How to Face Overwhelming Obstacles: Standing Up to Opposition

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by some special friends of this ministry. Pastor Greg wanted to see a special word of thanks to the harvest partners who make this ministry possible next time your online check out Pastor Greg's personal blog@blog.greglaurie.com world changers are willing to hold the more you use your very stronger against the listener. Usually, the more we could.

Greg Laurie points out how we could be world changers are show how to change your perspective on life world changers. See opportunities for change this world see obstacles on how you look at things that are you willing to do what God tells you to do title those individual who got used to shows how to walk with the Lord to live above reproach and how to stand up to a position today on a new beginning. As we continue our study of the life of the world change her name motions God brought about one of the most talked about miracles in the entire Bible is sued by the Egyptians, let me start with wasn't how many of you ever been in a situation where the only way out was God.

Maybe it was a report from a Dr. they gave no real hope maybe it was a financial good Dr. B were you on the brink of collapse.

Maybe a marriage was completely unraveling or a loved one died and you did not do you possibly could survive such a thing or you had a huge family conflict that seem unresolvable. I bring this up because that's the very scenario before is here in our story from world changers as we see the Israelites standing between well in a way the devil and the deep blue sea. They were backed up against the wall and they were caught between an unconquerable Army and an impassable see they were between the impossible and the more impossible.

But what they were about to discover was with God all things are possible.

That brings me to point number one before you can be a world changer God needs to change. You before you can be a world changer God needs itching to let me put it another way, before you can change the world. Your world needs to be changed. The look what happens. Or look at Exodus 13 verse 17 when Pharaoh let the people go.

God did not leave them along the main road that runs to Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the promised land, God set up by people or face of the battle, they might change their minds returned to Egypt. So God love them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.

It's interesting God did not leave them on the shortest route or the easiest route, but he did leave them on the best route which brings me to point number two God's way is the right way and the fact is the Lord was going to leave them in a way where he was going to get the glory.

He told the Israelites to go specifically to a place called Midland all by the sea and we read about it here in Exodus 14 verse three in the Pharaoh will think the Lord says Israelites are confused and their tribes in the wilderness and once again I will harden Pharaoh's heart will chase after you. I've planned this in order to display my glory to Pharaoh in the whole army. After this the Egyptians will know I am the Lord. So the Israelites camp there, as it were told from a standpoint of military strategy. This was crazy. They were completely vulnerable. There were surrounded by desert with their backs against the ocean. There was literally no way out. That brings us to the point number three.

When things are scary, pray when things are scary praying the other people freaked up of the also pray verse 11, they cried out to the Lord and said to Moses, why did you bring us here to die in the wilderness, they cried out to God, but what is God told them to do.

Moses reassures them and says him. Exodus 1413. Don't be afraid to stand still watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians will you see the day will never be seen again.

The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm now that brings me to point number four when led by the Lord make your move when led by the Lord make your move. There's a time to wait and there's a time to move. Verse 15 the Lord said to Moses, why are you crying to me. Tell the people to get moving. Pick up your staff raise your hand over the sea divide the waters of the Israelites to walk through through the middle of the sea on dry ground. Listen to this.

This may seem odd, but this is true, there can come a point in your life. We don't need to pray about something anymore. Greg you should always in a hold on the same there's a time to pray and there's a time to move to go to say stop crying to me, some praying about it.

Generally, the miracles, Moses hold up your hand hold up that staff and the waters parted. Let me illustrate, let's say you're having troubles in your marriage maybe your praying for your husband. Oh Lord help my husband to change you such a jerk change in Lord help them see how wonderful I am.

Maybe you should change your prayer maybe you should say Lord you know my husband is a jerk, but help me to be the godly woman you want me to be me to do my part and husband of coursing to pray the same thing see a lot of terms are say Lord save my marriage over not doing anything to keep our marriage strong. You know the Bible says. Husbands, love your wife as Christ loves the church wives respect her husband. You know, but we don't do that. We just go, Lord, save my marriage.

And he could keep praying but to your part.

Or maybe there's someone who's wronged you. They've offended you. They've insulted you the wounded. You and you want to forget they may say Lord give me the strength to forgive this person got your praying about it now.

