Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - What You Really Are Looking For

April 9, 2025 | S25:E85

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

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - What You Really Are Looking For | April 9, 2025

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♪♪♪
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Pastor greg laurie: hi, i'm greg laurie.
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You know, for almost 50 years now,
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I've been giving people the good news of the gospel.
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That's actually what the word gospel means.
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Good news.
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When i was a kid, i was a paper boy.
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So i had my super cool schwinn stingray
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With a stick shift.
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They don't make those anymore, probably for good reasons.
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They were dangerous actually, but it was fast
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And i had my bags or my papers, and i got pretty good
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At throwing those papers.
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The sideways fling, the underhand pass,
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The hard throw, always wanted to get the paper
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As close to the customer's door as possible.
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My job was not to write the news, my job was not to make
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The news, my job was to deliver the news and i'm still doing
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That many years later, but now it's the good news
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Of the gospel.
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I wanna talk to you about that.
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Welcome to harvest.
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♪♪♪
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♪♪♪
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Pastor greg: the title of my message is,
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"what you really are looking for."
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You know, from the moment you were born,
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You've effectively been on a quest.
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You've been searching.
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Goes back to your childhood and sooner or later,
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Every thinking person gets around to asking
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The big questions in life such as,
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What is the meaning of life?
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Why am i here on this earth?
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Why do i exist?
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What happens after i die?
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And finally, who let the dogs out?
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Now, that's a stupid song.
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I don't know where they're, i don't care about the dogs.
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But, we really do get around to asking these questions
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Because we are wired by god for something more.
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The bible says that god has placed eternity in our hearts.
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We want to make a mark.
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We want our life to count for something.
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We want to do something.
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We want to have significance and that's why i think
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So many people are so drawn to social media.
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I wanna get more followers and i wanna be more well known.
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In fact, i read recently that a poll was taken
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Of young people and they were asked
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What they wanted more than anything else
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And the answer was, i want to be rich and famous.
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Rich and famous.
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Is that all it's really cracked up to be?
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If being rich and being famous was what people thought it was,
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Why are there so many miserable, rich and famous people?
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They're miserable.
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You look at so many of them what's happened.
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There's a group of people known as the 27 club.
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In fact, i read about that in this new book,
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"lennon, dylan, alice, and jesus."
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What's a 27 club?
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These are people that unfortunately died
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At the very young age of 27.
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Some of the names in that club are jimi hendrix
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And janis joplin and jim morrison.
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Others joined this club in later times like kurt cobain
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And amy winehouse.
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In fact of fame, amy winehouse made this statement and i quote,
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"famous like terminal cancer.
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I wouldn't wish it on anyone" end quote.
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And then look at how many lives have been destroyed
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Through drugs and alcohol, such a long list,
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Such a tragic list.
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Whitney houston, heath ledger,
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Philip seymour hoffman, michael jackson, prince,
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Anna nicole smith, river phoenix, scott weiland,
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Cory monteith, elvis presley.
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Most recently taylor hawkins from the foo fighters,
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John belushi, chris farley,
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All died of drug overdoses and then there were those
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That have taken their life through suicide that reached
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All the goals people would hope to reach.
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People like anthony bourdain, chester bennington,
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Chris cornell, ernest hemingway, alexander mcqueen,
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Michael hutchence, hunter s. thompson, keith speed.
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The list just goes on and on this emptiness.
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No, fame is not the answer.
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Money is not the answer.
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Jesus is the answer.
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This is what we're looking for.
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I wanna tell you a story that's 2000 years old,
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But it is totally relevant today.
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I wanna tell you a story about a young man
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That had it all together.
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He was wealthy, he was climbing up the corporate ladder,
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He probably had a bmw chariot lowered, super cool.
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Came up to jesus.
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He was drinking a lavender, oat milk latte,
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And he asked jesus an important question
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That we're still asking today.
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And here's what he said, it's in matthew chapter 19 verse 16.
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This man came up to jesus with this question,
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"teacher, what good things must i do to have eternal life?
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Jesus said, "why do you call me good?
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What is good?
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Only god is good.
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But to answer your question, you can have eternal life
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If you keep the commandments."
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This rich young ruler asks, "which ones?"
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Jesus replied, "do not murder.
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Do not commit adultery.
