The Desert Song - II

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God, to find out how to know God personally go to know God.org KNOW know God.org he would you do me a favor sure this message was someone who needs to hear was seen as well as the words and both teams were so wrong on memorizing yes you are, repeatedly, God invites us to internalize the truth of Scripture. Greg Laurie shares her minds are hardwired to remember what we hear your brain is filled with all kinds of your favorite song lyrics winds out of movies but you can memorize all 360 petition here something over and over. We can't help but remember Nintendo memorize the words TV the corny commercial with her wine petition. The real question is what do we let our minds here. The fact that you're listening now is a great today on a new beginning.

Greg Laurie bring some scriptural truth worth remembering Bibles and turn to the book of accident. The title of my messages. The Desert song were back in our new series on recalling water Firestone so were getting to the stone part. What we call it that the water because member little baby Moses was put those little arc if you will, is little basket floated down the river brought the court of Pharaoh. That's a waterpark and there's a fire. God called Moses at the burning bush and then there was a stone God spoke to Moses and the 10 Commandments written by the finger of God, tablets of stone so good to talk about what happened to the Israelites as they were in the desert. Look at verse three of chapter 16 of Exodus this. If only the Lord and killed us back in Egypt. There we several pots filled with me. They made all the bread we wanted you brought us into this wilderness to starve us to death. What this is one month after they were delivered from Egypt, which had been praying about forever. This is one month after the Red Sea had been parted and their enemies are drought other basically that all great. You have brought us out here to die and we remember how awesome it was back in Egypt we have had pots filled with meat meat everywhere bread almost so much bread. Now the Lord is going to provide them with something to eat. Called Manna to read about it.

Exodus 16 verse 11 then the Lord said to Moses, I've heard Israel complaints. No tell them in the evening he wanted me to eat in the morning you let bread that all the bread you want then you will know that I am the Lord your God. That evening, vast numbers of quail fell in and covered the The next morning the area around the camp was what would do with the dual evaporated a flaky substance of flaky substance is fine this frost blanketed the ground Israelites are puzzled when they saw what is it they asked each other. They had no idea what it was it was bread from heaven.

But the Bible describes it as Angels food but angel food cake, but the food of angels, but I want you to think of man is sort of like Scripture for a moment. Jesus said I am the bread of life. The psalmist said in Job 23 I was deemed the words of my mouth more than my daily bread.

So here's a few thoughts about Manna. You had to gather the Manna daily. Verse four tells us everything you want to gather the minute you couldn't keep it overnight, it would rot. I read the other day about some guy's head a burger.

He bought a McDonald's 20 years ago.

Why would you save a burger for 20 years I may have a few float around in vehicles. I don't know that are long gone. There might be an old burrito or some in there but he says and he took a photograph of it.

It did look pretty similar. Have to admit though, I would never eat that burger, but you couldn't keep it overnight. It would actually begin to rot, and in the same way you need to start every day with the word of God go live off yesterday's blessings. The Bible says his mercies are new every morning. So every day just open up the word of God and say Lord I need you to speak to me through this book I need to hear your voice.

What did Jesus say he said low on the volume of the book. I have come number two they were together as much manna as they needed. According to verse 16.

Gather as much as he needed to one may need more than another or you got it covered city. There the same way everything you need to know about God is found in the pages of Scripture. Everything you need to know about life is found there as well. The Holy Spirit will empower you to do all this God is called you to do so receive it, but another thing is they had to prepare the Manna even just keep this Manna you did things with it. They probably all had Moses cookbook hundred and one ways to eat. Manna is out of print now you know. Yet all the recipes manna meatloaf Manna burgers manna tacos, banana splits, manicotti everything.

It was all there in the cookbook right even had Manna jokes you'll you'll Manna so fat.

No, not really that I don't think there were manna jokes. You know the same way to enjoy food, you need to prepare. Nothing is as good as freshly prepared food right now I don't. I'm not much of a chef.

If you follow me on social media sometimes in Sunday morning sci-fi film scrambled eggs by making them that since eggs a little shredded cheese and does some chopped smoky sausages and I'll get more likes from those posted things we produce in our video department 10 and little sermon that's I give you. I love to watch the eggs. I don't know what's going on pretty much my entire repertoire had my grandkids over the other dissident keeping of scrambled eggs and toast or sliced apple or sliced cheese noticeably variation there not a lot of options for my wife.

