The Power of One: Being God's Representative

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God don't want to hear from you. Would you consider emailing me you can reach me at greg@harvest.org again that's Greg harvest.org and you can also make me one of your friends on Facebook and drop me a comment, you may be having only person that some people will ever know you are a representative of crisis with persons are walking written by God and read what you may be the only Bible. Some people every if some people evaluate the Lord by what we see in your life. Is that a good thing. Pastor Greg Laurie has a word of encouragement you make your stand for what is right suspect God will bless you for that. The power of one bad in every so will have a serious customer service debacle spreads all over social media, the one with the company president thinks about the way his organization is characterized spiritually speaking, we are representing God every single day going for you today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie returns to his world changers as we consider a fine example of leadership set forth world changer named Moses. We are going to be looking today at 1000's of Scripture Exodus chapter 32 there with me if you would Exodus 32 a final look at the life of Moses and the title of my message is the power of one, one Christian making this dead in a given situation could change everything around them.

I want sorted said I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything that I could do something what I can do. I ought to do what I ought to do. By the grace of God I will do listen to this one godly man or woman in the darkest situation can make a dramatic difference here is the thing I don't know where you are right now, but maybe you're in a place you don't necessarily want to be you don't know why your in the setting that you're in right now why did I end up in this neighborhood with that neighbor.

Why did I end up in this classroom with that teacher. Why did they end up in this workplace.

With this boss or this person that works next to me. Why do they end up where I am.

I wish I wasn't in this place. Did it ever occur to you that God put you right where you are for a reason, a beautiful young woman found herself as the queen of Persia at a strategic time in the history of the Jewish people because the plot was hatched for them all to be exterminated and she was oblivious to this and her uncle Mordechai said the Queen Esther, who knows that God is the place you where you are for such a time as this.

And I suggest the same is true of you. The same is true of me. We want to go out there and make our stand trying to get out of where we are to borrow a 60s saying Bloom where you are planted, except that I'm here because God has put me here, but it is the best job that I can decide my life for Jesus Christ. How many of you have heard of Billy Graham, Richard most of you, you give her to Bill Bright bright not as many.

He found a Campus Crusade for Christ by the privilege of getting to know Bill Bright I and of course Billy is grandma's well and also here's another name. How many of you furtive. Henrietta mirrors richer again and really miss almost no one yellowcake was. Henrietta mirrors okay. She is an interesting lady. She was felt called by the Lord to teach a Sunday school class of the First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood in 1928. Under her direction. Her class grew from 400 to 4000. That's a big Sunday school class. Everybody wanted to hear her speak.

She ended up doubting Gospel light publishing in the forest so conference center. What's interesting about the impact of Henrietta mirrors is over 400 young people entered full-time Christian service. As a result of the impact of her life, including Bill Bright and Billy Graham. So maybe you're not a Billy Graham which it could be a Henrietta Mayor" that statement. I'm only one, but I am what I cannot do everything that I can do something. What I can do. I ought to do what I ought to do. By the grace of God I will do. How many of you furtive Sammy masonry. Almost no one well okay Sammy Mason was a stunt pilot and and all committed follower of Jesus Christ and he would teach people apply out of the Santa Paula Airport. One day a man came to him and said he wanted to learn to fly this man had bought an antique Stearman biplane and it turns out that this man's name was Steve McQueen and at that point Steve McQueen was the number one movie star in the world and he had conquered auto racing then motocross and now we want to learn how to fly and it also turns out that Steve had been searching for his entire life for the meaning and purpose of life he was raised by an alcoholic mother that have little to no time for him. He also never knew his biological father. He spent time at Chino boys Republic because his mother wanted nothing to do with the meek of the crazy life he ascended to the top of the hill in the world of Hollywood and was making millions of dollars. Not everything a person could want for there was a big hole in his heart, and it just came. At the time when you want to learn a lot of flights. We spent hours in the cockpit with Sammy Mason, Sammy Mason was a man's man can of a salt of the earth guy.

