Evil On Another Level: Israel, Hamas, Russia and The End Times | Greg Laurie

 

Jesus Our Foundation

How is it that someone could appear to be radically converted and so passionate about their new faith and then, without warning, suddenly give up and walk away?

I have met people who were emotional about Jesus and fired up about their faith, only to later fall into gross sin. What happened? I think they really never were rooted in Christ. Some people are just impulsive by nature. They are always into the latest fad. Whatever gets their attention, that is what they want to be into.

Case in point: exercise equipment. Just walk though a neighborhood on a Saturday afternoon when people have their garage doors open. See all of those exercise machines? How many times have you actually seen someone working out on one of them? Instead, there are usually things hanging on them. Someone decided they were going to get into shape, but their enthusiasm didn't stand the test of time.

That is what happens with some people who make a commitment to Christ. They may be excited in the beginning, but it doesn't stand the test of time. One possible explanation is they put their faith on the wrong foundation.

Maybe they decided to follow Christ because their friends did. Or maybe they put their faith in a certain church, and they found out that it wasn't perfect, that it was filled with flawed people like them. Perhaps some pastor didn't measure up to their expectations. Whatever the problem was, they didn't build their foundation on Christ. The Bible tells us, "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11).

This is the only foundation that will sustain us as Christians—not a person, not a preacher, not a church, but Jesus Christ.

Battle of the Gods

By Greg Laurie

And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  —2 Kings 6:17

I think we would all agree there is a battle going on in the United States today. It's a battle for our very souls, a battle for right and wrong, a battle over the Bible, a battle over the family. Really, it is a battle over worldviews. And if you want to simplify it even further, it is a battle of the gods.

In the Bible there is only one God; it isn't multiple choice. God says, "I am the Lord, and there is no other" (Isaiah 45:5). There is the true and living God who is the God of Scripture and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the God who loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross.

Then there are all the other gods. So the battle rages today—the battle of the gods and the battle of the worldviews.

Sometimes as followers of Jesus Christ and believers in the Bible, it feels like we are losing ground everywhere we turn. In some ways, you might feel as though there is no hope.

I'm reminded of the story of Elisha and his servant when they were surrounded by enemy forces. Elisha was so confident in the Lord that he took a nap. But his servant woke him, alarmed as the enemy forces were closing in. So Elisha prayed, "Lord, open his eyes." The Bible tells us, "Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17).

In the same way, there are more on our side than there are on the enemy's side. And we need to remember that as the battle rages on every day.

The God Who Suffers

By Greg Laurie

He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief . . . Surely He has borne our grief and carried our sorrows.

—Isaiah 53:3–4

When we think of God, we usually consider that fact that He is righteous, holy, loving, and good. But here is something else to consider about God: He is the God who has suffered. We don't tend to think that a perfect Creator would experience such a human trait as human pain and suffering. After all, why would you suffer if you did not have to?

But God has suffered, and more deeply than any of us could ever imagine. In his book The Cross of Christ, John Stott said, "Our God is a suffering God." And I think he is right.

Listen to Isaiah's description of what Jesus (who was God) went through at Calvary:

"He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief . . . Surely He has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:3-5)

"A man of suffering." That was Jesus. But why did God suffer? Because He loved and loves. That means He also enters into our suffering as well.

Hebrews 2:17-18 tells us:

"Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted" (NLT).

You are not alone in your suffering today. Jesus has been there and walked in your shoes and He is here for you right now. Call out to Him.

The "Crown Jewel" of Scriptures

By Greg Laurie

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." —John 3:16

One of the greatest verses in all of the Bible is John 3:16. It gives us the gospel in a nutshell. Let's break it down:

"For God so loved . . ."

Many picture God as some kind of "cosmic killjoy" out to ruin our lives. But the reality is that God loves you! He misses you. He wants a relationship with you. Look at the Lord in the garden after Adam's fall, calling, "Adam, where are you?" (Genesis 3:9).

". . . the world . . ."

The world? That includes dictators and criminals. It includes adulterers, cheats, liars, even murderers.

The thief on the cross was probably a murderer or terrorist, but Jesus extended His loving forgiveness to him.

". . . He gave . . ."

We can talk about love all day long, but God demonstrated His love for us in a tangible way. Romans 5:8 says," But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us," and Romans 6:23 tells us that "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Jesus came to this world not to come down on people, but to reach out to people. While religion tells us what we must do to reach up to heaven, God reaches down from heaven in sending Jesus and pulling us out of quicksand.

". . . His only begotten Son . . ."

This does not mean "one of many," as in "So-and-so begat So-and-so." A better translation is "His one and only Son" or "the only Son of His kind or class, unique in kind."

". . . that whosoever believes . . ."

To "believe" does not merely mean you intellectually accept something to be true. The Bible says, "Even the demons believe—and tremble!" (James 2:19 NKJV). To believe is to "adhere to, commit to, have faith in, rely upon, trust in." The choice is ours as to what we will do with this wonderful gift of God. We can gladly accept it, or reject it. If someone offers you a gift, you either take it or you don't. You can't say, "I'm neutral on this. I can't decide."

