This broadcaster has 2046 podcast archives available on-demand.
Keep up-to-date with this broadcaster on social media and their website.
August 3, 2022 3:00 am
When God wanted to share His message of love, surprisingly He chose to use people to reach people. Flawed, fallible, foible-filled people. Ahh, but the power of the message is not in us messengers, it’s built in to the message. And the boldness and direction we need is built in to us by the Spirit who lives within us. Pastor Greg Laurie discusses that today on A NEW BEGINNING as he continues a message from his brand new series in Acts—a series called The Upside Down Life.
Listen on harvest.org
---
Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org.
A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.
Support the show: https://harvest.org/support
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 there's no room the word of God to certain reversible, so I don't believe that I don't accept the insured anyone the word of God is alive and powerful, and sharper and put it into a Jewish war, Greg Laurie urges as some scriptures are like mom said the act like they don't care that morning, they wake up because God's word will not return messages will presently he chose to use people available to people the power of the message is not built into the message in the direction we need is built and washed by the spirit.
Laurie discusses that as he continues her message from his brand-new series and series called upside down rub our Bibles and to the title of my message before us now is the secret to sharing the gospel effectively. Let's relax to verses to the seven I'm reading, by the way, from the new living translation of the golf all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm and filled the house where they were sitting. And then what looked like lanes or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them and everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit. They began speaking in other languages as the Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem, they heard a loud voice, everyone came running and they were bewildered to hear their own language being spoken by the believers and they were completely amazed and said how can this be. So God is getting ready now to change the world with 120 people.
What can we learn from there were unified they were unified they were together. Verse two on the day of Pentecost.
All the believers were meeting together and one place these believers had no earthly power they had no armies.
They had no money, they had no status they had no political power, but they had Jesus and Jesus had them and they were together. So let's look now at what Peter says. Acts chapter 2, verse 36 he gets up and says these words to the people gather everyone in Israel know for certain the Lord God has made this Jesus whom you crucified to be both Lord and Messiah, Peter's words pierced their hearts and they said to him, and the other apostles, brothers, what should we do Peter replied every one of you should repent of your sins and turn to God, to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promises to you and your children those who are far away and to all will call on the Lord our God, then Peter continued preaching for a long time strongly urging all the listeners save yourselves from this trip a generation. Those who believe what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day about 3000 in all stop there. 3000 new believers is amazing.
On one day after one sermon, why do Peter of such an amazing response to his message. Point number one is he knew his audience or his congregation. He knew that some of the people he was speaking to literally played a role in the crucifixion of Jesus. Can you imagine maybe one of those Roman guards was there the count of the spikes the hands of Jesus. The religious leaders were therefore sure listening, and very critical, and he points maybe a finger at you crucified, not speaking figuratively using you. I know you I remember you. I was there I saw you, you crucified So is very specific.
He also quotes a lot of scripture.
He quotes huge portions of the Old Testament, apparently from memory so the fishermen had been busy. You been reading and memorizing the Bible slowly pulled out the scroll of Joel here. That's a big Giants will live in the Bible like we have now where broke when the phone only opened Joel know just from his heart quoted Scripture see that was his audience. They were people to new Scripture, there were Jewish people in Jerusalem for Pentecost, and he spoke to them in a way they would understand. Contrast that to Paul on Mars Hill speaking to the people of Athens we would describe it as a pagan culture. They didn't know the Lord. They didn't know Scripture. They worship false gods and so Paul spoke in a different way to them. And if we were to look at our country today were much more like Athens and we are like Jerusalem or were in a post-Christian era. That's why we have to really speak in a clear way to people today because there's so biblically illiterate. So when you're sharing your faith, get to know the person you're speaking to. On the other day a friend of mine named Larry, who is said recently committed this life of the Lord and is filled with passion. He texted me and said I have a friend that I think is really close to coming of the Lord.
