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August 15, 2022 3:00 am
In the movie industry, they talk about the “suspension of disbelief.” It’s all make- believe, right? But they try to make the costumes, the special effects, and the acting so convincing that it suspends our disbelief. They hope we forget it’s fake, or fiction, if you prefer. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out that some people sort of act their way through life. They try to suspend our disbelief about how they’re really living. We’ll see that’s a fruitless pursuit.
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A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.
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We are 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 daily depots. Learn more and sign up@harvest.org you know you know everyone thinks reserves are spiritual words woman would you know what's going on. You know that you're doing thrilling going here going up to beginning. Laurie urges all of long hard look at our law and ask ourselves, are we living on us and God said all of the people some of the full some of the people all of the time God is on talk about this bully's right to make special effects in the acting minister Spencer disbelief but I hope we forget perfection. Laurie points out, some people short of their way through life try to suspend our disbelief about how they're really living recalling the upside down Y and I will get to see some of the challenges that they face.
Though we've seen the Holy Spirit poured out, you know, thousands of people believing on the day of Pentecost, we see the man raised up who was unable to walk from his you. We've seen a lot of preaching, a lot of powerful things now are going to see some sinful things because this is real world life that were looking at here. This story shows that the early church was not all about romance and redemption. They also had flaws in sinful people and we see how Jesus dealt with these people. Now Barnabas is seen giving a gift to the church for the use of ministry. So Ananias and Sapphire is see this and I think while looking out the people appreciate this. We want to be seen as virtuous people to so this is what happens next in one of the most shocking stories in the Bible quite candidly about chapter 5, starting at verse one.
Everything from the new living translation. There was a man named Ananias, with his wife Sophia results in property you brought part of the property to the apostles, but claimed it was the full amount. His wife agreed to this deception. Underlying that this deception then Peter said Ananias why is Satan filled your heart you like of the Holy Spirit and you kept some of the money for yourself.
This property wasn't was yours to sell or not sell as you wish or not, and after selling that the money was yours to keep or to give away. Why would you do a thing like this. You're blind to what you're lying to God and as soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the ground and die and everyone heard about it was terrifying within some young men rocked the minute she took amount buried about three hours later his wife comes in not knowing what it happened. Peter asks her what was this price you and your husband received for the land. She said yeah that was the price. Peter said how good the two of you even think of doing nothing like this conspiring together to test the spirit of the Lord you might underline that phrase tests the spirit of the Lord just outside the door are the young men who buried your husband carry you out to and instantly she fell to the floor and died in the young men saw she was dead and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband a great fear gripped the entire church and all the others who heard what happened. There, how's that for a story while why did God deal so severely with these two people because they committed a specific sin against the spirit that still can be committed today. They lie to the spirit of God. Verse four. You've not lied to men but to God. Their sin was they lied to the holy spirit, the Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity, father, son and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has a will. The Holy Spirit has a personality. The Holy Spirit can be specifically syndicate. There are specific sins identified in the Bible that can be committed against the holy spirit.
For instance, you can insult the spirit you can resist the spirit you can live in the spirit is a story here shows and you can blaspheme this spirit.
So what is this about again.
Ananias and Sapphire rep were hypocrites they were playing a part.
They were pretending to be something that they were not. They wanted people to think they were really devoted to God. They were now before we criticize them what you saw starts off this question that we ever done anything like this.
The answer is yes. You know something about examiner really just you notes sing louder and live my campfire and that's all good. We want that, but don't do it in a way we are drawing unnecessary attention to your self. God doesn't like it when you do that better to be an honest sinner then a lying saint, so don't put this show on that foot Ananias and Sapphire were doing there pretending to be something they were not the hypocrite extraordinaire was Judas Iscariot.
I don't know why it is, but whenever I type the words Judas Iscariot, my Word document my run spell check.
They want to change the last name Iscariot to escargot just word does not understand the word Iscariot Judas escargot so that was due. This is French brother. I don't know if you know about him. Or maybe as brother like snails.
