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Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Why Jesus Had to Die, Part 2

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Hebrews 12:3 (NKJV) says, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Consider means to “think over, ponder, or compare.” So let’s consider what the cross was to Jesus Himself. For Jesus, the cross was a fate worse than death. Indeed it was death, and a very cruel one at that. It can’t get much worse than that, but for Jesus it was.

Can you remember the most painful moment of your life? There are different types of pain. There is physical pain. Perhaps you’ve had a horrible fall and broke an arm or a leg, or worse. It’s an interesting thing how the human body will sort of shut down temporarily when it’s in a state of shock, so that it doesn’t feel the pain as severely.

But there are other kinds of pain that can actually be worse than physical pain: the pain of rejection, betrayal, or abandonment, for example. When a husband says to his wife, “I’ve been unfaithful to you.” When a wife says to her husband, “I want a divorce!” When the child says to the parent, “I don’t want to live the Christian life!” Or when you are betrayed by a friend, perhaps someone you’ve done so much for. It cuts like a knife.

When we think about the most painful moment in the earthly life of Christ, our minds immediately race to the act of crucifixion itself—the crude spikes that were driven through His hands and feet, or the cruel lashes on His back, or the physical abuse he took from the soldiers. And all of that was truly horrific.

But, as horrible as that was, I believe that none of those things were Jesus’ most painful moment. The most painful moment for Jesus was when He bore the sin of the world. This is what He recoiled from in Gethsemane, this “cup” of God’s wrath. Understand that He had never spent a single moment out of fellowship with His Father. Now He would, for a time, be completely separated from God.

And that, for Jesus, was a fate worse than death. This, His worst moment of personal pain and anguish was our greatest moment in its effect. In essence, His lowest moment was our highest.

His pain, our gain.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – A Heavenly View

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Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. —2 Corinthians 4:16–17

In his final words to the elders of the church at Ephesus, Paul essentially laid down the principles that really mattered to him and said the desire of his heart was to finish his race with joy (see Acts 19:24). It was an emotional good-bye, and Paul left, sailing on to Caesarea. When he arrived there he stayed with the evangelist Philip, where he encountered the prophet Agabus. Agabus tied his own hands and feet with Paul’s belt and warned him, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’ ” (Acts 21:11). In other words, “Don’t go. Danger is waiting.”

Paul responded and said, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (verse 13).

Now, what kind of a statement is that? That is the statement of a man who has been to heaven (see 2 Corinthians 12:2). Paul left this earth, went into the presence of God, and was called back to the earth again. That is why Paul was able to say that he had “a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Philippians 1:23).

If you had been to heaven, it would change everything about you. It would change the way you see everything and the way you respond to everything. And certainly, it would change the way you view death.

I don’t think that Paul had a death wish, but I do think he recognized that what was waiting for him on the other side was far better than what he was experiencing. The same can be true for you and me.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – A Need-to-Know Basis

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The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. —Acts 23:12

There was something Paul didn’t know as he sat in prison in Jerusalem. More than forty men had taken an oath to not or eat or drink until they had killed Paul. Now, that is what you don’t want—a bunch of hungry men chasing you. Don’t ever deprive a man of food for too long.

Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Aren’t you glad that you don’t know everything? I am. I am glad that I don’t know the things God knows. Jesus would often blow the cover of the religious leaders and confront them about what they were thinking. He is God, and Jesus knew what was in their hearts.

Sometimes it is good that we don’t know what is coming, that we don’t know what is around the corner. We don’t know what kind of threats are aimed at us right now or even what is happening in the supernatural world. All kinds of things are going on that we have no clue about. But God is at work. God reveals to us as much as we need to know, when we need to know it—not necessarily more and certainly not less.

In the military they have a term they use for sensitive information: need to know. They will say, “This is on a need-to-know basis.” In the same way, if you need to know something, God will tell you. If you don’t, then He won’t.

C. H. Spurgeon said, “The Lord knows your troubles before they come to you; he anticipates them by his tender foresight.”

