This broadcaster has 2045 podcast archives available on-demand.
Keep up-to-date with this broadcaster on social media and their website.
May 17, 2021 3:00 am
View and subscribe to Pastor Greg’s weekly notes.
---
Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org.
A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.
Support the show: https://harvest.org/support
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God this at our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org what Jesus do what he was more than double the voltage is almost laughable.
Satan, the created being truly God incarnate was right after Gregori points out Jesus responded we should is giving this a model when you're the word of God. This is why you need to study the Bible when you were in the appropriate Scriptures. You're so example live in the definition of followers were disciple were walking in the which Jesus today on a new beginning after Gregori fixes to the dramatic moment when Jesus had a confrontation with the devil so it was the moment the Savior of our soul cross paths with the accuser of the brethren. Jesus chose to make a teaching moment. As believers counter this. Sometimes the question is when we have for gospel, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John will be answer is, each gospel has a different object. Let's start with Matthew. Matthew was written primarily to the Jewish person.
There are many passages in Matthew that show how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies how he was the long-awaited Messiah of Israel. It begins with a genealogy showing that Jesus is Messiah. No Luke. In contrast, written by Dr. Luca physician by trade is very poetic. We have some very unique passages in his gospel that are not in any other gospel. For instance, a story of the prodigal son and the beautiful Christmas story of Luke tells it is like no other. Luke was primarily showing the sympathetic ministry of Jesus. Now John. He comes from a completely different perspective. He goes back to eternity and starts his gospel with these words in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the word was God in John was specifically written to convince a nonbeliever to believe so or Matthew was written more to the Jewish mindset showing Jesus was the Messiah. John is written more to a secular mindset showing that Jesus is the son of God and that brings us to the gospel of Mark. It stands apart from the others. You need to mark as he does not record all that many sermons of Jesus. In fact, Mark focuses more on what Jesus did. Then he does on what Jesus said it's a record of the achievements of Jesus, if you will, and its action pack from beginning to end its short, concise book of 16 chapters and by the way, it's probably the first of the Gospels that was written. So let's read some of this gospel together. Grab your Bible or your phone or your tablet or were you ever you have your Bible and read these words would be if you what I'm in Mark chapter 1. Look at verse nine he came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee.
And he was baptized by John and immediately coming from the water, he saw the heavens parting in the spirit descending on them like a dog. Then a voice came from heaven, which said you are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. A look at this immediately. This spirit drove him into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan for 40 days he was out among the wild animals and the Angels took care of. We all know what it's like to be tempted. We've all felt the presence of temptation have only heard about a guy whose wife yelled from upstairs and asked her husband a honey do you ever get a shooting pain across your body like someone's got a voodoo doll of you and they're stabbing it. He said no and then she yelled what about now, that's us a silly joke rooted dolls are real, but Satan is in temptation is real as well? Where's the best place to be when you're being tempted. Here's the answer in the will of God. Jesus was in the will of God and into the point Jesus was always in the will of God.
Jesus said I always do the things that please my father. He was never out of harmony with this father, let me correct that there was one moment when Jesus was separated from the father and that is a moment all the sin of the world was placed upon them as he died in our place as of substitution are substitution and he cried out those words, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me. But apart from that moment Jesus is always in sync always in harmony with the father always doing the things that please the father and the Holy Spirit led him to this place that he was in no here's the thing. The reason I bring this up with a lot of times when more tempted were being tempted because we put ourselves in a place of vulnerability you put yourself in a play she should not be you find yourself hanging out with the wrong people at the wrong time about to do the wrong thing and then you scratch your head and say how did that happen how that happened. You set yourself up for the fall or that's what Jesus was doing. He was led by the spirit. Now he faced three temptations by the devil and in effect, you and I will face the same three temptations in life. Here's the first one known going over the Luke, chapter 4, who fills in some gaps where is that we don't have here in Mark's gospel Luke chapter 4 verse three Satan says to Jesus if you are the son of God, tell the stone to become a loaf of bread. By the way, in the original language. A better translation would be, since you are not yet. So Satan was not challenging the deity of Christ in a way he was affirming it. So what he was saying this since you're the son of God Jesus, and you been fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. And obviously you're on the very brink of starvation, why don't you tell that rock to turn into a piece of bread interesting notes worth noting that Jesus never did a miracle for his own benefit.
