Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - Things Jesus Never Said

August 21, 2025 | S25 E200 | 27:40

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

#inActive #Harvest #Jesus #Bible #Truth #TrustGod #WalkwithGod #Encouragement

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Things Jesus Never Said | August 21, 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 un-break 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 un-break 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 who's 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,
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A way of thinking that permeates everything in culture today.
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It transcends politics; it transcends everything.
00:13:03.149 --> 00:13:07.920
It's in academia; it's in social media; it's in movies;
00:13:07.920 --> 00:13:13.025
It's in television; it's everywhere.
00:13:13.025 --> 00:13:15.995
It's basically the mentality of chasing after whatever makes me
00:13:15.995 --> 00:13:20.232
Happy, the mentality of putting 'me' first, the mentality
00:13:20.232 --> 00:13:25.237
Of living the way that i want to live, with no rules
00:13:25.237 --> 00:13:28.040
Or no restrictions.
00:13:28.040 --> 00:13:29.375
And the one in charge of this mentality is the devil.
00:13:29.375 --> 00:13:32.912
He's called the god of this world, the prince of the power
00:13:32.912 --> 00:13:36.816
Of the air.
00:13:36.816 --> 00:13:38.150
So don't love this world or this culture.
00:13:38.150 --> 00:13:41.520
The bible gives us an opposite way of thinking.
00:13:41.520 --> 00:13:44.557
According to the bible, the way to greatness
00:13:44.557 --> 00:13:47.593
Is through humility.
00:13:47.593 --> 00:13:48.928
The way to life is through death,
00:13:48.928 --> 00:13:50.930
Meaning dying to yourself.
00:13:50.930 --> 00:13:52.631
The way to up is down.
00:13:52.631 --> 00:13:54.366
The way to happiness is sadness, meaning that i'm sorry
00:13:54.366 --> 00:13:58.737
For my sin and i repent of it.
00:13:58.737 --> 00:14:00.072
Now find true happiness.
00:14:00.072 --> 00:14:01.640
The paradox of the christian life is the more we give,
00:14:01.640 --> 00:14:04.510
The more we receive; the more we sacrifice, the more god blesses;
00:14:04.510 --> 00:14:09.081
The more we give, he gives.
00:14:09.081 --> 00:14:11.150
So, if you wanna find your life, lose it by giving it
00:14:11.150 --> 00:14:14.353
To jesus christ.
00:14:14.353 --> 00:14:15.688
If you wanna be great, be humble.
00:14:15.688 --> 00:14:18.090
If you want self, self-fulfillment,
00:14:18.090 --> 00:14:21.193
Seek the fulfillment of others.
00:14:21.193 --> 00:14:23.729
The way to up is down; we need god's wisdom,
00:14:23.729 --> 00:14:27.032
Not this world's wisdom.
00:14:27.032 --> 00:14:28.868
And that's what james talks about in james chapter 3;
00:14:28.868 --> 00:14:32.137
Let's read some verses together, starting in verse 13,
00:14:32.137 --> 00:14:35.107
Reading down to verse 16, "if you're wise
00:14:35.107 --> 00:14:37.810
And you understand god's ways,
00:14:37.810 --> 00:14:39.511
Prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works
00:14:39.511 --> 00:14:42.615
With the humility that comes from wisdom.
00:14:42.615 --> 00:14:45.584
But if you're bitterly jealous and there's selfish ambition in
00:14:45.584 --> 00:14:48.988
Your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying.
00:14:48.988 --> 00:14:53.092
For jealousy and selfishness are not god's kind of wisdom.
00:14:53.092 --> 00:14:57.563
Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic."
00:14:57.563 --> 00:15:01.767
Verse 16, "wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition,
00:15:01.767 --> 00:15:05.638
There you will find disorder and evil of every kind."
00:15:05.638 --> 00:15:09.675
Here's some takeaway truths from what we just read.
00:15:09.675 --> 00:15:12.311
If you're taking notes, the first one: we need to live
00:15:12.311 --> 00:15:15.748
Our lives god's way, not the way of this world.
