and heal him.
  • 00:09:39.911 --> 00:09:41.713
  • Or that woman who had that medical problem where she
  • 00:09:41.713 --> 00:09:44.916
  • Continually was bleeding and jesus touched her--or, actually,
  • 00:09:44.916 --> 00:09:49.020
  • Excuse me, she touched jesus and she was healed.
  • 00:09:49.020 --> 00:09:51.489
  • Both instances of faith being applied.
  • 00:09:51.489 --> 00:09:54.960
  • See, when we don't reach out to god in faith, not much happens.
  • 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:59.097
  • It's been said, "some people are setting the world on fire while
  • 00:09:59.097 --> 00:10:02.634
  • Others are still looking for a match."
  • 00:10:02.634 --> 00:10:05.837
  • That's a good quote, isn't it?
  • 00:10:05.837 --> 00:10:07.238
  • That's not original to me.
  • 00:10:07.238 --> 00:10:09.307
  • Some people are setting the world on fire while others are
  • 00:10:09.307 --> 00:10:13.111
  • Looking for a match.
  • 00:10:13.111 --> 00:10:14.779
  • So, it's a willingness to take steps of faith.
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  • Listen.
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  • It's a willingness to even potentially fail.
  • 00:10:18.516 --> 00:10:21.953
  • But i would rather try and fail than never try at all.
  • 00:10:21.953 --> 00:10:27.792
  • Greg: this is a loaf of bread given to me by my friend mark at
  • 00:10:30.629 --> 00:10:35.066
  • Moon goat coffee.
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  • I love bread.
  • 00:10:36.401 --> 00:10:37.969
  • The bible talks a lot about bread, doesn't it?
  • 00:10:37.969 --> 00:10:40.105
  • Jesus said, "give us this day our daily bread."
  • 00:10:40.105 --> 00:10:43.408
  • You know, it's a funny thing.
  • 00:10:43.408 --> 00:10:44.776
  • Back in the '60s, bread was an expression for money.
  • 00:10:44.776 --> 00:10:48.647
  • You'd say something like, "hey man, do you got any bread
  • 00:10:48.647 --> 00:10:51.750
  • For me?"
  • 00:10:51.750 --> 00:10:53.084
  • You know, so, when the bible speaks of bread, it is speaking
  • 00:10:53.084 --> 00:10:55.720
  • Of actual bread because it was a staple in a first century diet.
  • 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:59.724
  • But it's just talking about god's provision in general.
  • 00:10:59.724 --> 00:11:02.694
  • "give us this day our daily bread."
  • 00:11:02.694 --> 00:11:05.597
  • It's a good reminder that god wants to provide for you
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  • Every day.
  • 00:11:08.466 --> 00:11:09.834
  • So, when the lord teaches us in the lord's prayer to pray, "our
  • 00:11:09.834 --> 00:11:12.237
  • Father, who art in heaven, hallowed would be your name.
  • 00:11:12.237 --> 00:11:14.773
  • Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth, as it is
  • 00:11:14.773 --> 00:11:18.009
  • In heaven.
  • 00:11:18.009 --> 00:11:19.344
  • Give us this day our daily bread," what it is saying is,
  • 00:11:19.344 --> 00:11:21.780
  • "every day, go to the lord and ask him for his provision."
  • 00:11:21.780 --> 00:11:25.884
  • But it's also an acknowledgment that everything that you have is
  • 00:11:25.884 --> 00:11:29.587
  • Provided for you by god.
  • 00:11:29.587 --> 00:11:31.690
  • Your job, your income, the phone you're watching me on or ipad
  • 00:11:31.690 --> 00:11:37.228
  • Or computer.
  • 00:11:37.228 --> 00:11:38.563
  • That's a gift from god.
  • 00:11:38.563 --> 00:11:39.931
  • Everything you have.
  • 00:11:39.931 --> 00:11:41.266
  • Hey, the breath you're drawing in your lungs, the beat of
  • 00:11:41.266 --> 00:11:42.801
  • Your heart.
  • 00:11:42.801 --> 00:11:44.169
  • It's a gift.
  • 00:11:44.169 --> 00:11:45.503
  • So, when i pray, "give me this day my daily bread," i'm
  • 00:11:45.503 --> 00:11:47.806
  • Acknowledging everything that i have comes from god, but i'm
  • 00:11:47.806 --> 00:11:50.942
  • Also acknowledging i need god's help in the future.
  • 00:11:50.942 --> 00:11:53.978
  • He wants to provide for you.
  • 00:11:53.978 --> 00:11:55.914
  • He wants to give you the things that you need in life.
