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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - Of Whom The World Was Not Worthy

January 21, 2025 | S25:E18

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

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Of Whom The World Was Not Worthy | January 21, 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,
  • 00:00:19.662 --> 00:00:21.765
  • "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, the day when life begins ♪
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  • ♪ this is the day, 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."
  • 00:04:28.311 --> 00:04:32.515
  • 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?
  • 00:05:07.850 --> 00:05:09.619
  • 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:
  • 00:05:57.734 --> 00:05:59.836
  • "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."
  • 00:06:05.141 --> 00:06:09.579
  • 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?
  • 00:06:35.471 --> 00:06:37.073
  • 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?
  • 00:06:40.676 --> 00:06:42.512
  • Check it out.
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  • I'm gonna pray like i always do."
  • 00:06:43.846 --> 00:06:46.382
  • And even the king cannot overrule this law,
  • 00:06:46.382 --> 00:06:49.619
  • And so daniel was sent into a den of lions.
  • 00:06:49.619 --> 00:06:53.222
  • But what's interesting is that night, the bible says,
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  • The king was up.
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  • He couldn't sleep, and daniel slept like a baby.
  • 00:06:57.093 --> 00:07:00.163
  • Probably propped his head up on one of those lions,
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  • "come over here, simba.
  • 00:07:02.665 --> 00:07:06.669
  • Your belly looks like a good pillow,
  • 00:07:06.669 --> 00:07:08.371
  • And i'm gonna prop my head--
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  • My feet up here on leo over here, and i'm just gonna have
  • 00:07:10.072 --> 00:07:12.809
  • A nice nap, a catnap with really big cats."
  • 00:07:12.809 --> 00:07:17.647
  • Meanwhile, the king is stressed out and freaking out.
  • 00:07:17.647 --> 00:07:21.050
  • 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?"
  • 00:07:24.954 --> 00:07:27.457
  • 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."
  • 00:07:42.872 --> 00:07:45.775
  • Or i could just say, "christians are never alone," as well.
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  • Verse 34: "they quenched the power of fire."
  • 00:07:48.711 --> 00:07:52.148
  • Of course, our mind immediately races to the friends of daniel,
  • 00:07:52.148 --> 00:07:56.519
  • Also in the book of daniel, shadrach, meshach,
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  • And abednego.
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  • The king, nebuchadnezzar, erected a giant statue
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  • Of himself, covered in gold, and said,
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  • "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,
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  • And everyone bowed and there, like,
  • 00:08:18.808 --> 00:08:20.843
  • Three sore thumbs stood out
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  • Shadrach, meshach, and abednego who wouldn't bow,
  • 00:08:22.411 --> 00:08:25.047
  • And i love this narrative in daniel 3.
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  • It says they're brought before the king
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  • Who gives them another chance.
  • 00:08:29.085 --> 00:08:30.419
  • "okay, boys, i like you.
  • 00:08:30.419 --> 00:08:32.221
  • I'd like you to stay in my court and still be around but,
  • 00:08:32.221 --> 00:08:35.391
  • Listen, you better bow this time."
  • 00:08:35.391 --> 00:08:39.495
  • 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,
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  • Your majesty, we will never bow before nor will we serve your
  • 00:08:53.676 --> 00:08:59.148
  • Gods that you have set up."
  • 00:08:59.148 --> 00:09:01.050
  • The king was so royally ticked off,
  • 00:09:01.050 --> 00:09:03.185
  • He gave the command to heat the furnace up seven times hotter.
  • 00:09:03.185 --> 00:09:07.189
  • In fact, it was so hot, the guys that took shadrach,
  • 00:09:07.189 --> 00:09:09.559
  • Meshach, and abednego to the brink of it,
  • 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:12.528
  • Died from the flames.
  • 00:09:12.528 --> 00:09:14.263
  • That's pretty hot.
  • 00:09:14.263 --> 00:09:15.865
  • And in they were thrown.
  • 00:09:15.865 --> 00:09:17.500
  • The king's thinking, "that's the end of that."
  • 00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:19.869
  • And then he looked, and he couldn't believe his eyes,
  • 00:09:19.869 --> 00:09:22.338
  • As he saw three shadowy figures and then a fourth walking
  • 00:09:22.338 --> 00:09:26.242
  • About like it was a sunday stroll in the park.
  • 00:09:26.242 --> 00:09:29.679
  • And the king says, "wait, i threw three into the furnace,
  • 00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:32.748
  • And there's a fourth one who looks like the son of god."
  • 00:09:32.748 --> 00:09:36.852
  • Now, in fairness, it could also be translated
  • 00:09:36.852 --> 00:09:38.788
  • As "son of the gods."
  • 00:09:38.788 --> 00:09:41.991
  • Nebuchadnezzar probably thought it was some mystical deity.
  • 00:09:41.991 --> 00:09:44.894
  • He didn't know who it was.
