Week of Prayer – 2024

Week of Prayer – 2024

Subject – How God Rescues 

By Rick Welborne

--Peter is arrested and put in prison.

Acts 12:4-5 (NKJV)
⁴  So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
⁵  Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.                                 ¹²  So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.

--Because the church is praying an angel shows up to set him free. 

--The Bible tells us that constant prayer…earnest prayer was going up for him. It seemed like a hopeless situation. When God allows us to go into these situations, He is getting ready to do great work.

--There are times that life and even God will make sure that you do not have crutches or anything else to lean on except for Him. Prayer and God. God and prayer. 

--Anything God can do; prayer can do because prayer is our link to God. The prayer of faith is the link to God’s power. Nothing is impossible with God…nothing is impossible when we pray.

E. M. Bounds – There are only two kinds of people on the earth, people who pray and people who don’t. 

--Imagine how important to God your prayers must be. Every prayer ever uttered by Christians have been kept in bowls. Even after we die, our prayers will still chase down the prodigals.

--How many of you remember Cornelius in the book of Acts? An angel came to him and said that God has seen your kindness to the poor and He has heard your prayers.

--He did not pray in Jesus Name because he was not a believer. He sent for Peter to come and to tell them the good news about Jesus. He prayed so much that it moved God to do something on his behalf.

Psalm 50:15 (NKJV) ¹⁵ Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." 

--So many times in the day of trouble, we do everything but call upon the Lord. We worry and call friends. We have a pity party, we get grouchy, and we get irritable. But we do not call on Him Who can save us.

Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                            ³  'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' 

--Didn’t Jesus say My House shall be a house of prayer? Not singing, not preaching, not anything else. When Jesus saw the money changers using His House as a place to make money…He made a whip. He was angry.

--When we pray God says that He will open the windows of Heaven and pour out blessings. When you call I will answer. God understands prayer that does not even use words. A sigh, a tear, a groan.

Romans 8:26 (NIV) ²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

--It is so hard to get people to pray yet God has promised to rescue us when we pray. Have you ever had your back up against a wall and had no place to turn but to God in prayer? No hope! Like this story with Peter.

--Peter is in a prison where if he gets help, it will be from the church. If he gets food or clothes, it will be from them. About the only option he is looking at with Herod is death. So hopeless except that the church is praying.

--The disciples are in a situation where everything seems hopeless but they remember what Jesus said…Ask and it will be given, seek and you shall find, knock and it will be opened.

--Paul said that first of all men and women should pray, lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubting. Prayer should be the first thing. The church is full of knowledge but little prayer is going on.

--Imagine the prayer going up for Peter…Rescue our pastor, please don’t let them kill him, Oh, God, set him free. Can you imagine the tears? They didn’t pray just for a couple of minutes…they continued in prayer.

1. When people pray in sincerity something from heaven shows up.

--There was an angel…a light showed up in the prison. When we pray here, God responds from heaven. We have not because we ask not. We need something supernatural from God. 

--Maybe you are here needing something from heaven…pray until heaven shows up!

2. When people pray in sincerity God wakes people up.

--When the angel came to Peter, what did he do? He smote him in the side and woke him up. When God’s people pray…God wakes up those who are sleeping. Do you know anyone like that?

--People are sleeping…we must pray until they wake up. Our son was sleeping. We had to pray until he woke up. We had to call until God answered…until Josh responded.

3. When people pray in sincerity chains fall off.

--Chains are restrictive. If you have chains on your legs, you can’t run. When we pray personally we find a freedom we did not have before. 

--When we pray God sets people free. Listen, your prodigal can’t be worse off than Peter. I know with the opioid crisis we wonder if they can be free. They can! Pray! I was there before it was popular.

4. When people pray doors are opened. 

--Pastor, the door is not opening…pray! There’s a battle! Pray!

1 Corinthians 16:9 (NKJV) ⁹  For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

--When God’s people pray…doors are opened just like for Peter. God opened the door and set him free. We don’t need a battering ram…we do not need to force it…God will open the door. Pray!

