Home Before Dark | Classic SoCal Harvest

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 is a promise in my second marriage in this whole sentence and is more, and I was racing change in either running all my life is to where I no matter what. I don't think God still indicates way for your relationship with Jesus.

Life is the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior my life is 6001 from all 50 states and 63 different countries harvest received with great glory scores. Today we bring one of those messages to you as you listen to where you stand with the Lord will not know God will he NOW know God.for free together. Father this is a big stadium full of a lot of people. There are people listening on radio there people watching on the Internet to talk about the most important issues of life. So I pray Lord that will all just tune in and pay attention because our life literally depends on what talking about issues about time and eternity.

So speak to us as we look at your work and we ask all of this in Jesus name, amen.

The title of my message tonight is home before dark.

From the moment that you were born you been on a quest what you were after wasn't completely clear, but you knew you wanted your life. You have some kind of purpose and meaning. It's been said that there are two things that are true of every person we all want to be happy were all going to die. Everyone deep down inside is searching for meaning in their life. A philosopher named Hugh Moorehead from a major university rooted 250 of the best known philosopher and scientist, writers and intellectuals in the world and us in this question. What is the meaning of life. Some offer their best guesses. Some admitted they just made up a purpose for life. Others were honest to admit they were clueless effective number of them wrote Moorehead back and asked if he had discovered the purpose of life we better get this figured out you know it's been said, if you aim at nothing, you're bound to hit it every day. The clock is ticking every day life is moving forward. What is the meaning of your life. That's why it's really good to decide when you're young because you will decide the evening of your life.

By the morning of your life for the end of your life.

By the beginning, we talked to Louis Zaffirini, 94 years. All but he's been walking with the Lord. For many many years because he made the right decision.

As a young man to follow Jesus Christ that I hope that many of you who are young will make that same decision by the way, how many of you are under the age of 25 tonight razor. If you're under 25 a. Sorry my hat is off and I'm a I'm over 25 Fisher opposed taken on the Oprah Winfrey show and the question was asked what is your life's passion. 70% had no idea you know a lot of people are just enduring. Instead of enjoying their life, their favorite day of the week is Sunday no someday their ship will come in. Someday they'll get the promotion that dream house art.

Someday the retire someday I will find that perfect relationship, or so the thing in a study 94% of people responded to a survey said they were simply enjoying the present while waiting for something better to happen when life moves on someone describe the four stages of life this way.

Number one you believe in Santa Claus number two you don't believe in Santa Claus number three you become Santa Claus. Number four. You look like Santa Claus that were my where I am right now you know you're getting older. There the telltale signs are getting older you know you're getting old when someone compliments you on your new alligators to what your barefoot. You know you're getting older when you don't care where your spouse goes out as long as you don't have to go along. You know you're getting old when your idea of a night outages the on the patio. You know you're getting old when someone calls you at 9 o'clock and says did I wake you. You know you're getting older when it takes twice as long AS God. You know you're getting older when you're sitting on a park bench and a Boy Scout comes along to help you cross your legs. You know you're getting older when you're in a game show, and you decide to risk it all singled from the locker you know you're getting older when your knees buckle in your belt well know you're getting older when your knee and you don't sleep together anymore.

The house gone. How's life going for you right now. Have you reached your goals, you realize those dreams is working out for you.

The story is told of an artist to sculpted a beautiful angel and he wanted to ask the opinion of the master artist Michelangelo and so he brought in this brilliance artist and I assume look at it.

Michelangelo looked at her for a few moments walked around it a few times and said well it lets only one thing and then he walked out but he never told the artist what is black for the guy didn't want to actually go to Michelangelo and ask himself, so it has different go to Michelangelo and find out what my statue lack so they went to the great artist and they said what was it that the statue lack and the artist responded and lacks only life and that's how it is for a lot of us make you have the ultimate house or the coolest car or the trophy wife of the six full husband you're firing on all cylinders but something is missing. What is it that lacks only life and then you don't plan on death you plan on living a long life.

You don't even like to think about the idea of dying. You won't even use the dreaded E word, just pretend this is not a reality but listen friend the statistics on death are quite impressive. One out of every one persons will die. There's no escaping the Bible says it's appointed unto men once to die, you would've thought that Louie's they would have come a long time ago I for all that he went through God had many years they had four of there's no guarantee that will live to the age of Louis Zaffirini life could come to an end sooner than that.

We have to think about our own mortality. Dr. William Shatner by Capt. Kirk in the Star Trek TV series is now 80 years old and he made the statement and interview interview quote.

I am so not ready to die if that terrifies me. I go alone I go to a place I don't know. It might be painful. My baby in my thought is that it is the end I become nameless when I spent a lifetime being no" yeah, we search for meaning in life trying to find it through the things that this culture says we need to be happy.

All you'll get it through that oil gathered through possessions. You'll get it through accomplishment so or some other thing but we fall short. Then of these things meet the deepest need of our lives and I I grew up in a broken home. My mom was a beautiful woman sort of a Marilyn Monroe look alike. She was married and there were seven times have a lot of boyfriends in between there and I was a raging alcoholic so many ways. I had to sort of take care of my mom.

I didn't understand that wasn't normal but sometimes she would be out all night drinking and she wouldn't come home at all and when she did come home should usually collapse likely to put her to bed. That was my life that was normal for me. Yet, ironically, as I got older I ended up in the party lifestyle. I was drinking. I was smoking I was hanging out with all the kids in that I double this is a worthy answer is I don't want to live like my mom lives here.

I'm doing the same thing so around that time, the whole drug culture was coming on strong people told us that drugs would expand our consciousness so I got into drugs and they certainly didn't make things any better. In fact, they made things a whole lot worse and so in my life I knew were the answer wasn't. I knew it wasn't in the affluent lifestyle of my mother.

I knew it wasn't in the party lifestyle that she lived in. I have lived. I knew it was in the drug culture.

So where was it process of elimination will my high school campus in Newport Beach Harbor high. We had some very out broken Christians that actually walked around and carried their Bible in public and we called them Jesus freaks are there any Jesus free-spirited. I you are the atheist worst nightmare. Yeah so my friends actually wore me a greatly careful was allotted. Jesus freaks on this campus. I said yeah why Greg Laurie Kennedy, Jesus prayed hello that's never going to happen one day I went to one of their meetings out have to admit to you no one even invited me.

I went because I saw this cute girl and I wanted to get to know her better and she was sitting there with the Jesus freaks in their singing these weird little songs that all have like four cords to them on the guitar, you know, and I thought, look at these deranged people there.

They're not tile. I got all the Jesus freaks for a few clown short of a circus. No someone's arrive within for the first time I listened and open my heart and a guy spoke and made a statement which was Jesus said here either for me or against Ralph and I looked around at the Jesus race. I said mother definitely forum but I'm not one of them does that mean that I'm against them will.

I didn't want to be in that category. That was the day I put my faith in Christ. That was the day that I did on the meaning and purpose of my life and this can be your nine will return to pestering Maureen and her vision to the harbingers six and I said something is blame on me if I can give anyone of my kids. New it was nothing singing in a hearing mailing to my room and I just got a problem coming, humans are struggling come to him with questions God has given my relationship minded parties are drinking enough. I in a relationship gone give you today and we send an amazing hearing.

I love you very semi-listening and I meant to call you publicly as you come down you being Lord I want your forgiveness Lord, I want to follow you down and the only thing I'm going to become the amateur struggles you, drinking and doing everything I'm assuming family, my friends, my mom ain't got everything I just really like everything came. I never felt so that the melee you have questions about how you can know God, log on to know God.Ward tell you a story. A story that Jesus himself told about God. I mean if you were wonder what God is like people a lot of weird ideas about God is God that this is sort of perpetually uptight, just angry just waiting to ruin your life are far make it miserable, hired a story about a man was married to a woman for over 50 years was quite an accomplishment. So what newspaper was sent out to their anniversary party and the reporters insert tell us what is the secret of being married to the same person for 50 year immense and well sir, let me tell you to go back to our honeymoon. We went to the Grand Canyon and died my wife all that well at that point for writing. A lot of those little donkeys a very narrow little path and and does. She was in front of you and I can see her there and enter little donkey stumbled a little bit on the path and she leaned forward and said very firmly on the donkeys.

There, that's what what what settle choices.

So we went a little bit further near donkey stumbled once again and she leaned forward and said of the donkeys there.

That's twice what's this all about. Finally, to go a few more feet of the donkey stumbled for 1/3 time she reaches into her first pulls out a pistol holds it up to the donkeys and fires. Donkey drops dead right on the spot. Husband says what are you doing that's horrible. It's cruel. Why would you do that to the donkey. She turned to him and said that's why to secret toll on marriage. There, that's how some people see God. Amen. If I slip provided some wrong Godzilla say that's one that I'm in a mess your life up. Nothing could be further from the truth. What is God like will, according to Jesus, God is like a father that loves us deeply. He's like a father who, when we leave him. Mrs. us and longs for our return. The story that Jesus told is often referred to as the parable of the prodigal son. Here's a story from Christ himself amended to son the younger son said to his father. I want my share of your estate now instead of waiting until you die so the father agreed to divide his wealth between the sun. A few days later, his younger son fact all of his belongings and took a trip to a distant land and wasted all of his money on while living about that time is money ran out a great famine swept over the land began to star. He persuaded the local farmer to hire him defeatist. The man became so hungry that even the food that the pigs reading began to look good to him, but no one gave him anything. So the story begins. We have a boy who's tired of living at home. It was an affluent home is will find out later. The servants there.

It seems to be a loving home. What we see that the father welcomed his son home in Chester, so I don't really think there was anything wrong with this phone.

This boy just was tired of rules and regulations. The bright lights of the big city were calling that he wanted to ask areas everything that this world had to offer was a restlessness I want to go on and slide the stuff that's what he did.

He went on a phone for himself how empty life can be. This is a story that Jesus tells that shows us feel like this boy running from God. But notice how the father didn't say you're not going anywhere son because I know you're going to mess it up. I know you can waste your money. I know you to ruin your life. I'm not gonna let you go no. He said okay son. Go ahead. Yes what God is giving you something out of free will.

He loves you so much, he will not force you to believe in him, he will not to love him. If you want to go you can go many people do, and they run from God. This boy wasted all of his money on while living. I bet he was popular we get down and you imagine how many friends he had all that money but as soon as the money ran out. The friends rent out with it but a story of two buddies went camping in the woods.

There were getting up for the first couple coffee. They are rustling in the bushes and coming at them at full speed was a very large bear one up and started to pull on his running shoes. It is funny said you don't think you can out run that bear do you as friends that I don't need to outrun the bear I need outrun you. That's a lot of so-called friends. Although run out when times get hard. This boy hit bottom. You can't bottom.

Maybe you been reaping the results of stupid thing that you done got a DUI got arrested. Girlfriend got pregnant. Your marriage fell apart.

Things have been so bad.

You've even thought about suicide. God wants you to live in more than just exist has a life worth living for. You live with purpose and meaning that I hope you put your faith in Jesus Christ and I saw this prodigal son started out high on the hog and he ended up hanging out with pretty lame but that sin for you. It promises freedom to bring slavery to promises success brings failure to promises life, but ultimately it brings death to promises pleasure ultimately appraise misery. Have you figured that out yet. Have you seen how empty life is without God. This boy did he came to his senses.

Jesus continues on in the finally came to his senses.

He said to himself.

Take even a hired man have put enough despair back at home and here I am dying of hunger, to go to my father is a father, I've sinned against heaven and you are no longer worthy to be called your son. Just take me on as a hired hand, a boy woke up and he smelled the coffee in this this is ridiculous to go back home again and Lisa the guys I worked for my dad have a better than I have.

It right now you realize that what he was in raising was his own fault. A lot of times in life we want to blame everyone we have trouble at all moments, the fault of your parents trouble at school. It's the fault of the teacher trouble at work at the fault of your box timbers, then you're the problem. Deep down inside it's you see Greg. The reason I do the things that I do is because I come from a dysfunctional family. Hopefully, who doesn't come from a dysfunctional family. You know I came from a dysfunctional family and on the head of a dysfunctional family world dysfunctional war all messed up were all sinners when you can adjust take responsibility and say it's my fault. This is why it's happened. The Bible says the heart is wicked and deceitful, who can really know how bad it is. He came to his senses.

Maybe you come to your senses tonight when I went to that meeting with a Christian I started off looking at them, but to lose earth. One of the GABA one a bunch of coal but I have to admit they're happy, full, too bad they can't be cynical, angry and mad like me when I try to thought on her side. What if the Christians are right now they are of course we know that no way to get the right, but one of their right.

What if I'm wrong, I wouldn't.

Jesus Christ is real and what you really change a life maybe that's happening you right now. CS Lewis said even atheists have their moments of doubt, you came in your soul firm in your so-called beliefs or nonbelief. But suddenly it's dawning on you said this is what I've been looking for its Jesus Christ.

I looked everywhere else but to Jesus Christ event with the boy realized I need to get back to my father's house again so I decided to go home and return why don't you come back to your father's house tonight your father in heaven who loves you and welcome you survey was recently done in kids ages 13 to 24 were asked what made them happy.

I think you be surprised by what they said they did not choose sex is what they said the number one thing that makes kids happy, ages 13 to 24 is spending time with family that Max was spending time with friends and then his significant other is he deep down inside, we all want to belong. We all want to be love.

We want to love. We want to connect forward constantly updating our Facebook page and add a new friend that forwards cleaning all the time. That's why work constantly communicating.

I mean texting I went out to a restaurant with some friends the other day we sat down everybody was text like that.

We came to get together. I actually texted everyone in my text of the words being here now, but you were always communicating. We want to be a part of something as deep down inside of us will himself of my goodness. I think they give cell phones out to babies now, and therefore no welcome to the world. Here's her cell phone for cisplatin to go straight through to mommy your cover.

I mean it pretty soon the get any given cell phone� Actually read not making this up that there is a cell phone for dogs now it's in the shape of a ball hangs around her collar.

You can call your dog how your dog can talk you obviously but you can call it was a little speaker on I just cracked you to traumatize the dog. You know, just to get out come home now, rollover crusade interesting. They didn't make a cell phone for They would never ever listen you call your cat, now the cow would be like as choking on a furball there.

We want to communicate.

We want to belong.

We want to be a part of something I do.

One criticism though. Are you one of those people. It has a thing in your ear all the time. I mean always.

Could you stop doing that. Please enter whatever we all want to be love is able, Greg.

It's nice to stand up there talking about this, but I don't have a family to return to UCI don't have a dad and I don't have a mom their divorce. Don't talk to each other.

They don't want to talk to me.

I understand that. Listen to this. You have the father in heaven who wants to hear from you right now and you have a family. It's called God's family, mature and are surrounded by them right now, only her father enjoying the family of God. I encourage you to do that. So, meanwhile, back home.

I will think of it as a ranch, no dad sit back there on the front porch missing his boy probably get up and walk into his son's room and look around and all those things miss that kid will he ever come home one day dad sit on the porch looking down the road and all of a sudden he sees a silhouette moving toward. He recognizes only dozen of the spring in the step like you use. They have what he was leaving that to spoil right's heads hanging down, but he's coming home the father. From the chair and go start his son but the way Jesus tells it is he doesn't just want to ascend the run. Here's what Jesus says what was a long way up as father-son as heart pounding, he ran out and praised him for just and the boy said father I've sinned against God, a sin against you.

I don't deserve to be called your son.

The father wasn't listening because of the sermon squared bring a clean set of clothes and transom with the family ring in his fingers and sandals on his feet were going to have a feast and have a wonderful time my son was given up for dead is alive again. He was lost is found. That's how God feels towards you right now this is a pretty easy story to understand is that it Jesus broke things down God's like that father your like the sun. You mess up, you come to your senses.

You come all God will run to you and you know what back in this culture, it was considered undignified for older men to run. Not to mention the fact it's harder for an older man to run it. I have a lot of friends that brought in jogging.

I walked but I hate to run under what it is when I want to locate the moment I start to run it just like a not happy � I've had my reference a great King is a registered press on to point the rich endorphins will be released and you got the runner five. I have never met a single endorphins.

If there's an endorphin year.

Please say hello to me afterwards. I've never felt a runner side.

All I felt his pain and more pain, but the father was willing to lose his dignity if you will, and run to get to his son just as God will run to you and throw his arms around you want to know that the father didn't stop about 10 feet away is a point where you been in use silica. The father accepted him as he was, that if you will come to Christ denied he will accept you as you are the girl's arms around God doesn't say cleanup your life and come to me, in effect, he says come to me and I'll clean your life up that's fine then ask you to do in a few moments would over 6000 people have already done, and ask you to come to Jesus Christ denied to come with your problems to come with your addiction to come with your questions, tear doubts the commentary sin receive his forgiveness, to give you an opportunity to do that just a moment come to the Lord. Here's what I want to save you get home before dark. Why did I call my message this because when I was a kid and I would be applying.

My mom would say to me come home before dark. I hope you'll do that to speaking to my mom, you know, she was raised in a Christian home. She was raised. Going to church. He had sisters that were Christians.

In fact, her sister Willie runs a mission in Los Angeles.

Willie Jordan so my mom knew better, but she rebelled for her whole life against what was my mom looking forward she want to have fun. She wanted to have pleasure.

She wanted to have a good time but sadly see wasted a lot of our life, but I'm happy to tell you that at the very end of her life. My mom came back to the Lord again the prodigal daughter return if he's in heaven sent. I headed heaven.

My mom is not everything that she wanted and live footage you want, pleasure, joy, happiness, fulfillment. She sounded all the Bible says in his presence there is fullness of joy in his right hand there are forever down what she wanted. She got home before dark.

My oldest son Christopher was also prodigal for a time. We raised them as a believer to come to church all the time we prayed for him.

I told him Bible stories and he believed in Jesus.

He never stopped believing in Jesus. There was a time when he when the strength and he tried to live in two worlds.

He was miserable.

We came to his senses and he came back to the Lord married a beautiful girl named Brittany that they have a little daughter named Stella my granddaughter and another little daughter was on the way little Lucy, but unexpectedly, my son was called to have no one ever thought that would help when he got home before dark. And he's in heaven with my mom right now and fullness of joy with pleasures forevermore get home before dark. Louis Zaffirini transformed by Jesus Christ wanted to kill the mood to Carol Watanabe but he was transformed by Jesus, and decided to forgive the bird the nickname for this scroll, prison guard after Louis wrote wrote the letter that he read earlier. He discovered that one Tanabe was still alive, so I'm meeting was arranged for Louis to meet one Tanabe so we can share the gospel with them. One Tanabe agreed. The meeting was set shortly before the bird canceled the meeting he wanted to he didn't get home before dark. It's too bad he didn't need a man like Louis wanted to just tell them Jesus Christ loved him and would forgive him of every sin you never committed. Don't put this off.

People don't say hey you know I not say what Greg talked about a month later in Garcia dodger Stadium and I get right with God. There are going to lecture, how do you know there's got to be in next year.

How do you know there's going to be a next month you don't even know the beer tomorrow. The Bible says don't boast about tomorrow. You don't know what today will bring. Tonight is your night to get right with God, or to come back to Christ you know similarly need to do you talk about getting right with God and coming to Christ.

What is it even me to let me explain first two are to admit you're a sinner. The Bible says all of the seven fallen short of the glory of God. Every one of us have broken God's commandments. All of us fall short of the standard, the prodigal son came to his senses and said I've said he knew it, you have to admit it never to know that Jesus Christ, the son of God died on the cross for your have you ever wondered why Christ was crucified on the cross he went there voluntarily. It was a nail that held Jesus to the cross.

2000 years ago if it was love for you Jesus and for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. God loves you, and he'll forgive you.

That's why he died for you God for his anger. If you will, his wrath on Jesus. Jesus in our place absorb the wrath of God. So we don't have to.

He was forsaken for a time so we can be forgiven forever. Three days later, Jesus Christ the son of God rose again from the dead and now he stands at the door of your life. Any nonsense that is until Jeremiah boys and open the door, I will come in. You want Jesus Christ to come in your life. He will tonight. You must receive him.

The Bible says, for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons of God. There has to be a moment. We as a all right Lord, I believe. I believe bulimia. This we have some prodigal sons and daughters here tonight I'm in a ask you to come home to return home to your father to your family.

Even running away from God for scientists are running toward God. That's where the word repent means means to change your direction.

The Bible says we are to repent and be converted, even going away from God you turn in the road of life go to God come back to the Lord God says return you backsliding children. I will heal you. God will forgive you, but I'm so embarrassed over God saving me.

God will say I've missed you.

I love welcome home you come to pray for you and are praying for all of you listening on the radio wherever you are working afraid that you see your need for Jesus come to him now, so let's pray father I pray for every person hearing this help them to see how much you love them, call the Lord to come see you or to come back to you. Help them receive the forgiveness that you alone offer. We ask you to work in the hearts of men and women in Boys and Girls Club right now. They make the most important decision of their life and find the meaning of life and tell them the hope of life beyond the grave in heaven. We ask all of this in Jesus name, amen. 4333 and 4333 people registered professions of faith presented this message and if you like to pray the same prayer.

Join Pastor Greg in a moment I will lead you in a prayer and I would ask that you would pray this prayer out loud after me.

This is where you are asking Jesus Christ to come in here line or pure prodigal son or daughter your say Lord I'm coming home again so mean this prayer from your heart and print out loud after me. Okay, let's all bow our heads if you would pray this prayer out loud, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner, I broken your commandments. I have fallen short of your standards but choose died on the cross for me and paid the price for my sins.

I turned from that sin.

Now, I'm sorry for I want to follow you be my Savior be my Lord be my God, be my friend fill me with the Holy Spirit. I choose to follow you, Jesus, from this night forward. Thank you for loving me and accepting me and forgiving me in Jesus name I pray, amen, amen. God bless each one of the Lord. That's fantastic. It was the final night of our Anaheim harvest. And Pastor Greg Laurie prayed with thousands gathered to give their hearts to the Lord, and if you just prayed that prayer is well first we want to say welcome to the family and that we also want to help you get started in your walk with the Lord so would like to send you our new believers growth packet to help answer your questions and get you started off right.

You can get it by just clicking over to know God.org that's KNO do you know God.org everybody this is Greg Laurie and you've just been listening to a classic message from harvest ministries. This podcast is supported by harvest partners to learn more and to find out how you can become harvest partner. Just go to harvest.org