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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - The Ups and Downs and Ups of A World Changer

September 2, 2025 | S25 E3602 | 27:40

Greg Laurie - The Ups and Downs and Ups of A World Changer
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#inActive #Trials-HardTimes #TrustGod #Faith #LightoftheWorld #Overcoming #Diligence #RelationshipwithGod #WalkwithGod

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - The Ups and Downs and Ups of A World Changer | September 2, 2025
  • Greg laurie: why do you think god seems to go out of his way
  • 00:00:05.204 --> 00:00:07.272
  • To choose, well, the most unqualified people?
  • 00:00:07.406 --> 00:00:11.210
  • It's a very simple answer.
  • 00:00:11.343 --> 00:00:12.678
  • So he'll get the glory.
  • 00:00:12.778 --> 00:00:13.178
  • See, god isn't looking for talented people or gifted
  • 00:00:15.014 --> 00:00:18.250
  • People or handsome people.
  • 00:00:18.250 --> 00:00:19.585
  • I'm not saying he won't use those people,
  • 00:00:19.585 --> 00:00:21.954
  • But i'm saying god is looking for available people and god can
  • 00:00:21.954 --> 00:00:26.258
  • Do a lot with a little and god can do extraordinary things
  • 00:00:26.258 --> 00:00:30.662
  • Through very ordinary people, people just like you.
  • 00:00:30.662 --> 00:00:37.036
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:00:40.572 --> 00:00:42.941
  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪
  • 00:00:42.941 --> 00:00:48.213
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:00:48.213 --> 00:00:50.783
  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
  • 00:00:50.783 --> 00:00:56.822
  • Greg: so let's look now at the ups and the downs and
  • 00:01:00.926 --> 00:01:03.762
  • The ups of a world changer.
  • 00:01:03.762 --> 00:01:05.998
  • Let's look at the rise of david.
  • 00:01:05.998 --> 00:01:08.600
  • He was the least expected man, or the most unexpected man, i
  • 00:01:08.600 --> 00:01:12.671
  • Should say, to ascend to the throne of israel.
  • 00:01:12.671 --> 00:01:16.275
  • But here's what happened. god chose a guy named king saul.
  • 00:01:16.275 --> 00:01:19.311
  • Maybe i should say the people chose him.
  • 00:01:19.311 --> 00:01:21.580
  • He was the people's choice.
  • 00:01:21.580 --> 00:01:23.382
  • They liked saul. saul had a chiseled face.
  • 00:01:23.382 --> 00:01:27.619
  • He had great height, he stood taller than everybody else.
  • 00:01:27.619 --> 00:01:31.824
  • He was sort of charismatic.
  • 00:01:31.824 --> 00:01:33.292
  • And he looked like he would be a good king at first,
  • 00:01:33.292 --> 00:01:35.928
  • But it wasn't long until he was filled with pride and was
  • 00:01:35.928 --> 00:01:39.098
  • Blatantly disobeying god, and the lord warned him
  • 00:01:39.098 --> 00:01:42.167
  • And saul kept disobeying.
  • 00:01:42.167 --> 00:01:43.702
  • And finally, the lord said, "you're done.
  • 00:01:43.702 --> 00:01:45.838
  • I'm gonna replace you."
  • 00:01:45.838 --> 00:01:47.172
  • So the lord directed the prophet samuel to go to the city of
  • 00:01:47.172 --> 00:01:51.243
  • Bethlehem because there in this little city was a man named
  • 00:01:51.243 --> 00:01:55.681
  • Jesse that had some sons and the lord said to samuel,
  • 00:01:55.681 --> 00:01:59.418
  • "one of his sons is the next king of israel.
  • 00:01:59.418 --> 00:02:02.421
  • I'll tell you who when you get there."
  • 00:02:02.421 --> 00:02:04.590
  • So samuel shows up in town.
  • 00:02:04.590 --> 00:02:06.158
  • Everybody turns out.
  • 00:02:06.158 --> 00:02:07.726
  • They didn't have internet or television,
  • 00:02:07.726 --> 00:02:09.661
  • This was a big thing: a prophet's in town.
  • 00:02:09.661 --> 00:02:13.198
  • So they're all there, watching him,
  • 00:02:13.198 --> 00:02:15.000
  • And there is jesse with his seven incredible sons,
  • 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:20.339
  • The magnificent seven right there.
  • 00:02:20.339 --> 00:02:23.642
  • So samuel's figuring, "okay, it's one of these boys," and he
  • 00:02:23.642 --> 00:02:26.945
  • Looks at each one, and the lord said,
  • 00:02:26.945 --> 00:02:28.714
  • "it's not him, it's not him, it's not him."
  • 00:02:28.714 --> 00:02:31.316
  • And then finally, samuel stops in front of eliab,
  • 00:02:31.316 --> 00:02:34.653
  • The tallest of the sons of jesse who probably reminded him of
  • 00:02:34.653 --> 00:02:38.590
  • Saul, and samuel thought, "this is surely the one."
  • 00:02:38.590 --> 00:02:42.694
  • And the lord had said, "will you stop judging according
  • 00:02:42.694 --> 00:02:45.030
  • To outward appearance?
  • 00:02:45.030 --> 00:02:46.398
  • I look on the heart. he's not the one."
  • 00:02:46.398 --> 00:02:49.168
  • So after he's done looking at all of the sons,
  • 00:02:49.168 --> 00:02:51.336
  • Samuel says, "the lord hasn't chosen any of these sons.
  • 00:02:51.336 --> 00:02:55.007
  • Do you have any other sons?"
  • 00:02:55.007 --> 00:02:56.875
  • "yeah," says jesse, "one other, but he's a little weird.
  • 00:02:56.875 --> 00:03:02.047
  • He hangs out in the field, he watches his little flock of
  • 00:03:02.047 --> 00:03:04.650
  • Sheep, he's a musician, that explains a lot.
  • 00:03:04.650 --> 00:03:09.922
  • He sings songs about god."
  • 00:03:09.922 --> 00:03:12.457
  • "well, bring him in here," the prophet demands.
  • 00:03:12.457 --> 00:03:15.427
  • So in comes david, reddish hair color,
  • 00:03:15.427 --> 00:03:19.798
  • Probably freckles on his face, full of vim and vigor.
  • 00:03:19.798 --> 00:03:22.668
  • I don't even know what vim and vigor are,
  • 00:03:22.668 --> 00:03:24.169
  • But i'm sure he had it.
  • 00:03:24.169 --> 00:03:26.238
  • And the lord says: "that's my boy," and so,
  • 00:03:26.238 --> 00:03:28.807
  • Right there, on the spot, samuel pours oil on david's head,
  • 00:03:28.807 --> 00:03:32.644
  • Symbolizing this is the next king of israel.