The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure - 1

The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure - 1

Subject – Finding God’s True Treasure

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 13:44 (NKJV)
⁴⁴  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 

Psalm 119:162 (NKJV)
¹⁶²  I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. 

--Imagine with me a Hebrew man walking along with staff in hand headed to the city for business. To make his journey shorter he cuts through a field. This was permitted. 

--The field is uneven so he thrust his staff into the dirt to balance himself. He keeps walking and thrusting the staff into the ground when all of a sudden there is a thunk. What could that be? Didn’t sound like a rock.

--He bends down curiously and begins to wipe away dirt and he sees a box possibly lined with silver and gold. It looks like it has been there a long time. Hands shaking, he finally unlocks the chest.

--Oh wow! Gold and silver coins, jewelry, precious stones. A fortune! Some wealthy man must have buried it quickly when he was in danger or something, and then, died before he returned to get it.

--The landowner evidently has no clue it is there. The traveler buries the treasure and marks the spot. He heads home with a new spring in his step. Probably riding the staff like a stick horse.

--The law of the day was specific, whoever owned the field assumed ownership of everything in it. But how can I afford a big piece of property like this? I will sell everything, my farm, my crops, my oxen, my tools, all of it.

--From that moment on, everything the man does is with his new treasure in mind. This has transformed his world. Every decision he makes; he has the treasure on his heart.

--Many believe this passage talks about people finding the treasure of Christ. Some believe it speaks of Jesus giving His life for the treasure of people.

--Either way, it certainly portrays the joy of finding eternal treasure with such value, catch this, that far surpasses whatever it cost to get it. 

1. The Bible and Our Connection to Money.

--This parable of the hidden treasure is just one of many references Jesus made to money and possessions. Jesus referenced 15% of His teaching to this topic. More than the topics of heaven and hell combined.

--Why did Jesus put so much emphasis on money and possessions. Because there is an essential connection between our spiritual lives and how we handle money. Jesus sees them as inseparable. 

--We won’t take time to read it but in Luke 3 three different groups asked John how they should prove their repentance. V.11 clothes and food with the poor. V.13 Tax collectors don’t cheat. V.14 Soldiers don’t extort.

Randy Alcorn – Our approach to money and possessions is central to our spiritual lives. 

Luke 19:8-9 (NKJV)
⁸  Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold."
⁹  And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;

Acts 2:44-45 (NKJV)
⁴⁴  Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
⁴⁵  and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Acts 4:32-35 (NLT2)
³²  All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
³³  The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.
³⁴  There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them
³⁵  and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. 

--Maybe you have forgotten this but even one of our Distinctives as a church is Generous Giving. Jesus commended the poor widow who out of her poverty put in everything she had in the offering.

--In contrast Jesus spoke of the rich young ruler who spent all his wealth on himself. Do you see the money connection? Jesus called him a fool. He was rich but not rich toward God.

--The rich young ruler pressed Jesus about how he could obtain eternal life. Watch for the money connection.

Matthew 19:21 (NLT2)
²¹  Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 

--Jesus knew he could not serve two masters. Sadly, he chose his wealth. Sadly, he chose the lesser fading treasure walking away from the treasure that was eternal.

2. Smart or Stupid

--Watch this…the rich young man wasn’t willing to give up everything for a greater treasure, and the traveler in the field was. Why? Because the traveler understood what he would gain. 

--Should we feel sorry for the traveler? What he found cost him everything he owned. No, we do not pity this man, we envy him. What he sacrifices doesn’t even compare with what he gains. His reward is great.

--The traveler made short term sacrifice for long term reward. I hope you are understanding. It cost him everything he had but he gained far more than he lost.

Key – If we miss the part of the verse where it says “for joy” he sells everything he has. This was not begrudging sacrifice; it was him being a joyful giver. Lord, help us!

--In this parable Jesus is appealing to what we value…temporary, earthly treasure compared to eternal, heavenly treasure. The treasure in the field represents finding Jesus, the gospel, and the Kingdom of God. The best by far!

--Any earthly treasure we part with to obtain that far greater treasure is well worth the exchange. The sacrifice we make for missions is well worth it when you think of the souls who are being saved. Listen to Jesus:

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

--Jesus says Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth. Why? Because earthly treasures are bad? No, because they won’t last. 

Proverbs 23:5 (NIV)
⁵  Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. 

--When Jesus warns us not to store up treasures on earth, it is not because wealth might be lost, it’s because wealth will always be lost. Either it leaves us while we live, or we leave it when we die. No exceptions.

--According to Jesus, storing up earthly treasures isn’t simply wrong. It’s just plain stupid. No eternal sense. 

3. A Treasure Mentality and Principle.

--Jesus doesn’t just tell us where not to put our treasure, He also gives us the best investment advice ever, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

--God is not against us storing up treasure, He commands us to do it. He’s just telling us to stop doing it in the wrong place and start storing it in the right place!

--Store up for yourselves…almost sounds strange that Jesus would tell us to do something that is best for own self interests. Seems selfish. He wants us to live to His glory, but what is to His glory is always to our good. 

John Piper – God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

--When we serve God and others, we store up treasures in heaven. Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Why? Because it is the right thing to do. Why? Because you can’t take it with you. Hearse with a U-Haul truck.

--Jesus shares a profound truth with us which is a part of the Treasure Principle. You can’t take it with you—but you can send it on ahead of you.

Alcorn – Anything we try to hang on to here will be lost. But anything we put in God’s hands will be ours for eternity. If that doesn’t take your breath away, you don’t understand it. 

--If we invest in the eternal instead of in the temporal, we store up treasures in heaven that will never stop paying dividends. 

--Whatever we store up on earth will be left behind when we leave. Whatever treasures we store up in heaven will be waiting for us when we arrive. 

Alcorn - You can’t take it with you—but you can send it on ahead of you.

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

--Where is your treasure and where is your heart?

Emotions or Trust - 1

Emotions or Trust - 1

Subject: Battling Our Emotions When a Test Comes

By Rick Welborne

Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)
⁴  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV)
⁶  Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
⁷  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Fear (Noun) - an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. Synonyms: terror · fright · fearfulness · horror · alarm · panic · agitation. 

Fear (Verb) - be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening.

Synonyms: be afraid of · be fearful of · be scared of · be apprehensive of · dread.

--The Bible Program that I use for study and sermon preparation shows that there are over 360 times in the Bible where the word “fear” is used. The fear of the Lord and fear that causes us negative emotions.

--One of my best friends’ years ago and I would have a regular argument. He said God gave us all these verses about fear so that we would absolutely not have fear at all.

--I told him that I believed the reason God gave us so many verses about fear was because He knew we would have so many opportunities to be afraid and He wanted to help us through each of those.

--Adam was afraid, so he hid from God, Jeremiah was afraid to speak to the people and look at their faces (I know that fear), Joseph was afraid to take Mary as his wife, Peter was afraid of the wind and waves.

--The man with the one talent was afraid so he went and buried it in the ground because he thought his master was hard, the disciples were afraid when they were confronted with the demon possessed man. 

--The disciples were afraid of Saul when he was converted, God told Paul not to be afraid but to speak, Paul was afraid for the believers in Galatia that they would fall away, we are afraid for our kids.

--At some point all of us will have to deal with fear, we may have to walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, we may have to deal with things out of our control. Let’s get real:

--Years ago before we left to go on vacation, our church staff became very concerned about my health, especially with the nerve damage in my feet. They had public prayer for me.

--In the middle of that, one day while I was shaving, I found a lump under the ear where I had the two melanomas…I truly believe God was having them pray for me because of that situation.

--I went to my dermatologist. He knew my history and was very concerned. Sent me for a cat scan and they found a mass. More concern…they sent me for an ultra-sound and biopsy. 

--Just days before we leave I do a memorial service for people in the community who needed a pastor. Many raised their hands for salvation. We go on vacation still not know the results of the biopsy.

--Things stack up against you when you are trying to have faith in God. I am waiting to hear the results of my tests. Obviously when the C word is mentioned you are concerned.

--I asked the husband of the young lady (fifties) who passed away what kind of cancer did she die from. He immediately points to the area on his face where I have the mass and said her cancer started there. Ouch!

Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV)
¹⁹  So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. 

--You might have cancer, my wife had cancer, then, we lose a pearl of great price (Margaret Belew) a lady we loved so much…it is piling up…You tired and you are concerned…afraid.

--Then you hear a couple concerned about you not preaching the Word of God and have to deal with that. Family issues and remodeling. All of this is hitting right before you leave to rest.

--I want to apologize to anyone who has ever told me you were waiting for the results of a test or biopsy. Not because I didn’t pray…I did. Forgive me because I did not take to heart.

--The battle is so much in your mind as well as in your spirit. You need prayer and lots of it. You need words of comfort and encouragement. You need the body of Christ to hold you up…not put you down! 

--Before you go after a brother or sister in the Lord for whatever reason you may want to prayerfully consider what they are going through. Example: Man telling me he and his wife were leaving the church

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV) 
³  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
⁴  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
⁵  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

--These verses are easier to quote than to live especially when the thoughts are coming in like missiles raining in from the sky one after another. 

--During this time I sincerely talked to God and asked Him to help me through this valley of the shadow of death. This is what I felt God spoke to me.

1. When Fear Comes in Like a Flood…Change the Way You Worship.

--I consider myself to be a worshiper so when God spoke this to me, it kind of took me back. I said, Lord, You have to lead me into the worship you want from me. Jesus said to the woman at the well…

John 4:23-24 (NKJV) ²³ But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
²⁴  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

--God spoke to me and said, your worship to me must be anointed. I knew immediately what God was asking me to do. The worship music I listened to was good and was very popular.

--I have Pandora Radio on my phone, computer and I listen to hours of worship music when I pray and prepare sermons…I said yes!

--What makes the difference? I truly believe that music that is written, played, and sang with the anointing of the Holy Spirit can totally set a person free…the enemy can be defeated. Jehoshaphat: 

2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (NKJV)
²¹  And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever."
²²  Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 

--They put the musicians out front: When fear comes in, your worship has to get ahead of the emotions attacking you. Nothing will destroy fear like worshiping the King of kings and the Lord of Lords!

2. When Fear Comes in Like a Flood…Be Filled or Re-filled with Holy Spirit Power!

Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV) ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

--Verse 18 has always been one of my favorite scriptures…Do not be drunk with wine…Don’t be intoxicated by anything in this world…be filled with Holy Spirit!

--In this world we can be intoxicated by relationships, you can be intoxicated by bad habits. By emotions Like strong drink, fear can make you unstable.

--You can have an anxiety attack…You feel like you can’t breathe and your heart begins to race! Your blood pressure can go through the roof. When you face fear; it can be overwhelming. 

--Satan likes the darkness…he attacks in the night. He loves when you are half way between sleep and being awake. Don’t lie there and take it! Get up and be re-filled with Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 59:19 (NLT2) ¹⁹ In the west, people will respect the name of the LORD; in the east, they will glorify him. For he will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the LORD. 

3. When Fear Comes in Like a Flood…Be Peaceful and Find His Still Small Voice.

--Elijah had seen many great miracles in his life…rivers parting, false prophets defeated, a dead boy raised. Now he finds himself depressed, fearful, and suicidal. God wanted to get him alone. Why?

1 Kings 19:11-13 (NKJV)
¹¹  Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
¹²  and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
¹³  So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Psalm 46:10-11 (NKJV)
¹⁰  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
¹¹  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah