America, This Is Your Wake-Up Call: God's Plan for Spiritual Transformation

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. Doesn't it seem like America is unraveling before our very eyes.

This is an issue that needs to return to God today. Pastor Greg Laurie points out the need for spiritual renewal in our land and how believers are called into service. God is not called us to isolate these called us to infiltrate his coldest to permeate this century culture with the truth of the gospel is omnipotent. He often calls on who's ever so limited to help him accomplish his agenda were limited not only in our abilities, but also in our willingness today of a new beginning after Greg Laurie helped raise God's plan for the spiritual transformation of our culture shows us that God empowers those he directs census to do a job gives us the tools you have a Bible, you do turn to Matthew chapter 5 start a story about a woman I was walking down the beach and she sees something embedded in the sense he bends down to see what it is and it look like a lamp, so she reached out and picked it up, brushes that set up and sure enough it's a lab and a genie appears and he says all master I will grant you one where she responded one Westwood upward of three wishes. He said all we had to cut back in a covert dieting that affected everything you can of one witness she thought about it for a moment and she pulls out a map of the Middle East. She says genie there's always been conflict in the Middle East and I would like them have some kind of a peace agreement that they could live by. So genie that's my one wish. I want peace in the Middle East, he said, are you crazy there's no way that's ever going to happen. You gotta come up with something else.

So she says well you know what genie I've I've always wanted to find one good man, one that is considerate and kind and fun and loves to cook and help with the house cleaning, one that will smother me with affection and attention and he will just sit around on the couch watching sports all day long yeah that's what I want genie I want one good man. The genie says let me see that map again. You know sometimes things seem impossible right.

But the Bible says with God all things are possible but doesn't it seem like America is unraveling before our very eyes. Coming this is a nation that was built on the word of God. We call it Judeo Christian values and we really did build this nation on those principles.

There was a time in our nation, when we had the 10 Commandments on the wall of every classroom.

We just talked about the 10 Commandments recently. Think about that. There were everywhere, and even today.

If you go to Washington DC the 10 Commandments are there in the US supreme court building. Imagine if we would follow those 10 Commandments, it's so important, it could change our nation.

But no, we got those 10 Commandments off the classroom walls and we disregarded them and were now seeing the effects about the Bible says when you so that when you reap the whirlwind. Think of the foundation of this unique nation that we have the privilege of living in our first president, George Washington made this statement and I quote to this distinguished character of patriot.

It should be our highest glory that adds even more distinguished character of Christian" James Madison, the fourth US president made this statement quote accursed all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Jesus Christ like that but some of sale. No America was not built on a biblical foundation or Judeo-Christian principles.

What what you talking about do you think you could protest like people are protesting in America right now. In other countries like China or Cuba, they would be quickly stop. If not, imprisoned and executed. Know the very liberty that we have, to express our feelings and declare our rights was given to us because we built this on the foundation of a belief in God. So here's what it comes down to this foundation has eroded. It was John Adams. Our second president, who made the statement that I quote United States Constitution was made for a moral and religious people.

It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other." This is why the idea of nation building is not work as we tried to do it in other parts of the world see our nation was born out of the soil of revival have another George in our history.George Washington but George Whitfield. He was an evangelist from England and he came over to the colonies and preach the gospel and thousands and thousands of people believe that it was in the wake of this revival that our nation was formed, so were a nation built out of revival and I think ever going to continue as a nation or nation then needs to return to revival or a spiritual awakening order simplified. We need to return to God we have a choice as a nation to choices really judgment or revival listener judgment is coming to every nation of the world including America, but were praying that judgment will be postponed by God. A little bit longer and that we might see at least one more spiritual awakening Peter Marshall of the former chaplain to the U.S. Senate once made this statement and I quote the choice before us is plain, Christ or chaos conviction or compromise discipline or disintegration. So, do we have any hope in America. Is there anything we can do as followers of Jesus to help our nation turn in the right direction.

