A Rush of Hope

do [Music] [Music] our life feels like a movie it has a beginning middle and end full of surprises twists and turns storm clouds and darkness but beauty and light still exist we all have questions about this movie that we're in is this movie a tragedy is it a love story is it a comedy even [Music] do we win in the end [Music] i'm greg laurie and my story has followed all the plot twists of the greatest movies we see ourselves in these stories and over the next hour i'm going to take you on a journey through three incredible movies and hear from some of my favorite artists so join me as we explore the meaning of life and what happens after we die we all need a rush of hope mass unemployment a pandemic social unrest it seems like hatred is at an all-time high and you might ask has it ever been like this before the bible says there's nothing new under the sun [Applause] racism anger frustration division hatred [Applause] [Music] it's always been with us so what is the answer a close parallel to our time was in the late 60s early 70s and the epicenter of racial tension was alabama [Applause] schools were using forced busing the governor called for segregation the students and football team at woodlawn high school they were at each other's throat [Music] but something unusual happened god showed up [Music] not only did it bring the team together they started winning games too and a star was born coach i don't know what your players are playing with but i've never seen a team play like that the coach is very suspicious of his players getting religion but the more he observed the maury realized that their lives had been changed by god racial divides came down they were coming together they were a family the coach realized it was because of the newfound faith of his football team that this happened [Applause] can i say a few words please sir come on then i wanted to come here today because uh my team almost my entire team they gave themselves to love i love to begin to conquer hatred but i want i want whatever my players have i believe and i want to be baptized ultimately the whole town was moved and people prayed together even before football games one person alone in the dark willing to speak the truth when it's not popular one person willing to speak the truth when it is not safe when there is much at stake look around you we're not alone a spiritual awakening that started in the epicenter of racial unrest and guess what that's what happens when god shows up we need god to show up in america right now we need to talk to each other we need to forgive each other we need to pray for each other our country is at a crossroads and when we need right now is a rush of [Music] hope in a time of physical isolation social separation racial division it feels more important than ever for us to come together do you agree this is for the busted highs this is for the question marks this is for the outcast song lost control no one knows singing for the congo bag singer for the broken verse singer for the juice found out life is now upside down if you're looking for hope tonight raise your hand [Music] we're gonna [Music] everyone this is [Music] [Music] then [Applause] [Music] we will fall together together [Music] we will rise together together [Music] [Applause] [Music] and you feel promised [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] together we will fall together [Music] together we are dangerous together with our differences together we are bolder braver stronger you know hope it seems to be in short supply these days doesn't it a famous cardiologist wrote these words quote hope is the medicine i use more than any other hope can cure nearly anything end quote let me ask you a question do you find yourself without hope for your life for your future it's been said that man can live 40 days without food about three days without water about eight minutes without air but only one second without hope i have hope for the nation i have hope for our world and i have hope for you let me tell you another story now about a boy who had no hope at all young bart millard was a dreamer so often is the case he retreated to his imaginary world to escape the one he was born into but his father arthur was an angry abusive man [Music] what's that it's just it's just junk take your dream apart that's good hey you're imagining things i'm gonna teach you something bart dreams don't pay the bills nothing good comes from it all it does is keep you from all this from knowing what's real you understand that huh yes daddy well that's a piece of junk why don't you just go throw it away arthur miller's personal dreams of being a successful football player had been shattered and he didn't want young bart to have any dreams of his own add to this effect that bart's mother walked out on him little bart millard was left alone with his abusive father where's mama she's gone gone where she ran off she ain't coming back just you and me now when will she be back i told you she run off she don't want me no more and she don't want you neither what did you do are you bowing up on me boy nothing that's what i did nothing she didn't leave because of me i'm so hurry mom what did i do take me mom despite his father's discouragement bart never stopped dreaming he left home and fulfilled his personal aspirations to become a professional musician and formed a successful band called mercyme [Music] it had been years since bart had seen his dad so he decided to return home for a visit [Music] unbeknownst to part arthur millard had his life dramatically changed and was trying to make things right with the sun part and he knew he had hurt so badly you've got can forgive everybody else