Greg Laurie’s Notes for Week of Monday, 30 December 2013
Upcoming Programs:
2013 Best of A New Beginning
THE REALITY OF HELL
Luke The Parable of the Dishonest Manager
16: Then Jesus[a] said to the disciples, “There was a rich man
who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was
squandering his property. 2 So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this
that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you
cannot be my manager any longer.’ 3 Then the manager said to himself, ‘What
will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not
strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do so
that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’
5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much
do you owe my master?’ 6 He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to
him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ 7 Then he asked
another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of
wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’ 8 And his master
commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children
of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the
children of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of
dishonest wealth[b] so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the
eternal homes.[c]
10 “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in
much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11
If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth,[d] who will
entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what
belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? 13 No slave can serve
two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be
devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”[e]
The Law and the Kingdom of God
14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and
they ridiculed him. 15 So he said to them, “You are those who justify
yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is
prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God.
16 “The law and the prophets were in effect until John came;
since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone
tries to enter it by force.[f] 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass
away, than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped.
18 “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits
adultery, and whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine
linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man
named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with
what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his
sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with
Abraham.[g] The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was
being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his
side.[h] 24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus
to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in
these flames.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime
you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now
he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you
and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from
here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 27 He said,
‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five
brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place
of torment.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should
listen to them.’ 30 He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them
from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises
from the dead.’”
Footnotes:
a. Luke 16:1 Gk he
b. Luke 16:9 Gk mammon
c. Luke 16:9 Gk tents
d. Luke 16:11 Gk mammon
e. Luke 16:13 Gk mammon
f. Luke 16:16 Or everyone is strongly urged to enter it
g. Luke 16:22 Gk to Abraham’s bosom
h. Luke 16:23 Gk in his bosom
When it comes to heaven, most people believe in it, and most
people believe they are going there. On the other hand, while some people believe
in hell, most don’t think they are going there.
But Jesus made it very clear that most people are headed for
hell, whether they believe it or not (Matthew 7:13-14). Hell is real, and it is
described as many things—a garbage dump, a prison, and a place of complete
darkness.
The most common description of hell, however, is that of an
unquenchable fire. One of Jesus’ most well-known parables regarding hell comes
in Luke 16:19-31, the story of Lazarus and the rich man.
But while the parable depicts fictional people, it describes a
very real punishment for those who reject Christ.
PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES
1. People in hell suffer. The rich man uses the term torment three
times in this parable, and Abraham uses it once. It is clear that the rich man
is in real pain, not imagined or symbolic pain.
2. Once you are in hell, you cannot cross over to heaven. The
other thing made clear in this parable is that after the judgment seat of
Christ, there is no changing your destination. When we are alive, we have thousands
of opportunities to decide our future destination. But once our physical life
ends, there are no more chances. The believer enters heaven, while the
non-believer enters hell.
3. People in hell are fully conscious and aware of where they
are. Just as a person in heaven knows where they are and how they got there,
the person in hell will know why they are where they are. They won’t be able to
say they were never warned, because they will know that they had ample
opportunity to change their ways.
RELEVANT REMINDERS
Revelation 20:11-15 describes the great white throne judgment,
the final judgment for nonbelievers.
Who will be there? Everyone who has rejected God’s offer of forgiveness
through Jesus Christ. Rich and poor, famous and unheralded, everyone is equal
(Verse 12). Why are they there? Because they did not believe in Jesus (John
3:18).
APPLICABLE ACTIONS
The truth is that God never intended for any person to go to
hell. That place is reserved for Satan and his demons. God does everything He
can to keep us out of hell, but He has also given us the ability to choose. If
you want to go to heaven, put your faith in Christ. If you reject Christ, then
you have also made a choice for all eternity. Choose life.