If you are feeling lonely, if you are feeling hurt, if you are feeling betrayed or abandoned, or if you are feeling physical pain, know that Christ has been there. And He knows what is ahead of you as well.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Never beyond His Reach

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For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. —Hebrews 4:15–16

Awhile back I met a man named Michael Franzese, who was once involved with the Colombo crime family. In fact, in the mid-1980s he was dubbed one of the fifty most wealthy and powerful mafia bosses. At his peak he was making $6 to $8 million a week. Then he ended up in prison.

While there, Michael came to Christ. A guard had given him a Bible, and he started reading it. He told me that he listened to our radio broadcast, A New Beginning, every day in his prison cell. Much of that time he was in a place called The Hole, which he said was even worse than solitary confinement. But it was there he would listen to the Word of God, and when he had light, he would read the Word of God. The Lord changed him, and he did something unthinkable for someone in his situation: he walked away from the mob.

Now he devotes his time to speaking and bringing encouragement to others. Here was someone who was in the mob, and the Lord got hold of him. There in that prison cell, the Lord came to Michael Franzese.

There are different kinds of prisons that people live in today. Some endure the prison of isolation in a hospital bed or convalescent home. Others may find themselves in the prison cell of mourning because of an unexpected death of a loved one.

Yet Hebrews 4:15–16 says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Whatever pain or prison you are experiencing, the Lord is there, and He understands what you are going through. You can come to him “and find grace to help in time of need.”

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – His Loving Presence

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“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” —Isaiah 43:2–3

Have you ever felt as though everyone has let you down? Have you ever felt abandoned or forgotten or forsaken?

Paul the apostle felt that way. Imprisoned at Jerusalem, Paul must have been feeling discouraged, because we read in Acts 23:11, “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul.’ ” God reminded him that he was not alone.

The great British preacher C. H. Spurgeon put it this way:

If all else forsook him, Jesus was company enough; if all despised him, Jesus’ smile was patronage enough; if the good cause seemed in danger, in the presence of His Master, victory was sure. The Lord who had stood for him at the cross, now stood by him in prison. . . . It was a dungeon, but the Lord was there; it was dark, but the glory of the Lord lit it up with heaven’s own splendour.

It comes down to this: I would rather be in a jail or in a storm or in a hardship with Jesus than anywhere else without Him. Better yet, I would rather be in a nice, happy place with Jesus—that is good too. But the thing is, He is with us wherever we go. That is what the Lord was saying to Paul: “You are not alone.”

God says, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. . . . For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:2–3).

He is with us in the good times, and He is also with us in the bad times. And as someone wisely said, “He can compensate by His loving presence for every earthly loss.”

 

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Just in Time

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The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. —1 Corinthians 10:13

In her book, The Hiding Place, Nazi concentration camp survivor Corrie ten Boom recalls the story of how, as a young girl, she struggled with the prospect of having loved ones die.

Her father wisely took her aside and asked, “Corrie, when you and I go to Amsterdam—when do I give you your ticket?”

“Why, just before we get on the train.”

“Exactly,” her father said. “And our wise Father knows when we’re going to need things, too. Don’t run ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need—just in time.”

Sometimes we wonder, What if I am tested above my ability to endure? What if I am tempted above my capacity to resist? You never will be because God knows your breaking point. As far as temptation goes, 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us, “God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” There is always a way out. Sometimes it is as simple as the door.

But what if God sends me a trial that I can’t get through? Often I talk to people who are going through very difficult suffering, and I ask myself, Would I have the attitude they have if I were going through that? Here is my response: If God would ask me to do it, then He would give me the strength to do it.

God will give you the strength to face what you have to face. You will have what you need when you need it. So don’t worry about it. Just trust God. He is in control.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Why Jesus Had to Die, Part 1

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The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ—next to His arrival in Bethlehem, these are, without question, the most important events in history.

It was here that God and man were reconciled once again. Here at the cross, God’s righteous demands were satisfied. Here, what was lost in the garden was regained again. Here, a crippling and decisive blow was dealt against Satan and his minions. It was here at the cross that our salvation was purchased.