Steve admired him and Steve asked Sammy what is your secret your different you seem to get a piece. And Sammy told Steve about his faith in Jesus Christ and Sammy's fate was so strong. Steve actually asked can I go to church with you found it interesting that that Sammy invited them. It seems it can I go to church with you, Sammy agreed the ended up at the Ventura missionary church in Ventura, California, and the pastor there Leonard to where Dwight met and interviewed spoken preach the gospel and at the end of the services he would invite people to Christ. Just like we do and does so after two weeks of Cassie heard the McQueen was coming to his church. He just told the people he Malone the bother of donors for autographs. McQueen came and said I want to talk with you and they had an extended conversation which resulted in Steve McQueen committing his life to Jesus Christ. Okay so the power of one so you furtive Steve McQueen, you probably haven't heard of Sammy Mason diverted Billy Graham, you haven't heard of Henrietta mirrors doesn't matter will of a part to play well of something to do will of the spirit of influence. We wanted to what we can do while we can do it because you may be the only Christian that some people will ever know you're the only one, and you are representative of Christ. It's been said that Christians are walking epistles written by God and read by men you may be the only Bible some people every and so I want to look now at the power of one, one man who impacted millions of people. One man who through his godly life of integrity Two and a half-million from turning to idolatry.

I'm talking about Moses, the man of God, and you know what when Moses, the man of God love the scene literally all hell broke loose. Exodus 32, one there waiting on Moses when the people following him is taking Moses to come back down the mountain. They gathered around Aaron, they said make us some gods who can lead us.

We don't know what happened to this fellow Moses who brought us here from the land of Egypt.

Interesting. Instead of recognizing it was the Lord through Moses led them out of Egypt. They thought it was Moses himself and as soon as Moses was gone they were looking for something to take his place and I think there's a lot we we need something we can talk to me. Moses was the guy grabbed him by the arm we could voice our complaints to him we could pat him on the back, but he's not here so we need some tangible thing. We cannot relate to an invisible God. We need an object.

We need the thing we need something that we can look to to help us and that's where the golden calf comes in. Now we can be critical of Moses. But really, we should not because it was his integrity and influence of Them from doing this. In fact, Moses, the man of God should be commended, emulated, and follow, he demonstrates the power of one. How did he do it. He was a man of personal integrity.

He was Moses, the man of God when he's out of the picture. Look what happens. You know what Aaron just did a bad job, and how did Aaron even getting this position because Moses wanted them there. We got to know Moses and said I want you to go to the Pharaoh and demand the release of my people. Moses was like no way, Lord I I'm not a good speaker. I have a private speech. Since this speech impediments. I want to do this. Lord I tell you what, I'll make you a deal. Moses said to God, let me bring Aaron with me. He is smooth he is articulate.

He has the gift of gab he can do all the talking alerts all right, so he agreed with this is not God's real plan and no one Aaron slept in charge. He was like the worst babysitter ever. Mr. Greg Laurie will have more insight life of Moses, the man of personal integrity. Just a moment, 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 taking with you to be minister to every weekend. Join us for Harvest at Home@harvest.org now. Pastor Gray continues his message called the power of one available@harvest.org there's Moses up in the mountain. It is getting ready to return.

And this is what he sees. Exodus 32 verse 21 Moses comes down to demands. What did these people do to make you bring such terrible sin upon them.

Hey, don't be so upset. Aaron says you know how evil these people are, they said, make us gods will lead us. We don't know what happened. This fellow Moses who brought us from the land of Egypt. So I said whoever is gold jewelry to get off. They brought it to me and I threw it into the fire and out came this Yeah that's exactly how it happened. One a lot.

He was the one that says you bring your goal. He was the one that melted it.

He was the one that made it into the shape of a calf and he was the one that said carriage or God Israel worship.

It is in my view, where they were to be the golden calf because they came from Egypt in Egypt was like idle central so that all these images that they worship then they were use of this sort of thing and so they were averted back to this and really Aaron also shows the power of one, but he shows the power of a bad example to one man living a godly life. Had a great influence, one man living a compromise life had a horrible influence.

First, the lies he says well we threw it in the fire and out came this What is leaving Moses is the complete idiot. That's not even a good excuse was George Washington's said, quote it's better to offer no excuse than a bad one. Aaron initiated it, he was responsible, and that's the second thing he didn't take responsibility for his action.

It was his watch any help the people with this idolatry.

