1. TBN
  2. Programs
  3. harvest pastor greg laurie
  4. Episodes
  5. Greg Laurie - What To Do When The Odds Are Against You
Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - What To Do When The Odds Are Against You

June 12, 2025 | 27:40

Greg Laurie - What To Do When The Odds Are Against You
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#Trials-HardTimes #Struggle #Challenges #Faith #TrustGod #HandofGod #Hope #Testing #God'sWill #Purpose #Calling #SpiritualWarfare

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - What To Do When The Odds Are Against You | June 12, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:00.343
  • Greg laurie: god was putting gideon in a place where if
  • 00:00:04.147 --> 00:00:07.784
  • The lord didn't come through for him, he was dead in the water,
  • 00:00:07.884 --> 00:00:10.854
  • And sometimes the lord does this to pull away
  • 00:00:10.987 --> 00:00:13.990
  • Our security blanket.
  • 00:00:14.124 --> 00:00:14.491
  • We don't have all the backup plans in place, and we're facing
  • 00:00:15.959 --> 00:00:20.130
  • An emergency, we're facing a crisis, we're facing a problem.
  • 00:00:20.130 --> 00:00:24.401
  • It might be a financial crisis, it might be a health crisis.
  • 00:00:24.401 --> 00:00:28.204
  • It might be a family crisis, and it's getting worse and worse,
  • 00:00:28.204 --> 00:00:32.409
  • And you need to just call out and say, "lord, if you don't
  • 00:00:32.409 --> 00:00:34.978
  • Come through for me, i don't have any hope."
  • 00:00:34.978 --> 00:00:38.782
  • But that's not a bad place to be, 'cause that means you're
  • 00:00:38.782 --> 00:00:41.684
  • In complete dependence upon god.
  • 00:00:41.684 --> 00:00:45.422
  • So, sometimes the lord will allow this to happen where we--
  • 00:00:45.422 --> 00:00:48.291
  • So we will realize the only way out is him.
  • 00:00:48.291 --> 00:00:51.928
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:00:54.697 --> 00:00:57.033
  • ♪ the day when life begins ♪
  • 00:00:57.033 --> 00:01:02.205
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:01:02.205 --> 00:01:04.774
  • ♪ the day when life begins ♪♪
  • 00:01:04.774 --> 00:01:12.449
  • Greg: so, my wife and i were with another couple the other
  • 00:01:16.653 --> 00:01:19.889
  • Night, and they were asking us, "is one of you the neater one,
  • 00:01:19.889 --> 00:01:24.360
  • Or one the messier one in your relationship?"
  • 00:01:24.360 --> 00:01:26.763
  • "oh, yes," we said, "definitely."
  • 00:01:26.763 --> 00:01:29.099
  • So, he asked, "well, who's the messy one?"
  • 00:01:29.099 --> 00:01:31.534
  • I said, "oh, it's cathe.
  • 00:01:31.534 --> 00:01:32.869
  • She is so messy."
  • 00:01:32.869 --> 00:01:34.471
  • I said, "we go to hotel rooms, she trashes them
  • 00:01:34.471 --> 00:01:37.273
  • Like a rock star.
  • 00:01:37.273 --> 00:01:38.608
  • It's so embarrassing.
  • 00:01:38.608 --> 00:01:39.976
  • She's the messiest person i've ever met."
  • 00:01:39.976 --> 00:01:41.678
  • And they're both-- him and his wife--
  • 00:01:41.678 --> 00:01:43.046
  • Are like, "wow, i can't believe it."
  • 00:01:43.046 --> 00:01:44.747
  • I said, "i'm joking.
  • 00:01:44.747 --> 00:01:46.082
  • It's--the very opposite is the case.
  • 00:01:46.082 --> 00:01:48.118
  • She's very neat, very organized, always tidying up.
  • 00:01:48.118 --> 00:01:52.522
  • Right after she makes a meal, she's cleaning it up.
  • 00:01:52.522 --> 00:01:55.325
  • She washes my clothes while i'm still wearing them."
  • 00:01:55.325 --> 00:01:58.995
  • And i have to say, it's very traumatizing, the time
  • 00:01:58.995 --> 00:02:01.664
  • I've spent in a dryer.
  • 00:02:01.664 --> 00:02:02.999
  • I don't like it at all.
  • 00:02:02.999 --> 00:02:04.367
  • But, so, it's not that at all.
  • 00:02:04.367 --> 00:02:06.769
  • But i bring this up because sometimes in life, you know,
  • 00:02:06.769 --> 00:02:10.807
  • We don't quite finish a job.
  • 00:02:10.807 --> 00:02:12.509
  • I'll start a project at home and i won't finish it.
  • 00:02:12.509 --> 00:02:15.712
  • Cathe always finishes what she begins, and i think, in life,
  • 00:02:15.712 --> 00:02:20.016
  • The same can happen.
  • 00:02:20.016 --> 00:02:21.384
  • We say, "i'm gonna commit this area to the lord and i'm gonna
  • 00:02:21.384 --> 00:02:24.220
  • Be disciplined in this other area," but then a little time
  • 00:02:24.220 --> 00:02:27.957
  • Passes, i make a compromise here, i neglect something else
  • 00:02:27.957 --> 00:02:31.628
  • There, and then i live to regret it later in life.
  • 00:02:31.628 --> 00:02:35.298
  • We don't think about the long-lasting repercussions
  • 00:02:35.298 --> 00:02:39.002
  • Of our actions on our lives, on our children's lives, on our
  • 00:02:39.002 --> 00:02:44.040
  • Grandchildren's lives, and even our great-grandchildren's lives,
  • 00:02:44.040 --> 00:02:48.978
  • But there is cause and effect.
  • 00:02:48.978 --> 00:02:51.614
  • There is action and reaction.
  • 00:02:51.614 --> 00:02:54.284
  • So, we have to think about that.
  • 00:02:54.284 --> 00:02:55.685
  • So, this is our last message in our series
  • 00:02:55.685 --> 00:02:58.454
  • On the book of joshua.
  • 00:02:58.454 --> 00:03:00.256
  • You might say, "well, greg, you're in the book of judges.
  • 00:03:00.256 --> 00:03:01.991
  • Did you make a mistake?"
  • 00:03:01.991 --> 00:03:03.359
  • No, because what we're about to read picks up where joshua
  • 00:03:03.359 --> 00:03:06.930
  • Leaves off.
  • 00:03:06.930 --> 00:03:08.264
  • About 200 years later, we find out what happened to israel when
  • 00:03:08.264 --> 00:03:12.435
  • They didn't do what god told them to do
  • 00:03:12.435 --> 00:03:15.538
  • In the book of joshua.
  • 00:03:15.538 --> 00:03:17.307
  • In our last message, we're seeing joshua parcel out the
  • 00:03:17.307 --> 00:03:21.277
  • Land, the promised land, that god gave to him and the jewish
  • 00:03:21.277 --> 00:03:25.548
  • People, and we remember old caleb raising up his 85-year-old
  • 00:03:25.548 --> 00:03:30.153
  • Arm and saying, "give me this mountain!"