  • 00:09:44.894 --> 00:09:46.228
  • I believe it was jesus christ walking around with shadrach,
  • 00:09:46.228 --> 00:09:50.399
  • Meshach, and abednego in the furnace of fire.
  • 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:54.303
  • Maybe you're in a fiery trial right now.
  • 00:09:54.303 --> 00:09:57.773
  • Maybe you're in the hot waters of temptation.
  • 00:09:57.773 --> 00:10:01.077
  • You know, it's been said,
  • 00:10:01.077 --> 00:10:02.478
  • Christians are a lot like teabags.
  • 00:10:02.478 --> 00:10:05.114
  • You don't know what they're made of until you put them
  • 00:10:05.114 --> 00:10:07.049
  • In hot water.
  • 00:10:07.049 --> 00:10:09.452
  • Are you in hot water right now?
  • 00:10:09.452 --> 00:10:11.754
  • You shouldn't usually clap for that, but that's okay, i guess.
  • 00:10:11.754 --> 00:10:18.194
  • I'll take anything you wanna give.
  • 00:10:18.194 --> 00:10:19.562
  • But the lord was with them and the lord's with you.
  • 00:10:23.132 --> 00:10:24.967
  • "god walks with us through our trials."
  • 00:10:24.967 --> 00:10:27.336
  • Jesus said, "lo, i am with you, even at the end of the age,"
  • 00:10:27.336 --> 00:10:31.273
  • A very familiar and oft-quoted passage and a wonderful one.
  • 00:10:31.273 --> 00:10:34.944
  • It's isaiah 43:2 where god says:
  • 00:10:34.944 --> 00:10:37.279
  • "when you pass through the waters, i'll be with you.
  • 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:40.282
  • When you pass through the rivers,
  • 00:10:40.282 --> 00:10:41.651
  • They'll not sweep over you.
  • 00:10:41.651 --> 00:10:43.319
  • When you walk through the fire, you'll not be burned,
  • 00:10:43.319 --> 00:10:46.155
  • And the flames will not set you ablaze."
  • 00:10:46.155 --> 00:10:49.592
  • So, when they survived the fiery furnace,
  • 00:10:49.592 --> 00:10:52.261
  • The king changed his tune.
  • 00:10:52.261 --> 00:10:54.664
  • How did they do it?
  • 00:10:54.664 --> 00:10:56.298
  • The key to their courage and calmness in the fire
  • 00:10:56.298 --> 00:10:59.168
  • Was their companion.
  • 00:10:59.168 --> 00:11:01.404
  • And who was that companion?
  • 00:11:01.404 --> 00:11:02.738
  • It was the lord who is with you as well.
  • 00:11:02.738 --> 00:11:05.474
  • Number three, "world changers apply their faith
  • 00:11:05.474 --> 00:11:07.743
  • And they pray."
  • 00:11:07.743 --> 00:11:09.078
  • Verse 35: "women received their loved ones back from the dead."
  • 00:11:09.078 --> 00:11:13.949
  • This is probably a reference to elijah and/or elisha,
  • 00:11:13.949 --> 00:11:17.853
  • Both who raised the dead.
  • 00:11:17.853 --> 00:11:20.289
  • God led the prophet elijah to storm into the court of ahab,
  • 00:11:20.289 --> 00:11:24.060
  • The king of israel, ruling with his wicked wife,
  • 00:11:24.060 --> 00:11:26.996
  • Jezebel, and give the decree there will not be rain in the
  • 00:11:26.996 --> 00:11:30.266
  • Land but according to my word, and then the lord directed
  • 00:11:30.266 --> 00:11:33.769
  • Elijah to go to a widow who was very poor.
  • 00:11:33.769 --> 00:11:38.374
  • He said, "i want you to go and stay with her."
  • 00:11:38.374 --> 00:11:41.444
  • So he shows up, "ma'am, would you give me a place to stay?
  • 00:11:41.444 --> 00:11:44.780
  • I can take the apartment over the garage,
  • 00:11:44.780 --> 00:11:48.384
  • And i would really appreciate it if you could give me some food."
  • 00:11:48.384 --> 00:11:51.020
  • She's like, "i don't really have that much food.
  • 00:11:51.020 --> 00:11:53.089
  • I have just enough for me and my son."
  • 00:11:53.089 --> 00:11:55.124
  • "just go ahead and let's see what god does."
  • 00:11:55.124 --> 00:11:57.393
  • And every day when she'd prepare food there was always enough for
  • 00:11:57.393 --> 00:12:01.030
  • Her and her son and the prophet.
  • 00:12:01.030 --> 00:12:03.399
  • And so this was a wonderful illustration of how when we give
  • 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:06.836
  • To the lord, god gives back to us as well.
  • 00:12:06.836 --> 00:12:09.739
  • But one day, her son got sick, and then he got worse,
  • 00:12:09.739 --> 00:12:13.642
  • And then he finally died.