why can't he forgive me god can't forgive you i can't i can't believe i came back here can't you give me a chance no you just got to give up on that dream dad because it keeps you from this from knowing what's as real tried to drive away he suddenly realized what had happened to his dad arthur millard was dying of cancer and wanted to make things right with the sun it was time for bart to forgive and show some compassion to a broken man [Music] i was listening bart i was listening to you on the radio [Music] because he's saying and i'd listen to every word and then you'd finish and then i'd listen to what they were talking about their church that's what saved me was real proud of you he's real proud and you you have a gift real gift go chase your dream i want you to catch it [Music] all i ever wanted was my dad to change um you know it's i think i've all i've ever wanted is approval and just to be proud of me even as a kid but you know it can only be hurt so many times and so to get in that moment to see change taking place it was it was like i don't buy it i don't buy it because i had my guard up you know and like i'm not sitting here because of somebody's amazing sermon i'm here because like i knew beyond a shadow of doubt there's no way that my dad could be changed like that was a part of my life it is just this is the way that it is and i need to survive and i know there are people out there that think the same thing like you don't know my situation there's no way like i've written it off like there's no hope and that god's never gonna intervene and what's crazy is the moment that he does you will never ever ever be the same no matter how people try to convince you otherwise it's it becomes unwavering and once i realize that yes my father is truly transforming from a monster into the dad and the and the man that i've always wanted him to become i mean it sunk in in a huge way to where it's still the man and father that i want to be when i grow up i guess bart said i guess i grew up thinking that if the gospel could change that guy it could change anybody there was no denying it bart described his story as a rush of hope and bart wrote a song about it called i can only imagine this is for my dad [Music] i can only imagine what it will be like when i walk my side i can only imagine what my eyes will see when your face is before me i can only imagine [Music] surrounded by your glory what will my heart feel will i dance for you jesus or in all of you be still will i stand in your presence but to my knees will i fall will i sing hallelujah will i be able to speak it all i can only imagine i can only imagine i can only imagine when that day comes and i find myself standing in the sun i can only imagine when all i will do is forever forever worship you i can only imagine i can only imagine surrounded by your glory what will my heart feel will i dance for you jesus oh you know if you be still will i stand in your presence or to my knees or will i fall will i sing hallelujah will i be able to speak at all i can only imagine i can only imagine surrounded by [Music] foreign [Music] yes [Music] yes [Music] i can only imagine when all i will do is forever forever worship you [Music] i can only imagine [Music] are you lost in your journey in life listen to this you can make a u-turn in life just like arthur miller did you see god has given us a road map to follow and it's called the bible everything you need to know about god is found in its pages and the bible promises if any men be in christ old things have passed away everything becomes fresh and you can come to god now you can be forgiven of your sin you can have a second chance in life by putting your faith in jesus there's a phone number on the screen would you call it for spiritual help we're standing by ready to help you or respond to the information on the screen as well because we want to help you in this journey of life so i have one more story to tell you this one's a love story two young people found each other and their names were jeremy and melissa melissa was at a concert when she first laid her eyes on the men she would marry [Music] [Applause] and it was love at first sight especially when jeremy pulled out his guitar began to sing melissa knew this is the one for her [Music] and if the story ended here it would be just perfect like a fairy tale and they lived happily ever after [Music] ready yeah okay one two three [Music] but life is not a fairy tale is it tragically melissa found out that she had cancer if one person's life is changed by what i go through it'll all be worth it with faith in god melissa and jeremy fought it together and they believed that god would heal her but things sadly went from bad to worse help somebody out [Music] well jeremy at the age of 21 your wife melissa uh went to heaven she died tragically of cancer and then years after that my son christopher died in an automobile accident it connected us in a different way because you know we we experienced tragedy firsthand but the lord gave you this amazing song i still believe which has touched people literally around the world it's an amazing story of how god can work in the midst of tragedy amen jeremy i know this is hard to talk about but after melissa died you went through a hard time of depression didn't you yeah i mean reality was i actually thought for sure she was gonna be healed i remember i prayed and prayed in this room [Music] for josh to be born healthy it didn't happen and you prayed for so long for your ministry [Music] still nothing and so i went through a time of you know really even though i said i still believe that still was there but i still question god are you good god do you do you care