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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

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

April 21, 2026 | 27:29

Greg Laurie - What To Do When The Odds Are Against You
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#WordofGod #Grace #Love #Israel #Miracles #Courage #Angels #Glory #GregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - What To Do When The Odds Are Against You | April 21, 2026
  • ...
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  • Greg laurie: god was putting gideon in a place where if
  • 00:00:05.137 --> 00:00:08.774
  • The lord didn't come through for him, he was dead in the water,
  • 00:00:08.874 --> 00:00:11.844
  • And sometimes the lord does this to pull away
  • 00:00:11.977 --> 00:00:14.980
  • Our security blanket.
  • 00:00:15.114 --> 00:00:15.481
  • We don't have all the backup plans in place, and we're facing
  • 00:00:16.949 --> 00:00:21.120
  • An emergency, we're facing a crisis, we're facing a problem.
  • 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:25.391
  • It might be a financial crisis, it might be a health crisis.
  • 00:00:25.391 --> 00:00:29.194
  • It might be a family crisis, and it's getting worse and worse,
  • 00:00:29.194 --> 00:00:33.399
  • And you need to just call out and say, "lord, if you don't
  • 00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:35.968
  • Come through for me, i don't have any hope."
  • 00:00:35.968 --> 00:00:39.772
  • But that's not a bad place to be, 'cause that means you're
  • 00:00:39.772 --> 00:00:42.674
  • In complete dependence upon god.
  • 00:00:42.674 --> 00:00:46.412
  • So, sometimes the lord will allow this to happen where we--
  • 00:00:46.412 --> 00:00:49.281
  • So we will realize the only way out is him.
  • 00:00:49.281 --> 00:00:52.951
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:00:55.687 --> 00:00:58.023
  • ♪ the day when life begins ♪
  • 00:00:58.023 --> 00:01:03.195
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:01:03.195 --> 00:01:05.764
  • ♪ the day when life begins ♪♪
  • 00:01:05.764 --> 00:01:13.439
  • Greg: so, my wife and i were with another couple the other
  • 00:01:17.643 --> 00:01:20.879
  • Night, and they were asking us, "is one of you the neater one,
  • 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:25.350
  • Or one the messier one in your relationship?"
  • 00:01:25.350 --> 00:01:27.753
  • "oh, yes," we said, "definitely."
  • 00:01:27.753 --> 00:01:30.089
  • So, he asked, "well, who's the messy one?"
  • 00:01:30.089 --> 00:01:32.524
  • I said, "oh, it's cathe.
  • 00:01:32.524 --> 00:01:33.859
  • She is so messy."
  • 00:01:33.859 --> 00:01:35.461
  • I said, "we go to hotel rooms, she trashes them
  • 00:01:35.461 --> 00:01:38.263
  • Like a rock star.
  • 00:01:38.263 --> 00:01:39.598
  • It's so embarrassing.
  • 00:01:39.598 --> 00:01:40.966
  • She's the messiest person i've ever met."
  • 00:01:40.966 --> 00:01:42.668
  • And they're both-- him and his wife--
  • 00:01:42.668 --> 00:01:44.036
  • Are like, "wow, i can't believe it."
  • 00:01:44.036 --> 00:01:45.737
  • I said, "i'm joking.
  • 00:01:45.737 --> 00:01:47.072
  • It's--the very opposite is the case.
  • 00:01:47.072 --> 00:01:49.108
  • She's very neat, very organized, always tidying up.
  • 00:01:49.108 --> 00:01:53.512
  • Right after she makes a meal, she's cleaning it up.
  • 00:01:53.512 --> 00:01:56.315
  • She washes my clothes while i'm still wearing them."
  • 00:01:56.315 --> 00:01:59.985
  • And i have to say, it's very traumatizing, the time
  • 00:01:59.985 --> 00:02:02.654
  • I've spent in a dryer.
  • 00:02:02.654 --> 00:02:03.989
  • I don't like it at all.
  • 00:02:03.989 --> 00:02:05.357
  • But, so, it's not that at all.
  • 00:02:05.357 --> 00:02:07.759
  • But i bring this up because sometimes in life, you know,
  • 00:02:07.759 --> 00:02:11.797
  • We don't quite finish a job.
  • 00:02:11.797 --> 00:02:13.499
  • I'll start a project at home and i won't finish it.
  • 00:02:13.499 --> 00:02:16.702
  • Cathe always finishes what she begins, and i think, in life,
  • 00:02:16.702 --> 00:02:21.006
  • The same can happen.
  • 00:02:21.006 --> 00:02:22.374
  • We say, "i'm gonna commit this area to the lord and i'm gonna
  • 00:02:22.374 --> 00:02:25.210
  • Be disciplined in this other area," but then a little time
  • 00:02:25.210 --> 00:02:28.947
  • Passes, i make a compromise here, i neglect something else
  • 00:02:28.947 --> 00:02:32.618
  • There, and then i live to regret it later in life.
  • 00:02:32.618 --> 00:02:36.288
  • We don't think about the long-lasting repercussions
  • 00:02:36.288 --> 00:02:39.992
  • Of our actions on our lives, on our children's lives, on our
  • 00:02:39.992 --> 00:02:45.030
  • Grandchildren's lives, and even our great-grandchildren's lives,
  • 00:02:45.030 --> 00:02:49.968
  • But there is cause and effect.
  • 00:02:49.968 --> 00:02:52.604
  • There is action and reaction.
  • 00:02:52.604 --> 00:02:55.274
  • So, we have to think about that.
  • 00:02:55.274 --> 00:02:56.675
  • So, this is our last message in our series
  • 00:02:56.675 --> 00:02:59.444
  • On the book of joshua.
  • 00:02:59.444 --> 00:03:01.246
  • You might say, "well, greg, you're in the book of judges.
  • 00:03:01.246 --> 00:03:02.981
  • Did you make a mistake?"
  • 00:03:02.981 --> 00:03:04.349
  • No, because what we're about to read picks up where joshua
  • 00:03:04.349 --> 00:03:07.920
  • Leaves off.
  • 00:03:07.920 --> 00:03:09.254
  • About 200 years later, we find out what happened to israel when
  • 00:03:09.254 --> 00:03:13.425
  • They didn't do what god told them to do
  • 00:03:13.425 --> 00:03:16.528
  • In the book of joshua.
  • 00:03:16.528 --> 00:03:18.297
  • In our last message, we're seeing joshua parcel out the
  • 00:03:18.297 --> 00:03:22.267
  • Land, the promised land, that god gave to him and the jewish
  • 00:03:22.267 --> 00:03:26.538
  • People, and we remember old caleb raising up his 85-year-old
  • 00:03:26.538 --> 00:03:31.143
  • Arm and saying, "give me this mountain!"
  • 00:03:31.143 --> 00:03:34.179
  • But then we fast forward 200 years and it's the year 1256 bc,
  • 00:03:34.179 --> 00:03:40.085
  • And they have not finished the job that they began.
