What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. If you would like to know how you can become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org that's harvest.org general furnishings, things will even listen we need to pull together.

We need to work together that we need to bring together because there's power in United prayer coming up today. New beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie helps us gain our spiritual bearings facing the pandemic really any child.

You might encounter this bigger than 19 God is bigger than any problem you're facing right now. So don't worry freight time.

Maybe we've even said well we can do now is set almost as a fatalistic finale doing today on a new beginning. Greg Laurie points out. Prayer should be our first response at our last resort to be a source of hopefulness, not hopelessness, and we should remember, God wants to bring our challenges to his throne good encouragement coming your way.

Your Bible to Luke job well. The title of my message today is what to do when you don't know what to do. You know there is a sense of fear in the air right now. Consider these headlines that I read at a new site recently quote world on market bloodbath stocks crater oil plunge national emergency, anxiety, grips, companies across the world will reading things like this. What were all hearing on the news right now produces here. One expert made this statement and I quote were in this spear state, but the fear state. Turns down the immune system when you spread fear to your friends.

It's almost like spreading germs to them. You would want people to do that to you. Why do you do that to other people." That's very true so I've a message for all of you right now all of you are afraid. Here's the message from Jesus himself did not be afraid God is still in control. He's ruling from his throne in your life in my life right now as we put our faith in Jesus Christ.

The Bible says God is not given us a spirit of fear but of power love and a sound mind. By the way that sound mind means well-balanced, disciplined mind. So don't freak out. Churn your fear into faith during your worry into worship Junior panic in the prayer because the Bible says don't worry about anything but pray about everything in the peace of God that passes all human understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus out there are reasons to be afraid we want to be aware of what's happening to be practical, but then there are greater reasons not to be so. I have five points I want to make in this message and tell they all help in the start with a P.

So if you're taking notes here is point number one be practical.

Yes, this is a highly contagious virus, and that is why handshakes are out its fist bump time to avoid handshakes.

I was talking to a doctor and he said that there's so much bacteria on your hand a lot less. When you do a fist bump or some other way of greeting one another, wash her hands vigorously referred that a million times I become a ninja and washer. That's important. Another really important tip right now.

Don't drive slow in the fast lane, especially if you driver. I noticed something to do with the coronavirus, but that I just throw that in there okay number one be practical P number to be prayerful and this is very important and something we all should be engaged in.

We as Christians seem to be calling out to God Almighty for divine intervention for him to protect our country. I'm reminded of a story in the book of numbers of when a judgment of God was coming on the people and Aaron was instructed to take a live coal from the altar and put it in a sensor that would contain it and intercede on behalf of the people and the plague was turned away so that's what we do in prayer were standing in the gap were saying, Lord, save and preserve our country were praying for anyone who has COBIT 19 that they would have a rapid recovery. Pray for our medical professionals on the front line that are treating people for their protection. Pray for our president. The administration especially VP Pentz has been put over a task force to take point on dealing with COBIT 19 and and pray that the Lord turns his back. Listen we need to pull together. We need to work together and we need to pray together because there's power in United prayer.

Jesus said if any of you will agree here on earth concerning anything you was my father in heaven. It will be done for you. There's a story in the book of acts chapter 12 where we read that Simon Peter was arrested. He was imprisoned he was going to be executed. This was on the heels of James being arrested and executed. So what did the church do we read these words and X12 five constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. There's a lot of emperors constant prayer another one time prayer. The Bible says pray without ceasing.

Keep asking, keep seeking keep knocking Jesus says in the door will be open constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church power in United prayer temperature change things better believe it. During World War II there was something that's referred to as the Dunkirk miracle was a film made about this, but they left out the miracle part but what happened was the Nazis were closing in on the allies and the Allied troops were surrounded on three sides and backed up against the ocean, they would certainly all die and it was the intention of the German army to destroy them all. So King George called for a national day of prayer and the churches of the UK were filled to overflowing as believers pray and suddenly a weather front moved in, make it impossible for the Nazis to invade and then an armada of every can of sea craft. You can imagine came in little fishing boats, pleasure yachts, government ships and evacuated 300,000 people.