00:15:15.748 --> 00:15:19.084
We need biblical and godly wisdom.
00:15:19.084 --> 00:15:23.022
So james is contrasting the wisdom of this culture and the
00:15:23.022 --> 00:15:27.726
Wisdom that comes from god.
00:15:27.726 --> 00:15:31.163
When young solomon ascended to the throne, after his father
00:15:31.163 --> 00:15:35.334
David had died, the lord appeared to him in a dream.
00:15:35.334 --> 00:15:39.538
And the lord said, "solomon, i'll give you whatever
00:15:39.538 --> 00:15:42.374
You want."
00:15:42.374 --> 00:15:43.709
And i love solomon's request; he said, "lord, give me
00:15:43.709 --> 00:15:46.111
An understanding heart so i can govern your people well
00:15:46.111 --> 00:15:49.882
And know the difference between right and wrong."
00:15:49.882 --> 00:15:52.985
We, too, should pray that prayer.
00:15:52.985 --> 00:15:55.220
Lord, i want to know right from wrong.
00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:57.156
In fact, we're told earlier, in james 1:5,
00:15:57.156 --> 00:15:59.358
"if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of god,
00:15:59.358 --> 00:16:02.061
Who gives it generally, and does not hold it back."
00:16:02.061 --> 00:16:05.597
Did you know that god wants to reveal his will to you?
00:16:05.664 --> 00:16:09.401
But you need to pray about it, say lord, "i need wisdom here.
00:16:09.401 --> 00:16:13.405
I need to make the right decision."
00:16:13.405 --> 00:16:15.240
And god cares about all those things you deal with in life.
00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:18.477
He will give you wisdom, but make sure that you ask
00:16:18.477 --> 00:16:22.314
For this wisdom, you know, because you can be smart
00:16:22.314 --> 00:16:26.185
And not necessarily wise.
00:16:26.185 --> 00:16:28.754
There are smart people that do really stupid things.
00:16:28.754 --> 00:16:33.125
I've met people, they have great accomplishments, they have
00:16:33.125 --> 00:16:37.429
The degrees on their wall.
00:16:37.429 --> 00:16:38.797
We would call them intelligent, but they do
00:16:38.797 --> 00:16:41.533
The dumbest things ever.
00:16:41.533 --> 00:16:43.369
Wisdom is different than intelligence.
00:16:43.369 --> 00:16:45.904
Intelligence is acquiring and applying knowledge
00:16:45.904 --> 00:16:50.209
With your skills and life.
00:16:50.209 --> 00:16:51.910
But wisdom is learning from the lessons of life,
00:16:51.910 --> 00:16:57.383
Hopefully acquiring some wisdom.
00:16:57.383 --> 00:16:59.785
But the ultimate source of wisdom is from god and his word
00:16:59.785 --> 00:17:03.989
Where we learn how to think biblically.
00:17:03.989 --> 00:17:07.026
So a lot of times the way i make decisions is not because
00:17:07.026 --> 00:17:10.262
I hear an audible voice from god.
00:17:10.262 --> 00:17:12.765
But i think of a biblical principle, what should we do
00:17:12.765 --> 00:17:15.134
In this situation?
00:17:15.134 --> 00:17:16.502
And then you think of a verse that applies to that,
00:17:16.502 --> 00:17:18.337
And you apply it, and then you make your decision.
00:17:18.337 --> 00:17:21.073
But god wants to give you this wisdom, and jesus put it
00:17:21.073 --> 00:17:24.043
This way; he said, "there are two men that build homes,
00:17:24.043 --> 00:17:27.646
One built his house on the rock; the other built his house
00:17:27.646 --> 00:17:30.716
On the sinking sand."
00:17:30.716 --> 00:17:32.084
And then he says, "and the storms came and beat upon the
00:17:32.084 --> 00:17:34.887
House, and the house that was built upon the sand crumbled.
00:17:34.887 --> 00:17:39.291
And then the same storms came and beat upon the other house
00:17:39.291 --> 00:17:42.094
That was built upon the rock, and it stood strong."
