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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - Of Whom The World Was Not Worthy

September 3, 2025 | S25 E3603 | 27:40

Greg Laurie - Of Whom The World Was Not Worthy
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#inActive #Trials-HardTimes #Challenges #WalkwithGod #Persecution #Faith #TrustGod #Hope #Perseverance #Endurance #Suffering

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Of Whom The World Was Not Worthy | September 3, 2025
  • ...
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  • Greg laurie: and the bible says: "all that live godly
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  • In jesus christ will suffer persecution."
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  • That's a promise we rarely claim, right?
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  • When's the last time you asked for that promise
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  • To be fulfilled?
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  • We'll claim promises of protection or promises
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  • Of provision, but when's the last time you said,
  • 00:00:20.653 --> 00:00:22.756
  • "lord, you promised if i live a godly life i'll be persecuted,
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  • So bring it on."
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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: hebrews chapter 11 is the heroes' hall of faith.
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  • It's a record of all the people that god used,
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  • Or not all, but many of them, from the old testament,
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  • Ordinary people like you and i, who did extraordinary things.
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  • They faced incredibly adverse circumstances like you and i do,
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  • But they rose above those circumstances
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  • And they changed their world.
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  • Could we change our world?
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  • Is that even possible still?
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  • You know, instead of the church of the 1st century,
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  • Those that have turned the world upside down
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  • Have come here as well.
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  • And by the way, that was not meant as a compliment.
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  • It was meant as a criticism.
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  • But that's because the first-century believers
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  • Made an impact.
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  • In fact, it was g. campbell morgan,
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  • The great british preacher,
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  • Who said, "organized religion that fails to make
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  • A disturbance is dead."
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  • My concern is we're not making a disturbance anymore.
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  • In fact, it seems in some ways the world is changing the church
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  • More than the church is changing the world.
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  • We need to get back to the job god has called us to do,
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  • Because i believe we can change the world if we'll step up
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  • To the plate and start using our faith.
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  • You say, "oh great, c'mon, i'm no saint."
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  • Actually, i beg to differ. you are a saint.
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  • Remember, saint is just another word
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  • For christian or a believer.
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  • So you are a saint, to the point.
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  • And by the way, the folks that god used in the heroes' hall
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  • Of faith here in hebrews 11 were not perfect people.
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  • In fact, they were far from it.
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  • They failed often.
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  • They're not in the heroes' hall of faith
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  • Because they were great people.
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  • They're in the heroes' hall of faith because they had faith
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  • In a great god.
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  • They had two things in common with us.
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  • Number one: they were really flawed and,
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  • Number two, they had faith and they used it.
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  • Well, we all meet the criteria of the first point.
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  • We're all really flawed.
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  • Are we in agreement on that?
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  • Yeah, and then secondly, they had faith and they used their
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  • Faith and they did something with it.
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  • But think of who these guys and girls were
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  • When the lord called them.
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  • Gideon was a frightened farmer when the angel told him he was
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  • Gonna be a man of courage.
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  • Moses was a fugitive from justice when the lord spoke
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  • To him, and yet the lord called them.
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  • And here's an interesting thing.
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  • As we look at them in the heroes' hall of faith,
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  • Not one mention is made of any of their sins.
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  • When samson is mentioned,
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  • We don't read about his fall with delilah.
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  • When david is mentioned, we don't read about his sin
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  • With bathsheba.
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  • And we don't read about the problems with abraham who lied
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  • About his wife twice and his son repeated his behavior.
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  • We don't read that sarah laughed at the promise of god
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  • Or that moses lost his temper and killed a man, et cetera.
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  • We just read of their great exploits of faith,
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  • Reminding us that god doesn't see us for what we are.
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  • He sees us also for what we can become.
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  • So these world changers did not always collect medals.
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  • Sometimes they collected scars.
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  • And that's what god wants to do in our life.
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  • He wants to use us if we'll take our faith and apply it.
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  • Hebrews 11, verse 33: "by faith these people overthrew
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  • Kingdoms, they ruled with justice, they received
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  • What god had promised them.
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  • They shut the mouths of lions, they quenched the flames of
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  • Fire, and they escaped death by the edge of the sword.
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  • Their weakness was turned to strength.
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  • They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.
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  • Women received their loved ones back from death."
  • 00:04:29.302 --> 00:04:33.506
  • So if you're taking notes, here's point number one:
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  • "world changers are indestructible
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  • Until god is done with them."
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  • World changers, or let me insert a different word,
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  • Christians, believers, saints, us, you, me,
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  • We are indestructible until god is done with us.
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  • Verse 33: "they shut the mouths of lions."
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  • Now, we're not told in particular who this is referring
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  • To, so when we think back in the old testament
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  • What story do we know of a person who was
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  • In a den of lions?
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  • Do you have the answer?
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  • Yes, esther, that's the correct answer.
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  • Esther in the lions' den, it was--no, it's daniel.
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  • Daniel in the lions' den.
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  • And how did this come about?
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  • Well, daniel was a godly man.
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  • He lived in israel.
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  • Babylon overcame the nation of israel,
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  • Took him into captivity.
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  • He, along with his friends, shadrach,
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  • Meshach, and abednego, were taken into the palace
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  • Of the king and were advisors to the king.
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  • And daniel was so wise, the king came to really rely on him,
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  • Which incurred the anger of other counselors to the king who
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  • Became jealous and they wanted daniel out.
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  • But they couldn't find any skeletons in his closet.
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  • There was not even a hint of scandal in his life.
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  • So they determined it had to be about him and his faith.
