Just a Moment | Trusting God's View for Better Decisions

A New Beginning presents a new book from Pastor Greg Laurie. We are offering a brand new resource called The House of David Devotional and it's based on the great Psalms of David as well as the life of David. So I'm going to put this brand new devotional in your hand so you can learn from this man of God. Or your gift of any size at harvest.org.

It's the official companion resource for the new Amazon TV series also called The House of David. You want to know God's will? Don't be afraid to say not by will but yours be done. Coming up today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie explains the joy and satisfaction that come when we commit to doing God's will, God's way. Oh I don't want to say your will be done.

Why? Well it will be what I want. It'll be harder. Wait, what if it's better than anything you ever even imagined? Never be afraid to commit an unknown future to a known God. Campers who like to go out into the boondocks to find a remote campsite sometimes fly drones to look ahead at what's around the next bend. They can make better decisions with a bird's eye view. Well we'll make better decisions about our lives if we trust God's view.

The one that sees around the bend and well into the future. Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie brings some encouraging insights about the will of God and how it'll keep us from being spiritually stranded in the boondocks. Let's turn in our Bibles to James chapter 4.

The title of my message, just a moment. The brevity of life is what James is addressing now and the importance of living your life in the will of God. James 4, let's read a few verses. I'm reading 13 to 17 from the New Living Translation. James says, look here you who say today or tomorrow we're going to go to a certain town and stay there a year.

We'll do business there and make a profit. How do you know what your life is going to be like tomorrow? Asks James. Your life is like the morning fog.

It's here for a little while then it's gone. What you want to say is if the Lord wants us to we will live and do this or that. Otherwise you're boasting about your own pretentious plans and all such boasting is evil. Remember, James says, it is a sin to know what you want to do and not do it.

I'll stop there. Point number one, if you're taking notes, life is short, live it well. Life is short, live it well. James asks in verse 14, how do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Really what James is asking is what kind of life are you living? What are you doing with this precious gift called life right now?

It's an important question to answer because life goes by so quickly. Bringing me to point number two, we should plan for the future but put God's will first. Yes, plan for the future but put God's will first. The problem with these folks James is addressing is they're believers but they're living like practical atheists and by that I mean they're not factoring God into anything.

They're just making their plans and forgetting about God. So James is reminding them, hey, keep God's will at the forefront of your life. To know God's will, point number three, you need to present yourself to God each and every day.

This is based on Romans 12 one and two where Paul says I urge you therefore brothers by the mercies of God that you present your bodies and that means your total being, your personality, your will, your future, present your bodies to God as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable which is your reasonable service which means it's the logical thing to do. Then he says don't be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may know what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. You want to know God's will? Present yourself to him and don't be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

How do you do that? Fill it with scripture and then you'll know God's will and what does he say about God's will? The good and acceptable will of God. God's will is good. God's will is perfect. Now sometimes the Lord says no to us. When we want to do something he says no. Oh God's out to ruin my fun.

No, no. The Bible says no good thing will he withhold from those that walk uprightly. So if God says no it's for your own good. Now you're gonna have to live a few years to figure that out maybe because you say oh no I know better than God. Well you'll see. Don't learn the hard way.

Maybe learn from the experience of others. No plan of ours can improve on the will of God. We only see bits and pieces. He sees the whole.

He sees the past, the present, and the future in its total context as related to eternity. So don't be afraid to say not by will but yours be done. So here's what you need to do. You need to come to the Lord.

Say all right Lord. Here's the life you've given me. Here are my plans. Here are my aspirations. Here are my dreams along with my weaknesses and shortcomings and sins. I offer it all to you because I believe your plans are better than mine.

That's really what this is all about. So I heard this story about a father and a son who went to the hardware store. The dad was finishing his purchase and and the owner of the hardware store pointed to a big jar of candy right there on the counter and he said to the little boy son take some of this candy grab a handful it's free. Little guy just looked up at his father and then the hardware store owner again said son I told you the candy is free grab a handful.

