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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - The Reluctant Evangelist

May 3, 2026 | 27:29

Greg Laurie - The Reluctant Evangelist
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#WordofGod #Church #LoveofGod #Evangelism #Gospel #Fear #Witness/Witnessing #Prayer #GregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - The Reluctant Evangelist | May 3, 2026
  • ...
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  • Greg laurie: opportunities are all around you.
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  • Sometimes we're saying, "lord, i wanna be used by you.
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  • I wanna be a missionary.
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  • I wanna cross the sea for christ."
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  • Hey, start by crossing the street for christ.
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  • ♪ this is the day ♪
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  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪
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  • ♪ this is the day ♪
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  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
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  • Greg: i heard a story about a man who was driving his car with
  • 00:00:43.466 --> 00:00:47.537
  • Two penguins in the back seat.
  • 00:00:47.537 --> 00:00:49.939
  • He was pulled over by a police officer and the officer said,
  • 00:00:49.939 --> 00:00:53.076
  • "sir, the penguin is an endangered species.
  • 00:00:53.076 --> 00:00:56.813
  • You can't drive them around in your car.
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  • Take them to the zoo immediately," and he let the
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  • Guy go.
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  • The next day, the officer sees the same man driving around with
  • 00:01:03.486 --> 00:01:06.756
  • The penguins, but this time they were wearing hawaiian shirts
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  • And sunglasses.
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  • The officer said, "i thought i told you to take those penguins
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  • To the zoo."
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  • The guy said, "i did, and now we're going to the beach."
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  • I think he kind of missed the point.
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  • And i think sometimes in the church we can miss the point as
  • 00:01:23.473 --> 00:01:27.177
  • Well, the point of the great commission, and what is the
  • 00:01:27.177 --> 00:01:31.514
  • Great commission?
  • 00:01:31.514 --> 00:01:33.016
  • It's given to us in mark 16, in matthew 28, and it tells us to
  • 00:01:33.016 --> 00:01:37.954
  • "go into all the world and preach the gospel and to make
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  • Disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all
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  • Things that i've commanded you, baptizing them in the name of
  • 00:01:45.094 --> 00:01:48.097
  • The father, son, and the holy spirit, and lo, i am with you
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  • Even to the end of the age."
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  • We're all called to do that.
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  • You know, i think sometimes some churches think church growth
  • 00:01:55.505 --> 00:01:59.576
  • Is evangelism.
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  • Church growth can be evangelism.
  • 00:02:01.077 --> 00:02:03.846
  • A church can grow evangelistically, but sometimes
  • 00:02:03.846 --> 00:02:07.417
  • When a church grows, maybe they're a new church that
  • 00:02:07.417 --> 00:02:10.086
  • Started, some people will leave another church and go over
  • 00:02:10.086 --> 00:02:13.089
  • There, so it's church transfer growth.
  • 00:02:13.089 --> 00:02:15.959
  • And by the way, i'll meet people from time to time that will come
  • 00:02:15.959 --> 00:02:18.494
  • Up to me and say, "we used to go to this other church, but now we
  • 00:02:18.494 --> 00:02:22.198
  • Come to your church and we like your church better.
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  • And here's what we don't like about our old church," and
  • 00:02:25.134 --> 00:02:28.071
  • They'll go on and on.
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  • And i'm tempted to just look at my watch and ask myself the
  • 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:32.275
  • Question, "how long is it gonna to be until you say the same
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  • Things about this church?"
  • 00:02:35.712 --> 00:02:37.814
  • Because some people just hop from church to church and a
  • 00:02:37.814 --> 00:02:41.384
  • Church thinks they're growing, but the best kind of growth in a
  • 00:02:41.384 --> 00:02:44.520
  • Church is not people coming from other churches.
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  • The best kind of growth is people coming to christ in the
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  • Church, and that has always been the way we've grown.
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  • It's always been the thing we have hoped for, actually, 'cause
  • 00:02:56.833 --> 00:03:00.470
  • In acts chapter 2, verses 42 to 47, you read about the early
  • 00:03:00.470 --> 00:03:06.676
  • Church and all that they did, and it concludes with these
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  • Words, "and the lord added to the church daily those that were
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  • Being saved."
  • 00:03:14.350 --> 00:03:15.685
  • New converts are the lifeblood of the church.
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  • As i've said before, the church has a choice.
  • 00:03:19.822 --> 00:03:22.392
  • We can evangelize or we can fossilize.
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  • Well anyway, we all love the memo.
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  • We know we're supposed to proclaim the gospel, but if
  • 00:03:27.230 --> 00:03:30.133
  • We're honest, a lot of us don't do it.
  • 00:03:30.133 --> 00:03:32.168
  • At best we're reluctant evangelists.
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  • I read that 95% of all christians have never led
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  • Another person to christ.
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  • I don't think it's true of this church.
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  • I'll take a poll just to see.
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  • How many of you have led a person to christ, and let me
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  • Explain what that means.
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  • It means that you played a role in someone else coming to jesus.
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  • Maybe you brought them to church
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  • And they responded to the gospel.
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  • Maybe you brought them to a crusade or you personally shared
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  • The gospel with them, but you played a role
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  • In them coming to christ.
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  • How many of you with that definition
  • 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:05.702
  • Have led someone to christ?
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  • Raise your hand up. well done, you guys, come on.
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  • So you're not in that category, so i'm thankful for that.
  • 00:04:10.006 --> 00:04:13.576
  • But, but many have never shared their faith with others.
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  • Fifty nine percent of all christians say they seldom or
  • 00:04:18.181 --> 00:04:21.718
  • Never share their faith with others.
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  • And what's ironic about this is we'll tell our friends about
  • 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:26.456
  • Some taco truck or some series on netflix or a new app we just
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  • Discovered, but we won't say a word about jesus, the one who
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  • Has changed our lives.
