The Danger of the Compromised Life - I

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 visual versus asking questions like wound healing. This thing is still technically be a Christian is the best question. You could be here right now Jesus gave his all Calvary sins of mankind today. Pastor Greg Laurie invites us to be fully committed to him this thing and still be a Christian.

The better question would be, since I am what can I do to get closer to God. Loyalty and faithfulness to us about your grow promising to love, honor, and cherish that I'm still going to be some other girls on the side good relationship is defined by how much we do for the other, not by how much we can get away with just as we want to have a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie points out, the same dynamic applies in our spiritual life to the Lord and reassess our spiritual go the old with the devil will always live to bring that up because now we got Moses trying to get the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt and Pharaoh is saying no court.

The Lord appeared to Moses at the burning bush and commission him and he was the return to the court of Pharaoh where he once lived as a young Egyptian friends to demand the release of the Jews, and specifically to say to the Pharaoh going to go three days journey into the wilderness that offer a sacrifice to the Lord. But the Lord also told Moses. This is not going to be easy. The bear is going to be resistant of the fair was going to harden his heart and I will get to see all the Pharaoh tries to negotiate with Moses how he tries to reach a compromise with Moses but the Pharaoh's intent was never to release the Jews. I was just aware Moses down and it's a picture of what happens when we try to do deals with the devil so the Lord sent a series of plagues upon Egypt 10 in total, each gaining in intensity as the Pharaoh's heart grew harder. Why did God send these plagues number one if you're taking notes. They were a direct answer to Pharaoh's question, which was always the Lord that I should obey him. She Pharaoh thought he was the Lord Pharaoh thought he was God. He was the most powerful man on the face of your Moses comes into was Gordon says the Lord said, many of the Pharaoh's reaction is who is the Lord that I should obey God.

So that's a good question. I'm an answer that for you to God's in the series of plagues to show his mighty power. That's point number two. The plagues were a demonstration of God's power from the death of the firstborn to the darkness. They came over the land from the bugs to the frogs. God was showing his power. Exodus 915 says number three. The plagues were a judgment on the Pharaoh in Egypt for their cruel treatment of the Jew. Remember that the Lord made a promise to Abraham and his descendents. The Jewish people is that I will bless them that bless you I will curse those that curse you, and so Pharaoh cursed the juicy was a pose of the Jews in the face the repercussions of that.

So the Lord was keeping this promise there and for them. Lastly, the plagues of the emptiness and futility of the false gods of Egypt to the Egyptians worshiped all kinds of crazy stuff they worship the Nile River is a God. They worship this fraud.

This thing had get the head of a frog.

The body of a woman, sort of a goddess of fertility.

They worship insects, and so the Lord so you worship. Oh, you want God to give you more gods and you can shake a stick out of the various plagues came in number one, of course, was the Nile River turning the blood of the Egyptians considered the Nile River. Sacred. It also was essential, because they got their drinking water from there so it was turn the blood. Ironically, in their minds by the staff of Moses was that matter because the Egyptians and I'm not really sure why look down on shepherds. That was a lowly undistinguished profession in their minds like telemarketer I don't know what to compare it to. And so for Moses to come now as a shepherd and to do these miracles to the staff of a shepherd was sort of an insult to the pride of Egypt and the touches that stopped to the Nile and it turns the blood.

Then there was an invasion of France frogs everywhere frogs in your bed frogs on the floor frogs in the oven frogs in the fridge frog singing about the ceiling and the Pharaoh was starting to freak out a little bit even starting to crack and he said Pray that God makes the frogs go away and Moses prayed in the frogs all died in Madison the Bibles of the land spank, that's great. King James translation there, but still Pharaoh was hardly in his heart. Now plague number three that thousands millions of gnats followed by an invasion of spiders, tics and beetles. This was the first case of Beatlemania in history. Ladies and gentlemen, Rachel, that's a company on understood there was a limitation about Sullivan out of you know what Sullivan is all the young people a window Google on Ed Sullivan, the Beatles, you get the joke and even if you Google it, you won't think it's funny but still feels were British band many years ago, John, Paul, George and Ringo anyway so the invasion appeals inset everywhere in these gnats and these flies were getting into their eyes into their ears into their nostrils.

I can't stand flies.

They bugged me that there's a fly in the house. I will chase that fly down. I want to get that fly employees seem to have it out for me.

Let me illustrate that a harvest America event in AT&T Stadium in 2018. I think I was the target of a fly. All I wanted to do at that moment. Trust me when I tell you this is put down my microphone and gel that fly right so the invasion of in text Beatles life and flies in even the Pharaoh's magicians could not replicate this one. They acknowledge in Exodus 819 this is the finger of God, the Pharaoh's heart just got harder and harder. Okay no will get a look at how the Pharaoh tried to trick Moses and Aaron into doing what he wanted them to do so. Go to Exodus chapter 8 and read verses 25 to 28. I'm reading from the new living translation. Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. All rights go ahead and offer sacrifices to your God notices, but do it here in the land you might underline that phrase doing here in the land to come back to Moses apply what I would be right. The Egyptians attest the sacrifices that we offer to the Lord our God.