I'm not sure though there is no Judas escargot but there was Judas Iscariot and he was a great deceiver. Becky was perceived as one of the more virtuous of the disciples. On occasion when a woman brought very expensive perfume to anoint Jesus with probably a family heirloom worth a lot of money and she knew he was going to die and she wanted to do something sacrificial was Judas Iscariot who spoke up and said this is not good stewardship. Could this audit been sold and the money given to the poor while the other apostles probably thought you know he's got a point that is true. But then John tells us that he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was stealing money because he was the treasurer so Judas put on a good show to show this when Jesus in the upper room said one of you is going to betray me to each disciple. They said is it me, they did not point in Unicenter, Judas and say kids to notices and it they didn't know. No one suspected and then the ironic thing is Judas betrays our Lord for 30 pieces of silver because of the religious leaders and he says the one I kiss. That's the one you're looking for.
So they going to the garden of Gethsemane where Christ is there with his disciples. He's just literally sweat blood disease under the pressure of what is about to come in as Judas approaches Christ with the temple guard with their swords in their shields and their spears and their torches. Jesus says friend, why have you come did Jesus know why Judas was coming. Of course it already called amount in the upper room and said you're the one who will be training but on notice by Judas.
Christ was offering this betrayer one last chance to repent. But Judas was such a hypocrite. He betrays Jesus with a kiss when I just point out a mistake there he is his own religious art. You always know who Jesus is. Everyone asserted dusty robes and muted colors Jesus as a pure white robe just came from the dry cleaners with a blue sash, one of the blue sash come from I don't know but Jesus as the blue sash right well that's religious art that's not reality. He blended into a crowd like any other man would you didn't glow-in-the-dark you know so Judas had to say. The guy I kiss, that's Jesus. But when he betrays our Lord with the kids in the Greek it's implied that he kiss them over and over again. He wanted to appear devout. Even though he was literally the train the Lord, what a horrible thing.
That is what a hypocrite does. It's been said, you can full all of the people some of the time. You can full some of the people all of the time which you can full God.
Any of the time, my talking to a hypocrite right now.
If so, please stand up know don't you probably wouldn't you know if your hypocrite.
You know like right now you're sitting here at church with your wife and your family are your alone in your everyone thinks you're such a spiritual man.
Such a spiritual woman but you know what's going on. You know you're going to go home and look at porn.
You know you're in an extramarital relationship, you know you're living in a lifestyle that's contrary to Scripture you know that you're lying to people to make more money.
You know that you're doing. Fill in blank here, and you keep doing it and you have no intention of stopping that thing that's hypocrisy you tell me. I came in with a struggle and I need help and I need prayer, that's understood, there's a difference between that person and the other person don't be that because you're lying to this spirit, your great glory will have the second half of his message in just a moment. I don't know if you know about this, but we have a weekend service called Harvest at Home exclusively for people that are tuning in literally from around the world listen to this. We even have harvest groups where you can get into a small group with folks from all around this planet of ours, studying the word of God.
So join us this weekend Saturday and Sunday for Harvest at Home@harvest.org. What were talking about lying and other significant spiritual dangers today as Pastor Greg presents his message honest to God, let's continue.
I mention specific sins that can be committed against the spirit there's lying to the spirit and there's grieving the spirit that's mentioned in Ephesians were pulses don't grieve the spirit and he talks about anger and backbiting and slander and other things that you could do to actually make the Holy Spirit sad or sorrowful.
There's another sin you can commit against the spirit called quenching the spirit. The Bible says quench not the Spirit. What is happening. That means that you're trying to stop the spirit from the work he wants to do in your life. The ideas of quenching a fire. You know, like when you go camping. How many of you like to camp. Okay some people like to go clamping. That's a new thing right. Sort of a nicer version of Champion evidence giant motorhomes with big TVs on the outside it. Okay, whatever. So you're not at your campsite and you set up your fire and it's time to break camp so you extinguish the fire. Can't just leave fires going right in and I've noticed when you go to the beach.
