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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - There's A New Kid In Town

May 15, 2025 | S25:E116

Greg Laurie - There's A New Kid In Town
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#GregLaurie #Prayer #SeekGod #Gospel #Missions #Religion #Evangelism #Culture #Ministry #inActive #LightoftheWorld #Idolatry #Idols #HarvestwithPastorGregLaurie #FalseGods

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - There's A New Kid In Town | May 15, 2025
  • ...
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  • Greg laurie: you know, some christians today are more
  • 00:00:03.346 --> 00:00:04.781
  • Interested in protesting than praying, quicker to boycott than
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  • To understand god can literally change things through prayer.
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  • When is the last time you prayed about the problems
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  • Plaguing our culture and society today?
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  • Greg: welcome to "harvest with greg laurie."
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  • This tv show is all about helping you get to know god
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  • Better because god loves you and god has a plan for you
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  • And god wants to transform your life.
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  • And he's told us everything you need to know about
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  • Him and life in general in this book,
  • 00:00:38.348 --> 00:00:41.317
  • The bible, the user's manual of life.
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  • So we're gonna be talking about what the bible says
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  • And what god wants to do in your life.
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  • Again, welcome, and god bless you.
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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: elijah the prophet.
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  • Now, what do you think of when that name pops into your head?
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  • Elijah.
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  • Well, he was a miracle-working prophet, wasn't he?
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  • He raised the child from the dead.
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  • He stormed boldly into the court of the wicked
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  • King ahab and his wife jezebel and said, "it
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  • Will not rain but according to my word."
  • 00:01:35.271 --> 00:01:37.974
  • And of course, we can't forget elijah praying and fire coming
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  • Down from heaven up on mount carmel.
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  • Great guy to have around at a barbecue, by the way.
  • 00:01:45.315 --> 00:01:48.718
  • And not only that but elijah didn't
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  • Even die like a normal person.
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  • He was caught up into heaven in a chariot of fire, and if that's
  • 00:01:52.622 --> 00:01:56.793
  • Not enough, he shows up in the new testament in the
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  • Transfiguration with jesus and moses.
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  • So that's what we think of when we think of elijah.
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  • But we should also think about his humanity, his deep
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  • Depression and discouragement when things did not work out.
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  • He experienced intense fear and loneliness, at times
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  • He doubted the faithfulness of god.
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  • He allowed his anger to distort his thinking, and he experienced
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  • Such dark depression on one particular day he wanted to die.
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  • Who was this guy, elijah?
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  • Simple answer, he was a man just like you.
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  • James 5:17 says, "elijah was a man just like us," or
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  • As another translation puts it, "elijah was as
  • 00:02:41.504 --> 00:02:44.507
  • Human as we are," and it's so true.
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  • Elijah came at a very dark time in the history of israel, but
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  • God used this one man to change history and cause
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  • Israel to turn back to god, and it shows how one man
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  • Or one woman can make all the difference.
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  • It was dark then, and it's dark now, isn't it?
  • 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:06.863
  • In our culture today we have so many
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  • Problems in our world, in our nation.
  • 00:03:09.365 --> 00:03:13.069
  • Racial and political divides are raging, violent crime is off the
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  • Charts and on the streets, the family is under attack.
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  • Many not only want to redefine the family, they wanna even
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  • Redefine what a man and a woman are.
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  • It reminds us of the passage that says, "in the last days
  • 00:03:28.051 --> 00:03:30.954
  • Things will go from bad to worse."
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  • Listen, if you have a constant diet of news,
  • 00:03:33.122 --> 00:03:37.560
  • You're gonna be an agitated, upset, unhappy,
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  • And probably pretty depressed person.
  • 00:03:42.098 --> 00:03:45.134
  • In fact, you can become so distraught you
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  • Might say, "there's just no hope.
  • 00:03:47.370 --> 00:03:49.339
  • There's just no hope," but there's always hope.
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  • And the reason there's always hope is because god is here.
  • 00:03:52.342 --> 00:03:56.312
  • And just as god turned israel around, god could
  • 00:03:56.312 --> 00:03:59.449
  • Turn america around, so we need to pray for a
  • 00:03:59.449 --> 00:04:02.585
  • Spiritual revival, a spiritual awakening.
  • 00:04:02.585 --> 00:04:05.888
  • But listen to this, revival is what god does for us, but
  • 00:04:05.888 --> 00:04:09.659
  • Evangelism is what we do for god.
  • 00:04:09.659 --> 00:04:13.062
  • I can't make a revival happen, you can't either.
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  • We can pray for one.
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  • We can prepare the ground.
  • 00:04:17.166 --> 00:04:18.935
  • Maybe i should say we can pre-prayer the ground,
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  • Pre-prayer, if you will, our hearts.
  • 00:04:22.872 --> 00:04:26.242
  • But having said that, evangelism is something that i and you can
  • 00:04:26.242 --> 00:04:29.712
  • Do and here at harvest we take the great commission seriously.
  • 00:04:29.712 --> 00:04:34.350
  • Jesus has called us to be both salt and light in the culture.
  • 00:04:34.350 --> 00:04:38.354
  • He said, "you are the salt of the earth," but if salt
  • 00:04:38.354 --> 00:04:41.190
  • Has lost its saltiness, what good is it?
  • 00:04:41.190 --> 00:04:44.794
  • It's like a decaf oat milk lavender latte.
  • 00:04:44.794 --> 00:04:52.335
  • If you're gonna order a decaf oat milk lavender latte,
  • 00:04:52.335 --> 00:04:56.906
  • Why don't you just add the word worthless
  • 00:04:56.906 --> 00:04:58.775
  • As well, and then i'm with you.
  • 00:04:58.775 --> 00:05:01.044
  • Or it's like a coke that's lost its
  • 00:05:01.044 --> 00:05:03.346
  • Carbonation, that's gone flat.
  • 00:05:03.346 --> 00:05:05.615
  • An unsalty christian who doesn't make a difference, so salt had
  • 00:05:05.615 --> 00:05:09.485
  • Two purposes back in the first century, number one,
  • 00:05:09.485 --> 00:05:12.555
  • It stopped the rotting of the meat.