  • 00:03:30.153 --> 00:03:33.189
  • But then we fast forward 200 years and it's the year 1256 bc,
  • 00:03:33.189 --> 00:03:39.095
  • And they have not finished the job that they began.
  • 00:03:39.095 --> 00:03:42.298
  • They did not drive all the canaanites out, and they came to
  • 00:03:42.298 --> 00:03:46.102
  • Regret it.
  • 00:03:46.102 --> 00:03:48.204
  • Because they did not drive out all of the inhabitants of the
  • 00:03:48.204 --> 00:03:51.407
  • Land, they left a few, this came back to haunt them later--
  • 00:03:51.407 --> 00:03:55.545
  • Sort of like if you had a big tree in your backyard
  • 00:03:55.545 --> 00:03:57.814
  • That was tearing everything up so you cut the tree down but you
  • 00:03:57.814 --> 00:04:01.150
  • Don't tear up the roots.
  • 00:04:01.150 --> 00:04:02.719
  • It come back--comes back later to cause problems.
  • 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:05.421
  • This is what's happening to israel.
  • 00:04:05.421 --> 00:04:07.390
  • They drove out the canaanites and the amorites and the
  • 00:04:07.390 --> 00:04:10.193
  • Hittites and the ammonites and the parasites and every -ite,
  • 00:04:10.193 --> 00:04:14.297
  • But there was one force now that's in power called
  • 00:04:14.297 --> 00:04:19.769
  • The midianites.
  • 00:04:19.769 --> 00:04:21.504
  • The midianites have israel under their thumb.
  • 00:04:21.504 --> 00:04:25.275
  • Why did god allow this to happen?
  • 00:04:25.275 --> 00:04:27.977
  • It was his discipline on israel, according to judges that says,
  • 00:04:27.977 --> 00:04:32.015
  • "israel did evil in the sight of the lord, so we handed them over
  • 00:04:32.015 --> 00:04:37.253
  • To the midianites."
  • 00:04:37.253 --> 00:04:39.289
  • So, as we come to this story that happens 200 years after
  • 00:04:39.289 --> 00:04:44.394
  • The events of joshua, we see things are spiritually
  • 00:04:44.394 --> 00:04:48.998
  • And morally upside down.
  • 00:04:48.998 --> 00:04:51.100
  • In fact, there's a verse, judges 17:6, that sums it up.
  • 00:04:51.100 --> 00:04:54.671
  • It says, "in those days israel had no king; so the people
  • 00:04:54.671 --> 00:04:58.708
  • Did whatever seemed right in their own eyes."
  • 00:04:58.708 --> 00:05:02.278
  • Let me do a '60s paraphrase: everyone was doing
  • 00:05:02.278 --> 00:05:05.882
  • Their own thing.
  • 00:05:05.882 --> 00:05:07.250
  • And is that not a description of what is happening
  • 00:05:07.250 --> 00:05:09.652
  • In america today?
  • 00:05:09.652 --> 00:05:11.020
  • We're all doing our own thing.
  • 00:05:11.020 --> 00:05:12.422
  • We're disregarding god, we're taking the bible, we're
  • 00:05:12.422 --> 00:05:15.591
  • Deconstructing it, we're saying, "we don't believe this anymore.
  • 00:05:15.591 --> 00:05:19.028
  • We're gonna redefine what a man is, we're gonna redefine what
  • 00:05:19.028 --> 00:05:22.298
  • A woman is, we're gonna redefine what the family is.
  • 00:05:22.298 --> 00:05:25.068
  • We're gonna do whatever seems right in our own eyes."
  • 00:05:25.068 --> 00:05:28.137
  • And now as we sow the wind, we're reaping the whirlwind.
  • 00:05:28.137 --> 00:05:32.942
  • And the midianites, in this case, are in control.
  • 00:05:32.942 --> 00:05:36.245
  • So, as our story begins, we find gideon preparing the little
  • 00:05:36.245 --> 00:05:40.717
  • Wheat that he had hiding behind the walls of a small wine press,
  • 00:05:40.717 --> 00:05:45.154
  • Hardly a picture of heroism or courage, but this is the man
  • 00:05:45.154 --> 00:05:50.059
  • That god chose.
  • 00:05:50.059 --> 00:05:51.427
  • So, judges 6, verse 12, we read this: "the angel of the lord
  • 00:05:51.427 --> 00:05:55.131
  • Appeared, and said to him, 'mighty hero, the lord is
  • 00:05:55.131 --> 00:05:59.235
  • With you!'
  • 00:05:59.235 --> 00:06:00.603
  • Gideon said, 'o my lord, if the lord is with us, then why has
  • 00:06:00.603 --> 00:06:04.273
  • All of this happened to us?
  • 00:06:04.273 --> 00:06:06.242
  • And where are all of his miracles which our fathers told
  • 00:06:06.242 --> 00:06:09.178
  • Us about, saying, "did not the lord bring us from egypt?"
  • 00:06:09.178 --> 00:06:12.148
  • But now,' gideon says, the lord has forsaken us and delivered us
  • 00:06:12.148 --> 00:06:16.586
  • Into the hands of the midianites.'
  • 00:06:16.586 --> 00:06:19.288
  • Then the lord turned to him and said, 'go on this might of
  • 00:06:19.288 --> 00:06:22.158
  • Yours, and you will save israel from the hand of the midianites.
  • 00:06:22.158 --> 00:06:26.629
  • Have i not sent you?'"
  • 00:06:26.629 --> 00:06:28.631
  • We'll stop there.
  • 00:06:28.631 --> 00:06:29.966
  • Interesting response on the part of gideon.
  • 00:06:29.966 --> 00:06:32.635
  • The angel comes to him.
  • 00:06:32.635 --> 00:06:33.970
  • "hey, you courageous man, you man of bravery, the lord is
  • 00:06:33.970 --> 00:06:39.275
  • With you."
  • 00:06:39.275 --> 00:06:40.610
  • He says, "well, if the lord's with us, then why have these
  • 00:06:40.610 --> 00:06:43.012
  • Things happened to us?
  • 00:06:43.012 --> 00:06:44.347
  • Where are all the miracles that we heard about in days gone by?"
  • 00:06:44.347 --> 00:06:48.985
  • So, god could have said, "you brought this on yourself,
  • 00:06:48.985 --> 00:06:51.421
  • Gideon, you and the israelites."
  • 00:06:51.421 --> 00:06:53.523
  • But instead the lord didn't say that.
  • 00:06:53.523 --> 00:06:55.625
  • He said, "just go with the strength you have and rescue
  • 00:06:55.625 --> 00:06:59.462
  • Israel from the midianites.
  • 00:06:59.462 --> 00:07:01.631
  • I'm sending you."