about me in that deep intimate way dad i begged god to heal melissa what am i supposed to do with that and so there was times i threw my bible across the room time to just being angry and upset um it was reality because i really felt like god let me down are you asking if josh's disabilities were disappointing yes they are did i have big dreams that didn't come true sure [Music] do i understand why melissa isn't here anymore no son i don't i'm sorry but i know my life is full i feel rich and i'm proud of this family honestly at the time i didn't agree with what you did i didn't understand it you chose willingly to walk into the fire with her right beside her all the way to the end but then that's exactly what i would do for your mom and you boys that's what love is and i got to watch my son do that for his wife that was a privilege i don't know the answers to your questions but i do know this that my life is not full in spite of the disappointments that's full because of them [Music] you know what's amazing about about the lord is that he's he's so long-suffering because it wasn't like he was saying okay get over it i'm here i'll take care of you every he met me where i was and i felt like that every little step i took if i didn't feel like i could take a big step i would take a little baby step i got you i got you and i think that for me you know all the the promises in god's word became even more real to me through just time god you know took a open wound and then you know a scar still remains for sure as you know there's still a scar but it's not an open wound anymore and i think that for me i'm so thankful that you know understanding that god's graciousness and his goodness in the midst of pain has been such a healing thing for me because he went through suffering i think about melissa when she was in the hospital and i walked in for the first time when we found out she had cancer and she said to me you know i've been sitting here thinking that if my life affects one person and one person's life has changed because of what i go through if i die it's all worth it and you know when i look at that and i and i think about how she could say that is because she knew jesus and so she knew the assurance that she was going to be in heaven so that if her life can even lead one person to jesus it's all worth it and now i'm looking at thousands and thousands and thousands of people who have given her life to jesus because of what she went through and because of her heart and her faith so this one's for scatter her and empty thoughts seem to pour for my heart [Music] i've never felt so torn before seems i don't know where to start but it's now that i feel you're graceful like me from every fingertip washing away my pain [Music] i still believe in your faithfulness [Music] and i still believe in your truth i still believe in your holy word [Music] even when i don't see i still believe [Music] and the only place i can go is into your arms where i'll throw to you my feeble prayers and in brokenness i can see this was your will for me tell me to know that you are near yeah [Music] i still believe in your faithfulness [Music] and i still believe in your truth [Music] and i still believe in your holy word even when i don't see i still believe and i still believe that i still believe and i still believe last [Applause] jeremy uh you don't uh know me i feel like i knew her your wife melissa i was there the night that you prayed over her we were the next band i'm the one whose life was changed and there will be millions more [Music] i feel very protective of jeremy and melissa's story i think because of how much the lord did in my life that it was something that i needed to hear [Music] what movie do you see yourself in right now is it tragedy like the people in the story of woodlawn were in this horrible situation and they were filled with fear and anxiety and they couldn't find a way out of it or maybe you relate to arthur who because of his shortcomings and mistakes felt there was no hope for him in his own words he said i don't belong or maybe you relate to jeremy camp who experienced such a tragedy in losing his wife and began to doubt god and wondered where god was do you feel that way right now i have good news for you god is there and god can turn your tragedy into a triumph he can turn your mess into a message he can give answers to those questions you have and he can give to you a rush of hope one of the questions i raised earlier was why do i exist why am i here on this earth to start with i was asking that question at a very early age and there was a reason for it is because i was raised in a crazy way uh conceived out of wedlock to an alcoholic mother who was married and divorced seven times i never had a father growing up my mother would drink every night and basically pass out and i'd have to put her to bed and sometimes get her a meal in the middle of the night and i was just a little kid and and i had to be in a way apparent to my own parent and so it got me asking questions like man why am i here what is the meaning of life why is my life so bad because i would look at the lives of my friends and they had moms and dads at home and family meals and and i'm living this crazy life i knew i didn't want to live the alcoholic lifestyle of my mother but when i got into high school i started partying getting drunk and i thought man this is not the life for me well around this time the drug culture was coming on strong i was told drugs would make you more aware so i started smoking weed i started taking lsd and i became more aware of how miserable and empty i was i was in full search mode at the age of 17. i knew the answers were not in my mother's