How to Live a Meaningful Life | Spirit of Generosity

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know guide this at our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org remember the words of the Lord Jesus when he said it is more blessed to give that it is to receive the Bible shows in humility value others above your show and read Maurice's or culture is out of step with everyone. As Jason expect everything all around the everyone that catered to the Bible. Jesus is the opposite. You want to be a person think of others before yourself and everyone tried to know you one another we saw someone in need. We automatically took care of always looking for ways to help, but we don't take today on a new beginning for Greg Laurie hope to see how a spirit of generosity is part of the prescription for living a more life considering the apostle Paul's counsel about living in a way that were looking all words to the elders or leaders of a process. This is the last time he would ever speak to that Joe is giving to them his final message and sum up what really matters in life and he also compares the Christian to five different categories of people or pursuits.

What we need to be thinking about as followers of Jesus.

So let's pick it up asked 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 that came to me from the plots of the Jews never shrank 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 bow 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, not just finish the race finishes with 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 number two Paul compares himself to a steward of steward verse 24 he says this ministry I received from the Lord. So a steward owns little or nothing. They just serve their master and it's very important to be reminded of the fact that everything you have is been given to you from God write everything. The ability to breathe.

That's a gift from God because someone struggling right now trying to get that next breath they grew there in the hospital the beat of your heart that you as a gift from God. Your family is a gift from God. All of your resources of the rope you live under the clothes you wear.

Those are all a gift from God. First Corinthians 620 says you're not Sharon.

You are bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which belong to God. So it's all come to me from the Lord. I'm just a steward.

Everything I have is on loan from God.

So I want to use it for his glory.

Number three, Paul compares himself to a witness so is a steward now is a witness. Verse 24 testifying of the grace of God testified final witness. So let's think about maybe you see a fender bender and the police come and you're an eyewitness, so the interview you, what did you see it's not my job to exaggerate or make stuff up or make it more interesting. My job is actually just to tell the officer what I saw and then up I called to give testimony in a court of law. It's very important that I tell the truth because a person's future could be affected by what I say so in the same way as a witness and eyewitness. I'm testifying of what I am seeing what I know it's interesting because it's implied in the original language to solemnly give witness this is a serious thing. I am to declare God's truth. The people even if it's not comfortable and sometimes there are things we don't necessarily want to say, but we need to say because there in the Bible right so we have to tell people the truth.

Because we want them to get close to God not be separated from him by some kind of sin, so we give testimony. John said that which we have seen and heard we declare to you that you may have fellowship with God. So we've seen and heard these things were then Paul compares himself to Carol I Harold verse 25 you know I got among you preaching the kingdom of God and you'll see my face no more solo witness talks about what is happening to him. In contrast, that Harold tells others what the king told him to tell so I'm an eyewitness, but I'm also doing Harold it to broadcast it to proclaim it to others, not just be a good example. You want to be that.

But to tell others how they too can be come a follower of Jesus.

When I was little kid, I had a paper route at a pretty cool bike to as a Schwinn stingray with a banana seat denoted banana see this anyway but my unique feature on my bicycle was. I had a stick shift. They don't make those anymore.

For obvious reasons, very dangerous who puts a stick shift on a bicycle will swim you still and I had my bags there and I had all of my newspapers in my bag and I got pretty adept at throwing those papers in the time of the sideways thing over their heads are just under him throw whatever was or in over him throw really hard at that one customer who never tipped me. There were many of those people here. Here's two pennies go away so my job is a paperboy was this outsole deeded now doesn't it get all our news online and I was a paperboy for like I came from the 1700s. But anyway, my job as a paperboy was not to write the news, it wasn't to make the news was to deliver the news. Our job as Harold's of Christ is to proclaim this message to others and deliver the good news. Now Paul says in verse 27 I'm not sure on the declare to you the whole counsel of God. The job of the pastor is to teach the word of God is to feed the flock of God for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry so my job is to teach the Bible and that's all we do that here.

We've done that for so many years. Finally, point number five. Paul compares himself to all watchmen verse 26 I testify to you this day, I'm innocent of the blood of all men.

What does it mean to be innocent of the blood of all men well over in the book of Ezekiel chapter 3 the Lord speaks to the prophet, and he says I've appointed you as a watchman for Israel.

Same word watchman and when you receive a message for me pass it on to the people immediately. If I warn the wicked Senior under the penalty of death. But if you fail to deliver this morning they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible demanding your blood for their someone.

Paul says I am innocent of the blood of all men. It simply means I've delivered the message as I've been told to. I've done the job God is given me to do now.