  • 00:07:01.631 --> 00:07:02.965
  • In other words, "gideon, we don't have time to get into that
  • 00:07:02.965 --> 00:07:05.435
  • Right now.
  • 00:07:05.435 --> 00:07:06.769
  • It'll take too long.
  • 00:07:06.769 --> 00:07:08.137
  • Here's the battle plan: i'm gonna bring a solution and i'm
  • 00:07:08.137 --> 00:07:11.207
  • Gonna make things different and i'm gonna do it through you."
  • 00:07:11.207 --> 00:07:15.211
  • But gideon isn't seeing it.
  • 00:07:15.211 --> 00:07:16.979
  • He says in verse 15, "lord, how can i save israel?
  • 00:07:16.979 --> 00:07:21.484
  • Indeed my clan is the weakest in manasseh, and i'm the least
  • 00:07:21.484 --> 00:07:25.221
  • Of my father's house."
  • 00:07:25.221 --> 00:07:26.889
  • Another translation puts it this way: "i'm the runt
  • 00:07:26.889 --> 00:07:30.359
  • Of the litter.
  • 00:07:30.359 --> 00:07:31.861
  • I'm the lowest of the low."
  • 00:07:31.861 --> 00:07:33.863
  • That's how he felt.
  • 00:07:33.863 --> 00:07:35.531
  • And now we see some very interesting principles
  • 00:07:35.531 --> 00:07:38.468
  • On the kind of man or woman that god will use.
  • 00:07:38.468 --> 00:07:41.938
  • If you're taking notes, here's point number one:
  • 00:07:41.938 --> 00:07:44.907
  • God uses people who are humble.
  • 00:07:44.907 --> 00:07:47.577
  • God uses people who are humble.
  • 00:07:47.643 --> 00:07:50.580
  • They're not proud.
  • 00:07:50.580 --> 00:07:52.081
  • They're not arrogant.
  • 00:07:52.081 --> 00:07:53.516
  • They see themselves for what they are.
  • 00:07:53.516 --> 00:07:56.152
  • God tells gideon what he's going to do through him.
  • 00:07:56.152 --> 00:07:59.956
  • In verse 15, gideon says, "who am i?"
  • 00:07:59.956 --> 00:08:03.125
  • The lord effectively says, "it doesn't matter who you are.
  • 00:08:03.125 --> 00:08:06.128
  • The real question is: who am i?
  • 00:08:06.128 --> 00:08:09.098
  • Listen, buddy, it's me working through you."
  • 00:08:09.098 --> 00:08:11.834
  • The bible says that the spirit of the lord is searching
  • 00:08:11.834 --> 00:08:14.036
  • Throughout the earth for a man or a woman that he can show
  • 00:08:14.036 --> 00:08:17.573
  • Himself strong on behalf of.
  • 00:08:17.573 --> 00:08:19.976
  • It doesn't say he's searching for a strong man
  • 00:08:19.976 --> 00:08:22.712
  • Or a strong woman.
  • 00:08:22.712 --> 00:08:24.113
  • He's looking for someone that will just admit their weakness
  • 00:08:24.113 --> 00:08:27.316
  • And their vulnerability but will say, "here i am, lord.
  • 00:08:27.316 --> 00:08:30.486
  • Send me."
  • 00:08:30.486 --> 00:08:31.921
  • As i've often said, god doesn't call the qualified.
  • 00:08:31.921 --> 00:08:34.724
  • He qualifies the called.
  • 00:08:34.724 --> 00:08:37.126
  • He can do extraordinary things through ordinary people and
  • 00:08:37.126 --> 00:08:41.664
  • Would appear, as you look at the people that god selects
  • 00:08:41.664 --> 00:08:44.467
  • In the pages of scripture, that he goes out of his way to choose
  • 00:08:44.467 --> 00:08:48.170
  • The most unlikely people.
  • 00:08:48.170 --> 00:08:49.772
  • Why do you think that is?
  • 00:08:49.772 --> 00:08:51.140
  • Answer: he wants to get the glory.
  • 00:08:51.140 --> 00:08:54.944
  • I mean, this is shown in what he says to gideon, verse 12,
  • 00:08:54.944 --> 00:08:58.548
  • "mighty hero, the lord is with you!"
  • 00:08:58.548 --> 00:09:01.083
  • It almost sounds like mockery, "mighty hero."
  • 00:09:01.083 --> 00:09:03.886
  • It'd be like going to an f student and saying,
  • 00:09:03.886 --> 00:09:05.922
  • "hey, einstein!"
  • 00:09:05.922 --> 00:09:09.125
  • Or going to a kid that can't throw a football:
  • 00:09:09.125 --> 00:09:10.927
  • "hey, tom brady!"
  • 00:09:10.927 --> 00:09:12.662
  • Uh, hardly tom brady there.
  • 00:09:12.662 --> 00:09:15.631
  • But god sees you for what you can become.
  • 00:09:15.631 --> 00:09:18.701
  • See, i see what i am.
  • 00:09:18.701 --> 00:09:20.803
  • God sees what i can be.
  • 00:09:20.803 --> 00:09:23.105
  • What do you see when you look in the mirror?
  • 00:09:23.105 --> 00:09:24.907
  • Well, depends on what kind of mirror.
  • 00:09:24.907 --> 00:09:27.710
  • If it's a magnifying mirror, you're probably
  • 00:09:27.710 --> 00:09:29.579
  • Somewhat horrified.
  • 00:09:29.579 --> 00:09:31.647
  • I was holding my little niece the other day, newborn baby,
  • 00:09:31.647 --> 00:09:35.518
  • She's so sweet, and i was just amazed at her skin, the skin
  • 00:09:35.518 --> 00:09:40.690
  • Of a baby, and you look at your own skin.
  • 00:09:40.690 --> 00:09:45.161
  • I just had a visit with my dermatologist, and you know
  • 00:09:45.161 --> 00:09:48.898
  • That that's not a pleasant experience.
  • 00:09:48.898 --> 00:09:51.033
  • And so, we see our weaknesses.
  • 00:09:51.033 --> 00:09:53.669
  • We see our flaws.
  • 00:09:53.669 --> 00:09:55.972
  • It's been said mirrors don't lie.
  • 00:09:55.972 --> 00:09:58.140
  • Lucky for you, they don't laugh either.
  • 00:09:58.140 --> 00:10:03.279
  • So, i look in the mirror and i see weakness,
  • 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:07.149
  • But god sees potential.
  • 00:10:07.149 --> 00:10:08.851
  • I see what i am.
  • 00:10:08.851 --> 00:10:10.586
  • God sees what i can be.
  • 00:10:10.586 --> 00:10:12.722
  • I see the past, and i'm crippled by it.
  • 00:10:12.722 --> 00:10:14.890
  • God sees the future.
  • 00:10:14.890 --> 00:10:16.692
  • I see a lump of clay.
  • 00:10:16.692 --> 00:10:18.394
  • God sees a beautiful sculpture.