  • 00:11:55.914 --> 00:11:58.750
  • So, go ahead and ask him for it because the bible says, "you
  • 00:11:58.750 --> 00:12:02.287
  • Have not because you ask not."
  • 00:12:02.287 --> 00:12:05.090
  • Greg: so, let's come to our text now.
  • 00:12:08.460 --> 00:12:10.028
  • It's matthew 14.
  • 00:12:10.028 --> 00:12:11.996
  • The backdrop is the disciples are crossing over the sea
  • 00:12:11.996 --> 00:12:15.100
  • Of galilee.
  • 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:16.468
  • A great storm comes and they're panicking.
  • 00:12:16.468 --> 00:12:20.205
  • They think they're going to die.
  • 00:12:20.205 --> 00:12:22.140
  • And then they turn and here comes jesus walking on the water
  • 00:12:22.140 --> 00:12:26.211
  • And he says to them, "take courage.
  • 00:12:26.211 --> 00:12:28.546
  • It is me, don't be afraid."
  • 00:12:28.546 --> 00:12:30.915
  • And our story picks up there, matthew 14, verse 28.
  • 00:12:30.915 --> 00:12:34.586
  • "and peter answered him and said, 'lord, if it's you,
  • 00:12:34.586 --> 00:12:36.855
  • Command me to come to you on the water.'
  • 00:12:36.855 --> 00:12:39.958
  • So jesus said, 'come.'
  • 00:12:39.958 --> 00:12:42.393
  • And when peter had come down and got out of the boat, he walked
  • 00:12:42.393 --> 00:12:45.897
  • On the water to go to jesus.
  • 00:12:45.897 --> 00:12:48.500
  • But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid,
  • 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:52.737
  • And beginning to sink he cried out, 'lord, save me.'
  • 00:12:52.737 --> 00:12:56.574
  • And immediately jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and
  • 00:12:56.574 --> 00:13:00.411
  • Said to him, 'o you of little faith, why did you doubt?'"
  • 00:13:00.411 --> 00:13:05.116
  • Wow.
  • 00:13:05.116 --> 00:13:06.451
  • Don't you love that story?
  • 00:13:06.451 --> 00:13:08.419
  • What an amazing step of faith this was on the part of peter.
  • 00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:11.422
  • It could seem presumptuous.
  • 00:13:11.422 --> 00:13:13.958
  • "lord, if it's you, tell me to come."
  • 00:13:13.958 --> 00:13:15.393
  • But peter did wait for permission.
  • 00:13:15.393 --> 00:13:17.929
  • Jesus said, "okay, come."
  • 00:13:17.929 --> 00:13:20.098
  • And here's peter doing what no one else did.
  • 00:13:20.098 --> 00:13:22.167
  • You know, sometimes peter--people criticize peter.
  • 00:13:22.167 --> 00:13:25.170
  • He was rather outspoken.
  • 00:13:25.170 --> 00:13:27.272
  • He did put his foot in his mouth more than once.
  • 00:13:27.272 --> 00:13:30.308
  • A lot of ink is given in the gospels to peter's faux pas
  • 00:13:30.308 --> 00:13:34.078
  • And shortcomings.
  • 00:13:34.078 --> 00:13:35.780
  • But let's not forget that peter was the only one of the
  • 00:13:35.780 --> 00:13:39.717
  • Disciples that was willing to put it all on the line and walk
  • 00:13:39.717 --> 00:13:43.354
  • On the water to jesus.
  • 00:13:43.354 --> 00:13:46.224
  • It's been said that faith is a refusal to panic.
  • 00:13:46.224 --> 00:13:50.595
  • And so he said, "let's just--let's see if this
  • 00:13:50.595 --> 00:13:52.664
  • Will work."
  • 00:13:52.664 --> 00:13:54.032
  • He had no safety net.
  • 00:13:54.032 --> 00:13:55.366
  • Now, peter was not wearing those little water wings.
  • 00:13:55.366 --> 00:13:57.502
  • You know those things?
  • 00:13:57.502 --> 00:13:58.837
  • Little inflatable things.
  • 00:13:58.837 --> 00:14:00.205
  • I still wear them today.
  • 00:14:00.205 --> 00:14:02.207
  • People make fun of me, but i like them.
  • 00:14:02.207 --> 00:14:04.042
  • No, i don't.
  • 00:14:04.042 --> 00:14:05.410
  • But--in fact, when my boys were growing up, i didn't want them
  • 00:14:05.410 --> 00:14:07.679
  • To wear those water wings.
  • 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:09.013
  • I wanted them to learn how to swim instead.
  • 00:14:09.013 --> 00:14:11.216
  • But no water wings, no backup plan.
