This Is Not a Drill! - II

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God check out virtue our website for Christian women go to harvest.org/virtue uses everything we want to give God love all that we are all that we have come from God coming up today on a new beginning.

Pastor Gregori wonders we are just as generous with God. Your life you gave you your job, your help from God doesn't like me. The being right every believer's and give their finances to the Lord and every Sunday was a beautiful day you gotta get out for every Sunday morning belongs to God was the weather for devotions. Every morning she didn't sleep well.

God isn't content with the leftovers of our lives. He wants to be top priority today on a new beginning. Greg Laurie points out that principal even extends to work that the story is told when the Constitution of the United States by America officially became a nation. A crowd of people were standing outside of the meeting room were founding fathers were waiting to find out what happened again by Mrs. Powell saw Benjamin Franklin and said so Mr. Franklin what type of government have you and your delegates given us, and Franklin famously responded a Republic about them if you can keep it. The idea was okay. We've laid the foundation. Now it's up to you to see what you do with it what the foundation was laid in Jerusalem the walls and rebuilt the temple was there but they were not keeping it there were not doing well at all started well but they were not fishing well listen. It's great to have a great start and a great finish but you can even have a mediocre start or even a bad start and have a great finish. But here's what's not good the greatest of starts in a horrible finish. If you're running in a race and you don't finish the race. It doesn't matter if you've held the first place position for 9/10 labs if you don't finish the race. You don't win the prize and the same is true of the Christian life we want to finish strong and you know what you decide right now how you're going to do later in life, you will decide later.

The evening of your life is decided by the morning of your life. The end from the beginning. So here you are, you been married two years and you say I want to have a strong marriage 42 years later, okay, great.

You decide that right now and every day you do everything you can to strengthen the marriage. Don't wait until your older because when you get older the problem is you get set in your ways you like routine you like predictability you like to do things the way you've always done them no decide now establish good habit patterns now. You're the one who will decide how it's all going to end up in the same is true of the Christian life.

You know, we start out with a bang. But if we put it into cruise control Houston we have a problem.

The key is maintenance.

The Bible says work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God the works in you both to will and do of his good pleasure does not state work for your own salvation. As you can know you work it out to see it's given to you is a gift of God. You can work it out as the apostles John and Paul said we can work it out.

John Lennon, Paul McCartney would be to forget it, of secure cultural reference a giggle. What what what verses that's not a verse of the song, forget it. Okay when you are to explain the cultural reference. It didn't work, but we can work it out.

So when Paul says, work out your own salvation. It means discover what God is giving you.

He uses a word that speaks of being in a mine and pulling the gold out so it's a lifelong discovery of growing and learning and being transformed. You never reach a plateau work. One good I don't need to go to church anymore. I don't need read the Bible anymore. I'm I've arrived know you haven't, I think the one way you know you're growing spiritually is when you realize you need to continue growing spiritually at something to keep in mind that one of the ways you know you're not doing well spiritually is when you think you don't need to keep growing spiritually so let's backtrack a little bit then will come to get to the conclusion but let's pick up chronologically where we left off last time you remember me on my returns. They rebuild the walls address brought out of mothballs. He led the first wave of Jews returning to Babylon.

He helped to rebuild the temple. He had been largely inactive. They bring about again. He read Scripture to the people for three hours and they confess their sins to God for three hours and there's this great revival that breaks out and know the people make a series of very significant commitments to the Lord and that's where we picked up were in Nehemiah 10 point number one of your taking notes. They surrendered to the word of God.

They surrendered to the word of God.

Nehemiah 1028 then the rest of the people, the Pres, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers and temple servants and all what separated themselves from the pagan people of the land in order to obey the law of God, together with their wives, sons and daughters and all who are old enough to understand. They swore an oath, they bound themselves with an old and they swore a curse on themselves. If they failed to obey the law of God is issued by his servant Moses, they solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commandments regulations and decrees of the Lord our God. There is a serious another siding on the dotted line. You know you can go look at a car all you want. I love this time I buy this car. I want to get this car and when the essay come going forward. So you going to say I'm ready to buy the car and they bring out hundreds of sheets of paper that you have to sign sign sign sign sign and sign the same is true when you stand in front of a pastor and before your friends and family and state your vows to your husband or your wife to be.