That's what they call it the Dunkirk miracle. We need a coronavirus miracle so I'm in a pray that my wife Kathy is going to pray. So let's all pray together. Father in heaven. You are all-powerful, you're also all loving, and you see how this pandemic has affected the country as well as the world and I'm praying that you will turn this back Lord again thinking of Aaron going out there and standing in the gap in praying we as your people are pray right now were asking you to arrest this virus.

We especially pray for the elderly that are more vulnerable that you would put a special hedge of protection around them. But Lord, we pray that this will cause us as Americans to get closer to you. I pray that this will result in many people believing in Jesus for the first time so we commit this to you. We pray now for our nation. In Jesus name. Father, we left at ourselves to you this day. We come humbly before you tell us that if we will humble ourselves and seek your face and turn from our wicked ways that you would hear from heaven, and learn. We as a nation are being humble us. We as a people are being humbles before you and we want to be like that sinner who came into the sanctuary and said God be merciful to me a sinner.

We are not coming in our own righteousness, or in her own strength. We are asking for your help here you tell us in your word that you carry the Israelites out of Egypt on wings of Eagles like they couldn't deliver themselves again walk out they didn't find out they didn't run out the work carried out we need you to carry us our anxieties, our worries or concerns are on uncertainties about the future are too much for our shoulders to carry that yours are brought enough. They are big enough we roll our burdens upon you, we cast our cares upon you for you care for us and we declare here tomorrow before the answer to our prayers is even given that we will give you thanks and praise. As you tell us in all things with prayer Thanksgiving letter requests be made known to you.

You are provider you are sustaining your strength.

You are hope you are peace in our joy and we look to you now.

Father made this be the spark that ignites revival and awakening in the world today. Not only here in America that globally.

May your church come alive, and may we do the work that you've called us stealing his last days at the mercy line were asking for your intervention care. We cannot do this without you. We ask this in Jesus name, Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message just a moment were encouraged when we hear the pastor Greeks teaching and preaching is touching lives on your crusade regarding 2000s wasn't for my mom will make your day. I probably saved my life here Christian church. I married my wife back together but they do no good. You know that your lost my daughter and your teaching….Help me really dark beautiful sunny life.

Thank you so much for always doing a good word Lord I appreciate your grateful to hear of the changed lives because of pastor Greeks teachings. If you have a story to tell of how these studies have touched your life for that of a family member.

I hope you'll email Pastor Greg's email is great@harvest.org again, that's great@harvest.org will Pastor Greg is working his way through five points from today's message called what to do when you don't know what to do. Number one. Be practical, never to be prayerful. Number three be proclaiming.

Look for opportunities to share your faith because I'm telling you right now people are scared people are alarm people are frightened people have questions and we have answers and I think we heaven on unprecedented opportunity as the church to go into all the world you we want all the world to go to church.

But Jesus wants the church to go to all the world, so look for these opportunities. I was in the drugstore the other day getting some things and I talked to the lady and she said she was a little bit scared and and I said well if you tried praying. Was it turns out she was a believer, but I was able to encourage what I'm telling you, there are people out there who are not believers you need to tell them that they can praying: God and pray for the but most importantly, engage them in a conversation about Jesus Christ and tell them how you as a believer have the peace that passes all understanding.

So number one be practical number to be prayerful.

Number three be proclaiming number four have perspective again. The last time I checked, God was still on the throne in Romans 828 is still in the Bible. Somebody check make sure it's still there.

I think it is again which says we know that all things work together for good to those that love God above the called according to his purpose. God loves you, he hears your prayers and know this God is bigger than the coronavirus, God is bigger than any problem you're facing right now, so don't worry.

Pray here are the words of Jesus to us in John 14. He says let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid in my father's house are many mansions and were not so I would've told you. I go to prepare a place for you if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, you may go. He also added these words you believe in God believe also in me know the word that Jesus uses Erfurt troubled as and do not be troubled is a picturesque word, it means don't let your heart shutter set up and you to you shutter little bit. You're a little frightened well don't let your heart be troubled. Jesus says and he says believe in God believe also in me. Other words I brought you this far. I'm not good what vanity we are in effect in the storm.

