Greg Laurie - Things Jesus Never Said

May 5, 2025 | S25:E107

Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Things Jesus Never Said | May 5, 2025

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Greg laurie: you wanna be a happy person?
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Don't chase happiness; chase after god.
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Live a holy life, and you'll be a happy person.
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Happiness is based on what you do, keeping god's word.
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It's also based on what you don't do.
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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: you know, there are certain things we all
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Believe to be true because we've heard them forever.
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They're called old wives' fables or old wives' tales.
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And i'm sorry if you're an old wife, no offense,
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But that's what we call them.
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And--like, here's one: if you drop food on the floor and pick
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It up before five seconds, it's okay, right?
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Often called the five-second rule.
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Is that true?
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No, because bacteria immediately transfers to food.
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Here's another one: you can't go swimming after you've eaten
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Or you'll get cramps and maybe even drown.
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Again, that is simply not true.
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Doctors at duke health say that science behind
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This tall tale is all wet.
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Okay, so, now there are things we hear about god or the bible;
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We're told the bible says this, and they're not really
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In the bible.
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Here's one you've probably heard: god helps those
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Who help themselves.
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The good book tells us that.
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Actually, the good book does not tell you that.
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Now, i don't completely disagree with the sentiment of
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The statement, god helps those who help themselves.
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You might be saying that you're a teenager, you need to go get
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A job now and be responsible and--because god helps those
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Who help themselves.
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Well, that's probably not the one, the thing to say;
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You can say it, just don't say the bible says it.
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A better verse would be, the bible says, if you don't work,
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You won't eat, so get a job.
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There you go.
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Actually, if you were to take this concept, god helps those
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Who help themselves, the truth would be god helps those
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Who can't help themselves.
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God helps those who need his help.
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And so the opposite is actually true.
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Here's another one: the bible says,
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"cleanliness is next to godliness."
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Nice idea; we quote that one when we want someone
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To take a shower, but that's not in the bible, okay?
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And there are other things that we think are in the bible,
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Or they--we think this is what god feels.
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Here's one: god is angry at me, and he's out to ruin my life.
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Some people believe this, and the very opposite is true.
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Nothing could be further from the truth.
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God is not mad at you--listen, god is mad about you.
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If there's one thing that's clear in the bible from genesis
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To revelation, it is this: god loves you.
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He loves you, the bible says, "with an everlasting love,
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Therefore, with loving kindness, he has drawn you."
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1 john says, "god is love."
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"for god so loved the world," jesus said, "he gave his
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Only begotten son, and whoever believes in him will not perish
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But have everlasting life."
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1 john 3:1 says, "behold, what manner of love the father is
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Given unto us, that we should be called the children of god."
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So god loves you.
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Here's another one we hear people say:
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Just follow your heart.
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Other variations on this are: the heart wants what it wants.
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What does that even mean?
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The heart wants what it wants, so i'm gonna do this thing,
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And i know you might think it's wrong, but the heart wants
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What it wants.
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Listen to your heart, and you will find the truth.
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So, in our modern culture, we would think of heart
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As our emotion.
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You know, if someone is not emotional, we might say
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They're heartless.
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If someone is too emotional, we might say, "well, they wear
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Their heart on their sleeve."
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And then, if someone doesn't care, we say, "hey, man,
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Where's your heart?"
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Maybe it's on their sleeve still; i don't know.
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But think of all of the songs written about the heart.
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Bruce springsteen, he had a hungry heart.
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Billy ray cyrus, he had an achy breaky heart, right?
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And tony braxton sang unbreak my heart.
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Maybe that's because billy ray gave her an achy breaky heart,
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So she's saying unbreak my heart.
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But celine dion sorted it all out, and she said
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The heart goes on, right?
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But what does it even mean when we say follow our heart?
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It basically means, i'm gonna go with my emotion.
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I'm gonna go with the way i'm feeling about this.
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So, should we trust our heart?
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Well, the answer is 'no.'
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Jeremiah 17:9 says, "the heart is deceitful above all things,
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And it's beyond cure: who can understand it?"
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No, i'm not gonna follow my heart because my heart
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Can misdirect me.
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Don't follow your heart; follow god's heart.
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In other words, his will.
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And how do i discover god's will?
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By studying his word.
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And, really, what is prayer?
