Christ's Call to Courage | Pursuing Faithfulness Over Success

Hey everybody, you're listening to A New Beginning, which is a podcast made possible by Harvest Partners.

If this program has impacted you, I'd love to hear from you. So just send an email to me at greg.harvest.org. Again, it's greg.harvest.org.

You can learn more about becoming a Harvest Partner by going to harvest.org. Here's what your focus should be on. Not on success, your focus should be on faithfulness, you see. Doing what God has told you to do, wherever it takes you.

If it takes you to a palace or a prison cell, all I want to know is Jesus is with me, and I'm in the center of His will, and that for me is the right place to be. Sometimes it can seem as though we're swimming against the current in our life of faith. If it isn't opposition and even persecution for what we believe, it's challenges in health or finances or relationships. How do we get through?

How have others made it? Well today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie points to the Apostle Paul as our inspiration. We're in the book of Acts considering the trial upon trial Paul faced, but the word of encouragement that pulled him through. Why don't you grab your Bibles and turn to Acts chapter 23, and the title of my message is Christ's Call to Courage. So maybe I'm talking to somebody right now that is filled with anxiety, you're filled with stress, you find yourself depressed.

Well you're not the first child of God to feel this way. In fact psychologists have coined a new phrase. It's doomsday anxiety, doomsday anxiety, which includes quote the fear or worry about the end of the world or life as we know it. Symptoms include chronic nightmares, an underlying feeling of fear, and an obsession with the news or doom scrolling through online media. I thought that was an interesting phrase doom scrolling.

You know when you're just scrolling the news sites and all this bad news it just adds stress to your life. Even the great Apostle Paul got down at times. So we're going to look at what Jesus said and did to revive the Apostle Paul in this message that I'm calling Christ's Call to Courage. And my last message from the book of Acts that was titled How to Live a Meaningful Life we saw the Apostle Paul saying goodbye to the elders of Ephesus. It was this final message to them. And he said I want to finish my race with joy.

So he began his journey and he ended up staying with the evangelist Philip where he encountered a very colorful prophet named Agabus who bound himself up and said this is what's going to happen to you Paul if you go to Jerusalem. Like don't go. And Paul's saying okay being a little dramatic but okay I get the point.

But I know what you're saying. So you're saying I'm going to be arrested and I'm going to be put into chains right. Yes that's it Paul.

Don't go. And sure enough when he lands in Jerusalem he is arrested and he's put in prison. And here's what happened. Here's what the Lord did to encourage his servant. Acts 23 starting in verse 9. There arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees party arose and protested saying we find no evil against this man.

But if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him let us not fight against God. Now there arose a great dissension in the commander fearing that Paul might be pulled to pieces by them commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and bring him to the barracks. And the following night the Lord stood by him and said be of good cheer Paul for you've testified of me in Jerusalem and now you're going to also bear witness in Rome.

We'll stop there. So here is Paul in prison again. I mean Paul's middle name could have been trouble. It was always something with him. Everywhere he went it was either a riot or a revival. There was never a dull day hanging around the apostle Paul. But I think here he was probably discouraged. He was probably feeling down.

And it's no wonder he's in a Roman dungeon. And the Lord says to him Paul be of good cheer. But actually if we look at the original language we find a better translation would be have courage.

And that makes a lot more sense. It's a unique phrase that is used multiple times in the Bible. Each one showing a different facet of how to find courage in our lives. The first is the story of a man who was a paraplegic in Matthew 9. He was carried by his friends to Jesus. And Jesus looks at this guy who is unable to walk.

And he says to him be of good courage. Your sins are forgiven. Now the guy was probably thinking well okay I'm glad my sins are forgiven but I'd actually like to walk. That was kind of why I was brought here to you. And there's a protest among the religious leaders who can forgive sins but God alone.

Oh I hear what you guys are saying. Jesus says but just so you know that I the Son of Man have the power to forgive sins I say your sins are forgiven and get up and walk. And that man got up and walked but Jesus used this phrase be of good courage to him.

And this is the thing we remember. The forgiveness of Christ brought courage to that man. And we can be crippled by our sins. Unable to walk. Unable to move.

Unable to do anything. You know we fail and we say I'm a failure. I should just stop praying. I don't even shouldn't even read the Bible anymore or go to church.

That's the devil lying to you. Jesus says be of good courage. Your sins are forgiven you. Don't miss this point. Because I know I'm talking to somebody right now who's crippled by their sin. You don't have to be anymore.

