Greg Laurie & Joni Eareckson Tada, "Don't Waste Your Pain" - II

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. If you would like to know how you can become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org that's harvest.org today on a new beginning.

Greg Laurie interviews the inspiring author and speaker Johnny Erickson taught. I don't want to be least in the kingdom of heaven. And I do not want to diminish my estate. I want to build toward lay up treasures in heaven about I want to experience that I possibly can join in worship and service in heaven. All is linked to the degree that we trust and obey down here on special edition of the new beginning today. Pastor Greg Laurie visits with Johnny Erickson taught author, speaker, and a host of her own radio program, a quadriplegic for more than 50 years. She offers unique encouragement on finding hope in difficult circumstances. Whatever your life is like right now smooth sailing for the worst time in your life to find good reassurance about the care and promises God, this talk about a subject that you've written the book on it and wrote a book on my book is as good as your book on the topic, but we both love the subject have all my goodness yes me and I'm you know so in your book called heaven. Your real home. You write this. I love this just 30 seconds in heaven will atone for all the heartache and hardship.

You went through.

Probably just a second or two, you'll look out in your rearview mirror and you'll see earth like I have forgotten and suddenly you will be home. I love that earth. I have forgotten dream and suddenly you will be home. You know Johnny when you get to heaven you believe your questions will be answered in what you think it will be like. I'm sure you've thought about this the moment you enter heaven and see heaven for the first time ever just you know you have such a vivid imagination. Your artist you speak so eloquently and right just what you think it will be like when you first enter health okay do you know do you know the castaway. The movie castaways yelling at Nelson I maybe castaway Compaq. Oh yeah, when either the theme music play to the castaway. This is sound silly, I can see the pearly gates slowly open, I can save my dad form Ryan's I can feel the strength of resurrected legs holding up my glorified body and I take gentle steps and I Gotta go find the theme music to castaway and listen because it is often and that's what I that's when I sense it's like this marvelous sense of wonder and Craig just earlier today I was reading Philippians 320, we are citizens of that place are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly expect a Savior from there.

Not just expect a Savior weight and verb early expect a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has brought everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body, but please don't be thinking Greg that I am most looking forward to the body works. I'm looking forward to the glorified heart. I want a heart that no longer tries to twist the truth.

I want a heart but doesn't called the spotlight. I want a heart that doesn't always want to try to get its way. I want a heart that is quick to give credit to others. I want a heart that is not anxious or fearful about the future I will heart that trust God and is instant in obedience and absolute in its trust. My what I want to glorify heart so every single morning as I like to say I get actively engaged in my own sanctification of God. Like I said earlier, I want to be the Johnny I was yesterday. I don't think it's kind of a Thing alone is you I like going to save it as is a little be eloquent, I say to the policy. Well, okay, rights were justified right justified.

It's it's a one time event, but but the gavel is banged and and your name is written in the Lamb's book of life, but it's a little like Congress passing the Clean Water Act because the next day you can't go out to the Los Angeles River and drinking water right is on for a long time for that Clean Water Act to kick into gear and make the Los Angeles River float flow sweetly so that you can bring from it right. Sanctification is as colloquially as I can explain it it's it's then taking that justification were justified before God.

Thank you Jesus and then we work it out.

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, the Holy Spirit tells us to make your calling and election sure yet doubts about your salvation. Start obeying God and you don't know where to start obeying God. How about Philippians chapter 2 verse 14, which says do everything without complaining. There you go. That's a good place to abate.

That's a start. You can start letting the will of God. Tomorrow morning by purchasing to go through the day, and fact the rest of your life without complaining and as you do, you will have a pay and God will transform your your life you'll change won't be the same Mary earth Joe or Bob. You were yesterday. You'll be a different person because that's what it means to behold the glory of God and be changed from glory to glory to glory and become like him is a wonderful thing. Sanctification and if you don't know much about it. I'm sure Greg's written about Seo you. I love the way you put it. You know you go to the verse I work out your own salvation with fear and trembling that goes on the safer it is God that works in you both to will and do of his good pleasure.

