What Do You Live For? - II

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by some special friends of this ministry pastor Greg wanted to see a special word of thanks to the harvest partners who make this ministry possible next time your online check out Pastor Greg's personal blog@blog.greglaurie.com. To live is a crying guy is doing when you delivered price that hurt.

You'll be with him in heaven. Some people think is the and coming up today. Maurice is really a beginning. It's a whole new verse 23 of Philippians 1 with Christ, which is far, far better for my friends and why won't it is better because I go to be with Christ. This way the love and order and appetite for dinner. Main courses sure are. They said that the appetizer course is over. Not usually when we focus on this line we have to remember that real living begins.

On the other side of eternity. When were in paradise in the presence of God today on a new beginning for Greg Laurie offers a heavenly challenge as we face see there's a better day, what, what would you say is the master passion of your life right now we would get you fired up what wakes you up in the morning. What do you live for some people might say well I just I just live to live. You know to get a day at a time like to them as mere existence. You almost describe it as an animal like condition. They have no philosophy to speak of.

They have no objective that they live for. They just sort of live for the moment. Maybe they live by the adage of it feels good do it or they just say eat drink and be merry. But that's a bad philosophy folks, another person might say well for me to live is because sessions they have a bumper sticker on the back of the Ferrari.

You guys are the most toys when I might add… Nothing you dies of the most toys wins nothing. Some people are simply enduring rather than enjoying their lives favorite day of the week is something someday it will get better someday my Prince will come someday I'll find that perfect relationship and here's a problem you can spend your whole life just waiting and then death comes and then the afterlife comes in.

You effectively thrown your life away. Solicitor this only the person is prepared to die is really prepared to live here and are the words of the apostle Paul, in answer to the question what you live for what you live for.

Here's what Paul writes Philippians 1 verse 21 for me to live is Christ, the die is gain.

If I live on in the flesh that will mean fruit from my labor for what I'll choose.

I cannot tell I'm hard pressed between the two having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you being confident of this. I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. Point number one if you're taking notes when you live for Christ.

You'll think of others when you live for Christ.

You'll think about. As Paul said for me to live is Christ that we hear someone say from you live is Christ with an all menu of your head in the clouds and you're out of touch with reality vector so heavenly minded you're no earthly good. But when you really a heavenly minded person when you're really a person who's living for Christ. It's a practical spirituality. You know there are people that are that specie. Wild eyed one clown short of a circus look, you know, and they try to make everything so spiritual they will laugh at anything or enjoy anything. Remember I described them as Bobby buzz kill and his girlfriend Debbie downer don't be that person.

A godly person, one who is living for Christ as a caring, loving person with practical spirituality. What kind of representative are you as a follower of Jesus. Are you a bridge or a barrier people coming to Christ. Are you a staircase or are you a stumbling block. It's really up to you because you are being watched.

Now listen to what Paul says to live is Christ and did die is gain. Paul was well we might describe them as homesick for heaven where he had never been to have it actually. He had you see we read about Paul being stoned of her preaching the gospel. They thought he was dead. They prayed for him to come back to life and he came back again and Paul writes about in the book of Corinthians when he says, I knew a man in Christ whether he was in the body or out of the body. I can't remember what he was caught up into the spirit and saw things he can't really describe. So basically what happened was, Paul died went to heaven.

Thinking back to work. So no, Paul writes, and he says look I'm kind of torn between the two because I want to go to heaven and be with Christ.

But I think it's important for me to be here with you bringing me to point number two when you live for Christ.

You're not afraid to die. When you live for Christ. You're not afraid to die.

Look at Philippians 123 I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

You know there's three words that describe what this means that really help us to understand it one word that is used when he says I want to depart is a word that is used by soldiers when they strike the tent or break, so the moving on. So when a believer dies. It's like were striking the tent you like to camp. You know you get out there and you set up your tents and everything ready and and get on the in the moment comes, you have to break Other people of motorhomes. I don't think I call it camping big giant plasma television sets and you know satellite dish on top but I guess that's camping in a way going to the beach to me.

My favorite part of going to the beach is when I get there and when I leave and I'll go to the beach. I'm so excited, so grade the sons out 10 and its perfect temperature and I love this and there's nobody here and I set up my towel and get some books put my sunglasses on and all of a sudden someone shows up in there like I don't know why there's like all the space and they sit there tell up right next to yours and then they have a really loud radio there listening to, or somebody else pulls up right next to you in there talking on their phone on speaker so your hearing the whole conversation, then the kids show up and and then the seagulls, they start stealing your food in and flying off with your children and all the problems in common.

Your hot legal.