lifestyle i knew the answers were not in the lifestyle that i chosen but where were they it was almost like process of elimination i knew where i shouldn't go but where should i go well i was on my high school campus and uh i was walking across the campus and i came across a group of christians we called them the jesus freaks and by the way that was not a compliment i thought they were collectively crazy but i sat down close enough out of sheer curiosity to see what they were saying and so i was close enough to eavesdrop on the on their conversation but not so close that my friends would think i was joining them and for the first time i remember hearing the gospel in a way that i understood what is the gospel i'm going to tell you in a few moments but let me tell you what happened to me i'm looking around at these christians and i saw how they were smiling and had this joy and i thought these people are so sad they're so pathetic they're so weird they're so happy and i look to myself and i thought well i i'm not happy and then i tried and you thought i'm for size what if the christians are right and it's all true and god could be known in a personal way i quickly dismissed the thought but then i tried it on again verse a size but what if it's true and then as i looked at them i thought well it wouldn't work for me because i'm not the religious type but the problem with some of the people who had become christians were people i used to party with and i'd seen the change in their life so i knew it was real and a guy got up to speak and i don't remember what he said that day for the most part his name was lonnie but he made one statement that was like a lightning bolt from heaven to me he said jesus said you're for me or against me i looked around at the christians and i thought well they're for him for sure and i'm not one of them does that mean i'm against him see i was searching and only god knew what i was really looking for and in a few moments i want to tell you how you can find that same relationship with god that i found because god only knows what you're going through right now [Music] [Music] wide awake for the sound [Music] all the pieces [Music] [Music] know [Music] know [Music] somebody somebody will never leave you god only knows what you've been through god only knows what they say about you god knows that's killing you but there's a kind of love that god knows what you've been through [Music] [Music] [Music] what if we could start over we could start over we could start over [Music] knows [Music] know [Music] god only knows where to find you god only knows how to break through god only knows [Music] [Applause] we hope as you experience this night that you feel seen you feel known that you can trust that there is a beautiful kind of love that god only knows [Music] got on the nose you know people are so scared right now i mean you just turn on the news or go to your favorite news feed and there's so many things to cause us to well just freak out the continuing spread of the coronavirus around the globe an economy that's so uncertain because of that we have drug use is up alcohol use is up domestic abuse up suicide rate ah people are scared let me answer one of those questions i raised earlier the question why do i exist sooner or later every thinking person gets around to asking that question or at least they should let me cut to the chase you exist to have a relationship with god there is nothing this world offers that will fill a hole in your heart that was designed to be filled by god himself there's no drug there's no experience there's no possession there's no accomplishment nothing listen to this jesus loves you and he proved that love to you by dying on the cross for you two thousand years ago you say what does the death of jesus on a cross have to do with me right now in this modern era it has everything to do with you because the bible says we're separated from god by our sin we've all fallen short of god's standards we've all crossed the line and sinned against them you say well i haven't sinned everybody has sinned you ever heard of the ten commandments have you broken one of those commandments you've technically sinned what are they you shall not lie you shall not steal you shall not take the lord's name in vain you shall not have other gods before him the list goes on we've sinned we've broken god's commandments the bad news is i am separated from god and there's nothing that i could ever do to satisfy his righteous requirements the good news is god sent his son to die in my place jesus put it best when he said for god so loved the world he gave his only begotten son and whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life you see the apostle paul said he loved me and gave himself for me jesus died for you listen it wasn't nails that held christ to that cross 2000 years ago it was love for you and with one hand he took hold of a holy god that we've offended and with the other hand he took hold of sinful humanity and nails were driven through his hands and his feet and he died in my place understand jesus did that for you and then if you want his forgiveness you must say to god you're sorry for your sin the bible says we must repent and be converted the word repent is a military term that means to do in about face so you've been running from god now you want to run toward god churn from that sin and then you must receive christ into your life being a christian is not just following a creed or memorizing some bible verses or going to church occasionally being a christian is having christ live inside of you this is what it is it's a relationship with god i raised the question what is the meaning of life the meaning