On the Outside Looking In: When Anger Gets the Best of Us

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God check out virtue our website for Christian women go to harvest.org/virtue will zoom you have short users don't we witness a Christian you should be different. People will think you're on fire for Jesus Pastor Greg Laurie has good counsel.

Jesus is this so all men know you are my disciples, that you will love one more.

Another was Christians love one another with this tool lost world that representatives of Christ. Each of us is a walking, talking, what is your words today have a new beginning after Greg Laurie continues his series water Firestone wiring look at the life of Moses today will see how Moses actually demonstrated how not to be one of God's children. What happens when anger is the best grab your Bible centered just exited this chapter 20 Joshua chapter 14 if you're one of those fancy Bibles like this one here with ribbons. You can put a ribbon in Joshua 14, but were gonna start with Exodus 20 so some years ago I was back in New York City with my wife around Christmas time with another couple that were over there with us as well. So the girls went shopping at Macy's department store and it was raining like crazy and they didn't want to get wet and I very valiantly said, I'll go get you a cab and I went out the horrible rain and finally a Stop by for hearing on here one second. So I opened up the back door and I gestured to them, come on, come on and the girls are in high heels so the walking like this fast.

You know, come on, climb, and while I'm waiting for them to come. Some guy started to step in the my I failed and I said Sir Holland, this is my This guy. He I don't know how to put it delicately lit me the bird.

I mean like within 3 inches of my face.

I was so mad I shove this guy. That's my job as guy walked as a psycho so the girls got in my other friend got in.

We shut the door were driving up I was feeling really good about myself. I showed that guy and then the adrenaline wore off, and I realize how insane that was what I had just done and ironically I was in New York City to preach said that one of the guy shows up at the meeting. I'm preaching to say that's a guy that showed me what I was trying to steal his Basically I lost my temper and you know what there's a lot of that going on right now in our culture.

We all seem to have short fuses. Don't wait.

Maybe it's all the time that we have spent cooped up because of the coronavirus people are yelling at each other debating one another.

Heard about a guy that went to his doctor, he said.I am so stressed out because of COBIT.

19. I keep losing my temper for no good reason.

The doctor said one that you told me about it and the patient said I just did your stupid fall see just short fuse right and then there's politics all my goodness so everybody's in their political corner and we come out fighting and we come out debating and it just seems to get more intense if you take COBIT 19 and combine it with the economy along with the politics of the day that creates almost a perfect storm of anger for a lot of folks. According to psychologist Joshua Morgan Steen, the country is now dealing with three disasters superimposed on top of one another. The pandemic, the economic fallout the civil unrest she says certainly a common way of responding is anger, so we get that we know people lose their temper. We know people are uptight to win a second. Are you a Christian if you're Christian you should be different than that we should not be caught up in all of this anger that is being expressed by so many people. The Bible says a person who loses his temper is a fool. In Proverbs 2911 Scripture tells us as followers of Christ were to love others and were to be at peace impact. Jesus said in John 1336. By this shall all men know you are my disciples, that you of love one for another.

Some of this would Christians love one another. It's a powerful witness to a lost world. Let me add when Christians are fighting with one another.

It's a poor witness to a lost world.

All I know we feel justified in unloading both barrels and giving someone a piece of our mind, but if you give too many pieces of your mind away, you won't have any left for yourself. We justify this anger because we know lease we say were in the right on this subject.

Okay fine little to say for the thinkable point. You're right, you don't have to scream at someone you don't have to turn it into a major conflict and we may rationalize this way thing or more spiritual than them. And we need to set them right.

But if you're really a spiritual person. If you're really a godly person. You'll be a humble person and you'll be a loving person, not someone who is filled with anger and rage. We as believers should be showing love and forgiveness.

And if we don't listen to this. We grieve the Holy Spirit.

The Bible says don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Listen, the Holy Spirit is God and the Holy Spirit can be lied to the Holy Spirit can be resisted the Holy Spirit to be insulted in the Holy Spirit can be green, you'll only grieve someone you love some random stranger comes up to me and falsely a dozen grieve me at just bugs me.