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  • In fact, we read in daniel 6:4:
  • 00:05:58.725 --> 00:06:00.827
  • "his enemies couldn't find anything to criticize
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  • Or condemn him for because daniel was
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  • Faithful and always responsible and completely trustworthy."
  • 00:06:06.132 --> 00:06:10.570
  • But they knew one thing about daniel.
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  • They knew he prayed, openly, three times a day.
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  • So they got the king to unwittingly sign a decree
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  • That no one could pray to any god except him,
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  • And it was made into law.
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  • And daniel knew about it.
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  • What would you do if a law was passed in our nation tomorrow
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  • That says you can no longer pray publicly?
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  • Would you still say grace over your meal in the restaurant?
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  • Would you still pray in your home?
  • 00:06:36.462 --> 00:06:38.064
  • Well, daniel did.
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  • In fact, he opened up his window and said,
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  • "you wanna see if i'm praying?
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  • Check it out.
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  • I'm gonna pray like i always do."
  • 00:06:44.837 --> 00:06:47.373
  • And even the king cannot overrule this law,
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  • And so daniel was sent into a den of lions.
  • 00:06:50.610 --> 00:06:54.213
  • But what's interesting is that night, the bible says,
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  • The king was up.
  • 00:06:56.749 --> 00:06:58.084
  • He couldn't sleep, and daniel slept like a baby.
  • 00:06:58.084 --> 00:07:01.154
  • Probably propped his head up on one of those lions,
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  • "come over here, simba.
  • 00:07:03.656 --> 00:07:07.660
  • Your belly looks like a good pillow,
  • 00:07:07.660 --> 00:07:09.362
  • And i'm gonna prop my head--
  • 00:07:09.362 --> 00:07:11.063
  • My feet up here on leo over here, and i'm just gonna have
  • 00:07:11.063 --> 00:07:13.800
  • A nice nap, a catnap with really big cats."
  • 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:18.638
  • Meanwhile, the king is stressed out and freaking out.
  • 00:07:18.638 --> 00:07:22.041
  • He's concerned.
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  • He really liked daniel, so he shows up the next morning.
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  • "hey, are you okay, daniel? did your god deliver you?"
  • 00:07:25.945 --> 00:07:28.448
  • And i love what daniel said.
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  • He said, "king, my god sent his angel to shut the lion's mouth."
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  • Number two, go ahead and clap for that if you want to.
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  • [congregation applauding]
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  • Number two, "world changers are never alone."
  • 00:07:43.863 --> 00:07:46.766
  • Or i could just say, "christians are never alone," as well.
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  • Verse 34: "they quenched the power of fire."
  • 00:07:49.702 --> 00:07:53.139
  • Of course, our mind immediately races to the friends of daniel,
  • 00:07:53.139 --> 00:07:57.510
  • Also in the book of daniel, shadrach, meshach,
  • 00:07:57.510 --> 00:08:01.514
  • And abednego.
  • 00:08:01.514 --> 00:08:03.149
  • The king, nebuchadnezzar, erected a giant statue
  • 00:08:03.149 --> 00:08:07.854
  • Of himself, covered in gold, and said,
  • 00:08:07.854 --> 00:08:11.557
  • "everyone worship this statue, or you'll be thrown into a
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  • Furnace of fire," and they'd strike up the idol theme song,
  • 00:08:14.861 --> 00:08:19.799
  • And everyone bowed and there, like,
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  • Three sore thumbs stood out
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  • Shadrach, meshach, and abednego who wouldn't bow,
  • 00:08:23.402 --> 00:08:26.038
  • And i love this narrative in daniel 3.
  • 00:08:26.038 --> 00:08:28.508
  • It says they're brought before the king
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  • Who gives them another chance.
  • 00:08:30.076 --> 00:08:31.410
  • "okay, boys, i like you.
  • 00:08:31.410 --> 00:08:33.212
  • I'd like you to stay in my court and still be around but,
  • 00:08:33.212 --> 00:08:36.382
  • Listen, you better bow this time."
  • 00:08:36.382 --> 00:08:40.486
  • And they said to him, "look, king,
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  • If we're thrown into the blazing furnace,
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  • The god who we serve is able to save us and rescue us
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  • From your power.
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  • But even if he doesn't, we wanna make it clear to you,
  • 00:08:50.596 --> 00:08:54.667
  • Your majesty, we will never bow before nor will we serve your
  • 00:08:54.667 --> 00:09:00.139
  • Gods that you have set up."
  • 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:02.041
  • The king was so royally ticked off,
  • 00:09:02.041 --> 00:09:04.176
  • He gave the command to heat the furnace up seven times hotter.
  • 00:09:04.176 --> 00:09:08.180
  • In fact, it was so hot, the guys that took shadrach,
  • 00:09:08.180 --> 00:09:10.550
  • Meshach, and abednego to the brink of it,
  • 00:09:10.550 --> 00:09:13.519
  • Died from the flames.
  • 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:15.254
  • That's pretty hot.
  • 00:09:15.254 --> 00:09:16.856
  • And in they were thrown.
  • 00:09:16.856 --> 00:09:18.491
  • The king's thinking, "that's the end of that."
  • 00:09:18.491 --> 00:09:20.860
  • And then he looked, and he couldn't believe his eyes,
  • 00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:23.329
  • As he saw three shadowy figures and then a fourth walking
  • 00:09:23.329 --> 00:09:27.233
  • About like it was a sunday stroll in the park.
  • 00:09:27.233 --> 00:09:30.670
  • And the king says, "wait, i threw three into the furnace,
  • 00:09:30.670 --> 00:09:33.739
  • And there's a fourth one who looks like the son of god."
  • 00:09:33.739 --> 00:09:37.843
  • Now, in fairness, it could also be translated
  • 00:09:37.843 --> 00:09:39.779
  • As "son of the gods."
