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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - What To Do When The Odds Are Against You

January 14, 2025 | S25:E12

Greg Laurie - What To Do When The Odds Are Against You
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#GregLaurie #Faith #Pain #Struggle #Humility #Religion #WordofGod #Timing #Patience #inActive #Temptation #HarvestwithPastorGregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - What To Do When The Odds Are Against You | January 14, 2025
  • ...
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  • Greg laurie: fear is contagious. fear is contagious.
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  • Listen, if you're looking for life on easy street with no
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  • Conflict or challenge, go home to mommy.
  • 00:00:12.255 --> 00:00:16.626
  • The christian life is not for wimps.
  • 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:17.427
  • The christian life is not for lightweights,
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  • It's not for cowards, it's not for people who
  • 00:00:22.632 --> 00:00:25.769
  • Are afraid to stand out from the crowd.
  • 00:00:25.769 --> 00:00:29.406
  • And so maybe some of you are saying, well, i can't handle
  • 00:00:29.406 --> 00:00:32.275
  • This, i--maybe you can't, i don't know what to say to you.
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  • I'll say whatever you give up to follow christ
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  • Is more than worth it.
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  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
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  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪
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  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
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  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
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  • Greg: i don't know what you see when you look in the mirror,
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  • But let me tell you what god sees when
  • 00:01:06.176 --> 00:01:08.878
  • He looks at you because god sees you
  • 00:01:08.878 --> 00:01:11.648
  • Maybe differently than you see yourself.
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  • For instance, you probably see weakness when
  • 00:01:13.983 --> 00:01:16.519
  • You look at yourself, god sees potential.
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  • You see what you are, god sees what you can be.
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  • You see your past, god sees your future.
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  • You see a lump of clay, god sees a beautiful sculpture.
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  • You see a blank canvas, god sees a a van gogh.
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  • You see a lump of coal, god sees a perfectly cut diamond.
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  • You see a vacillating, unsure simon,
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  • God sees a rock like apostle peter.
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  • We see a saul of tarsus hunting down christians and murdering
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  • Them, god sees a mighty apostle paul preaching the gospel.
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  • I bring that up because now we're going to look at gideon,
  • 00:02:02.966 --> 00:02:05.568
  • Who is a world changer, and when the lord came
  • 00:02:05.568 --> 00:02:09.239
  • To him, the greeting was, "hey, you mighty man
  • 00:02:09.239 --> 00:02:12.742
  • Of faith, the lord is with you."
  • 00:02:12.742 --> 00:02:14.611
  • And if there is anything gideon was not in that
  • 00:02:14.611 --> 00:02:16.880
  • Moment, it was a mighty man of faith.
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  • But that's because god saw what he
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  • Would become, not what he was.
  • 00:02:21.351 --> 00:02:23.720
  • You know, frankly, i'm a little surprised gideon made it into
  • 00:02:23.720 --> 00:02:26.990
  • The hall of faith because he had, well, a challenging
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  • Beginning and not the greatest end.
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  • But what i find fascinating about hebrews 11, which tells us
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  • About the great men and women who stepped out in faith that i
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  • Call world changers, is that god never mentions their sins.
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  • He mentions their accomplishments.
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  • He talks about what they did through their faith, but he
  • 00:02:48.645 --> 00:02:51.581
  • Never brings up their shortcomings or sins.
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  • I find that fascinating and god goes out of his way to take
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  • Ordinary people to do extraordinary things through.
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  • Why?
  • 00:03:03.026 --> 00:03:04.360
  • Because when it happens, god gets the glory.
  • 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:07.764
  • They dare not take it for themselves because they know
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  • Themselves better than anybody else does.
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  • And god used gideon to change his world.
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  • And by the way, his world was messed up big time.
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  • Things are really spiritually and morally
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  • Upside down in the book of judges.
  • 00:03:21.744 --> 00:03:23.746
  • In fact, whenever things are spiritually out
  • 00:03:23.746 --> 00:03:26.216
  • Of whack, they'll be morally out of whack,
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  • And they'll be culturally out of whack as well.
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  • So here's a good verse to describe how
  • 00:03:31.988 --> 00:03:34.958
  • Things got the way that they were.
  • 00:03:34.958 --> 00:03:37.427
  • Judges 17:6 says that israel had no king, "and everyone did
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  • Whatever seemed right in their own eyes."
  • 00:03:43.700 --> 00:03:46.903
  • Everyone did what seemed right in their own eyes.
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  • Let me update that.
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  • Everyone just kind of did their own thing.
  • 00:03:50.940 --> 00:03:53.543
  • Everyone sort of had their own truth, not unlike today,
  • 00:03:53.543 --> 00:03:56.813
  • Frankly, where someone will say, "well you know, that's your
  • 00:03:56.813 --> 00:03:59.282
  • Truth, that's not my truth, and i live by my own truth and my
  • 00:03:59.282 --> 00:04:02.452
  • Own values and my own rules, because my god that i believe
  • 00:04:02.452 --> 00:04:06.189
  • In would never have me do this, and so--"
  • 00:04:06.189 --> 00:04:08.424
  • And they just sort of make it up as they go.
  • 00:04:08.424 --> 00:04:10.793
  • So things were chaotic.
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  • It was a little bit like the wild west.
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  • So the lord raised up 13 judges to rule over israel, 12 of them
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  • Were men, one of them was a woman.
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  • Now when you think of a judge, i don't
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  • Want you to think of, like, supreme court
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  • Judges running around in long black robes.
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  • Actually, these are more like warriors, they were like old
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  • Time sheriffs, think dodge city and think wyatt earp, you know.
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  • And there was no law in town, so they would call in the marshall
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  • Or call in or hire a lawman to get things under control.
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  • So god would raise these judges up to sort
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  • Of tame the unruly behavior of israel.
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  • And we're looking at gideon.