  • 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:37.967
  • So why, why don't we share the gospel more?
  • 00:04:37.967 --> 00:04:42.205
  • Well, here's some reasons, and they could also be defined
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  • As excuses.
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  • One is, well, the fear of rejection.
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  • You know, if i initiate a conversation, they might just
  • 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:53.216
  • Tell me to go away or be angry with me or label me as
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  • Intolerant and narrow-minded,
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  • And i don't want that to happen.
  • 00:04:58.821 --> 00:05:00.156
  • Well, that could happen.
  • 00:05:00.156 --> 00:05:01.858
  • But in many cases actually it doesn't happen, and you'll find
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  • People are very open to what you may have to say.
  • 00:05:05.361 --> 00:05:07.864
  • Another might say, "well, i just don't have enough knowledge
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  • Of scripture."
  • 00:05:11.401 --> 00:05:13.636
  • Excuse me, you're afraid someone's going to ask you a
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  • Question you don't have the answer to, and that may happen.
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  • In fact, it happened to me very early in my christian life.
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  • I was out talking to people about the lord and i was sharing
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  • The gospel with someone i met and some other person
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  • Eavesdropping interrupted our conversation and peppered me
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  • With some hard questions which i didn't have the answer to, and i
  • 00:05:34.123 --> 00:05:38.227
  • Walked away a bit embarrassed and even ashamed, and i
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  • Determined i needed to start studying the bible--
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  • I was only a believer for a few weeks at that point--
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  • I needed to start studying the bible and knowing the answers.
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  • The bible says, "study to show yourself approved unto god, a
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  • Workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly
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  • Dividing the word of truth."
  • 00:05:59.315 --> 00:06:00.850
  • And then over in 1 peter 3:15, it says, "always be prepared to
  • 00:06:00.850 --> 00:06:05.421
  • Give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for
  • 00:06:05.421 --> 00:06:09.525
  • The hope that you have," but listen to this.
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  • "do this with gentleness and respect."
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  • Do it with gentleness and respect.
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  • Sometimes we can come off like know it alls.
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  • Sometimes we can come off holier than thou.
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  • Sometimes we can be overly argumentative, and that is not
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  • What we're supposed to do.
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  • The objective is not to win the argument.
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  • It's to win the soul.
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  • The goal is to build a bridge, not burn a bridge, so be
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  • Friendly, be humble, be loving, and be clear, and maybe you
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  • Won't have the answer to the question, and it's okay to say
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  • You don't have the answer.
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  • You might say, "that's a great question.
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  • I actually don't know the answer,
  • 00:06:52.134 --> 00:06:53.803
  • But let me get back to you on that."
  • 00:06:53.803 --> 00:06:55.137
  • That's all right, but here's what i suggest, i think you know
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  • More than you think you know.
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  • And i think when you put yourself in a situation to share
  • 00:07:00.877 --> 00:07:04.447
  • The gospel, you'll find that the holy spirit will help you.
  • 00:07:04.447 --> 00:07:08.885
  • Jesus said, "don't worry when you're brought before the
  • 00:07:08.885 --> 00:07:11.320
  • Leaders, the holy spirit will give you those words," and i
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  • Know you've probably experienced this.
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  • Someone asked you a question and you don't even know what the
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  • Answer is, and all of a sudden you're giving them an answer
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  • That's so good you wanna take notes on yourself.
  • 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:28.004
  • But that's not gonna happen if you don't put yourself in a
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  • Situation and take a step of faith and take a risk and engage
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  • Someone in a gospel conversation.
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  • Maybe another reason or excuse as to why we don't share the
  • 00:07:37.914 --> 00:07:41.684
  • Gospel is we assume everybody knows and they've already made
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  • A decision.
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  • That's just not true.
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  • I was just back in europe.
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  • I spoke at a congress, an event for evangelists, and there were
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  • Evangelists from all over europe.
  • 00:07:55.765 --> 00:07:58.034
  • And i was shocked to discover that only 2% of europe
  • 00:07:58.034 --> 00:08:02.838
  • Identifies as evangelical christians, 2%.
  • 00:08:02.838 --> 00:08:07.877
  • Can you believe that?
  • 00:08:07.877 --> 00:08:09.211
  • Ninety eight percent of the people of europe do not identify
  • 00:08:09.211 --> 00:08:12.715
  • As christians, and that could be the future of america if we
  • 00:08:12.715 --> 00:08:16.285
  • Follow in their footsteps.
  • 00:08:16.285 --> 00:08:18.254
  • That's why we need to take advantage of the liberty and the
  • 00:08:18.254 --> 00:08:21.324
  • Freedom we have in this country and boldly proclaim the gospel
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  • Wherever we can, right?
  • 00:08:25.861 --> 00:08:32.435
  • I suggest to you that most americans have never heard an
  • 00:08:32.435 --> 00:08:36.672
  • Accurate presentation of the gospel.
  • 00:08:36.672 --> 00:08:39.809
  • I think they've heard a version of it,
  • 00:08:39.809 --> 00:08:42.211
  • But has it really been accurate?
  • 00:08:42.211 --> 00:08:43.546
  • Has it been a biblical definition?
  • 00:08:43.546 --> 00:08:46.482
  • Fifty one percent of american adults say they're at least
  • 00:08:46.482 --> 00:08:50.453
  • Somewhat open to a conversation about faith or the gospel with a
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  • Stranger, 51%.
  • 00:08:55.091 --> 00:08:56.659
  • That's pretty good.
  • 00:08:56.659 --> 00:08:57.994
  • One out of every two people is open to you having a
  • 00:08:57.994 --> 00:09:01.397
  • Conversation with them, and if they're a part of your friends
  • 00:09:01.397 --> 00:09:06.902
  • Or your family, that number shoots up to 92%.