Paul gives us the motivation for doing all these things in verse 35 about 20 remember the words of the Lord Jesus when he said it is more blessed to give than it is to receive that such you know when you learn to be a generous person with everything that God gives you. God will bless you for it.

This were blessed can also be translated happy. So another way to translate this is you'll be a happier person. If you give instead of always wanting to receive and we live in a time where everyone is so much expectation they expect everything to revolve around them. Everyone to cater to them in the Bible teaches the opposite. If you want to be a happy person to the opposite think of others before yourself. We have three basic things we can all give to God. They are talent, treasure and time first to give your talent to the Lord.

Everybody has talent some kind of talent and everybody is treasure some measure of treasure those are your finances then your time every day you have time and you can invest serving the Lord or not. So we want to give those things over to him. Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message just a moment.

Everybody what are you doing this weekend.

I like to hang out with you at harvest and home service at home. It is a 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. Glad you're joining us today for pastor Greg message in the book of acts called how to live a meaningful life. So let's recap and close were runners in a race is verse 24 told us. Paul wanted to finish his race with joy in the ministry. He received we run to when number two were stewards or servants are sole responsibility is to please and serve our master.

Thirdly, were witnesses as in a court of law. We are to solemnly give witness realizing the profound implications of our testimony, fourthly, were Harold's that Harold contrast to a witness tells the message the king is told him to declare and finally watchman we are to declare the truth of God to others. If you do these things you will live a meaningful life. The title of this message was how to live a meaningful life. This was Paul's last message to these people. What if you were going to be giving your last message. What would you talk about, what would you focus on a member asked Chuck that this question once Chuck if you were going to give one last message.

What text would you speak on. He said John 316 John 316 well know that one right.

For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. So one day you're going to give your final message. I don't mean a sermon, but you'll say your final words you declare to your family and loved ones that what's matter to you one day you going to have your final meal one day you can have your final moments on planet Earth.

What would your final message be Billy Graham wrote a book called nearing home. Toward the end of the slight. He was 94 when he wrote it. He went to heaven at the age of 99.

We all thought he might make it 200 became just short of it, but in this interview for his book that he had written called nearing home Billy said, quote God doesn't want us to waste our letter years or spend them in superficial, meaningless pursuit. Instead, he wants us to use them in whatever ways we can to influence those that will come after us." The great words finish with joy. That's the idea. So we always want to run with joy because we don't know when it's going to be our last race the last moment, so you run this race with joy. You run it to win it. I love the story of Caleb in the Old Testament. He was this old guy who initially went to the promised land with Joshua as spines and so they can this look. Check out what was happening in this land of Canaan and what their challenges would be. They went back and gave her report to Moses and there were 12 that women in total, Joshua and Caleb were two and then the other tent. The 10 that when then there were filled with unbelief. All these people are gigantic. We were like grasshoppers in their side we gone will all die and Joshua Gibbs of the Lord, the Lord give us the strength. Let's go for it. Moses was swayed by the 10 they didn't quite make it in as soon as they should have. It took them 40 years which should have taken them no more than 40 days. We knew there were going around in circles.

Another coming back to the promised land and Caleb is in his 80s and he says to Joshua, who is now in charge.

I am as strong.

This day is the day the Lord called me now give me this mountain and he raised up a only old old man arm maybe shook it a little bit narrower looked at him and said yeah probably yes he is still a tough guy, still a strong man but he had faith in God to the Berean you can do that we can all do that. But again, as I said earlier, you decide the evening of your life. By the morning of it. The end by the beginning so don't take oh you know when I'm really old like the I will really commit myself to Christ. But up in the map when I'm in a just live the way I want to live that decision is number-one hit on every guarantee you'll make it to 50 or 40 or 30, but then again you can establish bad habit patterns that you will not break free from. So do it now serve the Lord in your you as Solomon said, remember the creator in the days of your youth. I made my commitment to Christ at the age of 17 and I'm so glad I did. And there's not one thing that I feel I have missed.

As a result of doing that, but so many things I have gained because I follow Christ, so that's for you younger folks are you older folks, first of all, wake up goes off let me say this to you now.

Your objective is to finish this race with joy.

Maybe you slow down a little bit. Maybe you lost that joy maybe you been sidetracked. Maybe just gotten tired and just talking about retirement all the time and I want to kick back and disrupt higher I just ordered my La-Z-Boy plus time to get off your big fat lazy boy and I wanted to think is going to say serve the Lord as you been called by God. Moses didn't really get it until he was like 80 is a late bloomer for sure. Whatever your age is young, old, somewhere in between. Let's get back in this race were Harold's witnesses were runners.