You're making a commitment publicly and that's why think it's it's a great thing to make a public stand for Jesus Christ to sort of seal the deal when you're baptized at the public commitment.

People can see if they should see it when you make that first stand in front of your nonbelieving friends at your workplace or on your campus.

You say I am a Christian. Have you made a public profession of your faith.

Does your family know you're a Christian all your family, your extended family to people in your neighborhood know you're a Christian to people in your workplace.

Know your Christian people on your campus know you're a Christian to people that folly one social media know that you are a Christian make your stand for Christ publicly because Jesus said if you'll stand there for me all stand up for you and so we make that stand and we stand by that stand that we have made no optimal say we believe the Bible will say we love the Bible and we will quote the Bible but will we surrender what the Bible says this is the requested. Don't just quoted to me. Don't to say how much you love it will use surrendered to what the Bible says when he restated will you surrender to what the Bible says on every single topic.

I used to have a little plaque years ago that said, God said it, I believe it, that settles it is that sum up the way you feel will come back to that point in the moment. Point number two they separated themselves from ungodly influence. They separated themselves from ungodly influence of the diverse 28 then the rest of the people the Pres Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the pagan people of the land in order to obey the law of the Lord.

We promise to not let our daughters Mary the pagan people of the land and not let our sons marry their daughters. Note the cause and effect they separated in order to obey look at it again.

They had separated themselves from the pagan people in order to obey the law of the Lord. Listen to this.

If you want to live a godly life. You will need to separate yourself from some things and some people and in exchange.

Surround yourself with other things and other people someone sums it up perfectly. It's as blessed as a man. The walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, or stands in the way of sinners or sits in the seat of the scornful God is.

The lie is in the law of the Lord in the unit does he meditate day and night, so you had to separate from one thing enjoying yourself to another the problem of the Israelites. They had a constant problem with the they kept getting pulled down by ungodly people, they would intermarry with pagan people and end up doing pagan things to see and that's usually what happens when believers Mary non-believers see the promise. Generally, the believer does not pull the nonbeliever, but rather the nonbeliever pulls the believer down now, having said that, with a while I miss what I'm saying don't marry a nonbeliever. I'm not saying don't have contact with nonbelievers because how we gonna reach people with the gospel of we don't have contact with them. Separation does not mean isolation you might be surprised to know that when I have friendships with nonbelievers and I have friends that don't know the Lord and we talked and I stand for what I stand for and they know what I believe.

But I don't expect nonbelievers to behave is believers. I'm not going to harp on those things that you happen to be doing as much as I'm going to try to point you to Christ because once you come to Christ all those other things will get sorted out. So that's my main objective with the nonbeliever bring them pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here.

I wanted tell you about a great way to hear God's word and worship with fellow believers, not only around the nation.

But around the world.

It's called Harvest at Home. Millions are turning in from all over the planet and tens of thousands of make decisions for Jesus Christ when I join us. You just go to our website harvest.more.

We have our weekend services there. Of course, but we also have great industry.

There every single day. Sometimes it's visiting the message from a harvest Crusade another time. It's a Q&A session were doing.

Maybe it's something my wife is doing for the ladies, we even feature Christian films researchers lost boy's life story McQueen American icon and hope for hurting hearts with Jeremy can Nick voyage all that and a lot more harvest.org human resource for family enrichment and spiritual growth. So join us for Harvest at Home each week@harvest.org pastor Greg is bringing his practical insights on standing for faith from the book of Nehemiah for a permanent copy of today's message titled, this is not a drill.

Go online to harvest.org cleanup point number three.

They were invested in God's kingdom. They were invested in God's kingdom there making this valid giver 32.