  • 00:10:18.394 --> 00:10:21.030
  • I see a blank canvas.
  • 00:10:21.030 --> 00:10:22.598
  • God sees a van gogh.
  • 00:10:22.598 --> 00:10:24.967
  • I see a lump of coal.
  • 00:10:24.967 --> 00:10:26.969
  • God sees a beautiful, sparkling diamond.
  • 00:10:26.969 --> 00:10:30.473
  • I see a vacillating, unsure simon.
  • 00:10:30.473 --> 00:10:34.410
  • God sees a powerful, rock-like peter.
  • 00:10:34.410 --> 00:10:38.481
  • I see a persecuting saul of tarsus.
  • 00:10:38.481 --> 00:10:41.283
  • God sees a mighty apostle called paul.
  • 00:10:41.283 --> 00:10:45.388
  • The same with gideon, "you men of valor, you men of courage,
  • 00:10:45.388 --> 00:10:50.059
  • You're a hero."
  • 00:10:50.059 --> 00:10:51.594
  • Gideon just saw a zero.
  • 00:10:51.594 --> 00:10:54.230
  • Now, a series of tests come to gideon to prepare him
  • 00:10:54.230 --> 00:10:57.967
  • For what he is about to do.
  • 00:10:57.967 --> 00:10:59.635
  • The first test happened in his home.
  • 00:10:59.635 --> 00:11:01.904
  • The lord said, "okay, here's what i want you to do.
  • 00:11:01.904 --> 00:11:04.306
  • I want you to go home and your dad, joash, built an altar
  • 00:11:04.306 --> 00:11:08.644
  • To baal, a false god.
  • 00:11:08.644 --> 00:11:10.146
  • I want you to tear it down."
  • 00:11:10.146 --> 00:11:11.580
  • Gideon's like, "uh, okay."
  • 00:11:11.580 --> 00:11:14.517
  • You know, but he loved his dad.
  • 00:11:14.517 --> 00:11:15.885
  • He respected his father.
  • 00:11:15.885 --> 00:11:17.219
  • Obviously, this is gonna cause a lot of tension, to tear down his
  • 00:11:17.219 --> 00:11:21.157
  • Father's altar to baal, but he does it but he does it at night
  • 00:11:21.157 --> 00:11:26.062
  • Because he was afraid of what his father would think.
  • 00:11:26.062 --> 00:11:28.464
  • He was afraid of what the people would think.
  • 00:11:28.464 --> 00:11:30.533
  • He did tear the altar down, but he did it at night, bringing me
  • 00:11:30.533 --> 00:11:34.303
  • To principle number two: if you wanna be used by god,
  • 00:11:34.303 --> 00:11:37.106
  • You need to be faithful in the little things.
  • 00:11:37.106 --> 00:11:39.909
  • Be faithful in the little things.
  • 00:11:39.909 --> 00:11:41.410
  • God gave him a little test.
  • 00:11:41.410 --> 00:11:42.778
  • A bigger one was coming.
  • 00:11:42.778 --> 00:11:44.880
  • "here's a little test.
  • 00:11:44.880 --> 00:11:46.248
  • Just go take care of this.
  • 00:11:46.248 --> 00:11:47.583
  • Tear down that altar."
  • 00:11:47.583 --> 00:11:49.418
  • Listen to this: god calls busy people.
  • 00:11:49.418 --> 00:11:52.521
  • It's been said if you wanna get something done, ask a busy
  • 00:11:52.521 --> 00:11:55.725
  • Person, and you will see that, so often, when the lord called
  • 00:11:55.725 --> 00:12:00.196
  • People, they were doing something.
  • 00:12:00.196 --> 00:12:01.630
  • Gideon is threshing wheat.
  • 00:12:01.630 --> 00:12:04.734
  • Elisha was plowing a field when he was called by elijah.
  • 00:12:04.734 --> 00:12:08.871
  • The apostles to be were mending nets when jesus called them.
  • 00:12:08.871 --> 00:12:12.608
  • David was tending sheep.
  • 00:12:12.608 --> 00:12:15.010
  • So, the idea is they're just doing what's in front of them.
  • 00:12:15.010 --> 00:12:17.747
  • They're willing to do whatever needs to be done.
  • 00:12:17.747 --> 00:12:20.082
  • Listen, you're never too small for god to use, only too big.
  • 00:12:20.082 --> 00:12:25.621
  • Greg: greg laurie here.
  • 00:12:26.956 --> 00:12:28.290
  • You know, there is a very special group of people
  • 00:12:28.290 --> 00:12:31.293
  • I want to introduce you to.
  • 00:12:31.293 --> 00:12:33.195
  • They are a group of people who are passionate about the gospel
  • 00:12:33.195 --> 00:12:36.832
  • Of jesus christ being proclaimed in this nation and beyond.
  • 00:12:36.832 --> 00:12:40.770
  • In fact, these people made this tv program
  • 00:12:40.770 --> 00:12:44.406
  • That you're watching possible.
  • 00:12:44.406 --> 00:12:46.342
  • They also make possible our radio program,
  • 00:12:46.342 --> 00:12:49.011
  • Our harvest crusades, and so much more.
  • 00:12:49.011 --> 00:12:51.881
  • So, who are these amazing people?
  • 00:12:51.881 --> 00:12:54.316
  • We call them harvest partners.
  • 00:12:54.316 --> 00:12:56.619
  • They are people who have chosen to give monthly to harvest to
  • 00:12:56.619 --> 00:12:59.889
  • Keep the gospel moving forward.
  • 00:12:59.889 --> 00:13:02.458
  • Jesus said, "the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are
  • 00:13:02.458 --> 00:13:06.095
  • Few, therefore pray the lord of the harvest
  • 00:13:06.095 --> 00:13:09.098
  • To send out laborers into his harvest.
  • 00:13:09.098 --> 00:13:11.634
  • Will you become a harvest partner and help us fulfill the
  • 00:13:11.634 --> 00:13:15.571
  • Great commission in our lifetime?
  • 00:13:15.571 --> 00:13:17.873
  • Let's do this together.
  • 00:13:17.873 --> 00:13:19.508
  • Greg: coming back to what gideon did, he tore this altar down,
  • 00:13:22.278 --> 00:13:25.247
  • But he did it at night.
  • 00:13:25.247 --> 00:13:27.149
  • Some have criticized him.
  • 00:13:27.149 --> 00:13:29.685
  • "why didn't he do it in broad daylight?"
  • 00:13:29.685 --> 00:13:31.954
  • Well, because he was afraid, but at least he did it.
  • 00:13:31.954 --> 00:13:35.157
  • I'd rather do something imperfectly than do nothing.
  • 00:13:35.157 --> 00:13:39.295
  • It's so easy to critique people.
  • 00:13:39.295 --> 00:13:41.030
  • You know, when we started this church--i have to be honest
  • 00:13:41.030 --> 00:13:44.233
  • With you--we had no idea what we were doing.