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Prayer is aligning myself with god's will.
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Jesus said, "if you maintain a living communion with me,
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And my words are at home and you, you can ask it once
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For yourself whatever your heart desires, and it will be yours."
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See, that sounds good, but the idea is, i'm gonna find out
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What god's will is and get in sync with it.
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See, when i'm following the lord as i should,
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My desires will change because my heart has changed.
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And god promises, in ezekiel 36:26,
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"i will give you a new heart,
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And put a new spirit within you."
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So then, as we're reminded in psalm 27:4, excuse me, 37:4,
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"delight yourself in the lord, and he'll give you the desires
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Of your heart."
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So, you get in alignment with god, and now your heart changes,
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And now your prayers change, and everything changes.
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Here's another thing jesus never said: love yourself.
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We need to love ourselves more.
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The bible even says love yourself.
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The bible does not say you need to love yourself.
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No, the bible says, "love your neighbor as yourself."
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Yeah, so what is the bible really saying?
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It's saying, "you already love yourself, that's obvious.
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Can you love your neighbor, too?"
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See, the bible teaches, "i am to love the lord my god with all
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Of my heart, soul, and mind."
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I don't need to learn to love myself.
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I already love myself, and you already love yourself too.
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Sometimes people will say something related to this like,
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"i'm trying to find myself."
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Usually before they do something really stupid, they'll say,
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"i'm just trying to find myself."
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You know what?
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You wanna find yourself?
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Then lose yourself.
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Here's what jesus says, "if any man come after me, let him deny
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Himself and take up the cross and follow me;--" listen--
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"for whoever will lose his life will find it."
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If you wanna find yourself, lose yourself.
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In other words, give your life to christ.
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Here's another one: i deserve to be happy.
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Do you?
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Yes, the bible even says it.
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No, it actually doesn't.
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But i deserve to be happy.
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There's nothing wrong with that.
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Desiring happiness, i think, is prewired in all of us.
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It's not unique to modern times.
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Way back in ad 397 augustine said, "everyone, whatsoever
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His condition, desires to be happy."
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Yes, we want to be happy.
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Here's the problem.
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It's not wrong to be happy; it's not wrong to want to be happy.
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It is wrong when you go about trying to find happiness
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The wrong way.
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Some people say, "well, if i, you know, had a lot of money,
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I'd be happier."
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"if i had fame, i'd be happy."
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"or if i had more power, i'd be happy."
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"or if i drove this, i'd be happy."
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"or if i lived there, i would be happy."
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Or if i use this drug, i'd be happy."
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And it isn't the case.
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When comedian dave chappelle was starting to make millions
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Of dollars, he said he was not happy.
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He said, quote, "the higher up i go, for some reason,
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The less happy i am."
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And that's what people find out.
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Now, look, it's not wrong to want happiness, but don't say
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You deserve it.
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I deserve--no, you don't deserve it.
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You want to be technical, you deserve judgment because
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We've broken god's commandments.
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So don't say to the lord, "give me what i deserve."
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The lord would say, "seriously?
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Maybe we should not go there."
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No, so, you don't deserve to be happy, but there's nothing wrong
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With wanting to be happy.
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I mean, know this, god is happy.
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Did you know that?
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Jesus said, "i've told you this to make you completely happy
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As i am."
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I don't think jesus walked around with a frown on his face
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In perpetual sorrow, though it does say in the bible,
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He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
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That is referring more to that point where he's bearing
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The sin of the world.
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But i think, in general, jesus was a happy guy.
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I think he had a smile on his face, a spring in his step.
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I think he was someone everyone wanted to be around,
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For the most part.
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So, happy is good; wanting happiness is fine.
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Paul even writes about the good news from the happy god.
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But here's the key: happiness is based on going about it
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In the right way.
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For instance, the bible says, in luke 11:28, "happy are those
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That hear the word of god and keep it."
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You wanna be a happy person?
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Don't chase happiness; chase after god.
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Live a holy life, and you'll be a happy person.
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Happiness is based on what you do, keeping god's word.
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It's also based on what you don't do because psalm 1 says,
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"happy is the man--" or woman-- "that does not walk
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In the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners,
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Or sit in the seat of the scornful.
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But their delight is in the word of the lord."
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So the bible says, "happy are the people
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Whose god is the lord."