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  • As our story begins, we find gideon trying to prepare the
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  • Little wheat he had, hiding behind the walls of a small wine
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  • Press, hardly a picture of heroism and courage but he was
  • 00:05:00.410 --> 00:05:05.615
  • Like the rest of israel, hungry, hurting, and humiliated.
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  • But god's gonna turn him into a world changer.
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  • So we're introduced to him in judges 6 starting in verse 12.
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  • I'm reading from the new living translation, by the way.
  • 00:05:16.225 --> 00:05:19.128
  • "and the angel of the lord appeared and
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  • Said to him, 'mighty hero, the lord is with you.'
  • 00:05:20.997 --> 00:05:25.001
  • Gideon said, 'oh my lord.
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  • If the lord is with us, why has all of this happened to us?
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  • Where are all the miracles which our fathers told us about,
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  • Saying, "did not the lord bring us from egypt?"
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  • And now the lord has forsaken us and delivered
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  • Us into the hands of the midianites.'
  • 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:39.882
  • Then the lord turned to him and said, 'go in this might of
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  • Yours, and you will save israel from the hand of the midianites.
  • 00:05:42.418 --> 00:05:47.223
  • Have i not sent you?'" stop there.
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  • You know, it's interesting, here comes the lord calling on
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  • Gideon, and he starts in with the complaints.
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  • "well, why has this happened to us?
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  • You know, we remember hearing about
  • 00:05:57.900 --> 00:05:59.535
  • All these miracles you used to do.
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  • Where have you been lately?"
  • 00:06:01.304 --> 00:06:03.406
  • Heard the story of a mother that was telling bible stories to her
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  • Little daughter, you know, the stories of joshua and daniel in
  • 00:06:06.376 --> 00:06:10.012
  • The lion's den and those great stories of heroism, and the
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  • Little girl turned to her mom and said, "mommy," you know,
  • 00:06:13.649 --> 00:06:16.319
  • "god was more exciting back then."
  • 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:19.789
  • Maybe you've felt that way.
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  • You hear about what god used to do.
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  • What's god doing now?
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  • And really, if you get technical, everything that
  • 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:27.530
  • Israel was facing was their own fault.
  • 00:06:27.530 --> 00:06:30.533
  • They were reaping what they sowed.
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  • And the lord could have dealt with that,
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  • But he needed to get something done.
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  • It's sort of like when you're trying to get your kids out of
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  • The house, "come on, kids, get in the car.
  • 00:06:37.807 --> 00:06:39.876
  • We have to go to church." "no mommy, i lost a shoe,"
  • 00:06:39.876 --> 00:06:43.312
  • And, you know, "mommy, i lost my doll."
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  • And sadly, that's your husband.
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  • But you know, just get in the car,
  • 00:06:47.450 --> 00:06:50.186
  • We'll sort it out in the car.
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  • Come on, we're late. let's go.
  • 00:06:51.521 --> 00:06:53.089
  • And, you know, i mean, they're whining and compl--
  • 00:06:53.089 --> 00:06:54.957
  • "just come on, let go."
  • 00:06:54.957 --> 00:06:56.726
  • So that's gideon, he's kind of whining.
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  • "well, why would've bet--" "come on let's go.
  • 00:06:58.161 --> 00:07:01.097
  • We got a job to do, and you're the guy i'm gonna use to do it."
  • 00:07:01.097 --> 00:07:04.934
  • So now the lord is going to use gideon
  • 00:07:04.934 --> 00:07:07.670
  • To change things in a dramatic way.
  • 00:07:07.670 --> 00:07:10.540
  • But gideon protests and he says in verse 15,
  • 00:07:10.540 --> 00:07:13.176
  • "oh lord, how can i save israel?
  • 00:07:13.176 --> 00:07:15.344
  • Indeed my clan is the weakest in manasseh,
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  • I'm the least in my father's house."
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  • Lord, are you serious?
  • 00:07:20.550 --> 00:07:22.084
  • I'm like the runt of the litter.
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  • I'm the lowest of the low, and that brings me
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  • To principle number one on how to be a
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  • World changer, world changers are humble.
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  • God uses people who are humble.
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  • Say well, how do you know if you're humble?
  • 00:07:37.633 --> 00:07:39.168
  • Well, i find that the people talk the most, who talk the most
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  • About humility are often prideful.
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  • They'll come and say, "you know, i'm a very humble person.
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  • I'm so humble, i'm so humble i
  • 00:07:49.412 --> 00:07:52.381
  • Drop the 'h' and just say 'umble.
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  • 'ello i'm 'umble, i'm an 'umble man you see?"
  • 00:07:56.486 --> 00:07:59.922
  • No, you're kind of weird and probably prideful too.
  • 00:07:59.922 --> 00:08:04.460
  • Humble people are just people that see themselves as they are.
  • 00:08:04.460 --> 00:08:09.432
  • You know, they see their flaws, they see their
  • 00:08:09.432 --> 00:08:11.067
  • Shortcomings, they see their weaknesses.
  • 00:08:11.067 --> 00:08:14.437
  • In fact, gideon says in verse 15 to the lord, "who am i?
  • 00:08:14.437 --> 00:08:17.573
  • Why would you want me, lord? who am i?"
  • 00:08:17.573 --> 00:08:19.375
  • And i love god's response.
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  • God says, "who am i?
  • 00:08:20.810 --> 00:08:23.246
  • I'll be with you." who am i, lord?
  • 00:08:23.246 --> 00:08:24.981
  • "it's not about who you are. it's who i am.
  • 00:08:24.981 --> 00:08:27.250
  • And i'm going to be with you, gideon.
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  • So let's get going because you're a mighty hero,"
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  • Verse 12, "and the lord is with you."
  • 00:08:31.721 --> 00:08:33.222
  • I mean, calling gideon a mighty hero was almost like a joke.
  • 00:08:33.222 --> 00:08:36.959
  • I mean, here he is hiding behind a wall and the lord says, "hey,
  • 00:08:36.959 --> 00:08:40.029
  • Mighty hero, the lord's with you."
