What You’re Really Looking For | Message from the 2022 Boise Harvest

Hey there Victor, listening to the great glory part just a ministry supported by harvest partners on Greg Laurie encouraging you if you want to find out more about harvest ministries.

To learn more about how to become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org. The title of my message is what you really are looking for. You know from the moment you were born, you've effectively been on a quest you been searching goes back to your childhood sooner or later, every thinking person gets around to asking the big questions in life such as what is the meaning of life. Why am I here in this wide way exist.

What happens after I die.

And finally, who let the dogs out know that's a stupid pattern over there look up at the docks. But we really do get around to asking these questions because we are wired by God for something more. The Bible says that God has placed eternity in our hearts we want to make a mark. What I like to count for something. We want to do something we want to have significant and that's why I think so many people are so drawn to social media.

I would get more followers and I want to be more well-known. In fact, I read recently that a poll was taken of young people. They were asked what they wanted more than anything else, the answer was, I want to be rich and famous, rich and famous is that all that's really cracked up to be. If the rich and being famous was what people thought it was where there so many miserable, rich and famous people there there there miserable.

You look at so many of them what's happened there's a group of people known as the 27 club back. I read about that in this new book Leonard Dylan Allison Jesus what to 27 club. These are people that unfortunately die at the very young age of 27. Some of the names in that club are Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison.

Others joined the 700 club and later times by Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse object of fame. Amy Winehouse made this statement and I quote famous like terminal cancer. I wouldn't wish it on anyone." The look at how many lives have been destroyed through drugs and alcohol.

Such a long list. Such a tragic list with the Houston Heath ledger Philip Seymour Hoffman Michael Jackson prints Anna Nicole Smith River Phoenix Scott Weiland Cory Monte Elvis Presley. Most recently, Taylor Hawkins from the foo fighters John Belushi, Chris Farley all died of drug overdoses and then there were those that have taken their lives through suicide that reached all the goals people would hope to reach people like Anthony Bourdain, Chester Bennington Chris Cornell Ernest Hemingway Alexander McQueen Michael Hutchins Hunter S Thompson, Kate Spade, the list just goes on and on this emptiness.

No fame is not the answer. Money is not the answer. Jesus is the answer. This is what were looking so I have a friend Alice Cooper as it was that already. He's been there done that, bought the T-shirt and the T-shirt and I interviewed him recently and Alice Cooper real name Vincent Fortier heard the Lord knocking and he gave his life over to the Lord. So I want to tell you yes I want to tell you a story that's 2000, but it is totally relevant today. I want to tell you a story about a young man that had it all together. He was wealthy he was climbing up the corporate ladder. You probably had a BMW chariot lowered supercool came up to Jesus.

He was drinking a lavender oat milk latte NES Jesus said in important question.

There were still asking today and here's what he said. It's in Matthew chapter 19 verse 16. This man came up to Jesus with this question, teacher, what good things must I do to have eternal life. Jesus said why do you call me good, what is good. Only God is good, but you went to your question, you can have eternal life if you keep the commandments. This rich young ruler asked which ones. Jesus replied do not murder. Do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not live. Honor your father and mother love your neighbor as yourself. The man replied. I've obeyed all these commandments, what else must I do.

Jesus said if you want to be perfect, go, sell all that you have give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.

And when the young man heard this he went away.

Sadly, because he had many possessions using this young man thought stop would fill the hole in his heart, and we do the same thing today. Oh, if I was just married. I would be happy then you get married.

Well if we just had kids, then we would be happy then you have kids if we could just get rid of these kids and it would be happy if we just bought a home in California.

I'd be happy overly sold and moved to Idaho, then we would be happy right off I could just retire then I would be happy and on and on it goes. You can be like a dog chasing its own tail going around in circles and literally wasting your life.

This rich young ruler hadn't done what he was looking for. So he comes to Jesus what we have to do to find eternal life. Jesus says, keep the commandments not let me point this out, keeping the 10 Commandments will not make you a Christian.

If you are Christian you should seek to keep them. But Jesus brought this up to show this man that hid he had deed had broken many of those come out so this young guy said all I kept all of those since I been a kid we would've read in the next verse, and Jesus smacked him across the face. It would've been relevant.

By the way, it's never good to smack people across the face too soon.

It's also not a good idea to throw water on Mike Tyson on an airplane.