  • 00:03:40.085 --> 00:03:43.288
  • They did not drive all the canaanites out, and they came to
  • 00:03:43.288 --> 00:03:47.092
  • Regret it.
  • 00:03:47.092 --> 00:03:49.194
  • Because they did not drive out all of the inhabitants of the
  • 00:03:49.194 --> 00:03:52.397
  • Land, they left a few, this came back to haunt them later--
  • 00:03:52.397 --> 00:03:56.535
  • Sort of like if you had a big tree in your backyard
  • 00:03:56.535 --> 00:03:58.804
  • That was tearing everything up so you cut the tree down but you
  • 00:03:58.804 --> 00:04:02.140
  • Don't tear up the roots.
  • 00:04:02.140 --> 00:04:03.709
  • It come back--comes back later to cause problems.
  • 00:04:03.709 --> 00:04:06.411
  • This is what's happening to israel.
  • 00:04:06.411 --> 00:04:08.380
  • They drove out the canaanites and the amorites and the
  • 00:04:08.380 --> 00:04:11.183
  • Hittites and the ammonites and the parasites and every -ite,
  • 00:04:11.183 --> 00:04:15.287
  • But there was one force now that's in power called
  • 00:04:15.287 --> 00:04:20.759
  • The midianites.
  • 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:22.494
  • The midianites have israel under their thumb.
  • 00:04:22.494 --> 00:04:26.265
  • Why did god allow this to happen?
  • 00:04:26.265 --> 00:04:28.967
  • It was his discipline on israel, according to judges that says,
  • 00:04:28.967 --> 00:04:33.005
  • "israel did evil in the sight of the lord, so we handed them over
  • 00:04:33.005 --> 00:04:38.243
  • To the midianites."
  • 00:04:38.243 --> 00:04:40.279
  • So, as we come to this story that happens 200 years after
  • 00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:45.384
  • The events of joshua, we see things are spiritually
  • 00:04:45.384 --> 00:04:49.988
  • And morally upside down.
  • 00:04:49.988 --> 00:04:52.090
  • In fact, there's a verse, judges 17:6, that sums it up.
  • 00:04:52.090 --> 00:04:55.661
  • It says, "in those days israel had no king; so the people
  • 00:04:55.661 --> 00:04:59.698
  • Did whatever seemed right in their own eyes."
  • 00:04:59.698 --> 00:05:03.268
  • Let me do a '60s paraphrase: everyone was doing
  • 00:05:03.268 --> 00:05:06.872
  • Their own thing.
  • 00:05:06.872 --> 00:05:08.240
  • And is that not a description of what is happening
  • 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:10.642
  • In america today?
  • 00:05:10.642 --> 00:05:12.010
  • We're all doing our own thing.
  • 00:05:12.010 --> 00:05:13.412
  • We're disregarding god, we're taking the bible, we're
  • 00:05:13.412 --> 00:05:16.581
  • Deconstructing it, we're saying, "we don't believe this anymore.
  • 00:05:16.581 --> 00:05:20.018
  • We're gonna redefine what a man is, we're gonna redefine what
  • 00:05:20.018 --> 00:05:23.288
  • A woman is, we're gonna redefine what the family is.
  • 00:05:23.288 --> 00:05:26.058
  • We're gonna do whatever seems right in our own eyes."
  • 00:05:26.058 --> 00:05:29.127
  • And now as we sow the wind, we're reaping the whirlwind.
  • 00:05:29.127 --> 00:05:33.932
  • And the midianites, in this case, are in control.
  • 00:05:33.932 --> 00:05:37.235
  • So, as our story begins, we find gideon preparing the little
  • 00:05:37.235 --> 00:05:41.707
  • Wheat that he had hiding behind the walls of a small wine press,
  • 00:05:41.707 --> 00:05:46.144
  • Hardly a picture of heroism or courage, but this is the man
  • 00:05:46.144 --> 00:05:51.049
  • That god chose.
  • 00:05:51.049 --> 00:05:52.417
  • So, judges 6, verse 12, we read this: "the angel of the lord
  • 00:05:52.417 --> 00:05:56.121
  • Appeared, and said to him, 'mighty hero, the lord is
  • 00:05:56.121 --> 00:06:00.225
  • With you!'
  • 00:06:00.225 --> 00:06:01.593
  • Gideon said, 'o my lord, if the lord is with us, then why has
  • 00:06:01.593 --> 00:06:05.263
  • All of this happened to us?
  • 00:06:05.263 --> 00:06:07.232
  • And where are all of his miracles which our fathers told
  • 00:06:07.232 --> 00:06:10.168
  • Us about, saying, "did not the lord bring us from egypt?"
  • 00:06:10.168 --> 00:06:13.138
  • But now,' gideon says, the lord has forsaken us and delivered us
  • 00:06:13.138 --> 00:06:17.576
  • Into the hands of the midianites.'
  • 00:06:17.576 --> 00:06:20.278
  • Then the lord turned to him and said, 'go on this might of
  • 00:06:20.278 --> 00:06:23.148
  • Yours, and you will save israel from the hand of the midianites.
  • 00:06:23.148 --> 00:06:27.619
  • Have i not sent you?'"
  • 00:06:27.619 --> 00:06:29.621
  • We'll stop there.
  • 00:06:29.621 --> 00:06:30.956
  • Interesting response on the part of gideon.
  • 00:06:30.956 --> 00:06:33.625
  • The angel comes to him.
  • 00:06:33.625 --> 00:06:34.960
  • "hey, you courageous man, you man of bravery, the lord is
  • 00:06:34.960 --> 00:06:40.265
  • With you."
  • 00:06:40.265 --> 00:06:41.600
  • He says, "well, if the lord's with us, then why have these
  • 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.002
  • Things happened to us?
  • 00:06:44.002 --> 00:06:45.337
  • Where are all the miracles that we heard about in days gone by?"
  • 00:06:45.337 --> 00:06:49.975
  • So, god could have said, "you brought this on yourself,
  • 00:06:49.975 --> 00:06:52.411
  • Gideon, you and the israelites."
  • 00:06:52.411 --> 00:06:54.513
  • But instead the lord didn't say that.
  • 00:06:54.513 --> 00:06:56.615
  • He said, "just go with the strength you have and rescue
  • 00:06:56.615 --> 00:07:00.452
  • Israel from the midianites.
  • 00:07:00.452 --> 00:07:02.621
  • I'm sending you."
  • 00:07:02.621 --> 00:07:03.955
  • In other words, "gideon, we don't have time to get into that
  • 00:07:03.955 --> 00:07:06.425
  • Right now.
  • 00:07:06.425 --> 00:07:07.759
  • It'll take too long.
