No Forwarding Address - III

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God check out virtue our website for Christian women go to harvest.org/virtue of the human mind is never more creative going away Joan Shan Pastor Greg Maurice's. We don't want to take responsible as soon as she my mother insisted my family stop God against you and you will you need to own it. Victim innocent victim of some outside force and neglect with other celebrate their syndrome syndrome today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Maurice's, perhaps it's time for realization repentance we need to realize we are sinners we see God's restoration some help in that regard as we considered the father the world. Maybe 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. So let's read some of what Hebrews 11 says about starting a birthday by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance and he went out, not knowing where he was going by faith he dwelt in the land of promise is 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 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 confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the your for those who say such things.

The car plainly that they seek a homeland and truly, if they had called the mind that country from which they had come out they would up 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 rule change what you 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, by the way, this is before we had the written word.

There was no Old Testament certainly no New Testament, no Torah, so we would assume the God probably spoke audibly to Abraham and told him to go. We might wish God would speak audibly to me would be great if you get up every morning. The liver did speak to audibly or send a text even text from God. Hey Greg, here's the plan for today. At this hour be here at that hour be there and do this and do that. Thank you Lord that somehow he speaks to us you're not giving your God if you don't open the Bible and say like young Samuel speak Lord, your servant is listening. Number two world changers obeyed God.

He is not 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.

God was commending him to leave his people. This family everyone living you didn't just leave them altogether. Why because they were detrimental to his spiritual role, 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 of the woman who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly are stands in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful. You want to be a happy person.

Don't hang around ungodly 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, 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 citizens. 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 is prepared is city for them. Christians have a longing for something the earth can never deliver. We know ultimately only heaven can we know are that it's fast, 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."

I want to to notice something else. Abraham lived in a tent, which meant he was always on the move. You never build a permanent home. I don't know if you've noticed you live in a tent to literally but your body in the Bible is described as a tent to contribute five months as we know that when this earthly tent 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 in Hebrews 11, 94 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.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. You 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 thing he was 11 one says faith is the substance of things hoped for it. See evidence of things not seen and done.

Now we come to one final point. Point number five world changers mess up sometimes world changers mess up sometimes in other words, people of faith sometimes have lapses in their faith. So here's Abraham, God says leave your country, leave your family.

Abraham does it sorta will be with that been completely obeyed when he partially obeyed.

Now he's making this journey he's left his former lead is headed to the land of promise to lend a Canaan and the Bible tells us a great famine swept the land. Now the same God who brought them this far. Would've gotten through. Somehow we don't read of Abraham Crane are calling on the Lord. Effectively, he takes matters into his own hands and that brings us to Genesis 12. Did you turn there. Genesis 12 starting in verse 10 says at that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abraham to go down Egypt. Underlying that phrase down Egypt where he lived as a foreigner and as he was approaching the border of Egypt Abraham said was like. By the way, says Abram and Sarai, their lightnings were later changed from Abram to Abraham and Sarah I to Sarah Saul just call them Abraham and Sarah, but Abraham said to his wife Sarah look your very beautiful woman with the Egyptians. See you there going to say this is his wife. Let's kill him. Then we can have her so says to Sarah, his wife telling me or my sister then no spare my life, and treat me well because of their interest in you all. Thanks honey. Great idea. So you're going to just give me over to the Pharaoh to add to his harem. I mean this is crazy. Any Abraham's stop trusting God told her what happened after father of the face had a lapse of faith. Pastor Greg continues the story just a moment. Hearing about listeners who find Jesus because of the Ministry of harvest is so encouraging Pastor Greg for your ministry. I came to Christ and because of that decision. I dedicated everything to God. Today I had extreme honor of praying with my 13-year-old son accepted Christ for himself. What a big day.

Give glory and praise the Lord. Pastor Greg, I pray you are blessed because Christ using you to save me know my son is saying. I couldn't be more blessed 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 contact us today. Call our special number 1866-871-1144 866-871-1144. Today we are learning a great deal from the life of Abraham as a part of Pastor Greg series world changers Pastor Greg explained how it one point Abraham lied, for reasons of self-preservation and that's where we pick up the study.