  • 00:12:13.642 --> 00:12:16.145
  • Her life as she knew it, effectively ended.
  • 00:12:16.145 --> 00:12:19.749
  • Now, she has not only lost her husband,
  • 00:12:19.749 --> 00:12:22.151
  • She was a widow, but she also has lost her son.
  • 00:12:22.151 --> 00:12:26.021
  • And she accused elijah: "why did you even come to my house?
  • 00:12:26.021 --> 00:12:29.992
  • Things were better when you weren't here."
  • 00:12:29.992 --> 00:12:31.794
  • And he didn't rebuke her.
  • 00:12:31.794 --> 00:12:33.696
  • He just took the limp body of her dead son and prayed
  • 00:12:33.696 --> 00:12:37.299
  • For him and raised him up again.
  • 00:12:37.299 --> 00:12:39.101
  • "here's your boy back."
  • 00:12:39.101 --> 00:12:40.436
  • Listen, even death doesn't stop a world changer.
  • 00:12:40.436 --> 00:12:44.540
  • No, you look at a guy like elijah and say,
  • 00:12:44.540 --> 00:12:46.175
  • "it's kind of hard to relate to a guy like that.
  • 00:12:46.175 --> 00:12:48.410
  • I mean, he calls fire down from heaven.
  • 00:12:48.410 --> 00:12:51.847
  • He stops the rain, he raises boys from the dead."
  • 00:12:51.847 --> 00:12:56.585
  • Yes, but yet we're told in james: "elijah was a man
  • 00:12:56.585 --> 00:13:01.023
  • Just like us," yet when he prayed earnestly,
  • 00:13:01.023 --> 00:13:05.327
  • No rain would fall.
  • 00:13:05.327 --> 00:13:06.662
  • None fell for 3 1/2 years.
  • 00:13:06.662 --> 00:13:08.864
  • He was just like you. let me illustrate.
  • 00:13:08.864 --> 00:13:11.567
  • After elijah faced off with the prophets of baal up
  • 00:13:11.567 --> 00:13:15.271
  • On mount carmel, and prayed and fire came from heaven,
  • 00:13:15.271 --> 00:13:20.276
  • Queen jezebel said, "i'm gonna kill you for that."
  • 00:13:20.276 --> 00:13:23.779
  • And he ran away and he was terrified
  • 00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:26.682
  • And he was so depressed he said, "i just wanna die."
  • 00:13:26.682 --> 00:13:29.952
  • And an angel of the lord shows up and says,
  • 00:13:29.952 --> 00:13:32.254
  • "you need to eat a sandwich now."
  • 00:13:32.254 --> 00:13:35.090
  • I'm loosely paraphrasing, but not that much.
  • 00:13:35.090 --> 00:13:37.793
  • An angel of the lord shows up and says,
  • 00:13:37.793 --> 00:13:39.295
  • "you know what, buddy?
  • 00:13:39.295 --> 00:13:40.629
  • You need to just eat, okay?
  • 00:13:40.629 --> 00:13:42.464
  • Just eat, have a nice meal, have a nice little nap,
  • 00:13:42.464 --> 00:13:46.035
  • And get up and go back and serve the lord again."
  • 00:13:46.035 --> 00:13:48.771
  • I love that 'cause, you know, sometimes it's so practical.
  • 00:13:48.771 --> 00:13:52.241
  • Angels protect us, sometimes they guide us,
  • 00:13:52.241 --> 00:13:55.044
  • And sometimes they hook us up with lunch.
  • 00:13:55.044 --> 00:13:56.812
  • Whatever you need, you know, they're there for you.
  • 00:13:56.812 --> 00:13:59.882
  • But my wife tells me that when i'm hungry,
  • 00:13:59.882 --> 00:14:03.085
  • I get cranky.
  • 00:14:03.085 --> 00:14:04.520
  • "you're hungry." "how do you know i'm hungry?"
  • 00:14:04.520 --> 00:14:06.555
  • "because of the way you just said that."
  • 00:14:06.555 --> 00:14:07.890
  • "what?"
  • 00:14:07.890 --> 00:14:09.225
  • So she throws a sandwich at me, and i catch it with my mouth,
  • 00:14:09.225 --> 00:14:14.597
  • Swallow it in one gulp just like a dog.
  • 00:14:14.597 --> 00:14:16.265
  • It's awesome. no, i made that up.
  • 00:14:16.265 --> 00:14:18.834
  • But he was a guy just like us.
  • 00:14:18.834 --> 00:14:23.606
  • But god used him, and all of them were people just like us.
  • 00:14:23.606 --> 00:14:28.344
  • Again, david was a teenage shepherd boy
  • 00:14:28.344 --> 00:14:31.080
  • When he took on goliath.
  • 00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:33.182
  • Again, gideon, a frightened farmer,
  • 00:14:33.182 --> 00:14:36.051
  • When called by the lord, samson apart from god's power was weak
  • 00:14:36.051 --> 00:14:39.488
  • Like any other man.
