So What?: Getting Rapture Ready

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 Jesus Christ is coming to show you what my goals actually are today on a new beginning. Greg Laurie points out God's plan for the end times doesn't only affect you. It involves you leave the church and church needs you are two factors almost always involve crisis and I'm something's about to go horribly wrong.

Time is running out. As the clock counting down the pace of the actions the job Greg Laurie points out time is getting short before the return of Christ.

We need to ramp up awareness will resolve helping those around here tonight is so what I know that sounds like a cynical thought what it actually is because the subtitle is how the return of Jesus should affect us in day-to-day living. So what so what are we supposed to do. So what are we supposed to think so how are we supposed to behave in light of this great truth that Christ is coming back again to talk about. So let's start with the prayer father, we thank you for the clarity of Scripture, the timelessness of your word. The power and the authority of it in the complete relevance to what were facing a life will speak to us as we look in your word together for we ask it in Jesus name and met about a guy was driving through Oklahoma and he sought sign in front of the house that really got his attention. The sign said talking dog for sale. As I I have to check us out if he pull this car over and gets out and goes up to the many sit near the front porch in Cicero like to see your talking dog and I see you guys over there in the backyard over there so it was back and here's a Labrador just sitting there in the backyard and so the man asked so you talked the doctors you and this is a true story about a white so the men are so what's what your story in the lives as well. Actually I been able to talk since it been very young in I wanted to help the government so I hooked up with the CIA and he did a lot of work for them. Jetting from country to country, you know, sitting in rooms repeat were talking. They never thought a dog could understand the much less talking repeat the information so I did that for many years. Leno started to wear me out all the traveling so I decided I needed a job with less stress.

So I worked security in the airport not go over to suspicious characters eavesdrop in their conversations and so forth. But I finally retired. He got married, you know, had some puppies with my wife and not just just got a kick it back a little bit with this guy just blown away. He couldn't believe what he says or he runs back to the owner. He said Sir how much do you want for the talking dog mixes them for $10 $10. Why would you sound so cheap. The guy says he's a liar. He never did any of that stuff. Talk about missing the point.

You know sometimes I think we missed the point when it comes to church, let me explain. Do we really get what church is supposed to be some people sort of think of church like a movie theater right you have your seat and then you take your seat then you know you watch the trailers then and then you talk and admit you get in later whatever, and but you know you watch the film you there to be entertained and and then the movies over and you leave and that's going to a movie theater.

There's a lot of things that irritate me about people in movie theaters. By the way, one of these irritate you people that are checking their cell phone constantly and you know how bright that is in the dark theater or you know people that talk during the film will anyway. I think sometimes people come to church that we sorted them mentality like okay entertaining impress me do something for me but that is not why the church exists and this is why a lot of us miss out on all the church can be the church's three basic purposes were here for three reasons. The glorification of God the edification of the saints in the evangelization of the world. So were shared to glorify God to build up one another. The edification of the saints in the evangelization of the world are a simpler way to put it up toward inward and outward were here to honor the Lord upward inward building up one another and outward. Taking this message out to others so they ask you is that why you're here tonight are you here to glorify the Lord. That's why we worship.

That's the purpose of worship. The praise band is not the warm-up act.

That's prayer set this all so you know when we come late to worship you take our sweet time and and even when the worship band is at the point were just kind of you know check in our are you know emails or texting friends or whatever and win the second work frame would you do that while we were in prayer. I hope maybe some would even do it then, but the ideas this is what were honoring the Lord were effectively fulfilling the purpose for which God created us know we don't only worship God and sound are many ways we worship him, but it certainly one of the ways do you engage during the worship so I don't know the words.

Well, that's why we put them up on the screen so you'll see those words and you'll sing those words and this is great when these songs get embedded in your mind and you find yourself singing them through the day or you wake up in the middle of the night. One of those worship songs is going through your mind when her to glorify God. What about the edification of the same. See, this is a part of the church work or not just here to be ministered to what we say.

What can I do how can I help others. I been so blessed. How can I serve what you need some help around here in Sunday school and are serene in counseling or is there some other need and I would like to. That's the edification of the St. building up one another.

Realizing this simple truth.

It's not about you, by gender, church, and it's all about me, what are you going to do for me are you gonna bless me know and I can miss out. But Jesus said the Son of Man did not come to be served. What he came to serve and I think we come St. how can I be used of God to help others. The whole paradigm can change and then thirdly, we are for the evangelization of the world to get the gospel out. You know my job as your pastor is to teach you the word of God is to declare to you the whole counsel of God. But that's not all. The church is not merely a classroom. Other church is a place we get armed for battle to using because in Ephesians 4 it says that God has raised up pastor teachers evangelist for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry so my job is to help you to do your job which is to go out into the world and fulfill the great commission.