  • 00:14:11.216 --> 00:14:13.952
  • It was just him and jesus and there's no better place to be.
  • 00:14:13.952 --> 00:14:17.222
  • I'd rather be in a storm with jesus than anywhere else
  • 00:14:17.222 --> 00:14:20.225
  • Without him.
  • 00:14:20.225 --> 00:14:21.893
  • Maybe i'm talking to someone right now that is in a situation
  • 00:14:21.893 --> 00:14:25.563
  • Where you have no safety net.
  • 00:14:25.563 --> 00:14:27.966
  • You have no backup plan.
  • 00:14:27.966 --> 00:14:30.201
  • It's either god or nothing, okay?
  • 00:14:30.201 --> 00:14:32.737
  • Is that the worst place to be?
  • 00:14:32.737 --> 00:14:34.939
  • God's gonna be faithful.
  • 00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:36.674
  • God will come through for you.
  • 00:14:36.674 --> 00:14:38.409
  • And that's exactly where peter was.
  • 00:14:38.409 --> 00:14:41.112
  • He asked for permission.
  • 00:14:41.112 --> 00:14:42.480
  • The lord says yes and peter begins to walk on the water.
  • 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:47.318
  • Where did this faith come from?
  • 00:14:47.318 --> 00:14:48.686
  • From the word of jesus.
  • 00:14:48.686 --> 00:14:50.021
  • Jesus said, "come."
  • 00:14:50.021 --> 00:14:51.389
  • "faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of god."
  • 00:14:51.389 --> 00:14:53.524
  • I can think of many times over the years where i've heard the
  • 00:14:53.524 --> 00:14:55.793
  • Lord say to me, "come."
  • 00:14:55.793 --> 00:14:57.595
  • Now, i've never heard the audible voice of god.
  • 00:14:57.595 --> 00:15:00.098
  • And to be honest, i'm suspicious of people who say they have.
  • 00:15:00.098 --> 00:15:04.369
  • But i have had the lord direct me very clearly.
  • 00:15:04.369 --> 00:15:07.438
  • And i can think of certain moments in my life where i knew
  • 00:15:07.438 --> 00:15:10.575
  • It was the will of god for me to do a certain thing.
  • 00:15:10.575 --> 00:15:14.245
  • But there's always--was risk involved in it.
  • 00:15:14.245 --> 00:15:17.215
  • When we moved from that little church we were meeting in, a
  • 00:15:17.215 --> 00:15:20.652
  • Little episcopalian church, to our own building, that was a
  • 00:15:20.652 --> 00:15:24.389
  • Huge step of faith.
  • 00:15:24.389 --> 00:15:25.757
  • And when we bought the piece of land, we were so young and it
  • 00:15:25.757 --> 00:15:30.128
  • Was so expensive and yet we took that step of faith.
  • 00:15:30.128 --> 00:15:33.731
  • The first time we went to pacific amphitheater for our
  • 00:15:33.731 --> 00:15:37.201
  • First crusade, big step of faith.
  • 00:15:37.201 --> 00:15:39.504
  • Then we went to angel stadium, another big step of faith.
  • 00:15:39.504 --> 00:15:42.573
  • Starting to harvest orange county, another big step
  • 00:15:42.573 --> 00:15:46.144
  • Of faith.
  • 00:15:46.144 --> 00:15:47.478
  • When we booked at&t stadium, gigantic venue, seated over
  • 00:15:47.478 --> 00:15:51.582
  • 100,000, that could have been the biggest flop of all time.
  • 00:15:51.582 --> 00:15:55.687
  • But amazingly, every seat was filled and there was overflow
  • 00:15:55.687 --> 00:15:59.257
  • And another 250,000 people watching around the country and
  • 00:15:59.257 --> 00:16:04.062
  • Around the world.
  • 00:16:04.062 --> 00:16:05.430
  • So, took steps of faith.
  • 00:16:05.430 --> 00:16:07.365
  • And it's just looking to jesus.
  • 00:16:07.365 --> 00:16:09.100
  • And that's the key.
  • 00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:10.435
  • You look to jesus.
  • 00:16:10.435 --> 00:16:12.036
  • What does scripture say?
  • 00:16:12.036 --> 00:16:13.371
  • "we're running a race and we should run it as we look to
  • 00:16:13.371 --> 00:16:17.375
  • Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."
  • 00:16:17.375 --> 00:16:20.511
  • Looking to jesus, that's what peter was doing, but what he
  • 00:16:20.511 --> 00:16:25.149
  • Stopped doing, and then he began to sink.
  • 00:16:25.149 --> 00:16:28.987
  • Look at verse 30.
