In the Upper Room, on the night Jesus was betrayed, the disciples were upset and discouraged by what He had been telling them about His impending betrayal and crucifixion. So Jesus shared some words of encouragement with them. He told them about the Holy Spirit for the first time: If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you (John 14:15–18).  I am certain that those words of Jesus brought comfort to their hearts. He was saying to His disciples, “I am not going to leave you comfortless. I am not going to leave you without help. I will ask the Father, and He will send someone alongside to help you.”During the days that Jesus walked the earth, He was always there for His people. They could reach out and touch Him. If they had a question, they could ask Him. He always had time for His own. They could get close to Him. Then He told His disciples (and essentially all followers of Jesus to this day) that He would guide them and lead them in an entirely new way: through the Holy Spirit. So as Christians, we know that the Holy Spirit is actively involved in our lives. He is the Helper Jesus has given us.

C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside CA 92514

What does the Bible mean when it says that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit? In the apostle Paul’s day, when goods were shipped from one place to another, they would be stamped with a wax seal, imprinted with the signet ring of the owner. This was a unique mark of ownership. People could look at the crate, see its wax seal, and know they had better not open it. The same was true with a document from a king. It would be sealed in wax and imprinted with the royal seal. People knew if they opened it and were not the intended recipient, they would be endangering their very lives. In the same way, God has put His royal seal on us: “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). The seal is the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives. Upon our conversion, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Let’s say that a thief wanted to steal a briefcase. Then he notices a nametag on it, bearing the name of a famous boxer. Most likely, the thief wouldn’t steal that briefcase. Why? He would be afraid of what would happen. He doesn’t want to suffer bodily harm. The devil wants to come and destroy us as Christians. He wants to wreak havoc in our lives. But he sees our ID tag: “Owned by Jesus Christ. Sealed and insured by the Holy Spirit.” So he backs off, because we belong to Jesus Christ.

C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside CA 92514

Why has the Spirit come into this world? What does God’s Holy Spirit want to do in the life of the unbeliever? The Holy Spirit is very involved in the actual work of conversion. You see, before we were Christians, it was the Holy Spirit who convicted us of our sin (see John 16:8). Another way to translate the word “convict” in John 16:8 is “convince.”  Notice this verse doesn’t say He will convict the unbeliever of a specific sin. Rather, He wants to convince him or her of sin in general, the root cause of all sins. Now we can try to produce in someone a sense of guilt and wrong doing. In an effort to “help” the conversion process along, we want to make them feel guilty or to feel really bad about something. Mothers seem to have an unusual ability in this area. But only the Holy Spirit can effectively produce a guilt that will bring a person to their senses. Sometimes we get in the way of conversion. We get impatient, or we try to assist the Spirit. We can be telling someone about the Lord, maybe a friend or a coworker or a family member, and as they are getting interested and asking questions, we see they are getting closer. So we start trying to convert that person in our own strength. We try to complete the transaction when the Spirit is still working. The best thing we can do after we have shared the Word of God with someone is to pray that it takes root. We should just do our part and leave it in the hands of God. We don’t need to force the issue. He will convince a person. Let God’s Spirit do His work.

C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside CA 92514

When police officers are in trouble, what do they do? They call for backup. That is what believers need to do as well. When we are being hassled or tempted, we need to call for backup. We are to stand strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. James 4:7 says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Notice it doesn’t say that we are to submit to God and carry on extended conversations with the devil. We want to keep our distance from the enemy. Therefore, we must be careful not to yield to him. Disobedient and persistent waywardness provide the enemy grounds from which he can attack and influence the Christian. So flee temptation and don’t leave a forwarding address. Keep your distance from the things that could drag you down.We must learn from the example of the Israelites who, in spite of their privileges and exposure to miracles, did not keep themselves in the love of God. As a result, they faced judgment. We must learn from the example of the fallen angels who, in spite of the fact that they once worshiped God in heaven, they rebelled against Him and became demons in hell. We must learn from the example of the people living in Sodom and Gomorrah who, in spite of the fact that they were exposed to the preaching and ministry of Abraham, Lot, and even Melchizedek, they rebelled against God.These all failed to keep themselves in the love of God. So let’s make sure we are taking every step to do that.

C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside CA 92514

Theology and doctrine are not trivial matters. Yet there are people today who set aside biblical teaching and say, “I just want to experience God. I don’t want to argue over doctrine. I just want to love Jesus.” That is a nice sentiment, but it is also a very dangerous one. It means they might end up loving the wrong Jesus. They might end up believing the wrong doctrine. That is why the Bible exhorts us again and again to have our lives and doctrine in order. As Paul instructed Timothy, “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16). One of the reasons that so many people are falling prey to false teachings today is because they do not have their doctrine in order. I once heard a statistic that 80 percent of people who are pulled into various cult groups were once part of a church. That is not necessarily saying they were believers, but it is saying that these people had some church involvement at some point in their lives. If that statistic is correct, then it is alarming. It shows there are people who could have spent time in church, maybe a lot of time, but because they didn’t have their doctrine in order, they were led down the wrong road. If you have your doctrine in order, if you know what the Bible teaches, then you will be able to refute false teaching and defend your faith. It’s what Jude means by exhorting Christians to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:4).

