The Teenager Who Changed the World - I

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 it would you do me a favor sure this message was someone who needs to hear it was my musical movie celebrating is more likely resume movies were someone is showing a score. Pastor Greg Laurie says that cut across grain.

The Bible teachers are uptight and angry culture, road rage, cyber bullying lawsuit prize because virtue but that's not what we see the light of Joseph because Joseph shows us a better way.

The way of forgiveness and tension. Those were Brad Lander bigger than one usually using the Smart quietly grows up and discover some new cell structure proton know is the blocks trashes a hotel room talk today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie helps us focus on the young man from long ago whose life it was all in admirable pattern to follow.

As a teenager were that they will really looking for real hero. God saw that film I hacksaw a red true story of Guzman.Europe, a man that risked his life to 75 other men something that they give me a bit, as many as 100. That's a hero, but nowadays we throw the word hero around a lot, use it to describe a sandwich all over hero sandwich. We use it to describe a videogame guitar hero. If you can have five cords in your electric guitar you're a guitar hero. If you can sync up all of the basket your basketball hero or a sports hero but really what is a hero.

One definition of a hero goes as follows, and I quote a person on the face of danger combats adversity through impressive feats of ingenuity, bravery or strength offered, sacrificing his or her own personal concern for some greater good is a good definition of a hero in the time we have a lot of celebrities, people were famous for being famous.

So they have more Instagram followers are there more friends on Facebook yeah but what have they done. I mean, is it heroic one person contrasted a hero and a celebrity as follows hero is known for achievements. This celebrity for well-known. This the hero reveals the possibilities of human nature. The celebrity reveals the possibilities of the press and media celebrities are people who make news arrows are people who make history time makes heroes but dissolves celebrities. We need more heroes. Listen, you can be a hero you can be a world changer. That's were talking about this series of recalling world changers based on Hebrews 11, which is sometimes referred to as the heroes call update and there are some characters that made it in that quite frankly are surprising from law to Jacob and others, but the young men were going to look at now who is related to Jacob. In fact, it was his son is more than a worthy recipient of this award if you will, and Becky was just a boy. When God revealed to him his future. He was the teenager who changed the world what I'm talking about Joseph. I mean, you want to talk about someone overcoming adversity, Joseph. Against all odds face the worst circumstances imaginable. And as you look at is like it has all the earmarks of a real page turner. You know a summer read a great novel. It's a story of an overindulgent father somewhat spoiled son jealous brothers in international food crisis what it's more than that it's a story that shows the hand of God at work in every scene ruling in overruling the decisions that people make and in the end God builds a hero.

He saves a family and creates a nation that becomes a blessing to all of your the nation Israel is he Joseph wasn't just a world changer. Joseph was quite literally a world saver because of the decisions he made thousands of people have their lives changed and say Joseph story is a classic rags to riches tail as he rises from completed security facing constant setbacks to become the second most powerful man on the face of the earth and you know the theme of Hebrews 11 is world changers using their faith. You don't just talk about faith you use your faith as we told you faith is like a muscle. It needs to be put in the practice and apply, and he certainly did that. In fact, as we look at some of the other world changers, the heroes of faith will see some of them struggled without Abraham certainly had his doubts when he lied about his wife Sarah saying she was a sister because he was afraid of what would happen to him if he was discovered. We know that others had momentary lapses of abatement from the story of Joseph. We cannot find a single shade of doubt MNU want to talk about a guy with little promise he was a simple shepherd boy 12 of 13 children, a spoiled young man.

In some ways given the visions of grandeur. He didn't seem to really like hard work. Like many teenagers he liked to sleep and he had dreams but in the case of Joseph. These dreams came from God affected the beginning Joseph screams got him into trouble but 13 years later other people dreams would get him out of trouble in the story of Joseph we learn how to overcome adversity how to face envy from others how to resist sexual temptation and how to lay hold of and have faith in the promises of God. But the most significant lesson of the life of Joseph is how to forgive those who have hurt you. Oh yes, there's not a better example of forgiveness and all of the Bible except Jesus.

He's a sterling example.