  • 00:16:28.987 --> 00:16:30.321
  • "when he looked at the waves churning beneath his feet, he
  • 00:16:30.321 --> 00:16:33.958
  • Lost his nerve and he began to sink."
  • 00:16:33.958 --> 00:16:37.095
  • That brings me to my next point, we will all have lapses
  • 00:16:37.095 --> 00:16:41.165
  • Of faith.
  • 00:16:41.165 --> 00:16:42.900
  • You know, you can have a lot of faith one day and not have it
  • 00:16:42.900 --> 00:16:45.269
  • The next.
  • 00:16:45.269 --> 00:16:46.637
  • You can have a lot of faith one hour and not have it ten
  • 00:16:46.637 --> 00:16:49.173
  • Minutes later.
  • 00:16:49.173 --> 00:16:50.775
  • You're believing god, you're taking risks, you're applying
  • 00:16:50.775 --> 00:16:54.912
  • Faith, and all of a sudden you have a lapse of faith.
  • 00:16:54.912 --> 00:16:57.949
  • One of my favorite stories in the bible is in acts 12.
  • 00:16:57.949 --> 00:17:01.619
  • James the apostle had been arrested by king herod and was
  • 00:17:01.619 --> 00:17:05.089
  • Put to death.
  • 00:17:05.089 --> 00:17:06.424
  • Then, he arrested peter.
  • 00:17:06.424 --> 00:17:07.825
  • So, it looked as though the great apostle* was gonna be,
  • 00:17:07.825 --> 00:17:10.094
  • Also, put to death.
  • 00:17:10.094 --> 00:17:11.696
  • But the church prayed.
  • 00:17:11.696 --> 00:17:13.531
  • And i love acts 12:1 because it says, "constant prayer was
  • 00:17:13.531 --> 00:17:17.101
  • Offered to god for him by the church."
  • 00:17:17.101 --> 00:17:20.304
  • There's a lot of truth packed into that simple verse.
  • 00:17:20.304 --> 00:17:23.041
  • "constant prayer was offered to god for him by the church."
  • 00:17:23.041 --> 00:17:28.179
  • The word constant means passionate, heartfelt,
  • 00:17:28.179 --> 00:17:31.582
  • And continuous.
  • 00:17:31.582 --> 00:17:33.251
  • They're continuously, passionately, praying for the
  • 00:17:33.251 --> 00:17:36.687
  • Deliverance of peter by the church.
  • 00:17:36.687 --> 00:17:39.323
  • They weren't praying individually, though i'm sure
  • 00:17:39.323 --> 00:17:41.392
  • They did that as well, but together.
  • 00:17:41.392 --> 00:17:43.728
  • As you know, there's power and unified prayer.
  • 00:17:43.728 --> 00:17:46.764
  • Have you ever noticed that when jesus taught us how to pray, we
  • 00:17:46.764 --> 00:17:49.767
  • Call it the lord's prayer?
  • 00:17:49.767 --> 00:17:51.469
  • He said, "after this manner therefore you should pray: our
  • 00:17:51.469 --> 00:17:54.005
  • Father who art in heaven."
  • 00:17:54.005 --> 00:17:56.140
  • Doesn't say, "my father who art in heaven."
  • 00:17:56.140 --> 00:17:58.109
  • He is that.
  • 00:17:58.109 --> 00:17:59.444
  • But by saying, "our father who art in heaven," jesus is
  • 00:17:59.444 --> 00:18:02.380
  • Teaching, "pray together."
  • 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:04.449
  • So, when you're in trouble, when you're hurting, pray with
  • 00:18:04.449 --> 00:18:07.919
  • Another christian.
  • 00:18:07.919 --> 00:18:09.754
  • Jesus--and when the two--jesus said, "when two or more will
  • 00:18:09.754 --> 00:18:12.657
  • Agree together as touching anything, it will be heard of
  • 00:18:12.657 --> 00:18:16.227
  • Your father in heaven."
  • 00:18:16.227 --> 00:18:18.162
  • So, they prayed together and what happened?
  • 00:18:18.162 --> 00:18:21.032
  • Their prayer was heard and an angel of the lord
  • 00:18:21.032 --> 00:18:23.701
  • Was dispatched.
  • 00:18:23.701 --> 00:18:25.069
  • And the angel went into the prison where peter was and woke
  • 00:18:25.069 --> 00:18:28.773
  • Him up and the doors opened up automatically.
  • 00:18:28.773 --> 00:18:31.909
  • And peter comes walking out and he goes over to a house where
  • 00:18:31.909 --> 00:18:34.679
  • They're having a prayer meeting, no doubt for peter.