You can have a fresh start. This phrase be of good courage is used of a woman struggling to get to Jesus in a crowd of people. She had this physical ailment and she reasoned if I can touch the hem of his garment I'll be healed. And she reaches through and she touches him and Jesus stops and says who just touched me.

Well the fact is everyone had touched him. Who touched me. He says for I perceive that power has gone out of me. And there's a woman and he says to her be of good courage. You are made whole. So in this particular case it was his power that gave her courage.

My power has gone out of me. And a lot of times we're afraid to share our faith. We're afraid to speak up for what we believe. But there's a promise in the beginning of the book of Acts that we all looked at together. Where it says you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you to be witnesses for me. That same power that was given to the first century causing them to turn their world upside down is available for us today in the 21st century to turn our world upside down.

His power gives courage. Number three the third time this phrase is used is when the disciples are on the storm tossed sea of Galilee. And they thought they were going to drown. And suddenly they see some form coming to them walking on the water and they thought it was a ghost.

But it wasn't Casper it was Christ. Coming to them and what does Jesus say to them. He says be of good courage.

It is me. Don't be afraid. So let's review his presence gives courage. His forgiveness gives courage. His power gives courage.

And then here's another point. God knew where Paul was and why he was there. That brought courage as well. Paul Jesus is saying buddy I know you're here and I'm here with you. I'm standing by your side because Paul's probably second-guessing this decision. And sometimes we feel like oh God's forgotten about me.

No never. He always is aware of us. And Paul's in this jail cell.

And I'm sure he would have liked to have just got out of that jail cell. I had a lady come up to me this morning before the service started because we have a little meeting of our volunteers that serve us just because they love you. And they're out there helping you park your car.

Taking care of your children. Helping you find a seat and all that. And so they have a little time where they pray and hear a little message. And afterwards a lady came up and said she has a cousin that's in prison who watches me in prison. And so I said let's make a video for him. And so we made this little video and I just said to her cousin you know Jesus is there with you.

And he says to you be of good courage. And when you get out of that prison walk with the Lord and serve the Lord. And and you know maybe I'm talking to somebody who's literally in a prison cell right now.

Because people watch us online literally all around the world. Or maybe it's a different kind of prison cell. It might be the prison of a hospital bed. You wish you could get up and walk out but you can. But Jesus says hey be courageous. I'm aware of the suffering you're going through.

It could be a prison cell of mourning. You've lost a loved one through death. But the Lord is with you and he understands what you are facing. Hebrews 4 16 says we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.

He was on all points tested as we are yet without sin. So let us therefore come boldly under the throne of grace and obtain mercy to help in time of need. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. We appreciate hearing from listeners whose lives have been impacted by Pastor Greg studies.

Even through difficult times. Pastor Greg I'm so thankful for your ministry. God has used you mightily in my life since the home going of my husband. About a week after he passed I was so distraught.

I searched you on YouTube. What is my loved one doing in heaven? Your message about your own son who died and what God showed you in his word gave me peace. Thank you.

We are touched by these comments. If you've been impacted by something Pastor Greg has said would you contact us and let us know? Just call 1-866-871-1144.

That's 866-871-1144. Well we're nearing the finale in our study series in the book of Acts. Today's message from Pastor Greg is titled Christ's Call to Courage. Now here's another thing.

Paul didn't know what was going on in the outside. But the fact is there were 40 men who had taken an oath to not eat or drink until they killed Paul. Wow. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. I'm glad I don't know of any plot against my life.

I'm glad I don't know of every person that dislikes me and says something about me. I'm glad I don't know all these things frankly. And it's good Paul didn't know this because that would have been a pretty stressful thing to think about 40 guys who had taken an oath and said they wouldn't eat until they killed Paul.

So you have a bunch of hangry murderers. Not a good thing. But he didn't know that. You know in the military they have a phrase they use. The phrase is it's on a need to know basis. So everybody doesn't get to know the same thing.

It's certain kind of important information that only some people know. God gives us what we need to know on a need to know basis. But here's something Jesus says. Be of good courage Paul verse 11. For as you've testified for me in Jerusalem you'll bear witness in Rome. In other words Paul you're going to get out of this prison cell and you're going to Rome.

So here's the takeaway truth. Paul I have a future for you. And God has a future for all of us as well. Now of course if we're honest we'd have to say that it didn't seem like a great outcome because ultimately according to church tradition Paul was martyred by beheading after he appeared to Caesar at some point. But we would say that was some kind of failure. Well what is a failure? What is a success? I suggest to you that things we think are successes right now may be understood as failures later. And some things you think are a failure now will turn out to be a success later. Here's what your focus should be on.

