As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.’ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 

—Mark 4:35–37

Scripture:

Mark 4:35–37 

In Mark 5, we find an interesting story in which Jesus invites the disciples, some of whom were seasoned fishermen, to join Him on a little boat trip across the Sea of Galilee. On the way across, they encounter a violent storm. Bad timing, some might say. On the contrary, it was perfect timing.

The circumstances of the story beg the question: Did Jesus know that a storm was coming when He said, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake” (Mark 4:35 NLT)? The answer is undoubtedly yes.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:15–16 NLT). The One who is supreme over all creation doesn’t need a forecast to know when a storm is coming.

In fact, it’s likely Jesus planned the outing because of the storm. You might even say it was part of His curriculum that day. Jesus was teaching His disciples to believe what they claimed to believe.

We don’t want to make light of what the disciples were experiencing, because this was a very severe storm. Several on board had experienced storms on the Sea of Galilee before. The fact that they were gripped by fear says something about the storm’s ferocity. Mark 4:37 says that high waves were breaking into the boat. Sinking seemed to be a very real possibility.

The disciples were afraid, but they didn’t have to be. Jesus had made a significant statement—one that apparently the disciples had missed: “Let’s cross to the other side” (NLT). When God says, “Let’s cross to the other side,” it means you’ll get to the other side. He didn’t say it would be smooth sailing. He didn’t say it would be an easy trip. But He did say, “Let’s cross to the other side.”

God’s people become gripped by fear and cease to think logically when we forget His promises to us. That’s exactly what happened to the disciples. But Jesus was on board with them. He was there to see them through. And He’s there to see us through, too.

The Lord still wants to take His followers to the other side. Outside their comfort zone. Away from those who would hold them back. Beyond their limited perception of who they are and what they’re capable of.

The journey involves risk. It will be scary at times. But the Lord is greater than the obstacles and challenges in the way.

Reflection Question: How has the Lord helped you navigate a storm in your life? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them. 

—Mark 16:12–13

Scripture:

Mark 16:12–13 

One of the great mysteries of the Bible is why Jesus chose to appear to certain people and not others after His resurrection. There is no record of His appearing to the Jewish religious leaders who opposed Him during His earthly ministry. Or to the high priest Caiaphas, who orchestrated His crucifixion. Or to the Roman Emperor Caesar. Imagine the drama if He had appeared to Pilate: “Yo, Pilate! Remember me? Can’t keep a good man down, can you?”

Instead, we find post-resurrection accounts like the one in Mark 16. Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus and joined them on their journey to the country. We don’t know who the disciples were, and they are not mentioned again in the Bible.

Verse 12 tells us that Jesus “appeared in a different form” (NLT) to the pair. In other words, He went incognito. The two travelers had no idea that they were walking with Jesus. Later, when they told others about their encounter, “no one believed them” (verse 13 NLT). Maybe it’s because their story lacked drama and spectacle. The idea of the Lord walking incognito lacks punch.

But it’s revealing as to how the Lord works. It’s a reminder to believers that Jesus walks with us always, even when we’re not aware of Him. In Isaiah 43:2, the Lord promises, “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” (NLT). Sometimes God’s people don’t realize He’s there until the rivers, flames, and other obstacles are in our rearview mirror.

In 1 Kings 19:11–13, the prophet Elijah experienced God’s presence not in a windstorm, not in an earthquake, not in a fire, but in “the sound of a gentle whisper” (verse 12 NLT). Just as people must pay close attention to hear a gentle whisper, they must also pay close attention to experience God’s presence.

Feeling close to the Lord isn’t something that happens only in church. Wherever you go, you can know that Jesus is with you there, too. When you’re going through hard times, even when you cannot feel Him, Jesus is there.

That’s great news for believers—news that should be celebrated. One of the best ways to respond to the Lord’s quiet presence in your life is with a spirit of gratitude. Thank God that you never have to wonder where He is when things get tough.

Another great way to respond is with silence of your own. Commit to a regular quiet time—a time when you intentionally block out the noise and distractions of the day so that you can be aware of God’s presence.

Reflection Question: How does God make Himself known to you? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. 

—Mark 8:38

Today’s social media encourages people to stand up and be counted—to unapologetically announce and promote an agenda that they want to be associated with. Exactly what it is they stand for seems to be of secondary importance. I’m often amazed at the perverse, even horrendous, things people are willing to promote and defend.

In contrast, many Christians seem to be embarrassed by the biblical truths that make them Christian. The followers of Christ have been entrusted with a life-changing—and world-changing—message. Yet many are ashamed by the gospel. They’re reluctant to share the words Jesus wants them to say.

But the time has come for believers to speak boldly, regardless of the consequences. To stand up and be counted as Christ’s disciples—for the world’s sake and for their own. Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38 NLT).

In the first century AD, the idea of Jesus dying on the cross was scandalous to Jewish people. The Greeks, who prided themselves on their cultural and intellectual attainments, thought the story of Jesus’ crucifixion was ridiculous. Yet the apostle Paul wrote, “So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23–24 NLT).

