It's All How You Look at Things | God Stepping In

We're glad you're joining us for A New Beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast supported by Harvest Partners. Get more encouraging audio content when you subscribe to Pastor Greg's Daily Devos.

Learn more and sign up at harvest.org. Faith and worry cannot coexist together. When faith walks in, worry walks out. So we want faith in our life to not worry. It's been said when you trust, you do not worry, and when you worry, you do not trust. There are so many opportunities for worry in our lives.

We know that all too well. But Pastor Greg Laurie says we have at least as many opportunities to trust God. So let's face the obstacles with great faith that are before us. Sometimes problems seem to come our way in droves. When it rains, it pours.

Ever been at the end of your rope? Someone has said when you get to the end of yourself, you get to the beginning of God. And the Bible is replete with accounts of God stepping in at the right place at the right time for just the right reason. And today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie shows us how God specializes in putting His providence and His faithfulness on display.

We'll see a case in point today. You know, one of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of David and Goliath. That's such a perfect story. We love to tell it to our children. But listen, it's not a fairy tale.

It really happened. Of course it's a story of a young boy that was not appreciated by his father. And his name was David. And he was sent on an errand.

His brothers had gone to war. And his father wanted him to take some food to his brothers. Basically it was bread and cheese. So effectively David was making a pizza delivery.

Right? Or a quesadilla if you will. He brings bread and cheese to his brothers. And as he arrives in the camp of the Israelites he hears the voice of a giant oversized man down in the valley of Elah just bellowing out, send someone to come and fight me. That man's name was Goliath.

Nine feet six inches of solid muscle. Everyone was terrified of this giant of a man. No one was willing to go and fight him until David showed up. And of course he went and faced off with Goliath. You know an interesting thing about that story is Goliath wasn't just hanging around down in the valley saying send someone to fight me.

He was coming up into the camp of the Israelites. He was right up in their business taunting them right there. Hey come on man.

Let's fight. And that's how giants are. You give them an inch and they'll take a mile. You say Greg what are you talking about with giants? I'm talking about giant problems. I'm talking about giant challenges. I'm talking about giant addictions. I'm talking about what you're facing right now. Maybe as you're listening to me you are facing a gigantic problem.

I have some good news for you right now. God is bigger than your giant. God is bigger than your problem. So the key is if you understand and see God as you ought to you will see your problems for what they are. Listen if you have a big God you have small problems. And if you have big problems do you have a small God? Now I'm not in any way saying your problem may not be gigantic because it could be. But I'm just saying God is bigger than what you're facing. So if you have a big God in other words if you see God and his power and his glory and his ability to help you you're going to see your problem with the right perspective. But if your problem looms so large that you can't even see how God could get you out of it then the problem is your problem is bigger than your God and you need to change the way that you look at things.

That is why the title of this message is It's All How You Look at Things. Now we're in a series that we're calling Water, Fire, Stone. And it's a series on the life of Moses. And we're back in the book of Numbers. Now don't let that concern you because maybe like you you didn't do well in school in the subject of math. Oh no I hate numbers.

It's really not about numbers. It's actually a record of the wilderness wanderings of the children of Israel. And now they've come to the very brink of the promised land.

They're poised to enter in. So they send in 12 spies. 12 spies to check things out to see what was ahead of them. And that's where we pick the story up here in Numbers chapter 13. I'm going to read from verse 25.

And by the way I'm reading from the New Living Translation. After exploring the land for 40 days the men or the spies returned to Moses and Aaron and the people of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken back from the land. So these guys came back with a cluster of grapes that were gigantic. It took two of them to carry the grapes back. Imagine how big the peaches would have been. How about the watermelons?

Those would have been gigantic. So they bring back this incredibly large fruit. Verse 27. This was their report to Moses. We arrive in the land you sent us to see and it is indeed a magnificent country, a land flowing with milk and honey.

And here's some of the fruit as proof. But the people living there are powerful and the cities are fortified and very large. And I'll drop down to verse 30 of Numbers 13.

