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July 15, 2021 3:00 am
Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie points out the importance of being fully transformed especially given the soon return of the Lord. An important study from Pastor Greg’s series called “Essentials.”
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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.
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Today's episode of a new beginning is brought to you by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Learn more@harness.org and while you're there, browse our library of free e-books designed to help you grow in your faith and their values watching old values, ideas, plans, loves desires to replace one new thing coming up today. Greg Laurie points out the true believer experiences transformation regeneration price is an altogether different kind of person would be hold everything becomes fresh and new, almost River can swim and you can't be partially pregnant sure what or have most of your seatbelt in the same way we can almost see today on a new beginning after Greg Laurie points out, fully transform you soon return study series is a new world coming not just up in heaven but when heaven comes to God still has a plan for planet Earth sometimes will see if Christians just die and go to heaven or be ruptured into heaven, I will be the with the Lord forever. Actually, that's not theologically correct. One day, if we are going to heaven.
But one day God's going to restore this planet. According to Ephesians 110 God's perfect plan is to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ, by the way, this will be the fulfillment of the part of the Lord's prayer will we say to the father by kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven look at Revelation 21 were reading verses 1 to 6 now I saw a new heaven and a new work for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea than I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men.
He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying will be no more pain for the former things are passed away. He was sent on the throne said, behold I make all things new. And he said to be ripe for these words are true and faithful, and he said to me, it is done on the Alpha and the Omega, I am the beginning and the end of I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to he who thirsts. There are verse five. Again, behold I make all things new. In the new world that is coming. It's always the old and in with the new be no more terminal diseases, nor hospitals, no more wheelchairs no more funerals, no suffering, no separations, no accidents, no cords or prisons or divorces or breakdowns or break ups, no suicide, no rape, no missing children, no drug problems no more heart attacks, no strokes, no Alzheimer's, no cancer, no more famines, no disasters, God makes all things new journals. One of the most beautiful promises and all of Scripture. Look at verse four. And God will white boy every tear from their eyes will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, W no more pain for the former things have passed away. There's great pain in life is in their and what can you say you know I talk to people all the time who are hurting, I just talked to a young man recently who is mother died in the make things even worse.
He died by suicide. You know what you say at a time like that. One of the right words on the night learn from morning myself and suffering myself is a lot of times, less is more.
You know when I was 21 and I was young in the ministry I knew everything.
You should've known me that I was so awesome I had hair.
I was skinny and I had the answer to every Bible question. You and I knew everything. I have the answer before you finish your question now here I am at 40 and I realized I never really did have those answers. And guess what, I don't have to have all the I don't always have to have the words, but I always send people to the word to him not. Here's the manual, but rather no, here's Emmanuel. It's God because that's where I find my strength that I know that for others will find their strength. It's not that I won't offer biblical answers to realize that sometimes just being with the person in loving them is the best thing you can do when their suffering and they're in pain but listen. One day, all pain will be gone. The be no more physical or emotional pain. No more pain from a broken body from a broken heart or broken bones or broken marriages or broken lives.
Not only does God do this for our bodies in the earth, but he does it for us today to the good news is we don't have to wait for this moment to have that newness and our life because second Corinthians 517, one of the great verses of Scripture says therefore if any man be in Christ is an altogether different kind of person. All things are passed away. Behold everything becomes fresh and new. So what old things passed away when you become a follower of Jesus old since certainly God forgives our sins and he forgets them. Someone 03 12 says as far as the east is from the west is as far as God is removed our transgressions from us and of a person is a true Christian their focus and their values will change old values, ideas, plans, loves desires. I believe Spanish and are replaced by new thing, let me turn that around. If your desires have not changed.
If you are not longing to be more like Christ. Are you really a new person. You see, because when you've come to this newness of life. Everything changes and you desire to know God and learn more from him a new desire to be led by the spirit and to be used by God things you had no interest in are suddenly the most fascinating things of life to you the things that used to be obsessed with now hold no allure to you or for you whatsoever. So when I'm talking about like this book who cared about this book before you are a Christian order when we do now is a follower of Jesus, you open this book and God himself speaks to you through you going to the house of God you worship the Lord and you connect with the Lord through your worship and through prayer and hearing his words.