  • 00:03:32.644 --> 00:03:36.114
  • The people watching probably thought that
  • 00:03:36.114 --> 00:03:37.950
  • Samuel was going senile.
  • 00:03:37.950 --> 00:03:40.719
  • "are you kidding me?
  • 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:42.120
  • Him?
  • 00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:43.488
  • And not eliab or one of the other sons?
  • 00:03:43.488 --> 00:03:46.058
  • You're choosing david of all people?"
  • 00:03:46.058 --> 00:03:49.228
  • But it shows that god sees things differently than we do.
  • 00:03:49.228 --> 00:03:53.966
  • And that brings me to my first point about being a world
  • 00:03:53.966 --> 00:03:56.802
  • Changer: god uses ordinary people to change the world.
  • 00:03:56.802 --> 00:04:02.007
  • If you're taking notes, there it is,
  • 00:04:02.007 --> 00:04:03.642
  • Number one: god uses ordinary people to change from the world.
  • 00:04:03.642 --> 00:04:08.647
  • Contrast david with saul.
  • 00:04:08.647 --> 00:04:10.816
  • Saul was loved by his parents, stable home.
  • 00:04:10.816 --> 00:04:14.152
  • David was forgotten and ignored by his parents.
  • 00:04:14.152 --> 00:04:17.155
  • He was the polar opposite of saul.
  • 00:04:17.155 --> 00:04:20.726
  • Saul stood head and shoulders above everybody else.
  • 00:04:20.726 --> 00:04:23.462
  • There was even a song about saul on israeli radio.
  • 00:04:23.462 --> 00:04:29.034
  • I discovered it recently.
  • 00:04:29.034 --> 00:04:31.536
  • It went like this:
  • 00:04:31.536 --> 00:04:32.871
  • ♪ no one's slick as king saul, no one's quick as king saul. ♪
  • 00:04:32.871 --> 00:04:38.644
  • ♪ no one's neck is incredibly thick as king saul. ♪
  • 00:04:38.644 --> 00:04:42.347
  • No, that's gaston. i'm confused, sorry.
  • 00:04:42.347 --> 00:04:45.917
  • "beauty and the beast," get it? okay, forget it.
  • 00:04:45.917 --> 00:04:49.955
  • But that was him.
  • 00:04:49.955 --> 00:04:51.490
  • That was the very guy he was.
  • 00:04:51.490 --> 00:04:53.091
  • And in contrast, david was just an ordinary shepherd boy,
  • 00:04:53.091 --> 00:04:57.696
  • But chosen by god.
  • 00:04:57.696 --> 00:04:59.798
  • Why do you think god seems to go out of his way to choose,
  • 00:04:59.798 --> 00:05:03.302
  • Well, the most unqualified people?
  • 00:05:03.302 --> 00:05:06.238
  • It's a very simple answer.
  • 00:05:06.238 --> 00:05:07.706
  • So he'll get the glory.
  • 00:05:07.706 --> 00:05:09.941
  • See, god isn't looking for talented people or gifted
  • 00:05:09.941 --> 00:05:13.278
  • People or handsome people.
  • 00:05:13.278 --> 00:05:14.613
  • I'm not saying he won't use those people,
  • 00:05:14.613 --> 00:05:16.948
  • But i'm saying god is looking for available people and god can
  • 00:05:16.948 --> 00:05:21.286
  • Do a lot with a little, and god can do extraordinary things
  • 00:05:21.286 --> 00:05:25.691
  • Through very ordinary people, people just like you.
  • 00:05:25.691 --> 00:05:31.396
  • So that was david.
  • 00:05:31.396 --> 00:05:32.731
  • And why does the lord do it this way?
  • 00:05:32.731 --> 00:05:34.066
  • 1 corinthians 1:26 gives the answer.
  • 00:05:34.066 --> 00:05:37.202
  • It says: "remember, brothers and sisters,
  • 00:05:37.202 --> 00:05:39.538
  • Very few of you were wise in the world's eyes,
  • 00:05:39.538 --> 00:05:42.274
  • But god deliberately chose things the world considers
  • 00:05:42.274 --> 00:05:45.243
  • Foolish in order to shame those that think they're wise."
  • 00:05:45.243 --> 00:05:49.081
  • Listen, you have nothing to say about what family
  • 00:05:49.081 --> 00:05:51.583
  • You were born into.
  • 00:05:51.583 --> 00:05:53.051
  • You have nothing to say about the circumstances
  • 00:05:53.051 --> 00:05:55.687
  • You're facing right now.
  • 00:05:55.687 --> 00:05:57.723
  • You have nothing to say about the hand you have been dealt in
  • 00:05:57.723 --> 00:06:01.460
  • Life, but you have a lot to say about how you will react and
  • 00:06:01.460 --> 00:06:05.897
  • What you will live for.
  • 00:06:05.897 --> 00:06:08.133
  • See, you can't control your circumstances.
  • 00:06:08.133 --> 00:06:10.469
  • I've tried; it doesn't work.
  • 00:06:10.469 --> 00:06:12.504
  • But i can control my reaction to the circumstances.
  • 00:06:12.504 --> 00:06:16.541
  • I'm the one who decides if i'll honor god
  • 00:06:16.541 --> 00:06:19.177
  • Or if i'll be angry with god.
  • 00:06:19.177 --> 00:06:21.079
  • I'm the one who decides if i'll be better or bitter.
  • 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:24.883
  • And david said, "you know what?
  • 00:06:24.883 --> 00:06:27.252
  • My family doesn't care much about me.
  • 00:06:27.252 --> 00:06:29.087
  • My dad won't even acknowledge me,
  • 00:06:29.087 --> 00:06:31.223
  • But i'm gonna honor god.
  • 00:06:31.223 --> 00:06:32.557
  • And that brings me to point number two: world changers are
  • 00:06:32.557 --> 00:06:35.460
  • Focused on what really matters in life.
  • 00:06:35.460 --> 00:06:38.597
  • World changers are focused on what really matters in life.
  • 00:06:38.597 --> 00:06:42.401
  • For a real insight into who david was, just read the psalms.
  • 00:06:42.401 --> 00:06:46.538
  • Understand, psalms were songs, okay?
  • 00:06:46.538 --> 00:06:50.041
  • So think of david as a singer-songwriter, all right?
  • 00:06:50.041 --> 00:06:53.345
  • You know, walking around with his guitar,
  • 00:06:53.345 --> 00:06:55.213
  • His harmonica, bob dylan-style, whatever,
  • 00:06:55.213 --> 00:06:58.049
  • Whatever person you wanna insert there
  • 00:06:58.049 --> 00:06:59.985
  • That you would think is a good singer-songwriter,
  • 00:06:59.985 --> 00:07:02.587
  • And he wrote songs about god.