  • 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:09.127
  • Here's the battle plan: i'm gonna bring a solution and i'm
  • 00:07:09.127 --> 00:07:12.197
  • Gonna make things different and i'm gonna do it through you."
  • 00:07:12.197 --> 00:07:16.201
  • But gideon isn't seeing it.
  • 00:07:16.201 --> 00:07:17.969
  • He says in verse 15, "lord, how can i save israel?
  • 00:07:17.969 --> 00:07:22.474
  • Indeed my clan is the weakest in manasseh, and i'm the least
  • 00:07:22.474 --> 00:07:26.211
  • Of my father's house."
  • 00:07:26.211 --> 00:07:27.879
  • Another translation puts it this way: "i'm the runt
  • 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:31.349
  • Of the litter.
  • 00:07:31.349 --> 00:07:32.851
  • I'm the lowest of the low."
  • 00:07:32.851 --> 00:07:34.853
  • That's how he felt.
  • 00:07:34.853 --> 00:07:36.521
  • And now we see some very interesting principles
  • 00:07:36.521 --> 00:07:39.458
  • On the kind of man or woman that god will use.
  • 00:07:39.458 --> 00:07:42.928
  • If you're taking notes, here's point number one:
  • 00:07:42.928 --> 00:07:45.897
  • God uses people who are humble.
  • 00:07:45.897 --> 00:07:48.567
  • God uses people who are humble.
  • 00:07:48.633 --> 00:07:51.570
  • They're not proud.
  • 00:07:51.570 --> 00:07:53.071
  • They're not arrogant.
  • 00:07:53.071 --> 00:07:54.506
  • They see themselves for what they are.
  • 00:07:54.506 --> 00:07:57.142
  • God tells gideon what he's going to do through him.
  • 00:07:57.142 --> 00:08:00.946
  • In verse 15, gideon says, "who am i?"
  • 00:08:00.946 --> 00:08:04.115
  • The lord effectively says, "it doesn't matter who you are.
  • 00:08:04.115 --> 00:08:07.118
  • The real question is: who am i?
  • 00:08:07.118 --> 00:08:10.088
  • Listen, buddy, it's me working through you."
  • 00:08:10.088 --> 00:08:12.824
  • The bible says that the spirit of the lord is searching
  • 00:08:12.824 --> 00:08:15.026
  • Throughout the earth for a man or a woman that he can show
  • 00:08:15.026 --> 00:08:18.563
  • Himself strong on behalf of.
  • 00:08:18.563 --> 00:08:20.966
  • It doesn't say he's searching for a strong man
  • 00:08:20.966 --> 00:08:23.702
  • Or a strong woman.
  • 00:08:23.702 --> 00:08:25.103
  • He's looking for someone that will just admit their weakness
  • 00:08:25.103 --> 00:08:28.306
  • And their vulnerability but will say, "here i am, lord.
  • 00:08:28.306 --> 00:08:31.476
  • Send me."
  • 00:08:31.476 --> 00:08:32.911
  • As i've often said, god doesn't call the qualified.
  • 00:08:32.911 --> 00:08:35.714
  • He qualifies the called.
  • 00:08:35.714 --> 00:08:38.116
  • He can do extraordinary things through ordinary people and
  • 00:08:38.116 --> 00:08:42.654
  • Would appear, as you look at the people that god selects
  • 00:08:42.654 --> 00:08:45.457
  • In the pages of scripture, that he goes out of his way to choose
  • 00:08:45.457 --> 00:08:49.160
  • The most unlikely people.
  • 00:08:49.160 --> 00:08:50.762
  • Why do you think that is?
  • 00:08:50.762 --> 00:08:52.130
  • Answer: he wants to get the glory.
  • 00:08:52.130 --> 00:08:55.934
  • I mean, this is shown in what he says to gideon, verse 12,
  • 00:08:55.934 --> 00:08:59.538
  • "mighty hero, the lord is with you!"
  • 00:08:59.538 --> 00:09:02.073
  • It almost sounds like mockery, "mighty hero."
  • 00:09:02.073 --> 00:09:04.876
  • It'd be like going to an f student and saying,
  • 00:09:04.876 --> 00:09:06.912
  • "hey, einstein!"
  • 00:09:06.912 --> 00:09:10.115
  • Or going to a kid that can't throw a football:
  • 00:09:10.115 --> 00:09:11.917
  • "hey, tom brady!"
  • 00:09:11.917 --> 00:09:13.652
  • Uh, hardly tom brady there.
  • 00:09:13.652 --> 00:09:16.621
  • But god sees you for what you can become.
  • 00:09:16.621 --> 00:09:19.691
  • See, i see what i am.
  • 00:09:19.691 --> 00:09:21.793
  • God sees what i can be.
  • 00:09:21.793 --> 00:09:24.095
  • What do you see when you look in the mirror?
  • 00:09:24.095 --> 00:09:25.897
  • Well, depends on what kind of mirror.
  • 00:09:25.897 --> 00:09:28.700
  • If it's a magnifying mirror, you're probably
  • 00:09:28.700 --> 00:09:30.569
  • Somewhat horrified.
  • 00:09:30.569 --> 00:09:32.637
  • I was holding my little niece the other day, newborn baby,
  • 00:09:32.637 --> 00:09:36.508
  • She's so sweet, and i was just amazed at her skin, the skin
  • 00:09:36.508 --> 00:09:41.680
  • Of a baby, and you look at your own skin.
  • 00:09:41.680 --> 00:09:46.151
  • I just had a visit with my dermatologist, and you know
  • 00:09:46.151 --> 00:09:49.888
  • That that's not a pleasant experience.
  • 00:09:49.888 --> 00:09:52.023
  • And so, we see our weaknesses.
  • 00:09:52.023 --> 00:09:54.659
  • We see our flaws.
  • 00:09:54.659 --> 00:09:56.962
  • It's been said mirrors don't lie.
  • 00:09:56.962 --> 00:09:59.130
  • Lucky for you, they don't laugh either.
  • 00:09:59.130 --> 00:10:04.269
  • So, i look in the mirror and i see weakness,
  • 00:10:04.269 --> 00:10:08.139
  • But god sees potential.
  • 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:09.841
  • I see what i am.
  • 00:10:09.841 --> 00:10:11.576
  • God sees what i can be.
  • 00:10:11.576 --> 00:10:13.712
  • I see the past, and i'm crippled by it.
  • 00:10:13.712 --> 00:10:15.880
  • God sees the future.
  • 00:10:15.880 --> 00:10:17.682
  • I see a lump of clay.
  • 00:10:17.682 --> 00:10:19.384
  • God sees a beautiful sculpture.
  • 00:10:19.384 --> 00:10:22.020
  • I see a blank canvas.
  • 00:10:22.020 --> 00:10:23.588
  • God sees a van gogh.
  • 00:10:23.588 --> 00:10:25.957
  • I see a lump of coal.
  • 00:10:25.957 --> 00:10:27.959
  • God sees a beautiful, sparkling diamond.
