A New Beginning presents a great book from Pastor Greg Laurie called Hope for America. Yes, we're in a political season right now. We need to vote. We should be informed on the issues as Americans and as Christians, but we should also recognize the ultimate hope for our nation is turning back to God. So I talk about this and a lot more in a book I've written called Hope for America. And I want to send it to you for your gift of any size.
Get your copy at Harvest.org. The Gospel establishes me. I know what I believe.
I know what is true. We live in a world where frequently right is wrong and wrong is right. Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie points out where he finds stability. I have a lens now by which I view the world. It's not the lens of emotion. It's not the lens of culture. It's a lens of the Word of God. Now I know how to see things, how to think.
The Gospel establishes you. Some comedians have stopped performing on college campuses. Why? Political correctness is more important than humor. And on some campuses, the biblical values we once held sacred are now considered hate speech.
Look at TV. Curse words and innuendo flow freely, but traditional family values are deemed offensive. Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us find our bearings. The apostle Paul and several contemporaries show the way.
Romans 16. We have a lot of personal greetings from Paul to his Christian family and friends. What an honor it would be to be mentioned by name by the apostle Paul in one of his epistles, especially if your name was Phoebe or Aquila and Priscilla and some other names we'll identify.
But it was not a good thing to have your name mentioned in an epistle of Paul if your name was Demas or Alexander the coppersmith because they were mentioned as people who effectively had betrayed him. So someone would come up and say, I have some good news and some bad news. What's the good news?
You're in Paul's epistle. Your name is going to be known for generations to come. They'll be reading about you 2000 years from today. That's the good news.
What's the bad news? He didn't have very good things to say about you. Well he had some very good things to say about Phoebe. How many of you have ever heard of Phoebe?
Raise your hand. She's kind of embedded here in Scripture. Romans 16. I commend you Phoebe our sister who is a servant of the church in Centuria that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever business she has need of you for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. Phoebe helped so many people over the years. The word that Paul uses here for her helping comes from a single Greek word that translates out to benefactress. You've heard the phrase a benefactor.
That's a supporter. Someone who invests in something. She was a great benefactress to many. She must have been a successful businesswoman who shared her resources and finances to assist the apostle and assist the church.
You know so often we hear about the Peters and the Pauls but we forget about the Phoebes and the Lydia's. Who is Lydia? Lydia is in the book of Acts and she's identified as a seller of purple. Does that just mean she was obsessed with purple things?
No. Back in that day purple was the color of royalty. It meant that she dealt with luxury goods.
Today we might call her a designer. And she was very successful and so she took her resources and supported the apostle. Then there's Mary Magdalene that traveled around with Jesus and the others and she supported them as well. So we celebrate the Peters and the Pauls and the John's but sometimes we forget about the Phoebes and the Lydia's and the Mary's and everybody has a very important role to play.
Giving your money is just as spiritual as preaching a sermon is. You know it's interesting because Paul earlier there in Romans 15 compared our gifts as fruit. And Jesus said here in his my father glorified that you bring forth much fruit.
Jesus is looking for spiritual fruit in your life. I was at the market the other day. All my favorite fruit is out. I love peaches. I love nectarines. I love plums. I love cherries and I love watermelon. So I went to the market looking for fruit. Then you kind of picked the fruit up and you squeeze it a little bit and and if you're like me you take a lot of random bites out of the fruit. No I don't.
I don't really. But looking for fruit. So Jesus is looking for fruit too. Hey is there fruit in your life? You say well what do you mean by that? Well I'll give you three illustrations of how the word fruit is used of a Christian.
Number one. When I praise and thank God that is a form of spiritual fruit. When I praise God. When I glorify Him. When I worship Him. Hebrews 13 15 says let us continually offer this sacrifice of praise to God that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.
So if we're having a time of worship and your lips aren't moving the fruit's missing. Well I'm doing it in my heart man. Move your lips. Move them.
Move them. Give praise to God with your lips. Lift your hands to the Lord. Well the Lord knows I love Him. I know but that's what the sacrifice of praise is about. You see the sacrifice of praise means I give God glory when I don't feel like it. And I don't always feel like it.