In today’s culture, many Christians struggle with Jesus’ words in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (NLT). The idea of Jesus being the only path to God bothers them. More to the point, the idea of telling others that Jesus is the only way to the Father—and the means for eternal life—bothers them. It’s safer to be inclusive and affirm the truth of all beliefs. But Jesus doesn’t give His followers that option.

Are you ashamed of the simple message of the gospel? I hope not, because God’s righteousness is revealed in it. And that’s important. We all have our own sense of righteousness—our own opinions about right and wrong. But God’s righteousness is different from ours. It’s perfect. And it’s impossible to fulfill His righteousness apart from Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. So, it’s through the gospel, the Good News of Jesus, that the righteousness of God is revealed.

Jesus’ followers have been entrusted with that Good News. And no amount of discomfort or embarrassment should keep us from sharing it.

Reflection Question: How do you handle your discomfort concerning certain difficult biblical truths—whether it’s in embracing them or sharing them with others? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. 

Mark 10:45 

Can you think of a movie that was ruined by its ending? Maybe the final scenes were too heartbreaking. Or too happy. Or too unbelievable. Or too predictable. Or too confusing. Or too abrupt.

When I was young, I had similar feelings about the story of Jesus. Ever since childhood, I’ve always had a great admiration for the historical person known as Jesus. I had seen all His movies. I thought very highly of Him.

As a boy, I lived with my grandmother for a few years. I would thumb through her big family Bible and look at the illustrations of Jesus. She also had a picture of Jesus hanging on the wall. I would stare at it and think, “I wish I could have known that man, Jesus.”

The one thing I didn’t like about the life of Jesus was how the story ended. I thought it should have been rewritten with a happier ending. The part about His being crucified wrecked everything for me. After all, He was on a great roll, healing people, teaching people, changing lives. But then it all suddenly came to an end. Why did they have to put Him on a cross and kill Him?

It wasn’t until after I became a Christian that I realized that the crucifixion of Jesus was the specific reason He came to earth in the first place. What Jesus accomplished in thirty-three years is almost beyond comprehension. The apostle John ended his Gospel with these words: “Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25 NLT).

But make no mistake: Jesus came to die. He spoke of His death frequently and in great detail with His followers. His arrest and crucifixion didn’t take Him by surprise. Jesus summed it up well when He told His disciples, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NLT).

We must also remember that Jesus’ story doesn’t end with the crucifixion. He rose again on the third day. If Jesus hadn’t died, He wouldn’t have risen. If He hadn’t risen, there would be no reason for this devotion. Or for Harvest Christian Fellowship, for that matter.

The apostle Paul wrote, “And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless” (1 Corinthians 15:14 NLT).

Jesus was born to die so that we might live. Have you accepted the gift of eternal life that Jesus purchased with His death? If not, you can accept that gift today.

If you have, are you telling other people about it? As Paul wrote to the believers in Rome, “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:14 NLT).

Reflection Question: How can you share the Good News of Jesus with someone who needs to hear it? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. Mark 11:25

Scripture: Mark 11:25 

Every so often in the news cycle, we get stories of huge problems that can be traced back to small, seemingly minor causes. For example, a computer glitch that delays flights at a single airport can lead to a national travel emergency.

In Mark 11:25, Jesus traces a significant spiritual issue—unanswered prayer—back to a seemingly unrelated problem. “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too” (NLT). If you sense that your prayers are not being answered, it may be due to a spirit of unforgiveness in your heart.

The Bible makes it clear that unresolved conflict with others can get in the way of our relationship with God. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God” (Matthew 5:23–24 NLT).

Unresolved conflict gets in the way of prayer—and the blessings that come from it— because it reveals a heart that isn’t aligned with God’s.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31–32 NLT).

God has forgiven Christians an incredible debt. He has wiped all our sins away. For us to harbor unforgiveness toward someone else is an offense against Him. Because we understand just how much forgiveness we’ve received, we should be the most forgiving people on the face of the earth.

Instead, many of us actively look for things to be offended by. Things to hold grudges for. We need an “other.” Someone to blame. Someone to look down on. Someone to judge. Someone to hold responsible for our unhappiness.

Is there someone you hate right now? Is there someone you’re bitter toward? Is there someone who causes you to seethe every time you see them? Is there someone you can’t stand to be around? Is there someone you’ve been plotting revenge against? Is there someone you gossip about?

If so, now is the time to deal with your spirit of unforgiveness. Depending on the circumstances, that might involve apologizing to someone you wronged—or someone who thinks you wronged them. It might mean reaching out to someone you’ve drifted apart from. It might mean starting a difficult but healing conversation with a friend or loved one.

The more sincerely you reconcile with the estranged, angry, and hurting people in your life, the more effective your prayers will become.

Reflection Question: What would an attitude of forgiveness and reconciliation look like in your life? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: “Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” The second is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” No other commandment is greater than these.’ 