  • 00:05:12.555 --> 00:05:15.124
  • They would rub it into the meat to preserve it, so it preserved.
  • 00:05:15.124 --> 00:05:19.395
  • And the other thing salt does is stimulate thirst, so in the
  • 00:05:19.395 --> 00:05:22.565
  • Culture today i'm here to stop the spread of corruption which
  • 00:05:22.565 --> 00:05:26.135
  • Means i speak up for what is true, i speak out against what
  • 00:05:26.135 --> 00:05:30.106
  • Is wrong, and i'm also hopefully, by the way that i'm
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  • Living, stimulating in others a thirst for god.
  • 00:05:33.109 --> 00:05:37.413
  • Hopefully, there's something in my life, in your life, in our
  • 00:05:37.413 --> 00:05:40.950
  • Lives, that a non-believer would see and say, "i want what they
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  • Have," and secondly, we're to be light.
  • 00:05:45.121 --> 00:05:48.257
  • Jesus said, "let your light so shine before men that they may
  • 00:05:48.257 --> 00:05:51.327
  • See your good works and give glory to your father in heaven.
  • 00:05:51.327 --> 00:05:55.965
  • So i'm there to do good works, obviously,
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  • But to also proclaim the gospel.
  • 00:05:58.067 --> 00:06:01.204
  • But this is not happening in many cases.
  • 00:06:01.204 --> 00:06:03.606
  • And in israel's history, they were going from bad to worse and
  • 00:06:03.606 --> 00:06:07.944
  • Things were getting dark, and it parallels our time today.
  • 00:06:07.944 --> 00:06:12.415
  • They had turned to other gods.
  • 00:06:12.415 --> 00:06:14.584
  • It's not that they disavowed the true god, the lord god,
  • 00:06:14.584 --> 00:06:18.621
  • But they wanted some other gods as well.
  • 00:06:18.621 --> 00:06:20.857
  • They sort of wanted to have their cake and eat it too.
  • 00:06:20.857 --> 00:06:23.926
  • By the way, what does that even mean?
  • 00:06:23.926 --> 00:06:25.762
  • You can't have your cake and eat it too.
  • 00:06:25.762 --> 00:06:27.997
  • I've had cake, and i've eaten it.
  • 00:06:27.997 --> 00:06:31.801
  • But you know, sort of the idea of, you know, you can't do both.
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  • You can't live in two worlds and that's what they were doing.
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  • They had abandoned god.
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  • And if you abandon god, a moral
  • 00:06:39.041 --> 00:06:41.411
  • Breakdown will inevitably happen.
  • 00:06:41.411 --> 00:06:44.147
  • G.k. chesterton said, quote, "when a man stops
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  • Believing in god, he doesn't then believe in nothing.
  • 00:06:47.550 --> 00:06:51.554
  • He believes in everything and anything," end quote.
  • 00:06:51.554 --> 00:06:55.758
  • And that's what we have today in america.
  • 00:06:55.758 --> 00:06:57.794
  • I would call it an abc culture.
  • 00:06:57.794 --> 00:07:00.963
  • Abc, anything but christ.
  • 00:07:00.963 --> 00:07:04.467
  • "oh, i'll look at that philosophy.
  • 00:07:04.467 --> 00:07:06.169
  • I'll entertain this idea.
  • 00:07:06.169 --> 00:07:08.671
  • I'll look into this other thing, but jesus christ,
  • 00:07:08.671 --> 00:07:10.907
  • Don't talk to me about him.
  • 00:07:10.907 --> 00:07:12.642
  • Don't open the bible near me."
  • 00:07:12.642 --> 00:07:14.210
  • It's a complete intolerance, and we have this moral breakdown.
  • 00:07:14.210 --> 00:07:18.247
  • You cannot have morality without spirituality.
  • 00:07:18.247 --> 00:07:21.751
  • And when i use the word spirituality,
  • 00:07:21.751 --> 00:07:24.320
  • I mean without faith in god himself.
  • 00:07:24.320 --> 00:07:27.657
  • So they failed to do this, and their troubles began.
  • 00:07:27.657 --> 00:07:30.893
  • But let's not be too quick to judge them
  • 00:07:30.893 --> 00:07:33.396
  • Because of their idolatry, for we too have our
  • 00:07:33.396 --> 00:07:36.699
  • Idols, and i'll talk about that later.
  • 00:07:36.699 --> 00:07:39.902
  • But an idol is anyone or anything that
  • 00:07:39.902 --> 00:07:42.672
  • Takes the place of god in your life.
  • 00:07:42.672 --> 00:07:45.675
  • Whatever fires you up, whatever you're the most
  • 00:07:45.675 --> 00:07:48.177
  • Passionate about, that potentially is your
  • 00:07:48.177 --> 00:07:50.680
  • Idol or your god with a small g.
  • 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:54.450
  • So a little historical background before we dive in.
  • 00:07:54.450 --> 00:07:58.187
  • In the history of israel, they had been ruled by three kings,
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  • King saul, king david, and king solomon.
  • 00:08:02.091 --> 00:08:05.461
  • Now, every one of these kings had their flaws.
  • 00:08:05.461 --> 00:08:07.730
  • David was the greatest of the three.
  • 00:08:07.730 --> 00:08:11.100
  • Saul had his moments where he ruled quite well,
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  • Then he did some horrible things.
  • 00:08:13.269 --> 00:08:14.770
  • He was rejected, replaced by david.
  • 00:08:14.770 --> 00:08:17.273
  • Solomon had a great beginning.
  • 00:08:17.273 --> 00:08:19.408
  • He was so known for his wisdom, people came from around the
  • 00:08:19.408 --> 00:08:21.978
  • World to listen to him including the queen of sheba, but then he
  • 00:08:21.978 --> 00:08:26.082
  • Lapsed and fell into sin, but these three kings
  • 00:08:26.082 --> 00:08:29.252
  • Ruled over israel, but then after the death of
  • 00:08:29.252 --> 00:08:32.722
  • Solomon, there was a division in the nation.
