OUCH!, What type of Christian are you?

*This message is from Greg Laurie w/ Harvest Ministries

Stealth Christians

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

— Mark 8:38

When Elijah encountered the king's servant, Obadiah, after a three-year vacation, Elijah was ready to rock.

Obadiah, however, wasn't. Scripture tells us he feared the Lord "greatly" (1 Kings 18:3). We also read that when Jezebel was killing off the prophets, Obadiah hid one hundred of them. But even though he was a believer, he seemed to lack real backbone; otherwise he would not have served in Ahab's court. He was serving the most wicked king in the history of Israel.

Obadiah had heard and seen great atrocities against God's servants, but he had not spoken up for fear of losing his position—or his head. Obadiah's testimony was so diminished and his witness so weak that he in no way deterred Ahab from his evil. In some ways he was even an accomplice with Ahab and Jezebel in their wicked ways.

Remember, our silence can imply consent and endorsement to actions we actually oppose. If you see something wrong and you don't speak up, others may interpret your silence as approval. Think of how Elijah instantly obeyed and firmly declared God's will. That is the path you need to take.

We need more Elijahs and fewer Obadiahs. Obadiahs may believe; they fear the Lord; but they don't stand up for what is right. They are afraid of persecution. They don't want to be laughed at. They are afraid of being rejected. So they try to fly under the radar—"stealth Christians." We need more people who will stand for the Lord the way Elijah did..


—Greg Laurie

God will close one door and open another.....

*This message is from Greg Laurie w/ Harvest Ministries

A Change of Direction

"He went and stayed by the Brook Cherith. . . . The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up. . . ."

— 1 Kings 17:5-7

After Elijah had delivered his powerful message to Ahab and Jezebel, the Lord told Elijah to go into obscurity—disappear for a while—and God would provide for him there.

Does Elijah's sudden turnaround sound a little familiar? Maybe things were going reasonably well in your own life, and God redirected you. It didn't necessarily make sense at the moment.

The next thing we know is that the brook dried up.

Maybe that's happened to you too. Things were humming along, then one day your spouse said, "I'm leaving. I don't want to be married to you." He's gone. Your brook dried up.

Maybe you got a call from the place you've worked for twenty years: "Sorry. We have to downsize." Your brook just dried up. Your world ended. Or so it seemed.

Actually, it might be a whole new beginning. When God closes one door, He opens another. Elijah was about to discover this. In fact, God was preparing him.

God was getting him ready, step by step, challenge by challenge. Big things were coming. The next phase was about to start. It's the same with you. If you've been told to head for the hills and be fed by birds, so to speak, if your brook has dried up, if a door has closed in your life, don't think God is done with you. You need to just trust Him. He may be getting you ready for phase two. He may be whipping you into shape for something beyond your wildest dreams..

—Greg Laurie

What you sow now you will reap later....

*This message is from Greg Laurie w/ Harvest Ministries

Get a Good Start

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them."

— Ecclesiastes 12:1


In my 30 years of ministry I have seen that most people make a commitment to Christ before the age of 18. That is why it is so important to reach people when they are young. As John the apostle wrote, "I have no greater desire than to hear that my children walk in truth" (3 John 4). The decisions we make during our youth affect us for the rest of our lives. We sow the seeds of career and marriage, then reap their results in the years ahead.

When we are young, we are more flexible, more open to change, even embracing it. The one thing you hear from kids is "I'm bored!" (And this while they are watching TV, playing a video game, and talking on the phone—all at the same time.) In contrast, when you get older you find yourself liking a routine. You become more set in your ways. You go to the same restaurants and order the same things. You actually begin to take comfort in your routine.

Now, that is not necessarily a bad thing, if you have established good habits earlier. In the early years, the die is cast. The course charted. The path started. You decide what the evening of your life will be by the choices you make in the morning.

The stand you make today will determine what kind of stand you will make tomorrow. Solomon's conclusion was heartfelt: remember God when you are young. Don't throw your youth away. If you want to heed Solomon's wisdom, start good habits in your youth. Build a healthy foundation. Then you will have established something that will benefit you all your life.


—Greg Laurie

Don't Compromise your Salvation....

*This message is from Greg Laurie w/ Harvest Ministries

The Problem with Compromise

Now Solomon made a treaty with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and married Pharaoh's daughter. . . .

— 1 Kings 3:1


Solomon's fall and disillusionment began with a series of compromises, one of which was marrying the daughter of Pharaoh. This he did because he wanted to establish a political alliance. For all practical purposes, Solomon was "yoking" himself unequally with a nonbeliever. God told the Jewish people not to intermarry with the other nations. This was not a racial issue; it was a spiritual issue. God didn't want the Israelites aligning themselves with people who were worshipers of false gods. He knew their hearts would turn away. The same is true of us as Christians. You want to run this race with someone who loves the Lord as you do.

If you are a single person, you should pray for and wait on the godly man or woman that the Lord will bring into your life. You can be sure He would not want you romantically involved with a person who does not believe.

The Bible tells us, "Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?" (2 Corinthians. 6:14–15 NLT).

In the race of life, you want to run with someone who is going in the same direction that you are. And if you are Christians, both you and your mate will be running toward the Lord, and His plan and purpose for your lives.

But Solomon did not live by that principle. He teamed up with someone who did not share his faith or his God. More problems followed, and they always will.


—Greg Laurie

I AGREE.........

*Thanks Esther F. for this e-mail

It seems to get worse daily.
This is by a daughter of a murdered couple in
Raytown who had a Bible and Bookstore on 63rd street.