But if someone I love says something hurtful to me. It grieves me so we can grieve the Holy Spirit. If they want what is that even mean the means to make sad or sorrowful. How do we do it. Ephesians 430 gives the answer. It says don't grieve or bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit, by the way that you live and what would that be.

He continues on, get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander as well as all types of evil behavior. Listen the best, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God through Christ is forgiven you. Be kind to each other and I have no doubt that social media is feeding this frenzy. I think we spend way too much time looking at bones and tablets and following our favorite website that inflames us in speaking of tablets I want to talk about a guy who really lost his temper were this series on the life of Moses were calling out water. Firestone and Moses had quite the temper because when God came to him the 10 Commandments and the descendent from Mount Sinai and saw that Israelites who were left under the charge of Aaron, a dancing naked before a golden calf.

He was really ticked up and Moses took the commandments and smashed them on the ground that that's crazy. I mean I know he's mad. I know there's a place for righteous indignation, but to smell as the commandments hand written by the finger of God on the ground that that's crazy but Moses said that temper hey, don't forget that the reason he was in exile in the wilderness is because he lost his temper when he saw an Egyptian slave driver mistreating a Jew. The Bible says he looked to the right.

He looked to the left and he killed the guy.

I mean I'm not saying it would be a good idea but punch the guy maybe, but literally he killed the man and then he buried him in the shifting sand and he was sent into exile and God gave to Moses along time out. You know that's what you do with kids today when they're being naughty. All right time out there to go sit in a room by themselves.

The Lord said to Moses time now go to the wilderness for 40 years.

He tended a flock of sheep he was off the grid he was off social media killed his twitter account, Facebook and Instagram. He didn't even use tick-tock and he just waited in the Lord recommissioned him know you would've thought this would've been a new and improved Moses free of anger issues, but he goes into the Pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelites and the Pharaoh refuses, and we read that Moses went out in fury. So let's just say Moses had some anger is the great war will have the second half of his message in just a moment whenever you sent us a letter and email or post a comment on social media. We read every word dear harvest Christian Fellowship 24 years ago I lost my three children in a divorce, not knowing the Lord.

I was as her as an active everyday parent risk is that just been taken away from them can possibly be. I'm an avid radio listener accidentally turned my down to a Christian radio station. I was unaware of this type of broadcasting. At that time I heard Pastor Greg explained God's word day after day for months in a soothing and loving way. Explained the God of second chances, perhaps more than any other radio preacher was Pastor Greg led me to drop to my knees and receive Christ as my Savior. July 12, 1997. This is a long overdue thing because best to you all. What an encouraging story of how God touches lives you know it's only through the support of listeners like were able to reach people in this way, so thanks for your investment. You can make a donation harvest harvest.org today. Pastor Greg is presenting a study in the series on the life of Moses called on the outside looking in. Let's continue to, let's fast-forward now many years the people of Israel are on the very brink of the promised land. By the way they had been complaining every step of the way they did not believe that God would let them go into this land, it would be too hard.

Remember in our last message with the title. It's all how you look at things.

It was the majority report in the minority report. 12 spies were dispatched none of them were 007. I don't think, but the 10 spies. The majority gave a very discouraging report this at all the people that are in the lender huge and were like grasshoppers in their site and will never succeed in the minority report which is made up of Joshua and Caleb said the things are big but check out the size of these crates. We brought back. It took two of them to bring the grapes because there were so huge, and they said the Lord will give us a lab at the people believed the majority report instead of the minority report and they just complain and whine and Moses put up with. You know the Bible says that Moses was the meekest man on the face of the earth. By the way, understand what meekness it's meekness is not the same as weakness.

Let's say that you're a scrawny little dude and you're on the beach building the Sandcastle. The sad thing is, is you're in your 30s, but still there. You are building your thank you. Look at some muscular, aggressive guy comes along, they kicked sand in your face and you don't respond why because you're weak. You have no options would be getting hit with your little plastic shovel. Now let's change the scene.