  • 00:10:27.959 --> 00:10:31.463
  • I see a vacillating, unsure simon.
  • 00:10:31.463 --> 00:10:35.400
  • God sees a powerful, rock-like peter.
  • 00:10:35.400 --> 00:10:39.471
  • I see a persecuting saul of tarsus.
  • 00:10:39.471 --> 00:10:42.273
  • God sees a mighty apostle called paul.
  • 00:10:42.273 --> 00:10:46.378
  • The same with gideon, "you men of valor, you men of courage,
  • 00:10:46.378 --> 00:10:51.049
  • You're a hero."
  • 00:10:51.049 --> 00:10:52.584
  • Gideon just saw a zero.
  • 00:10:52.584 --> 00:10:55.220
  • Now, a series of tests come to gideon to prepare him
  • 00:10:55.220 --> 00:10:58.957
  • For what he is about to do.
  • 00:10:58.957 --> 00:11:00.625
  • The first test happened in his home.
  • 00:11:00.625 --> 00:11:02.894
  • The lord said, "okay, here's what i want you to do.
  • 00:11:02.894 --> 00:11:05.296
  • I want you to go home and your dad, joash, built an altar
  • 00:11:05.296 --> 00:11:09.634
  • To baal, a false god.
  • 00:11:09.634 --> 00:11:11.136
  • I want you to tear it down."
  • 00:11:11.136 --> 00:11:12.570
  • Gideon's like, "uh, okay."
  • 00:11:12.570 --> 00:11:15.507
  • You know, but he loved his dad.
  • 00:11:15.507 --> 00:11:16.875
  • He respected his father.
  • 00:11:16.875 --> 00:11:18.209
  • Obviously, this is gonna cause a lot of tension, to tear down his
  • 00:11:18.209 --> 00:11:22.147
  • Father's altar to baal, but he does it but he does it at night
  • 00:11:22.147 --> 00:11:27.052
  • Because he was afraid of what his father would think.
  • 00:11:27.052 --> 00:11:29.454
  • He was afraid of what the people would think.
  • 00:11:29.454 --> 00:11:31.523
  • He did tear the altar down, but he did it at night, bringing me
  • 00:11:31.523 --> 00:11:35.293
  • To principle number two: if you wanna be used by god,
  • 00:11:35.293 --> 00:11:38.096
  • You need to be faithful in the little things.
  • 00:11:38.096 --> 00:11:40.899
  • Be faithful in the little things.
  • 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:42.400
  • God gave him a little test.
  • 00:11:42.400 --> 00:11:43.768
  • A bigger one was coming.
  • 00:11:43.768 --> 00:11:45.870
  • "here's a little test.
  • 00:11:45.870 --> 00:11:47.238
  • Just go take care of this.
  • 00:11:47.238 --> 00:11:48.573
  • Tear down that altar."
  • 00:11:48.573 --> 00:11:50.408
  • Listen to this: god calls busy people.
  • 00:11:50.408 --> 00:11:53.511
  • It's been said if you wanna get something done, ask a busy
  • 00:11:53.511 --> 00:11:56.715
  • Person, and you will see that, so often, when the lord called
  • 00:11:56.715 --> 00:12:01.186
  • People, they were doing something.
  • 00:12:01.186 --> 00:12:02.620
  • Gideon is threshing wheat.
  • 00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:05.724
  • Elisha was plowing a field when he was called by elijah.
  • 00:12:05.724 --> 00:12:09.861
  • The apostles to be were mending nets when jesus called them.
  • 00:12:09.861 --> 00:12:13.598
  • David was tending sheep.
  • 00:12:13.598 --> 00:12:16.000
  • So, the idea is they're just doing what's in front of them.
  • 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.737
  • They're willing to do whatever needs to be done.
  • 00:12:18.737 --> 00:12:21.072
  • Listen, you're never too small for god to use, only too big.
  • 00:12:21.072 --> 00:12:26.611
  • Greg: hey, greg laurie here, and welcome to my podcast.
  • 00:12:30.715 --> 00:12:32.884
  • I have a very special guest: joel rosenberg.
  • 00:12:32.884 --> 00:12:37.222
  • Levi, thanks for being on my podcast.
  • 00:12:37.222 --> 00:12:38.957
  • Michael franzese.
  • 00:12:38.957 --> 00:12:40.558
  • Thank you for making time for me.
  • 00:12:40.558 --> 00:12:42.293
  • 'cause you deal with some very weighty, heavy subjects
  • 00:12:42.293 --> 00:12:44.763
  • And i think when you can bring humor in
  • 00:12:44.763 --> 00:12:46.965
  • Is it actually helps the viewer to take in all that information.
  • 00:12:46.965 --> 00:12:51.569
  • Greg: is it hard to be a man of faith in what you do?
  • 00:12:54.973 --> 00:12:59.210
  • Mike johnson: it's not.
  • 00:12:59.210 --> 00:13:00.545
  • In fact, it's the only way i'm allowed and enabled
  • 00:13:00.545 --> 00:13:03.014
  • To do this job.
  • 00:13:03.014 --> 00:13:04.382
  • Jon erwin: hollywood's not the hope of the world,
  • 00:13:06.384 --> 00:13:07.719
  • The local church is the hope of the world,
  • 00:13:07.719 --> 00:13:09.354
  • And i've always felt like it's my job to set a volleyball
  • 00:13:09.354 --> 00:13:12.090
  • That can be spiked at the local level.
  • 00:13:12.090 --> 00:13:14.893
  • Greg: no one is beyond the reach of god.
  • 00:13:14.893 --> 00:13:17.095
  • I mean, if god can reach michael franzese,
  • 00:13:17.095 --> 00:13:19.697
  • Who can god not reach?
  • 00:13:19.697 --> 00:13:25.603
  • Greg: coming back to what gideon
  • 00:13:29.274 --> 00:13:30.608
  • Did, he tore this altar down,
  • 00:13:30.608 --> 00:13:32.243
  • But he did it at night.
  • 00:13:32.243 --> 00:13:34.145
  • Some have criticized him.
  • 00:13:34.145 --> 00:13:36.681
  • "why didn't he do it in broad daylight?"
  • 00:13:36.681 --> 00:13:38.950
  • Well, because he was afraid, but at least he did it.
  • 00:13:38.950 --> 00:13:42.153
  • I'd rather do something imperfectly than do nothing.
  • 00:13:42.153 --> 00:13:46.291
  • It's so easy to critique people.
  • 00:13:46.291 --> 00:13:48.026
  • You know, when we started this church--i have to be honest
  • 00:13:48.026 --> 00:13:51.229
  • With you--we had no idea what we were doing.
  • 00:13:51.229 --> 00:13:54.332
  • We really didn't.
  • 00:13:54.332 --> 00:13:55.700
  • I was 20 years old.