You know, still go to the kitchen and sometimes it is never everything that she needs, but she just takes all the ingredients and make something fantastic and that's the way I wasn't manna you need to prepare it in the same way with the word of God. You need to read it. But then you must internalize its interest in the book of Revelation, a promise is made to the person who reads this book it says you read this book and speaking of Revelation, but I think it applies of the Bible in general. It says whoever hears this word in keep set is is read this word and you keep it up blessing this promise to the person who both reads, hears and keeps the work. So it's not enough to just read the Bible you up to hear the Bible by here. I mean, Jesus would say he that has ears to hear, let them listen solicit you know you can read the whole chapter without comprehension. My right is reading the whole chapter what it say I don't know but I read it. Can I go to social media now known don't read it here.

It think about it, ponder it, internalize it, memorize or not good at memorizing, yes you are yes you are. Your brain is filled with all kinds of trivia your favorite song lyrics lines out of movies. Other things you have an interest in scores from James that of long come and gone, but you remember, was in the World Series below 15 years ago, but you can memorize. John 316. Give me a break you can do it. Another thing is meditate on the word no weaker the meditate word meditate with the government.

Meditation in the eastern form, but in Eastern meditation one tries to empty their mind and biblical meditation one lose their mind with the word of God is a big difference. Fill it with the word someone says of the wisemen in this book he meditates day and night.

Point number for the Manna was not appreciated by everyone. The matter was not appreciated by everyone.

Now I have to go to another passage that's from the scene narrative but a different book of the Bible, the book of numbers. Here's what happened. It says numbers 11, 4 to 6 then the foreign ravel who were traveling with the Israelites begin to crave the good things of Egypt, the people of Israel also began to complain. Notice the connection.

First, the foreign ravel called the mixed multitude in the King James translation started to complain and then the Israelites began to complain all we want to meet.

They said we remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt with all the cucumbers melon slinks garlic and onions.

We wanted when our appetites are gone and all we ever see this Manna doing these people. This foreign ravel. This mixed multitude. It appears they were not believers then join the Israelites as they left Egypt they were probably impressed with the wonderworking God of Israel. They too want to do a skate but though they left Egypt.

Apparently Egypt never left them and they were a bad influence on God's people listen to what they pray.

They said that we remember our old diet leaks, onions, garlic, and their breath must of stuck service cuts that you miss. But here's an interesting thing. This foreign ravel heated the manna we hate it here as it spread from heaven sent from God.

We hate that manna we don't want the men in her life.

In the same way a nonbeliever does not get why the believer love Scripture. Here's a real test of your spiritual life. Listen to look forward to Bible study one person. Look forward to. I love it when we open the pipe dreaded as can be long, can we get it over with. That's an indication of where you're at spiritually hungry believer is a healthy believer if you go to see the doctors will ask you how's your appetite. So appear strong spiritually appear healthy spiritually and constantly be hungry for more of the word of God. And if you're an unhealthy or acidic believer, you won't. So these people were being influenced by these ungodly people. This is why Paul warns us. Don't be unequally yoked together with nonbelievers for what fellowship does like help with darkness or righteousness with unrighteousness or Christ with the devil more modern translation puts it this way. Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong. That's a partnership that swore his light best friends with dark does Christ go strolling with the double trust in this trust. Hold hands questions so these people were a bad influence on the believers think about who your influences are.

You show me your friends all show you your future if you hang around people that do not believe as you believe is a Christian.

They can influence you and bring you down to be very careful.

That's with the mixed multitude for this ravel did with Israel Mr. Greg Laurie 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 and your program will benefit the heart. I am 18 years old walking alarm most my life going again in the early years of my life. I actually benefit.

I hear Sharon where, thank you for your faithfulness. We appreciate that encouragement and were only able to bring the gospel because of partners who make these studies possible. Would you partner with us, make a donation online@harvest.org or write to us at a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 overseeing how God supernaturally provided for the Israelites in the desert as Pastor Greg continues her series from the life of Moses Goldwater fire stone.

Let's continue well. Now there Thursday.

They've had their meat and they've had their manna. Now they want something to drink. Exodus 17 verse one the Lord's command, the whole community of Israel of the wilderness of sin move from place to place. Eventually the camp that roughened him. But there was no water there for the people to drink. So once more the people complained against Moses, give us water to drink. They demanded quiet. Moses replied why are you complaining against me are you testing the Lord but tormented by Thursday continued to argue with Moses, why did you bring us out of Egypt. Are you trying to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst. Look, if you women need bring it to God. There's something wrong with praying about whatever it is you're in need of the Bible even says in James 43 you have not because you ask not.