  • 00:08:40.029 --> 00:08:41.564
  • It's like ah, is there somebody else here?
  • 00:08:41.564 --> 00:08:43.799
  • I'm not seeing a mighty hero, who would that be?
  • 00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:46.502
  • He probably felt more like a pathetic
  • 00:08:46.502 --> 00:08:48.704
  • Zero than a mighty hero.
  • 00:08:48.704 --> 00:08:52.241
  • But as i said earlier, god saw him for what he
  • 00:08:52.241 --> 00:08:54.710
  • Could become, not just what he was.
  • 00:08:54.710 --> 00:08:58.648
  • So he was gonna grow into this title that the lord gave to him.
  • 00:08:58.648 --> 00:09:03.019
  • It'd be like going to a kid who can't throw a football and
  • 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:05.988
  • Saying, hey, tom brady, how's it going?
  • 00:09:05.988 --> 00:09:09.292
  • Or a child failing in class, hey einstein, how are the grades?
  • 00:09:09.292 --> 00:09:13.863
  • Almost like mockery, but the lord was not
  • 00:09:13.863 --> 00:09:15.898
  • Mocking him, he was seeing his potential.
  • 00:09:15.898 --> 00:09:19.402
  • But before the lord was going to allow gideon to amass this army,
  • 00:09:19.402 --> 00:09:23.072
  • There was a test he had to pass in his own home.
  • 00:09:23.072 --> 00:09:26.909
  • The lord told him to go home to his family, where there was a
  • 00:09:26.909 --> 00:09:31.047
  • Family altar erected by his father joash, to the god baal.
  • 00:09:31.047 --> 00:09:36.185
  • God said, i want you to go and tear down the altar.
  • 00:09:36.185 --> 00:09:39.789
  • Then i want you to take the second best bull from your
  • 00:09:39.789 --> 00:09:42.458
  • Father's herd and barbecue it on the remains of the altar.
  • 00:09:42.458 --> 00:09:47.863
  • Okay, this is a way to get in trouble with dad, okay?
  • 00:09:47.863 --> 00:09:51.834
  • And incur his wrath.
  • 00:09:51.834 --> 00:09:53.603
  • But in gideon's defense, he went and did exactly what god told
  • 00:09:53.603 --> 00:09:56.439
  • Him to do, bringing me to principle number two.
  • 00:09:56.439 --> 00:09:58.541
  • World changers are faithful in little things.
  • 00:09:58.541 --> 00:10:02.144
  • Jesus says in luke 16, "unless you're faithful in small
  • 00:10:02.144 --> 00:10:05.915
  • Matters, you won't be faithful in large ones.
  • 00:10:05.915 --> 00:10:08.651
  • If you cheat even a little, you won't be
  • 00:10:08.651 --> 00:10:10.620
  • Honest with greater responsibilities."
  • 00:10:10.620 --> 00:10:13.889
  • So gideon tears down his dad's altar, but he did it at night.
  • 00:10:13.889 --> 00:10:19.362
  • And some people have been critical,
  • 00:10:19.362 --> 00:10:21.097
  • "should have done it in the light of day.
  • 00:10:21.097 --> 00:10:22.665
  • Did it at night."
  • 00:10:22.665 --> 00:10:24.000
  • Hey okay, so what?
  • 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:26.035
  • At least he did it, got the job done.
  • 00:10:26.035 --> 00:10:29.505
  • You know, there's some people that just love to criticize.
  • 00:10:29.505 --> 00:10:32.708
  • They think they have the gift of criticism.
  • 00:10:32.708 --> 00:10:35.344
  • By the way, there's no spiritual gift
  • 00:10:35.344 --> 00:10:37.279
  • Of criticism, just be aware of that.
  • 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:40.716
  • You know, they critique this, they critique that.
  • 00:10:40.716 --> 00:10:43.786
  • They'll say, "well, i don't like the way you do evangelism, greg.
  • 00:10:43.786 --> 00:10:46.255
  • We don't like your events.
  • 00:10:46.255 --> 00:10:47.590
  • We don't like the way you, you know, speak of these events."
  • 00:10:47.590 --> 00:10:50.626
  • And i'll say, "well, what are you doing in evangelism?"
  • 00:10:50.626 --> 00:10:52.762
  • "not really anything."
  • 00:10:52.762 --> 00:10:54.630
  • Well, i like my way of doing it better
  • 00:10:54.630 --> 00:10:56.198
  • Than your way of not doing it, okay?
  • 00:10:56.198 --> 00:10:58.934
  • Now, look, i'm not saying everything
  • 00:10:58.934 --> 00:11:00.269
  • We do is perfect, it isn't.
  • 00:11:00.269 --> 00:11:02.705
  • But you know, you have to be willing to take risk, you take
  • 00:11:02.705 --> 00:11:06.275
  • Chances, you get out there to do what you can to reach people,
  • 00:11:06.275 --> 00:11:10.112
  • And i think it's very easy to be critical of these things.
  • 00:11:10.112 --> 00:11:13.049
  • But my question is what are you doing?
  • 00:11:13.049 --> 00:11:16.018
  • "well, he shouldn't have gone at night."
  • 00:11:16.018 --> 00:11:17.420
  • Well he did something, he got the job done, he tore down the
  • 00:11:17.420 --> 00:11:20.356
  • Altar and the people freaked out.
  • 00:11:20.356 --> 00:11:22.958
  • By the way, the reason he did it at night according to verse 27
  • 00:11:22.958 --> 00:11:26.028
  • Was because he was afraid of the other members of his father's
  • 00:11:26.028 --> 00:11:28.864
  • Household and the people of the town.
  • 00:11:28.864 --> 00:11:31.600
  • Gideon knew when he did this he
  • 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:33.069
  • Was going to anger a lot of people.
  • 00:11:33.069 --> 00:11:35.671
  • In fact, they were so mad they wanted to kill him.