  • 00:07:02.587 --> 00:07:05.457
  • In fact, he would express his love for god.
  • 00:07:05.457 --> 00:07:09.027
  • Psalm 34, he says, "i'll bless the lord at all times;
  • 00:07:09.027 --> 00:07:11.997
  • His praise will continually be in my mouth."
  • 00:07:11.997 --> 00:07:15.200
  • And he was focused.
  • 00:07:15.200 --> 00:07:16.535
  • He wrote in psalm 57: "my heart is fixed,
  • 00:07:16.535 --> 00:07:19.604
  • O god, my heart is fixed," which meant that he had fixed his
  • 00:07:19.604 --> 00:07:25.577
  • Heart on god or he knew where he was going.
  • 00:07:25.577 --> 00:07:28.547
  • He knew what was most important.
  • 00:07:28.547 --> 00:07:30.315
  • He put the lord first in his life.
  • 00:07:30.315 --> 00:07:32.918
  • Point number three: "world changers are faithful in little
  • 00:07:32.918 --> 00:07:36.721
  • Things so god gives them bigger things."
  • 00:07:36.721 --> 00:07:40.358
  • "world changers are faithful in little things so god
  • 00:07:40.358 --> 00:07:43.662
  • Gives them big things."
  • 00:07:43.662 --> 00:07:45.530
  • Okay, what was david's responsibility?
  • 00:07:45.530 --> 00:07:47.532
  • Watching his flock of sheep. i mean, think about this.
  • 00:07:47.532 --> 00:07:49.801
  • You're david, you're out in the field, tending your flock.
  • 00:07:49.801 --> 00:07:53.371
  • You're called in, you meet the prophet samuel.
  • 00:07:53.371 --> 00:07:55.607
  • He pours oil on your head.
  • 00:07:55.607 --> 00:07:58.076
  • He says you're the next king of israel.
  • 00:07:58.076 --> 00:07:59.878
  • Now your brothers hate you even more than they did before,
  • 00:07:59.878 --> 00:08:03.482
  • And then you just go back to your flock of sheep.
  • 00:08:03.482 --> 00:08:06.184
  • No crown was given to him, no stretched chariot with secret
  • 00:08:06.184 --> 00:08:10.155
  • Service protection was waiting.
  • 00:08:10.155 --> 00:08:12.858
  • Just everything back to normal, so david's...
  • 00:08:12.858 --> 00:08:15.093
  • "go back and watch the sheep."
  • 00:08:15.093 --> 00:08:16.795
  • So one day his dad says, "son, i want you to go
  • 00:08:16.795 --> 00:08:19.397
  • Visit your brother--brothers.
  • 00:08:19.397 --> 00:08:21.233
  • They're out there in the military,
  • 00:08:21.233 --> 00:08:22.634
  • On the front lines, facing off with the philistines."
  • 00:08:22.634 --> 00:08:25.637
  • The father says, "take some bread
  • 00:08:25.637 --> 00:08:27.539
  • And cheese to your brothers."
  • 00:08:27.539 --> 00:08:29.441
  • So, effectively, david is making a pizza delivery.
  • 00:08:29.441 --> 00:08:34.813
  • What is pizza? it's bread and cheese.
  • 00:08:34.813 --> 00:08:37.916
  • Very artfully done, i might add.
  • 00:08:37.916 --> 00:08:39.751
  • Throw in a little pepperoni, it's even better.
  • 00:08:39.751 --> 00:08:42.654
  • But really, he's delivering pizza.
  • 00:08:42.654 --> 00:08:45.090
  • So he shows up and his brothers see him, and eliab,
  • 00:08:45.090 --> 00:08:47.759
  • His older brother, who's still ticked off that he wasn't
  • 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:50.195
  • Anointed king, says, "oh, have you left your little flock of
  • 00:08:50.195 --> 00:08:53.498
  • Sheep to come see what the big boys are doing?"
  • 00:08:53.498 --> 00:08:56.668
  • David's looking around going, "who's that guy down there?"
  • 00:08:56.668 --> 00:08:59.371
  • And there, down in the valley of elah was this oversized man,
  • 00:08:59.371 --> 00:09:03.675
  • 9 feet 6 inches of solid muscle, covered in body armor with a
  • 00:09:03.675 --> 00:09:09.981
  • Massive sword, asking for someone to come fight him,
  • 00:09:09.981 --> 00:09:14.219
  • Saying, "come fight me, and if i lose we'll serve you,
  • 00:09:14.219 --> 00:09:18.056
  • But if you lose you serve us."
  • 00:09:18.056 --> 00:09:19.824
  • And everyone was terrified, including david's brother
  • 00:09:19.824 --> 00:09:23.261
  • Eliab, including king saul.
  • 00:09:23.261 --> 00:09:25.730
  • David says, "i'll take him on."
  • 00:09:25.730 --> 00:09:27.933
  • "you and what army?"
  • 00:09:27.933 --> 00:09:29.267
  • "oh, me and the lord, 'cause i'm looking at that
  • 00:09:29.267 --> 00:09:32.537
  • Giant in the light of god.
  • 00:09:32.537 --> 00:09:33.872
  • I'm not looking at god in the light of that giant."
  • 00:09:33.872 --> 00:09:37.175
  • And you know, i talked about this in my message,
  • 00:09:37.175 --> 00:09:38.810
  • "facing your giants," in this series,
  • 00:09:38.810 --> 00:09:40.779
  • So we'll just kind of fast forward through it,
  • 00:09:40.779 --> 00:09:42.514
  • And you know what happened.
  • 00:09:42.514 --> 00:09:43.848
  • David picked up that stone, he got it slinging around,
  • 00:09:43.848 --> 00:09:48.019
  • And he got the momentum and let it fly and it hit the giant in
  • 00:09:48.019 --> 00:09:50.956
  • The forehead, and goliath came crashing to the ground.
  • 00:09:50.956 --> 00:09:55.894
  • That was the rise of david.
  • 00:09:55.894 --> 00:09:58.630
  • Now the fall of david.
  • 00:09:58.630 --> 00:10:00.265
  • 2 samuel 11.
  • 00:10:00.265 --> 00:10:03.468
  • The following spring, the time of the year when kings go to
  • 00:10:03.468 --> 00:10:06.871
  • War, david sent joab and the israelite army
  • 00:10:06.871 --> 00:10:09.341
  • To destroy the ammonites.
  • 00:10:09.341 --> 00:10:11.042
  • And in the process, they laid siege to the city of rabbah.
  • 00:10:11.042 --> 00:10:15.513
  • David stayed behind in jerusalem.