So it's not just about learning data and hearing information is a place for that, but it's about finding out how we can be used by God, I'm here to feed you to equip you and challenge you to serve God in change our world. No one would bring this all up for the simple reason. Newsflash Jesus Christ is coming back again.

How many of you believe that, okay so what, there's a message title. So what okay Christ is coming back again. So what am I supposed to do well for starters I'm supposed to be an active functioning part of the church. Hebrews 1022 says little tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm for God to be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works in love. This not neglect our meeting together, as some people do but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near to let me was a paraphrase in light of the fact that Christ could come back at any moment we need to be in the church, encouraging one another motivating one another and listen if one of us is overtaken in a fault, we need to go and try to rescue those people. Of course all know the Bible says in someone's overtaken in a bald exposure to as many people as possible and kick him to the curb right the way some people like to think that's what the Bible does say we know what Scripture actually says. Galatians 61 for someone is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness. So our job is to confront when necessary, and restore not hunt down and destroy.

I have a friend who's a dermatologist in. He specializes in treating skin cancer and so he was in the store the other day and he saw someone that had what appeared to him to be in.

He would know a malignant melanoma that you know melanoma is a very serious form of skin cancer and can be deadly and so he didn't want to go and tell this person that putting winds and high excuse me, but I'm a dermatologist. My specializes in I believe on your cheek.

You have a malignant melon when they were angry.

You cannot shopping you delete that trip on me. But wait a second that's what he does he he's a doctor. He wants to save their life. But he had big you don't bring this topic up to a total stranger and they kinda got offended, walked away and and you want to give McCarty want to help them but see the whole point is sometimes before we can restore person we have to confront the person we have to see Haman I got to just tell you you you say you're a Christian here's what the Bible says in your life is in lining up with that and they report he men don't judge me in this age but you know the Bible tells us that we are to help one another and build up one another and I want to help you. You know, so this is what we are to do this is the whole purpose of the church exists again coming back to that passage.

Let's think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works, or how are you doing in that regard is a question what is everybody attended church the way you attend one of every Christian was just like you. Every Christian was just like me.

We would need a lot less hair product in the world. Let me think about life would be so much simpler. You know how long it takes me to get ready and more to okay let's go so we have it searchable people of Burma was likely. But what if everyone was like you, you know. Would services be attended faithfully would use the empty or full. What if everyone prayed like you pray, would we be a praying church. What if everyone worship like you would we be over worshiping church or would we be a silent church.

What if everybody evangelized as often as you evangelized. Would we be at church reaching the lost culture. What if everybody came as faithfully of their finances as you give. We have a church that had the needs met, or would they be neglected using the church is made up of all of us together and we either contribute to its strength and growth or to its weakness and decline with every one of us plays a role in the master Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment whatever you send us a letter and email or post a comment on social media.

We read every word.

Years ago I quit using heroin. Parameter two hours everyday method of clinic it would look better. Greg on the radio. CK is the way I thought about God and ability to write great teenage daughter decried the Best Way, God thank you so much.

It's so great to hear how these lessons God's word impacted this man and his family and a few of the story to tell one drop pastor Greg an email and great harvest on again.

That's great harvest.org pastor Greg is pointing out how the return of Christ could happen at any time and each of us needs to be prepared and as he continues. Remember, you can hear today study again by going to harvest.org story is told in history of the king of Sparta was boasting to a visitor about the walls of Sparta. The visitor looked around and couldn't see any wall at all and the Spartan King told is just using an Sparta everyman is a brick and pointing to the Army.

He said these are the walls of Sparta. And that's true of the church. Every believer is a brick Perez. The Bible says were living stones of the great theologians Pink Floyd reminded us all and all, you're just another brick in the wall. Yeah. So we are were brick were a stone, we play a part in the church, so we should not be spectators. We should be participants in this is what can make the difference between church being life altering for you and just another thing that you do this, when you have time and we can work it in his can a check in and check out early and and you're in a passive spectator mode.

The church is one thing I'm in will do you some good. Still, but then you come and say no I'm I want to be in the game. I want to be involved. I want to serve. I want to glorify God. I want to play a role in this church minute will make all the difference in the world. Pres. Theodore Roosevelt said years ago. Quote is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or the doer of deeds could have done better gnosis Roosevelt.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who wears and comes up short again and again because there is no effort without error or shortcoming" so in the same way the credit goes to the believer that's in the arena that doesn't just talk about it, but the believer is doing it. You know some Christians are sitting in the world on fire while others are still looking for a match or coming up with excuses as to why it can't be done so we all have a role to play were a part of seeing lives change for time and eternity. Well, you know, people see things and now I don't know I'm so over the church.