  • 00:09:39.779 --> 00:09:42.982
  • Nebuchadnezzar probably thought it was some mystical deity.
  • 00:09:42.982 --> 00:09:45.885
  • He didn't know who it was.
  • 00:09:45.885 --> 00:09:47.219
  • I believe it was jesus christ walking around with shadrach,
  • 00:09:47.219 --> 00:09:51.390
  • Meshach, and abednego in the furnace of fire.
  • 00:09:51.390 --> 00:09:55.294
  • Maybe you're in a fiery trial right now.
  • 00:09:55.294 --> 00:09:58.764
  • Maybe you're in the hot waters of temptation.
  • 00:09:58.764 --> 00:10:02.068
  • You know, it's been said,
  • 00:10:02.068 --> 00:10:03.469
  • Christians are a lot like teabags.
  • 00:10:03.469 --> 00:10:06.105
  • You don't know what they're made of until you put them
  • 00:10:06.105 --> 00:10:08.040
  • In hot water.
  • 00:10:08.040 --> 00:10:10.443
  • Are you in hot water right now?
  • 00:10:10.443 --> 00:10:12.745
  • You shouldn't usually clap for that, but that's okay, i guess.
  • 00:10:12.745 --> 00:10:19.185
  • I'll take anything you wanna give.
  • 00:10:19.185 --> 00:10:20.553
  • But the lord was with them and the lord's with you.
  • 00:10:24.123 --> 00:10:25.958
  • "god walks with us through our trials."
  • 00:10:25.958 --> 00:10:28.327
  • Jesus said, "lo, i am with you, even at the end of the age,"
  • 00:10:28.327 --> 00:10:32.264
  • A very familiar and oft-quoted passage and a wonderful one.
  • 00:10:32.264 --> 00:10:35.935
  • It's isaiah 43:2 where god says:
  • 00:10:35.935 --> 00:10:38.270
  • "when you pass through the waters, i'll be with you.
  • 00:10:38.270 --> 00:10:41.273
  • When you pass through the rivers,
  • 00:10:41.273 --> 00:10:42.642
  • They'll not sweep over you.
  • 00:10:42.642 --> 00:10:44.310
  • When you walk through the fire, you'll not be burned,
  • 00:10:44.310 --> 00:10:47.146
  • And the flames will not set you ablaze."
  • 00:10:47.146 --> 00:10:50.583
  • So, when they survived the fiery furnace,
  • 00:10:50.583 --> 00:10:53.252
  • The king changed his tune.
  • 00:10:53.252 --> 00:10:55.655
  • How did they do it?
  • 00:10:55.655 --> 00:10:57.289
  • The key to their courage and calmness in the fire
  • 00:10:57.289 --> 00:11:00.159
  • Was their companion.
  • 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:02.395
  • And who was that companion?
  • 00:11:02.395 --> 00:11:03.729
  • It was the lord who is with you as well.
  • 00:11:03.729 --> 00:11:06.465
  • Number three, "world changers apply their faith
  • 00:11:06.465 --> 00:11:08.734
  • And they pray."
  • 00:11:08.734 --> 00:11:10.069
  • Verse 35: "women received their loved ones back from the dead."
  • 00:11:10.069 --> 00:11:14.940
  • This is probably a reference to elijah and/or elisha,
  • 00:11:14.940 --> 00:11:18.844
  • Both who raised the dead.
  • 00:11:18.844 --> 00:11:21.280
  • God led the prophet elijah to storm into the court of ahab,
  • 00:11:21.280 --> 00:11:25.051
  • The king of israel, ruling with his wicked wife,
  • 00:11:25.051 --> 00:11:27.987
  • Jezebel, and give the decree there will not be rain in the
  • 00:11:27.987 --> 00:11:31.257
  • Land but according to my word, and then the lord directed
  • 00:11:31.257 --> 00:11:34.760
  • Elijah to go to a widow who was very poor.
  • 00:11:34.760 --> 00:11:39.365
  • He said, "i want you to go and stay with her."
  • 00:11:39.365 --> 00:11:42.435
  • So he shows up, "ma'am, would you give me a place to stay?
  • 00:11:42.435 --> 00:11:45.771
  • I can take the apartment over the garage,
  • 00:11:45.771 --> 00:11:49.375
  • And i would really appreciate it if you could give me some food."
  • 00:11:49.375 --> 00:11:52.011
  • She's like, "i don't really have that much food.
  • 00:11:52.011 --> 00:11:54.080
  • I have just enough for me and my son."
  • 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:56.115
  • "just go ahead and let's see what god does."
  • 00:11:56.115 --> 00:11:58.384
  • And every day when she'd prepare food there was always enough for
  • 00:11:58.384 --> 00:12:02.021
  • Her and her son and the prophet.
  • 00:12:02.021 --> 00:12:04.390
  • And so this was a wonderful illustration of how when we give
  • 00:12:04.390 --> 00:12:07.827
  • To the lord, god gives back to us as well.
  • 00:12:07.827 --> 00:12:10.730
  • But one day, her son got sick, and then he got worse,
  • 00:12:10.730 --> 00:12:14.633
  • And then he finally died.
  • 00:12:14.633 --> 00:12:17.136
  • Her life as she knew it, effectively ended.
  • 00:12:17.136 --> 00:12:20.740
  • Now, she has not only lost her husband,
  • 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:23.142
  • She was a widow, but she also has lost her son.
  • 00:12:23.142 --> 00:12:27.012
  • And she accused elijah: "why did you even come to my house?
  • 00:12:27.012 --> 00:12:30.983
  • Things were better when you weren't here."
