How to Be a World Changer: Impact the World Around You

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 world changers are often not appreciated when instead there persecuted the promise.

We usually claim as it is you want to be persecuted. One stream long set up a new lately.

Pastor Greg Laurie brings important encouragement to those of us who face opposition for every we have a message that was to deliver Holger Brown and be a man or a woman of faith, because you would affect her change in the world because you reflect and write onward Christian soldiers. Why are there so many Christian retreats.

Should there be some Christian charges. Seriously though, we are often more comfortable staying in our Bob margin on the battlefield today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie helps us be people who impact the culture around Pastor Greg says recall the world changers principles on making sure we impact the world and not vice versa.

Govern out 10 doubles about how you can be a world changer. So if you're taking notes here is point number one world changers have an active not a passive faith say that again for a business world changers have an active not a passive faith. Listen, the more you use your faith, the stronger the gross good 120 says as you see their friends, build yourself up in your most holy faith by praying of the Holy Spirit staying in the center of God's love keeping your arms open ready for the mercy of our master Jesus Christ.

Notice the emphasis there is on faith doing things. Faith is praying. Faith is staying. Faith is keeping faith is active point number two world changers do things with their faith. They do things with their faith. Hebrews 11 we read these words. Abel offered a sacrifice.

Noah prepared an ark.

Abraham obeyed Abraham offered up Isaac. You see, they did things with their faith was in the best of faith that has no works with the faith that does not work.

James says faith without works is dead, bringing me to point number three.

The faith we need is a world changer grow stronger through testing.

If you have real faith in God, your faith will grow stronger through adversity and difficulty not weaker were told in James one all kinds of trials and temptations crowding in on you, brothers, don't treat them as intruders but friends realize they've come to test your faith and produce and you a quality of your all right where we get faith. Point number four.

We jutted by reading and understanding the word of God. Romans 1017 says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

So we want to be looking into the word of God and then point number five. Listen, this is a big one. Faith can make the difference between something happening and not happen, let him repeat that parenthesis faith can make the difference between something happening and not happening. I we see so many instances in this Scripture. There was one woman that was praying for her daughter and Jesus answered her prayer.

Then he said to her, woman, great is your faith, it will be done as you desire to. She put her faith into action. She was persistent with their faith and Jesus granted her request and commended her for her faith, but yet we also read Jesus could do no mighty works in the hometown he lived in of Nazareth because of their on the belief. No miracles were done there.

We can stop the work of God in our life by unbelief. Unbelief is the fee.

Hebrews 11 success without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

Listen what God did in the lives of people years ago. He can still do in the lives of people today. God wants to do something fresh in our generation. Let me personalize that God wants to work in your life.

He wants to work in your home. He wants to work in your sphere of influence. These men and women took risks and God bless and let's read a little more about them. Hebrews 1133 to 35 it says by faith. These people overthrew kingdoms. They ruled with justice. They receive what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions and quench the flames of fire, the escape death by the edge of the sword, their weakness was turned. The strength they became strong in battle and put a whole army as the flight women receive their loved ones back from death that brings me the principle number six world changers are indestructible until God is done with them world changers are indestructible until God is done with them. Worrying about when you're going to die. That is in the hands of God.

The Bible says it's appointed under women.

Once diamond comes the judgment it's going to happen at the appointed hour. So if you're freaking out about it and stressing about it all the time you're wasting a lot of energy you live as long as God wants you to live. Not a day longer. But then again, your life will not be cut short. If God wanted to go on longer. Your indestructible until God is done with you. Principle number seven world changers are never alone world changers are never alone.

Verse 33. They quench the power of fire. Now this is probably alluding to the story of Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo King.

This is Nebuchadnezzar now who preceded a Darius who gave a decree that everybody should bow before a giant gold statue that he erected in Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo being the Jewish boys and believing what the Bible said were not can I have another God before the Lord. They refused about the king was outraged and he threw them into a fiery furnace.

In fact, the flames were so hot that they killed the men who were putting the men after they were dropped in the furnace. The king looks and Kim believes of his eyes is probably rubbing the mincing waveguide through three people in the furnace and I see 1/4 one and there walking around.