  • 00:13:44.233 --> 00:13:47.336
  • We really didn't.
  • 00:13:47.336 --> 00:13:48.704
  • I was 20 years old.
  • 00:13:48.704 --> 00:13:50.039
  • I'd only been a christian three years, but we took bold steps of
  • 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:54.043
  • Faith and we said, "let's see what the lord will do."
  • 00:13:54.043 --> 00:13:56.145
  • Did we do everything perfectly?
  • 00:13:56.145 --> 00:13:57.780
  • Of course not.
  • 00:13:57.780 --> 00:13:59.148
  • But we learned from our mistakes, and we've been able
  • 00:13:59.148 --> 00:14:01.951
  • To see the lord do some amazing things over the years,
  • 00:14:01.951 --> 00:14:05.421
  • But we've always had our critics.
  • 00:14:05.421 --> 00:14:07.389
  • I remember when we started our evangelistic crusades,
  • 00:14:07.389 --> 00:14:10.259
  • People said, "oh, that's not gonna work.
  • 00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:12.361
  • Crusade evangelism died with billy graham."
  • 00:14:12.361 --> 00:14:15.798
  • And then when billy started his evangelistic ministry, they said
  • 00:14:15.798 --> 00:14:19.001
  • To him, "this isn't gonna work.
  • 00:14:19.001 --> 00:14:20.703
  • Crusade evangelism died with billy sunday,"
  • 00:14:20.703 --> 00:14:23.105
  • Another evangelist.
  • 00:14:23.105 --> 00:14:24.440
  • And when billy sunday started his ministry, they said,
  • 00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:27.710
  • "it's not gonna work because crusade evangelism died
  • 00:14:27.710 --> 00:14:30.279
  • With d.l. moody."
  • 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:31.914
  • See, it's--no, crusade evangelism, or evangelism in
  • 00:14:31.914 --> 00:14:36.051
  • General, will never die because god will always raise up
  • 00:14:36.051 --> 00:14:39.288
  • Someone to do it, someone to preach the gospel.
  • 00:14:39.288 --> 00:14:41.790
  • So, but people push back.
  • 00:14:41.790 --> 00:14:43.125
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:14:43.125 --> 00:14:46.762
  • "well, i don't like the way you do this," or "i don't like the
  • 00:14:46.762 --> 00:14:49.331
  • Way you do that," or "it's not gonna work here and it's not
  • 00:14:49.331 --> 00:14:51.800
  • Gonna work there," and we just kept going to new places
  • 00:14:51.800 --> 00:14:55.137
  • And seeing the lord work.
  • 00:14:55.137 --> 00:14:56.672
  • I heard the story of--speaking of d.l. moody--a lady
  • 00:14:56.672 --> 00:14:59.308
  • Who came to him, said, "mr. moody,
  • 00:14:59.308 --> 00:15:01.377
  • I don't like the way you do evangelism."
  • 00:15:01.377 --> 00:15:04.446
  • And moody said, "well, ma'am, i'm always willing to learn
  • 00:15:04.446 --> 00:15:07.116
  • Something new.
  • 00:15:07.116 --> 00:15:08.484
  • Tell me how you do evangelism."
  • 00:15:08.484 --> 00:15:09.818
  • She said, "i don't."
  • 00:15:09.818 --> 00:15:11.553
  • He said, "well, i like my way of doing it better than your way
  • 00:15:11.553 --> 00:15:14.490
  • Of not doing it," right?
  • 00:15:14.490 --> 00:15:16.992
  • So, yeah, maybe gideon didn't do this perfectly.
  • 00:15:16.992 --> 00:15:19.495
  • He did it at night, but at least he did it.
  • 00:15:19.495 --> 00:15:22.765
  • Now, here's what's interesting, is after his dad found out,
  • 00:15:22.765 --> 00:15:26.835
  • He was kind of proud of his boy.
  • 00:15:26.835 --> 00:15:28.771
  • The people in the city were so angry.
  • 00:15:28.771 --> 00:15:30.472
  • "kill this guy!
  • 00:15:30.472 --> 00:15:31.807
  • He tore down this altar!"
  • 00:15:31.807 --> 00:15:33.175
  • His father, joash, says, "well, what do you--you have to defend
  • 00:15:33.175 --> 00:15:35.844
  • Baal now?
  • 00:15:35.844 --> 00:15:37.179
  • Can't baal defend himself?"
  • 00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:39.415
  • And it seems like joash sees the stupidity of worshiping a false
  • 00:15:39.415 --> 00:15:43.552
  • God, and he defends his son.
  • 00:15:43.552 --> 00:15:46.255
  • So, gideon took a stand in his home first.
  • 00:15:46.255 --> 00:15:49.959
  • Now, the next test is coming.
  • 00:15:49.959 --> 00:15:52.027
  • This is a big one.
  • 00:15:52.027 --> 00:15:53.362
  • God says, "get a bunch of men together.
  • 00:15:53.362 --> 00:15:55.331
  • Start forming your army."
  • 00:15:55.331 --> 00:15:57.700
  • Incredibly, impressively, gideon manages to form an army
  • 00:15:57.700 --> 00:16:03.572
  • Of 32,000 men.
  • 00:16:03.572 --> 00:16:05.374
  • This is what happened next.
  • 00:16:05.374 --> 00:16:06.942
  • Judges 7, verse 2, "the lord said to gideon, 'you have
  • 00:16:06.942 --> 00:16:10.980
  • Too many warriors with you.
  • 00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:12.681
  • If i let you all fight the midianites, the israelites will
  • 00:16:12.681 --> 00:16:15.384
  • Boast mean that they saved themselves by their
  • 00:16:15.384 --> 00:16:17.786
  • Own strength.
  • 00:16:17.786 --> 00:16:19.154
  • Therefore, tell the people, "whoever is timid or afraid,
  • 00:16:19.154 --> 00:16:22.224
  • They can leave this mountain and go home."'
  • 00:16:22.224 --> 00:16:24.760
  • So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000
  • 00:16:24.760 --> 00:16:29.765
  • Willing to fight."
  • 00:16:29.765 --> 00:16:31.200
  • Wow.
  • 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:32.868
  • Hey, if you need--if you don't wanna fight, go home.
  • 00:16:32.868 --> 00:16:34.970
  • Twenty-two thousand guys, "see you, man."
  • 00:16:34.970 --> 00:16:38.073
  • Wow, now he's down to 10,000 men.
  • 00:16:38.073 --> 00:16:42.044
  • What a disappointment.
  • 00:16:42.044 --> 00:16:44.146
  • God was putting gideon in a place where if the lord didn't
  • 00:16:44.146 --> 00:16:48.517
  • Come through for him, he was dead in the water, and sometimes
  • 00:16:48.517 --> 00:16:51.754
  • The lord does this.
  • 00:16:51.754 --> 00:16:53.389
  • He'll pull away our security blanket.