Take as much as you want in your hand. Again the little boy just looks up at his father. Finally his dad grabs a handful of candy and gives it to his son. So they get in the car and they're driving home. The father asks the son why didn't you grab the free candy?

The boy with a big smile said because dad your hand is bigger than mine. You think you know where I'm going with this? God's hand is bigger than ours. Oh I don't want to say your will be done. Why? Well it won't be what I want.

It'll be harder. Wait what if it's better than anything you ever even imagined? The Bible says he is able to do abundantly above and beyond that which you could ask or think. Listen never be afraid to commit an unknown future to a known God.

He loves you. His plan for you is good. So we need to include God in all of our plans. Look at verse 16.

Otherwise you're boasting about your own pretentious plans and such boasting is evil. I read this the other day about a 45 year old California man who was very successful in business. He made 800 million dollars. So he sold his business. Now he has dedicated his life to becoming physically like an 18 year old. He has employed 30 doctors, experts. He spends millions of dollars. He's on a strict vegan diet. He applies creams every day. Undergoes laser therapy.

Gets electromagnetic pulses along with strict exercise regimen and much more. Okay so all right go for it I guess. But guess what? The length of your life is determined by God not you.

Now you can be foolish. You can make bad decisions. You don't take care of your body.

You don't eat well and you can reap the consequences of that. But Jesus said in Matthew 6 27 can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Number five we need to give God the glory for our life and health. So whatever you've accomplished in life or whatever you're about to accomplish in life just remember God gave it to you. There are some people that have done very well. They might say I've done well.

I've intrude. I've invested well. I've saved. I pivoted at the right moment and done great in life.

Okay fantastic. But remember Deuteronomy 8 18 says remember the Lord your God gave you the ability to produce wealth. Okay so whatever you've done that's still a gift of God.

Yeah but I worked hard. God gave you the ability to work hard. God gave you the breath in your lungs.

God is giving you the beat of your heart. The Bible tells the story of King Nebuchadnezzar ruling Babylon which at that moment historically was the most powerful kingdom on the face of the earth and it was a magnificent kingdom for sure. There before Nebuchadnezzar was all the glory of this community and city he had built. One day he went out to his royal balcony and he surveyed his mighty kingdom. Before him rose the hanging gardens of Babylon one of the ancient world's seven wonders. Stretched around Babylon were these huge walls that were 360 feet high 87 feet thick wide enough for six chariots to ride a breast.

He's checking it all out and he says check out this great city that I've built. And the Bible says before he could finish the sentence God brought his judgment on Nebuchadnezzar. He entered into a form of mental illness for a period of time where he literally thought he was an animal.

He was on all fours. God restored his sanity and Nebuchadnezzar turned to the Lord and believed in him. Remember give God the glory for all that you have. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. 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 glad you're joining us for Pastor Greg's message today in James 4 called just a moment.

Let's continue now. One final point. We need to do what God has called us to do. We need to do what God has called us to do. Look at verse 17. Remember it's sin to know what you ought to do and not do it. This is speaking of the sin of omission. In the Bible there is this sin of commission and omission.

Do you know the difference? Heard the story of a teacher that was speaking to her Sunday school class. She said kids today we're going to talk about sin. First of all there's a sin of commission.

Does anyone know what that is? Little girl sitting in the front was waving her hand. Teacher said go ahead. What is the sin of commission? She said the sin of commission is when you do something you should not do. That's exactly right. And then the teacher asked the class does anyone know what the sin of omission is?

A little boy in the back of the room and the back of the room is waving his arm back and forth. Go ahead son what is the sin of omission? He said the sin of omission those are the sins you want to do but you haven't gotten around to yet.

