The World Changer at the End of the World: God of All Comfort

Today's episode of a new beginning is brought to you by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Learn more@harness.org and while you're there, browse our library and free e-books designed to help you grow in your faith that we want an answer. I want to know why it's the most common question trial or tragedies should Lori addresses or promises so as to which one Greenwald seen why we should say who is more because the Bible says God of all crisis sickness certainty about the future hope may seem, in short supply today of a new beginning is only a short supply going to the wrong glory and produce every child depended on God's provision to see him through the following/I want to focus on when Moses story. His name was no. He was the last days believer because he was living in the time before the blood came. Why did the flood come. Why did God send judgment on the earth.

The first time the answer is found in Genesis 6 want you to turn over there if you would Genesis 6 first book of the Bible Genesis 65 gives us a description of the world and the days of Noah. Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent of his thoughts was only evil continually. You might underline that only evil continually in the Lord was sorry he made man on the earth, and he was grieved in his heart out underline that to come back to. So the Lord said, I'll destroy man whom I created from the face of the earth, man and bees creeping things and birds of the air. I'm sorry I made them. There, what exactly was going on here on planet earth to bring God's wrath so heavily. Genesis 65 gives the answer. The Lord saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every intent of the fog of his heart was only evil continually. God said he's grieved no it's interesting that the word grieved is used here in verse six, you only green for those you love. You don't grieved when some random person cuts you off on the road.

You get angry. Maybe upset. But it doesn't grieve you. It grieves you when your child is disrespectful or goes astray, or someone you love or care about, says or does something that hurt you your grieved only by the people you love right so the fact that God uses the word grieved shows is that this is hurting the heart of God because he loves humanity. God takes no pleasure in bringing judgment on anyone so that our media responses will then why does God said judgment to hear Cianci ready God sends judgment because he is a loving and just know know how good God of love, judge anyone.

That's our default response on telling you God sends judgment because he's loving and just let me illustrate, let's say that you had your small toddler playing in your backyard and suddenly a wolf appeared climbed over your fence saying showing and was running full speed toward your daughter toward your child toward your son. What would you do I would like love the Wolf no-no kill the wolf right stop the Wolf wife because you love your child you love your child more than anyone or anything else or thinking to harm your spouse or harm someone you care about. You protect that bird know the wolf is our brother know the wolf is not your brother, also wild animal and you need to stop thinking crazy thoughts like that right so because you love your child.

You protect you hate that which would harm your child so in effect you bring judgment and so their wickedness was great. They just wouldn't stop. It just became more and more intense way that these people have an opportunity to believe there was a news story outta Aaron Rodgers quarterback for the Green Bay Packers apparently was raised in a Christian home, but he had some issues with his Christian faith, and that he said in the interview and I quote I remember asking the question is, young person about somebody in a remote rain forest. In other words, what is someone's you know isolated from everybody else. They'd never heard the gospel. That's basically the way it's asked that they're in a rain forest or in the desert. Always for some reason and I and he said the response I got was if you don't confess your sins you're going to hell and he says and I said what about the people that don't have a Bible readily assessable the sender.

This God is going to judge people. According to the light that they have receipt but I suggest you we received a lot more like than people realize. As an example, we have the light if you will, of nature just the handiwork of God surrounding us. Speaking of this power, it is creative ability I made to me it takes more faith to say there's no God in this all happened randomly that it takes a sake.

I believe that there's a creator behind all of these things have any of you ever seen the Sistine Chapel Ridge ahead of you.

Few people quite pretty magnificent right water that even come to be what we all know Michelangelo painted it took a long time. What if I told you while I don't believe a guy may Michelangelo painted, I think there was a wagon full of buckets of paint. Somebody threw a stick of dynamite in it and it blew up. I call it The Big Bang Theory and the beautiful Fresca on this ceiling of the Sistine Chapel appear when you crazy, I see that 740 70 there that wasn't created by the engineers at Boeing. I believe that there was a tornado in the junkyard and that's the result you would dismiss me as a lunatic but yet will take something as amazing as creation or even the human body.

That sake will it happen randomly.

I have a hard time seeing that I think it takes more faith to not believe than it takes to believe. Romans 118 says God shows his anger from heaven against wicked people who push the truth away from the self because he's put this knowledge in their hearts. From the time the world was created.