  • 00:12:30.983 --> 00:12:32.785
  • And he didn't rebuke her.
  • 00:12:32.785 --> 00:12:34.687
  • He just took the limp body of her dead son and prayed
  • 00:12:34.687 --> 00:12:38.290
  • For him and raised him up again.
  • 00:12:38.290 --> 00:12:40.092
  • "here's your boy back."
  • 00:12:40.092 --> 00:12:41.427
  • Listen, even death doesn't stop a world changer.
  • 00:12:41.427 --> 00:12:45.531
  • No, you look at a guy like elijah and say,
  • 00:12:45.531 --> 00:12:47.166
  • "it's kind of hard to relate to a guy like that.
  • 00:12:47.166 --> 00:12:49.401
  • I mean, he calls fire down from heaven.
  • 00:12:49.401 --> 00:12:52.838
  • He stops the rain, he raises boys from the dead."
  • 00:12:52.838 --> 00:12:57.576
  • Yes, but yet we're told in james: "elijah was a man
  • 00:12:57.576 --> 00:13:02.014
  • Just like us," yet when he prayed earnestly,
  • 00:13:02.014 --> 00:13:06.318
  • No rain would fall.
  • 00:13:06.318 --> 00:13:07.653
  • None fell for 3 1/2 years.
  • 00:13:07.653 --> 00:13:09.855
  • He was just like you. let me illustrate.
  • 00:13:09.855 --> 00:13:12.558
  • After elijah faced off with the prophets of baal up
  • 00:13:12.558 --> 00:13:16.262
  • On mount carmel, and prayed and fire came from heaven,
  • 00:13:16.262 --> 00:13:21.267
  • Queen jezebel said, "i'm gonna kill you for that."
  • 00:13:21.267 --> 00:13:24.770
  • And he ran away and he was terrified
  • 00:13:24.770 --> 00:13:27.673
  • And he was so depressed he said, "i just wanna die."
  • 00:13:27.673 --> 00:13:30.943
  • And an angel of the lord shows up and says,
  • 00:13:30.943 --> 00:13:33.245
  • "you need to eat a sandwich now."
  • 00:13:33.245 --> 00:13:36.081
  • I'm loosely paraphrasing, but not that much.
  • 00:13:36.081 --> 00:13:38.784
  • An angel of the lord shows up and says,
  • 00:13:38.784 --> 00:13:40.286
  • "you know what, buddy?
  • 00:13:40.286 --> 00:13:41.620
  • You need to just eat, okay?
  • 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:43.455
  • Just eat, have a nice meal, have a nice little nap,
  • 00:13:43.455 --> 00:13:47.026
  • And get up and go back and serve the lord again."
  • 00:13:47.026 --> 00:13:49.762
  • I love that 'cause, you know, sometimes it's so practical.
  • 00:13:49.762 --> 00:13:53.232
  • Angels protect us, sometimes they guide us,
  • 00:13:53.232 --> 00:13:56.035
  • And sometimes they hook us up with lunch.
  • 00:13:56.035 --> 00:13:57.803
  • Whatever you need, you know, they're there for you.
  • 00:13:57.803 --> 00:14:00.873
  • But my wife tells me that when i'm hungry,
  • 00:14:00.873 --> 00:14:04.076
  • I get cranky.
  • 00:14:04.076 --> 00:14:05.511
  • "you're hungry." "how do you know i'm hungry?"
  • 00:14:05.511 --> 00:14:07.546
  • "because of the way you just said that."
  • 00:14:07.546 --> 00:14:08.881
  • "what?"
  • 00:14:08.881 --> 00:14:10.216
  • So she throws a sandwich at me, and i catch it with my mouth,
  • 00:14:10.216 --> 00:14:15.588
  • Swallow it in one gulp just like a dog.
  • 00:14:15.588 --> 00:14:17.256
  • It's awesome. no, i made that up.
  • 00:14:17.256 --> 00:14:19.825
  • But he was a guy just like us.
  • 00:14:19.825 --> 00:14:24.597
  • But god used him, and all of them were people just like us.
  • 00:14:24.597 --> 00:14:29.335
  • Again, david was a teenage shepherd boy
  • 00:14:29.335 --> 00:14:32.071
  • When he took on goliath.
  • 00:14:32.071 --> 00:14:34.173
  • Again, gideon, a frightened farmer,
  • 00:14:34.173 --> 00:14:37.042
  • When called by the lord, samson apart from god's power was weak
  • 00:14:37.042 --> 00:14:40.479
  • Like any other man.
  • 00:14:40.479 --> 00:14:42.681
  • The bible doesn't say he was some muscular dude.
  • 00:14:42.681 --> 00:14:45.417
  • It just says the spirit of god would come upon him
  • 00:14:45.417 --> 00:14:48.120
  • And he would do these amazing things.
  • 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:50.289
  • That's the god that did it.
  • 00:14:50.289 --> 00:14:51.891
  • God gave them what they needed when they needed it.
  • 00:14:51.891 --> 00:14:55.327
  • And god hasn't given you that same measure of grace,
  • 00:14:55.327 --> 00:14:57.730
  • If you will, because you don't necessarily need it,
  • 00:14:57.730 --> 00:15:00.799
  • But god will always give you what you need when you need it,
  • 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:05.070
  • Not necessarily before but never after.
  • 00:15:05.070 --> 00:15:08.440
  • Greg: hey, greg laurie here. maybe you've seen this.
  • 00:15:11.644 --> 00:15:13.812
  • This is called the "new believer's bible," and a number
  • 00:15:13.812 --> 00:15:17.149
  • Of years ago, i wanted to do an edition of scripture with
  • 00:15:17.149 --> 00:15:22.021
  • Commentary that would make the bible more accessible to someone
  • 00:15:22.021 --> 00:15:26.892
  • Who's never read it before, like a new believer.