  • 00:08:32.722 --> 00:08:35.791
  • They had their own civil war, if you will, and two kingdoms came
  • 00:08:35.791 --> 00:08:39.462
  • As a result, the northern kingdom and the southern
  • 00:08:39.462 --> 00:08:41.898
  • Kingdom, and idolatry permeated everything.
  • 00:08:41.898 --> 00:08:45.501
  • So now there's a new king in town, and his name is ahab.
  • 00:08:45.501 --> 00:08:50.439
  • He married an extremely wicked woman named jezebel who,
  • 00:08:50.439 --> 00:08:54.510
  • Effectively, was the power behind the throne.
  • 00:08:54.510 --> 00:08:57.513
  • Jezebel was a full-tilt idol worshiper and she
  • 00:08:57.513 --> 00:09:00.950
  • Introduced baal worship to israel.
  • 00:09:00.950 --> 00:09:04.487
  • Now, baal was a god that represented the elements.
  • 00:09:04.487 --> 00:09:09.959
  • He was the god of the sun, of the stars, of the wind, of the
  • 00:09:09.959 --> 00:09:14.263
  • Rain, the god of all of those things.
  • 00:09:14.263 --> 00:09:17.567
  • And his very name meant master or lord.
  • 00:09:17.567 --> 00:09:21.037
  • That's why it's interesting when there was a contest between
  • 00:09:21.037 --> 00:09:23.773
  • Elijah the prophet and the prophets of baal.
  • 00:09:23.773 --> 00:09:27.109
  • He said, "hey, let's call out to god and the god
  • 00:09:27.109 --> 00:09:30.279
  • That answers by fire, that's the true god."
  • 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:33.516
  • That should have been a piece of cake for baal.
  • 00:09:33.516 --> 00:09:35.618
  • He's the fire god.
  • 00:09:35.618 --> 00:09:37.386
  • Now, he--they couldn't pull it off because baal is not real.
  • 00:09:37.386 --> 00:09:40.823
  • He was a non-existent god.
  • 00:09:40.823 --> 00:09:42.692
  • But baal was the god they were now worshiping and actually,
  • 00:09:42.692 --> 00:09:46.796
  • As part of baal worship, it required the
  • 00:09:46.796 --> 00:09:49.899
  • Sacrifice of your firstborn male child.
  • 00:09:49.899 --> 00:09:53.936
  • So this is how wicked things had become.
  • 00:09:53.936 --> 00:09:56.672
  • And then, jezebel also introduced the worship of
  • 00:09:56.672 --> 00:09:59.976
  • Ashtoreth, who was the goddess of sex and violence.
  • 00:09:59.976 --> 00:10:04.280
  • So the people are living immoral lives with impunity, thinking
  • 00:10:04.280 --> 00:10:08.551
  • They'll never face the repercussions for it.
  • 00:10:08.551 --> 00:10:11.220
  • It was so bad that god said in 1 kings 16:33, "ahab did more to
  • 00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:16.859
  • Provoke the lord god of israel to anger than all
  • 00:10:16.859 --> 00:10:19.862
  • The kings of israel that were before him."
  • 00:10:19.862 --> 00:10:23.399
  • We say, "well, this is horrible," but wait a second, do
  • 00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:25.267
  • We not still bow at the altars of sex and violence?
  • 00:10:25.267 --> 00:10:29.739
  • Have you watched tv lately?
  • 00:10:29.739 --> 00:10:31.207
  • Have you seen a movie recently?
  • 00:10:31.207 --> 00:10:32.975
  • Have you listened to a lot of the popular music?
  • 00:10:32.975 --> 00:10:35.611
  • And offering our children to a god, what do you call the murder
  • 00:10:35.611 --> 00:10:40.850
  • Of innocent children in the name of reproductive rights?
  • 00:10:40.850 --> 00:10:44.220
  • It's effectively the same thing.
  • 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:46.656
  • People think they can break the laws of god and
  • 00:10:46.656 --> 00:10:49.392
  • Not face the consequences, but god gives us
  • 00:10:49.392 --> 00:10:52.094
  • This warning, "don't be deceived.
  • 00:10:52.094 --> 00:10:53.763
  • God is not mocked.
  • 00:10:53.763 --> 00:10:55.097
  • Whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap."
  • 00:10:55.097 --> 00:10:59.402
  • The boy king belshazzar who ruled
  • 00:10:59.402 --> 00:11:02.104
  • Babylon found this out the hard way.
  • 00:11:02.104 --> 00:11:04.774
  • One day, he decided to go out of his
  • 00:11:04.774 --> 00:11:06.442
  • Way to mock and ridicule god.
  • 00:11:06.442 --> 00:11:08.711
  • He called for the special instruments and vessels used by
  • 00:11:08.711 --> 00:11:11.914
  • The jews in their worship of the lord to be taken and filled with
  • 00:11:11.914 --> 00:11:15.451
  • Wine and they toasted and prayed to their false gods,
  • 00:11:15.451 --> 00:11:19.822
  • Effectively thumbing their nose at the lord.
  • 00:11:19.822 --> 00:11:22.992
  • And the lord responded, because belshazzar looked
  • 00:11:22.992 --> 00:11:25.928
  • Over on the wall and he saw a hand, just a
  • 00:11:25.928 --> 00:11:28.064
  • Hand, writing something on the wall.
  • 00:11:28.064 --> 00:11:31.634
  • What did this heavenly graffiti say?
  • 00:11:31.634 --> 00:11:34.236
  • It said, "your number's up, buddy.
  • 00:11:34.236 --> 00:11:37.173
  • Party's over.
  • 00:11:37.173 --> 00:11:38.708
  • You've been weighed in god's balances
  • 00:11:38.708 --> 00:11:40.409
  • And you've been found lacking."
  • 00:11:40.409 --> 00:11:42.211
  • So we think, "oh, well, i've done this sin
  • 00:11:42.211 --> 00:11:44.080
  • For years, i've gotten away with it.
  • 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:46.582
  • Nothing really bad has happened.
  • 00:11:46.582 --> 00:11:47.983
  • I think i can always get away with it."
  • 00:11:47.983 --> 00:11:50.319
  • And this is what's happening now to israel.
  • 00:11:50.319 --> 00:11:52.855
  • Funny thing, ahab later describes
  • 00:11:52.855 --> 00:11:56.225
  • Elijah as the one who troubles israel.
