What I Would Tell My Younger Self | Passing on Knowledge

We are glad you're joining us for a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast supported by harvest partners get more encouraging audio content.

When you subscribe to pastor Greg daily Devos learn more and sign up@harvest.org were in the ring. This is a really ring my job in this race is not the whole of the baton forever on water.

Or we need to do this thing today on a new beginning after Greg Laurie points out how discipleship is part of God's plan professing insight and wisdom from believers to younger believers. Your younger believer, you can learn from Rochelle model, chances are you served some sort of apprenticeship you learn the trade from someone a few years the Lord has a similar plan for how believers older younger today on the new beginning. Greg Laurie shares the kinds of precepts that we should be passing on. If you missed the first 14 thoughtful message. If you have a Bible with Robert second Timothy chapter 4 and the title of this special message is what I would tell my younger self advice I would give to anyone young people, but older people as well. I would say young Greg tell others about Jesus and the disciple.

This is called the great commission Jesus said, go to all the world and preach the gospel to make disciples of all nations teaching them to observe all things that I've commanded you, baptizing them in the name of the father son of the Holy Spirit. Hello, I am with you, even to the end of the age. Jesus is saying he will be with the person who does this in a special way. It means that we look for opportunities to initiate conversations about Christ. To the best of our ability. We seek to lead people to the Lord and then we disciple them is that what is that even meet me to take a Monday your wing and help them get up on their feet spiritually is why discipling the new believer is important for the new believer, as well as for the old believer the older believer stabilizes the younger believer in the younger believer energizes the older believer so you know when you been going to church for 10, 15, 20 years. I don't know what you do after the service, but maybe you start critiquing things that you see what she was wearing all men. Can you believe how loud the music was that sermon seemed a little too long, you know, if you can a gripe and complain me but let's say you ever been to believer with you, they just accepted Christ two weeks ago that there that bloom of first love. I guarantee you're not going to be critiquing the sermon or critiquing the church because the new believer will think you know the pastor said this and I've never heard that before and so you'll find yourself elaborating on it to understand how that's helping you as well as it's helping them see a lot of us don't do that, you know what I'm sharing the truth more hoarding the truth, we just think about ourselves, but a true mark of spiritual maturity is only got our eyes off of our soap and start thinking of others. But then there's the joy of sharing because Jesus said it's more blessed to give than it is to receive sharing your faith seek to disciple others.

Here's another one, spend time with older godly people sometimes when you're young is morning run young people remember what I was a brand-new Christian I was 17 I knew a lot of people my own age, but I went out of my way to find older people to hang around know why I thought one of these other young people and I don't think they know much more than I so I met people that were older like Pastor Chuck Smith, his wife, Katie Smith and associate pastor there at the church.

He pastored Calvary Chapel named Pastor Romain.

I spent time talking to them you know why I didn't have a dad growing up I didn't have a mom growing up I needed an older person to help me figure life out to give me some life packs.

If you will. And they did that they spent time with me.

I didn't just listen to them speak, I had meals with them and did fun things with them and got to see what a Christian looks like up close and personal, especially in older more mature believer a little bit later in my life. They became friends of the great British preacher Alan Redpath wrote a lot of amazing commentaries and of course I became friends with Billy and Ruth Graham being with these godly people impacted me, fine, godly people, you can be was so pure and older believer finding younger believer, you can bring under your wing. If you're a younger believer find an older believer, you can learn from Paul says to Timothy teach these Jews to other trustworthy people will be able to pass them on to others seaward in the ranks as Christians and this race is a beginning, middle and end. I expect that I'm toward the end of my race and certainly not at the beginning of it and this is a relay race my job in this race is not to hold onto the baton forever. I have to hand it on to the next runner to carry it forward.

We need to do this, saying, and we need to share these truths if you're older with younger people.

God told Moses to teach these truths to his children when they sit down when they lie down when they walk.

When they get up and they go to bed. In other words just integrate this truth and the life of other people throughout life in general. Listen to this worldview for young people is formed between the ages of 18 months, and the age of 13. Those in those critical years apart truth and the life of a younger person find a younger person and do that if your younger person get someone to help you with that. Here's my final point, which is simply this, don't give too many points when you're saying what an older you would say to a younger you last point is this finish your race well I mentioned were in a race race of life pulses. Many people are in the race run that you may win. We all want to run when we all are running for the gold. You know we want to do the best we can with a life that God is given us.

There will come a moment when we have our last meal, and we give our last statement and then were done we breathe. Our last breath. Hopefully we can say, along with the apostle Paul in this of course is found in second Timothy four I've fought the good fight, I kept the faith. I finish the course. Henceforth there is laid before me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give to me, and that day not to be only but to all who love visit.