  • 00:15:26.892 --> 00:15:29.929
  • But today we live, of course, in a digital world,
  • 00:15:29.929 --> 00:15:33.732
  • So we've taken the curriculum from the "new believer's bible"
  • 00:15:33.732 --> 00:15:37.036
  • And we created this online community of people just like
  • 00:15:37.036 --> 00:15:40.506
  • You who are studying the word of god together.
  • 00:15:40.506 --> 00:15:43.943
  • By the way, this is free of charge, you can learn at
  • 00:15:43.943 --> 00:15:46.712
  • Your own pace, but most importantly, you'll experience
  • 00:15:46.712 --> 00:15:50.416
  • The power of god's word to transform your life.
  • 00:15:50.416 --> 00:15:54.053
  • The bible says of itself it's alive and powerful and sharper
  • 00:15:54.053 --> 00:15:58.891
  • Than any two-edged sword, so i hope you'll take your phone
  • 00:15:58.891 --> 00:16:02.795
  • Right now and join us online at harvest discipleship.
  • 00:16:02.795 --> 00:16:07.099
  • Let's learn and grow together.
  • 00:16:07.099 --> 00:16:11.003
  • Greg: now we shift gears in our study in world changers
  • 00:16:15.140 --> 00:16:18.811
  • To a second group.
  • 00:16:18.811 --> 00:16:20.980
  • They're a little different from the first.
  • 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:23.515
  • They, too, had faith.
  • 00:16:23.515 --> 00:16:25.517
  • They, too, trusted god, but they didn't get through their fires,
  • 00:16:25.517 --> 00:16:29.755
  • And their red seas did not part from them.
  • 00:16:29.755 --> 00:16:32.157
  • They did not have their dead restored.
  • 00:16:32.157 --> 00:16:34.293
  • In fact, this group of world changers suffered greatly
  • 00:16:34.293 --> 00:16:38.731
  • And, honestly, many of them died.
  • 00:16:38.731 --> 00:16:41.233
  • So we read this and we say, "well, they were losers."
  • 00:16:41.233 --> 00:16:44.236
  • No, they weren't. they were winners too.
  • 00:16:44.236 --> 00:16:47.239
  • You see, the first group of world changers glorified
  • 00:16:47.239 --> 00:16:50.409
  • God through escaping like daniel, shadrach,
  • 00:16:50.409 --> 00:16:54.246
  • Meshach, and abednego, and the second group of world changers
  • 00:16:54.246 --> 00:16:58.017
  • Glorified god by enduring.
  • 00:16:58.017 --> 00:17:01.120
  • Listen, i don't determine what things are gonna come
  • 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:05.024
  • My way in life.
  • 00:17:05.024 --> 00:17:06.859
  • I don't determine what challenges,
  • 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:09.061
  • What hardships, what difficulties
  • 00:17:09.061 --> 00:17:11.530
  • Will come my way.
  • 00:17:11.530 --> 00:17:12.865
  • All i determine is how i will react to those things
  • 00:17:12.865 --> 00:17:17.202
  • When they come.
  • 00:17:17.202 --> 00:17:18.537
  • Let's look at this second group now.
  • 00:17:18.537 --> 00:17:20.472
  • Hebrews 11, verse 35:
  • 00:17:20.472 --> 00:17:22.574
  • "others were tortured, refusing to turn from god in order
  • 00:17:22.574 --> 00:17:26.045
  • To be set free.
  • 00:17:26.045 --> 00:17:27.379
  • They placed their hope in a better life
  • 00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:29.281
  • After the resurrection.
  • 00:17:29.281 --> 00:17:30.883
  • Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips.
  • 00:17:30.883 --> 00:17:34.753
  • Others were chained in prisons.
  • 00:17:34.753 --> 00:17:36.488
  • Some died by stoning, some were sawn in half,
  • 00:17:36.488 --> 00:17:40.225
  • And others were killed with the sword.
  • 00:17:40.225 --> 00:17:42.428
  • Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats,
  • 00:17:42.428 --> 00:17:45.130
  • And they were destitute and oppressed and mistreated,
  • 00:17:45.130 --> 00:17:48.400
  • Of whom the world was not worthy."
  • 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:51.036
  • That's why i gave that title to this message:
  • 00:17:51.036 --> 00:17:53.539
  • "of whom the world was not worthy."
  • 00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:55.574
  • In other words, they were too good for this world.
  • 00:17:55.574 --> 00:17:58.377
  • "wandering over deserts and mountains,
  • 00:17:58.377 --> 00:18:00.279
  • Hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
  • 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:03.115
  • These people earned a good reputation because of their
  • 00:18:03.115 --> 00:18:06.218
  • Faith, yet none of them received all that god had promised.
  • 00:18:06.218 --> 00:18:09.588
  • For god had something better in mind for us,
  • 00:18:09.588 --> 00:18:12.024
  • So that they would not reach perfection without us."
  • 00:18:12.024 --> 00:18:15.294
  • Point number four, you may not like this one:
  • 00:18:15.294 --> 00:18:18.630
  • "world changers are often not appreciated and instead
  • 00:18:18.630 --> 00:18:23.502
  • Are often persecuted."
  • 00:18:23.502 --> 00:18:26.572
  • Let me say that again: "world changers, or christians,
  • 00:18:26.572 --> 00:18:30.876
  • Are not often appreciated and instead are often persecuted."
  • 00:18:30.876 --> 00:18:37.716
  • According to jewish tradition, the prophet isaiah was sawed
  • 00:18:37.716 --> 00:18:41.653
  • In half with a wooden saw.