Just one more example:
When I had to testify at the murder trial of my
parents a week ago, I was asked to raise my right hand. The bailiff started
out”Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"
I stood there and waited but she said nothing. She said "Do you?"
I was so stunned I blurted out "What happened to "so help me God'?"
She came back with "Do you?" I replied yes, but I was perplexed.
Then the judge said................ "You can say that if you want to."
I stopped, raised my right hand, and finished with "So help me God!"
I told my son and daughter that when it came time or them to testify, they should do the same.

It's no wonder we have so many problems in this country. If I'd had my wits about me I’d have told them that taking God out of the courtroom is only going to result in more criminals and murderers like him being in there! I don't know what can be done about it, but it's time we stepped up and did something.
NBC this morning had a poll on this question. They had the highest number of responses that they have ever had for one of their polls, and the percentage was the same as this: 86% to keep the words, 14% against. That is a pretty 'commanding' public response.

I was asked to send this on if I agreed or delete if I didn’t.
Now it is your turn... It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God.
Therefore, I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and SHUT UP!!!
If you agree, pass this on, if not, simply delete....

In God We Trust

I'm glad i know Jesus...

*This message is from Greg Laurie w/ Harvest Ministries

It's Who You Know

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

— Romans 5:6

In the 1800s in London, a little boy wanted to hear the great American evangelist D. L. Moody, who had come to town to preach. This little street urchin made his way across the entire city of London, risking his very life, with no food or proper shoes. After a long journey, he finally came to the great church where Moody was scheduled to speak.

As he made his way up to the door, an old usher scowled at him and asked, "What are you doing, young man?"

The boy said, "I am going to go hear the great evangelist D. L. Moody."

"Not looking like that! You are filthy. Go away!"

The little boy was crushed. He was sitting on the steps, crying, when a black carriage pulled up in front of the church. Out of it stepped a large man. He saw the sad little boy on the steps and asked, "Young man, what is wrong?"

The boy answered, "I came here to hear the great preacher D. L. Moody, but they won't let me in the church."

"Is that so?" the big man said. "You just put your hand in my hand, and I will see what I can do to help you."

The little boy put his dirty little hand into the man's big clean hand. The man led him right down the middle aisle, past the usher who wouldn't let him in, to the front row. The big guy sat him in a front-row seat. Then the man stepped up to the pulpit. That man was, of course, D. L. Moody. That young boy couldn't get in on his own, but when he held Moody's hand, he walked through the front door.

So it is with us—because of Jesus. We are filthy in sin, but he takes our dirty hands in his clean one and leads us to the front-row seats in the palace.


—Greg Laurie, Losers and Winners, Saints and Sinners

Learn more about slaying the giants in your life in Greg Laurie's newest book, Losers and Winners, Saints and Sinners.

You'll join Pastor Greg as he examines the lives of biblical personalities—good and bad—revealing why some fell and failed while others picked themselves up and finished strong in the spiritual race.

Who are you Loyal to?

*This message is from Greg Laurie w/ Harvest Ministries

Looking for Loyalty

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen. . . . that no flesh should glory in His presence.

— 1 Corinthians 1:27-29


David was in many ways the opposite of King Saul. Saul came from a family who loved him; David came from a family who neglected him. Saul was the most handsome all Israel; David was a handsome enough guy, but relatively ordinary. Saul was attractive on the outside, but on the inside he was vain, shallow, and devoid of true integrity. In contrast, David had a deep spiritual life and an intense devotion to God. (If you want to know about David's spirituality profile, just read some of the Psalms. They are like windows into his soul.) Saul's problem was that he was full of himself. The Lord rejected him. David was full of the Lord, and God accepted him.

The Lord seems to go out of His way to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things; then people give credit to the Lord rather than to human beings. Just as surely as God plucked David from obscurity, He is looking for men and women He can use in these critical days in which we are living. God is looking for people to touch this generation. He is looking for people to change this world. Second Chronicles 16:9 says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."

What kind of person does He look for? Someone strong? No. The previous passage says He is looking for someone He can show His strength through—someone whose heart is turned toward Him. Is your heart totally turned toward God?

—Greg Laurie, Losers and Winners, Saints and Sinners

Learn more about slaying the giants in your life in Greg Laurie's newest book, Losers and Winners, Saints and Sinners.

You'll join Pastor Greg as he examines the lives of biblical personalities—good and bad—revealing why some fell and failed while others picked themselves up and finished strong in the spiritual race.

WOW!! People just like you and me

*This message is from Greg Laurie w/ Harvest Ministries

God Uses Ordinary People

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

— 1 Corinthians 1:25-26


One of the men God used mightily in his generation was D. L. Moody. Moody was the Billy Graham of his day. Dwight Moody was a shoe salesman when he came to faith. You might say that Moody went from selling soles to saving souls. He was just a run-of-the-mill guy.

Do you know what got Moody pointed in the right direction after his conversion? A man went up to him once and said, "Moody, the world has yet to see what God can do in and through and with a man who is totally committed to Him." Moody said, "When I heard that, I said to the Lord, 'I want to be that man.' "

Do you know what Billy Graham was when God called him? He was a farm boy living in North Carolina. He came to faith at a meeting held by a traveling evangelist. Young Billy Frank, as they called him, dedicated his life to the Lord. Who could have imagined what God would do with that young man?

The most godly people I know are also the most down-to-earth. God is looking for ordinary people to use.

—Greg Laurie, Losers and Winners, Saints and Sinners

Learn more about slaying the giants in your life in Greg Laurie's newest book, Losers and Winners, Saints and Sinners.

You'll join Pastor Greg as he examines the lives of biblical personalities—good and bad—revealing why some fell and failed while others picked themselves up and finished strong in the spiritual race.