What Do You Live For? - III

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God, to find out how to know God personally go to know God.org K NOW know God.org he would you do me a favor sure this message was someone who needs to hear it today.

Pastor Greg Laurie should choose carefully when you live for your legacy and the hereafter. If you say for me though it was money for you one day going all behind me… Saying that one day you will be gone.

If you say to me to live is power is only one day to die will be for you to lose all to live is Christ also say dollars in credit card drill. You see, and what is critical to borrowing tomorrow's money for today is a stark picture of our culture wants to live in the moment today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie points out that mine should get a world of trouble on the spiritual level will take a few moments to consider where that leaves us the book. Another thing that keeps bubbling up of this great epistle is happiness and joy about this is probably the most poignant happy letter that Paul ever wrote. Not that there is not happiness and joy in other epistles. He wrote, but it just seems like there's a lot in this one in particular at least 19 times in these four chapters of Philippians, Paul mentions joy rejoicing or gladness but yet circumstantially he really had nothing to rejoice about a minute, we read that Paul wrote this book, you know to come back.

You know, in the Mediterranean and joy in life would say we get it, but he actually wrote this under house arrest.

This wasn't as bad as some of his imprisonment.

We might've been like in a dungeon, but this is where he was chained to a Roman guard and he was under the control of this point of Caesar, Nero, and in his case was waiting to go to court and Paulette know I get what was about to happen.

You might be acquitted. He might be beheaded, but all he knew was he was a prisoner he cannot walk about freely as he wanted to. And if that wasn't bad enough, some of the believers in the church were against them.

Some are even spreading lies about this great apostle, but he knew God was in control. Here's what he wrote. Philippians 121 for me to live is Christ and to die is gain by love for me to live is Christ and the guys came but I believe on the flesh that will mean fruit for my labor yet what I shall choose I cannot tell from hard-pressed between the two having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you being confident of this. I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again but you get a verse 21 for me to live is Christ that we hear someone say for me to live is Christ, we wonder you know these people in touch with reality really to live is Christ. What is it even me. Some will say we know some are so heavenly minded there no earthly good in my counterpoint to that, as some are so earthly might've there no heavenly good thing when you're really heavenly minded when you're really living for Christ. You will be of the greatest earthly good.

You see real spirituality is practical. You have your feet on the ground but your heart in your thoughts will be in heaven. And I think Paul is an example of this in so many ways. I mean, there is no greater example of this in Jesus himself. You know Jesus was a practical man.

He was God in human form walking among us. But Jesus lived a real life on planet Earth. He was a real living human being, but he was God walking among us.

So Paul is saying, to live is Christ and that was pretty much not just Paul's motto but I think the motto of pretty much everyone in the early church. This is the church or change the world, and I pray that we could be the church that changes our world as well.

Paul lived for Christ and he cared about the church. Look at verse 23. I'm hard-pressed between the two having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better but it's important for me to remain in the flesh for you that he wanted to help them, but notice what he says. He says having the desire to depart with Christ, which is far better listen to this death for a Christian is something that's going to happen as it will happen for every person, but Paul understood that when death came in, it did come for him.

It was a conscious existence, not an unconscious oblivion. It was to be with Christ for me to live is Christ to die is gain. In other words, he was not going to just go into a grave. It was a continuation of life, not the conclusion of life and the life I had was a greater and better life death for the believer is a promotion that for the believer is a graduation death for the believer is a coronation. When you live for Christ are not afraid to die again. Only the person who is said to live is Christ can then say to die is gain to addressing the word that Paul uses her for departing when he says I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, translated multiple ways. One way it's translated is to strike the tent. It was a term used to describe what soldiers did you know that set up camp and then when it was time to leave. They would strike the tents or like when you go camping course camp is a lot more sophisticated now that used to be somewhat used tents, but you know some have motorhomes in our motorhome is you know some of these motorhomes are incredible big flat screen TVs on the outside. You know they have everything that you have in a regular home and they just go park it and come to do that thing and they say they're camping. I don't of a truly camping but maybe I'll set up a flyer you know and then it's time to leave and you'll will extinguish the fire and you move on to your next campsite, but you know, for me, I'm not a huge camper and I've never loved camping that much by it's sort of like camping to me is very similar to going to the beach. My favorite part of camping is getting there and then the next report is leaving you know Julie citing Howard camping and then it gets cold and and how to go home on a hot shower one clean close to going to the beach.

The best part of going to the beach is when you arrive.

Howard said each of the sun is out and the waves are looking good. That's fantastic, and nobody's here and I just love the beach an hour later you're sweating. Somebody comes in with certain tell right next to you when there's like miles around the right next to you. The crank up the radio really of noxious music seagulls start impeding taking things, taking your lunch flying off with your children.

You know, it just is. I want to go. So Paul says you know what in the break camp.

I'm in a strike the tent at the word he uses here for department to interesting, because the Bible does compare the human body to attend seat. Your soul will live forever in your body will one day be resurrected into a perfected state. But when a believer dies their body. The body we live in now goes into the ground. But then it's ultimately resurrected, but the soul goes immediately into the presence of God. But it's interesting that the Bible does color body a 10 second Corinthians 51 says we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down.

That is, will we die and leave these bodies will, of a home in heaven, and eternal body made for us by God himself. The look you can do all that you want with this tent you live in. You can stretch it contain its and you can do other things to try to make it look younger, but it is what it is okay and it's not meant to be a permanent dwelling place.

I it's temporary so that is the very picture used in Scripture.

Another way the word departure is translated is being released from shackle I will. Paul wrote this he was in shackles. He was chained to a Roman guard so it's like being released from those shackles number three the word is also used to describe untying abode from its mooring untying abode from its moorings. So Paul is saying here and ready to set sail in a love one leaves us, especially bits unexpectedly. There's great sadness that sometimes we feel sorry for them may have a fun experience a great meal of family reunion. Whatever it is all I I just wish my level was with me right now seeing this right now. I wish they could be here. They love it so much the ever wondering to give your loved one is in heaven and can and I wish they could be up here with me right now seeing what I'm seeing. I guarantee no one who is gone to heaven would ever want to come back to earth again if given the choice, because heaven is so much better now touched and then just a moment, but untying abode from its moorings. That is the picture that he is in just a moment.

Pastor Greg gives us a strong glimpse inside heaven. From our text today in Philippians sure to stay tuned. We love hearing stories about how God's Word touches lives. I've always believed in God, but I guess I never understood or was a skeptic my life was pretty good that something inside was telling me that there's more stagnant struggle with stress and anxiety just started reading the Bible for the first time in 40 years, finally starting to make sense and anxiety since last I realize my problems were connected to the lack of purpose in my life no more. I surrendered my heart to the Lord. What an encouragement has gone word impacted your life would you let us know tell us your story by calling 1-866-871-1144.

That's a special number 1-866-871-1144 were getting a more eternal view of life. Pastor Greg today by way of his message called, what do you live for.

From Philippians chapter 1. Get a full copy of the study@harvest.org when you look for Christ. One day you'll be with him and have a look at verse 23 I want to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

By the way, that's a strong superlative form.

The Paul uses which means far far far better. Much, much better reported in sort of local speaking Hawaii mold that are brought small bed of raw is way, way better than what you have here. We want to go to have just want to die to get the right heard about an old man who is asked what he wanted, said at his funeral thought about it for a moment and said I wish they would say look, he's moving you know, as in your soul. I've tried we want sitting your funeral. Why is heaven better than her. It's better because I'm moving from attend to a mansion by moving from attend to a mansion. How many of you remember the TV show the Beverly hillbillies are all very old.

Some of you many of you know how many of you remember Reggie had again Isaac okay let Marvin how many of you have no I do avoid me when I see the Beverly hillbillies strategic but you will. This was a show on long time ago – and it's a story of Jed Clampett. This family and in the discover oil and so the move to Beverly's hills that is swimming pool, movie star so that that's those of the lyrics. I like that you loaded up the truck and removed the Beverly that's it will do believe are broken down shack for a mention, far better than even Beverly Hills heavens better because it's immediate heavens better because it's immediate. Verse 23 called apart and be with Christ. That's very important because all the people of the lonely guy you go straight to heaven.

Simple answer.

The moment you take your last breath hundred to take your first breath and have it you don't go to a holding tank unit on safe all departed just can't offer you know if you hundred years called apart and go to purgatory Road apart and go to a soul sleep. No, called apart and be with Christ, you go right into the presence of Jesus Christ. Many verses affirming the second Corinthians 58 says were confident and I say were rather willing to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Thirdly, heaven is better than her because all my questions will be answered all my questions will be answered well of questions in life. Heard about a mother who had some questions you invited a bunch of people over to her house for dinner. Far too many was a lot more work than she thought it would be but everyone was seated at the table, so she has her little six-year-old daughter if she would say the blessing a little girl said mama matter know what to say and she said will just say what you hear mommy say the little girl bowed her head and said, Lord, why on earth that I invite all these people here she heard mommy say. I'm sure we have more profound questions and that for God God. Where were you in this day God, why did you let this happen God why didn't you let that happen. I've questions for God. We all do I really wonderful to get to heaven all have my list Lord is good to be here, but I have this list. I kind of think what's I see them all. Just a never mind it's all good, very good, but will know all things and that they first Corinthians 1312 says right now we see imperfectly is in a poor mirror, but then we'll see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely Justin God knows me know and I believe that when I get to Kevin.

I'll spend all eternity, learning and learning. I don't think it's like God dumps all this knowledge in the my brain I'd be like some weird bobble head. You know, just huge had little body walk around out I think your learning and learning and growing. The discovery all through heaven and then ultimately when heaven comes down to earth again. This is the hope of the Christian and only the Christian and lastly heaven is better because I'll be with Christ be with Christ. I'll be with him year shall be reunited with love one set of proceeded to yes all your questions will be answered yes you will trading your 10 for a mansion. Yes, it'll be so much better on every level. But yes, you will be with Christ and that's what makes heaven heaven. So wrapping this up what you live for. If you say for me to live is money than for you one day to die is to leave it all behind. It is safe for me to live is fame.

Then one day for you to die is going to be that you'll be forgotten. If you say to me to live is power that I'm telling you one day to die will be for you to lose all but if you see to live is Christ in you can also say to die is gain what you live for deliver something you look for something gets up in the morning the fires you up, but that's something, or that someone that you live for. Will they be able to save you in the final day soon you live for Christ. It's win-win. It's win-win. Why because you have heaven guaranteed absolute heaven but this life on earth is life lived to its fullest. The Christian life is the best life. Jesus said, I have come that you might have life in them more abundantly. So he wants to give you a happy, fulfilled, joyful, purposeful, meaningful life on planet Earth, and then the absolute assurance that there is an afterlife for you in his presence in heaven. But if you've not believed in Jesus.

This is not promised to you. Heaven is not the default destination of every human being. The only way you could know you're going to heaven is to get your reservation and off I want to go Florida Tahiti. I can't just go down to LAX on board a plane going to Tahiti and take some seat and expect to get there. I can expect to be arrested because I have to buy a ticket and that I have to wait to board and then I have to take my seat and all that. It's on the same way if you want to go to company would need to get a ticket but you don't buy it with your own money and you don't buy it with your good works. God bought you the ticket already 2000 years ago when Jesus died for your sin and he'll give you the ticket but you have to ask for it. It's a gift.

The Bible says, for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons of God is to think about would offer someone here this Bible here. I want you to have this if you want this Bible you have to reach out and take it and hopefully say thank you gutsy look I want to give you eternal life in fear I paid for it. You can earn it, but I'll give it to you so you reach out and say I'd like that. Lord, thank you very much.

And Jesus will forgive you of all of your sin and give you the hope and the assurance that you go to heaven when you die. If you believe in him, he said while you do that through prayer and I meant going to extend an invitation to any of you that have joined us who may not have this relationship with Jesus yet you been living for other things and it's been a dead-end street has in it. Living for that pleasure living for that possession.

Living for that accomplishment.

It hasn't delivered has it. Newsflash it never will. But God will do everything he promised for you but you must believe in him so were going to pray and if you've never asked Jesus Christ to come in your life, whether to do it right now the top of our heads. Father, thank you for loving us so much that you send Jesus to die in the cross in our place. Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross and taking the judgment of your father upon yourself. That should've come on us for our sins, but then you rose again from the dead three days later and now you stand at the door of every human heart, and you knock you say to us about hear your voice and open the door you'll come in. I prefer any that are here any that are listening that do not yet know you helped him to come to believe now that Greg Laurie important invitation today and if you like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment. If you would be in prayer right now for those who were making this kind of decision. If you list any part of today's presentation here on a new beginning you can get caught up by going online to harvest.org or just call up our harvest app on your mobile device or for CD copy. Call 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300. The title of today's study. What do you live for yesterday were making available the book, I still believed by Jeremy Camp and of course most of our listeners know Jeremy for his music, but his story is riveting. Yes it deals with his wife's terminal illness and you know sometimes the Lord heal someone miraculously right before our eyes. Sometimes the healing comes in that there taken home to heaven ultimate healing if you will. That's right, Jeremy talks about feeling angry when he did hear of someone else having that first kind of healing and earthly healing. He wanted that kind of healing.

So much for his wife. He prayed for it so often what we do with those feelings when someone isn't healed in the way that we want in the way that we prayed for so often very hard question to answer. I've had the same emotions myself.

Of course, because after the Lord called our son Christopher home.

You know I would look around at people with you.

Note 10 children and they're all healthy and I had two sons and one of them was taken and it made no sense to me.

And there are certain questions that will be unanswered this side of heaven. I wish I could answer that question for you, but when life is bad, God is still good.

And God is still in control and God loves you so. As I've said before, when you don't understand what's happening, fall back on what you do understand.

Don't trade what you do know for what you don't know, don't you know well what you don't know is why you're going to the hardship you're going through, or where your loved one is what would you do know is God's in control, God loves you. God promises ultimately to work all things together for good to those who love him and we know there's a haven't. We know there's an afterlife and that's very important because that means that if our loved one is taken from us in the dying faith.

We will see them again so they're not only a part of our pastor also a part of our future and I in the case of the Jeremy and his wife Melissa did just got married did a beautiful honeymoon and there were newlyweds looking forward to life.

The cancer was gone and they felt that that it was part of their past and the cancer came back with a vengeance and and actually when she was in the hospital room. Suddenly all of the pain and pressure of that cancer, left her body and she said the Jeremy Jeremy, the Lord just healed me.

So he ran out of the hospital room to grab a doctor. He was so excited and then she went right into the presence of the Lord, and he was devastated. He was on the floor in a fetal position, not understanding why God allowed this to happen. Well, in a broad sense. Melissa was right. She was healed, but none of the way that they were hoping the pain was lifted from her.

She was taken in the presence of the Lord. But he's taken this story in these made a movie out of it and it's good to be coming out very soon and I've seen this film already. It is a powerful film.

You will not want to miss it. It'll be in theaters nationwide and ultimately all around the world, but but hey we got the book for you. And you know what, there are things in this book that Jeremy has written that didn't make it into the film, you only have so many minutes in the film.

There's a lot of details in this book that will really help your deck. I can't think of a better way to prepare yourself to see this film then to read the book 1st so that's what we want to rush you a copy of the book written by Jeremy Camp, which is called, I still believe, oh yeah it'll bring a tear to your eye. It will also bring a smile to your face. It's a love story. It's how people deal with tragedy and it's a book that gives hope even for people that feel they're in a hopeless situation, try to such a moving story and we want to send this researcher way to say thank you for partnering with us. We so much appreciate our harvest partners.

Those who believe in the work were doing each day here on a new beginning and end our nationwide evangelistic outreach is called the harvest Crusades. They make an investment each month in teaching believers and sharing the gospel with those who don't yet know Christ and with invite you to be a part of the team and to our first time, harvest partners and all those who give one time gifts today will send Jeremy Camp's book, I still believe with the end of the month almost here. We won't be mentioning this resource much longer. So writers today had a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300 or just go online and give securely@harvest.org yesterday you spoke a few moments ago, the need to get our hearts right with God.could you help someone who wants to do that right now. Yes, I'd be delighted to listen as you listen to this program today. Maybe some is been happening inside of your heart where your sensing.

I need to do this personally, but how do I do it and what or why do let me help you.

It's very simple affected so simple. You may be shocked God's relationship with him is just a prayer away. The Bible says if you will call upon the name of the Lord you will be saved, so I'd like to lead you in a prayer we you do just that you call on the name of the Lord. This can be the moment when you change your eternal address literally from hell to heaven. Just pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for me, and rose again from the dead, Jesus I choose to follow you from this moment forward in your name I pray. Amen.

I know it's such a simple short prayer but you just called on the name of the Lord, and you know what he heard that prayer and if you meant there prayer in your heart, he answered that prayer now let me help you to get started on the right foot in your new life in Jesus Christ. The greatest adventure awaits you the life of walking with God. I want to send you what we call a new believers growth pack that includes the new believers Bible and a whole lot more and let me be the first to see the you congratulations and welcome to the family of God and to get that free new believers growth packet just ask for if you prayed along with Pastor Greg to receive Christ today will be glad to send 1 Your Way writers shed a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click no God but next time Pastor Greg points out that the way to find happiness is not by looking out for number one will see selflessness and unselfishness.

The way to find real happiness. More about that next time you're a new beginning and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions@harvest.alert