We offer our sacrifices here with the Egyptians can see us. They will stone us. We must take a three-day trip into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God is, he has commanded us Pharaoh replied all right, go ahead. I'll let you go to the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God, but don't go too far away underline that phrase as well.

Don't go to far away. No hurry. And pray for me. Very interesting passage of Scripture verse.

The Pharaoh says in verse 25.

Offer your sacrifices here in the land.

At first it sounds good. It's a breakthrough not for all. Would Moses and Aaron first went to see the Pharaoh was a flat out no not only that, but do it insult to injury. He took the straw away from the Israelites of the used to make break there to collect their own straw making their job harder.

Things weren't going well, but as a successor plagues came upon Egypt. The Pharaoh is starting to crack now is trying to negotiate really what he's trying to do is where Moses down what in God's command. Three days journey into the wilderness. Why, because God wanted as much distance for Israel from Egypt as that's our objective as well. We want to keep as much distance from evil as possible. Sometimes you'll see Christians asking questions like, what can I do this thing and still technically a Christian is that the best question. You could be asking right now instead of asking can I do this thing and still be a Christian. I think the better question would be, since I am a Christian. Since crisis forgiven me of all of my sin, since I know now that I'll go to heaven one day what can I do to get closer to God. What can I do to grow more spiritually. So the barrows trying to wear them down and keep them close again reminding us don't do deals with the devil.

The devil might save you ineffective.

All right never wanted you to become a Christian. I was against it from the beginning, but come on now be practical. You can still have a little fun yet still dabble with a few things here and there and he knows that's the way he kinda gets a foothold.

Is he says okay okay you can go. Just don't go too far. I want to keep an eye on you. And so we start down the great glory will have the second half of this message in just a moment, emails, letters and phone calls from listeners are so encouraging to us and they let us know the effectiveness of these studies into your new beginning radio program here in New York you prepare your program will benefit the heart. I am 18 years old walking alarm most my life having been born again in the early years of my life.

I actually benefit. Every writer here Sharon where, thank you for your faithfulness.

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Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 today. Pastor Greg is presenting a message called the danger of the compromised life. We are studying the successes and failures of Moses in the series, water, fire stone, listen, nobody falls away from God all at once.

Every none then you read an article about some fairly well-known person. Perhaps this is all I was a Christian and I'm not a Christian anymore and you think how does that even happen to some and get to the point where they come up publicly and safe. I no longer am a Christian, I can guarantee you the steps that led to that statement go back a long way. You don't just do it. All the ones you don't wake up in the morning. Safe to deny my faith in turn from God today know it's a series of steps and compromises that always lead to something like that. Case in point, Simon Peter will know about his open denial of Christ forwarded it start. It started in the upper room with a prideful attitude Jesus said to his disciples, one of you is going to betray me to be crucified. Peter said even a ball deny you. I will never deny you, Jesus, and since you brought it up to deny me three times Peter Peter that no way the Bible says pride goes before a fall. That was this for step down. Don't ever think you couldn't fall. You are capable of falling to the worst sins imaginable. And so am I number two. He was sleeping when he should've been praying Jesus took his three friends, Peter, James and John of the Garden of Gethsemane. So watch and pray the spirit is willing, the places we fell asleep so they were praying.

There were sleeping, and then the temple guard came to arrest Jesus and Peter pulls out his sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest servant so there's a problem with Peter.

He was boasting what he should have been a humble he was sleeping when he should have been praying and he was fighting when he should have been trusting and so then he openly ends up denying the Lord. Those steps led to the bigger steps.

Small things turn into big things cute little bunnies turn into products cute little chicks turn into chickens cute little kittens turn into cats splayed across the country this week and I took my seat and there was a gentleman seated next to me were getting ready to take off and then he said oh I'm in the wrong seat and he got up and moved out, and then the young lady came and took his place. What a very large cage with her in the McCains was a very large cat like that. Of course, of course, the cat and this cat literally didn't stop meowing.

By the way, this was not a small cat. This is, this was one of those pedicabs I don't even know to call them but there another breed of cat. Altogether they get considerably larger than regular cats also like yell me now is not even yell me on site now now and it never started like Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum. MMM one hour later, know the militants crazy yellow. That's what happens little sins become big there's a good illustration the mighty Goliath. Goliath to David faith in the belly of the law but Goliath wasn't always a giant. He was once a baby, probably a big baby.