  • 00:09:06.902 --> 00:09:11.474
  • They're literally waiting for you to start the conversation.
  • 00:09:11.474 --> 00:09:16.212
  • Many americans are like that man from ethiopia that went to
  • 00:09:16.212 --> 00:09:20.416
  • Jerusalem searching for god.
  • 00:09:20.416 --> 00:09:22.885
  • He didn't find the lord, but he obtained a scroll of isaiah,
  • 00:09:22.885 --> 00:09:26.856
  • Which he was reading in his chariot as he made the journey
  • 00:09:26.856 --> 00:09:30.559
  • Home, and the lord directed the evangelist philip to engage him.
  • 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:34.864
  • And philip asked that man from ethiopia, "do you understand
  • 00:09:34.864 --> 00:09:38.067
  • What you're reading?"
  • 00:09:38.067 --> 00:09:39.435
  • The man was reading from isaiah 53, which happens to be a
  • 00:09:39.435 --> 00:09:42.905
  • Graphic description of the death of jesus hundreds of years
  • 00:09:42.905 --> 00:09:46.442
  • Before it happened.
  • 00:09:46.442 --> 00:09:47.877
  • "do you understand what you're reading?" asks philip, and the
  • 00:09:47.877 --> 00:09:50.413
  • Man from ethiopia says, "how can i unless someone shows me
  • 00:09:50.413 --> 00:09:54.583
  • The way?"
  • 00:09:54.583 --> 00:09:55.918
  • A lot of people are waiting for someone like you to show them
  • 00:09:55.918 --> 00:09:59.088
  • The way, and you know how to show them the way.
  • 00:09:59.088 --> 00:10:03.125
  • I was one of those people.
  • 00:10:03.125 --> 00:10:04.894
  • I was a confused kid.
  • 00:10:04.894 --> 00:10:06.896
  • I wanted to know god.
  • 00:10:06.896 --> 00:10:08.931
  • That's why when people gave me religious literature, i never
  • 00:10:08.931 --> 00:10:12.034
  • Threw it away.
  • 00:10:12.034 --> 00:10:13.436
  • I would shove it into my pocket and i would take it home and
  • 00:10:13.436 --> 00:10:16.706
  • Throw it in a big drawer in my little room.
  • 00:10:16.706 --> 00:10:19.275
  • It was sort of like my god drawer.
  • 00:10:19.275 --> 00:10:21.744
  • And every now and then i would empty the drawer in my bed and i
  • 00:10:21.744 --> 00:10:24.613
  • Would sit there trying to figure out what it all meant.
  • 00:10:24.613 --> 00:10:27.550
  • I had little bibles.
  • 00:10:27.550 --> 00:10:29.051
  • I had information from krishnas and mormons and jehovah's
  • 00:10:29.051 --> 00:10:33.956
  • Witnesses and amway, you name it, i had it.
  • 00:10:33.956 --> 00:10:37.793
  • And i would read through it like, "how, how does this work?
  • 00:10:37.793 --> 00:10:41.030
  • How can i come to know god?"
  • 00:10:41.030 --> 00:10:43.399
  • I was literally waiting for someone to show me the way, and
  • 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:47.236
  • There's a lot of people like that out there right now.
  • 00:10:47.236 --> 00:10:49.572
  • But here's really a reason why we don't share our faith.
  • 00:10:49.572 --> 00:10:53.309
  • You probably won't like this one, but i think it's true.
  • 00:10:53.309 --> 00:10:56.746
  • We just don't care.
  • 00:10:56.746 --> 00:10:58.814
  • We don't care.
  • 00:10:58.814 --> 00:11:00.149
  • It's like, "well, that's their problem.
  • 00:11:00.149 --> 00:11:01.917
  • I've got my salvation.
  • 00:11:01.917 --> 00:11:03.352
  • Why should i care about their salvation?"
  • 00:11:03.352 --> 00:11:06.689
  • I mean, this goes back to our childhood, established fact of
  • 00:11:06.689 --> 00:11:09.358
  • The universe.
  • 00:11:09.358 --> 00:11:10.693
  • We don't like to share.
  • 00:11:10.693 --> 00:11:12.928
  • You know, put a little child, give them a toy, they're happy.
  • 00:11:12.928 --> 00:11:15.397
  • Put another child there and tell the one child to share the toy
  • 00:11:15.397 --> 00:11:18.868
  • With the other child.
  • 00:11:18.868 --> 00:11:20.236
  • Watch what happens.
  • 00:11:20.236 --> 00:11:21.704
  • We don't like to share.
  • 00:11:21.704 --> 00:11:23.405
  • Years ago when my grandson christopher was younger, my son
  • 00:11:23.405 --> 00:11:27.042
  • Jonathan said to him, "son, can i have one of your chips,"
  • 00:11:27.042 --> 00:11:30.379
  • 'cause he had just given christopher a big bag of potato
  • 00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:32.915
  • Chips, and christopher was enjoying them.
  • 00:11:32.915 --> 00:11:36.485
  • "son, can i have a chip?" asks jonathan.
  • 00:11:36.485 --> 00:11:38.888
  • Christopher takes the tiniest fragment of a chip you've
  • 00:11:38.888 --> 00:11:43.025
  • Ever seen.
  • 00:11:43.025 --> 00:11:44.360
  • "no, son, that's not big enough.
  • 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:45.694
  • I want a bigger chip."
  • 00:11:45.694 --> 00:11:47.062
  • He takes a slightly larger one.
  • 00:11:47.062 --> 00:11:48.497
  • "no, no, son, i want a big chip."
  • 00:11:48.497 --> 00:11:50.666
  • And finally, christopher fished a big chip out of the bag, and
  • 00:11:50.666 --> 00:11:54.036
  • You could see the pain on his face to give that precious chip
  • 00:11:54.036 --> 00:11:58.641
  • Up, and that's us.
