The Influence of a Godly Life | Bringing Others to Faith

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Visit our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org will those who lead many to righteousness shine like the stars we often led the wrong attention to liberty, the rich and famous. Greg Laurie, the real rock stars song leader celebrity of the moment.

The real stars are the ones that engage people in conversations about Jesus try to bring others we go out in public without being long famous for pretending they were make-believe close that one will make beliefs that deliver make-believe lines and then in the commercial break. They hope to make you believe he actually use the haircare product. Why do we let them influences today on a new beginning for Greg Laurie point man of famous name was influenced almost forgot. Let's grab our Bibles, Daniel chapter 12 the title of my message is the influence of a godly life.

The influence of a godly life. Daniel influence so many people influence Shadrach me shack in the bed to go. Then as we continue their Daniel, there's the unexpected conversion of Nebuchadnezzar himself.

The most powerful man on the face of your and there's a number of things that stand out in Daniel's life. But maybe the key to his successful life and ministry is grounded, Daniel 18 will re-Daniel purposed in his heart he would not defile himself, and this was in a relatively small area about the food from the king's table what it was that resolution. It was that commitments that determination that carried him through life both read a few passages together. Daniel chapter 12 I like to read verses 1 to 4. At that time Michael the Archangel, who stands guard over your nation will arise in the will be a time of anguish, greater then any since nations first came into existence. But at that time. Every one of your people, whose name is written in the book will be rescued. Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried, will rise up some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever, but you Daniel keep this prophecy a secret seal up the book until the time of the yen when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase. There so verse one tells us the time of anguish is coming this time is spoken of by Daniel later in the book of Revelation and other passages of Scripture. We also notice the great tribulation. It will be appearing in human history of unprecedented horror and a Holocaust that is coming on the year. Now here's an interesting verse.

Daniel 1210. Many will be purified and made white and refine, but the wicked will do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand the wicked will do wickedly. No surprise there. Wicked people just keep doing wicked things that the trajectory of human history. Things just go from bad to worse. So wicked people will continue to do wickedly. But then this hopeful statement.

Many will be purified made white and refine interesting is this a promise of revival in the last things will we see a revival or a series of revivals or spiritual awakenings were people turn back to God. I would hope so. And I think there will be actually God says in the last days I will pour my spirit out on all flesh that sons and daughters will prophesy the old men will dream dreams that was goaded by Simon Peter on the day of Pentecost. The last great American revival was the Jesus movement that could probably not written a book about it called Jesus revolution and I wrote this book because I wanted to tell the story of the last great American revival not to live in the past, or just take a walk down memory lane. I actually wrote it as though I were sitting across a table from a millennial and think God could do this in your generation as I was so cool at the baptism what a young man comes up to me holding a copy of my book I Jesus revolution it and I think his name was Isaiah he was 17 years old he said I just read this book that I'm reading it again. This is changing me see he got the messages could happen for his generation. It's been said that the fame of revival spreads the flame of revival. So the reason I wanted to tell a revival story was to inspire a younger generation same. Maybe you can have revival in your time as well know, it's interesting that time magazine dubbed this moment in time that Jesus revolution.

We then call it a revolution we call it a movement means that that's the Jesus movement and were Jesus people, but time magazine said this is the Jesus revolution. They chose at work that's interesting because the word revolution means an up evil eye change, dramatic change and there was a lot of revolution in the air back in the late 60s course, it was a drug revolution that still infecting our country. The mantra of the day was drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll make love not war, and all kinds of drugs entered the mainstream.

The Beatles are Pied Piper's in a way went from singing I want to hold your hand to.

I love the turn you on and a whole generation got turned on and destroyed in many ways affect the opioid epidemic of 2018 really erupted in the late 60s and then the sexual experimentation of the late 60s with the introduction of the birth control pill in 1964 promiscuity was encouraged really was an attack in many ways on the family.

Why live in the constraints of a family. Why do you need a husband and a wife and a mom and a dead man. May you know let's just do our own thing was the thing that just do your own thing mid we get her own thing.

The Bible says there is a way that seems right to amend, in the end thereof are the ways of death. We sowed the wind now are reaping the whirlwind facing the consequences of all those bad decisions, 1968 was the big wake-up call for the 60s all the cool psychedelic Day-Glo colors had faded to gray and everything just started unraveling and 68, Martin Luther King great civil rights leader shot down on the balcony of his hotel. Robert F. Kennedy, who won the nomination for his party to become the president shot and killed in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Young men coming home from Vietnam in body bags riots in the street matter look like America was going downhill fast and I was so God said a revolution that Jesus revolution and a change the nation and we need another one right now. How did it happen read my book and find out. No, seriously.

Couple things. It wasn't planned by anybody selling some and said let's start a revival because you can really start a revival.