  • 00:11:35.671 --> 00:11:38.240
  • "let's kill him now."
  • 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:39.575
  • That's kind of harsh, but that's what they wanted to do.
  • 00:11:39.575 --> 00:11:41.744
  • And guess who stood up and defended gideon?
  • 00:11:41.744 --> 00:11:44.847
  • His father, the very father joash, who erected
  • 00:11:44.847 --> 00:11:48.584
  • The altar to baal, and he came out and said,
  • 00:11:48.584 --> 00:11:51.053
  • "hey, why are you defending baal?
  • 00:11:51.053 --> 00:11:53.022
  • Why do you argue his case?
  • 00:11:53.022 --> 00:11:54.356
  • If baal's really a god, let him defend himself and
  • 00:11:54.356 --> 00:11:57.760
  • Destroy the one who broke down his altar."
  • 00:11:57.760 --> 00:11:59.729
  • I think deep down inside, dad was proud of son.
  • 00:11:59.729 --> 00:12:03.466
  • Joash was proud of gideon.
  • 00:12:03.466 --> 00:12:04.934
  • "boy, you did good.
  • 00:12:04.934 --> 00:12:06.602
  • Hey, you even took down the old man's altar, way to go."
  • 00:12:06.602 --> 00:12:10.206
  • I think the faith of the father was
  • 00:12:10.206 --> 00:12:12.308
  • Rekindled by the courage of the son.
  • 00:12:12.308 --> 00:12:15.978
  • Greg: greg laurie here.
  • 00:12:18.380 --> 00:12:19.749
  • You know, in harvest ministries, we're committing to reaching
  • 00:12:19.749 --> 00:12:22.451
  • Unexpected people in unexpected places with an
  • 00:12:22.451 --> 00:12:25.855
  • Unexpected message.
  • 00:12:25.855 --> 00:12:27.556
  • And thanks to your financial support, we've been able to
  • 00:12:27.556 --> 00:12:31.927
  • Touch people all over the world with the hope of jesus christ.
  • 00:12:31.927 --> 00:12:36.398
  • Your gifts today not only help us reach millions across the
  • 00:12:36.398 --> 00:12:40.136
  • Country through this television program, they also help us to
  • 00:12:40.136 --> 00:12:44.373
  • Bring hope to people and their biggest need, whether through
  • 00:12:44.373 --> 00:12:47.977
  • Our evangelistic events or our relief efforts.
  • 00:12:47.977 --> 00:12:50.746
  • Together, we've been able to minister to so many people
  • 00:12:50.746 --> 00:12:54.016
  • Devastated by the fires in lahaina on the island of maui,
  • 00:12:54.016 --> 00:12:58.053
  • And also, your support has helped us partner to bring
  • 00:12:58.053 --> 00:13:01.524
  • Medical help in the ongoing conflict in israel.
  • 00:13:01.524 --> 00:13:04.794
  • So i'm asking you today to continue to support this
  • 00:13:04.794 --> 00:13:07.963
  • Ministry so we can do everything possible to fulfill
  • 00:13:07.963 --> 00:13:11.901
  • The great commission.
  • 00:13:11.901 --> 00:13:13.235
  • Let's do this together, and let me say in advance, thank you
  • 00:13:13.235 --> 00:13:16.839
  • And god bless you.
  • 00:13:16.839 --> 00:13:18.674
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:13:18.741 --> 00:13:21.544
  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
  • 00:13:21.544 --> 00:13:28.050
  • Greg: so gideon passed his first test, now a big one is coming.
  • 00:13:29.785 --> 00:13:33.455
  • Lord says, rally an army.
  • 00:13:33.455 --> 00:13:35.157
  • So he manages to get 32,000 men to follow
  • 00:13:35.157 --> 00:13:39.028
  • Him in the battle, very impressive.
  • 00:13:39.028 --> 00:13:40.996
  • Now, of course, the midianites have an army surpassing 100,000,
  • 00:13:40.996 --> 00:13:46.302
  • So it's certainly not an equal army, but it's a start.
  • 00:13:46.302 --> 00:13:50.105
  • And that brings us to judges 7 verse 2, "the lord said to
  • 00:13:50.105 --> 00:13:53.576
  • Gideon, 'you have too many warriors with you.
  • 00:13:53.576 --> 00:13:56.445
  • If i let all of you fight the midianites, the israelites
  • 00:13:56.445 --> 00:13:58.647
  • Will boast to me that they saved
  • 00:13:58.647 --> 00:14:00.449
  • Themselves by their own strength.
  • 00:14:00.449 --> 00:14:02.084
  • Therefore tell the people who's ever timid or afraid
  • 00:14:02.084 --> 00:14:05.221
  • They may leave this mountain and go home.'
  • 00:14:05.221 --> 00:14:08.190
  • So 22,000 of them went home, leaving
  • 00:14:08.190 --> 00:14:11.160
  • Only 10,000 who were willing to fight."
  • 00:14:11.160 --> 00:14:14.730
  • Wow.
  • 00:14:14.730 --> 00:14:16.065
  • I think gideon was thinking, okay, if you're afraid,
  • 00:14:16.065 --> 00:14:19.969
  • You can't handle this, go home.
  • 00:14:19.969 --> 00:14:22.071
  • It's interesting the phrase they choose there for go home.
  • 00:14:22.071 --> 00:14:24.039
  • It's from a hebrew phrase mamito returnus
  • 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:27.676
  • Which translates to return to mommy.
  • 00:14:27.676 --> 00:14:32.147
  • I made all that up, okay?
  • 00:14:32.147 --> 00:14:34.483
  • It just means go home.
  • 00:14:34.483 --> 00:14:35.985
  • I just want to see if you're listening sometimes.
  • 00:14:35.985 --> 00:14:38.687
  • So loose paraphrase, hey, if you wanna go home to
  • 00:14:38.687 --> 00:14:41.724
  • Mommy, if it's too scary, go home now.