—Mark 12:29–31

Scripture:

Mark 12:29–31 

In this month’s devotions, we’re going to look at the Gospel of Mark. And we’re going to start with one of the key passages of the New Testament. According to Mark 12:28, “One of the teachers of religious law” asked Jesus, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” (NLT).

He was testing Jesus. At that time, Jewish religious leaders recognized over 600 different laws. And they spent a lot of time ranking them according to importance. The questioner wanted Jesus to say something controversial so that Jesus’ enemies could use it against Him.

Instead, Jesus gave him the wisdom of the ages. “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these” (Mark 12:29–31 NLT).

With those words, Jesus highlighted the connection between loving God and living in a way that pleases Him. He established the template of the Christian life.

If you really love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, then you will not want to break the other commandments. If you really love God as you ought to, then you will not take His name in vain, have other gods before Him, or make images that you bow down before. And if you really love your neighbor as yourself, you will not steal from him. You will not covet what belongs to him. And certainly, you will not kill him. So, if we master the basics of loving God and loving others as we ought to, then obeying other commandments will come naturally.

In daily life, this looks like resisting temptation instead of choosing what feels good in the moment. In fact, it looks like making daily choices that keep you away from tempting situations. It looks like studying God’s Word purposefully to become acquainted with what pleases Him. It looks like keeping open a line of communication with Him—a daily prayer routine through which you receive guidance, direction, and encouragement.

Augustine said, “Love, and do what you will.” It’s a provocative statement, but it makes sense. If you really love God as you ought to—with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength—then you will naturally do what He wants you to do.

Reflection Question: How do you know when you’re loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die? 

—Ezekiel 33:11

How can a loving God send someone to Hell? The short answer is that God doesn’t send anyone to Hell. People send themselves there by the choices they make. The last thing that God wants is for any man or woman uniquely created in His image to spend eternity separated from Him in a place of torment.

Hell was not created for people. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says, “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons’” (NLT). Hell was created for the beings who rebelled against God in Heaven and who work to ruin His plan on earth.

God doesn’t want anyone to go there. That’s why He says in Ezekiel 33:11, “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?” (NLT).

Why do you think God sent Jesus to be murdered in cold blood? Because there was no other way that His perfect holiness and justice could be satisfied. Sin cannot exist in God’s presence. We have all sinned. Hell is the place where God has removed His presence. So, when we die, the only place we can go is to Hell, according to God’s righteous standards.

The only way to satisfy those standards and save us from Hell was to send a perfect sacrifice, a sinless person to take the punishment we deserve, suffer and die in our place, and then rise from the dead to conquer death once and for all.

God sacrificed His own Son so that we would not have to go to Hell. Everyone who receives Christ as Savior and Lord is given eternal life in Heaven, in God’s presence forever. They are saved from Hell. That is our spiritual reality. Anyone who winds up in Hell will be there because they made the choice to go there. No one will end up in Hell accidentally.

Likewise, no one becomes a Christian accidentally. You don’t just wake up one morning and say, “Whoa, I’m a Christian! Praise God! I can’t believe I just said, ‘Praise God.’ I suddenly have this strange desire to read the Bible. It must have happened when I cut through that church parking lot last night.”

You become a Christian because you make a choice to believe in Jesus. Those who go to Hell do so because they made a choice to reject Christ. No one goes to Heaven deservingly, and no one goes to Hell unwillingly. If you end up in that place on that final day, you will have no one to blame but yourself. And you will have to practically climb over Jesus to get there. No, friend, you don’t have to go to Hell. God wants you to join Him for all eternity in Heaven.

Reflection Question: How can you explain the reality of Hell to an unbelieving friend? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. 

—Mark 8:38

Scripture:

Mark 8:38 

The first time I heard the gospel on my high school campus, I didn’t walk up and join everyone who was at the meeting that day. My high school had a group of outspoken Christians who held daily Bible studies on the front lawn of the school at lunchtime. Everyone knew who they were. And we either hated them or felt sorry for them.

My friends warned me to stay away from the Christians, which I did for a while. But I also was sort of interested in these unusual people who carried Bibles to school and talked about Jesus as though He were their next-door neighbor.

Then, one day, out of curiosity, I went to one of their meetings. However, I sat close enough to hear what was going on but far enough away that I didn’t appear to be part of them. And that was the day I gave my life to Jesus Christ.

Initially, I was reluctant to be identified with the Christians. I wanted to do things quietly and secretly. A lot of people are like that today. They don’t want to say they’re Christians. They prefer to be undercover believers.

Nicodemus went undercover, so to speak, to engage in conversation with Jesus. The Bible tells us that he came to see Jesus “after dark” (John 3:2). To his credit, at least Nicodemus went to see Him.

Why would Nicodemus seek out Jesus at night? There are several possible explanations. For example, maybe it was a cooler time of the day to visit. But I think the more plausible explanation is that Nicodemus, being a man of notoriety, wanted to talk with Jesus incognito.

