Faith 101: The Spiritual Battle

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. If you would like to know how you can become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org that's harvest.org weren't as Virgil so use the sword of the spirit which is the word of God is your grade. Laurie pointed out Christian life is on the playground.

We need to be equipped and ready for the warfare that surround double whispers in your you're not going to go with you, you say it is written these things, we write you believe of the name of the son of God to me know that you have eternal life in someone mistakenly stumbles into the middle of the warriors don't suddenly stop and say hey wait a minute about this guy's a part of it.

Wait till he gets away to stumble in the battle unaware often get caught in the crossfire today of a new beginning after Greg Laurie wants to make sure that doesn't happen to be pointed out that we are surrounded by spiritual warfare fights series that were doing call me on 01 a crash course on the basics of the Christian life things that sometimes we lose sight of so grab your Bible and turned to two passages with me if you would ask chapter 2 and Psalm 19.

Acts chapter 2 versus 42 to 47.

So I'd like you to read those with me if you would right now. By the way, before read them.

This happened on the heels of the birth of the church. This is what happened after the day of Pentecost when the church was born.

The Holy Spirit was poured out on believers.

The Bible tells us, and now this is what the church did in the aftermath of that and this is what the church should be doing today to stay strong spiritually asked to 42. Those that gladly received his word were baptized, and that they 3000 souls were added to them and they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and the breaking of bread and in doctrine and fellowship, and prayers… Verse 46 so continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people of the Lord added to the church daily those that were being say, so I've summed this up in an acronym, W. E. L.

L. W-4. They were a worshiping church E they were and evangelizing church. L.

Number one, they were a learning church and L. Number two, they were a loving church all day with those other principles.

Later let me just focus on this one.

They were a learning church.

Verse 42. They continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and press this phrase continued steadfastly speaks of passion. It speaks of people that were really engaged. You know we need anointed preaching today for sure but I think we also need anointed listening, giving your attention with intention paying attention. Jesus would often say he that has ears to hear, M here if we were to update that my goal along these lines, listen up. Pay attention because were sharing with you the word of God.

So if you want to be a growing Christian number one you must read love study memorized the word of God. Principle number two if you want to be a growing Christian, you need to read the Bible as if your life depended on it because it does.

Again, you need to read the Bible as if your life depended upon it because it does years ago Kathy and I were back in Florida speaking and we flew back to LA so we got on the plane and you know how they go to the safety protocols in case of an emergency landing. There's a seat cushion under your seats in the here's your little whistle that you blow what's never give me a lot of comfort in the here's the exit doors look at adjuster like that here in the here okay so I didn't really pay attention.

I was reading a magazine. I think until the flight took off were about 45 minutes out of LAX and suddenly the voice of the pilot comes on the intercom and I couldn't believe what he was saying.

He said ladies and gentlemen were going to have to make an emergency landing and the flight attendants are going to come back and growth of the safety drill again.

Trust me, this time I listened as it turned out our landing gear wasn't working, but thankfully everything worked in the enemy landed safely, but the point was when they went over the protocols again where our cushion was even a little whistle and certainly were the exit doors work.

I was listening why my life depended on it. When we hear the word of God listened as though your life depends upon it because it does your spiritual life. Jesus in his conclusion to the sermon on the Mount made the statement in Matthew 724 whoever hears these sayings of mine will be a wise man who built his house on the rock. Then Jesus went on to say, the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

And then Jesus said really bringing an application where he hears these sayings of mine, and does not put them in the practice there like a foolish man who built his house on the sand in the rain came down in the streams rose and fell with a great crash, but whoever hears these sayings of mine will be like a wise man to build his house on the rock so I determine what man I'm going to be what woman you're going to be because in every live.

Trust me, the rain will come down and the streams will rise that one of the things that happens to a new believer. Is there hip without remember Adam and Eve in the garden after the Lord to place them in this paradise. The devil comes to them and says did God really say what you thought you heard him say. Is it really true. You can't eat of this tree if you want to when he lied to them and when you're a new believer, you sometimes urgent without while. What if this is not true.

