I've just had anxiety over my whole life, and like I didn't know where I was gonna end up. I didn't know if I was gonna be alone forever. Pastor Greg Laurie helps you find the hope you're looking for at the Harvest Crusades. The Harvest Crusade, July 19th at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Free admission.
Details at harvest.org. It's okay to complain to God. Did you know that? Pastor Greg Laurie points out even the psalmist David cried out to God more than once. Coming up on today's edition of A New Beginning, Pastor Greg explains how we can let God hear our heart.
Lord, I don't like this. But then you might add, but yet you may have a plan, you may have a purpose, and I want your will above my own. But you pour your complaints out to God. Don't cry out against God, cry out to God. When the lost are found, this is the day for a new beginning.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. But can you hear all the angels are singing? This is the day, the day when I begin. Are saints required to suffer in silence? When the going gets tough, does the tough get quiet?
When the bottom drops out, don't we all want to cry out? Today on a new beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie offers some valuable insight for the toughest times of life. We'll follow the life of David from the book of 1 Samuel and see what he faced, how he responded, and what we can learn from the biblical account. It's good encouragement. even if you're not currently facing a time of great challenge.
Now you're probably aware that I've I've written a book called Johnny Cash, The Redemption of an American Icon. You're thinking, Greg, why didn't you write a book about him?
Well, I've always been fascinated with Johnny Cash. I've always liked his music. To me, he's kind of a sound all his own. No one is really like him, and he's not really like anybody else. And Johnny has such a fascinating story.
You know the interesting thing about Johnny Cash. Is a lot of people questioned if he was even a Christian. And the reason is, Johnny fell. He struggled with drugs throughout his life, specifically amphetamines and barbituates that he got addicted to when he was on the road.
So he would do well for a while, then he would fall and he would get up again and he would fall again. And so some Christians said, I don't even think that guy's a believer. But non-believers saw Johnny as almost like a saint, almost a prophet-like figure. Johnny was a sinner saint. Johnny was, well, like you.
And like me. He was like all of us. He was a flawed character. But here's the key to Johnny's faith. Is he when he fell, he always knew where to turn.
He always turned back to the Lord. And in some ways, Johnny Cash reminds me of David. They were both musicians. They were both plain spoken. They were both what we would call a man's man.
They were both flawed. They both had their highs and their lows and their ups and downs. But we might call them accessible saints. Like, I can relate to that guy. You know, there's certain saints in the Bible, maybe it's not so easy to relate to, like Daniel.
Not one thing is said about Daniel critically. I'm not suggesting he didn't sin, but we don't read of any sin Daniel ever committed or Joseph. Such a virtuous, godly young man. We never read of a fall or a lapse in his faith, but David, oh man. It's all there in the Bible.
The Bible gives us the story of David, warts, and all, and more ink is dedicated in Scripture to David and any other biblical character apart from Jesus Christ himself. And Johnny had his doubts and disappointments. Johnny had a brother. Uh, whose name was Jack, and Johnny really looked up to his brother. They did everything together, they were inseparable.
And Jack aspired to be a preacher one day, and Johnny wanted to be a singer. And one day they were going to go down fishing, and Jack took on some extra work because the family needed the money, and he was working in a sawmill, and he was pulled into the saw. In a tragic accident. And then Johnny's father, Ray Cash, was a very hard man, and he literally said to Johnny, the wrong son died.
So you know, Johnny went through life with that hanging over his head, always seeking the approval of his father. And so he poured his pain into his psalms. I think in some ways Johnny Cash was a modern day psalmist. And it reminds me again of David. Remember, David wasn't really loved by his father.
When the prophet Samuel showed up in Bethlehem to anoint the next king of Israel. Jesse paraded all of his sons before the visiting prophet. They were the magnificent seven, and the most magnificent of them all was Eliab. Who is taller than the rest? And Samuel thought, this is surely the one that will replace Saul.
who has sinned against the Lord, and the Lord said, None of these are my man. And then the prophet asked, You have any other sons? And Jesse reluctantly acknowledged he had one more son. Who hung out on the fields and watched over his flock of sheep. And in comes David, and he is anointed.
The king. And you know, Saul had it all going on. I mean, he's the kind of person that we would want to elect to office today. He's the kind of person that had all the qualities that our culture values. He was attractive, he was charismatic, he was tall, he was the whole package, but.