He should've stopped them called and refused to make matters worse, he wrapped it in religious jargon to do away with the guilt would diversify the taxes 32 and made a proclamation and said tomorrow is the feast of the Lord in this feast of the Lord you worship an idol in your calling it a feast to the Lord and then we read in verse six he rose early, offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings, they set out to eat and drink, and rose up to play. You see, what a contrast Moses and Aaron are Moses sets an example that the people can follow Aaron set a bad example Moses is known for is the size, fullness, conviction, and doing what is right.

Aaron is known for his indecisiveness, his week will and wanting to fit in. You see he didn't want to offend, and sometimes were afraid to make a stand because we don't want to offend. Well, you know, I am looking to stand up for that.

You just come and go along with the program don't do that make a stand doing this right now. What is easy. Sometimes when you do what is right. It's very hard it's been said, quote a good leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go but when they get there. They're glad they went like that stated a leader takes people or they don't necessarily want to go home and they get there. They're glad they went a leader does what is right, a man or a woman of integrity. Does the right thing.

If someone is watching or not it's see when Aaron was with Moses. He was godly." When he wasn't with Moses. He was pretty on godly, and he gave in and led them in this said sometimes were the same way you know more around strong believers were strong kind of the moment we get away from them.

When we just crumble with this collapse, we just given hey fine strong believers to be around, and in time you need to be that strong believer, you need to be that person. The group of people says I don't agree with that because the Bible says no I'm not going to go along with that, for this is not the right thing.

You make your stand for what is right and trust me, God will bless you for that. The power of one. I am only one, but I can do something when I'm in a do I want to do that so do what you can do I mention Sammy Mason earlier, and he played a key role in the conversion of Steve McQueen.

I don't think Steve would've ever heard Pastor Leonard to wit if you didn't find a man he could connect to Amanda just lived a man that Stephen Meyer and that led him to hear the gospel and committed his life to Jesus Christ. Look, there is nothing this world offers that can fill a hole in your heart in your life that was designed to be filled by God and God alone. You are sort of pre-wired this way and this is why everything were looking for a strong relationship with Jesus Christ and Jesus came to this earth. He died on the cross for our sin, he rose again from the dead. Now he stands at the door of each of our lives any nonsense visible. Hear his voice and open the door he'll come in and I wondered today as we close the service. If you've ever asked Jesus to come into your life. You know, maybe you're here because you came with your wife or your husband or your parents or somebody else you don't even really want to be here that much. But you're here and here's what I'm saying.

Are you ready to really come into a relationship with God. You can live off someone else's relationship with God.

God has no grandchildren, only sons and daughters in the way you become a child of God is by believing the Bible says, for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons of God, you have to receive him, you have to ask him to come into your life. You need your own relationship with God, and you can have it today and he will never let you down.

You will never disappoint you.

He will never abandon you, he will never leave you or forsake you. He will be there for you to help you find the meaning and purpose in life you been searching for the best of all, give you the absolute assurance of an afterlife in heaven, and all you need to do is pray to God I'm sorry for my sin. I want Christ to come in the my life or for some of you maybe that of fallen away. You need to come back to the Lord, he will receive you but you must return the God says return to BU backsliding children and I will heal you in a moment were going to pray a domino extend an invitation for you to ask Christ to come of your life or for you to make a recommitment to Jesus. Let's all bow our heads. Father, thank you for your word to us.

Thank you for sending Jesus to die for us than to rise again from the dead Lord Jesus we pray that your Holy Spirit double work here in this place in the hearts of people that they'll see their need for you in Jesus name I pray a and if you like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord today. Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment for today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes if you were able to catch every word of this presentation you can get a replay by going to harvest.org just look for the message called the power of one. You can also listen by way of our harvest mobile app or to get a permanent copy on CD.

Just call 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime around the clock again at 1-800-821-3300 and then right now we're highlighting something called the Jesus storybook Bible, a Christmas collection written by author Sally Lloyd Jones good friend of the ministry who's here with us today along with pastor great wife Kathy Pastor Greg welcome to how to speak like a brick featuring four people one of us is a true Brit. The others are Americans trying to sound like a bit.

Can you identify the true Brit will start with Dave in your best British accent see something they go fancy spot of tea. Kathy Lori go to all my friends. Finally, Jones sees things such a dear one to me actually beaten tenants many times while now it's my turn. You know I met Sally and Liverpool down the street together. We got some fish and chips. It was lovely.