  • 00:18:41.653 --> 00:18:43.722
  • There's a reference to someone being sawed in half.
  • 00:18:43.722 --> 00:18:48.260
  • Persecution is alive and well, folks, all around the world.
  • 00:18:48.260 --> 00:18:51.797
  • Our christian brothers and sisters suffer.
  • 00:18:51.797 --> 00:18:55.334
  • They suffer in nations like north korea,
  • 00:18:55.334 --> 00:18:58.637
  • In china, in russia, and, of course,
  • 00:18:58.637 --> 00:19:02.608
  • Islamic countries that treat them horribly,
  • 00:19:02.608 --> 00:19:06.345
  • Even execute them if they profess faith in christ.
  • 00:19:06.345 --> 00:19:10.549
  • Isis is known for atrocities that are on the level of what
  • 00:19:10.549 --> 00:19:15.554
  • Old and new testament believers faced.
  • 00:19:15.554 --> 00:19:17.723
  • It's a horrible thing.
  • 00:19:17.723 --> 00:19:19.324
  • Persecution is happening, and the bible says:
  • 00:19:19.324 --> 00:19:22.161
  • "all that live godly in jesus christ will suffer persecution."
  • 00:19:22.161 --> 00:19:27.666
  • That's a promise we rarely claim, right?
  • 00:19:27.666 --> 00:19:30.269
  • When's the last time you asked for that promise
  • 00:19:30.269 --> 00:19:31.937
  • To be fulfilled?
  • 00:19:31.937 --> 00:19:33.438
  • We'll claim promises of protection or promises of
  • 00:19:33.438 --> 00:19:36.575
  • Provision, but when's the last time you said,
  • 00:19:36.575 --> 00:19:38.277
  • "lord, you promised if i live a godly life i'll be persecuted,
  • 00:19:38.277 --> 00:19:41.980
  • So bring it on."
  • 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:44.416
  • No, you don't pray that, nor do i, why?
  • 00:19:44.416 --> 00:19:46.451
  • Who wants to be persecuted?
  • 00:19:46.451 --> 00:19:49.388
  • Persecution can show itself in many ways.
  • 00:19:49.388 --> 00:19:51.924
  • It can be physical, it can be the taking of a life,
  • 00:19:51.924 --> 00:19:55.360
  • The threatening of a life, it can come in other ways.
  • 00:19:55.360 --> 00:19:59.264
  • It can be verbal.
  • 00:19:59.264 --> 00:20:01.200
  • It can be people mocking you or marginalizing you or insulting
  • 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:07.239
  • You because of your faith in jesus christ.
  • 00:20:07.239 --> 00:20:10.509
  • But it is gonna come and here's what jesus says you should
  • 00:20:10.509 --> 00:20:13.212
  • Do when you're persecuted.
  • 00:20:13.212 --> 00:20:15.080
  • He say--he said, "blessed are they,"
  • 00:20:15.080 --> 00:20:18.183
  • Or happy would be a better translation.
  • 00:20:18.183 --> 00:20:20.352
  • "happy are they which are persecuted for righteousness'
  • 00:20:20.352 --> 00:20:23.055
  • Sake: for they're just like the prophets that went before them."
  • 00:20:23.055 --> 00:20:28.327
  • "happy are they that are persecuted
  • 00:20:28.327 --> 00:20:30.295
  • For righteousness' sake."
  • 00:20:30.295 --> 00:20:31.797
  • Please let's make sure we get persecuted
  • 00:20:31.797 --> 00:20:33.999
  • For the right reasons.
  • 00:20:33.999 --> 00:20:36.201
  • Far too often we're persecuted for the wrong reasons.
  • 00:20:36.201 --> 00:20:40.005
  • Jesus did not say, "blessed are you when men revile you
  • 00:20:40.005 --> 00:20:43.308
  • And persecute you and say all manner of evil because you're
  • 00:20:43.308 --> 00:20:46.311
  • Just obnoxious and mean."
  • 00:20:46.311 --> 00:20:49.781
  • 'cause if you're that, you're getting persecuted for being
  • 00:20:49.781 --> 00:20:51.883
  • Obnoxious and mean.
  • 00:20:51.883 --> 00:20:53.318
  • Let it be because you're a godly man, a godly woman.
  • 00:20:53.318 --> 00:20:57.022
  • But persecution will come and it came to these believers.
  • 00:20:57.022 --> 00:21:00.993
  • Now, we can ask this question.
  • 00:21:00.993 --> 00:21:02.728
  • We look at the first part of hebrews 11
  • 00:21:02.728 --> 00:21:05.497
  • And look how god delivered people.
  • 00:21:05.497 --> 00:21:07.199
  • There was suffering involved but, ultimately,
  • 00:21:07.199 --> 00:21:09.635
  • They were delivered.
  • 00:21:09.635 --> 00:21:10.969
  • Joseph, yeah, faced some difficulties but he got out of
  • 00:21:10.969 --> 00:21:13.538
  • That prison and was put into a position of great authority.
  • 00:21:13.538 --> 00:21:17.442
  • David was preserved by the lord and, yet,
  • 00:21:17.442 --> 00:21:20.545
  • Now we're reading about people being sawn in half
  • 00:21:20.545 --> 00:21:23.882
  • And beheaded and tortured and we
  • 00:21:23.882 --> 00:21:26.084
  • Say, "wait a second.
  • 00:21:26.084 --> 00:21:27.419
  • This doesn't seem fair.
  • 00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:29.421
  • It's not fair."
  • 00:21:29.421 --> 00:21:30.856
  • We're like little children. "it's not fair."