  • 00:11:58.641 --> 00:12:00.876
  • You know, we don't want to share, we don't want to tell
  • 00:12:00.876 --> 00:12:04.246
  • Them, and sometimes we even see nonbelievers as the enemy, and
  • 00:12:04.246 --> 00:12:09.485
  • They're not the enemy.
  • 00:12:09.485 --> 00:12:11.921
  • They're under the power of the enemy, and the enemy is
  • 00:12:11.921 --> 00:12:16.492
  • The devil.
  • 00:12:16.492 --> 00:12:17.827
  • In fact, speaking of nonbelievers, the bible says we
  • 00:12:17.827 --> 00:12:20.429
  • Should be patient in our dealing with them.
  • 00:12:20.429 --> 00:12:23.132
  • And in 2 timothy, paul says, "so they will come to their senses
  • 00:12:23.132 --> 00:12:27.269
  • And escape from the devil's trap, for they're being held
  • 00:12:27.269 --> 00:12:31.273
  • Captive by him to do whatever he wants."
  • 00:12:31.273 --> 00:12:35.344
  • So you need to pray.
  • 00:12:35.344 --> 00:12:36.846
  • I need to pray.
  • 00:12:36.846 --> 00:12:38.180
  • We need to pray that god would give us a heart for
  • 00:12:38.180 --> 00:12:41.183
  • Nonbelievers, and often we want to stay away from them.
  • 00:12:41.183 --> 00:12:44.720
  • We want no contact with them.
  • 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:46.856
  • I don't know if you've ever heard of penn gillette.
  • 00:12:46.856 --> 00:12:50.092
  • He's a magician, comedian, has an act
  • 00:12:50.092 --> 00:12:53.028
  • With his partner in vegas.
  • 00:12:53.028 --> 00:12:54.363
  • He's an outspoken atheist, but he made an
  • 00:12:54.363 --> 00:12:57.900
  • Interesting statement.
  • 00:12:57.900 --> 00:12:59.568
  • And it was after one of his fans gave him a bible.
  • 00:12:59.568 --> 00:13:02.638
  • And gillette, again, an atheist, said, quote, "i don't respect
  • 00:13:02.638 --> 00:13:07.509
  • People who don't proselytize.
  • 00:13:07.509 --> 00:13:09.778
  • You think that it's really not worth telling someone because it
  • 00:13:09.778 --> 00:13:12.882
  • Would make you socially awkward.
  • 00:13:12.882 --> 00:13:15.551
  • If you believe in heaven and hell and people could be going
  • 00:13:15.551 --> 00:13:18.587
  • To hell or missing out on eternal life, how much do you
  • 00:13:18.587 --> 00:13:21.624
  • Have to hate someone to not tell them?" end quote.
  • 00:13:21.624 --> 00:13:25.194
  • That's a really good insight from an atheist, and he's
  • 00:13:25.194 --> 00:13:28.697
  • Absolutely right.
  • 00:13:28.697 --> 00:13:30.499
  • I mean, really, if i believe this stuff, how many of you
  • 00:13:30.499 --> 00:13:34.136
  • Believe that heaven and hell are real?
  • 00:13:34.136 --> 00:13:35.738
  • Raise your hand.
  • 00:13:35.738 --> 00:13:37.072
  • Okay, if we really believe this stuff, why don't we tell people
  • 00:13:37.072 --> 00:13:40.776
  • More often?
  • 00:13:40.776 --> 00:13:42.144
  • I don't know if it's that we hate people, but we don't care
  • 00:13:42.144 --> 00:13:47.349
  • Enough about them.
  • 00:13:47.349 --> 00:13:48.684
  • I think that's true.
  • 00:13:48.684 --> 00:13:50.052
  • But i wanna tell you the story about a man who actually did
  • 00:13:50.052 --> 00:13:52.755
  • Hate, literally hate the people god called him to go to.
  • 00:13:52.755 --> 00:13:58.027
  • This guy drank hate-orade, and his name was jonah.
  • 00:13:58.027 --> 00:14:04.033
  • Jonah was the reluctant evangelist.
  • 00:14:04.033 --> 00:14:07.803
  • Jonah was the original chicken of the sea.
  • 00:14:07.803 --> 00:14:13.309
  • Some of you don't even know what that means,
  • 00:14:13.309 --> 00:14:14.643
  • But chicken of the sea, tuna.
  • 00:14:14.643 --> 00:14:16.745
  • Anyway, he was called to go to nineveh, and he didn't wanna go,
  • 00:14:16.745 --> 00:14:22.084
  • And i'm gonna tell you why in a few moments.
  • 00:14:22.084 --> 00:14:23.752
  • But now, when we think of jonah, we think of one other thing, and
  • 00:14:23.752 --> 00:14:26.655
  • You already know it.
  • 00:14:26.655 --> 00:14:28.023
  • Jonah and the--that's it, the whale.
  • 00:14:28.023 --> 00:14:30.426
  • It's all about the whale, but it isn't about the whale.
  • 00:14:30.426 --> 00:14:33.529
  • There's only a few verses about the whale, if it was a whale.
  • 00:14:33.529 --> 00:14:38.200
  • The actual word that is used in the original language could be
  • 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:41.136
  • Translated sea monster.
  • 00:14:41.136 --> 00:14:43.238
  • It could have been a whale.
  • 00:14:43.238 --> 00:14:44.940
  • It could have been some unique creature god created just
  • 00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:48.177
  • For jonah.
  • 00:14:48.177 --> 00:14:49.545
  • I don't know.
  • 00:14:49.545 --> 00:14:50.879
  • Frankly, i don't really care.
  • 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:52.548
  • The message of jonah is not some dude got swallowed by a fish or
  • 00:14:52.548 --> 00:14:57.052
  • Sushi eating in reverse.
