America, This Is Your Wake-Up Call: What God Asks of Us

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 are we getting shooting you might know why God America. This is your wake-up call. Like a fire alarm rouses was from sleep. Pastor Greg Laurie shoes we need to respond to the alarms all around us all the things that are happening in our culture. No way I would coronavirus what is happening in our economy, the social people that were seeing right now. All of these things are a wake up call to God is a return to me. To me, knows who can sleep through anything storm waiting I ran alarm sometimes you have to go give him a shake loose from their slumber today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie points out that it seems the church will sometimes sleep through anything.

We may be aware of the rash all God wants us to stand up and speak out with you countries face. Do we have any hope America. Is there anything you can do followers of Jesus to help our nation turned in the right direction. I think the answer is a resounding yes and it's found 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 of Celebes 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. 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 was 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 stopped that the spread of rotting in me they would cut the meat up in strips and they would embed salt in it so to be preserved. This was before refrigeration and of the same way.

That's what we should be doing is followers of Jesus Christ. You know us Christians that stop the spread of evil in our culture today. It's Christians that are out there doing good work helping people who are in need of the believers we believe are not. That's what it means to be salt out in our culture today and another thing that salt does is it stimulates first 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. Knowledge contrasted to salt and light salt is hidden light is obvious. Have you ever been in theater and someone pulls up the phone and they checked her messages are looking at social media. I mean you can be really far from them, but it lights up so light really makes a difference in a dark place, so salt is hidden, the more subtle light is obvious salt works secretly light works openly salt works from with in light from without salt more the indirect influence of the gospel while light is it's more direct communication.

So what I'm saying is if I'm salting that I'm living as they ought to live as a follower of Jesus, and effectively earns the right for me to let my light shine before others, and one thing that light does is it exposes the darkness never lost something in the dark. Maybe it was in your car at night you lost a burrito needed in the world went you look. The next morning, then you found it. There was a little light help to locate it.

It actually had become a life form and called up in the one of your child seats in Poe Calypso for Bud Light kill to find something in the same way when the light shines in our life we see things we had not seen before in John 319 Jesus says this is the condemnation light is coming of the world, and men loved darkness rather than light white because their deeds were evil. Everyone who was evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest their deeds be exposed, so have you ever wonder why it is that you'll see the someone wanted to come with me to church.

I don't want to do that they wanted to come over to our house and watch Harvest at Home. What's Harvest at Home outside the church server not I don't I don't do.

Let me read to our verse on the by put that thing away and I just want to review oversight and what you want to hear why because you just shined a spotlight into a dark place and the reason people don't want to come to the light. The reason people don't want to have this conversation about Jesus as they don't want to change their lifestyle, so the light does expose the darkness, but at the same time, the light also shows the way out of the darkness. You know what I travel and I'm in a hotel room. I will leave the light on, usually in the bathroom is a need to go there in the middle of my because it unfamiliar territory that you're navigating and you don't want to trip and fall, so the light helps you find your way through the darkness.

If you're in a dark hallway.

The exit signs are always lit up even the movie theaters there lit up so you can find your way out. And so the Lord will shed light so we can find our way out of the darkness and find our way to him. And so I ask you right now are you being salt and light in the world that God is called you into the title of my messages America. This is your wake-up call and I think all the things that are happening in our culture right now are a wake up call. I would include the coronavirus, I would include what is happening in our economy.

I would include the social people that were seeing right now. All of these things are a wake up call and God is saying turned to me. Look to me America.

This is your wake-up call.

I was in Alaska some years ago with a friend of mine and so I decided to play a little prank on him.

I notice a little food trays in front of different rooms to know from room service of food that had been eaten already. I took two or three of these trays and put them in front of my friends during the knock on the door and he cannot solve the trays that was my prank so he does he takes an entire picture off the wall and puts it in front of my door. It was so big I couldn't even get out of my door.

I said okay game on so I was leaving that night he was staying one more night.

