Riverside, California, United States - Harvest Ministry "A New Beginning" Greg Laurie's Notes for Week of Monday, 26 May 2014

Riverside, California, United States - Harvest Ministry "A New Beginning" Greg Laurie's Notes for Week of Monday, 26 May 2014

UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
JESUS’ MESSAGE TO LAST-DAYS BELIEVERS, PART 2
Revelation 3:1 “And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write:
“He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things:
“I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you. 4 Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
7 “To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write:
“He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:
8 “I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name. 9 Behold, I give some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
14 “To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write:
“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God’s creation, says these things:
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. 21 He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”
What if Jesus showed up in your church today? What would Jesus think of the worship? What would Jesus think of the preaching? What would Jesus think of the children’s ministry? What would 
Jesus think of all the things going on? In Revelation, we see that Jesus is walking through the midst of the church and giving His opinion. What He sees in Laodicea is a half-hearted lukewarm church that makes him sick. There are three spiritual temperatures that an individual can have:
PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES
1. Cold. To be cold means that you just don’t believe. Not only do you not believe in God but you have no interest in knowing more about God. You have no interest in spiritual things. It is
 interesting that Jesus says He would prefer this over someone being lukewarm. Why? Because they have a better chance of becoming a believer than someone who is self-sufficient.
2. Hot. This describes someone who is spiritually on fire for the Lord, staying in His Word, and doing His service, spending time with Him and sharing His love with others. 
3. Lukewarm. Lukewarm people are usually the last to know. It is a self-satisfied condition in which a person thinks they have it all and they know it all. Jesus even says the lukewarm person
 is blind.
RELEVANT REMINDERS
 • Sometimes we neglect our spiritual lives and need to come back and rekindle or fuel the fire.
 • Whom God loves, He also disciplines.
 • God’s message to the lukewarm individual is urgent, because they are already so far-gone. The Lord is saying in effect, “Repent now, before it is too late.” 
 • Jesus always stands ready to forgive you, but you could get to a point where you would not want to be forgiven.
APPLICABLE ACTIONS
Regardless of whether you are religious or nonreligious—if you are a person who has gone to church your whole life or you have never darkened the doorway of a church before—you need to 
respond to His call. He stands at the door and knocks. If you will hear his voice and let Him come in, He will have fellowship with you.
Monday, 26 May 2014
Jesus' Message to Last Days Believers, Pt. 2 — I
Revelation 3:1 “And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write:
“He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things:
“I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you. 4 Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
7 “To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write:
“He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:
8 “I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name. 9 Behold, I give some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
14 “To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write:
“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God’s creation, says these things:
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. 21 He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”
Jesus explained to be lukewarm spiritually is actually worse than being ice cold. Pastor Greg Laurie points out that those in that condition may be completely unaware. Tune in for important insights on keeping our love for the Lord red hot.
Tuesday, 27 May 2014
Jesus' Message to Last Days Believers, Pt. 2 — II
Revelation 3:1 “And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write:
“He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things:
“I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you. 4 Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
7 “To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write:
“He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:
8 “I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name. 9 Behold, I give some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
14 “To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write:
“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God’s creation, says these things:
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. 21 He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”
Jesus wants a close, intimate relationship with His followers. But many times, in return, we treat Him as just a distant acquaintance. Pastor Greg Laurie points out how important it is to prevent our love for the Lord from growing cold.
WHAT HEAVEN WILL BE LIKE
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, “Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne 3 that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads. 5 Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy[a] is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!”
9 When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One,[b] to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!”
Footnotes:
a. Revelation 4:8 Hodges/Farstad MT reads “holy” 9 times instead of 3.
b. Revelation 4:11 TR omits “and God, the Holy One,”
If you are a Christian, then one day—perhaps sooner than you expect—you are going to be in heaven, and you are going to get there by one of two ways: death or the rapture. The rapture is the taking up by force of all true believers to be with Christ to live with Him forever. It will happen in the twinkling of an eye and no one but God knows when it will happen. If we are going to be in heaven, we should learn what we can about it. What did John see in heaven?
PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES
1. John saw the Lord seated on His throne. He can’t accurately describe the Lord in His glory and has to use comparisons to things we are familiar with. Heaven is a place where God is.
2. John saw 24 elders. We can’t say for certain who these men are, or whom they represent, but they have crowns that depict their faithful service to God. Heaven is a place of reward and worship.
3. John saw ominous storm warnings. Though there may be tribulation and havoc on earth, heaven is far removed from it. Heaven is a safe place. 
RELEVANT REMINDERS
 • The word rapture is not found in the Bible. It comes from the Latin word rapturus, which is a translation of the Greek word found in Scripture, harpazo. But just because the word we use
 for this event is not found in the pages of the Bible, that doesn’t mean the event itself is not found there. 
 • Enoch and Elijah are both biblical examples of people who have been caught up, or raptured, to be with the Lord.
 • The rapture should not be confused with the second coming of Christ. They are two separate and distinct events. 
APPLICABLE ACTIONS
We all have an appointment with God—an appointment when life on this earth as we know it will end and we will enter into eternity. Only God knows when that appointment is. So we must always be ready. Some people will be caught up to meet the Lord and others will be left on this earth. Who will be taken? Believers in Jesus. Who will be left? People who don’t believe in Jesus. It is as simple as that. So if you want that door open for you in heaven, you have got to open the door now in your heart and say, “Lord I need You to come in.” If you have not done that yet, why don’t you do it right now so you can know with confidence that you will be ready for the Lord’s return? Find out more at KnowGod.org.
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
What Heaven Will be Like — I
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, “Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne 3 that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads. 5 Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy[a] is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!”
9 When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One,[b] to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!”
Footnotes:
a. Revelation 4:8 Hodges/Farstad MT reads “holy” 9 times instead of 3.
b. Revelation 4:11 TR omits “and God, the Holy One,”
Before we leave on vacation, we prepare. Before we move to a new home, we prepare. Are you prepared to move to your eternal home? Pastor Greg Laurie helps us all be prepared for the Lord's return . . . because it could happen at any time.
Thursday, 29 May 2014
What Heaven Will be Like — II
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, “Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne 3 that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads. 5 Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy[a] is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!”
9 When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One,[b] to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!”
Footnotes:
a. Revelation 4:8 Hodges/Farstad MT reads “holy” 9 times instead of 3.
b. Revelation 4:11 TR omits “and God, the Holy One,”
Can you imagine walking all the way to heaven? Long walk, huh? Pastor Greg Laurie points out, the Lord's return could come anytime. And we need to make sure we're walking each day with heaven on our minds.
NO NOTES
Friday, 30 May 2014
Why We Were Created — I
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, “Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne 3 that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads. 5 Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy[a] is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!”
9 When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One,[b] to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!”
Footnotes:
a. Revelation 4:8 Hodges/Farstad MT reads “holy” 9 times instead of 3.
b. Revelation 4:11 TR omits “and God, the Holy One,”
5:1 I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals. 2 I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” 3 No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it. 4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it. 5 One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.” 6 I saw in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. 7 Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 They sang a new song, saying,
“You are worthy to take the book,
    and to open its seals:
for you were killed,
    and bought us for God with your blood,
    out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,
10 and made us kings and priests to our God,
    and we will reign on earth.”
11 I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands; 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!”
13 I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!”[a]
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen!” The [b] elders fell down and worshiped.[c]
Footnotes:
a. Revelation 5:13 TR omits “Amen!”
b. Revelation 5:14 TR adds “twenty-four”
c. Revelation 5:14 TR adds “the one living forever and ever”
What do you live for? What's the purpose of your life? If you've ever had those thoughts, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us discover the real reason we were created. It's a study in the book of Revelation.
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Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie
P.O. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514-4000
Phone: 1(800)821-3300
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