But Caleb tried to encourage the people as they stood before Moses. He said let's go at once to take the land. We will certainly conquer it. Oh but the other man who had explored the land with them answered we can't go against them. They're stronger than we are. So they spread discouraging reports about the land among the Israelites.

The land we explored will swallow up any who go there. All the people were huge. We even saw giants, the descendants of Anak. And we felt like grasshoppers next to them.

And that's what we look like to them. And all the people started to weep aloud. And they cried all night. And the voices rose in the great chorus of complaint against Moses and Aaron. They wailed. We wish we had died in Egypt or even here in the wilderness. Oh man.

This is incredible. So 12 spies go in. 10 of them give a discouraging report to give an encouraging report. It all comes down to how you see things.

How you look at things. First there was the majority report from the 10 spies. You see their problem was they did not seek God for what He is. They only saw problems.

Listen. God promised them a land flowing with milk and honey. God promised He would give them the land. But they ignored what His Word said and put their eyes on circumstances, on obstacles, on challenges, on giants, and ultimately on defeat. That's because they had a small God and thus they had big problems.

But then there's the minority report. This is basically Joshua and Caleb. They saw the same obstacles. They saw the same challenges.

But they also saw opportunities and great victories if they would go into the land. So here's what it comes down to. It's all how you look at things. We all face problems. We all face obstacles. We all face challenges and we all face giants. But can you see them in the light of who God is? Don't look at God in the light of your problem. Look at your problem in the light of God.

Again He's bigger than what you're facing. If you're taking notes here's point number one. The problem here is they focus their attention on the obstacles rather than their objective. Let me say that again. They focus their attention on the obstacles rather than their objective.

Number 1328. They saw that people were powerful and the towns were fortified and the people were very large. Listen. Obstacles are frightening things when you take your eyes off of the objective. When you fix your attention on the obstacle rather than the objective, fear will always eclipse your faith. Point number two. When you allow fear to grip you everything is affected.

When you allow fear to grip you everything is affected. Look at numbers 14. Now verse 2. Their voices rose in the great chorus of complaint against Moses and Aaron saying we wish we had died in Egypt even here in the wilderness and now you're going to let us die out here. We would rather return to Egypt.

What? Return to Egypt these people had lost perspective. Have you ever been so discouraged you wanted to die? That's literally how they felt because they were allowing their fear to overwhelm them.

Listen to this. Faith and worry cannot coexist together. When faith walks in worry walks out. When worry steps in faith walks out. They don't get along. Do you know some people that don't get along? If you invite folks over to your house, well I can't invite this person and this person because they always get into an argument. Well that's how faith and worry are. They they cancel each other out. So we want faith in our life not worry.

It's been said when you trust you do not worry and when you worry you do not trust. And so these people are facing difficulty. But every Christian will. Listen the Christian life is not a cakewalk. It's a conflict. The Christian life is on a playground. It's a battle ground.

So let's face the opposite. Goes with great faith that are before us. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. You know when you've walked in the very land where Jesus himself walked you'll gain a whole new appreciation for the truth of scripture. Hey everybody Greg Laurie here inviting you to the Harvest Ministries Israel tour.

April 9 to 19 2024. This will be an unforgettable journey through biblical sites and a unique opportunity to grow in your own faith. Listen spots are limited. Be sure to sign up as soon as possible at Israel.Harvest.org.

Again it's Israel.Harvest.org. Hope to see you there. Well Pastor Greg is bringing some observations from scripture as we learn how to adopt God's perspective on our obstacles in life. The message is called it's all how you look at things. Point number three. God does not want you to run from your giants. He wants you to attack them. Again God does not want you to run from your giants.

He wants you to attack them. Caleb and Joshua they of the minority report reminded the people in Numbers 14 9. Don't rebel against the Lord and don't be afraid of the people of the land. They're hapless. Pray to us they have no protection but the Lord is with us.

Don't be afraid of them. So let's come back to our giants in life. Let's take that giant of addiction. Let's say you have a problem with pornography. Let's say you have a problem with drinking. Okay recognize you have a problem. Bring it out in the open in the light of day. Make yourself accountable to someone and realize that you cannot do this in your own strength.