  • 00:16:53.389 --> 00:16:56.125
  • We don't have all the backup plans in place, and we're facing
  • 00:16:56.125 --> 00:17:00.295
  • An emergency, we're facing a crisis, we're facing a problem.
  • 00:17:00.295 --> 00:17:04.566
  • It might be a financial crisis, it might be a health crisis,
  • 00:17:04.566 --> 00:17:08.537
  • It might be a family crisis, and it's getting worse and worse,
  • 00:17:08.537 --> 00:17:12.574
  • And you need to just call out and say, "lord,
  • 00:17:12.574 --> 00:17:14.410
  • If you don't come through for me, i don't have any hope."
  • 00:17:14.410 --> 00:17:18.914
  • But that's not a bad place to be, 'cause that means you're
  • 00:17:18.914 --> 00:17:21.850
  • In complete dependence upon god.
  • 00:17:21.850 --> 00:17:25.654
  • So, sometimes the lord will allow this to happen where we--
  • 00:17:25.654 --> 00:17:28.457
  • So we will realize the only way out is him.
  • 00:17:28.457 --> 00:17:31.894
  • There will be times in life where you will face what seemed
  • 00:17:31.894 --> 00:17:34.530
  • To be insurmountable obstacles, like the red sea he wants you to
  • 00:17:34.530 --> 00:17:39.134
  • Get through, or the towering walls of a jericho he wants you
  • 00:17:39.134 --> 00:17:43.739
  • To fell, or a frightening giant like goliath he wants you to
  • 00:17:43.739 --> 00:17:48.110
  • Defeat, but there's god doing his part and then there's us
  • 00:17:48.110 --> 00:17:51.713
  • Doing our part.
  • 00:17:51.713 --> 00:17:54.016
  • There's always his part and our part.
  • 00:17:54.016 --> 00:17:56.452
  • The red sea parted, but israel had to march through.
  • 00:17:56.452 --> 00:18:00.122
  • The walls of jericho fell, but israel still had to march
  • 00:18:00.122 --> 00:18:03.492
  • Around them.
  • 00:18:03.492 --> 00:18:04.860
  • The giant goliath fell, but david still had to attack him.
  • 00:18:04.860 --> 00:18:09.031
  • So, gideon says to the men that don't wanna fight, "okay,
  • 00:18:09.031 --> 00:18:12.468
  • Go home to mommy."
  • 00:18:12.468 --> 00:18:14.536
  • Now he's down to a much smaller fighting force.
  • 00:18:14.536 --> 00:18:19.108
  • Why did he dismiss those men?
  • 00:18:19.108 --> 00:18:20.943
  • Because fear is contagious.
  • 00:18:20.943 --> 00:18:23.846
  • Listen to this: if you're looking for an easy life, if
  • 00:18:23.846 --> 00:18:27.749
  • You're looking for a life with no conflict, with no challenge,
  • 00:18:27.749 --> 00:18:31.653
  • Go home to mommy because the christian life is not
  • 00:18:31.653 --> 00:18:36.024
  • An easy life.
  • 00:18:36.024 --> 00:18:37.493
  • It is a life where you will face spiritual warfare.
  • 00:18:37.493 --> 00:18:40.696
  • It is a life where you will need to resist temptation.
  • 00:18:40.696 --> 00:18:43.966
  • It is a life where you will need to obey god and be
  • 00:18:43.966 --> 00:18:47.169
  • Countercultural in almost every way imaginable--and perhaps
  • 00:18:47.169 --> 00:18:51.140
  • Even more so right now than i can remember.
  • 00:18:51.140 --> 00:18:54.309
  • But here's the thing.
  • 00:18:54.309 --> 00:18:55.644
  • It is the only life that is worthwhile:
  • 00:18:55.644 --> 00:18:59.281
  • Following jesus christ.
  • 00:18:59.281 --> 00:19:00.949
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:19:00.949 --> 00:19:05.387
  • Now, one final test: judges 7, verse 4, "the lord told gideon,
  • 00:19:05.387 --> 00:19:10.425
  • 'you still have too many!
  • 00:19:10.425 --> 00:19:12.394
  • Bring them down to the spring, and i will sort out who will go
  • 00:19:12.394 --> 00:19:15.264
  • With you and who will not.'
  • 00:19:15.264 --> 00:19:16.765
  • When gideon took his warriors down to the water,
  • 00:19:16.765 --> 00:19:19.101
  • The lord said, 'divide the men into two groups.
  • 00:19:19.101 --> 00:19:21.303
  • In one group put all those who cup water in their hands
  • 00:19:21.303 --> 00:19:24.506
  • And lap it up with their tongues like dogs.
  • 00:19:24.506 --> 00:19:26.308
  • In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with
  • 00:19:26.308 --> 00:19:29.311
  • Their mouths in the string.'"
  • 00:19:29.311 --> 00:19:31.780
  • So, here are the guys drinking the water.
  • 00:19:31.780 --> 00:19:33.549
  • We could divide them into two categories.
  • 00:19:33.549 --> 00:19:35.851
  • We'll call them the lappers and the cuppers.
  • 00:19:35.851 --> 00:19:38.854
  • The lappers could've been easily ambushed and killed.
  • 00:19:38.854 --> 00:19:42.324
  • They just have their face buried in the water, drinking,
  • 00:19:42.324 --> 00:19:45.627
  • Not alert to what's going on around them.
  • 00:19:45.627 --> 00:19:47.930
  • But the coppers, those who kneel, bringing the water
  • 00:19:47.930 --> 00:19:50.365
  • To their lips, were alert, cautious, watching.
  • 00:19:50.365 --> 00:19:53.802
  • The lord said, "that's it."
  • 00:19:53.802 --> 00:19:55.404
  • Now he's got it down to three percent of the original 10,000.
  • 00:19:55.404 --> 00:20:00.209
  • This is the delta force.
  • 00:20:00.209 --> 00:20:02.377
  • These are the green berets.
  • 00:20:02.377 --> 00:20:04.246
  • These are the army rangers.
  • 00:20:04.246 --> 00:20:06.582
  • These are the swat team.
  • 00:20:06.582 --> 00:20:08.817
  • These are the elite ones now that god is going to use.
  • 00:20:08.817 --> 00:20:12.621
  • Lord says, "okay, here's a battle plan.
  • 00:20:12.621 --> 00:20:14.256
  • You ready?"
  • 00:20:14.256 --> 00:20:15.591
  • "yes?"
  • 00:20:15.591 --> 00:20:16.959
  • "you're gonna break the men into three groups--excuse me,
  • 00:20:16.959 --> 00:20:19.228
  • Two groups, and here's what you do: on one hand, you're gonna
  • 00:20:19.228 --> 00:20:22.598
  • Hold a torch, fire, put a clay pot over it,
  • 00:20:22.598 --> 00:20:27.169
  • And on the other hand, you hold a--"
  • 00:20:27.169 --> 00:20:28.971
  • "a sword?"