You know sometimes churches outside the front revival tonight only from 7 to 9. You may have a great meeting with that's not necessarily a revival revival is in the way getting is coming back alive.

It's a restoration but I do think though that the we can bring about a revival in our own strength. We can prepare the ground. Or maybe I should say we can pre-prayer the ground I the privilege of being at the White House recently for a dinner that was put on for evangelical leaders and there's a few things I said but one thing I pointed out was our niche in the United States of America was founded during a spiritual awakening. Did you know that one of our founding fathers George not George Washington. But George Whitfield, a preacher from England proclaim the gospel thousands of people living in the colonies. This is before we're officially a nation came to faith in Christ.

So the obvious result was moral change in culture because whenever people come to Christ for changes the way that they live and this became the soil that was so receptive to the seeds of liberty of this new nation that was being formed.

I don't think we could have had United States of America. Without that incredible soil tilled by the evangelist George Whitfield so I pointed out, we started with awakening and we needed another one I quoted second Chronicles 714.

We all know that verse. If my people, which are called by my name or home of themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from Their Wicked Way, God will hear from heaven and heal our land so yes revolution. The word revolution doesn't just speak of an up evil.

It also speaks of churning around or rotating. Write a revolution returning to something then our case we need to get back to the church and change the world.

Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment, you know, there's nothing lying here in the word of God and worshiping the Lord together. I will encourage you to join us for something we call Harvest at Home every Saturday and Sunday harvest out or join Christians literally from around the world as we worship and we study the word of God together. So join us for Harvest at Home and harvest will today. Pastor Greg is talking about are challenged to impact the world and see another spiritual awakening like we did in the time of the Jesus movement of the 60s and 70s.

He continues now let me close with just five take away truths of the Jesus movement of the Jesus revolution things that we did when we came to church. Point number one there was a sense of expectancy when you came to church a sense of expectancy. In other words, nobody ever came late to church because we were going to meet with the Lord we were going to worship the Lord, you know the Bible says of the first century church. They continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine, the breaking of bread and a prayers. The phrase continued steadfastly means of a passion and urgency yes it is true we need anointed preaching today and one of the worst sins a preacher can commit is boring. People say so what your problem. I don't know what can I say but listen, we also need anointed listening, you know, we come with expectation that was their number to the worship was passionate and heartfelt.

We have these awesome worship bands back then effectively contemporary Christian worship was coming alive before our very eyes. Back in those days you might have a couple of acoustic guitars. We just sing the super simple choruses usually Scriptures that the song which by the way still remember all of them today. It's a great way to learn. Scripture but we would sing these simple songs, but people would engage people would worship and I think it's so important when we come to church, that we do and we worship the listener that if you want to see revival do revival like thing. Don't wait for the emotion. Let's say that your marriage was struggling and you came a Gregory plus a spark in our marriage. We bless the romance in our marriage. I probably asked you husband was the last time you took your wife out on a date I can. A decade ago. Yeah I would say you know what maybe if you want romance you should do romantic thing to be romantic emotions will catch up so a sense of expectancy and engagement in worship, Bible says that we sometimes bring the sacrifice of praise were not always in the mood. Number three.

We had a hunger for the Bible. The Bible was taught in all of our services, not just reference, we devoured it we studied it we consumed it. Hungry people are healthy people.

Sometimes when you don't feel well, you go to your doctor. In the last few hours. Your appetite is a pretty good yeah and you need lose about 20, sometimes her appetite is not good. We've lost weight and so when you're doing well spiritually, you will be hungry for the Bible, not just to hear in church with you will be hungry for the Bible every day, you need to start every day with the word of God. You tell me your spiritual life is lacking. You tell me that you've lost the passion you read your Bible every day.

Why don't always feel ago who cares you are that discipline of opening up God's word and starting the day up with Scripture and read it throughout the day did that a lot. Back in those days.

There's another one were almost done. We believe Jesus was coming back. We actually believe you will. Greg you obviously are off was like over 40 years ago. True, but I still believe Jesus is coming back to back. I think were 40 years, closer he could come back at any moment. We've never been closer to the return of Christ, that we are right here right now at this moment. I think if you really believe Jesus is coming back. It will impact you in the way that you live, how many we believe Jesus could come back in your lifetime richer.

Hey that's awesome. If you really believe that it should affect you and the decisions you make, to talk about that little bit more in our last message from this series. In Daniel, and lastly number five we invited people to come to Christ in every service and they did by the hundreds and thousands and thousands. That's all we do that here is a great one. You always give invitations we serious because lost people coming to church all the time and I'm glad they do.

I know most of you are believers, and I know I take a little more of your time.

Maybe at the end of the service. When I invite people to come to Christ. But I'll tell you what if you brought a nonbeliever to church a day you're thankful it's happening in your praying for that person to believe our children so you should be, by the way, we should be bringing people to church that don't know the Lord. Obviously, I know we all get fired up during harvest when the so call harvest happens. We get out there and we invite people and that's awesome.