Note Jesus had to get from point A to point B.
He walked there like anybody else you know if they had to walk from Galilee to Jerusalem.
He could've ever lifted himself over there if he wanted to but he would walk with his disciples. Thus Jesus was tired like we are. Jesus was sleepy like we are. Jesus was hungry when we are. I mean, he could have done whatever he wanted. He could have been eating and In-N-Out Burger going forward in time, grab that thing eating then disciples would say Lord, what is it that you're reading over there because he said something like, it is not for you to know these things just fish and unleavened bread back to you just met them in Jerusalem popped over there were no he put himself under the restraints of human frailty, a look. Jesus had a physical body, he was tempted and tested, but he did not have the inward vulnerability to fall so we felt the presence of temptation, but being God he didn't really have a sinful nature that would incline him to give into it. The Bible says he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh so yes he had a body yes he bled like any man. He had tears like any man, but he was God walking among us fully God and fully man. There's never been a man that walked purify Jesus so if this is the case, what is the point of it being tested is the answer ready for to show us how to face temptation is giving us a model, he showing us what we should do when temptation comes our way. Hey, Jesus says, Satan, why don't you turn a rock into a piece of bread. What is Christ say he says it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. I look we face this temptation all the time. Here's the essence of what Satan was saying to Jesus what the physical before the spiritual will come to us and say hey look, man, you need to have a little fun.
You know you can play now in pain later. Don't worry about the repercussions of sin you'll be okay. You're the exception God's okay with this, you can trusts me, Satan says that was a hissing of the snake in case you visited lesson. The Bible says the devil is a liar and he is the father of lies. Sometimes people get their lives out of whack. You know the report physical things before spiritual things look, there's nothing wrong with eating food God is given as food to enjoy in and to read together, but there's a difference between eating to live and living to eat some people are obsessed by their appetite thereof assessed by food thereof assessed by things are obsessed by sensual things and they let those things become more important to them than God himself. So just put God in his rightful place in your life. It's fine to have a career but don't put your career above God. It's great to have a relationship but don't put a relationship above God.
So by saying men show not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from God. Jesus is simply pointing out that we should have our spiritual priorities in order and put God first, Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here encouraging you to join us as we give her what we call harvesting that home is worse in the message of the word of God. You can watch it with your family and your front room or you can watch it on the go on your tablet on your phone or your computer. Take it with you.
Take the word of God with you. Join us for harvested home Harvest were learning some important lessons today about temptation as Pastor Greg helps us consider the way Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Let's continue.
There's another thing we don't miss this what Jesus did when he was tempted by the devil. He quoted Scripture the remember Jesus was God and be God. He could've said Satan be banished and Satan would've left.
He had that authority and power over the devil back when he would encounter demons the demons would say to him through the people they were possessing. Don't send this to judgment before our time. They they recognize the power and authority to Christ that we didn't do this, he faced the devil as we should face the devil is able how the first of all, we quote Scripture is giving us a model.
This is what you do when you're tempted you quote the word of God. This is why you need to study the Bible. This is why you need to memorize the Bible over and someone 19 verse nine it says how can a young man cleanse his way by taking heed according to your word.
Someone 19 verse 11 says your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you. Looking for to carry a Bible in your briefcase or in your purse or have a Bible app on your phone but the best place to carry the word of God is in your heart so don't just get it in your mind getting your heart committed to memory and then when you are tempted, you can pull out the appropriate Scriptures to defend your self so the devil realizes that this verse temptation is not working. Now we do something really strange.
It seems strange to us. Perhaps he's giving Jesus a hack if you will, a shortcut he's effectively saying them. This next temptation look Jesus. We both know why you're here you're here to purchase back that which was lost in the garden of Eden and make you a deal.
You cannot refuse that godfather invitation, to give you what you want, I'll give it to you on a silver platter. All you have to do is give me the satisfaction of worshiping me for a moment. Look at Luke chapter 4 verse five the devil took Jesus to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time in the devil said to him, all this authority I will give to you and their glory. It's been delivered to me and then the devil says that I can give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if you will worship before me.
All of this will be yours. Notice Jesus is not refuted. Notice Jesus is not so, you're wrong. W can do that and I'll tell you why he didn't say that the devil and he was wrong because the double was actually telling the truth. In this instance, the Bible says that Satan, by the way, is a fallen angel, a very powerful fallen angelic being is the God of this world, the prince of the power of the air when our first parents, Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden and fellowship with God was cut off curse came upon the world. It's effectively under the control of the devil.
