"You Reap What You Sow - II"

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by some special friends of this ministry. Pastor Greg wanted to see a special word of thanks to the harvest partners who make this ministry possible next time your online check out Pastor Greg's personal blog@blog.greglaurie.com everyone is going to read one thing so whatever a man show that will he also reap.

Pastor Greg Laurie soon as you're good. She drew subversive parties for some sexual pleasure. You pursue sexual purity subversive this world you pursued that others corruption this your review life. Others feel used. You feel you begin to book of Esther, beginning we want to ask you Pastor Greg to help us have a more heavenly view of the earthly issues in our world today. Can you help us with that right Dave everybody Villa semi truck. Romans 828 is still in the Bible right some object quick. I think it's their what is it say it says all things work together for good to those love God. Another called according to his purpose within a goes on to say whom God did foreknow, he also did predestined to be conformed to the image of his own dear son, here's the thing were going through a trial in our nation together were going through a storm together and the storm is called covert, 19, also known as the coronavirus. This storm is going to have a beginning, middle and end.

Where are we in it. We don't know but we know working to get through it and we know that God can even take this event that were going through and work it out for our good. Ultimately, in his glory, and ultimately his endgame if you will, is to make us more like Jesus.

Remember all things work together for good to those that love him and all the called according to his purpose in whom God foreknew he wanted to conform into the image of his own dear son, so folks hang on to Jesus working to get through this together. Let's keep praying and let's offer others the hope that we have found in Christ and the hope that we want to extend your listeners goes beyond the boundaries of this radio program is not right, especially on the weekend. That's right Dave Fecteau.

We have a weekly broadcast every Sunday we call it Harvest at Home. It's a special message that I'll be giving to all of the folks that want to tune in and watch.

It's like having church in your home. It's like every me over giving up home Bible study in your front room and I'll tell you what the Lord is blessing that a lot of people are tuning in, and I hope that you will tune in, because what you can do is you can download the harvest up for Apple TV or the Roku box or get the harvest up for your tablet or your phone and you can watch us anyway you want but one thing and a lot of people are doing. Dave is her inviting people over to their homes on Sunday morning and are having church in their home. You know we want everybody to come to church.

That's a great thing. But Jesus did not say that the whole world should go to church but he did say the church should go to the whole world. This is a way to bring church if you will, to your neighborhood church to your neighbors church to people that you care about. So join us for Harvest at Home this Sunday. Just go over the harvest.org we start early in the morning and we got all day long even into the evening. Hope to see their tried and again you can get the details@harvest.org well as Pastor Greg takes us to the book of Esther today will consider a man of great power who showed evil and will see how he reap the fruit he deserved. Well we are in our last message in the book of Esther, have you enjoyed the book of Esther. I have it's been a lot of fun to study for even more fun to preach and so this is the final message for an Esther chapter 5 in the title of the messages you reap what you sow. Enter the villain of the story. Payment who hatches a plot to exterminate more decay I and the Jews. And so Esther says tomorrow.

Jack okay I'm in a go to the king. So our story begins in Esther chapter 5, verse one. Let's read together.

Three days later, Esther put on her royal robes and entered the inner court of the palace just across from the King Saul, the king was sitting on his royal throne facing the entrance and when he saw Queen Esther standing there in the inner court. He welcomed her, holding out the gold scepter to her. So Esther approached and touched its tip.

Then the king asked her what you want. Queen Esther, what is your request.

I'll give it to you. Up to have of the kingdom.

She said well if it pleases your majesty but the king and Haman come today to a banquet I prepared for the king so the king turned to his attendance at said tell him to come quickly to a banquet is Esther as requested. So king. The king and Haman went to Esther banquet there drinking wine of the king said Esther tell me what you really want. What is your request.

I'll give it to you.

Even up to half of my kingdom. Esther replied, this is my request and deepest wish. If your Majesty is pleased with me and wants to grant my request come back with Haman tomorrow. It is amazing. Seems like she would just close the deal right there. No outing Haman and his plot revealed that she was a Jewish girl and this was attack against her and her people, but she's waiting she's waiting for the right tribunal. Timing is everything, because a lot of times were impatient. Are you an impatient person I can be, but we need to understand there's a time for every event under heaven. The Bible says the time to be silent in a time to speak now Haman is so excited. He's thinking everything's going my way. All of my scheming mama plotting my undermining is finally coming to fruition. The queen is invited me to a banquet with the king were five what a happy man. Haman was as he left the banquet think everything's going my way, to wipe out the Jews time powerful, all its awesome but as he's on his way home, walks by more tequila and once again more decay. I will not bow before him, and it just took some goes home to his really, really creepy wife that was as bad as him.

Her name is Irish and he says that more tequila is driving me insane. He won't bow down before me.

I want to kill him really soon.