He didn’t want to be recognized because he went to ask Jesus a lot of serious questions. After all, Nicodemus was a man who was supposed to have the answers. Instead, he had questions.

When some people are first checking out the gospel, they’re apprehensive. That’s because they’re afraid of what others might think.

In the end, Nicodemus turned out to be one of the most courageous of Jesus’ followers. After the crucifixion, a man named Joseph of Arimathea showed up with Nicodemus to claim the body of Jesus. John’s Gospel gives us this detail: “With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes” (19:39 NLT).

At this point the Lord’s own disciples had deserted Him. But Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea came and claimed the body of the Lord. They were willing to be counted for their faith.

As the years have passed, I’ve seen many people fall away from the faith whom I thought would make their mark on this world for God. And I’ve been very surprised. Then, there have been others whom I thought would do nothing, and they’ve done a lot.

Nicodemus started slowly, but in the end, he came through. It is great to start the race well. But it’s also important to finish it.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 

—2 Corinthians 4:18

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 4:18 

Deep inside us, there is a sense that there’s something more in life. No matter what experiences we’ve had, no matter how wonderful they were, they were only a glimpse of what is still ahead. We are homesick for a place we’ve never been to, and that place is Heaven.

The Bible says that we were wired this way, that God “has planted eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT). This simply means we have a sense there is more to life, and that keeps us moving forward.

It’s like the homing instinct we see in the animal kingdom. Our homing instinct, however, is for a place we haven’t yet seen.

If you are a Christian, then you are going to Heaven. Jesus said, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:2–3 NLT).

Interestingly, the Bible doesn’t tell us that much about Heaven. There are some passages about it, but not a lot.

For example, the apostle Paul had the unique experience of dying, going to Heaven, and having to come back to earth. Paul didn’t go into great detail about what he saw on the other side. But he said this much: “I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell” (2 Corinthians 12:4 NLT).

For us to try to understand something as glorious as Heaven would be like a six-month-old baby trying to understand an explanation about the beauty of Hawaii. It’s very hard for us to wrap our minds around.

No matter what happens to us on this earth, it pales in comparison to this great hope.

Writing to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul said, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So, we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NLT).

This is the hope of the Christian. There’s a better world ahead. Until that day, there is nothing that will completely satisfy our lives. There’s something greater than what we are experiencing now.

Yet, not everyone has this hope. If you don’t have this hope in Christ, then you ought to be afraid right now. You ought to be afraid if you don’t know whether you will go to Heaven.

The believer has great hope beyond all of this. We have the great hope that a place called Heaven is waiting for us on the other side.

https://harvest.org

 The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time. 

—Psalm 34:19

Scripture:

Psalm 34:19 

From the moment we come into this life, there are all kinds of troubles. Life is filled with challenges, and it seems as though when you have one problem finally resolved, three more take its place.

In fact, the Bible says, “People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire” (Job 5:7 NLT).

Some people may say that if you accept Jesus Christ, then all your troubles will go away. The implication is that if you become a Christian, then your problems will be gone. On one hand that’s true, because when you become a true follower of Jesus, many troubles do go away. The issues of an ever-present guilt, an emptiness in your life, and the fear of what happens beyond the grave are resolved.

But in all fairness, other troubles start once you give your life to the Lord. The moment you decide to follow Jesus Christ and seek to do the right thing, the devil will do everything that He can to stop you.

But you also need to know that God is far more powerful than the devil. And God will do everything He can to strengthen you. You are on the winning side.

That doesn’t mean you aren’t going to be tempted. It doesn’t mean you aren’t going to face hardships or that you won’t have obstacles in your life. But it does mean that you will ultimately get through these things with the help and power of God.

When the disciples were afraid, Jesus gave them some words of assurance to bring calm to their anxious hearts. He said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me” (John 14:1 NLT). We could also translate this to say, “Don’t be agitated or disturbed or thrown into confusion.”

Jesus didn’t tell the disciples to mull over their problems. Instead, He told them not to be troubled. He was saying there are reasons to be troubled in life, but there is a greater reason not to be.

Yes, we have all kinds of troubles in our lives: health troubles, family troubles, relationship troubles, and financial troubles. Things don’t go the way that we hoped they would go.

And there are times in our lives when things happen that we just don’t understand. Why did God do a certain thing? Or why did God not do a certain thing?

When I don’t understand something about God, I try to always fall back on what I do understand. I understand that God loves me and that He’s looking out for me with my best interests in mind. I do understand that no matter what happens, He will get me through it.

Nothing is too hard for the Lord. There is no addiction so strong that He cannot free someone from it. And there is no problem so complex that He cannot unravel it. There is no hope without God. But with Him, you have all the hope that you ever will need.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 But he said, ‘No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!’ 

—Revelation 22:9

Scripture:

Revelation 22:9 

If an angel were to appear to you right now, no doubt you would be overwhelmed. In fact, you might even be tempted to fall down and worship him. This happened to the apostle John when, in Revelation 22, he saw an angel who gave him a message.