He failed spiritually and he was rejected by God. And Saul summed up his own life with this statement in 1 Samuel 26, 21. He said to David, who showed him mercy, I have played the fool and erred exceedingly. You could have put that on the tombstone of Saul. I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.
Well, at this point, Saul has completely turned against David. Why? 1 Samuel 18:12, it says, Saul was afraid of David. He was afraid of David, and David was afraid of Saul too.
So, here now are the steps down for David. He's just had victory after victory, faithful shepherd of his flock. Called to fight the giant Goliath, he defeats him. He's gone into the court of King Saul and played his instrument to soothe this king who was tormented by demon spirits. David has passed every test, and now all of a sudden, the bottom drops out for this godly young man.
Why? Here's point number one: if you're taking notes: fear replaced courage in the heart of David. Again, fear replaced courage in the heart of David. 1 Samuel 21:10 says, He fled because of the fear of Saul. 1 Samuel 21, 12 says, David was very afraid of the king of Gath.
Fear. That's a powerful emotion, isn't it? It can take you over and warp how you see everything and everyone, including God Himself. David, at this moment of his life, was frightened by two kings that. Hated him, King Saul.
and another king that we'll look at in a few moments. This is a man that should not have been afraid. This is the guy who wrote Psalm 27. When he writes, The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom then shall I be afraid? And the answer is no one, but in this case, for David, it was a lot of people. Because he took his eyes off of the Lord and put them on circumstances. Number two.
Listen to this one. Though people abandon us, God never abandons us. Right? Even if people abandon you, God will never abandon you. Jesus said, I will never leave you or forsake you.
And in the original language, it can be translated that I will never, no, never, no, ever leave you or forsake you. Romans 8.31 says, If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:38 says, Paul speaking, I'm convinced that nothing can separate us from God's love, neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, neither our fears for today or our worries about tomorrow, not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. But here's the problem. David forgot that.
He was losing heart. The man after God's own heart was having a lapse of faith, and with this focus off of God, he makes some bad decisions. Bringing me to point number three, which is David went to the wrong place for solace. David went to the wrong place for solace and encouragement. With Saul hunting him, David goes to the wrong place with the wrong people.
He goes to a place called Gath. You say, Well, I don't know where Gath is. I don't know what that means.
Well, Gath was basically Philistine Central. That was the capital of the Philistines' kingdom. And here is David walking through Gath, and with the eyes of the town upon him, David is suddenly gripped by fear. Look at 1 Samuel 21, verse 12. David heard these comments about him, he was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him.
Listen to this, he pretended to be insane. scratching on doors and drooling down his beard. He's saying, This is bad. I know I'll act like a crazy person, scratching the doors, drooling. And I love the response of the king.
Finally, King Akash said to his men, Why do you bring me a madman? We already have enough of them around here. Why should I let this person be my guest?
So now, David. Acting like a crazy person. Really, a bad situation.
So, David again flees. This time he goes to the cave of Abdulam. And if you want to know what he was thinking. He tells us in Psalm 142, go over there now. Psalm 142.
It's very interesting. to look at the context A where, when, and why. David wrote certain Psalms. Because then you can understand what he was really talking about.
So here in this cave, Running from King Akash, still running from King Saul, paralyzed by fear, David writes these words in Psalm 142. I'm reading from the New Living Translation. I cry out to the Lord, I plead for the Lord's mercy, I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. Underline that. I'll come back to it.
I pour out all my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me. I look for someone to come help me, but no one gives me a passing thought. No one will help me.
No one cares a bit about what happens to me. Stop there. This psalm is so honest. Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever felt as though your enemies are setting traps for you?
And no one gives a passing thought to you?
So, David's being really honest.
Now, notice how he shifts gears in the song. And he looks up. Psalm 142, verse 5. But then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, You are my place of refuge.
You are all I really want in life. Hear my cry, for I'm very low. Rescue me from my persecutors. They're too strong for me. Bring me out of prison so I can thank you.
The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me. Isn't that beautiful? Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. We love hearing from our listeners, whether it's a short word or they take time to tell us what's going on with them. Pastor Greg, I found you after watching the film Jesus Revolution.