  • 00:11:56.225 --> 00:11:59.962
  • "this is your fault, elijah, we have
  • 00:11:59.962 --> 00:12:01.897
  • This drought, we have these problems.
  • 00:12:01.897 --> 00:12:03.733
  • You brought it on us," and elijah's response was,
  • 00:12:03.733 --> 00:12:07.203
  • "i'm not the one who troubles israel.
  • 00:12:07.203 --> 00:12:09.038
  • You're the one who troubles israel."
  • 00:12:09.038 --> 00:12:12.041
  • In the same way, we often blame god
  • 00:12:12.041 --> 00:12:14.043
  • For what we bring upon ourselves.
  • 00:12:14.043 --> 00:12:17.246
  • So, god brought elijah into the scene to be a blazing light.
  • 00:12:17.246 --> 00:12:21.784
  • God always has his right man or his
  • 00:12:21.784 --> 00:12:23.986
  • Right woman at the right time.
  • 00:12:23.986 --> 00:12:26.322
  • When the people were rebelling against god,
  • 00:12:26.322 --> 00:12:28.524
  • The lord said, "send enoch and noah."
  • 00:12:28.524 --> 00:12:32.128
  • When the people were in slavery, god sent moses.
  • 00:12:32.128 --> 00:12:35.464
  • When the very survival of israel was
  • 00:12:35.464 --> 00:12:37.133
  • At stake, the lord sent esther.
  • 00:12:37.133 --> 00:12:39.602
  • And what do these people all have in common?
  • 00:12:39.602 --> 00:12:41.837
  • Answer, they were imperfect people serving a perfect god.
  • 00:12:41.837 --> 00:12:46.475
  • Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
  • 00:12:46.475 --> 00:12:49.478
  • Again, elijah was a man just like you.
  • 00:12:49.478 --> 00:12:54.083
  • He was a ordinary human being, but he took his stand.
  • 00:12:54.083 --> 00:12:59.388
  • Greg: have you ever heard the phrase, "the fear of the lord"?
  • 00:13:03.592 --> 00:13:05.895
  • You know, the bible tells us the fear
  • 00:13:05.895 --> 00:13:07.429
  • Of god is the beginning of wisdom.
  • 00:13:07.429 --> 00:13:09.865
  • But what does that mean?
  • 00:13:09.865 --> 00:13:11.200
  • Does that mean that we walk around cowering in
  • 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:12.835
  • Fear that the lord's gonna hit us or hurt us?
  • 00:13:12.835 --> 00:13:15.204
  • No, take the word fear and replace it with another word
  • 00:13:15.204 --> 00:13:18.641
  • Like respect or honor or reverence.
  • 00:13:18.641 --> 00:13:21.710
  • We are to reverence the lord, respect
  • 00:13:21.710 --> 00:13:23.979
  • The lord, honor the lord.
  • 00:13:23.979 --> 00:13:25.481
  • One good definition i heard of the phrase "fear of the lord"
  • 00:13:25.481 --> 00:13:28.083
  • Is a wholesome dread of displeasing him.
  • 00:13:28.083 --> 00:13:31.086
  • So it's not i'm afraid of repercussions,
  • 00:13:31.086 --> 00:13:33.923
  • But i honor, respect, and reverence the lord.
  • 00:13:33.923 --> 00:13:37.026
  • So, listen, walk in the fear of the lord and the reverence of
  • 00:13:37.026 --> 00:13:40.095
  • The lord today and remember, he loves you.
  • 00:13:40.095 --> 00:13:43.065
  • Greg: greg laurie here.
  • 00:13:43.833 --> 00:13:45.201
  • You know, at harvest ministries we're committing to reaching
  • 00:13:45.201 --> 00:13:47.603
  • Unexpected people in unexpected places with an
  • 00:13:47.603 --> 00:13:51.006
  • Unexpected message.
  • 00:13:51.006 --> 00:13:52.641
  • And thanks to your financial support, we've been able to
  • 00:13:52.641 --> 00:13:57.046
  • Touch people all over the world with the hope of jesus christ.
  • 00:13:57.046 --> 00:14:01.517
  • Your gifts today not only help us reach millions across the
  • 00:14:01.517 --> 00:14:05.287
  • Country through this television program, they also help us to
  • 00:14:05.287 --> 00:14:09.491
  • Bring hope to people in their biggest need, whether through
  • 00:14:09.491 --> 00:14:13.062
  • Our evangelistic events or our relief efforts, together we've
  • 00:14:13.062 --> 00:14:16.999
  • Been able to minister to so many people devastated by the fires
  • 00:14:16.999 --> 00:14:21.136
  • In lahaina on the island of maui.
  • 00:14:21.136 --> 00:14:23.172
  • And also, your support has helped us partner to bring
  • 00:14:23.172 --> 00:14:26.642
  • Medical help in the ongoing conflict in israel.
  • 00:14:26.642 --> 00:14:29.912
  • So i'm asking you today to continue to support this
  • 00:14:29.912 --> 00:14:33.048
  • Ministry so we can do everything possible to fulfill the
  • 00:14:33.048 --> 00:14:37.319
  • Great commission.
  • 00:14:37.319 --> 00:14:38.687
  • Let's do this together, and let me say in advance,
  • 00:14:38.687 --> 00:14:41.690
  • Thank you and god bless you.
  • 00:14:41.690 --> 00:14:43.492
  • Greg: so here's the story now.
  • 00:14:44.393 --> 00:14:45.728
  • Turn in your bibles to 1 kings 17,
  • 00:14:45.728 --> 00:14:48.397
  • And i'm just gonna read one verse.
  • 00:14:48.397 --> 00:14:49.832
  • This is a power-packed verse.
  • 00:14:49.832 --> 00:14:52.334
  • "elijah the tishbite, of the inhabitants of
  • 00:14:52.334 --> 00:14:55.638
  • Gilead, said to ahab, 'as the lord god of israel lives,
  • 00:14:55.638 --> 00:15:00.643
  • Before whom i stand, there will not be dew nor
  • 00:15:00.643 --> 00:15:04.380
  • Rain these years, except at my word.'"
