Greg’s Blog

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The Story of How My Mother Came to Faith

No Pain, No Gain.

The Christian life is the greatest life there is. God takes a life that was empty and aimless and, worst of all, headed to a certain judgment, and he turns it around and transforms it. That is more than enough right there. But in addition, he removes the guilt that haunted us, fills the emptiness inside of us and literally takes residence in our heart. This all comes as a result of the gospel believed and followed.

That is the good news. But we also need to know there are some new problems that come along as a result of becoming a Christian. You get rid of an old set of problems, and you inherit new ones. As Bible commentator Ray Stedman put it, “A Christian is one who is completely fearless, continually cheerful, and constantly in trouble.” We need to be aware of the fact that the Christian life is not a playground; it is a battleground. In fact, the Bible tells us, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22 NKJV).

Why Does God Allow Adversity?

But why does God allow trials and hardships in the life of the Christian? Let me give you a few reasons.

First, adversity levels us and keeps us humble. Prosperity has a tendency to make people proud and self-sufficient. We don’t think we need God when we have a wallet full of credit cards, a lot of money in the bank, investments and good health. So we sort of ignore God. But when an economy goes south or the stock market crashes or our home burns to the ground, we turn to God because we are reminded of what really matters. As the psalmist said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word” (Psalm 119:67).

A Warning

When the people of Israel were poised to enter the Promised Land after years of wandering in the wilderness, God gave them this warning: “When you have eaten your fill in this land, be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 6:11–12 NLT).

We talk about the problem of pain, but let’s talk about the problem of prosperity. Prosperity brings responsibility. I am not an owner of anything; I am a steward. Everything God gives to me is a gift, and I am held responsible for what I do with the resources that are at my disposal. So we must take the responsibility of prosperity seriously and make sure that we remain dependent on God.

God Shouts in Our Pain.

When life gets really hard and adversity strikes, we pray – and so we should. But sometimes when life is going reasonably well, we sort of forget about prayer. In his book “The Problem of Pain,” C. S. Lewis writes, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Second, adversity teaches us eternal truths that we would not otherwise learn. I avoid pain at all costs. That is why I don’t run. I have tried it, and it hurts. I have even had people say, “Just run a little. You know, walk, and then run from here to there.” So I do it. And I hate it. I avoid things that cause pain.

We want to get into shape, but we want a pain-free workout. We don’t want to hurt. We don’t want our muscles to be sore the next day. But as the expression goes, “No pain, no gain.” And what is true for the gym is also true of life. No pain, no gain. If you are looking for a pain-free life, then you are not going to grow spiritually.

Pain reminds us of a deeper need, which is a need for God. And he will teach us lessons in the valleys that we never would have learned on the mountaintops, things we need to know and things we need to share with others.

Think about some of the greatest lessons you have learned in your life. They have come through adversity, haven’t they? And those are the things that you pass on and share with others. You remember those times when God came through for you.

Comforting Others

Third, adversity gives us a new compassion for others who are in pain. When you go through adversity, you have a new consideration of others. It has been said that success builds walls, and failures build bridges. If everything is always perfect and life is always firing on every cylinder, people don’t relate to that. But they do relate to a person who is going through or who has been through pain.

The apostle Paul said, “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:4).

We need to continue in the faith. Some may say, “Well, my faith has been tested, and I can’t handle this.” But the faith that cannot be tested is the faith that cannot be trusted. With all respect, the faith that cannot make it through adversity is not real faith.

Real faith gets stronger through hardship, not weaker. It becomes more resilient. It doesn’t fall apart. Emotions come and go. The Bible says, “The just shall life by faith” (Romans 1:17 NKJV); it doesn’t say the just shall live by feeling. So press on. And when you are facing adversity, don’t focus on emotions that fluctuate. Remember that God is there with you. And remember that he is in control.

This Sunday at Harvest: Hope for Those Facing Crisis

It’s a day like any other day. You get out of bed, get dressed, have breakfast. And then “it” happens:

A call from a loved one or police officer telling you there has been an accident.

A call from your doctor about a test he did and you need to come in right away.

A note on your counter from your spouse saying they are done with the marriage.

A new pain in your body you have never noticed before.

The list goes on.
Crisis. . . it hits fast and hard and takes no prisoners.
Pain has knocked on your front door and has now moved in without your permission.