Not exactly. The sin of commission is what you do when you do what you shouldn't do when you cross the line. When you break the commandment. When you fall short of the standard which is God's glory. The sin of omission is when you know to do right and you don't do it. And I think Christians are more guilty of the sin of omission than they realize. To him that knows to do good verse 17 and yet does not do it to him it is sin. Let's take the gospel as an example. We have been commanded by Jesus to go into all the world and preach the gospel. That's what he says go into all this world preach the gospel make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father son and the holy spirit we say amen.

Great. When's the last time you did it? When's the last time you engaged someone in a gospel conversation? Stats tell us that 95% of Christians have never led another person to Christ. Two percent of church goers invited an unchurched person to church in the last year.

Two percent. I know someone he's here right now who has been coming here for a couple of years and he has invited over 14 people to church with him. He's always at safe seats a couple more people. I need more people like him. But a church full of people like him we could change Orange County and Riverside right?

We could. Well you know that's great. When's the last time you just invited someone to come to church with you?

See the problem for many of us is the great commission has become the great omission. Let me say something that might sound controversial but I think it's biblical and true. It can be a sin to not share your faith with someone. Well you're wrong Greg you know we should we should but it's not a sin. Hold on.

To him that knows to do good and does not do it to him it is sin. Let me illustrate let's say you're walking on the street and there's a house on fire and someone says there's a child in there. Now I hope at the very least you will call 911. Maybe you'll be a hero and try to run in the burning house and save the child. But if you just kept walking oh first you take a picture. Got to post that on social. And you keep walking. That's irresponsible.

That's almost criminal. Now we have a whole culture that needs to know God. The Bible actually tells us that we should seek to snatch people from the flames of judgment. You say oh gosh Greg you know I don't know. I'm afraid I'll say the wrong thing or I won't have an answer to their question or yeah okay so? I think you know more than you think you know. And I think you might be surprised at what will pop into your mind and out of your mouth when you take a step of faith and say Lord use me.

In fact you might be so good you want to take notes on yourself. Well where did that come from? Well you'd never know where it came from if you don't take the step of faith. And I suggest to you that there are times the Lord has nudged you to engage that person. You're walking along or some person sitting there on a bench all alone they look sad and dejected.

And maybe the Lord said just go over there and tell them that they're loved by God. I want to do that. Why not? Well what if they laugh at me? Yeah well what if they take an interest in what you're saying?

Let me take it a step further. What if they want to hear what you have to say? What if they come to Jesus Christ?

How about that? I'd rather take the risk and not have it go so well. But many times it goes better than you may think it will. And speaking of serving the Lord I believe the Lord leads us all the time to serve him. You know it's interesting the Bible uses different kinds of phrases over 58 times like love one another, care for one another, pray for one another, encourage one another, support one another, one another.

That's what it's all about. Here's how you know you're maturing spiritually. When it stops being about you and it starts being about others. Well instead of coming to church you don't say what about my needs but instead you say I've been so blessed by God how can I serve the Lord. And how do I serve God? I serve God by serving other people. Serving the Lord by serving them. How can I help? So when we get up here and say you know we could use some help in Sunday school or well we could use some folks helping us in new convert counseling or helping people find their seats or park their cars or well we could use some help over here or there and you say well they you know here they are Lord send them. And instead I should be saying here I am Lord send me. Let me loop back to what I said in the beginning and we'll wrap this message up.

I talked about living our lives well. They pass so quickly. You know ancient merchants would often write the words memento mori over their accounting books. Ever heard that phrase before? Memento mori. It means think of death. Now it sounds kind of morbid. I don't want to think of death.

Well maybe you should a little bit. The Bible says teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. So it's not a morbid fascination with death but it's an acknowledgement that it will come eventually. As I've often said the statistics on death are quite impressive. One out of every one out of every one persons will die unless the Lord comes for us first.

And I pray he does. But having said that think about it. Now why did they write memento mori over their accounting books? Because you check out your bank balance.