  • 00:14:41.724 --> 00:14:46.829
  • Twenty-two thousand guys are like, see ya.
  • 00:14:46.829 --> 00:14:50.065
  • What?
  • 00:14:50.065 --> 00:14:52.001
  • Twenty-two thousand?
  • 00:14:52.001 --> 00:14:54.803
  • Why did he want them to leave?
  • 00:14:54.803 --> 00:14:56.138
  • Why did the lord want the fearful ones to leave?
  • 00:14:56.138 --> 00:14:59.241
  • Answer, because fear is contagious.
  • 00:14:59.241 --> 00:15:03.879
  • Fear is contagious.
  • 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:05.881
  • Listen, if you're looking for life on easy street with no
  • 00:15:05.881 --> 00:15:08.717
  • Conflict or challenge, go home to mommy.
  • 00:15:08.717 --> 00:15:13.022
  • The christian life is not for wimps.
  • 00:15:13.022 --> 00:15:15.891
  • The christian life is not for lightweights, it's not
  • 00:15:15.891 --> 00:15:19.361
  • For cowards, it's not for people who are
  • 00:15:19.361 --> 00:15:22.231
  • Afraid to stand out from the crowd.
  • 00:15:22.231 --> 00:15:25.834
  • And so maybe some of you are saying, well, i can't handle
  • 00:15:25.834 --> 00:15:28.637
  • This i'm--maybe you can't, i don't know what to say to you.
  • 00:15:28.637 --> 00:15:31.473
  • I'll say whatever you give up to follow christ is more than worth
  • 00:15:31.473 --> 00:15:34.643
  • It, but some are afraid, they're afraid of the opinions of
  • 00:15:34.643 --> 00:15:38.013
  • People, afraid of this, afraid of that.
  • 00:15:38.013 --> 00:15:40.582
  • Listen, i'm more afraid of hell and eternal separation from god.
  • 00:15:40.582 --> 00:15:47.156
  • I'm more afraid of a pointless, meaningless life
  • 00:15:47.156 --> 00:15:52.161
  • Lived for myself, that's what scares me.
  • 00:15:52.161 --> 00:15:55.731
  • But a lot of people go for those things.
  • 00:15:55.731 --> 00:15:57.933
  • Well, there's one final test.
  • 00:15:57.933 --> 00:15:59.335
  • So remember, he has 10,000 guys left.
  • 00:15:59.335 --> 00:16:01.503
  • Judges 7, verse 4, "the lord told gideon,
  • 00:16:01.503 --> 00:16:05.274
  • 'you still have too many.
  • 00:16:05.274 --> 00:16:07.109
  • Bring them down to the spring and i'll sort out
  • 00:16:07.109 --> 00:16:09.378
  • Who will go with you and who will not.'
  • 00:16:09.378 --> 00:16:11.547
  • And gideon took his warriors down to the water, and the lord
  • 00:16:11.547 --> 00:16:14.850
  • Told him divide the men into two groups, the one group put those
  • 00:16:14.850 --> 00:16:19.755
  • Who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues
  • 00:16:19.755 --> 00:16:23.959
  • Like dogs, and then the other group put those who kneel down
  • 00:16:23.959 --> 00:16:27.830
  • And drink with their mouths in the stream."
  • 00:16:27.830 --> 00:16:31.967
  • So here's how it worked.
  • 00:16:31.967 --> 00:16:33.936
  • Lord said let them go down and drink water.
  • 00:16:33.936 --> 00:16:35.571
  • These guys are thirsty, they're dehydrated, so some of them just
  • 00:16:35.571 --> 00:16:38.707
  • Buried their face in the in the river, and
  • 00:16:38.707 --> 00:16:41.276
  • They're just drinking and others were very
  • 00:16:41.276 --> 00:16:43.112
  • Careful and they're looking around and they're very alert.
  • 00:16:43.112 --> 00:16:45.581
  • And the lord says, those are the ones
  • 00:16:45.581 --> 00:16:46.915
  • I'm going to use to save you.
  • 00:16:46.915 --> 00:16:49.018
  • You know, we were in israel a number of years ago and we went
  • 00:16:49.018 --> 00:16:51.253
  • To gideon's spring, probably this spring where this happened.
  • 00:16:51.253 --> 00:16:54.323
  • So i wanted to illustrate it, so i asked her two volunteers, one
  • 00:16:54.323 --> 00:16:58.427
  • To represent each group and so they went down,
  • 00:16:58.427 --> 00:17:00.729
  • They're drinking the water and then i looked,
  • 00:17:00.729 --> 00:17:02.264
  • I saw a sign, water contaminated, don't drink.
  • 00:17:02.264 --> 00:17:04.833
  • Oh no, someone's gonna die for a sermon
  • 00:17:04.833 --> 00:17:07.469
  • Illustration, this is bad.
  • 00:17:07.469 --> 00:17:09.471
  • Fortunately, they were okay, but it's like, wow.
  • 00:17:09.471 --> 00:17:12.541
  • Well, this water was not contaminated, but apparently
  • 00:17:12.541 --> 00:17:16.345
  • Some of the people were, they didn't pass a test.
  • 00:17:16.345 --> 00:17:20.115
  • Now he's left with 300 men.
  • 00:17:20.115 --> 00:17:23.752
  • He has 3% of the original 10,000.
  • 00:17:23.752 --> 00:17:27.923
  • But these now are the cream of the crop.
  • 00:17:27.923 --> 00:17:30.492
  • This is delta force, these are the army rangers, these are the
  • 00:17:30.492 --> 00:17:35.631
  • Seals, these are seal team 6, you know, this is the swat
  • 00:17:35.631 --> 00:17:40.803
  • Team, these are the elite warriors now.
  • 00:17:40.803 --> 00:17:44.273
  • I love the battle plan.
  • 00:17:44.273 --> 00:17:45.607
  • Okay, get the warriors together.
