How to Live a Meaningful Life | Giving It Your All

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There's winners and losers in a race there's winners in the race of life we should go for the gold, silver, bronze, what will you give it your best number with a human with a certain number.

The duration of time in the others and they give it their all show you begin Greg Laurie points out, this life is mobile. The Lord wants us to run this race to run this race to win. Learn more about so nowhere in Paul's third missionary journey God is using him powerfully in miracles are happening X 19 verse 11 says God gave all the power to perform unusual miracles.

When handkerchiefs or aprons that it barely touch the skin were placed on sick people were healed of their diseases and evil spirits. Rick spell stop there. So the emphasis is unusual miracles. These are not your normal miracles, actual garments and touch up all are no being used by God to heal people. There was no healing power in something Paul wore, but it seems in the minds of the people. There was sort of a faith release. If you will with a thought if I just touch this shirt that Paul wore this robe or whatever would be.

I too will be here we see a similar situation in the story of the woman with a medical condition causing her to constantly bleed and she reason the bike and touch the very edge of the garment of Jesus. I will be healed now.

Jesus didn't say that even promise that, but she thought that and sure enough he was walking through a crowd of people. She reaches her hand Thursday touches his robe and suddenly the healing power of God is released in our life and she's healed right there on the spot. But it's interesting to note how Jesus healed different people.

Sometimes they touch them like a woman.

I mentioned other times he touch them. Other times he spoke the word and they were healed. On one occasion a person was blind. He spit in the dirt and wipe the dirt with this bit in the guise of Tigers modern your eye buddy while now, what would you think if you came and asked me for prayer and I spit on the dirt.

What would you will know from you that we are you with the point is that the techniques if you will very so people would realize it's not of the technique.

It's not on the garment of son on the touch is from God himself, and by the way, God is still in the healing business and what we need a touch from the Lord. We should call out to the Lord and ask him to heal us. Okay, so whenever God is at work. The devil would be there to oppose so that devil effectively enters the scene through a group of guys identified as the seven sons of Skiba, so this man. Skiba has seven sons and they fancy themselves to be exorcists. They think they can cast demons out a people, but they were not the magnificent seven there was a foolish seven as we see now in the story because they thought the name of Jesus was like some kind of an incantation or magic words about her would heal people to ask 19 verse 13 they try to use the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and their incantation same.

I commend you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches to come out. The evil spirit replied I know Jesus and I know Paul but who are you, then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpower them and attack them with such violence. They fled from the house naked and batter while Gomez would demons so there's three Takeaway truth from this little story, probably more. But here's the recruitment number one.

Satan is real and powerful and demons are real and powerful and people can still be possessed by demons today and it's interesting that this man who was possessed by the demons had super natural physical strength MET takes on 72 and they leave the house, stripped of their clothing they just running for their lives. We see the same thing illustrated and that Manny was demon possessed who lives at the graveyard and at night he would walk around shrieking and howling and they put them in chains and he broke the chain so the devil is powerful never to good double lawn in your own strength. That's why the Bible says in Ephesians 6 stand in the Lord and in the power of his mind.

Number two. The power of Jesus is much stronger than the power of Satan because it's kind of scary to think how powerful the devil can be what it's really encouraging to know that Jesus is way more powerful way more right Jesus at all power is been given to me in heaven and in earth.

So we serve an all-powerful God. And the third thing is the best defense is a good offense.

The Bible says submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you see the problem with the sons of Skiba that they had no relationship with God. They did so in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches entered the demons responses almost humorous Jesus. I definitely know Polly know what who are you, it reminds us that the double nose. Those who are a threat to his kingdom. So he know so that person that man that woman there a problem there a threat I want to focus my energies on them. Remember when Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, Simon, Satan is been asking excessively for you that you would be taken out of the care and protection of God when it freak you out of Jesus said that to you. It is hanging out. I was in the turns you sojourning twice.

Satan is been asking for you by name.

Maybe pause for a moment, Peter shaken in the sandals within the Lord at these words but I have prayed for you that your faith would not bail so yeah the devil may come asking. But Jesus is going to answer the door. Okay, so, so don't worry about it. But if you're a threat to the kingdom of Satan. The demons will be aware of you as they were in this story. After this, Paul is preaching the sermon is going pretty long.

These preaching till midnight so don't ever complain about me going like 90 minutes too long.

Okay it's midnight and he's still going and there's some guy in a muted kiss on the third floor of the building. Paul was in sitting on the windowsill unit just nodded off, fell out of the window to his death. So Mrs. Paul Hewitt this Judy kiss just died below the window. Paul said he's okay. He's just sleeping take me to the Glover kisses that Paul raises him from the dead.

And then, like any self-respecting preacher would've called you. After that, he finishes his sermon, he still had a few more points to cover.

