Believing Is Seeing | How Jesus Wants Us to Live

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Learn more and sign up at harvest.org. Pastor Greg Laurie says we should feel strongly about the One who loved us before we were born and died for us while we were yet sinners. We enjoy life and all the things around us, but our passion is for Christ. This is the day when the lost are found. This is the day for a new beginning. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. Again you hear all the angels are singing.

This is the day, the day when life begins. It frankly would be hard to list all the things Jesus has done for us. The top of the list would be that He loved us enough to die for us.

So here's the question. If we love Jesus, what are we willing to do for Him? If He died for us, are we willing to live for Him? Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie takes us to the Gospel of John for an important look at a well-known miracle. As we examine this account, we learn a lot about how Jesus wants us to live for Him and speak about Him.

It's the day, the day when life begins. This is a story before us of a blind man that was healed by Jesus. And this man not only had his eyes opened physically, he also had his eyes opened spiritually. We all heard it said, seeing is believing.

But in this case, believing was seeing. So let's read together John chapter 9. I'll read verses 1 to 7.

By the way, I'm reading from the New Living Translation. As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man who had been born blind from birth. Rabbi, His disciples asked Him, Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents' sins? Jesus answered, It was not because of the sins of his parents or his sins. This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned to us by the one who sent us.

The night is coming when no one can work. But while I'm here in the world, I am the light of the world. Then Jesus spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man's eyes and told him, Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam.

Siloam means sent. So the man went and washed and came back seeing. Now was everybody excited that he was healed?

Some were, others weren't. He got in trouble with the religious authorities. Go back to John 9, look at verse 10. They asked Him, Who healed you? What happened? He told them, The man they called Jesus made mud, spread it over my eyes, and He told me, Go wash in the pool of Siloam.

Okay, I went and washed and now I can see. They asked, Where is he now? He says, I don't know.

This is kind of funny to me. The cross examining him, I don't know. I was blind and he put mud in my eye and told me to go wash and that's what I did and now I can see.

So what do we learn from this story? Point number one, Jesus changes everything. Jesus changes everything. I love what the man says in verse 11. I met the man named Jesus. When you meet the man named Jesus, everything in your life will change.

He could have dropped that detail. Because you see, back in this day for the Jewish person, the synagogue was the center of their life. And these religious leaders ruled the synagogue. If you got on their bad side, they could expel you from the synagogue. And the synagogue was the place where you worship, it was the place where you had friends to meet with, it was the place where you would even get business deals set up.

It was the center of all activity. So he could have just omitted the fact that Jesus did it because Jesus was already a controversial figure. But he gave glory to God. And I think it's so important when someone asks us how our life has changed that we are not embarrassed to say the man called Jesus touched me.

Paul said, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. Because sometimes God will change a person's life. They were strung out on drugs. They were an alcoholic. They were in some criminal lifestyle. They were having other issues. They were in deep depression. And Christ came into their life and changed them. And someone says, man, your life is so much different. You seem so much happier. What happened? What did you do? Well, it's just clean living.

Can you even use that weird voice? No one knows why. Clean living. Is that really all it is?

No, tell them. Well, I'll tell you what. It's the man called Jesus. Jesus did this for me. And he can do it for you.

This guy owns it. He speaks up for his faith. That brings us to point number two. Following Jesus will cost you. Following Jesus will cost you.

He got in trouble with these religious authorities. When I became a Christian I realized I need a new set of friends. These old friends are dragging me down. Because you can accept Christ and go hang out with your old friends. And they are living in a way that is not the way God wants them or you to live. And you can get pulled down so quickly.

Sometimes you need new friends. But it costs to follow Jesus. But let me say this. While it's true that it costs to follow Jesus. It costs a lot more not to follow Jesus. And it's worth it. Right?

It's worth it. So that brings me to point number three. We need to tell others about what Jesus has done for us.

This guy is only second sold in his faith. And he is already talking about Jesus. And I love that. You know we will tend to talk about what we are passionate about.

Right? And that's true of tweeting and posting too. You know a lot of employers well they are going to look at your social media before they hire you.