When you meet with. I said sure so we got together for coffee in and Larry start sharing this testimony and it was like a textbook case on how to share your own story perfect just talk about what Christ done in his life how the Lord it changes lives. So this friend was there and I started asking his friends some questions and this friend said something is obvious.
I would agree with. I just listen listen as more questions listen some more and then I started bringing the message of the gospel and Larry sorta set it up as a were playing volleyball. Larry got the ball there and I spiked it right easiest thing I've ever done.
It wasn't even hard. Well the guy actually says to me, could you like give me some points on how I can become a Christian.
Yes, I can know Larry says do that thing that you say, right before you lead people in the prayer know what thing you know that thing you say oh you mean if you want your sins forgiven. If you want to know you go to heaven when you die if you want to fill that void in your life if you want your guild taken away if you one to find the meaning and purpose of your life that think that thing yesterday that size that it I said do you want to do that in the manner second you said yes and so we prayed right there in the accepted Christ so. But here's the reason this taking time to listen when I talked to Bill and pull up all but I am semi in the pulpit to sit and talk to them didn't know them. You don't care about them. Listen people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care me say that again people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Take time with people Peter did that and then he gave them the gospel.
I think his message was effective because it was scriptural. He quoted this Scripture and this is something to remember. Even though people don't believe in the Bible.
Don't let that stop you from quoting it anyway. But when you quote the Bible you don't have to be weird about. I've seen people quote Scripture strangely let me just tell you something. The Bible says for God so love this topic to stop conversational. There's power in the word of God.
It has built-in power. Isaiah 55 Jen God says the rain comes down from heaven and the snow comes down so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth.
It will not return to me void, it will accomplish what I please, you will prosper in the thing in which I send it. The word is power and sometimes Joe Sheridan, a person will say I don't believe that I don't accept that Sheridan anyway.
Sometimes he was able to quote the Bible to me and I believe in the Bible to just uploading the Bible know because it's a sort of the spirit uses sort if someone said to you in your holding the sortable event sorta sharp really check this out. Not speaking figuratively understand we don't mean literal sort, but we didn't mean the word of God. The sword of the Spirit someone we quoted. I found that sometimes scriptures are like time bombs that detonate later they they act like they don't care. But then, 3 o'clock in the morning, they wake up in that verse is in their head because God's word will not return void will prosper in the place you said so learn the word of God.
Memorize the word of God. The word of God. Read more below the second half of this message just a moment. So many listeners have commented on the help they received from the resources we make available at a new beginning like this. Listener Pastor Greg.
I was sitting at my grandmother's funeral this weekend, talking to my cousin's father during the conversation, I found out my uncle was given a copy of your new believers Bible on the last day of his life just before he died from a brain tumor, understand simple faith that you spoke to knew where he was going after this life. I think God for the hope of the gospel in its power. Thank you for being bold. So many happenings to get out the gospel.
If you like information about Pastor Greg's new believers Bible just contact us@harvest.org that's harvest.org Pastor Greg is teaching from acts chapter 2 today a message titled the secret to sharing the gospel effectively.
There's another point. The message of Peter was effective because it was Christ centered.
It was Christ centered acts 222, he says, Jesus of Nazareth acts 232 this man speaking of Jesus, asked to 36 God made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. And then he spoke of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
No matter what you're talking about. You gotta bring about come across. Listen to this. Sometimes in her attempts to cross over. We don't bring the cross over pulses. I don't want to know anything else among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I was doing an interview the other day about our crusade and I was asked the question we need to misspeak on this year I said pretty much the same thing.
I've been speaking for 30 years.
Okay I'll be honest with. I made all of the theme.
All of some opening remarks but ultimately you know where I'm headed. I say that without apology. I want to talk about the life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is not for the power and that's about.
There is this power in the simple message of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. That's why Paul says the gospel is the power of God under subbasin. Here's another point. Peter's message is affected because he called sin.
Sin and told them to repent. Don't be afraid to call since then. I was talking with them in yesterday.