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Greg: i have a boxing glove here signed by manny pacquiao.
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Now, because i own this glove--by the way,
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Manny's a christian--but because i own this glove,
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This does not make me a boxer.
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It makes me someone that owns a glove that belongs
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To a famous boxer.
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I have a football here.
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Owning a football does not make me a quarterback, right?
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And in the same way, owning a bible doesn't make you a
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Christian, it's who you are.
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The bible says, "by their fruit you shall know them."
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My question for you is: if you were arrested for being a
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Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
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By evidence, i don't mean how many bibles you have.
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I have quite a collection of bibles at home,
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Pretty much one for every decade that i've known the lord,
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And i don't throw them away, sometimes i give them away,
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But the point is it's not how many bibles i have,
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It's if the bible has made its way into my heart.
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It's not how you mark your bible,
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It's how your bible marks you.
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It's not even enough to go through the word of god,
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The word of god must go through you.
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The bible says by their fruit you shall know them.
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If people look at your life, your lifestyle,
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Your choices, even your language,
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Can they tell you're a follower of jesus?
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Be someone who's known by their spiritual fruit.
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And don't be someone that pretends to be something you are
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Not, like me pretending i'm a boxer,
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That's called being a poser.
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Don't be a poser.
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Be a follower of jesus christ.
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Greg: we get these cues from culture that tell us
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How to think.
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But the bible is in direct contrast to what
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This world says.
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Let me define this world.
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The bible says, "love not the world, neither the things
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That are in this world; for all that is in the world, the lust
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Of the eyes, the lust of the mind, and the pride of life,
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Is not of the father, but of the world."
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What does that mean?
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You know, sometimes well-meaning but misdirected christians
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Will misinterpret this.
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So, you're enjoying a great burger--
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This is an amazing burger.
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And they say, "love not the world."
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Well, look at that sunset.
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Love not the world.
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That's a misunderstanding.
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The bible, when it speaks of the world, is not speaking
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Of creation; it is speaking of a system, a mentality,
00:12:52.448 --> 00:12:57.520
A way of thinking that permeates everything in culture today.
00:12:57.520 --> 00:13:02.091
It transcends politics; it transcends everything.
00:13:02.091 --> 00:13:06.862
It's in academia; it's in social media; it's in movies;
00:13:06.862 --> 00:13:11.967
It's in television; it's everywhere.
00:13:11.967 --> 00:13:14.937
It's basically the mentality of chasing after whatever makes me
00:13:14.937 --> 00:13:19.175
Happy, the mentality of putting 'me' first, the mentality
00:13:19.175 --> 00:13:24.180
Of living the way that i want to live, with no rules
00:13:24.180 --> 00:13:26.982
Or no restrictions.
00:13:26.982 --> 00:13:28.317
And the one in charge of this mentality is the devil.
00:13:28.317 --> 00:13:31.854
He's called the god of this world, the prince of the power
00:13:31.854 --> 00:13:35.758
Of the air.
00:13:35.758 --> 00:13:37.092
So don't love this world or this culture.
00:13:37.092 --> 00:13:40.462
The bible gives us an opposite way of thinking.
00:13:40.462 --> 00:13:43.499
According to the bible, the way to greatness
00:13:43.499 --> 00:13:46.535
Is through humility.
00:13:46.535 --> 00:13:47.870
The way to life is through death,
00:13:47.870 --> 00:13:49.872
Meaning dying to yourself.
00:13:49.872 --> 00:13:51.574
The way to up is down.
00:13:51.574 --> 00:13:53.309
The way to happiness is sadness, meaning that i'm sorry
00:13:53.309 --> 00:13:57.680
For my sin and i repent of it.
00:13:57.680 --> 00:13:59.014
Now find true happiness.
00:13:59.014 --> 00:14:00.583
The paradox of the christian life is the more we give,
00:14:00.583 --> 00:14:03.452
The more we receive; the more we sacrifice, the more god blesses;
00:14:03.452 --> 00:14:08.023
The more we give, he gives.
00:14:08.023 --> 00:14:10.092
So, if you wanna find your life, lose it by giving it
00:14:10.092 --> 00:14:13.295
To jesus christ.
00:14:13.295 --> 00:14:14.630
If you wanna be great, be humble.