Jesus came from heaven on a rescue operation. The planet Earth to buy back that which was lost in the garden.
The devil say look on the make this easy for you. Jesus. No pain, no suffering, no crucifixion.
I'll give it to you if you'll just worship me. See, Satan was telling Jesus to test the Lord not trust the Lord. But here's what Jesus did he refuse this offer will give verse eight Luke chapter 4 Jesus answered and said get behind me Satan, for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve or destroy the woman that was good. Good out of the mall and look at the new outfits that were coming out and her husband said no I don't want to go to the mall every time you go you buy something. She said no, and just cannot browse. I will buy anything. No, you always find something that I want you to go. We can afford it. I'm just gonna look he said all right.
Look but don't buy anything. She said okay so she comes home a few hours later with a brand-new outfit.
He goes what height I asked you not to go by and outfit whatever and she says well I want by the store. There was this cute outfit in the window on the manikin and so I walked in and asked if I could try it on. You can't believe you did what happened. She says the devil himself appeared and he came and appeared in the dressing room and said you look great in that outfit and then the husband said you should've said get behind me Satan. She said I did get behind me Satan and then the devil said it looks good from the back too seriously when the devil tempts you humor listen to.
You don't want to have extended conversations with him you want to put them behind you and that's exactly what Jesus did. Now we come to the last temptation of Christ, at least in the wilderness and this is in Luke chapter 4 verse nine the devil brought Jesus to Jerusalem, set him on the pinnacle of the peak of the temple and Satan said if you are the son of God, throw yourself down from here. Notice the devil then says, for it is written, he will give his angels charge over you to keep you in their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. Wow that doubles quoting the Bible. Did you know the devil knows the Bible to the story is told of the famous comedic actor WC Fields was known to be an alcoholic and one day someone was surprises the fields actually reading from the Bible is that I can't believe that you WC Fields are reading the Bible, why, and Fields responded, looking for a loop.
All events of the devil's been doing for a long time reading it, quoting it out of context.
Miss using it. Looking for loopholes. If you will question can temptation be resisted. Answered yes YES to beg God will not allow you to be tempted above your capacity to resist because first Corinthians 1013 says there is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but God it was people will not allow you to be tempted above your ability to resist. Listen, but will with the temptation make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Think about it.
Think about the last time you are tempted was a way out the answer, of course, it was sometimes it's as simple as walking out a door.
Sometimes it's simple as hitting the off button. Sometimes it's as simple as terminating the conversation. There's always a way out and listen to this.
Not only is there a way out, but there's a blessing attached to the man or woman that resist temptation. James 112 says happy is the man who endures temptation for when he has been approved you will receive the crown of life which the Lord's promise to those who love him so if you're going through a trial right now. You're going through a time of testing or temptation know this, you can get stronger through it instead of weaker.
Let me conclude with this thought were talking about Jesus were talking about how Jesus began his public ministry. Why did Jesus come to go back to what I said earlier, Jesus came to buy back that which was lost in the Garden of Eden. What was lost. Are relationship with God were separated from God by our sin. But Jesus paid the price on the cross for each of us so we can come into this relationship with the Lord, and you can come into a relationship with him right now. I've talked a little bit about the devil. Let me say something that might shot some of you, the devil is real, I think you probably know that the devil is powerful.
The devil is more powerful than you. If you're not a Christian you have no protection against Satan is a will all just were across you think Satan cares if you were cross are not well were garlic around my neck.
Will that might keep your friends away but I won't keep Satan away while you some holy water others no such thing as holy water. What you need you need Jesus. The only thing that can protect you from the power of Satan is Christ himself. Jesus died on the cross to destroy the works of Satan and you can be free. You can be changed. You know, maybe there's something you're doing right now that you're ashamed of a lifestyle that you're trapped in an addiction that has a stranglehold on you and you don't see any way out. Jesus can transform you, Jesus can forgive you, Jesus can give you a second chance. Listen the same Jesus was born in a manger and was tempted by the devil in the wilderness and died on the cross also rose from the dead in the stands right now at the door of your life in the Knox and he says if you hear his voice and open the door he will come in.
