Greg Laurie - What I Would Tell My Younger Self (Part 2)

July 3, 2025 | 27:40

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

#Past #Mistakes #Wisdom #Attitude #Gratitude #Thankfulness #Sow #Seed #Reap #LoveyourNeighbor #Peopleinyourlife #Forgiveness #Freedom #Disciples #Discipleship

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - What I Would Tell My Younger Self (Part 2) | July 3, 2025

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Greg laurie: welcome to "harvest with greg laurie."
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This tv show is all about helping you get to know god
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Better, because god loves you, and god has a plan for you, and
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God wants to transform your life, and he's told us
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Everything you need to know about him and life in general in
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This book, the bible, the user's manual of life.
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So, we're going to be talking about what the bible says and
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What god wants to do in your life.
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Again, welcome, and god bless you.
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♪ this is the day, ♪
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♪ the day when life begins. ♪
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♪ this is the day, ♪
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♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
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Greg: here's another thing an older greg would say to a
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Younger greg, advice i would give to anyone, young people,
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But older people, as well, "have an attitude of gratitude."
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Have an attitude of gratitude.
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Back to the verse i quoted in philippians 4.
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"thank god for all he has done.
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Then you will experience god's peace,
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Which exceeds anything we can understand."
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Listen, there are things in life that happen to us
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That make no sense, inexplicable things.
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Yes, it is true, bad things happen to good people.
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Sometimes bad things even happen to godly people.
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Take job, as an example. this was a godly man.
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This man was so godly, the lord was bragging on him in heaven.
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But the lord allowed a series of calamities to befall his
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Servant, and job lost pretty much everything.
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He lost members of his family.
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He lost his possessions. he lost his health.
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And we read that job gave thanks to god--not for what was
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Happening--but despite what was happening,
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Job gave thanks to the lord.
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And so, we should have an attitude of gratitude.
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We say, "lord, i don't know why this is happening, but i am
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Rejoicing that you're still on the throne, and i'm going to
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Give thanks to you, because you are good,
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And you are in control of my life."
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So, spend less time complaining and spend more time rejoicing.
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You'll feel better if you do.
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Actually, medical research has been done that has revealed that
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People who gave gratitude to god and gave thanks for what they
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Had experienced fewer heart issues, fewer aches and pains,
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And it changed their outlook on life.
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Here's another piece of advice an older me would give to a
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Younger me, or that i would give to any person, especially a
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Young person, "live with honesty and integrity."
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Live with honesty and integrity. what is integrity?
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Integrity is what you are in the dark,
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When nobody is watching you.
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And i bring this up because, you know, there are people in life
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That cheat, and they lie, and they steal, and they cut
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Corners, and they seem to get away with it.
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And they say, "well, why shouldn't i do that?
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Why should i play by the rules? they don't play by the rules.
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And look, they got that job
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Because they lied on their resume."
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Or "they got that job to build that building, even though they
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Cut corners and didn't pull the proper permits."
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Or "look, that person cheated on
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Their spouse, and they got away with it.
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And i've been faithful to my spouse.
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And why shouldn't i do what they do?"
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Because in the end, all these people
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Are going to reap what they sow.
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The bible says, "don't be deceived.
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God is not mocked.
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Whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap."
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Listen, the longer i live, the more impressed
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I am with character over charisma.
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I've seen a lot of preachers with dynamic personalities flame
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Out because they did not seek to maintain honesty and integrity.
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Psalm 101 verse 2 says, "i'm careful
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To live a blameless life.
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I will lead a life of integrity in my own home."
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Then psalm 119:1 says, "joyful people are people of integrity."
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The great evangelist d.l. moody once said, "if i take care
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Of my character, god will take care of my reputation."
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Here's point number seven, what an older greg would say
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To a younger greg, "marry the right person."
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Listen, if you're single, i believe
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God has a person picked out for you.
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In fact, you can start praying for your spouse
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Right now, even though you don't know them.
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Maybe you do know them. who knows?
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But you can start praying for them now.
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But when you're looking at potential candidates of who to
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Spend the rest of your life with, looking at who could be
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The potential mother or father of your children,
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Who could be the grandparent of your grandchildren,
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Start here, look for a godly person.
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Find someone that's even more godly than you.
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Don't find some person who's not a christian and marry them.
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The bible says, "don't be unequally
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Yoked together with nonbelievers.
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What fellowship does light have with darkness?"
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Don't do that, listen, honestly, marriage is challenging enough.