And it refuses to leave.

So what do you do now? I’m glad you asked that question! 

That is exactly what I will be dealing with in my message this Sunday at Harvest Riverside and Orange County in all of our services.

Join us live or online.

For more information, go to church.harvest.org.

Attention All Singles!

I am dealing tonight with issues like:
Can you be happily single, and for that matter, married?
What qualities should you look for in a potential mate?
What about living together before marriage?
Is sex ever allowed before marriage?
I will deal with this and much more tonight, in my message at
Harvest Orange County: “Hope for Lonely Hearts.”
It starts at 7:00 PM, PST.
It will be webcast LIVE at www.harvest.org.

When Crisis Comes

Have you been hit with an unexpected crisis? Are you wondering what to do?

When Mary and Martha’s brother, Lazarus, was sick they sent word to Jesus saying “The one that you love is sick” (John 11:3). They did not tell Him what to do; they simply brought their need before the Lord. And that is what we ought to do as well.

#1 When the Israelites criticized and turned against Moses…

Moses “cried unto the Lord” (Exodus 15:25). Have you been unfairly criticized for something you did? Have you been misrepresented or misunderstood? Cry to the Lord like Moses did.

#2 When King Hezekiah received a threatening letter…

He “Spread it out before the Lord” (Isaiah 37:14). Has someone threatened you in a letter, e-mail, or text? Have they tried to do you harm? Like King Hezekiah, bring it to the Lord.

#3 When John the Baptist was beheaded…

His disciples, “went and told Jesus” (Matthew 14:12). When crisis comes (and it will), go and tell Jesus. He is listening and He cares!

These thoughts are from the message I just gave at Harvest from my new series, Hope for Hurting Hearts.

To see the whole message, go here:

http://www.harvest.org/r?id=4220&section=archive&use_ref=1&mid=1317

The Power of Resolve

A lot of people believe in making New Year’s resolutions, but personally, I believe in resolution. Every one of us should have resolution in our lives. We need goals. We need objectives. We need aspirations.

Here are the words of the apostle Paul after years of walking with God:

“I do not consider myself to have “arrived,” spiritually, nor do I consider myself already perfect. But I keep going on, grasping ever more firmly that purpose for which Christ grasped me. My brothers, I do not consider myself to have fully grasped it even now. But I do concentrate on this: I leave the past behind and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I go straight for the goal – my reward the honour of being called by God in Christ. “(Philippians 3:12–14 Phillips)

When I was 21, I thought I had come so far. And in many ways, I had, because it was only a few years before that I was living in complete darkness, without God in my life, without any knowledge of the Bible. But now I realize I have so far to go. I realize I have a lot to change.

“I do not consider myself to have ‘arrived,’ spiritually, nor do I consider myself already perfect. …” Paul recognized this about himself, and I hope that we see this in ourselves as well. I hope that we all realize that we are but a work in progress, that we have a long way to go spiritually. If the apostle Paul saw that, then certainly we need to see that, because this truly was a man of God.

Not only did the great apostle realize that he had a long way to go, but he also realized that he could not live in the past: “I leave the past behind. …” We cannot be controlled by past mistakes or live in past victories.

So if you have blown it in the past year, learn from it. And don’t do it again. Make changes in your behavior, in your habit patterns and in your choices that would cause you not go to down that road again. Learn from your mistakes.

At the same time, don’t live in past victories. If God did something wonderful in your life this past year, that is glorious. Be thankful for that. But now a new year is before you with many new opportunities.

Press on for what God has for you. That is what Paul was doing: “With hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I go straight for the goal. …” The original language of this verse includes the word agonizo, from which we get our English word “agony.” This reminds us that our lives are a walk of faith. There are challenges, difficulties and obstacles that we will face. As the expression goes, “No pain, no gain.” Paul was straining to move forward.

By the way, these words were not given to a spiritually elite group of Christians. They were not given to pastors or only to those who are called in the ministry. They are given to every follower of Jesus Christ. Every believer is called to press on.

You see, often it is the little things that bring us down – not the outright sins. Sure, we get to those in time. But it is the little things that ultimately lead to the big things. It is the gray areas that ultimately lead us to those black-and-white areas. That is why we have to look at these things carefully and ask ourselves a few questions:

• Does it build me up spiritually?
• Does it bring me under its power?
• Do I have an uneasy conscience about it?