How many of you have ever told a lie originated totally.

Those of you that did not raise her hand near the worst liar. Sarah want you to know we've all told lies. Even ministers tell law heard about a group of young boys who were standing around a stray dog one time and in a minister was walking by and he noticed thought that was odd. What gobs of what you boys doing over your face.

It will were looking at this dog and we all wanted to go home with us and we decided that whoever tells the biggest lie gets to take the dog home. The minister was outrageous. Horrible. I would never have done such a thing.

When I was a boy all my life I've never told a single lie ever boys look at each other and said he gets in the here's all Abraham facing up famine not understandably that that's a hard situation.

So instead of trusting God, what is he who goes down Egypt birthday member I told you the underlying that Egypt and the Bible is often a metaphor for like the world are going back to the old life for Cindy in general.

Back in Isaiah 31 it says what sorrow awaits those who go down to Egypt trusting their horses and chariots and charioteers, and depending on the strength of human armies instead of looking till the Lord. I mean here is Abraham whose very name is synonymous with faith having a lapse in faith. And then he makes it worse by lying about Sarah and then he asked Sarah to participate in his life. Look Sarah, you just tell them you're my sister now in a way this was partially true because there was actually his half-sister, but it's also to she was his wife. It's been said, I have truth as a whole.

I so is telling a half-truth about to say you're my sister and in she goes along with it.

So she was culpable. She shouldn't have cooperated with this lie.

But hey, he should've never initiated it. A husband should be a spiritual leader in the home, not dragging his wife down and it's a bad thing with some atolls align them to come to you and save you go to back me up on my story told Mr. Gilbert that's not whatever it doesn't matter.

Men just say this in you know don't do that to people. Stop it. It's bad enough that you're lying. Don't drag somebody else into it with you and so he gets her to go along with that, but here's what happened.

His sin was exposed by the way. Sin will always be exposed. The Bible says your sin will find you out if you were to translate that from the original Hebrew would translate out to your sin will find you out what it actually means is your sin will find you out what I'm saying is I don't care how carefully you hide it. It's going to come out one day and say here's what happens.

Pharaoh sees the beautiful Sarah which is amazing. She is an older woman at this point, but still very attractive Pharaoh address Sarah to his harem in a series of plague start coming on his household and he discovers that this is because this is another man's wife. So we take Sarah back to a primitive. Why didn't you tell me she was your wife not take your kid here. You know it it's really a sad thing when a nonbeliever correct you, and it's even worse when the right. Sometimes non-Christians have a better understanding of how a Christian should behave, then some Christians have no your screaming and yelling and losing your temper and the non-Christians essay but to a Christian should the person turn the other cheek gas. Hey, I thought you were a Christian, why are you divorcing your spouse well it's irreconcilable differences. Aren't you Christians supposed to forgive. Well yes, but hey I got you were a Christian, why are you drunk I judge please use through what God then she have this concept that a Christian should be honest should be loyal to their wife, they should be people of integrity, they should be lovingly should be forgiving.

Wow they actually got that part right and it's a sad thing when a nonbeliever has to tell us as a believer.

How to live. But remember, we read that Abraham would down to Egypt had gone down any step away from God is a step down. By the way, the same verbiage is used to describe Jonah was called by God to go preach and he said no and with the opposite direction and you know the story.

The storm came in the boat and they figured out that Jonah was a servant of God and it's interesting because it says that Jonah went down to Tarsus and then there is a parallel situation. These nonbelieving pagan men rebuked Jonah like why would you run from a God that's powerful enough to send a storm like this. What's wrong with you. That's exactly what is happening to Abraham, the Pharaoh same in the you know what you do this to me. Why did you lying to me maybe you have a lapse of faith lately. Abraham did we know this is not the end of his life. It was a detour granite is a mistake.