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Don't marry a non-believer on top of it.
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You need someone you can pray together with, and commit things
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To the lord with, and look to god for the strength.
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Marriage can be challenging in life, but once you make this
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Commitment, it should be a lifelong commitment.
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Wedlock should be a padlock, and i mean that in the best way.
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And if you're unwilling to do this, if you want to just
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Experiment with it, and get married, and maybe get divorced
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If it doesn't work out, do us all a favor and stay single, but
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Rather think about this, pray about this, and take your time.
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The bible says love is patient.
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Some people want to rush into marriage.
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"oh, we have to get married immediately."
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No, get to know one another.
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The bible says, "many waters cannot quench love,
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Neither can floods drown it."
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If your love for that man or that woman is a real love,
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It will stand the test of time.
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Make the right decision and marry the right person.
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Here's point number eight, what an older greg would say to a
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Younger greg, "tell those you love that you love them."
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Tell the people you love that you love them.
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Don't wait, don't say, "well, they know, i'm sure they know."
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But it never hurts to have someone say, "i love you."
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They can't read your mind.
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Say it, because there's going to come a moment when you're going
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To have a last conversation with someone you love.
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You may not realize it was your last conversation.
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That's why it's a good thing to end
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Your conversation with, "i love you."
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When the lord called our son christopher home 13 years ago, i
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Know that he knew that i loved him.
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Though i missed him desperately, though we were devastated by
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This horrific event, we always told him we loved him, and
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That's a very important thing to do.
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Don't wait until their funeral.
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They won't hear what happens at their funeral.
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"well, i'll bring flowers then." no, bring your flowers now.
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Stop what you're doing, think about people you love, your
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Parents, your children, your siblings,
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Someone that's meant a lot to you.
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Send them a text, send them an email.
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Even better, write it on a card.
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You know why it's cool to write it on a card?
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'cause they can keep it, and they can pull it out.
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Just say, "i just wanted to take a moment to say
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I appreciate you, and i love you.
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Thank you for all that you've done for me."
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Number nine, here's what an older greg would say
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To a younger greg, "take better care
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Of your hair, you're gonna lose it," no, that's not the point.
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Here it is, "keep short accounts and forgive."
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Keep short accounts and forgive. listen to this.
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People are going to disappoint you in life, even people you
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Love, they're going to let you down.
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They're going to say something that hurts you.
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Something's going to happen.
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You'll feel that you've been betrayed.
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Maybe you have been betrayed.
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Maybe you just think you've been betrayed.
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But whatever it is, you're going to face hurt and pain in life.
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Here's what you don't want to do, harbor grudges against
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People because that can hurt you.
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Recent studies suggest that those that do not forgive are
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More likely to experience high blood pressure, bouts of
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Depression, and problems with anger, stress, and anxiety.
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See, so when i forgive someone,
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I'm not letting them off the hook.
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I'm avoiding a lot of misery in my own life.
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Forgiveness is not about absolving the perpetrator.
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It's about healing the victim.
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Ah, there's a man who directs a stanford forgiveness project,
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And he said, quote, "forgiveness isn't
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Giving in to the other person.
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It's getting free of the other person."
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As i've said before, when you forgive someone,
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You set a prisoner free: yourself.
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Don't live in a prison that you've
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Put yourself in of anger, and bitterness, and resentment,
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And have it actually ruin your life.
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Ephesians 4:30 says, "be kind to one another,
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Tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
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As god through christ has forgiven you."
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Greg: hey, everybody, greg laurie with some thoughts about
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The course that your life will take.
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Listen to this, the end of your life
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Is determined by the beginning of your life.
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The evening of your life is determined
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By the morning of your life.
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In other words, if you want to know how you're going to end up,
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You decide that right now, especially if
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I'm talking to someone who is young.
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You're making decisions now that will affect you later.
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Example, when we were kids, we were told,
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"always wear sunscreen when you go out."
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We thought, "what do these crazy adults know?"
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And we disregarded their advice.
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And after a few trips to the dermatologist, you think, "ah,
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Maybe that was pretty good advice."
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It's important to make the right decisions when you're young.
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Case in point, shadrach, meshach, and abednego.
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Now, we remember them from the story in the bible where they
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Were thrown into a fiery furnace, but they were three
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Young men--teenagers most commentators believe.
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And we read early in the book of daniel, after they, along with
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Other people of israel were taken into captivity into
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Babylon, that they were brought into the king's palace to be
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Schooled in the ways of the babylonians, and they have
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Positions of influence, and they eat at the king's table,
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And it was a pretty awesome table.