I told him your center because he sent them a good person will you know yeah but your center and I'm a sinner and let me define what sin is sin is crossing the line sin is falling short of a standard that God is set for humanity which is perfection. We've all sin, so we have to understand the bad views before we can fully appreciate the good news we have to call sin. Sin sometimes were afraid to say it and then we need to tell them to repent. Sometimes preachers are afraid to use the word repent. We can omitted from our verbiage.
It's in the Bible and its necessary to come to Christ ago did. Peter says, verse 38, he said repent, let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus. I think we back away from this in many ways. I read a new survey reveals a shocking statistic about young Christian. The survey says quote more than 60% of born-again Christians between the ages of 18 and 39 believe that Jesus, Buddha, and Mohammed are all equal in regards to a path to salvation, to here's what that tells me it tells me that more than 60% of born-again Christians have not really read their Bibles, or more than 60% of those who think they are born-again Christians believe this but if you're a born again Christian, you cannot believe that Buddha and Mohammed are equal to Jesus and getting you to heaven. You cannot believe that figuring that's very narrowminded. Yes it is because it's a narrow road. The Bible says narrow was the road that leads to salvation, and few there are that find it in the Bible says there is salvation and no other name. Then, in the name of Jesus Christ). Think about a lot if that was true that all roads would get you to heaven. Why would God send his son to suffer and die on the cross. But he did because there was no other way to satisfy his righteous damages he Jesus was not just a good man. He wasn't a Guru.
He wasn't a prophet. He was the God man.
He was God becoming a man walking among us got a face God had skin on God sent his son to die in our place so we could be forgiven of our sins and Jesus said it so clearly.
John 14 six you know it sent with me. I am the way the truth and the life and no man comes the father but by me noticing that this is message was affected because Peter went for a decision. One of the reasons we don't evangelize is because of the fear of failure, but maybe another reason we don't evangelize is because we have a fear of success like what I do now.
I memorize Alaska years ago with Franklin Graham. He's a great fisherman and outdoorsman.
I'm not. I'm from California and you know he goes out to Hansson. We were out fishing for salmon. I've never done that before so I got a settlement was very excited to live a seven.
I said what you clean up for me is like no clean it yourself game versus open water. You got it you going to clean it is to know you want to eat the salmon yet. I'll show you how to do it. That's what he did see, it's like you love the idea of doing them at all.
While I caught one now. What will I do okay.
I'm not suggesting we we got new believers in this analogy have never used it this way and a broken very quickly. Then it gets the idea right like what do I do now I kinda know what we do now.
Now you have a new believer in your life gets really exciting when a new believer says I don't know what that means. Can you explain it to you and as you explain it. It really excites you because sometimes we take these things for granted away will tell you about this in insured telling them what the Bible teaches about a given subject that suddenly is reenergizing you. It's exciting you. It's reviving you that's what we need to do it. That's part of the great commission evangelizing and discipling my last point, the Holy Spirit will do his part just make sure you do yours, the Holy Spirit will do his part just make sure you do yours. It's not your job to convert people. It's not my job. I've never converted anyone and I never will. The work of conversion is done by the Lord. We read in Jesus said in John 644 no man comes unless the father draws soon. My job is not conversion my job is proclamation.
My job is to share the truth and ask the Holy Spirit to do his work in the person's life will obviously the work was done in their life will give her 37 there were cut to the heart cut to the heart. This phrase only appears here in the New Testament the word cut means to staff.
It speaks of something sudden and unexpected that is the conviction of the holy spirit and I I've seen it. I know that when it happens, and I've seen when it doesn't happen is your all these things worsen just looks at you.
I skin it please.
Over the check your watch is not it's not getting through wife want to tell you those things. I'll pray for you. Leave it within other times you look at a person and you see there getting it yesterday again, talking to this guy. I looked out my thought is because I want he wants.