Not on success. Your focus should be on faithfulness you see. Doing what God has told you to do. Wherever it takes you. If it takes you to a palace or a prison cell.

If it takes you to the top or it takes you to the bottom. All I want to know is Jesus is with me and I'm in the center of His will and that for me is the right place to be. For all of us to be. Because on that final day the Lord does not say well done good and successful servant.

He says well done good and what? Faithful servant. So our objective is to be faithful and obedient to the will of God. I know I quote this verse a lot but I'm slightly obsessed with it.

Jeremiah 29 11 the Lord says I know the thoughts that I think towards you says the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope. I gave my son Christopher a watch on his 21st birthday. It was my watch. I gave it to him and I had that verse inscribed on the back of the watch.

But as you know he died in a tragic automobile accident. I was given a plastic bag after he died with his belongings including his wallet and that watch. And I took that watch out of the bag and I looked at it. And I looked at that inscription. And I thought where's the future and hope now? And it would take some time for me to process that and realize that Christopher had run his race.

He had finished his course and he had been faithful. And I'm running my race as you are running yours. And here's the ultimate future and a hope. It doesn't mean everything is always going to turn out the way we want it to turn out. But what it does mean is one day we will be in the presence of God. That's the ultimate future and hope for every Christian.

It's a win-win situation. That's why we want to live our lives in obedience to him because we never know when that day will come. So be courageous the Lord says to Paul.

And he says it to us as well. Remember what brought courage to Paul's heart. Number one he was not alone.

Number two God knew where he was and why he was there. Thirdly God had a future for Paul. And as I said God has a future for all of us.

Maybe I'm talking to somebody right now that is gripped with fear and worry. And the words of Jesus to you are don't be afraid be of good courage. I can't think of a greater example of courage than Jesus himself when he went and died on the cross for the sins of humanity. He laid his life down. It was raw physical courage as he endured the beating and the scourging and then ultimately the crucifixion.

But he also withstood the withering criticisms and the harsh treatment and even temporarily being separated from his father as he bore the sin of the world. But here's the verse that pulls it all together and it applies it in our life. Hebrews 12 it says we should look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith over the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and now sat down on the right hand of God. And then it says for consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself lest you become wary and discouraged in your souls. So if you're discouraged if you're weary look to Jesus.

Remember what he did for you and remember that he is with you and you are not alone. You feel perplexed and scared. Jesus says be of good courage don't be afraid. And maybe I'm talking to somebody that doesn't have Jesus in their life right now and that's why it's so hard for you at this moment in time. Well of course Jesus didn't stay on that cross. They put him in a tomb and he rose again three days later.

It changed everything and it can change you. He came out of an empty tomb to fill your empty heart. 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. And I want to close by giving you an opportunity to ask Christ to come into your pain come into your sin and into your suffering or come into your life that's going relatively well right now. And that's great but sooner or later this life that we're all living will come to an end and then there's the afterlife. And we decide in this life where we will spend the afterlife.

So let's all make sure that we're ready for heaven. You know I just flew back to California but I had to have my ticket my boarding pass and now they scan them. And so you go and you take your seat assigned to you. You can't just go on any plane and take any seat you want to sit in. You have to go to your assigned seat that has been paid for.

And in the same way God has a place for you in heaven. He says I go to prepare a place for you but you have to have your ticket so to speak. You say well how do you get this ticket?

How much does it cost? Number one you can't afford it but it's already been paid for by Jesus when he shed his blood on the cross for you. So just take the ticket and take your seat and you will go to your future destination. And if you're a believer in Jesus that destination is heaven. But I wouldn't be telling you the whole truth if I didn't say there's another destination and it's called hell. And God doesn't want anybody to go there.

That's why he took such drastic measures by sending his own son to die in our place so we would not have to go to hell so we could go to heaven but we have to accept this gift. And if you've never asked Jesus to come into your life you can do it right here right now. Let's pray together. Father I pray for everybody that is here and those that are watching that wherever they are if they don't know Jesus. If you don't live in their heart yet let this be the moment they believe. The moment they turn from darkness to light.

From the power of Satan to the power of God. Let this be the moment they believe in Jesus. So I pray that you will help them make that decision and as our heads are about and we're praying if you want Jesus to come into your life. If you want him to forgive you of your sin.

If you want to know that you'll go to heaven when you die. Why don't you just pray this prayer after me and you could pray it out loud if you like. You can pray it in the quietness of your heart if you choose to. But just pray this prayer after me now. Lord Jesus I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the savior who died on that cross for me. I turn from my sin and I receive you into my life and I choose to follow you from this moment forward. In Jesus name I pray.