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Do not steal. do not lie.
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Honor your father and mother and love your neighbor as yourself."
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The man replied, "i've obeyed all these commandments.
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What else must i do?"
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Jesus said, "if you wanna be perfect,
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Go sell all that you have, give the money to the poor
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And you'll have treasure in heaven,
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Then come and follow me," and when the young man
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Heard this, he went away sadly, because he had many possessions.
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You see, this rich young ruler hadn't found
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What he was looking for.
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So, he comes to jesus.
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"what do i have to do to find eternal life?"
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Jesus says, "keep the commandments."
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Now let me point this out.
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Keeping the ten commandments will not make you a christian.
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If you are a christian, you should seek to keep them,
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But jesus brought this up to show this man
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That he had indeed had broken many of those commandments.
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So this young guy said, "oh, i've kept all of those
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Since they've been a kid."
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If we would've read in the next verse and jesus smacked him
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Across the face, it would've been relevant.
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By the way, it's never good to smack people across the face.
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Too soon?
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It's also not a good idea to throw water
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On mike tyson on an airplane.
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Yeah, he was sort of a heavyweight champion
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Of the world.
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I don't think this is gonna end well.
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He had not kept the commandments nor have you.
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God did not give us the commandments
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To make us righteous, he gave us the commandments to show us,
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We're not righteous.
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They open our eyes and they shut our mouths.
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Do you keep the ten commandments?
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We've all broken them.
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Most people don't even know them.
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I read a survey that revealed more people know the names
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Of the four beatles than a single commandment.
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Isn't that interesting?
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And we say, "well, i've heard some of them,
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Like we know one, you shall not commit murder."
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And you'll say,
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"well, at least i haven't done that."
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Well, i hope you haven't.
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And if you have, please don't raise your hand
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No one will wanna sit next to you.
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But even if you had committed that sin, god would forgive you.
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Remember the story in the bible of the thief on the cross,
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We call him actually, he was a criminal on the cross.
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He was probably a murderer on the cross
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Because the romans did not crucify thieves.
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He turned to jesus and he said, "what must i do?
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What must i do?"
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And he said, "remember me, lord, when you come
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Into your kingdom."
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Jesus said, "truly i say to you, today you will be with me
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In paradise."
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Man, talking about getting in under the wire.
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I may be talking to somebody right now that is hearing
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Their last sermon.
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Someone who is not gonna live another day.
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Someone's name is gonna end up
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In that obituary column tomorrow.
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It doesn't take years to become a christian,
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It doesn't take months, it doesn't even take hours,
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It can happen in a moment just like that
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When you believe in jesus, think about it.
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It's not what you do for god,
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It's what christ has done for you.
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Imagine that thief ending up in heaven like, "who are you?"
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He says, "i don't even know how i got here.
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I was talking to jesus in a moment ago and here i am."
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All because of what christ did for him and christ did
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The same for you, but we've broken these commandments.
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You say, "well, i haven't murdered anybody."
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Well, the fact of the matter is, jesus said,
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"you've heard it said you shall not murder,
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But i say if you have hatred in your heart towards someone
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You've murdered, therefore we're all murderers."
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Oh, you've heard it said, jesus said,
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"you shall not commit adultery, but i say to you,
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If you look at a woman or a man with lust in your heart,
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You've committed adultery."
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We've broken these commandments.
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And this is the point, jesus brought this up
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So this man would acknowledge that he had done this very thing
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And would see his need for jesus.
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And this is what we all need to see.
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And jesus was giving this man a chance to believe.
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There's an interesting twist on this story in another gospel.
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After he said this, the bible says,
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Jesus looked at him and loved him.
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If you forget everything else they've said to you tonight,
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I want you to remember this, god loves you.
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He loves you.
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God is not mad at you, he's mad about you.
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He wants a relationship with you.
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That's what we're talking about.
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Folks, this is not about religion.
00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:52.862
This is not about just going to church.
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This is about having your life transform by jesus christ
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Right here, right now, it can happen.
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Pastor greg: there's a story in the bible about a father
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Who had two sons and one of the sons ran away from home.
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He was tired of his father's rules and regulations.
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He thought he could have more fun
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Outside of his father's house.
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And jesus said, this young man went away to another country
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And spent all of his money.
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He was impoverished, he lost his money and he lost his friends.