But apart from our Lord Joseph shows forgiveness on an epic level. How many of you been hurt by people in life Adrian it's okay if you don't raise your hand and wondering are you human were all hurts.

We've all been taken advantage of. We've all been insulted. We've all had people wish us ill, but the Joseph East all of that and actually was able to extend forgiveness to his brothers and what a unique thought that is in our times of which were living in our uptight and angry culture of road rage and cyber bullying and frivolous lawsuits. We prize revenge as a virtue when the last time you saw movie celebrating forgiveness.

I don't know what I can say the last time you saw movie celebrating payback because that's a story we like to see.

But that's not what we see in the life of Joseph because Joseph shows us a better way. The way of forgiveness and he was able to say to his brothers.

Later on, who would actually sold him into slavery. It was not you that sent me here, but God is wicked as you guys were as horrible as your plan was. God was in it and he was ultimately in control effective. Joseph better theme Scripture. It would be this one.

Romans 828 let's read it out loud together all things work together for good to those of love God. Another called according to his purpose.

I love that of hope you've committed that the memory if you haven't maybe this to be when you start to but that is really the theme of his life. Whatever happened God used it for his glory. I mean, he lived in the strangest family was a part of the strangest family dominated by line deceit, immorality, manipulation, even murder. He could have turned out rotten and he could've blamed it on his mom and dad and certainly is brothers. If anyone could've played the victim card. It was Joseph but he never did it.we read in Psalm 7610 human opposition only enhances your glory. You use it as a sword of judgment. So if you live in a messed up dysfunctional home, take heart. It can't be any worse than Joseph's home and God preserved him and blessed him, and God can help you.

God can take your setback and turn it into a set up. God can take your mess and turn it into a message God can put the fun in this function if you will begin to turn your situation around what I get tired of people always wanting to blame their bad behavior on their family. I was raised in the strangest family ever. If you even want to call it that no data around and my mom I would say she did the best she could, but I don't think she really did.

But I think she tried somewhat and but in many ways. I was just sort of taken along for the ride and sent here and sent therefore long periods of time.

But as I look at my life. I can see God's hand in. I wouldn't wish my childhood on anyone but at the same time it made me into the person I am for better and for worse, I find that I have a compassion for people to come from broken homes.

I have a compassion for skeptical people because I was one step person by nature. I still am somewhat but not about my faith and not about the word of God, but I understand how a lot of people think it Joseph's life was changed in 17 of my life was changed at 17 as well, but you know I'm able to look back in my life and see how God is had his hand in it and so whatever you're going through. It's time to stop making excuses and blaming them out mom and blaming it on dad or blaming it on your siblings or blaming it on the dog moving to blame anyone blame the cat okay just clean the cat. They won't care.

I know you think I hate cats only say that because people react actually. We have a We've kind of adopted in a neighborhood that comes up carport. He's a cool cat to the comes when you call. That's all I'm talking about just come every now and then he comes up and it so we I put milk out form Is this what you do with the milk and feeding the cat you crazy dental ways to milk though he likes it.

My sit there and I want to and I pet him. I'll tell you what, I'll take a video of it and post it to prove it. See that's it's because he's a cat that acts like a dog that's the only reason I like just a moment.

Pastor Greg examines the family dynamic. Joseph's household will see those dynamics may have actually worked against the young man more in 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 to harvest ministers, 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 it done.

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 and basically a church service that you want 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 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 well today.

Pastor Greg is presenting a study of Joseph is calling him. The teenager who changed the world and you can hear this message again@harvest.org or subscribe on Apple podcasts Google podcasts or spot a fine looking at two passages together.

Hebrews 11.

In Genesis 37 so first let's look at Hebrews 11 verse 22. There's a lot about Joseph in Hebrews by faith that says Joseph when he was dying made mention of the departure of the children of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bone sore introducer Joseph and he was 11.

At the end of his life here he is in a foreign country and even want to be buried there. He wanted to be buried in the land of Canaan.

He had walked in faith. Now he's dying in faith.

Also he wants to go home again. But how did Joseph end up in Egypt to start with. That is where our story begins turnover to Genesis 37, reverses to the poor from the new living translation were introduced to Joseph when Joseph was 17 years old.