". . . should not perish . . ."

Revelation 20:15 says, "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (KJV). If you are included in the "whosoever" of John 3:16, you won't be included in the "whosoever" of Revelation 20:15.

". . . but have everlasting life."

Not "hope to have," but "have." It becomes the immediate possession of the child of God. 1 John 5:13 says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God" (NKJV).

Jesus will receive and reveal Himself to any person who will come to Him honestly, heart to heart. Jesus said, "He that comes to me I will in no way cast out" (see John 6:37).

The Power of a Godly Life

By Greg Laurie

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

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

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

This girl had somehow heard about Elisha. So she said to Naaman's wife, "I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy" (2 Kings 5:3).

It reminds me of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, young Israelites who also were taken captive. They were brought to Babylon, where the king changed their names. But he couldn't change their hearts. They walked closely with God, as did this young woman.

Imagine how she felt when she heard how God had healed Naaman. I wonder if she ever thought God would use someone like her to reach someone as significant as Naaman. It's a wonderful thing when you have lived such a godly life that when you speak to someone, they listen. This girl earned the right to bring the message she did probably because she was such a great person and a hard worker. She held fast to her faith, even in a foreign land.

Respect His Name

By Greg Laurie

"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." —Exodus 20:7

Do you care about your name? Do you like it when people slander you or say things that aren't true about you? Have you ever had that happen? I have. No one enjoys that. We want to protect our name. The Bible says that "a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold" (Proverbs 22:1).

God cares about His name, too. And He tells us, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7). The words in vain literally could be translated "in an empty, idle, insincere, frivolous way."

So how do people take the Lord's name in vain? One obvious way is profanity. Isn't it interesting how people use the name of Jesus Christ so often? Even nonbelievers, in their spiritually deadened state, know there is something different about the name of Jesus. We don't hear people exclaiming, "Buddha!" or "Hare Krishna!" In a backhanded way, nonbelievers acknowledge the power of Jesus even when they're misusing His name.

Another way people take His name in vain is by saying "I swear to God." Jesus said, "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one" (Matthew 5:37). Your word should be enough.

Let me add another way that people take God's name in vain that's important for us to be aware of: Saying "Oh my God" a lot. That seems to be a popular phrase now. But it's taking God's name in vain. The same goes for texting OMG. Don't do that. Don't use God's name in an empty way.

God cares about His name, and so should we.

Just Another Night in Bethlehem

By Greg Laurie

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done marvelous things! —Joel 2:21

On the first Christmas Eve, there were no brightly colored lights on anyone's homes. There were no stockings that had been hung with care or any visions of sugarplums dancing in children's heads. It was just another night in Bethlehem. The census had gone out—that command by Caesar that everyone was to be taxed. But history was about to change in Bethlehem.

All of Israel was living in a very frightening time historically. They lived under the tyrant King Herod who would execute people at will. In addition, the Jews were living in occupied territory. The Romans had taken control of their country. They were no longer free to do what they wanted and live as they wanted. They wondered if Rome would ever leave. Would the violent rule ever cease? Would their world ever change?

Then suddenly angels appeared to the shepherds and told them not to be afraid; the Messiah had been born.

There is a lot to be afraid of in our unstable, volatile world today. It seems that at every turn, we hear about another horrific tragedy happening in our world. It can cause us to be terrified.

Then there are the personal fears: What if I lose my health? What if I lose a member of my family? What if this happens? What if that happens? A lot of things run through our minds.

Here is the message of the first Christmas—and the message for us this Christmas: Don't be afraid. . . . I bring you good tidings of great joy.

Ray Stedman wrote, "The chief mark of the Christian ought to be the absence of fear and the presence of joy."

Does that describe you? Fear is what Christmas came to remove—and now we can have joy in its place.

A Thermometer or a Thermostat?

By Greg Laurie

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth. —Luke 1:26

It's interesting how cities are known for certain things. Rome is known as the Eternal City. Paris is called the City of Lights. New York is the City that Never Sleeps. And Las Vegas has been nicknamed Sin City.

Nazareth, too, could have been called Sin City in the first century. Overrun by Roman soldiers, it was one of those places you went through on the way to another place. Nazareth also was known for its sin. One commentator described it as a hotbed of corruption. This is why, when Nathanael heard that Jesus was from Nazareth, he asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46).

Imagine if Jesus were born today. We might expect Him to be born in Jerusalem, or maybe in Rome, London, or Paris. But what if He were born in Las Vegas? The Savior has arrived: Jesus of Las Vegas. That's what it would have been like to use the term Jesus of Nazareth.

In that wicked city, however, lived a young woman of royal blood. Living in an impure world, Mary was pure. She showed it is possible to live a holy life in an unholy place. We often blame our wicked culture for the way we are, but the fact is that it's our job as followers of Jesus to permeate and affect our culture.

Here's a question to ask yourself: Are you a thermometer or a thermostat? A thermometer is affected by its surroundings. Depending on the temperature, it goes up or down. In contrast, a thermostat affects its surroundings. Unlike the thermometer, it controls the environment around it.

Do you merely react to what is happening around you, or do you have some kind of impact on it? Are you changing the culture, or is the culture changing you?

