The Look of Love

Notes: The Look of Love

Pastor Greg

John 11

February 13, 2014 

Valentines Day is tomorrow.

We all have our perception of love. It is usually skewed by pop culture.

Romantic comedies set the expectations for many.

A poll found that most Americans want to be loved over all other things.

Every love is going to be challenged.

God loves and chose us before he even created the world. It is an intentional love.

John 11 is about a tight knit family that lost one they loved.

John 11:1-3 (NIV)

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. [2] (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) [3] So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

1. This story confirms that life is filled with pain and sorrow and the death of loved ones. No one gets a free pass on human suffering.

1 Peter 4:12 (NIV)

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

It is inevitable that tragedies happen around you.

2. God loves us. Therefore whatever he does or allows to happen is motivated by Gods love for you.

We do not what He is doing, but we can be sure it is for us.

Many pray when this happens, but it is a good idea to include "but your will be done."

Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking.

Exodus 15:25 (NIV)

Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.

Isaiah 37:14 (NIV)

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord.

Psalm 46:1 (NIV)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

John 11:3 (NIV)

So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

They pleaded with Jesus based on his love, not their love.

John 11:6 (NIV)

So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,

Even though he loved Lazarus he still stayed where he was, it sounds almost like a contradiction. Why didn't Jesus automatically heal him.

Even though we can not see how the situation will end, we know that it flows through Gods love for us.

His delays are not dismisses.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

We think of the small picture and god looks at the big picture. We think of the here and now and He think of the by and by.

Jesus waited so long to go to Lazarus that Lazarus had died for 4 days.

John 11:20-26 (NIV)

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. [21] “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [22] But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” [23] Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” [24] Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” [25] Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; [26] and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Martha was extremely upset, saying that Jesus basically blew it.

Like when we ask, where is Jesus every time something goes wrong.

When you pray, be honest with God because he already knows what is happening. On the cross even Jesus cried out. "My God My God why have you forsaken me."

We may wonder why, there is nothing wrong with asking why. Just don't think that God owes you an answer. Even if He did it explain it, would it matter?

We live on promises, not on expectations!

Mary was upset and aggressive too. John 11:32-36 (NIV)

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” [33] When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. [34] “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. [35] Jesus wept. [36] Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

3. Jesus weeps with us in our time of pain.

Most men hold back the tears. Greg's response is: John 11:35 (NIV)

Jesus wept.

Jesus feels our pain. If it touches us, then it touches him.

Job 34:28 (NIV)

They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy.

When He sees us cry He cares

Isaiah 53:3-4 (NIV)

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. [4] Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

Psalm 56:8 (NIV)

Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll---are they not in your record?

We are reminded he keeps our tears in a bottle. Some day he will wipe them away.

John 11:43 (NIV)

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

Lazarus would of been in a place of comfort, but Jesus brought him back.

4. God can be glorified through human suffering and bring good out of bad.

When a Christian suffers and still glorifies God is a testament to our faith to others.

Your faith gets stronger through hardship. Muscles grow through strength training.

Death is not the end, it is only the end of our human existence.

God will be with you, he will never leave you or forsake you.

Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

God is never late.

No matter what our feeling is, he is not late. He comes through when He knows is right.

We have to just trust him!

God loves you the way you are, BUT he does not want to leave you that way!

Heart to Heart

Notes: Heart to Heart

Pastor Greg 

John 2

February 9, 2014 Sunday

There are things we should know and there are things we do know.

Should know:

John 3:16 (KJV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus speaks with the famous Nicodemus, he is a great person to represent all of us in font of God.

John 2:23-25 (NIV)

Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. [24] But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. [25] He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Paraphrase: They believed in Jesus but Jesus did not believe in them. They saw his miracles but it was not genuine faith.

1. First Nicodemus and Jesus were face to face.

Movement 1:

John 3:2-3 (NIV)

He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” [3] Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ”

Nicodemus was a leader of the Pharisees, the most powerful ruling group in Israel at the time.

John 3:2 (NIV)

He came to Jesus at night

Better to have a great ending with a poor beginning then a poor ending with a great beginning.

Finishing the race well is the most important part, if you fall you must get up and continue.

John 19:39 (NIV)

He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.

John 3:2 (NIV)

“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

John 3:4 (NIV)

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Most people come to Christ when they are young. That has a lot to do with older people not liking change. That doesn't mean that older people are beyond hope.