00:14:14.630 --> 00:14:17.032
If you want self, self-fulfillment,
00:14:17.032 --> 00:14:20.135
Seek the fulfillment of others.
00:14:20.135 --> 00:14:22.671
The way to up is down; we need god's wisdom,
00:14:22.671 --> 00:14:25.975
Not this world's wisdom.
00:14:25.975 --> 00:14:27.810
And that's what james talks about in james chapter 3;
00:14:27.810 --> 00:14:31.080
Let's read some verses together, starting in verse 13,
00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:34.049
Reading down to verse 16, "if you're wise
00:14:34.049 --> 00:14:36.752
And you understand god's ways,
00:14:36.752 --> 00:14:38.454
Prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works
00:14:38.454 --> 00:14:41.557
With the humility that comes from wisdom.
00:14:41.557 --> 00:14:44.526
But if you're bitterly jealous and there's selfish ambition in
00:14:44.526 --> 00:14:47.930
Your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying.
00:14:47.930 --> 00:14:52.034
For jealousy and selfishness are not god's kind of wisdom.
00:14:52.034 --> 00:14:56.505
Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic."
00:14:56.505 --> 00:15:00.709
Verse 16, "wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition,
00:15:00.709 --> 00:15:04.580
There you will find disorder and evil of every kind."
00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:08.617
Here's some takeaway truths from what we just read.
00:15:08.617 --> 00:15:11.253
If you're taking notes, the first one: we need to live
00:15:11.253 --> 00:15:14.690
Our lives god's way, not the way of this world.
00:15:14.690 --> 00:15:18.027
We need biblical and godly wisdom.
00:15:18.027 --> 00:15:21.964
So james is contrasting the wisdom of this culture and the
00:15:21.964 --> 00:15:26.669
Wisdom that comes from god.
00:15:26.669 --> 00:15:30.105
When young solomon ascended to the throne, after his father
00:15:30.105 --> 00:15:34.276
David had died, the lord appeared to him in a dream.
00:15:34.276 --> 00:15:38.480
And the lord said, "solomon, i'll give you whatever
00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:41.317
You want."
00:15:41.317 --> 00:15:42.651
And i love solomon's request; he said, "lord, give me
00:15:42.651 --> 00:15:45.054
An understanding heart so i can govern your people well
00:15:45.054 --> 00:15:48.824
And know the difference between right and wrong."
00:15:48.824 --> 00:15:51.927
We, too, should pray that prayer.
00:15:51.927 --> 00:15:54.163
Lord, i want to know right from wrong.
00:15:54.163 --> 00:15:56.098
In fact, we're told earlier, in james 1:5,
00:15:56.098 --> 00:15:58.300
"if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of god,
00:15:58.300 --> 00:16:01.003
Who gives it generally, and does not hold it back."
00:16:01.003 --> 00:16:04.540
Did you know that god wants to reveal his will to you?
00:16:04.606 --> 00:16:08.344
But you need to pray about it, say lord, "i need wisdom here.
00:16:08.344 --> 00:16:12.348
I need to make the right decision."
00:16:12.348 --> 00:16:14.183
And god cares about all those things you deal with in life.
00:16:14.183 --> 00:16:17.419
He will give you wisdom, but make sure that you ask
00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:21.256
For this wisdom, you know, because you can be smart
00:16:21.256 --> 00:16:25.127
And not necessarily wise.
00:16:25.127 --> 00:16:27.696
There are smart people that do really stupid things.
00:16:27.696 --> 00:16:32.067
I've met people, they have great accomplishments, they have
00:16:32.067 --> 00:16:36.372
The degrees on their wall.
00:16:36.372 --> 00:16:37.740
We would call them intelligent, but they do
00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:40.476
The dumbest things ever.
00:16:40.476 --> 00:16:42.311
Wisdom is different than intelligence.
00:16:42.311 --> 00:16:44.847
Intelligence is acquiring and applying knowledge
00:16:44.847 --> 00:16:49.151
With your skills and life.
00:16:49.151 --> 00:16:50.853
But wisdom is learning from the lessons of life,
00:16:50.853 --> 00:16:56.325
Hopefully acquiring some wisdom.
00:16:56.325 --> 00:16:58.727
But the ultimate source of wisdom is from god and his word
00:16:58.727 --> 00:17:02.931
Where we learn how to think biblically.
