Upside-Down Living - I

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Pastor Greg Laurie wing children Christian perspective differs from the attitude of our culture.

Everything is always about so psychology says searchers so surrealism is leisure so is capable believe in yourself provides a superior promote yourself Jesus Christ says so humble yourself and look out for number one. Every man for himself" Polonius above all old show as a result, the world is full of lonely unfulfilled schools looking for something they never seem to find today on a new beginning.

Pastor Greg Laurie points on the Lord's plan doesn't come from focusing on our own comes from focusing on what we can do. Others good encouragement today.

You write everybody look Rob up Bible were and are happy. This series were in Philippians chapter 2 again. That's Philippians chapter 2 in the title of my messages up side down living. Let me start with the question when someone is a photo that they shot a group shot. You happen to be in the photo and they show it to you. Who do you look for first.

Now be honest, don't while you're in church. Who do you look for first while in most cases, you look for yourself right. That's just the way were sort of wired any one of the most popular kind of photography today will, of course, is the Sophie everybody's taken Sophie's everywhere. I people come up to me the keys and the say can I take a soapy with you and I'll usually say yes these are usually complete strangers and they come up to me and then they like because I have to be in the shop with them. They they grab me and put their face up next to my face there holding you know their phone not like like this. Okay, wait, wait, I was seven and I might trust up against the complete stranger same make this and quickly but so please sir are so popular right now but some people you probably heard about this are literally dying to take Sophie's did you know that the last few months. 73 deaths were directly linked to people taking Sophie's in dangerous places, like on the train track. Why do people take so please on a train track and also very high places.

But really this sort of sums up something a what what is it what were living that one might call a selfie culture or to put it another way, were living in a selfish culture. So why do we bring all of this up well were looking at the book of Philippians together and as I pointed out earlier, the theme of this book is happiness not to go to the culture and say how can they be happy person. The answer would in so many words, be be selfish person focus on yourself, love yourself.

Think about yourself esteem yourself it's all about self and the Bible gives a difference. Answer the Bible. In effect, a loosely paraphrased tells us if we want to be happy we should not be selfish but brother. It tells us that we want to be happy. We need to be self less, that certainly bubbles up here in Philippians chapter 2 Jesus said it is more blessed or happy to give then it is to oversee what we think know it's more happy to Stop, then it is to give sub know the opposite is the case, according to Jesus, and the rest of the Bible true fulfillment does not come by putting our needs first, but it comes by putting the needs of others first and that's why I've called this message upside down living because that flies in the face of conventional wisdom. Today, so it's about others putting others first. But this isn't so easy is it because while there are people that just irritate us or we don't like to be around them and sometimes that's our husband or wife, or parents or our kids or coworkers or people were around a lot and then we see these people are so irritating. Newsflash did it ever occur to you that you are in irritating person to someone else.

I guarantee it's true.

I'm sure I'm in irritating person to quite a few people and so that's something we need to understand that you know there are people that were not going to necessarily be strong to but at the same time we are to love them, especially if they're in the church because we are all part of the family of God. So here is what the apostle Paul is saying here in Philippians.

He's saying you need a new paradigm. You need a new way of thinking and here it is. Let's read about it.

Philippians chapter 2 starting in verse one Paul writes therefore there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy fulfill my joy to be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in the lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but for the interests of others. There are the words of Paul from a modern translation same verse don't push her way to the front. Don't sweettalk your way to the top. Put yourself aside and help others get a head told me obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand kidding me. If you live this way it'll change everything about your life.

You see that because the culture does not say this and if we go back. Historically this is not what we learned from human civilizations.

I mean if you look at all the great kingdoms of the world that have come and gone. Everything is always about self Greece effectively said be wise. No yourself. Rome said be strong. Discipline yourself Epicureanism, which is the pursuit of pleasure says be sensuous. Enjoy yourself. Education says be resourceful.

