Some have defined revival as a community saturated with God or an invasion from heaven.

Richard Owen Roberts said, “Revival is an extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results.” And A.W. Tozer defined revival as “that which changes the moral climate of a community.”

Listen, revival is nothing more or less than a new beginning of obedience to God.

It’s a church word, revival. It is not for the nonbeliever. Revival starts with the church and then affects the world. The world does not need revival; the church does. The world needs evangelism.

Evangelism does not bring revival, but revival always brings evangelism.

Continue reading Greg Laurie – What is Revival? →

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says the Lord, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”—Jeremiah 29:11

Sometimes people will ask me to sign their Bibles. And sometimes they will ask me to include my favorite verse. That can be difficult, because I have a lot of favorites. What I choose to write down typically depends on what I’m experiencing at the time.

If I’m going through a stressful situation, I might write down Philippians 4:6–7, which says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Continue reading Greg Laurie – God’s Thoughts toward Us →

Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.—2 Kings 6:17

We often imagine Heaven as a faraway place. We automatically think it is beyond our solar system. But the Bible doesn’t say that Heaven is far away. Maybe Heaven is closer than we think. Heaven is another realm. Right now as we live in this physical realm, there is also a supernatural realm.

In 2 Kings 7 we find a classic example of how God can work both naturally and supernaturally at the same time. Supernaturally God cleared out Israel’s enemies, the Syrians, by allowing them to hear the noise of an approaching army, complete with chariots and galloping horses. This wasn’t an illusion or sleight of hand. This was a glimpse behind the veil into the supernatural realm.

Continue reading Greg Laurie – Closer Than We Think →

At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid.—2 Kings 5:2

In 2 Kings 5 we read of a young Israelite girl, whose name we don’t even know, that had been kidnapped and carried away to Syria. How easily she could have been bitter against God for allowing this to happen. And certainly she could have been angry with the people she was working for as a slave.

So when her master Naaman was stricken with leprosy, she could have thought, He deserves it. But that isn’t the way she felt at all. She was concerned for him. Her heart went out to him. And she saw the opportunity to tell Naaman about a prophet in Israel named Elisha who could pray for him. Elisha was Elijah’s successor. God was working through him and had used him to raise someone from the dead. Like Elijah, he had miracle-working power.

Continue reading Greg Laurie – The Power of a Godly Life →

“Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed.”—1 Samuel 2:3

I was born in the generation known as the Baby Boomers. Our children are now called the Millennials, also dubbed the Me Generation. My generation thought the problem with the world was low self-esteem. Therefore, a lot of emphasis was given to, and a lot of money was spent on, the self-esteem movement. (This was never the problem, by the way, because it never has been a problem for us to learn to love ourselves. The problem is that we love ourselves enough already.)

As a result, a sense of entitlement—the idea that you don’t have to work hard and that everything should be given to you because you’re so wonderful—is now a big problem in our country. If you don’t believe me, then just watch some auditions for American Idol. People with no ability whatsoever are completely oblivious to it. And when a judge has the audacity to tell them that singing is probably not what they should do with their lives, they get upset.

Continue reading Greg Laurie – Our Number One Goal →

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared meals with great joy and generosity–all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of the people. And the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. —Acts 2:46–47

If you’ve ever gone to Disneyland with only adults, then you know it’s kind of boring. First they’ll complain about how much it costs. Then they’ll complain about how the lines are too long. Then, after one or two rides, they’ll say, “Where can we go to eat?”

On the other hand, when you go to Disneyland with children, they want to go on the fastest or coolest ride. Then they’re ready to go on the next one, and then the next, and then the next. Experiencing it through a child’s eyes makes it more meaningful for you as well.

Continue reading Greg Laurie – Evangelize or Fossilize →

“So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other.” —Deuteronomy 4:39

We don’t see a lot of idol worship in our culture—at least outwardly. But I think that in some ways, maybe there is.

People have their gods, although they don’t call them gods. Their gods are what they trust in. Maybe it’s a person. Maybe it’s a bank account. Maybe it’s a career. Maybe it’s their appearance. Maybe it’s something else.

Then one day something happens, and they lose that money in the bank account. Something happens, and they lose that position. Something happens, and they no longer look like they once did. It’s a wakeup call, and they realize that whatever their god was, it was never a good thing to build their lives on.

Continue reading Greg Laurie – The One, True God →

“I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.”—1 Kings 18:18

Elijah was not a popular guy after his announcement to King Ahab. He had walked into Ahab’s court and declared, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!” (1 Kings 17:1).

Elijah was a wanted man, dead or alive (preferably dead). But then he emerged on the scene, and he and Ahab had their confrontation. When Ahab saw Elijah, he said, “So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?” (1 Kings 18:17).

Continue reading Greg Laurie – Sowing and Reaping →