  • 00:13:55.700 --> 00:13:57.035
  • I'd only been a christian three years, but we took bold steps of
  • 00:13:57.035 --> 00:14:01.039
  • Faith and we said, "let's see what the lord will do."
  • 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:03.141
  • Did we do everything perfectly?
  • 00:14:03.141 --> 00:14:04.776
  • Of course not.
  • 00:14:04.776 --> 00:14:06.144
  • But we learned from our mistakes, and we've been able
  • 00:14:06.144 --> 00:14:08.947
  • To see the lord do some amazing things over the years,
  • 00:14:08.947 --> 00:14:12.417
  • But we've always had our critics.
  • 00:14:12.417 --> 00:14:14.385
  • I remember when we started our evangelistic crusades,
  • 00:14:14.385 --> 00:14:17.255
  • People said, "oh, that's not gonna work.
  • 00:14:17.255 --> 00:14:19.357
  • Crusade evangelism died with billy graham."
  • 00:14:19.357 --> 00:14:22.794
  • And then when billy started his evangelistic ministry, they said
  • 00:14:22.794 --> 00:14:25.997
  • To him, "this isn't gonna work.
  • 00:14:25.997 --> 00:14:27.699
  • Crusade evangelism died with billy sunday,"
  • 00:14:27.699 --> 00:14:30.101
  • Another evangelist.
  • 00:14:30.101 --> 00:14:31.436
  • And when billy sunday started his ministry, they said,
  • 00:14:31.436 --> 00:14:34.706
  • "it's not gonna work because crusade evangelism died
  • 00:14:34.706 --> 00:14:37.275
  • With d.l. moody."
  • 00:14:37.275 --> 00:14:38.910
  • See, it's--no, crusade evangelism, or evangelism in
  • 00:14:38.910 --> 00:14:43.047
  • General, will never die because god will always raise up
  • 00:14:43.047 --> 00:14:46.284
  • Someone to do it, someone to preach the gospel.
  • 00:14:46.284 --> 00:14:48.786
  • So, but people push back.
  • 00:14:48.786 --> 00:14:50.521
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:14:50.521 --> 00:14:53.758
  • "well, i don't like the way you do this," or "i don't like the
  • 00:14:53.758 --> 00:14:56.327
  • Way you do that," or "it's not gonna work here and it's not
  • 00:14:56.327 --> 00:14:58.796
  • Gonna work there," and we just kept going to new places
  • 00:14:58.796 --> 00:15:02.133
  • And seeing the lord work.
  • 00:15:02.133 --> 00:15:03.668
  • I heard the story of--speaking of d.l. moody--a lady
  • 00:15:03.668 --> 00:15:06.304
  • Who came to him, said, "mr. moody,
  • 00:15:06.304 --> 00:15:08.373
  • I don't like the way you do evangelism."
  • 00:15:08.373 --> 00:15:11.442
  • And moody said, "well, ma'am, i'm always willing to learn
  • 00:15:11.442 --> 00:15:14.112
  • Something new.
  • 00:15:14.112 --> 00:15:15.480
  • Tell me how you do evangelism."
  • 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:16.814
  • She said, "i don't."
  • 00:15:16.814 --> 00:15:18.549
  • He said, "well, i like my way of doing it better than your way
  • 00:15:18.549 --> 00:15:21.486
  • Of not doing it," right?
  • 00:15:21.486 --> 00:15:23.988
  • So, yeah, maybe gideon didn't do this perfectly.
  • 00:15:23.988 --> 00:15:26.491
  • He did it at night, but at least he did it.
  • 00:15:26.491 --> 00:15:29.761
  • Now, here's what's interesting, is after his dad found out,
  • 00:15:29.761 --> 00:15:33.831
  • He was kind of proud of his boy.
  • 00:15:33.831 --> 00:15:35.767
  • The people in the city were so angry.
  • 00:15:35.767 --> 00:15:37.468
  • "kill this guy!
  • 00:15:37.468 --> 00:15:38.803
  • He tore down this altar!"
  • 00:15:38.803 --> 00:15:40.171
  • His father, joash, says, "well, what do you--you have to defend
  • 00:15:40.171 --> 00:15:42.840
  • Baal now?
  • 00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:44.175
  • Can't baal defend himself?"
  • 00:15:44.175 --> 00:15:46.411
  • And it seems like joash sees the stupidity of worshiping a false
  • 00:15:46.411 --> 00:15:50.548
  • God, and he defends his son.
  • 00:15:50.548 --> 00:15:53.251
  • So, gideon took a stand in his home first.
  • 00:15:53.251 --> 00:15:56.955
  • Now, the next test is coming.
  • 00:15:56.955 --> 00:15:59.023
  • This is a big one.
  • 00:15:59.023 --> 00:16:00.358
  • God says, "get a bunch of men together.
  • 00:16:00.358 --> 00:16:02.327
  • Start forming your army."
  • 00:16:02.327 --> 00:16:04.696
  • Incredibly, impressively, gideon manages to form an army
  • 00:16:04.696 --> 00:16:10.568
  • Of 32,000 men.
  • 00:16:10.568 --> 00:16:12.370
  • This is what happened next.
  • 00:16:12.370 --> 00:16:13.938
  • Judges 7, verse 2, "the lord said to gideon, 'you have
  • 00:16:13.938 --> 00:16:17.976
  • Too many warriors with you.
  • 00:16:17.976 --> 00:16:19.677
  • If i let you all fight the midianites, the israelites will
  • 00:16:19.677 --> 00:16:22.380
  • Boast mean that they saved themselves by their
  • 00:16:22.380 --> 00:16:24.782
  • Own strength.
  • 00:16:24.782 --> 00:16:26.150
  • Therefore, tell the people, "whoever is timid or afraid,
  • 00:16:26.150 --> 00:16:29.220
  • They can leave this mountain and go home."'
  • 00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:31.756
  • So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000
  • 00:16:31.756 --> 00:16:36.761
  • Willing to fight."
  • 00:16:36.761 --> 00:16:38.196
  • Wow.
  • 00:16:38.196 --> 00:16:39.864
  • Hey, if you need--if you don't wanna fight, go home.
  • 00:16:39.864 --> 00:16:41.966
  • Twenty-two thousand guys, "see you, man."
  • 00:16:41.966 --> 00:16:45.069
  • Wow, now he's down to 10,000 men.
  • 00:16:45.069 --> 00:16:49.040
  • What a disappointment.
  • 00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:51.142
  • God was putting gideon in a place where if the lord didn't
  • 00:16:51.142 --> 00:16:55.513
  • Come through for him, he was dead in the water, and sometimes
  • 00:16:55.513 --> 00:16:58.750
  • The lord does this.
  • 00:16:58.750 --> 00:17:00.385
  • He'll pull away our security blanket.
  • 00:17:00.385 --> 00:17:03.121
  • We don't have all the backup plans in place, and we're facing
  • 00:17:03.121 --> 00:17:07.291
  • An emergency, we're facing a crisis, we're facing a problem.