I want to leave. I want to go home and take a shower so policy in effect striking the tent.

It's like breaking The Bible more than one occasion compares our body to a tent.

Tents are not a permanent residence know you can do whatever you want with your tent, you can paint it. You can stretch it. You do whatever you want Patchett but it's only meant to be a temporary residence in our body is like a tent. Paul writes in second Corinthians 5 with this earthly tent we live in is taken down.

That is when we got in. Leave these bodies we have a home in heaven, and eternal body made for us by God himself, not made by human hand. So I want to depart break Another way to illustrate the part is to be free from your chain's or on shackle. Paul was locked up, chained up, if you will, to a Roman guard so dead for a believer is like being freed from the chains talking to somebody right now that is very ill. You're immobilized you. You can't do what you used to do and one day you're going to be freed from the pain of the body or in an you're going to be liberated. That's how Paul is describing that I want to be freed from the shackles and go and be with the Lord.

And finally, he uses a word that could be described as untying the boat from its mooring. Another way to put it is set sail set sail so when you believe in Jesus and that they come through you to go to heaven or setting sail for the afterlife. And when we lose a love one hour set. Said because we miss them and we wish they had not left us member having enjoyable moment with family or friends and we think all I wish they could be with me right now but you know, as I said earlier, nobody in heaven if given the choice would ever come back to earth again. She it's not sad if you're setting sail for a better destination. Let's say that you were getting on a rusty freighter destination Siberia. I'd be very sad as I waved to you on the dot. But let's say you're on a luxury cruise ship destination Tahiti I'd feel sorry for myself because I'm not on the ship with you going to a beautiful place when a believer dies there headed to a beautiful place far greater burden for Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment were encouraged when we hear the pastor Greg's teaching and preaching is touching lives Greg Martin New York on I would say that your crusading mattress where Barton values wasn't for my mom, Paul.

Make your day be would appear that I probably saved my life after your Christian church. I married my wife baptized together but they do know you stay good you know and that's your loss. My daughter and your teachings on that subject. Help me through a really dark time now I have two beautiful sunny and will picking up will be left off lose 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 Greg's teachings.

If you have a story to tell of how the 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 today. Pastor Greg is presenting a message called, what do you live for.

Point number one is when you live for Christ. You'll think of others point to when you live for Christ. You're not afraid to die. Let's continue now bringing me the point number three. When you look for Christ on earth, you'll be with him in heaven look at verse 23 of Philippians 1.

I want to be with Christ, which is far better.

By the way, this is a strong word in the Greek can be translated far far better, not just better, but way better for my friends in a lightbulb at a broad, it's way better. Heaven is so much better then earth why will because heaven is better because removing from intent to mention this dates me. Of course, but remember that TV show the Beverly hillbillies. Jed was moving from not a great place to a wonderful place in the sitcom were going to go from up broken body in aging body, a sinful body to a new body that God will ultimately give us in his presence. No more double. No more temptation no more sinful inclination. It's better and it's better because it's immediate, it's better than when we go to heaven because it's a media Paul writes depart and be with Christ.

Paul do not see the parting go to a waiting room. I hate waiting you go to the doctor's office and you wait and why are all of the magazines from a year ago, get new magazines already. Or how about waiting in an airport terminal. You just sit there and wait.

Your flight is delayed anyway. Then you wait what I so what happens when a believer dies, you don't go to a waiting room. You don't go to a place called purgatory because no place called purgatory actually exists when a believer dies they go straight to heaven.

The moment you take your last breath on earth you take your next breath. In heaven this is the wonderful thing. Paul writes in second Corinthians 58. I'm confident and willing rather to be absent from my body and to be present with the Lord. It's better because all my questions will be answered will of questions for God, don't we would like to ask God this why did you allow this. Why didn't you do that. I heard about one woman's question for God in an ambitious moment. She invited a lot of people to a dinner party at her house and at the table.

She turned to her six-year-old daughter and said honey why don't you say the blessing little girl simple mommy. I don't know what to say and the mom said why don't you just say what you hear mommy say the girl said okay mommy and then she prayed Lord why on earth that I invite all these people to dinner didn't work out so well for mom but we all have serious questions for God and one the other will be answered because first Corinthians 13 says right now we don't see things clearly. What I know is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, as God knows me so one day it's all going to be revealed to you, but most importantly, heaven is better because I go to be with Christ.

I want to depart and be with Christ to let me loopback to the question I asked in the beginning. What do you live for. If you would say for me to live is money than for you to die is to leave it all behind you would say for me to live is faint than for you to die is to be forgotten.

If you would say for me.

