Best of 2020: The World Changer at the End of the World Part 2: Prepared for His Return

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by Harvest Partners, helping people everywhere know God. If you would like to know how you can become a Harvest Partner, just go to harvest.org.

That's harvest.org. The Bible says, Don't be drunk with wine where it is excess, but be filled with the Spirit. Pastor Greg Laurie points out we can choose who or what exercises control over our lives, and we need to choose well. I don't want to be under the influence of an intoxicant, be it drinking, be it any other drug of any kind that is controlling me. I don't want to be controlled by the Spirit. I want to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

That's a precious thing. Imagine sitting in the driver's seat of your parked car and you start disassembling your steering wheel. You loosen the nut that holds your steering wheel in place. Now the steering wheel is barely connected to your front wheels. Are you willing to hit the open highway without that control?

Well, only if you like ditches. Today on A New Beginning, in one of the year's most requested messages, Pastor Greg Laurie points out some people choose to do that with their very lives and wind up in some kind of ditch. Let me take a quick poll. How many of you here right now believe that Jesus Christ is coming back again? Raise your hand if you believe He's coming back. How many of you believe He could come back in your lifetime? Raise up your hand, okay. How many of you believe He could even come back tonight? Raise your hand. How many of you feel like if He were to come back tonight, you would be ready to meet Him? Raise your hand up.

Okay, good, good. I believe that too. You know, there was a Gallup poll taken that revealed that a surprising 66% of the American public believes Jesus Christ is coming back to the earth in the future. That's a very high percentage because somewhere around 50% of Americans, maybe the number is slightly lower now, maybe high 40s, but somewhere around 50% of Americans claim to be Christians. So a higher percentage of Americans believe Jesus Christ is coming back than even the percentage of Americans that claim to be Christians.

And now with all that's going on in the news, oh my, it just seems like it's almost obvious. I wonder how it will be reported after Christ comes back. What the headlines would be. Probably the headline of the Wall Street Journal the day after Christ came back would be, Dow Jones plummets as world ends. They would come at it maybe from a more financial perspective. Victoria's Secret catalog would say, our final sale.

Something like that, right? Sports Illustrated, their headline would be, game over. They would look at it from more of a sports perspective. USA Today, they're always known for their simplicity. Headline would simply be, we're dead.

Wired magazine, more of a high-tech magazine, would say, the last new thing Rolling Stone would have on the cover of their magazine, the Grateful Dead reunion tour. Something like that. Ladies Home Journal, lose 10 pounds by judgment day with our new Armageddon diet, right? The diet element.

The food network would simply be, our cooked goose recipe. So no matter what, there's a day that's appointed. We don't know when. Because Jesus said, no man knows. The day of the hour when he will return. When Christ will return. And my understanding of Bible prophecy, which is 100 percent perfect, I'm kind of joking, but I do kind of think it's right. Of course we all think that. But in my view of Bible prophecy, I think the next event on the prophetic calendar, as I've said many times, will be the rapture of the church.

And we don't hear enough about this topic these days. It's so important, but it seems to have fallen somewhat out of favor in the church as a teaching. What is the rapture? It's from the Greek word harpazo. And it's a word that describes people being caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The best known verse is 1 Thessalonians 4 and 17. The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel. And the dead in Christ will rise first and we which are alive and remaining will be caught up. Greek word harpazo.

Caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So some will push back and say, you know actually that's a teaching that's only been around since the 1800s. No actually it's a teaching that goes back 2,000 years ago. Because I just quoted the apostle Paul who gives us that very teaching. And some will say, well you can't find the word rapture in the Bible. Well you can't find the word Bible in the Bible either.

Nor can you find the word Trinity in the Bible. But if you happen to have a Latin translation you actually do have the word rapture. Because the word harpazo is translated to rapturous in the Latin Bible. So call it the rapturous. Call it the harpazo.

Call it the great escape. It doesn't matter. It's going to happen. In my view it could happen at any moment. After that the anti-Christ emerges. In fact I do not believe that the anti-Christ this coming world leader can show up in the world scene until the church is caught up to meet the Lord. The Bible says he who now restrains will continue to do so until he is taken out of the way.

Then that wicked one will be revealed whom the Lord will destroy with the brightness of his coming. The restraining force in the world today. The restraining force in America today. The reason all hell is not completely broken loose.

So you would think it had. Is because believers are the restraining force on the planet. Sort of keeping things at bay. The Holy Spirit working through the church. Once the church is caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Then the anti-Christ is revealed. Then the so called tribulation period begins.

That lasts for seven years. That ends with the battles of Armageddon and the second coming of Christ. And then of course the millennial reign of the Lord. The Bible talks a lot about this.