  • 00:14:57.052 --> 00:15:00.155
  • The real story of jonah is a man was called to go preach to a
  • 00:15:00.155 --> 00:15:04.793
  • City that he didn't wanna preach to because he hated the people
  • 00:15:04.793 --> 00:15:08.597
  • Of the city, and god persuaded him otherwise.
  • 00:15:08.597 --> 00:15:12.835
  • And when he finally obeyed, it resulted in one of the greatest
  • 00:15:12.835 --> 00:15:16.271
  • Spiritual awakenings in human history.
  • 00:15:16.271 --> 00:15:19.875
  • So there's a lot we can learn from jonah.
  • 00:15:19.875 --> 00:15:22.277
  • He wasn't just reluctant, he was recalcitrant.
  • 00:15:22.277 --> 00:15:26.715
  • That's a word that means someone who is stubborn and defiant,
  • 00:15:26.715 --> 00:15:30.352
  • Reluctant is, "well, maybe i'll do it,
  • 00:15:30.352 --> 00:15:32.321
  • But i really don't want to."
  • 00:15:32.321 --> 00:15:33.655
  • To be recalcitrant is to say, "i'm not doing it.
  • 00:15:33.655 --> 00:15:37.926
  • I flat out refuse to do it," and that's who jonah was.
  • 00:15:37.926 --> 00:15:42.831
  • Now, let's think about nineveh for a few moments before we read
  • 00:15:42.831 --> 00:15:45.601
  • Some verses.
  • 00:15:45.601 --> 00:15:47.036
  • Nineveh was around the size of san francisco.
  • 00:15:47.036 --> 00:15:50.372
  • After jonah preached to them, the entire city came to believe
  • 00:15:50.372 --> 00:15:55.344
  • In god and turn from their sin.
  • 00:15:55.344 --> 00:15:56.979
  • Can you imagine if all of san francisco repented of their sin?
  • 00:15:56.979 --> 00:16:03.619
  • Or all of riverside or all of irvine or all of orange county
  • 00:16:03.619 --> 00:16:08.991
  • Or all of los angeles or all of new york city.
  • 00:16:08.991 --> 00:16:13.162
  • Well, that's exactly what happened, and it could happen
  • 00:16:13.162 --> 00:16:16.999
  • Because with god all things are possible.
  • 00:16:16.999 --> 00:16:20.102
  • Let's read jonah chapter 1, i'm gonna read three verses.
  • 00:16:20.102 --> 00:16:23.639
  • "now the word of the lord came to jonah, the son of amittai,
  • 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:26.909
  • Saying, 'arise, go to nineveh, that great city, and preach
  • 00:16:26.909 --> 00:16:31.313
  • Against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.'
  • 00:16:31.313 --> 00:16:35.617
  • But jonah arose to flee to tarshish from the presence of
  • 00:16:35.617 --> 00:16:40.589
  • The lord.
  • 00:16:40.589 --> 00:16:41.924
  • He went down to joppa, he found his ship going to tarshish, so
  • 00:16:41.924 --> 00:16:45.461
  • He paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to
  • 00:16:45.461 --> 00:16:49.331
  • Tarshish from the presence of the lord."
  • 00:16:49.331 --> 00:16:53.936
  • We'll stop there.
  • 00:16:53.936 --> 00:16:55.571
  • Important statement.
  • 00:16:55.571 --> 00:16:57.539
  • It says in verse 2, "their wickedness had come up
  • 00:16:57.539 --> 00:17:00.342
  • Before god."
  • 00:17:00.342 --> 00:17:02.244
  • This is a phrase that could be translated,
  • 00:17:02.244 --> 00:17:04.279
  • "it reached a high degree or the highest pitch."
  • 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:08.884
  • Nineveh was like an overflowing septic tank that stunk to
  • 00:17:08.884 --> 00:17:13.122
  • High heaven.
  • 00:17:13.122 --> 00:17:14.890
  • Years ago i was on a houseboat out on lake powell.
  • 00:17:14.890 --> 00:17:20.229
  • A few friends have had houseboats, and so we were done
  • 00:17:20.229 --> 00:17:23.832
  • And we're bringing it into the dock and we had to, you know,
  • 00:17:23.832 --> 00:17:27.102
  • Clean out the septic tank.
  • 00:17:27.102 --> 00:17:28.837
  • And my friend said, "oh, i know how to do this."
  • 00:17:28.837 --> 00:17:31.373
  • I said, "have at it."
  • 00:17:31.373 --> 00:17:34.443
  • Well, he didn't know how to do it that well because when he
  • 00:17:34.443 --> 00:17:36.578
  • Opened it up, it blasted in his face.
  • 00:17:36.578 --> 00:17:39.648
  • Horrific.
  • 00:17:39.648 --> 00:17:40.983
  • I just wish i had a camera, that's all.
  • 00:17:40.983 --> 00:17:43.452
  • I laughed, i admit i laughed.
  • 00:17:43.452 --> 00:17:45.154
  • I shouldn't have laughed, but i did.
  • 00:17:45.154 --> 00:17:47.489
  • But and it smelled bad.
  • 00:17:47.489 --> 00:17:50.058
  • And so did nineveh.
  • 00:17:50.058 --> 00:17:51.593
  • It smelled really bad. why?
  • 00:17:51.593 --> 00:17:53.695
  • Because they were a really wicked city.
  • 00:17:53.695 --> 00:17:56.165
  • Nineveh was a city of the assyrians and it was
  • 00:17:56.165 --> 00:17:58.734
  • Legendary for its cruelty.
  • 00:17:58.734 --> 00:18:00.068
  • I was in england years ago and i went into one of their museums,
  • 00:18:00.068 --> 00:18:04.206
  • And they actually have artifacts from nineveh.