We can never talk about it too much or contemplate it too often. Because of these historical events, we know there is truly life beyond the grave. This is what sets our faith apart from all others—Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and all the rest. You can go to the tombs of their prophets and gurus and pay your respects, but if you go to the tomb of Jesus, you will find it empty! He is alive!

But the question begs to be answered: Why did Jesus have to die? Why did He have to be beaten, and suffer, and die such a cruel death? Because there was no other way to satisfy the righteous demands of God. God plays by His own rules, and He said, “The soul that sins shall surely die,” and “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” In the Old Testament, all those animal sacrifices only foreshadowed something to come—someone to come. That someone was Jesus.

Calvary shows how far men will go in sin and how far God will go for man’s salvation. Jesus knew He was going to die from the very beginning and spoke of it often. In fact, technically, no one took His life from Him. He laid it down of His own accord. He lived in the shadow of the cross from the moment He entered our world.

For some, the cross seems like an aberration, a mistake, a tragic turn of events. That is how it must have seemed for the disciples as Jesus was arrested and murdered. How could this be a part of any plan? How could something so senseless, so cruel, have any purpose?

Answer: It was to have the ultimate purpose and meaning. God was the Master of Ceremonies at the cross: “It was the will of the Lord to crush Him; He has put Him to grief” (Isaiah 53:10 ESV). God “did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all” (Romans 8:32 NKJV). God put Christ forward “by His blood, to be received by faith” (Romans 3:25 ESV).

In the New King James Version, Isaiah 53:10 says, “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him.” In what sense was God the Father “pleased” by the death of God the Son? He was pleased by the redemption that was accomplished. He was pleased by the plan of salvation that was fulfilled. He was pleased by the sacrifice of His Son, who died so others might have eternal life.

For all the evil in the crucifixion, it brought about an infinite good. In fact, here was the most evil act ever perpetrated by sinful hearts—the sinless Son of God, tortured, slaughtered, heartlessly murdered in cold blood—and yet, from it came the greatest good of all time: the salvation of countless souls. Your salvation and mine.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Another Kind of Courage

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Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. —1 Corinthians 16:13

What is courage? Courage has been defined as bravery. It also has been defined as fear that has said its prayers. Mark Twain said, “Courage is the mastery of fear, not the absence of fear.” A courageous person is not someone who is fearless. (That is, effectively, a stupid person.) A courageous person is someone who can control his or her fear and then do the right thing. It is overcoming the fear that we naturally have.

We no doubt see courage on display among those who are first responders. Certainly the brave soldiers serving our country display courage every day. And we read periodically of acts of heroism, although I wish we could read more often about them because they happen all the time.

But there are other kinds of courage too. There is moral courage, which is the ability to do right in the face of opposition or discouragement. Having moral courage means being an honest person. It means having integrity. It means that you don’t cheat on the test. You don’t cheat on your taxes. And you don’t cheat on your spouse. Moral courage is honoring the vows you made to your wife or your husband when you said, “For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish. . . .”

It also takes courage to follow Jesus Christ. We are living in an ABC culture today: anything but Christ. People are fine with whatever you believe, until you say, “I believe in Jesus Christ, and I believe the Bible is the Word of God.” At best you become persona non grata. At worst you are public enemy number one. It takes courage to stand up for Jesus Christ, wherever you are. We need more moral courage today.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – His Power Gives Courage

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And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” —Luke 8:48

Everyone wanted a piece of Jesus. But a determined father named Jairus had a daughter who was on the brink of death, and he begged Jesus to come to his house. As they made their way to Jairus’ home, the crowd pushed and pulled and screamed and yelled.

In that crowd was a woman with some type of physical ailment, and she thought Jesus could heal her if she could only reach him. She bled constantly, and because of that, she had been decreed unclean under the ceremonial law. She spent all of her money trying to find a cure. Ostracized and isolated, she lived in loneliness. She thought, But if I could just touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed. So as Jesus walked through the crowd, she managed to get her hand through and touch the hem of His garment.

Suddenly Jesus stopped and said, “Who touched Me?”