  • 00:14:39.488 --> 00:14:41.690
  • The bible doesn't say he was some muscular dude.
  • 00:14:41.690 --> 00:14:44.426
  • It just says the spirit of god would come upon him
  • 00:14:44.426 --> 00:14:47.129
  • And he would do these amazing things.
  • 00:14:47.129 --> 00:14:49.298
  • That's the god that did it.
  • 00:14:49.298 --> 00:14:50.900
  • God gave them what they needed when they needed it.
  • 00:14:50.900 --> 00:14:54.336
  • And god hasn't given you that same measure of grace,
  • 00:14:54.336 --> 00:14:56.739
  • If you will, because you don't necessarily need it,
  • 00:14:56.739 --> 00:14:59.808
  • But god will always give you what you need when you need it,
  • 00:14:59.808 --> 00:15:04.079
  • Not necessarily before but never after.
  • 00:15:04.079 --> 00:15:07.449
  • Greg: you know, the bible says: "a good person
  • 00:15:11.153 --> 00:15:14.156
  • Leaves an inheritance for their children's children."
  • 00:15:14.156 --> 00:15:18.093
  • God encourages all of us as christians to manage
  • 00:15:18.093 --> 00:15:21.764
  • Our money well so we can be a blessing to our families
  • 00:15:21.764 --> 00:15:25.567
  • And to others.
  • 00:15:25.567 --> 00:15:26.902
  • Harvest has a special gift for you today, an opportunity
  • 00:15:26.902 --> 00:15:30.639
  • To set up a will or a living trust completely free of charge.
  • 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:36.045
  • Here's how you can learn more.
  • 00:15:36.045 --> 00:15:38.113
  • Greg: i'm excited to announce that here at harvest
  • 00:15:38.180 --> 00:15:40.516
  • We partnered with our friends at freewill.
  • 00:15:40.516 --> 00:15:44.019
  • Freewill is an easy to use estate planning tool
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  • That allows you to make planned gifts to organizations
  • 00:15:46.822 --> 00:15:50.025
  • Of your choice.
  • 00:15:50.025 --> 00:15:51.493
  • It's a creative opportunity to support the work we're doing
  • 00:15:51.493 --> 00:15:54.730
  • Here at harvest ministries.
  • 00:15:54.730 --> 00:15:56.432
  • So as you make your plans, i hope you'll consider
  • 00:15:56.432 --> 00:15:59.301
  • Investing in this ministry so we can continue
  • 00:15:59.301 --> 00:16:02.338
  • To preach the gospel and teach the word of god
  • 00:16:02.338 --> 00:16:04.974
  • For years to come.
  • 00:16:04.974 --> 00:16:06.308
  • You can learn more at freewill.com/harvest.
  • 00:16:06.308 --> 00:16:10.245
  • Greg: now we shift gears in our study in world changers
  • 00:16:14.283 --> 00:16:17.219
  • To a second group.
  • 00:16:17.219 --> 00:16:19.788
  • They're a little different from the first.
  • 00:16:19.788 --> 00:16:22.324
  • They, too, had faith.
  • 00:16:22.324 --> 00:16:24.326
  • They, too, trusted god, but they didn't get through their fires,
  • 00:16:24.326 --> 00:16:28.564
  • And their red seas did not part from them.
  • 00:16:28.564 --> 00:16:30.966
  • They did not have their dead restored.
  • 00:16:30.966 --> 00:16:33.102
  • In fact, this group of world changers suffered greatly
  • 00:16:33.102 --> 00:16:37.539
  • And, honestly, many of them died.
  • 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:40.042
  • So we read this and we say, "well, they were losers."
  • 00:16:40.042 --> 00:16:43.045
  • No, they weren't. they were winners too.
  • 00:16:43.045 --> 00:16:46.048
  • You see, the first group of world changers glorified
  • 00:16:46.048 --> 00:16:49.218
  • God through escaping like daniel, shadrach,
  • 00:16:49.218 --> 00:16:53.055
  • Meshach, and abednego, and the second group of world changers
  • 00:16:53.055 --> 00:16:56.825
  • Glorified god by enduring.
  • 00:16:56.825 --> 00:16:59.928
  • Listen, i don't determine what things are gonna come
  • 00:16:59.928 --> 00:17:03.832
  • My way in life.
  • 00:17:03.832 --> 00:17:05.667
  • I don't determine what challenges,
  • 00:17:05.667 --> 00:17:07.870
  • What hardships, what difficulties
  • 00:17:07.870 --> 00:17:10.339
  • Will come my way.
  • 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:11.673
  • All i determine is how i will react to those things
  • 00:17:11.673 --> 00:17:16.011
  • When they come.
  • 00:17:16.011 --> 00:17:17.346
  • Let's look at this second group now.
