What Is the Mark of the Beast?: Followers of Jesus

Everybody you're listening to a new beginning, which is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. If this program is impacted you, I love to hear from you. So just send an email to me at greg@harvest.org again it's greg@harvest.org you can learn more about becoming harvest partner by going to harvest.org coming out today pastor Greg Laurie reveals where sometimes people are reluctant to accept Jesus free gift of salvation and people feel off. I follow Jesus and give up all of my dreams and just live this miserable life and that's the opposite of what is true what is Jesus saying you lose your life for my sake will find God's plans for you are better than your plans for yourself and you'll see how much he loves you as those plans on an one of the most things people say about us is that we are followers of Jesus Christ means we're willing to follow his lead in our belief we put feet for faith today on a new beginning. Greg Laurie takes his Revelation 14 we learn about a group of exactly 144,000 recorded for time and eternity in Scripture. What makes them unique Revelation, starting in verse one John writes that I looked, and behold the Lamb standing on mount Zion and with them 144,000, having his father's name written on their foreheads and I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, like the voice of loud thunder that I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. And they sing, as it were a new song before the throne before the four living creatures and the elders and no one could learn that song except the hundred and 44,000 who were redeemed from the earth. These are ones who have not the file themselves with women for the virgins.

They're the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They been redeemed from among men being firstfruits to God and the Lamb, and in their mouth was found no deceit that without fault before the throne of God. So hundred 44,000 remember them.

We read about them earlier in the book of Revelation and God had protected them in Revelation chapter 7 wherever they went. God watched over them and their proclaiming the gospel, who are the hundred and 44,000 their Jewish people who put their faith in Jesus as their Messiah but now we see there not on earth there in heaven. Notice it's not all hundred and 43,999 that me that they have been no all 144,000 make it to glory.

And it reminds us of the statement of Jesus in John 18, nine of those whom you have given me I have not lost one God doesn't lose his children. God never loses sight of you. He always has his eye on you because you belong to him now. Here are four take away truths about the hundred and 44,000 that apply to you. Remember these are mere mortals are not angelic beings are not superheroes their people who been called by God and these principles that are true of them can also be true of every follower of Jesus Christ number one. They have the mark of the father in heaven, not the mark of the Antichrist's hallmarks are not bad.

Revelation 14 one.

Having his father's name written on their foreheads. The father thing you know you have a choice as to who your father will be.

You can either make God your father. Or you can be as Jesus said of your father the devil, this mark on the foreheads of the hundred and 44,000 is something that identifies them as God's children.

It's sort of like an ID tag other people won't see it but the Lord sees it. By the way, God is put his ID tag on you was. I mean it needs you belong to the Lord you find it comforting. I do first Corinthians 619 says you're not your own.

You been bought with a price. Therefore glorify God with your life number two. Another thing about the hundred and 44,000. They sing a new song. I love this. They sing a new song given new song in your life looking Revelation 14 again and I heard the voice of loud thunder and sound of harpists playing their harps.

And they sing, as it were a new song before the Lord now harp is a beautiful instrument. Is it not so majestic and course we think of it as heavenly because we read of harps in heaven. But remember harp is a string instrument so we could just as easily say they played their electric guitar or the ukuleles are or their mandolins or whatever it is, but these stringed instruments are being used to bring glory and honor to God.

But listen to this. Every believer has a new song over in Psalm 40 verse two. The psalmist writes. He lifted me out of the pit of despair out of the mud in the mire and he has given me a new song to sing a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he is going to be astounded and many will put their trust in the Lord.

See when you come to Jesus you're given a new song. You have a story to tell, because God has lifted you and me and all of us out of a pit of despair, I remember when I became a Christian at the age of 17 and I've been raised listening to rock 'n' roll. The first music I remember listening to was the Beatles and the 60s was sort of a golden age of rock. I listen to the Beatles and I listened to the Rolling Stones and the animals in and the doors and Jefferson airplane and Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan and the list goes on. So, I loved all that music.

Then it became a Christian. Well I guess I have to give all that music up from now on. It Kumbaya 24 hours a day, so I went to this church called Calvary Chapel where the Jesus movement was literally happening before my eyes. I walked right into the middle of a spiritual awakening in these new bands were forming one of those bands was called love song and one of their songs was called a new song and at night I heard this song in this new music that was being created and it just washed over me in a beautiful way. We had our own music and actually I was watching contemporary Christian worship and contemporary Christian music in general also been born before my eyes. We had a new song and we have a new story when the last time you told someone your story or sing your song. I'm not suggesting you have to literally sing the people Jesus came into my life and he can come in the years to put the ideas.

Tell your story. When's the last time you told your story about what Christ is done for you, to someone who does know the Lord. Yet it's a beautiful thing. Sharing your faith is life giving, it actually replenishes you as you do so listen when you draw people to Christ, you yourself will be drawn to Christ.