In addition, they say, we promise to obey the command to pay the annual temple tax of 1/8 of an ounce of silver for the care of the Temple of our God. Verse 35. We promise to bring the first part of every harvest of the Lord's temple year after year, whether it be from a crop, the soil from our fruit trees of this is primarily an agricultural culture, livestock, culture so they would bring their offerings, it would often be something from the field or something from the flock, etc. today, we would not do that we would bring finances, but the point in principle is still the same. But you know, a lot of times we don't want to give God our best notice they brought the firstfruits the best we want to give God leftovers the other day I was with my son Jonathan and his son Christopher, my grandson and Jonathan gave Christopher a little bag of chips, so is eating these chips and join them. Jonathan says hey buddy can I have a chip Christopher said no.

He says son I have a chip cadet of a chip, Christopher seizes crunching up like he's in pink.

No son give me a chip I needed chip I give you those chips give me a chip back you think using an agony he reaches into pulls out the most pathetic little chip you bear is just microscopic pennies. It's even hard for him to give it over his like turning away like here to get all and is that says no I want a big chip call since I give me a big chip son give you good chip he finally I thought this is so much like us and God. God gives us everything God gave you the bag of chips man to give you your life. He gave you your job. He gave you your help. It's all from God. God says, I like to get back a percentage to meet the two of you paying right that's what this is all about. There were going to bring the very best of the Lord God established certain laws for the nation of Israel regarding tithing to be more to bring 1/10 of the material resources to the temple bring the best not the worst summons. It will tithing is not in the New Testament. Therefore, I will give nothing to God ever Brilliant deduction I'm being sarcastic by the way, listen to this 10% is entry level that's not where you stop. That's where you start.

Listen to this in the New Testament the standards of the Old Testament are always raised never lower. Let me say that again in the New Testament. The standards are never lowered.

There always raised friends and Jesus said to her that it has been said, you shall not murder but I say to you, if you look at some moment he did in your heart that's like you murder them you overheard speaking of the Old Testament that it has been said 10 Commandments, you shall not commit adultery but I see you. If you look at a woman with lust in your heart. That's the same as committing adultery what any do the lower the bar know we actually raises the bar so it comes down to this. Listen, every believer should give of their finances to the Lord now is like this tough preachers talking about money when the second. What is your discomfort really over. Remember earlier point, we surrendered to the word of God we love you what the Bible says about prayer, about hold about the return of Christ about comfort yeah amen amen. And then there's giving you a little EMR like Christopher with the little chip we should welcome everything the Bible says about everything and just do it so was the Bible say Paul deals with it extensively in the book of first Corinthians chapter 16.

Here's what we learn and you can write these notes down with these things up later. Every believer should give systematically. Every believer should give systematically. Paul told the believers in Corinth to set aside a sum of money on the first day of every week for them. That would be Sunday. Christians are to give systematically, not sporadically, or when it occurs to that. I think that's why electronic giving is so fantastic. That's how we get from our home, and by the way that's that's just the we tithe. Of course, but then we give above that I don't see that the boast but just I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do as a Christian I happy to do it but you know you can do electronically and it happens automatically.

But however you do it you should give systematically number two we are to give proportionately where to get proportionally. Paul says in first Corinthians 16, everyone should give in keeping with their income so look something.

Give more. Some can give less but everyone should give something number three we are to give joyfully, joyfully, Paul writes in second Corinthians 9. Six. Remember this, a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop with the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must decide in your heart how much to give.

And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully will say well I can give cheerfully. Therefore, I'll never do again to be like tonight.