00:17:02.931 --> 00:17:05.968
So a lot of times the way i make decisions is not because
00:17:05.968 --> 00:17:09.204
I hear an audible voice from god.
00:17:09.204 --> 00:17:11.707
But i think of a biblical principle, what should we do
00:17:11.707 --> 00:17:14.076
In this situation?
00:17:14.076 --> 00:17:15.444
And then you think of a verse that applies to that,
00:17:15.444 --> 00:17:17.279
And you apply it, and then you make your decision.
00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:20.015
But god wants to give you this wisdom, and jesus put it
00:17:20.015 --> 00:17:22.985
This way; he said, "there are two men that build homes,
00:17:22.985 --> 00:17:26.588
One built his house on the rock; the other built his house
00:17:26.588 --> 00:17:29.658
On the sinking sand."
00:17:29.658 --> 00:17:31.026
And then he says, "and the storms came and beat upon the
00:17:31.026 --> 00:17:33.829
House, and the house that was built upon the sand crumbled.
00:17:33.829 --> 00:17:38.233
And then the same storms came and beat upon the other house
00:17:38.233 --> 00:17:41.036
That was built upon the rock, and it stood strong."
00:17:41.036 --> 00:17:43.572
He says, "therefore, whoever hears these sayings of mine
00:17:43.572 --> 00:17:46.842
And does not do them, he's the foolish man building
00:17:46.842 --> 00:17:50.479
On the sand.
00:17:50.479 --> 00:17:51.814
Whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, he's the
00:17:51.814 --> 00:17:54.283
Wise man--" or woman--"building his house on the rock."
00:17:54.283 --> 00:17:57.753
We choose what kind of wisdom we're gonna have.
00:17:57.753 --> 00:18:01.223
Are we gonna be wise, or are we gonna be a fool?
00:18:01.223 --> 00:18:04.293
Because wisdom is known by its actions.
00:18:04.293 --> 00:18:07.563
Look at verse 13 of james 3, "if you're wise in understanding
00:18:07.563 --> 00:18:10.799
God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, good works,
00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:15.237
And the humility that comes from wisdom."
00:18:15.237 --> 00:18:17.673
If you're really a godly person, if you're really a wise person,
00:18:17.673 --> 00:18:21.910
You will live a godly life.
00:18:21.910 --> 00:18:24.746
Otherwise, i'm gonna doubt your wisdom.
00:18:24.746 --> 00:18:27.816
And, also, you use it with humility.
00:18:27.816 --> 00:18:31.653
You know, one of the problems of getting older is you just think
00:18:31.653 --> 00:18:34.289
You know everything, right?
00:18:34.289 --> 00:18:36.925
And you become the know it all.
00:18:36.925 --> 00:18:39.094
So you're sitting maybe at a table with some young people,
00:18:39.094 --> 00:18:41.864
And they say something.
00:18:41.864 --> 00:18:43.232
You cut them off, "that's wrong.
00:18:43.232 --> 00:18:44.766
Let me set you straight."
00:18:44.766 --> 00:18:46.268
No one wants to hang out with you.
00:18:46.268 --> 00:18:49.071
I mean, you might even be technically correct,
00:18:49.071 --> 00:18:51.940
But it's the way you do it.
00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:53.942
You should have humility.
00:18:53.942 --> 00:18:55.310
You might even learn something from some young people
00:18:55.310 --> 00:18:57.446
If you pay attention.
00:18:57.446 --> 00:18:59.148
Learn to be a good listener.
00:18:59.148 --> 00:19:00.849
And then, when people want to hear your wisdom, you can
00:19:00.849 --> 00:19:03.118
Dispense it from your little pedestal you carry around
00:19:03.118 --> 00:19:06.755
With you.
00:19:06.755 --> 00:19:09.558
But true wisdom is humble.
00:19:09.558 --> 00:19:12.794
Here's another thing: true wisdom is known
00:19:12.794 --> 00:19:15.164
By its good fruit.
00:19:15.164 --> 00:19:16.665
Look at verse 17, "the wisdom from above is pure, peace
00:19:16.665 --> 00:19:21.069
Loving, gentle at all times, willing to yield to others.
00:19:21.069 --> 00:19:24.606
It's full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds.