One of this is all made up. What if I just psych myself into it. So what you do. Went down ship to listen to this. You believe your beliefs and you doubt your doubts and you come back to the word of God Jesus as the example you remember Christ was in the wilderness being tested by the devil for 40 days and 40 nights, the devil came to him showed a Moroccan said take this rock and turn it into a piece of bread and of course Jesus was hungry because you been fasting and Jesus said it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God then Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and he said all of this I will give you if you will worship me again Christ comes back with it is written, you shall worship the Lord God only minimally.

Shall you serve. Then Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the top of the temple since why don't you throw yourself down from here and then the devil called the Bible, for it is written, says the devil he will give his angels charge over you, by the way, the devil only quoted part of the Bible. And then Jesus comes back with the Scripture and contacts, and says it is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God.

Think of it this way were in a spiritual battle and you fight a spiritual battle was spiritual weapons, I've got to a replica of a Roman sword right here: out of its sheath and so think of this now in spiritual battle. Think of this as your Bible. Basically the sword in the Bible are one and the same. This sort of the spirit which is the word of God.

So the devil comes with the temptation in you come back with a sort it is written, so the devil whispers in your you're not really a Christian God is in forgiven you, you're not going to have it in you come back and you say it is written these things, we write to you that believe on the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life boom use the sword of the Spirit use the word of God memorized the word of God and will help you in times of trial that will help you in times of temptation. The Bible says thy word have I kid in my heart that I might not sin against you know the word of God.

Years ago, a young man named Billy Sunday received Jesus Christ. He went to an older Christian and ask for some advice on how to grow spiritually in this older gentleman said to young Billy Sunday said William. There are three simple rules.

I hope that you will practice it. If you do, no one will ever write the word backslider after your name, number one take 15 minutes each day to let God talk to you take 15 minutes every day to talk to God then spent 15 minutes every day talking to others about God to give advice 15 minutes to let God speak to you 15 minutes to talk to God through prayer 15 minutes to tell others about God.

How does God speak to us. He speaks to us primarily through the word of God to a successful Christian will be a Bible studying Christian and a failing Christian will be one that does not open the word of God and this is a problem. A lot of people are not opening their Bibles today instead were looking at social media.

Read a series of stats the other day about what a lot of Christians do each and every day I can tell you a lot more people are looking at social media than their Bible. For instance, every day, 66% of evangelical believers are looking at Facebook, 39% are looking at YouTube and 32% are opening their Bible. Houston, we have a problem we gotta open the book up in here with the book has to say.

I remember the first time I started to read the Bible, he could not believe that I'd finally found the user's manual of life.

I could not believe that these words were so relevant to what I was facing as a 17-year-old kid and now what I'm facing is a 67-year-old kid. I found the word of God is relevant for every phase of my life and you will find the same Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment were thrilled when we hear from listeners who join us from every background, every profession, every H Christian holds for wireline study is great to the ministry of harvest is impacting the life of this 10-year-old. Why not call us and tell us your story just call Pete 668711144 866-871-1144 Pastor Greg is offering important insights from a study of the basics called faith 101 were seeing the importance of God's word is foundational.

The Bible is the most amazing book ever written. It's literally God's message to you now technically speaking, it's not one book. It's actually 66 books written over a 1500 year span of the words of Scripture were written by 40 authors from every walk of life, ranging from kings to peasants to philosophers, fishermen, poets, statesmen, and scholars. Yet all of the authors of the Bible right about one thing, which is God's redemption of mankind, and every one of these individuals that wrote Scripture were inspired by God.

Second Peter 120 says understand that no prophecy in Scripture came from the prophets themselves because they wanted to prophesy. It was from the Holy Spirit who move these prophets to speak for God. Point number three the word of God is perfect, and completely trustworthy.

The word of God is perfect, and completely trustworthy know that when you open this book up. Psalm 19 verse seven says the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, and when that phrase, the law of the Lord is use it's interchangeable with the word of the Lord God's word is perfect and never goes out of style. You ever look at your book, maybe your yearbook from high school. I think you're always amazed at what our hairstyles were what a strange hairstyles come and go. You know what, what were we thinking when we are all wearing mullets and by the way I see the mullets are coming back again. I saw a guy the other day, young kid at some hipster coffee shop with the mullet and I have to say it looked as bad as they used to look back when we had. So I don't know if we should bring that back with the point is, things come and go, trends come and go musical styles come and go so many things come and go but the word of God is always the same in Jesus Christ is always the same yesterday today and forever. To me it's amazing that even though the newspaper is outdated in a day or so. The word of God is always fresh and relevant to what were facing.

