World Changers , livre ebook

Cover
Praise for Jesus Revolution
“For those who were eyewitnesses to the Jesus Movement, this book will be a welcome reminder of what made that time of our lives so special. For those who know nothing about it, this book will be an entertaining crash course on events that defined the Christian church in America for generations. For everyone, it will be a compelling testimony about the power of God to save.”
Dr. Jack Graham, pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church
“ The Jesus Revolution has tuned my heart to a higher level of praise for a loving God who has the proven power to break through to a lost, godless, self-destructing generation and redeem it, one person at a time. If He could rescue and reset Greg Laurie—and He did—then there is no one and no generation beyond His reach. Reading this book will rekindle your prayer for revival.”
Anne Graham Lotz, speaker; author, The Daniel Prayer ; www.annegrahamlotz.org
“Back in the ’60s, when I first came to Christ, you could sense a stirring out on the West Coast. God was on the move, and I was about to be swept up in the powerful flooding of the Holy Spirit that was spilling and splashing into the hearts of a million young people across America. I heard stories of how God was rescuing wayward wanderers through the Jesus Movement, sparking a revival that rocked our country and beyond. It’s why Greg and Ellen’s new book, Jesus Revolution , is so important, so needed—it documents the testimonies and events that made that period in time so unique. You, too, will be inspired and refreshed as you read the historic account of one of the most remarkable seasons of revival in the history of Christianity!”
Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center
“In the 1960s and ’70s, God moved in a unique way, sweeping across America and transforming the lives of countless people. In their new book, Jesus Revolution , Pastor Greg Laurie and Ellen Vaughn take a closer look at this incredible time of evangelism and revival. This fast-paced, grace-filled, Bible-centered book will show you how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.”
Craig Groeschel, pastor, Life.Church; New York Times bestselling author
“Greg Laurie and Ellen Vaughn have given us a compelling and insightful look into the Jesus Movement of the ’60s and ’70s. As our society seems to grow more and more dark, this book makes me excited and hopeful that maybe we are not that far from another great move of God.”
Chris Tomlin, music artist, songwriter, author
“Revival is a mile marker that is seen throughout the centuries, with the Jesus Movement being no exception. Greg Laurie and Ellen Vaughn have given us a riveting account of a time in our nation’s history when God uniquely captivated millions of hearts. This book will stir up a fresh gratitude for what God has done and a renewed hunger to see Him do even more in the years to come!”
Levi Lusko, bestselling author, Swipe Right: The Life- and- Death Power of Sex and Romance
“So few even realize today that many of the best things happening in our churches amount only to ripples from the 1970s revival wave called the Jesus Revolution. Greg Laurie was an eyewitness to what most have only heard about. His meaningful firsthand accounts flow through Ellen Vaughn’s gripping narrative, prompting every reader to cry out, ‘Do it again, Lord.’ Read and join those already praying to see God move afresh in such powerful ways.”
Dr. James MacDonald, founder, Harvest Bible Chapel; author, Vertical Church
“If there was ever a time that a book like this was needed, it is now. The story of the Jesus Revolution is a compelling witness of God’s power to redeem and restore human souls in the most surprising of ways, in the most chaotic of times. Brilliant work, Greg and Ellen!”
Dr. Robert Jeffress, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas; teacher, Pathway to Victory
“Stories inspire people to believe God. This is why I am so excited about this powerful book about the Jesus Revolution, because I know it will create the spiritual appetite to experience the next great move of God in our generation. There is no greater need today than for the church to be revived spiritually and for the next great spiritual awakening to occur nationally. Now is the time for the next Jesus Revolution in America!”
Dr. Ronnie Floyd, senior pastor, Cross Church; president, National Day of Prayer; past president, Southern Baptist Convention
“Rarely have I read a book so entertaining, informative, and spiritually significant as Jesus Revolution . I relived many formative historical events of the ’60s and ’70s and learned new and fascinating things about the Jesus Movement. I can’t think of anyone better than Greg Laurie to be a central character and voice, nor anyone better than Ellen Vaughn to skillfully craft this fascinating story of a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit. I loved it, and I pray God would do such radical works of grace in our midst today!”
Randy Alcorn, author, Heaven and The Grace & Truth Paradox
Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2020 by Greg Laurie
Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2020
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-2684-3
Unless otherwise identified, all Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled MSG are from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled Phillips are from The New Testament in Modern English by J. B. Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by Permission.
Scripture quotations labeled TLB are from The Living Bible, copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The author is represented by the literary agency of Wolgemuth & Associates, Inc.
Dedication
To Charles Spurgeon,
D. L. Moody,
G. Campbell Morgan,
Alan Redpath,
Chuck Smith,
Chuck Swindoll,
and, of course,
Billy Graham.
All world changers
who changed my world.
Contents
Cover 1
Endorsements 2
Half Title Page 5
Title Page 7
Copyright Page 8
Dedication 9
Introduction: “Lord, Please Use Me Today” 13
1. Are You a World Changer? 21
2. The World Changer Who Was Out of This World 43
3. The World Changer at the End of the World 65
4. The World Changer with No Forwarding Address 85
5. The Choices of a World Changer 103
6. The Temptations of a World Changer 125
7. The World Changer Who Faced a Giant 147
8. The Excuses of a World Changer 167
9. The World Changer Who Faced Long Odds 185
10. “Of Whom the World Was Not Worthy” 205
11. The Secrets of a World Changer 221
Notes 241
About the Author 245
Back Ads 247
Cover Flaps 254
Back Cover 255
Introduction
“Lord, Please Use Me Today”
I wasn’t raised in the church or anywhere near it, so I never really understood that there was a God who loved me and had a plan for my life. Then at the age of seventeen—on my high school campus of all places—I heard someone articulate the plan of salvation in a way that suddenly made sense to me, and I put my trust in Jesus Christ.
To this day, I can recall the sense of wonder and amazement I felt as I tried to get my arms around a huge, incredible reality. The great God and Creator of the whole universe actually loved and cared about a fatherless kid named Greg Laurie.
That was mind-blowing enough for me. But as the days went by, I also learned that this same God wanted to use me. Me! I was only two weeks old in my commitment to Christ and knew next to nothing about the Bible or the Christian life, but I had heard that I should go out and share the gospel with others. So one day I stuffed some gospel tracts in my pocket and went down to the beach—the same beach where I used to make a point of avoiding any Bible-toting Christians who might try to convert me.
Now here I was—a bona fide member of the “soul patrol”—out prowling for unbelievers to convert. But I wasn’t exactly full of confidence. In fact, my main goal was to find someone who wouldn’t argue or get angry at me. I thought if an unbeliever just ignored me or walked away, that would be fine.
Eventually, I spotted a middle-aged lady who looked about the age of my mom. I figured she might be somewhat sympathetic to me. When I walked up to her, my voice trembled with nervousness. “Uh, excuse me,” I said, fumbling for the