As the apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth, “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’ – but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12 NLT).

I don’t want to be under the power of anyone or anything but Jesus Christ. So ask yourself these questions about the things you think you have the freedom to do.

In the life of every Christian, there will come a temptation to compromise, to back off, to not take a stand for what is right, to not say what is true. We are all going to be faced with this temptation in one way, shape, or form.

You never will be temptation-proof any more than you will be bulletproof. But at the same time, if you are walking closely with God, sin will not have the impact it had on you before. To what you are going to yield yourself and to whom you are going to yield yourself is your choice.

Character is not made in crisis; it is only exhibited. It may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.

Do you have that character? Are you compromising in your life as a Christian? Are you doing what is right, even in the little things? Because if you don’t deal with compromise in the little things, then it will lead to the big things.

That is why it is a good time at the beginning of the new year to have some resolution–not a bunch of silly resolutions that you make and can’t keep, but resolution. Purpose. Commitment. It is having the dedication to say, “I want to do the right thing.” Because you decide the evening of your life by the morning of it.

This Sunday at Harvest Riverside and Orange County

This Sunday at Harvest, I will be giving a message with the title
“How to Live Life Well.”
I will also be showing a video clip from my interview with Chuck Smith as we look at him reflecting on his life.
This message will be a great way for you to begin this new year.
For more info, go to www.harvest.org.

Don’t miss my interview tonight with Chuck Smith!

We will have a special time together and we revisit the amazing story of Charles Ward Smith.

You may be surprised to know that despite his ready smile Chuck has faced many setbacks and major tragedy in his life.
That makes his optimistic faith only more impressive.
In addition to finding out about his life and philosophy I  will ask Chuck some unexpected questions that I am certain you will enjoy.
We will have a special set of songs from our Harvest worship band from the “Jesus movement” days as well as a set by my friend,Dennis Agajanian.

This will be broadcast live at www.harvest.org at 7:00 PM,PST

and will not be archived at present.

So,don’t miss it!

This is going to be captured in HD for later viewing as well.

Update on Pastor Chuck Smith

You may have heard that Pastor Chuck Smith has lung cancer. Chuck is going in to the hospital for a biopsy today and a series of tests. He is planning on having surgery the following week. Let’s be praying that God will give him peace in the middle of this storm and wisdom to the doctors and all those involved.

Amazingly, Chuck is planning to host his radio program, Pastor’s Perspective, on KWVE this Wednesday, then speak at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa on Wednesday night.

He also plans on being with us at Harvest Orange County this coming Thursday night where I will do an in-depth interview with him so you can better get to know the “man behind the message.”

Let us pray for this man of God.

I will be interviewing Chuck Smith this Thursday, January 5 at Harvest OC!

Rarely does a man affect an entire generation. But I know a man who has done that and more. His name is Chuck Smith.

Chuck’s primary focus

Chuck’s laser beam-like focus has always been on Bible exposition.

His teaching and leadership produced a generation of men who went around the world starting churches (I am in those ranks myself). You could arguably make a case for contemporary Christian music and worship starting at the church he has pastored since the late sixties, Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa.

Very few people know his whole story and it is indeed an amazing one.

It will be my privilege to interview Chuck Smith this coming Thursday, Jan 5 at Harvest Orange County.

I have a unique vantage point in that I have had the privilege of knowing Chuck personally for forty years. We have had many adventures together and I want you to better know the man behind the message.

Chuck recently found out he has lung cancer.

This interview was previously scheduled for mid-January, but Pastor Chuck just found out that he has lung cancer. He is going to have tests done this week and surgery the following week, so Chuck graciously agreed to reschedule it for this week.

The service will start at 7:00 P.M. (Pacific) and will be webcast live at www.harvest.org.

We need to hold up this man of God in prayer and ask the Lord to give wisdom and guidance to the medical team that will be attending to him.

I have a very important announcement to make today at Harvest!

I have a very important announcement to make today at Harvest!
Check it out at Harvest Riverside and OC.
Service times for Riverside are 7:30, 9:30, and 11:30.
Service times for Orange County are 9:30 and 11:30.
It’s all webcast live at www.harvest.org.

The 3 Things we can give to God in 2012.