  • 00:20:28.971 --> 00:20:30.305
  • "no."
  • 00:20:30.305 --> 00:20:31.640
  • "a little knife?"
  • 00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:33.075
  • "no knife.
  • 00:20:33.075 --> 00:20:34.409
  • A trumpet."
  • 00:20:34.409 --> 00:20:36.245
  • "ugh, really?
  • 00:20:36.245 --> 00:20:37.879
  • Isn't this like what happened to jericho, where they're marching
  • 00:20:37.879 --> 00:20:40.649
  • Around, blowing trumpets?
  • 00:20:40.649 --> 00:20:41.984
  • What is the thing with trumpets?"
  • 00:20:41.984 --> 00:20:43.318
  • "a trumpet.
  • 00:20:43.318 --> 00:20:44.686
  • A torch and a trumpet."
  • 00:20:44.686 --> 00:20:46.154
  • "okay, then what?"
  • 00:20:46.154 --> 00:20:48.490
  • "so, you run down the hill, you're gonna say, 'for the lord
  • 00:20:48.490 --> 00:20:50.659
  • And for gideon!'
  • 00:20:50.659 --> 00:20:51.994
  • You smash the clay pot.
  • 00:20:51.994 --> 00:20:53.328
  • They see the torch.
  • 00:20:53.328 --> 00:20:54.696
  • Blow your little trumpet."
  • 00:20:54.696 --> 00:20:56.031
  • "that's it?"
  • 00:20:56.031 --> 00:20:57.399
  • "that's it."
  • 00:20:57.466 --> 00:20:58.800
  • Wow, and that's exactly what they did.
  • 00:20:58.800 --> 00:21:02.271
  • They come running down the hill at night.
  • 00:21:02.271 --> 00:21:04.239
  • Boom, they break the pot.
  • 00:21:04.239 --> 00:21:05.707
  • Now the enemies see the flame.
  • 00:21:05.707 --> 00:21:07.943
  • They blow their trumpet.
  • 00:21:07.943 --> 00:21:09.278
  • "the sword of the lord and of gideon!"
  • 00:21:09.278 --> 00:21:11.046
  • The midianites completely freak out.
  • 00:21:11.046 --> 00:21:13.415
  • They're so disoriented they don't know what's happening,
  • 00:21:13.415 --> 00:21:15.817
  • And they start attacking each other.
  • 00:21:15.817 --> 00:21:17.719
  • They kill themselves, and god gave to israel the victory.
  • 00:21:17.719 --> 00:21:21.323
  • It's so crazy, but it's classic, and the lord did it
  • 00:21:21.323 --> 00:21:25.127
  • In such a way so he would get all the glory.
  • 00:21:25.127 --> 00:21:28.096
  • So, what's the takeaway truth of all of this?
  • 00:21:28.096 --> 00:21:30.966
  • Simple: god is looking for men and women today that will shine
  • 00:21:30.966 --> 00:21:36.305
  • Their lights in our very dark world.
  • 00:21:36.305 --> 00:21:39.574
  • He's looking for people who will make a stand for their faith
  • 00:21:39.574 --> 00:21:43.779
  • Wherever they are, starting with their family because there's
  • 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:49.584
  • A lot of people that i would describe
  • 00:21:49.584 --> 00:21:51.353
  • As fair-weather followers.
  • 00:21:51.353 --> 00:21:53.622
  • You know, they say they're christians, but they won't make
  • 00:21:53.622 --> 00:21:56.892
  • The stand.
  • 00:21:56.892 --> 00:21:58.260
  • They're like the people that were fearful and afraid, but
  • 00:21:58.260 --> 00:22:00.395
  • Then there are those that are really committed and they say,
  • 00:22:00.395 --> 00:22:03.598
  • "i wanna be used by god."
  • 00:22:03.598 --> 00:22:04.966
  • I wonder if some of you are here right now.
  • 00:22:04.966 --> 00:22:07.202
  • God can do more with a handful of people that are fully
  • 00:22:07.202 --> 00:22:10.505
  • Committed than he can with thousands who aren't.
  • 00:22:10.505 --> 00:22:14.242
  • Will you be a real, committed follower of jesus christ?
  • 00:22:14.242 --> 00:22:18.714
  • God can do a lot with a little.
  • 00:22:18.714 --> 00:22:21.083
  • If you don't believe me, when you get to heaven,
  • 00:22:21.083 --> 00:22:23.952
  • Ask the little boy that offered his loaves and fish.
  • 00:22:23.952 --> 00:22:28.223
  • He offered what he had, god multiplied it, and god used it
  • 00:22:28.223 --> 00:22:32.494
  • For his glory.
  • 00:22:32.494 --> 00:22:33.862
  • You know, when jesus walked this earth, a lot of people started
  • 00:22:33.862 --> 00:22:37.232
  • Following him, especially after he did his most popular of
  • 00:22:37.232 --> 00:22:40.969
  • All of his miracles, and which one do you think that was?
  • 00:22:40.969 --> 00:22:43.905
  • When he healed blind bartimaeus?
  • 00:22:43.905 --> 00:22:45.640
  • No.
  • 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:46.975
  • When he healed the leprous man?
  • 00:22:46.975 --> 00:22:48.343
  • Again, no.
  • 00:22:48.343 --> 00:22:49.678
  • How about when he raised lazarus from the dead?
  • 00:22:49.678 --> 00:22:51.446
  • No, that wasn't it either.
  • 00:22:51.446 --> 00:22:53.081
  • It's when he provided free lunch and multiplied those loaves
  • 00:22:53.081 --> 00:22:57.085
  • And fishes.
  • 00:22:57.085 --> 00:22:58.453
  • They're like, "you know, resurrection from the
  • 00:22:58.453 --> 00:23:00.389
  • Dead's great.
  • 00:23:00.389 --> 00:23:01.723
  • But free food?
  • 00:23:01.723 --> 00:23:03.091
  • Now we're talking."
  • 00:23:03.091 --> 00:23:04.426
  • And the crowd swelled, and they're following jesus, and
  • 00:23:04.426 --> 00:23:07.863
  • Jesus actually challenged them and offered some hard words to
  • 00:23:07.863 --> 00:23:12.801
  • Them, and thousands of them turned away, and he turned to
  • 00:23:12.801 --> 00:23:15.904
  • His own disciples and he said, "will you also go away?"
  • 00:23:15.904 --> 00:23:18.940
  • They said, "lord, where else are we gonna go?
  • 00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:21.710
  • You alone have the words of eternal life."
  • 00:23:21.710 --> 00:23:25.547
  • There's an interesting little passage at the end
  • 00:23:25.547 --> 00:23:27.682
  • Of the gospel of john.
  • 00:23:27.682 --> 00:23:29.851
  • It says that many believed in him when they saw the signs that
  • 00:23:29.851 --> 00:23:34.823
  • He did, but jesus did not commit himself to them.