  • 00:18:34.679 --> 00:18:37.882
  • And he knocks on the door and a girl named rhoda answers and
  • 00:18:37.882 --> 00:18:40.785
  • Standing before her is the answer to her prayer.
  • 00:18:40.785 --> 00:18:43.921
  • There's peter.
  • 00:18:43.921 --> 00:18:45.289
  • What's so funny about this story is she sees him and just
  • 00:18:45.289 --> 00:18:48.426
  • Walks away.
  • 00:18:48.426 --> 00:18:50.194
  • Instead of inviting him in, she walks away.
  • 00:18:50.194 --> 00:18:52.029
  • Goes to the back where the apostles are praying.
  • 00:18:52.029 --> 00:18:54.265
  • They're probably praying, "oh, lord, deliver peter.
  • 00:18:54.265 --> 00:18:56.667
  • Lord, you are a miracle working god."
  • 00:18:56.667 --> 00:18:58.970
  • 'hey, guys.
  • 00:18:58.970 --> 00:19:00.338
  • Peter's standing at the front door."
  • 00:19:00.338 --> 00:19:01.672
  • "you're crazy, woman."
  • 00:19:01.672 --> 00:19:03.040
  • "lord, deliver peter."
  • 00:19:03.040 --> 00:19:04.375
  • "no, guys.
  • 00:19:04.375 --> 00:19:05.743
  • Peter is standing at the very"--"you're out of your mind.
  • 00:19:05.743 --> 00:19:07.411
  • Lord"--"go look!"
  • 00:19:07.411 --> 00:19:08.779
  • And so, the bible says, "they all went together," which i
  • 00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:11.115
  • Find humorous.
  • 00:19:11.115 --> 00:19:12.683
  • Like, a little, "let's all go together.
  • 00:19:12.683 --> 00:19:14.352
  • I'm not going alone.
  • 00:19:14.352 --> 00:19:15.686
  • Let's go."
  • 00:19:15.686 --> 00:19:17.054
  • And there's peter.
  • 00:19:17.054 --> 00:19:18.389
  • "hey, let me in."
  • 00:19:18.389 --> 00:19:19.757
  • But here's the point.
  • 00:19:19.757 --> 00:19:21.092
  • Here were these great men and women of god praying, but when
  • 00:19:21.092 --> 00:19:24.295
  • The prayer was answered, they didn't believe it.
  • 00:19:24.295 --> 00:19:26.931
  • Hasn't that ever happened to you?
  • 00:19:26.931 --> 00:19:28.833
  • Where you pray for something--boom!
  • 00:19:28.833 --> 00:19:30.234
  • It's answered. "woah."
  • 00:19:30.234 --> 00:19:31.569
  • Yeah, that's called answer prayer.
  • 00:19:31.569 --> 00:19:33.437
  • Sometimes it takes longer than we would like.
  • 00:19:33.437 --> 00:19:36.240
  • Sometimes it happens sooner than we expect.
  • 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:39.710
  • We have lapses of faith.
  • 00:19:39.710 --> 00:19:42.180
  • And when you have a lapse of faith, call out to jesus.
  • 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:45.583
  • Look at verse 30.
  • 00:19:45.583 --> 00:19:47.084
  • "beginning to sink peter prayed, 'lord save me!'
  • 00:19:47.084 --> 00:19:51.322
  • And immediately jesus stretched out his hand and caught him and
  • 00:19:51.322 --> 00:19:54.458
  • Said to him, 'o you have little faith, why did you doubt?'"
  • 00:19:54.458 --> 00:19:58.129
  • Immediately.
  • 00:19:58.129 --> 00:19:59.630
  • He didn't wait.
  • 00:19:59.630 --> 00:20:00.998
  • "i'm gonna wait a couple of minutes.
  • 00:20:00.998 --> 00:20:02.333
  • Let you just suffer."
  • 00:20:02.333 --> 00:20:04.001
  • No.
  • 00:20:04.001 --> 00:20:05.336
  • Jesus immediately reached out, pulled him back up.
  • 00:20:05.336 --> 00:20:08.506
  • Are you having a lapse of faith right now?
  • 00:20:08.506 --> 00:20:10.508
  • It's okay.
  • 00:20:10.508 --> 00:20:12.343
  • Just call out to jesus.
  • 00:20:12.343 --> 00:20:13.778
  • We all have them, all right?
  • 00:20:13.778 --> 00:20:16.214
  • We all have those moments where we just forget what we
  • 00:20:16.214 --> 00:20:19.850
  • Should remember.
  • 00:20:19.850 --> 00:20:21.219
  • We should never believe our doubts and we should never doubt
  • 00:20:21.219 --> 00:20:25.523
  • Our beliefs.