Go do it while I'm not feeling that man is a matter of your feeling it. Just go to the Bible says, forgiving one another as God in Christ is forgiven you. It doesn't say anything about when you feel it just go do it and I would even say that the emotions will most likely follow. When you take the step. Your pray Lord save so so you pray for him for years and years, Lord save them Lord save them could keep praying that way, have you preach the gospel till I can do the go preach the gospel to his, maybe it's their moment to come to crises. There's a time to pray and there's a time to move. How were they able to do this. How were they able to walk to the red CME.

Just imagine it's like God save you go down to the Pacific Ocean and keep walked what yeah just walk so you get in unity or up to your ankles.

Now you're up to your knees. Now you're up to your waist and the waves are crashing atop your head and you really can't walk at all think this is a working out. That's what God said to do you just go and start walking. How were they able to do it. They did it by faith. Hebrews 1129 says it was by faith. The people of Israel went right through the Red Sea, as though they were on dry ground.

But when the Egyptians tried to follow. They were all drowned sea world changers are willing to take bold steps of faith.

Faith is obeying God in spite of the circumstances, or even consequences and the more you use your faith, the stronger it gets, the less you use your faith, the more it weekends world changers see opportunities those who are changed by this world. See obstacles world changers see bridges. Those were change for the world. Just seawalls. It's all how you look at things and are you willing to do what God tells you to do, bringing me to point number five our life as a Christian is a walk of faith. Verse 21 Moses raises and I were there. See, the Lord opened up about the water and with a strong youth when the wind blew all that night, turning the seabed and the dry land, so the people walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground with the walls of water on each side that walk right through by the wind took all my sure was very excited when they started well. There's probably flopping around on the ground so she was saw the soy sauce, and they probably saw this guy cruising by on the wall, the wall of the valley of the right there.

You know it's like the best aquarium never was very exciting at first very exciting at the end when the walls of water collapsed on the Egyptian army, but they had to walk and walk and it's hours and hours that the Christian life is just a walk with the Lord, you know, sometimes there's a lot of excitement in the beginning of the Christian life when you realize what God is done for you, but as time passes. You might start taking things for granted and you might start finding yourself becoming a bit apathetic you need to just keep walking this walk. One definition of being a Christian is long obedience in the same direction. I like that long obedience in the same direction, but if you find yourself getting apathetic.

You need to pull out your RPG by rocket propelled grenade launcher know your RPG's are stands for re-every day. Read the Bible you never outgrow it. You never get beyond it never becomes irrelevant. Every day you read keys to answer prayer.

You need to have a prayer life. Pray about things bring things before the Lord G of RPG stands for go to church. You never outgrow that you need to be a regular part of the church and as share your faith with others. This is something we stop do we stop reading our Bibles, we stop being regular in church attendance we stop praying we stop sharing our faith and we wonder why apathy is seeping into our life because you're not doing the basic let's just say you decided to just talk and eat anymore. So over the eating thing is going to happen. You're getting it lightheaded you to get dizzy.

You're going to feel almost sick and if it goes on for a while. You're going to basically start to die and you can live that way. You must eat to survive in the same way will neglect these disciplines and will find yourself withering or let's say you never exercise about the promise, all you do is eat you either need to you need any you live that Krispy Kreme you live there like have a bed there. You see don't you even before there even me to know you have another problem. You need exercise first. Being a glutton a given number two you need exercise you need activity and so it's not just come to church and listen and hear and be blessed yes were thankful you're here work here to help you but now we take it out. The holiest moment of our church service is when God's people walk out the doors and go into all the world and preach the gospel. That's a sharing park, so use your RPG's and so here they are walking through this red scene in a moment. Mr. Greg shows us how to put this RPG approach to word in dealing with the opposition we face. We might not have the Egyptian army pursuing this but we need some help. Just the same. That's coming up everybody Greg Laurie here in 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 getting hit with you to be ministered to every weekend. Join us for Harvest at Home@harvest.org Pastor Greg continues now with today's message called how to face overwhelming obstacles available@harvest.org known an earlier message in the world changers. There is a talk about facing your Giants. It was based on David and Goliath.

