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October 5, 2022 3:00 am
Imagine sitting down for a fine meal. It may be the finest meal you’ve ever experienced. The service is first class. The chef is world renowned. His culinary creations will leave you speechless. But you can’t get your eyes off the shiny silverware. You ignore the food and gaze upon the utensil. Behold the spoon! Ridiculous. . . Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out the folly of being so enamored with the world we miss eternity.
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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.
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You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast supported by harvest partners for more ways to deepen and challenge your spiritual walk and roll and pastor breaks free online courses sign@harvest.org we normalize the word right, we normalize the word of the Bible warns us against his heavenly minded go coming up today pastor Greg Laurie points on the bondage we experience when we fix our eyes on the Lord the next day, Kevin constantly seeking new thinking about maybe the finest meal you leverage. The services first class world renowned culinary creations will leave you speechless teacher, Liza silverware, nor the food and gaze upon the utensil ridiculous today on a new beginning pastor Greg Laurie points out the folly of being so enamored with the world is a member is a little like to me Disneyland was like heaven on I don't feel that way anymore. But I did a long time ago and I think it was due in part to my ghetto horrible upbringing and I would watch the show on television called the wonderful world Disney and then when color TV came out yes and that old big jaded to the wonderful world of color and we were just amazed that watch this on our screen, but these programs that busy would do but then Walt Disney told us about this park. He was building and it was good to be the happiest place on earth and and so when I would visit Disneyland. It was like heaven to me because I mean II felt it was just such an incredible place that I was so sad to leave. In fact, you know you're a kid when you go to Disneyland in your favorite part is when you arrive and you know you're an adult when you go to Disneyland because your favorite time is when you leave right that drew so that's all I used to feel about Disneyland and I think it just sort of a glimpse of something much greater.
That is coming. We long for heaven and the Bible teaches that when a Christian dies they go immediately to heaven to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. So if you've loved ones who have died in faith, they are in heaven right now. Do they see us down here.
Are they watching this up there that they know what were going to down here.
We'll talk about that next message because those are very important questions, and some of my answers may surprise you a little bit actually.
But yes it is true. The Bible teaches we will go straight to heaven. So let's talk about heaven to turn the Colossians chapter 3.
Since then, you've been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
There so we are to set our hearts. We are to set our minds on things above. This phrase set your mind to be translated. Think, or more thoroughly, have this inner disposition. Let me put it another way, the verse is actually saying simply think heaven think heaven that something were all supposed to do as Christians and by the way, the verb edges in this verse is in the present tense going to be translated. Keep thinking heaven, or keep thinking about heaven, or keep seeking heaven put it all together and think constantly be seeking and thinking about heaven. You see, our feet must be on earth, but our minds and our hearts can be in heaven now back in Colossians 3, Paul starts with the word therefore put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, Boston, evil desires. Don't be greedy for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these since the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life is still part of this world now is a time to get rid of rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
Don't lie to each other for you stripped up your old sinful nature and all of its wicked deeds put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your creator become like a lot whenever you read the word therefore in the Bible. Find out what is therefore in other words, when a phrase starts with the word therefore these drawing on what is been previously set.
So again, what was previously said they set your mind on heaven. Set your heart on heaven think a lot about heaven.
So with that in mind there for now. He tells us about three categories of sin that can will keep us earthbound. Instead of being heavenly minded work earthbound number one if you're taking notes. Sexual sin can keep you earthbound sexual sin. Verse five Paul mentions sexual immorality and impurity. The word that he uses the Greek word for neon. Guess what English word we got from that how we have normalize the word poor right we normalize the word.
Oh she's a porn star. Oh yeah, looking at porn we make a joke got a big watch sitcoms, mainstream sitcoms on television and a joke openly and consistently about looking at porn.
We were so normalize that and made it sort of acceptable in the Bible warns us against Cornelia is a root word that just speaks up all kinds of immorality it's premarital sex tissue.
None of that is that's having sex with someone you're not married to extramarital sex.
That's also having sex with someone you're not married to all kinds of sex outside of God's natural order and so when the word Cornelia is used. It's talking about a person that feels her mind was sexual imagery and talks about it constantly, and ultimately acts on it so the Bible is warning you to not do that. Don't fill your mind with those thing because if you do it's like you of a fire in your pouring fuel on your fire. It's dangerous and it's one day getting get out of control and what will happen is that a person can only take that step in for so long and then they want to start acting on those impulses and get into all kinds of trouble me about do I need to actually say it's a really bad idea to sext someone send a sexual image of yourself via text or Snapchat or something else.
These are things that are destructive in your life and are not God's plan for your life and things that can ultimately destroy your life and that's why the Bible warns you about these things.
Listen, God invented sex.
Sex is amazing sex can be blessed. But in one place.
That's when you're married to a person in a monogamous relationship.
The end. There's no sense in solid people come up to me and sit with the Lord spoke to us and said it's cool know you did say that he dreamt that you way too much pizza. God will never contradict his word and he says that for your own good.
He says that for your protection, so don't let that dominate your life. Idolatry can keep us earthbound. You will be heavenly minded if you're worshiping an idol and he mentions that as well. Here in Colossians. Don't let idolatry, which is green and I lose anyone or anything that takes the place of God in your life, and specifically it says to be a greedy person is idolatry. By the way, is to root words here to have and more. So what is it mean to be a greedy person that someone that wants to have more. It's a sin of always wanting more more more more more. It's never enough.
The Bible says Hell and destruction is never full and so is the heart of a man never satisfied and it's not just that I want more but I want what I have no I want which you have. I want yours. I don't just want when I want yours to. That's coveting by the way, that's when the Bible says don't covet your neighbor's wife, or their possessions that that's coveting something that does not belong to you and so this is what this is a nuts, idolatry, and it can preoccupy your mind. Idolatry can keep us in your great glory will have the second half of this message in just a moment. Hearing about listeners who find Jesus because of harvest ministries is so encouraging. Pastor Greg is a 20 year listener to your radio show fellow Harbor high graduate, I thought you would appreciate hearing how I used your salvation or to bring my dad to the Lord in the final moments of his life.
My father was a big gregarious man and played football for the Missouri Tigers back in his early years, he became a successful businessman in California and was married four times. However, through the years. He was a very good father to me and my three siblings just recently my dad flew out for a visit. Got to hold his great-granddaughter for the first time it was on this trip that he fell down a staircase which set in motion a domino effect of health issues that were insurmountable, leading to a heart attack. Days later, knowing he had just hours or minutes to live in, not knowing if he had accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. I asked him if he would like to repeat after me.
The prayer of salvation that referred you. Pastor Greg promptly said yes after leaving my dad in this prayer of salvation. I said to him, dad.
Congratulations. You're going to heaven quiet peace settled over him and he was no longer afraid to meet his maker have these daily studies in God's word touched your life. The life of someone in your family.
If so, why not try Pastor Greg an email and let them know. Send it to great@harvest.org again, that's great@harvest.org will today on a new beginning for considering those things that distract us from keeping our eyes on our eternal reward. Pastor Greg continues his message. Let's talk about heaven. And then thirdly, rage, slander, and dirty language keep us earthbound verse eight rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
By the way, the word Rager speaks of a settled in habitual anger with the thought of revenge. This is a person was the bumper sticker on their car. I don't get mad I get even. Don't cut that person off just give them wide birthright on the road because it that's in the of gun racks in the back of their car Smith & Wesson bumper stickers and no it's not you believe you want to mess with that person because there are people out there that are just waiting to get angry about something. Malicious behavior speaks about boiling agitation of your feelings. A sudden and violent anger. Don't be that person.
Slander speaks of speaking ill of others meant people slander so much, especially online, because you do it anonymously right.
You don't have to face the person you can take on a different name and say complete lies about a person and destroy a person's reputation is spread gossip about a person. Even the word gossip kisses like a snake.
If you ever notice that its costs there's something very appealing. I just did something I don't know if it's true, but I just wanted to share it with you so you can pray, so you can pray when you just heard something you don't know if it's true in English or about someone and I noticed to be critical or demeaning or degrading. So why would I share something about someone that I don't know is true that can hurt that person. One of the person is standing over there right now.
Here's a thought walk over to the fire. The craziest thing I know it's not true and they can tell you the truth, but see will embrace these things and internalize these things and even worse spread these things don't don't let that happen to you. These are not the things a Christian should be doing, especially a heavenly minded one. Listen, if you put your faith in Christ you're a child of God you are a citizen of heaven and it's time to start living like one child of God or not known for slander were known for love were not known for condemnation were known for forgiveness and restoration.so you want to be you want to be that guy that girl that people go to and say you know you're always fair-minded about these things. You're always compassionate you're always carried don't be known is that mean-spirited judge mental parts person be a heavenly minded person and when we begin like never before to think about and see Because you know the great thing is, is when your focus on heaven you live the most fulfilling life on earth because he is Lewis one last time. He said amen heaven and you get thrown in.
Amen. Earth and you will get neither." That's true. Amen heaven and you get are thrown into the ideas I'm so focused on heaven that I'm living the fullest life on earth, but some people I don't want to think about the afterlife.
Someone just get the most out of this life, you end up not living a full life in this earth. And then you end up not being prepared for the afterlife. So how can you know for sure that you get to heaven some people to well live a good life. Okay that's not true, but let's just say it is true for the sake of a point live a good life. How good. Well, as good as I choose to live pricing so you're making the rules will, of course, I have that's not the way it works because even if you were to live a good life and granted some people live better lives.
Another solid minute is still not good enough to get you to heaven because one sends enough to keep you out. The Bible says if you offend in one part of the law, you're guilty of all of it. So you've ever seen in any time in your life, that's enough sin to keep you out of heaven go all that pretty hard shell that is is not for there's only one way to get to have it.
Through Jesus, who died on the cross for our sin and paid the price for our sin and rose again and now he offers us this gift of eternal life.
Years ago I was given I think I can remember three or four tickets to Disneyland and so we went into the park. It was very nice because it's very expensive. What is it like $5000 a ticket.
Nonmetric slowly, a lot. That's just one part double-sided trike so and so you guy I had these tickets we got in where word start.
Have a good time and I felt guilty because one of the people didn't show up and I had a free ticket to Disneyland and I thought that I can't walk around with a free ticket to dissing what if there's somebody outside that would love the commitment that can afford it. I can give him this ticket and I said to my wife. I'll be back in like literally four minutes. How long is it going to take me to get rid of a free ticket to Disneyland. I came back like 30 minutes later she said what happened you I said I can get anyone to take it because I walked up to strangers hi would you like a free ticket to Disneyland. They certainly backing away for this is, is this a cold. Now it's free ticket. He wanted no wanted okay hey would you like your free ticket to visit my want to catch his hair, give it to.
I just have an extra the pertinent know no one would take it.
I really had to assault a person.
No I didn't but I finally found someone. It's an opening. You're welcome. I just want to have an hour of my time to Disneyland and that's how it is, and we offer this gift you can go to heaven by believing in Jesus notes good works is not good works. It's his work on the cross you just accepted your will to catch water know the catches and just telling you it's a gift you could never afford it so wanted to just take it the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And then you can know you go to heaven to look do you know right now that if you died you would go to heaven if you don't don't you want to get that resolved.
Why would you want to go on for another minute without being sure you're prepared for the afterlife.
So you pray in a moment I'm going to extend an invitation enclosing for you to ask Christ to come in your life and forgive you all of your sin so you can know you go to heaven when you die if you don't know this for sure respond to this invitation because 2000 years ago God sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross in our place.
The pay the price for all the wrongs we've done all the sins we committed in three days later he rose again from the dead and here he is now alive with us in this place, standing at the door of your life and knocking and he says if you hear my voice, and open the door, I will commit if you've never asked him to come in your life. Do it now. Let's all bow our heads.
Father, thank you now for your word to us. Thank you for sending Jesus Lord Jesus, thank you for coming and laying your life down for us.
Now we pray for any hear that you not yet know you help them to come to you.
Help them to believe in you. Help them to receive the hope of heaven, we would ask Jesus name I pray for Greg Laurie important prayer and if you like to make a change today in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes Pastor Greg you spoke a lot about getting the basics right in our Christian faith.
We better have a strong foundation to build on yes and you have a helpful resource were making available that addresses the fundamentals of Christian living culture.
That's right, Dave, and you could read this in one sitting. It's called the new believers guide to effective Christian living. Now I know that I'm speaking the people that have known the Lord for many years, but if they're honest, they might say well there sort of stuck.
They don't know what's going on. They don't know how to get back into gear. Again, this is a book that's going to take you back to the basics basics you never outgrow things you need to remind yourself of over and over again as an example in this little book we talk about how to know God through Bible study.
What is prayer. How can they pray effectively why fellowship with other believers matters and we also talk about overcoming temptation dealing with problems discovering the will of God keys to sharing your faith effectively and much much more to get your own copy of the new believers guide to effective Christian living.
This is been one of our best receive resources we've ever offered. I know it's going to be helpful to you. Yeah, that's right. And we are eager to get a copy of this in your hands. Let it bolster your own faith or keep copies on hand to give to others who need a hand, and growing in the Lord. Use it as a follow-up resources you share your faith again is called the new believers guide to effective Christian living and will send it your way to say thank you for partnering with us so we can continue to teach believers and reach unbelievers through a new beginning.
Contact us today. You can call 1-800-821-3300 call anytime 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org and then the pressure just before we go. Would you mind praying with the person listening who wants to make a change today in the relationship with the Lord.
I'd be happy to Dave you know is you been listening to this today. Maybe you've heard another voice. By that I mean, you heard me say a few things, but you heard God's voice speak to you deep in the recesses of your heart and it suddenly dawned in you.
This is what I need order stated more accurately. This is who I need I need Jesus.
And I want Jesus, but maybe you don't know how to make that connection. Let me help you pray this after me right now if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life. Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sin and I need your forgiveness right now. Would you come in to my heart, my life as Savior, as God as friend.
I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me and for giving me in Jesus name I pray, amen.
I know there was a relatively short prayer. Maybe you felt something as you prayed it. Maybe you felt nothing, that doesn't really matter because God's word 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. It doesn't say so. You may think you have it or you may hope you have it of gods in a good mood. No that you can know it and I want you to know if you pray that prayer and minute Jesus Christ, the son of God has come into your life. So congratulations, you're now a Christian now continue to follow the Lord and to help you as you follow the Lord would like to send you some resource materials recall our new believers growth packet at Lancer. Many of the questions you might have and get you started off right in your new relationship with the Lord. So get in touch and ask for it will send it to your free of any charge you can call us anytime day or night at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click the two words know God will next time as pastor. Greg continues his series on the afterlife will focus on the bodies will have hereafter how different will they be find out next time.
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