You don't know when the end of your race will come my sense race ended at 33 and we used to race on the beach. By the way Kim and I he was a great runner Christopher but somehow I could beat him for many years, even though he was good runner. He was a long-distance runner.

I was a sprinter so I would challenge and do a race. I would always have the race favor me I would pick the rock up the beach all safe, let's race of the rock markets that go well.

I would favor me because I'm a sprinter and I would always be when they were walking along the beach. I said, let's race of the rocket ready and off we go.

If you not only beat me you really be and I think that he is gone to heaven performing he beat me in the ranks is a viable long ways to run this race and live this life. Maybe I'll get right with God when I'm in my 80s or 90s.

No, your race may be coming to an end more quickly than you plan for. So always be able to say I fought the good fight, I kept the faith.

I finish the course run this race.

Well Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment we send these daily studies via radio satellite in our podcast. We don't always know how these messages are touching lives when we hear the stories of our listeners, heartaches and regrets were encouraged to know the impact on people's lives and why I write Lori. I think I want on that morning and had a long journey of yelling and validate.

I only marred great love and microplate banking or that Mary and I will be not only my baby be united in our story's forgiveness story to tell of how Pastor Greg studies to. If so, why not call the insured's just call 1-866-871-1144 again, 866-871-1144 well today. Pastor Greg is passing along advice to those younger in the face and really to all of us and he recalls getting some counsel from his mentor Pastor Chuck Smith asking this question, Chuck. What would an older Chuck say to a younger Chuck, what advice would you give yourself and Chuck's response was simply hold the course. I wasn't sure what that meant. Is that what you mean hold the course. If you like were in the race of life and you just hang in there and keep running. He said that's it. Hold the course. That's what he did. By the way he held the course and was mid 80s before the Lord called him home I save you season saints you that have been walking with the Lord for some time. Hold your course keep running this race because you never know the race will in. I was with Alice Cooper a little earlier this week and of course you probably know who Alice Cooper is he's a famed rock star. One moment he was the most famous and successful rock star in all of the world is name.

He was given was Vincent Fortier and as a young man he got into a little rock band. They were called the spiders and they later change her name to Alice Cooper and and of course he was known for suspected: and for almost be like a dark figure but in reality a lot of it was an act, but in time Vincent Fournier started churning into the character Alice Cooper almost like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde started becoming this character in he was drinking. He became an alcoholic and then he became a drug addict, but here's the amazing thing you may not know about Alice Cooper is he's the son of a pastor and he was running from God. He described himself to me in an interview I did with him is the prodigal running from God. Anyone so far that people but you'll never get right with God.

This guy is so evil he told me there were destroying copies of his record on the 700 club, but God wasn't done with Vincent. He wasn't done with Alice and he got a hold of him. Alice was actually overdosing on cocaine. He had a rock of cocaine. The size of a softball, and he was hallucinating and he looked in the mirror and he saw what looked like blood coming out of his eyes and he cried out to God and he took the rock on cocaine and flushed it down the toilet. God heard his prayer and turned them around these men walking with the Lord clean and sober for many years now, the only addiction he seems they have today is an addiction to golf clubs to get on the course. I think that's it acceptable to fiction, so to speak, but the point is Alice speaks out about his faith in Jesus Christ right now my meanness that no one is beyond the reach of God. I've talked a lot about younger people, let me talk to someone who was a little older, if you made some bad decisions maybe have done some things and you would say it's too late for me it's never too late for you. God can turn your life around. God can forgive you of your sin. God can refresh you and replenish you and revive you but you must turn to him. Let me do an invitation of a different kind right now, and invitation. The prodigal sons and daughters out there who like Alice Cooper have been running from God.

But listen, God is not forgot about you. God loves you and God will accept you and forgive you talk about the prodigal son, you remember that story in the Bible.

A boy runs away from his father, ruins his life loses everything that he has, comes back and she returning to his father in Jesus who told the story the father when he some of the distant ran to him through his arms around and rejoice and said this is my son who is dead is alive again.

He was lost is found it.

Wonder how would God treat me if I returned again.

He would forgive you Abraham Lincoln after the end of the Civil War was asked how they should treat the rebellious Southerners and he said treat them as if they had never left the ideas God will treat you as if you have never left.

You'll forgive you because on the cross, Jesus took your sin 2000 years ago he paid it in full. It wasn't a partial payment was a complete payment and that's why he uttered the words, it is finished. It has completed its done. You just need to come and say God forgive me, are your prodigal son or daughter. Have you been running from God. Maybe it's time to return to ship.

I want to pray a simple prayer. If you would like to recommit your life to Jesus Christ you can do it right here right now. Let's pray pray these words Lord Jesus. I've been a prodigal. I know it's right but I've been running from you, but I'm so thankful you love me and you'll forgive me Lord, I returned to you. Now I recommit my life to you. Now I choose to follow you from this moment forward.

Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering Jesus name I asked him to Greg Ward important prayer today and we hope to get in touch and let us know about the decision you made today whether you're coming to the Lord for the first time, or coming back to the Lord. Let us know how God has spoken to you and would like to send you some follow-up resources to help you build a strong foundation of faith as you go forward would like to send you our new believers growth packet. It's free of charge, and it will help you as you take your next steps. Just ask for it is your right a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or when you call 1-800-821-3300 and you can reach us any time around the clock that's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click know God. So, have you seen the film called the Jesus music is now out on DVD.

It's a fast-paced visit with some of the pioneers of what we now call contemporary Christian music.

It was often a musical expression of how lost they were until they found the Lord Tommy Combs of love song drugs didn't work all the freethinking jealousy… Just left people rather hopeless beginning at the bottom line Kaiser of resurrection morning size didn't go away even though we exercise our freedom to me to experience what I want Gerard so much so I'm still empty.

Still clueless sitting there kind of bewildered thinking like a pair started here about Calvary pastor Greg Moore every night. It was something you a new band would perform the song. This new thing called Jesus music hot fire hearts on fire for the Lord. I saw contemporary Christian music or baryons. Michael W Smith. There was this one reckless red mayor and often sat on a white cover on the everlasting Jesus made the out for about $4000. It went on to sell 200,000 units. Unbelievable. You know Dave, this is a new resource were offering to our listeners that I know they're going to love. Let me tell you a story that I really told I was in a Christian band for one night. One night, this is early 70s right Calvary Chapel is experiencing the Jesus movement in full force, all these new bands are literally forming left and right and so I was over the little home Bible study and one of the guys there was a very good guitar player and songwriter and singer.

Then there was another guy who is an amazing flautist is not a state of flow to strike really incredible he could play that flute like there was no tomorrow. So my friend singing this song and the flautist is playing his flute and I'm sort of keeping time on the coffee table kind of drumming a little bit and someone said let's form a band and I think I remember the band was bright and morning star something like that. So we went on the cover general hey were brand-new bench and we play and that they said sure you're you're on tonight. The next thing I know I'm standing on the stage with a competent musician on guitar, another competent musician on a flute and I'm standing there with a conga drum and I you know I couldn't strap on a coffee table and I got I got nervous. I couldn't keep time with the song and I immediately discovered this is not by calling but you know this just sort of gives you a sense of the times as all these bands are forming bands like love song names like country, faith, general faith lot of faith. Back in those days the way and others that were creating a new kind of music. Now let me explain. Up to that point basically in the church you would find traditional hymns.

The, the odd folksong here and there but no drum sets no amplifiers, no electric guitars, but that is what was happening so I saw contemporary Christian music happened before my very eyes, and a front row seat for a spiritual awakening, and so this is been captured in a beautiful way by the Irwin brothers from the kingdom story company who produces documentary film called the Jesus music and we want to offer it to you for your gift of any size. Sometimes people say that I really mean my gift of any size. Yes it does. Some give a little, some give more. Some may give a bit more whatever you can give will invested in our ministry to continue to teach the word of God and preach the gospel and I want to thank you in advance for that and I will send you a special little package. It has the DVD and the Blu-ray and a downloadable code so you can watch the Jesus music on your computer on your laptop on your phone or whatever device you have so order it right now were so excited offer to you the Jesus music. Let me have one other thing this movie is sort of the forerunner if you will about major film that's coming out next year called Jesus revolution. The film organist send you is a documentary. But this other film is going to be a feature film shown all around the world. So get ready and learn about your spiritual heritage and order your copy of the Jesus music right now. Yeah that's right we have it waiting for you will send it to say thank you for your generous investment in teaching believers and reaching unbelievers as we do each day here on a new beginning, and we hope you'll contact us soon will only be able to mention this. A short time longer again. It's called the Jesus music and you can call us anytime 20 478-1800 821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 orders go online to harvest.org ever start your day off wrong, you know, things started badly and just kept going downhill.

A lot of it has to do with your focus where your mind is centered as the day starts one a plug-in to pastor Greg's daily devotions there free of charge. It's good encouragement to keep your eyes fixed on Christ. You can read each day's devotion or listen to the audio version.

Your choice. Sign up today free of charge@harvest.org everybody what you doing this weekend. I like to hang out with you at harvest and home service at home in this time of worship and Bible study exclusively designed for people that are viewing in from all over the place so you can be a part of our extended congregation at Harvest at Home. Join us this weekend Saturday and Sunday for Harvest at Home@harvest.org next time pastor Greg lunch is an eye-opening study in the book of acts we learn we can influence our community. If we are isolated from our community. Join us here on a new beginning.

Pastor and Bible feature for new beginning as a podcast, made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God if this show has impacted your life. Share your story leverage you on your favorite podcast and help others find help