Don't write anyone off regardless of their age.

Like a sword these words pierced Nicodemus' heart: John 3:3 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ”

What does it mean to be born again: it means you have had your spiritual eyes open to Jesus as your savior.

There is no phrase that can "make someone born again" only God can do that.

Jesus was saying, "Nicodemus your religious beliefs are not enough."

Greg thinks that people's religion has kept more people from knowing Jesus then any other sin. Following Jesus is not being religious.

2. Nicodemus and Jesus are now coming mind to mind.

Movement 2:

John 3:4-8 (NIV)

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” [5] Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. [7] You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ [8] The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

3. Finally they are heart to heart.

Movement 3:

John 3:9-11 (NIV)

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. [10] “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? [11] Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.

John 3:14 (NIV)

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

Isaiah 45:21 (NIV)

Declare what is to be, present it---let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.

During this conversation is when the most famous of all scriptures is said by Jesus:

John 3:16 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Greg believes that God died for the whole world not just an elect few. God predestined some people for Heaven. The rest have only free will to chose God and go to Heaven.

God reaches us through his Son, not through ritual.

If you are part of John 3:16 then you are not part of:

Revelation 20:15 (NIV)

Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

When you are born from above you are given the gift of God:

1 John 5:13 (NIV)

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Greg was adopted by Oscar Laurie, that is where he got his last name. Oscar was the only one that Greg ever called Dad. Then Greg's mom left him, and Greg didn't see him again as a child.

Greg found Oscar when he got older. Greg shared his faith with him at the first dinner they had together. Oscar accepted Jesus as his savior.

Oscar was 75 years old when he accepted Jesus.

Are you born again?

The Family is a Microphone

Notes: The Family is a Microphone

February 6, 2014

Harvest OC

Pastor Levi Lusko

Pastor Greg is out of town celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary.

Tonight’s Text: Psalm 128

Tonight’s message in a Tweet: "The four walls of your home form a speaker that broadcast the content of your heart for the whole world to hear!”

Every movie night, every meal, every soccer game shows the contents of your heart to the world.

Psalm 128 (ESV)

Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

128 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
    who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
    you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
    around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
    who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion!
    May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
    all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children's children!
    Peace be upon Israel!

It is said that the way the family and home goes so will the nation. The family is a powerful thing and your home can and should be a place of ministry and a blessing to you. But it could be the opposite, it can become a toxic environment. 

The key difference maker is the “fear of the Lord”

Happy will you be if you fear the Lord. Fearing the Lord does not to mean just to be scared of God. God described himself as a consuming fire, so there is reason to fear and be afraid of God.

However, He isn’t just massive and full of inequity but He is also loving. 

Is the fear of the Lord, because we know we should be afraid of him but we don’t have to be.

Your home that fears the Lord will be a better place. 

1. Marriage is meant to send a message.
1. It is meant to magnify the truth of the cross. 
1. Marriage is an illustration of the holy life of the church.
1. The person that will not come to church, will see how Jesus effects your marriage and that can teach someone the Gospel. 
2. Reading your interaction with your wife could bring people to the Lord.
1. We all have made many mistakes and this is always very convicting to most couples.
2. Finding a spouse that loves the Lord is very important. 
1. Nothing is more important than you finding someone who loves the Lord like crazy as you do.
2. Marrying for charm, or money or chemistry. All of those things can fade. 

2 Corinthians 4(ESV)

The Light of the Gospel

4 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

3. There is no platform as powerful as parenthood. 
1. The responsibility to your children is so important. You can not turn off when you are in front of your kids. 
2. Kids are always soaking up what ever the parents are doing.
1. Good or bad, the kids absorb it.
3. They hear everything we are doing, see where we spend our time and our money, what we watch, who we talk to, in times of trials what we do, if we teach them the Bible or not. They are always learning from what we do. 

Psalm 127

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,    the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
    are the children of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
    who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

It is a tremendous honor to be a parent. It does not matter how successful your business is or how big your bank account is, it is how you did being a parent.

4. Being single isn’t a limiter; it’s a unique enabler.
1. Being single isn’t a set back, it is a setup. 
1. You can do more according to the Bible, as a single person than as a married person.
2. You have to take care of your wife and kids once you are married.
3. When you are single you have the flexibility to give it all to Jesus.
2. Don’t settle.
5. God is not afraid of your failures, so you don’t have to be either.
1. That is what is so amazing about grace.
1.  We have all be hypocrites, we have all let our families down, we have all experienced failure.

