The Power of One Part 2: Real Impact for the Kingdom

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God, to find out how to know God personally go to know God.org K NOW know God.org would you do me a favor sure this message was someone who needs to hear it.

People make a real impact for the kingdom. Laurie shares we all comes down to how we spend our time will make so many choices every day to start my day with the word of God or with social media to start my day with prayer started with whirring. Make time in my schedule to meet with believers. This you make your choices and your choices make you surprised, sometimes the more popular people lost prominent people today were the wallflowers years ago, and that's not really random or accidental. It has to do with the choices they made today on a new beginning for Greg Laurie shows is the choices we make and how we serve God will affect the here and now will likely affect your wrath.

Well, well, you know how to your health. My wife and I are always disagreeing over the temperature of the room. She always thinks is to cold I always think it's too warm so I'll go and set it to 70, and shall set it to 73.

The back-and-forth ago but that's not enough. I have what is called a nest thermostat that you program it. Apparently it follows your patterns and and will reflect what you would want. But the problem is my thermostat have gone rogue. It's sort of like the computer named Helen 2001 a space Odyssey where it will just set its own temperatures. It's like in the middle of the day it's ugly 64° why I did not get to be 64 in the middle of the night. It'll set it to 74 upper I've already set it to 70°. So what is wrong with this thing about try to fix it on your voice say coming out of it thing I can't do that. Dave, never mind that's from 2001. But here's my question for you are you and thermostat or are you a thermometer. Let me explain up thermostat sets the temperature of thermometer tells you what the temperature is are you the kind of person that influences others. Are you the kind of person that is always influenced by others. Are you a world changer or is the world changing. You with this is our last message on the life of Moses who was described as a man of God. He was also described as the meekest man on the face of the earth, and there is no question about it. Moses was up thermostat. He influenced others. In fact, when you stop and think about it, one man lived such a godly life of integrity that he basically kept tuning half-million people from turning to full blown idolatry. Because the moment. Moses left the scene literally all hell broke loose and here was the problem.

The people bowed before a golden calf will know that story right. But listen to this the golden child was their second idle Moses was their first you see the problem was is that people had made an idol out of Moses that was in the fall of Moses. He was a godly example. He was doing exactly what he should be doing, but they in a way put him in the place of God.

We read and exit this chapter 14 verse 31 Israel saw the great work with a loaded gun in Egypt and the people fear the Lord and believe God, and his servant Moses, and in fact, when Moses slept for a time to receive the 10 Commandments and the left Aaron in charge.

The people says what is happened to this Moses who brought us out of Egypt.

Hold on. It was God that brought them out of Egypt, but they had put Moses in the place of God. And you know this happens today. Maybe in a home, you'll have a woman that is godly and more motivated spiritually and the guy they just kinda goes along for the ride. His relationship with God, so to speak is more or less dependent on his wife's relationship with God and have been the wife.

That said, oh, let's watch Harvest at Home and the husband was like okay whatever right and so now she let's just say for the sake of an illustration that the wife loses interest in spiritual things will the husband lose interest as well. See that's not a good thing. You need your own relationship with God.

Kids listen to me. You need your own relationship with the Lord is not dependent upon your parents or upon any other person. Here's another illustration, God will use certain people.

Maybe there's a preacher that people will flock to hear.

But then one day it is revealed that that preacher like every other human being has feet of clay.

He has frailties and maybe he says or done something you don't like that so you think that said, I'm leaving my faith am walking away from the church.

Hello, don't build your faith in God, on the foundation of a man or a woman the Lord needs to be number one in your life.

That's the first commandment have no other gods will form the commandment number two was have no graven images but to the credit of Moses. He was such a godly influence.

It shows the power of one, now certain to pick up from where we were last time. That was the power one part one this is the power of one part to remember. We learn this about Moses look at Hebrews chapter 11 verse 24.

It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin, so point number one. As you may remember Moses made important decisions at the beginning of his life again. The end of your life is determined by the beginning of your life the evening of your life is determined by the morning of your life so you're making decisions now that will affect you in years to come. And Moses made a principled decision. Verse 24 of Hebrews 11 says it was by faith that Moses, when he grew up refused. You see he had come to a fork in the row he had been placed by God in the house of the barrel. He was the Prince of Egypt. He could've let this thing play out and maybe ultimately ascended to the throne and become the Pharaoh himself, but Moses made a choice to not do that. He chose to be not be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

He chose to not have that title. So he walked away from a life of luxury to choose a life of obedience to God he made a decision early in his life, to choose God over affluence, bringing me to point number two you make your choices and your choices make you let me say it again you make your choices and your choices make you look at verse 25 of Hebrews 11 Moses chose to suffer the oppression of God's people this word that is user virtues means to take for oneself a position he took a position and we all make so many choices every day.

Take Taco Bell for instance I don't know if you like talk about.

I have to say I'm a huge fan. I love it. But now they have all these things on the menu that I've never heard of before you pull up others new things like the cheesy Gord either crunch something. What is a cheesy gorditas crunch and I'm contemplating that them asking what what is this exactly and meanwhile the line behind me is getting longer and they have a spicy potato soft taco in the crunch wrap supreme. Unlike what are these things because there's so many choices I just say I love a bean burrito and up to talk.

I just default back to what I always choose. But the point is this all these decisions we have to make a menu if you have Sirius XM all these channels you can choose from. And then you turn on the TV and and there's so many hundreds and hundreds of channels you were to split through channels and literally found there wasn't one thing worth watching.

Others are not important choices for the most part, but there are very important choices in life. The most important choice you will ever make is what you do with Jesus Christ. If you will see yes to him and follow him or if you will reject them and if you have not yet said yes to Jesus. I'll give you an opportunity to do that at the end of my message I think right after that decision is a decision about who you will marry. Listen to me single people take your time and look for a godly man or a godly woman look for someone that is even more godly than you are very important you know, honestly, marriage is hard enough with a godly person when you combine a believer and a nonbeliever so much trouble can follow as a result.

But then I make choices every day, for instance, am I going to start my day with the word of God or was social media by going to start my day with prayer or am I going to start it with worry my going to make time in my schedule to meet with other believers and on it goes. Moses chose to not do one thing and instead he chose to do another so let's say that that you are gaining weight. So what you need to do is stop doing one thing and start doing another stop eating the crunch wrap supreme, whatever that is. And instead work out more.

Okay so in the same way we can apply this to the Christian life.

Someone says blessed or happy is a man with a woman that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful. Then it goes on to say, but his delight is in the word of the Lord, and in it, does he meditate day and night. Go check it out.

The word blessed and happy are interchangeable.

So basically the Bible saying if you want to be happy. There are some things you should not do in their place. There are certain things you should do, don't walk in on godly counsel.

Don't do that, but instead walk in godly counsel meditate or think about or contemplate on the word of God now always say, meditate, and I want you to think of Eastern mysticism and Eastern mysticism.

One meditates to empty their mind and biblical meditation one bills their mind to meditate means to ponder to contemplate what the word of God has to say. So Moses made a choice.

I'm not going to do that live in the pleasures of sin, but instead I'm going to do this. I'm going to identify with God's people listen to this God's worst is better than the world's best.

Okay, what is the world's best and I already said a few short-lived pleasures. What is God's worst well persecution rejection being mocked, things of that nature. So the best that the world has to offer isn't as good as the worst God has to offer. Now let's talk about God's best.

What is that while that piece, purpose, meaning, in this life a relationship and friendship with God himself and the guaranteed assurance of heaven beyond the grave. What is the world's worst misery jolts emptiness and a future of judgment in hell and don't go that way is your great glory will have the second half of this message in just a moment.

So many listeners have commented on the healthy receipt from these daily messages were administered often gets them through some dark hours. Sorry for the lot right right really angry you love the Lord that I struggle with survivor guilt. Mildred, there are only 11 currently appearing with our deeper mightily waiting for her 21st birthday 309 pounder anything for help emergency reminders were able to get up little Allegra measuring him playing because my brain did you not read that the order was very clear about not wanting to live with meaning anything we had to let her go. It's been five years and I think you can hear me weeping.

I like that you never really get over and get early the Lord will get me to go that route.

Only got to bring her home. No more trials are just around the corner so I need to learn how to completely take myself out of the equation hung up on me. I pray for you that you will continue to preach the importance of having complete peace with God when you like it or not. May God continue to bless you and your family, your great, thank you so much, probably some distance like this, knowing that this broadcast is helping. Would you like to share your story with pastor Greg call 1-866-871-1144. Once again, 866-871-1144 pastor Greg is offering important insights today on how we can make wise choices. Following the example of the prophet Moses in our thanks to our harvest partners who help to make today study available to find out about becoming a harvest partner go to harvest.org.

Point number three because of his right choices. Moses was a man of personal integrity because it was right choices. Moses was a man of personal integrity. Let me ask you, do you have integrity what is integrity it's really the same as character.

One person described integrity as what we are in the dark who you are when no one is watching.

There was an article in Forbes magazine that said quote successful come and go, but integrity is forever the article goes on to say integrity means doing the right thing at all times under all circumstances, whether or not anyone is watching building integrity takes years. But it only takes a second to lose." Interesting turn on approaching them from a biblical perspective there. Approaching it from a business perspective, a billionaire Warren Buffett made this statement about hiring the right people, and I quote, looking for people to hire. I look for three qualities. Integrity intelligence and energy. But if they don't have the first one.

The other two will kill you. So energy is important. Intelligence is important, but of the top of the list for Warren Buffett. He thinks she should have integrity.

I think he's on to something there. Moses certainly had integrity point number four.

We need to look forward, not backwards. Again, we need look forward not backwards the word in verse 26 describing Moses means he thought before hand means he looked away from everything else and fixed his attention on what was ahead Moses had the big picture. He saw beyond the temporal comfort of the palace of Egypt. He saw beyond the bondage of Pharaoh. He saw beyond to what God could do and so here that's what he had his eyes on. Doesn't that remind us of what Paul says in Hebrews chapter 12 when he says lay aside the sin and the way that so easily beset you look on did Jesus the author and finisher of your faith, and so Moses did that very thing that brings me to point number five. Moses finished his race.

Well now go over to Deuteronomy chapter 34 with me if you would Deuteronomy chapter 34 we read these words in verse one then Moses went up to Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab and climb to Scott peak, which is across from Jericho and the Lord showed him the whole land from Jillian this far as Dan to the land of enough to lead to the limit.

E. Frey on the Manasseh in the land of Judah extending to the Mediterranean Sea. The negative the Jordan Valley would Jericho the city of Palms as far as OR then the Lord said to Moses, this is a land that I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. When I said I will give it to your descendents I have now allowed you to see it with your own eyes, but you will not enter the land while so Moses is hundred and 20 years old at this point I'm pretty impressed that he could climb this mountain.

It is a 4500 foot high peak coming that that's deep in this old dude makes it up to the very top and we don't read that Moses you know uses walker with a little tennis balls at the bottom to keep them from slipping to get up the mountain. There was no escalator. There was no elevator. He climbed up on it. No life alert around his neck.

You know, that's impressive. And as we all get older, we realize that we have limitations.

There are telltale signs you're getting old you know you're getting old when a gray-haired little old lady you help across the street is your wife. You know you're getting old when you dim the lights for economic reasons, not for romantic ones. You know you're getting old when your back goes out more than you do. You know you're getting old when your children are starting to look middle age. You know you're getting old when you're told to slow down by a doctor instead of a cop you know you're getting old when you sink your teeth into a juicy steak and they say there you know you're getting old when you bend down to pick up something and you wonder what else you can do while you're down there you know when you're getting older. Sometimes people begin to disconnect their attire, their attire not only from their work but sometimes from their spiritual life, but not Moses. He was strong to the very end. Look at how Moses understood he was going to die. He understood this was the end, but he was not afraid he was not depressed.

He realized that life has a beginning, middle and end. As a Christian you don't have to be afraid to die.

No one wants to die but there's no escaping the statistics on death are pretty impressive one out of every one persons will die, but having said that the apostle Paul reminded us to live is Christ and to die is gain. Why is dying gain for the Christian answer. We go to heaven into the very presence of God.

Moses understood that, so the Lord shows him all the promised land. And he says this is the land that I promised Abraham and his descendents, and they're going to go into it, but not you all man.

We might say that's kind of cool on the part of God is like taking a little kid into a store and think. Don't touch anything you can look but you can't touch.

It's almost as though the Lord is saying going look at a Moses, but you can go in but that's true, but not to the press, Moses, and remember why could Moses not go to the land member. He was told to speak to the rock and water would come out and instead he took a stick and actually a staff that God used on so many occasions that two miracles are. That was a sticky holdup and parted the Red Sea. That was a sticker the Rodi through the ground and it turned into a snake and so forth. So the Lord told him to speak to the rock any wax or rock Bam Bam two times are set okay. You're not going into the land, but as I reminded you in my last message he did make it in. Ultimately, when he was transfigured with Elijah on each side of Jesus.

But the point is simply this, God was saying look, buddy. I kept my promise.

All of that misery all event hardship. All of the difficulties you went through its worth of look.

Moses here's a land I keep my promises. I wanted to what I said I will do so. One day Moses died and everyone of us will ultimately die unless the Lord comes back in our lifetime, which is entirely possible. But one way or another you and I are going to stand before God and will get a be held accountable for our lives. And here's what the question will be in that final day, not how good of a life.

Could we live or how many good works. Did we do.

It's going to come down to this. What did we do with Jesus Christ won't be a sin question is much as it will be a son question SON.

What did you do with Jesus. Why do I say that because the only way that I can know that I will go to heaven is a bike come to God through Jesus.

Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life and no man comes of the father but by me. You say, but why I thought all roads lead to God. Well, maybe in a broad sense.

That's true. Let me explain all roads would get you to God no matter what road you choose, you will stand before God, but only one road leads to heaven, and it's through Jesus because he died on the cross for your sin, and he rose again from the dead, so I want to know that I will go to heaven when I die, I need to us Jesus Christ to forgive me of my sin and I need to begin to follow him as my Savior and Lord Solomon ask you that enclosing have you done that yet you have faith in Christ you have the assurance right now that if you were to die today.

You would go to heaven if not would you like to have it Jesus who died in the cross and rose again from the dead is with you right now or ever. You are wherever you are watching this and he says behold I stand at the door and I knocked and if you cure my voice and open the door, I will come in.

Listen, I'm talking you about a relationship right now. This is not a religious thing. This is a relationship with God himself would you like Jesus to come of your life would you like to know that you go to heaven when you die. Would you like to be ready for the Lord's return. If so, in a moment on the prayer, prayer, and I would ask you to pray this prayer with me. You can pray it out loud if you like. It doesn't really matter. The main thing is you say this to the Lord. So if you want Christ to come into your life. Pray this prayer with me right now. Just pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.

Now Jesus come into my life. I choose to follow you from this moment forward as my Savior and Lord is my God and my friend in Jesus name I pray for Greg Lord closing in order. Prayer. Prayer were those who were making a decision for the Lord today and if you just pray that prayer with pastor Greg would like to follow-up with you and help you as you begin to live the Christian life would like to send you our new believers growth packet free of charge. It'll answer the questions you might have get you started on the right foot. Just as forward as you write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us anytime 24 hours a day at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Greg there's a lot of talk about voting this year. Yes, our listeners may not realize it but they vote to keep this study coming their way. They vote by partnering with us. Yeah, their support is what helps these programs keep coming their way and we just want to say, the polls are open.

That's right, they are open and that is a way that we know that were impacting you when you write us when you contact us when you communicate with doesn't say I'm listening I been impacted by what you're offering and also when you support us financially because that enables us to reach even more people I know so many of you listen every single day or every other day and it's a part of your life and you share these broadcasts are podcasts with other people were thankful for that and we want to continue to be able to come into your home into your vehicle wherever it is your listening to us and we want to come in to other people's lives as well because people need to hear the word of God. Don't you think Simon ask you as we come to the end of 2020 to prayerfully consider making a financial contribution to harvest ministries when you do this, you share in the spiritual fruit of what were doing.

The apostle Paul wrote to the believers need said I did something I want to give but I want fruit to abound to your account.

So when you give toward this ministry.

That's what's going to happen for you too, and we have seen thousands of people come to Christ well over 100,000 people made a profession of faith to follow Christ through our online ministry through our outreach through our film, a rush of hope and of course our radio and television and so forth and were praying. Then next year will even be greater. So listen with that gift that you send our way would ever it can be.

I want to say thanks by sending you a copy of a brand-new resource that we have never offered before.

It is the DVD version of a rush of hope. You sought online and many visit. All I want my own copy. Now you can have one you can watch it as many times as you want to watch it and you can show it to as many people as you want to show it to and you can do it wherever you want to do it and you'll have your own copy, along with some special resources we've developed a booklet that's called answering life's most important questions that you could give out to a nonbeliever that you know also a piece that we wrote that will show you how to host a watch party. In other words, how do you have the maximum impact. If you bring people over to your home to have a viewing of this cinematic crusade that we call a rush of hope. So will send you a copy of this DVD for your gift of any size I wanted to say in advance. Thank you for believing in what we do and let's pray that next year is our greatest year ever. Amen. And in that regard.

Your gift couldn't come at a more strategic time so we hope you will contact us today for your copy of a rush of hope along with all the extras not only are we offering this on the DVD, but there's also a special digital download code.

We will provide for you. What that means is still of the DVD that showed 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 carry around with you event and you can have an evangelistic crusade in your pocket and its rights or contact us today with your generous your intonation at a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300 and we can take your call 24 seven or just go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg launches a short series of messages to help us prepare spiritually. The Christmas holiday ahead.

Find out what happens when Jesus makes his home in join us next new beginning and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor greats free daily email, devotions@harvest.org