  • 00:20:25.523 --> 00:20:26.891
  • Instead, we should believe our beliefs and doubt our doubts.
  • 00:20:26.891 --> 00:20:31.128
  • So, call out to jesus.
  • 00:20:31.128 --> 00:20:33.598
  • So yes, peter failed.
  • 00:20:33.598 --> 00:20:35.199
  • But what a spectacular failure.
  • 00:20:35.199 --> 00:20:38.569
  • You know, it's been said, "if at first you don't succeed, relax.
  • 00:20:38.569 --> 00:20:43.674
  • You're just like the rest of us."
  • 00:20:43.674 --> 00:20:45.876
  • You probably thought i was gonna say, "try and try again."
  • 00:20:45.876 --> 00:20:48.346
  • That's usually how it goes.
  • 00:20:48.346 --> 00:20:49.680
  • I like this one better.
  • 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:51.015
  • "if at first you don't succeed, relax.
  • 00:20:51.015 --> 00:20:53.284
  • You're just like the rest of us."
  • 00:20:53.284 --> 00:20:55.586
  • But again, as i said earlier, i would rather take a bold step of
  • 00:20:55.586 --> 00:20:58.923
  • Faith in my efforts to honor god, and fail, than do nothing
  • 00:20:58.923 --> 00:21:05.396
  • At all.
  • 00:21:05.396 --> 00:21:06.764
  • And a lot of people do nothing at all with their faith.
  • 00:21:06.764 --> 00:21:09.700
  • And then, they have the audacity to critique others who do apply
  • 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:14.639
  • Their faith.
  • 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:16.007
  • So, let me say something to maybe someone watching or
  • 00:21:16.007 --> 00:21:18.643
  • Listening right now who's taking a bold step of faith and it
  • 00:21:18.643 --> 00:21:21.646
  • Didn't go as you had hoped.
  • 00:21:21.646 --> 00:21:23.381
  • You shared the gospel with someone and they shut you down.
  • 00:21:23.381 --> 00:21:26.951
  • You started a little home bible study and no one showed up.
  • 00:21:26.951 --> 00:21:29.687
  • Even the dog and cat left.
  • 00:21:29.687 --> 00:21:34.025
  • Maybe you prayed for someone who was sick and they didn't
  • 00:21:34.025 --> 00:21:37.228
  • Get healed.
  • 00:21:37.228 --> 00:21:38.596
  • I remember once, i had a friend come up to me
  • 00:21:38.596 --> 00:21:40.131
  • And say, "i'm really sick, will you pray for me?"
  • 00:21:40.131 --> 00:21:42.633
  • I said, "yes, i will."
  • 00:21:42.633 --> 00:21:44.001
  • I prayed for him and then he got violently ill after that.
  • 00:21:44.001 --> 00:21:45.603
  • A couple of days later he came back to me and said, 'never pray
  • 00:21:45.603 --> 00:21:48.606
  • For me again."
  • 00:21:48.606 --> 00:21:50.141
  • Whatever, sorry.
  • 00:21:50.141 --> 00:21:53.144
  • But here's what i wanna say to you.
  • 00:21:53.144 --> 00:21:54.478
  • If you've done any of those things and you've failed,
  • 00:21:54.478 --> 00:21:56.647
  • Thank you.
  • 00:21:56.647 --> 00:21:58.015
  • Thank you for taking that step of faith.
  • 00:21:58.015 --> 00:22:00.484
  • This church is made up of so many unsung heroes, people that
  • 00:22:00.484 --> 00:22:05.256
  • We haven't necessarily heard their name, but they have
  • 00:22:05.256 --> 00:22:08.559
  • Labored tirelessly behind the scenes doing the work of god.
  • 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:13.731
  • And to all of them, to all of you, i say thank you for what
  • 00:22:13.731 --> 00:22:17.435
  • You have done.
  • 00:22:17.435 --> 00:22:18.769
  • And i pray that your father who sees you in secret will reward
  • 00:22:18.769 --> 00:22:22.406
  • You openly.
  • 00:22:22.406 --> 00:22:23.774
  • So, 50 years of god's blessing.
  • 00:22:23.774 --> 00:22:26.143
  • What's ahead?
  • 00:22:26.143 --> 00:22:27.611
  • Some would say, "greg, culture is changing so you have to
  • 00:22:27.611 --> 00:22:30.915
  • Change with the times."
  • 00:22:30.915 --> 00:22:32.283
  • There's some truth to that.
  • 00:22:32.283 --> 00:22:34.085
  • I mean, i think adapt, adapt to culture.
  • 00:22:34.085 --> 00:22:37.788
  • You know, we wanna always be there with the gospel in an
  • 00:22:37.788 --> 00:22:41.926
  • Appropriate way.