MONDAY, 30 December 2013
The Reality of Hell — II
Luke The Parable of the Dishonest Manager
16: Then Jesus[a] said to the disciples, “There was a rich man
who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was
squandering his property. 2 So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this
that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you
cannot be my manager any longer.’ 3 Then the manager said to himself, ‘What
will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not
strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do so
that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’
5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much
do you owe my master?’ 6 He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to
him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ 7 Then he asked
another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of
wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’ 8 And his master
commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children
of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the
children of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest
wealth[b] so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal
homes.[c]
10 “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in
much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11
If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth,[d] who will
entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what
belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? 13 No slave can serve
two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be
devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”[e]
The Law and the Kingdom of God
14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and
they ridiculed him. 15 So he said to them, “You are those who justify
yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is
prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God.
16 “The law and the prophets were in effect until John came;
since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone
tries to enter it by force.[f] 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass
away, than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped.
18 “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits
adultery, and whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits
adultery.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine
linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man
named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with
what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his
sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with
Abraham.[g] The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was
being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his
side.[h] 24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus
to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these
flames.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you
received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he
is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and
us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here
to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 27 He said, ‘Then,
father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five
brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place
of torment.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should
listen to them.’ 30 He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them
from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises
from the dead.’”
Footnotes:
a. Luke 16:1 Gk he
b. Luke 16:9 Gk mammon
c. Luke 16:9 Gk tents
d. Luke 16:11 Gk mammon
e. Luke 16:13 Gk mammon
f. Luke 16:16 Or everyone is strongly urged to enter it
g. Luke 16:22 Gk to Abraham’s bosom
h. Luke 16:23 Gk in his bosom
So many believe that "good people go to heaven."
Pastor Greg Laurie says there's just one problem. It's not true. He points out
that we're all sinners. He says good people don't go to heaven, FORGIVEN people
do. Get the whole story.
2013 Best of A New Beginning
READY OR NOT
Matthew The Destruction of the Temple Foretold
24: As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his
disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 Then he asked
them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be
left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age
3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came
to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the
sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Beware
that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am
the Messiah!’[a] and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars
and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but
the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom, and there will be famines[b] and earthquakes in various places: 8 all
this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
Persecutions Foretold
9 “Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you
to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many
will fall away,[c] and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11
And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because of the
increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who
endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this good news[d] of the kingdom will
be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then
the end will come.
The Desolating Sacrilege
15 “So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the
holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),
16 then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; 17 the one on the housetop
must not go down to take what is in the house; 18 the one in the field must not
turn back to get a coat. 19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are
nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or
on a sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has
not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22
And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the
sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you,
‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’[e] or ‘There he is!’—do not believe it. 24 For
false messiahs[f] and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and
omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Take note, I have told
you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do
not go out. If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so
will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the
vultures will gather.
The Coming of the Son of Man
29 “Immediately after the suffering of those days
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not
give its light;
the stars will fall from heaven,
and the powers of heaven will be shaken.
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and
then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory. 31 And he will send
out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch
becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So
also, when you see all these things, you know that he[g] is near, at the very
gates. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these
things have taken place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
not pass away.
The Necessity for Watchfulness
36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels
of heaven, nor the Son,[h] but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah
were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before
the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until
the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and
swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two
will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will
be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Keep
awake therefore, for you do not know on what day[i] your Lord is coming. 43 But
understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night
the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his
house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man
is coming at an unexpected hour.
The Faithful or the Unfaithful Slave
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has
put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves[j] their allowance of
food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at
work when he arrives. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of
all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is
delayed,’ 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with
drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not
expect him and at an hour that he does not know. 51 He will cut him in
pieces[k] and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 24:5 Or the Christ
b. Matthew 24:7 Other ancient authorities add and pestilences
c. Matthew 24:10 Or stumble
d. Matthew 24:14 Or gospel
e. Matthew 24:23 Or the Christ
f. Matthew 24:24 Or christs
g. Matthew 24:33 Or it
h. Matthew 24:36 Other ancient authorities lack nor the Son
i. Matthew 24:42 Other ancient authorities read at what hour
j. Matthew 24:45 Gk to give them
k. Matthew 24:51 Or cut him off
Christ is coming back soon and there are two extremes that
people fall into—they could either be completely ignorant (or indifferent)
about Christ’s return, or they could become so obsessed with Bible prophecy
that they try to interpret every little piece of news as a fulfillment of
prophecy. The imminence of the Rapture should cause us to live godlier lives
and motivate us to tell others about the message of Christ.
PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES
1. What is the Rapture? The Lord will descend from heaven, and
the dead in Christ will rise; then those who are alive and remaining will be
caught up to heaven.
2. Why is there a Rapture? The Rapture will reunite us with
believers who have died, and will also unite us with Christ. We do not have to
grieve; as believers we have hope.
3. When is the Rapture? No one knows the day or the hour of
Christ’s return; it could happen at any moment, in the twinkling of an eye.
RELEVANT REMINDERS
• The reaction of people
to the Rapture will be quite similar to those who lived in the days of Noah.
Just as people mocked Noah before the flood, so people will mock believers in
the end times.
• God promised to never
again judge the earth with water, but at His next coming, He will judge the
earth with fire.
• Two will be in a field
and one will be taken and the other left. Two will be grinding in a mill and
one will be taken and the other left. The Rapture is an instantaneous event.
Realize that Christ could come back at any moment, and be ready.
APPLICABLE ACTIONS
While we are awaiting the return of Christ, we are to be
faithful and wise servants. We are to leverage what God has given us for His
glory. If we remain faithful, He promises His believers a reward. The
responsibilities and opportunities we have are privileges from the Lord and
they are occasions to show our faithfulness in this life. The Lord is coming
back again and it could happen at any moment. So get right or get left!
TUESDAY, 31 December 2013
Ready or Not! — I
Matthew The Destruction of the Temple Foretold
24: As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his
disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 Then he asked
them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be
left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age
3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came
to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the
sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Beware
that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am
the Messiah!’[a] and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars
and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but
the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom, and there will be famines[b] and earthquakes in various places: 8 all
this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
Persecutions Foretold
9 “Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you
to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many
will fall away,[c] and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11
And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because of the
increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who
endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this good news[d] of the kingdom will
be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then
the end will come.
The Desolating Sacrilege
15 “So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the
holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),
16 then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; 17 the one on the housetop
must not go down to take what is in the house; 18 the one in the field must not
turn back to get a coat. 19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are
nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or
on a sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has
not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22
And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the
sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you,
‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’[e] or ‘There he is!’—do not believe it. 24 For
false messiahs[f] and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and
omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Take note, I have told
you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do
not go out. If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so
will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the
vultures will gather.
The Coming of the Son of Man
29 “Immediately after the suffering of those days
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not
give its light;
the stars will fall from heaven,
and the powers of heaven will be shaken.
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and
then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory. 31 And he will send
out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch
becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So
also, when you see all these things, you know that he[g] is near, at the very
gates. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these
things have taken place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
not pass away.
The Necessity for Watchfulness
36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels
of heaven, nor the Son,[h] but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah
were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before
the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until
the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and
swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two
will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will
be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Keep
awake therefore, for you do not know on what day[i] your Lord is coming. 43 But
understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night
the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his
house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man
is coming at an unexpected hour.
The Faithful or the Unfaithful Slave
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has
put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves[j] their allowance of
food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at
work when he arrives. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of
all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is
delayed,’ 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with
drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not
expect him and at an hour that he does not know. 51 He will cut him in
pieces[k] and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 24:5 Or the Christ
b. Matthew 24:7 Other ancient authorities add and pestilences
c. Matthew 24:10 Or stumble
d. Matthew 24:14 Or gospel
e. Matthew 24:23 Or the Christ
f. Matthew 24:24 Or christs
g. Matthew 24:33 Or it
h. Matthew 24:36 Other ancient authorities lack nor the Son
i. Matthew 24:42 Other ancient authorities read at what hour
j. Matthew 24:45 Gk to give them
k. Matthew 24:51 Or cut him off
When the issue of the Rapture comes up, people want to know what
it is, why it is and when it is. Pastor Greg Laurie helps us be prepared for
that miraculous event in one of the year's most requested studies.