The best part of going to the beach is when you get there and when you leave right is I love the idea of the beach to the beach at the beach, sunny, warm sound of the ocean just great layout should tell no one's there set up your chair. Get out your book may be a little music playing. Put your sunglasses on and then all of a sudden some guy shows up. Yes, the entire beach to choose from, and he senses tell right next to yours and is tell actually touches your tell that may be against the law. Don't please your tiles touching my tell and then he's the guy who's talking on his cell phone and it's on speaker right so you're hearing the entire, decision, and then then you call the ocean to cool off and now the seagulls are flying up with your food and your children is I'm not happy anymore.
I'm going home and you're happy again. I'm leaving the beach right but the main thing is with the fires you quench the fire but sometimes the Holy Spirit will prompt you to do something. The Holy Spirit will say I want you to put the phone down and open your Bible, the Holy Spirit says I want you to start a conversation with that person.
He doesn't see it audibly. But it's sort of an it's a leading to just go do that that I want you to do this was a no no that's quenching this emergency. So Ananias and Sapphire. They were lying to the spirit and if your hypocrite sooner or later, one day you will have to face the music.
There was a band back in the 90s.
A lot of you won't even know what I'm talking about some of you will never called Milli Vanilli. Does anyone remember Milli Vanilli all the old people right so they were in 20. They had a song with the title girl you know it's true and they even want to Grammy for 30 million records within it came out that Milli Vanilli actually never sing that song that some session singers come into the studio and recorded Millie in the Millie, the two guys that made up this group would just sort of lip-synch and dance to the song and then it was came out of the had to return their Grammy and they had to face the music and that statement face the music goes back to the early days of Japan. The story is told of a man who wanted to be in the Imperial orchestra to play for the Emperor. The problem was this man could not play a note but he was very wealthy and affluent so the conductor allowed him to join the Imperial orchestra and when the orchestra was playing he would be like acting as though he was playing the flute when he wasn't playing the single note and that went on for years but he enjoyed the prestige that came with being in that orchestra and I continued on until a new conductor took the orchestra over and he told the orchestra that he wanted to addition each player personally.
They had to perform in his presence. While the flautist was very nervous because he knew he could not play but finally he was called in every called in sick a couple times we appeared before the conductor and it was clear that he was a fraud.
Thus, he had to face the music is so Ananias and Sapphire. It had to face the music and one day we will have to do the same.
Do not be a hypocrite and if you are a hypocrite. Repent of it and ask God to forgive you of your sin.
I've mentioned some of the sins you can commit against the Holy Spirit let me mention one more now probably ask about this particular sin or than any other one is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Okay, so the Bible talks about resisting the spirit Stephen of the will talk about later in the book of acts was preaching to the religious leaders. The Sanhedrin and he said to them, why do you resist this.
As your fathers did to resist the spirit means that I say no I don't want Christ in my life. The Holy Spirit is come to convince us of our sin and of righteousness and of judgment. The Holy Spirit shows me my need for Jesus not to drive me away in despair but to draw me to Christ, so when I say no to him. I'm resisting the spirit, then it can get even worse, and you can insult the spirit certainly don't want to do that, that's effectively implying that you would acknowledge that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and you would say I frankly could care less.
I want nothing to do with him or his offer of forgiveness. That's an insult of this.
So I can resist the spirit, then I can insult the spirit and it all culminates with blaspheming the spirit. What is that mean that means that I completely reject Christ as Savior and Lord. And that is the only unforgivable sin because the Bible says outcome we escape if we neglect so great salvation. So maybe there's someone I'm talking to share that is sort of resisting the guy. I believe it's true, but I don't really want this in my life right now and you know maybe some other time and then there's somebody else that same I don't know if I think it's true or not.
I just rejected and someone else your heart is gotten so hard.