  • 00:17:17.346 --> 00:17:19.281
  • Hebrews 11, verse 35:
  • 00:17:19.281 --> 00:17:21.383
  • "others were tortured, refusing to turn from god in order
  • 00:17:21.383 --> 00:17:24.853
  • To be set free.
  • 00:17:24.853 --> 00:17:26.188
  • They placed their hope in a better life
  • 00:17:26.188 --> 00:17:28.090
  • After the resurrection.
  • 00:17:28.090 --> 00:17:29.691
  • Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips.
  • 00:17:29.691 --> 00:17:33.562
  • Others were chained in prisons.
  • 00:17:33.562 --> 00:17:35.297
  • Some died by stoning, some were sawn in half,
  • 00:17:35.297 --> 00:17:39.034
  • And others were killed with the sword.
  • 00:17:39.034 --> 00:17:41.236
  • Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats,
  • 00:17:41.236 --> 00:17:43.939
  • And they were destitute and oppressed and mistreated,
  • 00:17:43.939 --> 00:17:47.209
  • Of whom the world was not worthy."
  • 00:17:47.209 --> 00:17:49.845
  • That's why i gave that title to this message:
  • 00:17:49.845 --> 00:17:52.347
  • "of whom the world was not worthy."
  • 00:17:52.347 --> 00:17:54.383
  • In other words, they were too good for this world.
  • 00:17:54.383 --> 00:17:57.186
  • "wandering over deserts and mountains,
  • 00:17:57.186 --> 00:17:59.088
  • Hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
  • 00:17:59.088 --> 00:18:01.924
  • These people earned a good reputation because of their
  • 00:18:01.924 --> 00:18:05.027
  • Faith, yet none of them received all that god had promised.
  • 00:18:05.027 --> 00:18:08.397
  • For god had something better in mind for us,
  • 00:18:08.397 --> 00:18:10.833
  • So that they would not reach perfection without us."
  • 00:18:10.833 --> 00:18:14.103
  • Point number four, you may not like this one:
  • 00:18:14.103 --> 00:18:17.439
  • "world changers are often not appreciated and instead
  • 00:18:17.439 --> 00:18:22.311
  • Are often persecuted."
  • 00:18:22.311 --> 00:18:25.380
  • Let me say that again: "world changers, or christians,
  • 00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:29.685
  • Are not often appreciated and instead are often persecuted."
  • 00:18:29.685 --> 00:18:36.525
  • According to jewish tradition, the prophet isaiah was sawed
  • 00:18:36.525 --> 00:18:40.462
  • In half with a wooden saw.
  • 00:18:40.462 --> 00:18:42.531
  • There's a reference to someone being sawed in half.
  • 00:18:42.531 --> 00:18:47.069
  • Persecution is alive and well, folks, all around the world.
  • 00:18:47.069 --> 00:18:50.606
  • Our christian brothers and sisters suffer.
  • 00:18:50.606 --> 00:18:54.143
  • They suffer in nations like north korea,
  • 00:18:54.143 --> 00:18:57.446
  • In china, in russia, and, of course,
  • 00:18:57.446 --> 00:19:01.416
  • Islamic countries that treat them horribly,
  • 00:19:01.416 --> 00:19:05.154
  • Even execute them if they profess faith in christ.
  • 00:19:05.154 --> 00:19:09.358
  • Isis is known for atrocities that are on the level of what
  • 00:19:09.358 --> 00:19:14.363
  • Old and new testament believers faced.
  • 00:19:14.363 --> 00:19:16.532
  • It's a horrible thing.
  • 00:19:16.532 --> 00:19:18.133
  • Persecution is happening, and the bible says:
  • 00:19:18.133 --> 00:19:20.969
  • "all that live godly in jesus christ will suffer persecution."
  • 00:19:20.969 --> 00:19:26.475
  • That's a promise we rarely claim, right?
  • 00:19:26.475 --> 00:19:29.077
  • When's the last time you asked for that promise
  • 00:19:29.077 --> 00:19:30.746
  • To be fulfilled?
  • 00:19:30.746 --> 00:19:32.247
  • We'll claim promises of protection or promises of
  • 00:19:32.247 --> 00:19:35.384
  • Provision, but when's the last time you said,
  • 00:19:35.384 --> 00:19:37.085
  • "lord, you promised if i live a godly life i'll be persecuted,
  • 00:19:37.085 --> 00:19:40.789
  • So bring it on."
  • 00:19:40.789 --> 00:19:43.225
  • No, you don't pray that, nor do i, why?
  • 00:19:43.225 --> 00:19:45.260
  • Who wants to be persecuted?
  • 00:19:45.260 --> 00:19:48.197
  • Persecution can show itself in many ways.
  • 00:19:48.197 --> 00:19:50.732
  • It can be physical, it can be the taking of a life,
  • 00:19:50.732 --> 00:19:54.169
  • The threatening of a life, it can come in other ways.
  • 00:19:54.169 --> 00:19:58.073
  • It can be verbal.