So pray about it but don't complain about it. Don't falsely accuse God if he doesn't come through as quickly as you want him to think it's a really good idea to write down the things the Lord is done for you know my wife keeps a little diary and I shall write down how prayers are answered to send me the other day.

You know a great one year ago. You know what we were dealing with all yes I forgot actually said were dealing with this and we pray look with the Lord.

That is so true. It's good to reflect on those things and then they were reflecting on all that God had done for them. I want you to think about. Littlewood got it done. He spared them from slavery.

He didn't allow the plagues to come upon them the part of the Red Sea destroyed the Egyptian army. He led them step-by-step the wilderness without fire by night in a cloud by day the best GPS you've ever seen. He fed them with Manna in the complaint now want you to think about what God has done for you is God's done a lot for you already. First of all he's saying you from hell.

That's the biggest thing about who brought you out of darkness into his light deeper gave you a ball of your sin.

He filled you with the Holy Spirit.

He's provided for you.

He is guided you. He has protected you for many he's healed. You how many of you ever have ever experienced a physical healing from God.

Raise your hand up and see lots almost everyone. God did that for you maybe needed a miracle in your life, you believe you've seen a miracle in your life richer. Get a blunder that remember that. Remember that the next time when things aren't making said remember that the next time when you are tempted to say, so God is abandoned me totally absent. He was with you yesterday. He's with you today will be there for you tomorrow because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever.

Philippians 16 is being confident of this, he was begun a good work and you will complete it under the day of Jesus Christ were literally carried to completion.

Are you in a wilderness or a desert right now you feel like God has forgotten about you to feel as though he has forsaken you bully hasn't because 2000 years ago at the cross, Jesus was forsaken, so you might be forgiven one less move in this trail just share with you. We will read the verses but they won't water the Lord says go to that rock strike it with your staff know usually find water in Iraq, but you do when God wants you to.

So Moses struck the rock whether Stafford broke up with all of this water just gushing out torrents of trash water in their drinking taken it all in. Why does that matter to us because in first Corinthians chapter 10 Paul talks about all that Israel went through. He said they went to these things as an example for all of us and then he said in the rock that was broken was Christ so that broken rock was a symbol of Jesus Christ being crucified on the cross. His body was broken so I could be forgiven of all of my sin. Isaiah 53, five, says he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities the punishment that brought us peace was on him by his wounds we are healed. So are you are you down and you hurting you feel alone and isolated. Think of all that Jesus did for you so you could come into a relationship with him. I would ask.

In closing, have US Jesus Christ to be your own Savior and Lord are all born as sinners were all born separated from God were all born in need of a Savior and Jesus came to this earth and was born in that manger and died in the crossroads was crushed for our sins, and then he rose again from the dead. Any sense of the door of our life in the Knox and he says about here. His voice and open the door will come in have US Jesus to come into your life. Yet you can't move up the faith of your parents you can live off the faith of your husband or wife or someone else you need your own relationship with God and Jesus is ready to come in your life and forgive you of all of your sin and give you the hope that you so desperately want.

And until you believe in him you're gonna walk around and live for that big hole in your heart that ever present guilt and that fear of death because you're not sure if you'll make it a habit you can be sure right now by putting your faith in Jesus Christ and then a moment looking up right nominal extend an invitation for you to believe in Jesus, but there might be others that have sort of fallen away, not sort of.

You have fallen away like the Israelites here.

You doubted God, he walked away from God even looking back. And some of you started to go back and you're doing the stuff you used to do before you were Christian and it's not so much fun anymore. Is it you want to know why because you know better now people for when you are a non-Christian didn't know better, it is that while this is life. It sucks. That's it. Then you believe in Jesus and you tasted of his forgiveness. He knew what it was to wake up in the morning with no guilt. Christ in your life but now you come back and of those old things. Again, you'll never find the enjoyment.

He used to find in them. You'll never find the pleasure used to find in them because you know what is true that some of you started to do that even looking back you been going back its finding that you turn make a recommitment to Christ, to give you an opportunity to do that as we all pray together okay. Let's pray everyone father had with me if you would not father speak to the heart of every person here every person watching were ever they are. If they don't know Jesus we pray that your Holy Spirit will convict them and convince them of their need for you and help them to come see you in Jesus name I pray that my glory, prayer, and if you'd like to do just that and make a change in your relationship with the Lord.

Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes the title of today's message is the Desert song look for that title online@harvest.org to get an instant replay of the study or to get a CD request that title when you call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 yesterday were making available a wonderful movie on DVD right now called, I still believe yes and we're offering it because of the strength of the movie. Of course, and not just because your voice makes a cameo appearance in the film okay will. Let's listen to that right now they do pretty good. You know that really sounded like you really was me you know I that was my first official voiceover.

I actually went to Sony Studios. They had this giant, it was a good theater like a full-size screen. Then I had a microphone. The mixing board right there. I recorded about five or six times.

He mixed it. Then he mixed in the sound of a crowd around it and then I was able to see it on the screen as it would be seen in the film.

It was an enjoyable process as well on the studios there and we saw the original Ghostbusters car. We saw the motorhome from the Breaking Bad TV series and other things but you know it's a film that that is really done so well, and this is what I appreciate about the urban brothers they produce and direct first rate Hollywood films and that's why they have found a home at Lions gate Studios, which is a major Hollywood studio and they have their own production company called kingdom productions that this film is so well done.

This is a great film with amazing performances, but it is a film with the gospel message, and that I mean it doesn't get any better than that. When you have a well-crafted film that has a very strong message. Sometimes it seems we get one of the other.

Maybe we'll have a Christian film we could call it that.

That's a powerful story, but it isn't direct that all that well of the performances are not that strong. We might have a powerful film that's kind of the faith film, but it can the waters down any references to God or Jesus Christ of the Bible with this film is the exception. A great film expertly directed with a powerful message. I would say it fires in every cylinder and that is why I am offering it to you because I know you're going to love it and I think this can also be a great evangelistic tool in your toolbox to use to start a great gospel conversation to invite a neighbor over our friends over to watch it in your front room or the loan the DVD to someone to take Watson's let's talk about it later though.

Watch it and trust me, they'll be pulled into the story immediately. My life: site is full because of sense to hear America.

I still believe is the title of the film, just out now on DVD.

I know you got in Google it. You're going to find it's inexpensive film, but were offering it to you for your gift of any size and whatever you send will be used to continue to bring this broadcast that you listen to hopefully every day called a new beginning to people around the world. So get your own copy of I still believe from us at a new beginning and help us to continue to proclaim the gospel and teach the word of God. Thanks. What a great opportunity to own a copy of this film on DVD player for family or friends. It has such a strong gospel message and you know your donation right now helps us get Pastor Greg strong gospel message out to more people through a new beginning to ask for the DVD. I still believe is your right. Today 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.org Pastor Greg today you wrapped up your message by talking about eternity. How can someone listening know that they're going to heaven. That's a great question and I guess let me take it a step further. I know that is the most important question you can ask, how can a person know they're going to have let me say at the outset, I believe I'm going to have an effect on think of a step further. I know I'm going to have is a Greg is not kind of arrogant, not really, because I know this because God is made a promise to me and I've believed that promise.

The Bible says we write these things to you that believe on the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. I've believed on the name of the son of God.

Thus, I know I'll go to heaven when I die, here's my question. Do you, do you believe on the name of the son of God, is there any more important issue that that I can think of one. So I like to lead you in a simple prayer and this is a prayer will you will be asking Jesus to forgive you of your sin and you'll be asking them to be your own Savior friend Lord. It's a prayer. Only you can pray pray these words. If you would, Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner but I know that you are this Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose from the dead. Jesus come in the my Lai.

I want to believe in you.

I want to follow you. I want this relationship with you.

Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin and rising again from the dead, and I think you that you've heard this prayer and I believe you've come into my life in Jesus name I pray, amen. I want to help you grow in your faith. I want to help you grow spiritually. So I've a free gift for you. It's called the new believers grow packet what's in it know not a bag of seeds to plant in your backyard.

I guess it's sort of a form of a bag of seeds because I want to sell some spiritual seed in your life to help you develop as a follower of Christ, so I'm of the send you a copy of the New Testament and the new living translation but it's a special edition that's called the new believers Bible and it's filled with notes that I wrote that will encourage you in this new commitment or recommitment you've made to Christ and there's some other materials in the new believers packet as well so order your copy today and I'm so glad I have this privilege today to lead you, and that prayer.

God bless you. You've made the right decision.

The decision to follow Jesus Christ. And here's how to get that new believers packet just right is that 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.org and click the words know God. Next time we examine God's top 10 pastor Greg takes us to Exodus chapter 24 practical look at the 10 Commandments and how they can help us live a successful Christian life today. Join us next time beginning and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.org