This storm has a beginning, middle and and then working to come through this storm to all of us. Jesus says do not be afraid only believe I want to look at the text they had to turn to a little bit earlier Luke chapter 1232 very straightforward text very easy to get in your mind. Jesus makes this statement. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

In this simple verse, God is identified for us in three ways. He's described for us as a shepherd father and the king suffers. Jesus says fear not, little flocks of God is a shepherd and we are his sheep. You know, sheep well how I put it delicately, are not the most intelligent animals in the face of the earth on more than one occasion. The Bible says worksheet were like sheep go astray. He's our Shepherd. We are the sheep of his pastor's Scripture tells us sheep are basically defenseless creatures.

They don't have teeth to buy, they can't run very fast. They don't of clause to scratch. Basically, there like a meal on four legs, it might as well just carry the mint jam with them. It's a email they need the help of the shepherd sheep are skittish. That's why when one goes astray. Others go astray.

So God is our Shepherd is going to take care of his flock number two God is the father who loves us, fear not, little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

You know, when Jesus taught us to pray the Lord's prayer even say after this manner therefore pray our creator Lord in heaven, though he is our creator noted even teach us to pray Almighty God, who art in heaven, he actually taught us to break our father who art in heaven see that speaks of relationship. When you become a Christian, God becomes your father. Listen, God is not everyone's father, God is everyone's creator, but he is only a father to those love: Only those who believed in him.

The Bible says, for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons of God, and in a few moments I want to tell you how to ask Christ to come of your life so you can start calling God father. This is a father that we have constant access to a father that the lights to hear our prayers what you that think a little differently. Think of them as a grandfather, grandfathers, a dad to. I am a father and a grandfather.

My role as a father is different than my role as a grandfather as a father, especially when my sons were younger. It's to instruct them. It's to guide them.

It's to prepare them. It's to equip them. It's to help them it's to warn them. Sometimes it's to discipline them, but as a grandfather, while those things are included. But really, in many ways my job is to just enjoy them you love them, maybe sometimes to spoil them and I want you to know that when you approach God. He is thrilled that you're there.

He's looking forward to hearing from you. He's your father in heaven. So Jesus says fear not, little flock, it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

God loves to bless you. God loves to provide for you are you need right out call of the Lord. The Bible says that if you calling him. You'll be safe. The Bible also says you have not because you ask not. The Lord will provide for you.

He's a father that loves you.

And finally he's our King during a little flock, it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. And when we talk about God as a king. It's a reminder that he's in control, that he's sovereign that he has all the power you need.

Listen, if God were small enough for your minds he wouldn't be big enough for your needs. As I already said, God is bigger than covert, 19 God is bigger than any problem you're facing right now in the Bible as the question is anything too hard for the Lord one last point number one be practical, never to be prayerful. Number three be proclaiming number four how perspective and now finally number five. Be prepared, be prepared. The Bible says prepare to meet your God, heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. Again Jesus said in John 14. In my father's house are many mansions and I prepared a place for you. Listen to this.

Only those who are prepared to die are really ready to live. How do you prepare to die means that you just know where you're going in the afterlife. Listen, you decide in this life where you will go in the afterlife. If you want to go to heaven. You have to make arrangements permanent travel from the West Coast of the East Coast. I don't just walked out of the airport and board a plane. I have to have a boarding pass. I have to have a driver's license. I have to go through security and then I take my seat and hopefully reach my destination. Listen, I talked about reservation God purchased your ticket for heaven 2000 years ago when Jesus died on the cross coming back to John 14 Jesus is where I go in the way you know.

And Thomas is actually we don't know where you're going and we don't know the way question Thomas and then Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life and no man comes to the father but by me.

Listen, there's only one way to the father and it's through Jesus why Jesus why not multiple-choice. Why not any religion we choose. Why not our own version that we come up with because there was only one person who is uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity. And it was Jesus who was the God band. Not a good man. He was that, but he was the God band not men becoming a God that's impossible.

God literally becoming a man.

Jesus is fully God fully man dying in our place. He came to. Did he did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay.

Then he rose again from the dead three days later and listen to this friend he standing at the door of your life and he's knocking anything. If you hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in think it right now.