00:12:32.728 --> 00:12:35.998
You know, when you have a lot of money,
00:12:35.998 --> 00:12:37.333
You'll have a lot of friends.
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But when his money was gone, his friends were gone too.
00:12:39.201 --> 00:12:42.071
Reminds you of two guys that were out camping probably here
00:12:42.071 --> 00:12:44.406
In idaho and they were getting up in the morning
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And one friend was putting his running shoes on
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Really quickly and he said, "where are you going?"
00:12:50.846 --> 00:12:53.182
He goes look and there was a big bear running at them full speed.
00:12:53.182 --> 00:12:56.852
And his buddy said,
00:12:56.852 --> 00:12:58.187
"you don't think you can outrun the bear, do you?"
00:12:58.187 --> 00:13:00.356
He says, "i don't need to outrun the bear,
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I just need to outrun you," see.
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That's how some so-called friends are.
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They walk out when you need them?
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They're not there.
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So this boy lost all of his friends
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And he came to his senses and he said,
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"i'll just go back home and say, dad, i've messed up,
00:13:16.872 --> 00:13:20.042
I've sinned.
00:13:20.042 --> 00:13:21.377
I'm not worthy to be called your son anymore.
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Could you just give me a job?
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I don't expect to be returned to sonship again,"
00:13:25.214 --> 00:13:28.651
But jesus who told this story to show us what god is like,
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Said when that boy was still at great ways away,
00:13:31.954 --> 00:13:34.623
The father saw him got up, and ran to him
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And threw his arms around him and kissed him
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And said, let's have a party.
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Let's have some barbecue because my son who is dead is alive
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Again and he who was lost is found.
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And that's how god feels about you right now.
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I might be talking to a prodigal son or daughter.
00:13:52.408 --> 00:13:55.477
You were raised in the church, you were raised believing,
00:13:55.477 --> 00:13:58.180
But you've walked away from god or you've never even had
00:13:58.180 --> 00:14:02.351
A relationship with god perhaps.
00:14:02.351 --> 00:14:04.887
You can come back to him and he will welcome you with open arms.
00:14:04.887 --> 00:14:10.259
You wanna find out who your real friends are?
00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:12.595
Follow jesus christ and you'll know quickly.
00:14:12.595 --> 00:14:17.032
So after i became a christian, i had a bunch of friends
00:14:21.170 --> 00:14:25.274
That were druggies, we did drugs together,
00:14:25.274 --> 00:14:28.210
Made a lot of bad decisions and i didn't know what to do.
00:14:28.210 --> 00:14:33.315
I wasn't quite comfortable around the christians yet,
00:14:33.315 --> 00:14:36.418
A little too much praise the lord and hallelujah
00:14:36.418 --> 00:14:38.854
From my taste, but of my friends
00:14:38.854 --> 00:14:41.891
That i used to hang out with, i didn't wanna do what they did
00:14:41.891 --> 00:14:44.393
Anymore so i went a week without talking to them.
00:14:44.393 --> 00:14:46.862
So we used to go to this one guy's house,
00:14:46.862 --> 00:14:48.964
Not far from my high school, we would literally
00:14:48.964 --> 00:14:51.133
Get high there every day.
00:14:51.133 --> 00:14:53.235
And, but i hadn't seen them for a week since i accepted christ.
00:14:53.235 --> 00:14:57.006
And so i was on my way over to their house just to see
00:14:57.006 --> 00:14:59.441
What they were up to and one of the christians ran up to me
00:14:59.441 --> 00:15:02.077
And said, "greg, greg brother, greg,"
00:15:02.077 --> 00:15:04.647
I'm thinking, who is this guy?
00:15:04.647 --> 00:15:05.981
I'm not his brother.
00:15:05.981 --> 00:15:07.383
Unless it's a brother from another mother, i don't know.
00:15:07.383 --> 00:15:10.719
He says, "bro, praise god."
00:15:10.719 --> 00:15:13.255
I'm like, yeah. okay, fine.
00:15:13.255 --> 00:15:15.324
Whatever.
00:15:15.324 --> 00:15:16.659
"bro, i have a bible for you."
00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:18.894
And he gives me a bible.