00:19:24.606 --> 00:19:27.242
It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
00:19:27.242 --> 00:19:30.445
And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace
00:19:30.445 --> 00:19:33.682
And reap a harvest of righteousness."
00:19:33.682 --> 00:19:36.685
God's wisdom is pure.
00:19:36.685 --> 00:19:39.288
This speaks of moral purity.
00:19:39.288 --> 00:19:41.323
If you're a wise person, you'll be a pure person in every way.
00:19:41.323 --> 00:19:47.396
But also, notice it says, verse 17,
00:19:47.396 --> 00:19:51.366
"willing to yield to others."
00:19:51.366 --> 00:19:53.435
You don't have to win every argument.
00:19:53.435 --> 00:19:56.071
You don't have to dominate every conversation.
00:19:56.071 --> 00:19:59.675
And this is true wisdom that's willing to yield to others.
00:19:59.675 --> 00:20:03.779
You know, sometimes you just say, "i'll just concede
00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:07.216
That to you right now.
00:20:07.216 --> 00:20:08.550
We don't need to have a big conflict."
00:20:08.550 --> 00:20:09.885
You know, sometimes people take knowledge, and even wisdom,
00:20:09.885 --> 00:20:13.889
And they weaponize it.
00:20:13.889 --> 00:20:15.357
And by that i mean, they take something that they know
00:20:15.357 --> 00:20:18.293
That may or may not be right, and they use it to beat others,
00:20:18.293 --> 00:20:22.664
To knock others down, to tear others down.
00:20:22.664 --> 00:20:25.934
And then it comes to a point where i don't even care
00:20:25.934 --> 00:20:28.070
If you're right; i just don't like the way you do it,
00:20:28.070 --> 00:20:31.506
The way that you hurt other people with what you know.
00:20:31.506 --> 00:20:35.043
A wise person is not so arrogant to think
00:20:35.043 --> 00:20:38.013
They can't learn something.
00:20:38.013 --> 00:20:39.781
So what does it say?
00:20:39.781 --> 00:20:41.149
It says you should be a peacemaker.
00:20:41.149 --> 00:20:43.418
Learn to be a peacemaker, not a troublemaker.
00:20:43.418 --> 00:20:47.089
Learn how to be a bridge builder instead of a bridge burner.
00:20:47.089 --> 00:20:51.493
Be a stumbling--a stepping stone instead of a stumbling block.
00:20:51.493 --> 00:20:55.697
Don't be that person that walks in the room, and everyone goes,
00:20:55.697 --> 00:20:58.033
"oh, boy, here we go," you know.
00:20:58.033 --> 00:20:59.434
Don't be that person.
00:20:59.434 --> 00:21:01.270
Be the one who's full of compassion, the one who will
00:21:01.270 --> 00:21:04.439
Give their wisdom when the moment is right, the one
00:21:04.439 --> 00:21:07.876
Who learns to listen, the one who builds the bridges.
00:21:07.876 --> 00:21:11.113
Okay, one last thought, things jesus never said.
00:21:11.113 --> 00:21:16.118
Jesus never said, if you live a good life,
00:21:16.118 --> 00:21:18.487
You will go to heaven.
00:21:18.487 --> 00:21:20.789
It's amazing to me how even some christians believe this.
00:21:20.789 --> 00:21:23.825
They believe that, if their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds,
00:21:23.825 --> 00:21:27.396
God will let them into heaven.
00:21:27.396 --> 00:21:29.331
That's wrong because the bible says, "it's not by works
00:21:29.331 --> 00:21:32.768
Of righteousness, which we have done, but according
00:21:32.768 --> 00:21:34.936
To his mercy, he saved us."
00:21:34.936 --> 00:21:37.039
And ephesians said, "for by grace, you've been saved
00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:39.374
Through faith, not of works lest any man should boast."
00:21:39.374 --> 00:21:42.010
Let's just play that out.
00:21:42.010 --> 00:21:43.345
Let's just, for the sake of a point, say, it's true;
00:21:43.345 --> 00:21:47.749
If your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds, god will let you
00:21:47.749 --> 00:21:51.086
Into heaven, okay?
00:21:51.086 --> 00:21:52.921
Have your good deeds outweighed your bad deeds?
00:21:52.921 --> 00:21:55.891
I don't think so.
