Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#GregLaurie
#Faith
#TrustGod
#Israel
#Pain
#LoveofGod
#Faithfulness
#Religion
#Trials-HardTimes
#WordofGod
#inActive
#Suffering
#Tragedy
#HarvestwithPastorGregLaurie
#1Peter4:12
#Abandon
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - How Can A God of Love Allow Pain and Suffering? | December 1, 2024
- ♪♪♪
- 00:00:00.990 --> 00:00:03.993
- Greg laurie: your faith should not be based on your emotion.
- 00:00:04.461 --> 00:00:07.330
- Your faith should not be on everything going
- 00:00:07.430 --> 00:00:09.866
- Circumstantially well, because it won't.
- 00:00:09.999 --> 00:00:12.268
- Your faith should not be on everyone always being
- 00:00:12.402 --> 00:00:15.638
- The perfect example for you to follow.
- 00:00:15.772 --> 00:00:16.473
- Your faith needs to be in christ.
- 00:00:17.941 --> 00:00:20.310
- And he will never let you down, he will never abandon you,
- 00:00:20.310 --> 00:00:24.047
- He can be fully trusted.
- 00:00:24.047 --> 00:00:25.682
- That's the faith you need.
- 00:00:25.682 --> 00:00:27.350
- ♪ this is the day, the day where life begins ♪
- 00:00:31.154 --> 00:00:36.326
- ♪ this is the day, the day where life begins ♪♪
- 00:00:38.161 --> 00:00:49.139
- Greg: life is filled with trouble.
- 00:00:52.942 --> 00:00:55.879
- There's no escaping it, no getting away from it.
- 00:00:55.879 --> 00:00:58.915
- In fact, in the book of job chapter 5 verse 7, it says
- 00:00:58.915 --> 00:01:02.152
- "people are born for trouble as predictably as sparks fly upward
- 00:01:02.152 --> 00:01:07.390
- From a fire," and that's so true.
- 00:01:07.390 --> 00:01:09.959
- And then there are those days where everything seems to
- 00:01:09.959 --> 00:01:12.795
- Go wrong.
- 00:01:12.795 --> 00:01:14.264
- Then we just look at what's going on around the world and we
- 00:01:14.264 --> 00:01:17.300
- Say, "why is this happening?"
- 00:01:17.300 --> 00:01:19.135
- This horrific terrorist attack on october 7th in israel by the
- 00:01:19.135 --> 00:01:24.040
- Terrorist organization hamas and all those innocent civilians
- 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:28.778
- Murdered and many taken as hostages and, tragically, many
- 00:01:28.778 --> 00:01:34.184
- Of them still are hostages today.
- 00:01:34.184 --> 00:01:36.352
- Or we hear of a cataclysmic event.
- 00:01:36.352 --> 00:01:38.922
- Maybe a tsunami hits a place or we hear of someone that we
- 00:01:38.922 --> 00:01:42.926
- Know--they get cancer or just the tragedies of life.
- 00:01:42.926 --> 00:01:47.630
- And they're out there and we wonder why.
- 00:01:47.630 --> 00:01:50.200
- Why does god allow pain, suffering, evil in the world?
- 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:56.005
- Why does god allow things to happen in your life
- 00:01:56.005 --> 00:01:58.107
- That make no sense?
- 00:01:58.107 --> 00:01:59.442
- Are you ready? you have a pen?
- 00:01:59.442 --> 00:02:01.711
- Write it down. here's my answer.
- 00:02:01.711 --> 00:02:04.280
- I don't know.
- 00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:06.015
- I don't know.
- 00:02:06.816 --> 00:02:08.251
- You should've met me when i was 21 years old
- 00:02:08.251 --> 00:02:10.353
- And i just started preaching.
- 00:02:10.353 --> 00:02:12.088
- I knew everything.
- 00:02:12.088 --> 00:02:14.891
- I had five scriptures and i had an answer
- 00:02:14.891 --> 00:02:18.027
- For every question.
- 00:02:18.027 --> 00:02:19.529
- I'm not saying i know less now than i knew then,
- 00:02:19.529 --> 00:02:22.732
- But i'm just saying it's okay sometimes to say,
- 00:02:22.732 --> 00:02:25.168
- I really don't know why.
- 00:02:25.168 --> 00:02:28.037
- Okay, but there are some reasons god allows suffering in our life
- 00:02:28.037 --> 00:02:32.175
- That we'll explore together, but we are going to suffer in life.
- 00:02:32.175 --> 00:02:36.846
- That's clearly taught in scripture.
- 00:02:36.846 --> 00:02:39.382
- Some people do suffer more than others, don't they?
- 00:02:39.382 --> 00:02:42.518
- Yeah, we don't know why.
- 00:02:42.518 --> 00:02:44.020
- 1 peter 4:12 says, "don't be surprised at the fiery trial
- 00:02:44.020 --> 00:02:47.957
- When it comes upon you to test you as though something strange
- 00:02:47.957 --> 00:02:51.761
- Were happening to you."
- 00:02:51.761 --> 00:02:53.663
- Our trials and sufferings and difficulties should not
- 00:02:53.663 --> 00:02:57.166
- Seem strange.
- 00:02:57.166 --> 00:02:58.534
- They should be expected in some way shape or form.
- 00:02:58.534 --> 00:03:01.371
- Jesus said, "in this world you will have tribulation; but be of
- 00:03:01.371 --> 00:03:06.743
- Good cheer, i have overcome the world."
- 00:03:06.743 --> 00:03:10.213
- So maybe i'm talking to somebody that's just having the greatest
- 00:03:10.213 --> 00:03:13.349
- Day of all time.
- 00:03:13.349 --> 00:03:14.717
- In fact, you said, "i was in the greatest mood until you
- 00:03:14.717 --> 00:03:17.353
- Started preaching."
- 00:03:17.353 --> 00:03:19.022
- Well, i hate to break it to you, but there's trouble coming your
- 00:03:19.022 --> 00:03:22.458
- Way, in some way, shape, or form, around the corner.
- 00:03:22.458 --> 00:03:25.061
- You're either coming out of a storm or eventually pulling into
- 00:03:25.061 --> 00:03:28.598
- One and this is not just for the christian, this is for everyone.