So there's an amazing story.

Mr. Greg Moore will have the second half of his message just a moment.

We love hearing from her listeners. Whether it's a short word or they take some time to tell us what's going on. We read every word pastor. Granted I'm thankful for your devotions and tweets each day. They only seem to have a direct impact on what I'm going through and is indeed the case today. Thank you for staying true to the word to all these years I can trust her teachings and that's Golden to me. Thank you, Craig. How have these studies in God's word touched your life. If you have a story to share. Why not call us and tell us about: 866-871-1144 866-871-1144.

What you're joining us today for pastor Greg study in acts called how to live a meaningful life. Get replay of any part of this insight@harvest.org. Now we shift gears in the story as we come to acts chapter 20.

As I said, Paul is saying goodbye to these leaders you know it's worth noticing that this is the only teaching sermon in the book of acts. All the other sermons that were preached were evangelistic in nature, but in this particular message given to the elders at Miletus a little seaport there.

He is giving final words to followers of the Lord and so let's pick it up. Acts 20 verse 17 when we landed at Miletus he sent a message to the elders of the church about process asking them to come and meet him.

When they arrived, he declared. You know from the data set foot in this province of Asia until now.

I have done the Lord's work humbly and with many tears I've endured the trials it came to me from the plots of the Jews. I never shrink back from telling you what you needed to hear either publicly or in your home. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike. The necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God and having faith in our Lord Jesus Christ know a bond with the spirit to go to Jerusalem, I don't know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me that city after city that jail and suffering lay ahead. None of these things move me nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race with joy in the ministry, which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God while five categories. Paul identifies that we are in things that were doing.

First of all, Paul compares himself to a runner in a race so I want to finish this race.

He says with joy. This was the favorite analogy of the apostle.

The idea of running a race he used it many times in his writing Brent since over in first Corinthians 924 he reminded us that we must run to win the race of life. He said in a race everyone runs what only one person gets a prize you should run in such a way that human way run away, run for first place, not for honorable mention. You know, in schools today are athletic events that give participation trophies. This is not good. There's winners and losers in a race and there's winners and losers in the race of life and we should go for the gold, silver, good souls, bronze, but definitely give it your best effort run that race to win. Then he also warns us about getting off track in the race of life when he writes to the believers in Galatia. In Galatians 570 says you guys were running a good race who cut in on you from obeying the truth so you know what were running this race try to run with people that have the same passion that you let me put it another way hanging around with godly people do godly things don't hang around with ungodly people, which will lead you to do ungodly things. Someone says happy as a man that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in God's word so there are godless people, scornful people. People that will slow you down on the race of life. So it's a good thing to periodically evaluate relationships you're engaged in.

This is a big one for you guys that are single, you know, when you're looking for someone to spend the rest of your life with.

Look for a godly man or a godly girl, someone who inspires you years ago I told my wife before we were married when she was she was leave my girlfriend yet but were getting close and I I said this really romantic thing to her.

I said Kathy if you ever get in the way of my relationship with God, you're out here. Well good thing about the craziest thing you can do, said Greg Duggan, the matter is that's the best thing I could've said to Kathy Martin that was her name, then she said I was looking for a guy what conviction a guy who knew where he was going in life. I wasn't looking for a guy that I could manipulate it mission.

Sometimes girls manipulate guys it happens anyway. I was thinking for a godly man so you know the ideas that we should spend our time with people that will encourage us here sort of a way to think about it of this relationship of this pursuit you're involved in is it a winger is away. Does it help you go faster like to win partisan slow you down like away so don't let someone else cut in on you all also warns in Philippians 3 about looking back in the race of life. You know you look forward it's a bad idea to look over your shoulder that have of the second good cause to the race when you're driving on the freeway and I've never notice that if there's a cop CHP driving ahead of you. You always slow down. No one wants a processes be right.

And even if the rent of the speed limit you going to the speed limit if they sold on the 20 will also down the 20 right.

Sometimes I think they do that just to mess with us on if I go slower if the halls go slower and the promise. Sometimes, if you're driving and you look in your view mirror and you see a police officer driving behind you you you know you can focused on that you're not paying attention to where you're going in the race of life.

You gotta always be looking forward and not looking backwards because the first step to going back is looking back member. Jesus said, remember lots wife three works. Remember lots wife. Why should I remember lots wife. Because after she was delivered by the angel of the Lord from Sodom and Gomorrah, lots wife, along with Claude and their children were born, don't look back, and she deliberately looked back and she turned into a pillar of salt. Jesus said, no man, having put his hand of the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God's on the race of life keep looking forward, not looking backwards. And then Paul says I want to finish this race with joy in verse 2311 not just finish the race finish the race with joy. I have never felt joy when I'm running. I've only felt pain because I want to finish this would joy so I've been running this race for over 50 years now and I want to tell you little secret.