Remember that I pointed out that if you want to overcome a giant you have to attack it until it does add to David did with life and my point was you know we all have giants in our life and using that as a metaphor for sin or an addiction or some problem identified attack. It cut its head off.

That's a giant the Red Sea's different. You don't kill the Red Sea you get through the Red Sea. It's a different picture. And there are situations in life that you can to attack you have to get through them.

Maybe it's something you weren't expecting. Maybe it's a troubled marriage. You need to hang in there and not give up.

Maybe it's a physical problem. You know, maybe you have a disability you are born with. Maybe you've had an accident. Now there's an issue in your life that you never had before.

Maybe it's just the effects of getting older and and you deal with a lot of new aches and pains you noted you here. Snap, crackle and pop in the morning than the problem is you're not eating rice crispy to or maybe at some some afflictions of some kind. You know, the apostle Paul had this problem and here's a guy who prayed for people to be healed. He prayed and people were raised from the dead, but he had this thorn in the flesh as he called out.

Don't forget Paul was beaten he was shipwrecked he went to all kinds of hardship. Some scholars think it might've been his eyesight.

We don't know. Whatever was it bugged them a bothered image troubled him. He called a thorn in the flesh, and three times he also Lord to take it away and the Lord said Paul, my grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness, resin, other translation puts it, God speaking said the Paul, my grace is enough. It's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness causes. Once I heard that I was glad to let that happen.

I quit focusing on the handicap and begin appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer. These things cut me down the size accidents opposition bad breaks. I just let Christ take over the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

The translation is very well said, and that's it.

Lord I don't understand it but you can help me get through this Red Sea help me get through this issue because one day you will get through it in one way shape or form.

What about the death of a loved one, just talked to a couple that lost her only son age 33. His name is Christopher. The name of our son who also died at 33 but he was her only son, and you know your heart just goes out because what can you say it's so tragic.

It's so sad, but I saw how they were trusting in the Lord and I saw how another doing things for God's glory. There are thinking of ways to invest their money for the gospel and their wanting to reach out and do things in their hearts have been touched. You know them in their processing.

This great pain and in there in the beginning of it now it just happened to them recently and I know that feeling well because I've been there and if something you get through day by day.

It's not a year-by-year thing that's on a month by month thing. Sometimes it's an hour by hour. Think please friends, be patient with those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Don't rush it. Don't come in with all your clever Christian answers because half the time you don't know what you're talking about one of the best things you can do for a person is suffering is just be there and love them because in many ways, aren't a lot of answers that will really bring comfort and sometimes the answers we bring to comfort actually cause more pain. I know this from experience because of things people are said to make the patient and never ask a person who's lost a loved one, especially recently, never ask this. Are you over it yet. Don't ask another knocking to get over it maybe ever to get through it by God's help and your prayers.

I'm not over it. I'll never be over, but I'm getting through it.

I'm getting through my Red Sea. I just walk through it trusting the Lord, knowing that when I get to the end of the Red Sea, to see my son again in heaven.

That's my hope. What's your one day world to come to the end of our life if we want to accept it or not, you'll end up on a hospital bed, you'll end up in hospice, you may not even have that luxury so-called that they come suddenly, but you'll probably know this is it. This is the end. Okay, you get a pass over all of us in a Passover to the other side, the Israelites went from one place to another. They went from the shore of Egypt to the shore of the brink of the promised land when they will Passover us Christians to Kevin or will Passover to the other side to a place called hell. By the way, God doesn't want anyone to go there to finish the story Israelites. They got finally through the Red Sea, and they're probably waiting for stragglers is always stragglers right, uncle Harry let's call all couple little kids come on come or not leave until were all here, you know, double stray animals get them over and here comes the fair hopeful this is going to be good and he's in charge and he's got his chariot. There come in through and then the scene collapses on them all drowned and destroyed that sold me his this is a fair that was drowning Jewish baby boys in the Nile River. This is a prayer that was bent on their destruction, facing the consequences of us and you see you reject God, you break God's rules. You say no to Jesus.