  • 00:23:34.823 --> 00:23:39.861
  • Another way to translate that would be "many believed in him,
  • 00:23:39.861 --> 00:23:43.932
  • But he didn't believe in them," why?
  • 00:23:43.932 --> 00:23:46.201
  • It tells us: because he knew what was in the heart of man.
  • 00:23:46.201 --> 00:23:49.838
  • He could see that their faith was fickle.
  • 00:23:49.838 --> 00:23:52.741
  • He could see that their commitment was not genuine,
  • 00:23:52.741 --> 00:23:57.145
  • So he did not commit himself to them.
  • 00:23:57.145 --> 00:23:59.014
  • But then john 3 starts, "now there was a man of the pharisees
  • 00:23:59.014 --> 00:24:02.317
  • Named nicodemus who came to jesus at night."
  • 00:24:02.317 --> 00:24:05.053
  • And we saw the--we see the lord unfolding the truths of the
  • 00:24:05.053 --> 00:24:09.291
  • Kingdom of god to this man named nicodemus who came by night.
  • 00:24:09.291 --> 00:24:13.795
  • "nick at nite."
  • 00:24:13.795 --> 00:24:16.331
  • If you laughed, your old 'cause that's a really dated reference,
  • 00:24:16.331 --> 00:24:19.034
  • But it's all good, and i've been using it a long time.
  • 00:24:19.034 --> 00:24:22.637
  • But why did jesus open his heart to nicodemus when he effectively
  • 00:24:22.637 --> 00:24:27.542
  • Closed it to these other people?
  • 00:24:27.542 --> 00:24:29.611
  • Because nicodemus really wanted to know god,
  • 00:24:29.611 --> 00:24:33.348
  • And those other people did not.
  • 00:24:33.348 --> 00:24:35.750
  • Yeah, gideon came and did what he did at night and so did
  • 00:24:35.750 --> 00:24:39.621
  • Nicodemus, but the lord opened the truth up to him and he said,
  • 00:24:39.621 --> 00:24:43.625
  • "you must be born again."
  • 00:24:43.625 --> 00:24:45.327
  • So, god revealed himself to nicodemus because the bible
  • 00:24:45.327 --> 00:24:49.064
  • Says, "those that seek me will find me."
  • 00:24:49.064 --> 00:24:51.600
  • So, when i meet someone who says, "well, i'm seeking god,"
  • 00:24:51.600 --> 00:24:55.504
  • My test as to whether or not they're seeking god is
  • 00:24:55.504 --> 00:24:57.873
  • How they react to the gospel.
  • 00:24:57.873 --> 00:25:00.375
  • It's interesting when someone "says, well, i'm seeking god."
  • 00:25:00.375 --> 00:25:02.477
  • "oh, really?
  • 00:25:02.477 --> 00:25:03.812
  • Let me tell you what the bible says."
  • 00:25:03.812 --> 00:25:05.180
  • "wait, put that away."
  • 00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:06.515
  • "well, it's just bib--" "put it away!
  • 00:25:06.515 --> 00:25:07.883
  • Don't quote the bible to me, man."
  • 00:25:07.883 --> 00:25:09.217
  • "wait, i thought you were seeking god."
  • 00:25:09.217 --> 00:25:10.585
  • "i am."
  • 00:25:10.585 --> 00:25:11.920
  • "have you ever read the bible?"
  • 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:13.288
  • "no."
  • 00:25:13.288 --> 00:25:14.623
  • "can i tell you a verse from the bible?"
  • 00:25:14.623 --> 00:25:15.991
  • "no."
  • 00:25:15.991 --> 00:25:17.325
  • Wait, if you're seeking god, if you're seeking truth, why you--
  • 00:25:17.325 --> 00:25:20.762
  • Why will you not even listen to what the bible says?
  • 00:25:20.762 --> 00:25:24.900
  • Answer: they're not seeking god, 'cause god says, "i will reveal
  • 00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:28.770
  • Myself to those that seek me."
  • 00:25:28.770 --> 00:25:31.206
  • So, if you really wanna know truth, you'll at least be open
  • 00:25:31.206 --> 00:25:33.808
  • To what the scripture says.
  • 00:25:33.808 --> 00:25:36.244
  • And here's what the scripture says.
  • 00:25:36.244 --> 00:25:39.281
  • It's what jesus said to nicodemus: "for god so loved the
  • 00:25:39.281 --> 00:25:42.384
  • World he gave his only begotten son, and whosoever believes
  • 00:25:42.384 --> 00:25:46.321
  • In him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
  • 00:25:46.321 --> 00:25:53.461
  • Greg: do you ever feel like you're all alone
  • 00:25:57.432 --> 00:25:59.000
  • And no one cares about you?
  • 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:01.002
  • I want you to know something: you're not alone.
  • 00:26:01.002 --> 00:26:04.372
  • God cares about you.
  • 00:26:04.372 --> 00:26:06.308
  • God loves you, and you don't have to ever be lonely again,
  • 00:26:06.308 --> 00:26:11.179
  • Because jesus christ can come and live inside of your heart
  • 00:26:11.179 --> 00:26:15.483
  • And be your savior and your lord.
  • 00:26:15.483 --> 00:26:17.919
  • I'm not talking about religion.
  • 00:26:17.919 --> 00:26:19.621
  • I'm talking about a relationship with god.
  • 00:26:19.621 --> 00:26:22.557
  • He's just a prayer away.
  • 00:26:22.557 --> 00:26:24.392
  • You can just pray a prayer like this:
  • 00:26:24.392 --> 00:26:26.595
  • "jesus, i want you to come into my life.
  • 00:26:26.595 --> 00:26:29.464
  • Forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:26:29.464 --> 00:26:31.166
  • I wanna start this relationship with you now."
  • 00:26:31.166 --> 00:26:34.269
  • If you'll pray a prayer like that, god will hear it
  • 00:26:34.269 --> 00:26:37.305
  • And answer it, and you can know that you'll have purpose
  • 00:26:37.305 --> 00:26:40.241
  • In this life and hope in the life to come,
  • 00:26:40.241 --> 00:26:43.511
  • And if you prayed that prayer, let me send you a bible,
  • 00:26:43.511 --> 00:26:46.715
  • At no charge, to help you get started
  • 00:26:46.715 --> 00:26:49.250
  • In your relationship with god.
  • 00:26:49.250 --> 00:26:56.524
  • ♪ for god so loved ♪
  • 00:27:00.061 --> 00:27:02.397
  • ♪ the world that he gave us ♪
  • 00:27:02.397 --> 00:27:04.799
  • ♪ his one and only son to save us. ♪
  • 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:09.571
  • ♪ whoever believes in him will live forever. ♪
  • 00:27:09.571 --> 00:27:19.247
  • ♪ the power of hell, forever defeated. ♪
  • 00:27:19.247 --> 00:27:23.985
  • ♪ now in his will, i'm walking in freedom. ♪♪
  • 00:27:23.985 --> 00:27:23.985