  • 00:10:15.513 --> 00:10:17.882
  • Late one afternoon, david got out of bed after taking a nap
  • 00:10:17.882 --> 00:10:21.186
  • And went for a stroll on the roof of his palace.
  • 00:10:21.186 --> 00:10:23.788
  • He looked over that city, and he noticed a woman of unusual
  • 00:10:23.788 --> 00:10:27.225
  • Beauty taking a bath.
  • 00:10:27.225 --> 00:10:29.027
  • He sent someone to find out who she was,
  • 00:10:29.027 --> 00:10:31.129
  • And he was told, 'she is bathsheba,
  • 00:10:31.129 --> 00:10:33.465
  • The daughter of eliam and the wife of uriah the hittite.'
  • 00:10:33.465 --> 00:10:37.535
  • Then david sent for her; and when she came to the palace,
  • 00:10:37.535 --> 00:10:40.805
  • He slept with her.
  • 00:10:40.805 --> 00:10:42.140
  • Then she returned home.
  • 00:10:42.140 --> 00:10:43.575
  • And when bathsheba discovered she was pregnant,
  • 00:10:43.575 --> 00:10:46.111
  • She sent a message to inform david."
  • 00:10:46.111 --> 00:10:48.380
  • We'll stop there.
  • 00:10:48.380 --> 00:10:49.714
  • David was around 50 at this point.
  • 00:10:49.714 --> 00:10:52.584
  • He had been ruling israel for 20 years,
  • 00:10:52.584 --> 00:10:54.853
  • He had gone from victory to victory.
  • 00:10:54.853 --> 00:10:57.922
  • He had distinguished himself in so many ways: man of god,
  • 00:10:57.922 --> 00:11:01.960
  • Skilled musician, gifted poet, writing psalms of praise,
  • 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:06.464
  • A wise and compassionate ruler, and a man of great courage.
  • 00:11:06.464 --> 00:11:12.237
  • He was on an absolute roll, and that's when the devil hit him.
  • 00:11:12.237 --> 00:11:16.841
  • Hey, know this: when things are going really well,
  • 00:11:16.841 --> 00:11:19.744
  • That's usually when the devil hits.
  • 00:11:19.744 --> 00:11:25.617
  • Greg: hey, greg laurie here. maybe you've seen this.
  • 00:11:29.721 --> 00:11:31.890
  • This is called the "new believer's bible," and a number
  • 00:11:31.890 --> 00:11:35.226
  • Of years ago, i wanted to do an edition of scripture with
  • 00:11:35.226 --> 00:11:40.098
  • Commentary that would make the bible more accessible to someone
  • 00:11:40.098 --> 00:11:44.969
  • Who's never read it before, like a new believer.
  • 00:11:44.969 --> 00:11:48.006
  • But today we live, of course, in a digital world,
  • 00:11:48.006 --> 00:11:51.810
  • So we've taken the curriculum from the "new believer's bible"
  • 00:11:51.810 --> 00:11:55.113
  • And we created this online community of people just like
  • 00:11:55.113 --> 00:11:58.583
  • You who are studying the word of god together.
  • 00:11:58.583 --> 00:12:02.020
  • By the way, this is free of charge, you can learn at
  • 00:12:02.020 --> 00:12:04.789
  • Your own pace, but most importantly, you'll experience
  • 00:12:04.789 --> 00:12:08.493
  • The power of god's word to transform your life.
  • 00:12:08.493 --> 00:12:12.130
  • The bible says of itself it's alive and powerful and sharper
  • 00:12:12.130 --> 00:12:16.968
  • Than any two-edged sword, so i hope you'll take your phone
  • 00:12:16.968 --> 00:12:20.872
  • Right now and join us online at harvest discipleship.
  • 00:12:20.872 --> 00:12:25.176
  • Let's learn and grow together.
  • 00:12:25.176 --> 00:12:28.413
  • Greg: see, when you're going through crisis,
  • 00:12:32.383 --> 00:12:35.053
  • You're dependent upon god 'cause if god doesn't come through,
  • 00:12:35.053 --> 00:12:39.624
  • You're dead in the water.
  • 00:12:39.624 --> 00:12:42.360
  • But god always comes through.
  • 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:44.462
  • But here's the problem: when there is no illness,
  • 00:12:44.462 --> 00:12:47.132
  • Where there are no unpaid bills, when there is not a crisis
  • 00:12:47.132 --> 00:12:50.135
  • You're facing, sometimes we're not hanging to the lord as
  • 00:12:50.135 --> 00:12:53.271
  • Tightly as we were before.
  • 00:12:53.271 --> 00:12:55.106
  • See, you're in a hardship and you think this is bad.
  • 00:12:55.106 --> 00:12:57.976
  • Maybe this is one of the best times of your life because
  • 00:12:57.976 --> 00:13:01.012
  • You've never been closer to christ.
  • 00:13:01.012 --> 00:13:03.715
  • Think about it that way.
  • 00:13:03.715 --> 00:13:07.986
  • So when david was facing a giant,
  • 00:13:07.986 --> 00:13:09.988
  • He was trusting in the lord.
  • 00:13:09.988 --> 00:13:11.756
  • When david was running through saul who was hunting him down
  • 00:13:11.756 --> 00:13:14.793
  • Like a wild dog, he was calling out to god.
  • 00:13:14.793 --> 00:13:17.762
  • And when he was anointed as the king and ascended to the throne,
  • 00:13:17.762 --> 00:13:20.899
  • He prayed for god's help.
  • 00:13:20.899 --> 00:13:22.233
  • But 20 years have gone by, and things have gone well,
  • 00:13:22.233 --> 00:13:25.703
  • And david's kind of kicking back,
  • 00:13:25.703 --> 00:13:29.107
  • And taking sort of a spiritual vacation from god,
  • 00:13:29.107 --> 00:13:33.378
  • Which never works.
  • 00:13:33.378 --> 00:13:34.712
  • So the devil gets him. when will the devil hit us?
  • 00:13:34.712 --> 00:13:37.048
  • When we are the most vulnerable.
  • 00:13:37.048 --> 00:13:38.917
  • But let me point out: david had set himself up for this
  • 00:13:38.917 --> 00:13:42.487
  • Particular attack because 2 samuel 5 tells us in direct
  • 00:13:42.487 --> 00:13:46.524
  • Disobedience to god, david took concubines
  • 00:13:46.524 --> 00:13:49.828
  • After he became king.
  • 00:13:49.828 --> 00:13:53.198
  • Now, if you're young and you don't know what that is,
  • 00:13:53.198 --> 00:13:54.933
  • Ask your parents later.
  • 00:13:54.933 --> 00:13:56.267
  • And in deuteronomy 17, the king was told never do this.
  • 00:13:56.267 --> 00:14:01.973
  • Never take concubines. why?