I think the answer is a resounding yes and it's down in the words of Jesus, right here in Matthew chapter 5 starting in verse 13 he says you are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be season. It's good for nothing but to be thrown down and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do you light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house so let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your father which is in heaven. Salt and light. Why did Jesus use these two word pictures because the world is a very dark place in the world is an evil place and so Jesus uses two very intentional illustrations to explain to us what we need to do as his followers at the start the biblical worldview of this culture is in this dark and it is getting darker. It's it's our nature as people we always going the wrong direction. We always default toward sinful things never toured godly things general Omar Bradley once made this incredible statement. We have grasped the mystery of the Adam but we have forgotten the sermon on the Mount. The world is achieved brilliance without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants" and that is so very true. So as we look in America we see there were going the wrong direction.

We say well that's it. There's nothing we can do. I think there are things that we can do. Here's what we should not we should not try to escape the culture altogether or engage in isolation. That's virtually impossible, but to make the point. God is not called us to isolate. He's called us to infiltrate. He's called us to permeate and to saturate our culture with the truth of the gospel. He's not called us to evade he's called us to invade to go into all the world and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ mounted a tricky balance because the Bible says don't love the world, neither the things that are in the world and the were also told in Romans chapter 12 don't be conformed to this world but yet at the same time. Jesus says in John 17.

I'm not going to take them out of the world. I want to keep them safe from the evil one and then he says of the father.

I'm sending them into the world lesson. The only way to change the world is to go into the world with the gospel.

So do we know what this culture to change us, but yes we do want to change the culture. So let's not try to withdraw. Let's try to be a good influence. Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message just a moment.

We hear from so many people find Christ through the studies some tough times faster. Greg 32 years ago I lost a great job which included many material things I was following moment and not God's will. I ended up in jail after being released. I became a trucker and if now recommitted my life to Christ through your ministry. Thank you Pastor Greg for your teachings since my recommitment I been able to leave my son and other children to Christ. I now believe that the things that happened in my earlier life have brought me closer to God's will is better than mine. I will lift my hands.

I think the Lord every day for his word and for your teachings. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me were so happy. These daily studies are touching and changing lives. And if your life is been changed.

Would you tell us your story: 1-866-871-1144 that speech 668711144 will today. Pastor Greg is pointing out how we are Christian soldiers and our job is to infiltrate and permeate the culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

He continues now so this is a battle that were engaged sent were either winning or losing in this battle with either advancing or retreating because as believers we must realize that we are behind enemy lines. I was watching a World War II film recently and there's a scene where the commanding officer says of the paratroopers of easy company that were behind enemy lines, a Panzer division is about to cut you off and you guys are going to be surrounded in the lieutenant in charge of easy company says where paratroopers were supposed to be surrounded how true. See we been dropped behind enemy lines you were surrounded by people that don't share our views. We are in hostile territory and not everybody's going to respond in the affirmative to the message that we give some will respond favorably to the message of the gospel that were proclaiming and come to faith in others will not. Second Corinthians 214 Paul says no wherever we go. He uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the good news like a sleet perfume our lives. Paul writes like a fragrance presented by Christ to God, and this fragrance is perceived differently to those who are being saved by those who are perishing to order a fragrance to some and well stench to others.

You know, some people wear too much cologne and just a little tip for you people that love cologne or perfume. Less is more to just a little, and I've seen people a couple pool of it in the palm of their throw it on and then everyone to come into contact with smells like that cologne so you don't want to be that person. But it can be a fragrance. When you're a follower of Jesus, something that's wonderful. A believer enters a room, a believer enters the conversation a believer in the culture they can change the temperature of a room they can change so many things. Sometimes it's their presence and then of course what they say makes a huge difference as well. But what is a fragrance to some is a stench to others to garlic as an example, garlic is great on food garlic smells good when it's cooking but it doesn't smell so great when it's on someone's breath afterwards. Doesn't so living godly will read some people and other people will be offended by it. Look my job is to live and share the gospel. But before I can effectively tell them I must first limit because nothing is a worse witness than a hypocritical Christian, you know, I encourage believers to share their faith. If you're a Christian, I encourage you to engage people in evangelistic conversations you know people are scared right now. There's a lot of uncertainty in the air a lot of uncertainty in their lives.