Who was this mysterious, shadowy figure walking with Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo in the fiery furnace as though it were a walk in the park on a Sunday afternoon. It was Jesus walking with them and they were delivered and Jesus is walking with you through your hardship right now you feel all alone you feel abandoned.

I want you to know that God is there and that God cares and Jesus is low.

I am with you always, even to the end of the world.

Here's another principal world changers apply their faith.

They apply their faith to give verse 35 of Hebrews 11 women receive their loved ones back to death. This is probably a reference to a light jet raising the widows son to life again. So Elijah was a great prophet of the Lord right and so he went to a woman. The widow she had very little money. She had a son most prized thing on earth. Her beloved boy and he asked her if he could crash at her house. If you will.

If she could put them up.

And so she let him stay and she would feed him from the meager supply of food that she had. She then realized she'd invited a world changer into her home, the great prophet and it's a great principal, because the Lord kept providing for her, and she always had what she needed and just illustrates the principle of putting God first in your life and honoring him to your giving and he takes care of you. One day the widows son died she actually blamed Elijah Ford.

I should've never invited you here to stay at this house and this happened because of you. Elijah is like God when we just take care of this. All right. The Bible tells us that he went to that boy and he carried him up to his little apartment and he raise the boy from the dead. Listen, even death does not stop a world changer number when we think of Elijah. We think he's a rock star. He's a biblical legend.

Elijah calling fire down from heaven Elijah stopping the rain. Elijah raising a boy from the dead. That's all truly guess what Elijah was a dude like you affect the Bible even says in James 517 Elijah was a human as we are yet he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, and none fell for 3 1/2 there some to remember about Elijah after he had his great contest with the profitability amount Carmel. He fell into a deep funk. He was deeply depressed and actually didn't even want to live any longer. That brings up another point. Even world changers get depressed at times. Again, they're not here in Hebrews 11 and the hero solid faith because they were great people.

It's because they put their faith in a great God. Think about the weakness of so many of them and so we all have our moments of sadness. We might even deal with depression and these are human beings and God work in and God can work through you as well Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message just a moment. Mr. Greg Laurie talks about his new book, Billy Graham and the man I knew. Billy said to me I'm just a country preacher. He was just a country preacher but God elevated him and offense thousands of young people, and when he spoke those kids listen, you could've heard a pin drop. God has forgiven you. That's why Christ died on the cross and that's why he rose again so you might be you said he will even instant salvation certainly do now is you write this instant. Every link would go on to be the greatest evangelist in history so I write about them a lot more in this book I've written called Billy Graham the man I need to know the country preacher saw millions come to Christ, Pastor Greg introduce you to Billy Graham, the man I knew a brand-new biography available for your gift of any size and harvest.or will today. Pastor Greg is presenting a message called how to be a world changer from Hebrews chapter 11.

Now we come to another group of world changers.

Now they too had great faith.

They too trusted God, but they then walked to fires. They didn't part the Red Sea and they did not have their dad restored affect. They suffered greatly, and many of them die. So how does this work with the losers in the Hall of Fame while the others were winners, not at all because we don't decide how long of a life we will and we don't decide what circumstances will have to face. We just decide how we will react to them. The first group of world changers that I talked about glorify God through escaping, like Daniel, Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo.

This second group of world changers glorify God by enduring. Let's read about them Hebrews 11 verse 35 others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They place our hope in a better life after the resurrection. There were jeered at their backs were cut open with wimps. They were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning others were sawed in half. Some were killed with the sword. What about wearing skins of sheep and goats destitute and oppressed and mistreated, of whom the world was not worthy wandering over deserts and mountains and hiding in caves and holes in the ground, but they earned a good reputation because of their faith. None of them receive all that God had promised God had something better for them and for us, world changers are often not appreciated, but instead there persecuted. According to Jewish tradition.

Isaiah was sawn and help with a wooden saw alluded to here in Hebrews 11. Even today around the world. Christians are persecuted. Understand that religious groups are persecuted but no group is persecuted like the Christian all the studies that have been done on this topic bear that truth out.