He's ready. So let's go for and there are those people and you have to pray for discernment when you're talking to people is the one is the right time to ask that question. So let me review what we've said number one. Know your listener number two adapt to the situation thoroughly quote Scripture then call sin sin and tell them to repent. Ask them if they want to accept Christ, and then conversion is God's work you do. The proclamation here is an acronym I shared with you before assured again blasted PLAST a way to remember how to share your faith be deliberate. Sgt. conversation by building a bridge to your listener. You don't have to necessarily start by preaching at them build the bridge now listen get to know them take an interest in them again. People don't care how much you know.
Though they know how much you care. A. Ask questions I wanting to know more about you. What you think about this. What you think about that as share your testimony that your Brit, one of the most effective bridges to start the conversation. You walk over it, telling them what Christ has done for you, and finally T tell them about Jesus. We put these principles and practice will see people come to Christ. Maybe there somebody here that is joined us in. You don't have Christ living in your life you don't know if your sin is forgiven.
So as I said that that guy yesterday. You want your sins forgiven you want to know that when you die you will go to heaven you want to fill that hole in your heart. Do you want your sin forgiven in your guilt removed. Let's all bow our heads father, thank you for your word to us. Thank you for the truth of it, and I pray for any that have joined us wherever they are.
If they don't know you yet Jesus Christ is not living in their heart. Our prayer is that your Holy Spirit will work on them now show them their need for you to draw them to yourself a pastor Greg Laurie important prayer and if you like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg will come back in just a moment to help you do that before we wrap up today here on a new beginning with pastor Greg were making available your inspiring blog called Steve McQueen the salvation of an American icon. Yes, it tracks the spiritual journey.
One of the biggest stars of his time. He passed away in 1980.
How would Steve McQueen and wanted to be remembered. Think he would want to have been remembered as a man who finally found what he was looking for his seat.
Wednesday was a little boy.
His mother was too busy partying the way they have time for him. She was an alcoholic, married and divorced multiple times.
Steve never knew his biological father. He was sent off to live with this grandparents enough to live with an uncle sent off to a reform school. He was an unwanted child that sent him on his search early in life. I think Steve that all of I just had a cool card be happier or if I was married I'd be happy or if I had a huge career in Hollywood. I'd be happy or whatever it wasn't any actually got all those things he wanted in a whole lot more and he still wasn't happy. He finally found what he was looking for in a relationship with Jesus Christ effect. Steve said before he died after he became a Christian.
My only regret in life is that it was not able to tell more people about what Christ done for me so I wanted to tell his story and I wrote a book about Kim.
It's called Steve McQueen the salvation of an American icon, we go with Steve through his very difficult childhood to the peak of his Hollywood success. And then we see his life unraveling.
Then we see it coming together when he finds this relationship with the Lord and then the struggle that he had with cancer but even more the hope that he had that he carried to that last moment before he went to be with the Lord in heaven. It's a very inspiring story. It's a surprising story.
It's a story that will move you and I trust that you get a copy of this book that you want to share with someone else who does not yet know the Lord all send you for your gift of any size.
A copy of this book, Steve McQueen, the salvation of an American icon. Yeah that's right in your partnership is a key ingredient in allowing these daily studies to continue here were completely listener supported. So thanks so much for your partnership and when you give right now.
Be sure to ask your pastor Greg's book, Steve McQueen, the salvation of an American icon. You can call us at 1-800-821-3300 call anytime 24 seven, 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org pastor Greg getting back to the way you closed your message, you spoke of how someone can accept God's offer of eternal life. Could you help the person who wants to do that 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 and what or why do let me help you. It's very simple affected 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 a 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 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. 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 say to you. Congratulations and welcome to the family of God and 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 when your way.
Call us at 1-800-821-3300 were here to take your call around the clock that's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click know God one next time pastor Greg explains how the church is home base. Getting believers excited and equipped share the love of God with other people is a necessary part of our life.
Join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible feature Greg Moore new beginning as a podcast, made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God if this shell has impacted your life. Share your story leverage you on your favorite podcast and help others find help