I can pray cheerfully will never pray together. I can read the Bible happily because I get boards on the read the Bible you know change your heart man get in sync with God. Would Jesus say it is more blessed or happy to give than to receive. Do you understand what he's saying you think keeping your stuff makes you happy. Jesus is giving her stuff makes you happy. If you want to be happy to what he says and he wants a blessing that will come your way. One last point, if you follow God's principles about giving you can expect him to meet your need. If you follow God's principles on giving. You can expect him to meet your needs. Second Corinthians. I made God will give generously and provide all your need and you'll always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with other UC so God does not promise to supply your greens, but he does promise to meet your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Listen, this is like a double test, God tests us and we can test God in this rare moment to test about so I love Jesus, all at someone about okay are you following these principles. It's a test of really your commitment because were a man's treasure is, there will his heart be also. But then we can test God is what you talking about. The Bible says don't does God hold on. One time God says test you know where it is Malachi, God says, put me to the test on this one.

Bring your ties into your offerings into the storehouse, listen, God says, and watch this. I will open up the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing so great you will not have room enough to receive it put me to the test on this one. So it's a double God with the people he knew him and see what Greg Laurie with insights on the only time in Scripture were God invites us to test him today's message on a new beginning is titled.

This is not a drill. Were you able to join us for the whole half-hour.

If you missed any of the insight you can listen to the program again by going to harvest.org just look for that message titled, this is not a drill stream it while you're on our site or download MP3 for later, or to order a CD call 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 – Greg nobody really saw a covert, 19 coming in are you you go back some months ago and this just wasn't on anyone's radar just just about everybody had jobs and the economy was great and people were watching sports on TV and playing sports done with the Parkin and then it seems like life unraveled in just a matter of days ago. What does that tell us about assuming tomorrow is always going to be just the same as it was today.

Yeah. While none of us know none of us are even guaranteed a tomorrow but I'll tell you so many things of changeup tell you one thing did the dumbest thing ever purchased was a 2020 planner is of much value right now will you talk about a blank schedule and I'm very busy actually but a lot of my busyness sometimes is travel and things like that my not doing any of those things.

But I'm doing a lot at home but never did I imagine in my wildest dreams that I would go to a bank teller with a mask on asking for money, get out, so the other day I went with my wife and we I want to get a little malt this place as this thing called a DJ can know that sounds weird but it's a little shake made with dates and you put a little nutmeg on top. It's quite nice that I had this the scarf on that I'm wearing right now is a matter of fact. And so I pulled above my face you know when I'm out interacting with people side put it on and walked in and the first thing I said was this is not a holdup. I just want to date shake right so that's a crazy times were living in, but the good news is I haven't been late for anything for three weeks so but anyway yeah you know we never are promised a tomorrow. But here's the good news. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever.

He's been sufficient for us in our past still be sufficient for us in each day and always will be there for us and our future and I think we need to remember that God is in control of our lives if we put our faith in Jesus Christ.

As I've often said the word lupus is not in God's vocabulary. So we don't need to panic. We need to pray, we don't need to worry, we need to worship. We need a biblical perspective and I've written a brand-new book called bringing Christ into your crisis and it deals with topics like how to handle your fear, how to deal with your anxiety and how to us the Lord to help you how to trust in the Lord in these difficult times were all phasing together in a whole lot more. I want to send you this book for get ready for it to really use echo. I want to send you this book for free, free.

Yes that's right no charge.

You can have it is my gift to you.

But if you would be able to support us right now. Financially, I'd really appreciate that because there are incredible doors open for us to reach more people than we have ever reached before you know that this radio program is of some value.

I hope to you or members of your family and would you like to see other people here and where they're living well when you invest in our ministry. You help us to look at new opportunities to bring the gospel to the world you know Jesus said to the church of Philadelphia which I believe is a really the church of the last days. Jesus said to her, and I believe us, in effect, I've said before you an open door, and no man can shut it.

We want to walk through this open door of opportunity and if you will pray with us if you will support us. We can do a lot more than we can do without it. So, prayerfully consider what you can do to help us as we reach out to our nation, and indeed our world do these days of the coronavirus and I would love to rush you a copy of my brand-new book bringing Christ into your crisis.

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Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest God for Pastor Greg returns with one final installment in this wrapup message in the book of Nehemiah.

Some of the most practical counsel yet coming next time you beginning and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions@harvest.org