Let's say that you are an expert in mixed martial arts in your building your Sandcastle and that guy comes along and kicked sand in your face and you choose to not respond as I because you're weak know it's because you're meek because power under constraint. It is controlling your temper. Moses had a temper, but he put up with this.

He was meet the meekest man on the face of the earth, but there comes a point when enough is enough and Moses was fed up.

He couldn't take it anymore and he literally just loses because the Israelites seemed to have spiritual amnesia. They seem to be forgetting all that God had done for them over the many years how God provided them food every single day right outside of their tent door and it was called manna how God directed them with the fire by night in a cloud by day how God watched over them how God parted the Red Sea for them, but they forgot sometimes we get discouraged when you forget the faithfulness of God. In the past. My wife keeps a prayer journal and sometimes will see Greg look what I wrote in my prayer journal two years ago. Look at what we were facing and look at how the Lord God is through it and the point of that is it's it's good to reflect back on the faithfulness of God, because when you're going through something in the moment.

You wonder, am I going to get through it.

Has God not been faithful to you in the past, the answer is yes, therefore, will he not be faithful to you in the present. Whatever conflict you're facing right now. The answer again is yes and will he not be faithful to you in the future and someone 07.

We have a record of all that God did for the nation Israel how he provided for them. How he protected them and then we read and someone 07 30 10, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works of the children of men. They just keep repeating that refrain but the Israelites had forgotten what God had done so, they were thirsty and they said were thirsty Moses and you know I have you brought us out of the wilderness, so we would just die of thirst in some Moses and Aaron go and pray in the tabernacle.

That's a tent that they set up to meet God in by the way it's always a good thing to do when you're stressed, pray when you're frustrated, pray when you're angry. Pray pray that God will give you wisdom. So there.

Pray Lord just help us now, the Lord gives him a clear direction. The Lords is Moses.

I want you to go to the rock and I want you to speak to it and water will come out known. Another occasion God a directed Moses to go to a rock and strike it with the staff, and water came out but this time the Lord said don't strike it. Just speak to the rock and the water will come and satisfy the thirst of the people you know what Moses was not in the mood to speak to some raw. He wanted to kick something I've ever been some magic at something that hurt yourself Moses and normally in a whacked out rock. Once like last time you hit it twice so I grabs the staff because of the rock.

Let's see what happened. Numbers chapter 20 verse 10 he inherent some of the people to come and gather at the rock, and he shouted listen, you rebels must we bring you water from this raw.

Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, and water gushed out so the entire community and their livestock Frank there fill as a number of things that went wrong here some big mistakes that Moses may you're taking no tears point number one Moses was taking personal credit for what God had done. Moses was taking personal credit for what God had done what it is safe, you rebels must we bring you water as we did before. Excuse me Moses you didn't bring water out of a rock before God did that you're taking credit for what the Lord has done and then he waxed the rock, not once but twice. Sounds like Moses is beginning to believe his own press.

But here's the thing.

God wants the glory in your life and listen to that God wants to use you. God wants to speak through you. God wants to use you as an instrument to bring comfort and help to people are in need. I just talked to a lady yesterday and she told me she works in hospice care. So she is with people who are in the brink of eternity and she was talking with the man who was close to death's door and and so she went out and got him a copy of my book Jesus revolution and then read it to him and it impacted this man any ended up coming to Christ, and so she told me about all the opportunities she has the minister to people I thought what a wonderful thing this is Amy.

She's in a position where she could reach people that I could never reach and you're in a position to reach people that no one else can reach. So God wants to use you and God will usually listen to me if you will dare to pray this prayer you will find the Lord will answer just pray this Lord, use me today.

You can even pray right now, Lord, use me today but listen God me answer that prayer sooner than you may expect if God loves to use this but when he uses us. Make sure you give him the glory. Sometimes people want to give us the glory. The book about chapter 14 the story of Paul and Barnabas, who were in the city called Lister and there were preaching. There was a man who would been disabled, unable to walk from his birth, and as he was listening to Paul preached they could see that this man had faith to be healed.