  • 00:17:07.291 --> 00:17:11.562
  • It might be a financial crisis, it might be a health crisis,
  • 00:17:11.562 --> 00:17:15.533
  • It might be a family crisis, and it's getting worse and worse,
  • 00:17:15.533 --> 00:17:19.570
  • And you need to just call out and say, "lord,
  • 00:17:19.570 --> 00:17:21.406
  • If you don't come through for me, i don't have any hope."
  • 00:17:21.406 --> 00:17:25.910
  • But that's not a bad place to be, 'cause that means you're
  • 00:17:25.910 --> 00:17:28.846
  • In complete dependence upon god.
  • 00:17:28.846 --> 00:17:32.650
  • So, sometimes the lord will allow this to happen where we--
  • 00:17:32.650 --> 00:17:35.453
  • So we will realize the only way out is him.
  • 00:17:35.453 --> 00:17:38.890
  • There will be times in life where you will face what seemed
  • 00:17:38.890 --> 00:17:41.526
  • To be insurmountable obstacles, like the red sea he wants you to
  • 00:17:41.526 --> 00:17:46.130
  • Get through, or the towering walls of a jericho he wants you
  • 00:17:46.130 --> 00:17:50.735
  • To fell, or a frightening giant like goliath he wants you to
  • 00:17:50.735 --> 00:17:55.106
  • Defeat, but there's god doing his part and then there's us
  • 00:17:55.106 --> 00:17:58.709
  • Doing our part.
  • 00:17:58.709 --> 00:18:01.012
  • There's always his part and our part.
  • 00:18:01.012 --> 00:18:03.448
  • The red sea parted, but israel had to march through.
  • 00:18:03.448 --> 00:18:07.118
  • The walls of jericho fell, but israel still had to march
  • 00:18:07.118 --> 00:18:10.488
  • Around them.
  • 00:18:10.488 --> 00:18:11.856
  • The giant goliath fell, but david still had to attack him.
  • 00:18:11.856 --> 00:18:16.027
  • So, gideon says to the men that don't wanna fight, "okay,
  • 00:18:16.027 --> 00:18:19.464
  • Go home to mommy."
  • 00:18:19.464 --> 00:18:21.532
  • Now he's down to a much smaller fighting force.
  • 00:18:21.532 --> 00:18:26.104
  • Why did he dismiss those men?
  • 00:18:26.104 --> 00:18:27.939
  • Because fear is contagious.
  • 00:18:27.939 --> 00:18:30.842
  • Listen to this: if you're looking for an easy life, if
  • 00:18:30.842 --> 00:18:34.745
  • You're looking for a life with no conflict, with no challenge,
  • 00:18:34.745 --> 00:18:38.649
  • Go home to mommy because the christian life is not
  • 00:18:38.649 --> 00:18:43.020
  • An easy life.
  • 00:18:43.020 --> 00:18:44.489
  • It is a life where you will face spiritual warfare.
  • 00:18:44.489 --> 00:18:47.692
  • It is a life where you will need to resist temptation.
  • 00:18:47.692 --> 00:18:50.962
  • It is a life where you will need to obey god and be
  • 00:18:50.962 --> 00:18:54.165
  • Countercultural in almost every way imaginable--and perhaps
  • 00:18:54.165 --> 00:18:58.136
  • Even more so right now than i can remember.
  • 00:18:58.136 --> 00:19:01.305
  • But here's the thing.
  • 00:19:01.305 --> 00:19:02.640
  • It is the only life that is worthwhile:
  • 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:06.277
  • Following jesus christ.
  • 00:19:06.277 --> 00:19:07.945
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:19:07.945 --> 00:19:12.383
  • Now, one final test: judges 7, verse 4, "the lord told gideon,
  • 00:19:12.383 --> 00:19:17.421
  • 'you still have too many!
  • 00:19:17.421 --> 00:19:19.390
  • Bring them down to the spring, and i will sort out who will go
  • 00:19:19.390 --> 00:19:22.260
  • With you and who will not.'
  • 00:19:22.260 --> 00:19:23.761
  • When gideon took his warriors down to the water,
  • 00:19:23.761 --> 00:19:26.097
  • The lord said, 'divide the men into two groups.
  • 00:19:26.097 --> 00:19:28.299
  • In one group put all those who cup water in their hands
  • 00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:31.502
  • And lap it up with their tongues like dogs.
  • 00:19:31.502 --> 00:19:33.304
  • In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with
  • 00:19:33.304 --> 00:19:36.307
  • Their mouths in the string.'"
  • 00:19:36.307 --> 00:19:38.776
  • So, here are the guys drinking the water.
  • 00:19:38.776 --> 00:19:40.545
  • We could divide them into two categories.
  • 00:19:40.545 --> 00:19:42.847
  • We'll call them the lappers and the cuppers.
  • 00:19:42.847 --> 00:19:45.850
  • The lappers could've been easily ambushed and killed.
  • 00:19:45.850 --> 00:19:49.320
  • They just have their face buried in the water, drinking,
  • 00:19:49.320 --> 00:19:52.623
  • Not alert to what's going on around them.
  • 00:19:52.623 --> 00:19:54.926
  • But the coppers, those who kneel, bringing the water
  • 00:19:54.926 --> 00:19:57.361
  • To their lips, were alert, cautious, watching.
  • 00:19:57.361 --> 00:20:00.798
  • The lord said, "that's it."
  • 00:20:00.798 --> 00:20:02.400
  • Now he's got it down to three percent of the original 10,000.
  • 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:07.205
  • This is the delta force.
  • 00:20:07.205 --> 00:20:09.373
  • These are the green berets.
  • 00:20:09.373 --> 00:20:11.242
  • These are the army rangers.
  • 00:20:11.242 --> 00:20:13.578
  • These are the swat team.
  • 00:20:13.578 --> 00:20:15.813
  • These are the elite ones now that god is going to use.
  • 00:20:15.813 --> 00:20:19.617
  • Lord says, "okay, here's a battle plan.
  • 00:20:19.617 --> 00:20:21.252
  • You ready?"
  • 00:20:21.252 --> 00:20:22.587
  • "yes?"
  • 00:20:22.587 --> 00:20:23.955
  • "you're gonna break the men into three groups--excuse me,
  • 00:20:23.955 --> 00:20:26.224
  • Two groups, and here's what you do: on one hand, you're gonna
  • 00:20:26.224 --> 00:20:29.594
  • Hold a torch, fire, put a clay pot over it,
  • 00:20:29.594 --> 00:20:34.165
  • And on the other hand, you hold a--"
  • 00:20:34.165 --> 00:20:35.967
  • "a sword?"
  • 00:20:35.967 --> 00:20:37.301
  • "no."
  • 00:20:37.301 --> 00:20:38.636
  • "a little knife?"