And you don't always feel like it. But we do it anyway and that is a form of spiritual fruit. Another form of spiritual fruit is bringing people to Christ. Bringing people to Christ. Paul wrote to his friends in Rome in Romans 1 13 I had planned to come to you that I might have some fruit among you just as among other Gentiles.
So what he's saying is hey when I'm with you I'm hoping you're going to tell me some great stories about people coming to Jesus. This is also said in Proverbs 11 30 when it says the fruit of the righteous is the tree of life and he that wins souls is wise. So worshiping God sacrificially that's a form of fruit. Leading people to Christ that too is a form of fruit. And thirdly and lastly giving our finances is a form of fruit because Paul says I want to see fruit from you so there will be fruit to your account. Now we're introduced to Aquila and Priscilla. How many of you have heard of Aquila and Priscilla?
Good. You're the Bible students out there. So he mentions them here in Romans 16 3. Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. In fact they have risked their lives for me and I'm thankful to them and so are all the Gentile churches.
Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home. Aquila and Priscilla. They weren't preachers that we know of but they helped preachers. In particular there was this fiery preacher named Apollos but some of his theology was not right. So we read that Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos into their home and taught him the Word of God more accurately in Acts 18 26. They said Apollos come on let's let's work on a few of these things and and get you right in this way and so he could be even more effective and so they were so used by the Lord.
You see thank God for the Phoebe's and the Mary's and the Priscilla's and the Aquila's and the Lydia's. The unsung heroes of the Bible. How many of you have heard of Billy Graham? Raise up your hand. You've heard of Billy Graham. Yeah pretty much everybody. How many of you have heard of Henrietta Mears?
Raise your hand. Henrietta Mears like nobody. Well I haven't heard of her either and I don't know why I even mentioned her name but no seriously she was a lady in heaven now. But Henrietta Mears taught a Sunday school class for kids and young adults at the First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood. Among those who attended her class were Bill Bright and a young man named Billy Graham. Now Bill Bright went on to start Campus Crusade for Christ and Billy Graham went on to well be Billy Graham and touched the whole world.
So Henrietta Mears we don't know much about her but she invested in their lives and she impacted their lives and I want to just say a word to you that labor and relative obscurity the Lord knows what you're doing and you'll be rewarded for it. Maybe the Lord has called you to be a Sunday school teacher and you don't know what impact you're making. Who knows that that student in your class could not be the next Bill Bright, Billy Graham, or whoever that God would use dramatically. Or how about that person that helped you find your seat.
How about that person that helped you park your car. How about that person that talks to folks and they make a commitment to Christ. How about all these volunteers in our church.
Let's give them a round of applause because they matter so much. You're so powerfully used by God. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. We're encouraged when we hear from families who have been impacted by the Harvest Crusades and Harvest Ministries. In July I traveled from San Francisco to hear Pastor Greg's message at Harvest 2024 in Anaheim, California. It was there that I rededicated my life to the Lord. The following week I heard that Harvest was doing baptisms at Pirate's Cove in Southern California and so I surprised my nine-year-old daughter who had wanted to be baptized by driving back down so she could be baptized there.
I have never heard a louder I love you dad. All I can say is that it has been one of the most memorable events in my life as a dad. A huge thank you to all at Harvest Ministries. What a great story of this father and daughter.
If you have a story to share would you contact us and let us know? Email Pastor Greg. Send it to Greg at Harvest dot org.
That's Greg at Harvest dot org. And now Pastor Greg continues his study from Romans 16 called Hope is on the Way. Now here's another really interesting Bible character Rufus.
How many of you have heard of Rufus? Well I'll tell you what he's right here mentioned by Paul. Romans 16 13. Greet Rufus whom the Lord picked out to be his very own and also his dear mother who has been a mother to me.
Wow. What a compliment to have the Apostle Paul say a woman has been like a mother to him. I've been talking a little bit today about young people and so many of them today are coming from broken homes. They've never known a father or maybe their mother never has had time for them or maybe they didn't even have parents to speak of. They need fathers and mothers. They need spiritual mentors. Mother figures.
Father figures. They can help them in life to mentor them. To listen to them. To pray for them. To love them.
You could be that person for someone. And so this lady who is not named was like a mother to Paul. So this is the mother of Rufus. Now Rufus had a brother and his name was Alexander. And Rufus and Alexander were the sons of Simon the Cyrenian.