You didn't say look how much money I have saved. Memento mori. One day you're going to give it to someone else. Just get perspective. But you think about life in general. You know think of the afterlife. It's not just about this life. It's about the next life too. How we're living our life. How we'll be rewarded in the afterlife for how we live in this life.

These are all important things. But let me ask you this. What if this were your last day on planet earth?

Someone's name is going to be in the obituary column tomorrow. It's never going to be us. But one day it will be. And where are you going to spend eternity? Now if you're a Christian you don't have to be afraid. Because the Bible promises you'll go to heaven and you'll be in the presence of God where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. But if you're not a Christian according to scripture you will face judgment. Yes there is a hell. And the last thing God wants is for anyone made in his image to spend eternity separated from him in this place called hell. Hell was not created for people. Hell was created for the devil Jesus said and his demons. So if you're following the devil and his plan and his agenda and you end up in hell in the end you'll have no one to blame but yourself.

Because the gates of hell are locked from the inside. You made that choice. You made that decision and it was a wrong one.

You don't need to make that decision. This is why Christ died on the cross you see. He died for our sin.

He took the penalty we should have taken so we don't have to face it. He came to pay a debt he did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. And then three days later he rose again from the dead and he's alive and he's with us right now wanting to come into your life and reveal his plan for you which is better than your plan for yourself. He says he stands at the door of your life and he knocks and if you'll hear his voice and open the door he'll come in. But listen only you can ask Christ to come into your life.

I can't do that for you. Only you can open that door and say Jesus I want you to forgive me of my sin. I want a relationship with you. So I want to close with an invitation for you to ask Christ to come into your life so you can know with certainty you go to heaven when you die. Let's pray. Father I pray for every person here.

Every person watching and listening. If they don't know you I pray that your Holy Spirit will convict and convince them of their need for you and that they will turn to you right here right now. We ask this in Jesus name.

Amen. Today on A New Beginning, an important prayer from Pastor Greg Laurie with those who know they need to make a change in their relationship with God. And Pastor Greg would you mind taking a moment right now to pray with the person listening who wants to do that very thing?

I'd be happy to Dave. You know as you've been listening to this today maybe you've heard another voice. By that I mean yeah you heard me say a few things but you heard God's voice speak to you deep in the recesses of your heart and it suddenly dawned on you this is what I need or to state it more accurately this is who I need. I need Jesus and I want Jesus but maybe you don't know how to make that connection.

Let me help you. God is only a prayer away. He stands at the door of your heart and he knocks and Jesus says if you'll hear his voice and open the door he'll come in. Let me help you open the door so to speak of your heart as you invite Jesus to be your Savior and Lord. So here's what I would like you to do. I'd like you to stop what you're doing and I want you to pray a prayer after me. I'll lead you in this prayer and as you pray it God will hear you. Pray this after me right now if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life. Lord Jesus I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sin and I need your forgiveness right now. Would you come into my heart my life as Savior as God as friend. I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me and forgiving me in Jesus name I pray.

Amen. I know that was a relatively short prayer maybe you felt something as you prayed it maybe you felt nothing that doesn't really matter because God's word 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. It doesn't say so you may think you have it or you may hope you have it if God's in a good mood.

No that you can know it and I want you to know if you pray that prayer in minute Jesus Christ the Son of God has come into your life so congratulations you're now a Christian now continue to follow the Lord. Yeah to help you as you follow the Lord we'd like to send you something to help you begin to walk with the Lord. It's Pastor Greg's New Believers Bible. It'll answer many of the questions you might have and get you started off right in your new relationship with the Lord. So get in touch and ask for it we'll send it free of charge call 1-800-821-3300 that's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click know God 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're definitely a listener supported ministry it's the generosity of listeners that help us be here with these programs so if you've partnered with us thank you and if you have yet to partner with us well 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 california 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300 again that's 1-800-821-3300 well next time as Pastor Greg continues his study series called walk this way we take a look at the eminence of the Lord's return and how we can be ready join us here on a new beginning with pastor and bible teacher Greg Lord