This is something you long for you desire.
You want to grow spiritually.
If you don't have that desire. My question to you is are you really a new person in Christ we have a new desire to bring glory to God in our life. Any new desire to see God in heaven, but of course heaven is not the default destination of every person like verse eight outside. Now here's the reality check. We talk about the glories of heaven and the new word that it's so amazing and awesome yes, but check this out. Verse eight but the cowardly, the unbelieving, the abominable the murderers is sexually immoral. The sorcerers, the idolaters and all liars will have their part of the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. This is the second death, so people have not made it in here.
Everyone doesn't go to heaven.
Maybe all dogs go to heaven but all people know an axial dog stoning there but I just like me for that movie who's outside look first at the cowardly. It takes courage to follow Jesus Christ.
These are people who are too afraid of what others think. So they don't follow Jesus know it's been said he would think so much about what people think of you. If you realized how little they do and was so worried about what will they think is a really matter to you that much enough to keep away from God enough to keep away from heaven. So the cowardly and the unbelieving are outside because they couldn't make that stand for Christ also mentions the abominable you abominable the only one I know that would fit the categories a snowman isn't it. And he's at Disneyland.
If I'm not mistaken I see this word abominable is an interesting word. It means to be holy, caught up in wickedness and evil. There are people like this there holy caught up in it.
They're just going whole hog in the sin they have no restraints do whatever they want to say whatever they want. These people are outside. Also, the sexually immoral, this comes from the Greek word cornea is with English.
Would we get from that pornographic pornography but actually it's a word that that means more than just looking at sexual images in the original language.
It's a word that encompasses a lot of things. It speaks of fornication.
That's premarital sex, or adultery, that's extramarital sex. The only place for God will bless sex is in a marriage between a man and a woman. There are no exceptions to that. And if you're in love with someone. God didn't say it's okay for you to have sex with your boyfriend. You wouldn't believe what people say to me know you guys having sexy gently, but the Lord told us it was okay Aditi yeah he said go forward my child. Now he that it who said that to yourself. God will bless the and certainly extramarital sex you're married save that for that one that you committed your life to your great glory will have the second half of this message in just a moment. You know sometimes we can always make sure here's the good news church is coming to you is coming due on your TV screen or on your tablet or your computer or even your phone. We do it every weekend and it's called Harvest at Home.
We worship we have a message of the word of God. If you want to find out more, just go to harvest.org enjoy this this weekend for harvestable moment will talk with mother Sally Lloyd, Joan, about a brand-new children's book of hers or get details now harvest.org Pastor Greg continues now with his message when heaven comes to earth, then the words sorcerers mention of this is interesting for comes from the Greek word Pharma Kia we get our English word pharmacy from no in the first century, and even today. Drugs were used in the worship of false gods. That's it's connected to idolatry, so there is a connection between the world of drugs in the world of darkness I can open the door by the way you want my opinion.
I'll give it to you if you wanted. I'm fully against the legalization of marijuana. Another genie is out of the bottle and it is a gateway drug. Don't let anyone tell you differently. It is that steppingstone to other drugs and people can go deeply into the drug culture and start opening their mind in their heart to spiritual wickedness and occultism and all kinds of crazy stuff you think it's a mistake that so many people there were in the 60s counterculture God in the Eastern religions and occultism. It is just a natural progression so that's what this is talking about. It's not saying it's a sin for you to take Tylenol or Advil or drugs in a proper way and there can be drugs used in an appropriate way.
This is talking about mind altering drugs that can lead you in this direction. Now I want you to notice it doesn't say if you've done these things will not go to heaven.
It's as if you do these things will not but I have. There's a big difference.