00:17:42.094 --> 00:17:44.630
He says, "therefore, whoever hears these sayings of mine
00:17:44.630 --> 00:17:47.900
And does not do them, he's the foolish man building
00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:51.537
On the sand.
00:17:51.537 --> 00:17:52.871
Whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, he's the
00:17:52.871 --> 00:17:55.340
Wise man--" or woman--"building his house on the rock."
00:17:55.340 --> 00:17:58.811
We choose what kind of wisdom we're gonna have.
00:17:58.811 --> 00:18:02.281
Are we gonna be wise, or are we gonna be a fool?
00:18:02.281 --> 00:18:05.350
Because wisdom is known by its actions.
00:18:05.350 --> 00:18:08.620
Look at verse 13 of james 3, "if you're wise in understanding
00:18:08.620 --> 00:18:11.857
God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, good works,
00:18:11.857 --> 00:18:16.295
And the humility that comes from wisdom."
00:18:16.295 --> 00:18:18.730
If you're really a godly person, if you're really a wise person,
00:18:18.730 --> 00:18:22.968
You will live a godly life.
00:18:22.968 --> 00:18:25.804
Otherwise, i'm gonna doubt your wisdom.
00:18:25.804 --> 00:18:28.874
And, also, you use it with humility.
00:18:28.874 --> 00:18:32.711
You know, one of the problems of getting older is you just think
00:18:32.711 --> 00:18:35.347
You know everything, right?
00:18:35.347 --> 00:18:37.983
And you become the know it all.
00:18:37.983 --> 00:18:40.152
So you're sitting maybe at a table with some young people,
00:18:40.152 --> 00:18:42.921
And they say something.
00:18:42.921 --> 00:18:44.289
You cut them off, "that's wrong.
00:18:44.289 --> 00:18:45.824
Let me set you straight."
00:18:45.824 --> 00:18:47.326
No one wants to hang out with you.
00:18:47.326 --> 00:18:50.129
I mean, you might even be technically correct,
00:18:50.129 --> 00:18:52.998
But it's the way you do it.
00:18:52.998 --> 00:18:55.000
You should have humility.
00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.368
You might even learn something from some young people
00:18:56.368 --> 00:18:58.504
If you pay attention.
00:18:58.504 --> 00:19:00.205
Learn to be a good listener.
00:19:00.205 --> 00:19:01.907
And then, when people want to hear your wisdom, you can
00:19:01.907 --> 00:19:04.176
Dispense it from your little pedestal you carry around
00:19:04.176 --> 00:19:07.813
With you.
00:19:07.813 --> 00:19:10.616
But true wisdom is humble.
00:19:10.616 --> 00:19:13.852
Here's another thing: true wisdom is known
00:19:13.852 --> 00:19:16.221
By its good fruit.
00:19:16.221 --> 00:19:17.723
Look at verse 17, "the wisdom from above is pure, peace
00:19:17.723 --> 00:19:22.127
Loving, gentle at all times, willing to yield to others.
00:19:22.127 --> 00:19:25.664
It's full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds.
00:19:25.664 --> 00:19:28.300
It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
00:19:28.300 --> 00:19:31.503
And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace
00:19:31.503 --> 00:19:34.740
And reap a harvest of righteousness."
00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:37.743
God's wisdom is pure.
00:19:37.743 --> 00:19:40.345
This speaks of moral purity.
00:19:40.345 --> 00:19:42.381
If you're a wise person, you'll be a pure person in every way.
00:19:42.381 --> 00:19:48.453
But also, notice it says, verse 17,
00:19:48.453 --> 00:19:52.424
"willing to yield to others."
00:19:52.424 --> 00:19:54.493
You don't have to win every argument.
00:19:54.493 --> 00:19:57.129
You don't have to dominate every conversation.
00:19:57.129 --> 00:20:00.732
And this is true wisdom that's willing to yield to others.
00:20:00.732 --> 00:20:04.836
You know, sometimes you just say, "i'll just concede
00:20:04.836 --> 00:20:08.273
That to you right now.
00:20:08.273 --> 00:20:09.608
We don't need to have a big conflict."