It was a sin. But here's what you need to do when you're caught in the sin you need to own it admitted some pork look, we all sin will fall short will mess up if Abrahamson, you don't think you're going to send you on this and we are King David sinned against God. Yet the Bible says he was a man after God's own heart. Listen David committed the sin that was actually worse and Abraham buying a long shot.

David committed adultery I he lusted after the beautiful Bathsheba and God had sexual relations with her and she got pregnant instead of just admitting it to God you try to cover it up with that didn't work and so he had her husband killed and then married that's even thinking he had effectively covered up his sin. But then the Lord said the prophet in the confront King David and his sin was exposed in.

Finally, David repented of his sin. Any wrote Psalm 51 in the aftermath there is some 51. David said against the speaking of God and the only have I said and done this evil in your sight Ludington's work on the sin, we blame others was not my fault she tracked me.

It's not my fault.

Everybody was doing it is all my fault. My mother did it. My father used to do it. It is just in my family that's not my fault. It was my surgeon says it can't stop. Here's what you need to say God against you and you only bison take responsibility except the you played a role in it. That's what David said I've sin, because that well. He remembers Sheba she was so beautiful. She should've never been doing that where I could see her in and either adjust my position many times so I could see her. By the way, but she should wait.

Maybe Bathsheba played a role in it, but it's his fall. It's your fault it's my fault only against me and the only have I sin, and then he goes on this.

He created me a clean heart of God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me everything. Lord, I need a refresh.

I need a reboot I need to cleansing my heart is dirty. Give me a new heart, a clean heart and then he says give me a steadfast spirit which means give me a spirit that continues on in consistency with you, help my life to not be up and down with more consistent and regular my faith.

And then he goes on to say and restore to me the joy of my salvation. You know what believer sins. One of the first things you lose is your peace and your joy and it was so used to out that piece wake up every morning just as calm sense that God is with you. He's in control of your life and you have this joy is gone. Man's 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 than in the church, sin. Turn from it and ask God to restore it again to do that for you right now this message.

I talked a little bit about heaven.

I made the statement. Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. My question for you is are you prepared to go to heaven know what I go on a trip, I packed my bags and I always overpack by the way I've traveled for years and years.

I still overpack I think stuff I never use. I to close. I never wear. I don't know why do but I still do it through looking ridiculous in a way but least I packed and ready for the trip. Are you prepared for heaven, what if this were your last day on earth and tomorrow was the day you left this life for the afterlife. Where would you go.

Would you go to heaven. Would you go to hell. The only way to be prepared for heaven, as they have a relationship with God having Christ live inside of you because he died for you on the cross and paid for all of your sin and rose again from the dead, you vest them in your life. And if you've done that you're ready for heaven heaven is not for perfect people.

It's for forgiven people. All you have to do is be forgiven. You can go to heaven. Do you have sin in your life and you don't know how to get rid of it. Your life is a mess and you're gonna fix it.

Maybe like Abraham you've told lies and you've told lies to cover up your lies and you told more lies to cover up the lies to cover up the lies and now you don't even know it's true anymore. You just know your life's a mess and there's no joy and there is no peace. God can fix it but you have to admit it and reach out to him and he'll forgive you of your sin. If you've not asked him to forgive you do it right now it's up our heads everybody praying father, thank you for loving us so much that you sent Jesus to this earth to walk among us to die in our place and then to rise from the dead, and I pray for any person here any person listening is not yet know you Lord help them become to you know be forgiven in Jesus name I pray a Esther Greg Laurie important closing prayer and if you'd like to do is pastor Greg suggested and make things right 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 wraps up the title of today's study is no forwarding address look for that title online@harvest.org if you'd like to hear this message again that's at harvest.org or call us for a CD copy at 1-800-821-3300 were here to talk with you 24 seven so dial any time. 1-800-821-3300 and I were so happy to make available Pastor Greg's new book world changers. It picks up where the series leaves off your pastor Greg or read something the other day that said when's the last time you did something for the first time and I thought you know that talks about comfort zones. We all like to stay in our comfort zones their comfortable chair, but then I've also heard it said that comfort zones are weird dreams go to die while, and you have a new book that shows us how God can do something great through us. If we step outside of the comfortable is not right. Yeah that's very true. You know, and I think that when you're younger you're more willing to try new things. You know when you get older you go to the same restaurant you sit in the same booth of possible short of the same thing off the menu. There's routine in time seems to pass very quickly. I read something that article that pointed out the reason.