Amen. It's a pivotal moment for many who've just prayed that prayer. And if you've just prayed with Pastor Greg Laurie and it meant those words sincerely, we want to welcome you into God's family. And here at A New Beginning we want to help you begin growing in your faith. Let us send you Pastor Greg's New Believer's Bible. We'll send it free of charge if you prayed with Pastor Greg today. It'll help you get started in your new relationship with the Lord.

You'll learn about the Trinity, Angels, Satan, Heaven, Hell, Forgiveness, Peace, Joy, Love, and other essential teachings in God's Word. Ask for it when you call 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 1-800-821-3300. Or write us at A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514.

Or go online to harvest.org and click Know God. You know Pastor Greg, there are few things that parents don't have to force kids to do. You may need to insist that they eat their vegetables. You may need to make sure they brush their teeth.

You may need to take a firm stand on washing their hands before dinner. But parents don't need to insist the kids eat dessert. They don't have to make sure the little ones go to the amusement park. And they don't have to force them to watch cartoons. So parents have it pretty easy in introducing their kids to our new animated series, The Adventures of Ben Born Again and Yellow Dog. Isn't that right?

That's right. And I think that you will find when your kids watch these cartoons that they'll be pulled in because the first thing that we set out to do is make them entertaining. It has to be, what shall we call it, a proper cartoon. It can't just be a sermon. So there's funny gags and the visuals on this are really impressive. I'm working with a fantastic animation studio to help bring these characters to life. But then we have the message of the gospel.

We have the Word of God interwoven in every one of these cartoons. And so we're hoping that you will use them as a tool to reach your children, to reach your grandchildren. And this is something we're very excited about. It's a whole new thing we're exploring together.

And I need you to help me do this because, well, how shall I put this, animation is not inexpensive. It's a big commitment. But I think it's a commitment worth making because you're going to reach a generation you would not reach with perhaps other tools that we have at our disposal at Harvest right now. We want to reach people of all ages. And so if you care about this next generation, if you want to reach your kids, your grandkids, your neighborhood kids, then we encourage you to be a part of what we're doing with Ben Born Again and his little buddy, Yellow Dog.

Here's just a little dialogue from one of the cartoons to give you a sense of what it sounds like. What's up? I'm Ben Born Again. Get it? It's a play on words.

As in, I've been born again. Huh? What does that even mean? Oh, sorry. I forgot to introduce you to my buddy, Yellow Dog. Yellow Dog? Why did you even name me that?

Dude, because you're yellow and you are a dog. It's a cool name. Oh, I see. And this month we're offering a special resource that's brand new. It's called the Ben Born Again New Believers Growth Book. Now, we have had a version of this out for many years that has touched thousands of people, but we thought it's time to revisit it, to add to it, to update it, to make it fresh and new. You know how they say in the commercials, it's new and improved.

And actually, it really is new and improved. And we want to send you a copy of the Ben Born Again New Believers Growth Book for your gift of any size. This will be a great tool for you to share with your kids. You could do devotions with it or just give it to them to read on their own. It has lots of fun little cartoon drawings throughout, but some great biblical truth embedded in it. So whatever you're able to send us financially will be used to help us to continue on in animation and tools to reach children, as well as all that we do for people of all ages all around the world, our podcast, our radio show, our TV show, and much more.

So be generous this month. Help us reach this next generation and get your own copy of the Ben Born Again New Believers Growth Book. Yeah, we'll be glad to send it right out to you to thank you for partnering with us and getting the Word of God to the people of God, the people of God of all ages. And if you feel led to partner with us on a regular basis, be sure to ask about becoming a Harvest Partner. And when you support us, be sure to ask for the Ben Born Again New Believers Growth Book. You can call us at 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.

Hey, everybody. I want to encourage you to join us for something we call Harvest at Home. It happens every Sunday at harvest.org and on our brand new app, Harvest Plus, which is available on your mobile TV devices.

Download it now. And you can watch Harvest at Home with Christians from around the world as we worship together and study God's Word. So again, join us for Harvest at Home at harvest.org or on Harvest Plus. Well, next time, Pastor Greg presents a warning to those who are faking it in their Christian faith. It's a pivotal study called The Almost Christian. Join us here on A New Beginning with pastor and Bible teacher, Greg Laurie. Thanks for listening to A New Beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by Harvest Partners, helping people everywhere know God. Sign up for daily devotions and learn how to become a Harvest Partner at harvest.org.