- 00:03:28.598 --> 00:03:32.302
- The rain falls on the just and the unjust.
- 00:03:32.302 --> 00:03:35.271
- Calamity comes into all of our lives, so that should not
- 00:03:35.271 --> 00:03:39.242
- Surprise you, that should not shock you.
- 00:03:39.242 --> 00:03:41.978
- And i want to look at the story of a man who suffered greatly.
- 00:03:41.978 --> 00:03:45.615
- He's sort of the poster boy for someone who suffered.
- 00:03:45.615 --> 00:03:50.219
- And his name, of course, is job.
- 00:03:50.219 --> 00:03:52.922
- This is a man who, in one single day, had the bottom drop out in
- 00:03:52.922 --> 00:03:57.860
- Life and every bad thing that could seemingly happen happened
- 00:03:57.860 --> 00:04:01.431
- To him and maybe even a little bit more.
- 00:04:01.431 --> 00:04:04.100
- Many believe that job is the oldest book of the bible.
- 00:04:04.100 --> 00:04:07.236
- Some believe that moses is the author of this book, but
- 00:04:07.236 --> 00:04:11.841
- It starts by telling us job came from a place called uz.
- 00:04:11.841 --> 00:04:16.112
- It almost sounds like a fairy tale, like oz, dorothy and
- 00:04:16.112 --> 00:04:19.382
- Toto, right?
- 00:04:19.382 --> 00:04:20.717
- But it was uz, it was a real place.
- 00:04:20.717 --> 00:04:22.085
- Job was a real guy who faced real problems who turned to a
- 00:04:22.085 --> 00:04:26.155
- Real god and he found real hope and job shows us what we should
- 00:04:26.155 --> 00:04:31.928
- Do in times of crisis, as well.
- 00:04:31.928 --> 00:04:35.064
- So the story of job opens in heaven and then it sort of
- 00:04:35.064 --> 00:04:39.936
- Unfolds on earth and a conversation is being held
- 00:04:39.936 --> 00:04:43.806
- Between the lord and the angels and among the angels is satan.
- 00:04:43.806 --> 00:04:48.144
- Now remember, satan, the devil, also known as lucifer, is
- 00:04:48.144 --> 00:04:52.949
- A fallen angel.
- 00:04:52.949 --> 00:04:54.617
- In fact, he was once a very high-ranking angel.
- 00:04:54.617 --> 00:04:57.520
- So in the story of job--here he is before the throne of god and
- 00:04:57.520 --> 00:05:02.492
- The lord says to satan, "so where have you come from?"
- 00:05:02.492 --> 00:05:05.228
- Satan replies, job 1:7, "i've been going back and forth across
- 00:05:05.228 --> 00:05:09.766
- The earth watching everything that's going on."
- 00:05:09.766 --> 00:05:12.935
- Kind of creepy, but that's the devil.
- 00:05:12.935 --> 00:05:15.738
- He's looking for trouble, he's looking for lives to ruin, he's
- 00:05:15.738 --> 00:05:20.209
- Looking for things to destroy.
- 00:05:20.209 --> 00:05:22.678
- As jesus said of him, "the thief comes only to steal, kill,
- 00:05:22.678 --> 00:05:26.382
- And destroy."
- 00:05:26.382 --> 00:05:27.750
- And that's exactly what he was doing.
- 00:05:27.750 --> 00:05:29.652
- In peter, he's described as a roaring lion walking about
- 00:05:29.652 --> 00:05:33.689
- Seeking whom he may devour.
- 00:05:33.689 --> 00:05:35.725
- But when we read that he's watching everything that goes
- 00:05:35.725 --> 00:05:38.461
- On, that suggests activity, action, and a restlessness.
- 00:05:38.461 --> 00:05:44.000
- And then the lord decides to brag on job and in the presence
- 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:49.005
- Of the angels and lucifer, the lord says, "have you considered
- 00:05:49.005 --> 00:05:53.009
- My servant, job?
- 00:05:53.009 --> 00:05:54.343
- A perfect and upright man, one that fears god and shuns evil."
- 00:05:54.343 --> 00:05:58.614
- The devil pushes back, loose paraphrase, "oh, give me
- 00:05:58.614 --> 00:06:01.617
- A break.
- 00:06:01.617 --> 00:06:02.985
- Job follows you because you give him cool stuff.
- 00:06:02.985 --> 00:06:05.321
- He has a big family, he has wealth, he has the best life
- 00:06:05.321 --> 00:06:08.458
- Ever, and that's why he follows you.
- 00:06:08.458 --> 00:06:10.960
- He doesn't really care about you.
- 00:06:10.960 --> 00:06:12.829
- Give me a little time with job and we'll see what he's really
- 00:06:12.829 --> 00:06:16.299
- Made of."
- 00:06:16.299 --> 00:06:17.667
- Now, when i read this conversation, i think "lord, if
- 00:06:17.667 --> 00:06:20.102
- You're ever, for a fleeting moment, feeling proud of me,
- 00:06:20.102 --> 00:06:25.107
- Don't say anything while the devil's around," because
- 00:06:25.107 --> 00:06:29.879
- A series of calamities came crashing down on job.
- 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:35.518
- It's unbelievable in many ways.
- 00:06:35.518 --> 00:06:37.653
- It was probably a day like any other day.
- 00:06:37.653 --> 00:06:39.489
- He opens his eyes, here comes the sun rising, stretches out
- 00:06:39.489 --> 00:06:43.893
- His arms.
- 00:06:43.893 --> 00:06:45.261
- "okay lord, let's see what you have in store for me today."
- 00:06:45.261 --> 00:06:48.631
- And then one bad thing after another begin to fall--unfold
- 00:06:48.631 --> 00:06:54.470
- In the life of job.
- 00:06:54.470 --> 00:06:56.105
- So the story begins where someone comes into his family
- 00:06:56.105 --> 00:06:59.709
- That are having a meal together and they say that a group of
- 00:06:59.709 --> 00:07:03.513
- Marauders just stole all of our animals and killed our
- 00:07:03.513 --> 00:07:07.717
- Farm hands.