00:20:09.608 --> 00:20:10.943
You know, sometimes people take knowledge, and even wisdom,
00:20:10.943 --> 00:20:14.947
And they weaponize it.
00:20:14.947 --> 00:20:16.415
And by that i mean, they take something that they know
00:20:16.415 --> 00:20:19.351
That may or may not be right, and they use it to beat others,
00:20:19.351 --> 00:20:23.722
To knock others down, to tear others down.
00:20:23.722 --> 00:20:26.992
And then it comes to a point where i don't even care
00:20:26.992 --> 00:20:29.127
If you're right; i just don't like the way you do it,
00:20:29.127 --> 00:20:32.564
The way that you hurt other people with what you know.
00:20:32.564 --> 00:20:36.101
A wise person is not so arrogant to think
00:20:36.101 --> 00:20:39.071
They can't learn something.
00:20:39.071 --> 00:20:40.839
So what does it say?
00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:42.207
It says you should be a peacemaker.
00:20:42.207 --> 00:20:44.476
Learn to be a peacemaker, not a troublemaker.
00:20:44.476 --> 00:20:48.146
Learn how to be a bridge builder instead of a bridge burner.
00:20:48.146 --> 00:20:52.551
Be a stumbling--a stepping stone instead of a stumbling block.
00:20:52.551 --> 00:20:56.755
Don't be that person that walks in the room, and everyone goes,
00:20:56.755 --> 00:20:59.091
"oh, boy, here we go," you know.
00:20:59.091 --> 00:21:00.492
Don't be that person.
00:21:00.492 --> 00:21:02.327
Be the one who's full of compassion, the one who will
00:21:02.327 --> 00:21:05.497
Give their wisdom when the moment is right, the one
00:21:05.497 --> 00:21:08.934
Who learns to listen, the one who builds the bridges.
00:21:08.934 --> 00:21:12.170
Okay, one last thought, things jesus never said.
00:21:12.170 --> 00:21:17.175
Jesus never said, if you live a good life,
00:21:17.175 --> 00:21:19.544
You will go to heaven.
00:21:19.544 --> 00:21:21.847
It's amazing to me how even some christians believe this.
00:21:21.847 --> 00:21:24.883
They believe that, if their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds,
00:21:24.883 --> 00:21:28.453
God will let them into heaven.
00:21:28.453 --> 00:21:30.389
That's wrong because the bible says, "it's not by works
00:21:30.389 --> 00:21:33.825
Of righteousness, which we have done, but according
00:21:33.825 --> 00:21:35.994
To his mercy, he saved us."
00:21:35.994 --> 00:21:38.096
And ephesians said, "for by grace, you've been saved
00:21:38.096 --> 00:21:40.432
Through faith, not of works lest any man should boast."
00:21:40.432 --> 00:21:43.068
Let's just play that out.
00:21:43.068 --> 00:21:44.403
Let's just, for the sake of a point, say, it's true;
00:21:44.403 --> 00:21:48.807
If your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds, god will let you
00:21:48.807 --> 00:21:52.144
Into heaven, okay?
00:21:52.144 --> 00:21:53.979
Have your good deeds outweighed your bad deeds?
00:21:53.979 --> 00:21:56.948
I don't think so.
00:21:56.948 --> 00:21:58.684
So, even your own argument is failing, and that's not to even
00:21:58.684 --> 00:22:02.054
Mention it's not true to begin with.
00:22:02.054 --> 00:22:04.956
Because we've all fallen short of god's glory.
00:22:04.956 --> 00:22:07.225
Let's, let me say something that may surprise you.
00:22:07.225 --> 00:22:09.695
There's gonna be some, quote, bad people in heaven,
00:22:09.695 --> 00:22:14.633
And there's gonna be some, quote, good people in hell.
00:22:14.633 --> 00:22:19.137
Does that make sense?
00:22:19.137 --> 00:22:20.706
There'll be bad people in heaven.
00:22:20.706 --> 00:22:22.407
What do you mean?
00:22:22.407 --> 00:22:23.742
I thought heaven was for good people.