00:15:18.894 --> 00:15:21.263
It was a beat up thrashed bible with popsicle sticks on it,
00:15:21.263 --> 00:15:24.400
In the shape of a cross.
00:15:24.400 --> 00:15:25.935
"this is your bible, bro."
00:15:25.935 --> 00:15:28.003
I'm like, okay, thank you.
00:15:28.003 --> 00:15:30.039
And he walks off, and i shoved it in my pocket,
00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:32.341
I didn't want anyone to see it.
00:15:32.341 --> 00:15:34.510
I wasn't ready to talk about my faith yet.
00:15:34.510 --> 00:15:36.712
So i went over to my friend's house where i'd often gone
00:15:36.712 --> 00:15:39.114
And i hid my bible in the bushes, in front of his house.
00:15:39.114 --> 00:15:44.687
I wasn't a very bold witness yet.
00:15:44.687 --> 00:15:47.623
And i walked in and they said, "laurie, where have you been?"
00:15:47.623 --> 00:15:49.658
I said, "nowhere."
00:15:49.658 --> 00:15:51.126
"what have you been up to?" i said, "nothing."
00:15:51.126 --> 00:15:53.729
And god told holy spirit spoke to me and said,
00:15:53.729 --> 00:15:56.198
"tell them about jesus." and i said, "no way."
00:15:56.198 --> 00:16:01.470
So i sat down.
00:16:01.470 --> 00:16:02.805
One of them said, "greg, you wanna get high?"
00:16:02.805 --> 00:16:04.139
I said, "no."
00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:05.474
"come on.
00:16:05.474 --> 00:16:06.809
What have you been up to laurie?"
00:16:06.809 --> 00:16:08.143
I said, "nothing."
00:16:08.143 --> 00:16:09.478
They're all thinking. something's wrong with greg?
00:16:09.478 --> 00:16:10.813
And then the guy's mother walks in holding my bible.
00:16:10.813 --> 00:16:15.751
She says, "i found this in the bushes,
00:16:15.751 --> 00:16:17.820
Who does this belong to?"
00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:19.922
Like i committed a crime or something.
00:16:19.922 --> 00:16:22.591
And that lady, you have kids doing drugs in your house
00:16:22.591 --> 00:16:24.893
And you're worried about a bible?
00:16:24.893 --> 00:16:27.730
"who does this belong to?"
00:16:27.730 --> 00:16:29.064
Every eye in the room went to the bible
00:16:29.064 --> 00:16:30.766
And then they went to me.
00:16:30.766 --> 00:16:32.101
They knew there was a connection.
00:16:32.101 --> 00:16:34.503
I said, "oh that's mine."
00:16:34.503 --> 00:16:36.205
"laurie, what is that?" i said, "bible."
00:16:36.205 --> 00:16:38.707
"what?" "it's a bible."
00:16:38.707 --> 00:16:40.109
"what?" "it's a bible!"
00:16:40.175 --> 00:16:42.111
One of my friends said, "oh, a bible.
00:16:42.111 --> 00:16:44.613
Oh, praise the lord, brother, greg."
00:16:44.613 --> 00:16:48.650
"are we gonna be christians now?"
00:16:48.650 --> 00:16:50.285
I said, "no, i'm gonna hit you in the mouth."
00:16:50.285 --> 00:16:53.555
I had not read 1 corinthians 13 yet, okay, so.
00:16:53.555 --> 00:16:56.425
They mocked me, they made fun of me, they gave me a hard time
00:16:58.560 --> 00:17:02.231
And i walked down and i said,
00:17:02.231 --> 00:17:03.565
"i don't need these so-called friends anymore."
00:17:03.565 --> 00:17:06.135
So that's how you'll find out real fast who your friends are,
00:17:06.135 --> 00:17:08.704
Follow jesus christ.
00:17:08.704 --> 00:17:10.406
But listen, this young man did not want to give up
00:17:12.608 --> 00:17:14.443
His possessions.
00:17:14.443 --> 00:17:15.778
It wasn't about his possessions, it was about his heart.
00:17:15.778 --> 00:17:19.214
Yes, you have to give some things up to follow
00:17:19.214 --> 00:17:21.316
Jesus christ, but whatever you give up
00:17:21.316 --> 00:17:23.786
To follow him, he will more than make up to you.
00:17:23.786 --> 00:17:27.756
Think about it.