One day you're gonna reap what you sow and I want you to know something when that day comes, God will take no pleasure doesn't want to judge anyone. That's why he warned Pharaoh all over and over and over and over and over and over again and we just read Pharaoh hardened his heart Pharaoh hardened his heart Pharaoh hardened his heart Pharaoh hardened his heart.

All of a sudden we read God hardened Pharaoh's heart what happened. Artie told God gave Pharaoh the ability to choose Pharaoh said no no no no I don't want it.

I don't want God to find the Lord said okay. Is that your final decision. I'll strengthen you in the decision you've already made. Right now, God speaking to someone's heart. Deep down inside your exam and I need to get right with God. I need Jesus for sure not sure right now as you're listening to this message. If you were to die today if you would go to heaven or not. You don't have that assurance.

But Jesus who died the cross and rose again from the dead three days later can come of your life and forget you see Pharaoh thought the Israelites made a huge mistake and he pounced on them taking advantage, not realizing it was a trap set by God himself to show his glory. Fast forward many years Satan is infiltrated the disciples and there's gotten one of Jesus own handpicked friends to betray him Judas Iscariot Satan got the religious leaders on board and the Romans as well and he orchestrates the death of Jesus. Realizing it was all part of God's plan because it was always God's plan for Jesus to die in the cross for our sin and then the rise again from the dead, and he could forgive you of all of your sins right now if you asked him to there might be some of you listening here watching that you know you're living this compromise life you trying to live in two worlds. You're doing things you know you should not be doing. I talked about getting the Israelites out of Egypt without getting Egypt out of the Israelites that you use in your church, the only church you have other plans for this day and they're not good. You did some last night.

You're pretty embarrassed about anything about doing some else tonight or tomorrow that I think that you know are wrong before God. And here's my concern. You live this way coming to church, putting on little show thing going on during the stuff you're going to get a hardened heart and one day your heart make it so hard you won't even be able to hear God anymore is why the Bible says harden not your heart if you can hear his voice Lord is saying turn from that sin, because my way is the right way. Trust me on this.

He can forgive you of all of your sin. If you've never believed in Jesus and he can forgive you of your sin. If you believed in him, but you been disobeying them so working to close down prayer Avenue extend an invitation for you to get right with God. Let's all pray father, thank you for your word to us today.

Now I prefer any hear any that are listening or watching that don't know you yet they don't have the hope of heaven are still living on the jolts of their sin help them to come to you and believe me, in Jesus name I pray for Greg Lord important word of prayer. And if you'd like to make that kind of change today in your relationship with the Lord.

Pastor Greg would like to help you do that before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes stay with us the title today study is how to face overwhelming obstacles.

If you missed any part of the insight you can get an instant replay@harvest.org or listen by way of our harvest mobile app and for a permanent copy on CD. Call 1-800-821-3300.

We can take your call anytime 24 seven at 1-800-821-3300 Pastor Greg and remember some of the toys that we used to get for Christmas from her kids. I remember the a and of the paddle with the ball attached with a rubber band and the rubber band was held on with a little staple that lasted about five minutes.

Sin in the paddle ball toy without a ball is just a paddle.

Yes, oh no. Did you know who's hand that's going to end up in right dad has further disciplinary exactly some toy that is right.

Well we have a gift recommend that you that there's no Staples and it can take a last for generations gotten yeah well it can become a staple in your library could net very go as something to read to your children and your grandchildren written by Sally Lloyd Jones, who is with us in studio right now and it's called the Jesus storybook Bible, a Christmas collection.

It includes stories, songs and reflections for the Advent season and just works out perfectly when you start out. I believe in the beginning of December. Right, Sally, and is like a story a day and then there's like little buttons you can push and there's a song that's recorded and, in some part of the Christmas story read by Davidson Shea. What am I leaving out and then some right and there are some wonderful facts that talk about what Advent means give you background on some of the carols. We saying I just I love it. I level the and interventions are really short and very simple sentence, but they make it easy for a parent to read the story and not feel like that. Got to sit of come up with some kind of application and its sterile open-end at that sort of encouraging the child to think about what God will do and also comforting I think is a lot of comfort in this about how God will look off to them and loves them and will cast them and they don't need to be afraid to do a little personal plan for the buckets. I can't and if I am going to give the gifts to a new mom are to.