Call on God and pray for his power and listen to this. Attack your giant. Back to the story of David and Goliath. So there's Goliath in valley of Elah. David goes down to meet him armed with basically a sling and a stone. He puts a stone in the sling and he says to the giant you come to me with sword and spear but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts.

And then listen to this. David runs toward Goliath whipping that sling around getting the momentum. He was quite good with it you know and he let that stone fly and like a missile and went right into the forehead of Goliath and Goliath collapsed forward and then what happened David went over to Goliath took out his sword and cut off his head. By the way Goliath must have had a big head because he was a big dude.

Nine feet six inches. David's cutting his head off. It probably wasn't like it would probably be more like you know took a while. Then he holds it up. Pretty gross. Greg why are you giving us these details? People this is in the Bible.

The Bible gave us these details. So what's the point? Don't just face your giants. Defeat your giants. And when I say defeat I mean cut off their head.

You said I have no idea what you're talking about. Don't leave any backup plan to go back and do that thing again. Take alcohol. Take the booze. Pour it down the toilet.

Don't just put it in the back cupboard so you can go to it later. If you have drugs get them out of your life. You have pornography get it out. If you have to cut off internet service or whatever get it out.

Make yourself accountable to someone that could look over your shoulder and see what you're looking at to know your passwords perhaps. But deal with these things. Deal with your giants. Don't let them conquer you. Again don't look at God in the light of your giant.

Look at your giant in the light of God. Alright so wrapping this message up. What we're reading about in the book of Numbers has a lot to say to us today who are living in the last days. And by the way I believe we're living in the last days.

You say what do you mean by that Greg? What I mean is I believe Jesus Christ is coming back. I believe that Bible prophecies are being fulfilled before our very eyes. And that's a whole other message for a whole other time. But I think Christ could come back at any moment.

So how should we live? Well the Bible is very specific. And over in 1 Corinthians 10 it says speaking of the Israelites all these things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close. So if you think you're standing strong be careful because you too could fall into the same sin.

All these things happen as an illustration for us. For people who are living in the end times. The Apostle Paul is using the wilderness wonderings as an allegory. They were delivered from the bondage of Pharaoh. Were delivered from the bondage of sin.

They wandered around in a self-imposed wilderness for 40 years. And we do the same when we take our eyes off the Lord and keep making the same mistakes over and over again. They had a choice to make and you and I have a choice to make as well. Let's not take what God has done for us for granted. Let's not be looking at our shoulder and wanting to go back to the old life again.

Because the first step to going back is looking back. This is why Jesus said remember Lot's wife. Why should I remember Lot's wife?

Well she along with her husband and family were delivered by the angel of the Lord from Sonim and Gomorrah as God was destroying it. And the Lord said to all of them specifically don't look back. But of course Lot's wife did look back and she turned into a pillar of salt. So Jesus says remember Lot's wife. And Jesus says no man having put his hand on the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. So don't look back. Look forward. Don't look at your obstacles.

Look at your opportunities. And in closing look at Jesus. Everything I've said today is for a person who has put their faith in Jesus Christ.

You see Moses delivered the Israelites from the bondage of Pharaoh. And guess who died on the cross to deliver you from sin. Jesus Christ God's own son came down to this earth on a rescue operation 2,000 years ago and died on the cross for all of our sin.

And he rose again from the dead and now he stands at the door of our life and knocks and says if we'll hear his voice and open the door he'll come in. Listen Jesus has the answer to all of your questions. Jesus can give to you the hope and the certainty of life beyond the grave. Jesus can remove your guilt. Jesus can free you from your addiction. Jesus can change your life but he will not force his way into your life.

You must ask him in. As I said Christ said he stands at the door knocks and if we'll hear his voice and open the door he'll come in. Would you like Jesus to come into your heart? Would you like that big old hole inside of you filled?

Would you like your guilt taken away? Would you like to know that you'll go to heaven when you die? If so I want you to pray this prayer with me right now. It's a simple prayer and if you mean this prayer God will hear it and God will answer it.

And listen kids this is for you too. You might be four years old five years old but as you're listening to me you're saying do I have Jesus in my heart? You can pray this prayer with me kids but also you who are older can pray this prayer as well. Jesus said he or she that would come to me I would in no way reject.