00:22:23.742 --> 00:22:25.110
No, heaven is for forgiven people.
00:22:25.110 --> 00:22:27.879
How about that guy, right?
00:22:27.879 --> 00:22:33.885
How about that guy who was crucified next to jesus?
00:22:33.885 --> 00:22:36.621
We call him the thief on the cross.
00:22:36.621 --> 00:22:38.890
I think he was guilty of a far worse crime than theft.
00:22:38.890 --> 00:22:42.060
The romans didn't crucify thieves, but they did
00:22:42.060 --> 00:22:45.297
Crucify murderers.
00:22:45.297 --> 00:22:47.366
He probably had murdered people.
00:22:47.366 --> 00:22:49.935
But, whatever his sin or crime was, he was crucified
00:22:49.935 --> 00:22:54.239
Next to jesus.
00:22:54.239 --> 00:22:55.574
And he said, "lord, remember me when you come
00:22:55.574 --> 00:22:57.876
Into your kingdom."
00:22:57.876 --> 00:22:59.244
And jesus turned to him and said, "you're gonna have to do
00:22:59.244 --> 00:23:01.580
A lot of good works really quickly," right?
00:23:01.580 --> 00:23:05.350
No, don't read that in the bible.
00:23:05.350 --> 00:23:08.320
Jesus said, "truly, truly, i say to you, today you will be
00:23:08.320 --> 00:23:12.724
With me in paradise."
00:23:12.724 --> 00:23:14.359
I mean, how amazing is that?
00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:15.827
And i tell you, that was what you call a deathbed conversion.
00:23:15.827 --> 00:23:19.498
And i have prayed with people on their death beds and seen them
00:23:19.498 --> 00:23:23.435
Come to christ, people that had their heart hardened against god
00:23:23.435 --> 00:23:28.240
For all of their life, but, literally, on their deathbed,
00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:32.344
They realize their need for jesus.
00:23:32.344 --> 00:23:34.112
And what a joy it is to pray with someone and lead them
00:23:34.112 --> 00:23:37.582
To christ and then say, in the authority of scripture,
00:23:37.582 --> 00:23:40.619
"you're going to heaven."
00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:42.254
How gracious god is.
00:23:42.254 --> 00:23:44.356
Yeah, so there'll be bad people in heaven, so to speak, and
00:23:44.356 --> 00:23:47.893
There'll be good people in hell.
00:23:47.893 --> 00:23:49.728
Now, what does that even mean?
00:23:49.728 --> 00:23:51.663
Well, look, if you are good in the sense that you think,
00:23:51.663 --> 00:23:55.133
Because of your good works, you're gonna get to heaven,
00:23:55.133 --> 00:23:57.836
You're really missing the point because "all have sinned and
00:23:57.836 --> 00:24:01.273
Fallen short of god's glory," and one sin is enough
00:24:01.273 --> 00:24:04.342
To keep you out of heaven.
00:24:04.342 --> 00:24:06.044
The bible says, "if we offend in one point of the law,
00:24:06.044 --> 00:24:08.847
We're guilty of all of it."
00:24:08.847 --> 00:24:10.782
And the fact is we've sinned a lot more than one time.
00:24:10.782 --> 00:24:14.753
Jesus said, "in that final day, many will come to me, saying,
00:24:14.753 --> 00:24:18.490
'lord, lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
00:24:18.490 --> 00:24:21.927
Did we not cast out demons in your name?
00:24:21.927 --> 00:24:24.496
Did we not do wonderful works in your name?'"
00:24:24.496 --> 00:24:26.865
I would update and say, "'did we not receive communion
00:24:26.865 --> 00:24:30.535
In your name?
00:24:30.535 --> 00:24:31.870
Did we not get baptized in your name?
00:24:31.870 --> 00:24:33.638
Did we not attend church in your name?'"
00:24:33.638 --> 00:24:36.174
And jesus will say to them, "depart from me; i never knew
00:24:36.174 --> 00:24:39.911
You, you workers of iniquity."