The Bible says his mercies are new every morning.

Listen to this. The Bible says in second Timothy three all Scripture is inspired by God, or literally reads the by God. That means that the Bible is God's infallible word. The original autographs.

That is the first copies are without air, there are no mistakes in the Bible.

It's perfect, you can trust it. Even with the recent archaeological discovery like the Dead Sea Scrolls. It only confirms what the Bible has said all along. Point number for the word of God transforms us the word of God transforms us. So if you want to be a growing Christian, you need to spend time in the word of God wife because it will trends form you conducted some 19 again. It says the word of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. This phrase, it is usurper converting means reviving, restoring and transforming solicit when you read God's word. Your robot when you read God's word you're restored. When you read God's word. Your transform militant if you want to be transformed. If you don't want to be restored. Don't read the Bible.

The Bible is for people that have a sense of desperation about where they are in life is for people who don't know the purpose of life and they want to know what the purpose should be.

The Bible is for people who are not really sure where they came from and they're not really sure where they are going. The Bible is for people that want to change the Bible is for people that wish they could control their passions for people that don't want to be mere victims of circumstances for people that wish it was not so much pain and live. The Bible is for people who want relationships with others that will be better. That's who it's for now. If you have it all worked out that I guess you don't need the Bible course are also delusional because all of us need the word of God. This is the user's manual that you been looking for. As it has been said BIBLE basic instructions before leaving earth. So read what this word has to say. Let me say one thing and conclusion. Let me tell you know what the Bible says about your soul.

First of all you been made in the image of God.

You're not a member of the animal kingdom you're a human being made by God himself, and you are loved by God himself and God longs for a relationship and friendship with you. But here's what the Bible also says you and I are separated from God by our sin. The Bible says all of sin and fallen short of the glory of God and to sin means to cross the line to break a commandment in the word sin also means to fall short of a goal which is perfect and Jesus said be perfect, as your father in heaven is perfect will is perfect not mean that you only one perfect person that ever walked this planet and his name was Jesus. We all fall short.

We've all broken God's commandments. We've all sin.

But the Bible also tells us what the solution is Jesus himself said in John 316 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. The Bible tells us, Christ died for our sins. The apostle Paul said in Scripture.

He loved me and gave himself for me. Listen, Jesus died for you because he loves you and he wants to forgive you and he wants to enter into a relationship with you is able. Greg, how does that happen. You need to admit you're a sinner now make excuses for your sin, not blame other people for your sins. Own it, admit it and ask God to forgive you and he will right here right now.

Let me close with a series of questions would you like your sins to be forgiven. Would you like a fresh start in life. Would you like that big hole in your heart filled would you like to know with confidence that you will go to heaven when you die.

If so, you need to ask Christ to come and live inside of you being a Christian is not becoming a religious person.

I don't want to be a religious person. I've never been a religious person. This has nothing to do with religion says everything to do with relationship with you and God. Would you like to have that Jesus is ready to come in your life is ready to forgive you of your sin. Jesus says I I stand at the door and I knocked and if you hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in.

That's right here in the Bible. Would you like him to commit only you can open the door of your heart, so to speak is immigrate. How does one do that through prayer, Bible says whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be say hey if you were drowning and you saw lifeguard any one of them to rescue you.

You have to cry out for help right if you want God to save you from your sin if you want God to give you hope and purpose in life, you need to call out to him and you can do that right here right now through prayer the moment I'm a lead you in the simplest of prayers. A personal symbol that a child could pray it and many do pray with us but you can be an adult and pray this prayer doesn't matter what your age is. It's a simple prayer we are saying Jesus come in the my life. If you would like your sin forgiven, if you'd like to know that you will go to heaven when you die if you would like your guilt taken away. Or maybe you fallen away from the Lord. If you would like to come back to him. I want you to stop whatever you're doing and pray with me right now. Listen God Almighty will cure your prayer and he will answer your prayer but you must call out to him on the pray is simple prayer I would ask you if you want Christ to come of your life to pray this prayer even after me, as I pray it. You pray this is a prayer we are asking Christ to come in your life so you can find the meaning and purpose of life.