00:21:55.891 --> 00:21:57.626
So, even your own argument is failing, and that's not to even
00:21:57.626 --> 00:22:00.996
Mention it's not true to begin with.
00:22:00.996 --> 00:22:03.899
Because we've all fallen short of god's glory.
00:22:03.899 --> 00:22:06.168
Let's, let me say something that may surprise you.
00:22:06.168 --> 00:22:08.637
There's gonna be some, quote, bad people in heaven,
00:22:08.637 --> 00:22:13.575
And there's gonna be some, quote, good people in hell.
00:22:13.575 --> 00:22:18.080
Does that make sense?
00:22:18.080 --> 00:22:19.648
There'll be bad people in heaven.
00:22:19.648 --> 00:22:21.350
What do you mean?
00:22:21.350 --> 00:22:22.684
I thought heaven was for good people.
00:22:22.684 --> 00:22:24.052
No, heaven is for forgiven people.
00:22:24.052 --> 00:22:26.822
How about that guy, right?
00:22:26.822 --> 00:22:32.828
How about that guy who was crucified next to jesus?
00:22:32.828 --> 00:22:35.564
We call him the thief on the cross.
00:22:35.564 --> 00:22:37.833
I think he was guilty of a far worse crime than theft.
00:22:37.833 --> 00:22:41.002
The romans didn't crucify thieves, but they did
00:22:41.002 --> 00:22:44.239
Crucify murderers.
00:22:44.239 --> 00:22:46.308
He probably had murdered people.
00:22:46.308 --> 00:22:48.877
But, whatever his sin or crime was, he was crucified
00:22:48.877 --> 00:22:53.181
Next to jesus.
00:22:53.181 --> 00:22:54.516
And he said, "lord, remember me when you come
00:22:54.516 --> 00:22:56.818
Into your kingdom."
00:22:56.818 --> 00:22:58.186
And jesus turned to him and said, "you're gonna have to do
00:22:58.186 --> 00:23:00.522
A lot of good works really quickly," right?
00:23:00.522 --> 00:23:04.292
No, don't read that in the bible.
00:23:04.292 --> 00:23:07.262
Jesus said, "truly, truly, i say to you, today you will be
00:23:07.262 --> 00:23:11.666
With me in paradise."
00:23:11.666 --> 00:23:13.301
I mean, how amazing is that?
00:23:13.301 --> 00:23:14.770
And i tell you, that was what you call a deathbed conversion.
00:23:14.770 --> 00:23:18.440
And i have prayed with people on their death beds and seen them
00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:22.377
Come to christ, people that had their heart hardened against god
00:23:22.377 --> 00:23:27.182
For all of their life, but, literally, on their deathbed,
00:23:27.182 --> 00:23:31.286
They realize their need for jesus.
00:23:31.286 --> 00:23:33.054
And what a joy it is to pray with someone and lead them
00:23:33.054 --> 00:23:36.525
To christ and then say, in the authority of scripture,
00:23:36.525 --> 00:23:39.561
"you're going to heaven."
00:23:39.561 --> 00:23:41.196
How gracious god is.
00:23:41.196 --> 00:23:43.298
Yeah, so there'll be bad people in heaven, so to speak, and
00:23:43.298 --> 00:23:46.835
There'll be good people in hell.
00:23:46.835 --> 00:23:48.670
Now, what does that even mean?
00:23:48.670 --> 00:23:50.605
Well, look, if you are good in the sense that you think,
00:23:50.605 --> 00:23:54.075
Because of your good works, you're gonna get to heaven,
00:23:54.075 --> 00:23:56.778
You're really missing the point because "all have sinned and
00:23:56.778 --> 00:24:00.215
Fallen short of god's glory," and one sin is enough
00:24:00.215 --> 00:24:03.285
To keep you out of heaven.
00:24:03.285 --> 00:24:04.986
The bible says, "if we offend in one point of the law,
00:24:04.986 --> 00:24:07.789
We're guilty of all of it."
00:24:07.789 --> 00:24:09.724
And the fact is we've sinned a lot more than one time.
00:24:09.724 --> 00:24:13.695
Jesus said, "in that final day, many will come to me, saying,
00:24:13.695 --> 00:24:17.432
'lord, lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
00:24:17.432 --> 00:24:20.869
Did we not cast out demons in your name?
00:24:20.869 --> 00:24:23.438
Did we not do wonderful works in your name?'"
