The Nonbeliever's Favorite Verse | Not Everyone Wants to Hear the Gospel

Well, Christmas is coming. It's a time of giving, isn't it? We're all thinking about what we're going to get for loved ones and friends and co-workers, etc.

So I'm asking you to think about Harvest on Giving Tuesday. As you know, we are committed to preaching the gospel. And I have to tell you that next year is going to be our biggest year for evangelism ever because we're releasing a new film called Jesus Revolution and we're going to use it as a tool to reach people with the gospel. It's sort of like a big wave is building and we want to ride that wave because it will be released in over 3,000 theaters nationwide. So I want you to pray for us and if you feel led by the Lord, I would like you to invest in our ministry on Giving Tuesday.

In advance, let me say thank you. Surprisingly, not everyone wants to hear the good news. In fact, Pastor Greg Laurie says be ready for some to act with outward hostility. Jesus says don't give what is holy to dogs. 1 Corinthians 1 18 says the message of the crucifixion is insanity to the lost. So what do you do if someone laughs in your face?

You just walk away. Why? Don't cast your pearls before a swine and don't give that which is holy to the dogs.

That's why. Among the highest paid professions, all 10 in the top 10 are in the medical field. Anesthesiologists top the list.

Their knowledge comes at a premium but they can save your life. What believers know is worth even more spiritually and it can save a life for eternity. But some resist hearing the life-saving good news.

What then? Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us be ready for those times when the hearers don't have ears to hear. Turn to Matthew chapter 7. Matthew chapter 7 and we are in our Salt and Light series and the title of the message is the nonbelievers favorite verse. And the verse that you will often hear from a nonbeliever is judge not lest you be judged.

Right. And when does this happen? This happens usually when we are talking to them about their need for Jesus Christ and telling them that maybe they need to turn from their sin and they get really indignant and they say, well doesn't the Bible say judge not lest you be judged. In other words will you please go away now. It is their verse that they quote to make you stop talking to them. And the second favorite verse of nonbelievers is let him that is without sin cast the first stone. Now the problem is they totally misinterpret what those verses mean. So let's read the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 7 verse 1. Judge not lest you be judged for with what judgment you judge you will be judged and with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and not consider the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, hey let me remove the speck from your eye and look a plank is in your own eye hypocrite.

First remove the plank from your own eye then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Do not give that which is holy to the dogs or cast your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you in pieces. All right. So here are some takeaway truths from these verses.

Point number one if you are taking notes. As Christians we should be discerning but not condemning. Let me repeat that. As Christians we should be discerning but not condemning. Again verse 1. Judge not lest you be judged. Now the better way to translate the statement of Christ in Matthew 7 verse 1 is not judge not lest you be judged but rather condemn not lest you be condemned.

There is a big difference. I am to make judgments. I am to make evaluations. I am to use my discernment but having said that I am not to condemn a person. I judge for identification not for condemnation.

Point number two. Our desire should always be to restore not condemn a person in sin. Let me say that again. Our desire should always be to restore not condemn a person in sin.

We want to restore them. Here is what Paul says in Galatians 6 one about someone who has fallen spiritually. Brother if someone is caught in sin you who are spiritual should kick them while they are down and tell as many people as possible. You ever read that verse? No you haven't because it is not in the Bible. I just made it up. But by the actions of some you would think it is in the Bible. Someone stumbles hey kick them when they are down and tell everybody about their fault.

No the Bible says love covers a multitude of sins. I want to help you. See that is what you do when someone has fallen. Your objective is to restore them again.

Number three. I cannot see a speck in my friend's eye if I have a telephone pole in mine. Matthew 7 verse 3. Why do you look at a speck in your brother's eye and not consider the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, oh let me remove the speck from your eye and look a plank is in your own eye. And so he is making a point that we are so quick to go after minutia in one Christian's life when we are guilty of a lot worse in our own life. And so the idea here is not that I should not try to help somebody who has you know some sawdust in their eye or a sin in their life. But before I can do it I have to get it out of my own life.

He says first remove the plank. First confess your sin. You know forgiven people should be forgiving people. And if you are so quick to judge others here is my question for you. Are you prepared to be judged with the same type of judgment you give to others? Because that is exactly what Jesus says. Verse 2. With the judgment you judge you will be judged and with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. So be careful. Point number four. Some people just don't want our help.

Some people just don't want our help. Verse 6. Don't give what is holy to dogs nor cast your pearls before a swine lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you in pieces.

Casting a pearl before a swine is giving something valuable to someone who does not care. Pigs like to live in slop and filth. That is how pigs roll. The reason they live in the slop is that is actually how they cool themselves off. And so that is where they are comfortable. So you go up to your pig and a number of years ago not so much today but pigs were very popular as pets.

Remember that some of you? People would get these little pot-bellied pigs. And it was a really great idea when they were little.