  • 00:22:41.926 --> 00:22:43.260
  • And by appropriate i mean, answer the questions people are
  • 00:22:43.260 --> 00:22:46.097
  • Actually asking, show them how christ is the ultimate answer to
  • 00:22:46.097 --> 00:22:51.369
  • Whatever they're facing.
  • 00:22:51.369 --> 00:22:52.737
  • But i've done--been doing this for a while now and a lot of
  • 00:22:52.737 --> 00:22:54.605
  • Generations have come and gone.
  • 00:22:54.605 --> 00:22:56.240
  • When i started out, it was the greatest generation, as we call
  • 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:59.577
  • Them, the generation of my parents, the world war ii
  • 00:22:59.577 --> 00:23:02.446
  • Generation, and my generation, the baby boomers.
  • 00:23:02.446 --> 00:23:05.049
  • We were the young generation.
  • 00:23:05.049 --> 00:23:07.184
  • One of our anthems was, "forever young."
  • 00:23:07.184 --> 00:23:10.187
  • But now, we've gone from acid rock to acid reflux.
  • 00:23:10.187 --> 00:23:13.691
  • So, it's--we're not so young anymore.
  • 00:23:13.691 --> 00:23:18.028
  • Then along come the busters, generation x.
  • 00:23:18.028 --> 00:23:22.299
  • Kind of a sad thing because they're often overlooked.
  • 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:24.435
  • Because people seem to go right from millennial--or baby boomers
  • 00:23:24.435 --> 00:23:27.671
  • To millennials.
  • 00:23:27.671 --> 00:23:29.039
  • Gen x is like, "hey, what about us?"
  • 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.608
  • Yeah, that happens.
  • 00:23:30.608 --> 00:23:31.976
  • But now we're talking a lot about gen z and they've been
  • 00:23:31.976 --> 00:23:35.880
  • Described by some as the hopeless generation.
  • 00:23:35.880 --> 00:23:39.049
  • I don't know if that's the best description, but each generation
  • 00:23:39.049 --> 00:23:42.286
  • Has its unique features.
  • 00:23:42.286 --> 00:23:43.854
  • But the answer for every generation will always be
  • 00:23:43.854 --> 00:23:46.557
  • The same.
  • 00:23:46.557 --> 00:23:47.892
  • It's the gospel.
  • 00:23:47.892 --> 00:23:49.226
  • It's christ himself.
  • 00:23:49.226 --> 00:23:50.594
  • He is the answer.
  • 00:23:50.594 --> 00:23:51.929
  • We'll keep preaching that message.
  • 00:23:51.929 --> 00:23:53.497
  • Someone 1990 says, "your faithfulness continues from
  • 00:23:53.497 --> 00:23:57.101
  • Generation to generation."
  • 00:23:57.101 --> 00:23:59.737
  • So, here's the commitment i will make to you.
  • 00:23:59.737 --> 00:24:02.640
  • Number one, i will continue to teach god's word faithfully to
  • 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:06.510
  • You whenever i get up to speak, i'll always open up
  • 00:24:06.510 --> 00:24:09.580
  • The scripture.
  • 00:24:09.580 --> 00:24:14.752
  • And as i said, offer you theology without apology.
  • 00:24:14.752 --> 00:24:19.023
  • We will always extend invitations for people to come
  • 00:24:19.023 --> 00:24:22.359
  • To christ in our services.
  • 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:24.361
  • We'll continue to try to find new and innovative ways to bring
  • 00:24:24.361 --> 00:24:28.132
  • The gospel to our culture.
  • 00:24:28.132 --> 00:24:31.035
  • We'll continue to disciple people and then raise up the
  • 00:24:31.035 --> 00:24:34.205
  • Next generation.
  • 00:24:34.205 --> 00:24:36.273
  • Acts chapter 13, verse 36 says, "david served the will of god in
  • 00:24:36.273 --> 00:24:41.745
  • His generation and then he fell asleep."
  • 00:24:41.745 --> 00:24:44.648
  • In other words, he did his work and then he was gone.
  • 00:24:44.648 --> 00:24:48.085
  • And one day my work will be done and the next generation carries
  • 00:24:48.085 --> 00:24:51.956
  • It on.
  • 00:24:51.956 --> 00:24:53.290
  • It's like a race.
  • 00:24:53.290 --> 00:24:54.625
  • And in a race--it's not a solo race.
  • 00:24:54.625 --> 00:24:56.293
  • It's like a relay race, right?
  • 00:24:56.293 --> 00:24:59.129
  • You know, where the baton is passed?