00:24:39.911 --> 00:24:42.714
See, they knew about him, but they didn't know him.
00:24:42.714 --> 00:24:47.152
So, good works will not get you to heaven.
00:24:47.152 --> 00:24:51.022
Now, let me close with something jesus did say.
00:24:51.022 --> 00:24:54.359
Jesus said, "come unto to me, all of you who are exhausted
00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:57.596
With life and are bending beneath its weight.
00:24:57.596 --> 00:25:00.465
Come to me, and i will refresh you with rest."
00:25:00.465 --> 00:25:04.536
Let's pull some of these elements together.
00:25:04.536 --> 00:25:07.973
God does love you.
00:25:07.973 --> 00:25:09.774
God will accept you as you are, but he doesn't want to leave you
00:25:09.774 --> 00:25:12.844
That way.
00:25:12.844 --> 00:25:14.212
God does have a plan for you that's better than your dreams
00:25:14.212 --> 00:25:17.883
For yourself.
00:25:17.883 --> 00:25:19.618
No, don't follow your heart; follow the lord.
00:25:19.618 --> 00:25:22.787
Discover what he has in store for you--in this life
00:25:22.787 --> 00:25:26.458
And in the life to come.
00:25:26.458 --> 00:25:27.792
♪♪♪
00:25:27.792 --> 00:25:32.597
Greg: have you watched the news lately?
00:25:32.597 --> 00:25:34.132
It seems like the world is coming apart.
00:25:34.132 --> 00:25:37.035
War in the middle east, instability all around us.
00:25:37.035 --> 00:25:41.072
And, i'm telling you right now, the bible predicted these things
00:25:41.072 --> 00:25:44.442
Would happen in the last days.
00:25:44.442 --> 00:25:46.344
But here's what you need to remember.
00:25:46.344 --> 00:25:48.113
Jesus said, "when you see these things begin to happen, look up,
00:25:48.113 --> 00:25:52.517
For your redemption is drawing near."
00:25:52.517 --> 00:25:54.519
He didn't say, "freak out."
00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.954
He said, "look up."
00:25:55.954 --> 00:25:58.356
I want you to know that i've read the last page of the bible,
00:25:58.356 --> 00:26:01.359
And we win in the end.
00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:03.094
We need hope in this crazy, hopeless world, in this world
00:26:03.094 --> 00:26:07.032
Of chaos and confusion.
00:26:07.032 --> 00:26:08.800
Jesus christ has everything you're looking for
00:26:08.800 --> 00:26:12.537
In a relationship with him.
00:26:12.537 --> 00:26:14.940
I encourage you to call out to the lord and ask him
00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:19.010
To come into your life.
00:26:19.010 --> 00:26:20.679
Let me send you, at no charge, a bible to help you get started
00:26:20.679 --> 00:26:25.750
In your new relationship with christ.
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♪♪♪
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Greg: you know, the bible says: "a good person
00:26:30.989 --> 00:26:33.992
Leaves an inheritance for their children's children."
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God encourages all of us as christians to manage
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Our money well so we can be a blessing to our families
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And to others.
00:26:45.403 --> 00:26:46.738
Harvest has a special gift for you today, an opportunity
00:26:46.738 --> 00:26:50.475
To set up a will or a living trust completely free of charge.
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Here's how you can learn more.
00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:57.949
Greg: i'm excited to announce that here at harvest
00:26:58.016 --> 00:27:00.352
We partnered with our friends at freewill.
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Freewill is an easy to use estate planning tool
00:27:03.855 --> 00:27:06.658
That allows you to make planned gifts to organizations
00:27:06.658 --> 00:27:09.861
Of your choice.
00:27:09.861 --> 00:27:11.329
It's a creative opportunity to support the work we're doing
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Here at harvest ministries.
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So as you make your plans, i hope you'll consider
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Investing in this ministry so we can continue
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To preach the gospel and teach the word of god
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For years to come.
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You can learn more at freewill.com/harvest.
00:27:26.144 --> 00:27:30.000

Greg Laurie - Things Jesus Never Said

August 21, 2025 | S25 E200 | 27:40

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