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But yet, we read shadrach, meshach, and abednego would not
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Eat of the food from the king's table.
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We don't know why, maybe because they were
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On the keto diet, and there were too many carbs.
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Realistically, it's probably because it was food
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Offered to idols or some other reason.
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Whatever it was, it may not seem like
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A big deal to us, but it was to them.
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They made a principled stand, "we can't eat of this food."
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Fast forward, the king erects a giant image
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Of gold and tells everyone to worship it.
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Shadrach, meshach, and abednego refuse.
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The resolve they found there came earlier in life.
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So, here's my advice to you, "when you're young,
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Develop good habit patterns."
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When you're young, make good decisions because you make your
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Choices, and your choices will make you.
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Again, the evening of your life is determined
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By the morning of it, choose right.
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Greg: point number ten, "have fun."
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Yes, you heard me right. have fun.
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Some of the simplest joys of life
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Are before you every single day.
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Savor the sunset. enjoy the meal.
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Linger with family and friends.
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Don't be in such a rush to the next thing, live in the moment.
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And i think one way to do this is put the cell phones away.
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Word of advice, "when you sit down for a meal,
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Don't take cell phones to the table."
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If you have the little watch that gets the alerts, maybe take
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The watch off, too, and just have
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A conversation with the people around you.
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On more than one occasion, i've been with people, and everyone's
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On their cell phone, and i'll text them, "be here now."
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Let's put these phones away, and let's
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Have a conversation with each other.
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Here's what i've found, the greatest joys in life will come
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From your relationship with god and with others.
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But sometimes we're always thinking
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About what's going to come.
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"oh, when this comes, i'm going to be so happy.
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When this happens, it'll be so great."
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Wait, what about the moment right now?
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I've found the greatest moments of life
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Are often the in-between ones.
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Let me use disneyland as an illustration.
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I haven't been back there for a while.
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But, you know, it's so exciting when you pull
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Into the parking lot at disneyland.
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It's so thrilling when you actually walk into the park.
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"and, oh, it's so great! i'm so glad to be here."
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But after three or four hours, you're
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Kind of looking forward to leaving, right?
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We get so psyched about the event, we miss the things that
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Happened before the event and after the event.
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So, savor those in-between moments.
00:13:28.606 --> 00:13:31.709
Try to laugh more.
00:13:31.709 --> 00:13:33.645
Paul the apostle said, "rejoice in the lord always.
00:13:33.645 --> 00:13:36.648
And again, i say rejoice."
00:13:36.648 --> 00:13:38.817
So, where was paul when he wrote that?
00:13:38.817 --> 00:13:40.218
Oh, he's laying on some beach,
00:13:40.218 --> 00:13:42.220
Sipping an iced tea, soaking up some rays.
00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:45.156
No, no, no. he was in prison.
00:13:45.156 --> 00:13:47.892
But despite the fact that he was in prison, writing to the
00:13:47.892 --> 00:13:50.795
Believers in philippi, he says, "rejoice in the lord always."
00:13:50.795 --> 00:13:55.500
Lighten up, don't take yourself so seriously.
00:13:55.500 --> 00:14:00.405
Criticize less, compliment more.
00:14:00.405 --> 00:14:04.275
Here's another one, "be a generous person."
00:14:04.275 --> 00:14:07.745
Be a generous person.
00:14:07.745 --> 00:14:09.080
You might say, "well, greg, i'm not wealthy.
00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:10.481
I can't afford to be a generous person."
00:14:10.481 --> 00:14:12.450
This has nothing to do with how much money
00:14:12.450 --> 00:14:15.320
You have in your bank account.
00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:16.821
It's just an attitude in life. be a giver, not a taker.
00:14:16.821 --> 00:14:20.191
Be the person that offers that something to someone else,
00:14:20.191 --> 00:14:23.828
That you'll split your meal.
00:14:23.828 --> 00:14:25.663
And i'll be honest, i don't like to split my meal with anyone.
00:14:25.663 --> 00:14:29.901
When i go to a restaurant with my wife,
00:14:29.901 --> 00:14:31.402
She'll say, "what are you going to order?"
00:14:31.402 --> 00:14:32.737
I'll say, "i'm going to order a hamburger."
00:14:32.737 --> 00:14:34.539
She says, "well, i'm going to order a salad."
00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:36.441
Okay, and i'll say, "you're going
00:14:36.441 --> 00:14:37.775
To want some of my burger."