Everyone denied it, and the Bible tells us that Peter and the others said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” In other words, Who didn’t touch You? Everyone touched You!

But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”

So the crowd parted, and there stood the woman. She probably thought Jesus would rebuke her or humiliate her or embarrass her. But instead He told her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well.”

“Be of good cheer” also could be translated, “Be of good courage.” Jesus was saying, “I want to commend you for your faith and put it on display for everyone else to see.”

In this case, His power gave courage. And His power will be there to help you in your time of need.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Forgiveness Brings Courage

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“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” —John 8:36

Sometimes people have a hard time believing they have been forgiven by God. They walk around with guilt and feel almost as though they will be able to pay some kind of penance by continuing to beat themselves up over their sins. But they need to accept the forgiveness that Christ has given to them and start behaving like a forgiven person, realizing that “if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

In Matthew 9 we find the story of a paralyzed man who was carried by his friends into the presence of Jesus. When Jesus saw the faith of his friends, he said to the man, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you” (verse 2). This is the first time we see Jesus’ use of the phrase, “Be of good cheer,” and He used it when he was assuring a man that his sins were forgiven.

Now, it doesn’t seem like they brought him to Jesus to have his sins forgiven; it seems like they brought him to be healed. So Jesus went on to say, “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house” (verses 5–6). And the man did.

Jesus forgave this man of his sins, and in this case, God’s forgiveness brought courage. God does His part, and then we must do ours. You see, God gives His forgiveness to us, and we must accept that forgiveness.

Are you living in God’s forgiveness? Or, are you living in guilt because you are unwilling to accept it?

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Christ’s Call to Courage

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But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” —Acts 23:11

Have you ever been discouraged as a Christian? You might be surprised to find that none other than the greatest of the apostles had moments of discouragement.

Paul wasn’t afraid of death or even hardship. The only thing he seemed to fear was the disapproval of God. How do you stop a man like that? You don’t. This is why God used him in such an amazing way. And that is why Paul and the others turned their world upside down.

Yet in Acts 23, we find Paul experiencing an apparent time of deep discouragement. He had ignored the warning of the prophet Agabus and went to Jerusalem. Sure enough, he was arrested and thrown into prison—again. Paul’s middle name could have been trouble. There was never a dull moment with him.

It appears that he was discouraged, because the Lord came to him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul” (Acts 23:11). At first this seems like the equivalent of someone saying, “Hey, man, cheer up! Grey skies are going to clear up. Put on a happy face.”

But we have to understand what the Lord was saying to Paul. “Be of good cheer” also could be stated, “Be of good courage.” This was Christ’s call to courage in Paul’s life.

Maybe you have been frightened by the future. Maybe you have asked, “What is going on in my life? What is going to happen to me?”

God’s power gives courage. Jesus said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). We need that power to have the courage to do what God has called us to do. And His power is there for each and every one of us today.

 

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Blessed Are the Generous

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“And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

—Acts 20:35

Do you know any generous people? They’re easy to recognize. They’re the ones who always pick up the check for your meal, and they never remind you of it. Maybe they don’t have a lot of money, even, but they say, “I’ll get it. Don’t worry about it.”

They know a little secret: It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Now, when we were young, we didn’t necessarily believe this. We believed it was more blessed to receive than to give. Remember what it was like at Christmas? We wrote up detailed directions for our parents so they could find and buy the gift that we wanted them to put under the tree. It was all about receiving. But as we got older, we started to enjoy giving more.

I think that is true for Christians as well. When we first come to Christ, it is all about receiving because we are messed up and needy. We come to God with our sin, He forgives us, lifts that burden off us, and fills us with His peace. Then we start hearing the Word of God and begin learning, growing, and maturing. All this is good because it is what young Christians are supposed to do.

But just as babies get older and mature and ultimately become adults, young Christians need to eventually grow up. Instead of coming to church and making it all about them and what they get out of it, they need to learn the joy of giving. They need to ask, “What can I do to help others? I have been blessed, and I want to serve the Lord now. Where do you have a need?”