  • 00:18:04.206 --> 00:18:07.409
  • They have the gates of nineveh, which is so amazing to look at,
  • 00:18:07.409 --> 00:18:12.247
  • But nineveh was known for their savagery.
  • 00:18:12.247 --> 00:18:14.917
  • Assyrian kings would boast of skinning enemies alive, cutting
  • 00:18:14.917 --> 00:18:20.722
  • Off limbs, burning children, and stacking corpses like trophies.
  • 00:18:20.722 --> 00:18:26.028
  • One inscription says, quote, "i flayed many and spread their
  • 00:18:26.028 --> 00:18:29.798
  • Skins on the walls," end quote.
  • 00:18:29.798 --> 00:18:32.768
  • It reminds us of stories of the nazis or of hamas or isis or
  • 00:18:32.768 --> 00:18:38.240
  • Even the drug cartels today, this horrific kind of activity,
  • 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:43.412
  • And yet god loved them enough to send jonah to preach to them,
  • 00:18:43.412 --> 00:18:48.784
  • But they were the avowed enemies of israel.
  • 00:18:48.784 --> 00:18:53.455
  • We all have our ninevehs in life, and by nineveh i mean the
  • 00:18:53.455 --> 00:18:56.625
  • Places we don't wanna go.
  • 00:18:56.625 --> 00:18:58.594
  • By nineveh i mean the people we don't wanna talk to.
  • 00:18:58.594 --> 00:19:01.730
  • So god wants to reach nineveh.
  • 00:19:01.730 --> 00:19:04.166
  • What does he do? he raises up a man of god.
  • 00:19:04.166 --> 00:19:08.670
  • And he's still looking for men and women of god to raise up.
  • 00:19:08.670 --> 00:19:11.907
  • You say, "but greg, i'm not qualified."
  • 00:19:11.907 --> 00:19:14.076
  • Oh, give me a break.
  • 00:19:14.076 --> 00:19:15.811
  • Nobody's really qualified, are they?
  • 00:19:15.811 --> 00:19:18.213
  • God doesn't call the qualified.
  • 00:19:18.213 --> 00:19:20.282
  • He qualifies the called.
  • 00:19:20.282 --> 00:19:22.918
  • He's just looking for someone to say, "here i am, send me, lord,"
  • 00:19:22.918 --> 00:19:27.189
  • Instead of saying, "there they are, send them, lord."
  • 00:19:27.189 --> 00:19:31.793
  • I mean, think of the people that god called in the bible.
  • 00:19:31.793 --> 00:19:34.696
  • Noah got drunk.
  • 00:19:34.696 --> 00:19:36.465
  • Abraham was very old.
  • 00:19:36.465 --> 00:19:38.667
  • Jacob was a liar.
  • 00:19:38.667 --> 00:19:40.669
  • Peter openly denied christ.
  • 00:19:40.669 --> 00:19:42.838
  • The disciples fell asleep while praying and abandoned him when
  • 00:19:42.838 --> 00:19:46.441
  • He was arrested.
  • 00:19:46.441 --> 00:19:47.876
  • Timothy had an ulcer and lazarus was dead.
  • 00:19:47.876 --> 00:19:50.946
  • So what's your excuse?
  • 00:19:50.946 --> 00:19:53.181
  • See, god can and god will use you.
  • 00:19:53.181 --> 00:19:57.486
  • So god told jonah to go.
  • 00:19:57.486 --> 00:19:59.821
  • As i've said before, god said, "go."
  • 00:19:59.821 --> 00:20:02.858
  • Jonah said, "no."
  • 00:20:02.858 --> 00:20:04.493
  • God said, "oh?"
  • 00:20:04.493 --> 00:20:06.928
  • God will always have the last word.
  • 00:20:06.928 --> 00:20:09.331
  • Well, he got on that little boat and a great storm came.
  • 00:20:09.331 --> 00:20:13.335
  • And all of the sailors began to call on their various gods.
  • 00:20:13.335 --> 00:20:17.472
  • Well, jonah was asleep, and they said, "wake up that guy, get him
  • 00:20:17.472 --> 00:20:20.375
  • To call on his god.
  • 00:20:20.375 --> 00:20:21.710
  • Who knows? maybe he has the right one."
  • 00:20:21.710 --> 00:20:23.845
  • Jonah comes up and admits, "okay, listen guys, i'm
  • 00:20:23.845 --> 00:20:26.481
  • A hebrew.
  • 00:20:26.481 --> 00:20:28.183
  • I'm a prophet of the lord.
  • 00:20:28.183 --> 00:20:29.718
  • I'm running from the lord, and the storm has come because of
  • 00:20:29.718 --> 00:20:32.654
  • Me," excuse me, "but if you throw me
  • 00:20:32.654 --> 00:20:35.724
  • Overboard, the storm will stop."
  • 00:20:35.724 --> 00:20:37.059
  • They said, "great, see you."
  • 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:38.794
  • Over the side he goes.
  • 00:20:38.794 --> 00:20:40.662
  • And yes, the great fish, the whale, whatever it was,
  • 00:20:40.662 --> 00:20:44.766
  • Swallowed him.
  • 00:20:44.766 --> 00:20:46.668
  • In the belly of the whale, jonah repented and god gave him a
  • 00:20:46.668 --> 00:20:51.707
  • Second chance.
  • 00:20:51.707 --> 00:20:53.175
  • The bible says, "the word of the lord came to jonah a second
  • 00:20:53.175 --> 00:20:56.378
  • Time, and then jonah was vomited on the shore of nineveh."
  • 00:20:56.378 --> 00:21:01.683
  • This to me is very humorous.
  • 00:21:01.683 --> 00:21:04.219
  • I mean, the whale could have just opened his mouth, and jonah
  • 00:21:04.219 --> 00:21:06.621
  • Could have walked out.