Because they want to see what does this person really care about. And so you can say oh I love Jesus. Jesus is everything.

Well okay I am going to look at your Instagram account now. Will that reflect that as well? That doesn't mean every post has to be a Bible verse. But do I see that reflected? Or your tweets?

Do I see that reflected? You know people get passionate about a lot of things. Some people are passionate about food. Food. They are foodies. I am a foodie. I can't go there. We have to go to this other place.

I have already done all the research on it. Okay that's great. All I watch is the food channel. And they are just obsessed with food. Another person it might be something else. It might be music or movies. Oh movies.

You talk about movies. Oh but for others it is politics. They are not engaged in the conversation until politics comes up. And all of a sudden they are into it you know. And that's what they are passionate about. Listen the Christian should be primarily passionate about Jesus Christ. That's our main passion. We care about politics.

We certainly like to eat food. We enjoy life and all the things around us but our passion. Our primary passion is for Christ. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. We are thrilled when we hear from listeners who have been impacted by the movie Jesus Revolution.

Listen to these comments from one of our listeners. I just want to say Pastor Laurie that I found you through your recent movie that was released, Jesus Revolution. And my brother has known you for years.

He came to know the Lord during that time and I was a little bit later. But I have found your books. I finished the Jesus Revolution. I've also finished the one on Johnny Cash. And now I'm listening to the one about Billy Graham and I'm enjoying them so much.

And also enjoying your podcast every morning. And I'm just so thankful for you and your ministry. But I just want to thank you again that God has worked through you to reach us all over the years.

Thank you so much. Do you have a story to share? If so, would you let Pastor Greg know? Just drop him an email. Well you've joined us today for Pastor Greg's message in John 9 called, Believing is Seeing. Let's continue. Point number four, if you walk with Jesus Christ, you need to find new friends.

You need to find new friends because it comes down to this. You're either going to have harmony with God and friction with people. Or you're going to have harmony with people and friction with God.

What do you want? I want everyone to like me. Oh really? Jesus said, beware when all men speak well of you. No, if you're a real follower of Christ, you can be the nicest, most considerate, loving person. You're going to have some enemies.

And it's not really so much about you. It's about who you're following. But those enemies can be turned into friends as you seek to engage them with the gospel. And that brings me to this next movement of the story. Let's go to John 9 verse 24. For the second time they call on this man who had been born blind and told him, give God the glory. Because we know this man, Jesus, is a sinner.

The man replies, look, I don't know whether or not he's a sinner. But I love this verse. But this I know, once I was blind, but now I see. Please underline that verse. That's one of the greatest statements in all of the Bible. Once I was blind, but now I see. I love the zeal of the new believer.

Listen to this. Did you know that 80% of people that hear the gospel hear it from someone who has been a Christian for less than two years? Isn't that interesting? Most people who hear the gospel hear it from someone who is a new Christian. Why doesn't that stat say most people who hear the gospel hear it from someone who has been a Christian for 10 years? I'll tell you the answer.

New believers are filled with zeal for the Lord. Here's another question. Why is it that those that know the most do the least?

And those that know the least do the most? Example, I'll have someone come up and say, I want to surf here at Harvest. What can I do? I'll do anything. I'll set up chairs. I'll help people find parking spaces. I'll counsel people. I'll work in children's ministry.

Well, thank you for offering. How long have you been coming to Harvest? One week.

Oh, one week, wow. Where did you go to church before? I didn't. I got saved last week. But I want to serve the Lord.

I love that. But we'll say, well, you know, we think you need to attend for a while and get grounded in your faith before we give you these responsibilities. But then there are people that have been coming here 10 years, 20 years longer, and they've never volunteered for anything. The church needs new believers. New believers are the lifeblood of the church. New believers need older believers to stabilize them. Older believers need younger believers to energize them. You get around a younger Christian with all their questions, and you find yourself getting fired up even talking to them. The zeal of the young believer. Point number five. Your personal testimony is one of the most powerful tools you have.