  • 00:15:04.380 --> 00:15:07.950
  • I'll stop right there.
  • 00:15:07.950 --> 00:15:09.285
  • Elijah flung down the gauntlet of his challenge
  • 00:15:09.285 --> 00:15:12.021
  • At the very nerve center of israel.
  • 00:15:12.021 --> 00:15:15.157
  • There was a new kid in town.
  • 00:15:15.157 --> 00:15:17.960
  • You wonder what they were thinking.
  • 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:19.728
  • I mean, here are the king and the queen, sitting on their
  • 00:15:19.728 --> 00:15:22.231
  • Regal thrones, dressed in their royal robes, and
  • 00:15:22.231 --> 00:15:25.935
  • In comes this outback guy, you know?
  • 00:15:25.935 --> 00:15:29.438
  • All hairy and crazy-looking.
  • 00:15:29.438 --> 00:15:31.941
  • He makes his pronouncements and walks out and someone probably
  • 00:15:31.941 --> 00:15:34.476
  • Said, "how did he get through security?"
  • 00:15:34.476 --> 00:15:37.680
  • But that was the way elijah rolled.
  • 00:15:37.680 --> 00:15:40.382
  • In fact, his very name really describes
  • 00:15:40.382 --> 00:15:43.352
  • His mission and purpose.
  • 00:15:43.352 --> 00:15:45.087
  • The name elijah means my god is jehovah or the lord is my god.
  • 00:15:45.087 --> 00:15:51.560
  • His very name was a rebuke to ahab and jezebel.
  • 00:15:51.560 --> 00:15:55.531
  • He is effectively saying, "listen, your god
  • 00:15:55.531 --> 00:15:58.000
  • May be baal, but my god is the lord.
  • 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:02.204
  • As the lord lives before whom i stand, your god is not alive.
  • 00:16:02.204 --> 00:16:07.076
  • My god is."
  • 00:16:07.076 --> 00:16:09.111
  • Now, where he came from is of note.
  • 00:16:09.111 --> 00:16:11.847
  • The bible says he was a tishbite from gilead.
  • 00:16:11.847 --> 00:16:14.416
  • That means nothing to us. what's a tishbite?
  • 00:16:14.416 --> 00:16:16.485
  • Where's gilead?
  • 00:16:16.485 --> 00:16:18.053
  • But actually, gilead was east of the jordan river.
  • 00:16:18.053 --> 00:16:22.324
  • The people that lived there were kind of roughhewn,
  • 00:16:22.324 --> 00:16:24.727
  • Tanned from the sun, tough people.
  • 00:16:24.727 --> 00:16:26.996
  • Sort of like the australian outback.
  • 00:16:26.996 --> 00:16:29.798
  • So elijah walked into the court
  • 00:16:29.798 --> 00:16:32.001
  • And he said, "that's not a knife.
  • 00:16:32.001 --> 00:16:34.003
  • This is a knife."
  • 00:16:34.003 --> 00:16:36.338
  • That was my "crocodile dundee"--how many of you
  • 00:16:36.338 --> 00:16:38.707
  • Remember "crocodile dundee"?
  • 00:16:38.707 --> 00:16:41.310
  • Whatever, okay, but kind of get the picture of just sort of a
  • 00:16:41.310 --> 00:16:45.047
  • Little bit of a wild man, walking into this place of
  • 00:16:45.047 --> 00:16:48.917
  • Culture, and he just lays down this message.
  • 00:16:48.917 --> 00:16:52.588
  • Where did he get this boldness, 'cause as we explore his life,
  • 00:16:52.588 --> 00:16:56.992
  • You know, he was not some kind of a superhero.
  • 00:16:56.992 --> 00:17:00.462
  • He didn't wear a cape.
  • 00:17:00.462 --> 00:17:02.164
  • He was just like you.
  • 00:17:02.164 --> 00:17:03.866
  • He had his emotional ups and his emotional downs.
  • 00:17:03.866 --> 00:17:07.069
  • So where did he get the chutzpah,
  • 00:17:07.069 --> 00:17:09.471
  • If you will, or the courage to do this?
  • 00:17:09.471 --> 00:17:12.474
  • I'm gonna give you four principles of elijah's life.
  • 00:17:12.474 --> 00:17:15.344
  • Number one, elijah stood continually
  • 00:17:15.344 --> 00:17:18.680
  • In the presence of god.
  • 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:21.116
  • Elijah stood continually in the presence of god.
  • 00:17:21.116 --> 00:17:24.586
  • What does he say, verse 1?
  • 00:17:24.586 --> 00:17:26.088
  • "as the lord god of israel lives, before whom i stand."
  • 00:17:26.088 --> 00:17:32.027
  • What does that mean?
  • 00:17:32.027 --> 00:17:33.362
  • It means that he understood wherever
  • 00:17:33.362 --> 00:17:35.130
  • He went, the lord was with him.
  • 00:17:35.130 --> 00:17:38.333
  • Whatever place he was in, god was there.
  • 00:17:38.333 --> 00:17:40.936
  • He was not alone.
  • 00:17:40.936 --> 00:17:42.438
  • You know, psalm 91 says, "he that dwells in the
  • 00:17:42.438 --> 00:17:44.740
  • Secret place of the most high shall abide
  • 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:47.743
  • Under the shadow of the almighty."
  • 00:17:47.743 --> 00:17:51.246
  • You have to walk pretty closely to
  • 00:17:51.246 --> 00:17:52.681
  • Someone to stand in their shadow.
  • 00:17:52.681 --> 00:17:54.817
  • You ever tried to do that?
  • 00:17:54.817 --> 00:17:56.485
  • And that meant that he was always seeking to be close to
  • 00:17:56.485 --> 00:17:59.288
  • The lord, walking closely with the lord.
  • 00:17:59.288 --> 00:18:02.391
  • And listen, when you stand in the presence
  • 00:18:02.391 --> 00:18:04.259
  • Of god, you will not bow before any man.
  • 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:07.663
  • That's where he got the courage.
  • 00:18:07.663 --> 00:18:09.631
  • Proverbs 28:1 says, "the righteous
  • 00:18:09.631 --> 00:18:12.267
  • Are as bold as a lion."