The time seems to go so quickly is because you don't change your routine go back to your childhood. It seemed like you were in the fifth grade forever why you're having constant new experiences, so it's very important for us as believers to not live in the past or rest on our laurels but the press on, you know. Hebrews 11 is a record of great men and women of faith they change their world and then immediately following.

Hebrews 11 is Hebrews 12 brilliant insight that I have to say and it tells us what in Hebrews 12 to lay aside the way that so easily midsentence and run the race in this set before us. But what is it say before that, it says scene were surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, so the idea is, in light of the fact that these great men and women of God who are very ordinary did extraordinary thing in light of the fact that they ran their race.

Well, and change the world. Now, you should do the same. As you're running your race following Jesus Christ. So I take these characters from the Bible. I explore their lives, and I shall have the applied faith and how it made such a dramatic difference in look. The Bible says God is given to every one of us a measure of faith. It's up to us what we do with that faith, I begin to develop and begin a cultivated probably going to neglect it. I liken it to the popularity of SUVs and 4 x 4's right now you know people get a car though jacket up with massive wheels and tires on it. It says ready to go four wheeling and they basically drive it from carwash to carwash you know that vehicle was made to do grade 4 wheeling, but they never use it for what it was designed for.

And that's all a lot of people are with faith, it's something they talk about but it's not something they use so my word of encouragement in this book is step out as an act of faith do something that you've never done before.

Be willing to take a risk for the kingdom of God.

These great men and women recorded in Hebrews 11 did that and you can do that to.

So instead of being changed by the world.

Why don't you go and change your world and we hope you take advantage of Pastor Greg's help in that regard by way of this brand-new book world changers.

We are eager to put a copy of this in your hands and today is our last opportunity to mention it is our thank you gift for those who can help these daily studies continue with the generous donation. The amount is between you and the Lord, but please know that your investment helps us change the world as well. So send your contribution today to a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 24 seven.

Again, 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org cash Greg, you mentioned how someone can become a Christian. With just a simple prayer.

Yes, maybe somebody would like to do that right now. Could you help them share I love to a simple prayers right. In fact, I would like to just pray a prayer and I would ask you to pray it after me right now. Pray these words learn Jesus. I know that I am a sinner but I also know that you are the Savior because you dine in the cross for my sin and he rose again from the dead. Jesus come in the my life and forgive me of every sin I've ever committed.

I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for hearing this prayer. Thank you for answering this prayer Lord, and I pray all of this in Jesus name, amen. If you just pray that prayer and meant to a one to the know on the authority of Scripture God Almighty has heard your prayer, and he will answer this prayer.

You are now a newly minted child of God. So congratulations, you've made the right decision and welcome to the family of God. I want to send you a special gift because of that prayer.

You've just pray it's called the new believers growth packet and then it is a copy of the New Testament in a very understandable translation called the new living translation. It also was filled with hundreds of notes that I wrote that will encourage you in this commitment you made to follow Christ and there's some other outstanding materials in this little packet. I'll send you as well so order your copy today and let me be the first to see the you congratulations and welcome to the family of God and to get that new believers growth packet.

Just contact us and will be glad to send it right out. You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us anytime at 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click the words know God everybody Greg Laurie here and finding you to join me every weekend for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a church service. It's a worship service. It's a Bible study and its wherever you wanted to be in your home in your car sitting on a beach walking down the street watching it on your phone wherever you are taken with you and be ministered to every weekend.

Join us for Harvest at Home@harvest.org Pastor Greg invites a couple of special guests into the studio for a revealing discussion about money and marriage money is often attention point in the home and will get some straightforward insight into why that is and learn how to turn conflict connection. Join us next time you begin from Greg possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.org