As you know, since the coronavirus hit us opioid use is up alcohol sales are up. Suicide rates are up calls to suicide helpline are so people are looking for truth that this is the moment for us to step into that conversation. Talk about the hope we have found in Christ. But let me say something that might surprise you for some people out there. I would say please don't talk about Jesus.

He's a Greg you just contradicted yourself know. Here's what I'm saying if you're seeking to live a godly life. Not a perfect life will fall short will mess up, but you're seeking to live a godly life.

By all means.

Look for opportunities to talk about Jesus, but if you are living a hypocritical life. If you are contradicting what the Bible says by the way that you live, please do us all a favor and don't talk about Jesus. In fact, you might just focus on repenting of your sin in getting right with God before you talk to others but I think our culture today is looking for authenticity a W toes or a preacher from days gone by, made this statement in a quote the world is waiting to hear an authentic voice of voice from God is not an echo from what others are doing and saying. But an authentic voice."

And I think that is so very true. So we want to be salt.

Salt effectively earns us the right to be like. Let me explain. You see salt back in its day with something of great value, and in fact, Roman soldiers would sometimes be paid in salt, hence the term. He's not worth his salt. Salt was valuable. Salt was something that stop that the spread of rotting in me they would cut the meat up in strips and and they would embed Sultanate so to be preserved.

This was before refrigeration and of the same way. That's what we should be doing as followers of Jesus Christ. You know us Christians that stop the spread of evil in our culture today. It's Christians that stand up for the rights of the unborn, it's Christians that speak out against racism and try to bring about reconciliation.

It's Christians that are out there doing good works helping people who are in need of the believers we believe or not that's what it means to be salt out in our culture today and another thing that salt does is it stimulates first you remember back when we used to go to movies well you would get some popcorn and you know all of those things you get at the concession stand were so expensive.

It's like you get a little popcorn, a medium-size name one the size of a garbage can rightly fill it up and you don't need to get free refills okay thanks and you are covered your driving a popcorn but they over salted and you thirsting you come and see she is because I get a glass of water. I'm sorry were not allowed to give these comps out, but here's a little symbol you can get some water over there from the hose or you can buy some bottled water for $40. That's more than you would ever drink in a single lifetime. That's is kind of the way it works. But salt stimulates thirst right and if you're really living for Jesus as you want to and being the salt of the earth. You will stimulate in others a desire to know God. Think of it as going out with some of the E may be someone invited you to dinner and you'd already eaten any set will go longer to sit with you as you read all about couple coffee and so they order their partner and their fries and in the Malton you're just sitting there drinking your coffee and ice you see him and connect one of those fries sure to go.

You want to delete that fright ways stolen food so much better than food that you order yourself know sometimes my wife is cooking. She cuts things up a little portions of.

Here's the carrots here's the tomatoes and I'll go over and take a look at. Don't take those those of the portions you'll mess up the poor sent but there's something very exciting about stolen food. Anyway, going back to the front so you eat the frying for some unknown reason.

That's the greatest French fry you've ever had in your life and then you order your own and are not usually as good as a fry you took from someone else. Here's my point. When someone's enjoying a meal.

It makes you hungry and in the same way when someone's walking with God and loves the Lord. It makes you want to know Jesus as well.

This is what won me over to Christ, you know, I'm sort of the exception to the rule of how evangelism works because we generally say go out into the gospel with people in the believe maybe invite them to church or something like that.

Nobody invited me to anything nobody talked to me about anything that I was on my high school campus and I saw these Christians. I transferred over there from another campus and we didn't have a bunch of Christians.

My other campus in these followers of Jesus are everywhere. My friends warmly, Greg. The Jesus freaks are everywhere here.