She says why don't you build a gallows, maybe 75 feet high and he could be hung publicly for his rebellion. He says wife. That is a great idea.

Joy brings in the building crew and the working for the night.

He can't wait to complete the gallows so we can hang more decay. I high for his transgression. So as you look at the three men think something big going well. I mean, there's this horrible threat against the Jews. Haman's empower.

The king is in doing anything about it but God is always on the move and as I said earlier. As we began this study know the name of God is never mentioned specifically in the book of Esther the hand of God is evident in every single page in the Lord was working through events now as organist see how everything came together, and there was a lot of reaping what it been so so I debated up I should just paraphrase this and tell it to you but I'm in a have you read it with because this is one of the most powerful narratives in the Bible to draw. Bring your Bibles today your Bibles to grab your Bible look at it.

Esther chapter 6, verse 14, Morgan read a bunch of verses you're gonna love this reading from the new living translation while they were still talking.

The king's units arrived and they came into the banquet. Esther had prepared so the king and Haman went to a growing Esther's banquet. There were drinking wine that day and the king asked her, tell me what you want. Queen Esther, what is your request.

I'll give it to you. Even up to half of my kingdom and some Queen Esther replied, if your Majesty is pleased with the want to grant my request.

My petition is that my life and the lives of my people will be spare key.

So Esther's been waiting for the right moment.

And now she's going for verse seven for my people, says that's been sold to those who would kill slaughter and annihilate us who would dare do such a thinking Xerxes demand who would dare touch you. I love verse six Esther replied this wicked Haman is our enemy. Imagine the scene. There's a man sitting there like oh no she's Jewish, what it says next human grew pale with fright before the king and queen. This is the king jumped up to his feet and arrange going out into the palace garden but Haman stayed behind a plea for his life with Queen Esther, for he knew he was doomed in this very felony capture Queen Esther was her climbing just as the king returned from the palace garden. He said all are you going to assault the Queen right here in the palace before my very eyes.

The king roared as soon as the king spoke his attendance covered Haman space signaling is due, then the Harb bone. One of the king's eunuch said hey king Haman is set up a gallows that stands 75 feet tall and is own courtyard. The king says paying Haman on it so they hang Haman on the gallows.

Set up for more decay. I the king's anger was classified and on that same thinking. Xerxes gave the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews to Queen Esther stop there. Talk about poetic justice arrived so when we learn from the story number one God is always present and at work in our lives as Christians, whether we feel him or not. God is always present and at work in our lives as Christians, whether we feel him or not he was at work in the life of Esther.

He was at work in the life of more decay. I he was at work in the lives of the Jewish people and we see how God worked to such ordinary human events, insomnia, the reading of a book. The anger of a man in the timing of events so I don't know what you're facing right up God's at work. I don't see him. He's at work.

I don't feel and he's at work he's working behind the scenes he promises to work all things together for good to those that love God and of the called according to his purpose. Number two God can take impossible situations and turn them around for his glory. God can take impossible situations and turn them around for his glory. Are you facing an impossible situation as it deck stacked against you. Have you been given no hope. Listen to this God can change that is Gabriel. The angel said to Mary would be the mother of Jesus with God all things are possible in this look like an impossible situation for sure but the Lord dinner. The endpoint number three you will reap what you sow. Again, I want to emphasize. I can be positive or negative for Haman. He reap what he so his treachery is deceitfulness his envy his hatred all came back, he hung on his own gallows, but Mordechai's faithfulness is honesty is integrity. Also, the honesty and passion of Esther that was rewarded as well. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of today's message just a moment. Pastor Greg can you give us a verse to hang onto when the new Scriptures down, what would be your go to section of Scripture when it seems like were walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Yesterday we had just quoted a verse from Psalm 23 which is a favorite Psalm of so many people, and for good reason.

It's just a beautiful picture of how God our father is a shepherd who cares for us. Little David was a shepherd and he was probably watching this flock of sheep one day and that you know what those sheep those silly skittish fear will sheep are just like me and then he wrote these words the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake yay though I walk to the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies you anoint my head with oil my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Listen, you're going through a valley right now, we all are. It's called the coronavirus working to get through the valley and you're not alone in this valley.

The Lord is with you.

So hang on to him. Good encouragement. Let's continue. No recognition as life goes by, you realize that it's a good decision to obey God as some of you are young, let me say something to and hear what I'm saying and I guarantee what I'm telling you is true, and if it isn't, you can come to me later and I'll give you your money back, but this didn't cost you anything.

Here's my advice to you would God tells you to do in life. Follow the word of God will be times when it's very difficult to make that stand for Christ very hard for you to hold your ground do what is right before God.

I know there are people in life that seem to get ahead. They cut corners. They tell lies there dishonest they get the promotion they get the attention you labor away faithfully, quietly, and no one notices you.

It's all going to come out in the wash because everyone is going to reap what they sow. Just know it's going to look back in your life you'll find some who pursued fun when you pursued thing. Some pursued parties and you pursued prayer, some pursued sexual pleasure you pursued sexual purity. Some pursued this world you pursued the next while others reap corruption or deadness your reaping life while others feel used. You feel new seat so so to the spirit put God first in all things every day.

From the moment you get up to the time you go to bed you either.

So, to the spirit. So to the flash so you get up in the morning you can go ahead and check out how many followers you have on Instagram or many friends you have on Facebook by the weather not your friends and in the know you can be obsessed with things that are secondary or you can say I'm in a dedicate this morning. The first things first, opening the word of God and letting God speak to me through the Scripture and then you make decisions to the day what you're going to listen to what you're going to do, who you going to hang around with.

Who's going to influence you who you're going to influence and you'll find that you reap what you sow it comes out of this soul of thoughts reap an act so and at reap a habit so I haven't reap a character so a character, reap a destiny. It starts with a thought. What you let into your mind what you contemplate what you ponder. Fill your mind with the things of God. So to the spirit. You will not regret it. I was reading the new site yesterday about a man from Malaysia, known as the snake whisper that you read this article. He has great skills in handling venomous snakes, specifically cobras. He was featured on a TV program Asia's got talent. He was a firefighter. He was even training other firefighters on how to handle venomous snake see without these snakes, he would get them to do what he wanted them to do and they wouldn't bite him. He was a snake whisper. One day he was working with one of his snakes and it bit him and he died. Moral of the story don't mess around with poisonous snakes seriously, what would you think you're the sin was burnout so I can handle this. I know this is been the downfall of Betty, but it will never be my downfall. I can control this by I can keep a handle on this issue, and one day to get control of your life. I'm sorry you're not the exception.

Don't play with said Orson will play around with you one last thought, which is a preacher's way of saying I'm going 20 more minutes and I'm not Esther was willing to lay her life down for her people. She said to Wernick AI okay I'm a go to the king, and if I die I die. But I'll die trying. I'll do what I can wish you didn't have to die ditching.

She lived many more years and because of her sacrificial act save the lives of many will in the same way Jesus was willing to lay his life down and he did die he had to die because it was no other way to make us right with God. I went to the market the other day second market story and one message as I was coming out I was with my granddaughter Allie and there were these two sweet little old ladies sitting there. They must've been in their mid-90s and in more than said hello hello Greg, I try to do the racks and I'm sorry I said hi yes yes we went to Intellivision nights ago. Thank you. It's great that you got blood.

She was able. God bless you, if I walked over to him, your name and the one was named Maria and there were some were chatting these two sweet little old ladies. We pray for you.

Thank you so much for praying for me. There's another elderly woman standing there on a walker and then the two sisters from Romania said good day for she doesn't believe in God. I look over this lady she's like what happened. The lady said I didn't say they believe in God, I'm just not sure it's hard to believe in God. I simple tell me why she said well there's just so much suffering in the world. I said it's really true love is suffering Lotta horrible things happen. That's because of sin, why, why did God let that even happen. Why doesn't God just get control of all of it, what, why would all these horrible things have to happen will because God gave us a free will. You see, we can be good, just all I've heard that before. You know I have children I tell them what to do a Telemann right and wrong are and they should do what I tell them why doesn't God do that for us. Actually he does is call the Bible and he gives us absolutes for life, but unfortunately we don't always do what he wants us to do. She said well it just doesn't seem fair.

I simply listen, God loves you.

You think God loves me and she's asleep. I said I know God loves you he loved you so much.

He sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for you will.

That seems very mean on the part of God to let Jesus suffer like that and said ma'am, it's because he loves you and Jesus paid the price for your said it was hard for her to get that and she said I I'm a good person.

I said you send Iversen were all sinners and we all need Jesus. So we talked about it for a little while and I invited her to church to so pray for that lady. I didn't catch her name but listen, here's the other thing is with a lot of people say this will this just doesn't seem fair now, but that's why Jesus died. He died on the cross and took good judgment that should come upon you, upon himself. Why is this important because, listen to me. You're gonna reap what you sow.

See if you believe in Jesus and asked him to forgive you everything you have ever committed throughout your entire life and there's a lot of them. By the way, will be forgiven arrays and removed instantly. But if you do not ask Jesus to forgive you every sin you've committed in your life will come back to haunt you. And you'll face the full repercussions of them. That's pretty scary ill and and you don't have to do that but if you reject God's offer of forgiveness through Jesus Christ friend you have sealed your own faith.

Don't blame God for anything. It'll be on you he has this great offer. The Bible calls it the unspeakable get or it's also translated the indescribable gift. It's so awesome.

It's so amazing it's so free and all you have to do is reach out until Lord forgive me someone in a closing prayer now and if you're not sure if your sin is forgiven, it kind of freaked you out a little bit when you think about reaping. What's also I strongly urge you to believe in Jesus. He died for you. He rose again from the dead, and he's here with us right now standing at the door of your life and knocking me insane if you hear his voice and open the door he will come in. This can be the moment where your life changes you've made a lot of bad decisions you done a lot of stupid things you have a lot of regrets. You can't change that you can change your past, but you can be forgiven of your past because of the sacrifice of Jesus. He will do that for you if you will ask him to. The Bible says that we will confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

As we pray now, I'll encourage you to say yes Lord, I'm sorry I'm a sinner. Forgive me come in the my life and she will do that for you today the top of our heads.

Father, thank you for loving us so much that you sent Jesus Lord Jesus, thank you for coming, Elaine. Your life down for us. And now I pray for any person here or any person listening or watching wherever they might be. Help them to see their need for you help them come to you. Help them to believe in you. Now we pass in Jesus name to Greg Laurie pointing out the need to come to the Lord to find forgiveness for our sins and the hope of heaven, and if you want to follow through and make a change in your relationship with God today.

Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes after a permanent copy of today study you can go online to harvest.org or call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 and the study today is titled, you reap what you sow festering the Bible is the best source of direction and encouragement for believers.

It's God's counsel straight to our hearts and minds yes and you have a new addition of the Bible stressed out. That's right, David. The new believers Bible it's in hardback now old and New Testament.

I've been working on this for years and I'm so glad it's finally coming out that somebody listing might say.

Well I further the new believers Bible is not been around for a while yet has acted for a number of years but infect 10 million people got my copy of it, but we went back and redid everything we really edited the old notes I added new notes is a lot of new material that wasn't there before. So as they say it's new and improved, not the Bible, of course, but the notes that are in the new believers Bible. It's in the very friendly new living translation, which is very readable and then there's is notes and everything you can imagine from how to pray effectively how to share your faith, why do Christians go through trials hard questions that nonbelievers ask him what about the afterlife. What about heaven. What about hell.

What about end times events, you name it we probably cover it in the notes of the new believers Bible it be a great resource for you to start enjoying immediately as they say it's hot off the press and would like to rush you a copy for your gift of any size again. I want to remind you that this is a critical time in America right now and we want to seize the moment your harvest ministries to bring hope to hopeless people to bring comfort to frighten people to bring Jesus to lost people and you know are serious about evangelism. If you listen to this program. I want to see people come to Christ of this crisis. And so I'm in ask you to be extra generous. When you send that gift to us and receive your own copy of the new new believers Bible and I want to thank you in advance of that's right. And by the way, if you contact us right away will also include a companion resource we call start to follow.

It's an extra publication were Pastor Greg Walker through the seven key basics.

Every believer needs to know. Great information so ask for the new believers Bible is you write a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg getting back to the way you closed your message.

No doubt your people listening who know that they do need to make a change in their relationship with the Lord. They know that they have sin in their life and they know that they need to forgiveness that Jesus offers the how can they take advantage of this offer of forgiveness will you have just identified the first step you need to know that you need that she knows a lot of people don't realize what they neither like a drowning person who would think that he could save himself. You need to call out to God for help. In fact, the Bible says whoever will call upon the name of the Lord. He will be saying and I would like to give you an opportunity to call out to the Lord right now and find the salvation that he offers. It's as simple as prayer.

I'm in a lead you in a prayer at this very moment.

And if you would like to come to Christ if you would like him to forgive you of your sin and fill the void in your life and give you the hope that when you die you will go to heaven. Pray this prayer with me right now.

God, I admit to you today that I am a sinner and I'm sorry for my sin and I turn from it now. I think you for sending Jesus Christ your son to die on the cross and the shed his blood for me.Jesus come into my heart and life be my Savior, my Lord, my God, my friend fill me with your spirit and help me to love your word and to do what you tell me to do.

I want to be your disciple. Thank you for forgiving me in Jesus name I pray, amen, amen. Lesson if you have just prayed that prayer and you've met it from your heart. God has forgiven you of your sin and we want to welcome you into the family of God, and we have something would like to send your way. That'll help you get started as a Christian we call it our new believers growth packet will be glad to send it to you if you made a first time commitment to the Lord today. Just ask for the new believers growth packet as you write a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or you can call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or just go online to harvest.org and click the words know God always is the fervent opportunity to bring someone to church. It does not get know the Lord is a big difference this year were going to do it all online.

That's right, Easter is coming your house dear family to your phone wherever you want to view it just goes to harvest.org to find out more, let's work together to reach the largest group of people we have never been able to make contact with this coming Easter harvest Easter on line when next I pastor Greg helps us run this race called the Christian life with an eye toward victory will learn to lay aside those things that slow us down and join us next time you're on a new beginning pastor Greg Laurie and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.org