  • 00:17:45.607 --> 00:17:46.942
  • I mean, think of these,
  • 00:17:46.942 --> 00:17:48.277
  • These are that battle hardened, toughest of the tough.
  • 00:17:48.277 --> 00:17:50.813
  • "all right, what do you want us to do?
  • 00:17:50.813 --> 00:17:53.482
  • What swords are we gonna take?
  • 00:17:53.482 --> 00:17:55.117
  • What spears are we--?"
  • 00:17:55.117 --> 00:17:56.718
  • "yeah, we're not gonna use swords or spears."
  • 00:17:56.718 --> 00:17:58.921
  • "okay, what's the plan?" "okay got a torch?
  • 00:17:58.921 --> 00:18:01.757
  • See a torch right here. okay.
  • 00:18:01.757 --> 00:18:03.192
  • We're gonna put a pot, a clay pot around the torch."
  • 00:18:03.192 --> 00:18:06.495
  • "yeah, and beat the midianites?"
  • 00:18:06.495 --> 00:18:08.030
  • No, not beat them just hold."
  • 00:18:08.030 --> 00:18:10.099
  • "and then what do we have on our other hand, a big giant spear?"
  • 00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:15.137
  • "i got you a little trumpet, here you go.
  • 00:18:15.137 --> 00:18:17.005
  • Here's everybody's trumpet. take your trumpet."
  • 00:18:17.005 --> 00:18:19.608
  • So here are these guys standing here with this
  • 00:18:19.608 --> 00:18:21.076
  • Stupid torch and a pot and the trumpet.
  • 00:18:21.076 --> 00:18:25.914
  • Uh, huh. now what?
  • 00:18:25.914 --> 00:18:28.050
  • Okay we're gonna run down the mountain, and we're gonna yell
  • 00:18:28.050 --> 00:18:30.786
  • Out, "for the lord and for gideon."
  • 00:18:30.786 --> 00:18:32.821
  • Then what?
  • 00:18:32.821 --> 00:18:34.156
  • That's it. i love this story.
  • 00:18:34.156 --> 00:18:37.226
  • It's so crazy, it's classic, it's biblical, so they do it,
  • 00:18:37.226 --> 00:18:44.366
  • They obey, they come running down.
  • 00:18:44.366 --> 00:18:46.668
  • It's night time, the midianites are down in their camp, all of a
  • 00:18:46.668 --> 00:18:49.204
  • Sudden they hear this noise and they see fire suddenly appear.
  • 00:18:49.204 --> 00:18:52.875
  • They hear these trumpets blowing.
  • 00:18:52.875 --> 00:18:54.243
  • They think it's some kind of ambush and they're so
  • 00:18:54.243 --> 00:18:57.012
  • Disoriented and discombobulated, they start killing each other.
  • 00:18:57.012 --> 00:19:00.949
  • They don't know who the enemy is.
  • 00:19:00.949 --> 00:19:02.551
  • The israelites get done, they're all
  • 00:19:02.551 --> 00:19:03.952
  • Dead, it's like "okay, good plan."
  • 00:19:03.952 --> 00:19:08.056
  • They were outnumbered 450 to 1.
  • 00:19:08.056 --> 00:19:11.693
  • Of all of the upsets celebrated by military historians
  • 00:19:11.693 --> 00:19:15.564
  • Or sports fans, there's none more amazing than
  • 00:19:15.564 --> 00:19:18.367
  • What god accomplished through gideon.
  • 00:19:18.367 --> 00:19:21.370
  • It should be like a pop warner team going up against the new
  • 00:19:21.370 --> 00:19:24.239
  • England patriots in the super bowl and winning.
  • 00:19:24.239 --> 00:19:29.478
  • This would be like a little league team taking on the
  • 00:19:29.478 --> 00:19:31.747
  • Chicago cubs in the world series and winning.
  • 00:19:31.747 --> 00:19:36.985
  • So you say, well, thank you for that nice
  • 00:19:36.985 --> 00:19:38.320
  • Little bible story, can we go home now?
  • 00:19:38.320 --> 00:19:40.055
  • Well, wait, let's make an application.
  • 00:19:40.055 --> 00:19:42.090
  • God doesn't just tell us these tell us these stories to
  • 00:19:42.090 --> 00:19:44.593
  • Entertain us, he tells us these stories for a reason, because,
  • 00:19:44.593 --> 00:19:48.697
  • You see, we too are in a spiritual battle and we have to
  • 00:19:48.697 --> 00:19:54.136
  • Recognize that it rages around us every single day.
  • 00:19:54.136 --> 00:19:58.240
  • In fact, ephesians 6 says, "we're not fighting against
  • 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:00.642
  • People made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and
  • 00:20:00.642 --> 00:20:05.514
  • Authorities of the unseen world against those mighty powers of
  • 00:20:05.514 --> 00:20:10.152
  • Darkness that rule this world, against
  • 00:20:10.152 --> 00:20:12.454
  • Wicked spirits in the heavenly realm."
  • 00:20:12.454 --> 00:20:15.891
  • See we're in the natural world right now, but there's a
  • 00:20:15.891 --> 00:20:17.993
  • Supernatural world coexisting with us at the moment.
  • 00:20:17.993 --> 00:20:22.464
  • It's the world of angels and demons, and there are rankings
  • 00:20:22.464 --> 00:20:26.501
  • Of angels and rankings of demons, and it's the world
  • 00:20:26.501 --> 00:20:30.205
  • Of god and satan, and ultimately it's the
  • 00:20:30.205 --> 00:20:32.975
  • World of the afterlife, of heaven and hell.
  • 00:20:32.975 --> 00:20:35.711
  • It's as real as the world you're in right now.
  • 00:20:35.711 --> 00:20:38.547
  • And this battle rages, and sometimes we're
  • 00:20:38.547 --> 00:20:40.515
  • Caught in this battle, and we're trying to fight
  • 00:20:40.515 --> 00:20:42.684
  • A spiritual battle with physical weapons.