We want to run it with joy and finish it well listen. The greatest legacy you can pass on to your children and grandchildren is not your money back. I've seen situations as you have are people who may be our wealthy have passed those things on, and we've seen multiple generations of children trust fund babies we might call them have their lives ruined the greatest thing you can pass on to your children and grandchildren is not your money or other material things. The greatest legacy you can pass on to them is the legacy of your character and your date. That's the thing with Just One Day or Most Precious Things Will Bid in a Hospital Drawer and the Only Well That Will Endure Is That Which Is Been Invested in Others for the Sake of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. So If You Really Give Your Last Message. What Would It Be You Need to Be Prepared. You Never Know When That Moment Will Come. Just Be Prepared. And I Don't Say This to Freak You out or Depression Because Paul Said Hey to Live Is Christ and the Die Is Gain. Okay so I'm Living for Christ Seal Each and Every Day of This Is My Last Day Okay Great. I'll Be in Heaven. But until That Day.

I Want to Make Every Day Count Because Heaven Is a Prepared Place for Prepared People.

The Bible Says Prepare to Meet Your God. Are You Prepared. In Closing, Let Me Ask You This Question. You Know with Certainty That You Will Go to Heaven When You Die If You Don't Know That You Can Know It. Right Now, Let Me Come Back to That Verse Said Pastor Chuck Said He Would Base His Last Sermon on John 316 for God so Loved the World He Gave His Only Begotten Son, That Whosoever Believes in Him Should Not Perish but Have Everlasting Life.

That's the Good News in a Nutshell, God Love You. He Sent His Son to Die for You If You Will Believe in Him, You Will Not Perish and Be Separated from God. You'll Everlasting Life. It's a Gift That God Offers and If Any of You Listening Here Watching or Wherever You Are If You Are Not Sure the Crisis Living in Your Life. You Can Ask Him to Come and Forgive You of Your Sin Right Here Right Now. Let's Pray Father I Pray for Any Person Does Not yet Know You Help Them to See Their Need for You to Help Them to Come to You Again.

Your Great Glory 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 Comes to a Close and Then We Want to Mention Pastor Greg's Compelling Resource Called Revelation, a Book of Promises. Nearly Everyone Can Think of a Question That like to Ask about the Book of Revelation.

Maybe Something about the 144,004 If Believers Will Be Here When the Antichrist Is Revealed When They Find Answers in Your New Book 100%.

They Will Honey Just Give Quick Answer to Every One of Those Questions for the Hundred and 44,000. There Hundred and 44,000 Jewish People Who Believe in Jesus As the Messiah. There Sort of like 144,000 Kosher Billy Graham's Combing the Planet Sharing the Gospel in Their under Divine Protection and Then You Mentioned Will Believers Be Here to See the Antichrist.

I Think the Simple Answer Is No Because the Bible Says He Who Now Restrains Will Continue to Do so until He Is Taken Out Of the Way and Then Will That Wicked One, Be Revealed, Whom the Lord Will Destroy with the Brightness of His Coming. The Restraining Force in the World Today Is the Work of the Holy Spirit through the Church. It Is My Opinion That Antichrist Cannot Be Revealed until the Church Is Removed, so We Should Not Waste Time Looking for Antichrist, but Instead Be Looking for Jesus Christ. So the Main Thing We Want to Focus on Is Being Ready to Meet the Lord.

So I Answer Those Questions and A Lot More in This Book Called Revelation, a Book of Promises. It's Hardcover This Is a Pretty Thick Book Folks and Working to Send It to You for Your Gift of Any Size Because I Believe This Is Going to Be a Resource That You Can Go to Time and Time Again As You Study This Book. It's Understandable. It's down to Earth.

It's Practical. I Don't Use A Lot Of Theological Language I Speak in a Way That You Can Grasp It and I Want to Send You This Book Again for Your Gift of Any Size Whatever You Can Send Will Use to Reach More People with the Gospel in the Teaching of the Word of God. Yet We so Much Appreciate That Investment. It's Really an Investment in Touching and Changing Lives.

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Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or Call Us Anytime around the Clock at 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300 or Go Online to Harvest.org Pastor Greg You Pointed out the Importance of Asking Jesus to Forgive Our Sins.

A Few Moments Ago You 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 Any 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 in 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 MEI Be the First to See the You Welcome to the Family of God. Yet We Want to Help You Grow As a Believer.

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Next Time Pastor Greg Points out How We Can Have Courage When We Face Opposition for Doing the Work of God Join Us Here on a New Beginning.

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