Okay now Sally, it's your turn. See something well I just feel very sorry for you will have to and you would benefit the threat that he has lays out a living. I don't. I say you're very good because I didn't think you went to my American accent. I love to do you have one well is much like and I rarely share has pretty good. Well Sally is a prolific writer and she's written books that are especially appealing to little ones and if you don't have a copy of the Jesus storybook Bible in your library, you certainly ought to know, Sally. I think one of the most intimidating things that parents face even grandparents is how to tell Bible stories to the children how to read the Bible. One thing I recommend when you're doing devotions with kids is don't go too long. I think we feel like it has to be a lecture I think you know you keep it at a link that they will stay with you. Number two involve them in the story.

I like to ask questions, make it interactive asked for their comments or thoughts as we make our way through the story but but this is something that your especially gifted at doing and you've given us a great resource in the Jesus storybook Bible this Christmas collection which really is for the Advent season for the Christmas season to go through each day and not just your writing but cool little feature where you push the little button and time you hear the voice of actor David Sue Shea Mary and Joseph have to take a trip to Bethlehem the town of King David was from the when they reached the little town they found every room was full and free. That was taken. So this is the second time you work with David on a project review work with him more than that. And where would most people recognize his voice from Sally yes well I think state he's recorded about three of my books. Easton Jesus treatment Bible focused make your heart sing and sung of the stars, which is a prime Christmas picture book and then this and people would rip recognize him probably mostly from Agatha Christie's inspector Pare when he played par M and he's a monster again when when you're in the presence of a master you up tempted to think I was just reading that that's the trick about a Mustang failed make it look easy and that if they make it look easy. That doing that job and that's what he did with the reading the Jesus treatment Bible. He just did it in one day, which to me is impossible. So in this new resource, or offering right now the Jesus treatment Bible Christmas collection. What is David Touchet reading specifically he's reading clips from the M Christmas stories so that very short but they give you a flavor M and then there's also sound buttons that play Christmas carols so that fun to set the whole thing is certain that interactive and massive experience and everything what's really amazing and we do may seem as if I planned it, which I didn't but someone did that are exactly the right number of stories in the Jesus treatment Bible if he stopped at the beginning to leach up to Christmas day to read one story attain Advent except for Sunday was something like that, but it makes for a really fun experience because what you're doing is you setting up longing and Advent means waiting doesn't it and say what you're doing is by reading a story to tell you kind of setting up his longing for the one he's coming the promised rescue at the prints, but the thing about this sound. This M Christmas collection is you don't have to have the Jesus treatment Bible, you have to have the Christmas stories and then you have Scripture references and a devotional for every day so you can have the Jesus treatment Bible but it doesn't require you to have the Jesus treatment were talking with Sally Lloyd Jones, author of the new resource were making available called the Jesus storybook Bible, a Christmas collection and we are eager to send this your way to say thank you for your investment in making the studies available so much generosity made today's study possible or entirely listener supported and we hope will help us keep the studies here in the station and with your donation right now would like to send you the Jesus storybook Bible, a Christmas collection.

You can write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. You can reach us any time or on the clock at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and then a pastor. Greg would like to speak to those who like to make a change today, and their relationship with the Lord. I would unite I received so many letters day from people from every walk of life from successful businessmen to those who are incarcerated to mothers struggling is trying to raise their children to young boys and writing and saying they've made a commitment or recommitment to Jesus and maybe you need to make a commitment to him right now.

Let me lead you one word of prayer. Yes, you can meet God right now and I would just ask you to pray this prayer out loud after me and this is what you are asking Christ to come in your life. Pray with me now if you would, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner. I know that I've broken your commandments and I fallen short of your standards but I think you that you have loved me and you've called me of yourself so I turned for my sin right now and I choose to believe in and follow you be my Savior be my Lord and be my God from this moment forward.

Thank you for calling me and loving me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen. Hey let me just say God bless you. You've made the right decision and welcome to the family of God and we want to follow up with you by sending something called our new believers growth packet to help you get started. Living as a Christian will send it without charge. If you prayed for the first time today to receive Christ. Just ask for the new believers growth packet when you call 1-800-821-3300.

You can reach us any time 24 hours a day, again at 1-800-821-3300 or write us at a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org and click on know God will join us next time pastor Greg continues his world changers will consider the story of Jericho and how the Lord worked through a leader named Josh Fisher to join us here on the new beginning regulatory and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.org