00:14:37.775 --> 00:14:39.110
"no, i don't want any of your burger.
00:14:39.110 --> 00:14:41.112
I just want a salad." okay, fine.
00:14:41.112 --> 00:14:43.081
So, the burger comes, her salad comes,
00:14:43.081 --> 00:14:45.383
And now i'm eating my burger.
00:14:45.383 --> 00:14:47.018
I'm almost to the last bite. i'm looking forward to it.
00:14:47.018 --> 00:14:50.388
And just as i'm ready to take it, my wife will say,
00:14:50.388 --> 00:14:53.791
"can i have a bite of that?"
00:14:53.791 --> 00:14:55.460
Ugh, ugh, ugh. "sure, here."
00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:59.597
It's hard sometimes for us to share,
00:14:59.597 --> 00:15:02.500
But be a generous person in life.
00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:05.003
There are three things we can give to god,
00:15:05.003 --> 00:15:08.306
Our time, our talent, and our treasure.
00:15:08.306 --> 00:15:12.443
God's given you your life.
00:15:12.443 --> 00:15:14.512
God's given you every beat of your heart.
00:15:14.512 --> 00:15:16.681
He's given you your time.
00:15:16.681 --> 00:15:18.349
Invest your time wisely serving the lord.
00:15:18.349 --> 00:15:21.886
The bible says, "redeem the time because the days are evil."
00:15:21.886 --> 00:15:25.156
And a better translation of that would be,
00:15:25.156 --> 00:15:27.191
"make wise use of every opportunity."
00:15:27.191 --> 00:15:31.195
So, bring your time to the lord.
00:15:31.195 --> 00:15:32.830
Then you bring your talent. god has given you talent.
00:15:32.830 --> 00:15:37.001
Dedicate your talent to the lord.
00:15:37.001 --> 00:15:39.504
Use your talent for the glory of god.
00:15:39.504 --> 00:15:41.306
You say, "well, i'm not a preacher," so what?
00:15:41.306 --> 00:15:43.207
I don't know that we need more preachers, but we need more
00:15:43.207 --> 00:15:46.244
Christian businessmen, and we need more christian
00:15:46.244 --> 00:15:49.080
Entertainers, and we need more christians in sports, and we
00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:52.350
Need more christians in accounting, and we need more
00:15:52.350 --> 00:15:54.819
Christian attorneys, and we need more christians in politics, and
00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:58.356
We need more christians in so many areas of life, just men and
00:15:58.356 --> 00:16:02.093
Women that say, "i'm here to glorify god.
00:16:02.093 --> 00:16:04.762
I'm going to bring my time. i'm going to bring my talent.
00:16:04.762 --> 00:16:07.332
And finally, i'm going to bring my treasure."
00:16:07.332 --> 00:16:09.434
Everything you have has been given to you by god.
00:16:09.434 --> 00:16:12.637
Be a generous person.
00:16:12.637 --> 00:16:14.906
Number 14, "tell others about jesus and then disciple them."
00:16:14.906 --> 00:16:20.845
This is called the great commission.
00:16:20.845 --> 00:16:23.614
Jesus said, "go into all the world and preach the gospel and
00:16:23.614 --> 00:16:26.718
Make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all
00:16:26.718 --> 00:16:31.255
Things that i have commanded you, baptizing them in the name
00:16:31.255 --> 00:16:34.892
Of the father, son, and the holy spirit.
00:16:34.892 --> 00:16:36.728
And lo, i am with you even to the end of the age."
00:16:36.728 --> 00:16:40.398
Jesus is saying he will be with the person
00:16:40.398 --> 00:16:43.301
Who does this in a special way.
00:16:43.301 --> 00:16:46.237
It means that we look for opportunities
00:16:46.237 --> 00:16:48.339
To initiate conversations about christ.
00:16:48.339 --> 00:16:52.110
To the best of our ability, we seek to lead people
00:16:52.110 --> 00:16:55.179
To the lord, and then we disciple them.
00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:58.082
You say, "what does that even mean?"
00:16:58.082 --> 00:16:59.417
It means you take them under your wing,
00:16:59.417 --> 00:17:01.452
And you help them get up on their feet, spiritually.
00:17:01.452 --> 00:17:04.455
Here's why discipling a new believer is important for the
00:17:04.455 --> 00:17:07.759
New believer, as well as for the old believer.
00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:10.795
The older believer stabilizes the younger believer, and the
00:17:10.795 --> 00:17:14.899
Younger believer energizes the older believer.