  • 00:14:01.973 --> 00:14:04.242
  • Because the lord said, "because your heart will turn away."
  • 00:14:04.242 --> 00:14:07.912
  • And that's what was happening to david: his heart was slowly but
  • 00:14:07.912 --> 00:14:10.882
  • Surely turning away from god.
  • 00:14:10.882 --> 00:14:13.585
  • He had lost sight of that one thing.
  • 00:14:13.585 --> 00:14:15.253
  • Now it was too many things, and most of those were the wrong
  • 00:14:15.253 --> 00:14:18.756
  • Things and he was being consumed by lust.
  • 00:14:18.756 --> 00:14:23.061
  • And so one warm spring night, when the soldiers went to war,
  • 00:14:23.061 --> 00:14:26.831
  • David went to bed.
  • 00:14:26.831 --> 00:14:29.200
  • He was in bed when he should have been in battle.
  • 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:31.603
  • He was staying up late, sleeping in, and being physically and
  • 00:14:31.603 --> 00:14:35.073
  • Spiritually lazy, and now the attack comes.
  • 00:14:35.073 --> 00:14:39.244
  • He sees the beautiful bathsheba bathing herself.
  • 00:14:39.244 --> 00:14:42.814
  • So he couldn't have avoided the first look.
  • 00:14:42.814 --> 00:14:44.949
  • I mean, there it is, boom, okay.
  • 00:14:44.949 --> 00:14:47.552
  • Walking around, kicking back, filled with lust.
  • 00:14:47.552 --> 00:14:51.222
  • There's the beautiful bathsheba.
  • 00:14:51.222 --> 00:14:55.226
  • It's usually not the first look that gets us into trouble,
  • 00:14:55.226 --> 00:14:57.695
  • It's the second look, right?
  • 00:14:57.695 --> 00:14:59.464
  • Know what i'm talking about?
  • 00:14:59.464 --> 00:15:00.798
  • You look, you know, "huh,"...right?
  • 00:15:00.798 --> 00:15:05.069
  • David's first look was probably a really long one,
  • 00:15:05.069 --> 00:15:08.439
  • Drinking it in, "oh my."
  • 00:15:08.439 --> 00:15:10.275
  • Oh, okay, now look.
  • 00:15:10.275 --> 00:15:11.776
  • He should have just, "lord, i wish i hadn't seen her.
  • 00:15:11.776 --> 00:15:15.179
  • She is beautiful, but just give me strength right now,
  • 00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:17.515
  • And i'm gonna go write a new psalm or something.
  • 00:15:17.515 --> 00:15:21.019
  • And take a cold shower, and stop looking in that direction.
  • 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:25.523
  • Maybe put a wall up there, i don't know what."
  • 00:15:25.523 --> 00:15:27.926
  • No, but he immediately acts on it.
  • 00:15:27.926 --> 00:15:30.228
  • "who is that woman?"
  • 00:15:30.228 --> 00:15:31.729
  • So, one of his servants comes up,
  • 00:15:31.729 --> 00:15:33.064
  • Verse 3, "she's bathsheba, the daughter of eliam,
  • 00:15:33.064 --> 00:15:35.700
  • The wife of uriah the hittite."
  • 00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:37.802
  • "bring her up here, right now."
  • 00:15:37.802 --> 00:15:39.270
  • He gave the order.
  • 00:15:39.270 --> 00:15:42.173
  • God was putting a roadblock in david's life to not sin.
  • 00:15:42.173 --> 00:15:45.877
  • And god puts roadblocks up in our life.
  • 00:15:45.877 --> 00:15:48.413
  • Have you ever noticed when you try to do something wrong,
  • 00:15:48.413 --> 00:15:50.748
  • God doesn't make it easy for you.
  • 00:15:50.748 --> 00:15:53.851
  • He makes it hard.
  • 00:15:53.851 --> 00:15:55.186
  • That's why i think it's so ridiculous when someone says,
  • 00:15:55.186 --> 00:15:57.889
  • "i just fell into adultery."
  • 00:15:57.889 --> 00:15:59.724
  • Really, just like that?
  • 00:15:59.724 --> 00:16:01.559
  • Kind of like tripping over a rock.
  • 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:02.894
  • "whoops, sorry, i'm in adultery.
  • 00:16:02.894 --> 00:16:04.262
  • How did this happen?
  • 00:16:04.262 --> 00:16:05.964
  • How did i end up in the bed of another person?
  • 00:16:05.964 --> 00:16:08.933
  • How did this happen?"
  • 00:16:08.933 --> 00:16:10.268
  • Did you just fall into the hotel room or wherever,
  • 00:16:10.268 --> 00:16:13.671
  • I mean, gimme a break.
  • 00:16:13.671 --> 00:16:15.540
  • You didn't fall into anything.
  • 00:16:15.540 --> 00:16:16.874
  • You planned it, you plotted for it,
  • 00:16:16.874 --> 00:16:19.243
  • And you executed it.
  • 00:16:19.243 --> 00:16:20.578
  • And then you lied to cover it up over and over again.
  • 00:16:20.578 --> 00:16:24.582
  • You don't just fall into it.
  • 00:16:24.582 --> 00:16:25.917
  • You gotta jump through a lot of hoops to end up in this
  • 00:16:25.917 --> 00:16:28.252
  • Situation, and david did.
  • 00:16:28.252 --> 00:16:31.189
  • And now he's in a mess of a situation.
  • 00:16:31.189 --> 00:16:33.558
  • But, okay, don't do it.
  • 00:16:33.558 --> 00:16:35.293
  • He does it, roadblock number one.
  • 00:16:35.293 --> 00:16:37.729
  • He goes for it.
  • 00:16:37.729 --> 00:16:39.063
  • And now, of course, bathsheba lets him know that she's
  • 00:16:39.063 --> 00:16:44.068
  • Pregnant, roadblock number two.
  • 00:16:44.068 --> 00:16:46.004
  • Now, you've already done it.
  • 00:16:46.004 --> 00:16:47.372
  • Repent, maybe tell uriah what you've done.
  • 00:16:47.372 --> 00:16:51.342
  • Confess to bathsheba, maybe the kingdom, you know?
  • 00:16:51.342 --> 00:16:55.580
  • But he didn't do that.
  • 00:16:55.580 --> 00:16:56.914
  • I mean, instead of just saying, "all right,
  • 00:16:56.914 --> 00:16:58.850
  • Lord, i sinned, i'm sorry," no, he has an idea.
  • 00:16:58.850 --> 00:17:02.153
  • "i know what i'll do. [chuckling]
  • 00:17:02.153 --> 00:17:04.155
  • I'll bring uriah back from the battle.