  • 00:19:58.073 --> 00:20:00.008
  • It can be people mocking you or marginalizing you or insulting
  • 00:20:00.008 --> 00:20:06.048
  • You because of your faith in jesus christ.
  • 00:20:06.048 --> 00:20:09.318
  • But it is gonna come and here's what jesus says you should
  • 00:20:09.318 --> 00:20:12.020
  • Do when you're persecuted.
  • 00:20:12.020 --> 00:20:13.889
  • He say--he said, "blessed are they,"
  • 00:20:13.889 --> 00:20:16.992
  • Or happy would be a better translation.
  • 00:20:16.992 --> 00:20:19.161
  • "happy are they which are persecuted for righteousness'
  • 00:20:19.161 --> 00:20:21.863
  • Sake: for they're just like the prophets that went before them."
  • 00:20:21.863 --> 00:20:27.135
  • "happy are they that are persecuted
  • 00:20:27.135 --> 00:20:29.104
  • For righteousness' sake."
  • 00:20:29.104 --> 00:20:30.606
  • Please let's make sure we get persecuted
  • 00:20:30.606 --> 00:20:32.808
  • For the right reasons.
  • 00:20:32.808 --> 00:20:35.010
  • Far too often we're persecuted for the wrong reasons.
  • 00:20:35.010 --> 00:20:38.814
  • Jesus did not say, "blessed are you when men revile you
  • 00:20:38.814 --> 00:20:42.117
  • And persecute you and say all manner of evil because you're
  • 00:20:42.117 --> 00:20:45.120
  • Just obnoxious and mean."
  • 00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:48.590
  • 'cause if you're that, you're getting persecuted for being
  • 00:20:48.590 --> 00:20:50.692
  • Obnoxious and mean.
  • 00:20:50.692 --> 00:20:52.127
  • Let it be because you're a godly man, a godly woman.
  • 00:20:52.127 --> 00:20:55.831
  • But persecution will come and it came to these believers.
  • 00:20:55.831 --> 00:20:59.801
  • Now, we can ask this question.
  • 00:20:59.801 --> 00:21:01.536
  • We look at the first part of hebrews 11
  • 00:21:01.536 --> 00:21:04.306
  • And look how god delivered people.
  • 00:21:04.306 --> 00:21:06.008
  • There was suffering involved but, ultimately,
  • 00:21:06.008 --> 00:21:08.443
  • They were delivered.
  • 00:21:08.443 --> 00:21:09.778
  • Joseph, yeah, faced some difficulties but he got out of
  • 00:21:09.778 --> 00:21:12.347
  • That prison and was put into a position of great authority.
  • 00:21:12.347 --> 00:21:16.251
  • David was preserved by the lord and, yet,
  • 00:21:16.251 --> 00:21:19.354
  • Now we're reading about people being sawn in half
  • 00:21:19.354 --> 00:21:22.691
  • And beheaded and tortured and we
  • 00:21:22.691 --> 00:21:24.893
  • Say, "wait a second.
  • 00:21:24.893 --> 00:21:26.228
  • This doesn't seem fair.
  • 00:21:26.228 --> 00:21:28.230
  • It's not fair."
  • 00:21:28.230 --> 00:21:29.665
  • We're like little children. "it's not fair."
  • 00:21:29.665 --> 00:21:33.001
  • You know, lord, why? why don't i have that?
  • 00:21:33.001 --> 00:21:35.470
  • Why am i single when all my friends are married?
  • 00:21:35.470 --> 00:21:38.874
  • Why can't my wife and i conceive children
  • 00:21:38.874 --> 00:21:41.009
  • When others have so many?
  • 00:21:41.009 --> 00:21:43.412
  • Why did my child go prodigal when another's child did not?
  • 00:21:43.412 --> 00:21:47.549
  • Why do i have this horrible illness
  • 00:21:47.549 --> 00:21:49.584
  • When all of my friends are so healthy?
  • 00:21:49.584 --> 00:21:52.354
  • Why did my child die? the list goes on.
  • 00:21:52.354 --> 00:21:55.290
  • And by the way, i'm speaking now from experience.
  • 00:21:55.290 --> 00:21:59.661
  • I understand these questions, you know?
  • 00:21:59.661 --> 00:22:02.631
  • We don't know why things happen to us and sometimes it's said,
  • 00:22:02.631 --> 00:22:06.535
  • "oh, you should never ask god why.
  • 00:22:06.535 --> 00:22:08.136
  • That's a lack of faith." no, it isn't.
  • 00:22:08.136 --> 00:22:11.006
  • Ask away. ask god why.
  • 00:22:11.006 --> 00:22:13.342
  • Don't expect an answer, but ask if you like.
  • 00:22:13.342 --> 00:22:16.278
  • Even jesus cried out from the cross,
  • 00:22:16.278 --> 00:22:18.480
  • "my god, my god, why have you forsaken me?"