C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside CA 92514

I am shocked at what some people today will do and still claim to be Christians. They will blatantly do what the Bible tells them they should not do. The idea that you can do whatever you want as a Christian and still be forgiven isn’t unique to our day, however. Paul had to refute it in the Book of Romans: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2). Paul was saying that we can’t sin so that God’s grace may overflow. It is a false teaching that says that you can go out and blatantly disobey God, and God’s grace will cover it. It is a perversion of the teaching of the grace of God. The Bible says that the grace of God is given to us so that we might say no to ungodliness and worldly passions and live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age as we wait for the return of Christ. It doesn’t say that the grace of God was given to us so that we can do whatever we want and break His commandments with abandon. Grace and law work closely together. The law tells me that I am a sinner. Grace tells me how to deal with my sin. While it is true that the Christian is no longer under the constraint or the extreme limitations of the law, it doesn’t mean that he or she should disregard it altogether. It means we should obey it because we want to, not because we have to. What you believe determines how you will behave.

C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside CA 92514

I remember walking down Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki and seeing a man holding a big sign with red flames and the words, “The wages of sin is death.” He was yelling out to people, “God hates you! God is going to judge you! God is going to get you!” I watched as people passed by, intentionally turning away from him. Finally, I walked up to him and said, “Excuse me, I have a question. I just wanted to say that while it is true that the wages of sin is death, as your placard says so boldly, it is also true that the rest of that verse says the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Why don’t you put that on the other side of your placard, and you could flip it around periodically? You could give them the whole message.” The man then told me that I was going to hell. He was intent on delivering a certain degree of truth in a contentious way. When we read in Jude 3 that we are to contend for the faith, it doesn’t mean that we are to assault with the truth. It doesn’t mean we are to bludgeon people with it. The word “contend” in this verse actually speaks of delivering the truth, but doing so in a loving manner. The Bible tells us to speak the truth in love, which means professing God’s truth in a loving way. It is important to know your theology and to know what the Bible teaches. But it is also so very important to just love people. If we can find the balance of lovingly presenting truth, it will be a powerful combination.

C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside CA 92514

Is it possible to preach and not be a true believer, or to even do miracles and not necessarily be saved? Absolutely. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’” (Matthew 7:21-22). Notice that Jesus said, “Many will come in that day” (emphasis many). This reminds us there will be an abundance of false miracles in the last days. Many will say they have been doing miracles. Many will say they have been casting out demons, allegedly. But Jesus will say, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:23). The worst thing imaginable is to spread wickedness under the veneer of true faith. Tragically, this does happen in the church today. I wish that we could spot these people more easily. But Jude pointed out that they come in unnoticed (see Jude 4). That is the whole idea. Satan is a deceiver. And that is why on more than one occasion, the Bible compares him to a snake. Having been an avid collector of snakes as a kid, I know how easily they can get out of the tightest little spots and escape. In the same way, Satan sneaks into the church unnoticed. False teachers come into the church secretly. And their numbers grow by preying on unsuspecting believers. Beware of false teachers. And be careful of those who say they have a message you won’t hear anywhere else.

C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside CA 92514

We don’t have to be stressed-out or troubled in our hearts, because as Christians, we are going to heaven. No matter what happens, no one can rob us of that great hope. Maybe you’ve lost your job or your car won’t start. Maybe you have all kinds of problems in your life right now. But you are still going to heaven. The apostle Paul encouraged the church with these words: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17) The troubles we see now will soon be over, and the joys that are yet to come will last forever. Jesus promises there is a real place called heaven, and you have His word on it. There is one thing that God cannot do, and that is lie. God will keep His word. He has prepared a place for us. Now when Jesus said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions,” I don’t believe He was speaking of a celestial Beverly Hills with beautiful, palatial mansions for those who live really godly lives on Earth. I don’t believe there will be actual houses on streets when we get to heaven. But Jesus has promised us that we will be together with Him in heaven, for eternity, in the place He has prepared for us. And He will keep His word.

C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside CA 92514

There are times in our lives as Christians when God will do things or fail to do things that we want Him to do, and it will not make sense to us. And because we don’t see the big picture, we may falsely conclude that God has abandoned us. But we need to trust Him during these times, remembering that Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. In other words, what God starts, He completes. It seems as I get older, I get distracted and forget things all the time. But what if God forgot about us? What a frightening thought. Imagine being in the midst of a fiery trial as God is watching and waiting for that moment to take us out of it. Then the phone rings, and He is gone for a decade! Thankfully, God never forgets about us. He is in full control. He knows exactly what He is doing. He will complete what He has begun. Sometimes in the middle of that process, we may think the Lord is missing it. But He isn’t. We’re the ones who are missing it. From our limited human viewpoint, we think of the temporal, but God lives in the eternal. We are thinking of today, but God is planning for tomorrow. We are thinking of comfort, but God is thinking of character. We are thinking of an easy time, but God is thinking of how to make us better people. So let’s trust Him. Whatever our circumstances or hardships, let us believe His promise to His children, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). All things are working together.

C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside CA 92514