  • 00:21:06.621 --> 00:21:07.956
  • No, he was barfed on the shore of nineveh, so he was believing
  • 00:21:07.956 --> 00:21:12.828
  • And barfed, digested and deployed.
  • 00:21:12.828 --> 00:21:17.265
  • I have more.
  • 00:21:17.265 --> 00:21:19.868
  • He was righteous and ralphed, bleached and beached, victorious
  • 00:21:19.868 --> 00:21:26.908
  • And vomited, and finally barfed and born again.
  • 00:21:26.908 --> 00:21:30.479
  • So, little humility there.
  • 00:21:30.479 --> 00:21:34.182
  • I'm gonna humble you a little bit, buddy.
  • 00:21:34.182 --> 00:21:35.984
  • His skin was probably bleached white from the digestive juices
  • 00:21:35.984 --> 00:21:40.021
  • Of the whale, and he comes out, "40 days and
  • 00:21:40.021 --> 00:21:43.392
  • Nineveh will be overthrown."
  • 00:21:43.392 --> 00:21:44.960
  • "uh, who is this guy?"
  • 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:47.429
  • But amazingly, god worked through him.
  • 00:21:47.429 --> 00:21:50.132
  • He only spoke eight words and it resulted in a
  • 00:21:50.132 --> 00:21:53.568
  • Revival of the entire city.
  • 00:21:53.568 --> 00:21:55.637
  • But what god--what did god tell him to do?
  • 00:21:55.637 --> 00:21:58.473
  • The lord said, "go preach to them."
  • 00:21:58.473 --> 00:22:00.675
  • And we're very apprehensive about preaching.
  • 00:22:00.675 --> 00:22:03.545
  • We usually use that word in a negative way.
  • 00:22:03.545 --> 00:22:06.114
  • You know, you're saying something to someone they say,
  • 00:22:06.114 --> 00:22:07.816
  • "hey, man, don't preach to me.
  • 00:22:07.816 --> 00:22:09.785
  • I don't need a sermon."
  • 00:22:09.785 --> 00:22:12.387
  • So when someone finds out what i do for a living, like if i'm on
  • 00:22:12.387 --> 00:22:15.157
  • A plane, i'm sitting next to someone, we're having a
  • 00:22:15.157 --> 00:22:17.592
  • Conversation, "what do you do?"
  • 00:22:17.592 --> 00:22:19.761
  • And i say, "well, i'm a preacher."
  • 00:22:19.761 --> 00:22:21.096
  • They're like, "oh no.
  • 00:22:21.096 --> 00:22:23.532
  • Five hours next to a preacher."
  • 00:22:23.532 --> 00:22:28.036
  • So we don't think of preaching in a positive way, but the fact
  • 00:22:28.036 --> 00:22:31.940
  • Of the matter is, is the primary way god has chosen to reach
  • 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:36.044
  • Nonbelievers is through preaching.
  • 00:22:36.044 --> 00:22:38.246
  • Now, let me define preaching.
  • 00:22:38.246 --> 00:22:40.215
  • It doesn't mean yelling, though sometimes you have to elevate
  • 00:22:40.215 --> 00:22:43.385
  • Your voice.
  • 00:22:43.385 --> 00:22:44.719
  • It's proclamation.
  • 00:22:44.719 --> 00:22:46.121
  • It's declaring.
  • 00:22:46.121 --> 00:22:47.989
  • It's giving this important information to people, and the
  • 00:22:47.989 --> 00:22:51.059
  • Bible says, "how will they hear without a preacher?"
  • 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:56.164
  • In 1 corinthians 1:21 says, "it pleased god to the foolishness
  • 00:22:56.164 --> 00:23:00.101
  • Of the message preached to save those that believe."
  • 00:23:00.101 --> 00:23:05.440
  • So we all have a nineveh we may need to go
  • 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:08.276
  • To, and we have a choice.
  • 00:23:08.276 --> 00:23:09.611
  • Are we gonna go or not?
  • 00:23:09.611 --> 00:23:11.880
  • Now, let me tell you the real reason jonah did not wanna go.
  • 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:15.450
  • The real reason jonah did not wanna preach to nineveh was
  • 00:23:15.450 --> 00:23:19.354
  • Because he had a fear of success.
  • 00:23:19.354 --> 00:23:22.591
  • Not a fear of failure, a fear of success.
  • 00:23:22.591 --> 00:23:25.994
  • In jonah 4:2, after he preached to them, and indeed they did
  • 00:23:25.994 --> 00:23:30.232
  • Repent, he says this to god.
  • 00:23:30.232 --> 00:23:33.768
  • "didn't i say before i left home that you would do this, lord?
  • 00:23:33.768 --> 00:23:37.806
  • That is why i ran away to tarshish.
  • 00:23:37.806 --> 00:23:40.008
  • I knew you were a gracious and compassionate god, slow to get
  • 00:23:40.008 --> 00:23:45.514
  • Angry and filled with unfailing love.
  • 00:23:45.514 --> 00:23:48.450
  • I knew how easily you could cancel your plan from destroying
  • 00:23:48.450 --> 00:23:53.321
  • These people."
  • 00:23:53.321 --> 00:23:54.656
  • Isn't that amazing?
  • 00:23:54.656 --> 00:23:55.991
  • "oh, i knew you'd do this.
  • 00:23:55.991 --> 00:23:57.592
  • I knew you'd forgive them, and that's why i didn't wanna preach
  • 00:23:57.592 --> 00:24:00.395
  • To them, because god, i wanted you to destroy them."
  • 00:24:00.395 --> 00:24:04.566
  • You know, it's funny, people say, "well, there's a god of the
  • 00:24:04.566 --> 00:24:06.434
  • New testament and the old testament.
  • 00:24:06.434 --> 00:24:09.070
  • The god of the new testament is loving and compassionate, and
  • 00:24:09.070 --> 00:24:12.340
  • The god of the old testament is angry and wrathful."