  • 00:20:38.636 --> 00:20:40.071
  • "no knife.
  • 00:20:40.071 --> 00:20:41.405
  • A trumpet."
  • 00:20:41.405 --> 00:20:43.241
  • "ugh, really?
  • 00:20:43.241 --> 00:20:44.875
  • Isn't this like what happened to jericho, where they're marching
  • 00:20:44.875 --> 00:20:47.645
  • Around, blowing trumpets?
  • 00:20:47.645 --> 00:20:48.980
  • What is the thing with trumpets?"
  • 00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:50.314
  • "a trumpet.
  • 00:20:50.314 --> 00:20:51.682
  • A torch and a trumpet."
  • 00:20:51.682 --> 00:20:53.150
  • "okay, then what?"
  • 00:20:53.150 --> 00:20:55.486
  • "so, you run down the hill, you're gonna say, 'for the lord
  • 00:20:55.486 --> 00:20:57.655
  • And for gideon!'
  • 00:20:57.655 --> 00:20:58.990
  • You smash the clay pot.
  • 00:20:58.990 --> 00:21:00.324
  • They see the torch.
  • 00:21:00.324 --> 00:21:01.692
  • Blow your little trumpet."
  • 00:21:01.692 --> 00:21:03.027
  • "that's it?"
  • 00:21:03.027 --> 00:21:04.395
  • "that's it."
  • 00:21:04.462 --> 00:21:05.796
  • Wow, and that's exactly what they did.
  • 00:21:05.796 --> 00:21:09.267
  • They come running down the hill at night.
  • 00:21:09.267 --> 00:21:11.235
  • Boom, they break the pot.
  • 00:21:11.235 --> 00:21:12.703
  • Now the enemies see the flame.
  • 00:21:12.703 --> 00:21:14.939
  • They blow their trumpet.
  • 00:21:14.939 --> 00:21:16.274
  • "the sword of the lord and of gideon!"
  • 00:21:16.274 --> 00:21:18.042
  • The midianites completely freak out.
  • 00:21:18.042 --> 00:21:20.411
  • They're so disoriented they don't know what's happening,
  • 00:21:20.411 --> 00:21:22.813
  • And they start attacking each other.
  • 00:21:22.813 --> 00:21:24.715
  • They kill themselves, and god gave to israel the victory.
  • 00:21:24.715 --> 00:21:28.319
  • It's so crazy, but it's classic, and the lord did it
  • 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:32.123
  • In such a way so he would get all the glory.
  • 00:21:32.123 --> 00:21:35.092
  • So, what's the takeaway truth of all of this?
  • 00:21:35.092 --> 00:21:37.962
  • Simple: god is looking for men and women today that will shine
  • 00:21:37.962 --> 00:21:43.301
  • Their lights in our very dark world.
  • 00:21:43.301 --> 00:21:46.570
  • He's looking for people who will make a stand for their faith
  • 00:21:46.570 --> 00:21:50.775
  • Wherever they are, starting with their family because there's
  • 00:21:50.775 --> 00:21:56.580
  • A lot of people that i would describe
  • 00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:58.349
  • As fair-weather followers.
  • 00:21:58.349 --> 00:22:00.618
  • You know, they say they're christians, but they won't make
  • 00:22:00.618 --> 00:22:03.888
  • The stand.
  • 00:22:03.888 --> 00:22:05.256
  • They're like the people that were fearful and afraid, but
  • 00:22:05.256 --> 00:22:07.391
  • Then there are those that are really committed and they say,
  • 00:22:07.391 --> 00:22:10.594
  • "i wanna be used by god."
  • 00:22:10.594 --> 00:22:11.962
  • I wonder if some of you are here right now.
  • 00:22:11.962 --> 00:22:14.198
  • God can do more with a handful of people that are fully
  • 00:22:14.198 --> 00:22:17.501
  • Committed than he can with thousands who aren't.
  • 00:22:17.501 --> 00:22:21.238
  • Will you be a real, committed follower of jesus christ?
  • 00:22:21.238 --> 00:22:25.710
  • God can do a lot with a little.
  • 00:22:25.710 --> 00:22:28.079
  • If you don't believe me, when you get to heaven,
  • 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:30.948
  • Ask the little boy that offered his loaves and fish.
  • 00:22:30.948 --> 00:22:35.219
  • He offered what he had, god multiplied it, and god used it
  • 00:22:35.219 --> 00:22:39.490
  • For his glory.
  • 00:22:39.490 --> 00:22:40.858
  • You know, when jesus walked this earth, a lot of people started
  • 00:22:40.858 --> 00:22:44.228
  • Following him, especially after he did his most popular of
  • 00:22:44.228 --> 00:22:47.965
  • All of his miracles, and which one do you think that was?
  • 00:22:47.965 --> 00:22:50.901
  • When he healed blind bartimaeus?
  • 00:22:50.901 --> 00:22:52.636
  • No.
  • 00:22:52.636 --> 00:22:53.971
  • When he healed the leprous man?
  • 00:22:53.971 --> 00:22:55.339
  • Again, no.
  • 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:56.674
  • How about when he raised lazarus from the dead?
  • 00:22:56.674 --> 00:22:58.442
  • No, that wasn't it either.
  • 00:22:58.442 --> 00:23:00.077
  • It's when he provided free lunch and multiplied those loaves
  • 00:23:00.077 --> 00:23:04.081
  • And fishes.
  • 00:23:04.081 --> 00:23:05.449
  • They're like, "you know, resurrection from the
  • 00:23:05.449 --> 00:23:07.385
  • Dead's great.
  • 00:23:07.385 --> 00:23:08.719
  • But free food?
  • 00:23:08.719 --> 00:23:10.087
  • Now we're talking."
  • 00:23:10.087 --> 00:23:11.422
  • And the crowd swelled, and they're following jesus, and
  • 00:23:11.422 --> 00:23:14.859
  • Jesus actually challenged them and offered some hard words to
  • 00:23:14.859 --> 00:23:19.797
  • Them, and thousands of them turned away, and he turned to
  • 00:23:19.797 --> 00:23:22.900
  • His own disciples and he said, "will you also go away?"
  • 00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:25.936
  • They said, "lord, where else are we gonna go?
  • 00:23:25.936 --> 00:23:28.706
  • You alone have the words of eternal life."
  • 00:23:28.706 --> 00:23:32.543
  • There's an interesting little passage at the end
  • 00:23:32.543 --> 00:23:34.678
  • Of the gospel of john.
  • 00:23:34.678 --> 00:23:36.847
  • It says that many believed in him when they saw the signs that
  • 00:23:36.847 --> 00:23:41.819
  • He did, but jesus did not commit himself to them.
  • 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:46.857
  • Another way to translate that would be "many believed in him,
  • 00:23:46.857 --> 00:23:50.928
  • But he didn't believe in them," why?