John wrote, “I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said, ‘No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!’ ” (Revelation 22:8–9 NLT).

Notice what this angel said: “Worship only God!” In other words, “Keep your priorities straight, John. Don’t worship me. I am but the messenger. Worship God.”

If an awe-inspiring angel were to appear before us, we would be inclined to believe just about anything he said. But let’s keep in mind that the Bible says even “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14 NLT).

Not only do holy angels exist, but fallen angels exist as well. And a fallen angel can appear as an angel of light with a message that contradicts what the Bible teaches.

This is why the apostle Paul wrote, “Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you” (Galatians 1:8 NLT).

In the Old Testament, we find a fascinating story that gives us insight into the way angels work. The prophet Daniel was praying, and the Bible tells us that God heard his prayer and dispatched an angel with a special message for him. But this angel was engaged in combat with a demon power for twenty-one days.

The angel was unable to get through to Daniel with God’s message. But the angel went on to tell Daniel that one of the archangels, Michael, came to his aid (see Daniel 10:12–14 NLT).

This indicates that in the angelic realm, both holy and unholy, there are rankings. Ephesians 6 points out, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (verse 12 NLT).

For example, the Bible refers to Michael as an archangel. Then there is Gabriel, who also may be a high-ranking angel because God sent him with a specific message for Joseph and Mary about the arrival of the Messiah.

Daniel’s story teaches us that delays are not necessarily denials. So, the next time you ask God to do something for you, and it doesn’t happen as quickly as you would like, don’t assume it means that God is saying no. Who knows what’s going on in the supernatural realm? Who knows what’s taking place behind the scenes on your behalf?

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 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

Scripture:

2 Kings 6:17 

When we read about angels in the Bible, they were, on many occasions, the executors of God’s judgment. For example, on one occasion, angels brought God’s judgment, killing 185,000 people.

Billy Graham described angels as God’s secret agents. That’s a good description of them, because they generally operate undercover, doing the bidding and work of God.

One reason we’re not personally aware of angels in our lives is because they’re doing their job properly. They remain invisible most of the time, except on occasions when God sends them on a special mission and they clothe themselves in human form. But when they appear in all their splendor, they are no doubt very beautiful to behold.

The Bible’s description of angels is certainly awe-inspiring, especially in the visions of both the apostle John (in Revelation) and Ezekiel. If we were able to roll away the veil that separates the physical world from the spiritual one, if we could get a behind-the-scenes look into the invisible world of angels and demons, it would overwhelm us.

On one hand it would be frightening to see the demonic powers that are clearly at work. But on the other hand, it would be exciting to see the angels that are working in the lives of believers.

This very thing happened to the servant of Elisha, who was terrified by the armies that were closing in on him and the prophet. But Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” (2 Kings 6:17 NLT). And in a moment, this young man had the privilege of peeking behind the supernatural veil and getting a rare glimpse into the invisible world.

The Bible says that when the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, “he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire” (2 Kings 6:17 NLT). What he saw was the equivalent of an army. An angelic military force had surrounded Elisha and his servant.

We see throughout the pages of Scripture that angels are alive, well, and working. And the Bible says they also will be working mightily in the last days. Angelic activity will reach a fever pitch in both the holy and the unholy realms. The angels of God will be active, and demons will be active as well.

Then, one day, the archangel will call all true believers to Heaven. The Bible says, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NLT).

Yes, there is coming a day when those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will literally leave this earth in what we call the Rapture. Where will you be on that day?

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. 

—Proverbs 16:18

Scripture:

Proverbs 16:18 

I heard about a sign on a road near an airport runway that read, “Keep moving. If you stop, you are in danger and a danger to those who are flying.”

We could apply the same principle to the Christian life: We need to keep moving forward spiritually. If we stop, we’re in danger and a danger to others.

There is a natural tendency to go in the wrong direction. As a result of putting our faith in Jesus Christ, we have a new nature. But we also have an old nature that fights with the new nature.

The apostle Paul wrote, “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway” (Romans 7:18–19 NLT).

We make a choice whether to build up our spiritual lives or neglect them. And when we neglect the things of God, we are feeding our old nature. It’s a battle, and every day the battle rages.

Simon Peter never thought that he would fall away from the Lord. He somehow believed that even if everyone else abandoned Jesus, he never would. He didn’t understand his own weakness, and as a result, he fell—and he fell hard.

There are several steps that led to Simon Peter’s fall. The first was self-confidence. He said to Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you” (Luke 22:33 NLT). And according to Matthew’s Gospel, he also said, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you” (26:33 NLT).

Peter was boasting, and he was doing it at the expense of others. He was boasting of his devotion and commitment. Yet Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” (NLT).

We need to recognize that we have the potential to fall. We have the potential to sin. We don’t need self-confidence; we need Christ-confidence. We need to trust in Him and stay as close to Him as we can.

Peter’s next step down was a lack of prayer. When Jesus and His disciples went to the Mount of Olives, Jesus told them, including Peter, to watch and pray. Instead, they were sleeping. This was a result of the sin of self-confidence.