If you give, it will be given to you. And I have found that generous people are blessed people.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Why Going to Church Is Important, Part 4

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In the previous weeks, we have looked at a couple of reasons why the church exists: the exaltation of God and the edification of the saints. But let’s look at a third reason: The church is called to evangelize the world.

This purpose of the church is a natural outgrowth of the first two. If we are glorifying God and edifying one another, we will naturally want to share the hope of salvation with others through our loving actions and words. Healthy sheep will reproduce themselves. This was Christ’s commandment before He ascended into heaven: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere” (Mark 16:15 NLT). The church should do just that.

We are light to the world and salt to the culture. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (NKJV). We do good works in our community: feeding, clothing, helping people get off drugs. We spend countless hours counseling people with marital problems. We reach out to unwed mothers, even helping them to find homes for their unwanted babies. The list goes on and on. Our purpose is to shine God’s light in this dark world.

But we are also salt. Jesus said, in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless” (NLT). Salt, in biblical times, was used to preserve meat. The church is a preservative in the culture. If you don’t believe that, just look at the world after the church is removed: Antichrist emerges effectively unchallenged.

As that preservative, we stand up for what is right and true. We register and we vote our consciences, informed by our biblical worldview. We make no apology for that. We lift up Jesus Christ and we oppose sin. The story is told of President Calvin Coolidge, who returned home from church one Sunday. His wife asked him what the minister spoke on. Coolidge, a man of few words, simply said, “Sin!” “What else did he say?” she asked. President Coolidge replied, “He was against it!” That’s right, we are against sin and yet we love sinners and want them to be saved.

We are here to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. The church makes a huge mistake when it tries too hard to relate and compromise. Martin Lloyd Jones said, “When the church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it. It is then that the world is made to listen to her message, though it may hate it at first.”

If you want to see church in a whole new way, stop thinking like a consumer. Start thinking like a disciple. It’s not about you; it is about God and others. Ask the Lord what your place is in the church. Come not to be served, but to serve, and watch what God will do. Church will come alive to you as a result. Let God revive you, and may it impact your church and your country as a result. May God fill us with the Holy Spirit to impact this world.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – The Watchman

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“Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately. If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths.”

—Ezekiel 3:17–18

The apostle Paul compared himself to a watchman. A watchman in ancient Israel would stand on a city wall and pay attention to what was going on. If there was an enemy approaching, he would warn the people. His job was to be faithful, not fearful, and consider the people’s safety and security. If he failed to do that, then the blood of those people would be on his hands. In other words, if the watchman did not warn others, then he would be responsible for what happened to them.

Paul told the Ephesian elders, “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:26–27 NKJV).

It is sort of like what a parent does with a child. The job of a parent is to be a parent; it is not to be a best friend. Be a mom. She needs a mother. Be a dad. He doesn’t need a buddy. Sometimes parents have to sit children down and say, “Don’t do that. It’s wrong. I don’t want you to do that.”

In the same way, as Christians, we need to help each other. We need to be that watchman for someone else. Maybe you are a mature believer who knows some of the dangers out there, and you see a younger believer getting sucked into something harmful. It might be a little awkward, but you say, “Can I just offer a word of advice to you? Be careful in this area. I would hate to see you fall there.”

Maybe they don’t love the fact that you said something like this to them. Or maybe they do. But you are just being a faithful watchman.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – How to Spot a Wolf

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“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.” —Matthew 7:15

An inspector who worked for London’s Scotland Yard had the job of detecting false currency from the true. Someone commented to him that he must spend a lot of time looking at counterfeit money.

“Oh, no,” he answered. “I just spend all day working with real money. Then, when I come across a counterfeit bill, I know immediately.”

The apostle Paul warned the elders of the Ephesian church, “I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. Watch out!” (Acts 20:29–31).

That is why it is important to declare the whole counsel of God. There is false teaching, and there are false teachers who lead people astray. The tricky thing about false teaching is that it is not 100 percent false. Maybe it is 20 percent false. Maybe most of it is good and 20 percent is false. Yet that small part that is weird or odd could be spiritually destructive. So if I see a false teaching, I will try to identify it and then teach what the Bible says.