Would you like to have Christ living inside of you. Would you like to be free from the power of the devil what you like to find this meaning and purpose in life that can only be found in a relationship with God through Jesus.
If so, I like to lead you in a simple prayer and I would ask you to pray this prayer after me if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life if you want to be forgiven of your sin or listen or if you want to make a recommitment to Christ because you messed up like John Mark did earlier in his life.
God gives second chances and third ones and forth once and on it goes. So if you need Jesus in your life if you want his forgiveness. If you want to know is certainly that you go to heaven when you die, or if you want to make a recommitment to Kim why don't you pray this prayer with me right now this pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I am the center but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin. I churn from my sin. Now that I choose to follow you from this moment forward as my Savior and Lord is my God, my friend, Jesus name I pray. Prayer from Pastor Greg Laurie were those making a change in their relationship with God today and if you yourself are prayed with Pastor Greg and made a decision for the Lord would like to help you get started in your new relationship with God. Would like to send your new believers growth packet is a collection of resources. Pastor Rick is put together to help answer your questions and get you started off right in your walk of faith and will send it to you without charge just right is that 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 click the words know God and that is a real privilege to make available a new book by Fox news anchor and chief legal correspondent Shannon Brame.
You may have seen her on Fox News at night and the evenings. She's written a refreshing new book called the women of the Bible speak at pastor Greg's wife Kathy is here with Shannon Shannon dedicate this book to your grandmother's hand and just want to know what is the role that your grandmother's played in your life and your journey of faith and pain maybe to say a word of encouragement as to how women out there today might realize that date. They may have a very quiet role of parenting are grandparenting, but the impact that it can make on an individual semi-grand mal lifting hundred and two and she was faithful, and if she was in church every Sunday.
She had her piercing when you say close-up transition to hear the music and the pastor shall is perhaps every Sunday. It was a family tradition that we would be with her and then we would have Sunday dinner afterwords and the older that she died and she wasn't doing as much the cooking anyways and we would go out or go to my parents house and just for Sunday's together are such an amazing find memory for me that she was faithful, and she trusted the Lord and she wise and feisty and not any she wise somebody who are faced with her priority now. I'm still blessed to have my grandma to my other grandmother Margaret Weatherly Hughley still with that said, she is 95 years old and she is somebody who last two years really struggle healthwise with other issues. I mean I can have a conversation with her where she is not talking about the Lord is giving me another day. What can I do with this day he knows what the timing is and I'm just gonna trust and he's with me. He's my companion.
Even when I'm alone and struggling, and so for her. She continues to be that witness and show to the book at I can. I want to show her in person. The dedication and can't wait for her to see it and just to be able to thank her for letting that consistent life and faith, especially in these days were she's really faced a lot of struggles and instead of turning were on being better when she somebody who said hey listen, the Lord woke me up, gave me another day when I can do it that he can walk with me in Landsat and I'm holding in my hands this book.
It is so beautiful I I'm a grandmother and I'm just thinking Sunday sermon would write a book and include me in an introduction dedication like that I be so blessed. It is beautiful. I love it. It's just very feminine flowers on their back. The contents of this book hopefully will inspire another generation of women to go forward with strength and boldness and courage even in the most difficult times.
The encouragement is here on these women at the Bible really to speak to our lives. And I'm so grateful that you wrote this book, the wisdom as 16 women and their lessons for today and that is what so amazing is the Bible is truly alive.
The words are important and date are leaving and they speak life into us even today. Kathy Lori speaking with Shannon Brame, author of the new book the women of the Bible speak is such a wonderful tool of inspiration for women and really for all of us and would like to send this to you. Thank you for your investment in the important work of bringing people to the Lord and bringing people closer to the Lord that we recently heard this from a listener.
I listen to your podcast for nearly 3 years. You help me accept Jesus. I'm currently receiving cancer treatment and your new believers Bible is what keeps me going.
I read your devotions every morning you your investment helps us reach people like this.
It's an investment in touching and changing people's lives and with your donation right now. You can choose the amount will be glad to send you the women of the Bible speak just write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 and we can take your call anytime. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg helps us consider the amazing things that can happen when we allow God to work through us. See Scripture is replete with examples of ordinary people who did extraordinary things for the kingdom.
Learn more next time. Beginning and everybody thinks or listening beginning.
This is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. So for more content that can help you know God and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a harvest partner.
Just go to harvest.org