So I called down to the front desk and I said hi and I did say I was in his room.

This is Mr. his name is Richie purée I said Mr. purée and room 204 and I need to wake up calls tomorrow morning. I need one at 4 o'clock and they need one at 5 o'clock and so I got my plane the next day forgot all about it because we later on exist.

You know what happened. I said no.

He said, first of all, my phone rang at four in the morning. I knew it was you doing a prank so I didn't answer the phone. Suddenly there's a pounding on my door and some guy actually comes in my room and is shaking me quick keep me up. He's afraid I'll miss my wake-up call. He said some things just go perfectly.

Don't think lesson are we getting shaken right now by God, the Lord is saying this is your wake-up call. Pay attention to what I'm saying you what, how many more calamities do we need more. We will just turn to the Lord and I might be talking to somebody who is having their personal wake-up call.

Maybe you've had a close brush with death recently. Maybe you just met with your doctor and he gave you some bad news. Maybe your spouse came to you and said they're done with the marriage.

Maybe one of your kids is rebelling other drugs that are having problems. Maybe there's some other conflict in your life you been terminated from your employment. Whatever it isn't something that just got your attention when the rug is pulled out from under you and you laying on your back lookup look up and call on God. America needs to do that and listen you need to do that we all need to do that. The Bible says: the Lord while he may be found in the Lord is here right now ready to come into your life and if you want to know more about that right now. What is encourage you to go to know God.org, K, N, O, don't you know God.org pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here and finding you to join me every weekend for what we call Harvest at Home.

It's a church service. It's a worship service. It's a Bible study and its wherever you wanted to be in your home in your car sitting on a beach walking down the street watching it on your phone wherever you are, you can take it with you and be ministered to every weekend.

Join us for Harvest at Home@harvest.org now pastor Greg continues his message called America. This is your wake-up call. I believe the Lord could turn our nation around. There is a precedent for this in the Bible.

It's a story of the spiritual awakening that took place in the city of Nineveh, Nineveh, was the capital of Assyria, which was the superpower of its day. It was so big it took three days to circle Metropolitan Nineveh had around a million people living there powerful gigantic city powerful military flourishing economy. But God was about to judge somebody sent a man to warn them in the man's name was Jonah course Jonah didn't want to go and you know why Jonah didn't want to go because he was a racist. He hated the Ninevites see as a patriotic Israelite. He didn't want to go preach the gospel to the Ninevites because they were the enemies of Israel. So he reason. Well, if I don't preach to them. They will be spared by God and God will judge him and I will be one less enemy.

We have, to deal with, but God wanted him to overcome his prejudice and overcome his racist thinking and go to these people and he actually got on the boat going the opposite direction. You know the story, the Lord sent a great storm and he was thrown overboard. He was swallowed by a great fashion in the God of that sea creature he came to his senses and got right with God. It was regurgitated on the shores of Nineveh and it wasn't a very hopeful message Jonah reluctantly he did he want to do it. Walk to the streets of Nineveh and simply said 40 days and Nineveh will be overthrown, but much to the shock of Jonah. The city repented. Even the king repented and so the Lord spared them from the judgment that was coming upon them. So what are the up to do. He had to do what God called him to do so. Listen to this thought if God could bring a mighty revival in Nineveh with no better representative than Jonah and no more gospel than he preached. Surely he could do the same for America.

Is there any hope for our nation. I think there is think there's three practical steps we can take as followers of Jesus number one. We need to infiltrate, not isolate. We need to be both salt and light, because God has indeed dropped us behind enemy lines where not to evade, as I said earlier, but in Dade living the Christian life and looking for opportunities to share our faith. Number two. We need to pray, we need to pray for our nation quote of this verse too many times, but it's still relevant. Second Chronicles 714, the Lord gives his prescription for revival contextually was given to the nation Israel, but in principle applies to any nation, and I know people are watching me from other nations around the world right now and I've talked a lot about America but what I'm saying now applies to Australia and it applies to New Zealand.