So if you want Jesus in your life right now.

Pray this prayer with me if you would just pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner but I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.

I turn from my sin. Now that I choose to follow you, Jesus. From this moment forward be my Savior and my Lord be my God and my friend. Thank you for sharing this prayer. Thank you for answering this prayer in Jesus name I pray Greg Ward prayer with those making the decision to follow Jesus today and if you just pray that prayer we want to welcome you into the family of God and would like to help you as you begin to walk with the Lord. Let us into our new believers growth packet is free of charge if you prayed with Pastor Greg for the first time today. It'll help get you started off right. Just ask for the new believers growth packet when you write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 24 seven. Again, dial 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and if you missed any part of what Pastor Greg Broadus today. You can catch up by going online to harvest.org just look for the title.

Faith 101 or to get a permanent copy of the message on CD. Call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 everybody Greg Laurie here talking with my friend Darrell strawberry an incredibly successful baseball player really a legend but you know, in many ways, Darrell. Some people might think you had some storybook life and you know you this grew up in your dad Coach June played catch with you in the front Street and then one day you were discovered by an agent you went on to glory well you did go on to sports glory but but you had a very difficult upbringing in your home and it was far from a storybook life.

Tell us a little bit about what it was to be a young Darrell strawberry and in particular really your relationship with your father, but also tell us about the impact of your mother. Yeah it was. It was very sad. Being a young kid because I was always in this fear, probably because it was like such a monster coming home and you didn't know what you were relegated on any given day are night he would come home and it would be drunk at night and it would be loud and I was about 14 years old and he came in love again. We all woke up and Mona brother Michael told want to just get out your leaders along and he was us, run around the table talking about while I'll kill all you guys you put on a shotgun city was too low family and me and my brother, when is action there running on any ground or which are never gratifying Fannin had it not been for my mother and she was little petite woman had it not been for her, making us get out of that house we was gonna kill him. That night we just had we had received and she just yelled at us as she made us get out of that house and go down streets to the neighbor's house and we was just so mad because we didn't want to leave her and she was like I'll be okay you guys get out of this house and from that night. It was no more father there he was. After that he was, he was not around us anymore. She removed him far from us nested brokenness of who I was. My brother Ronnie was at same time we do suffer so many things and were such fear was so empty on the assignment broken generations.

Just continue to gonna to you break up that cycle and if you never break the cycle that the kids come after you. While your kids can be in the same cycle so I was able to break the cycle from our kids and they never saw me put my hands on Aramark are yell at and what is anything that involves dysfunction are II knew better not touch them because I was so startled it and when you have wounds and scars like that. It is surreal Autocare people don't work out the uniform you put on component baseball uniform to be a celebrity police officer scars and wounds will always be there to you. Let God few you and it wasn't until I've let God heal me put it on the baseball uniform did not make me a man. People need to hear that they did make it means a dollars of your progress did not make me a match is made near baseball cladding become a man, so I met Jesus. When I met Jesus. That's when I became a man at the start of the live the right way and understand where man should live.

You know my my mom was buried in the were seven times I'd lived in an abusive home. I saw her get into fights and men hit her. One guy knocked her unconscious and almost killed her in a viaduct climbed out of the window of our house at night.

I mean out of lived to tell the story, so I have a little sense of what you were facing. But God stepped in and he broke the cycle of sin and God can do that for any person listening right now I don't care what your parents did. Are your grandparents did. You can have a new beginning in Jesus Christ. And it happened for Darrell strawberry and it happened for me and it can happen for you and that's why want you to read Darrell's powerful story and the things he has to share that he's learned in life thus far in his new book called churn your season around subtitled how God transforms your life and this could be a lifesaving book for someone listening. It shows us how God can set our lives in the right direction, no matter are passed and we want to send Darrell's book. Your way to thank you for your donation really an investment to help us continue to touch lives each day with this radio program.

So will you. Contact us today John Pastor Greg a note and let them know what his teachings mean to you and then when you include a donation. Be sure to ask for turn your season around. You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg continues his series faith 101 with a look at how personal evangelism can keep our own faith strong and vibrant. Join us next time a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions@harvest.org