00:17:27.756 --> 00:17:29.224
What are you gonna be giving up?
00:17:29.224 --> 00:17:30.826
You're gonna be giving up emptiness for fulfillment.
00:17:30.826 --> 00:17:33.595
Misery for joy.
00:17:33.595 --> 00:17:35.831
Hell for heaven.
00:17:35.831 --> 00:17:37.399
That's a good deal.
00:17:37.399 --> 00:17:38.967
So this young man heard this message of christ
00:17:42.905 --> 00:17:47.009
And the bible says he went away sad.
00:17:47.009 --> 00:17:49.578
I can't do that.
00:17:49.578 --> 00:17:50.913
I'm not willing to make a change.
00:17:50.913 --> 00:17:52.748
I'm not willing to do anything differently.
00:17:52.748 --> 00:17:54.516
He went away sad.
00:17:54.516 --> 00:17:56.085
Now let me tell you another story briefly about a man
00:17:56.085 --> 00:17:58.987
That went to jerusalem, searching for god.
00:17:58.987 --> 00:18:01.423
He worked for the queen of ethiopia.
00:18:01.423 --> 00:18:04.393
He was powerful, he was wealthy,
00:18:04.393 --> 00:18:06.295
He was like a government official.
00:18:06.295 --> 00:18:08.730
And he went there searching for answers to his spiritual
00:18:08.730 --> 00:18:11.433
Questions and he did not find them because religion
00:18:11.433 --> 00:18:14.503
Does not have the answers to the questions you have.
00:18:14.503 --> 00:18:18.140
But then the bible says there was a man named philip
00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:20.709
Who was a preacher who saw this man from ethiopia
00:18:20.709 --> 00:18:23.412
And this man who was visiting that city was reading out loud
00:18:23.412 --> 00:18:27.683
From isaiah 53, that actually talks about the death
00:18:27.683 --> 00:18:31.153
And sacrifice of jesus and philip said
00:18:31.153 --> 00:18:33.822
To this ethiopian dignitary,
00:18:33.822 --> 00:18:36.091
"do you understand what you're reading?"
00:18:36.091 --> 00:18:37.693
The man said, "how can i, unless someone shows me the way?"
00:18:37.693 --> 00:18:41.363
And philip climbed up into his chariot with him and read him
00:18:41.363 --> 00:18:44.266
The scripture and explained it and that man believed
00:18:44.266 --> 00:18:47.269
In jesus at that very moment.
00:18:47.269 --> 00:18:49.771
So here's two wealthy, affluent men, two powerful men,
00:18:49.771 --> 00:18:53.175
One went away mad, the other went away glad.
00:18:53.175 --> 00:18:56.745
So you have a choice tonight
00:18:56.745 --> 00:18:58.080
As you leave the extramile arena,
00:18:58.080 --> 00:19:00.082
You can go away mad, you can go away sad,
00:19:00.082 --> 00:19:04.019
Or you can go away glad, it's up to you.
00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:07.356
What do you wanna do?
00:19:07.356 --> 00:19:08.724
It comes down to what you do with jesus christ.
00:19:11.627 --> 00:19:14.463
Jesus christ was the son of god who came to this earth
00:19:14.463 --> 00:19:18.100
And was born in a manger in bethlehem.
00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:20.469
He lived a perfect life.
00:19:20.469 --> 00:19:22.538
Then he died a perfect death and died on the cross
00:19:22.538 --> 00:19:26.642
For your sin and as spikes were driven through his hands
00:19:26.642 --> 00:19:29.845
And his feet, he took all of the sin
00:19:29.845 --> 00:19:31.947
Of the world upon himself, including yours.
00:19:31.947 --> 00:19:34.616
And then he rose again three days later
00:19:34.616 --> 00:19:37.252
And he's alive and he's here with us right now.
00:19:37.252 --> 00:19:39.988
And jesus says, "behold, i stand at the door and i knock
00:19:41.757 --> 00:19:44.193
And if you'll hear my voice and open the door, i will come in."
00:19:44.193 --> 00:19:48.397
So here's the choice before you.
00:19:48.397 --> 00:19:50.732
You can go away mad, you can go away glad, you can go away sad.
00:19:50.732 --> 00:19:55.204
It's up to you.