When we make him known to others, we effectively know him better I can get them from telling my story to someone and I'm remembering all the God is done for me and it it encourages me as I'm sharing it with them. These folks a new song number 344,000 are sincere in their faith there sincere in their favor good. Revelation 14 pipe and in their mouth. There was no deceit there without fault before the throne of God's word deceit speaks of hypocrisy. Others no hypocrisy. There is no double standard, and sometimes people like to put on an act and appeared to be something they are not the technical definition of hypocrite in the Bible is the same word that is used for actor and actor. So who was inaccurate someone that plays a part they learn the lines and get their makeup on the go to their spot and they act and that's with some people are doing there in the church that got the prompts. The Bible they have the verbiage down but directors are fakers there phonemes there are not real.

I think sometimes we misunderstand with hypocrisy. We might see a Christian lose her temper and scream needlepoint on the accusing finger at them as a you hypocrite, and even the way you say this like you Will affect people. I enjoyed it hypocrite. Now just because a Christian loses their temper or does something else that's wrong like that. It doesn't mean there hypocrite. It might just mean their human. I'm not excusing it.

I'm saying working the sin. As Christians, the Bible says that we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in this, but that's not hypocrisy that just messing up that just sitting hypocrisy is when I put on an act that appeared to be pious when I'm not really even a follower of Jesus at all. Listen to this hypocrite are the ones who find fault in others, but never themselves. When you say that again hypocrite are the ones who find fault in others never themselves.

So the hypocrites are often the most judgmental, critical, people of all, the apostle Paul feared being a hypocrite and being disqualified and he spoke of it at first Corinthians 927 when he said I discipline my body like an athlete training it to do what it should do otherwise. When I preach to others I myself would be this qualified for Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment.

It's encouraging to hear when these studies truly impacted lives, even through some dark times I Greg wanted to reach out and let you know how much my husband and I enjoyed listening to you and watching your sermons on Sunday from our home.

We lost our son just six months ago and were struggling each day God is been getting a strength to continue and listening to you has really helped your recent sermon. The afterlife is so amazing is my birthday the first one without arson and what you are talking about really made my heart very happy.

I love hearing about heaven and where my son and I will spend eternity together very sorry for the last of yours. No parent should have to bury their child it's heart wrenching that you are an inspiration and I'm so thankful for you if you have a story of how the world has touched your life. This ministry when I call and share it with us. Here's the number 1-866-871-1144. It's a special number for this purpose. 1-866-871-1144 today. Pastor Greg is offering up several observations about the 144,000 spoken of in Revelation 14 were learning how to follow their example. One last point, you hundred and 44,000 follow the Lamb wherever he goes the giver sport they follow the Lamb we should do that each and every day. We've all been called to follow the Lamb or follow Jesus.

Jesus said if any man come after me, let him deny himself and take up the cross and follow me. Whoever will seek to save his life will lose it. If you lose your life for my sake, you find. I think sometimes people feel off. I follow Jesus to give up all my fondant all of my dreams and aspirations and just live this miserable life and that's the opposite of what is true. What did Jesus say deny yourself, take up your cross yes but then he said, but if you seek to save your life, you lose a ballistic if you lose your life you find what this means is I say God I want your will above my will. I want your plans over my plans and you'll come to discover God's plans for you are better than your plans for yourself and you'll see how much he loves you as those plans unfold. I think Jesus has a lot of followers are like people that follow you on twitter. I'm in social media on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter. I don't get people on twitter. It seems like twitter is the platform for angry people with too much time in their lives, always attacking one another in your tweet something people will you know will retweet in the refuted and attack you in one of my favorite things to do is block people on twitter. You have two choices. You can move them or block you mute them.

You won't see with their posting.

If you bought them they can't copy your name in their tweet, but who are these people, these are not followers, why are you following me if you disagree with me, and I think our people like that. That's it. I'm a follower of Jesus mother always fighting with him, and rebelling against him and disobeying him a follower of Jesus is seen, but these people hundred and 44,000. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. Listen following Jesus is something we do each and every day. One day Jesus looked at a tax collector name Matthew didn't have any friends because he was a Jewish man who would treat his fellow Jews and was working for Rome collecting taxes not only the taxes that Rome demanded a probably a little on the top for his own benefit, and much to the surprise of Levi or Matthew Jesus walk by his talks with one day and meet eye contact with them and said, follow me without a moment of hesitation. Matthew bolted up from that tax with and became a follower of Jesus Christ and that phrase follow means, follow with me. So the idea is following Jesus is not something I do, just on Sundays it he's not sending Jesus he's Monday Jesus Tuesday Jesus, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday Jesus you follow him, each and every day in the phrase that Jesus uses to Matthew to follow him means follow with me or to put it another way, let's walk together walking with God not dragging God where I want God to go but getting in sync with God discovering the will of God seeking to pray according to the will of God. You can start doing that right now and when you do you'll find the life you're looking for. Listen to this. If you know Jesus now he will know you then if you say yes to Jesus.

Now he'll say enter into my kingdom then, but if you say I don't want Jesus now then he'll say depart for me. I never knew you that question. Who are you following antichrist, or Jesus Christ Emmanuelle or Jezebel God or Satan is a well I'm not following Satan, but I'm not following Jesus.

Okay your following the devil. If you're not following Jesus was in the best Jesus said your for me or against me. I told you I became a Christian when I was 17 years old.