WEDNESDAY, 1 January 2014
Ready or Not! — II
Matthew The Destruction of the Temple Foretold
24: As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his
disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 Then he asked
them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be
left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age
3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came
to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the
sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Beware
that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am
the Messiah!’[a] and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars
and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but
the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom, and there will be famines[b] and earthquakes in various places: 8 all
this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
Persecutions Foretold
9 “Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you
to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many
will fall away,[c] and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11
And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because of the
increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who
endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this good news[d] of the kingdom will
be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then
the end will come.
The Desolating Sacrilege
15 “So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the
holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),
16 then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; 17 the one on the housetop
must not go down to take what is in the house; 18 the one in the field must not
turn back to get a coat. 19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are
nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or
on a sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has
not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22
And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the
sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you,
‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’[e] or ‘There he is!’—do not believe it. 24 For
false messiahs[f] and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and
omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Take note, I have told
you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do
not go out. If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so
will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the
vultures will gather.
The Coming of the Son of Man
29 “Immediately after the suffering of those days
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not
give its light;
the stars will fall from heaven,
and the powers of heaven will be shaken.
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and
then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory. 31 And he will send
out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch
becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So
also, when you see all these things, you know that he[g] is near, at the very
gates. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these
things have taken place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
not pass away.
The Necessity for Watchfulness
36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels
of heaven, nor the Son,[h] but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah
were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before
the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until
the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and
swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two
will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will
be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Keep
awake therefore, for you do not know on what day[i] your Lord is coming. 43 But
understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night
the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his
house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man
is coming at an unexpected hour.
The Faithful or the Unfaithful Slave
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has
put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves[j] their allowance of
food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at
work when he arrives. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of
all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is
delayed,’ 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with
drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not
expect him and at an hour that he does not know. 51 He will cut him in
pieces[k] and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 24:5 Or the Christ
b. Matthew 24:7 Other ancient authorities add and pestilences
c. Matthew 24:10 Or stumble
d. Matthew 24:14 Or gospel
e. Matthew 24:23 Or the Christ
f. Matthew 24:24 Or christs
g. Matthew 24:33 Or it
h. Matthew 24:36 Other ancient authorities lack nor the Son
i. Matthew 24:42 Other ancient authorities read at what hour
j. Matthew 24:45 Gk to give them
k. Matthew 24:51 Or cut him off
Meetings are nothing new. But have you ever attended a meeting
in midair!? Pastor Greg Laurie helps us study what the Bible says about the Rapture
- our meeting with the Lord Jesus in the clouds. It's important we understand
it, because it could happen anytime!
2013 Best of A New Beginning
HOPE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES
John The Death of Lazarus
11: Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village
of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with
perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the
sisters sent a message to Jesus,[a] “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when
Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for
God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5
Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6 after
having heard that Lazarus[b] was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place
where he was.
7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea
again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to
stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not
twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because
they see the light of this world. 10 But those who walk at night stumble,
because the light is not in them.” 11 After saying this, he told them, “Our
friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12 The
disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.”
13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he
was referring merely to sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is
dead. 15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But
let us go to him.” 16 Thomas, who was called the Twin,[c] said to his fellow
disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Jesus the Resurrection and the Life
17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus[d] had already been
in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles[e]
away, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about
their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met
him, while Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been
here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give
you whatever you ask of him.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise
again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the
resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and
the life.[f] Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and
everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27
She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,[g] the Son of
God, the one coming into the world.”
Jesus Weeps
28 When she had said this, she went back and called her sister
Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29
And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not
yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.