00:19:55.204 --> 00:19:57.372
If you say yes, to jesus christ, he will come into your life
00:19:57.372 --> 00:20:01.410
And forgive you of all of your sins.
00:20:01.410 --> 00:20:03.478
Think about that for a moment, every wrong you've ever done.
00:20:03.478 --> 00:20:06.648
Every sin you've ever committed will be forgiven and
00:20:06.648 --> 00:20:09.918
God doesn't just forgive sins, he forgets sins.
00:20:09.918 --> 00:20:13.488
The bible says, god speaking, "their sins and iniquities
00:20:13.488 --> 00:20:16.692
While i remember no more."
00:20:16.692 --> 00:20:19.528
So how do you come into this relationship with god?
00:20:19.528 --> 00:20:22.231
How can you know that you'll go to heaven when you die?
00:20:22.231 --> 00:20:25.634
How can you find this joy in this happiness
00:20:25.634 --> 00:20:28.303
That you're longing for?
00:20:28.303 --> 00:20:29.805
Here's what you need to do.
00:20:29.805 --> 00:20:31.673
Step number one, you need to realize you're a sinner.
00:20:31.673 --> 00:20:35.177
I know some people don't like to be called sinners,
00:20:35.177 --> 00:20:37.779
But the bible says,
00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:39.114
"all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of god."
00:20:39.114 --> 00:20:43.118
There's not one righteous, no not one.
00:20:43.118 --> 00:20:45.187
What does it mean to sin?
00:20:45.187 --> 00:20:46.655
It means to cross a line.
00:20:46.655 --> 00:20:48.790
You've seen a sign in a park maybe that says no trespassing?
00:20:48.790 --> 00:20:52.694
To sin is to trespass, it's to cross the line.
00:20:52.694 --> 00:20:55.497
It's to break one of the commandments
00:20:55.497 --> 00:20:57.132
Like we've all done, but sin also means to miss a mark.
00:20:57.132 --> 00:21:01.103
God has set a mark for all of humanity which is perfection.
00:21:01.103 --> 00:21:04.606
Jesus said,
00:21:04.606 --> 00:21:06.108
"be perfect, as your father in heaven is perfect."
00:21:06.108 --> 00:21:09.011
You say, "who can be perfect?"
00:21:09.011 --> 00:21:10.712
Answer, "no one."
00:21:10.712 --> 00:21:12.347
That's where jesus comes in.
00:21:12.347 --> 00:21:14.283
That's why he died for your sin so you have to admit
00:21:14.283 --> 00:21:16.985
You are a sinner.
00:21:16.985 --> 00:21:18.820
Number two, recognize christ died on the cross in your place.
00:21:18.820 --> 00:21:23.425
Jesus said, "i am the way, the truth and the life
00:21:23.425 --> 00:21:26.361
And no man comes to the father but by me."
00:21:26.361 --> 00:21:29.398
Only christ was qualified to bridge the gap
00:21:29.398 --> 00:21:32.334
Between a holy god and sinful humanity.
00:21:32.334 --> 00:21:36.638
Realize that he did that for you.
00:21:36.638 --> 00:21:39.708
Coming back to the rich young ruler's question.
00:21:39.708 --> 00:21:42.177
"what good things must i do to have eternal life?"
00:21:42.177 --> 00:21:45.480
Answer.
00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:46.848
There are not enough good things you could do
00:21:46.848 --> 00:21:48.650
To have eternal life.
00:21:48.650 --> 00:21:51.353
You couldn't even have all those great works
00:21:51.353 --> 00:21:54.423
To get your way in even if you tried.
00:21:54.423 --> 00:21:57.059
Besides heaven is not for good people,
00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:59.161
Heaven is for forgiven people.
00:21:59.161 --> 00:22:02.364
You need to be forgiven of your sin.
00:22:02.364 --> 00:22:08.003
Eternal life is a gift.
00:22:08.003 --> 00:22:11.006
The bible calls it the indescribable gift.
00:22:11.006 --> 00:22:14.443
So if i were to offer you a gift here tonight,
00:22:14.443 --> 00:22:17.946
And you wanted the gift, what do you need to do?
00:22:17.946 --> 00:22:20.048
You just reach out and take it.
00:22:20.048 --> 00:22:22.217
And i don't care how you take it, just take it,
00:22:22.217 --> 00:22:23.985
It's a gift.