You know this is me I've done some of these things okay. But if you've repented of it and asked God to forgive you, then you're forgiven and you're that new person in Christ but what the Bible this morning this if you do these things you want, enter the kingdom of heaven.Sutton to think about is that some people don't like that course as well. I don't agree with. That's interesting what my God would never say that. Oh who is your God is my God take a hard look friend, your God is you. I mean you can just make up God as you go, God's a package deal the right way to say it but you take him as he is. You don't edit parts out you don't like you don't take parts of the Scripture you don't agree with and simply discard them.
The Lord tells you who he is and he tells you to worship So outside of these people get so let's wrap this up close, so what do we learn for our own lives as we think about this hope of heaven and the newer number one. It helps us keep perspective during times of trial, knowing there's heaven knowing there's a new earth, it helps to keep perspective during times of trial, life on earth is full of trial, hardship, sadness, disappointment, but God can make it up to us.
No pain is wasted by God. Romans 818 says I consider the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us.
God's ultimate goal is to make us like Christ. Number two. It helps us to be truly heavenly minded and we will thus live godly lives soon. I believe that this is all real, how many of you believe what we've read is real you believe it you really believe this stuff is real.
All these things I've said to you from the Bible you believe this is real, it will affect you in the way that you live when someone says oh you're so heavenly minded you're no earthly good. That's absurd. The fact is there are far too many people that are so earthly minded.
There no heavenly good when I know there's a future judgment that deters me from doing evil when I know there are future rewards. It motivates me to do what is right.
So my believe about the afterlife has maximum affect on me in this life. You see, so it's very important what I think about life beyond the great that's why Paul said in Colossians 3. Since you been raised with Christ set your minds on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God the praise. Set your minds could be translated.
Think about these things or just simply think heaven seek heaven be heavenly minded number three had motivates us to want to take as many people as possible with us and motivates us to want to take as many people as possible with us cripple how many of you believe that the Bible is true.
Measuring believe the Bible's trip ticket. How many of you believe that everything we have just read is true razor. How many of you believe what God says here about the afterlife razor okay. How many of you have gone out of your way.
In light of this, to share the gospel with someone in the last two weeks raising. None that can put you down but you want and razor helmet that you sell the other can gently lie in church. Good to be truthful and none.
Why will you keep it if I really believe these things shouldn't affect me in the way I see people people cross my path right cross their path. Want to engage them with the message of the gospel hope so and so bringing this message to a close, I wanted to say that everything we talked about this is the hope of the follower of Jesus Christ. I believe these words are true.
I believe one day I'll be in heaven.
I believe one day heaven will come to earth. I believe God is in control of my life and I believe is forgiven my sentence.
You have that hope maybe you've joined us here tonight, and you may be been brought by a friend.
You didn't really know what you're coming to exactly. And now that your further shifting a while that I've never heard these things before. So here's my question. Do you have the assurance right now that if you were to die, you would go to heaven because if you don't have it you need to get it. See maybe I talked about some of these things are, you know, the immoral or or this people involved in drugs or sorcery or cold or whatever it is. Maybe you're doing some of that stuff. Listen, here's the good news. God will forgive you of anything you've committed. I don't care how bad it is. If you'll turn from that sin and ask for his forgiveness because 2000 years ago God loved you so much. He sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for your sin in the rise again from the dead, and that same Jesus who died and rose again is with this right now standing at the door of your life and knocking and he is saying if you'll hear his voice and open the door he will come. Would you like to asked Jesus to forgive you. You need a second chance in life. Have you done something you're ashamed of. Listen, God will forgive you.
Yorty knows about salsa like he's can it freak out when you tell what he knew you're going to do before you did and he saw you do it any paid for that sin at the cross of Calvary, and will forgive you if you ask him, but he will not stop forgiveness down your throat if you don't want it.
You don't have to have it, but if you want his pardon. If you want the hope of heaven. If you want to be ready for his return. I'll give you that opportunity to take that next step right now. Let's all bow our heads or prep you would father I pray not for everyone here.
Everyone listening everyone watching Lord I pray that your Holy Spirit will convince them of their need for Jesus and help them to come to you right now and believe in Jesus name I pray a man Greg Laurie invitation today and if you'd like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning.