00:24:23.438 --> 00:24:25.807
I would update and say, "'did we not receive communion
00:24:25.807 --> 00:24:29.478
In your name?
00:24:29.478 --> 00:24:30.812
Did we not get baptized in your name?
00:24:30.812 --> 00:24:32.581
Did we not attend church in your name?'"
00:24:32.581 --> 00:24:35.116
And jesus will say to them, "depart from me; i never knew
00:24:35.116 --> 00:24:38.854
You, you workers of iniquity."
00:24:38.854 --> 00:24:41.656
See, they knew about him, but they didn't know him.
00:24:41.656 --> 00:24:46.094
So, good works will not get you to heaven.
00:24:46.094 --> 00:24:49.965
Now, let me close with something jesus did say.
00:24:49.965 --> 00:24:53.301
Jesus said, "come unto to me, all of you who are exhausted
00:24:53.301 --> 00:24:56.538
With life and are bending beneath its weight.
00:24:56.538 --> 00:24:59.407
Come to me, and i will refresh you with rest."
00:24:59.407 --> 00:25:03.478
Let's pull some of these elements together.
00:25:03.478 --> 00:25:06.915
God does love you.
00:25:06.915 --> 00:25:08.717
God will accept you as you are, but he doesn't want to leave you
00:25:08.717 --> 00:25:11.786
That way.
00:25:11.786 --> 00:25:13.154
God does have a plan for you that's better than your dreams
00:25:13.154 --> 00:25:16.825
For yourself.
00:25:16.825 --> 00:25:18.560
No, don't follow your heart; follow the lord.
00:25:18.560 --> 00:25:21.730
Discover what he has in store for you--in this life
00:25:21.730 --> 00:25:25.367
And in the life to come.
00:25:25.367 --> 00:25:27.569
Greg: have you watched the news lately?
00:25:31.439 --> 00:25:32.974
It seems like the world is coming apart.
00:25:32.974 --> 00:25:35.844
War in the middle east, instability all around us.
00:25:35.844 --> 00:25:39.915
And i'm telling you right now, the bible predicted these things
00:25:39.915 --> 00:25:43.285
Would happen in the last days.
00:25:43.285 --> 00:25:45.220
But here's what you need to remember.
00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.988
Jesus said, "when you see these things begin to happen, look up
00:25:46.988 --> 00:25:51.226
For your redemption is drawing near."
00:25:51.226 --> 00:25:53.395
He didn't say, "freak out."
00:25:53.395 --> 00:25:54.796
He said, "look up."
00:25:54.796 --> 00:25:57.132
I want you to know that i've read the last page of the bible
00:25:57.198 --> 00:26:00.201
And we win in the end.
00:26:00.201 --> 00:26:01.937
We need hope in this crazy, hopeless world, in this world of
00:26:01.937 --> 00:26:05.874
Chaos and confusion.
00:26:05.874 --> 00:26:07.676
Jesus christ has everything you're looking for in a
00:26:07.676 --> 00:26:11.379
Relationship with him.
00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:13.782
I encourage you to call out to the lord and ask him to come
00:26:13.782 --> 00:26:17.519
Into your life.
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Let me send you at no charge, a bible to help you get started in
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Your new relationship with christ.
00:26:23.925 --> 00:26:26.361
Greg: greg laurie here.
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You know, at harvest ministries we're committing to reaching
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Unexpected people in unexpected places with an
00:26:33.435 --> 00:26:36.838
Unexpected message.
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And thanks to your financial support, we've been able to
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Touch people all over the world with the hope of jesus christ.
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Your gifts today not only help us reach millions across the
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Country through this television program, they also help us to
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Bring hope to people in their biggest need, whether through
00:26:55.323 --> 00:26:58.893
Our evangelistic events or our relief efforts, together we've
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Been able to minister to so many people devastated by the fires
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In lahaina on the island of maui.
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And also, your support has helped us partner to bring
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Medical help in the ongoing conflict in israel.
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So i'm asking you today to continue to support this
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Ministry so we can do everything possible to fulfill the
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Great commission.
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Let's do this together, and let me say in advance,
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Thank you and god bless you.
00:27:27.522 --> 00:27:27.522

Greg Laurie - Things Jesus Never Said

May 5, 2025 | S25:E107

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