Well what are we supposed to do in light of this teaching? Well we want to live lives that honor the Lord. We want to pay attention to these signs of the times. And I want to focus on a man who lived in the last days if you will. Now they were his last days.

They are different than ours. We are waiting for the judgment that will come upon the planet by fire. He was waiting for the judgment that would come upon the planet by water. And his name was Noah. He was living in the days before the great flood.

And Jesus actually brought him up. As a picture of what things will be like before Christ returns. And in Matthew 24 it said the arrival of the Son of Man will take place in days like Noah's. Before that great flood everyone was carrying on as usual. Having a good time right until the day that Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing until the flood swept everything away.

And then Jesus says the Son of Man's arrival will be like that. Two men will be working in the field. One will be taken the other left. Two women will be grinding at a mill. One will be taken and the other left.

So be alert and be awake because you have no idea when your master will show up. Alright so here is the story. Noah's ark.

Beautiful. They make it to the new land. And now they are giving thanks to the Lord.

And if this were a movie and if we wrote it this is where the story would end. You can see the closing scene. Noah is looking up to heaven. Tears coming down his face.

The flowers are growing and the animals are hopping around. And there is a rainbow and the credits are on the screen. But that is not how the story ends. Because this is a Bible story. And Bible stories are true. They are not fairy tales. And when something happens that is not convenient it is there anyway.

Because if it happens it happens. And all scripture is given by inspiration of God. And the Lord doesn't cover up the flaws of the great men and women that He used. So what happened next is kind of sad in many ways in the life of Noah.

But it did happen. Genesis chapter 9 verse 20. After the flood Noah began to cultivate the ground and he planted a vineyard. One day he drank some wine that he had made and became drunk and lay naked inside of his tent. Ham the father of Canaan saw his father was naked, went outside and told his brothers. Then Shem and Japheth took a robe and held it over their shoulders and backed into the tent to cover their father.

And as they did this they looked the other way so they would not see him naked. A few things popped out from this story. First of all it teaches us anyone can fall into sin. You know it may surprise you to know that sometimes those who have known the Lord longer can be more vulnerable to slipping than the person who is young in the faith. Does that make sense to you? Sometimes those who have known the Lord longer can be more vulnerable to slipping than the person who is young in the faith.

You say but why? Because when you're young in the faith you know you're weak and vulnerable. So you're careful and you hopefully surround yourself with godly people. But when you've known the Lord for a while you're thinking well I'm pretty good. I don't think I need to have those safeguards on my life anymore. I'll just pretty much not be accountable to anyone and do what I want when I want.

The next thing you know you're falling. Extensive Bible knowledge and years of spiritual experience make you think you're somehow above it all. You think you've reached some kind of a plateau spiritually but you'll never reach that plateau.

And the Bible warns that him that thinks he sins take heed lest he fall. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. Hey everybody Greg Laurie here personally inviting you to join us for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a Bible study. It's a worship service. It's church in your home.

Maybe you're not able to get out to your church right now. If so join us for Harvest at Home. People are listening in from around the world and listen to this. We have seen thousands of people make a commitment to follow Christ. So join us this weekend for Harvest at Home at Harvest.org. Glad you're along today as Pastor Greg presents a message called The World Changer at the End of the World Part 2. It's near the top of the list of our most requested messages of the past year.

Number two. We can't ignore this. I'm going to make somebody mad right now.

So get ready. In the sin of Noah we see the destructive power of alcohol. Right? I mean look at verse 21. He became drunk and lay naked. Now look. We have to understand the original language here.

Scholars tell us the Hebrew word here for uncovered or lay naked indicates a deliberate act and not a mere unconscious effect of drunkenness. This is certainly not a good thing to do. He was not a good example. Let's just think for a moment of how many lives have been ruined by alcohol. I've never seen one good thing come from drinking.

But I've seen a lot of bad things come from it. Now you all know I was raised in an alcoholic home. And so I dealt with this up close and personal for the first 17 years of my life on a scale you wouldn't believe. My mother was a raging alcoholic. Pretty much drinking herself into a stupor every night and passing out on the floor. Sometimes not coming home at all. Other times getting behind the wheel of the car and driving horribly. In fact I wasn't with her on this occasion but she was going up Jamboree Boulevard and went over the center divider and had a head on collision in a 1965 Mustang.

This is pre-safety bags and such and it almost killed her. But I just saw the effects of alcohol and I still see it to this day. I see people that start to drink a little and one thing leads to another and it becomes a problem. And we dismiss it. We say well you know they have a disease.