The phrase workouts interesting because it's a phrase that was used to describe going into a mine in getting the gold out so think the gold is there like you.

Your analogy, the Clean Water Act that it's been passed but no you we have to apply it. And so it's like to work it out which leads carry it to the goal not work for your own salvation. It's a gift from God work it out and it relates to heaven. Yes, because I Jonathan Edward once said, every day, you and I have an opportunity to stretch our souls capacity for heaven because everything we do down here on earth has a direct bearing on our capacity for joy and worship and service in heaven. I don't want to be quote least in the kingdom of heaven.

The Bible talks about people who will be quote least in the kingdom of better.

I want to be there and I do not want to diminish my eternal estate I want to build toward lay up treasures in heaven about it because I want to experience the list that I possibly can on joy and worship and service in heaven.

It all is a link to it all depends. To the degree that we trust and obey God down here on earth so brisket don't jeopardize it. Trust and obey, and in so doing increase your capacity for joy and worship and service in heaven, which in turn means you can toss more crowns at Jesus feet. Hallelujah.

Mr. Greg Laurie will have more of this discussion with John Erickson, in just a moment. So many listeners have commented on the strength he received from these daily messages God's word ministers to them and it often gets them through some of their darkest hours yesterday. I listened the assailant iPhone recently and I listen to your sermon about how you handled your son's tragic death and then I explained something similar. My family was driving to meet me for Wednesday night Bible study at our church when they were struck head-on by an elderly man driving I lastly has been 16-year-old daughter and a four-year-old granddaughter in the accident my 17-year-old daughter is currently at a rehabilitation center trying to recover from a traumatic brain injury.

My stepdaughter who is driving managed to escape within a few broken bones and a concussion was her four-year-old daughter that we lost. I'm grateful that God has led me to listen to your sermon and help prepare me for the spiritual and emotional struggles in my heart so that I could stand strong in my fee only continue to pray for my daughters complete.

Please continue to be revealing your sermons about death as they provide a wonderful foundation when things don't go the way we expect them to God's word is such a comfort to so many difficult times, and if you like to share your story.

Why not drop Pastor Greg an email send it to great@harvest.org again, that's great@harvest.org today. Pastor Greg is speaking with Christian author and speaker Johnny Erickson taught her in one of the most requested presentations of the year were calling. Don't waste your pain. Let's continue no limited cut of the lightning round these this little bit from the sublime to the ridiculous. Now these are just will simple questions like Johnny Erickson taught what is your favorite color. I love the little sex my favorite color, favorite food. We talk about food in the back room when his nose looked like Mexican, Italian now she would you like I let my loves fishing via love Cynthia I love sashimi because I'm from Maryland and so you know I like oyster stew and all the I love my mother's crabcakes crabcakes. I love my wife was graphics and we even order the $36 a cam Jumbo lump crab Crisfield, Maryland like takes a mortgage payment, pay for my now what I really want to take my mother's crabcakes. I order big time from Tellson's yeah so what makes you laugh. My husband the girl to get. I mean he comes into the sometimes he's wearing the million eyes.

Sometimes he does this very silly impression of Dr. Yamaguchi but you know he's Asian so he can get away with it really makes me laugh is not a great sense of humor.

So what makes us that a wasted life's I know some people who were wasting their lives and they have so much so much to be thankful for so many material blessings, but they either turn away from God and are not believers, not followers of Jesus or they are followers of Jesus, but they've chosen a carnal path and you know I'm of the persuasion of Hebrews chapter 12 I'll tell you, pray when I was in high school. I named Christ as my Savior. I accepted Jesus as a young life, weekend retreat, and I was involved in a Bible study in and doing great things from Friday night in the backseat of my boyfriend's car.

It was another story. And so I felt terribly guilty. Oh God, I'm so sorry, but then when you know I confess my sins on Sunday morning and next Friday night. It would be a repeat of the same old thing until I had done myself into slavery, and it was impossible to break free of sexual sin couldn't do it and so in April 1967. After a sordid date with my boyfriend. I came home one Friday night through myself into bed, sobbed into my pillow so God just a couple of weeks. I know I just know to do their because my boyfriend going to the same college sleep again. I'll take birth control pills. Not some stuff on such a hypocrite. I don't want to be the please Jesus do something in my life to turn it around and then I broke my neck three months later was God dealing harshly with me. I thought so. In the beginning I mean I somehow thinks that God could take a person seriously wonder why did you think that person seriously and you know I spy things out of him like okay that's we want to be on never to trust you with another my prayers again. That's it. And I not satisfied, but I realize what I was doing is digging myself into another cycle of slavery, bitterness, and there's nothing worse than a bitter spirit so I can look back and see that my diving accident and you may disagree with me.

You may think it makes God look harsh, but I believe it was an example of Hebrews chapter 12 a father loves the child that he disciplines if the child is not discipline.

If a wayward rebellious child who names his father as his father is his being disobedient and unruly and rebellious and stiffnecked and stubborn, a loving father will reprove and correct that child and bring about discipline that is punishing us is not retribution like that were in jail and see how that feels.

Larry slammed the door so indicates not know, but it is punishment quote punishment in the sense of discipline and restoration not retribution but restoration God restored me through this accident and all my goodness I often I often at least about three or four times a week. I'll be sitting at work or I'll be in my house Kilby just sent in a wonderfully supportive and I'm sitting there saying to myself, actually am praying she says so she says thank you for allowing my broken neck menu were such a wise God. I didn't like it at the time you were so good and so wise with what you have done you brought such peace in my heart and set me free of sin. Bless you, and it's just a constant wellspring of praise to my Savior because of what he's done in my life and it's it's I think it's discipline you might disagree. Others might disagree and you're free to disagree because who really understands you know God's persistent intent.

He had perhaps maybe other things on his mind.

Maybe when I read Hebrews 12 I think no. I think that it's discipline. Yeah, I mean we will know when we get to heaven. Now I think the guard looked to a young woman yes you going the wrong direction when he saw the vessel that he could trust with his glory.

That would have integrity and would walk with him and with honor families that I'm gonna put her in a place you've heard the expression, if you see a turtle on the fence post. You know, we didn't get there by himself right God, you know, people would listen to your testimony if you stood before us is a healthy lady but because you're in the place urine you been able to bring audit of the Lord of the in an amazing way in, so we thank you for that and not wasting your pain and had been a blessing to many so many, including me and let me just close with this question Johnny someone's listening to you right now and you know maybe they're disabled. Maybe they're basing the tragedy may be.

Everything's kind of going well, relatively online, but the biggest problem of all is that sin that separates us from God. They see you talking about your faith in Jesus and how he gives you the strength for each day in the hope that you have of having the hope that we all have so some of that. So since you right now wonders how come I have that faith. How can I have Jesus in my heart in a way I have a relationship with God like Johnny has what would you say the first well if Simon if you come tonight.

Dragged here by your elbow by your Christian friend and you are sure you wanted to come but you been sitting there and the things that Greg and I have been saying I warmed your heart you know there's something that has the ring of truth and what were saying in your heart is being warmed and eight may Annis not Greg talking is the Holy Spirit, God is bending over to bring you home so I would just encourage you look at the cross of Calvary and see a Savior who has rescued you already from your sins all you need to do is trust a minute. I believe in foreign and invite his Holy Spirit to sit on the throne of your heart as you confess your sin and say Jesus I want to follow my old way of doing things I don't want to be the stiffnecked stubborn person that my husband knows I am and not not for me. I want to change. I want you to change me, gave me new life in you and then give me the power to wake up tomorrow morning trusting you in a fresh new way and you'll be on your way home when you put your hand in the hand of Christ. Those of you who are Christians. Perhaps God is calling you to rise to some new fresh level of confidence in Christ you are tired of a mediocre Christian walk you my rise to a new level of trust and confidence in him get get in the practice of getting actively engaged in your own signification. Every single 1B intentional about the way you live tomorrow. Think about the choices you're making.

Think about the words before they come off your tongue tied to the sins that he died for on his cost for you. That's what it means to become like a minutes death daily, pick up your cross and died to the sins that he died for on his cross for you and my goodness, your soul will be able your soul be so much better pond to the heart of your Savior. Hard to get beat meeting in rhythm with his. And before you know it is joy because he should shares his joy on his terms. In his terms call for us to in some measure suffer as his own son suffered when he walked on earth. So get your heart beating in Britain with his and before you know it is joy is in the spillover heavens walls splash up in your heart ever fessed up to others in the static encouragement of river of encouragement and advice up back to the Lord in a fountain of praise. My side down. Hallelujah.

Let's think Johnny Erickson got mood amazing was the be able to sit there and talk with her, but we would close with the prayer that I would like to extend an invitation for you to believe in Jesus. Even though there some of you have never made the commitment to Christ. I thought it was very interesting and very candid with Johnny shared about when she was a young girl I've never heard tell that story before and the struggles she was having with promiscuity in the morale of the and you know just the head that's the story of some young kid here tonight young man a young woman then there's somebody else that is dealing with other problems in life and whatever it is, the answer is Jesus. So if you're not sure if Christ is in your heart right now if you don't have the confidence that you will go to heaven when you die if you want this relationship with the Lord like Johnny has people around you have a lead the prayer right now. You can ask Christ to forgive you of all of your sin. No matter what you've done to forgive you but you have to be sorry for that sin you have to turn from that sin and the need to ask him to come into your life and you'll do it, because Jesus says I stand at the door my noggin up you'll hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in and he could be with you and he can be in you tonight. He's just a prayer away. So one of the closing prayer. Let me invite you to believe or for some of you maybe to make a recommitment to Christ. If you need to tonight. That's all barrette's father, thank you for this Knighton thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us. Lord Jesus, thank you for coming were born in the manger you live the perfect life in the new died that perfect death and you sort the wrath of the father in our place and then you rose again from the you stand ready to come in that any human heart. I pray for those that don't know you come to know that Greg Moore important prayer and if you'd like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord today. Pastor Greg will help you do that or just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning wraps up after a copy of the full interview with Johnny what we heard today and last time I get in touch with her presentation called don't waste your pain.

It was one of the most requested presentations of this past year. Call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org in his new book, Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon.

Pastor Greg points out how challenges faced Johnny from his earliest days through most of his life. Johnny always struggled in life. He was born during terribly hard times in Arkansas little money little opportunity with plenty of family challenges the tragic story about Johnny's older brother Jack, who died in a horrible accident of their and their farm. It's all told in Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon really the story of Josh is a story of redemption.

That's why I called it the redemption of an American icon. There are lessons to be learned from a life of Johnny Cash yet as lapses get the stumbles, but he never forgot where he came from, and in the end he recommitted themselves deeply to the Lord and had great great faith in Christ and in no course I believe is in heaven, Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon spiritual biography from Pastor Greg Laurie is available now. It's an encouraging story of God's grace and how he gives second chances. Who do you know who needs this assurance would like to send you Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and then the pastor Greg would you like to speak to those who would like to make a change today in the relationship with the Lord. I would get I receive so many letters day from people from every walk of life from successful businessmen to those who are incarcerated to mothers struggling is trying to raise their children to young Boys and Girls Club writing and saying they've made a commitment or recommitment to Jesus and maybe you need to make a commitment to him right now.

Let me lead you what a word of prayer.

Yes, you can meet God right now I would just ask you to pray this prayer out loud after me and this is what you are asking Christ to come in your life.

Pray with me know if you would, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner. I know that I've broken your commandments and I fallen short of your standards but I think you that you have loved me and you've called me of yourself so I turn for my sin right now and I choose to believe in and follow you be my Savior be my Lord and be my God from this moment forward. Thank you for calling me and loving me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen. Hey let me just say God bless you.

You've made the right decision and welcome to the family of God. Yet we want to follow up with you by sending something called our new believers growth packet to help you get started. Living as a believer will send it without charge. If you pray for the first time today to receive Christ.

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