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. We must run to win in the race of life. Run for first place, not for honorable mention. Coming up today, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how this life is compared to a race, and we need to do our very best to give it our all until the very end. There's winners and losers in a race, and there's winners and losers in the race of life, and we should go for the gold.
Silver is good, so is bronze, but definitely give it your best effort. Run in such a way that you will win. In any gym there are people there who are just getting it done. A certain number of reps, a certain duration of time, and then they're done.
They're out of here. And then there are others who push themselves, and they give it their all, and it shows. Well, today on a new beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie points out this life is too important to muddle through. The Lord wants us to run this race with endurance and to run this race to win. We'll learn more about how to do that in Acts. So now we're in Paul's third missionary journey. God is using him powerfully, and miracles are happening. Acts 19 verse 11 says, God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles when handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people. They were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.
Stop there. So the emphasis says unusual miracles. These are not your normal miracles. Actual garments that have touched Paul are now being used by God to heal people. There was no healing power in something Paul wore, but it seems that in the minds of the people there was sort of a faith release, if you will, where they thought, if I just touch this shirt that Paul wore, this robe, or whatever it would be, I too will be healed.
We see a similar situation in the story of the woman with the medical condition causing her to constantly bleed. And she reasoned, if I can touch the very edge of the garment of Jesus, I will be healed. Now Jesus didn't say that.
He didn't promise that, but she thought that. And sure enough, he's walking through a crowd of people. She reaches her hand through. She touches his robe. And suddenly the healing power of God is released in her life, and she's healed right there on the spot. But it's interesting to note how Jesus healed different people. Sometimes they touched him, like the woman I mentioned. Other times he touched them.
Other times he spoke the Word and they were healed. On one occasion a person was blind. He spit in the dirt and wiped the dirt with his spit in the guy's eye. Here's mud in your eye, buddy. Wow. Now what would you think if you came and asked me for prayer and I spit on the dirt?
What would you, oh no. You're not going to pray for me that way, are you? But the point is that the techniques, if you will, vary so people would realize it's not in the technique. It's not in the garment.
It's not in the touch. It's from God himself. And by the way, God is still in the healing business.
And when we need a touch from the Lord, we should call out to the Lord and ask him to heal us. Okay, so whenever God is at work, the devil would be there to oppose. So the devil effectively enters the scene through a group of guys identified as the seven sons of Sceva. So this man Sceva has seven sons and they fancy themselves to be exorcists.
They think they can cast demons out of people. But they were not the magnificent seven. They were the foolish seven as we see now in the story because they thought the name of Jesus was like some kind of an incantation or magic words if uttered would heal people. Go to Acts 19 verse 13. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in their incantation saying, I command you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches to come out. The evil spirit replied, I know Jesus and I know Paul, but who are you? Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence they fled from the house naked and battered.
Wow. Don't mess with demons. So there's three takeaway truths from this little story.
Probably more, but here's three quick ones. Number one, Satan is real and powerful. And demons are real and powerful. And people can still be possessed by demons today. And it's interesting that this man who was possessed by the demons had supernatural physical strength. I mean he takes on seven dudes and they leave the house stripped of their clothing and just running for their lives. We see the same thing illustrated in that man who was demon possessed who lived at the graveyard.
And at night he would walk around shrieking and howling and they put him in chains and he broke the chains. So the devil is powerful. Never take the devil on in your own strength. That's why the Bible says in Ephesians 6, stand in the Lord and in the power of his might. Number two, the power of Jesus is much stronger than the power of Satan. Because it's kind of scary to think how powerful the devil can be. But it's really encouraging to know that Jesus is way more powerful. Way more powerful.
Right? Jesus said all power has been given to me in heaven and in earth. So we serve an all powerful God.
And the third thing is the best defense is a good offense. The Bible says submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. You see the problem with the sons of Sceva is they had no relationship with God.
They just in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches. And the demon's response is almost humorous. Jesus I definitely know. Paul I know. But who are you? It reminds us that the devil knows those who are a threat to his kingdom.
So he knows. Oh that person. That man.
That woman. They're a problem. They're a threat.
I'm going to focus my energies on them. Remember when Jesus said to Simon Peter Simon Simon Satan has been asking excessively for you that you would be taken out of the care and protection of God. Wouldn't that freak you out if Jesus said that to you?
You're just hanging out. All of a sudden he turns to you. Says your name twice. Satan has been asking for you by name.