But every week we should be bringing people to Christ and looking for opportunities in our own life to share our faith.

I love the statement of verse three Daniel 12. Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.

You know who the real rock stars are the people that share their faith that the people who have the most followers on social media, not the celebrity of the moment, not the person with the hit song of the top athlete or whoever is in the public consciousness at any given time. The real stars are the ones that try to bring others to faith that engage people in conversations about Jesus were all supposed to do that because this is a place where people can meet God and I pray it always will be is been up to this point.

I pray it will always be that place the hospital. Can you imagine going into an emergency room of a hospital looking at all these people who need medical care and safe care. He also said man know that's what all hospitals for that's what the church is for.

It's not all were for were here to worship God were here to hear the word of God were here to develop our spiritual guest but we care to be a place where people that don't know the Lord did come and meet the Lord, and of their lives changed by Jesus Christ, and you might want to those people.

I don't know how you got here today or where your watch right now.

Wherever you are, let me say this. If you're not sure of Jesus Christ is living inside of you. If you don't have the confidence that your sin is forgiven and that you will go to heaven when you die, respond to this invitation. I'm in a give now I mention Jesus could come back at any moment. If you don't have the confidence that you would be ready to meet the Lord in the air when he does come back, respond to this invitation. Right now, as we pray.

It's all bow our heads father now think you for your love for us in sending Jesus or Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sin and rising again from the dead.

Now I pray for anybody here who does not yet know you help them to see their need for you help them to come to believe we ask in Jesus name for Greg Laurie important prayer about coming to the Lord to find forgiveness of sins. And if you like to do that. Pastor Greg will help you in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes I'm Amy Grant and I have been playing music and telling stories since I was 18 I don't want to make this thing negative, but at the same time you want to be on his emotional never shares how proud… This thing is no longer all season and everything would just end out the story was so that's an excerpt from a brand-new film called the Jesus is produced by the Irwin brothers. You know the best for their films like I can only imagine. I still believe in next year. They're releasing the feature film based on my life and on the spiritual awakening call the Jesus movement.

The title of the film will be Jesus revolution while out of this movement of God that happened in the early 70s, a whole new form of music came to be that we call contemporary Christian music today but in the initial stage it was just called Jesus music. It became an industry with all kinds of people involved in. There's some drama in the story. As you'll see, but what I love is that the story of redemption.

How God is use flawed people to bring this music to us. But listen, God always goes out of his way to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. You'd be surprised by blessed by encouraged by this movie that were going to send you for your gift of any size on DVD, Blu-ray, and also downloadable again. It's called the Jesus music you may have seen in the theaters run screaming platforms. Now you can have your own copy Ellison whatever you send will be used to help us here at new beginning in harvest ministries to teach God's word and proclaim the gospel so order your copyright now of the Jesus music you love this really is a terrific film. It's a fascinating story, along with plenty of surprises we will bill it to send it your way were sending it to say thank you for your partnership when you partner with harvest ministries and a new beginning. Together, we can reach even more people you know more than 220,000 have made professions of faith. In the last two years and it's the investments are friends like you that help make that possible. To contact us today with your investment. Let us thank you with a copy of the Jesus music as Pastor Greg said will send it on DVD, Blu-ray, and also give you a way to download it to your tablet, your phone, your computer, so just give us a call at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime again at 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org will frustrate you put out the importance of asking Jesus to forgive our sins. A few moments ago. Could you help those who want to do that very thing right now.

Yeah, you know, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ stands at the door of our life and he knocks and if any man will hear his voice and open the door he will come in maybe. As you've heard me speak today while you've heard another voice speaking to you. It's a voice of God and you realize you need Christ in your life you need your sins forgiven you want the assurance that you will go to heaven when you die when here's what you need to do. You need to pray and I would like to lead you on a prayer right now or you will be seeing the Jesus Lord come in the my life. I choose to follow you. So let's pray Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I think you for dying on the cross for my sin. I turned from that sin.

Now and I put my faith in you be my Lord, my Savior and my God, my friend. I choose to follow you, Jesus. From this moment forward.

Thank you for loving me and calling me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen. Listen if you just pray that prayer I want you to know on the authority of Scripture that Christ himself is coming to your life.

The Bible 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.

If you just pray that prayer and minute you can know today you have eternal life, and we have be the first to see the you welcome to the family of God and we want to help you grow as a believer's letter send you our new believers growth packet will set it free of charge if you prayed with Pastor Greg today. Just call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime again at 1-800-821-3300 or write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org and click the two words know God when next I Pastor Greg brings is the finale series and Daniel called in this day and finish with a study called things to do before the end of the world. Join us here on a new beginning*Bible teacher Greg Laurie 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