00:17:14.899 --> 00:17:19.804
So, you know, when you've been going to church for 10, 15, 20
00:17:19.804 --> 00:17:23.441
Years, i don't know what you do after the service,
00:17:23.441 --> 00:17:26.477
But maybe you start critiquing things.
00:17:26.477 --> 00:17:28.913
"did you see what she was wearing?
00:17:28.913 --> 00:17:31.649
And, oh, man, can you believe how loud the music was?
00:17:31.649 --> 00:17:34.685
And that sermon seemed a little too long."
00:17:34.685 --> 00:17:36.754
You know, you kind of gripe and complain maybe.
00:17:36.754 --> 00:17:39.457
But let's say you have a brand-new believer with you.
00:17:39.457 --> 00:17:41.793
They've just accepted christ two weeks ago.
00:17:41.793 --> 00:17:44.395
They're in that bloom of first love.
00:17:44.395 --> 00:17:46.898
I guarantee you're not gonna be critiquing the sermon, or
00:17:46.898 --> 00:17:49.734
Critiquing the church, because the new believer will say, "you
00:17:49.734 --> 00:17:52.904
Know, the pastor said this, and i've never heard that before."
00:17:52.904 --> 00:17:56.507
So, you'll find yourself elaborating on it.
00:17:56.507 --> 00:17:58.576
Do you understand how that's helping you
00:17:58.576 --> 00:18:00.745
As well as it's helping them?
00:18:00.745 --> 00:18:02.380
But see, a lot of us don't do this.
00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:04.482
You know, we're not sharing the truth.
00:18:04.482 --> 00:18:05.983
We're hoarding the truth, and we just think about ourselves.
00:18:05.983 --> 00:18:09.353
But a true mark of spiritual maturity is when we get our eyes
00:18:09.353 --> 00:18:12.223
Off of ourself and start thinking of others, but then
00:18:12.223 --> 00:18:14.892
There's the joy of sharing, because jesus said it's more
00:18:14.892 --> 00:18:18.362
Blessed to give than it is to receive.
00:18:18.362 --> 00:18:22.700
Share your faith, seek to disciple others.
00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:27.839
And here's another one, "spend time with older godly people."
00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:32.343
Sometimes when you're young,
00:18:32.343 --> 00:18:33.678
You just want to hang around young people.
00:18:33.678 --> 00:18:35.913
I remember when i was a brand-new christian, i was 17.
00:18:35.913 --> 00:18:39.016
I knew a lot of people my own age, but i went out of my way
00:18:39.016 --> 00:18:43.187
To find older people to hang around, do you know why?
00:18:43.187 --> 00:18:46.491
I thought, "what do these other young people know?
00:18:46.491 --> 00:18:48.726
I don't think they know much more than i know."
00:18:48.726 --> 00:18:50.995
So, i met people that were older, like pastor chuck smith,
00:18:50.995 --> 00:18:55.299
His wife kay smith, an associate pastor there at the church he
00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:59.003
Pastored, calvary chapel, named pastor romain.
00:18:59.003 --> 00:19:02.874
I spent time talking to them. you know why?
00:19:02.874 --> 00:19:04.942
I didn't have a dad, growing up. i didn't have a mom, growing up.
00:19:04.942 --> 00:19:08.513
I needed an older person to help me figure life out,
00:19:08.513 --> 00:19:12.350
To give me some life hacks, if you will, and they did that.
00:19:12.350 --> 00:19:15.686
They spent time with me.
00:19:15.686 --> 00:19:17.021
I didn't just listen to them speak.
00:19:17.021 --> 00:19:18.689
I had meals with them, and did fun things with them, and got to
00:19:18.689 --> 00:19:23.027
See what a christian looks like up close and personal,
00:19:23.027 --> 00:19:26.731
Especially an older, more mature believer.
00:19:26.731 --> 00:19:29.467
A little bit later on in my life, i became friends
00:19:29.467 --> 00:19:31.402
With a great british preacher, alan redpath,
00:19:31.402 --> 00:19:34.839
Who wrote a lot of amazing commentaries.
00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:36.374
And, of course, i became friends with billy and ruth graham.
00:19:36.374 --> 00:19:40.511
Being with these godly people impacted me.
00:19:40.511 --> 00:19:43.748
Find godly people you can be with.
00:19:43.748 --> 00:19:46.117
So, if you're an older believer, find a younger believer
00:19:46.117 --> 00:19:48.986
You can bring under your wing.
