No Forwarding Address - 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 it. Know the majority is not always right sword majority want to support an okay job of the one man one woman through the world, change, or other concern about you change your Pastor Lori wants to know you're the man or woman got you impact the world around what are you having on other Pastor Greg Laurie spends her time talking about no, not the kind of politicians, spiritual question is not whether the spiritual climate change question is what are we doing to changes in the right direction.

Pastor Gray continues his challenging series exploring the lives of those in the Bible effect on their culture, learning to follow their example are and were going to get back in the work world changers series that I would ask you to probably just today. Hebrews 11 and Genesis 12 Hebrews 11 and Genesis 12.

The title of my messages. No forwarding address. Let's pray together. Father, we look at our country right now it just needs help and needs world changers because we know our ultimate solution is not a political one. We need men of God. We need women of God. We need children of God to step up to the plate and do what you've called us to do and change our world instead of our world changing us. So as we look now at the life of a man who did just that. Help us to be inspired.

Help us to learn from these passages were about to look at and help us to change our world, we would pray in Jesus name, amen. Well over look now at a world changer name Abraham and he had an eternal perspective. He was called by God to leave his homeland to leave his family and go to an unknown destination. He packed up his bags and left no forwarding address. Since the title of the message and she changed his world's name. 74 times in the New Testament and there's only 11 chapters of Genesis devoted to the first 2000 years of human history. That's 19. Earlier generations. But then there's 14 chapters dedicated to the life of one man who was Abraham, about one third of the birds is here in Hebrews 11, which is really that heroes Hall of Faith is devoted to Abraham and Sarah, and that's a lot of ink so God must have wanted us to know about this man, this great patriarch of the faithful. Let's read some of what Hebrews 11 says about starting a verse eight by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. Anyone out, not knowing where he was going by faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, his heirs with him of the same promise free waited for the city which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God by faith Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was well past the age because he judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore, from one man and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude bowl as a sandwiches by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, they were assured of them and they embrace them and confess that they were strangers and pilgrims on the your for those who say such things declare plainly that they seek homeland.

And surely if they had called the mind that country from which they had come out they would have opportunity return, but now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he is prepared city for them. There okay. Why was Abraham a world changer. What if he do number one Abraham listen to God world changers listen to God. Verse eight by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going.

He listened to God. Now understand that Abraham lived in a super pagan culture. His family all worship false gods they worshiped idols. He probably was an idol worshiper himself.

Despite this, God handpicked Abraham and came to him and Genesis 12 one and said get out of your country and from your family and from your father's house and go to a land that I will show you find an interesting God to go to a land that I will show you God doesn't tell him what that land is he doesn't tell them where that land is he doesn't tell him where he is going to live ultimately Abraham was headed to a heavenly destination. But here's my point. God leads us one step at a time and you need to take that next step before you reveal the following step to you world changers are always listening to hear the voice of God number two world changers obeyed God for thought just enough to hear from God. I have the dent respond I either obey or disobey world changers obeyed God to his credit, without argument right there on the spot Abraham obeyed God. This was faith in action you growing your faith you going to discover this. There are certain things God tells you as a Christian, did not do, and realizing time that the reason he says that is to protect you.

The Bible says no good thing will he withhold from those that walk up rightly if God says don't do it. That's because it's a bad thing.

If God says do it.

That's because it's a good thing. So the Lord says stay away from the thing that's for your own benefit, obey the Lord and do what he tells you to do so. God told Abraham to make a clean break this past and his family. God was commanding him to leave his people.

This family everyone in the new judges leave them altogether. Why because they were detrimental to his spiritual role. His environment was not conducive begin growing spiritually of the Lord said, you need to walk away. Yes to a question.

What kind of influence is your family having on you will give influence are your friends have been on, you know, let's turn it around. What kind of influence are you having on them member I told you before our world changer is a thermostat not a thermometer I been having some problems with my thermostat lately. It's one of these fancy high-tech thermostats and neck in the safe.

What branded this nest, but I like to because it's just cool little digital thing and you you said it and it's very easy to figure out in there it is, but what I discovered is the nest has its own little brain and it will learn something that means that it starts making decisions for you. So nest decided the other night. You know Greg doesn't need it at 70° at night he would be happier if it was 74° so I will cover the middle of the night what is going on. I did not set this to 74. I set it to 70 had turned a bad then the next day. Nest decides it should be 64, about seven so what are you doing that type conversations with it and it's like you're talking to. The GPS is under trying to kill us.