No one would ever want to change his diaper, that's for sure whether baby became a giant. One day David is facing this 9'6" hulk of a man covered in body armor.

That's what happens we neglect sins we negotiate with the enemy. We make deals with the devil and all of a sudden we have a bona fide giant were facing in life we underestimate the power of sin. Sampson's another good illustration. You know, no one can bring him down on the battlefield. He was such a mighty warrior. One occasionally killed a thousand Philistines and so the double size, the month that I know how to get this guy and he sent a woman named Delilah, petite, beautiful girl. How I know that because the name Delilah means delicate so she came up to Sampson and said hi there Sampson told me the secret of your strength that I might torment you.

By the way, if someone says that you that's on the beginning of a good relationship she was serious.

He's like waving his hair around flexing his bicep so you're going to torment me. What a joke.

He looked at her and who 000 till I know you should've though that was his undoing. Another dated reference. By the way, that was his undoing. You know the rest of the story he should've checked her resume when he discovered she worked at Supercuts. He should've terminated the relationship, how does it happen. How do people fall into sin, to compromise one step at a time.

Let me ask you this is compromise begun to infiltrate your life as a follower of Christ happens often when people of walk with the Lord.

For a time when you are in the first bloom of your relationship with crisis is not usually the issue. That's when you've known the Lord for a time in your beginning to be weakened by certain things. Let me ask you this.

What compromises are happening. Are there any don't let that happen to you. There some safeguards that you can set up in your life that will help you so I want to help you deal with the gray areas of life. There are certain black-and-white things you don't need to think about or pray about, you know what God says to the key for me to steal this thing from the store know thou shall not steal. Is it okay for me to have an adulterous relationship know you shall not commit adultery okay but what about the gray area. What about those things in life that were not sure of the right or wrong. There's three things to ask yourself before you engage in those activities number one you're taking notes, ask yourself the question doesn't build me up spiritually or doesn't tear me down doesn't build me up spiritually or doesn't tear me down. Paul writes in first Corinthians 1023 I am allowed to do anything. But not everything isn't good for me. The NIV translates it use am allowed to do anything. But not everything is beneficial. So instead of asking the question, can I technically do it. Ask yourself, will this build me up spiritually or could this potentially tear me down, but he is a different analogy, let's say you're running in a race.

This is a wing or is it away.

Will it slow me down the road race don't wear Doc Martens don't wear cowboy boots. You need running shoes you need shoes that are designed for moving you forward quickly and don't wear much of extra close, don't carry barbells with you. It's going to slow you down to the race, a life you lay aside the weight and the sin that so easily beset you the author of Hebrews reminds us, is that a wing is it away, not to some I technically allowed to do it but couldn't tear me down potentially listen to this anything that would tear you down spiritually. Anything that would pull you away from the people of God. Anything that would keep you from Christian fellowship or take the edge off your desire for prayer, your appetite for Bible study should be avoided at all costs. So number one doesn't build me up or couldn't tear me down number two does it bring you under its power doesn't bring you under its power. First Corinthians 612 Paul says I have the right to do anything but not everything is beneficial.

I have the right to do anything but all not be mastered by anything I don't want to be under the control of anyone or anything except Jesus Christ said have you under its power Ali can be a drug it can be drink. It can be your cell phone. They can be binge watching Netflix they can be so many things that you just lose control. Like I can't stop but I just have to keep going away.

I don't want to be under the power of something. So the question is not, is it okay to do or even technically allowable is bringing me under its power. Now I can go an hour without doing this thing that's not good in third and lastly drive an uneasy conscience about driving uneasy conscience about it. The Bible says in Romans 1423 whatsoever is not from faith is sin is a new living translation puts it, if anything you believe is not right you are sitting just because someone else does something does not mean you should is a so you know you might know someone that does something as a Christian you see what I can do that and all of a sudden it's your downfall so you should not do that because you have an uneasy conscience about it. So these are things that we need to be considering as believers wife because we have an adversary. We have an enemy we have.

The devil was like a coiled rattler waiting to strike Genesis 47 says sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you but you must do it the master so be careful.

Avoid the downward lure of sin today on a new beginning pastor Greg Laurie with a message called the danger of the compromised life.

Now you know don't want a permanent copy of this insight you can download MP3 by going to harvest.org or to have a CD copy sent your way. Call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 pastor Greg my granddaughter had a special event plan back in the middle of March. Should invited about 1/2 dozen of her friends to come along and we were all going to go see the new movie called. I still believe nice but the pandemic kids in movie theaters shut their doors. And yeah, I think a lot of people across the country were disappointed that they weren't able to see it but we can help Kelly. Yeah, we really can you know that the film I still believe was in the theaters.

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Good insight, and standing against her adversary coming next time on a new beginning pastor Greg Moore and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions@harvest.org