He often tended his father's flocks. He worked for his half brothers and sons of his father's wives Bill Hart and Silbaugh, but Joseph reported to his father. Some of the bad things.

The brothers were doing. Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day to commit a special gift made for Joseph a beautiful row, but his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them and they couldn't say a kind word to him. There's a was our story begins, we have Jacob is an older man of favoring one son above the others. Jacob had many wives, which is always a bad idea.

This is one of the reasons why some of you who have had parents were divorced multiple times have you know your your half-brothers or half-sisters and all the rest that goes with it and it makes life difficult. Many times in and so take about the same problem know you remember that Jacob fell in love with a beautiful girl name Rachel right he wanted to marry her. But her father, Laban was the worst connivers and Jacob was an exactly what you worked for me for seven years. You can have Rachel Jacobs like game on I'm red and he worked for seven years on his honeymoon night instead of waking up with Rachel. He woke up with their less attractive sister Leah and then David said all you know we on the rights of the firstborn Byron Lee is a first. Once I worked seven more years and you can have Rachel affected as he worked 14 years to marry this beloved girl and she was so important to him and they had the child Joseph so he favored this point you would've thought that Jacob would've known it's wrong to show favoritism to one child over another.

Why because his father favored his brother Esau number and his mother favored him and this created a harsh rivalry that continued well into their adult years. So if Jacob and learned anything you think you would've learned don't favor one child over another.

You know when I buy a gift for my grandchildren. My wife always says you have to buy five so it seems a good idea to get this for this great job. My wife says are you ready to buy. Five.

I do the math nights not that nice really, you know you have to be even because kids know they know they know when the favored one in this siblings no and sometimes even into the adult years and adult sibling will say to their brother or sister. You are always mom's favorite right does love you more than the rest of us so really in many ways. Jacob is sitting Joseph up for failure, not for success, and we see the same thing happening today. Kids were always told they were the best, when actually they were. They got participation trophies for just showing up their helicopter parents is are sometimes called hovered over them. The parents drove around the bumper sticker.

My child is an honor student. One of the stickers on your car really is McKenna bragging a little bit.

We should have some honest one set of that have a sticker that says my child is an average student with little ambition about this. My daughter has no rhythm and dance class is a struggle that's on this. All of our kids are not honor students for the many ways when you over praise your kid and certainly if you praise them at the expense of your other children, you can create this very hot bed of jealousy, and rivalry Joseph found himself in intimate matters worse that goes on and get them a special custom designer. Coat a multicolored jacket, the more familiar phrases King James version, a coat of many colors right what is it Mina means it was a richly ornamented row.

Now there's more to this and initially meets the eye. One commentator said this was a tunic that was sleeve and it was extended to the ankle. So here is the idea the brothers would have worked close on they'd be ingenious right that they might've had their sleeves cut out, so they would have freedom of movement to work in the field. Dad came to Joseph, the equivalent of like a tuxedo or or this supercool designer jacket that would've cost a lot of money, which effectively said he did not have the other brothers had to work in the hot sun, but Joseph did not have to work it be like buying your kids close at the outlet stores and then taking your favored child to even say Laurent on rodeo Drive. You've heard of even say Laurent it's French for too much customer, so he gives in this beautiful garment there resentful. Why does he get that we don't get that what's going on and it was clear that Jacob was blaming and giving firstborn status to Joseph and so Joseph actually through fuel on the fire himself first to one day Joseph reported to his father. Some of the bad things. The brothers were doing the work reported here from the Hebrew is snitch Ito that were hurt doesn't exist. I made it up but it's implied he was snitching on his brothers. He was arrived he was an informant. That's only some known kits by there's always one child that's a troublemaker and there's always one child that you know little Miss or Mr. offer Miss Goody two shoes that rats amount right so the one child makes the trouble the other child rats amount and then you will say to them.

Now stop being bad to the naughty child that never has any effect on their behavior and we sit in the other. Don't be a tattletale right. Nobody likes a tattletale will that's a Joseph was in some ways he was a tattletale but having said that, let me also add, he really was a godly man he really was in every way. And here's the bottom line if you call out sin in the lives of other people. They're going to get upset sometimes all you have to do is show up as a follower of Jesus, and you're just a light in a dark place it to say hi, how's it going, darling area.