Yeah, he was sort of the heavyweight champion of the world, and I think this is going and well he had not kept the commandments, nor have you did not give us the commandments to make us righteous gave this is the commandments is Joseph were not righteously open our eyes and they shut our mouth. You keep the 10 Commandments we've all broken them both. People don't even know them read a survey revealed more people know the names of the four beetles that a single commandment is not interesting and we say, well, I've heard some of them like we know one. You shall not commit murder is a well at least I haven't done that. I hope you have it and if you have please don't raise your hand. No one want to sit next to you. But even if you would committed that sin. God would forgive you remember the story in the Bible of the thief on the cross we call him actually he was a criminal on the cross. He was probably a murderer on the cross because the Romans did not crucify these he turned to Jesus and he said what must I do, what must I do, and he said remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom. Jesus said, truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.

Talk about getting in under the wire. I may be talking to somebody right now it is hearing their last sermon so money was not to live another day someone's name is going to end up in that obituary column tomorrow. This could be your moment. You know, confusing. It doesn't take years to become a Christian.

It doesn't take months. It doesn't even take hours for can happen in a moment. Just like that when you believe in Jesus think about it it's not what you do for God is what Christ has done for you. Imagine that thief ending up in heaven like Gore usually says I know I got here I was talking to Jesus in a moment ago in here. I yeah all because of what Christ did for him in Christ.

At the same for you. But we broken these commandments if they will haven't murdered anybody with the back of the matter is Jesus said you've heard it said, you shall not murder, but I see if you hatred in your heart toward someone you murdered. Therefore, were all murderers. All you've heard it said Jesus said you shall not commit adultery but I say to you, if you look at a woman or a man with lust in your heart you committed adultery. We broken these commandments and this is the point Jesus brought this up so this man would acknowledge that he had done this very thing.

I would see his need for Jesus and this is what we all need to see and Jesus was giving this man a chance to believe there's an interesting twist on the story and another gospel. After he said this. The Bible says Jesus looked at him and loved him. If you forget everything all same said to you tonight here in the extra mile arena. I want you to remember this, God loves you he loves you.

Listen to this God is not mad at you. He's mad about you he wants a relationship with you that you were talking about. But this is not about religion. This is not about just going to church.

This is about having your life transformed by Jesus Christ right here right now.

It can happen. There's a story in the Bible about a father who had two sons and one of the sons ran away from home. He was tired of his father's rules and regulations.

He thought he could have more fun outside of his father's house and Jesus said this young man went away to another country and spent all of his money. He was impoverished. He lost his money and he lost his friend.

You don't give a lot of money billable out-of-print when his money was gone is friends are going to remind you two guys at Rupp camping probably here in Idaho they were getting up in the morning and that one friend was putting his running shoes on really quickly and he said were you going to his look and there was a big bear running up to full speed and is what he said he'll DQ it out you can outrun the bear do you. He says I don't need to outrun the bear. I just need outrun you same. That's also called some so-called friends are. They walk out when you need them or not there so this boy lost all of his friends came to his senses and he said I'll just go back home and say dad I messed up by sin and not worthy to be called your son anymore.

Could you just give me a job.

I don't expect to be returned to son Chip again but Jesus. He told the story.

This shows what God is like said when the boy was still a great ways away.

The father saw him, got up and ran to him and threw his arms around him and kissed him and said let's have a party let's have some barbecue because my son was dead is alive again and he who was lost is found. That's how God feels about you right now.

I might be talking to a prodigal son or daughter you were raised in the church were raised believing but you walked away from God. Whenever you you've never never even had a relationship with God, for God's you can come back to him and he will welcome you with open arms. You want to find out who your real friends are. Follow Jesus Christ and you know quickly so after I became a Christian I had a bunch of friends that were drugging's. We did drugs together made a lot of bad decisions and I know what to do. I wasn't quite comfortable around the Christians yet a little too much praise the Lord and hallelujah for my taste, but I my friends that I used to hang out with. I didn't want to do what they did anymore site what a week without talking to them. So we used to go to this one guy sells not far from my high school we will be where we would literally get something done on high right now I don't know.

I think I drink too much coffee for sure, but so we would literally get hi there every day and up but I hadn't seen them for a week since accepted Christ, and so I was on my way over to their house just to see what they were up to one of the Christians ran up to me and said Greg Craig Prather Dragon thing� God I'm not his brother elicits her brother from another mother. I don't know.

He says Pro. Praise God I'm like yeah okay fine, whatever Pro I have a Bible for you and he gives me a Bible was upbeat and thrives Bible with popsicle sticks on it in the shape of a cross. This is your Bible Pro I'm like okay thank you and he walks up and I shoved it in my pocket. I didn't want anyone to see it. I wasn't ready to talk about my faith yet so I went over to my friend, saw Fred often gone and I hid my Bible in the bushes in front of his house. I was never a bold witness yet and I walked in. They said Laurie where you been I said nowhere. What you been up to.