Lastly, Peter followed at a distance after a crowd of men arrested Jesus and led Him away. And a distance from the Lord in closeness and fellowship will always be at the foundation of all spiritual regression. In Peter’s defense, he was still following. But it was at a distance, which means that it was a half-hearted commitment.

Although this is a story of failure, it is also a story of restoration and forgiveness. Peter received forgiveness and a second chance. Have you fallen away from the Lord? Jesus is ready to forgive you of every sin that you’ve ever committed.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 

—1 Timothy 4:1

Scripture:

1 Timothy 4:1 

A number of years ago, I was with some friends who were riding a three-wheel-all-terrain vehicle. I was a seasoned dirt biker at the time, and I asked the person who owned it if I could take it for a spin.

He said, “Greg, be careful. You can dump that thing, and it can hurt you.”

I thought, “Oh, please. It’s like a big tricycle.” I didn’t put any of my gear on, and I didn’t wear a helmet. And then I went tearing up a hill just like I would on my dirt bike. And sure enough, it flipped on top of me. I was sliding down the hill, upside down, in slow motion.

I had every intention of going over the top of the hill, getting a little air, and having a nice three-point landing on those big, fat tires. Instead, I was going downhill in the opposite direction. It was a painful lesson, and I felt silly.

That experience reminds me of backsliding. No one plans on doing it, but it happens. Show me any Christian who has fallen away from their faith, and I will show you a Christian who took a series of steps into gross or open sin before the time they fell.

You don’t call up a Christian friend and say, “Instead of going to church, do you want to go backslide and totally abandon our faith?” Some foolish person might do that, but generally, a Christian wouldn’t plan on that.

The Bible specifically warns believers about falling away. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons” (1 Timothy 4:1 NLT).

We need to keep our guard up. We need to be careful because any believer could potentially fall away spiritually.

There are a lot of people who may be in church and think they’re walking closely with the Lord. But in reality, they’re backsliders. The Bible clearly warns against the sin of backsliding. Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, God said, “My wayward children . . . come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts” (Jeremiah 3:22 NLT).

God also said, “Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him” (Jeremiah 2:19 NLT).

Maybe you’re thinking, “That is so dramatic. But I don’t think I’ve actually backslidden. I’ll admit that I’m not as active today spiritually as I was ten years ago. I still go to church—when I can find the time. I still read the Bible—when I get around to it. And I still obey God—unless it conflicts with what I want to do.”

As Christians, we’re either moving forward or backward. We’re either climbing or slipping. And the moment that we stop progressing as believers will be the moment that we begin to backslide.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 

—Colossians 3:15

Scripture:

Colossians 3:15 

In the Old Testament, we find the story of Gideon, a man whom God chose to lead the Israelites into battle. But Gideon was hardly a trained warrior. In fact, he was overwhelmed by the task and asked God to confirm His word.

In effect, Gideon said, “Lord, I will make You a deal. Tomorrow morning, I’ll lay a fleece on the ground. And in the morning, if this really is Your plan, there will be dew on the fleece but not on the ground. Then I will know that it’s Your will.”

The next morning, there was dew on the fleece and not on the ground, just as Gideon had asked. But he thought that it might have been a coincidence. So, he went back to God and basically said, “Tomorrow morning, I’m asking that it will be the other way around. Then I will know that it’s Your plan.” So, the next day, there was dew on the ground but not on the fleece.

God had confirmed His will to Gideon.

In the same way, you might say, “Lord, this seems to be Your will, so I’m asking You to please open the door circumstantially.” However, don’t base your entire situation on circumstances because circumstances can sometimes lead us in the wrong direction.

Colossians 3:15 tells us, “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful” (NLT).

The Amplified Bible puts the same verse this way: “Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise].”

I have learned to listen to the peace of God. I’ve been in dangerous situations and have felt God’s peace. Then there have been other times when I didn’t have God’s peace in a situation. Instead, I had turmoil in my heart. I’ve learned to listen to that because I’ve made some mistakes by not listening to it.

If we want to know the will of God, then not only do we need to ask God to give us His peace, but we also need to ask Him to open doors through circumstances, confirming His Word. We also must remember that God will not lead us into something that is contrary to what Scripture says.

And just as important as the will of God is the timing of God. Sometimes, He doesn’t do things as quickly as we want Him to. At other times, He does things so quickly that we have a hard time keeping up.

But God is not a distant force with no plan or purpose for you. You are uniquely created in the image of God, and He has a custom-designed plan just for you. He wants to reveal Himself to you. And He wants you to enter into a friendship with Him. Can you imagine anything better than that?

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 

—John 15:15

Scripture:

John 15:15 

Friends reveal secrets to friends. When something really good happens, what do you do? You call your friend. And when something really bad happens, you also call your friend.

If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, then you are a friend of God. And because you are a friend of God, He wants to reveal His secrets to you. The Bible says, “The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant” (Psalm 25:14 NLT).