It's a great way to start a conversation. Here's this guy's testimony. Once I was blind, but now I see. And we already see spiritual growth in the life of this man. Verse 32, he says to the religious leaders, hey, ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind.

If this man were not from God, he couldn't have done it. So already he's evangelizing them. He's taking them to task. So it's fascinating to notice the progression of his understanding. First he called Jesus a prophet. Then he says he's from God. And now he realizes he is the Lord. Bringing me to point number six. Your faith grows stronger when you share it.

Don't miss this point. Your faith grows stronger when you share it. You say, but Greg, I don't know that much. I'm not a theologian. You may not be a theologian, but you are the world's expert on you. You know your story.

And a great way to start a conversation is by beginning with your story. Example, the apostle Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus. Christian killer. Persecutor of the church. But he was a great orator.

He was a brilliant intellect. Yet on almost every occasion when Paul stood before non-believers, he began with his testimony. Guys, let me tell you what happened to me. I'm on the Damascus Road hunting down Christians.

All of a sudden Jesus appears to me. Always started with that. Because everyone can relate to that. People can argue with your theology. They can't argue with your story. It's a great way to begin.

And that's exactly what this guy is doing. And there's something energizing about making a stand for your faith. There will be times when you're feeling down. Maybe you're even depressed. Maybe you're feeling sorry for yourself. And then you encounter someone and somehow you get into a conversation about Jesus. And as you tell them about what Jesus has done for you, you're getting all excited. Your mood changes.

Why? Because you're remembering how faithful God has been. And you leave that conversation refueled. You see how it works?

Final point. If you stand up for Jesus, he will stand up for you. Look at verse 35. Jesus heard they had thrown him out. And when he found him, he said, do you believe in the Son of Man?

The man asked, who is he? Tell me and I'll believe in him. Jesus said, you have now seen him. In fact, he is the one speaking with you. And the man said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him.

I love that. Do you believe in the name of the Son of Man? Who is he?

Where is he? You're talking to him, buddy. I believe. I believe. You're the one that healed me.

I believe right there on the spot. Religion turned this man away. Jesus took him in. The religious leader said, get out of here. You're trouble.

We don't like you here. You're a living miracle. But Jesus was ready. Have you been disillusioned with religion?

You've tried to keep all the rules and regulations and you still come up empty. I love how this man started off by calling Jesus a prophet and now is worshiping him. And I close with this question of Christ.

Do you believe in the name of the Son of God? We had a crusade a number of years ago down in San Diego. And there was a 90-year-old woman in a wheelchair that attended with her granddaughter. The lady's name was Henny. And I happened to be speaking on what happens beyond the grave that particular night. And when we gave the invitation for people to come to Christ and walk forward, Henny's granddaughter at her request wheeled her grandmother down to the front and Henny prayed and asked Jesus to come into her life. And then Henny turned to the counselor that greeted her and was so thankful what God had done for her. And I left out one important detail. She was also blind. And she said to the counselor she was looking forward to being able to see forever in eternity.

We're changing a lot. You might say, all right, Craig, show me and I'll believe. Prove it. And God effectively says, believe and I'll show you. That's why I called this message Believing is Seeing. Being is believing. Prove it. God says you believe and I'll prove it to you. And I know I'm talking to somebody right here that maybe is depressed, that maybe is down.

They're afraid. You wonder what's going to happen to you in the afterlife. Where are you going to spend eternity?

Listen, that's entirely up to you. Where do you want to spend eternity? Well, I would like to go to heaven.

Well, great. You can go to heaven. God wants you to go to heaven. That's why he sent his son, Jesus Christ, who is fully God and yet fully man to die on a cross for us. And Jesus is the only one who was qualified to bridge the gap between a holy God and unholy people.

And with one hand, he took hold of the Father and with the other hand, he took hold of us and they pounded spikes through his hands. And as the Bible says, Christ died for our sins. Jesus said for God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. God loves you.