And it applies to China and it applies to Germany and that applies to whatever nation you're living in the we've heard from people from all of those nations were God says if my people, which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then the Lord promises I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land. Yes, we would like to see our land healed would like to see America returned to her Christian roots are Judeo roots.

We would like to see America turn to the Lord that can happen, but we need to pray.

But isn't it interesting that were told there in Scripture that we as his people need to pray and seek his face and turn from our wicked ways. Are there any wicked ways. You need to be turning from right now, even as a follower of Jesus Christ.

So number one we need to go out into our culture and we need to be salt and light. Number two. We need to pray and third and lastly we need to preach the gospel.

America needs to hear the gospel, America needs to see the gospel interesting going back to what Jesus said there in Matthew five when he says you are the light of the world that you better be translated you and you alone are the light of the world.

There's actually an emphasis on the fact that we are his representative. We are the one that others are looking to let me ask you a question. What if every Christian lived as you live. What if you were the sole representative of Jesus Christ on this earth would there be enough gospel in your life for people to believe enough saltiness to simulate in them a Thurston of light for them to find their way out of the darkness and put their faith in Jesus Christ. I hope so because this is the message we need to give to others and this is the message I want to close with because I keep saying gospel gospel gospel in your thinking what is that even mean it means good news right so we live in a day of fake news everywhere you turn, it's fake tears in my fake news. I mean, it's news with the spin news with an agenda. It's rare to just hear some pure good news.

While I have some very good news in a bad world and here it is. God loves you. God loves you so much. He sent his son did Diana cross for you. He said, why do they have to do that because you're a sinner I'm a sinner.

As I said earlier everything goes down not up were sinful by nature.

The Bible says all of sin and fallen short of the glory of God and there is not one righteous, no not one.

We could compare it to a game of archery because one of the definitions of sin is to miss the mark. So, God is Cinemark for all of humanity and the mark is perfection. So you fire your 10 arrows and let's say that all 10 of your arrows come close to the bull's-eye, but one goes off okay so you missed the mark. Now let's say that I firm my 10 arrows in all of my arrows don't even hear the market all well maybe you hit it more than I hid it. But the point is we all miss.

The Bible says if you offend in one point of the law, you're guilty of all of it. We've all sinned. That's the bad news. The good news is gotta send a solution. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for our sin. The Bible says and then he rose again from the dead in a fall term from that sin I can be forgiven.

That's the good news I have for you right now you can be forgiven of all of your sin and you know what God forgives sin.

He also forgets I don't mean that the Lord has a lapse in memory what I'm saying is the Lord chooses to not hold your sin against you any longer. The Bible says God speaking their sins and iniquities will I remember no more Corrie 10 boom one said God takes our sin throws it into the sea of forgetfulness and post a sign that says no fishing allowed.

Your sin can be behind you.

Your sin can be a part of your past, not a party or present. I'm not implying you won't sin but I'm saying the guilt and penalty of that sin can be removed. Then you can know you'll go to heaven when you die, do you have that hope right now.

What if you were to die today or tonight. What would you spend eternity was you might say, will no one can know the same job.

I actually you can. I know when I die I will go to heaven. How I know that because God is made a promise, Jesus said for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have ever lasting life. If I believe in Jesus and I do I can know that I have everlasting life. Not hope to have it. I know I have it in you can have it as well. It's a gift. And if you want to give to reach out and accept the gift God is offering you the gift of eternal life right now if you will believe in him. Would you like to receive it. Listen, this may be your wake-up call right here, right now the moment where you can pass from darkness to light the moment where you can change your eternal address from hell to heaven, hell you believe in that.

Oh yes I do.

Jesus spoke more about hell than all the other preachers in the Bible put together the last thing God in heaven wants is for any man or woman made in his image to spend eternity separated from him and help. Hell wasn't made for people was made for the devil and his angels, God wants you to go to heaven but he's not going to force you is like this.