God wants to reveal His purpose and plan for your life. God does not play hide-and-seek. He is concerned about revealing His will to you today.

God said of Abraham, His servant, “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” (Genesis 18:17 NLT). When you have a relationship with God, He will reveal His plan for your life.

Jesus said, “I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me” (John 15:15 NLT).

We need to learn how to discern the will of God.

I have been a Christian since 1970. I wish I could say that after years of walking with the Lord, I have discovered a foolproof plan for knowing the will of God in every situation. However, such a plan doesn’t exist. Like any other Christian, I’ve often found myself stumbling into the will of God.

There have been times when God has spoken to my heart, I made a move, and it was what He wanted me to do. But there have been other times when I’ve simply ended up in the middle of God’s perfect plan.

I don’t know that we can always have a foolproof method of knowing God’s plan in every situation. But I do think we can take steps to prepare our hearts to know His will more effectively.

We start by presenting ourselves as living sacrifices to God. The Bible says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him” (Romans 12:1 NLT).

We tend to want to know God’s will before we decide to give ourselves to it. For instance, when your friends ask if you’ll do them a favor, you probably say, “What kind of favor?” You want to know what they’re up to before you agree to help.

In the same way, God asks, “Are you willing to do My will?” And we say, “Tell me what Your will is, and then I’ll tell You whether I’m willing to do it.”

Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 NLT). It is not enough to just hear the voice of God. We need to do what He tells us to do.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 

—Psalm 51:2

Scripture:

Psalm 5:12 

I am a messy person, but the problem is that I don’t like messy environments. So, periodically, I will turbo clean and straighten everything out again. Everything looks tidy and wonderful for a while, and then I start messing it up again.

My wife, Cathe, on the other hand, cleans constantly and doesn’t allow messes to pile up. Instead of throwing junk into a drawer, she organizes the drawer that we throw things into. Instead of sweeping dirt under a rug, she washes the entire floor.

While I take the path of least resistance, Cathe does what it takes. And Cathe’s way is the right way to clean things. We can take that same approach to life. We can take my approach to cleaning, where we do nominal things and make a few exterior changes without any real change on the inside.

We might say, “I don’t want to deal with that now. I don’t want to hassle with that issue.” Thus, we’re always putting things off. That is how little things turn into big things. On the other hand, we can take Cathe’s approach to cleaning, which is thorough.

For example, when Jesus cleansed the temple after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, it was the second time He did so. The first time, He drove the merchants out with a whip.

John’s Gospel tells us, “In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables” (2:14–15 NLT).

The Bible teaches that our “body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). When we first put our faith in Jesus Christ, He cleanses our temple. Filthy habits are banished. A new purpose and a new focus in life grip us. But, sometimes, as time passes, a few of the old things find their way back in again. And our lives become cluttered with things that don’t belong.

That little sin that had been gone has returned and is starting to grow. And Jesus is ready to clean house again. Even though you’ve been converted and the Lord has cleansed you, you need to say, “Lord, I think it’s time for a little spring cleaning here. There is a little clutter. There are a few things that maybe don’t belong.”

Are there some sins, vices, or bad habits that have found their way back into your life again? Are there things that maybe you stopped doing after you became a Christian, but now you’re doing again?

Or, perhaps there are things that you’ve never done before, but you have started to do them, even as a Christian. Maybe it’s time for Jesus to clean house. Maybe you need a little bit of spring cleaning—not just once, but as often as necessary.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 And he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. 

—Mark 11:16

Scripture:

Mark 11:16 

If you’ve ever watched a Western, then you know that if you want to make a point, you turn over a table.

After Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, He entered the temple, looked around, and assessed the situation. Then, He returned the next day, and He began to cleanse the temple by driving out the merchants and turning over their tables.

Mark gives us these details in his Gospel: “When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves” (Mark 11:15 NLT).

Maybe you’re thinking, “Now, wait a second. I thought Jesus was meek and mild. Isn’t that how a Christian should be?”

Let’s understand what that means. Jesus did say, “I am humble and gentle at heart” (Matthew 11:29 NLT). The problem is that we sometimes equate meekness with weakness. We think that to be a Christian, we need to be soft-spoken. That’s what we think meekness is. But that isn’t meekness; that is just quietness.

The image of Jesus knocking over tables and chairs of the money changers isn’t what we’re used to. As a matter of fact, in the way artists portray Jesus in traditional religious art, He doesn’t look like He could turn over a chair, much less a table.

But the Jesus of the New Testament, the real Jesus, was a man’s man. He was strong. The merchants’ tables weren’t little temporary folding tables. Rather, they were massive tables made of heavy wood, maybe even marble. And Jesus turned them over. It was complete chaos as doves flew out of their cages, and money flew everywhere.

Meekness is not weakness. It is power under constraint. Meekness is being able to do something and choosing not to. Weakness, on the other hand, is not being able to do anything. That is the difference.

