The Crowd gathers

6:20 - Welcome to the final night of the 1998 Orange County Harvest Crusade at Edison International Field in Anaheim, CA!!! Last night's "Harvest Jam" was a huge success with 53,000 in attendance - 49,000 inside the stadium and 4,000 outside in the overflow area watching on the Jumbo-tron screen!! Over 4900 people made professions of faith! The temperature here was in the 100's yesterday and thousands came out in the sweltering heat to listen to the bands and hear the Gospel message proclaimed by Pastor Greg Laurie. Today's temperatures are as high if not even higher, and many thousands are once again filling the stadium!

Tonight's line-up of muscial guests include The Harvest Crusade Band with Tommy Walker and singers, Dennis Agajanian, Crystal Lewis, Doyle Dykes and Jubilant Sykes.

7:00 - Video is being shown right now on the Jumbo-tron screen, showing highlights of the last three nights here at Edison International Field in Anaheim, CA.

Sing Praises to the Lord!

7:15 - The Harvest Crusade Band is beginning the evening with worship. They open with "No Greater Love." Tommy Walker asks everyone to stand to their feet and worship together to begin tonight's crusade. They follow with "He's Turned My Mourning into Dancing" and "I'm Not Ashamed of the Gospel."

7:30 - Crystal Lewis now joins the band on stage and sings "Lord, I Believe in You." Crystal finishes and now Tommy Walker asks everyone to stand and sing the same song together. Tommy asks everyone to remain standing and sing together "Shout To The Lord." Crystal re-joins the band and singers on stage to close this time of worship

7:46 - Pastor Chuck Smith approaches the pulpit and welcomes the crowd and welcomes Pastor Gary Ansdell of Hope Chapel to open the evening in prayer. Pastor Chuck Smith introduces Dennis Agajanian.

7:50 - Dennis and his band open with "Via Dolorosa" which means in Latin, "The Way of Pain." He closes with "Lord, Give us America."

8:05 - Pastor Chuck introduces Senator Tim Leslie, who shares his testimony of how he came to Christ - he has battled losing political races and a bout with cancer. He is currently a Senator of California and the cancer has been cured. He encourages the audience to listen carefully to Pastor Greg's message tonight and to make a decision to turn their lives over to Jesus Christ.

8:10 - Pastor Greg shares a few moments re-capping last night's crusade and also speaks about the success of the Preach the Word Conference that was held at the Anaheim Hilton a few days ago. Pastor Greg introduces Doyle Dykes,guitarist. Doyle plays "How Great Thou Art."

8:15 - Video is shown on Jumbo-tron screen which shows how the Harvest Crusades are paid for. Pastor Chuck Smith now prays for the offering tonight. Doyle Dykes plays "The Lord's Prayer" on guitar as the offering is taken.

8:30 - Pastor Chuck welcomes Crystal Lewis to return to the stage and she sings "People Get Ready."

8:35 - Pastor Chuck asks that the crowd remain in their seats now and prepare themselves to hear the Word of God. Pastor Chuck introduces Jubilant Sykes to come and sing for us just before Pastor Greg brings us the Gospel Message. Jubilant sings "Were You There."

The gospel is preached

8:43 - Pastor Greg begins tonight by praying for all those in the stadium tonight, all those who are listening by radio, all those who are watching by internet, and all who will be watching on T.V.

Pastor Greg's message tonight is called "JESUS AND THE SKEPTIC." He says that by nature he is a skeptical person. He shares about when he first encountered Christians on his high school campus, he thought they were all a bit deranged. He shares how he went one day as they were having a Bible Study on campus and sat in the back on the lawn and was still skeptical. But he listened and even though he was skeptical at first, he went forward at the invitation and, even though he was still unsure. He though "This isn't going to work for me!" But he says changes starting taking place in his life. The first thing he notices was that the guilt was gone. The bitterness that had been there for years just melted away. The emptiness was gone, and so was the loneliness. That skepticism gave way to belief. He says "That is why I am here speaking to you tonight." He shares that the text tonight is from the Gospel of John, Chapter 20, the story of "Doubting Thomas." He says that not all skepticism is bad. He says there is a difference between Unbelief and Spepticism. Skepticism is can't believe; unbelief is won't believe. Skepticism is honesty; unbelief is stubbornness. He says that we've all heard people say "The reason I am not a Christian is because there are too many hypocrites in the churchA! When I find the perfect church that is hypocrite free, maybe then I'll join." Pastor Greg says, "All I can say is, if you do find the 'Hypocrite free' church, please don't join it - you'll spoil it!"

Greg reads the story of Doubting Thomas from the Bible - from the Gospel of John 20:24-31. Here we read of the impact of the Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus had been unexpectedly taken away and was crucified. This came as a complete shock to his Disciples. Manyy of them thought He was going to set up His kingdom then and there. Thomas, like the others, was devastated by the crucifiction of Jesus. Again, in his pain, he withdrew, not only from God, but from the others, But when we are hurting, that is the time we should seek out the fellowship of God's people. One Sunday night when the Disciples were gathered, with Thomas absent, Jesus Himself appeared! So when they saw Thomas they probably said, "You should have been there last night!" Thomas was a man who thought for himself. He wanted to see proof for himself that Jesus had risen. He said, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails..." So the next time the Disciples gathered again, Thomas was there. It is worth noting that Jesus did not appear to Thomas until he was with other believers. Jesus is present in a special way when believers gather together! When Thomas placed his hand in the side of Jesus, he said "My Lord and My God!" Jesus said "Blessed are those who have not seen and believe.." Greg says, "That's us!" We are those who have followed Him by faith and not sight!

Pastor Greg shares that there is coming a day when every eye shall see Him. Zecharia 12 says "They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn as one mourns for His only son."...But then it will be too late. There is coming a day when every knee shall bow - but then it is too late! Romans 10:9 says, "If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved, for whoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved..." Pastor Greg shares that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but that Jesus is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He urges people here to make that personal commitment to Christ tonight. Many hundreds are walking to the outfield to make that decision for Christ right now and to pray with Pastor Greg. Pastor Greg reminds us how Doubting Thomas, when he saw the risen Lord said, "My Lord and My God." Greg asks Crystal Lewis to sing once again as people continue to come down to the field, "Lord, I Believe in You."

There are a few thousand people down on the field right now. Pastor Greg shares with them that if they really mean it, deep inside their hearts, that God will forgive them of every sin they have ever committed. He asks them to pray with him, "God,I admit that I am a sinner. Thank you for accepting me and forgiving me. I turn from my sin tonight and choose to follow You. Thank you thatI am Your child now."

If you are viewing this on the internet, we want you to know that you can respond by pressing the "Feedback" button. If you have made a decision for Christ tonight, please let us know! We would love to send you a copy of the same "New Believer's New Testament" that is being given to each person down on the field tonight. May God bless each one of you and thank you for joining us for the conclusion of the 1998 Orange County Harvest Crusade!!

The work of the Holy Spirit