00:22:23.985 --> 00:22:25.320
You don't earn it, you don't deserve it,
00:22:25.320 --> 00:22:26.788
But god offers it to you.
00:22:26.788 --> 00:22:28.190
Christ bought it for you at the cross with his own blood.
00:22:28.190 --> 00:22:32.260
It's sort of like when you give a gift to a man or a woman.
00:22:32.260 --> 00:22:35.364
When you give a gift to a woman with a card,
00:22:35.364 --> 00:22:37.733
She'll open the card.
00:22:37.733 --> 00:22:39.668
She might even be touched by what she reads.
00:22:39.668 --> 00:22:42.504
Thank you so much.
00:22:42.504 --> 00:22:44.406
She'll carefully undo the ribbon.
00:22:44.406 --> 00:22:46.441
She'll say i'm gonna use this somewhere else.
00:22:46.441 --> 00:22:50.212
Undo the package, open it, "thank you."
00:22:50.212 --> 00:22:52.381
That's a woman opening a gift.
00:22:52.381 --> 00:22:55.484
You give a gift to a man, he opens a card,
00:22:55.484 --> 00:22:58.053
He's not reading it.
00:22:58.053 --> 00:23:00.722
He's just seeing if there's money in it or a gift card.
00:23:00.722 --> 00:23:05.660
He tosses it aside, the wrapping paper is just a barrier to him.
00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:09.998
I don't care if you open it like a man or a woman,
00:23:09.998 --> 00:23:12.534
Just open the gift of eternal life
00:23:12.534 --> 00:23:14.603
That god offers to each and every one of you here
00:23:14.603 --> 00:23:17.372
And you that are watching as well.
00:23:17.372 --> 00:23:19.808
It's a gift.
00:23:19.808 --> 00:23:21.176
The bible also says you need to repent of your sin.
00:23:24.146 --> 00:23:27.582
What does repent mean?
00:23:27.582 --> 00:23:28.917
It's a military term.
00:23:28.917 --> 00:23:30.352
It means to change your direction,
00:23:30.352 --> 00:23:32.120
Sort of like an about face.
00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:33.989
So you turn away from that old life.
00:23:33.989 --> 00:23:35.924
You turn away from that sin.
00:23:35.924 --> 00:23:37.826
The bible says, "repent and be converted and
00:23:37.826 --> 00:23:40.629
Times of refreshment will come from the presence of the lord."
00:23:40.629 --> 00:23:44.499
♪♪♪
00:23:44.933 --> 00:23:55.544
Pastor greg: so would you like to accept jesus christ
00:23:55.610 --> 00:23:57.712
Into your life right now?
00:23:57.712 --> 00:24:00.449
Here's what you need to know.
00:24:00.449 --> 00:24:02.017
You're a sinner.
00:24:02.017 --> 00:24:03.585
I don't mean that as an insult, we're all sinners.
00:24:03.585 --> 00:24:06.688
The bible says,
00:24:06.688 --> 00:24:08.223
"all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of god."
00:24:08.223 --> 00:24:10.625
That's why we need a savior.
00:24:10.625 --> 00:24:12.794
That's why jesus died on the cross for us.
00:24:12.794 --> 00:24:15.197
The bible says, "while we were yet sinners christ died for us."
00:24:15.197 --> 00:24:19.434
He took all of the punishment for your sin,
00:24:19.434 --> 00:24:22.637
For my sin upon himself as he hung there.
00:24:22.637 --> 00:24:25.740
With one hand he took hold of god,
00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:27.542
With the other hand he took hold of humanity
00:24:27.542 --> 00:24:30.045
And they pounded spikes to those hands,
00:24:30.045 --> 00:24:32.113
And as the bible says, christ died for our sins.
00:24:32.113 --> 00:24:35.884
"so what do i need to do?"
00:24:35.884 --> 00:24:37.285
Well, i need to turn from my sin.
00:24:37.285 --> 00:24:39.888
The bible says, repent and be converted.
00:24:39.888 --> 00:24:43.124
The word repent is a military term.
00:24:43.124 --> 00:24:45.093
It sort of means an about face.
00:24:45.093 --> 00:24:47.329
So, turn your back on sin and now start walking towards god.