Is that what it is? Alcoholism is a disease. It is a disease. If alcoholism is a disease it is the only disease that is bottled and sold. If alcoholism is a disease it is the only one that is contracted by the will of man. If it is a disease it is the only disease that provokes crime.

Now here is my point. I understand that some people are more susceptible to the effects of alcohol than others. I understand that some people can maybe have a drink and it is not a big deal and it doesn't destroy their life and their marriage doesn't unravel. But I know other people literally they have a sip of alcohol and it can lead to their ruin because they have seen it happen in real time.

Because they have the propensity. So we say well that is their problem. It is not my problem. Ah now we have another issue. And the other issue is what if your so-called liberty to drink causes another person who doesn't have that liberty to stumble?

What if you have your drinks with your meal and you think it is cool and then your friend who is an alcoholic who just came to Christ and was gloriously delivered sees you having a drink and they have a drink and they fall off the wagon and destroy their life. Well that doesn't happen. Actually it happens a lot. And I could tell you a lot of stories where I have seen it happen. So we need to really think about this.

Because it can bring so much havoc in a life. I have come to this brilliant conclusion. Follow me on this. If you don't drink you will never get drunk. You won't. I don't want to be under the influence of an intoxicant. Be it drinking. Be it weed. Be it any other drug of any kind that is now beginning to get control of my life.

It can even be a medication that was prescribed to me that I am beginning to abuse. You see I don't want those substances controlling me. I don't want to be controlled by the spirits. I want to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

That is a precious thing. To have a clear mind. And the Bible says don't be drunk with wine where it is excess but be filled with the Spirit speaking to yourself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. So Noah was the last days believer and we are too. And I mentioned that statement where Jesus said two men will be working in the field. One will be taken and the other left.

Two women will be grinding at the mill. One will be taken and the other left. Stay awake. Be alert. You don't know when your master will show up.

Question. What if Jesus came back for us tonight? What if this was the night?

Would you be ready to meet him? Now I know the second coming will not happen tonight. Well how do you know that? Because there is a difference between the rapture and the second coming. See the rapture, the harpazo, I was talking about that earlier. Is when Jesus comes for his church like a thief in the night.

Remember that expression? The second coming is when he comes at the end of the tribulation period with his church and the Bible says every eye will see him. So I know the second coming, the return of Christ to the earth bodily where he establishes his kingdom could not happen tonight. But the rapture, the harpazo, where believers are caught up to meet the Lord in the air, that can happen at any moment.

That is why you want to be ready. And that is what Jesus is referring to when he says one will be taken and the other left. You see. So what would happen to you? If the Lord were to come back would you be taken or would you be left?

Here is your choice. Get right or get left. Maybe you are someone who has had a lapse in your faith. Maybe you have stumbled and you have fallen. But listen if you have fallen you can get up but maybe you need a helping hand.

Can I offer that to you right now? Just say here come on get back up on your feet and make a recommitment to Jesus Christ. Don't stay in that state. You can start over again. You can get back in the race of life again. But there might be someone listening that has never asked Jesus Christ to come into their life. And as I talk about the Lord's return it kind of scares you. And maybe it should because you are not sure if you are ready to meet the Lord. Well you can be ready.

Here is what you need to understand. Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sin. He went there voluntarily and paid the price for every sin you have ever committed. And then he rose again from the dead and now he stands at the door of our life and he knocks and says in full hear his voice and open the door he will come in. He is just a prayer away. All you need to do is say Lord come into my life and forgive me of my sins. If you are not sure if Jesus Christ is living in your life respond to this invitation as we pray. Father speak to any person here.

Any person listening or watching wherever they might be who does not yet know you. Help them to come to you. Help them believe in you. And help them be forgiven by you. In Jesus name I pray.

Amen. Pastor Greg Laurie with an important prayer. And if you would like to follow through and make a change in your relationship with the Lord today. Pastor Greg will help you do that before today's edition of A New Beginning concludes.

Stay with us. If you missed any part of Pastor Greg's message today you can get an instant replay at Harvest.org. It's one of our listeners most requested studies of the past year.

Again go to Harvest.org and look for the title The World Changer at the End of the World Part 2. Or call us for a CD copy 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300. And we can take your call anytime 24-7. You know Pastor Greg we each have people in our lives that need to meet Jesus personally. Our hearts ache for them to enter into that relationship.

And we have a resource actually an entertaining movie that very well could play a role in them meeting the Lord. Isn't that right? Yeah it is. It's called A Rush of Hope. How do we describe it? We could call it Avenge-tainment.

I just created a new word. It's entertaining but it's evangelistic. It seems like the two are mutually exclusive. If it's entertaining well there's no real message in it.