Then one day you wake up and you have like this giant hog running up and down your hallway. But if I give a pearl to a pig, a pig is not going to appreciate a pearl. Now I give him some fresh garbage. Now we are talking right. So that is the point. Casting your pearls before a swine is offering something valuable who does not care. Let me say it another way. Casting your pearls before a swine is sharing the gospel with someone who does not want to hear it.

When I was a brand new Christian I went out sharing my faith and I was with a young guy, younger than me. And we walked up to this really big biker dude. Right. All tatted up. Wearing the vest.

No shirt under it. And I thought, OK. And so the little guy that was with me started sharing the gospel with the biker. And the biker looked at him and said, shut up man.

I will punch your face in. And I said, OK. Let's go. Now this little guy says, no. And he kept like preaching at this biker. And the biker is getting really irritated.

And then finally the little guy says to him, OK. We will leave. But because we are casting our pearls before pigs I am thinking, hey. OK. This is an in-house verse. OK. This is a verse we quote to explain something.

That is not the one I quote to the person I am talking to. Now maybe it was relevant but there is a time and place for everything and that was not the time. Sometimes when you are sharing with people they will turn on you. Years ago we were in Hawaii and we were out swimming around with one of the local guys there. And so we had masks and fins on and stuff. And so he said, oh check this out. And down at the bottom there was some netting and there was a shark caught in the net. And so this guy says, I am going to go free the shark with my knife. And we are like thinking this is amazing. So we are all like just kind of, we are really close watching. And this is you know a large enough shark to bite you. OK.

It wasn't like a 30 foot great white but it was a big enough shark. So I don't know why. We are all just watching.

So interesting. Because the shark looked like it was dead. So he goes down there. He is cutting the net and the shark isn't moving.

He cuts the net. And all of a sudden the shark comes alive and he comes out and he is swimming toward us and suddenly we realize that is a shark and we are close. What are we doing here? But we were so fascinated by watching this we weren't thinking rationally right. Sometimes when you are trying to help someone they will turn on you.

And that is surprising to us. Because I am trying to help you. I am trying to tell you how to be forgiven of your sin. Well go away. I have a friend who is a dermatologist. Someone who is an expert in all things pertaining to your skin. And in fact whenever I am with him he kind of looks at me and goes stop looking at my skin.

Just stop. Like just look at my sleeve you know or something. But he was in a store and he was shopping and he saw a lady with a very large malignant melanoma on her head. And he knows what a malignant melanoma looks like. There are different kinds of skin cancer. There is basal cell carcinoma, which is the most common. There is squamous cell. A little medical lesson here. There is squamous cell. And then there is melanoma. And the first two you can have burned off or they freeze them. Maybe you have had that done.

I have. And then there is a melanoma. That is very serious.

You need to get that removed immediately. Because it can potentially metastasize and be fatal. So he sees a large malignant melanoma on the face of this woman.

He is very careful the way he approaches her. He says, ma'am I am a doctor. I am a dermatologist.

This is what I do for a living. And I believe you have a malignant melanoma on your head and I wish you would come see me tomorrow at my office. And she got angry at him. And she wanted nothing to do with him.

That is a big mistake. But when you dare to say to someone I see something that is a problem they will get mad at you sometimes. Or like that shark they will turn on you.

So sometimes it happens. So what do you do when you are sharing the gospel with someone and they don't want to hear it? You are going to be surprised by my answer. Walk away. Walk away.

You don't have to push it. Now sometimes people say they don't want to hear it but they really do. Ok. So you have to pray the Lord gives you wisdom. But really there are some people that literally don't want to hear it and there might come a moment where you just say, well look I am going to walk away.

Why? Jesus says don't give what is holy to dogs. Well we are considering some interesting instruction from Jesus today. Sometimes we face hostility in sharing the gospel. What does Jesus say about that? Don't give what is holy to dogs.

Pastor Greg continues now. What is the deal with dogs nowadays by the way? I mean I love dogs ok. Dogs are great. I have had a lot of dogs.

I don't have one at present. But people with dogs it seems to almost be getting bizarre. You know everyone with the dogs everywhere. And you know taking them in every place and you know feeding the dog off the table and acting like the dog is one of their children and you already know pushing the dogs in the strollers.

It is so weird. And I actually read an article from a travel magazine about all these amenities they have for dogs now. There are hotels for dogs. This is the latest thing. And you can go and get your dog a massage therapist.

And I am not making any of this up. And one hotel offers a special podicure for the dog. Not a pedicure.

A podicure right. There is even a dog surf package at a hotel down in San Diego. The author of the article wrote about his own experience dining with his dog. He said quote I guess a dog can be a pretty good date.

Ok. Whatever. He says I told the waiter when he arrived with our entrees of filet mignon for my dog and salmon for me. And then the bill came and I noticed the dog's meal was more expensive than mine.