He did this because he loves you. And he's ready to come into your life and forgive you of all of your sin. You can have your life changed as surely as this man had his life changed some 2,000 years ago. Jesus died on that cross, he rose again from the dead and now he stands at the door of your life and he knocks and he says if you'll hear his voice and open the door, he will come in. Are you ready to ask Christ to come into your life right now? He'll do that for you but you must say, Lord, I believe, just like this man. Lord, I believe. Do you believe in the son of God?

I don't know, who is he? I'm him, I believe. Will you believe in the name of the son of God? Will you reach out to Jesus?

If so, this would be the greatest day of your life. We're gonna pray in a moment and I'm going to extend an invitation for you to have Jesus Christ, the son of God, forgive you of all of your sins, an opportunity for you to have the trajectory of your life changed as you choose life instead of death, an opportunity for you to come into this relationship with God. He's just a prayer away. Let's all pray together. Father, I ask you to speak to everyone here, everyone watching online. If they don't know you yet, let this be the moment they believe. Speak to them now, we ask, in Jesus' name, amen. We're approaching the most important moment in the program. Before today's edition of A New Beginning concludes, Pastor Greg Laurie will help you if you want to make a change in your relationship with the Lord. Don't turn away. Well, we're talking with Shannon Bream today, Fox News anchor and author of The Love Stories of the Bible Speak.

She's our guest in the studio along with Kathy Laurie. And Shannon, let's get personal for just a moment. Which biblical story speaks best to the love story of Shannon and Sheldon Bream?

That is tricky, but I will say, you know what? The book I was the most challenged to write about was Song of Solomon. I think so many people in the church are like, whoa, this flowery, very descriptive language about body parts and love and yearning. But it reminded me that all these things about romance and sex and marriage, God designed that for us. And so we should embrace that part of our relationships with our spouses. And I was just reminded, I do share a lot in that chapter about the excitement I had about marrying him. And as a young bride, you're excited and happy to get down the aisle.

You don't know all the twists and turns and things that will come to you. But that desire to be together in Holy Union and to be together, those are good things. And God honors those and created those for us. In a culture that's so saturated with sex on your own terms or the way you like it or when you like it or with whom you like it, God gives us such beautiful guardrails.

Within those guardrails, there's a lot of freedom and blessing. And so we can see in that Song of Solomon that God doesn't want us to be just sort of these monastic, isolated on some mountaintop somewhere without any kind of love relationship with our spouses. But He can bless it and He honors it. And He actually wants that to be part of our lives. He wrote about it. We can read how He has expressed that so beautifully in Solomon's song. Yeah, and I feel like I really have to up my love notes game because the language about your arms are rods of gold and your teeth are like twins of doves.

I mean, it's so funny. It makes me think, like, okay, I got some work to do here. I can get more creative on my love notes. Excellent. So Shannon Bream has written a brand-new book called The Love Stories of the Bible Speak, biblical lessons on romance, friendship, and faith. And we're making it available to you for your gift of any size this month.

Yeah, that's right. It's an excellent resource that explores so many different types of relationships, not just marriage relationships, but friendships, extended family, community, even dysfunctional relationships. And it's written in a very candid, engaging way.

It's such a helpful, enlightening book. We'll send you a copy to thank you for your investment in keeping these daily studies coming your way. So contact us today for your copy of The Love Stories of the Bible Speak. You can call 1-800-821-3300. Call any time, again, 1-800-821-3300. Or write A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, California, 92514.

Or just go online to harvest.org. Well, Pastor Greg, a couple of moments ago, you talked of the importance of coming to the Lord to have our sins forgiven. 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 men 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, and 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. Call us at 1-800-821-3300.

That's a 24-7 phone number, 1-800-821-3300. Or write, A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514. Or go online to harvest.org and click the words, Know God. Well, next time, in the finale to Pastor Greg's series, The Seven Signs of Jesus, we'll look at the insight and comfort we can find inside the account of the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead. Join us here on A New Beginning with pastor and Bible teacher, Greg Laurie. A New Beginning is a podcast made possible by Harvest Partners, helping people everywhere know God. If this show has impacted your life, share your story, leave a review on your favorite podcast app, and help others find hope.