So he'll say yes to you but you must reach out to him. Are you ready to do that? Then pray this prayer with me right now. Let's all pray.

Lord Jesus I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. Now I ask you to come into my life and forgive me and give me the hope of heaven. Thank you for hearing this prayer and answering it. In Jesus name I pray.

Amen. An important prayer from Pastor Greg Laurie with those who wanted to make a change today in their relationship with the Lord. And if you've just prayed that prayer with Pastor Greg and have asked Jesus to be your savior we'd like to follow up with you and help you as you begin living the Christian life. We'd like to send you our New Believers Bible and some other helpful resources to help you as you walk with the Lord each day.

It's free of charge when you call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's 24 7 phone number 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click the words know God. Well Pastor Greg we're talking about your film your brand new film called Fame talking about the dangers of pursuing fame and fortune. Let's say one of your grandkids came up to you one day and they said Papa when I grow up I'm going to be a social media influencer and everybody's going to watch my videos I'm going to be rich and you say well I don't think it's bad to want to be an influencer I don't think it's a bad thing to want to be successful in life but I think we need to do it for the right reasons and use the platforms for the best purposes. So there are social media influencers out there there are people that have large followings on social media platforms and they use it for the glory of God and I think that's fantastic because you know people need to hear the gospel and I I'm always looking for ways to build bridges to people and talk about things that are happening in the culture and in the world today and show them what the bible says and how Christ is ultimately the answer.

So I don't know if that would be the best thing to pursue is your career having said that whatever you do do it for the glory of God. So if you can say Hollywood be thy name over what you're about to pursue as your career path and I think you're good to go that would include being a social media influencer or whatever other field you go after. But you do talk about the dangers of fame because we see that demonstrated throughout the entertainment industry the stories of those who have really attained what they set out to accomplish and yet it destroyed them those stories are everywhere. Sure consider Amy Winehouse an incredible success very talented musician and yet here's what she said of fame and I quote fame is like terminal cancer I wouldn't wish it on anyone end quote.

So how's that for an answer from someone who's been there and done then bought the t-shirt and then maybe even was the t-shirt right so no it isn't the answer. Solomon was one of the most successful men who ever lived he had global fame people traveled from across the planet to be with this man of God this man of wisdom but then Solomon walked away from his faith and backslid he wrote about it in the book of Ecclesiastes. Here's this conclusion it's all empty it's like chasing the wind it's like a bubble that bursts. So here's this conclusion at the end of the book of Ecclesiastes fear God and keep his commandments well how about that so here's your choice you can learn these things the easy way or the hard way you don't have to live the life of Solomon or the life of Amy Winehouse or the life of any famous celebrity who flamed out burned out or even took their own life you can learn it from what God says in this word. So I've written a book called Fame it's available right now it's a brand new book and I want to make it available to you for your gift of any size that you send to our ministry but I really play it out in this book I illustrate it with all kinds of sources and quotes and stories from people who've been there and experienced it for themselves but then we have a brand new film by the same title Fame. So Dave tell them where they can see the film.

Yeah the movie premieres the weekend of October 20th through 22nd at our new Harvest media platform at harvest.org and also other streaming platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Samsung, Amazon Fire and Google Play. Fame is free to watch so mark your calendar for October 20th through 22nd and of course the book called Fame gives even more insight and examples of how God's plan differs from the world's plan the plan that promises happiness but often delivers sadness and despair. We'll be glad to send a copy of the book your way again it's called Fame to thank you for partnering with us so Pastor Greg can continue to bring the gospel through radio through books and film and through so many other forms of outreach. Get in touch with your donation today by calling 1-800-821-3300 call anytime 24 7 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org. Well next time as Pastor Greg continues our study of the life of Moses in his series Water, Fire, Stone we'll take a candid look at the angry outburst on the part of the prophet. We'll learn some important lessons from Moses terrible mistake. Join us here on A New Beginning with Pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie. Hey everybody thanks for listening to A New Beginning this is a podcast made possible by Harvest Partners so for more content that can help you know God and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a Harvest Partner just go to harvest.org