  • 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:22.284
  • You know, i look at my life and god blessed us with two boys
  • 00:22:22.284 --> 00:22:25.987
  • And one is in heaven and one is here on earth serving the lord
  • 00:22:25.987 --> 00:22:29.658
  • And we're very proud of jonathan who's not only walking strong
  • 00:22:29.658 --> 00:22:34.329
  • With christ, but he's a pastor at our church now
  • 00:22:34.329 --> 00:22:37.866
  • And so we're thrilled by that.
  • 00:22:37.866 --> 00:22:40.068
  • But yet, we wish our other son was with us right now.
  • 00:22:40.068 --> 00:22:44.172
  • And i think sometimes people want me to
  • 00:22:44.172 --> 00:22:45.907
  • Say, you know, "it's great.
  • 00:22:45.907 --> 00:22:47.242
  • We love the way it turned out."
  • 00:22:47.242 --> 00:22:48.777
  • No, i'm not happy with it, actually.
  • 00:22:48.777 --> 00:22:50.979
  • And if i could change it, i'd change it in a heartbeat.
  • 00:22:50.979 --> 00:22:53.682
  • But you know what?
  • 00:22:53.682 --> 00:22:55.016
  • I don't get to make that decision.
  • 00:22:55.016 --> 00:22:56.351
  • "so are you saying you're disappointed with god?"
  • 00:22:56.351 --> 00:22:58.387
  • Absolutely not.
  • 00:22:58.387 --> 00:23:01.189
  • My faith in the lord remains and it grows stronger
  • 00:23:01.189 --> 00:23:05.460
  • Each and every year.
  • 00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:07.396
  • I trust him and i look to him.
  • 00:23:07.396 --> 00:23:14.936
  • Doesn't mean i like it, but i know he's in control.
  • 00:23:14.936 --> 00:23:19.641
  • And i know his plans for me are better than my plans for myself.
  • 00:23:19.641 --> 00:23:23.378
  • And i know one day all of my questions will be answered,
  • 00:23:23.378 --> 00:23:27.783
  • 'cause, you know, i'll say, "oh, you know, we've suffered.
  • 00:23:27.783 --> 00:23:29.951
  • We've lost a child."
  • 00:23:29.951 --> 00:23:31.486
  • But then i'll meet parents who've lost children and,
  • 00:23:31.486 --> 00:23:33.755
  • By the way, i meet many of them all the time.
  • 00:23:33.755 --> 00:23:36.691
  • I mean, if i do any post on my facebook page or--
  • 00:23:36.691 --> 00:23:40.295
  • I'll get so many responses, it's mind-blowing and i have people
  • 00:23:40.295 --> 00:23:44.132
  • Come up to me and they'll say, "we lost a child.
  • 00:23:44.132 --> 00:23:45.934
  • We wanna talk to you," and i don't feel like i have the
  • 00:23:45.934 --> 00:23:48.637
  • Answers for these folks but i think at least,
  • 00:23:48.637 --> 00:23:51.573
  • To some degree, i understand a little bit
  • 00:23:51.573 --> 00:23:53.608
  • Of what they're going through and i'll listen to them.
  • 00:23:53.608 --> 00:23:56.311
  • And--but you know what?
  • 00:23:56.311 --> 00:23:57.712
  • I'm not in the explaining business anymore.
  • 00:23:57.712 --> 00:24:00.849
  • I was in the explaining business in my 20s
  • 00:24:00.849 --> 00:24:03.318
  • When i was starting out in ministry.
  • 00:24:03.318 --> 00:24:05.287
  • I was an awesome 20-year-old pastor.
  • 00:24:05.287 --> 00:24:09.825
  • I had long hair, i was skinny, i could eat whatever i wanted,
  • 00:24:09.825 --> 00:24:16.998
  • And i had the answer to every question you had.
  • 00:24:16.998 --> 00:24:20.168
  • I had a verse and i'd give it to you and tell you
  • 00:24:20.168 --> 00:24:22.704
  • Why you should trust god.
  • 00:24:22.704 --> 00:24:24.206
  • Now, in my 40s, without hair, and more years than that,
  • 00:24:24.206 --> 00:24:33.448
  • I'm not in the explaining business anymore.
  • 00:24:33.448 --> 00:24:35.917
  • Now i feel like i'm more in the trusting and praying business,
  • 00:24:35.917 --> 00:24:40.655
  • Where i'm trusting that god will answer those questions one day
  • 00:24:40.655 --> 00:24:46.795
  • And i'm praying for strength and that's what i share
  • 00:24:46.795 --> 00:24:48.864
  • With other people.
  • 00:24:48.864 --> 00:24:50.465
  • No, we don't control our circumstances.
  • 00:24:50.465 --> 00:24:52.701
  • We control our reaction to our circumstances.
  • 00:24:52.701 --> 00:24:56.638
  • Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart and you have seen
  • 00:25:00.775 --> 00:25:05.280
  • Your need for jesus christ.