  • 00:24:59.129 --> 00:25:00.664
  • And so, you run with the baton for your generation and then
  • 00:25:00.664 --> 00:25:04.235
  • When your race is done, you pass on the baton to the next
  • 00:25:04.235 --> 00:25:08.572
  • Generation, and they carry it on and they do the same thing, and
  • 00:25:08.572 --> 00:25:11.509
  • That's how it works.
  • 00:25:11.509 --> 00:25:12.843
  • That's what we're gonna continue to do.
  • 00:25:12.843 --> 00:25:14.512
  • We've done it for 50 years and for as many years as the lord,
  • 00:25:14.512 --> 00:25:17.848
  • At least gives me, i'll continue to do it, but this church will
  • 00:25:17.848 --> 00:25:20.784
  • Go on, we'll reach new people.
  • 00:25:20.784 --> 00:25:22.887
  • There's new mountains to climb, new opportunities to pursue.
  • 00:25:22.887 --> 00:25:26.757
  • But we have our marching orders from the lord to go into all the
  • 00:25:26.757 --> 00:25:29.460
  • World and preach the gospel.
  • 00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:31.662
  • Our mission statement at harvest is, "knowing him and making him
  • 00:25:31.662 --> 00:25:34.932
  • Known," and that's what we will continue to do and pursue.
  • 00:25:34.932 --> 00:25:39.336
  • And so, in closing, i wanna offer a blessing to you
  • 00:25:39.336 --> 00:25:42.640
  • From god.
  • 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:43.974
  • The lord says, and i love this, it was given to the priests
  • 00:25:43.974 --> 00:25:47.711
  • To pronounce over the people of israel
  • 00:25:47.711 --> 00:25:50.481
  • Continuously, over and over again.
  • 00:25:50.481 --> 00:25:52.883
  • They would say, "the lord bless you.
  • 00:25:52.883 --> 00:25:54.952
  • The lord keep you.
  • 00:25:54.952 --> 00:25:56.887
  • The lord make his face to shine upon you and give you peace."
  • 00:25:56.887 --> 00:26:01.692
  • Greg: do you ever feel like you're all alone and no one
  • 00:26:05.029 --> 00:26:07.164
  • Cares about you?
  • 00:26:07.164 --> 00:26:08.532
  • I want you to know something.
  • 00:26:08.532 --> 00:26:10.534
  • You're not alone.
  • 00:26:10.534 --> 00:26:12.002
  • God cares about you.
  • 00:26:12.002 --> 00:26:14.004
  • God loves you.
  • 00:26:14.004 --> 00:26:15.339
  • And you don't have to ever be lonely again because jesus
  • 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:19.677
  • Christ can come and live inside of your heart and be your savior
  • 00:26:19.677 --> 00:26:24.548
  • And your lord.
  • 00:26:24.548 --> 00:26:25.883
  • I'm not talking about religion.
  • 00:26:25.883 --> 00:26:27.418
  • I'm talking about a relationship with god.
  • 00:26:27.418 --> 00:26:30.487
  • He's just a prayer away.
  • 00:26:30.487 --> 00:26:31.956
  • You can just pray a prayer like this.
  • 00:26:31.956 --> 00:26:34.224
  • Jesus, i want you to come into my life.
  • 00:26:34.224 --> 00:26:37.127
  • Forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:26:37.127 --> 00:26:39.096
  • I wanna start this relationship with you now.
  • 00:26:39.096 --> 00:26:42.566
  • If you'll pray a prayer like that, god will hear it and
  • 00:26:42.566 --> 00:26:45.302
  • Answer it and you can know that you'll have purpose in this life
  • 00:26:45.302 --> 00:26:49.106
  • And hope in the life to come.
  • 00:26:49.106 --> 00:26:51.308
  • And if you prayed that prayer, let me send you a bible at no
  • 00:26:51.308 --> 00:26:54.945
  • Charge to help you get started in your relationship with god.
  • 00:26:54.945 --> 00:26:59.116
  • Female announcer: jesus says that "where two or three
  • 00:27:02.219 --> 00:27:04.622
  • Are gathered in my name, there i am in the midst of them."
  • 00:27:04.622 --> 00:27:09.059
  • We are all different.
  • 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:10.427
  • We have different interests, different personalities,
  • 00:27:10.427 --> 00:27:13.564
  • Different upbringings, and different ways we do life,
  • 00:27:13.564 --> 00:27:17.501
  • But here, we have a deep connection,
  • 00:27:17.501 --> 00:27:21.038
  • And you are welcome here.
  • 00:27:21.038 --> 00:27:25.142
  • This is harvest.
  • 00:27:25.142 --> 00:27:25.142