31 The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up
quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going
to the tomb to weep there. 32 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she
knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother
would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with
her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34 He
said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35
Jesus began to weep. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some
of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this
man from dying?”
Jesus Raises Lazarus to Life
38 Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was
a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a
stench because he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not
tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took
away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for
having heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for
the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent
me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and
his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had
seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees
and told them what he had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees
called a meeting of the council, and said, “What are we to do? This man is
performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe
in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place[h] and our
nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to
them, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not understand that it is better for
you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation
destroyed.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year
he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, 52 and not for the
nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. 53 So from
that day on they planned to put him to death.
54 Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews,
but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness;
and he remained there with the disciples.
55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from
the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were
looking for Jesus and were asking one another as they stood in the temple,
“What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?” 57 Now
the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where
Jesus[i] was should let them know, so that they might arrest him.
Footnotes:
a. John 11:3 Gk him
b. John 11:6 Gk he
c. John 11:16 Gk Didymus
d. John 11:17 Gk he
e. John 11:18 Gk fifteen stadia
f. John 11:25 Other ancient authorities lack and the life
g. John 11:27 Or the Christ
h. John 11:48 Or our temple; Greek our place
i. John 11:57 Gk he
I want to talk about hope for those who have lost loved ones,
but if that isn’t you, I want you to pay attention anyway. Sometimes the Lord
will give us truth in our life that we store up for another day, sort of like a
squirrel saving up for the winter. Store these truths in your heart because it
is only a matter of time until a loved one is going to leave this world, and
you will need to draw on the hope that God offers.
PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES
1. Life is filled with pain, sorrow, and the death of loved
ones. Sometimes we live as though we are going to get a free pass on these
things, and then they hit us out of the blue. Don’t be shocked when it happens.
Jesus warned that we would have tribulation in this world.
2. God loves us. Don’t rush over that thought. God loves you
very much and you must remember that whatever He allows to happen in your life
as His child is motivated by His everlasting love for you.
3. Jesus weeps in our time of pain. Jesus was God, but He was
also a man, and He identifies with us in our suffering. He feels our pain and
sorrows, and when your heart breaks, His does too.
4. God can be glorified through human suffering and bring good
despite the bad.
RELEVANT REMINDERS
• To have hope does not
mean that you have a smile permanently plastered on your face. Nor does it mean
you will stop feeling pain. Hope and pain can coexist simultaneously in our
hearts.
• Sometimes God is
glorified through the removal of affliction, and other times He is glorified in
our perseverance through the affliction. It is through hardship that we develop
hope.
• It’s not wrong to ask
why. Jesus Himself asked the question “Why?”
APPLICABLE ACTIONS
Maybe you are facing crisis now. Here is what you need to do. Like
Mary and Martha you need to run to God and call out to Him, and bring your pain
and sorrow to Him. Jesus is the source of hope and He will meet your need if
you come to Him in your weakness.
THURSDAY, 2 January 2014
Hope for Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones — I
John The Death of Lazarus
11: Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village
of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with
perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the
sisters sent a message to Jesus,[a] “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when
Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for
God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5
Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6 after
having heard that Lazarus[b] was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place
where he was.
7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea
again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to
stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not
twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because
they see the light of this world. 10 But those who walk at night stumble,
because the light is not in them.” 11 After saying this, he told them, “Our
friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12 The
disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.”
13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he
was referring merely to sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is
dead. 15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But
let us go to him.” 16 Thomas, who was called the Twin,[c] said to his fellow
disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Jesus the Resurrection and the Life
17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus[d] had already been
in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles[e]
away, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about
their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met
him, while Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been
here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give
you whatever you ask of him.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise
again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the
resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and
the life.[f] Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and
everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27
She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,[g] the Son of
God, the one coming into the world.”
Jesus Weeps
28 When she had said this, she went back and called her sister
Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29
And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not
yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.