Be careful and I said hell yeah, the last thing that's ever going to happen is Greg Laurie would become a Jesus freak famous last words right. But here's what interested me about these people as they had this joy. They had this happiness they had something I did not have something I was trying To the use of drugs and there was an emptiness in my life. It was there walk with God that attracted me to them. So I ended up at one of their meetings and I wasn't even invited but I was sitting far enough away where I can hear what they're saying but not so close that people would think I was one of them. That was the first time I heard the gospel and what I heard what it meant to be a Christian. That was the day I gave my life to the Lord.

But my point is simply this, the thing that reached me was Christians being salty by salty I mean it was Christians living as Christians ought to live in it was a very attractive thing to me. But you know what's sad is when Christians are not salty. Look at Matthew 513 Jesus says the salt of the earth. But if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned.

It's good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. While heavy duty words from Christ. Good for nothing.

Basically, Jesus is saying that salt isn't salty. What good is it because with a friend sometime ago we went to a coffee place and I got my normal cappuccino with an extra shot of espresso and he said he would like to have a decaf lowfat latte and I just looked at him and said why, I mean one wanted to just order an empty cup.

10. You're drinking something mean decaf lowfat all the fun is gone right and what we have today are decaf disciples what we have today are Christians that aren't salty like they ought to be like when a code goes flat who wants to drink and we have none carbonated Christians and Jesus is saying, what good is it if you're not being the salt that I have called you to be Mr. Greg Laurie pointing out that we need to be robust, full strength, productive representatives of Christ.

Good encouragement today here on a new beginning. There's more to come in this message and by the way on today's podcast. You can hear some additional discussion at the end of the program between Pastor Greg and are special in studio guests. If you missed any part of today's insight you can catch up by going to harvest.org just look for the message called America. This is your wake-up call or for a permanent copy on CD. Call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 and we are here to take your call anytime 24 seven and then we want to mention a resource were highlighting right now the Jesus storybook Bible, a Christmas collection by author Sally Lloyd Jones castigates what Kathy is with us today Kathy you're a mother and a grandmother and you know years ago you read stories to your two boys and more recently you've read stories to your five grandkids. So when a certain resource gets the Kathy Laurie seal of approval. It's worth mentioning and and you want to highlight such a book today don't oh, don't get me started on Sally Lloyd Jones said her but on I discovered Sally's Jesus storybook Bible gully so many years ago. It has become a favorite in our home and it has ministered to my heart so many times and I think that if I could say this, she is my favorite children's author. I love everything she writes I and I think it's just brilliant house. She has created a resource for families at this time because he believes that this whole season of collate. We moved to pour into our children. Parents need to take out the incredible privilege and responsibility of informing their kids.

It's been difficult to this because a lot of children's ministries to church have been shut down, nor was the opportunity to take hold of that responsibility ourselves. His mom's grandmother's grandfathers that we would take on this and can reach a state that although Sally is writing with a child in mind on the trees that she is able to articulate our damages profound they are. They are deep. They are rich and that in the story as Jesus coming into the world to fix his broken creation is so appropriate right now because we look at things all around us, and there is such heartbreaking things had been taken and things had been lost that we held onto and rethinking. Is there a way forward. But we see that so beautifully played out in the story of redemption that God decision taken by surprise. He knew exactly what we would be facing, and he has shown us in his word if he can take the brokenness of creation, restore and redeem it on to the work of his son, Jesus, and coming into this world. He can do that for us in our individual lives as well.

That's right. So if you want to bring that comforting message to your family to your children. We are offering a resource we've never offered before. It's called the Jesus storybook Bible, a Christmas collection beautifully written amazing illustrations and a little button you can push on various pages to hear the voice of actor David sis Jay read to you Scriptures.

Mary and Joseph have to take a trip to Bethlehem the town of King David was from when they reach the little town they found every room was full and free. That was taken is called the Jesus storybook Bible, a Christmas collection.

This would be quite expensive if you went out into a store and purchased it. But we are offering it to our listeners for your gift of any size. We ask it is then the generous gift because it helps us continue on to bring this radio broadcast, teach the word of God proclaim the gospel and for your gift of any size will rush to your copy of the Jesus storybook Bible Christmas collection written by our friend Sally Lloyd Jones. That's right, we have a copy here waiting for you.

Get in touch right away so we can get it on its way and thank you for your generosity in investing so that these daily programs can continue touching lives. You can write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. We are here to take your call around-the-clock, seven days a week.

Again, dial 1-800-821-3300 or just go online to harvest.org and look for the Jesus storybook Bible Christmas collection and will only be mentioning this resource, one Pastor Greg brings us more insight on how we can affect our culture and help begin a spiritual awakening. Find out the part you can play next time you beginning with Pastor Greg Laurie right we have some extra time the program back to Pastor Greg okay Sally as an American I love British people.

I know we broke away from you and we have the Revolutionary war, but were friends again and so tell me what do you think is the best food that England has to offer. Oh it's very hot. I know everyone will be nothing thinking that's not very hot but it gets a very bad rat but she stated that one of the best inventions is some scums. I was in a cream tea switch. In case you didn't know hot I did on this Internet content and clotted cream and Chancellor highlight on top of each other is increasing and I can have one dessert that would be it would be great. Yes, I think one thing that the Brits own is dessert recorded.

Putting we quit looking and we let another thing they own the own toast. For some reason test is finally order toast and an American restaurant elderly coldhearted the Brits crying. I have the little thing the staff get in and got the butter that's all that is all the tamarack that little thing is cool to test traffic. The total strength of the let me ask you things that perplexed me. Why do you call a windshield a windscreen and why do you call the hood of a car, a bonnet that makes no sense to me. We could just turn around and say what we wait, why do you put up on it.

Hood well because of the hood over an inch.

No, I'm asking the question I'm asking the question here this woman from England, so I know that I so you don't have a trunk you have a boot. Is that correct yes and then I had this very funny check when the print says I'm mad about my flat means I'm really crazy about my apartment when an American says I'm mad about my flat. It means I'm really annoyed about my flat tire. At that very funny. Not good. That's funny Sally Lloyd Jones on that. So what is your favorite food in America and you consider yourself more American Idol than British or are you kind of caught between two worlds a little bit. I'm a little bit quote. I think I always will feel pretty shy right in a British way. I have the best sex I didn't think I cannot really believe I'm not British, but I love that about America that you can come and even be as British as Abba and still be American. That's one of the great things I think. But in quarantine in this pandemic time. I'm staying with friends. He wants from keeper and ones from Mexico and I actually this British person has become quite an expert at it right pulled pork Connie tests and granularity set. I goodness that is our current needs and guacamole for dinner last night Greg, I think we did do you think clotted cream would fit on her current events, and I actually think it would because sour cream does.

I think straight. 16 as Fiona set such a cream could be added to anything anything you think it's sweet so is and it is now other creams.

Now it's on, was – it's hard to describe different different kinds of cream. Marion double-click and triple cream and clotted cream and half cream and cream semi hops skimmed cream cream obsessed what is your favorite food in America that you can't really find in England well I think pizza rating really good pizza you can and well you could get that initially continue but I love New York for that really incredible pizza that's really true and then very good back is here IRA healthy and I know Cooley's terrible choice. I know you're raising your client denies that iiNet sends burgers and Mexican food also very much Beatrice I don't don't leave her alone with the box it donates like anyone and I look back is not done that I was being very widely and I sent to Kathy Vanunu. I went to have dinner so I just wanted as little sample tennis and she said that in order to choose which ones would you have if you want to taste and before she could finish one at times I've had both of them said no it's funny you know that is asking the same donuts in England. I can remember have ever seen donuts and they are in England. There's one in New York called the plant plunked down not show benevolence quack and another is completely obsessed with Dennis once he got England. She came to Neo. Can she completely went insane about these square doughnuts, but I've never worked out how to bring them smuggle them in class. I would smuggle them in defense of their ego phone just a little talk about the different cuisines of America with Sally Lloyd Jones, who not only writes amazing children's books but has very strong opinions about including donuts. Thank you so much