It is a joyful thing to serve God I love and don't lose your joy after you send David said in Psalm 51 up a Psalm of confession restoring to me the joy of my salvation.

And then sinners will be converted to you.

Isaiah 55 says you shall go out with joy.

You'll be led forth with peace in the mountains and the hills will break forth before you into singing all the trees of the field will clap their hands and there were also told in Nehemiah 810. The joy of the Lord is your strength both as I want to finish this would joy you would joy you other people see that joy in your life.

It's really important again with David said restore to me the joy of your salvation, then sinners will be converted to you. A nonbeliever sees you having joy, not just when things are going well, but when things are going badly. That's a powerful testimony while also a points out that as we run the race of life we need to play by the rules. He says in first Corinthians 927 I run straight to the goal of purpose and every step I discipline my body like an athlete tree needed to do what it should.

Otherwise my peers upright preach to others, I'd be a hypocrite and I would be disqualified. So you enter into a race or whatever it is there's rules. These are the rules you agreed to play by the rules. Yes read about one guy that entered a marathon and thought he agreed to play by the rules and they noticed that when the race was coming to a close this guy comes across the finish line. Don't sweat you were just acting like he had not done anything anyone the bronze and someone complained and they found out the guide start of the race ran through the forest got on the bus went to the place of the race ended got off the bus and then ran across the finish line.

Needless to say, he was disqualified so we had a play by God's rules. That's the way to do it and we want to run all the way because it's not just starting this race will finishing this race. Well, I have found the best way to run well in the race of life is to have a good motivation. Why am I doing what is my objective in the author of Hebrews. Many think it was Paul I would think that to but we don't know for certain that the author of Hebrews tells us the secret he says were surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, so let's lay aside the weight and the sin that so easily besets us and run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking on. Did Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. For the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame now is set down at the right hand of God. So that's how you look to Jesus, I don't run this race for people I don't run up for applause.

I don't run it for like so my social media I don't run it for any of those things. I started this way and I hope the end of the swim doing it for Jesus and that's what will keep you going no matter what your basics because people will let them people will disappoint you. Circumstances will overwhelm you. Just keep your eyes on the prize and specifically keep your eyes on the Lord. I think that's what Jesus going because it says for the joy that was set before him. He endured the cross, what was the joy set before Jesus, the apostles were pretty much in hiding. John was present at the cross, but most of the others were hiding in the shadows. Peter even denied him the crowds were cheering them insulting him, but something Jesus going. It was a joy set before him a post. The joy was you it was me it was us. It was knowing that our salvation would be verges through his death on the cross. A world runner in a race great encouragement keep us going in our Christian life pastor Greg Laurie with her studies in acts chapters 19 and 20. Today here on a new beginning yesterday were excited to make available your book on Revelation, yes. Now many Bible students know that Revelation promises a blessing to those who read here and keep the words of this book. That's right so it seems. Even the Bible acknowledges that revelation is no ordinary Bible study.

That's right, it stands out from every other book of the Bible. Of course it's the final book at the end of your Bible and the word Revelation means unveiling because it's not God's desire to conceal but to reveal in Bible prophecy is not given to scare us but to prepare us and there is a special blessing attached to this book. In particular, and it's in the first chapter of Revelation, and that promise is blessed is the person that reads, hears and keeps the words of this book.

So they've it's interesting because that phrase read needs to read out loud so there's a blessing on you if you will simply read this book, then it says you must hear it you know Jesus will often say he that has ears to hear, let them. Here are about a vernacular would be. Listen up. Pay attention so I have to read it. I have to hear it and then finally I need to keep it. Meaning I need to take these Jews in this book and apply them in their own life. What we study Bible prophecy is not just to know more about the future but it's for us to know how we should live in the present and I've written a book simply called Revelation subtitled a book of promises. This is a thick book. This is a hardcover book that will be a resource that you can go to again and again. Here's what it had a lot of people say to me for the first time I understood how this book applied to me. I think this is very understandable, but a very relevant book, especially for the times in which we are living so for your gift of any size were offering you this book. Revelation a book of promises. So whatever you can send a helper ministry is greatly appreciated. This helps us to get the gospel out get the teaching of the word of God out so order your copy of this book available from harvest ministries.

Right now it's writing will rush a copy back to you to thank you for your investment in these daily teaching opportunities is only through listener support that we can continue to come your way. So get in touch today for pastor Greg book Revelation, a book of promises by the way, where including a custom bookmark along with the book it shows the timeline of God's end times events graphically. It helps you see the order of events very clearly comes automatically with the book, so send your donation today to a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300.

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