Maybe he paused for a moment. Peter's shaking in his sandals. But then the Lord adds these words. But I have prayed for you that your faith would not fail. So yeah the devil may come asking but Jesus is going to answer the door.
Okay so don't worry about it. But if you're a threat to the kingdom of Satan the demons will be aware of you as they were in this story. After this Paul is preaching a sermon. He's going pretty long. He's preaching till midnight.
So don't ever complain about me going like nine minutes too long okay. It's midnight and he's still going. And there's some guy named Eutychus on the third floor of the building Paul was in sitting on the windowsill. Eutychus nodded off. Fell out of the window to his death. Someone says Paul you this Eutychus just died. He fell out of the window. Paul said he's okay.
He's just sleeping. Take me to him. They go over. Eutychus is dead. Paul raises him from the dead. And then like any self-respecting preacher what does Paul do after that? He finishes his sermon.
He still had a few more points to cover right. So there's that amazing story. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. Hey everyone I want you to know about our app called Harvest Plus. Think of it as a Harvest version of Netflix.
We have all of our resources in one place. We have our movies like Steve McQueen The Salvation of an American Icon, Johnny Cash The Redemption of an American Icon, A Rush of Hope, and much more. Then we have our television program, Daily Devotions, and much more.
So go and download the Harvest Plus app. Well you're joining us today for Pastor Greg's study in Acts called How to Live a Meaningful Life. Let's continue now. Now we shift gears in the story as we come to Acts chapter 20. As I said Paul is saying goodbye to these leaders. You know it's worth noticing that this is the only teaching sermon in the book of Acts. All the other sermons that were preached were evangelistic in nature. But in this particular message given to the elders at Miletus, a little seaport there, he is giving final words to followers of the Lord.
And so let's pick it up. Acts 20 verse 17. When we landed at Miletus he sent a message to the elders of the church of Ephesus asking them to come and meet him. When they arrived he declared, you know from the day you know from the day I set foot in this province of Asia until now I have done the Lord's work humbly and with many tears. I've endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews.
I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike. The necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God and having faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don't know what awaits me except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lay ahead. None of these things move me nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Wow. Five categories Paul identifies that we are in. Things that we're doing. First of all Paul compares himself to a runner in a race. So I want to finish this race he says with joy. This was a favorite analogy of the apostle. The idea of running a race.
He used it many times in his writings. For instance over in 1 Corinthians 9 24 he reminded us that we must run to win in the race of life. He said in a race everyone runs but only one person gets the prize. You should run in such a way that you will win. Run to win. Run for first place. Not for honorable mention. You know in schools today or athletic events they'll give participation trophies.
This is not good. There's winners and losers in a race. And there's winners and losers in the race of life. And we should go for the gold. Silver is good.
So is bronze. But definitely give it your best effort. Run that race to win. Then he also warns us about getting off track in the race of life. When he writes to the believers in Galatia in Galatians 5 70 he says you guys were running a good race who cut in on you from obeying the truth. So you know when we're running this race try to run with people that have the same passion that you have.
Let me put it another way. Hang around with godly people and do godly things. Don't hang around with ungodly people which will lead you to do ungodly things. Some once as happy as a man that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful but his delight is in God's word. So there are godless people. Scornful people.
People that will slow you down in the race of life. So it's a good thing to periodically evaluate relationships you're engaged in. And this is a big one for you guys that are single. You know when you're looking for someone to spend the rest of your life with look for a godly man or a godly girl.
Someone who inspires you. Years ago I told my wife before we were married when she was she wasn't even my girlfriend yet. But we were getting close and I said this really romantic thing to her. I said Kathy if you ever get in the way of my relationship with God you're out of here. Wow.
You're thinking that was the craziest thing you could have said Greg. The fact of the matter is that's the best thing I could have said to Kathy Martin. That was her name then. She said I was looking for a guy who had conviction.
A guy who knew where he was going in life. I wasn't looking for a guy that I could manipulate. Ah admission. Sometimes girls manipulate guys.
It happens. Anyway I was thinking for a godly man. So you know the idea is that we should spend our time with people that will encourage us. Here's sort of a way to think about it. Of this relationship. Of this pursuit you're involved in. Is it a wing or is it a weight?
Does it help you go faster like a wing or does it slow you down like a weight? So don't let someone else cut in on you. Paul also warns in Philippians 3 about looking back in the race of life.
You know you got to look forward. It's a bad idea to look over your shoulder. That half of a second could cost you the race. You know when you're driving on the freeway and have you ever noticed that if there's a cop a CHP driving ahead of you you always slow down.
No one wants to pass the CHP right. And even if they're under the speed limit you go under the speed limit. If they slow down to 20 we'll all slow down to 20 right.
Sometimes I think they do that just to mess with us. I wonder if I go slower if the alls go slower. And but the problem is sometimes if you're driving and you look in your rear view mirror and you see a police officer driving behind you you you know you get focused on that. You're not paying attention to where you're going. In the race of life you've got to always be looking forward and not looking backwards. Because the first step to going back is looking back. Remember Jesus said remember Lot's wife.
Three words. Remember Lot's wife. Why should I remember Lot's wife? Because after she was delivered by the angel of the Lord from Sodom and Gomorrah Lot's wife along with Lot and their children were warned don't look back.
And she deliberately looked back and she turned into a pillar of salt. Jesus said no man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. So in the race of life keep looking forward not looking backwards. And then Paul says I want to finish this race with joy in verse 23.
I love that. Not just finish the race. Finish the race with joy. I have never felt joy when I'm running.
I've only felt pain. But he goes I want to finish this with joy. So I've been running this race for over 50 years now. And I'm going to tell you a little secret. It is a joyful thing to serve God.
I love it. Don't lose your joy. After he sinned David said in Psalm 51 a psalm of confession. Restore unto me the joy of my salvation and then sinners will be converted to you. Isaiah 55 says you shall go out with joy you'll be led forth with peace and the mountains and the hills will break forth before you into singing and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. And then we're also told in Nehemiah 8 10 the joy of the Lord is your strength. Paul says I want to finish this with joy. Do you have joy? Do other people see that joy in your life?
It's really important. Again what David said restore to me the joy of your salvation then sinners will be converted to you. A non-believer sees you having joy not just when things are going well but when things are going badly that's a powerful testimony. Paul also points out that as we run the race of life we need to play by the rules. He says that first Corinthians 9 27 I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I discipline my body like an athlete training to do what it should.
Otherwise my fears after I preach to others I'd be a hypocrite and I would be disqualified. So when you enter into a race or whatever it is there's rules. These are the rules. Do you agree to play by the rules? Yes. I read about one guy that entered a marathon and he agreed to play by the rules and they noticed that when the race was coming to a close this guy comes across the finish line.
No sweat. He was just acting like he had not done anything. And he won the bronze and someone complained and they found out the guy had started the race ran through the forest got on a bus went to the place where the race ended got off the bus and then ran across the finish line.
Needless to say he was disqualified. So we got to play by God's rules. That's the way to do it. And we want to run all the way because it's not just starting this race well it's finishing this race well. I have found the best way to run well in the race of life is to have a good motivation. Why am I doing it?
What is my objective? And the author of Hebrews many think it was Paul. I would think that too but we don't know for certain. But the author of Hebrews tells us the secret. He says we're surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses so let's lay aside the weight and the sin that so easily besets us and run with endurance a race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and now is set down at the right hand of God.
So that's how you you look to Jesus. I don't run this race for people. I don't run it for applause. I don't run it for likes on my social media.
I don't run it for any of those things. I started it this way and I hope to end it this way. I'm doing it for Jesus and that's what will keep you going no matter what you're facing. Because people will let you down.
People will disappoint you. Circumstances will overwhelm you. Just keep your eyes on the prize and specifically keep your eyes on the Lord. In fact that's what kept Jesus going. Because it says for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross. What was the joy set before Jesus? The apostles were pretty much in hiding.
John was present at the cross but most of the others were hiding in the shadows. Peter even denied him. The crowds were cheering him.
Insulting him. But something kept Jesus going. It was a joy set before him and folks the joy was you. It was me.
It was us. It was knowing that our salvation would be purchased through his death on the cross. So we're a runner in a race. Great encouragement to keep us going in our Christian life. Pastor Greg Laurie with our studies in Acts chapters 19 and 20 today here on A New Beginning. Given the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross as Pastor Greg said it's what motivated Jesus to keep going.
Given that how have you responded? Because of what Jesus did he extends his free gift of eternal life to each of us. Have you accepted that gift? Pastor Greg someone can enter into that kind of relationship today can't they?
They can and it's so simple and I think because it's so simple people think oh it can't be that easy. Well look Jesus did all the heavy lifting. He carried the cross for you. He died on that cross that he carried.
This isn't about what you do it's about what he's done. But here's what the Bible says whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. You say well okay how do I do that? You do it through prayer and if you pray and if you pray this prayer after me I believe God will hear it and answer it and Christ will come to live inside of you. So if you want Jesus to come into your life and forgive you of your sin if you want to know that you'll go to heaven when you die if you want to fill that big hole in your heart pray these words if you would. 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. I am sorry for my sin and I turn from it now and I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Be my Savior and my Lord.
Be my God and my friend. Thanks for hearing this prayer and answering this prayer in Jesus name I pray amen. Listen if you just prayed that prayer I want you to know that God has heard you and has answered it.
The Bible says these things we write to you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life that you may know it's yours now God has given it to you because it's the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Congratulations and welcome to the family of God. Yeah yeah that's right and listen we want to help you get started in this new relationship with the Lord.
Would you let us send you something? It's free of charge. It's Pastor Greg's New Believers Bible. Millions have read this edition of God's Word. New Believers love the study helps written just for them and they appreciate that it's in an easy to understand translation. We'll send it to you today. Just ask for the New Believers Bible when you call 1-800-821-3300.
You can call anytime 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org. Well Pastor Greg we're excited to hear from so many people who tell us how they're enjoying the new animated cartoon series called The Adventures of Ben Born Again and Yellow Dog. One listener said my granddaughter loved the first installment. She's watched it about five times already.
We can't wait for more. Let me ask you what cartoons did you watch the most when you were a kid? Can you remember? Oh yeah sure um well I watched all kinds of cartoons. I watched all the Looney Tunes because they were on television you know Dappy Duck and Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny. I really liked the Roadrunner and I don't know why I liked him so much but maybe there was less dialogue and just more funny things happening and Wile E. Coyote.
Yeah of course big fan of that. I also would watch all the Hanna-Barbera cartoons. I love the Flintstones, the Jetsons, Yogi Bear, Hey Boo Boo you know um and I also liked the Peanuts cartoons. They started anime those in the 60s and I was a big fan of the Peanuts cartoon strip and I even corresponded by letter with Charles M. Schultz the creator of Peanuts and he graciously responded to me on more than one occasion so I just liked all kinds of cartoons.
I also liked the Pink Panther. There was hardly any dialogue but I just thought it was a hilarious cartoon. In fact I downloaded it recently and I was showing it to my grandkids.
I'm not sure that it aged perfectly. They sort of looked at it rather quizzically like okay what but uh yes I watched so many cartoons on television and I was a real cartoon aficionado. Just yesterday I was showing one of the Ben Born Again cartoons on my phone to a lady who was not a native English speaker so sometimes there's a little bit of a communication breakdown but I tell you what that cartoon she understood everything. She understood it perfectly and was even repeating the words as they were unfolding and I was amazed at the power of art and animation to bridge the gap and reach someone who maybe wasn't familiar with English or also to reach a child and so I'm always looking for new ways to engage new people. As I've said before we want to reach unexpected people in unexpected places with an unexpected message so we do this through our films.
We do it through animation. We do it just through our general radio ministry. So often I'll have people say I was just flipping you know the dial on my radio and came across your program and they didn't even know they were listening to it first.
They thought it was some kind of a really awful comedian speaking and then they realized it was a preacher but I've heard stories of these people coming to Christ and so it's sort of like fishing you just throw your nets out. You throw your line out just hoping you get a bite because there's so many people that are searching for truth and I want to go out there and get to where they are and reach them with the only truth that can change their life. So this month we're offering a special resource called the Ben Born Again New Believers Growth Book.
This is a brand new resource. We've had a version of it out for years but we have revisited it, rebuilt it, and redrawn it with these new characters Ben Born Again and Yellow Dog and we'll offer it to you for your gift of any size. This would be a great resource to share with your child or with your grandchild and I encourage you when you order this New Believers Growth Book that you are generous because that enables us to continue to come your way on our radio broadcast through our podcast through all of our other ways of communication and also through animation. So whatever you send will be used to continue to bring the gospel to our generation and in advance let me say thank you.
Yeah yeah that's right we're very grateful. So get in touch right away with your investment and as the Lord leads ask about becoming a Harvest Partner, one of the faithful inner circle of our friends who support us each month and then let us thank you tangibly with our new Ben Born Again New Believers Growth Book. You can call us anytime 24 7 at 1-800-821-3300.
That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org. Well next time we'll return to Acts chapter 20 for more insight on how we can live a meaningful life. 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.