Here we go. Why because you represent Jesus Christ know they have to mind their peas and cues.

Now they have to think about what they're going to say next that the Bible tells us in Ephesians 511. Take no part of the worthless deeds of evil, but instead expose them so that is what Joseph was doing. Maybe he could have been more diplomatic.

I'll concede the point. But he was a godly man and he was telling the truth, you know, sometimes this is just a trait of youth you know when you're young, especially a teenager you know your thing and I I'm I'm I'm an adult now and I know what's going on you know and and you start to form views about different topics and often it's not nuanced. Often it is a really completely thought out but but you have your views and and a member of give a Christian at 17 you know I I've been so radically changed by Christ that when they rented the Christians who were compromising that made no sense to me because I just live that life I lived that life. They flirt with.

I've done everything they think about and more and I saw empty and miserable it was and I could not understand why a follower of Christ would want to still try to live into world. Okay, so I was a little harsh with people. Some told me when you are really critical when you are brand-new Christian. I said I disagree your soul wrong knives. You know how you can be and I think I lack diplomacy and when I was a young pastor at 22 should amend. I was just awesome I really was I the answer to every question. Nothing you could ask me, I would have an absolute every argument I would try to win the argument. This time passes, you learn to be a little more graceful. You learn to realize that actually you don't have all the answers you here's the bottom line if you want to win some you need to be winsome practical lessons today are study based on the life of Joseph Pastor Greg Laurie is presenting a message called the teenager who change the world. You're on a new beginning from his series called world changers and a copy of faster graceful presentation is available. You can find out more@harvest.org or call us at 1-800-821-3300 were here round-the-clock to take your call. That's 1-800-821-3300 and again the title of today's message is the teenager who change the world and then we want to speak for a moment with her in studio guests authors Jeff and Chante fell time, they've written a new book called thriving in love and money. They discovered that more than 90% of couples have tension over money or just avoid the topic altogether and their buckets to the bottom of the issues and helps people find harmony in the home. Chante as you dug deep into the results of this three-year research study.

What would you consider the biggest surprise and all the data. The biggest surprise is how much all of us and definitely me in my own heart. How much I am resisting being one in marriage and it's coming out how I handle money mean that was one of the big findings and it hit me because candidly a lot of us had kind of gotten into patterns when when money isn't something you live talking about if you're one of those people who just it's not your thing. It's really easy to kind out of their paycheck doesn't your account and my paycheck is under my account and we don't have to talk about money when when people say well I don't do that. I asked them the same question I had to ask myself once I realize this is okay.

Maybe you don't. Maybe you combine everything but ask yourself, do you ever try to pull the Amazon package off the front step before your spouse sees it in me was coming from the same exact place and wanting to just do what I wanted to do that causes some people separate accounts entirely and during this moment. It's important for us to sort of wrestle with that and recognize this is something work called to not be you and me were called me that's very good, were not called to be you and me were called to be. We you're listening to Chante and Jeff Phil Hahn. They've written a book called thriving in love and money and this is our special resorts this month that we want to put in your hands what you know that when we offer these resources, it's because we want to help you.

We want to encourage you. We want to strengthen you and this is one of the most important that we've ever offered, and I would remind you that I'm offering this to you for your gift of any size whatever you send large or small, will get your copy. But let me encourage you to invest in our ministry because this is a ministry that obviously teaches the word of God. But it's also a ministry that calls people to Christ and every year we see literally thousands of people make a commitment to follow Jesus Christ as will invite them to do so at the end of our program. So if you believe that people need to come to Jesus if you believe people need to hear the word of God, then we would appreciate your investment in our ministry and will get you your copy of this book by Jeff and Chante felt Hahn thriving in love and money.

And that's right it would be our privilege to send this your way to help bring more connection and contentment to your home. The felt honest, discovered that money is the number one stressor in relationships. So, help is on the way as soon as your request, thriving, and love and money subtitled five-game changing insights about your relationship your money and yourself. We are sending it to thank you for your donation. It helps touch lives all around the world.

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With a little twist of jokes in between.

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