  • 00:24:12.340 --> 00:24:15.443
  • Nonsense.
  • 00:24:15.443 --> 00:24:16.778
  • There's one god of the old testament and the new testament,
  • 00:24:16.778 --> 00:24:20.315
  • And here we see in the old testament how he shows mercy to
  • 00:24:20.315 --> 00:24:25.320
  • The people that need to hear it.
  • 00:24:25.320 --> 00:24:28.623
  • I wanna end with one last point.
  • 00:24:28.623 --> 00:24:31.693
  • Sharing your faith can be exciting and, believe it or not,
  • 00:24:31.693 --> 00:24:37.499
  • Fun at times.
  • 00:24:37.499 --> 00:24:38.900
  • It's really true.
  • 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:40.368
  • Sharing the gospel is life-giving to us as well as the
  • 00:24:40.368 --> 00:24:44.606
  • Person we share it with.
  • 00:24:44.606 --> 00:24:46.608
  • You see, the gospel by its very design is meant to be given out.
  • 00:24:46.608 --> 00:24:52.280
  • It's not meant to be hoarded.
  • 00:24:52.280 --> 00:24:54.883
  • You're blessed to be a blessing, and there's something wonderful
  • 00:24:54.883 --> 00:24:59.721
  • That happens when you begin to articulate your faith to someone
  • 00:24:59.721 --> 00:25:03.825
  • Else and something even greater happens when that person
  • 00:25:03.825 --> 00:25:07.562
  • Believes and you play some kind of role in it.
  • 00:25:07.562 --> 00:25:11.499
  • Next to knowing christ yourself, one of the most joyful things
  • 00:25:11.499 --> 00:25:14.869
  • You will ever do is see somebody else come to jesus
  • 00:25:14.869 --> 00:25:18.506
  • Through your influence.
  • 00:25:18.506 --> 00:25:19.841
  • It's really true.
  • 00:25:19.841 --> 00:25:24.512
  • Jesus, jesus said it's more blessed to give than to receive,
  • 00:25:24.512 --> 00:25:28.750
  • And the word blessed means happy.
  • 00:25:28.750 --> 00:25:31.853
  • It'll bring happiness to you as you tell others about it.
  • 00:25:31.853 --> 00:25:36.691
  • I have found that the happiest christians are the
  • 00:25:36.691 --> 00:25:39.294
  • Evangelistic ones.
  • 00:25:39.294 --> 00:25:41.262
  • Opportunities are all around you.
  • 00:25:41.262 --> 00:25:44.566
  • Sometimes we're saying, "lord, i wanna be used by you.
  • 00:25:44.566 --> 00:25:47.335
  • I wanna be a missionary.
  • 00:25:47.335 --> 00:25:48.870
  • I wanna cross the sea for christ."
  • 00:25:48.870 --> 00:25:51.272
  • Hey, start by crossing the street for christ.
  • 00:25:51.272 --> 00:25:55.744
  • Talk to those that are around you.
  • 00:25:55.744 --> 00:25:58.813
  • Go into your world and preach the gospel.
  • 00:25:58.813 --> 00:26:01.783
  • You have a sphere of influence.
  • 00:26:01.783 --> 00:26:03.952
  • You have a pulpit, doesn't look like this probably, but you have
  • 00:26:03.952 --> 00:26:07.922
  • A platform.
  • 00:26:07.922 --> 00:26:09.290
  • It could be a social media platform.
  • 00:26:09.290 --> 00:26:11.493
  • It could be your friendships, your coworkers.
  • 00:26:11.493 --> 00:26:14.429
  • Whoever it is, you have people that you can speak to.
  • 00:26:14.429 --> 00:26:17.565
  • Go into all of your world and proclaim the gospel.
  • 00:26:17.565 --> 00:26:23.004
  • Greg: hi, i'm greg laurie.
  • 00:26:26.608 --> 00:26:27.942
  • I've got some good news for you.
  • 00:26:27.942 --> 00:26:29.377
  • God loves you and god has a plan for your life.
  • 00:26:29.377 --> 00:26:33.114
  • Here's the problem, we're separated from god by our sin
  • 00:26:33.114 --> 00:26:36.751
  • Because we've all broken his commandments.
  • 00:26:36.751 --> 00:26:39.554
  • But the good news is, is 2000 years ago, god sent his son,
  • 00:26:39.554 --> 00:26:44.059
  • Jesus christ, to die on the cross for your sin and then to
  • 00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:47.662
  • Rise again from the dead.
  • 00:26:47.662 --> 00:26:49.664
  • The same jesus who died and rose is alive and ready to come into
  • 00:26:49.664 --> 00:26:53.835
  • Your life right now.
  • 00:26:53.835 --> 00:26:55.603
  • Would you like your sin forgiven?
  • 00:26:55.603 --> 00:26:57.639
  • Would you like to know that when you die you will go to heaven?
  • 00:26:57.639 --> 00:27:00.575
  • If so, pray this simple prayer with me right now.
  • 00:27:00.575 --> 00:27:03.912
  • Just say, "lord jesus, i know i'm a sinner, but i believe
  • 00:27:03.912 --> 00:27:07.482
  • You're the savior who died on the cross for my sin.
  • 00:27:07.482 --> 00:27:10.919
  • I turn from my sin now and i choose to follow you from this
  • 00:27:10.919 --> 00:27:15.223
  • Moment forward."
  • 00:27:15.223 --> 00:27:16.858
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:27:16.858 --> 00:27:18.793
  • If you did, god in heaven has heard you.
  • 00:27:18.793 --> 00:27:21.663
  • And let me be the first to say to you, congratulations and
  • 00:27:21.663 --> 00:27:25.633
  • Welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:27:25.633 --> 00:27:27.535