Live is power for you to die is to lose all but if you would say for me to live is Christ in you can say to die is gain for only the Christian can say to live is Christ and the die is gain. We don't have to fear death because Jesus conquered death at the cross and the empty tomb at the cross. He defeated sin at the empty tomb. He defeated death, death died when Christ rose and Jesus says I am the resurrection of the life he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. Whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe in him is a will. Yes, I believe there is a God why I believe there was a God to when I was a young man and I knew God was up there somewhere, but I didn't know I could have a relationship with him. That was a new thought for me and I remember my high school campus. It was a group of very outspoken people that we call the Jesus freaks that was my complement, my friends wore me Greg. Stay away from the Jesus race and I said the last thing you'll ever see is Greg Laurie becoming a Jesus freak. Famous last words that I begin to watch these Christians and I saw the joy and happiness they had honey, that's one thing to be happy for. On Friday, these crazy people were happy first. On Monday the why are they happy like that and I want to dismiss them as all nuts or crazy people, but the problem was. I knew a few of them because I used to party with them and I saw they had something I didn't have see at that time I was using drugs. My life was going the wrong direction.

I was empty. I was searching and one day I sat a few feet away from a little Bible study.

They were having on the front lawn of my high school campus in these Christians. These Jesus freaks were singing songs about God and as I watch them sing it. I tried a novel thought on the new thought and I thought what if it's all true. What if they really have a relationship with God. I quickly dismissed it. I returned to it again careful one of its true. What if they know the Lord and then the guy got up to speak his name was Lonnie. He had long hair and a beard. You can look like Jesus.

Frankly, this back in hippie days, and he made one statement I only remember the statement. He said more but I remember he said Jesus said your for me or against me.

I looked around at those Christians as a welder. Therefore, I'm not one of them is that mean I'm against God said believe there was a God I'd seen all the movies about Jesus. I admired him, but I saw him as a historical figure that lived and died a never thought of him in the here and now and then that guy. Lonnie said if you want Jesus to come in your life.

Get up and walk forward and pray and some kids walk forward and I hung my head down. I had hereby thinning in my eyes. Use your imagination used of the great wave surfer wave, now's your speech.

Reset. Anyway, I hung my head.

Hearing in my eyes and I thought there's no way I could do that next thing I knew I was up there praying, I didn't plan to becoming a Christian that day. Let me assure you, but that was the day my life changed. That was the day Christ came into my life. Listen to me this is the day your life can change.

This is the moment Christ can come into your life and let me come back to that statement. Jesus said your form your against me. You either are a follower than a believer in Jesus Christ you're opposed to him or do you stand is Christ living inside of you right now so I don't know will listen. I think of God Almighty has taken residence in your heart you will know it if you don't know.

I would have to ask Izzy living in your heart, maybe not listening just a prayer away. When you allow me to show you the way.

It's as simple as praying and sing God. I know I'm a sinner and I ask you to forgive me of my sin in Jesus Christ will live inside if you so I'm in a lead you in a simple prayer. Would you just pray this prayer with me and if you want Jesus Christ to come in your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to know that when you die you will go to heaven if you want your guilt taken away. Pray this prayer after me right now.

Just pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner but I know you are the Savior I ask you to forgive me of my sin come in the my life.

I turned from that sin I choose to follow you from this moment in Jesus name I pray, amen. Pastor Greg Laurie praying with those were making a decision for Christ today, and if you made that change would like to help you as you begin to walk with the Lord would like to send you our new believers gross packet is free of charge for those making a first time commitment to Christ today. Just ask for it as you write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.or faster. Greg nobody really suck over 19 coming you know you go back some months ago and this just wasn't on anybody's radar just about everybody had jobs and the economy was doing great and people were watching sports on TV and playing sports down at the park and then all of a sudden it it seems like life unraveled just a matter of days.

What is that tell us about assuming tomorrow was always going to be as good as today.

Yeah.

While none of us know none of us are even guaranteed tomorrow but I'll tell you so many things of change, so 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 to get out so the other day I went with my wife and we I want to get a little malt. This place has a thing called a DHA 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 it above my face you know when I'm out interacting with people type put it on the walk given the first thing I said was this is not a hold up. 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 but anyway yeah you know we never are promise to 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 these days of the coronavirus and I would love to rush you a copy of my brand-new book bringing Christ into your crisis.

That's right.

And listen, if you consider investing on a regular basis. Ask about becoming a harvest partner, we can pass along all the details and again Pastor Greg's new book is titled bringing Christ into your crisis. You can write a set a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest God for the Bible tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Ever wonder about that passage.

That's the theme next time. As Pastor Greg continues his series quarantine life to begin to join us and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions at harvest data work