00:19:48.986 --> 00:19:50.788
If you're a younger believer,
00:19:50.788 --> 00:19:52.356
Find an older believer you can learn from.
00:19:52.356 --> 00:19:55.326
Paul says to timothy, "teach these truths to other
00:19:55.326 --> 00:19:59.163
Trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others."
00:19:59.163 --> 00:20:04.101
See, we're in a race as christians, and this race
00:20:04.101 --> 00:20:07.205
Has a beginning, middle, and end.
00:20:07.205 --> 00:20:09.207
I expect that i am toward the end of my race.
00:20:09.207 --> 00:20:11.709
I'm certainly not at the beginning of it.
00:20:11.709 --> 00:20:14.378
And this is a relay race, and my job in this race
00:20:14.378 --> 00:20:17.615
Is not to hold onto the baton forever.
00:20:17.615 --> 00:20:20.351
I have to hand it on to the next runner to carry it forward.
00:20:20.351 --> 00:20:24.922
We need to do the same, and we need to share these truths,
00:20:24.922 --> 00:20:29.327
If you're older, with younger people.
00:20:29.327 --> 00:20:32.797
God told moses to teach these truths to his children when they
00:20:32.797 --> 00:20:36.968
Sit down, when they lie down, when they walk,
00:20:36.968 --> 00:20:41.305
When they get up, and they go to bed.
00:20:41.305 --> 00:20:42.807
In other words, just integrate this truth into the life of
00:20:42.807 --> 00:20:46.177
Other people throughout life in general.
00:20:46.177 --> 00:20:49.380
Listen to this, "worldview for young people is formed between
00:20:49.380 --> 00:20:53.417
The ages of 18 months and the age of 13."
00:20:53.417 --> 00:20:57.288
Those are the most critical years
00:20:57.288 --> 00:20:59.123
To pour truth into the life of a younger person.
00:20:59.123 --> 00:21:02.593
Find a younger person and do that.
00:21:02.593 --> 00:21:05.129
And if you're a younger person,
00:21:05.129 --> 00:21:06.497
Get someone to help you with that.
00:21:06.497 --> 00:21:08.366
Here's my final point, which is simply this, don't give too many
00:21:08.366 --> 00:21:13.271
Points when you're saying what an older you
00:21:13.271 --> 00:21:15.673
Would say to a younger you.
00:21:15.673 --> 00:21:17.308
No, i'm kidding, the last point
00:21:17.308 --> 00:21:18.643
Is this, "finish your race well."
00:21:18.643 --> 00:21:22.713
I mentioned we're in a race, the race of life.
00:21:22.713 --> 00:21:25.716
Paul says many people are in the race.
00:21:25.716 --> 00:21:27.318
Run that you may win. we all want to run to win.
00:21:27.318 --> 00:21:31.122
We all are running for the gold.
00:21:31.122 --> 00:21:33.357
You know, we want to do the best we can
00:21:33.357 --> 00:21:34.892
With the life that god has given us.
00:21:34.892 --> 00:21:36.994
There will come a moment when we have our last meal, and we give
00:21:36.994 --> 00:21:41.032
Our last statement, and then we're done.
00:21:41.032 --> 00:21:44.101
We breathe our last breath.
00:21:44.101 --> 00:21:45.636
Hopefully, we can say, along with the apostle paul--
00:21:45.636 --> 00:21:48.306
And this, of course, is found in 2 timothy 4.
00:21:48.306 --> 00:21:51.309
"i fought the good fight.
00:21:51.309 --> 00:21:53.244
I kept the faith. i finished the course.
00:21:53.244 --> 00:21:56.414
Henceforth, there is laid before me a crown of righteousness,
00:21:56.414 --> 00:22:00.918
Which the lord, the righteous judge, will give to me in that
00:22:00.918 --> 00:22:04.188
Day and not to me only, but to all who love his appearing."
00:22:04.188 --> 00:22:09.360
You don't know when the end of your race will come.
00:22:09.360 --> 00:22:12.930
My son's race ended at 33.
00:22:12.930 --> 00:22:17.101
And we used to race on the beach, by the way, him and i.
00:22:17.101 --> 00:22:19.904
He was a great runner, christopher, but somehow i could
00:22:19.904 --> 00:22:23.441
Beat him for many years, even though he was a good runner.
00:22:23.441 --> 00:22:26.877
He was a long-distance runner. i was a sprinter.
00:22:26.877 --> 00:22:29.480
So, i would challenge him to a race.
