How to Walk with God in 2020, part 1 - II

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God check out virtue our website for Christian women go to harvest.org/virtue Greg Laurie vendor on God to make an appointment. Don't be late, so people are leaving for everything. One thing to be late for an appointment with Fred. It's another thing to be late for your appointment with God himself on every day usually is the first thing in the morning when the word of God see what the Lord is to say to you, Pastor Greg has some important insights in just a moment on spending quality time with the Lord before we get started, let me ask you to help us quiet our hearts as you know, there's just so much to worry about in our world right now. Help us focus where we should you do, there's a new words that have entered our vocabulary because of COBIT 19 words like pandemic shelter in place. Quarantine visas not been a part of our vocabulary.

But now they are. If you would've told me that markets would be depleted of supplies and and that we would be asked to stay at home and that I would be among the most foldable because well I guess I'm technically elderly. I was 67 years old.

I was at home and you're like an alarm is door a proper but it's happening it's real. This is a pandemic.

And we gotta work together as Americans. The CDC is giving us guidelines that are therefore our own protection so we can get through this together. But listen I want to say something to you.

I think you should be practical in observing the guidelines given to you by the Centers for Disease Control, like washing your hands, maintaining good distance between people so we can get over the hump of this thing.

But here's what I want to say don't worry but pray.

The Bible says don't worry about anything, pray about everything. It doesn't say don't think about these things, but it does say don't worry about them. You know, worry has no value whatsoever, worry actually will deplete you not help you worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength is understanding the message of you here right now it's a message I gave up before all of this happened so there might be references in this message that that don't seem to fit in the time or in right now but I just want you to know that you're the harvest we care about you were here for you want to continue to minister to you during this time, and I would like to also mention to you that were doing special services every sunday@ourwebsiteharvest.org and work simply calling it Harvest at Home so you can login and watch it and we have multiple showings throughout the day and then you can watch it again through the week so tune in to harvest.org this Sunday and watch Harvest at Home and do me a favor let somebody else know that were out there offering hope. Here's what we want to do it harvest we want to offer Christ in the midst of the crisis.

We really do. And again, more encouragement is available right now@harvest.org well, let's dig into today study as Pastor Greg reinforces the importance of setting an appointment with God and keeping it.

I want to look at a man that experience what we might describe as a solo rapture. He was caught up to meet the Lord in heaven all by himself and his name was Ina and Ina gives a fascinating character. The story is found in Hebrews 11, but also in the book of Genesis here in Hebrews 11 we read these words about them starting in verse five. By faith in it was taken from this life, so we did not experience death.

He could not be dumb because God had taken him away before he was taken, he was commended as one who please God. So we did was taken, meaning he was taking a walk with the Lord, and he was caught up to glory. Maybe Lord's anybody were closer to my house than yours wanted to come home with me and he did and he's also mentioned over Genesis 5 verses 21 to 24 which says Enoch live 65 years and begot Methuselah every become Methuselah even walk with God. 300 years and had sons and daughters and all the days of unit were 365 years Enoch walked with God and was not for God took him. So how did Enid do it.

Here's my primary point for this message. Enoch walked with God and that's what I want to encourage all of you to do in this coming year to simply walk with God. You know, this phrase walking with God is used many times in the New Testament for someone seven says if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin them pursuant to six says he that says he abides in him ought to walk as he walked then Colossians 26 says as you received Jesus Christ as Lord, so walk in him builds upon him established in the truth. Galatians 5 remind us to walk in the spirit and we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh and then Romans 1313 says walk properly as in the day don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness or sexual promiscuity or immoral living or in quarreling or in jealous so we so guy get it now. I want to do that. But what does it specifically mean to walk with God. Let me sum it up this way to walk with God needs.

I cooperate with God, to walk with God being feminine harmony with God, to walk with God being sent. Communicating with God speaking to him in hearing from It's all about communication out here is a key verse in understanding what it means to walk with God.

It's found in Amos 33 and it simply says this and it's loaded with meaning. Amos says can two walk together, unless they are agreed. Can two walk together, unless they are agreed.

There's important shades of meaning in the original language in healthcare. It means a God and man walking together as a single unit, bringing me to my first point walking with God means I get in sync with him. Think of a tandem bicycle.

How many of you have ever written a tandem bicycle with some of your dark know you are just looks weird to me. I don't I don't like the idea but okay over the sake of an illustration. If you're in the front peddling away and your partner is hitting the brakes as it didn't work out. Now you have to peddle together or let's say you're in a canoe and you're all probably if you're paddling one way in somebody else's paneling. Another way as I can impair your performance.

So to walk with God means to get in sync with God to be in rhythm with God, to walk with God is to say, Lord.

Where are you going and I want to go with you getting in sync with God walking in communion with God.

That is the picture of walking with God.

Number two to walk with God means you keep your appointment to walk with God means you keep your appointment back to Amos 33 it's also transit it can. Two men walk together unless they have made an appointment made an appointment. Some people are late for everything.

Now when II make an appointment. I tried to enter it into my calendar and up pops up on my phone appointment in two minutes.

The good times. Honestly, I forgot about the appointment and sometimes up pops up on my watch because there were an Apple watch as well.

Appointment. Appointment buzzing buzzing everywhere okay. I have to remember my appointment but some people are late for everything you tend to be late for everything. Raise your hand if I bit no involves you go to your honest answer night.

Well, how do you know if you're a late person. There are some telltale signs.

Here's how to know if you're the person who is always thought of as being the late one when you text your five minutes away and you're still sitting on your couch and your sweat you're one of those laypeople or about this when your friends tell everyone to meet at 830 and they tell you to meet at eight. That means you're a layperson you know your layperson if you arrived to something on time for once in your friends actually say what are you doing here. I try not to be that late person is in a way when you're always late. Other times, that there is a reason for it. But if you're always late. It's really sort of root isn't it. A friend of mine is said to me early is on time on time is late in late is never acceptable.

Early is on time on time is late in late is never acceptable. Not wanting to be late for an appointment with a friend.

It's another thing to be late for your appointment with God himself, and you have an appointment with God every day usually is the first thing in the morning when you open up the word of God and see what the Lord has to say to you, Pastor Greg will present the second half of today's message just a moment. Pastor Greg it was a negative encouragement to hang on to. If our minds are drifting toward the issues we see around us right now.

Yes I would say it's good to be up on the latest news uncovered 19 don't spend all of your time watching the news or reading newsfeeds on your phone you need to be thinking about what the word of God says let me share a verse with you from Isaiah 43 to this is the Lord himself speaking to us when you pass of the waters. I'll be with you when you pass of the rivers will not sweep over you when you want to the fire. You will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze. Listen to this Christian friend. You are indestructible until God is done with you. He's going to get you through this. So look to him.

Listen to him and I'm so glad that you've taken the time to tune into a new beginning. We have some more hopeful word for you now from the word of God. One more point from what Amos wrote in Amos 33 to walk with God is to pool your resources. So let's review to walk with God is to stay in harmony with him to walk with God is to keep your appointment. All of these are implied in the text, and thirdly, to walk with God is to pool your resources with the Lord. Amos 33 can two walk together unless the evergreen or illicitly pooled their resources. Have you ever seen the TV show shark tank like that show three interesting and I've watched many people come on and you know fail miserably in front of the sharks jerking basically is a TV show or people appear before.

Very entrepreneurial.

Successful individuals like Mark Cuban, and others who will listen to a pitch for their company or their product and if the shark wants to be an investor they can go into business with the person so don't make an offer to them. I'll give you this much and I want this much in return and here's the deal in the person whose out there trying to sell their product or company or whatever it is, has the choice to either going to business with one of the sharks or not going to business and some of failed miserably. One guy. And shark tank and he invented something called a man candle a man candle you girls like candles right, he thought.

Men need a candle and I consider being fragrant like flowers.

I wanted to little Kindle store with my grand daughters the other day and I was going to throw up. It was like all the in all these little candles and things that look like soaps were in the sheets of little food items and there was nothing in that place I wanted and in Iraq she was having an allergic reaction to it.

So he came up with a man candle.

Basically it smelled like things that men like including barbecue football.

Not sure if public a football a golf course and popcorn but was rejected. Another guy came up with the birdfeeder that zaps coral now suddenly I'm interested is I've had problems with squirrel but the problem was it was a little too powerful because it zaps the birds to so instead of killing squirrels and killed every creature that came to get see. Then along comes a person with a product called scrub daddy that basically was a sponge with a smiley face that turned soft and warm water, infirm and cold out today that sold more than 10 million sponges. They made $50 million on it. That's because I believe it was a lady struck up a partnership with one of the sharks in her product became a reality. So without a mind, here we come. And let's say Bill Gates is taken an interest in SRI Jep bezel sub via Amazon or one of these very wealthy people will stay with Bill Gates for the sake of the analogy.

Bill Gates is only going to business with you. Tell me what you have, to bring to the table he said well Mr. Gates I have 100 to bring his is 100.

What million dollars. Not quite $100,000 no. $100. No, I have 100 pennies to bring in.

You put your little bag in the Montpelier pennies.

He says will put them on the table so you line up all your pennies. 100 of the UC Mr. Gates so much are you bringing to the table that millions how many billions I'm not sure I may be worth 10 billion more than I was an hour ago. It changes a little bit but I have plenty. Let's go into business together. See he wants to go to business with you and you want to go to business with him, but it's your advantage here because he brings a lot more to the table.

The new bring. So I come to the table with really nothing I like the little kid with the loaves and fishes here it is. It's not much. Got some sardines and Wonder Bread. You know, that's all. But the Lord can do a lot with a little soda walk with God means I going to partnership with God. I give him my life. I give you my future.

I give him my resources I give you my talents and I say Lord, they belong to you from this moment on, when I became a Christian I was not some prize converts okay.

I was in the celebrity I was in the sports star. I was no but I was a 17-year-old kid that had almost nothing to offer and I gave it to the Lord to whatever good has come out of my life is been a result of all that God has done for me and through me know what I've done for him, but I think that should offer hope to offer hope, because God wants to do that with all of us. So walking with God is living in harmony with God is keeping her appointment with God. It's pulling our resources with the Lord and by the way late bloomers are welcome.

Exactly when did Teaneck start walking with God. Genesis 521 says in a glib 65 years and begotten month to Zillah, it appears that there was something about the birth of Methuselah that brought about the conversion of V-neck, you know, sometimes children bring a wake up moment to a person you know. Maybe you've lived a pretty self-centered life and that he could married and value of all the challenges that come with marriage and then you have your first child and now this is a whole new world for you and sigh and there can be something about it. Having the child the responsibility of raising a child that's a wake up call. But here's another interesting thing. The name Methuselah has a profound meaning, which is when he is dead.

It shall be sent when he is dead. It shall be said, it appears that God revealed a unit because he walked with God that when Methuselah died judgment would come upon the face of the earth's orbit time Methuselah got a cold mighty freak in a got a little bit because it said when he is dead. It shall be sentence yet Methuselah lived for 969 years. That speaks volumes about the grace of God. Maybe we look at the world today, and we wonder why, why hasn't the Lord come back. Why is he allowed wickedness to spread like it doesn't wise and he returned what is he allow wicked people to prosper God's answers. In second Peter three or Peter writes I want to remind you in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires no sake what happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again or before the times of our ancestors.

Everything is remain the same since the world was first created to one of the signs of the end times.

This will be wicked people mocking God and making fun of anyone that believes Jesus is coming again. So why hasn't the Lord returned and Peter gives the answer. Second Peter 39 the Lord is in being slow about his promise, as some men think he's being patient for your sake, because God doesn't want anyone to be destroyed. He wants everyone to repent. Why is Christ not come back again because he wants more people to believe he wants more people to come to the kingdom of God.

That is where were so committed in the next two years of trying to reach more people than we've ever been able to reach in any two year period of our entire ministry and if you are a person who's walking with God. You want the same. If you want people to come to Jesus. It shows me that you are walking with God and if we do believe that the Lord is coming.

We should be sharing our faith.

So here's holding it. He is thinking man.

I don't know when it's going to be, but I could be tomorrow. And it could be 10 years from now, but it would cause him always be ready and in the same way and in conclusion it.

I don't know where you are at in your life right now. But I ask you the question, are you walking with God. Listen to this. If you walk with God on earth. One day you will walk with God in heaven. If you say come in the my life Lord now on earth. One day he will say enter into my kingdom to you in heaven. If you say yes to Jesus on earth. He will say well done good and faithful servant to you in heaven. But if you say no to Jesus on earth will say, depart from me. I never knew you and have so what's going to happen to me in the afterlife has everything to do with what I do in this life but I ask you tonight. Are you walking with God. We put it another way, do you know God. Maybe something is happening you this got your attention. I told you for unity was the birth of his son for someone else.

It could be the death of a child. I've seen many parents come to faith when the child is died or spouses died or could be an illness that was unexpected.

We could be being terminated from a job he could be being broken up with breaking up with your boyfriend or girlfriend. So many things it could be that could cause it. Marriage unraveling whatever it is something to get your attention, and he is a man I need the Lord. Maybe it's an addiction. You Break and you try to overcome and you just think deeper every year. That addiction God can change your whole story. Your whole narrative and God is ready to forgive you of anything you've ever committed but you have to just come and say, Lord. I'm sorry I need your help and if you will confess your sin. The Bible says he's faithful and just to forgive you your sin and cleanse you from all unrighteousness and minimum organ to pray and I want to give you an opportunity to start walking with God and opportunity to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Some of your older missing was too late for me. Well newsletter was 65. So it's never too late to reach out to the Lord. No matter where you are in life jungle somewhere in the middle.

The Bible says today is the day of salvation. If you're not sure that Jesus is forgiven you of your sin. If you're not confident that you're ready for the Lord's return.

You need Jesus in your life now that I'm in a close by giving you an opportunity to invite him then so-and-so Barry Hudson everybody praying father, thank you for your word to us tonight. Thank you that it's true. One that looks like this world around us is falling apart. We know you're in control you promise to come back again for us and call us to heaven. We don't know when that day will come, but we want to be ready and I pray for any person, here, or maybe they're watching or listening wherever they may be.

If they don't have a relationship with you. If they don't know you in a personal way. I pray that tonight will be the night they believe in Jesus I pray that tonight will be the night they have their sins forgiven.

They change their eternal address from hell to heaven help them to come to you now.

We met Greg Laurie important prayer with those who want to make a change today in the relationship with the Lord, and if you'd like to do that today. Pastor Greg will help you in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning wraps up.

Hopefully you heard all the Pastor Greg study today and the first part of the presentation we brought you last time.

If not, you can hear what you missed online by going to harvest.org or to order a copy on CD. Call us at 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300. It's a study called how to walk with God. In 2020, part one and then the Pastor Greg has a word about a brand-new resource parents and grandparents are really in love. So were very happy to be offering this to book set called found in love written by Sally Lloyd Jones, and Kathy was here in studio with my wife. It's Easter time.

It seems like this is a really good book to give to a child for Easter what you think is a grandmother I am concerned that all the junk in candidate kids get heaven at that time in their Easter baskets are always looking for something special to playing in their basket and this would be an amazing gift to give the minister time. First of all, there's all kinds of little lands in the illustrations shared that the books that is so gorgeous it comes in. This hardcover talks and two hardcover books with ads included in there is an original keepsake print which shows a shepherd holding a at cuddling a little lamb in his arm so this is perfect at Easter time. They also just say a word to those of you that is looking to give somebody a sweet gift anyway adult child whatever age you are going to find this book will be a special way to minister to somebody who needs to know that day I laughed and found by guide and I I've read it. It has spoken in my heart is something that I want to reread and think about because these two books are based on Psalm 23 and the Lord's prayer to very, very familiar passage is so familiar that we only hear the words anymore negative strip. This is a way to share it with fresh ears and to welcome into your heart and a new way so I don't see children alike.

At any appreciate this book and at Easter time may stick it in your Easter basket. Excellent idea and just contact us and will send Shelley's inspiring resource your way to thank you for your donation is an investment that helps this program continue to reach out each day here on a new beginning. And if you like to receive found and loved by Easter.

Be sure to call us for information on expedited shipping options are numbers 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org and then the pressure just before we go. Would you mind praying with the person listening who wants to make a change today in the relationship with the Lord. I'd be happy to Dave you know is you been listening to this today. Maybe you've heard another voice. By that I mean, you heard me say a few things, but you heard God's voice speak to you deep in the recesses of your heart and it suddenly dawned in you. This is what I need order stated more accurately.

This is who I need I need Jesus. And I want Jesus, but maybe you don't know how to make that connection. Let me help you pray this after me right now if you want Jesus Christ to come of your life. Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sin and I need your forgiveness right now.

Would you come in to my heart, my life as Savior, as God as friend. I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me and for giving me in Jesus name I pray, amen. I know there was a relatively short prayer. Maybe you felt something as you prayed it. Maybe you felt nothing, that doesn't really matter because God's word says these things we write to you that believe on the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. It doesn't say so. You may think you have it or you may hope you have it of gods in a good mood. No that you can know it and I want you to know if you pray that prayer and minute Jesus Christ, the son of God has come into your life.

So congratulations, you're now a Christian now continue to follow the Lord yeah and to help you would like to send some resource materials your way. We call our new believers growth packet it will answer many of the questions you might have and get you started in your new relationship with the Lord.

So get in touch and asked for will send it free of charge. Write a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 again is called the new believers growth packet or you can call us at 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click on know God is the fervent opportunity to bring someone to church. It does not get know the Lord is a big difference this year were going to do it all online. That's life. Easter is coming your house, your family, to your phone wherever you want to view it just goes to harvest.org to find out more together to reach the largest group of people we have never been able to make contact with this coming Easter harvest Easter on line next time we begin focusing our hearts on the message of Easter. Pastor Greg will offer some important insight on the significance of Palm Sunday is coming up this Sunday. Join us next time you're beginning possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.org