We Can Work it Out - II

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God, you want to hear from you. Would you consider emailing me you can reach me at greg@harvest.org again that's greg@harvest.org and you can also make me one of your friends on Facebook and drop me a comment don't show me your first day in your willingly bringing the commandments left and right. If you love him doing.

He said when he says really, how much do you love John 15 the Lord said you are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you.

Pastor Greg Maurice's the meaning is clear to Jesus about saying you are my friends if you do whatsoever you would agree with you said you are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you and you you don't have to fill out a form and privileges and have it notarized.

You don't have to cut your hair a certain way and attempt to, there are no secret handshakes or confidential passwords. But how do we know really a Christian.

That's not an insignificant question today on a new beginning.

Pastor Greg Laurie helps us evaluate ourselves to see how her commitment matches the biblical it's a part of his happiness series based in Philippians people of the question lose their salvation.

Let me give you a short answer ready.

No, I don't think let me ask another question that I think addresses the deeper issue.

I don't think the question should be that a Christian lose their salvation. I think the question should be, did that Christian was allegedly lost her salvation ever really have salvation to begin with his because of they did not bring forth what the Bible calls fruit in keeping with repentance. I would suggest to you that they never were a Christian at all. It just because someone carries a Bible doesn't make him a Christian just because someone says praise the Lord. It doesn't make him a Christian. The Bible says even the demons believe in Trumbull, there has to be fruit or results in their life as they work out their own salvation with fear and trembling to hear something you might want to write down purified litmus tests to show that you are really say that someone will say some like this you know I tried the whole Christianity thing and it didn't work for me that drives me crazy when I hear because my answer is no, you didn't, well, you know, because Christianity is not in it. It's a him and its God Almighty, Christ comes into a person's life.

He will work in that life.

So if it" did not work. That's not about him.

That's about you and here's some questions I would ask the person who allegedly quote tried the whole Christianity thing" and it didn't work. Number one. I would ask them did you confess Jesus Christ as Lord because first John 415 says if anyone confesses that Jesus is the son of God.

God lives in him and he and God did you confess Christ as Lord. Did you ever tell anyone you were a Christian. I'm not saying that all you have to do is confess Christ as Lord, because you could do that not be a Christian.

But having said that, I think if you are a Christian you should confess him.

Sometimes we have people walk forward in invitations and referred me quote the verse where Jesus says if you confess me before men, I'll confess you over the father and the angels in heaven. And the reason I do, that is said helps people to see. This is a serious commitment that you must make. I'm not saying that's the only way to combat some of it certainly is all way to confess him being a Christian is not something that is hidden but is open number two do you obey the commands of Jesus Christ or did you obey the because first John 53 says this is love for God, to obey his commands and his commands are not burdensome for everyone who is born of God overcomes the world did you keep his commandments don't tell me you're a Christian and your blatantly breaking the commandments left and right. If you love him do what he said and if you don't do it. He says really, how much do you love him you know Jesus did not say you are my friends if you do whatsoever.

You agree with.

He said you are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you.

Some will say will would've it's hard so what if he commands you to do it you you do it it's whatsoever.

Is it will what if you disagree with the Bible.

Change your opinion, your in the Bible's right to simple as that.

Also, never says his commandments are not burdensome you find the Christian life miserable and confining this. It seemed he was though God is not to spoil all your fun. I think you're missing the point a little bit because if you really met Jesus and he's come to take residence in your heart and you really have this love relationship with him.

I think you will want to do the things that please him and I think you by nature, and I would also add by a new nature given you by God, you would not want to do the things that would just please him. Okay. Number three.

If you're Christian or if you claim to have been a Christian. Were you unhappy or miserable when you're sending you unhappy or miserable when you're sending first on 39 says everyone that is been born of God does not habitually send because God's seed remains in him and he is not able habitually. This sin because he's been born of God lives in a Christian will not be sinless, but a Christian will send less and less and less. I think what happens is, the more you become like Christ. The more you realize you're not like Christ and the more godly become. You become, the more you realize how ungodly you really always were.

So there's always the awareness of sin.

But at the same time there is change in our behavior. There is change in our actions. There is change in the things that we say in 20 that's bringing forth fruit in keeping with repentance.

But notice that it says that if you are born of God, you will not actually sent it doesn't see one syllable to some will say what I've read sinless perfection know you haven't know I have weird line and that's a sin, then you haven't, because the Bible says that we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in a so will never be sinless. This side of heaven. But having said that, if you can sin habitually. Okay, that's the key. In the Greek it says if you habitually said is all I can always sin got I'm sorry I repent. That's one thing it's a person that sin and then sends the next day and then I think about their living in a pattern of sin living the lifestyle of sin.

This is the choice they make over and over and over. If you live that way. According to Scripture, you're not really born of God, so there should be kind of a misery.

There and if you're unhappy and sin that's good. If you're happy and sin and you don't feel any conviction or guilt. While that's a bad thing. Actually using. I think it comes down to this.

It's not that these people are losing their salvation is that they never really had salvation to begin with, but I know Christians can go astray. I know there can be prodigal sons and daughters.

My mother was a prodigal for most of her adult life he came back the faith under the wire shortly before she died. Both of my boys for a time were prodigal son. They knew what was right, they weren't happy living the way that they were living, but they were living in a way that was not right before the Lord, but thankfully both of them recommitted their life to the Lord and I think is what it comes down to a true believer will always come back to God.

Now someone says or a Christian, and they never come back, that I would suggest you they were never a Christian, but if there Christian then they come back and that shows there, a child of God or we could call them a prodigal.

Many of over the story of the prodigal son right.

How many of you for the story of the prodigal.

Yeah that's in the Bible to the prodigal. And since I computer to says it would be better if they had never known the right way to live, then the know to reject the holy commandments were given to them. They make this proverb come true. A dog returns to its vomit and a wash. Returns to the mud. I know the Bible is true for many reasons. But here's one. Not just because it predicts the future accurately.

Not just because everything that is set I found joy in my life, but because I've seen a dog eat its own barf. That's what it say the dog returns to its own vomit. Dogs are so weird that way right.

I want to throw up needed which will not what's going on of the dog mind there need a hot meal. There is really then later the water sit down with some toilet water in the Lucas in the face and people will say oh you know a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's own you eat Barbara drink toilet water is out of that dog just for so a dog returns to its own vomit, why does a dog do that because it's a dog and dogs do doggy things and he's an animal would people want to treat dogs like little humans the other day I slow down for a person because there getting their baby stroller. Alton, I was so patient. They opened up the back of their SUV and they got it out. It was all pink and really in just waiting smiling while you know and then the pull the dog out and I am almost was mad. Okay, I mean really in the purchasing the dog right.

Isn't it interesting.

No one pushes cats around in strollers is that many cats are smart in that regard.

I met you and that doggerel ignores greater money barf later. I don't know what's up.

But then there's the kid you know that some people are buying pigs as pets.

The newest craze is a teacup.

Which really is a potbelly. That's what they call it. And that's just a smaller version in an the other articles out there telling you it's not like having the dog. They cost more in there there's a lot of trouble with them and you get all these issues with pigment you nothing I I'm one little potbelly pig will carry the little pig around with me and you know and I'll get the pig little outfits and it'll be my let you know the kid would rather be in the slot.

You know why pigs hang out in slop because that's all the cool off, so a pig is happy cooling off in the slot right that's what they want to go they want to go back to the pigpen. They want to eat all that garbage on the ground. That's a big because the dog is a dog and a pig is a big and a horse is a horse of course. Of course if you're laughing your older you've seen that Mr. read TV show. Maybe you saw it and rerun. But anyway, here's my simple point. They're just doing what comes by nature succumbing back to the issue I raised earlier a prodigal will always return to God but a pig will so are you a big room prodigal in just a moment. Pastor Greg will have his final 25 litmus test to help us determine if our faith is genuine.

Stay with us.

We love hearing from our listeners, whether it's a short were telling us what's going on. We read every word dear Pastor Greg and I appreciate how you make your sermon so realistic and applicable. I believe that's how the Lord uses you to reach the hurting in the last without a doubt, they can relate to your situation, your hard life and sometimes people need to hear.

Keep preaching and reaching such a blessing to hear from listeners who take time to express their appreciation would you share your story. If so, leave us a message at 1-866-871-1144. That's a special number 1-866-871-1144 will today. Pastor Greg is giving us five litmus test to check up on ourselves and evaluate of our faith and commitment is genuine and you can get a copy of the study by going to harvest.org there's another one to others. Number four did you keep yourself from the devil. See if you're really a Christian. If you really been born of God, you keep yourself from the devil. First John 518 says we know whoever is born of God does not sin habitually and he was been born of God keeps himself from the devil and the wicked one does not touch. What is it mean to keep themselves from the devil while the idea is that you stay as close to God as you possibly can see I don't keep myself saved, but I can keep myself safe to say that again I don't keep myself saved that God's work. He saves me, but I keep myself safe because I know there are certain places of I go there that's a bad thing for me, like, you know, let me illustrate with food. I know there's certain places or certain food I like to eat in that place and if I go there I'm going to eat that. But if I don't go there.

I won't eat that fattening food so I may avoid that place. So the same is true in life in general.

If I go to this party. If I hang out with this person if I watch this thing on TV that I go to that website. Trouble always follows okay.

Newsflash don't go to that website. Don't go to the party don't hang out with uppers seat instead of it. Find a better place to go to church for a midweek Bible study. What a great choice. Well done. Cut yourself on the back, go ahead, try something you do look really where okay no I'm glad to hear you made a really good choice here for tonight. Replace your ungodly friends with godly friends, go to websites that will edify you would build you up in your faith harvest.org is not a bad place to go. We have a lot of goodies there and also we have an app for your phone daily devotionals number message is not kinds of things but you know replace it with something that's better. The Bible says that we should keep ourselves in the love of God. So the idea that it is stay as close as I can to the Lord and another one do you love other Christian really a Christian, you will love other Christians. Why first John 51 says everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and everyone who loves the father loves his child. You only really love someone you love their kids to know I have friends there kids, hey I love their kids to that love extends to the children right in the same way if we really love God will love his children and will want to be with his children. Some people might say well denied. I can't find a church. I really like and + the it's my only day off okay but the Bible says don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together as a matter of some is but exhort one another, and so much more as you see the deal the Lord approaching it doesn't say don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together. Last Sunday is your only day off or overseeing the assembling of yourselves together unless you want to run a triathlon or don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together. Unless it's a good beach day.

Now it says don't say the assembling of yourselves together to put it in vernacular don't miss opportunities to be with other Christian for worship in the church. Hearing the word of God. I know the church has its flaws. That's because were in it right but just remember that Jesus started and loves the church and Jesus dying for the church and first John 51 says, if you love the father you love his child as well. So if you really love God you love this kid.

Now let me turn it around the funeral of his kids.

By that I mean fellow Christians, which do you love God, how can you say you love God who you can see if you won't love his people. You can see start their and so these are simple litmus test that show that our faith is real. Here's the key verse 13. Don't miss this.

It is God that works in you both to will and do of his good pleasure. So let's look at it again. Philippians 2 starting in verse 12, Paul writes and says therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but now much more my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, which reads barrier to the goal, fully complete, like your inner mind fear and trembling was self this trust, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that works in you both to will and do of his good pleasure. It's God working in me.

It's not me trying to imitate Jesus it's Jesus living in me, and Jesus living through me. You see, that's where the strength comes I'm rewarded you ever get a desire to even want to open the word of God. I tell you that came from God himself.

Where did you ever find a desire to want to actually worship God that to came from the Lord so that's will begin to get the desire to will and do of his good pleasure. This is what the Lord wants for each and every one of us so we can know were saying but let me just say yes some of you maybe have joined us. Most of you have physically at least were talking about being same day and you don't even know what were saying that I think the phrase save this a perfect expression that's very understandable. We understand another settings summons and a burning building. Firefighter Ross is and what we say they were saying right or someone's drowning in a lifeguard goes and rescues them when we say they were say because they were on the brink of death and someone saved their life so when we talk about Christ being alive when we say your say say say from what hell that's a big one that the biggest one of all hearsay from hell because you believe in Jesus, you're no longer going to hell and now you're going to government, say from what else say from the power of sin. I no longer have to be under its control.

I've been set free by pricing from any addiction, say from any vice say from anything or anyone and say from the power of the devil on them before I was a Christian I was a good spiritual dartboard.

I had no way to fend off the devil but because Christ lives in me. We already read their first John, the wicked one touches me not. That doesn't mean the devil can tempt you because he can and he will doesn't mean the devil will not hassle me because you'll do that as well.

But what it means is, the devil cannot control me in the devil cannot attach himself to me and certainly the devil cannot live inside of me.

It's almost like you have an ID tag hanging off you now that says property of Jesus Christ and the double can read in a respective but he still wants to make your life hard. If you're listening to him than you have trouble.

But if you keep your distance from him and keep your eyes focused on Jesus.

Just remember, God will never give you any more than you can handle. There's always a way of escape to every temptation, but saved. I love the moment were going to pray and I want to give you an opportunity to believe in Jesus, you might ask, what does it mean to believe in Jesus. What he means is you believe he's here. You believe he's real and you ask him to come into your life because when it's all said and done.

Being a Christian is Christ living in you and he will come and set up house in your life you will come and take residence in your hearts and be your savior and be your Lord and be your friend and much much more. But he will not force his way into any life he waits for our invitation.

Let's power heads father, thank you for sending Jesus the Lord Jesus, thank you for coming and going of the cross and dying for our sin, to save us.

Thank you for writing again from the dead and now you stand here at the door of our life and you knocking if you just hear your voice, and open that door, you will come in my prayer for any that are here that don't know you help them become to you now, we would pray. Jesus came to Greg Laurie important prayer about coming to the Lord to find forgiveness of sins.

And if you like to do that.

Pastor Greg will help you in just a moment so please stay tuned for a permanent copy of today's insight here on a new beginning get in touch with a study called, we can work it out will pass along the ordering details when you call 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or look for the message online@harvest.org we have a great new resource it says special edition of the Bible and you know Pastor Greg. They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but many people sure to make a judgment about a book based on the title trip and you and your team wrestled with what to call this resource denture yeah that's right that we ended up calling that the new believers Bible and it's done very well over the years, some 10 million copies of it have sold worldwide, but now are happy to announce to our listeners that we have gone in and rebuilt it from the ground up. So it's I think of the old notes that I wrote.

I freshen them up a little bit and then I've written a lot of new notes and so this is a brand-new resource new believers Bible the whole Bible, I might add commentary on Genesis all the way through to Revelation longer special spiritual life tracks that will help you understand topics you need to know more about. As a follower of Jesus, but we wrestled with calling it the new believers Bible because honestly I've met many believers have known the Lord for years.

To be honest are a little bit biblically illiterate. They don't even know the basics and so this is been very helpful to them and you might be someone who is known the Lord for some years but she does feel like Wellington is a little refreshment, a refresher course, if you well. It's always good to go back over the basics.

So yes, this is the perfect resource to give to a new believer, but frankly it's a great resource to give to any believer, young or old, in the faith. You know, Peter wrote to us, and he said I want to stir up your memory. In other words, I want you to remember these things. You know the problem is, sometimes we remember what we ought to forget like trivia, sports scores, things that don't really matter, and we forget what we ought to remember. Like verses from Scripture like foundational truth that we should be reminded up over and over again. Think of this is your refresher course or if you are new believer.

Think of this is your point of entry into the greatest book ever written in the history of the planet.

The Bible and insert like were sent down over a cup of coffee and I'm just taking you to the basics and I'm explaining to you what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. I don't topics like trials. What is a trial. Why do we have to go through trials or hardships. As Christians, I talk about prayer what is prayer.

How do you pray are there secrets do I need your prayers answered in the affirmative. I talk also about the end times are we living in the end times. If so, and I believe we are, of course, how should that impact is in the way that we live. I talked about how to effectively share your faith, I talked about that and so much more. So it's all found in the new believers Bible and for people ordering this. We want to also add a special companion piece. There were calling the start to follow resource and this is something that will help you dig in deeper in. It contains seven foundational truth that every Christian needs to know so listen. Order your copy of the brand-new new believers Bible and the start the fall. Of course, so you can dig deeper in your faith is a follower of Jesus.

No matter if you're new in the faith, or if you known the Lord for many years, ever making it available to say thank you for your investment in these daily Bible studies. If you appreciate the insight you gain here each day. We hope you will make it possible. Not only so you can enjoy it but so other people in this area. Your neighbors can have the same insight available.

We have no other way to cover the costs of broadcasting other than listener support.

So thank you so much and when you give ask for the new believers Bible you can write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or just go online to harvest.org will pressure you put out the importance of asking Jesus to forgive our sins. A few moments ago. Could you help those who want to do that very thing right now you know the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ stands at the door of our life and he knocks and if any man will hear his voice and open the door he will come in maybe. As you've heard me speak today while you've heard another voice speaking to you. It's a voice of God and you realize you need Christ in your life you need your sins forgiven you want the assurance that you will go to heaven when you die when here's what you need to do. You need to pray and I would like to lead you in a prayer right now or you will be seeing the Jesus Lord come in the my life. I choose to follow you. So let's pray Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I think you for dying on the cross for my sin. I turned from that sin. Now and I put my faith in you be my Lord, my Savior and my God, my friend. I choose to follow you, Jesus. From this moment forward. Thank you for loving me and calling me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen. Listen if you just pray that prayer I want you to know on the authority of Scripture that Christ himself is coming to your life. The Bible 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.

If you just pray that prayer in minute you can know today you have eternal life MEI be the first to see the you welcome to the family of God. Everyone help you grow as a believer. So let us send you our new believers growth packet will send it free of charge if you prayed along with Pastor Greg today just write a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514. You can call us at 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or requested online@harvest.org. Click on the words know God Pastor Greg presents the final message in his happiness he is is a look at running this race of life successfully join us next time.

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