  • 00:18:12.267 --> 00:18:14.436
  • And we need to remember that wherever we go or to whomever we
  • 00:18:14.436 --> 00:18:17.806
  • Speak, wherever it is, god is with us.
  • 00:18:17.806 --> 00:18:21.810
  • It's true, elijah was just one person,
  • 00:18:21.810 --> 00:18:24.079
  • But he was one person with god.
  • 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:27.116
  • Do you ever feel that way?
  • 00:18:27.116 --> 00:18:28.817
  • Like you're the only person who believes?
  • 00:18:28.817 --> 00:18:31.453
  • Maybe you're the only believer in your family, the only
  • 00:18:31.453 --> 00:18:34.890
  • Believer in your neighborhood, the only christian in your
  • 00:18:34.890 --> 00:18:38.527
  • Classroom, the only follower of jesus among your group of
  • 00:18:38.527 --> 00:18:43.532
  • Friends, and you feel just out there all alone.
  • 00:18:43.532 --> 00:18:46.335
  • Well, maybe you are, but one person can make
  • 00:18:46.335 --> 00:18:49.238
  • The difference, and elijah was that one person.
  • 00:18:49.238 --> 00:18:52.508
  • And god is looking for people like this today.
  • 00:18:52.508 --> 00:18:55.477
  • He's looking for ordinary people to use to
  • 00:18:55.477 --> 00:18:58.547
  • Make a difference, to shine their light.
  • 00:18:58.547 --> 00:19:00.315
  • Ezekiel 22:30 says, "i sought for a man among them who would
  • 00:19:00.315 --> 00:19:05.020
  • Make a wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf
  • 00:19:05.020 --> 00:19:08.123
  • Of the land so i should not destroy it."
  • 00:19:08.123 --> 00:19:10.325
  • But the lord says, "but i couldn't find anyone."
  • 00:19:10.325 --> 00:19:13.695
  • Chuck swindoll in his commentary on the life of elijah made this
  • 00:19:13.695 --> 00:19:17.566
  • Statement, and i quote, "those who find comfort
  • 00:19:17.566 --> 00:19:20.435
  • In the court of ahab can never bring themselves
  • 00:19:20.435 --> 00:19:23.505
  • To stand in the gap with elijah," end quote.
  • 00:19:23.505 --> 00:19:26.241
  • Very true.
  • 00:19:26.241 --> 00:19:27.576
  • Elijah stood continually in god's presence.
  • 00:19:27.576 --> 00:19:30.512
  • He was always aware that the lord was with him.
  • 00:19:30.512 --> 00:19:33.382
  • Number two, elijah was a man of prayer.
  • 00:19:33.382 --> 00:19:36.919
  • Elijah was a man of prayer.
  • 00:19:36.919 --> 00:19:38.420
  • James 5:17 says, "elijah was a man just like us.
  • 00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:41.890
  • He prayed earnestly that it would not rain,
  • 00:19:41.890 --> 00:19:44.159
  • And it did not rain on the land for 3½ years."
  • 00:19:44.159 --> 00:19:46.895
  • Again, he prayed and the heavens gave rain and the earth produced
  • 00:19:46.895 --> 00:19:50.866
  • Its crop, so it was elijah's prayer in private
  • 00:19:50.866 --> 00:19:54.836
  • That was the source of his power in public.
  • 00:19:54.836 --> 00:19:57.806
  • And i wonder if you are a person of prayer.
  • 00:19:57.806 --> 00:20:00.943
  • This verse that says he prayed earnestly
  • 00:20:00.943 --> 00:20:03.545
  • Means that he prayed with passion.
  • 00:20:03.545 --> 00:20:06.448
  • The hebrew word means he prayed with prayer.
  • 00:20:06.448 --> 00:20:10.752
  • It's not even the words he prayed.
  • 00:20:10.752 --> 00:20:13.589
  • It was the way he prayed.
  • 00:20:13.589 --> 00:20:15.691
  • It was the intensity of his prayer.
  • 00:20:15.691 --> 00:20:19.494
  • It was the idea that i'm--i am really not
  • 00:20:19.494 --> 00:20:21.997
  • Gonna take no for an answer here.
  • 00:20:21.997 --> 00:20:24.132
  • I'm gonna press in to the throne of god.
  • 00:20:24.132 --> 00:20:27.536
  • There was an indication of his intensity in his physical
  • 00:20:27.536 --> 00:20:31.139
  • Posture, and i think one of the reasons there's no power in our
  • 00:20:31.139 --> 00:20:35.544
  • Prayers is because there's no heart in them.
  • 00:20:35.544 --> 00:20:39.581
  • You know, some christians today are more interested in
  • 00:20:39.581 --> 00:20:42.084
  • Protesting than praying, quicker to boycott than to understand
  • 00:20:42.084 --> 00:20:46.922
  • God can literally change things through prayer.
  • 00:20:46.922 --> 00:20:50.292
  • When is the last time you prayed about the problems
  • 00:20:50.292 --> 00:20:52.861
  • Plaguing our culture and society today?
  • 00:20:52.861 --> 00:20:56.198
  • If you see it on the news, now don't
  • 00:20:56.198 --> 00:20:57.532
  • Throw up your hands in despair.
  • 00:20:57.532 --> 00:20:58.867
  • Let's pray about this right now.
  • 00:20:58.867 --> 00:21:00.335
  • Let's pray for god to intervene in this situation.
  • 00:21:00.335 --> 00:21:04.439
  • Elijah was a man of prayer.
  • 00:21:04.439 --> 00:21:06.975
  • The third principle in his life causing him to make a difference
  • 00:21:06.975 --> 00:21:10.545
  • Was he knew the power of scripture and he acted on it.
  • 00:21:10.545 --> 00:21:15.083
  • Again, number three, he knew the power
  • 00:21:15.083 --> 00:21:17.219
  • Of scripture and he acted on it.
  • 00:21:17.219 --> 00:21:21.156
  • Now, why did he make this pronouncement to king ahab?