00:24:47.329 --> 00:24:51.399
And then you need to receive jesus christ into your life.
00:24:51.399 --> 00:24:55.437
You see, becoming a christian is not becoming a religious person.
00:24:55.437 --> 00:25:00.041
I don't wanna be a religious person.
00:25:00.041 --> 00:25:02.244
This is about a relationship where you ask jesus
00:25:02.244 --> 00:25:05.413
To be your friend, your savior, your lord.
00:25:05.413 --> 00:25:09.751
Jesus says, "behold, i stand at the door and i knock
00:25:09.751 --> 00:25:12.354
And if you'll hear my voice and open the door, i will come in."
00:25:12.354 --> 00:25:16.024
So you need to ask christ to come into your life
00:25:16.024 --> 00:25:19.227
And then you need to do it right now.
00:25:19.227 --> 00:25:21.630
The bible says, "today is the day of salvation."
00:25:21.630 --> 00:25:24.266
Right now, christ can come and live inside of your heart
00:25:24.266 --> 00:25:28.036
And i'm gonna lead you in a simple prayer.
00:25:28.036 --> 00:25:30.438
I would ask that you would pray this prayer out loud after me.
00:25:30.438 --> 00:25:34.109
If you want your sin forgiven.
00:25:34.109 --> 00:25:36.077
If you wanna know that you'll go to heaven when you die.
00:25:36.077 --> 00:25:38.680
If you wanna fill that big hole in your heart,
00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:40.982
Pray this prayer with me right now.
00:25:40.982 --> 00:25:44.319
Pray, "lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner,
00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:48.356
But i know that you're the savior
00:25:48.356 --> 00:25:50.859
Who died on the cross for me.
00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:53.061
I turn from my sin and i choose to follow you
00:25:53.061 --> 00:25:57.065
From this moment forward.
00:25:57.065 --> 00:25:59.267
Thank you for hearing this prayer and answering it
00:25:59.267 --> 00:26:02.637
In jesus name i pray, amen."
00:26:02.637 --> 00:26:06.107
If you just prayed that prayer and meant it,
00:26:06.107 --> 00:26:08.476
I want you to know on the authority of scripture
00:26:08.476 --> 00:26:11.046
That jesus christ himself has come to take residence
00:26:11.046 --> 00:26:14.349
In your heart.
00:26:14.349 --> 00:26:16.051
Now, on the screen there's a phone number.
00:26:16.051 --> 00:26:18.186
If you call that number, it would be our joy
00:26:18.186 --> 00:26:21.256
To send you what is called the new believer's bible.
00:26:21.256 --> 00:26:24.726
This is a very friendly translation of the bible, the
00:26:24.726 --> 00:26:27.362
New testament, actually, called the new living translation.
00:26:27.362 --> 00:26:30.732
And it's filled with hundreds of notes that i wrote
00:26:30.732 --> 00:26:33.535
To encourage you in this commitment you just made.
00:26:33.535 --> 00:26:36.438
It's sort of like you and me going out for a cup of coffee
00:26:36.438 --> 00:26:39.441
And talking about the bible, that's how it's written.
00:26:39.441 --> 00:26:42.377
You're gonna love it.
00:26:42.377 --> 00:26:43.712
I wanna send that to you at no charge,
00:26:43.712 --> 00:26:46.147
So order your new believer's bible.
00:26:46.147 --> 00:26:49.351
So, all the information you need to get your new believer's bible
00:26:49.351 --> 00:26:53.054
Is right there on the screen.
00:26:53.054 --> 00:26:54.856
There's a website listed,
00:26:54.856 --> 00:26:56.691
And we wanna get back to you as quickly as possible
00:26:56.691 --> 00:26:59.394
With your copy of the new believer's bible.
00:26:59.394 --> 00:27:02.297
And thanks for watching.
00:27:02.297 --> 00:27:04.065
And god bless you.
00:27:04.065 --> 00:27:05.567
You've made the most important decision of your life.
00:27:05.567 --> 00:27:08.837
♪ this is the day the day when life begins ♪
00:27:12.073 --> 00:27:18.380
♪ this is the day the day when life begins ♪♪
00:27:19.948 --> 00:27:19.948

Greg Laurie - What You Really Are Looking For

April 9, 2025 | S25:E85

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