  • 00:21:30.856 --> 00:21:34.192
  • You know, lord, why? why don't i have that?
  • 00:21:34.192 --> 00:21:36.662
  • Why am i single when all my friends are married?
  • 00:21:36.662 --> 00:21:40.065
  • Why can't my wife and i conceive children
  • 00:21:40.065 --> 00:21:42.200
  • When others have so many?
  • 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:44.603
  • Why did my child go prodigal when another's child did not?
  • 00:21:44.603 --> 00:21:48.740
  • Why do i have this horrible illness
  • 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:50.776
  • When all of my friends are so healthy?
  • 00:21:50.776 --> 00:21:53.545
  • Why did my child die? the list goes on.
  • 00:21:53.545 --> 00:21:56.481
  • And by the way, i'm speaking now from experience.
  • 00:21:56.481 --> 00:22:00.852
  • I understand these questions, you know?
  • 00:22:00.852 --> 00:22:03.822
  • We don't know why things happen to us and sometimes it's said,
  • 00:22:03.822 --> 00:22:07.726
  • "oh, you should never ask god why.
  • 00:22:07.726 --> 00:22:09.328
  • That's a lack of faith." no, it isn't.
  • 00:22:09.328 --> 00:22:12.197
  • Ask away. ask god why.
  • 00:22:12.197 --> 00:22:14.533
  • Don't expect an answer, but ask if you like.
  • 00:22:14.533 --> 00:22:17.469
  • Even jesus cried out from the cross,
  • 00:22:17.469 --> 00:22:19.671
  • "my god, my god, why have you forsaken me?"
  • 00:22:19.671 --> 00:22:23.475
  • You know, i look at my life and god blessed us with two boys
  • 00:22:23.475 --> 00:22:27.179
  • And one is in heaven and one is here on earth serving the lord
  • 00:22:27.179 --> 00:22:30.849
  • And we're very proud of jonathan who's not only walking strong
  • 00:22:30.849 --> 00:22:35.520
  • With christ, but he's a pastor at our church now
  • 00:22:35.520 --> 00:22:39.057
  • And so we're thrilled by that.
  • 00:22:39.057 --> 00:22:41.259
  • But yet, we wish our other son was with us right now.
  • 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:45.364
  • And i think sometimes people want me to
  • 00:22:45.364 --> 00:22:47.099
  • Say, you know, "it's great.
  • 00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:48.433
  • We love the way it turned out."
  • 00:22:48.433 --> 00:22:49.968
  • No, i'm not happy with it, actually.
  • 00:22:49.968 --> 00:22:52.170
  • And if i could change it, i'd change it in a heartbeat.
  • 00:22:52.170 --> 00:22:54.873
  • But you know what?
  • 00:22:54.873 --> 00:22:56.208
  • I don't get to make that decision.
  • 00:22:56.208 --> 00:22:57.542
  • "so are you saying you're disappointed with god?"
  • 00:22:57.542 --> 00:22:59.578
  • Absolutely not.
  • 00:22:59.578 --> 00:23:02.381
  • My faith in the lord remains and it grows stronger
  • 00:23:02.381 --> 00:23:06.651
  • Each and every year.
  • 00:23:06.651 --> 00:23:08.587
  • I trust him and i look to him.
  • 00:23:08.587 --> 00:23:16.128
  • Doesn't mean i like it, but i know he's in control.
  • 00:23:16.128 --> 00:23:20.832
  • And i know his plans for me are better than my plans for myself.
  • 00:23:20.832 --> 00:23:24.569
  • And i know one day all of my questions will be answered,
  • 00:23:24.569 --> 00:23:28.974
  • 'cause, you know, i'll say, "oh, you know, we've suffered.
  • 00:23:28.974 --> 00:23:31.143
  • We've lost a child."
  • 00:23:31.143 --> 00:23:32.677
  • But then i'll meet parents who've lost children and,
  • 00:23:32.677 --> 00:23:34.946
  • By the way, i meet many of them all the time.
  • 00:23:34.946 --> 00:23:37.883
  • I mean, if i do any post on my facebook page or--
  • 00:23:37.883 --> 00:23:41.486
  • I'll get so many responses, it's mind-blowing and i have people
  • 00:23:41.486 --> 00:23:45.323
  • Come up to me and they'll say, "we lost a child.
  • 00:23:45.323 --> 00:23:47.125
  • We wanna talk to you," and i don't feel like i have the
  • 00:23:47.125 --> 00:23:49.828
  • Answers for these folks but i think at least,
  • 00:23:49.828 --> 00:23:52.764
  • To some degree, i understand a little bit
  • 00:23:52.764 --> 00:23:54.800
  • Of what they're going through and i'll listen to them.
  • 00:23:54.800 --> 00:23:57.502
  • And--but you know what?
  • 00:23:57.502 --> 00:23:58.904
  • I'm not in the explaining business anymore.
  • 00:23:58.904 --> 00:24:02.040
  • I was in the explaining business in my 20s
  • 00:24:02.040 --> 00:24:04.509
  • When i was starting out in ministry.
  • 00:24:04.509 --> 00:24:06.478
  • I was an awesome 20-year-old pastor.
  • 00:24:06.478 --> 00:24:11.016
  • I had long hair, i was skinny, i could eat whatever i wanted,
  • 00:24:11.016 --> 00:24:18.190
  • And i had the answer to every question you had.
  • 00:24:18.190 --> 00:24:21.359
  • I had a verse and i'd give it to you and tell you
  • 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:23.895
  • Why you should trust god.
  • 00:24:23.895 --> 00:24:25.397
  • Now, in my 40s, without hair, and more years than that,
  • 00:24:25.397 --> 00:24:34.639
  • I'm not in the explaining business anymore.