We had two packed theaters. One of our churches in our community bought up both theaters, and it was such a blessing. I looked you up after that, and I found your podcast and harvest.org. I use all your resources, Pastor Gregg, and I love them. And I pray that we'll have another awakening, another Jesus revolution.
And I just pray we all live long enough. to see it happen and I thank you again for all you do. Do you have a story to share with Pastor Greg? If so, call him and tell him about it. The number is 1-866-871-1144.
That's 866-871-1144.
Well, today Pastor Greg is bringing us a study of how to survive our times of trial and crisis as we continue our study of the life of David.
So, what should you do when the bottom drops out? This is point number four. We need to look up and put our focus on God, not on our problems. Maybe you just feel overwhelmed by your problems. You feel like you've been forgotten by your family or betrayed by your spouse.
or you're under threat from someone else, but David is Facing all of that and more, yet he is trusting God. And notice that he complains to God. Psalm 142, verse 1: I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all of my troubles. It's okay to complain to God. Did you know that?
We don't think it is. You can't say that to the Lord? Sure you can. Lord, I don't like this. I don't want this.
I want out of this. If there's any way to get me out of this, get me out of it. But then you might add, but yet Not my will, but yours be done. You may have a plan, you may have a purpose, and I want your will above my own. But you pour your complaints out to God.
Don't cry out against God, cry out to God. We see many instances of this in Scripture. When the Israelites criticized and turned against Moses, We read in Exodus 15:25, Moses cried to the Lord. Everyone's criticizing him. Everyone's second-guessing him.
He cries out to the Lord. When Hezekiah received a letter threatening his life, we read in Isaiah 37:14, he spread it out before the Lord. When John the Baptist was beheaded, we read his disciples went and told Jesus, Matthew 14:12. That's what we need to do. When crisis comes, when problems come.
Go to Jesus. Lord, I don't get it. I don't want it. Here it is. I present it to you.
That's what we need to do. Even Jesus cried out in the garden of Gethsemane. as he contemplated the horrors of the cross. And he says, if it is possible, Father, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.
That was so honest. And he cried out loudly, the scripture tells us. And then on the very cross, Jesus says, Eli, Eli, Lama Sabacheni, which means. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? What are you doing?
Are you challenging God? No, he's crying out to God. But the key is, he's crying out to God, not against God. He's not turning away from God, he's turning to God. See, that's a difference.
So I go to the Lord. I don't like it. I don't want it. This is hard. I trust you.
I love you. It's all mixed up together. That's what I love. about this story. Point number five, when the bottom drops out.
We need to cast our cares upon God. 1 Peter 5:6, so humble yourselves unto the mighty hand of God. And at the right time, he'll lift you up in honor, casting all your cares upon him, for he cares for you. It's something you have to do over and over again. Because you can cast your cares upon God, and okay, I'm better, I'm feeling better, I got perspective again, and then.
You can take them right back again, can't you?
So it's interesting this phrase that is used here, 1 Peter, when it says cast, it's not the normal word for throwing something. Rather, it's a word that signifies a definite act of the will by which we stop worrying about things and let God. Assume the responsibility for our welfare.
So it means I just give it to the Lord and I give it to the Lord and they do it again and again and again. And I want you to know this. If it concerns you, it concerns God. If it's a burden to you, you need to bring it before the Lord because David later wrote in Psalm 139:17, How precious to me are your thoughts, O God, how vast is the sum of them.
Sometimes we have to do this hourly. It's like kicking out the trash. I think it's true in most homes. Men take out the trash. Am I right?
So I throw it in these cans. And I don't know why, but on Trash Day. We put our cans in front of our house, and the trash man comes. And I don't like to take the trash cans out. It's not that hard.
I don't live in some farm where I drag them a mile or something. It's a short distance, and not only that, I have wheels on my trash cans and a handle. All I got to do is tilt them and just take them out. No big deal. But I'm like, I don't want to take the trash out.
And I think they're trash out. But I sure like it when they pick the trash up. Because if you forget for one week, you have a situation. Right? All kinds of bugs and flies and other things.
And so I take the trash out, and I'm glad they take my trash away. We need to take our burdens and our concerns and bring them to the Lord each and every day and cast them on the Lord. This is what we're learning. And this is what David was doing. Let me look back to Johnny Cash to close.
and tell you a little more of that story.
