Greg Laurie on How to Stand for What’s Right

Hey there, thanks for listening to the gray glory pod just a ministry supported by harvest partners on Greg Laurie encouraging you if you want to find out more about harvest ministries. Learn more about how to become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org a lifetime of service comes from a moment of worship, careful with altar got down to a moment at the altar of drugs can lead to a lifetime of addiction and for many upstarts with marijuana. I think we should legalize marijuana very good for the economy and has medicinal purposes always had is that what it's all about medicinal purposes and maybe there are some situations where could it be of help to certain people but by and large, this is open the floodgates up to people having access to pot like never before and I can tell you from personal experience as a stupid pot smoking kid for about three years of my life is going to lead to things that are far worse. You don't want to go down that road, but it start so it's okay.

It's innocent or a lifetime or a moment at the altar of drinking lots of little drinks molding for drinks will be displayed using the Tokay that little bit more little bit more little bit more way I wake up one day. How did I become an alcoholic. One of this up and see my point is it. Start small and it always gets big so draw the line right now and say, they make a stand in the small things then I'll have the strength to make the stand and the big things that will come later that foot, Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo they took their stand for what was right and here's how they probably reason they figured better to burn on earth and going to heaven, then to go on earth and burn in hell. Let me say that again.

Better to burn on earth and going to heaven then to bow on earth and burn in hell or the King's or have a soft spot for okay because I want to give me another chance. You know, I know you reconsider.

Come on just how down I like you guys like Avenue around the palace to crank up the theme song is get down in your needs and everybody else over them to be great.

Here's a response. Daniel 317 overthrown under the blazing furnace.

He will rescue us from your power, your majesty, but even if he doesn't, you can be sure will never serve your gods and you know he's really ticked off. Look at what happens.

Daniel 319. Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo.

His face became distorted with Ray to see that happen. Just we get some of so mother to our house. Nebuchadnezzar held dear. You define me, the most powerful man on earth he commanded the furnace we heated seven times hotter than usual, and he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo roll them into the blazing furnace so they tied them up the room and the furnace fully clothed, because the king and his anger that demanded such a hot fire in the furnace. The flames leapt out and killed the soldiers as he threw the three men in so Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo securely tied fell down under the roaring flames then suddenly as he was watching Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisors didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace. Yes, your Majesty, that's what we did look says Nebuchadnezzar, I see four men unbound walking around on the fire they arty been hurt by the flames and the fourth is like the son of God while I love that passage.

So what's going on here will unfairness this phrase, the son of God could also be translated, a son of the God's. I don't know that Nebuchadnezzar thought this was Jesus or had any concept of Jesus, but I think that he just knew over that dude was.

He was powerful and he didn't want to mess with them but they were in this large furnace walking around like it's a stroll in the park and there is not three verse four.

And I believe it was Christ himself, walking with Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo in the fiery furnace, and he might've even brought some sunscreen I don't know� I told the story to my grandkids the other night and they said but pot but Jesus isn't in the Old Testament. He was born in Bethlehem. He's in the New Testament, which is a pretty good insight for little kids right is it you guys are actually right. But don't forget Jesus is always existed. He's part of the Trinity and he pops up in the Old Testament to and when he does, we call it a Christ often and I believe this is a Christ. Often the word Jesus makes an appearance. Walking with them and you know what when you're going to your fiery trial. He's with you as well.

Jesus said low. I am with you, even to the end of the eight and Jesus said in Hebrews 13. I will never know never know. Never leave you or forsake me or forsake you back to my pyromania. Unlike my situation where I put my army men in my grandparents floor furnace. Jesus is not looking away.

He's watching you he's engaged with you is helping you and he is there with you in fact were told in James one I told you determined there as well. James one from a modern translation says all kinds of trials and temptations crowded legalize my brothers don't treat them as intruders but Fred realize they come to test your faith and to producing you a quality of endurance and let the process goal process go on until you are fully developed and find that you become men of mature character men and women of integrity with no weak spots staying cool when things get hot. How do we do that, let's just address one simple question is would bring this to a close. Why does God allow trials what is going to have us go through hardships. Here's a simple answer.

God allows trials in our lives, so we will grow up spiritually by going to the gym you go to the gym to work out.

You effectively break down muscle to build up muscle. One problem people have sometimes as they try to do too much weight too many reps and they get themselves in trouble.

You need to build up to it. Be careful.

And then as you get stronger you can handle more way you can handle more reps, etc. but that is how you get stronger and I go to the gym. I don't go that often. I don't like to go to the gym. I'm always happy when I leave. Leave it I'm I like to be done with it. I don't understand people's I just had a good workout like but good work. I just like a guy endurance. I put up with it because in my case. As you get older it's about maintaining mobility. Now you see is not just doing weights is mobility.

Get up from seat sit down and see you know able to move bend over things like that. Sometimes people is the getting owners in August sold will hold you return a fact to theirs that I know I've just defended a bunch of people, but just remember what I have one finger pointing out. I have three pointing back at me see the look you can stop the aging process.

But you have something to say about the shape you're in, and so on.

The same way.

Spiritually will sale it so hard to be a Christian.

I know many strength that will maybe you need a good workout and you know where you going to get that workout, you gotta get it in fiery trials and difficult situations. Trials are like God's gym were broken down in order to be built-up.

You need to go through them. It'll make you stronger. As a result, trials produce something easy times will not produce and that is spiritual toughness. James 13 says, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience, patience is an unfortunate translation. I would say it comes from a Greek word that means toughness, heroic endurance or perseverance. So the way you get stronger is by going through difficult situations that bolster and build up your faith and if you don't go through these times your faith is going to remain weak and ineffective. You want to grow spiritually, you have to get through these things, so don't run from them, as we already read that one translation don't treat these things as intruders but as Fred so you might pray Lord use me for your glory just blessed me today in the trial, using supreme Lord must be up from other connection. I prayed for was cemented trial came I did mess for a trial asked for a blessing that you know the trials can be blessings in disguise because they're preparing you you want to be that blessing you must be prepared to be whipped into shape by God himself.

That's why James is counted all joy when you fall into various trials and that can be translated multicolored trials. Each one is a little different than the one that preceded it. So look there going to come. There's no getting around these things. You will be tested.

The question is will you pass or fail, Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo pass the test with flying colors. The king had to back up and change his tune out of the do it. They did it by making the stand earlier in life. When the foundation of life is laid, and then they were able to make the stand. Later in life when they were more set in their ways. Listen wrong to be pressured to bow before some kind of idol in our life. John reminds us in his epistle, little children, keep yourself from idols and I lose anyone or anything that takes the place of God is a 90 foot golden image qualify absolutely does a supercool car that you're obsessed with qualified possibly does your cell phone that you can go 2 inches without qualified, maybe the relationship he and I could be, especially if it was more important than your relationship with God. Could a career be an idol. I think it could be worse here so obsessed with being successful that it brings problems in your spiritual life is nothing more important to you than God himself. Lots of things can become idols. Lots of things can take the place of God in our life. So let's be careful to not bow before any of them because all of us will have our faith. Our faith tested. Some of you are having it tested right now some situation.

You've recently gone through and and it was hard for you to stand up and say I'm a Christian.

I believe this but do that thing. And as you stand up for him. He will stand up for you. It'll be worth it.

You'll see everybody.

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