As we enter into a new year,here is something to remember-

When it’s all said and done, we have three things we can offer God: our treasure, our talent, and our time. Each of these is given to us by God, and each of them should be given back in generous portions.

First, there is our treasure.

I urge you to commit yourself to give faithfully and generously to the Lord in this coming year. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21 nkjv). Whenever we put our money into something, we develop a vested interest in it.

It makes sense to us that we would place our treasures where our hearts are. If we love reading books, or being entertained, or the latest technology, we spend our treasure on those things. And if our heart’s desires change, that changes where we put our treasure.

But it works the other way too: Where we put our treasures, our heart will follow.

Do you want your heart to be in the things of God? Then put your treasures in the things of God! Develop a vested interest in God’s kingdom.

The second thing we can give to God is our talent.

God has gifted each believer in different ways. Everyone has something to offer for the work of the kingdom.

Romans 12 says, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us different work to do” (nlt).

Finally, there is our time.

Let’s say that one day your phone rang and it was the president of the bank that you use. He told you that an anonymous donor who loved you very much had decided to deposit 86,400 pennies into your bank account each and every morning.

At first, maybe that didn’t seem like a lot. But then you figured out that it was $864 a day. At seven days a week and 52 weeks a year, those pennies add up to almost $315,000 each year!

But the bank president added one thing: “The anonymous giver said you must spend all of the money on the day you receive it! No balance will be carried over to the next day. Each evening the bank must cancel whatever sum you failed to use! Remember, what you don’t spend is lost.”

That may sound like fantasy, but here’s the reality: Every morning, Someone who loves you very much deposits into your “bank of time” 86,400 seconds, which represent 1,440 minutes, which of course equals 24 hours each and every day.

God gives you that much to use each day. Nothing is ever carried over on credit to the next day. There is no such thing as a 27-hour day.

It’s called time, and you can’t escape it. Time is ticking away right now. The Bible tells us to “redeem the time”—to make sacred and wise use of every opportunity.

Offer God your treasure, your talent, and your time. Live this year as if it were your last…because it could be.

Make those minutes count!

Tonight at Harvest Orange County: Levi Lusko!

Join us TONIGHT at Harvest Orange County for worship and Bible study!
My friend Levi Lusko will be bringing the message.
Levi is a dynamic young communicator of God’s Word!
It will also be webcast live at
www.harvest.org

Check out this really important year end video!

The last few days of the year are a critical time, as we seek to finish the year in the black financially—with all of our ministry expenses from this year met. Your year-end gift, no matter the size, will help to meet this last challenge of 2011. To learn more, watch this year-end video.

You can support Harvest Ministries here.

Tonight at Harvest OC – Phil Wickham!

Amazing night at Harvest Riverside last night with Phil Wickham.
He did a fantastic job! (What a voice!)
I shared a message about the name of Jesus and we saw a very large response of those that wanted to commit their lives to Him. And guess what?
We are doing it again TONIGHT at Harvest Orange County at 7:00 pm.
For more info, go to www.harvest.org

Check this out!

Red: The Color of Christmas

Why is Red the color of Christmas?
Watch this short film that I recently shot in NYC for the answer.
Pass it on to a friend too!

Click here to watch!

This Sunday at Harvest Riverside and Orange County

You’ve heard of the Grinch who tried to steal Christmas?
We all know about Ebeneezer Scrooge’s cruelty at Christmas.
But have you heard the story about the man who tried to STOP CHRISTMAS?
His story, unlike these others, is true and has a lot to say to us today.
It’s found in Matthew chapter 2.
So join us at Harvest Riverside and Orange County for our services.
Also, we will be having special music by CRYSTAL LEWIS!
For info, go to www.harvest.org

Red: The Color of Christmas

Why is red the color of Christmas?
In this special video shot in New York City, I share from a number of biblical vignettes about some of the significance of this color—and what it should mean to us during this important holiday season.

Tonight at Harvest Orange County

The outstanding Harvest Worship band will perform their production, “Magnify,” featuring your favorite Christmas songs and many new compositions.

We will also debut a short film we recently shot in NYC called “Red: The Color of Christmas”

In this film, I talk about the real meaning of the birth of Jesus Christ.
It all starts at 7:00 PM, PST. It will also be webcast LIVE at www.harvest.org.