So Jack, Johnny's brother, was pulled into a saw. But somehow he survived, though his internal organs literally were coming out of his body. But they knew he would not survive for long.
So he was taken to the hospital, and he was surrounded by his family. And there in that room, the Lord came to young Jack Cash. And he was given a vision of glory. And he said to his mother, Mama, do you hear the angels? And then turning to his father, he said, Will you meet me in heaven?
Now remember I told you about Ray Cash. He said, God took the wrong son. This is a hard guy. Will you meet me in heaven? Jack says to his father.
Ray was so moved by that statement, he fell to his knees. and repented of his sins, And ask Jesus Christ to come into his life.
So that's Powerful part of the story. And on Jack Catch's tombstone, these words are written: Will you meet me in heaven? What a great question. Maybe I'm talking to someone who has had the bottom drop out in life. It just makes no sense.
You've believed your whole life, but now you've had a lapse of faith. You're filled with doubts. You're turning to the wrong people. You're going to the wrong places. And it's just made your situation worse.
And what you need to do is come to Jesus. With your burdens. What does he say? Come unto me, all of you that labor and are heavy laden. Heavy laden means you're carrying burdens you don't need to carry.
You need to cast those on the Lord, and He'll. Take them from you. Because they're too much for you to bear. But the greatest burden of all is sin. And only Jesus Christ can forgive us of our sin.
And in closing, I want to ask that question of young Jack Cash. Will you meet me in heaven? Because he put his faith in Christ, just like you need to do. And if we'll turn from our sin and ask Jesus Christ to forgive us of that sin, we can know with certainty that we will go to heaven when we die, so we don't have to live life crippled by the fear of death one more day. Is there somebody here that would like to do that, would like to be sure you go to heaven when you die?
Or you've sort of had a lapse of faith and you need to return to the Lord again? Why don't you do it right here, right now? As we close in prayer, Father, I pray for every person here, every person watching and listening, wherever they are, if they need to come to Jesus, help them do that. We pray. Amen.
An important prayer from Pastor Greg Laurie today here on A New Beginning. And if you'd like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord, Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment before today's program concludes. Uh Are you receiving Pastor Gregg's daily devotions? Get these inspirational thoughts in your email box every day. Sign up free of charge at harvest.org.
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Well, Pastor Gregg, a few moments ago you spoke of the need to get our hearts right with God. Could you help someone who wants to do that right now? Yes, I'd be delighted to. Listen, as you've listened to this program today, Maybe something's been happening inside of your heart where you're sensing. I need to do this personally, but How do I do it?
And what do I do? Let me help you. It's very simple. In fact, it's so simple you may be shocked. God, this relationship with Him is just a prayer away.
The Bible says, if you will call upon the name of the Lord, you'll be saved.
So I'd like to lead you in a prayer where you do just that: you call on the name of the Lord. This can be the moment where you change your eternal address. Literally, from hell to heaven. Just pray these words: Lord Jesus. Oh.
I know that I'm a sinner, but But I know that you're the Saviour, Who died on the cross for me? and rose again from the dead. Jesus, I choose to follow you From this moment forward, In your name I pray. Amen. I know.
It's such a simple short prayer, but you just called on the name of the Lord. And you know what? He heard that prayer. And if you met that prayer in your heart, he answered that prayer.
Now let me help you to get started on the right foot in your new life in Jesus Christ. The greatest adventure awaits you, the life of walking with God. I want to send you what we call a new believer's Bible, and it's a new living translation with a lot of notes on how to grow spiritually woven through this unique edition of Scripture. And let me be the first to say to you, come. Congratulations and welcome to the family of God.
Yeah, to get that free New Believers Bible, along with the other items in our growth pack, just let us know you prayed along with Pastor Greg to receive Christ today. We'll be glad to send our New Believers Growth Pack your way. Call us at 1-800-821-3300. Call anytime, 1-800-821-3300. Or go online to harvest.org and click Know God.
Next time, as our study of the life of David continues, Pastor Greg brings good encouragement about the value of forgiveness. It sets us free from the baggage of our past. Join us here on A New Beginning with pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie. This is the day, the day when life begins.