I live this crazy life of my mother. I ended up getting into drugs myself for maybe a little over a year I was drinking and partying and doing all these things I never wanted to do and I was emptying and I was searching I came upon this group of Christians on my high school campus were having a Bible study and singing songs about the Lord and I said don't close enough to sort of eavesdrop on their conversation, but not so close that my other friends so called with think I joined up with the Jesus freaks and I watch them sing their songs. I saw the smiles on their faces and I remember thinking these poor deluded people give them their nuts. But then I tried a new thought on for size which was what if the right. What if they found the truth. I thought that some possibly quickly dismissed it, and I returned to what if it's all true, then the guy got up to speak his name was Lonnie. I don't remember most of his message, but I remember one statement when he said Jesus said your for me or you're against me. Now I was not an atheist whenever I was in trouble. I called on Jesus, but this was the first time I heard that I was either for or against Jesus and I looked at those Christians and I thought well I'm not one of them is that mean them against Christ, and I was the day I gave my life to Jesus, let me close by saying this you are for or against Jesus.

This is an either or proposition.

Like when you get in an elevator going up or down you can go sideways right you have to decide Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sin.

He paid the price for every wrong thing you've ever done any rose again from the dead, that same Jesus who died in lives is standing at the door of your life right now and he is knocking in a scene if you cure my boys and open the door, I will commit. Would you like your sin forgiven. Would you like to know that you will go to heaven when you die.

Would you like to be ready for the Lord's return.

Would you like your guilt taken away. It can happen for you right here right now he's just a prayer away.

I want to pray a prayer and him and asked you that do not have Jesus in your life yet to pray this prayer with me to pray this prayer with and it's a simple prayer. We are asking Jesus to come into your life as your Savior and your Lord.

So if you want to go to heaven when you die if you want to be ready for the Lord's return. If you want your guilt taken away to stop what you're doing and I want you to pray this prayer. You could even print out loud just for these words.

Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner but I know that you are the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and now I sure and from that sin. I repent of that sin. I ask you to come in the my life to be my Savior and Lord. I choose to follow you from this moment forward in Jesus name I pray Lord closing with an important prayer for those choosing to follow the Lord today and if you just prayed with Pastor Greg and have meant those words. Sincerely, your sins have been forgiven.

Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness and we want to help you get started.

Living the Christian life we want to send you our new believers growth packet just asked for it and will send it to you free of charge requested when you write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or when you call 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 24 seven again at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg, I'm sure listeners are enjoying this new series in the book of Revelation and they'll enjoy your new book of Revelation takes this insight even further as well. Yeah, but I think that the first time a pastor decides to teach from the book of Revelation is a little sobering a little intimidating. Just the remember the first time you dove in.

Yes, it is all the above i.e. it it's an overwhelming book gets a book that's filled with imagery. It's a book that's filled with statements that are not always easily understood, but I think as you begin to piece it together and understand that studying the book of Daniel is a great help in understanding the book of Revelation. Understanding the format of an understanding the purpose of it, it suddenly comes into focus for you, you know, just take the word Revelation by the way, it's Revelation singular, not revelations plural. I bring this up because people often say I've been reading revelations while Doug, it's Revelation, but Revelation means to unveil. So God's not trying to hide things from us. He's trying to unveil reveal things to us. You know it's interesting Jesus in Matthew 24 I and what we call the all of the discourse says when you see the abomination of desolation happen then we read let the reader understand. So Jesus is talking about end times events and there's that little detail. Let the reader under stand. So why would Jesus say that if he didn't want us to understand Bible prophecy and how it applies to us today. I believe were living in the last days. I believe Jesus could come back at any moment and I believe we need to be ready in the book of Revelation will help us to live a life that is prepared for the return of Christ, and we are not only teaching on it here on a new beginning, but we have a brand-new book that we have just completed and I'm so excited about this because this is going to help you understand this great book of Revelation and out Bible prophecy applies to you. The title of the book is simply Revelation subtitled a book of promises so I hope you'll order this book that we will send you for your gift of any size and whatever you send.

We will use to enable us to continue to teach the word of God here on our radio broadcast a new beginning and also to proclaim the gospel and call people to Jesus Christ. So order your copy of this brand-new book Revelation, a book of promises and will send it to you for your gift of any size. It's right at such a rich book if I could even promises a special blessing.

No other book of the Bible does that and will send you this new resource to thank you for your donation right now a Dave.

Let me jump in really quick and not only are we offering this new book Revelation, the book of promises but we have this really cool graphic bookmark that we have put together that gives you a timeline of end times events so you probably wondered okay I know I've heard about the rapture and the tribulation.

In the antichrist and the second coming. What happens when will this very beautiful little visual bookmark sort of lease it out for you that's included in the book you're talking about right now.

Yeah that's right it comes automatically to get in touch with your donation today and will thank you with a copy of Revelation, a book of promises you can write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 24 seven phone number 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org will next time more insights from the attic book of Revelation mission. Join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible teacher. Pray for and thank with Greg Laurie podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for daily devotions and learn how to become a harvest partner harvest.org