You don't even care anymore. Be careful because you can go beyond the point of no return. The Bible says harden not your heart if you can hear his voice in Revelation 2217 we read the spirit of the bride say, let him that hears this a calm, let him who is thirsty, and whoever desires, let him drink freely from the water of life see God want to satisfy your deep spiritual thirst. That's really what you're longing for life. We try to satisfy this thirst, sometimes with relationships or with possessions or with drugs or alcohol or even religion. None of those things will satisfy that there is only Christ will satisfy a relationship with him so the Holy Spirit is saying this is for you right now I'm talking to somebody that is sensing this draw this hug. This pool from the Holy Spirit. It's up to you how you're going to react. You could say yes Lord come in the my life.
Or you can say no I don't want to do. Besides, there's too many hypocrites in the church get over that you think that's going to hold water on Judgment Day. That's an excuse and you know it. Jesus never said follow my people, he said, follow me. Okay, just because there's hypocrites doesn't really mean anything. This is about you and God. Just because someone else messes it up has nothing to do with this offer of forgiveness that he offers to you at this very moment Jesus died on the cross for your sin, and he rose again from the dead and now he stands at the door of your life in the Knox and if you hear his voice and open the door key will commit. Don't resist the spirit. Don't insult the spirit God for bid that someone listening to me right now blasphemes the spirit. If you have any sense of senior need for Jesus.
You have not gone beyond that point of no return.
But don't keep putting this off because you could sort of a closing prayer, and I'm in a given opportunity for anybody here that wants to respond to the work of the Holy Spirit and believe in Jesus to do it right here right now.
Let's pray father I thank you for the work of the Holy Spirit.
He is here right now working in our midst, and I pray that your Holy Spirit will work on the hearts of those that do not know you, and help them to see their need for Jesus on our heads about their eyes are closed. Maybe there's somebody here that needs Jesus today Holy Spirit is been drawing you will you respond to him when you come to Christ.
Now if you will. If you want to just pray this prayer after me right where you said if you want Jesus to forgive you of your sin.
Just pray Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. I discern from my sin.
Now that I choose to follow you from this moment forward in Jesus name I pray. Prayer today beginning pastor Greg Laurie praying with those who are making a decision for the Lord, and if you just prayed that prayer and meant those words sincerely then Jesus has forgiven your sins and he's taken residence in your heart and you may have some questions about this new life. You're about to live.
Pastor Greg would like to help by sending you our new believers growth packet is free of charge and it will answer your questions and get you started off right in your new relationship with the Lord.
Just give us a call at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 24 seven. Again, 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org and click the words know God. Yesterday we have a group of close friends of the ministry there unsung heroes behind the scenes site and then we want to sing about these unsung people for a minute that way yes I have a special song I've written for all of you right now and I'm going to sing it a cappella. So are you ready, not really, but you wouldn't want me to do that you would turn the radio off immediately when the we do want to say thank you and we want you to know that your labor is not in vain. You know the Bible tells us that we should be faithful as we serve the Lord and your father who sees you in secret will reward you openly.
So first, just let me say thank you to every harvest partner and what is arborist partner at someone who stands with us every month and they supported us with a regular financial gift. This enables us to respond to the great opportunities we have new places to go with our broadcast new people to reach with the gospel with the teaching of the Word of God, but I could use some more harvest partners. So with you prayerfully consider that and when you stand with us, you help us to do more than were doing.
Even at this moment and the need is so great in our nation, and there's so many people that have never heard the gospel and you know we have thousands of people accept Christ listening to our radio broadcast alone so become a harvest partner and in advance. Let me say thank you units right and would invite you to find out more about becoming a harvest partner by going to harvest.org/partner Pastor Greg is inviting a thousand new harvest partners to team up with those given all the Lord has called us to do in the coming months and given all the places where these studies are heard. That's really just a small handful of new friends in each community who agree to join us.
So can we count on you and will say thank you and some special ways. This month we are sending Pastor Greg's new book called Steve McQueen the salvation of an American icon. So let us invite you to get in touch to find out more. Again, go to harvest.org/partner or call us at 1-800-821-3300. You can reach us anytime around the clock again at 1-800-821-3300 one next time pastor Greg helps us examine the life of Stephen describes what it takes to live a life well lived. Join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie everybody thinks her list. Beginning this is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. So for more content 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.
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