I said nothing in God's Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, tell them about Jesus and I said no way.

So I said that once a Greg you want to get hi said no, what you been up to Lori and said nothing sums wrong with Greg and then the guys mother walks in holding my Bible Jesus, I found this in the bushes. Who does this belong to like I'd committed a crime or something. The lady want kids doing drugs in your house and you're worried about a Bible says hello to every eye in the room went to the Bible and they went to me they knew there was a connection is another that's mine, Lori, what is that it's about what the Bible what the Bible, one of my friends and all of Bible open.

Praise the Lord brother Greg.

We get to be Christians nights are going to kick you in the mouth. I had not read first Corinthians 13 yet okay so they mock me. They made fun of me. They gave me a hard time and I walked out.

I said I don't need these so-called friends anymore, so that so you'll find a rope out to your friends are follow Jesus Christ lives in this young man did not want to give up his possessions. It wasn't about his possessions.

It was about his heart. Yes, you have to give some things up to follow Jesus Christ. Whatever you give up to follow him he will more than make up to you.

Think about it, what are you going to be giving up you going to be giving up emptiness for fulfillment misery for joy help for heaven. That's a good deal so this young man heard this message of Christ. The Bible says and he went away sad. I can't do that.

I'm not willing to make a change. I'm not willing to do anything differently you went away sad. Now let me tell you another story briefly about a man that went to Jerusalem searching for God. He worked for the Queen of Ethiopia. He was powerful he was wealthy. It was like a government official and he went there, searching for answers to his spiritual questions and he did not find them because religion does not have the answers to the questions you have. But then the Bible says it was amending Philip, who was a preacher who saw this man from Ethiopia and this man, who was visiting that city was reading out loud from Isaiah 53 that actually talks about the death and sacrifice of Jesus, and Philip said that this Ethiopia dignitary.

You understand what you're reading.

The man said how can I unless someone shows me the way Philip climbed up into his chariot with them and read him the Scripture and explained it and that men believed in Jesus at that very moment. So here's to wealthy affluent man to powerful men 11 away mad. The other one away. Glad to you the choice tonight. If you leave the extra mile arena. You can go away mad, you can go away sad. You can go away. Glad it's up to you what you want to do a comes down to what you do with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the son of God came to this earth, was born in a manger in Bethlehem.

He lived a perfect life.

Then he lived and died a perfect death, and died on the cross for your sin and as bikes were driven through his hands and his feet. He took all of the sin of the world upon himself including yours and then he rose again three days later we celebrated that last week and he's alive and he's here with us right now. And Jesus says behold I stand at the door and I not in the future my voice and open the door, I will come in.

So here's the choice before you can go away mad, you can go away.

Glad you can go away said it's up to you if you say yes to Jesus Christ. He will come in your life and forgive you of all of your sins. Think about that for a moment, every wrong you've ever done everything you've ever committed will be forgiven by God doesn't just forgive sins. He forget sin.

The Bible says God speaking their sins and iniquities. What I remember, no.

So how do you come into this relationship with God. How can you know that you go to heaven. When you time and I'll talk about that more tomorrow night.

How can you find this joy and this happiness that your longing for. Here's what you need to do step number one you need to realize you're a sinner. I know some people don't like to be called sinners but the Bible says all of sin and fallen short of the glory of God.

There's not one righteous, no not one. What is it mean to sin, it means to cross the line you seen a sign in a park baby that says no trespassing to send this to trespass. It's across the line is to break one of the commandments like we balder but sin also means to miss the mark got it set a mark for all of humanity, which is perfection. Jesus said be perfect, as your father in heaven is perfect. Is he who could be perfect answer. No one Dr. Jesus comes in. That's why he died for your sins so you have to admit you're a sinner number two recognize Christ died on the cross in your place. Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life. It's right here on the front of the stage. I am the way the truth and the life and no man comes of the father but by me. Only Christ was qualified to bridge the gap between holy God and sinful humanity realize that he did that for you coming back to the rich young ruler's question what good things must I do to have eternal life.

Answer their are not enough good things you could do to have eternal life is a you know you couldn't even have all those great works to get your way. And even if you try besides heaven is not for good people. Heaven is for forgiven people need to be forgiven of your sin. Eternal life is a gift.