Christians are the most persecuted people in the world today, and we know that our brothers and sisters suffer living in nations like China and North Korea and I am certain Islamic nations where they're not allowed to practice their faith, but the Bible does say all that live godly in Jesus Christ will be persecuted for the promise. We usually claim is that if you want to be persecuted. Who wants to be Jared wants to be mocked wants to be laughed at as an up and you lately, people made fun of you there make jokes about you when you walk into the room. Oh here comes holy Joe oh here comes Mr. spiritual who don't preach to us. You know, and they put you down because of what you believe but I'm saying you hold your ground and be a man or a woman of faith, because you would affect her change in the world. The very fact that you walk into a room and they identify you. First and foremost as a Christian, and it affects everything around it says something just be a loving Christian be a nice person. Make sure when you're persecuted your persecuted for the right reason. I've seen some Christians who are obnoxious and their intrusive and their overbearing and their argumentative and their arrogance and when people reject what they say they say, thank God and being persecuted for righteousness sake hallelujah know you're being persecuted because your rate chart note be persecuted for righteousness sake because you reflect Christ world changers someone who changes the temperature of a room.

I opened by asking the question, are you up thermostat. Are you a thermometer thermostat sets the temperature.

The thermometer tells you what the temperature is do you set the temperature in the room or do you merely reflect that.

Let me put it another way, are you changing the world or is the world changing. You hate these world changers and category two. They suffered and it doesn't seem fair doesn't and we feel that way in life. We think what what why am I suffering you don't, why am I going to do this in other people are not going to this. Why am I single well when all my friends are married. Why can't we have children when one of my good friend says five children. Why did my child go prodigal and their children did not. Why do I have this horrible illness will all of my friends are healthy.

Why did my child donning the list goes on and when speaking from a back in here. I've struggled because as you know, our son went to be with the Lord in 2008, 10, and I remember after it happened, I would look at so many people wed huge families and all their children were alive and I had two sons and one of my sons is taken from me and it was devastating and heartbreaking and I struggled with it, but but I had hoped, but I have hope that brings me to my last point world changers have her reward waiting the will make it all worth it. We have her reward waiting that will make in all worth it because it promises restoration here for these people who've suffered one day all of our questions will be answered. One day God will restore in heaven and in the next life. What we have lost in this life. Look at verse 30 5B premiers 11.

They place their hope and a better life after the resurrection, you know, we put all of her focus on this line but there is an afterlife and that goes on forever. This life on earth.

Even if it's long is relatively short is not.

The Bible says we spend our life like a story that's already been told it's a puff of smoke that appears for a moment Scripture says and vanishes away.

Then there's the afterlife and I want to ask you this question.

In closing, are you ready for the afterlife. Let me put it another way, if you died today would you go to heaven is a will, I hope so. I have faith in the good Lord in the man upstairs, and I've lived a good life and that's all nice but he doesn't want to just be the good Lord of the man upstairs and a good life is and to get you to heaven because heaven is not for good people might surprise somebody right now heaven is not for good people. Heaven is for forgiven people. You see, you can live a good life and not go to heaven. I'm not going to get to heaven because I'm a preacher I'm not going to get the heaven because I've done X amount of good things. I'm in a get to heaven because I've put my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord who died on the cross for me. 2000 years ago, and here's my question to you.

You done that to being a Christian is not just I want to read the Bible now and go to church and say Christian things Nono being a Christian is having Christ himself, take residence in your heart.

The Bible says, for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons and daughters of God. Have you received Christ as it would mean receive Christ.

I mean have you said to God, I'm a sinner and I know Jesus is the Savior, and I want him to forgive me of my sin and come and live in my life. If you've not done that you can do it right here right he stands at the door of your life in the knots and he says if you'll hear his voice and open the door to come in. Would you like your sins forgiven. Would you like to know that when you die you will go to heaven. Would you like him to fill the big hole inside of you. Maybe you been trying to fill with other things.

He's just a prayer away the moment. I'm in a prayer I would ask you if you want Christ to come into your life to pray this prayer with me again as I pray pray this prayer you can print out loud right here. Let's all pray pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I know that I've fallen short of your glory but I think you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sin and the rise again from the dead. I turned from my sin, I repent of my sin and I asked Jesus to come in the my life right now you be my Savior and Lord my God and my friend in Jesus name I pray for Greg Laurie were those making a decision for the Lord today and if you just pray that prayer with Pastor Greg and of Mentos word sincerely we want to welcome you into the family of God and would like to help you get started in living the life of faith. Let us send you something called our new believers growth packet it will answer many of the questions you might have and help you build a strong foundation for your face so ask for the new believers] as you write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.