People have seen the earth and the sky and all that God made so they have no excuse for not knowing God, and by the way, at this time. Earth was in much better shape than it is now not to go to a beautiful place like Hawaii are you see the handiwork of God in a sunset. People just sit out there and wait for the sun descendents are so amazing that something the Lord does for us. But at this time.

Historically, things were still in clause. I even like state we were closer to God's original creation that we are now so that the power of God was on display for all of that. Number two, we have the testimony of conscience of the light of conscience Romans 214 says, even when nonbelievers who do not have God's written law instinctively follow what the law says they show on their hearts they know right from wrong because God's law is written with them in them in their own consciences, accusing them or telling them what they're doing is right. So you say what about the person who's never heard the gospel while you have the testimony of nature and you are the testimony of your own conscience you know instinctively what right and wrong are and so many of us don't even live according to those dictate symbols like organized religion.

What is that even mean I don't like organized religion owed you like disorganized chaos instead what your definition of organized religion, praying the prayer opening the bilateral bulge anything organize okay so what you live. I live by my own standards. I suggest you don't even live by your own standards. I think you break your own rules. So you make new rules and then you break those don't you so you have the testimony of nature. Yet the testimony of your own conscience, then these people of the promise of a Redeemer, God had revealed to Adam and Eve that was coming one who would crush the head of the serpent who would deceive them in the course that was a reference to the arrival of Jesus and fourthly they had the people of the godly lives of Adam any even though Adam and Eve sinned, they still walk with the Lord.

After this, so there that testimony and so God will judge you, according to the light. You have receipt point number three. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 68 says simply that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, does that mean God had grace on Noah because he lived a righteous life. So actually it's the reversal of that the word grace means God's unmerited favor because he received God's grace, he responded to the grace that God extended toward him. He experienced it. God loves us and wants a relationship with us, so he found grace or favor in the eyes of the Lord. Look, the only way a person comes in your relationship with God is by admitting their own me that's hard for a lot of people. We don't want to say I need God I'm strong I can do this on my own. Aaron Rodgers and that interview went on to say, you know, I think that Christianity is a crutch crutch. The whole hospital man I need more than a crutch. I need everything I need every piece of equipment in that spiritual hospital. I have no shame in saying I need God. I'm not embarrassed to say I depend on God will to Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. Such a blessing to hear from listeners who take time to express their appreciation, Pastor Greg, I just wanted to thank you for your daily devotionals and also for your sermons. I especially liked your series on heaven and what to expect when we get there. It's helped me accept my husband's death much easier knowing that for the year and 1/2 of him being in the hospital suffering complications from a liver transplant and him not being able to eat any food. Now that he's in heaven he can eat anything he wants to.

That somehow gave me great comfort in knowing this, since my faith is in the Lord and Savior. I know that he's not suffering any longer and I will see him again someday, but also learning of things that we can expect in heaven. From your message just brought me a little more comfort in this very difficult time right now. Thank you so much for being a vessel for God. If you have a story to share. Why not call us and give us all the details. Here's the number 1866-871-1144 866-871-1144 Pastor Greg is resenting one of his most requested messages today titled the world changer at the end of the world part one was continued now judge was about to come and I wonder if there's somebody here that is at a wake-up call lately something this happened in your life that's gotten your attention. Everything was going great and then you got the call from the doctor and everything changed. Everything was fine. Then your wife, your husband, your boyfriend or girlfriend broke up with you your dog even left you, but the cat won't leave. For some reason you really want the cat to leave anyone of the dog to stay even more than your girlfriend Franklin. Whatever it is something to happen or you had a close brush with death that I think there's three things we should keep in mind when something like this happens number one. Remember that life is precious life is precious. I have an Apple watch right here. Funny thing with this crazy watch there periodically says to me three like I'm breathing thing and send it to me when I like working out briefly what it was from with you, but I think is a good message there pre-right that breath you're trying right now that's a gift from God does or might be someone in the hospital room struggling, hoping for that next breath, but I just pre-then I breathe out. That's a gift from heaven. I shouldn't take it for granted everyday of my life is a gift from God. Every single heartbeat.

It's a blessing. Don't take your health for granted. Don't take your family for granted. The Bible reminds us in Psalm 90 teach us to realize the brevity of life, so we may grow in wisdom. Don't take life for granted number two. Don't ask why asked to don't ask why asked to 11 years ago, our son Christopher was killed in an automobile accident.

It was crushing devastating.

I wondered if I would even survive it. It was so massive for both Kathy and myself and our son Jonathan Christopher's wife Britney was just life altering and it's like time stood still for all of us and of words could have killed you. I mean hearing certain information that could have killed me.

I felt like literally I could have died. It was so overpowering, but in my time of weakness when I needed the crutch I neither the hospital I needed intensive care that I called out to the Lord, and guess what he was there for me and he sustained me on that day and sustains us all to this day because the Bible says he's the God of all comfort. Sometimes things happen in life that are unfair and tragic that we want an answer.

I demand an answer. I want to know why. If God told you you wouldn't be happy. I made of the Lord to Loretto and I'm tired of you asking Wyman to tell you. Are you ready write this down okay and ready ready. Here's why.

I don't agree with that you would like it. It would make sense to you this side of heaven. We live on promises, not explanation, so we should not spend too much time wondering why, instead of saying why we should say who is and who do I turn to you turn to the Lord and you cry and you cry. It's okay to cry. It's good to cry. In fact, you must mourn when you've lost a loved one. In fact, if you do not properly mourn the loss of a loved one can affect you in a very bad way because you cry out to God you bring your pain to God you bring your sorrow to God and then the last thing is we must prepare we must prepare life is precious. Don't ask why asked to we must prepare death is not a respecter of persons. It doesn't care if you're rich or poor, religionists, or you have no faith at all. If you're famous, infamous are not known. The docs and every door will not get your door it will not mine. It's not the end because there's an afterlife. We talk so much about this life, but the afterlife goes on forever affect this life. The before life if you will, is pretty short when compared to the afterlife and Jesus said I am the resurrection of the life and he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. That is why Jesus died on the cross. You see out the cross he defeated sin, but of the resurrection.

He defeated death. Death died when Christ wrote so my question for you is are you prepared for the afterlife.

I told you the story before of a man he was walking through a graveyard.

They saw tombstone and audit were inscribed. These words because no stranger as you pass by as you are now also once was. I is I am now so you will be so prepare for death and follow me. The man was overheard to say to follow you is not my intent until I know which way you went.

Are you prepared for the afterlife. What is this for your last night and it will will be, how do you know you don't know no one else. The Bible says it's appointed and when men once to die, and then comes the judgment.

God's appointed the hour he doesn't reveal it to us.

Frankly, I'm glad I don't know are to we don't know to be tonight. He could be 10 years 20 years 50 years 78 years on God to worry about that, but be read. Be prepared. Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people in the one they'll stand before God and the Bible says in the books will be opened in a book will be open which is the book of life and the key is you want your name written in the book of life.

How do you get your name written in the book of life by believing in Jesus Christ. If you put your faith in Christ and you asked him to be your Savior and Lord. Your names in the book and no one's taken your name out of the book. If you're good to go. But then there's the books.

Books are going to be open and I wonder what's in the books of the Bible doesn't say maybe one book is about all the times you heard the gospel and blow it off. Maybe another book is a record of how you had your own standards that you didn't even live by. Maybe another book is all the commandments are broke when I know what's in the books, but whatever it is it is not real good is your grievant at this great white throne judgment. That's bad. You have to be there at all easy. Jesus died on the cross and he absorbed the wrath of God in your place so you don't have to deal with it. He died there for you as I've said many times he came to pay a debt he did not know because we owed a debt we could not pay. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, you can have this grace in your life, because the Bible says, by grace you are saved through faith, not of works lest any man should boast. You're not going to get to heaven because of all the good stuff you've done you can get to heaven because of the sacrifice Jesus made for you on the cross and you admitted your center and you turn from your sin and you believed in him.

Then you can know. Listen, you can know that you go to heaven. Do you know that right now. If not, why would you not want to get this resolved. Frankly, is there anything more important than that, that you could think of anything that where you spend eternity if I want to close with just an opportunity for anybody here anybody watching, listening, wherever you may be to make sure your name is written in the book of life to put your faith in Jesus Christ. He stands at the door of your life, and he knocks and he says if you hear his voice and open the door he will come in if you've never asked Jesus to come into your life. You can do it right here right now and you can be prepared for the afterlife and not be afraid of death any longer. So that's all Barry had sent everybody praying father, thank you for your word to us tonight, and I pray for any person, here, or maybe they're watching or listening wherever they may be. If they don't have a relationship with you. Help them to come to you now. We amen to Greg Laurie important prayer about entering into a relationship with the Lord.

And if you like to make that kind of change in your relationship with God today with Pastor Greg will come back and help you do that before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes then we want to make available a wonderful book for kids. It's a devotional book. Boy what a great time to give your child a devotional book so they can start this new year off right. It's the colorful book from pastor Levi Lesko called roar like a lion partially by what your parents know about how kids are coping with life as we began 2022.

Are they navigating this crazy time better than we think. Or worse than we think.

I think the answer that question is yes, Dave.

I think it's the best of times, and a source of times I think I will level the this the studies are in anxiety, depression, suicide, hopelessness, drug addiction, these things are skyrocketing, but I don't think it's just because of COBIT. I think it's a perfect storm of a of a of a society that's continuing to hasten towards a state of secularism.

I think it's also the social media addiction as well as the fact that you know people are not outside walking around, getting Nate, the nature fix like were meant to everyone's inside there's a there's a toxicity to social media being on devices binge watching Netflix people are reading less, which is one of the things that so important is reading to our kids are kids reading. People are reading.

Re: Lester just skimming you have the Internet and and so yes, it's the worst worst of times on that level load. We expect out of out of of you know people being isolated which we know is as bad as it is bad for your body is smoking a pack of cigarettes to live in isolated life, like to a week of isolation without friendship. That's just sociologists have proven that, but I think also it's the best of times to because what we call the greatest generation is the generation that came out of the Great Depression. So the hardest times can create the best people yes so I see glimmers of that I believe God is raising up a generation of young people to seek him to glorify him and to stand up in this world and and and bring him the Majesty.

He's deserves, but it's it's both.

It's both, and at the same time so you been listening to pastor Levi Lesko who had just written a brand-new book called roar like a lion 90 devotions to a courageous faith.

This is the book you been looking for to read your children and your grandchildren and will rush to your own copy for your gift of any size to us here at a new beginning so we can continue to come your way with the teaching of the Word of God and the proclamation of the gospel. Yeah, that's right. And you know it's the perfect time to maximize your investment in the work we do here at harvest ministries and we have huge plans for 2022, including a large Crusade outreach and a film documenting the Jesus revolution.

We pray God sends another revival like the Jesus movement so your donation couldn't come at a better time and with your investment. Be sure to ask for roar like a lion by pastor Levi Lesko. You can donate online@harvest.org or write us at a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime again at 1-800-821-3300 and Pastor Greg just before we go. Would you mind praying with that person listening who wants to make a change today in the relationship with the Lord. I'd be happy to Dave you know is you been listening to this today. Maybe you've heard another voice. By that I mean, you heard me say a few things, but you heard God's voice speak to you deep in the recesses of your heart and it suddenly dawned in you. This is what I need order stated more accurately. This is who I need I need Jesus. And I want Jesus, but maybe you don't know how to make that connection. Let me help you pray this after me right now if you want Jesus Christ to comedy your life Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sin and I need your forgiveness right now.

Would you come in the my heart, my life as Savior, as God as friend. I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me and for giving me an Jesus name I pray, amen. I know there was a relatively short prayer.

Maybe you felt something as you prayed it. Maybe you felt nothing, that doesn't really matter because God's word says these things we write to you that believe on the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

It doesn't say so. You may think you have it or you may hope you have it of gods in a good mood. No that you can know it and I want you to know if you pray that prayer and minute Jesus Christ, the son of God has come into your life. So congratulations, you're now a Christian now continue to follow the Lord. Yet, to help you would like to send you some resource materials recall our new believers], it will answer many of the questions you might have get you started in your new relationship with the Lord. So get in touch and ask for will send it free of charge. Call us at 1-800-821-3300.

We can take your call anytime 24 seven that's 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org then click know God when next I more insights from the life of Noah about living wholeheartedly for God no matter what's going on around us good insight from another of our most requested messages past year joint. If you run a new beginning. Pastor and Bible teacher Greg Moore and everybody thinks or listening to an beginning this is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. So for more content can help you know God and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a harvest partner. Just go to harvest.org