  • 00:17:04.155 --> 00:17:06.557
  • He'll go spend the night with his wife and he'll think it's
  • 00:17:06.557 --> 00:17:08.659
  • His kid, not mine."
  • 00:17:08.659 --> 00:17:10.361
  • So he gives the order, bring uriah back.
  • 00:17:10.361 --> 00:17:12.330
  • Uriah comes back.
  • 00:17:12.330 --> 00:17:13.664
  • He's sent to his home, but he's such a courageous guy,
  • 00:17:13.664 --> 00:17:16.768
  • He can't bear the thought of having this wonderful luxury of
  • 00:17:16.768 --> 00:17:20.038
  • Being with his wife while his fellow soldiers are still in the
  • 00:17:20.038 --> 00:17:23.408
  • Front lines of the battle.
  • 00:17:23.408 --> 00:17:24.776
  • So he sleeps outside of his house the first night.
  • 00:17:24.776 --> 00:17:28.146
  • David thinks, "oh great, i have some do-gooder."
  • 00:17:28.146 --> 00:17:31.849
  • He gets him drunk, sends him home.
  • 00:17:31.849 --> 00:17:34.185
  • Still, uriah will not sleep with his wife.
  • 00:17:34.185 --> 00:17:36.220
  • Another roadblock.
  • 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.655
  • But david won't give up.
  • 00:17:37.655 --> 00:17:39.057
  • He says to his general, "send a charge against the enemy and
  • 00:17:39.057 --> 00:17:43.027
  • Have everyone fall back and leave uriah by himself," which
  • 00:17:43.027 --> 00:17:46.564
  • Happens, and uriah is killed in battle.
  • 00:17:46.564 --> 00:17:49.934
  • The word comes back: uriah's dead.
  • 00:17:49.934 --> 00:17:51.702
  • "yes!
  • 00:17:51.702 --> 00:17:54.705
  • Okay, i'm gonna marry bathsheba and no one will ever know."
  • 00:17:54.705 --> 00:17:57.208
  • Ah, the lord knew.
  • 00:17:57.208 --> 00:17:59.811
  • And the bible tells us that our sin will find us out.
  • 00:17:59.811 --> 00:18:03.147
  • And we read here that this thing that he had done
  • 00:18:03.147 --> 00:18:06.651
  • Displeased the lord.
  • 00:18:06.651 --> 00:18:08.920
  • 2 samuel 11:27.
  • 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:11.622
  • Okay, man, david is messing up so bad.
  • 00:18:11.622 --> 00:18:13.825
  • You're saying, "wait, he's a world changer?
  • 00:18:13.825 --> 00:18:15.760
  • This is horrible."
  • 00:18:15.760 --> 00:18:17.095
  • I know.
  • 00:18:17.095 --> 00:18:18.429
  • He--but do you know, here's why he was still a man after
  • 00:18:18.429 --> 00:18:21.265
  • God's heart, despite this.
  • 00:18:21.265 --> 00:18:23.968
  • Here's why: 'cause he was miserable.
  • 00:18:23.968 --> 00:18:27.672
  • And he did repent.
  • 00:18:27.672 --> 00:18:29.006
  • Should have done it sooner, but he did repent.
  • 00:18:29.006 --> 00:18:31.509
  • See, a person who really isn't a man or a woman of god will live
  • 00:18:31.509 --> 00:18:34.779
  • In sin without guilt and they won't repent.
  • 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:37.482
  • A person who is really a man or a woman of god will live in
  • 00:18:37.482 --> 00:18:41.385
  • Guilt when they're sinning and they will eventually
  • 00:18:41.385 --> 00:18:44.021
  • Get right with god.
  • 00:18:44.021 --> 00:18:45.590
  • And that's who david was.
  • 00:18:45.590 --> 00:18:47.091
  • He was still the man after the heart of god.
  • 00:18:47.091 --> 00:18:51.062
  • Now it's time for his comeback.
  • 00:18:51.062 --> 00:18:52.663
  • We've seen his rise, his fall.
  • 00:18:52.663 --> 00:18:54.565
  • Now the comeback of a world changer.
  • 00:18:54.565 --> 00:18:56.901
  • Go to psalm 32.
  • 00:18:56.901 --> 00:18:58.769
  • I had you turn there as well.
  • 00:18:58.769 --> 00:19:01.005
  • Psalm 32.
  • 00:19:01.005 --> 00:19:02.807
  • And he wrote this in the aftermath of being
  • 00:19:02.807 --> 00:19:05.143
  • Confronted by god.
  • 00:19:05.143 --> 00:19:07.411
  • And he says: "oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is
  • 00:19:07.411 --> 00:19:11.749
  • Forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
  • 00:19:11.749 --> 00:19:13.985
  • Yes, what joy for those who record the lord has cleared of
  • 00:19:13.985 --> 00:19:17.455
  • Sin--or whose record, rather, the lord has cleared of sin,
  • 00:19:17.455 --> 00:19:20.591
  • Whose lives are in complete honesty!
  • 00:19:20.591 --> 00:19:22.894
  • When i refused to confess my sin,
  • 00:19:22.894 --> 00:19:24.929
  • I was weak and miserable and groaned all day long.
  • 00:19:24.929 --> 00:19:28.199
  • Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
  • 00:19:28.199 --> 00:19:31.435
  • My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
  • 00:19:31.435 --> 00:19:35.006
  • Selah."
  • 00:19:35.006 --> 00:19:36.374
  • By the way, the word "selah" means
  • 00:19:36.374 --> 00:19:37.742
  • "pause and think about it."
  • 00:19:37.742 --> 00:19:39.277
  • So if this were a song, it would be like an instrumental break,
  • 00:19:39.277 --> 00:19:42.880
  • And the point of the selah, or the musical interlude,
  • 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:47.885
  • Was to contemplate what had just been said.
  • 00:19:47.885 --> 00:19:51.022
  • So david's saying, "think about this,
  • 00:19:51.022 --> 00:19:53.057
  • Ponder it, this is how miserable i was," selah.
  • 00:19:53.057 --> 00:19:57.395
  • "finally, i confessed my sins to the lord,
  • 00:19:57.395 --> 00:19:59.463
  • I stopped trying to hide them.
  • 00:19:59.463 --> 00:20:00.865
  • I said to myself, 'i'll confess my rebellion to the lord.'
  • 00:20:00.865 --> 00:20:04.168
  • And you forgave me!
  • 00:20:04.168 --> 00:20:05.570
  • And all my guilt is gone."
  • 00:20:05.570 --> 00:20:08.606
  • Psalm 32 describes the futility and misery of sin
  • 00:20:08.606 --> 00:20:12.510
  • That is unconfessed.
  • 00:20:12.510 --> 00:20:14.612
  • For 12 months, david fought the conviction of the holy spirit.