Wherever you are hearing it on the radio, watching it on television wherever you're seeing this, Christ could come and live inside of you and forgive you of all of your sin and then you don't have to be afraid of what happened to be on the great is it will. How do you do that through prayer. He's just a prayer away. Allow me to introduce you to my friend Jesus Christ. He can come and live inside of your heart right now and forgive you of your sin and give you a piece in the middle of whatever storm you are in and the absolute assurance that when you die you will go to heaven. Listen, if you've never asked Jesus to come into your life. If you're not sure that you'll go to heaven when you die if you don't know with certainty that Christ is living in you pray this prayer with me wherever you are right now.

Just pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.

Jesus come in the my life now be my Savior be my Lord be my God, be my friend. I choose to follow you, Lord. From this moment forward. Thank you for hearing this prayer in answering this prayer in Jesus name I pray, Greg Lord important prayer. Listen if you have just prayed with Pastor Greg and it meant those words from your heart. First of all, welcome to the family of God and second would like to offer some help as you get started as a Christian would like to send you our new believers, growth factors, just get in touch and ask for will send it free of charge to those making a first time commitment to the Lord today. You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click the words know God, Prof. Greg, a counselor told me that many people are stressed and some don't even know it and I said well how can someone tell if they're under stress and she said if you find your first response to an offense is on a larger scale than the offense itself that stress. So if let's say it's a 5 pound offense, but you react with 25 pounds of anger and frustration. You are probably under stress yeah and I'll bet somebody listening right now just said I think I just did that.

So help us find out how we can destress our stressed-out life will I think when you're under stress.

Kind of like the expression meal. The straw that breaks the camels back a little thinking just blow everything up. And because you're already under this this intense pressure and this is why we need to continue to give our problems over to the Lord, you know the Bible says cast all your care upon him for he cares for you and that's why I always encourage believers when they're tempted to worry turn the worry into a prayer, so let's say you're just driving along or is it in home sheltering in place and all of a sudden you're just flooded with a bunch of anxiety and worry will turn those things in the petitions. Turn your problems in the petitions.

Turn your worries into worship. Turn your fear and the faith turn your hopelessness and the hope by reminding yourself of what the Bible says you know sometimes I just quote the Bible to myself because I forget the promises of God. We all do. This is why Peter wrote this epistle, I want to stir up your memory about these things. We as Christians need to constantly be reminded of the truth of the word of God and I've written a little book that is just out right now and I want to send to all of our listeners to help them get a biblical perspective and instead of turning a molehill into a mountain, they can turn their mountain into a molehill or just get a better view of the power of God in their life and his ability to help them through their difficulties in this book is simply called bringing Christ into your crisis.

You know you have a crisis you can face it alone you can invite Christ into illustration. The disciples were out there in the sea of Galilee and a great storm came and they began to despair for their lives and who shows up with Jesus walking on the water and the Bible says he acted as though he would keep walking. Interesting statement so it's almost as though he was passing by and they say Lord come, come to us, and he came on board their boat and everything changed his eBay effectively brought Christ into their crisis and that's what I'm encouraging people to do is invite Jesus into your situation. Invite Christ into whatever it is you're phasing and asked for his help.

So this book bringing Christ in your crisis is chock-full of verses and biblical truth that I think will help you get a divine perspective on what were all phasing together. I want to send it to you for free. I just want you to have it and really I want you to read it. But if you can support us financially at this critical moment would really appreciate it because of tell you what we have incredible opportunities before us and I think we can reach more people in this moment in time that may be any other time I can remember in my life so I would really appreciate it if you would not only support us financially, but if you would even become what we call a harvest partner met somebody who supports this every month with the regular gift. Whatever you can do as the Lord to give me direction as to what you would want to invest but if you believe people need to hear the gospel if you want to see people come to Jesus what that's were all about here at harvest ministries and on this radio broadcast a new beginning. So do what you can to support us and will get you your copy of bringing Christ in your crisis quickly and let me pass along her contact information. Thanks so much for your support can impact so many lives sure this critical time to write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org when next I Pastor Greg begins a full series on this unique time wherein called team life, good encouragement that speaks to the challenges we all face next time on a new beginning regulatory possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions@harvest.org