  • 00:21:21.156 --> 00:21:24.192
  • Well, deuteronomy 11:16 says this, "be careful or you'll be
  • 00:21:24.192 --> 00:21:28.263
  • Enticed to turn away and worship other gods," this is a warning
  • 00:21:28.263 --> 00:21:31.133
  • To israel, "and bow down to them.
  • 00:21:31.133 --> 00:21:33.435
  • Then the lord's anger will burn against you and he will shut the
  • 00:21:33.435 --> 00:21:36.338
  • Heaven so it will not rain and the ground will yield no
  • 00:21:36.338 --> 00:21:40.008
  • Produce, and you will soon perish from
  • 00:21:40.008 --> 00:21:42.377
  • The good land the lord is giving you."
  • 00:21:42.377 --> 00:21:44.946
  • Okay, so that's a warning.
  • 00:21:44.946 --> 00:21:46.381
  • God's saying, "listen, you turn
  • 00:21:46.381 --> 00:21:48.183
  • To other gods, it'll stop raining.
  • 00:21:48.183 --> 00:21:50.052
  • You won't have food."
  • 00:21:50.052 --> 00:21:51.520
  • And the people had bowed to baal and ashtoreth
  • 00:21:51.520 --> 00:21:54.423
  • And now the drought is coming.
  • 00:21:54.423 --> 00:21:56.391
  • So he delivered that message. that's point number four.
  • 00:21:56.391 --> 00:21:59.094
  • Elijah faithfully delivered the message god gave him to deliver.
  • 00:21:59.094 --> 00:22:03.732
  • He gave that message and that's not an easy message to give, to
  • 00:22:03.732 --> 00:22:07.502
  • Walk in and say, "you're gonna have a drought.
  • 00:22:07.502 --> 00:22:09.805
  • People are gonna die.
  • 00:22:09.805 --> 00:22:11.373
  • You've been a great audience.
  • 00:22:11.373 --> 00:22:13.408
  • Goodnight and god bless."
  • 00:22:13.408 --> 00:22:14.743
  • Mic drop, you know?
  • 00:22:14.743 --> 00:22:16.311
  • Who wants to say that?
  • 00:22:16.311 --> 00:22:18.246
  • And in the same way, we as christians love to tell people
  • 00:22:18.246 --> 00:22:20.782
  • That god loves them, and he does.
  • 00:22:20.782 --> 00:22:23.318
  • We love to tell people that christ can fill
  • 00:22:23.318 --> 00:22:25.387
  • That void in their life, and he can.
  • 00:22:25.387 --> 00:22:27.889
  • We love to tell them that they can be forgiven of
  • 00:22:27.889 --> 00:22:30.158
  • All of their sins, and that can happen.
  • 00:22:30.158 --> 00:22:33.128
  • We love to tell them that when they die they can go to heaven.
  • 00:22:33.128 --> 00:22:35.797
  • It's all true.
  • 00:22:35.797 --> 00:22:37.666
  • But it's a little harder to say, "by the way, the only way to
  • 00:22:37.666 --> 00:22:40.635
  • Have a relationship with god is through jesus christ because he
  • 00:22:40.635 --> 00:22:45.073
  • Himself said, 'i am the way, the truth, and the life,
  • 00:22:45.073 --> 00:22:48.009
  • And no man comes to the father but by me.'"
  • 00:22:48.009 --> 00:22:50.979
  • See, here's the thing that we need to remember.
  • 00:22:50.979 --> 00:22:53.448
  • We can't offer god's forgiveness without speaking of repentance.
  • 00:22:53.448 --> 00:22:58.053
  • We can't offer the hope of heaven
  • 00:22:58.053 --> 00:23:00.122
  • Without warning about hell.
  • 00:23:00.122 --> 00:23:03.158
  • We can't edit this book.
  • 00:23:03.158 --> 00:23:06.128
  • You've probably heard of jefferson's
  • 00:23:06.128 --> 00:23:07.529
  • Bible, thomas jefferson,
  • 00:23:07.529 --> 00:23:10.065
  • Who was our president, had his own version of the bible.
  • 00:23:10.065 --> 00:23:13.368
  • He basically took a pair of scissors
  • 00:23:13.368 --> 00:23:15.303
  • And cut out all the parts he didn't like.
  • 00:23:15.303 --> 00:23:18.940
  • I think it was primarily the miracles.
  • 00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:21.543
  • And so, it was called jefferson's bible.
  • 00:23:21.543 --> 00:23:23.311
  • Some people wanna do the same thing.
  • 00:23:23.311 --> 00:23:24.679
  • "well, i love this, i love that, i don't reallly agree with these
  • 00:23:24.679 --> 00:23:27.382
  • Other things, so i'll just edit them out.
  • 00:23:27.382 --> 00:23:29.351
  • No, it's not the way it works.
  • 00:23:29.351 --> 00:23:31.086
  • He faithfully gave this message.
  • 00:23:31.086 --> 00:23:33.688
  • And we need to faithfully give it, but we
  • 00:23:33.688 --> 00:23:36.658
  • Must do it with love and compassion.
  • 00:23:36.658 --> 00:23:39.995
  • You know, i think sometimes we make the mistake of thinking
  • 00:23:39.995 --> 00:23:43.365
  • Non-believers are the enemy, "they're the enemy.
  • 00:23:43.365 --> 00:23:48.069
  • Ah, they voted for that, they're the enemy.
  • 00:23:48.069 --> 00:23:50.272
  • They said that, they're horrible."
  • 00:23:50.272 --> 00:23:51.973
  • Okay, maybe they've done the wrong
  • 00:23:51.973 --> 00:23:54.109
  • Thing, but they're not the enemy.
  • 00:23:54.109 --> 00:23:57.579
  • The enemy is not the non-believer.
  • 00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:59.781
  • The enemy is the devil who's holding
  • 00:23:59.781 --> 00:24:02.350
  • The non-believer in his control.
  • 00:24:02.350 --> 00:24:05.887
  • Paul talked about those who are being
  • 00:24:05.887 --> 00:24:07.389
  • Held captive by satan to do his will.
  • 00:24:07.389 --> 00:24:10.992
  • Newsflash, you used to be one of those people too, and so did i.
  • 00:24:10.992 --> 00:24:16.565
  • But we forget about that. "but they're the enemy."