  • 00:20:42.684 --> 00:20:47.055
  • So in this war we're fighting in the world today.
  • 00:20:47.055 --> 00:20:51.159
  • This spiritual war, this moral war, some
  • 00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:53.662
  • Even call it a cultural war, understand it's not
  • 00:20:53.662 --> 00:20:56.832
  • Gonna be won with boycotts or protests.
  • 00:20:56.832 --> 00:21:00.235
  • It's not gonna be won by withdrawing,
  • 00:21:00.235 --> 00:21:04.473
  • But by praying and preaching.
  • 00:21:04.473 --> 00:21:07.476
  • The most effective weapons god has put in our arsenal is prayer
  • 00:21:07.476 --> 00:21:12.481
  • And proclamation, praying for people, praying for our country,
  • 00:21:12.481 --> 00:21:16.918
  • Praying for our culture, praying for situations we're facing.
  • 00:21:16.918 --> 00:21:20.522
  • And then preaching the gospel to those that do not know the lord.
  • 00:21:20.522 --> 00:21:24.459
  • I bring this up because there's a book that's quite popular
  • 00:21:24.459 --> 00:21:26.561
  • Right now, where the author is suggesting that we've lost this
  • 00:21:26.561 --> 00:21:30.799
  • Battle and there's no reason to fight the flood,
  • 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:34.603
  • Just stop fighting the flood, he says.
  • 00:21:34.603 --> 00:21:37.005
  • And basically says, "there are people alive today who may live
  • 00:21:37.005 --> 00:21:40.642
  • To see the effect of death of christianity
  • 00:21:40.642 --> 00:21:42.878
  • Within our civilization," end quote.
  • 00:21:42.878 --> 00:21:45.647
  • So he says, we need to withdraw now from--no, no, no, this is
  • 00:21:45.647 --> 00:21:48.884
  • Not the time to withdraw, this is the time to attack.
  • 00:21:48.884 --> 00:21:53.322
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:21:53.322 --> 00:22:00.162
  • Greg: this is not the time to isolate,
  • 00:22:00.162 --> 00:22:02.230
  • This is the time to infiltrate, this is the time to permeate.
  • 00:22:02.230 --> 00:22:06.468
  • You say, "well, you're rhyming a bunch of stuff.
  • 00:22:06.468 --> 00:22:08.070
  • I have no idea what you're talking about."
  • 00:22:08.070 --> 00:22:10.105
  • You can't understand what i'm saying.
  • 00:22:10.105 --> 00:22:11.440
  • When i say attack, don't get me wrong, i'm not saying go down to
  • 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:13.442
  • The ammo store and, you know, fill your trunk up
  • 00:22:13.442 --> 00:22:16.044
  • With bullets and ar15's or something.
  • 00:22:16.044 --> 00:22:19.281
  • Well, here's what i'm saying.
  • 00:22:19.281 --> 00:22:21.516
  • I have something better than an ar15.
  • 00:22:21.516 --> 00:22:24.186
  • I've got john 3:16, okay?
  • 00:22:24.186 --> 00:22:26.955
  • John 3:16.
  • 00:22:26.955 --> 00:22:28.357
  • And what do i mean by that?
  • 00:22:28.357 --> 00:22:30.092
  • John 3:16, "for god so loved the world,
  • 00:22:30.092 --> 00:22:32.127
  • He gave his only begotten son, and whoever believes in him
  • 00:22:32.127 --> 00:22:35.364
  • Should not perish but have everlasting life."
  • 00:22:35.364 --> 00:22:38.100
  • See, when i say we're fighting a battle and we need to
  • 00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:42.270
  • Infiltrate, i mean, we need to go out with a loving message of
  • 00:22:42.270 --> 00:22:46.742
  • Jesus christ and tell people about him and how
  • 00:22:46.742 --> 00:22:50.412
  • They can have their lives transformed by him.
  • 00:22:50.412 --> 00:22:53.849
  • God's looking for people to do this.
  • 00:22:53.849 --> 00:22:56.385
  • And the best place to start is in your own home with your own
  • 00:22:56.385 --> 00:23:00.255
  • Family and those closest to you, and then continue on.
  • 00:23:00.255 --> 00:23:04.760
  • I love the statement of a british preacher from years ago,
  • 00:23:04.760 --> 00:23:08.230
  • John wesley, who once said, quote, "give me a hundred men
  • 00:23:08.230 --> 00:23:12.567
  • Who love god with all of their hearts and fear
  • 00:23:12.567 --> 00:23:15.437
  • Nothing but sin and i will move the world."
  • 00:23:15.437 --> 00:23:20.842
  • Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart and
  • 00:23:24.746 --> 00:23:28.083
  • You have seen your need for jesus christ.
  • 00:23:28.083 --> 00:23:31.386
  • Jesus christ is the son of god who
  • 00:23:31.386 --> 00:23:34.589
  • Came from heaven to this earth.
  • 00:23:34.589 --> 00:23:36.792
  • He was born in a manger, he died in
  • 00:23:36.792 --> 00:23:39.661
  • A cross, he rose again from the dead, why?
  • 00:23:39.661 --> 00:23:42.497
  • Because he loves you and he wants a relationship with you.
  • 00:23:42.497 --> 00:23:46.134
  • Listen, i'm not talking about religion, i don't wanna be
  • 00:23:46.134 --> 00:23:49.137
  • A religious person, i don't think you wanna be one either,
  • 00:23:49.137 --> 00:23:52.240
  • I'm talking about relationship with god.
  • 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:55.610
  • Jesus, who died and rose again, stands at the door of your life,
  • 00:23:55.610 --> 00:24:00.182
  • And he knocks, and he says if you'll hear his
  • 00:24:00.182 --> 00:24:02.417
  • Voice and open the door, he will come in.
  • 00:24:02.417 --> 00:24:05.053
  • Question, have you asked jesus christ
  • 00:24:05.053 --> 00:24:07.422
  • To come and live inside of you?