I can hate the expression when anyone says they're over anything. I'm so over people saying there over things so over that time. Especially so over people that say I'm so over the church really seriously, where would this world be without the church where would this country be without the church I mean where do people turn on crisis When a marriage is unraveling.

When you're having problems with your kids of income to the church.

Trust me, we see them all week long, where people go when a loved one dies, especially about was unexpectedly they come to the church where they want the service to be done for that level. And even if they didn't attend church. All they wanted done in the church when your child is having struggles maybe with addiction your teenage order they go they go to the church for help wanted you meet your husband or wife. Good chance you met them at the church 40 want to get married. I'll probably at the church. And that's good.

We are here to serve you. We were rushing ago the YMCA the gym this the mall retail therapy or does it every time will it about the bar for your troubles out to the bartender all the movie theater that Osama see a good film. The movies can help you. The bartenders can help you real good teacher can help you, but the church can and God has raised up the church wasn't, it's the only organization Jesus ever started on never get over the church will grade you must live in a dream world is a church is full of hypocrites. You don't think I know that I and others hypocrites in the church. There's no such thing as a hypocrite free church and if there was if you joined it. Give Reckitt but just because were still works in progress doesn't mean that God is not raise this wonderful thing called the church listen, you need the church and the church needs you because were part of that family. This is one of the problems with church hopping Lotta people like to do that. I like to go to lots of churches ago to this church in the morning. This church Sunday night and then sometimes it would church the next Sunday morning and then a different one. The next Sunday morning and sometimes I'll just watch them on TV and they think that's a great thing like there so mature they got all the church is actually that's a bad thing. I think you'd be surprised to know the most pastors would agree with me on this I mean the sum of coming to our church emerges one of the church as they visit you know what I say to them is here. Welcome. Glad you came. What you need to look into a single church and be a part of that church wife because first of all, you need a consistent theology number two you need a pastor, number three, you need a body of believers, we are accountable will help you and build you up and call you out of your crossing the line. You know some people I think they don't want to walk as they ought to walk as a believer so they figure they keep moving. No one will know that's a way for them to wear that you need to be in a place where you can contribute with your gifts that God is giving you you need a place to serve. You need a place to give all need to be part of the church. Your message today from Pastor Greg Laurie from a study titled so what is part of a series we're presenting here on a new beginning called essentials. Those foundational precepts. Every believer should know and I think store harvest partners and others who support this ministry for making today study possible to find out more about becoming a harvest partner go to harvest.org yesterday were so pleased to have Sally Lloyd Jones on the program with us today. She such a gifted children's author and were making available. Her new book called near pastor what you hope the take away truth is for the little one. Another words, and they read this. What are you hoping they walk away with my prayer is that they they never feel that that and then that they always know they have someone who loves them right that they can talk to and he just happens to be the one he made the entire universe and that he knows that that name is the color of their eyes that he Candace for the littlest ones even that he sent a great majestic coating that he can submit one's good you just read a little bit of it for our listeners. I'd be happy to okay near the paraphrase of Psalm 139 and of course I have to say I many to be telling you half the story. Because this is a picture book and it's a story told in two languages so like I say to children you have to use your imagination because that's incredible illustrations, but you can't see them safe. But to make them up in your head so man God is my father who made everything and I eminently explore as the wind well is name me and he protects me. He sees me, and he noticed me he is strong and he looks off to me he is with me only, however far I can.

He's always naming I can climb the mountain. I could fly to. I can dive into the DPC. I could sail far away to the north, God would still be a contractor jungles ride for dozens CMS constant light God still even in the dog at night. He is still with me that he stays close to me and he went in evening because I am his initial child and he loves me while Sally Lloyd Jones reading from her new book called near the great thing about reassurance that would bring to your child or grandchild or what a great gift for a new parent would like to send this new book, along with the second resource from Sally babies carry along Bible. It's a sturdy little board book for small children with 10 of their favorite stories told in rhyme and it even has its own little carrying handle bill right in. Listen.

Both of these resources to you to say thank you for your donation right now and investment in keeping Pastor Greg's teaching coming your way. Each day to write a set 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 are you receiving Pastor Greg's daily devotions there a great way to start your day with extra insight and inspiration sign up for his devotions today@harvest.org everybody Greg Laurie here encouraging you to join us as we give her what we call harvest that home. It's worse and it's a message of the word of God.

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