The most important thing to speak into our microphones is to say “I’m sorry”.

In our failures God can use us. He is a healer, a redeemer, the physician. He not only can create, but he can re-create. He can heal and bring something new and great out of your failures. 

Heaven is not a place where good people go. It is a place where forgiven people. You will never be right with your mate until you are right with your maker. 

A Life Well Lived

Notes: A Life Well Lived
Pastor Pedro Garcia visiting from Calvary Chapel Miami
Harvest OC

January 30 2014 -

We are a blessed church. No other church can say that their does an outreach like Harvest does. 

God loves when we sing and praise Him.  God loves to hear it and then He likes to move in our lives. 

Pedro wants to live a well lived life. He wants to invest his life into the things that matter most. The thing that matters most is to be able to stare in the eyes of our savior and creator and hear Him say “Good job, my good and faithful stewart.”

Which is a very difficult task and a seemingly impossible task. 

There is a vast difference between living life well and life going well. When life does not go well, it is a challenge to have a life well lived. 

The Bible is filled with stories of people just like us that go through trials that live life well.

Paul the apostle is one of the people that put his whole heart into everything he did for God.

He was an amazing person for God, yet he went through very extreme challenges. 

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 (NIV)

23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches

How did people like Paul live such amazing lives?

2 Timothy 4:9 (NIV)

9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.

The Lord Is Faithful

17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Himbe glory forever and ever. Amen!

Come Before Winter

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.
21 Do your utmost to come before winter.
Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.

Farewell

22 The Lord Jesus Christ[b] be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Four things that Paul did as a faithful servant of God:

1. Paul live connected: He was connected to the people of God.
1. He understood the importance of the team approach of doing church.
1. He always had people around him
2. Church is not a place that we just come and attend. 
1. We need church as much as the church needs us.
2. The church is a place to be planted. 
1. No person is an island.
2. We were made for relationships.
3. God said it is not good for man to be alone.
1. That is what church is all about.
1. Church is not perfect and neither are the people in the church.
1. God uses our imperfections to make us all beautiful.
2. We don’t get the full service of church by watching it just on the internet.
1. We are missing out on the best part of church if we are not in the church plugged in.
1. The church is where we can build bonds with one another.
1. It does also put us in position to experience heart break.
2. Paul lived free and to trust God
1. Some of the hardest things for us to do is live with the wounds from friends. It can make us resentful and callous.
1. He did not put vengeance in his heart.
2. He would release the people that wronged him from his heart.
1. People will offend you in the church.
1. You need to expect, and stay planted in your church and faith. 
1. Don’t let bitterness hurt you.
1. “Bitterness is like swallowing poison and hope the other person dies”
2. Forgiving others is to release you, not to release them.
1. Jesus said if they will attack him then they will certainly attack us.
3. Paul lived focused
1. He did not let the mess he was in, stop the message he was sent to give.
1. He did not let his circumstances distract him.
1. Good or bad it was to serve his calling, not to hinder it.
1. Going to prison, gave him the ability to spread the word to his captures and guards that were part of the house of caesar.
2. People don’t care how loud you sing when things are going well, they want to hear how loud you sing when things are going bad.
1. “Christians are a lot like tea bags, you don’t know what they are made of until they are placed in hot water.”
3. Lets not let what is happening to us effect what can happen through us.
4. Paul was a man that live aware
1. He lived in the awareness in the presence of God.
1. 2 Tim 4: 16
1. 16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Himbe glory forever and ever. Amen!
2. He knew God was always with him.
1. God is always with you, on your side and for you.
2. Some of us could be in a very tough season in life
1. It is a life that doesn’t make sense.
1. Our lives do make sense to God when we give Him our faith.
2. Jeremiah 1: 17 - 19 
3. 17 “Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you.
4. Do not be dismayed before their faces,
   Lest I dismay you before them.
   18 For behold, I have made you this day
   A fortified city and an iron pillar,
   And bronze walls against the whole land—
   Against the kings of Judah,
   Against its princes,
   Against its priests,
   And against the people of the land.
   19 They will fight against you,
   But they shall not prevail against you.
   For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.”
3. God will hit you the hardest to prepare you for the best moments of your life.