Aren't you robots are taking us over. Okay, but theoretically up thermostat sets the temperature thermometer just tells you how warm or cold all world changers sets the temperature a person is being changed by the world they they just respond world changers influencers surrounding those who are changed by the world are influenced by what is happening around them. The far more concerned about the opinions of other people kind of influence are you having on others. You know sometimes our circumstances change with her for a man or a woman of God, it won't change us think of Shadrach me shack and Abednego three young teenage boys plug from their homeland taken from their homes sent to a pagan country known as Babylon. Everybody was worshiping false gods there and ultimately would bow down before the image of the King Nebuchadnezzar except Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo because they had faith in God. Their names were even change. For instance, those were not there given names by their parents handed nine, beloved of the Lord that what his name means had his name changed to Shadrach, which means illuminated by the sun God that same thing for the others, but they did not compromise and when push came to shove, they stood their ground. They were thermostats not thermometers.

Their names were changed, but it didn't change their character reminding us that the world changers are almost always a minority. Rarely, if ever a majority.

You know, the majority is not always right. I'm sorry to tell you that the majority wanted Christ crucified okay. It's often the one man, the one woman that will stand up for what is true. The world changer, the one who wasn't so concerned about the opinions of others and far more concerned about the opinion of God stands up and says what is right in just a moment. Pastor Greg explains how world changer in reality have their heart set on the next world. More on that just a moment.

Pastor Greg we have something exciting. We just tallied up the numbers in this year just since January, we've now seen 100,000 professions of faith through harvest ministries, which is absolutely yes, David is incredible and the way it came about is even more incredible because of the beginning of 2020 we went before everybody in our church in our ministry and said we have a goal this year and some of you may remember this. I've seen 100,000 people make a profession of faith. I'll be honest with you I had some doubts like I we can really get this number but I thought why not shoot for will see what the Lord does well covered 19 get so we went exclusively online with our weekend program that we call harvest home is basically a church service that you watched in your home, but each week I've been inviting people to come to Christ and on one particular Sunday we had 7000 people make a profession of faith.

So now as we tallied the numbers. We've reached the hundred thousand mark we reach it in an unexpected way. So what that says to me is what we have the right idea, but the Lord had a different way of bringing it about. So we dizzying to God be the glory. Let's just keep going because were passing that number now listen to this.

The Bible says there is joy in heaven over one sinner that comes to repentance and we have seen 100,000 people in just months.

This profession of faith to follow Christ. So we join the Angels and rejoicing.

Pastor Greg is leading our study of the life of Abraham today we're learning that world changers such as Abraham hear the voice of God and obey the voice of God. Let's continue.

So Abraham's family was dragging them down.

And God said, you gotta cut him loose body.

Separate yourself you know if you want to be a happy person and a blessed person there certain things you should do and there certain things you should not someone says blessed or happy is the man or the woman who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly are stands in the way of sinners or sits in the seat of the scornful. You want to be a happy person. Don't hang around ungodly people a lot you can control your entire environment. You may have a family that has ungodly people, and that you may be in the workplace with people that don't believe you may be in the classroom around people that don't share your faith, and so forth.

I'm not saying you you can change that but there's a difference between who I am around and who I choose to spend time with spend time with godly people find godly friends that will build you up in your faith and increase your appetite for spiritual things, not people who drag you down and decrease your appetite for spiritual things.

God said to him loose but that happy people are also known for what they do because someone continues. But his delight is in the word of the Lord and then it does he meditate day and night, so don't do these things and hang around godless people.

But do this thing study the word of God, spend time with godly people. Point number three world changers are heavenly minded because there heavenly citizen again world changers are heavenly minded because there heavenly citizen.

Look at verse 16 they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them all. Hank Williams had it right when he saying this world is not my home on adjuster passing through.

That's true, or just passing through the Bible says of our lives on earth and first Chronicles 2915 were only here for a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us our days on earth are like a passing shadow on so soon without a trace. Christians have a longing for something the earth can never delivered. We know ultimately only heaven can we know are that it's past are just a pale imitation of greater things to come, because we were created for something more, much more was Augustine who said quote of God. You've made us and drawn us to yourself in our heart is restless until it rests in you."

And because of this homesickness for heaven. We see the world for what it is speaking of the world.

I don't mean the earth.

I don't mean the beauty were surrounded by flawed as this planet is and it'll be better when they when the newer comes but when I talked about the world I'm talking about a mentality I'm talking about a culture I'm talking about a way of thinking that is influenced by the God of this world, Satan who manipulates sin tries to get us to just live for ourselves and our selfish desires that the Bible says of this world system. In first John 216 from a modern translation the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see in a pride in our accomplishments and possessions.

This is not from the father. This is from the world but as citizens of heaven, we know were billed for another place for 16 they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God has prepared a city for that to hear that. Listen heaven is a real place for real people to do real things Jesus said I'd gone to prepare a place for you heaven to city what is the city it's a place where people live.

It's a place for commerce is done. It's a place where you can eat in a restaurant or go watch a concert or do the work you're there to do heaven since city. It's not like a city. It is a city. Heaven is a country like the country. It is a country. Heaven is a paradise. These are words the Bible uses and we need to remember were going to a real place heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. Are you prepared heard about a little boy that was off-line. The sky went up so high you can even see it. The memo client saw the street going up and said what you doing boy Amy said fly my kite.