  • 00:20:14.612 --> 00:20:19.550
  • He was not experiencing god's presence as he had before.
  • 00:20:19.550 --> 00:20:24.021
  • Was he still in a relationship with god?
  • 00:20:24.021 --> 00:20:26.123
  • Yes. was he in fellowship with god?
  • 00:20:26.123 --> 00:20:28.326
  • No.
  • 00:20:28.326 --> 00:20:29.927
  • When your child disobeys you and disappoints you,
  • 00:20:29.927 --> 00:20:34.599
  • Are they still your child?
  • 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:36.500
  • Yes, they are.
  • 00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.935
  • Are they in a good relationship with you at the moment?
  • 00:20:37.935 --> 00:20:42.006
  • Probably not, and that's where david was at.
  • 00:20:42.006 --> 00:20:45.142
  • But when he was confronted, he repented.
  • 00:20:45.142 --> 00:20:48.746
  • And you know what's interesting?
  • 00:20:48.746 --> 00:20:50.081
  • How the lord dispatches a prophet.
  • 00:20:50.081 --> 00:20:52.350
  • This time it's the prophet nathan,
  • 00:20:52.350 --> 00:20:54.685
  • And the lord waited until david was ready to come clean.
  • 00:20:54.685 --> 00:20:58.956
  • So nathan wants an appointment. he gets one immediately.
  • 00:20:58.956 --> 00:21:02.493
  • That's what happens when you're a prophet.
  • 00:21:02.493 --> 00:21:05.363
  • Shows up and says, "sire, i have a story to tell you,
  • 00:21:05.363 --> 00:21:08.733
  • Something going on in the kingdom,
  • 00:21:08.733 --> 00:21:10.067
  • You need to be aware of."
  • 00:21:10.067 --> 00:21:11.402
  • "okay, speak on."
  • 00:21:11.402 --> 00:21:13.404
  • "all right, there's this guy, he's very poor,
  • 00:21:13.404 --> 00:21:16.307
  • He has one little baby lamb.
  • 00:21:16.307 --> 00:21:18.242
  • He loves the lamb.
  • 00:21:18.242 --> 00:21:19.577
  • The lamb eats off his plate, he--it sits at the table,
  • 00:21:19.577 --> 00:21:23.481
  • It's like a family pet.
  • 00:21:23.481 --> 00:21:24.815
  • He loves this lamb like a daughter.
  • 00:21:24.815 --> 00:21:26.951
  • Anyway, there's this other guy, he's really rich,
  • 00:21:26.951 --> 00:21:29.387
  • He has a bunch of sheep, a bunch of cattle,
  • 00:21:29.387 --> 00:21:31.589
  • So this other guy, he has a friend coming to town to visit
  • 00:21:31.589 --> 00:21:34.225
  • Him who wants to have dinner.
  • 00:21:34.225 --> 00:21:37.028
  • And so, instead of slaying one of his many sheep,
  • 00:21:37.028 --> 00:21:40.865
  • He kills the guy--guy's lamb who has one little baby lamb.
  • 00:21:40.865 --> 00:21:45.636
  • What should be done to a man that would do that?"
  • 00:21:45.636 --> 00:21:47.405
  • David's blood is beginning to boil.
  • 00:21:47.405 --> 00:21:50.241
  • He's gripping his throne and he says,
  • 00:21:50.241 --> 00:21:53.344
  • "he should restore four times what he's taken and he
  • 00:21:53.344 --> 00:21:56.547
  • Should be put to death."
  • 00:21:56.547 --> 00:21:58.783
  • Whoo, kind of overkill.
  • 00:21:58.783 --> 00:22:01.152
  • I mean, it's bad, but death?
  • 00:22:01.152 --> 00:22:03.154
  • "put him to death."
  • 00:22:03.154 --> 00:22:04.789
  • Nathan points his finger in david's face and says,
  • 00:22:04.789 --> 00:22:08.292
  • "you are the man."
  • 00:22:08.292 --> 00:22:10.061
  • You the man.
  • 00:22:10.061 --> 00:22:12.697
  • You the man, man.
  • 00:22:12.697 --> 00:22:15.166
  • "i just described you. that didn't even happen.
  • 00:22:15.166 --> 00:22:18.336
  • You're like the guy who had the many sheep and the many cattle,
  • 00:22:18.336 --> 00:22:21.472
  • And you took uriah's wife and then you had him killed."
  • 00:22:21.472 --> 00:22:25.509
  • So now david has sinned and he's committed adultery and he's
  • 00:22:25.509 --> 00:22:29.980
  • Effectively committed murder.
  • 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:32.483
  • But then i love what happens there.
  • 00:22:32.483 --> 00:22:35.286
  • It says that david repented of his sin.
  • 00:22:35.286 --> 00:22:38.089
  • That's why he was a man after god's own heart.
  • 00:22:38.089 --> 00:22:41.425
  • He repented of his sin.
  • 00:22:41.425 --> 00:22:43.361
  • Okay, so the prophet said, "the sword will never
  • 00:22:43.361 --> 00:22:47.064
  • Depart from your house."
  • 00:22:47.064 --> 00:22:49.734
  • God forgave david, but he still faced
  • 00:22:49.734 --> 00:22:53.571
  • Repercussions for his sins.
  • 00:22:53.571 --> 00:22:55.072
  • So know this, if i go out and rob a bank this afternoon,
  • 00:22:55.072 --> 00:22:58.876
  • You read about in your twitter feed,
  • 00:22:58.876 --> 00:23:00.878
  • "pastor greg robs bank."
  • 00:23:00.878 --> 00:23:03.347
  • I won't be preaching the next sunday.
  • 00:23:03.347 --> 00:23:06.517
  • Now, if i repent of my sin, will god forgive me?
  • 00:23:06.517 --> 00:23:09.653
  • Yes, but i am going to jail and probably to prison, all right?
  • 00:23:09.653 --> 00:23:13.991
  • So if you go out and you commit a sin,
  • 00:23:13.991 --> 00:23:15.860
  • I'm not gonna rob a bank, i promise,
  • 00:23:15.860 --> 00:23:17.361
  • But if you go out and commit a sin,
  • 00:23:17.361 --> 00:23:20.264
  • And you say, "god, forgive me," he will forgive you.
  • 00:23:20.264 --> 00:23:24.101
  • You'll be restored to immediate fellowship with him again.
  • 00:23:24.101 --> 00:23:26.971
  • But you could still face some of the repercussions of your sin.
  • 00:23:26.971 --> 00:23:32.343
  • So god gives second chances. yeah, david fell.
  • 00:23:32.343 --> 00:23:35.579
  • He fell big, but he came back and he came back strong.
  • 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:39.083
  • And that's what we wanna do.