The Bible calls it the indescribable gift. So if I were to offer you a gift here tonight and he wanted to get what you need to do you just reach out to take and I don't care how you take it, just take it. It's a gift you don't earn it. You don't deserve it but God offers it to you. Christ bought it for you at the cross with his own blood is sort of like when you give a gift to a man or a woman, when you give a gift to a woman with a card shall open the card she might've to be touched by what she reads. Thank you so much, should carefully undo the ribbon justly and many use this somewhere else undo the package open think you that's a woman opening again. You give a gift to a man, he opened the card. He's not reading it is just seeing that there's money in it.

Right gift card. He tosses it aside.

The wrapping paper is just a barrier to him.

I don't care if you open a like a man or a woman just opened the gift of eternal life that God offers to each and every one of you here you that are watching as well give the Bible also says you need to repent of your sin. What is repent means it's a military term meets a change of direction, sort of like an about-face, so you turn away from that old life you turn away from that sin. The Bible says repent and be converted in times of refreshment will come from the present of the Lord and then you must do it publicly.

That is when a few moments, and ask you to do what over 600,000 people have done for the last 30 years that are harvested at Simon asking a few moments to get up out of your seat walked on in this field and stand here and I'll lead you all in a prayer, a prayer similar to the prayer that the character Lonnie prayed with Greg in that film clip that you just saw a prayer will you will ask Christ to come into your life and finally, you must do it now. Is it will come back tomorrow and I don't only till tomorrow night.

The Bible says today is a day of salvation tonight is your night.

This is your moment. Why do I call you publicly because everyone did Jesus call the cold openly and publicly. He says if you will acknowledge me before people, I will acknowledge you before the father in the angels in heaven, but then he had it. If you deny me before people die you before the father and the angel so that's why men ask you to come publicly in just a moment.

This is a moment in time.

Your life can be changed in your eternal address can be changed as well from a place called hell to a place called heaven to check to see that I don't believe in hell. How could a God of love. Send anyone, anyone to help listen. God doesn't send anyone to help you send yourself there when you reject God's offer of forgiveness. The Last Pl., God wants to see any person go to is this place of final judgment wasn't created for people was created for the devil and his angels. Jesus said God wants you to join them in heaven. Then he wants to give you a life worth living on this earth. It's all waiting for you. Will you accept the gift. Would you like your sin forgiven. Would you like to go to heaven when you die. If so, to give you the opportunity to do it right here right now. Let's all pray together. Father I pray now for every person that is here. I know you love them. I know you have a plan for their life and I know you're ready to forgive them. Right now I pray that your Holy Spirit will help them see their need for Jesus and that you will bring them to yourself. I prefer people that are watching right now.

If they don't know you Lord bring them to yourself as well. We commit everyone to you now that need you work in the hearts of these folks we pray in Jesus name, amen and amen.

Listen very carefully. If you want your sin forgiven, if you want to know that when you die you will go to heaven if you want to fill that hole in your life that you tried to fill with all the things this world offers.

If you want Jesus Christ to come into your life tonight to be your Savior and Lord, I want you to get up out of your seat and I want you to walk down these audios and stand in front of this platform when you get here were going to give you a Bible to talk to you about the commitment. You've just made to wherever you are. Get up out of your seat come down to make your public stand for Jesus Christ.

Listen to this, you're not too good to come to Jesus. No matter how good of a life you live or how moral of a life you live, you broken God's commandments, and you need Christ tonight but having said that, you're not too bad to come to Jesus no matter what sins you've committed. God will forgive you, you're not too young to come to Jesus if you've understood what I've said here tonight you can come and ask Christ to come of your life, but you're not too old to come to Jesus my table. Greg, I'm set of my ways and you can't teach an old dog new tricks. While you're not a dog and these are tricks fallen away from God push them out of your life but you can return to him. The Bible says seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts let him return to our God who will part you come and make this public stand for Christ. You'll never regret this is the most important decision that you will make in your life.

This decision will determine where you spend the afterlife you decide in this life where you will spend the afterlife you come to Jesus, lead you in a simple prayer I would ask you to pray this prayer out loud after me. This is where you're asking Jesus Christ to come in to your life to be your Savior, your Lord, your friend, your God, pray this prayer from your heart.

God will hear you and answer. Let's all bow our heads pray this after me, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. I turn from my sin.

Now I choose to follow you from this moment forward as my Savior and Lord is my God and my friend. Thank you for hearing this prayer in answering this prayer in Jesus name I pray, amen and amen. God bless each one of you here everybody thinks you're listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org and the find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God