  • 00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:37.108
  • Now i feel like i'm more in the trusting and praying business,
  • 00:24:37.108 --> 00:24:41.847
  • Where i'm trusting that god will answer those questions one day
  • 00:24:41.847 --> 00:24:47.986
  • And i'm praying for strength and that's what i share
  • 00:24:47.986 --> 00:24:50.055
  • With other people.
  • 00:24:50.055 --> 00:24:51.656
  • No, we don't control our circumstances.
  • 00:24:51.656 --> 00:24:53.892
  • We control our reaction to our circumstances.
  • 00:24:53.892 --> 00:24:57.829
  • Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart and you have seen
  • 00:25:01.967 --> 00:25:06.471
  • Your need for jesus christ.
  • 00:25:06.471 --> 00:25:08.607
  • Jesus christ is the son of god who came from heaven
  • 00:25:08.607 --> 00:25:12.544
  • To this earth.
  • 00:25:12.544 --> 00:25:13.912
  • He was born in a manger.
  • 00:25:13.912 --> 00:25:16.047
  • He died on a cross.
  • 00:25:16.047 --> 00:25:17.549
  • He rose again from the dead, why?
  • 00:25:17.549 --> 00:25:19.551
  • Because he loves you, and he wants a relationship with you.
  • 00:25:19.551 --> 00:25:23.054
  • Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
  • 00:25:23.054 --> 00:25:25.524
  • I don't wanna be a religious person.
  • 00:25:25.524 --> 00:25:27.225
  • I don't think you wanna be one either.
  • 00:25:27.225 --> 00:25:29.294
  • I'm talking about relationship with god.
  • 00:25:29.294 --> 00:25:32.797
  • Jesus, who died and rose again, stands at the door of your life
  • 00:25:32.797 --> 00:25:37.168
  • And he knocks and he says if you'll hear his voice and open
  • 00:25:37.168 --> 00:25:40.505
  • The door, he will come in.
  • 00:25:40.505 --> 00:25:42.140
  • Question: have you asked jesus christ to come
  • 00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:44.843
  • And live inside of you?
  • 00:25:44.843 --> 00:25:46.344
  • You might say, "well, i think so.
  • 00:25:46.344 --> 00:25:47.679
  • I'm not sure."
  • 00:25:47.679 --> 00:25:49.014
  • Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle
  • 00:25:49.014 --> 00:25:50.815
  • Of the night, do you think you would be aware of it?
  • 00:25:50.815 --> 00:25:53.618
  • I'm sure you would.
  • 00:25:53.618 --> 00:25:55.253
  • And in the same way, if christ has come to live inside of you,
  • 00:25:55.253 --> 00:25:58.156
  • You will know.
  • 00:25:58.156 --> 00:25:59.591
  • And if you don't know, maybe he has not come in yet.
  • 00:25:59.591 --> 00:26:03.094
  • He's just a prayer away.
  • 00:26:03.094 --> 00:26:05.063
  • All you need to do is say,
  • 00:26:05.063 --> 00:26:06.398
  • "jesus, i want this relationship with you.
  • 00:26:06.398 --> 00:26:09.100
  • I want you to forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:26:09.100 --> 00:26:11.336
  • I want to go to heaven when i die."
  • 00:26:11.336 --> 00:26:13.305
  • Would you like to do that?
  • 00:26:13.305 --> 00:26:14.806
  • Would you like christ to come into your life?
  • 00:26:14.806 --> 00:26:17.442
  • If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
  • 00:26:17.442 --> 00:26:20.579
  • You can pray it out loud or you can pray it
  • 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:22.881
  • In the quietness of your heart.
  • 00:26:22.881 --> 00:26:25.050
  • But this is a prayer where you're asking jesus christ
  • 00:26:25.050 --> 00:26:27.819
  • To be your savior and lord.
  • 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:29.688
  • Pray this with me now: "lord jesus,
  • 00:26:29.688 --> 00:26:32.490
  • I know that i'm a sinner but i know that you're the savior,
  • 00:26:32.490 --> 00:26:37.228
  • Who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.
  • 00:26:37.228 --> 00:26:40.699
  • Now come into my life.
  • 00:26:40.699 --> 00:26:43.568
  • I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
  • 00:26:43.568 --> 00:26:47.939
  • Thank you for hearing this prayer
  • 00:26:47.939 --> 00:26:49.975
  • And answering this prayer.
  • 00:26:49.975 --> 00:26:52.043
  • In jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:26:52.043 --> 00:26:54.679
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:26:54.679 --> 00:26:57.015
  • If so, i want you to know on the authority of scripture that
  • 00:26:57.015 --> 00:26:59.985
  • Christ himself has come to live inside of you.
  • 00:26:59.985 --> 00:27:03.188
  • And i would love to send to you
  • 00:27:03.188 --> 00:27:04.556
  • At no charge the new believer's bible.
  • 00:27:04.556 --> 00:27:07.926
  • It's a very friendly translation of the new testament
  • 00:27:07.926 --> 00:27:10.762
  • You'll find very understandable.
  • 00:27:10.762 --> 00:27:13.131
  • And it's filled with hundreds of notes that i wrote that will
  • 00:27:13.131 --> 00:27:16.568
  • Encourage you in this commitment
  • 00:27:16.568 --> 00:27:18.370
  • You've just made to follow jesus.
  • 00:27:18.370 --> 00:27:20.305
  • And let me be the first to say to you,
  • 00:27:20.305 --> 00:27:22.307
  • "congratulations and
  • 00:27:22.307 --> 00:27:24.442
  • Welcome to the family of god."
  • 00:27:24.442 --> 00:27:24.442