I knew grandma and one of the things I always included is one of Sally Lloyd Jones books and at Christmas time we were all looking for something to give to someone, and I wouldn't limit it just to the child that is in your home. Maybe you don't have a child in your home that you might know a mother or a grandmother or a child in someone's home.

This is an amazing gift of the book and not only is it and something I would give away is something I would keep for yourself.

So by two copies part or give towards two copies asked for two copies because personally I have learned how to rephrase and retell Bible stories from the way Sally has tenant, it's an incredible resource for parents to know how to speak to children and then I love having Davidson Shea reading it because it give you a prompt on how to read books to kids to just putting in the proper pauses and emphasizing certain things and modulating your voice so it's it's such an incredible resource and I hope everyone listening will give the gift of any size and get their hands on a copy or two at these once again it's called the Jesus storybook Bible, a Christmas collection and will be glad to send it to you to thank you for your investment in keeping the studies coming your way. It's a program that touches lives every single day. We recently heard this from a listener. Pastor Greg your teaching is what made me come back to God.

Thank you for leading people to eternal joy and you know this study couldn't reach as many hearts as it does without listeners who invest we're completely listener supported. So, please send a donation today and be sure to ask for the Jesus storybook Bible, a Christmas collection. You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.

That's a 24 hour phone number 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org pastor Greg a couple of moments ago you talked about the importance of coming to the Lord to have our sins forgiven. Yes if somebody listening right now wants to do that. Could you help them yeah I can do that David be happy to in the book of Isaiah we read these words seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous man their thoughts let them return to the Lord and he will have mercy on them and to our God, for he will freely pardon listen.

That's God's word to you and let me address this to the person who is never asked Jesus Christ to come into their life.

Why don't you do it now that versus seek the Lord while he may be found, God is touched your heart today perhaps and you thought I need this relationship of the Lord. One of these days on the make that commitment to Christ no, don't wait for one of these days. This is the day this is your moment, seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Listen God is near to you and he is ready to come into your life and there's another part of this verse when it says let us return to the Lord. I want to also extend an invitation to you that have fallen away from your faith. You fallen away from the Lord, and you need to make a recommitment. So if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life if you want your sins forgiven.

If you want to go to heaven when you die, or if you fallen away from the Lord, and you want to return to them. Pray this prayer with me, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I also know that you are a Savior and I need your help.

I need your forgiveness come in the my life and forgive me of all of my sins, I choose to follow you from this moment forward be my Savior be my Lord be my God in be my friend. Thank you for hearing this prayer. Thank you for answering this prayer in Jesus name I pray, amen and want you to know on the authority of Scripture. If you just prayed that prayer and minute Christ is heard you and he is forgiven you, so God bless you and we want to help you begin to grow in your new face want to send you some resource materials we call our new believers growth packet it will answer some of the questions you might have and get you started off right. So get in touch for your new believers growth packet will set it free of charge. If you pray for Pastor Greg for the first time today. Write a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 24 hours a day seven days a week. Again, that's 1-800-821-3300 or go to harvest.org and click know God when next I Pastor Greg has good encouragement for anyone who's ever said but I'm just one person.

What can I do talk about the power of one next time on the new beginning. But before we go I Pastor Greg has an important word to close today's program everybody a few thoughts about the selection that's coming up your vote matters.

Listen, every Christian should register and vote. I cannot emphasize that enough. It's our responsibility. It is our duty, but it is also our privilege and we really have no right to criticize what's going on in our nation if we don't even take the time to vote for a candidate I'm looking to tell you to vote for. But I'll give you some ideas when I cast my vote. I can tell you there's some things that factor into what I could talk about a lot of things but let me just pick two out of particular the candidate that will receive my vote will be one that is pro-life. I would never vote for a candidate that would support the aborting of unborn children number two on the vote for a candidate that stands with and supports the nation Israel. God promises a blessing to the people.

Blessing God's people. So those are couple of things to think about is you go to the voting you vote your conscience, but biblically to vote and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor greats free daily email, devotions@harvest.org