Educate your self psychology says, be confident, assert yourself. Materialism says be possessive. Please yourself. Humanism says be capable believe in yourself. Pride says be superior promote yourself. Jesus Christ says be unselfish, humble yourself, humble myself. That seems like a recipe for disaster in the world today. In fact, when we think of humility and meekness.

We don't think of those as birches we think of those as deficiency but yet did not Jesus say Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth, and Christ said of himself.

I am meek and lowly in heart, so come on to me, but you need to understand there's a big difference between weakness and meekness, let's say that somebody hit you in the face and you don't get them back.

The reason you don't hit him back is because your week and you're afraid let's say that you're trained in mixed martial arts and and you're quite a street fighter and some of the kids you in the face and you don't get them back. That's not weakness that's meekness seemed meekness is power under constraint when someone gets on the back of the stallion and rides it at full speed, and then pulled back on the reigns and the horse stopped the horses being meek it submitting himself to the will of the writer.

It has the strength to go on what it submits so when I'm being meek. It doesn't mean I'm weak, it means that I'm submitting myself to God and that is how I am to live as a believer. God is saying you want real happiness in genuine success, then put Jesus first and others second fact there's a simple acronym you can use the summit up J all why J is for Jesus always for others. Why is for yourself. You want to live a happy life you want to live a joyful life.

Jesus others yourself curate is simplified following Jesus loving others following Jesus and loving others. What Jesus say he said if you love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, in your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. You fulfill all of the commandments.

Each is so simple that we would focus on that. But a lot of times were not focusing on that were not putting Jesus first were putting ourselves first and as a result, we find ourselves depressed in a moment. Pastor Greg is very practical and gives her some steps to keep from falling into the blues stay with us. It's a privilege to bring the studies from Pastor Greg your way and were encouraged to hear when they took dear Greg, thank you for your daily devotions in my email. They help me as I deal with chronic pain every day. And also share them with several people close to me are going to cancer. It helps them to open your email every morning first thing and it encourages me to get through the day is like opening a present. I hope you received many letters that, thank you for your anointed words. Keep the faith. We will keep the faith and continue to bring you these daily studies from Pastor Greg has Pastor Greg heard from you. Why not let them know this ministry is impacted your life. You can email Pastor Greg at craig@harvest.org again, that's great@harvest.org Pastor Greg is offering a message from his happiness series today called upside down, living, and to get a permanent copy of this insight go to harvest.org. Listen, if you find yourself out of the doldrums as a Christian. If you find yourself depressed. I have a 10 step solution to depression. So if you're taking notes right this down 10 steps to get rid of your depression. Are you ready step number one do something for someone who is greater needs than you do something for someone with greater needs. Then you go to a convalescent home and visit someone who's staying there I go to skid row on one of our missions and reach out to people that are literally living on the street go to someone within the go to someone who was a greater need than you that step number one to your step number two. Repeat step number 19 more times, so I'm not dismissing clinical depression. I know they could be very real, but I'm just talking about that general kind of depression we can find ourselves in the frankly is sometimes a result of just being selfish and instead of being selfish. Try being self less. In other words, stop thinking so much about yourself right so let's identify some key points here from Philippians chapter 2 if you're taking notes right this down. Never let selfishness or can see your motive again. Never let selfishness or conceit be your motive again. Verse three let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit is a new living translation puts it, don't be selfish.

Don't live to make a good impression on others. So first I start was open.

It's interesting, before anything also said Paul sorted drills down on this because the love of self is probably at the root of maybe all of my problems, but if not all certainly most of them because we want our own way. James puts it this way in James four wanted to what you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from. You think they just happen again.

They come about because you want your own way and you fight for it. Deep inside you want your own way and by the way this goes way, way back to our earliest days as a kid. My granddaughter Stella. I was a very little girl I remember I took her to a toy store once and then little dollhouse set up on a small table a low to the ground that the kids could access so you know that house and little bits of furniture and dolls and such, and she went over and started organizing it didn't and putting the little figures in the chairs offended so cute girls are so you know they love to do things like that and I'm just watching in amazement. And I'm thinking this optimize up girls are so good.

They're just so good looking or with a little dollhouse and suddenly a man comes walking in with a little boy about the age of Stella and I'm not making this up. This boy was on a leash. He had something of a harness around the boy and this boy is lunging at the dollhouse. He wants it destroyed the man is pulling Emily something. He pulled at least harder. What boys are bad girls could well couple days later we were without Stalin and her parents and some folks came over and they had their little child with a max.

It was more of a little toddler baby so little younger than Stella and the little baby reached up on the little table to grab some toy and Stella took the babies head and pushed it away. Girls are bad to the world that were bad to the bone were sinners were selfish me think of all the problems we have in our culture today think of immorality as an example why do people have sex before marriage, selfishness.

Why do they commit adultery against selfishness. When most marriages fall apart if I did pick one word to sum it up, so persist. Oh yeah, we could talk about communication breakdown, we could talk about financial disagreements but really if you get to the bottom like it selfish. Ms. I want that person to do what I want them to do. We walk with that person. First we want to put ourselves first talking about immorality.

Look at all the unwanted pregnancies today and what to so many do they go and get an abortion. What's more selfish than that since the passing of Roe V Wade in the early 70s. Listen to this, 58 million babies have been aborted. Let me put it more clearly.

50 billion unborn children have been murdered and the woman. To me this is a travesty. Why well the babies a burden or an inconvenience to the mother said what about when the mother's life is in danger, but now they becomes so liberal in the interpretation of that if the mother even says well I just thought a lot of stress from the baby. All of them you're in some kind of danger. So will just go ahead and abort it by the way, more than 40% of women admit to having an abortion before, so a lot of these women that are getting these abortions have done it before.

And the sad thing is, this is not only as is permitted in our culture today, but it's even encouraged to know why, but I had an issue of teen Vogue sent to my house the other day, probably because I stopping my subscription. No really, I never signed up for teen Vogue, but it shows up in our house. I'm flipping through this little magazine design for teenagers and one headline caught my eye in the headline said what to get a friend post abortion. I'm thinking what kind of a magazine.

Is this and so this is basically an article about what to do if one of your teenage friends is gotten an abortion. They suggest that you watch the comedy.

All I want to do. Get the person a girl power hat to deal with the postabortion physical discomfort, and emotional walls. The teen Vogue offered this counsel, she should not have to feel ashamed because she made the right choice for her situation and if she's already to carry a pregnancy to term and that's okay. Teen Vogue councils and then the article argues, she will need a ride and she will need a hug and she will need you not because the act itself is so terrible, but because the world can be." The quote the British. That's just rubbish. Are you kidding me. You know what, here's the reality going back to verse I quoted James for lectured cheers for the wrong things you've done be shed, let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter. You should feel bad and if you've ever committed this sin asked God to forgive you if you know a girl who is pregnant by all means, encourage her to carry the baby to term. She does not want to raise the baby has around. There are many families standing in line more than willing to adopt that child, but it selfishness, selfishness is at the root of so many problems were all about me Greg Laurie pointing out how the pathway to happiness is not paved with selfishness, but selflessness, good insights and there's a whole lot more to come. As the study continues hereunder beginning, including an additional comment from Pastor Greg before we go today for so have you requested your copy of Jeremy Camp's book, I still believe today's the last day.

Jeremy of course is such a popular singer-songwriter he's been Pastor Greg's music guest at the harvest Crusade many many times, but few know his story.

He grew up in a family challenged by alcoholism with little money.

Lots of stress. Years later, Jeremy found the Lord and he found the girl he wanted to marry. And he loved her deeply.

But Melissa was diagnosed with cancer right before they were married just weeks after their wedding, Melissa went home to Jesus. Jeremy tells the heart rending story in the book called, I still believe and explain part of the story to Pastor Greg Anna Sarah member was on the ground. She died in a position to God speaking the hardness and she just died in a sustainable worship me.

Remember I didn't feel like it. Course, there's like three times or her state of motion miss our member I finally was set up and no string, my dad lifted my arm up and to help me up and I remember I sat there sure to worshiping and I felt the presence of God so strong in her room. You just send them here with you. And if I would've been obedient to take that step that I wouldn't experience that sorts of people alive. You know it. Sometimes just taken a step, you know, even if you don't feel like you.

You know in even questioning in a sense that the why & why God said, think about Christ and the cross and you know he did say my God, my God, why do you say, that's right.

I think he will get his afraid to say God, why is they don't want to be shut down and not because God understands, he knows your pain in her.

This is we, the high priest that can empathize with your weaknesses. You know so when he's like no one understands. She knows that innermost person you he formed you before your in your mother's womb. He knew you knows everything about you. He knows as terseness pains, and I think sometimes it we don't know what to do and we selected to even take you know it became to step aside guessing you don't have to. I got human carries you to trust me enough on my arms and trust me helpful words from Jeremy And by the way we want to offer the book that Jeremy himself is written called. I still believe going to detail and tell you all that he went through with his wife Melissa, their beautiful love story the very difficult times they went through together in the hope that he is found, despite what could seem like hopeless circumstances. And as you know of films coming up very soon. Just days away called, I still believe a major film in theaters nationwide. Eventually it will be worldwide. But before you see the movie you want to read this book and I'll send this book to you for your gift of any size. And I mean literally. Your gift of any size you said just a little while Russia copied to you, but others can send a little more. And the reason we offer these resources is so you will help to support our ministry so we can continue to do what we do each and every day which is teach the word of God and proclaim the gospel and invite people to believe in Jesus Christ.

So listen get your copyright now of Jeremy Camp's book, I still believe here's Dave to tell you more yet we are happy to send this book and all the help it provides to thank you for your partnership with us in this outreach.

We especially thank our harvest partners were so faithful in their giving effect to Pastor Greg if you would say a word or two tour harvest partners about how much their support means to us and actually how it impacts the level of ministry that we are able to provide sure will let me explain what harvest partner is first of all, for those that have not heard that phrase before harvest partners just somebody that has made a commitment to contribute to us on a regular basis and because of their faithful giving we can actually plan for the future because they've given to us. We can consider new opportunities like going into what is called a new market a new area with our radio broadcast. And you know you listen to this program.

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I don't know but if you're a regular listener to a new beginning. If this radio broadcast is of help to you and it's been of help to others. Would you consider becoming a partner become one of those folks that help us to bring this message to our nation and, indeed, to our world. And then you share also in the fruit of what were doing the spiritual fruit of people that are coming to Christ, you know, a new beginning is one of the few radio programs out there in Christian radio were an invitation is extended, and folks we got thousands of people respond and accept Christ.

We invite them to ask the Lord to come in of their life and you've even heard me lead folks in that prayer maybe you been in a car with a nonbeliever present where I've gone to that moment in and you know that were giving people the opportunity to pass from darkness to light from the eternal destination of hell to heaven and we believe this is important and we know you believe it as well. So would you join us as a partner and help us get the gospel to more people and teach the word of God to more people as well. Thank you in advance for whatever you can do and we want to thank you tangibly for becoming a harvest partner by sending Jeremy Camp's book, I still believe today is our last opportunity to mention this resource so get in touch today by writing a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org or call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 when next time will see that following the world's prescription for happiness leads to the opposite more insights from Pastor Greg's happiness series.

But before we go. He closes today study called upside down, living this way. Proverbs 1125 says those that refresh others will be refresh themselves as you give out God will get back to you. Even actress Angelina Jolie figured this out. She made these statements in an interview and I quote I went through a depression.

When I was first famous because she says what was I famous for. I didn't do anything great and I didn't discover anything wonderful within she writes when I'm in a refugee camp.

My spirit feels better there than anywhere else in the world because I'm surrounded by such truth and family and I feel connected just being a human being because I'm willing to spend the day in the dirt. Maybe it was important for me to know that that's better than having an Oscar for insightful very true possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.org