00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:31.082
I would always have the race favor me.
00:22:31.082 --> 00:22:33.384
I would pick a rock up the beach.
00:22:33.384 --> 00:22:34.819
I'll say, "let's race to the rock.
00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:37.188
On your mark, get set, go."
00:22:37.188 --> 00:22:38.522
Well, it would favor me 'cause i'm a sprinter,
00:22:38.522 --> 00:22:40.591
And i would always beat him.
00:22:40.591 --> 00:22:42.026
And one day, we were walking along the beach.
00:22:42.026 --> 00:22:43.794
I said, "let's race to that rock.
00:22:43.794 --> 00:22:45.129
Get ready," and off we go.
00:22:45.129 --> 00:22:47.898
And he not only beat me, he really beat me.
00:22:47.898 --> 00:22:51.235
And i think that he has gone to heaven before me.
00:22:51.235 --> 00:22:53.571
He beat me in the race.
00:22:53.571 --> 00:22:55.272
You think, "well, i have a long ways
00:22:55.272 --> 00:22:56.974
To run this race and live this life.
00:22:56.974 --> 00:22:59.677
Maybe i'll get right with god when i'm in my 80s or 90s."
00:22:59.677 --> 00:23:02.680
No, your race may be coming to an end
00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:05.349
More quickly than you plan for.
00:23:05.349 --> 00:23:08.085
So, always be able to say, "i fought the good fight.
00:23:08.085 --> 00:23:11.822
I kept the faith. i finished the course."
00:23:11.822 --> 00:23:16.060
Run this race well.
00:23:16.060 --> 00:23:18.162
Speaking of advice, i once was sitting with pastor chuck smith,
00:23:18.162 --> 00:23:22.967
And i asked him this question, "chuck,
00:23:22.967 --> 00:23:25.369
What would an older chuck say to a younger chuck?
00:23:25.369 --> 00:23:28.906
What advice would you give yourself?"
00:23:28.906 --> 00:23:31.742
And chuck's response was simply, "hold the course."
00:23:31.742 --> 00:23:35.479
I wasn't sure what that meant.
00:23:35.479 --> 00:23:37.248
I said, "what do you mean, hold the course?
00:23:37.248 --> 00:23:39.984
You mean, like we're in the race of life,
00:23:39.984 --> 00:23:41.485
And you just hang in there and keep running?"
00:23:41.485 --> 00:23:43.687
He said, "that's it. hold the course."
00:23:43.687 --> 00:23:46.590
That's what he did, by the way.
00:23:46.590 --> 00:23:48.259
He held the course into his mid-80s
00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:51.028
Before the lord called him home.
00:23:51.028 --> 00:23:53.330
I say to you seasoned saints, you that have been walking with
00:23:53.330 --> 00:23:56.867
The lord for some time, hold your course, keep running this
00:23:56.867 --> 00:24:01.372
Race, because you never know when the race will end.
00:24:01.372 --> 00:24:05.309
Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart,
00:24:08.012 --> 00:24:11.081
And you have seen your need for jesus christ.
00:24:11.081 --> 00:24:14.552
Jesus christ is the son of god, who came
00:24:14.552 --> 00:24:17.888
From heaven to this earth.
00:24:17.888 --> 00:24:19.890
He was born in a manger. he died on a cross.
00:24:19.890 --> 00:24:23.627
He rose again from the dead. why?
00:24:23.627 --> 00:24:25.629
Because he loves you, and he wants a relationship with you.
00:24:25.629 --> 00:24:29.233
Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
00:24:29.233 --> 00:24:31.335
I don't want to be a religious person.
00:24:31.335 --> 00:24:33.204
I don't think you want to be one either.
00:24:33.204 --> 00:24:35.239
I'm talking about relationship with god.
00:24:35.239 --> 00:24:38.809
Jesus, who died and rose again stands at the door of your life,
00:24:38.809 --> 00:24:43.247
And he knocks, and he says if you'll hear his voice
00:24:43.247 --> 00:24:46.050
And open the door, he will come in.
00:24:46.050 --> 00:24:48.219
Question, "have you asked jesus christ
00:24:48.219 --> 00:24:50.588
To come and live inside of you?"
00:24:50.588 --> 00:24:52.490
You might say, "well, i think so, i'm not sure."
00:24:52.490 --> 00:24:54.525
Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle
00:24:54.525 --> 00:24:56.694
Of the night, do you think you would be aware of it?