Have you ever heard of Simon the Cyrenian. Ok so he's the guy that carried the cross for Jesus. Remember when Jesus was carrying his cross through the streets of Jerusalem and fell beneath its weight. So the Roman guards are looking for someone to carry the cross and they picked this guy Simon who was from out of town for Passover.
I just sort of think he was probably a big guy because that cross was heavy. Hundreds of pounds. Hey you come here. Pick this thing up. Simon is like why did they pick me.
I don't want to. Maybe he was unhappy about it. And he picks up that massive wooden cross already covered in the blood of Jesus. And he's carrying it along and next to him is Jesus and he's looking over at Jesus and and the whole thing is starting to impact him. Like this isn't just some criminal.
Who is this man. Well did Simon come to Christ. Well I think he did and I'll tell you why. Because I read now in an epistle that both of his boys Rufus and Alexander are following Jesus and his wife is like a mother to the Apostle Paul. So I think what happened putting these things together connecting the dots after he carried that cross for Christ he believed in Jesus. Amen. What a testimony he would have had.
Can you imagine. We're going to have Simon the Cyrenian speak tonight and tell us about the time he carried the cross of Jesus. Okay I want to hear that message. Simon the Cyrenian. Rufus. Incredible stories.
Incredible people. And now this power foreclosing benediction in Romans 16 from Paul. Verse 25. Now all glory to God who is able to establish you according to my gospel.
This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles a plan kept secret from the beginning of time but now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded this message is made known to Gentiles everywhere so that they might believe and obey him because all glory goes to the only wise God through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. Wow. The secret is out. You know when my grandkids were small I used to have this thing I would do where I would take them to secret places. There was a park maybe a mile from our house and there was a park that was closer. So I'd say you want to go to the regular park or do you want to go to the go to the secret park. It wasn't secret. It was just another park. They said papa we want to go to the secret park. And to this day we still call it that. Kathy said I'm going to the secret park.
It makes me laugh. It's not a secret. It's in plain sight. Are we going to a restaurant and I'd say to the kids okay do you want to go in the normal way or do you want to go in the secret way. We want to go the secret way papa. So I just go in the back door.
Here we are. Walk through. Secret.
Nobody does this. They like that. And now they know it's not a secret anymore. And we know this isn't a secret anymore. It's plainly there in Scripture. And it's the gospel. I like how Paul says it's my gospel. It's a great moment when it becomes your gospel. Yes it's the gospel but it's your gospel. You've internalized it. You believe it.
You know it's true. And notice that he says my gospel which establishes us. See it doesn't just save us. It establishes you.
The gospel saved you. It saves you. And it will save you in the future. First of all it saves us. The moment I believe in Jesus my name is written in the Lamb's book of life and no one will ever take my name out of the Lamb's book of life.
Number two. It's saving me. The power of the gospel helps me to overcome sin and addiction and the attacks of the enemy. And finally it will save me one day when I take that last breath on planet earth I will be taken into the presence of God and it establishes me. I know what I believe.
I know what is true. I have a lens now by which I view the world. It's not the lens of emotion. It's not the lens of culture. It's not the lens of what is supposedly cool. It's a lens of the Word of God. Now I know how to see things. How to think.
How to live. The gospel establishes you. And really the book of Romans has been just a declaration of the gospel. In fact it's the most basic comprehensive statement of what the gospel is in all of the Bible. That's why it said in our first message of the book of Romans it's been defined the gospel taught to believers. And we have what is sometimes called the Romans road.
I like to close with this. The Romans road. And what the Romans road is simply is how to come to Jesus all from the book of Romans.
The first step in the Romans road is Romans 3 23. It says, All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In the book of Romans I learned that no matter how good of a person I am. No matter how kind I am. No matter how wonderful I am.
Or charitable I am. I am not good enough to get to heaven because I have broken His commandments and I have fallen short of His standards. But step number two on the Romans road is the wages of sin is death. So there is a penalty for my sin.
But then some good news. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Then over in Romans 5 8 the next step says, God demonstrated His love toward us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. So what have I learned? I am a sinner. There is a penalty for my sin. But there is also a solution for my sin and it is Jesus.