  • 00:25:05.280 --> 00:25:07.415
  • Jesus christ is the son of god who came from heaven
  • 00:25:07.415 --> 00:25:11.353
  • To this earth.
  • 00:25:11.353 --> 00:25:12.721
  • He was born in a manger.
  • 00:25:12.721 --> 00:25:14.856
  • He died on a cross.
  • 00:25:14.856 --> 00:25:16.358
  • He rose again from the dead, why?
  • 00:25:16.358 --> 00:25:18.360
  • Because he loves you, and he wants a relationship with you.
  • 00:25:18.360 --> 00:25:21.863
  • Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
  • 00:25:21.863 --> 00:25:24.332
  • I don't wanna be a religious person.
  • 00:25:24.332 --> 00:25:26.034
  • I don't think you wanna be one either.
  • 00:25:26.034 --> 00:25:28.103
  • I'm talking about relationship with god.
  • 00:25:28.103 --> 00:25:31.606
  • Jesus, who died and rose again, stands at the door of your life
  • 00:25:31.606 --> 00:25:35.977
  • And he knocks and he says if you'll hear his voice and open
  • 00:25:35.977 --> 00:25:39.314
  • The door, he will come in.
  • 00:25:39.314 --> 00:25:40.949
  • Question: have you asked jesus christ to come
  • 00:25:40.949 --> 00:25:43.652
  • And live inside of you?
  • 00:25:43.652 --> 00:25:45.153
  • You might say, "well, i think so.
  • 00:25:45.153 --> 00:25:46.488
  • I'm not sure."
  • 00:25:46.488 --> 00:25:47.822
  • Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle
  • 00:25:47.822 --> 00:25:49.624
  • Of the night, do you think you would be aware of it?
  • 00:25:49.624 --> 00:25:52.427
  • I'm sure you would.
  • 00:25:52.427 --> 00:25:54.062
  • And in the same way, if christ has come to live inside of you,
  • 00:25:54.062 --> 00:25:56.965
  • You will know.
  • 00:25:56.965 --> 00:25:58.400
  • And if you don't know, maybe he has not come in yet.
  • 00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:01.903
  • He's just a prayer away.
  • 00:26:01.903 --> 00:26:03.872
  • All you need to do is say,
  • 00:26:03.872 --> 00:26:05.206
  • "jesus, i want this relationship with you.
  • 00:26:05.206 --> 00:26:07.909
  • I want you to forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:26:07.909 --> 00:26:10.145
  • I want to go to heaven when i die."
  • 00:26:10.145 --> 00:26:12.113
  • Would you like to do that?
  • 00:26:12.113 --> 00:26:13.615
  • Would you like christ to come into your life?
  • 00:26:13.615 --> 00:26:16.251
  • If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
  • 00:26:16.251 --> 00:26:19.387
  • You can pray it out loud or you can pray it
  • 00:26:19.387 --> 00:26:21.690
  • In the quietness of your heart.
  • 00:26:21.690 --> 00:26:23.858
  • But this is a prayer where you're asking jesus christ
  • 00:26:23.858 --> 00:26:26.628
  • To be your savior and lord.
  • 00:26:26.628 --> 00:26:28.496
  • Pray this with me now: "lord jesus,
  • 00:26:28.496 --> 00:26:31.299
  • I know that i'm a sinner but i know that you're the savior,
  • 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:36.037
  • Who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.
  • 00:26:36.037 --> 00:26:39.507
  • Now come into my life.
  • 00:26:39.507 --> 00:26:42.377
  • I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
  • 00:26:42.377 --> 00:26:46.748
  • Thank you for hearing this prayer
  • 00:26:46.748 --> 00:26:48.783
  • And answering this prayer.
  • 00:26:48.783 --> 00:26:50.852
  • In jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:26:50.852 --> 00:26:53.488
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:26:53.488 --> 00:26:55.824
  • If so, i want you to know on the authority of scripture that
  • 00:26:55.824 --> 00:26:58.793
  • Christ himself has come to live inside of you.
  • 00:26:58.793 --> 00:27:01.997
  • And i would love to send to you
  • 00:27:01.997 --> 00:27:03.365
  • At no charge the new believer's bible.
  • 00:27:03.365 --> 00:27:06.735
  • It's a very friendly translation of the new testament
  • 00:27:06.735 --> 00:27:09.571
  • You'll find very understandable.
  • 00:27:09.571 --> 00:27:11.940
  • And it's filled with hundreds of notes that i wrote that will
  • 00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:15.377
  • Encourage you in this commitment
  • 00:27:15.377 --> 00:27:17.178
  • You've just made to follow jesus.
  • 00:27:17.178 --> 00:27:19.114
  • And let me be the first to say to you,
  • 00:27:19.114 --> 00:27:21.116
  • "congratulations and
  • 00:27:21.116 --> 00:27:23.251
  • Welcome to the family of god."
  • 00:27:23.251 --> 00:27:27.088