00:24:56.694 --> 00:24:59.763
I'm sure you would, and in the same way, if christ has come
00:24:59.763 --> 00:25:03.033
To live inside of you, you will know.
00:25:03.033 --> 00:25:05.469
And if you don't know, maybe he has not come in, yet.
00:25:05.469 --> 00:25:09.206
He's just a prayer away.
00:25:09.206 --> 00:25:11.108
All you need to do is say, "jesus,
00:25:11.108 --> 00:25:13.110
I want this relationship with you.
00:25:13.110 --> 00:25:15.079
I want you to forgive me of my sin.
00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:17.314
I want to go to heaven when i die."
00:25:17.314 --> 00:25:19.450
Would you like to do that?
00:25:19.450 --> 00:25:20.851
Would you like christ to come into your life?
00:25:20.851 --> 00:25:23.487
If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
00:25:23.487 --> 00:25:26.524
You can pray it out loud, or you can pray it
00:25:26.524 --> 00:25:28.792
In the quietness of your heart.
00:25:28.792 --> 00:25:31.028
But this is a prayer where you're asking jesus christ
00:25:31.028 --> 00:25:33.797
To be your savior and lord.
00:25:33.797 --> 00:25:35.633
Pray this with me now.
00:25:35.633 --> 00:25:37.001
"lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner, but i know
00:25:37.001 --> 00:25:40.738
That you're the savior who died on the cross
00:25:40.738 --> 00:25:44.208
For my sin and rose again from the dead.
00:25:44.208 --> 00:25:46.810
Now come into my life.
00:25:46.810 --> 00:25:49.547
I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
00:25:49.547 --> 00:25:54.051
Thank you for hearing this prayer
00:25:54.051 --> 00:25:56.086
And answering this prayer.
00:25:56.086 --> 00:25:58.022
In jesus' name, amen."
00:25:58.022 --> 00:26:00.624
Did you just pray that prayer with me?
00:26:00.624 --> 00:26:02.893
If so, i want you to know, on the authority of scripture, that
00:26:02.893 --> 00:26:05.863
Christ himself has come to live inside of you.
00:26:05.863 --> 00:26:09.133
And i would love to send to you at no charge something
00:26:09.133 --> 00:26:12.603
Called the new believer's bible.
00:26:12.603 --> 00:26:14.738
It's a very friendly translation of the new testament you'll find
00:26:14.738 --> 00:26:18.108
Very understandable, and it's filled with hundreds of notes
00:26:18.108 --> 00:26:21.812
That i wrote that will encourage you in
00:26:21.812 --> 00:26:24.315
This commitment you've just made to follow jesus.
00:26:24.315 --> 00:26:27.318
Let me send that to you at no charge.
00:26:27.318 --> 00:26:29.787
And let me be the first to say to you, "congratulations
00:26:29.787 --> 00:26:33.424
And welcome to the family of god."
00:26:33.424 --> 00:26:36.293
Male announcer: this month, greg laurie released his latest
00:26:38.228 --> 00:26:40.531
Book, "revelation: a book of promises."
00:26:40.531 --> 00:26:43.801
Why study revelation?
00:26:43.801 --> 00:26:45.502
The word "revelation" means "unveiling."
00:26:45.502 --> 00:26:48.238
God's desire is to reveal, not conceal.
00:26:48.238 --> 00:26:51.742
And this book unveils pictures of the spirit world,
00:26:51.742 --> 00:26:54.645
Great cataclysmic events in store for the planet,
00:26:54.645 --> 00:26:57.615
And the coming antichrist.
00:26:57.615 --> 00:26:59.750
But as greg laurie explains, the primary objective of
00:26:59.750 --> 00:27:02.586
This book isn't to reveal the antichrist,
00:27:02.586 --> 00:27:05.255
It's to reveal jesus christ and his soon coming.
00:27:05.255 --> 00:27:08.892
"revelation: a book of promises" is designed to help you
00:27:08.892 --> 00:27:12.162
See jesus as the centerpiece, the star, and the
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Focus of revelation.
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With this eminently practical guide, you can experience the
00:27:17.534 --> 00:27:20.838
Blessing promised to those who read, hear, and keep the
00:27:20.838 --> 00:27:24.475
Words of this prophetic book.
00:27:24.475 --> 00:27:26.944
Request "revelation" by greg laurie when you give today.
00:27:26.944 --> 00:27:26.944

Greg Laurie - What I Would Tell My Younger Self (Part 2)

July 3, 2025 | 27:40

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