I believe that the best thing I can do is to help people become as conversant with the Bible as possible. The more time we spend in the Bible, the more likely we will recognize that something isn’t accurate when it comes along.

Of course, we could spend the rest of our lives researching every aberrant teaching or cult out there. But I would suggest that we instead spend our time absorbing the Word of God. Then we will be like that inspector in Scotland Yard and recognize when something false surfaces because we know what is true.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie –The Whole Counsel of God

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For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. —Acts 20:27

When I speak I try to keep it interesting. I try to keep it real. I try to keep it understandable. But I am not there to entertain an audience or to make people feel good. My job, if you will, is to exposit the Word of God. Because it really doesn’t matter what Greg Laurie thinks about anything. My opinion isn’t any better than anyone else’s opinion.

For me as a pastor, I have a responsibility to declare the whole counsel of God and feed the flock of God. That is the advantage of expository preaching and teaching. By expository, I mean taking the text and letting it unfold. We don’t impose our views on the text; we let the text impose its views on us. It is not for us to add things to the text.

Sometimes pastors use a text as a point of departure for their messages. A verse will be read, and then whoever is speaking will just tell stories. They might be good stories. They might be good jokes. They might be very entertaining. And as you leave, you might say, “That was so good. I loved that. It was really good.” You have no idea what he said, but you know it was fun.

The apostle Paul told the Ephesian elders, “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). I think that is the most important thing. We need to get our minds oriented toward what the Bible says.

Too often we build our opinions on our feelings. But it doesn’t matter what we feel. What does the Bible say? Do what the Bible says, because feelings can mislead you. Don’t base decisions in life on mere feelings. Base them on the Word of God.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Solemn Witnesses

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But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

—Acts 5:29

When there is an accident, police officers will try and locate witnesses to ask them what they saw and heard. A witness’s objective is not to make up something or to try and make the story better than it actually was. No, a witness is simply to state what he or she saw—plainly. Just the facts, ma’am.

That is what believers are to do. We are to give testimony to what we know is true. The apostle John wrote in his epistle, “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you” (1 John 1:3).

If you walk in fellowship with God, He will be working in your life. He will be showing you things from His Word that will help you to grow spiritually. You will find that these things will overflow, sort of like wringing out a sponge. When we are full of the things of God, it comes out because we are sharing what we know is true.

There is also a seriousness to it, however. The word testify means to solemnly give witness. As we tell others about Christ, there is a gravity to it. Yes, we want to talk about how God loves us and will forgive us and come into a relationship with us. But the heavy part is the fact that there is a judgment, and there is a hell for the person who rejects God’s offer of forgiveness. We are to share this truth with all seriousness.

Yet in a lot of evangelistic presentations today, there is no message of hell or judgment. We sort of edit out that part because we are afraid we might offend someone. But my concern is that if I don’t include it, then I will offend God. And I would rather offend a person than God.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Servants by Choice

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“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ” —Luke 17:10

The apostle Paul would often describe himself as a bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ. This isn’t the same as the horrific slavery of days gone by where people were forced to work for someone else. Being a bondservant of Christ means serving God. It is something I want to do.

What is the goal of a servant? To please his master, to do what his master wants him to do. As 1 Corinthians 6:20 reminds us, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Let’s not misunderstand. It isn’t as though God has taken me against my will and made me His slave. No, it is more like being in a slave market in shackles. Jesus comes along, looks at me, and says, “I will take that one.” Then He buys me.

So I say, “Okay, Master, where do you want me to go?”

“I want you to come over here because I am going to undo those shackles you’re wearing.”

“Wow. That feels a lot better.”

Then Jesus says, “We’re going down to the courthouse.”

“Why?”

“I am going to adopt you now as my son. See, you are my slave, but you are my son.”

“You know what?” I say. “I want to be your slave forever.”

That is how it works. I am not a slave because I have to be; I am a slave because I want to be.

Yes, as Christians we are slaves. But we also are friends of God. The Potter who molded us is also our Father who adores us. Our Master who owns us is also our Friend who loves us. And so we are called to be His servants.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Why Going to Church Is Important, Part 3

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As I mentioned last week, the church exists for three main reasons: to exalt God (upward); to edify the saints (inward); and to evangelize the world (outward). Let’s look at the second function—the edification of other believers.

The apostle Paul said that his goal was to both warn believers and teach them “with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God, mature in their relationship to Christ” (Colossians 1:28 NLT). This is why we give such a prominent place to biblical teaching at Harvest.

As a pastor and teacher, I do not want to waste your time. My opinion is not any more valuable than any other persons’. I am not here to be a cheerleader, life coach, or a motivational speaker. I am not here to be your psychologist or your political pundit. I am here for one reason: to teach you the Word of God. All that matters is what the Bible says. “For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are” (Hebrews 4:12 NLT). Martin Luther said, “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.”

I was amazed when I first heard the Bible taught. It made sense; it applied to my life! And it’s not only strong preaching of the Word that counts, but also strong listening. The early church, the church in revival that changed the world, understood this. In Acts 2:42 we read, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (NKJV). To “continue steadfastly” speaks of a real passion. They were living in a first-love relationship with Jesus and had burning hearts for Him. This was not a casual attitude, as one might have when joining a social club. There was a spiritual excitement in what they did. They applied themselves to what was being taught from the Word. I believe there is a need for anointed preaching today, but I also believe there is a need for anointed listening! Having an openness to receive God’s Word. Like newborn babies you should crave and earnestly desire spiritual milk that by it you may grow (see 1 Peter 2:2).

Let me say something that may seem controversial: We should be a part of one church. There is nothing wrong with visiting other churches here and there, or attending a midweek study at another church, especially if your church does not offer one. However, to go to multiple churches and not have one consistent place to fellowship is not good.

We are not all called to go to the same church, but we are all called to be a part of a church. Why? Because you need a consistent theology. Doctrine, or what we believe, affects everything we do. Paul said, in 1 Timothy 4:16, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (NIV). What you believe matters. That is why I have never understood how people will rate facilities, convenience, proximity, etc. as the criteria for choosing where they go to church. The top priority in looking for a church is that Gods’ Word is taught there.

But why should you have a home church? Because you need a place to be accountable. You need a pastor who can help and influence you. If there is something wrong, your pastor can tell you. If you are doing great, your pastor can commend and encourage you. You need a place to give faithfully and consistently of your finances. And you need a place to serve God with the gifts He has given you!

Sometimes people “church hop” because there is sin in their life. They break up with their spouse and initiate an unscriptural divorce, and then go to another church where no one knows them, with their new girlfriend or boyfriend. Trust me, I have seen this and worse.

A lot of people will treat the church like a movie theater—getting there late, leaving while the credits are rolling, checking texts and e-mails during the film, etc. Sometimes we bring that same consumer mentality to church. If we foster consumers instead of communers, we’ll end up with customers instead of disciples. It might fill up an auditorium, but it will never turn the world upside down for Christ.

 

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Run for Him

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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. —Hebrews 12:1

When I was in high school, I was a fast sprinter. Most people could not beat me in a short sprint, but I was not good at long distance runs. I would have a burst of energy that I could kind tap into and really take off. (Today I am not even a good sprinter. I’m really not good at any kind of running.) One thing I discovered back then as a member of the track and field team was that I always did better in practice when there was an audience. All of a sudden I would feel a little more energetic, especially when there was a pretty girl watching.

As Christians in the race of life, we, too, have an audience: the Lord Jesus. Hebrews 12 reminds us, “Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (verses 1–2).

Let us run with endurance . . . keeping our eyes on Jesus. You see, the Christian life is not a sprint; it is a long distance run. So we have to think of the big picture.

Here is how to run the race well. Here is how to run it according to the rules. Here is how to run it with joy. Run it for Jesus. Don’t run it for people to impress them. Don’t run it out of mere duty. You have an audience of one: Christ Himself is watching you. Run for Him. It will help you do much better.