Mr. like I said, well, I can even see her type. How do you know it's still there little guy said I can feel it's time in the same way as Christians we can feel the tug of heaven, and that helps us to start thinking about eternal things more. I want to to notice something else. Abraham lived in a tent, which meant he was always on the move. He never built a permanent home and I don't know if you've noticed you live in a tent to literally but your body and the Bible is described as a tent to contribute five months as we know that when this perfectly content we live in is taken down. That is when we die and leave this body, we have a house in heaven, and eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. This body will eventually wear out. This comes as a revelation to some people yeah were all getting old that's okay because we know time passes, but were getting closer to the Lord and closer to seeing the Lord bring me to point number four world changers live by faith.

They live by faith. The word promise is repeated twice since he was 11, nine for by faith, we dwell in the land of promise is in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. Listen to this world changers live on promises and explanations. They live by faith not by sight. They live on fact, not on feelings because we recognize that our citizenship is in heaven. Philippians 320 says our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ is see when God called Abraham he gave him a promise now is up Abraham to take hold of the promise which he could not yet. That's what faith does faith see what could be not just what is faith sees in visible things.

He was 11 one says faith is the substance of things hoped for.

It's the evidence of things not seen.

Oswald Chambers, best known for his book. My utmost for his highest, made the statement about Faith and I quote.

Faith enables the believing soul to treat the future as present and the invisible is seen" like that faith is like a muscle, you gotta use it if you neglected it will atrophy.

If you use it, it will get stronger. You have to apply your faith and you know what that means for me to take risks and some people are afraid to take risks and faith they want to play it safe and I will leave their comfort zone.

They don't want to do anything that makes them feel a bit awkward and saying leave your comfort zone. Take bold steps of faith. That's what world changers do and faith grows stronger when you do. We read in Romans 420 Abraham grew strong in faith, listen the greatest heroes of Hebrews 11 that heroes holiday were not perfect people, but they were maturing people.

They were works in progress.

Maybe you have a lapse of faith lately. One of the first things you loses your peace and your joy. They were so used throughout that piece wake up every morning justice, sense that God is with you.

He's in control of your life and you have this joy is gone, man, sin throws the joy out so you say Lord I don't have the joining work restoring to me the joy of your salvation.

Have you lost your joy and imager sin turn from it and ask God to restore it again that we are right. Pastor Greg Laurie today here on a new beginning.

We're learning a lot from the example of Abraham is a part of the series called world changers Pastor Greg has more to come from this presentation, but if you'd like to preserve all the insight you can get a permanent copy of the full study. It's called no forwarding address just mentioned that title when you call us at 1-800-821-3300 were here to take your call 24 hours a day. Again, 1-800-821-3300 or just go online to harvest.org yesterday were making available your brand-new book called world changers. It's a great complement to our current study suggests getting the basics.

Let me ask you what you mean by world changers will Dave I guess it comes out of this.

Are we changing the world is a world changing us.

You know the Bible says don't be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. There is another translation puts it, don't let this world squeeze you into its mold so they had to be in a world changer is asking the question, are you making an impact in your world and your sphere of influence because after all, Christ said go into all the world and preach the gospel but let's personalize that and say go into all of your world and preach the gospel dear friends know that you're a follower of Jesus, dear neighbors know. Does your family know so the idea is, instead of the world molding me into its image. I want to impact the culture with the gospel.

You know Jesus said that we are to be both salt and light in the culture. He says you are the salt of the earth.

You're the light of the world, and salt in the first century was used as a preservative to stop the writing process. So a Christian living as they should, as a world changer is a follower of Christ will stop the spread of corruption. The holdback evil, and then he also said you're the light of the world. And so the idea is that we let our light shine before other people and they see there's something unique about us and it attracts them to Jesus Christ.

So this is all based on Hebrews chapter 11, which is sort of like the heroes Hall of faith, you know, Dave. Years ago I went to the rock 'n' roll Hall of Fame in Cincinnati.

It's kind of go place and that will come to guitars and various artifacts from rock 'n' roll history and this is sort of like God's hall of faith of the Greek heroes of faith that we can look to and learn from. So in this book world changers. I talked about many of the people featured in Hebrews chapter 11 and how we can be a world changer. Wherever we are as full of practical insight to take us to the next level in our walk with God and our service to God and would like to send it your way to say thank you for your investment so we can continue to change the world through pastor Greg's teaching from God's word. You can write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call anytime 24 hours a day, 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org when next I pastor Greg brings the conclusion this enlightening look at the example of Abraham.

Join us for more from the series world change your on a new beginning pastor Greg Laurie Greg Laurie was made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.org