Or if it's evangelistic well that's not entertaining. I think this is both because it is cinematic. It was shot by filmmakers that know what they're doing. Kingdom Studios directed by John and Andy Irwin directed by Ben Smallbone. It's shot in beautiful locations in Colorado and Montana. And it includes scenes from films that you've probably seen before.

Like I Can Only Imagine, I Still Believe, and Woodlawn. And we tell these compelling true stories of lives that were changed by Jesus Christ. And then I bring a message at the end where I share the gospel in a very understandable way. And I extend an opportunity for a person to accept Christ and I even lead them in a prayer.

And guess what? We've seen thousands of people pray that prayer and ask Jesus to come into their life. And now for the first time ever it's available for you on DVD to show to your friends, to show to your family, to show to anyone you want to show it to. And we'll also give you a special code where you can stream it to show it on a phone or a tablet or send a link to someone else to watch. So if you want your own copy of our cinematic crusade called A Rush of Hope, contact us and we'll send you one for your gift of any size. Sure we could have charged for this, but we thought let's get it to people.

We want more people not less people to get it. And so we'll give it to you for whatever you can send. Now some may only be able to send a little.

Some can send a little bit more. Some of you can be generous and help us out, but we'll take those resources you send and we'll use them to continue to develop projects like A Rush of Hope and continue to bring the gospel to our generation. Because I think you would agree with me when I say America needs a gospel.

Let me expand that. The world needs the gospel. This radio broadcast is heard in different parts of the world and this film can go all over the globe with your help. Order your copy of A Rush of Hope and we'll send it to you as quickly as possible. And in advance, thank you for whatever you can do to help us financially. Yeah, the world has never needed the hope of the gospel more than it does right now.

And it's a strategic time to put your investment to work through a new beginning. So write us today for your copy of A Rush of Hope. Along with the DVD, we'll include some resources to help you host a watch party. And we'll include that special digital download code so you can watch the movie on your tablet or smart phone or computer.

Now we're only able to mention this a short time longer. So write us today at A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514. Or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300. And we can take your call anytime.

Or go online to Harvest.org. Pastor Greg, a couple of moments ago you talked of the importance of coming to the Lord to have our sins forgiven. Yeah. If somebody listening right now wants to do that, could you help them? Yeah, I can do that, Dave.

I'd be happy to. In the book of Isaiah, we read these words, seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous man their thoughts. Let them return to the Lord and He will have mercy on them.

And to our God, for He will freely pardon. Listen, that's God's word to you. And let me address this to the person who has never asked Jesus Christ to come into their life.

Why don't you do it now? That verse says, seek the Lord while He may be found. God has touched your heart today, perhaps. And you've thought, I need this relationship with the Lord. One of these days I'm going to make that commitment to Christ. No, don't wait for one of these days. This is the day.

This is your moment. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He's near. Listen, God is near to you.

And He is ready to come into your life. And there's another part of this verse when it says, let us return to the Lord. I want to also extend an invitation to you that have fallen away from your faith. You've fallen away from the Lord.

And you need to make a recommitment. So if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life, if you want your sin forgiven, if you want to go to heaven when you die, or if you've fallen away from the Lord and you want to return to Him, pray this prayer with me. Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner. But I also know that You are a Savior.

And I need Your help. I need Your forgiveness. Come into my life and forgive me of all of my sins.

I choose to follow You from this moment forward. Be my Savior. Be my Lord.

Be my God and be my friend. Thank you for hearing this prayer. Thank you for answering this prayer. In Jesus' name, I pray.

Amen. Hey, I want you to know on the authority of Scripture, if you just prayed that prayer and meant it, Christ has heard you and He has forgiven you. So, God bless you. Yeah, we want to help you begin to grow in your new faith. We want to send you some resource materials we call our New Believers Growth Packet.

It'll answer some of the questions you might have and get you started off right. So get in touch for your New Believers Growth Packet. We'll send it free of charge if you prayed with Pastor Greg for the first time today. Write A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514. Or call 1-800-821-3300. We're here to speak with you around the clock, seven days a week. Again, dial 1-800-821-3300. Or simply go to Harvest.org and click the words Know God. Well, next time, more from the most requested presentations of the year. Pastor Greg brings a heartfelt message called Hope for Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones. Be sure to tune in. And if you know someone facing that kind of pain, invite them to listen as well. Here on A New Beginning with Pastor Greg Laurie. This is the day, the day when life begins. The preceding message from Greg Laurie was made possible by Harvest Partners, helping people everywhere know God. Sign up for Pastor Greg's free daily email devotions at harvest.org.