Jesus was applying meekness. He was indignant and angry because they were hurting God’s people. He told them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves” (Mark 11:17 NLT).

They were preventing people from worshipping the Lord. Instead of praying for the people, these religious leaders were preying on the people. If worshippers wanted to pay the temple tax, they had to exchange their money for special half shekels in the sanctuary, which were the only form of currency the temple accepted. But it came at a hiked-up price.

The same was true for sacrificial animals. If people brought in their own animals to sacrifice, the animals would be rejected, which forced them to buy the merchants’ more expensive animals.

The bottom line is the merchants were keeping people away from God. And that made God angry. Very angry. In the same way, we need to ask ourselves this question: Am I a bridge or a barrier to people coming to Christ?

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. 

—Luke 19:41

Scripture:

Luke 19:41 

The crowd rejoiced, but Jesus wept. His ministry was almost over. Time was short. He had healed their sick and raised their dead. He had fed their hungry and forgiven their sins. Yet, by and large, He remained mostly alone and rejected.

Jesus knew that in a short time, one of His own handpicked disciples would betray Him for thirty pieces of silver. And He knew that Caiaphas, Pilate, and Herod would conspire against Him to bring about His death.

But not only that, Jesus knew that the same fickle crowds that were shouting His praises on that day soon would be shouting, “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:22–23 NLT). He knew those crowds would reap the full impact of their sin because they missed the day of their visitation.

This is the second time that we read of Jesus weeping openly. He also wept at the tomb of Lazarus (see John 11:35). And even though He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead, He still wept over the pain and anguish that death brings.

Jesus, being God, was omniscient. He knew the future. He saw the destruction that would come upon Jerusalem in just forty years. Four decades later, in AD 70, the Romans laid siege to Jerusalem. And after 143 days, they had killed 600,000 Jewish people and took thousands of others captive.

The Jewish historian Josephus tells us that during this siege, rivers of blood flowed through the gates of the city, and the beloved temple burned to the ground, fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy. He had said of the temple, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” (Matthew 24:2 NLT).

This broke Jesus’ heart because unbelief and rejection break God’s heart. He knows the consequences.

God created the world. He placed the planets in orbit. He made the light to shine out of darkness. But when someone closes their heart to Him, He won’t forcibly enter. He will knock, but He will not make people believe.

Of course, when people believe, God is happy. And when they reject Him, He is sad because He knows they will reap the repercussions—not only of future judgment but also the repercussions in their lifetime.

Sometimes, people come to me and say they’re doing thus and so. I tell them they really shouldn’t be doing that, and I explain what the Bible says about it. Usually, they say something along the lines of “Hey, don’t judge me!”

And then a few years later, they’ve made a wreck of their lives or the lives of their family members because of the decisions they made. That is what sin does to people. And it makes me sad to see the devastation, ruin, and misery that it brings into a life.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on what we now celebrate as Palm Sunday, He demonstrated sadness when He saw what was about to happen to those people. And He wept.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 

—Romans 8:15

Scripture:

Romans 8:15 

Years ago when I was first getting to know Billy Graham, I addressed him as “Dr. Graham.”

But he said, “Don’t call me Dr. Graham. Call me Billy.”

That was hard for me to do. It felt too personal. But I finally got around to calling him Billy. His children, though, had a more intimate name for him: Daddy. And his grandchildren called him Daddy Bill. Only his children and grandchildren had the right to address him that way. It was because of their relationship with him.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have a relationship with the Creator of the universe. And we have complete access to Him through prayer.

We are God’s children, and He loves us. He wants to hear from us. He wants to talk to us and spend time with us. It’s never a drudgery; it’s always a delight. And the same should be true for us when we spend time with Him.

We know from the Scriptures that He is a good Father. For instance, in the story of the Prodigal Son, Jesus presented God the Father as a dad who missed his wayward son and longed for his return. Then, when his son made his way back home, he ran to him and threw his arms around him.

He said, “We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found” (Luke 15:23–24 NLT). This is your Father in Heaven. He’s a father who always will be there, a father who listens, a father who loves you.

In addition, Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!” (John 14:9 NLT). Therefore, if you want to know what the Father in Heaven is like, then look at Jesus.

Jesus was approachable. Little children were drawn to Him, and He blessed them. Tears streamed down His face as He stood at the grave of His friend Lazarus. In the upper room, He got down on His hands and knees and washed the feet of His disciples, including the feet of Judas Iscariot.

Maybe you’re thinking, “He’s the Father in Heaven, but Heaven is so far away. I need someone on earth.”

God is omnipresent, which means that He is present everywhere. And is Heaven really that far away? Perhaps, in a sense, it is. But in another sense, Heaven is closer than we may realize. Heaven is another dimension. It’s a supernatural realm.

Thus, for the Father in Heaven to step into our world is nothing to Him. Remember, when Jesus was teaching the disciples to pray, He began His model prayer by saying, “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9–10 NLT).

God is deeply involved in and deeply concerned about what you’re facing right now. If it concerns you, then it concerns Him.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie