The Meaning of the Stones – 2

The Meaning of the Stones – 2

Subject – God’s Blessings for Land

By Rick Welborne

Joshua 4:1-7 (NKJV) ¹  And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying:
²  "Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe,
³  and command them, saying, 'Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.' "
⁴  Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe;
⁵  and Joshua said to them: "Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,
⁶  that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?'
⁷  Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever." 

--As we move closer and closer to the transition on January 25 and we continue to pray and fast seeking the Lord with all our hearts, we continue to thank Him for memorial stones.

--I believe that sensitivity to Holy Spirit is vitally important to those of us who follow Christ, especially those who are in leadership. Today I want us to look at the land around Life Church.

--We had only been here for just a couple of weeks as the Youth Pastors and Pastor Dykes took me to South Street to look at property the church was purchasing to re-locate.

--As we walked on the property, I felt Holy Spirit speak to me and it was very strong. “Purchasing this property was not my idea.”

--I spoke to Pastor Dykes and told him what I felt. He said he concurred with me but the time was not good to deal with the issue. The purchase was draining the church.

--Fast forward two years. Pastor Dykes went to the District Office to be the New Church Planting Director for the Decade of Harvest and I am voted in as the Pastor.

1. The Miracles Begin.

--Please do not tell me God is not interested in land. He has been defending a small piece of land called Israel for a long time. Many times the phrase “Possess the Land.” Was used.

Deuteronomy 4:1 (NIV)
¹  Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 

--I am in my first Board Meeting which I had never attended or been invited, I said to the men, “I want to see if you are going to follow my leadership or not.”

--I told them my feelings about the South Street Property (Not God’s Will) and that we should stay where we are. Can we get more property here? I don’t know. Land locked.

--Blaine Kimes (Wimpy) said let’s pray right now. The phone begins to ring over and over again.

--The man asked me, are you the pastor. I said barely. About two weeks. He said I have two acres right next to the church and I will sell it to you real cheap. We rejoiced. A memorial stone. 

--We sold the property on South Street and God helped us get totally out of debt. I hate debt. 

2. More Property.

--Four acres became available right next to the two we just purchased. The man was not very kind and his price was ridiculous. Lived out of state. I kept calling. I was nice.

Luke 18:3-5 (NKJV)
³  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'
⁴  And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
⁵  yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' "

--I was wearing him out. He died. Oops. I called his widow several times and never said anything about the land. I would just pray for her and be kind. She sold it to us real cheap. Memorial stone.

--On the south side of us was a house and two and a half acres owned by a widow. She would not sell. I was very nice to her (widow) but she was determined. She died. Oops!

--Her son asked me to do her funeral and I told story after story about her that made them all laugh. They said, you really knew our mom. We will sell the property to you cheap. Memorial stone.

--A house and land next to that property was owned by a family in our church. Bill Mahan asked me if we wanted it. I said how much? He said free. I said yes! Memorial stone.

--On the north side of the property we had purchased from the man who died was the first missions house and the House of Hope. About 21/2 acres. He wouldn’t sell. In his 50s.

--He died. Oops! His family sold it to us during the financial downturn of 2008 for $225,000. Because we were giving to missions…we paid cash for the house. God had blessed us so much.

--As a side note, our giving to missions increased year after and our GF kept growing more and more. I even asked God why. He said you will know when it happens.

--When the financial crash of 2008 hit we had around $850,000 in the GF at our disposal. Not only did God sustain us, He helped us purchase the house and the HOH property.

--Early one Monday morning not very long after the purchase of the Missions House and the HOH building, a man walks in the front door of the office and He is very loud.

--Being concerned about the ladies in the office, brave pastor that I am, I decided to see what was going on. I walk in the office foyer and the man asked if I was the pastor?

--I said, yes, please come back to my office. How can I help you, sir? He said, most of my family are Mormons and I went to their church and no one was there.

--I said to myself, that church on Picciola Road is the nearest to my property so I will go there. So, I’m here. I  want to give you my property. Tired of Taxes. 

Proverbs 13:22 (NIV)
²²  A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous. 

--I asked him where the property was and he said, come with me. So I went. I didn’t know him from Adam’s house cat but I went with him in his truck.

--This property was on the other side of mission’s house two which we had not purchased at that time. It was about 31/2 acres with lake access. 

--He asked me if I thought the Board of the church would let him give it to us. I said, sir, if they don’t want free property that you are willing to give, they shouldn’t be on the Board.

--He was a business man. He said, I like you. I drove to Orlando and signed a few papers and the property was ours. We had all been praying the prayer of Jabez. 

1 Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV) ¹⁰ And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested. 

--God was enlarging our territory and was indeed blessing us. His hand was with us.

3. Mission’s House 2

--Alonso Hensley lived on the north side of Mission’s House 1 and between the property the man from Orlando had given us. He was a good neighbor.

--I would go to the hospital to see his wife when she was there. We were connecting in a great way. He would even let my sons and I use his boat to go fishing. I would visit in their home.

--He had been watching the church for years purchasing property but he evidently had taken notice of how some of the people who wouldn’t sell to us were dying.

--He never came to my office but this particular day he did. He said, Preacher, if you want my property, you don’t have to kill me. I will sell it at a good price.

--We are getting older so we will move back to Kentucky to be close to family. He kept his word and sold us the property way below market value. This made all of our land contiguous. Connected.

--On the screen, the land we had 35 years ago and the land we have now. Someone should give the Lord praise for what He has done.

--Remember the question by the Board Member Blaine Kimes 35 years ago, Pastor, can we get more property here? Yes, sir! We can and we did. 2 Mission’s Houses and the HOH.

Psalm 103:1-5 (NLT2)
¹ Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
²  Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
³  He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
⁴  He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
⁵  He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! 

Revelation 5:12-13 (NKJV)
¹²  "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"
¹³  And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" 

The Meaning of the Stones – 1

The Meaning of the Stones – 1

Subject – God’s Faithfulness

By Rick Welborne

Joshua 4:1-7 (NKJV) ¹  And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying:
²  "Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe,
³  and command them, saying, 'Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.' "
⁴  Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe;
⁵  and Joshua said to them: "Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,
⁶  that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?'
⁷  Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever." 

--The children of Israel came to the Jordan which had overflowed its banks and God said He was about to do wonders in the sight of Israel.

--The Lord also told Joshua that He would exalt him before the people as He had promised.

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." 

--Today, I want to start a series of reminiscing, not about me, but about God and His faithfulness. Hopefully, we will see what these stones mean for Life Church and its future.

--To set up memorials in you and your kids’ lives, you will have to tell the stories over again and again. Remind them when they were saved, baptized, filled with Holy Spirit…get it in their spirit.

--I do apologize in advance to many of you who have heard these stories so many times but I believe it is important for our new folks to know how we got here.

1. Salvation.

--I was not raised in a Christian home and we only heard God’s name used in a cursing manner. There was much verbal and physical abuse. Not much love.

--Because of the situation at home, I began searching for fulfillment in other places. Insecurity was built into my DNA because of not feeling loved or wanted.

--I began to hang out with the wrong people and began to do things that had me in trouble with the law. I was introduced to drugs which almost took my life.

--I did go to church. I would break into a local church and use their telephone to call my girlfriend in another city. Of course, I had to use the pastor’s office. Felt cool and powerful.

--But something happened, God brought a man into my life who was a real Christian. Real Christians don’t let real sinners go to hell. Ronnie Chunn was filled with grace and truth.

Romans 5:20-21 (NLT2) ²⁰  God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
²¹  So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

--I was Ronnie’s assignment. Poor guy. He took much abuse. He had his whole church praying for me. His words were like a dagger to my heart. Such conviction.

John 16:7-8 (NKJV) ⁷  Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
⁸  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

--Finally, I agreed to go to a revival service with him but only if he promised to leave me alone. I wanted to live for God but knew I couldn’t. The evangelist came after me.

Gal. 2:20 (NKJV) ²⁰  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

--I was born again. My addictions were broken and I was totally set free. Three months later I was baptized with Holy Spirit power. I was witnessing to everyone. Oh, what freedom!

--Stones were being set up in my life, all of which I could go back and remember with thankfulness.

2. The Calling

--Growing up with a horrible speech impediment, the desire to preach or pastor was never on my radar. All I knew was that I loved God with everything inside of me.

--About three months after being baptized with Holy Spirit I was at work (Paper Mill) and I was worshiping God. I remember where I was and what I was doing.

--Heading to the water fountain, I felt a tap on my shoulder. No one there. Then, again. No one there. After the third time, I said Lord, if it is you, I am listening. Remembered Samuel.

1 Corinthians 9:16 (NKJV) ¹⁶ … woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

--I broke down and began to weep because I knew God had called me to preach. Like Moses, I told Him He could do much better. I knew I had to do God’s will.

--When things get difficult in ministry, I go back to this memorial boulder and remind God of His calling and remind myself to trust God because of it.

--A confirmation. After God called me (I had only told a few people) I was sitting on the front pew praying and asking God what these stones mean and a man approached me.

--I was sitting on the back pew praying and God spoke to me and told me to tell you, if you want to go to Bible School, I will pay your way. He walked away. What? Another stone.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) ⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight.

--I quit the paper mill, left my house with $37, while my dad was cussing at me and hitting me through my car window. I heard someone say:

--“Being right in the center of God’s will is the safest place to be.” No, ask the martyrs. Being right in the center of God’s will is the best place to be. Not necessarily the safest.

--By the way, the Christian life is not always easy. The man died before he sent any money to the school.

Isaiah 43:15-16 (NKJV) ¹⁵ I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King."
¹⁶  Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters, 

--God will make a way where there seems to be no way. Again, though it was difficult, I went to work and the school helped with scholarships. What do these stones mean?

3. A Heart for Missions.

--Bastrop First Assembly of God was the church I was saved in and where I was introduced to missions. Our pastor and his wife often went on mission’s trips and we had guest missionaries.

--It made sense to me that if God cared enough to save me, I should care about seeing others saved. No one had to tell me to witness to my friends & co-workers. I had to tell them.

--The pastor kept talking about Faith Promises and the Great Commission. I remember my first FP. It was for $5 a month. That was above my tithe. To this day I have never questioned tithing and missions.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV) ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
²⁰  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Romans 10:13-15 (NKJV) ¹³ For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
¹⁴  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
¹⁵  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? 

--These were memorial stones set up early in my Christian journey. Obviously, they are still there. Fast forward and now I am the youth pastor for the pastor who planted missions in my heart. 

--We started going on mission’s trips. Preparing for the night service I am praying, seeking God, and begging Him to let me be a missionary. The atmosphere changed. Another memorial stone.

--God spoke to me, “You will go back to the states and you will eventually become a lead pastor. Your job will be to make that church a great mission’s church.” Just be faithful.

--In 1988 we come to Fruitland Park to help Tricia’s brother move into his house. When we were leaving to go home, we were crossing over the Picciola bridge…God spoke again.

--I knew we were coming here to be the YPs. Six months later we were here. Two years later, Milton Dykes resigns to become a District official. Shortly after, we are voted in as lead pastors.

--I will be the first to admit that I had no idea how to pastor a church. One thing a did know, one of my memorial stones given to me by God was to make this a great mission’s church.

--The first big event we planned with Margaret Belew (Mission’s Director) was a mission’s convention. We started adding more and more missionaries every year. God was in it.

--Nine missionaries became 237 and a ten thousand dollars a year budget became close to a half million dollars. 

Matthew 16:18 (NLT2) ¹⁸ Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

--Jesus is the greatest memorial stone and He has become our chief cornerstone. What do these stones mean? Souls for God’s Kingdom.

Fasting for 2026

Fasting for 2026

Subject – Believing God for Miracles

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV)
¹  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
²  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
³  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 

--In just a few days we will be starting our 21 days of fasting and prayer. How many of you want a better year than 2025? A year of miracles.

--You can fast however the Lord leads you but I want all of us to fast and pray to see the great things God has planned for us. How many of you need for God to come through for you?

--January 4 we will be starting our Annual Week of Prayer. 6:00 PM Sunday night and 7:00 PM Monday thru Friday. Plan to meet with us and pray.

--Our kids are here today and I want to challenge them to fast too. Not like my Stephanie. What are you going to fast? Chocolate ice cream. Good. Yes, I like strawberry.

--Pray and ask God what He wants you to do. Maybe a complete fast for three days and then, the Daniel Fast the rest of the time. A Daniel Fast is no meat, no sweets, and no bread. Fruits and veggies. 

--When we fast I hope we are not just looking at fasting as a way to lose some weight even though that can be one of the benefits. My friend in Lakeland fasted three days every month. Was not a believer.

--Please understand that our purpose in praying and fasting is mainly about drawing as close to Jesus as we can and learning to crucify our flesh. Pray and fast for others.

Romans 14:7 (NLT2) ⁷ For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.

--If you will have a good year in 2026 it will happen because you make certain choices. The first is to obey the Word of God. We must be disciples. We must be disciplined. What does that look like?

1. Look to Jesus

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) ²  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…

--I particularly like NIV with this verse because there is the implication that something isn’t right with where we are looking for our help.

--I have said many times through the years that your job or your family is not your source, Jesus is.

--If 2026 is going to be a better year and if you are going to lay aside some bad habits, get rid of sin, or, see miracles, the first place you should look is to Jesus. He is your source. 

--Here is a novel idea for all of us when we are facing adversity, bad habits, or just blatant sin, why not take it to Jesus because He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith? One of my life verses:

Philippians 1:6 (NIV) ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

--Why not…why not make a true resolution before God that you will make it your aim for 2026 to always go to Jesus in prayer with your needs and problems. He is Lord.

Resolution – a settled determination.

--How simple yet profound is that? You make a settled determination in 2026 that whatever you are facing, that you look to Jesus. You fix your eyes on Jesus.

--Jesus taught us to pray and He even gave us a pattern of how to pray…just as a reminder:

 Matthew 6:9-15 (NKJV) ⁹  In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
¹⁰  Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹  Give us this day our daily bread.
¹²  And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
¹³  And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
¹⁴  "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
¹⁵  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

--Brief summary when you pray…worship God, pray for His will to be done, ask for what you need, ask for forgiveness, ask for deliverance from the enemy, and simply forgive others.

--Until you realize Jesus is your source and that you need to look to Him, you will always be struggling. Jesus wants to be first. God always wants the first and the best from us. First 21 days.

2. Look to His Word.

--We all say that we believe the Bible is God’s Word. We say it is relevant for whatever we are facing. We say every need I have is answered in the Word of God. Yet we do not go to it very often.

--I was talking to someone not very long ago about working out and about losing or maintaining their weight and I told them I weigh myself every morning and every evening.

--They quickly said to me that I could never do that because some days I would be happy with myself and some days I would be disgusted. I said to them, “Isn’t that the point of looking at the scales?”

--They said, I am confused. I said to them if I weigh myself in the morning and see that I am up a pound or two more than I was the previous day, I can manage or plan my day to do better.

--I said, if I do not look at the scale day after day, I may be getting further and further away from what my intended goal is. Sometimes looking hurts. Truth hurts but also truth sets you on the right path.

--If we are looking to the Author of our faith we must assume that He has written something. The Word of God. That can help us and we must look at it every day.

James 1:22-25 (NKJV)
²²  But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
²³  For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
²⁴  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
²⁵  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

--James says so much here about our lives and our capability in laying aside the weight and the sin which so easily entangles us. He definitely ties it to the Word of God.

--He says coming to church and hearing a sermon will never be enough. He gives a warning to us. Just hearing occasionally may bring deception instead of freedom. Wow that is crazy.

--If we just hear and do not do what it says it is like looking in a mirror and forgetting what we look like. Hear James… he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 

--It is like looking at that scale in the morning and saying, you know what I am up a few pounds but I am having pizza for lunch and ice cream for dinner…yummy! I can’t say this better than James:

James 1:25 (NKJV) ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

--If God instructs us in His Word to fast and pray. We should fast and pray with purpose.

Isaiah 58:6-9 (NIV) ⁶ "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
⁷  Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸  Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
⁹  Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. 

3. Be Disciplined.

--Let’s face reality…we don’t lose weight or get in shape because we are not disciplined. We want the easy way. Take a pill and chill. Sadly, it does not happen like that. Maybe temporary help.

--Also, you will not lay aside the weight or the sin that entangles you unless you are disciplined enough to go to Jesus in prayer and fasting. Also, to His Word that brings freedom.

--We hate the word discipline when all of us know that we are called to be disciples. Go into the world and make disciples. Instead we have raised up a lot of baby Christians.

Hebrews 12:5-8 (NLT2)
⁵  And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.
⁶  For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
⁷  As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
⁸  If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 

--I truly believe God is more than willing to do His part, He is just waiting on our obedience.

--In 2026 we are facing transition and change. How can we not fast and pray? If you want God’s will to be done and for miracles to happen, join with us in 21 days of fasting and prayer.

Isaiah 58:9-11 (NIV) ⁹ Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
¹⁰  and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
¹¹  The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 

Poem…What’s Up!

What’s Up?

Pastor Rick Welborne

The world says “Give up!”

Your friends say “Break up!”

God says there is coming a “Shake up!”

Paul says we better “Wake up!”

Preachers are saying to the church “Grow up!”

If you can’t speak life and revival “Shut up!”

Those who believe are “Going up!”

You stay like you are and God is going to “Throw up!”

My message to you is to “Look up!”

You need to grow in the Lord and “Stay up!”

He’s not going to take the “Fake up!”

So please get rid of your spiritual “Make up!”

Get your heart right and get ready to be “Caught up!”

Because all of us who love God are “Headed up!”

So as your pastor, I thought I would let you know 

“What’s up!”