What Do You Live For? | To Die Is Gain

Everybody you're listening to a new beginning, which is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. If this program is impacted you, I love to hear from you.

So just send an email to me at greg@harvest.org again it's greg@harvest.org you can learn more about becoming harvest partner by going to harvest.org today. Pastor Greg Laurie dishes choose carefully when you live for and affect your legacy and the hereafter. If you say for me to live is money for you one day die is to leave it all behind you say for me to live is feigned in one day for you to die is going to be that you'll be gone. If you say to me to live is powered telling you one day to die will be for you to lose all you say to live is Christ also say the guys in Americans are more than $1 trillion in debt, trillion with a T. And what is credit, borrowing tomorrow's money to pay for today start picture of our culture wants to live in the moment today on the new beginning. Greg Laurie points out that mindset can get us into a world of trouble on the spiritual level will take a few moments to consider what were living see where that leads is the book that keeps bubbling up this great epistle is happiness and joy. This is probably the most poignant happy letter that Paul ever wrote. Not that there is not happiness and joy and other epistles. He wrote with her to think that 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, kicking back on the Mediterranean and joy in life it's that 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 Paul had no idea what was about to happen.

He 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 to die is gain. But I believe on the flash that will mean fruit from 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 41 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 are no earthly good in my counterpoint to that is summer so earthly mind of their 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 what 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 that 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 what 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 and 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 am 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 debt 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 that 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 would discard it apart and be with Christ, translated multiple ways. One way it's translated is to strike the tent 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. It's 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 in kind of 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 love camping that much might it 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 truly exciting homework camping and then it gets cold and and how to go home on a hot shower one clean close to going to the pizza best part of going to the beach is when you arrive, how it 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 hotel right next to you when there's like miles around the right next to you. The crank up the radio really of noxious music Siegel 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 I know to break camp a minute, strike the tent at the word he uses here for department to interesting, because the Bible does compare the human body to attend. See, 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 when 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 painted 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 a very picture used in Scripture. Another way the word departures translated is being released from shackle I will. Paul wrote this he was in shackles. He was Jane 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. You know love one leaves us special events unexpectedly.

There's great sadness. 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 hear they love it so much. You were 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 has gone to heaven would ever want to come back to earth again if given the choice, because heaven is so much better now, touch, and then just a moment, but untying abode from its moorings. So Paul is saying here. I'm ready to set sail in just a moment.

Pastor Greg gives us a strong glimpse inside heaven. From our text today in Philippians. Be sure to stay tuned. So many listeners have commented on the help they received from these daily messages God's word ministers to them and it often gets into some of their darkest hours are a lot harder building anger and why Juan like I asked Stanley completely changed entrance and how I get a great God and here are areas and areas God, which is 24 7.1. It's encouraging to know that the studies in God's will impacted this woman's life is Pastor Greg drop him an email telling your story, send it to great@harvest.org today will you thinking about again. That's great@harvest.org. What 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. Let's continue.

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 more far better. Much, much better reported in sort of local speaker who I am. Obata brought a small band 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 moving from attend to a mansion I moving from attend to a mansion. How many of you remember the TV show the Beverly hillbillies.

You're already old. Some of many of you know how many of you remember Reggie again. Isaac okay let Marvin how many of you have no I do avoid me when I see the Beverly hillbillies stretching but you will. This is a show on long time ago � and it's a story of Jed Clampett's family and in the discover oil and so the move to Beverly hills that swimming pools movie star so that that's close of the lyrics. I like that you loaded up the truck and removed the Beverly that's it will do will leave are broken down shack for a mention, far better than even really hills heavens better because it's immediate heavens better because it's immediate.

Verse 23 fold apart and be with Christ.

That's very important because all the people of the lonely guy you go straight to heaven.

Simple answer moment you take your last breath Leonard to take your first breath and have it you don't go to a holding taking it unsafe all departed just kind out for you in a few hundred years all departed. Go to purgatory Road apart and go to a soul sleep know all the parts can be with Christ, you go right into the presence of Jesus Christ. Many verses affirm 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 am by all these people here she heard mommy said 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 nevermind.

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 Gavin. 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 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 discovering 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, yet shall be reunited with loved ones that are 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 guys what you look for look for 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 wife 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 wanted 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 the 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 give 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, and Sarah 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.

You see, 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 not you say to what simple 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 help them to come to believe now that Greg Lord important invitation today if you'd 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 are making this kind of decision and then can we just say thank you thank you to those who not only listen on a regular basis but also pray for us and not only listen and pray, but also invest. They recognize the power of the gospel to change lives in the invests of the studies can continue and Pastor Greg you know that support makes a big difference in the lives of the people to listen to us. Yes I do and I would encourage some of you to be generous because when you are generous with your finances. We will put that money to work in expanding this ministry to reach more people with the teaching of the word of God and the message of the gospel.

Yes, we hope you'll contact us today and let us know you want to partner with us.

We have a special way to say thank you. Get those details@harvest.org and you can make that investment while you're there or writer set a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call any time 24 hours a day at 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 one Pastor Greg a few moments ago you spoke of the need to get our hearts right with God.could you help someone who wants to do that very thing 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 or your sensing. I need to do this personally, but how do I do it in one away. Do let me help you. It's very simple effective, 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 the 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 a 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 young to get that free new believers growth pack. Just ask for it if you prayed along with Pastor Greg to receive Christ today will be glad to send 1 Your Way. Call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime. That's 1-800-821-3300 writer set a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org and click the words know God will next time.

Pastor Greg points out that the way to find happiness is not by looking out for number 1C selflessness, not selfishness way to find real happy. Join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and five of Greg Laurie and I harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God learn how to become harvest partner sign up for daily devotions and find resources to help you grow in your faith harvest.org