  • 00:24:07.422 --> 00:24:09.391
  • You might say, "well, i think so, i'm not sure."
  • 00:24:09.391 --> 00:24:11.426
  • Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle of the
  • 00:24:11.426 --> 00:24:13.962
  • Night, do you think you would be aware of it?
  • 00:24:13.962 --> 00:24:16.665
  • I'm sure you would.
  • 00:24:16.665 --> 00:24:17.999
  • And in the same way, if christ has
  • 00:24:17.999 --> 00:24:21.169
  • Come to live inside of you, you will know.
  • 00:24:21.169 --> 00:24:22.537
  • And if you don't know, maybe he has not come in yet.
  • 00:24:22.537 --> 00:24:26.074
  • He's just a prayer away.
  • 00:24:26.074 --> 00:24:27.742
  • All you need to do is say, "jesus, i want this relationship
  • 00:24:27.742 --> 00:24:31.413
  • With you, i want you to forgive me of my sin,
  • 00:24:31.413 --> 00:24:34.182
  • I wanna go to heaven when i die."
  • 00:24:34.182 --> 00:24:36.384
  • Would you like to do that?
  • 00:24:36.384 --> 00:24:37.752
  • Would you like christ to come into your life?
  • 00:24:37.752 --> 00:24:40.121
  • If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
  • 00:24:40.121 --> 00:24:43.425
  • You can pray it out loud, or you can
  • 00:24:43.425 --> 00:24:45.494
  • Pray it in the quietness of your heart.
  • 00:24:45.494 --> 00:24:47.863
  • But this is a prayer where you're asking jesus christ to be
  • 00:24:47.863 --> 00:24:51.099
  • Your savior and lord, pray this with me now.
  • 00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:54.536
  • "lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner, but i know that you're
  • 00:24:54.536 --> 00:24:58.240
  • The savior, who died on the cross for my
  • 00:24:58.240 --> 00:25:01.543
  • Sin and rose again from the dead.
  • 00:25:01.543 --> 00:25:03.745
  • Now come into my life.
  • 00:25:03.745 --> 00:25:06.448
  • I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
  • 00:25:06.448 --> 00:25:10.952
  • Thank you for hearing this prayer
  • 00:25:10.952 --> 00:25:13.121
  • And answering this prayer.
  • 00:25:13.121 --> 00:25:14.789
  • In jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:25:14.789 --> 00:25:17.626
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:25:17.626 --> 00:25:19.728
  • If so, i want you to know in the authority of scripture that
  • 00:25:19.728 --> 00:25:22.797
  • Christ himself has come to live inside of you.
  • 00:25:22.797 --> 00:25:25.834
  • And i would love to send to you at
  • 00:25:25.834 --> 00:25:27.469
  • No charge "the new believers bible."
  • 00:25:27.469 --> 00:25:30.505
  • It's a very friendly translation of the new testament you'll
  • 00:25:30.505 --> 00:25:33.742
  • Find very understandable, and it's filled with hundreds of
  • 00:25:33.742 --> 00:25:37.279
  • Notes that i wrote that will encourage you in this commitment
  • 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:40.949
  • You've just made to follow jesus.
  • 00:25:40.949 --> 00:25:43.051
  • And let me be the first to say to you,
  • 00:25:43.051 --> 00:25:45.153
  • Congratulations, and welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:25:45.153 --> 00:25:55.163
  • Greg: greg laurie here.
  • 00:25:58.700 --> 00:26:00.068
  • You know, in harvest ministries, we're committing to reaching
  • 00:26:00.068 --> 00:26:02.771
  • Unexpected people in unexpected places with an
  • 00:26:02.771 --> 00:26:06.174
  • Unexpected message.
  • 00:26:06.174 --> 00:26:07.876
  • And thanks to your financial support, we've been able to
  • 00:26:07.876 --> 00:26:12.247
  • Touch people all over the world with the hope of jesus christ.
  • 00:26:12.247 --> 00:26:16.718
  • Your gifts today not only help us reach millions across the
  • 00:26:16.718 --> 00:26:20.455
  • Country through this television program, they also help us to
  • 00:26:20.455 --> 00:26:24.693
  • Bring hope to people and their biggest need, whether through
  • 00:26:24.693 --> 00:26:28.296
  • Our evangelistic events or our relief efforts.
  • 00:26:28.296 --> 00:26:31.066
  • Together, we've been able to minister to so many people
  • 00:26:31.066 --> 00:26:34.336
  • Devastated by the fires in lahaina on the island of maui,
  • 00:26:34.336 --> 00:26:38.373
  • And also, your support has helped us partner to bring
  • 00:26:38.373 --> 00:26:41.843
  • Medical help in the ongoing conflict in israel.
  • 00:26:41.843 --> 00:26:45.113
  • So i'm asking you today to continue to support this
  • 00:26:45.113 --> 00:26:48.283
  • Ministry so we can do everything possible to fulfill
  • 00:26:48.283 --> 00:26:52.220
  • The great commission.
  • 00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:53.888
  • Let's do this together, and let me say in advance, thank you
  • 00:26:53.888 --> 00:26:57.158
  • And god bless you.
  • 00:26:57.158 --> 00:26:58.593
  • Female announcer: jesus says that "where two or three are
  • 00:27:00.028 --> 00:27:02.464
  • Gathered in my name, there i am in the midst of them."
  • 00:27:02.464 --> 00:27:06.568
  • We are all different.
  • 00:27:06.568 --> 00:27:07.969
  • We have different interests, different personalities,
  • 00:27:07.969 --> 00:27:11.106
  • Different upbringings, and different ways we do life.
  • 00:27:11.106 --> 00:27:15.377
  • But here we have a deep connection and you are
  • 00:27:15.377 --> 00:27:20.649
  • Welcome here.
  • 00:27:20.649 --> 00:27:22.684
  • This is harvest.
  • 00:27:22.684 --> 00:27:27.255