  • 00:23:50.928 --> 00:23:53.197
  • It tells us: because he knew what was in the heart of man.
  • 00:23:53.197 --> 00:23:56.834
  • He could see that their faith was fickle.
  • 00:23:56.834 --> 00:23:59.737
  • He could see that their commitment was not genuine,
  • 00:23:59.737 --> 00:24:04.141
  • So he did not commit himself to them.
  • 00:24:04.141 --> 00:24:06.010
  • But then john 3 starts, "now there was a man of the pharisees
  • 00:24:06.010 --> 00:24:09.313
  • Named nicodemus who came to jesus at night."
  • 00:24:09.313 --> 00:24:12.049
  • And we saw the--we see the lord unfolding the truths of the
  • 00:24:12.049 --> 00:24:16.287
  • Kingdom of god to this man named nicodemus who came by night.
  • 00:24:16.287 --> 00:24:20.791
  • "nick at nite."
  • 00:24:20.791 --> 00:24:23.327
  • If you laughed, your old 'cause that's a really dated reference,
  • 00:24:23.327 --> 00:24:26.030
  • But it's all good, and i've been using it a long time.
  • 00:24:26.030 --> 00:24:29.633
  • But why did jesus open his heart to nicodemus when he effectively
  • 00:24:29.633 --> 00:24:34.538
  • Closed it to these other people?
  • 00:24:34.538 --> 00:24:36.607
  • Because nicodemus really wanted to know god,
  • 00:24:36.607 --> 00:24:40.344
  • And those other people did not.
  • 00:24:40.344 --> 00:24:42.746
  • Yeah, gideon came and did what he did at night and so did
  • 00:24:42.746 --> 00:24:46.617
  • Nicodemus, but the lord opened the truth up to him and he said,
  • 00:24:46.617 --> 00:24:50.621
  • "you must be born again."
  • 00:24:50.621 --> 00:24:52.323
  • So, god revealed himself to nicodemus because the bible
  • 00:24:52.323 --> 00:24:56.060
  • Says, "those that seek me will find me."
  • 00:24:56.060 --> 00:24:58.596
  • So, when i meet someone who says, "well, i'm seeking god,"
  • 00:24:58.596 --> 00:25:02.500
  • My test as to whether or not they're seeking god is
  • 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:04.869
  • How they react to the gospel.
  • 00:25:04.869 --> 00:25:07.371
  • It's interesting when someone "says, well, i'm seeking god."
  • 00:25:07.371 --> 00:25:09.473
  • "oh, really?
  • 00:25:09.473 --> 00:25:10.808
  • Let me tell you what the bible says."
  • 00:25:10.808 --> 00:25:12.176
  • "wait, put that away."
  • 00:25:12.176 --> 00:25:13.511
  • "well, it's just bib--" "put it away!
  • 00:25:13.511 --> 00:25:14.879
  • Don't quote the bible to me, man."
  • 00:25:14.879 --> 00:25:16.213
  • "wait, i thought you were seeking god."
  • 00:25:16.213 --> 00:25:17.581
  • "i am."
  • 00:25:17.581 --> 00:25:18.916
  • "have you ever read the bible?"
  • 00:25:18.916 --> 00:25:20.284
  • "no."
  • 00:25:20.284 --> 00:25:21.619
  • "can i tell you a verse from the bible?"
  • 00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:22.987
  • "no."
  • 00:25:22.987 --> 00:25:24.321
  • Wait, if you're seeking god, if you're seeking truth, why you--
  • 00:25:24.321 --> 00:25:27.758
  • Why will you not even listen to what the bible says?
  • 00:25:27.758 --> 00:25:31.896
  • Answer: they're not seeking god, 'cause god says, "i will reveal
  • 00:25:31.896 --> 00:25:35.766
  • Myself to those that seek me."
  • 00:25:35.766 --> 00:25:38.202
  • So, if you really wanna know truth, you'll at least be open
  • 00:25:38.202 --> 00:25:40.804
  • To what the scripture says.
  • 00:25:40.804 --> 00:25:43.240
  • And here's what the scripture says.
  • 00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:46.277
  • It's what jesus said to nicodemus: "for god so loved the
  • 00:25:46.277 --> 00:25:49.380
  • World he gave his only begotten son, and whosoever believes
  • 00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:53.317
  • In him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
  • 00:25:53.317 --> 00:25:57.988
  • Greg: do you ever feel like you're all alone
  • 00:26:01.959 --> 00:26:03.527
  • And no one cares about you?
  • 00:26:03.527 --> 00:26:05.529
  • I want you to know something: you're not alone.
  • 00:26:05.529 --> 00:26:08.899
  • God cares about you.
  • 00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:10.834
  • God loves you, and you don't have to ever be lonely again,
  • 00:26:10.834 --> 00:26:15.706
  • Because jesus christ can come and live inside of your heart
  • 00:26:15.706 --> 00:26:20.010
  • And be your savior and your lord.
  • 00:26:20.010 --> 00:26:22.446
  • I'm not talking about religion.
  • 00:26:22.446 --> 00:26:24.148
  • I'm talking about a relationship with god.
  • 00:26:24.148 --> 00:26:27.084
  • He's just a prayer away.
  • 00:26:27.084 --> 00:26:28.919
  • You can just pray a prayer like this:
  • 00:26:28.919 --> 00:26:31.121
  • "jesus, i want you to come into my life.
  • 00:26:31.121 --> 00:26:33.991
  • Forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:26:33.991 --> 00:26:35.693
  • I wanna start this relationship with you now."
  • 00:26:35.693 --> 00:26:38.796
  • If you'll pray a prayer like that, god will hear it
  • 00:26:38.796 --> 00:26:41.832
  • And answer it, and you can know that you'll have purpose
  • 00:26:41.832 --> 00:26:44.768
  • In this life and hope in the life to come,
  • 00:26:44.768 --> 00:26:48.038
  • And if you prayed that prayer, let me send you a bible,
  • 00:26:48.038 --> 00:26:51.241
  • At no charge, to help you get started
  • 00:26:51.241 --> 00:26:53.777
  • In your relationship with god.
  • 00:26:53.777 --> 00:26:58.649
  • Female announcer: jesus says that where two or three are
  • 00:27:02.753 --> 00:27:05.155
  • Gathered in my name, there i am in the midst of them.
  • 00:27:05.155 --> 00:27:09.593
  • We are all different.
  • 00:27:09.593 --> 00:27:10.961
  • We have different interests, different personalities,
  • 00:27:10.961 --> 00:27:14.098
  • Different upbringings, and different ways we do life,
  • 00:27:14.098 --> 00:27:18.035
  • But here, we have a deep connection,
  • 00:27:18.035 --> 00:27:21.572
  • And you are welcome here.
  • 00:27:21.572 --> 00:27:25.676
  • This is harvest.
  • 00:27:25.676 --> 00:27:28.612