Concludes now to hear today study again you can go online to harvest.org just look for the title. When heaven comes to earth again. Our web addresses harvest.org. What were so happy to have author Sally Lloyd Jones with us today. A good friend of the ministry and we are making available to excellent children's books of hers right now near and babies carry along Bible Sally. I remember my wife and I dropping off our kids with a babysitter or at Sunday school when they were small and it was a bit traumatic for them at first.
You know they are used to having the people who love them close by but your book near explains to young children that the God who loves them. Most is always close by is right. Yes, I think, well, I know you can and we can all remember being children and anyone of the phase of childhood.
One of the biggest phase is abandonment so positive why it's a stressful going to school I mention at least I remember as a child.
Children tend to his know that you're coming back. I didn't know they don't know that this isn't you dropping them off rather because the Second Amendment and so there's a lot of things in childhood and I think we address those fears by telling the child the truth that yes things can be scary, but we are never ever by ourselves, and we have father in heaven who is with us and close to us and we can always talk to him and he takes care of us and makes us strong and brave and you know I think that's important for the 2129 and you do such a great job of explaining that relatable language in your new book called near and would like to send a copy of that your way along with Sally's resource babies carry along Bible. It's a wonderful board book with 10 favorite Bible stories told in rhyme and the book has its own easy to use carrying handle. That's why it's called the carry along Bible will send both of these great resources from Sally Lloyd Jones to thank you for partnering with us so we can keep reaching out and impacting lives like the listener who recently wrote us and said I listen to your program here in Pompeii. A mere 5629 miles away from us as the crow flies. My church is a radio station called the cross radio they play your programs and sermons. It really helps me a lot. You make the Bible so simple and easy to understand. Well, you know, your partnership helps us reach people around the world. So when I write today at a new beginning.
Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org will Pastor Greg you talk today about eternity.
How can someone listening know they're going to heaven. That's a great question and I guess we take it a step further. I know that is the most important question you can ask, how can a person know they're going to have let me say at the outset, I believe I'm going to have an effect on think of a step further. I know I'm going to heaven is a Greg is not kind of arrogant, not really, because I know this because God is made a promise to me and I've believed that promise. The Bible says we write these things to you that believe on the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. I've believed on the name of the son of God. Thus, I know I'll go to heaven when I die, here's my question. Do you, do you believe on the name of the son of God, is there any more important issue that that I can think of one.
So I like to lead you in a simple prayer and this is a prayer will you will be asking Jesus to forgive you of your sin and you'll be asking them to be your own Savior friend Lord. It's a prayer. Only you can pray pray these words.
If you would, Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner but I know that you are this Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose from the dead. Jesus come in the my Lai.
I want to believe in you. I want to follow you.
I want this relationship with you. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin and rising again from the dead, and I think you that you've heard this prayer and I believe you've come into my life in Jesus name I pray, amen.
I want to help you grow in your faith. I want to help you grow spiritually so I have a free gift for you. It's called the new believers growth packet what's in it know not a bag of seeds to plant in your backyard. I guess it's sort of a form of a bag of seeds because I want to sell some spiritual seed in your life to help you develop as a follower of Christ, so I'm of the send you a copy of the New Testament and the new living translation but it's a special edition that's called the new believers Bible and it's filled with notes that I wrote that will encourage you in this new commitment or recommitment you've made to Christ and there's some other materials in the new believers packet as well so order your copy today and I'm so glad I have this privilege today to lead you, and that prayer. God bless you.
You've made the right decision.
The decision to follow Jesus Christ. Here's how to get that new believers packet just writers had a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.
That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click the words know God.
What next time Pastor Greg presents another look at the end times issues as he addresses so my question, the Lord is returning. So what, what's that mean for how we live today.
Good insight from his essential series.
Next time beginning and cast with meat will buy harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God learn how to become harvest partner sign up for daily devotions and find resources to help you grow in your faith harvest.org