31 The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up
quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going
to the tomb to weep there. 32 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she
knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother
would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with
her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34 He
said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35
Jesus began to weep. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some
of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this
man from dying?”
Jesus Raises Lazarus to Life
38 Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was
a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a
stench because he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not
tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took
away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for
having heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for
the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent
me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and
his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had
seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees
and told them what he had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees
called a meeting of the council, and said, “What are we to do? This man is
performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe
in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place[h] and our
nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to
them, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not understand that it is better for
you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation
destroyed.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year
he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, 52 and not for the
nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. 53 So from
that day on they planned to put him to death.
54 Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews,
but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness;
and he remained there with the disciples.
55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from
the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were
looking for Jesus and were asking one another as they stood in the temple,
“What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?” 57 Now
the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where
Jesus[i] was should let them know, so that they might arrest him.
Footnotes:
a. John 11:3 Gk him
b. John 11:6 Gk he
c. John 11:16 Gk Didymus
d. John 11:17 Gk he
e. John 11:18 Gk fifteen stadia
f. John 11:25 Other ancient authorities lack and the life
g. John 11:27 Or the Christ
h. John 11:48 Or our temple; Greek our place
i. John 11:57 Gk he
One of the most personal messages Pastor Greg Laurie has ever
delivered. It's a message of hope for those who've lost loved ones. He speaks
of the pain he and his family have faced with the loss of his son. It's
important perspective for all of us, no matter what kind of pain we feel.
FRIDAY, 3 January 2014
Hope for Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones — II
John The Death of Lazarus
11: Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village
of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with
perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the
sisters sent a message to Jesus,[a] “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when
Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for
God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5
Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6 after
having heard that Lazarus[b] was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place
where he was.
7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea
again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to
stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not
twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because
they see the light of this world. 10 But those who walk at night stumble,
because the light is not in them.” 11 After saying this, he told them, “Our
friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12 The
disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.”
13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he
was referring merely to sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is
dead. 15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But
let us go to him.” 16 Thomas, who was called the Twin,[c] said to his fellow
disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Jesus the Resurrection and the Life
17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus[d] had already been
in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles[e]
away, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about
their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met
him, while Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been
here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give
you whatever you ask of him.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise
again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the
resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and
the life.[f] Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and
everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27
She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,[g] the Son of
God, the one coming into the world.”
Jesus Weeps
28 When she had said this, she went back and called her sister
Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29
And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not
yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.
31 The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up
quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going
to the tomb to weep there. 32 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she
knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother
would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with
her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34 He
said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35
Jesus began to weep. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some
of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this
man from dying?”
Jesus Raises Lazarus to Life
38 Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was
a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a
stench because he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not
tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took
away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for
having heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for
the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent
me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and
his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had
seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees
and told them what he had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees
called a meeting of the council, and said, “What are we to do? This man is
performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe
in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place[h] and our
nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to
them, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not understand that it is better for
you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation
destroyed.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year
he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, 52 and not for the
nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. 53 So from
that day on they planned to put him to death.
54 Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews,
but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness;
and he remained there with the disciples.
55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from
the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were
looking for Jesus and were asking one another as they stood in the temple,
“What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?” 57 Now
the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where
Jesus[i] was should let them know, so that they might arrest him.
Footnotes:
a. John 11:3 Gk him
b. John 11:6 Gk he
c. John 11:16 Gk Didymus
d. John 11:17 Gk he
e. John 11:18 Gk fifteen stadia
f. John 11:25 Other ancient authorities lack and the life
g. John 11:27 Or the Christ
h. John 11:48 Or our temple; Greek our place
i. John 11:57 Gk he
Few of us have problem-free lives. Are you facing some tough
challenges right now? Friday on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us
find the hope that comes from following God wholeheartedly. It's great
reassurance for the storms of life.
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Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie
P.O. Box 4000
Riverside, CA 92514-4000 United States
Phone: 1(800)821-3300
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