I get up to heaven right now young man know it's a gift, you have to accept the gift and then you can receive the wonderful blessing that comes with it. So in a moment I'm in a pray and I'm going to extend an invitation for any of you right now where ever you are to put your faith in Jesus. Some of you are sitting in a house. Some of you are sitting in a park on the beach, some of your driving in a car wherever you are.

I want you to know this.

Jesus Christ is right there with you ready to come into your life and forgive you of all of your sin. All you have to do is open that door and asked him to come in and be your savior in your Lord Jesus says behold I stand at the door not near future. My voice and open the door, I will come in and out and ask you if you want Jesus to come into your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to go to heaven when you die, and ask you to pray this prayer after me you can even print out loud if you want a simple prayer. So again, as I pray, if you want Jesus in your life now pray this prayer with me for these words. If you would, Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner but I know that you are the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. Now, Jesus I choose to follow you from this moment forward you my Savior and my Lord, my God, and friend in Jesus name I pray.

Pastor Greg Lord is an important prayer with those making a change in their relationship with God today here on a new beginning. And if you just pray that prayer Pastor Greg would like to follow-up with you by sending something called our new believers growth packet is free of charge if you prayed with Pastor Gray for the first time today.

Get it by writing a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 and we can take your call anytime around the clock again, dial 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org now the title of today's message is America. This is your wake-up call and you can hear what you missed online@harvest.org or call us anytime night or day for a CD copy, 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 cash. Greg was thinking about power steering the other day. You know what a marvelous invention it is you know you can change the direction of a 2 ton car with just a one finger turn of the steering wheel get out us what Christmas is coming when the mega billion dollar retail industry is poised to steer our kids toward the latest toy your gizmos and we might need a little power steering to turn them back toward Christ if you might have a suggestion for us today. Why just happen to have a really good suggestion. I find it's called the Jesus story book Bible Christmas collection of stories, songs and reflections for the Advent season written by our good friend Sally Lloyd Jones. This is absolutely delightful.

Sally is a prolific writer and is especially effective in communicating with the little ones and she has done it again in this amazing new project which actually has some interactive features so it kind of addresses that need for gadgetry a little bit because not only do you have her text as she tells the Christmas story in a way that only she does. It's is so simple and profound and at times you smile and in its just very effectively written, but there are interactive moment for you compress a little button and you hear the voice of the tremendous actor David Sue Shea and I pronouncing his name correctly, Sally. Yes, you absolutely yeah and he plays Kathy what is the role I'm here with my wife Kathy and Sally wouldn't see inspector and you pronounce his name to kill Pyro Yahoo puckered up pirate L my real row and I got is a great actor and he has faith in Christ and he lends his impressive voice to this project. So here's the it's a beautifully illustrated piece of work I illustrations by Jago and he's worked on.

He also did the illustration for the Jesus story book Bible did he not yes absolutely writes a beautifully illustrated written so perfectly and then that you push the button and you hear this voice say the following outputs the button right now.

Everything was ready.

The moment God had been waiting for was here last.

God was coming to help his people, just as he promised in the beginning but how would he come what would he be like, what would he do that is the voice of renowned Dr. David Sue Shea, one of the interactive features in this new resource were making available called the Jesus story book Bible Christmas collection by Sally Lloyd Jones and would like to send this your way for your kids, your grandkids really any child you know who needs a touch of wonder and needs to know God cares for them this Christmas season will send it to say thank you for your generous donation to help keep these daily studies coming your way around the station to contact us today at a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.

We can take your call around-the-clock 24 seven at 1-800-821-3300 or just go online to harvest.org and look for the Jesus story book Bible Christmas collection and will only be mentioning this resource short time longer. When next I Pastor Greg brings us an important message for this Thanksgiving week offer of the five Thanksgiving commands we see in Scripture, guaranteed to prepare is properly the holiday season. Join us next time on a new beginning with Pastor Greg Laurie and Greg Laurie was made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor greats free daily email, devotions@harvest.org