  • 00:23:39.083 --> 00:23:40.418
  • We want to admit our sin to god, and the only way you're gonna be
  • 00:23:40.418 --> 00:23:43.954
  • A world changer is if your world gets changed first.
  • 00:23:43.954 --> 00:23:50.928
  • Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart and you have seen
  • 00:23:55.065 --> 00:23:59.470
  • Your need for jesus christ.
  • 00:23:59.470 --> 00:24:01.572
  • Jesus christ is the son of god who came
  • 00:24:01.572 --> 00:24:04.975
  • From heaven to this earth.
  • 00:24:04.975 --> 00:24:06.844
  • He was born in a manger.
  • 00:24:06.844 --> 00:24:08.946
  • He died on a cross.
  • 00:24:08.946 --> 00:24:10.581
  • He rose again from the dead. why?
  • 00:24:10.581 --> 00:24:12.683
  • Because he loves you, and he wants a relationship with you.
  • 00:24:12.683 --> 00:24:16.153
  • Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
  • 00:24:16.153 --> 00:24:18.355
  • I don't wanna be a religious person.
  • 00:24:18.355 --> 00:24:20.224
  • I don't think you wanna be one either.
  • 00:24:20.224 --> 00:24:22.126
  • I'm talking about relationship with god.
  • 00:24:22.126 --> 00:24:25.696
  • Jesus, who died and rose again stands at the door of your life
  • 00:24:25.696 --> 00:24:30.134
  • And he knocks, and he says if you'll hear his voice and open
  • 00:24:30.134 --> 00:24:33.437
  • The door, he will come in.
  • 00:24:33.437 --> 00:24:35.139
  • Question: have you asked jesus christ to come
  • 00:24:35.139 --> 00:24:37.808
  • And live inside of you?
  • 00:24:37.808 --> 00:24:39.443
  • You might say, "well, i think so, i'm not sure."
  • 00:24:39.443 --> 00:24:41.445
  • Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle of the
  • 00:24:41.445 --> 00:24:44.081
  • Night, do you think you would be aware of it?
  • 00:24:44.081 --> 00:24:46.684
  • I'm sure you would.
  • 00:24:46.684 --> 00:24:48.252
  • And in the same way, if christ has come to live
  • 00:24:48.252 --> 00:24:50.521
  • Inside of you, you will know.
  • 00:24:50.521 --> 00:24:52.356
  • And if you don't know, maybe he has not come in yet.
  • 00:24:52.356 --> 00:24:56.193
  • He's just a prayer away.
  • 00:24:56.193 --> 00:24:57.928
  • All you need to do is say, "jesus,
  • 00:24:57.928 --> 00:25:00.130
  • I want this relationship with you.
  • 00:25:00.130 --> 00:25:02.032
  • I want you to forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:25:02.032 --> 00:25:04.268
  • I want to go to heaven when i die."
  • 00:25:04.268 --> 00:25:06.403
  • Would you like to do that?
  • 00:25:06.403 --> 00:25:07.738
  • Would you like christ to come into your life?
  • 00:25:07.738 --> 00:25:10.508
  • If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
  • 00:25:10.508 --> 00:25:13.444
  • You can pray it out loud or you can pray it
  • 00:25:13.444 --> 00:25:15.913
  • In the quietness of your heart.
  • 00:25:15.913 --> 00:25:17.815
  • But this is a prayer where you're asking jesus christ to be
  • 00:25:17.815 --> 00:25:21.151
  • Your savior and lord.
  • 00:25:21.151 --> 00:25:22.586
  • Pray this with me now: "lord jesus,
  • 00:25:22.586 --> 00:25:25.356
  • I know that i'm a sinner but i know that you're the savior,
  • 00:25:25.356 --> 00:25:30.127
  • Who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.
  • 00:25:30.127 --> 00:25:33.764
  • Now come into my life.
  • 00:25:33.764 --> 00:25:36.333
  • I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
  • 00:25:36.333 --> 00:25:40.838
  • Thank you for hearing this prayer
  • 00:25:40.838 --> 00:25:43.073
  • And answering this prayer.
  • 00:25:43.073 --> 00:25:45.009
  • In jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:25:45.009 --> 00:25:47.411
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:25:47.411 --> 00:25:49.880
  • If so, i want you to know on the authority of scripture that
  • 00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:52.850
  • Christ himself has come to live inside of you.
  • 00:25:52.850 --> 00:25:56.186
  • And i would love to send to you, at no charge,
  • 00:25:56.186 --> 00:25:59.056
  • The new believer's bible.
  • 00:25:59.056 --> 00:26:00.925
  • It's a very friendly translation of the new testament you'll
  • 00:26:00.925 --> 00:26:03.961
  • Find very understandable.
  • 00:26:03.961 --> 00:26:05.763
  • And it's filled with hundreds of notes that i wrote that will
  • 00:26:05.763 --> 00:26:09.600
  • Encourage you in this commitment you've just
  • 00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:11.735
  • Made to follow jesus.
  • 00:26:11.735 --> 00:26:13.237
  • And let me be the first to say to you congratulations,
  • 00:26:13.237 --> 00:26:17.174
  • And welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:26:17.174 --> 00:26:28.118
  • Greg: hey, greg laurie here. maybe you've seen this.
  • 00:26:32.222 --> 00:26:34.391
  • This is called the "new believer's bible," and a number
  • 00:26:34.391 --> 00:26:37.728
  • Of years ago, i wanted to do an edition of scripture with
  • 00:26:37.728 --> 00:26:42.600
  • Commentary that would make the bible more accessible to someone
  • 00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:47.471
  • Who's never read it before, like a new believer.
  • 00:26:47.471 --> 00:26:50.507
  • But today we live, of course, in a digital world,
  • 00:26:50.507 --> 00:26:54.311
  • So we've taken the curriculum from the "new believer's bible"
  • 00:26:54.311 --> 00:26:57.615
  • And we created this online community of people just like
  • 00:26:57.615 --> 00:27:01.085
  • You who are studying the word of god together.
  • 00:27:01.085 --> 00:27:04.521
  • By the way, this is free of charge, you can learn at
  • 00:27:04.521 --> 00:27:07.291
  • Your own pace, but most importantly, you'll experience
  • 00:27:07.291 --> 00:27:10.995
  • The power of god's word to transform your life.
  • 00:27:10.995 --> 00:27:14.632
  • The bible says of itself it's alive and powerful and sharper
  • 00:27:14.632 --> 00:27:19.470
  • Than any two-edged sword, so i hope you'll take your phone
  • 00:27:19.470 --> 00:27:23.374
  • Right now and join us online at harvest discipleship.
  • 00:27:23.374 --> 00:27:27.678
  • Let's learn and grow together.
  • 00:27:27.678 --> 00:27:27.678