And finally I learned in Romans 10 13 everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Oh now there is a way out. See if you are out at the beach and you get caught in a rip tide or you are out too deep or something happens and you need help and there is a lifeguard there you need to call out for their help. They can't read your mind. You are going to have to wave your hand. You are going to have to say help. And they will come. And they will save you.
That is their job. And here is Jesus waiting. And if you will call upon Him He will come and rescue you. And I wonder if some of you need to call upon Jesus today. Maybe you have lost hope as I was talking about earlier. Maybe you have been so despondent in life you have even contemplated suicide.
I don't know. But I know that hope has a name and it is Jesus. And He is standing at the door of your life right now and He is knocking and He is saying if you will hear His voice and open the door He will come in.
Listen. Do you need Jesus today? He has everything you are looking for. This culture doesn't have it. This world doesn't have it. But Jesus has it. He has it for you.
And what you need to do is call out to Him. In a moment we are going to pray. And I am going to extend an invitation to anybody here, anybody listening wherever you are. If you are not sure that Christ is living in your heart, if you don't have confidence that your sin is forgiven, if you want to have this hope we have been talking about and if you want to know that you will go to heaven when you die and have a life that is worth living, respond now as we close in prayer and as I extend this invitation. Let's all pray together. Father thank You for Your Word to us.
Thank You for Your love for us. Thank You for sending Jesus to die in our place. And now we pray that Your Holy Spirit will convict and convince those that do not yet know You of their need for You. And Lord help them to call out to You. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen. Pastor Greg Laurie with an important prayer. And if you would like to make a change today in your relationship with the Lord, Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment before today's edition of A New Beginning concludes. And then let us say a word of thanks to those who support us financially, those who make it possible for us to bring you these studies each day. We are definitely a listener supported ministry.
It is the generosity of listeners that help us be here with these programs. So if you have partnered with us, thank you. And if you have yet to partner with us, I hope you'll get in touch today and let us know that you're standing with us. Even a small investment would help. It's actually an investment in changing lives. Thank you for partnering with us. You can donate securely online at harvest.org or write A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514. Or call us at 1-800-821-3300. Again that's 1-800-821-3300. Well Pastor Greg, a few moments ago you spoke of the need to get our hearts right with God.
Yeah. Could you help someone who wants to do that right now? Yes, I'd be delighted to. Listen, as you've listened to this program today, maybe something's been happening inside of your heart where you're sensing, I need to do this personally, but how do I do it and what do I do? Let me help you. It's very simple.
In fact, it's so simple you may be shocked. God, this relationship with Him is just a prayer away. The Bible says if you will call upon the name of the Lord, you'll be saved. So I'd like to lead you in a prayer where you do just that. You call on the name of the Lord. You know, sometimes when I'm talking with someone one-on-one and they want to accept Jesus Christ, I'll have them pray a prayer after me.
Maybe you'd like to do that right now. Thousands have done this over the years listening to our broadcast and the Lord has changed our lives and it can happen for you right now. This can be the moment where you change your eternal address literally from hell to heaven. I'll pray a simple prayer and I would just ask you to pray this prayer out loud if you like after me. Just pray these words. Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner, but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for me and rose again from the dead. Jesus, I choose to follow you from this moment forward. In your name I pray, Amen. I know it's such a simple short prayer, but you just called on the name of the Lord and you know what?
He heard that prayer and if you meant that prayer in your heart, he answered that prayer. Now let me help you to get started on the right foot in your new life in Jesus Christ. The greatest adventure awaits you, the life of walking with God. I want to send you what we call a New Believers Pack that includes the New Believers Bible and a whole lot more and let me be the first to say to you congratulations and welcome to the family of God. Yeah that's right and listen to get that free New Believers Bible along with the other items in our growth pack. Just let us know you prayed along with Pastor Greg to receive Christ today. We'll be glad to send our New Believers Pack your way free of any charge.
Call us at 1-800-821-3300. Call anytime 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click Know God. Well next time more hopeful encouragement from God's Word. Pastor Greg presents a message called Hope for Lonely Hearts. Join us here on A New Beginning with pastor and Bible teacher, Greg Laurie.