So Paul said to the man stand up and right there. This man would never walk before jumped to his feet and began to walk and leap and he was so excited the people watching. They freaked out. They said these men are gods in human bodies, and then they started to bring sacrifices to the Paul and Barnabas are like guys. What are you doing and they stated them in acts 1415 friends why are you doing this work just human beings like you are, we come to bring you the good news that you should turn from these were the things to the living God so immediately said guys don't give us the credit don't care about the glory were here to tell you to turn away from putting your faith in people or idols or anything else in some Moses was taking credit for what God had done. Don't touch God practical counsel Pastor Greg Laurie study today on a new beginning, and there's more to come from. This message called on the outside looking in.

Now you can go online for an instant replay of today study just go to harvest.org and look for the title on the outside looking in, or just call us for a CD at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 Prof. Greg a number of years ago we lived in a rural area in our house was sent back away from the road with a very long driveway and I used to have to take the trash can out once a week and you know it. It seemed like that driveway got longer every week in the trashcan got heavier every week. Yes.

Well 2020 has sort of felt to me like I've been carrying a heavy trashcan on a never ending driveway. You but the thing is, once you empty the can.

It feels like a reset. It's no longer overflowing them smelly. As we approach January 1. It's it's a good time to reset and get an infusion of hope about what's coming up in a fresh new year. Yes. Oh boy I you know where were all hoping 2021 is better than 2020 right. But Diane, it's all in God's hands, but here's the thing.

There've been a lot of setbacks and hardships in 2020, and sadly lives that have been lost in this pandemic that swept our nation and of course I myself got covered 19 and came through it.

Thankfully and I'm in good health now so I give God the glory for that, but that's been the hard times for our nation. Lotta restrictions a lot of difficulties a lot of challenges, but yet it's been a glorious time as well to remind you of the book until of two cities of the opening line. It was the best of times it was the worst of times. Yeah, it was the worst of times.

So we had some good times to because this is been one of the most fruitful years in the history of harvest ministries and seen people come to Christ because there's so much uncertainty because of the political season that we come through because of the anarchy and chaos in our streets, and of course the pandemic a lot of people despondent, searching, hurting, needing answers and then that's what we step in because, listen here in harvest ministries we distribute hope and we do so for free. We give hope for free because people are looking for hope in there looking for purpose and they're looking for perspective, and I think deep down inside the looking for God and as we shared with our listeners.

Many times now this was a banner year for us with our outreach ministry that we call Harvest at Home. We saw over 100,000 people come to Christ and thousands more came to faith after watching our special cinematic crusade that we did called a rush of hope. So were thankful for that. And now we want to encourage our listeners to help us finish this year strong with a financial gift and as a way of saying thanks to you I want to send you a copy of a brand-new resource called a rush of hope. You sought online most likely know you can own your own beautiful DVD copy that you can show where ever you want whenever you want to whoever you want in this special DVD that were offering a Russian pope also has some special added features like a little booklet you can call it in evangelistic track with the title life's most important questions that you can give to someone to read. There's also a little flyer in here telling you how I host a watch party and show a rush of hope in your front room in your backyard or wherever you want as an outreach to people that are in your family are in your neighborhood. There's also a special digital download code. We will provide for you. What that means is you let the DVD the show to where we want to show to but you can downloaded to your phone you can downloaded to your tablet device or to your computer and then watch it or show it when ever you want. Carrying around with you event and you can have an evangelistic crusade in your pocket so we want to send a special copy of a rush of hope to you for your gift of any size. They help us finish 2020 strong and let me see in advance. Thanks so much for believing in this ministry. Thanks for investing in this ministry and my hope and prayer is that some of you might become partners with us for the next year because when you partner with us and enables us to reach even more people you have a trident so we hope you'll ask about becoming a harvest partner when you contact us and with your first gift as a harvest partner with thank you with a copy of the DVD of a rush of hope along with all the extras pastor Greg mentioned to writers at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org 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 taken with you and be ministered to every weekend. Join us for Harvest at Home@harvest.org next time or from pastor Greg's enlightening study based on the life of Moses Goldwater Firestone join us here on a new beginning for possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions@harvest.org