  • 00:24:16.565 --> 00:24:19.334
  • No, they need to come out from the power of the enemy.
  • 00:24:19.334 --> 00:24:23.438
  • So we need to constantly be looking for ways to build
  • 00:24:23.438 --> 00:24:26.541
  • Bridges to non-believers, and as d.l.
  • 00:24:26.541 --> 00:24:28.710
  • Moody once said, the great evangelist, "when you preach on
  • 00:24:28.710 --> 00:24:31.713
  • Hell, you should always do so with tears in your eyes."
  • 00:24:31.713 --> 00:24:36.651
  • So when you present the gospel to others,
  • 00:24:36.651 --> 00:24:38.553
  • Do it with love and compassion.
  • 00:24:38.553 --> 00:24:40.322
  • Colossians 4:6 says, "be pleasant and hold their
  • 00:24:40.322 --> 00:24:44.059
  • Interest when you speak the message.
  • 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:46.261
  • Choose your words carefully and be ready to give
  • 00:24:46.261 --> 00:24:48.630
  • Answers to anyone who asks questions."
  • 00:24:48.630 --> 00:24:52.968
  • Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart and
  • 00:24:56.872 --> 00:25:00.041
  • You have seen your need for jesus christ.
  • 00:25:00.041 --> 00:25:03.545
  • Jesus christ is the son of god who
  • 00:25:03.545 --> 00:25:06.548
  • Came from heaven to this earth.
  • 00:25:06.548 --> 00:25:08.783
  • He was born in a manger.
  • 00:25:08.783 --> 00:25:10.919
  • He died on a cross.
  • 00:25:10.919 --> 00:25:12.487
  • He rose again from the dead. why?
  • 00:25:12.487 --> 00:25:14.623
  • Because he loves you, and he wants a relationship with you.
  • 00:25:14.623 --> 00:25:18.059
  • Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
  • 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:20.262
  • I don't wanna be a religious person.
  • 00:25:20.262 --> 00:25:22.063
  • I don't think you wanna be one either.
  • 00:25:22.063 --> 00:25:24.132
  • I'm talking about relationship with god.
  • 00:25:24.132 --> 00:25:27.702
  • Jesus, who died and rose again, stands at the door of your life
  • 00:25:27.702 --> 00:25:32.140
  • And he knocks and he says if you'll hear his voice
  • 00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:35.076
  • And open the door, he will come in.
  • 00:25:35.076 --> 00:25:37.078
  • Question, have you asked jesus christ
  • 00:25:37.078 --> 00:25:39.481
  • To come and live inside of you?
  • 00:25:39.481 --> 00:25:41.416
  • You might say, "well, i think so, i'm not sure."
  • 00:25:41.416 --> 00:25:43.385
  • Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle of the
  • 00:25:43.385 --> 00:25:45.921
  • Night, do you think you would be aware of it?
  • 00:25:45.921 --> 00:25:48.623
  • I'm sure you would.
  • 00:25:48.623 --> 00:25:50.091
  • And in the same way, if christ has come
  • 00:25:50.091 --> 00:25:52.060
  • To live inside of you, you will know.
  • 00:25:52.060 --> 00:25:54.296
  • And if you don't know, maybe he has not come in yet.
  • 00:25:54.296 --> 00:25:58.099
  • He's just a prayer away.
  • 00:25:58.099 --> 00:26:00.001
  • All you need to do is say, "jesus,
  • 00:26:00.001 --> 00:26:02.103
  • I want this relationship with you.
  • 00:26:02.103 --> 00:26:03.972
  • I want you to forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:26:03.972 --> 00:26:06.207
  • I want to go to heaven when i die."
  • 00:26:06.207 --> 00:26:08.310
  • Would you like to do that?
  • 00:26:08.310 --> 00:26:09.711
  • Would you like christ to come into your life?
  • 00:26:09.711 --> 00:26:12.314
  • If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
  • 00:26:12.314 --> 00:26:15.483
  • You can pray it out loud or you can pray
  • 00:26:15.483 --> 00:26:17.552
  • It in the quietness of your heart.
  • 00:26:17.552 --> 00:26:19.888
  • But this is a prayer where you're asking
  • 00:26:19.888 --> 00:26:21.456
  • Jesus christ to be your savior and lord.
  • 00:26:21.456 --> 00:26:24.659
  • Pray this with me now, "lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner
  • 00:26:24.659 --> 00:26:29.331
  • But i know that you're the savior, who died on the cross
  • 00:26:29.331 --> 00:26:33.168
  • For my sin and rose again from the dead..
  • 00:26:33.168 --> 00:26:35.804
  • Now come into my life.
  • 00:26:35.804 --> 00:26:38.506
  • I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
  • 00:26:38.506 --> 00:26:42.844
  • Thank you for hearing this prayer
  • 00:26:42.844 --> 00:26:44.946
  • And answering this prayer.
  • 00:26:44.946 --> 00:26:46.748
  • In jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:26:46.748 --> 00:26:49.551
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:26:49.551 --> 00:26:51.786
  • If so, i want you to know on the authority of scripture that
  • 00:26:51.786 --> 00:26:54.756
  • Christ himself has come to live inside of you.
  • 00:26:54.756 --> 00:26:58.059
  • And i would love to send to you at no charge
  • 00:26:58.059 --> 00:27:00.996
  • Something called the new believer's bible.
  • 00:27:00.996 --> 00:27:03.698
  • It's a very friendly translation of the new testament
  • 00:27:03.698 --> 00:27:06.668
  • You'll find very understandable,
  • 00:27:06.668 --> 00:27:08.803
  • And it's filled with hundreds of notes that i wrote
  • 00:27:08.803 --> 00:27:12.040
  • That will encourage you in this commitment you've just made
  • 00:27:12.040 --> 00:27:14.743
  • To follow jesus.
  • 00:27:14.743 --> 00:27:16.311
  • Let me send that to you at no charge.
  • 00:27:16.311 --> 00:27:18.546
  • And let me be the first to say to you,
  • 00:27:18.546 --> 00:27:20.715
  • Congratulations, and welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:27:20.715 --> 00:27:20.715