But at least there was enough left over in the doggy bag so both of us can eat later. The phrase get a life comes to mind but apart from that you know your dog doesn't want a podicure. Do you know your dog does not want a massage therapist. Your dog wants to eat junk out of a gutter. Your dog wants to drink toilet water.

You know why. Because your dog is a dog. And that is what dogs do.

So we take the holy things of God and we offer it to someone that has no appreciation whatsoever for it. You might just walk away. They might even laugh in your face. 1 Corinthians 1 18 says the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are headed for destruction but for those of us who believe it is the very power of God.

Another translation of that verse says the message of the crucifixion is insanity to the lost. So what do you do if someone laughs in your face? You just walk away. Why? Don't cast your pearls before a swine and don't give that which is holy to the dogs.

That's why. There's a time when you just say Kim we're not having this conversation. Even Jesus did this. Do you realize that? Even Jesus did this. Jesus had a prolonged conversation with a cruel Roman governor Pontius Pilate but he did not say a single word to King Herod. You ever notice that?

Why? Because Jesus knew that Herod had no interest whatsoever in his life or ministry or his teachings and so literally when he appeared before Herod he was silent. There's an interesting passage over in the gospel of John chapter 2. It says when Jesus was in Jerusalem people noticed the signs he was doing and they noticed that they pointed to God and so they entrusted their lives to him.

That sounds good. People saw miracles and they entrusted their lives to him. Oh but read the rest of the verse but he did not entrust his life to them. What?

What is that? I don't understand that. Let me translate it another way. They believed in him but he didn't believe in them. Well I thought God wanted to make himself known to every person.

Yes he wants to make himself known to every person who really wants to know him. But there are people that say they want to know him but they don't want to know him. These people were drawn to Jesus because they saw his miracles but they had no interest in his message. It's that way today in church. Some people come because oh I like this or I like that.

Some peripheral thing. But they're not really into a relationship with Christ himself. Listen if a person really wants to know God they will listen to the message of the gospel. In fact it's a way to really test someone. Because people that say all the time I'm seeking truth. Oh are you? Yes. I want to know the truth.

Oh well that's amazing. Well listen I'd like to share with you some truth from the Bible. Please put that away. What's the Bible? I believe it's the truth.

I don't even want to hear it. Have you ever read it? No. Well can I quote to you from it because I don't want to hear the Bible. Well no but Jesus said I am the way the truth. No I don't want to hear about what Jesus said.

Put that away. I don't want to. And all of a sudden they get aggravated and angry with you. Okay I suggest to you that person does not want to know the truth. Because if they don't believe this is the word of God. If they believe this is just a bunch of made up stories. What do they care if you believe it?

What do they care if you quote it? It's not true right? No it's not true. Full of contradictions. Okay right. Could you show me one? No but it is.

All right. You can believe that if you want to. But really what you're saying is you know there's power in the message of this book. This is the same reason that people take the Lord's name in vain. Why they punctuate a sentence with the holy name Jesus Christ.

Why would you do that? A person will say I am an atheist. And then something irritates them and they will say Jesus Christ. You go why would you say Jesus Christ? Do you believe in Jesus?

Of course not. Why do you say the name Jesus Christ? Why don't you say another name? Why don't you say Hare Krishna? You know.

Why? Why don't you say Buddha? Why not Buddha? You say Jesus Christ and you say you don't believe in Jesus Christ yet you use His name like that. I think again just like with people not wanting to see the Bible in their own way they're acknowledging the power of the name of Jesus Christ.

I actually do. So if you want to know the truth God will make Himself known to you. God will reveal Himself to true seekers because the Bible says God speaking those that seek me will find me. Maybe some of you need restoration. You've broken your arms spiritually. You've fallen and you can't get up. You don't know how to get right with God again. There was a time when you were close to Jesus and you read your Bible every day and you prayed and you went to church and everything was great and then one thing led to another and you hung around with some people that got you going the wrong direction and before you knew it you're back in the pit.

In fact before you knew it you were worse off than you were when you were a non-believer and you came to Christ the first time. You thought how did I get here? I hate this. But more to the point how do I get out of here? How do I get out of this pit?

Well you need help. Someone will reach down and pull you out and the Lord will pull you out. They might do it through a Christian friend who will give you a helping hand and say here's what you need to do. You need to admit you've sinned.

Own it. Don't make excuses for it and make a break with the past and start following Christ. You can be restored no matter what you've done. But there are some of you that maybe have never asked Jesus to come into your life. You've never asked Him to forgive you of your sin and this is all kind of new to you. Well look He can come into your life and forgive you and transform you because 2,000 years ago Jesus Christ the very Son of God came to this earth. He was born in that little manger in Bethlehem and then He lived a perfect life and then He died a perfect death on a cross. He voluntarily went to the cross and died for your sin and for my sin for our sin. He paid the price for all the wrongs we've done.