Just in Time

By Greg Laurie

"But we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope."  —Romans 5:3–4

Perhaps the hardships of today are preparing you for great opportunities tomorrow.

Warren Wiersbe quotes a professor of history who said, "If Columbus had turned back, nobody would have blamed him, but nobody would have remembered him either." Wiersbe concludes, "If you want to be memorable, sometimes you have to be miserable."

We all know the story of Job. I don't know of many people who suffered more than him, with the loss of his possessions, health and, worst of all, his children. Yet his faith remained intact and even grew stronger.

You might say, "I could never handle the things Job faced! In fact, I can't handle suffering at all." Don't worry; God will give you what you need when you need it.

Not before. Never after. When you need it.

Corrie Ten Boom used to tell a story:

"When I was a little girl, I went to my father and said, 'Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a martyr for Jesus Christ.'"

"Tell me," said Father, "When we take a train trip to Amsterdam, when do I give you the money for the ticket? Three weeks before?"

"No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train."

"That is right," my father said, "and so it is with God's strength. Our Father in heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need—just in time. . ."

We may not be called to be martyrs, but we will all suffer in life. God will give us what we need when we need it. Not before. Never after.

Just in time.

The Victory Shout

By Greg Laurie

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.  —Hebrews 2:14

Some people think it's a joke to play with Ouija boards or read their horoscopes. They think it's only fun and games to play around with demonic forces and ideas. But it's no joke. Occultism and astrology are doorways to darkness, and people really push it when they start dabbling in the Devil's world.

Nonbelievers have no defense against the Devil, who can pretty much do whatever he wants to do in their lives. However, he can do nothing in the life of a Christian without God's permission. The only thing he fears is the power of Jesus Christ.

A classic example of this is the story of Job. Interestingly, the Lord allowed Satan a certain leeway, which resulted in many horrible afflictions on God's servant, including the loss of his health, the loss of his property, and, worst of all, the loss of his children. There were limitations to what the Devil was allowed to do, but Job was tested severely. He came through it all, and God blessed him in the end.

You may think you can't make it through a hardship of some kind, but if God is letting you go through it, He has a reason. God knows how much you can take. He will never give you more than you can handle.

The Devil was soundly defeated at the cross of Calvary. Prior to His crucifixion, Jesus said, "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out" (John 12:31). As believers, we share in the victory of Jesus Christ. He dealt a decisive blow against the Devil and his minions at the cross. When Jesus cried out, "It is finished!" it reverberated through the corridors of Heaven and the hallways of hell. It was a victory shout.

The Problem with Self

By Greg Laurie

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 2 Timothy  3:1-4

We are living in a culture that is completely self-absorbed. Consider these stats:

• The Incidence of Narcissistic Personality Disorder is nearly three times as high for people in their twenties as for the generation that's now 65 or older.

• 58% more college students scored higher on a narcissism scale in 2009 than in 1982.

• 40% of Millennials believe they should be promoted every two years, regardless of performance.

In the 1970s, people wanted to improve their kids' chances, so the "self-esteem" movement was born. We were told that all of the social ills of the day were due to low self-esteem, and that we all needed to learn to love ourselves more.

As one expert said, "The problem is that when people tried to boost self-esteem, they boosted narcissism instead. All that self-esteem leads them to be disappointed when the world refuses to affirm how great they know they are."

So, we enter into our marriages saying things like: "What's in it for me?" and "What about my needs?" This leads to such inane statements as "I'm no longer happy in this marriage," and "I need to find myself!"

Where does this selfishness come from? "Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves" (James 4:1–2 MSG).

This is something the Bible says would be a sign of the end times: "You should know this, that in the last days, there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves . . ." (2 Timothy 3:1–2 NLT).

So, what is the antidote to selfishness? It is selflessness!

Philippians 2:2–8 tells us³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (NKJV)

False Alarms and Idiot Lights

By Greg Laurie

Our smoke alarm went off the other night at 4:00 A.M. I jumped out of bed and was ready to take action. Turns out the unit malfunctioned. (Why does it always go off at 4:00 A.M. and not P.M.?)

Because of incidents like this, we tend to tune out alarms. Who even looks when a car alarm goes off in a parking structure? We assume it's just someone trying to find their car.

One alarm you do not want to ignore is the fuel light in your car. If you do, you will come to a complete stop. You can't run on fumes.

Many marriages today are "running on empty." They have not taken hold of the power that's available; they're not operating by the principles given in the User's Manual. Remember, God invented marriage. And there is a right and wrong way to do it.

Happy, strong, and lasting marriages don't happen by accident. Marriage is something that to be good and fulfilling takes the right ingredients. It is the result of effort on the part of the partners involved.

Marriage is not so much finding the right person as it is being the right person. But all of this is to be done with God's help. A strong and happy marriage is the result of obedience to God and His Word and laying aside this world's distorted "take it or leave it" concept of marriage.

If we want to have the closest thing to "heaven on earth" apart from Christ's return—if we want a marriage and family that succeeds, we must do it as He tells us to.

It's all in the "User's Manual of Life," the Bible.