- 00:07:07.717 --> 00:07:09.051
- And before that person could finish speaking, another comes
- 00:07:09.051 --> 00:07:11.888
- In and says, "well, the fire of god fell on your sheep and on
- 00:07:11.888 --> 00:07:16.459
- Your shepherds."
- 00:07:16.459 --> 00:07:17.827
- And then another one says, "hey, the camels were just stolen and
- 00:07:17.827 --> 00:07:20.630
- More farm hands were killed."
- 00:07:20.630 --> 00:07:22.965
- And then it went from bad to worse.
- 00:07:22.965 --> 00:07:24.967
- And we pick our story up in job 1 verse 18, i'm reading from
- 00:07:24.967 --> 00:07:29.739
- The new living translation.
- 00:07:29.739 --> 00:07:31.240
- "while he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with
- 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:34.443
- This news: 'your sons and daughters were feasting in their
- 00:07:34.443 --> 00:07:38.180
- Oldest brother's house.
- 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:39.549
- Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the desert, hit the
- 00:07:39.549 --> 00:07:43.185
- House from all sides and the house collapsed and all your
- 00:07:43.185 --> 00:07:46.856
- Children are dead.
- 00:07:46.856 --> 00:07:49.292
- I'm the only one escaped to tell you.'
- 00:07:49.292 --> 00:07:52.094
- Job stood up, he tore his robe in grief.
- 00:07:52.094 --> 00:07:56.265
- Then he shaved his head and he fell to the ground before god."
- 00:07:56.265 --> 00:08:00.403
- Wow, i'll tell you all the things that job experienced, the
- 00:08:00.403 --> 00:08:04.206
- Loss of his livestock and other calamities, none of it compared
- 00:08:04.206 --> 00:08:08.878
- To losing his family, losing his children.
- 00:08:08.878 --> 00:08:12.548
- And i know this pain because, as you know, it happened to us
- 00:08:12.548 --> 00:08:16.552
- 16 years ago when our oldest son christopher was killed in
- 00:08:16.552 --> 00:08:20.156
- A tragic automobile accident.
- 00:08:20.156 --> 00:08:23.559
- When i heard the news, i felt like my world literally ended.
- 00:08:23.559 --> 00:08:27.263
- You say, "greg, you're a pastor."
- 00:08:27.263 --> 00:08:28.798
- Yeah, i am.
- 00:08:28.798 --> 00:08:30.166
- And i'm also a dad and i was devastated and i literally fell
- 00:08:30.166 --> 00:08:35.271
- To the ground.
- 00:08:35.271 --> 00:08:36.639
- I couldn't even stand.
- 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:37.974
- And cathe got down on her knees and she took my face into her
- 00:08:37.974 --> 00:08:42.678
- Hands and she said, "it's going to be okay."
- 00:08:42.678 --> 00:08:46.849
- And of course, in a broad sense, it wasn't okay, but i think what
- 00:08:46.849 --> 00:08:49.852
- She was saying to me was, "you're gonna survive this,
- 00:08:49.852 --> 00:08:52.421
- We're gonna survive this."
- 00:08:52.421 --> 00:08:53.990
- She was the only one who could say that to me in the room
- 00:08:53.990 --> 00:08:57.793
- Because she lost a son too.
- 00:08:57.793 --> 00:09:00.262
- Because you know what?
- 00:09:00.262 --> 00:09:01.631
- People say really crazy stuff in tragic times.
- 00:09:01.631 --> 00:09:04.934
- They're well-meaning perhaps, but they try to say something to
- 00:09:04.934 --> 00:09:09.405
- Comfort you and it doesn't comfort you.
- 00:09:09.405 --> 00:09:11.407
- Sometimes it makes it even more difficult.
- 00:09:11.407 --> 00:09:14.343
- There's a whole nother message one could give on what not to
- 00:09:14.343 --> 00:09:17.847
- Say to someone who has lost a loved one.
- 00:09:17.847 --> 00:09:21.017
- And i could just give you a list that goes on quite a while of
- 00:09:21.017 --> 00:09:24.587
- Things to not say.
- 00:09:24.587 --> 00:09:25.955
- Actually, here's just a simple way to look at it.
- 00:09:25.955 --> 00:09:27.857
- Less is more.
- 00:09:27.857 --> 00:09:29.425
- There's nothing you're going to say that's gonna make it better.
- 00:09:29.425 --> 00:09:32.862
- Literally, just to say, "i'm so sorry," and just be there can
- 00:09:32.862 --> 00:09:37.099
- Sometimes do more for a person than trying to give them
- 00:09:37.099 --> 00:09:40.136
- A little sermonette.
- 00:09:40.136 --> 00:09:41.504
- And i heard quite a few sermonettes and i didn't need
- 00:09:41.504 --> 00:09:44.173
- Those at that particular moment, but it reminds me of how
- 00:09:44.173 --> 00:09:48.511
- Job reacted.
- 00:09:48.511 --> 00:09:49.879
- He just fell to the ground and we joined a club we never wanted
- 00:09:49.879 --> 00:09:52.948
- To join.
- 00:09:52.948 --> 00:09:54.283
- The club of people who lost children.
- 00:09:54.283 --> 00:09:56.419
- Now, you know, it's interesting.
- 00:09:56.419 --> 00:09:57.953
- If you lose your husband, you're a widow.
- 00:09:57.953 --> 00:10:01.357
- If you lose your wife, you're a widower.
- 00:10:01.357 --> 00:10:04.660
- If you lose your parents, you're an orphan.
- 00:10:04.660 --> 00:10:07.396
- What are you if you lose your child?
- 00:10:07.396 --> 00:10:09.932
- Well, there's no word.
- 00:10:09.932 --> 00:10:11.500
- Maybe because it's so incomprehensibly awful they
- 00:10:11.500 --> 00:10:14.603
- Haven't come up with a description for it, but i joined
- 00:10:14.603 --> 00:10:17.773
- This very exclusive club and it's not a fun one to be in.
- 00:10:17.773 --> 00:10:23.179
- But i'll tell you, god was with me.
- 00:10:23.179 --> 00:10:25.748
- I was being interviewed a while back and someone asked me, "what
- 00:10:25.748 --> 00:10:28.617
- Is the most spiritual moment of your entire life?"
- 00:10:28.617 --> 00:10:31.954
- Meaning, when did you feel god's presence more than any
- 00:10:31.954 --> 00:10:34.857
- Other time?
- 00:10:34.857 --> 00:10:36.192
- I had to think about it.
- 00:10:36.192 --> 00:10:37.560
- Was that the day when i came to christ?
- 00:10:37.560 --> 00:10:40.663
- That was a very spiritual day, but actually it was not
- 00:10:40.663 --> 00:10:43.265
- An emotional day for me.
- 00:10:43.265 --> 00:10:44.600
- I don't know about your conversion.
- 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:46.068
- Was my baptism my most emotional day?
- 00:10:46.068 --> 00:10:48.270
- No, it wasn't, though it was emotional.
- 00:10:48.270 --> 00:10:51.407
- Was my wedding my most spiritual day?
- 00:10:51.407 --> 00:10:54.577
- Big day, but no.
- 00:10:54.577 --> 00:10:56.278
- And i had to admit that the moment i felt the presence of
- 00:10:56.278 --> 00:11:01.417
- Jesus was right after i heard the worst news ever.
- 00:11:01.417 --> 00:11:04.854
- It's like jesus made himself so known to me
- 00:11:04.854 --> 00:11:08.357
- That he was there and job experienced that as well.
- 00:11:08.357 --> 00:11:14.530
- You know, sometimes when
- 00:11:14.530 --> 00:11:15.898
- Tragedy hits, people say, "i lost my faith.
- 00:11:15.898 --> 00:11:18.734
- You know, this happened to me.
- 00:11:18.734 --> 00:11:20.269
- It's not fair. i lost my faith."
- 00:11:20.269 --> 00:11:22.538
- Okay, maybe that's good.
- 00:11:22.538 --> 00:11:25.141
- What?
- 00:11:25.141 --> 00:11:26.509
- Hey, the faith that cannot be tested is the faith that cannot
- 00:11:26.509 --> 00:11:30.112
- Be trusted.
- 00:11:30.112 --> 00:11:31.747
- Your faith should not be based on your emotion, your faith
- 00:11:31.747 --> 00:11:35.518
- Should not be on everything going circumstantially well,
- 00:11:35.518 --> 00:11:38.687
- Because it won't.
- 00:11:38.687 --> 00:11:40.022
- Your faith should not be on everyone always being
- 00:11:40.022 --> 00:11:43.192
- The perfect example for you to follow.
- 00:11:43.192 --> 00:11:45.394
- Your faith needs to be in christ and he will never let you down,
- 00:11:45.394 --> 00:11:49.765
- He will never abandon you, he can be fully trusted.
- 00:11:49.765 --> 00:11:53.102
- That's the faith you need.
- 00:11:53.102 --> 00:11:58.440
- Character is not made in crisis, it's revealed, it's revealed.
- 00:11:58.440 --> 00:12:04.013
- It shows what your character is, it shows what your faith is in,
- 00:12:04.013 --> 00:12:08.884
- Or i should say rather who your faith is in.
- 00:12:08.884 --> 00:12:12.588
- And so, here is job facing all of this.
- 00:12:12.588 --> 00:12:15.825
- You know people say i have questions for god.
- 00:12:15.825 --> 00:12:17.593
- I have questions for god too.
- 00:12:17.593 --> 00:12:19.528
- "when i get to heaven i have a list of questions."
- 00:12:19.528 --> 00:12:21.697
- Oh, do you now?
- 00:12:21.697 --> 00:12:23.666
- I can just see you, there you are in the presence
- 00:12:23.666 --> 00:12:26.802
- Of god almighty, there's a glassy sea,
- 00:12:26.802 --> 00:12:30.239
- There's the angels of god, there's all of your loved ones
- 00:12:30.239 --> 00:12:33.976
- Ready to welcome you into glory.
- 00:12:33.976 --> 00:12:35.845
- There's jesus christ, arms outstretched.
- 00:12:35.845 --> 00:12:38.347
- You're going to say, "hey everyone, good to see you.
- 00:12:38.347 --> 00:12:40.082
- I have these questions."
- 00:12:40.082 --> 00:12:42.651
- You won't have any questions.
- 00:12:42.651 --> 00:12:44.920
- You'll just be worshiping god with the rest of us.
- 00:12:44.920 --> 00:12:48.190
- Because all of your questions will be answered
- 00:12:48.190 --> 00:12:50.125
- In that final day.
- 00:12:50.125 --> 00:12:55.731
- So let me give you just a few thoughts on why god
- 00:12:55.731 --> 00:12:59.702
- Allows suffering.
- 00:12:59.702 --> 00:13:01.036
- If you're taking notes, here's point number one.
- 00:13:01.036 --> 00:13:03.272
- God sometimes allows suffering and sickness to get
- 00:13:03.272 --> 00:13:08.510
- Our attention.
- 00:13:08.510 --> 00:13:09.845
- He allows it to get our attention.
- 00:13:09.845 --> 00:13:12.081
- Maybe you're rebelling against god and you're going the wrong
- 00:13:12.081 --> 00:13:16.485
- Direction and the lord wants you to pay attention.
- 00:13:16.485 --> 00:13:20.189
- This happened to jonah.
- 00:13:20.189 --> 00:13:21.891
- God told him to go and preach to the ninevites.
- 00:13:21.891 --> 00:13:24.526
- Jonah said, "no, i'm not gonna do it," and got a boat going in
- 00:13:24.526 --> 00:13:27.830
- The opposite direction.
- 00:13:27.830 --> 00:13:29.164
- To sum up the story of jonah, god said, "go."
- 00:13:29.164 --> 00:13:32.334
- Jonah said, "no."
- 00:13:32.334 --> 00:13:33.702
- God said, "oh?"
- 00:13:33.702 --> 00:13:35.437
- See, god will always have the last word and because jonah was
- 00:13:35.437 --> 00:13:39.575
- His child, his prophet, he chastened him.
- 00:13:39.575 --> 00:13:44.813
- The lord says, or the bible says, "the lord chastens every
- 00:13:44.813 --> 00:13:48.083
- Son that he loves."
- 00:13:48.083 --> 00:13:49.818
- So have you ever been out somewhere, maybe in
- 00:13:49.818 --> 00:13:52.087
- A restaurant, and kids are behaving really badly, very
- 00:13:52.087 --> 00:13:55.424
- Disrespectful, and you would like to go over there and tell
- 00:13:55.424 --> 00:13:58.560
- Them to behave themselves, but you can't because they're not
- 00:13:58.560 --> 00:14:00.663
- Your kids?
- 00:14:00.663 --> 00:14:01.997
- And if you do try, you might get arrested.
- 00:14:01.997 --> 00:14:05.267
- That's not your privilege.
- 00:14:05.267 --> 00:14:06.635
- Your privilege and your responsibility, i might add,
- 00:14:06.635 --> 00:14:09.838
- As a parent, is to control your children because often it's more
- 00:14:09.838 --> 00:14:13.575
- Of a commentary on bad parenting than bad kids.
- 00:14:13.575 --> 00:14:17.346
- You see a well-behaved, respectful child, that's good
- 00:14:17.346 --> 00:14:21.216
- Parenting because these kids are not born that way,
- 00:14:21.216 --> 00:14:24.320
- None of us are.
- 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:26.388
- And so as a good, loving, parent, you say, "no, you're not
- 00:14:26.388 --> 00:14:29.124
- Gonna do that.
- 00:14:29.124 --> 00:14:30.459
- No, you don't speak to people that way.
- 00:14:30.459 --> 00:14:32.127
- You don't speak to me that way."
- 00:14:32.127 --> 00:14:34.563
- You know, that's all part of parenting and god is the
- 00:14:34.563 --> 00:14:38.000
- Ultimate parent and if we start to go astray he says, "i love
- 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:41.236
- You so much, i'm not gonna let you keep doing that."
- 00:14:41.236 --> 00:14:44.239
- Remember what david wrote in psalm 23: "the lord is my
- 00:14:44.239 --> 00:14:47.576
- Shepherd; i shall not want.
- 00:14:47.576 --> 00:14:49.144
- He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside
- 00:14:49.144 --> 00:14:53.048
- The still waters.
- 00:14:53.048 --> 00:14:54.383
- He restores my soul.
- 00:14:54.383 --> 00:14:55.818
- You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
- 00:14:55.818 --> 00:14:59.655
- My cup runs over.
- 00:14:59.655 --> 00:15:01.423
- Yea, though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
- 00:15:01.423 --> 00:15:04.793
- I will fear no evil; for you are with me."
- 00:15:04.793 --> 00:15:08.230
- You know the rest, "your rod and your staff," say it with me,
- 00:15:08.230 --> 00:15:11.300
- "your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
- 00:15:11.300 --> 00:15:14.503
- Okay, rod and staff.
- 00:15:14.503 --> 00:15:16.138
- We remember what that is when we looked at the psalms.
- 00:15:16.138 --> 00:15:19.308
- Staff is a long crooked stick, if you will, that the shepherd
- 00:15:19.308 --> 00:15:23.679
- Uses to pull the wayward sheep back.
- 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:26.148
- The rod, it's effectively a club.
- 00:15:26.148 --> 00:15:29.084
- The shepherd uses it to drive off predators, but he also uses
- 00:15:29.084 --> 00:15:33.088
- It occasionally on that exceptionally rebellious sheep
- 00:15:33.088 --> 00:15:38.227
- That potentially is leading others astray.
- 00:15:38.227 --> 00:15:40.696
- So the lord is saying, "no, i don't want you to do that,"
- 00:15:40.696 --> 00:15:42.731
- And you keep doing it and he uses the staff.
- 00:15:42.731 --> 00:15:45.000
- "now stop doing that."
- 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:46.368
- You keep doing it, uses the staff.
- 00:15:46.368 --> 00:15:47.836
- "now, i'm telling you, i want you to stop."
- 00:15:47.836 --> 00:15:50.372
- You keep doing it. whack!
- 00:15:50.372 --> 00:15:52.408
- "what was that?"
- 00:15:52.408 --> 00:15:53.876
- That's love. "love?"
- 00:15:53.876 --> 00:15:56.178
- Yeah, that's god trying to keep you from killing yourself, from
- 00:15:56.178 --> 00:16:01.950
- Destroying your life, you know?
- 00:16:01.950 --> 00:16:04.386
- And this is the thing.
- 00:16:04.386 --> 00:16:05.754
- He will discipline his own children, so maybe something's
- 00:16:05.754 --> 00:16:09.158
- Happened in your life that just got your attention, sort of
- 00:16:09.158 --> 00:16:11.693
- A wake-up call.
- 00:16:11.693 --> 00:16:13.062
- The psalmist wrote, "before i was afflicted i went astray, but
- 00:16:13.062 --> 00:16:16.331
- Now i have kept your word."
- 00:16:16.331 --> 00:16:18.801
- So sometimes the lord will use difficulties, trials, hardships,
- 00:16:18.801 --> 00:16:24.773
- Et cetera, to get your attention.
- 00:16:24.773 --> 00:16:27.209
- Maybe something's happened recently.
- 00:16:27.209 --> 00:16:28.710
- It just, boy, got your attention fast.
- 00:16:28.710 --> 00:16:31.814
- Maybe your marriage failed, maybe your parents divorced,
- 00:16:31.814 --> 00:16:36.718
- Maybe your boyfriend or girlfriend dumped you, maybe
- 00:16:36.718 --> 00:16:40.155
- Even your dog walked out on you and your cat, too.
- 00:16:40.155 --> 00:16:44.960
- But don't they always walk out on us?
- 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:47.429
- I mean, do we really even own them?
- 00:16:47.429 --> 00:16:50.032
- We just feed them and they go live their crazy cat
- 00:16:50.032 --> 00:16:52.367
- Lives, right?
- 00:16:52.367 --> 00:16:53.969
- Well, whatever it was, it got you to wake up and if you're
- 00:16:53.969 --> 00:16:58.207
- A real believer, you will turn to god.
- 00:16:58.207 --> 00:16:59.775
- Here's something to remember.
- 00:16:59.775 --> 00:17:01.243
- God is in control of all circumstances that surround
- 00:17:01.243 --> 00:17:04.546
- The believer.
- 00:17:04.546 --> 00:17:06.148
- God is in control of all circumstances that surround
- 00:17:06.148 --> 00:17:09.451
- The believer.
- 00:17:09.451 --> 00:17:10.786
- The word "oops" is not in god's vocabulary.
- 00:17:10.786 --> 00:17:14.389
- Would you be alarmed if you heard god say, "whoops."
- 00:17:14.389 --> 00:17:16.992
- What, what? you dropped a planet?
- 00:17:16.992 --> 00:17:19.228
- A galaxy? what happened?
- 00:17:19.228 --> 00:17:21.463
- No, he has a plan and he either does it or he allows it.
- 00:17:21.463 --> 00:17:26.535
- So whatever happens in your life is either done by god or it's
- 00:17:26.535 --> 00:17:30.172
- Allowed by god ultimately for your good and for his glory.
- 00:17:30.172 --> 00:17:35.777
- And there are things that happen that i will acknowledge do not
- 00:17:35.777 --> 00:17:38.347
- Make sense at all, but when a real believer faces crisis,
- 00:17:38.347 --> 00:17:44.119
- He or she will turn to god and a non-believer will turn
- 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:47.356
- Against him.
- 00:17:47.356 --> 00:17:48.690
- Shows what you're made of.
- 00:17:48.690 --> 00:17:50.559
- I don't know about job's wife.
- 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:52.995
- I mean, here's poor job.
- 00:17:52.995 --> 00:17:54.329
- All these bad things have happened to him and her, it's
- 00:17:54.329 --> 00:17:56.265
- Her family too, her livelihood too.
- 00:17:56.265 --> 00:18:00.502
- And then poor old job is covered head to toe in massive boils.
- 00:18:00.502 --> 00:18:05.741
- Have you ever had a boil?
- 00:18:05.741 --> 00:18:08.277
- Imagine having them everywhere.
- 00:18:08.277 --> 00:18:10.979
- And job's wife just looks at him and says, "why don't you just
- 00:18:10.979 --> 00:18:14.016
- Curse god and die?"
- 00:18:14.016 --> 00:18:16.518
- Thank you for those comforting words, mrs. job.
- 00:18:16.518 --> 00:18:19.855
- How'd you like to get a card like that?
- 00:18:19.855 --> 00:18:22.491
- You know, on the cover it says, "i heard you were sick," open it
- 00:18:22.491 --> 00:18:25.827
- Up, "curse god and die."
- 00:18:25.827 --> 00:18:27.362
- Wow, that was mrs. job's card to job.
- 00:18:27.362 --> 00:18:32.834
- And so was she a believer?
- 00:18:32.834 --> 00:18:34.169
- I don't know, but that was not encouraging news.
- 00:18:34.169 --> 00:18:36.538
- But job did the opposite.
- 00:18:36.538 --> 00:18:38.407
- He turned to god during his difficulty.
- 00:18:38.407 --> 00:18:42.644
- You're either gonna turn to god or you're gonna turn against
- 00:18:42.644 --> 00:18:45.847
- God, and as a result you're either gonna be better
- 00:18:45.847 --> 00:18:48.784
- Or bitter.
- 00:18:48.784 --> 00:18:50.219
- Let me say that again.
- 00:18:50.219 --> 00:18:51.587
- You're either gonna turn to god or you're gonna turn against
- 00:18:51.587 --> 00:18:53.922
- God, and as a result you will either be better or bitter.
- 00:18:53.922 --> 00:18:59.228
- Number three, suffering helps us grow spiritually and makes us
- 00:18:59.228 --> 00:19:03.632
- Stronger in the faith.
- 00:19:03.632 --> 00:19:06.034
- It helps us grow spiritually and makes us stronger in the faith.
- 00:19:06.034 --> 00:19:09.471
- It takes our faith from the realm of theory to reality.
- 00:19:09.471 --> 00:19:14.176
- Joshua--excuse me, job 42:5:
- 00:19:14.176 --> 00:19:16.778
- Job says, "i'd only heard about you before, but now
- 00:19:16.778 --> 00:19:19.248
- I have seen you with my eyes."
- 00:19:19.248 --> 00:19:22.050
- In other words, i knew these things but now i've seen them.
- 00:19:22.050 --> 00:19:25.520
- You know, they were conceptual.
- 00:19:25.520 --> 00:19:27.256
- I believe them.
- 00:19:27.256 --> 00:19:28.624
- They were and are true, but i hadn't experienced them yet.
- 00:19:28.624 --> 00:19:31.760
- But now i know, i've seen it.
- 00:19:31.760 --> 00:19:34.663
- You know, sometimes parents will say, "oh, we've raised such
- 00:19:34.663 --> 00:19:37.866
- Wonderful children and we'll tell you how to do it too."
- 00:19:37.866 --> 00:19:40.269
- Okay, how old are your kids?
- 00:19:40.269 --> 00:19:41.937
- Two and three.
- 00:19:41.937 --> 00:19:44.840
- How do i put this delicately?
- 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:46.408
- Shut up?
- 00:19:46.408 --> 00:19:48.644
- You don't know what you're talking about?
- 00:19:48.644 --> 00:19:50.779
- Come to me after you've survived raising a teenager and we'll
- 00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:54.216
- Talk again, you know?
- 00:19:54.216 --> 00:19:56.184
- So maybe they're applying good principles, but the truth is
- 00:19:56.184 --> 00:20:00.355
- This, you have to experience certain things to become maybe
- 00:20:00.355 --> 00:20:04.660
- An authority on them, we'll say, and job certainly had
- 00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:08.163
- Experienced all of this.
- 00:20:08.163 --> 00:20:09.798
- He was transformed and he wrote in job 23:10: "he knows the way
- 00:20:09.798 --> 00:20:14.202
- That i take; and when he has tested me, i will come forth
- 00:20:14.202 --> 00:20:17.339
- As gold."
- 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:18.774
- See, there are some things that will only come through times
- 00:20:18.774 --> 00:20:22.110
- Of testing.
- 00:20:22.110 --> 00:20:23.478
- I talked before about going to the gym and you go to the gym
- 00:20:23.478 --> 00:20:27.149
- To break muscle down in order to build it back up.
- 00:20:27.149 --> 00:20:30.319
- And trials are like god's gym; that make you stronger, not
- 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:34.156
- Weaker, you're broken down to be built up.
- 00:20:34.156 --> 00:20:36.425
- James 1:2 says, "listen, when troubles of any kind come your
- 00:20:36.425 --> 00:20:40.262
- Way consider it an opportunity for great joy, for when your
- 00:20:40.262 --> 00:20:44.199
- Faith is tested, you'll have a chance to grow."
- 00:20:44.199 --> 00:20:47.769
- Number four, suffering can be used to prepare us for
- 00:20:47.769 --> 00:20:51.106
- A special task.
- 00:20:51.106 --> 00:20:53.208
- And this is shown beautifully in the life of joseph.
- 00:20:53.208 --> 00:20:57.679
- Another godly man and a young man at that.
- 00:20:57.679 --> 00:21:01.616
- I mean, his brothers sold him into slavery and he ended up in
- 00:21:01.616 --> 00:21:06.388
- The house of a guy named potiphar and through his hard
- 00:21:06.388 --> 00:21:09.057
- Work and diligence and godliness, he was running the
- 00:21:09.057 --> 00:21:12.327
- Whole place and then potiphar's wife hit on him.
- 00:21:12.327 --> 00:21:15.764
- She was the original mrs. robinson
- 00:21:15.764 --> 00:21:19.935
- And only four people got that joke.
- 00:21:19.935 --> 00:21:22.337
- It's a very dated reference.
- 00:21:22.337 --> 00:21:25.240
- Let's just say she was the original cougar.
- 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:27.409
- Does that make more--i don't know,
- 00:21:27.409 --> 00:21:29.144
- But she hit on young joseph trying to entice him sexually.
- 00:21:29.144 --> 00:21:32.981
- He resists her advances and she falsely accuses him of rape and
- 00:21:32.981 --> 00:21:37.419
- He's sent to prison.
- 00:21:37.419 --> 00:21:38.754
- But through the providence of god, he ultimately was able to
- 00:21:38.754 --> 00:21:43.358
- Save a nation from starvation.
- 00:21:43.358 --> 00:21:46.161
- And he said to his brothers later, "i know you meant these
- 00:21:46.161 --> 00:21:49.464
- Things for evil, but god meant them for good to save many
- 00:21:49.464 --> 00:21:53.101
- People alive."
- 00:21:53.101 --> 00:21:54.870
- A perfect illustration of romans 8:28 that says, "god causes all
- 00:21:54.870 --> 00:21:59.775
- Things to work together for good to those that love god and that
- 00:21:59.775 --> 00:22:02.177
- Are called according to his purpose."
- 00:22:02.177 --> 00:22:05.747
- So there are things that we learn in trials we don't learn
- 00:22:05.747 --> 00:22:09.918
- Anywhere else and it gives us an ability to minister to people
- 00:22:09.918 --> 00:22:17.092
- In a unique way.
- 00:22:17.092 --> 00:22:18.460
- Paul put it this way.
- 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:19.795
- 2 corinthians 1, he says, "he comforts us in all of
- 00:22:19.795 --> 00:22:22.664
- Our troubles so we can comfort others.
- 00:22:22.664 --> 00:22:25.200
- And when others are in trouble, we'll be able to give them the
- 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:27.969
- Same comfort god has given us.
- 00:22:27.969 --> 00:22:30.238
- So you can be sure the more we suffer for christ, the more god
- 00:22:30.238 --> 00:22:33.442
- Will shower us with comfort through christ."
- 00:22:33.442 --> 00:22:35.944
- Okay, so when you go through a hardship it gives you a
- 00:22:35.944 --> 00:22:39.915
- Credibility in the eyes of other people to perhaps help them.
- 00:22:39.915 --> 00:22:44.352
- As an example, let's say that you are a cancer survivor and
- 00:22:44.352 --> 00:22:47.789
- Thank god for that.
- 00:22:47.789 --> 00:22:49.524
- And then one of your friends finds out they have cancer and
- 00:22:49.524 --> 00:22:52.661
- They're just so worried and full of fear and you say, "let me
- 00:22:52.661 --> 00:22:56.431
- Talk to you about how god helped me through this."
- 00:22:56.431 --> 00:22:59.568
- You have a credibility that nobody else would have because
- 00:22:59.568 --> 00:23:02.103
- You've been there and done that.
- 00:23:02.103 --> 00:23:03.638
- Or let's say someone loses a loved one and they know you've
- 00:23:03.638 --> 00:23:06.875
- Just lost a loved one, perhaps a child, and you say, "here's how
- 00:23:06.875 --> 00:23:10.712
- We got through it.
- 00:23:10.712 --> 00:23:12.080
- Here's how we get through it," and they want to hear from you.
- 00:23:12.080 --> 00:23:15.951
- You know, it's been said, "success builds walls and
- 00:23:15.951 --> 00:23:20.021
- Failure builds bridges."
- 00:23:20.021 --> 00:23:22.491
- Does that make sense?
- 00:23:22.491 --> 00:23:23.825
- Success builds walls, failure builds bridges.
- 00:23:23.825 --> 00:23:27.262
- You know, if you're having the perfect life or at least you
- 00:23:27.262 --> 00:23:29.998
- Wanna have people think you're living the perfect life--that
- 00:23:29.998 --> 00:23:33.201
- They follow you on instagram, here you are with your awesome
- 00:23:33.201 --> 00:23:36.738
- Car in front of your awesome house with your amazing family
- 00:23:36.738 --> 00:23:40.108
- And everything's perfect and don't they wish they were living
- 00:23:40.108 --> 00:23:43.011
- A perfect life like you and in reality, you're not living the
- 00:23:43.011 --> 00:23:45.847
- Perfect life but you put it out that you are and now you're
- 00:23:45.847 --> 00:23:49.150
- Gonna tell them something.
- 00:23:49.150 --> 00:23:50.485
- I don't wanna listen to you, but then they know someone else
- 00:23:50.485 --> 00:23:52.521
- Who's had suffering and difficulty and they've overcome
- 00:23:52.521 --> 00:23:56.258
- It with faith.
- 00:23:56.258 --> 00:23:57.626
- They wanna talk to that person.
- 00:23:57.626 --> 00:23:59.094
- See, that's how failure in a sense or struggle we'll say,
- 00:23:59.094 --> 00:24:03.131
- Builds a bridge.
- 00:24:03.131 --> 00:24:04.499
- Oh, you're just like me.
- 00:24:04.499 --> 00:24:05.967
- See, so there's something god can do with this.
- 00:24:05.967 --> 00:24:08.103
- See, don't waste your pain.
- 00:24:08.103 --> 00:24:10.639
- I wish we could live pain-free lives, but we're gonna
- 00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:13.975
- Have pain.
- 00:24:13.975 --> 00:24:15.343
- So what are we gonna do with it?
- 00:24:15.343 --> 00:24:16.678
- Are we gonna let it destroy us or are we gonna use it as a tool
- 00:24:16.678 --> 00:24:19.814
- And use it as a weapon?
- 00:24:19.814 --> 00:24:21.917
- You know, one thing i found, especially in the immediate
- 00:24:21.917 --> 00:24:25.387
- Aftermath of our son going to be with the lord, was it helped me
- 00:24:25.387 --> 00:24:29.324
- When i helped others.
- 00:24:29.324 --> 00:24:31.459
- When i would just think about myself and feel sad for what we
- 00:24:31.459 --> 00:24:34.796
- Were facing, i could get very depressed about it, but then
- 00:24:34.796 --> 00:24:38.400
- Maybe i would meet someone that just had it happen to them one
- 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:41.870
- Week ago and as i began to speak to them and told them, as cathe
- 00:24:41.870 --> 00:24:45.740
- Said to me in so many words: it's gonna be okay.
- 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:48.677
- Meaning, "you're gonna survive this, you're gonna live through
- 00:24:48.677 --> 00:24:51.479
- This, and you're gonna see your child again if they died
- 00:24:51.479 --> 00:24:54.950
- In faith in christ because your child is--or your loved one is
- 00:24:54.950 --> 00:24:58.420
- Not just a part of your past, they're also a part of
- 00:24:58.420 --> 00:25:00.889
- Your future."
- 00:25:00.889 --> 00:25:02.223
- As i would minister to other people, it would minister to me.
- 00:25:02.223 --> 00:25:05.594
- So it's back to what paul said, "comforting with the comfort
- 00:25:05.594 --> 00:25:08.163
- I've been comforted with."
- 00:25:08.163 --> 00:25:09.764
- This is so very important for us to understand.
- 00:25:09.764 --> 00:25:12.667
- Don't waste your pain.
- 00:25:12.667 --> 00:25:14.736
- Well, the story of job ends, seems like a good ending.
- 00:25:14.736 --> 00:25:18.907
- Everything he had has now been replaced.
- 00:25:18.907 --> 00:25:22.243
- He has double what he had before.
- 00:25:22.243 --> 00:25:24.179
- But the problem is--those kids, those children, were all gone.
- 00:25:24.179 --> 00:25:28.283
- Now he had other children, but the original children are gone.
- 00:25:28.283 --> 00:25:32.654
- You can't replace them.
- 00:25:32.654 --> 00:25:34.956
- And so there was still a great sense of loss, but he lived
- 00:25:34.956 --> 00:25:38.627
- A long blessed life and god worked in his life.
- 00:25:38.627 --> 00:25:42.263
- Warren wiersbe, a great commentator, quotes a professor
- 00:25:42.263 --> 00:25:46.334
- Of history who said, quote, "if columbus had turned back, nobody
- 00:25:46.334 --> 00:25:50.739
- Would have blamed him.
- 00:25:50.739 --> 00:25:52.073
- But nobody would have remembered him either."
- 00:25:52.073 --> 00:25:54.542
- And then he concludes, "if you want to be memorable sometimes
- 00:25:54.542 --> 00:25:57.612
- You're gonna have to be miserable."
- 00:25:57.612 --> 00:25:59.948
- End quote.
- 00:25:59.948 --> 00:26:01.282
- So you might be going through something that makes no sense to
- 00:26:01.282 --> 00:26:04.119
- You, but god will give you the strength to handle it.
- 00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:07.222
- As i said earlier, god will give you what you need.
- 00:26:07.222 --> 00:26:10.959
- Sometimes before, never after.
- 00:26:10.959 --> 00:26:13.461
- He will be sufficient for you no matter what you face in life.
- 00:26:13.461 --> 00:26:18.233
- ♪♪♪
- 00:26:19.868 --> 00:26:23.705
- Greg: hi, i'm greg laurie, i've got some good news for you.
- 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:28.677
- God loves you, and god has a plan for your life.
- 00:26:28.677 --> 00:26:32.347
- Here's the problem: we're separated from god by our sin
- 00:26:32.347 --> 00:26:35.950
- Because we've all broken his commandments.
- 00:26:35.950 --> 00:26:38.820
- But the good news is that 2,000 years ago, god sent
- 00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:42.357
- His son, jesus christ, to die on the cross for your sin,
- 00:26:42.357 --> 00:26:46.294
- And then to rise again from the dead.
- 00:26:46.294 --> 00:26:49.064
- The same jesus who died and rose is alive and ready
- 00:26:49.064 --> 00:26:52.467
- To come into your life right now.
- 00:26:52.467 --> 00:26:54.703
- Would you like your sin forgiven?
- 00:26:54.703 --> 00:26:56.771
- Would you like to know that when you die you will go to heaven?
- 00:26:56.771 --> 00:26:59.908
- If so, pray this simple prayer with me right now.
- 00:26:59.908 --> 00:27:03.244
- Just say, "lord jesus, i know i'm a sinner, but i believe
- 00:27:03.244 --> 00:27:06.748
- You're the savior who died on the cross for my sin.
- 00:27:06.748 --> 00:27:10.251
- I turn from my sin now, and i choose to follow you
- 00:27:10.251 --> 00:27:13.455
- From this moment forward."
- 00:27:13.455 --> 00:27:15.857
- Did you just pray that prayer with me?
- 00:27:15.857 --> 00:27:17.959
- If you did, god in heaven has heard you.
- 00:27:17.959 --> 00:27:21.062
- And let me be the first to say to you congratulations
- 00:27:21.062 --> 00:27:24.365
- And welcome to the family of god.
- 00:27:24.365 --> 00:27:27.102