He absorbed the wrath of His Father in heaven that should have come on you and on me and He took it on Himself. He paid the price for our sin and then He rose again from the dead and now He's alive of course and here with us and He's standing at the door of your life and He is knocking and He's saying if you'll hear His voice and open the door He'll come in. Would you like Jesus Christ to come into your life? Would you like to be forgiven of your sin? Or would you like to be restored to God?

It can happen for you right now. In a moment we're going to pray and I'm going to extend an invitation for you to come in to ask the Lord to forgive you of your sin. An opportunity for you to ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord or an opportunity for you to get back up on your feet spiritually because you've stumbled and you've fallen. So respond if you need to as we pray. Father we thank you for your Word to us.

We thank you for your love for us and sending Jesus to die in our place. And Lord Jesus I pray that your Holy Spirit will now work on the hearts of those that are here and those that are watching who do not yet know you. Help them to see their need for you Lord. Help them to come to you. Help them to believe in you.

Help them to be forgiven by you. Right now we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. An important closing prayer from Pastor Greg Laurie. And if you'd like to do as Pastor Greg suggested and make things right in your relationship with the Lord, Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment before today's edition of A New Beginning concludes. You know whenever you hear something on the program that you want to share with someone else you can always point them to today's podcast or listen at our website harvest.org and the title of today's study is The Non-Believer's Favorite Verse. Well Pastor Greg there's a brand new movie coming out that we're really excited about. It's called Johnny Cash The Redemption of an American Icon. That's right. In fact you've called it an evangelistic documentary.

Yes. Why did you choose Johnny Cash as the subject for this film? That's a great question. So bottom line I love to see thousands of people come to Christ at Harvest Crusades and people coming to the Lord listening to our radio broadcast but I also like to focus on how Jesus works in the lives of individuals. You know some people are changed in a moment. Others have a lifelong struggle but the Lord is with them every step of the way and Johnny Cash he's one of those people. The Lord was faithful to him, the Lord loved him and Johnny loved the Lord but Johnny did struggle throughout his life. That's why it's a redemption story. So the title of this film we want people to go see is Johnny Cash The Redemption of an American Icon because it shows how patient God is, how loving God is and how God wants to reach people no matter where they are in life. So I'm asking the listeners to help me tell this story and I'm asking them to support this film.

Yeah absolutely. Be praying about who you can bring with you to see Johnny Cash The Redemption of an American Icon. It's a strong presentation of the gospel and we're making tickets available to those who partner with us in our efforts toward teaching believers and reaching unbelievers. Thank you for your generous donation. It's a Fathom event and it's coming up soon.

You'll find the dates at harvest.org and tickets are limited so go online today to harvest.org or call us anytime around the clock 24 7 at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300. Well Pastor Greg a few moments ago you spoke of the need to get our hearts right with God.

Yeah. Could you help someone who wants to do that very thing 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 I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the savior 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 meant that prayer in your heart he answered that prayer. Not 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 believers growth pack that includes the new believers Bible and a whole lot more and let me be the first to say to you congratulations and welcome to the family of God. Yeah to get that free new believers growth pack just ask for it if you prayed along with Pastor Greg to receive Christ today. We'd be glad to send one your way.

Just call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or write A New Beginning Box 4000 Riverside California 92514 or go online to harvest.org and click Know God. Well Pastor Greg today is what's now called Giving Tuesday and we hope our listeners might consider harvest in their charitable giving plan.

Isn't that right? Yeah that's right Dave you know of course there's so much focus on well Halloween now and Thanksgiving and of course Christmas but Giving Tuesday often gets overlooked so let's give it a little fanfare I'm thinking echo and trumpets. Everybody get ready it's Giving Tuesday and what a great and what a great opportunity to invest in things that matter. We're all thinking about gifts for loved ones for co-workers. Hey unfortunately we even have to think about gifts for people we don't even necessarily want to give gifts to but we're thinking about giving that's a good thing. Would you think right now even better pray about giving to a ministry that's getting the gospel out?

That would be us actually. We're not the only ministry doing it of course but you know we take evangelism seriously here at Harvest Ministries. You know we give people opportunities to pray and accept Christ into their life and you know what every year thousands and thousands of people do just that. So today on Giving Tuesday I ask you to prayerfully consider investing in this ministry and you know when you do that you lay up for yourself a treasure in heaven. Whereas Jesus said lay up for yourself treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust will corrupt and thieves can't break in and steal it. Invest in eternity. Invest in the souls of people. Invest in the proclamation of the gospel in advance.

Let me thank you for that. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. Trials, problems, challenges, it's part of life. As believers how do we cope when life has brought us to our knees? Important insight coming next time. Join us here on A New Beginning with pastor and Bible teacher, Greg Laurie.