We can take your call anytime around the clock that's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click the words know God well this is such an important time here at the ministry because Pastor Greg has just released a book he's been working on a long time is the biography called Billy Graham the man I knew it, such revealing journey through the life of the greatest evangelist to ever live your Pastor Greg you described. When Billy himself came to the Lord through the preaching of the country evangelist named Mordechai Hamm what a great name, Mordechai Hamm. Yes, you mentioned that the Billy Graham evangelistic Association still has the decision card. The Billy completed the night he made that commitment say answer at the piece of history right there. Yet, really it so they not only have that decision card but they have all whole building called the Billy Graham library and if anyone is ever in North Carolina Charlotte, you really should go visit it. You know presidents have their libraries but this is amazing because it's like an interactive place to go to theirs and credible exhibits they take you through his life from his childhood growing up on the dairy farm along with his brother Melvin. They have Billy in this tent revival days and then on through all of the things that he did around the world and it presents the gospel as you walk through and there's places where you can see the Bible. He used his briefcase and yes, that decision card of one of very young Billy Frank walked forward at the invitation of evangelism, Mordechai Hamm, who had set up his tent there and Charlotte, North Carolina, and who could have ever thought that that lanky farmboy would go on to be not only the greatest evangelist of his lifetime, but in my opinion, the greatest evangelist in history and you know Billy said to me many times and in interviews as well. I'm just a country preacher understand that was not false humility that was Billy.

Just telling the truth.

He was just a country preacher but God elevated him. I remember that he use the illustration. If you see a turtle on a fence post. You know, we didn't get there by himself and Billy was the first to acknowledge that God placed them in the place that he was in. And God gave him special gifts that were unique and he had this ability to connect with people and it was throughout his entire life and ministry from the early passionate fiery Billy preaching for the youth for Christ indented his crusade in the tent there in Los Angeles that launched him into a global ministry to the older Billy elder statesman, Billy. And finally the lion in Winter if you will, the grandfatherly billing and he always connected with his audience. I can think at times I was with them. I was with them in Atlanta Georgia needed a crusade there. In fact he introduced me to Jimmy Carter, former president at that point, and that's kind of an interesting thing to be introduced to Jimmy Carter by Billy Graham. But that's exactly what happened, but Billy was quite a bit older. At that point and they started doing these youth nights were they were using contemporary Christian bands, which was sort of a departure from the tradition of the Graham Crusade and some of the team members weren't all that thrilled about it I thought it was a great move and he had packed you know of the fence. Thousands of young people. What I found fascinating disease. Great bands would play like DC talker and artist like Michael W Smith. But when Billy walked out there.

By the way, dressed in a suit, not changing the way he dressed not trying to be Mr. cool. He was the coolest of cool because he was him. He was an authentic Billy Graham and he walked out there. He got the greatest applause of the night and when he spoke those kids listen, you could've heard a pin drop. So we had this ability to connect from the beginning to the middle to the end of his ministry. Remember seeing him in New York. It is final crusade in Flushing Meadows. There and and I remember he just looked at the crowd and said God loves you and then he would turn to another part of the crowd and say God loves you and it wasn't as intricate as his early messages, but in its simplicity. Maybe it was even more powerful because he lived what he preached. There were two Billy Graham's.

He was the same in private that he was in public and he was a godly as men I've ever met while the listeners will want to get to know him better. By way of your new book, Billy Graham, the man I knew it belongs in everyone's library it out and Graham lots Billy's daughter commented about the publication in this page turner of a book I learned things about my father that I never knew Greg Laurie has done a masterly job of setting my father's life in historical and cultural context. I pray that Billy Graham, the man I knew will draw readers to the gospel where they'll find the love of God that he preached so fervently and faithfully. So can we send you this book, Billy Graham, the man I knew was our thank you gift for helping to keep this program coming your way with a donation. That donation is really an investment in a changed life. It's an investment in someone's eternity to write today to a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us anytime 24 seven at 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.or next time we spent a half-hour with Pastor Greg recalling the life of Billy Graham reflections on his friendship with Billy and how he meticulously researched his life. Join us next time and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.alert