of life is to have this relationship with god i know you may think oh being a christian you're like some religious person listen i am not a religious person i don't want to be a religious person honestly i think religious people are all a little bit odd anyway i'm talking about a relationship with god and that's what happens when you ask jesus christ to come into your life you start a relationship let me put it another way it's a friendship with god that means you're never alone in life jesus promises i will never leave you or forsake you and a better translation would be jesus speaking i will never no never no never leave you or forsake you he will come and take residence in your heart why do i exist i exist to come into this relationship with god and the meaning of life is to walk with him and discover his plan that he has for me listen to this great promise from the bible in jeremiah 29 11. that's a verse from the bible god says i know the thoughts that i think towards you thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope do you sometimes feel like you have no future you do god has a plan for your life and there can be hope in your life if you come into this relationship with the lord what happens after i die this is the big question to be really honest with you finding the meaning of life finding out why you exist those are important things but nothing is more important than finding out what happens after you die and most importantly how to get to heaven let me make a provocative statement but i think it's really true all roads lead to god but only one road leads to heaven what i'm saying is whatever road you're on whatever belief you have or lack thereof you will eventually stand before god but when you stand before god god will not ask you how good of a life you live because as i already pointed out none of us are good enough to get to heaven it won't be a sin question as much as it's a sun question s-o-n as in what did you do with jesus christ there's one way to heaven and it's through jesus why only jesus was uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between sinful humanity and a holy god he came to this earth and a rescue mission he was born in a manger in bethlehem he lived a perfect life he died a perfect death then he rose again from the dead and check this out he can come and live inside of you right now he's only a prayer away the bible says whoever will call upon the name of the lord will be saved you might ask well how do you call upon the name of the lord through prayer let's say i was in the middle of this beautiful lake i'm standing in front of and and all of a sudden i found myself drowning well i would call up for help and hopefully someone would come and rescue me well we're drowning in sin we're separated from god but god can rescue you god can forgive you god can give you a new chance in life would you like your sin forgiven would you like to know that you'll go to heaven when you die would you like to fill that hole in your heart would you like to find the meaning of life and find out why you exist it can all happen for you right here right now so if you would like jesus to come into your life and forgive you of your sin you could pray this prayer after me you can pray it out loud if you like you can pray it quietly but pray this and mean it just pray these words lord jesus i know that i'm a sinner but i know that you're the savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead i turn from my sin now and i choose to follow you from this moment forward did you just pray that prayer if you did i want you to know on the authority of god's word the bible he heard it and he answered it i want you to call the number that's on the screen right now you can also go to our website harvest.org we want to help you in your first steps as a brand new believer in getting strong as a christian i want to send to you at no charge a free bible it's a special edition called the new believer's bible that's filled with hundreds of notes that i wrote over a period of years to encourage you and your new commitment to jesus christ and if you just prayed that prayer with me in a minute this is the moment christ has come into your life and let me be the first to say to you congratulations and welcome to the family of god lately i've been really watching the nightly news causing the following just wanna sing the blues feels like a song that never stops feels [Music] [Applause] [Music] let me testify oh [Music] let it move [Music] but [Music] oh [Music] [Music] and choice [Music] let it move [Music] i need the choice down in my heart down in my heart need the joy joy joy down in my heart down in my heart to stay all right colorado i see some dancing going on down here but i see you guys as well on this last chorus come on come [Music] on let it move [Music] [Music] down in my heart to stay you made us feel very loved thank you for being with us enjoy the rest of your night [Music] [Applause] [Music] as this journey comes to a close i just want to tell you that this is just the beginning because you've put your faith in jesus christ but maybe some of you did not do that yet listen don't let this moment pass you by if you didn't pray with me it's not too late we live in dark days but we have great hope this road is sometimes difficult with twists and turns but this darkness won't last for long there's a dawn on the horizon and with this dawn comes a rush of hope [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] you

Channel: Chaplain Bob Faubel

Views: 14,211

Rating: 4.9575596 out of 5

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Id: v_sbNbYo0IY

Length: 58min 54sec (3534 seconds)

Published: Tue Sep 08 2020