Please, Lord, Direct My Path - 5

Please, Lord, Direct My Path - 5

Subject: Finding God’s Divine Direction in Our Lives

By Rick Welborne

Proverbs 3:1-10 (NKJV)
¹  My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
²  For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
³  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
⁴  And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
⁷  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
⁸  It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
⁹  Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
¹⁰  So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. 

Last week:

1. God’s Navigational Tool…Wisdom.

2. God’s Beautiful Gift…Seeing into the Future. 

3. Seek God’s Wisdom for Each Situation.

1. Stick It Out!

--Many years ago I was speaking at a men’s gathering at Trinity Assembly of God…I had been made aware that there was a gentleman who was there who had just celebrated 65 years of marriage.

--Knowing the men there could use some encouragement and wisdom about their marriages…I encouraged the elderly man to stand and give us the secret to a good long marriage.

--It took him quite a while to stand…again I asked him, “All of us younger guys need to hear your wisdom and secret to a good marriage.” Just keep your big mouth shut and don’t give up!

Luke 18:1-8 (NLT2)
¹  One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
²  “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.
³  A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’
⁴  The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,
⁵  but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
⁶  Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.
⁷  Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
⁸  I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” 

--Jesus tells us this widow kept coming to this judge repeatedly…she had the tenacity not to take “no” for an answer. Some theology says just ask once but I believe this story tells us differently.

--The original language in Mat. 7, not only tells us to ask, but it tells us to keep asking, not to only knock but to keep knocking, not to just seek but it tells us to keep seeking.

--I asked them to forgive me one time and I’m done…I believe Jesus may want you to ask for forgiveness and keep on asking. Sometimes they do not know if you are sincere the first time.

--If an unjust judge will give justice to a poor widow who cries out non-stop…how much more will our heavenly Father grant you justice quickly…Stick it out!

--When I had just turned 18 and could work at International Paper Company, I went in and filled out an application…Thanks for your application but we have no openings. I said thanks!

--The next day I went back and told them I wanted a job…we just told you yesterday that we have no openings at this present time. You never know when someone may quit…I want a job!

--I went the next day, and the next, and the next. I went back the following week and did the same thing! Same answer. You do not have to come every day…we will call you! Thanks, I’ll see you tomorrow.

--The third week I went back and did the same thing…this time a supervisor came out of his office because he had been watching every day. How many know I am loud…I knew he was watching.

--How many of you know that Jesus is watching and listening? The supervisor invited me into his office. Rick, you just will not take no for an answer will you. Nope, sir! I need a good job!

--Like the unjust judge, he said I am going to give you a job so you will leave us alone here in the office. How long would you have kept this up? As long as it took! $5 an hour…wow!

--What are you going through…tough marriage, rebellious kids, sinking finances, family disruption, dryness in your spirit…Stick it out! Hang in there! Don’t quit! Don’t give up! Your King is coming!

Hebrews 10:35-39 (NKJV) ³⁵ Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
³⁶  For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
³⁷  "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
³⁸  Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
³⁹  But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. 

2. Stay the Course!

--Many of you were so sure that God had ordered your steps years ago, you were so sure God told you to do what you started doing, and no one could convince you differently.

--No one could persuade you that you were not doing God’s will. Now you are so unsure of yourself and now you are trying to accomplish what God told you to do in your own strength.

Galatians 3:1-3&7 (NLT2) ¹ Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross.
²  Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ.
³  How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
⁷  The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. 

--Stay the course! Keep trusting God! Don’t try to fix what is messed up in your own strength! If you started in the Spirit, then, determine to finish in Holy Spirit.

3. Seek Selfless Sacrifice!

--There is a story in the Old Testament about a lady named Ruth…there is so much tragedy in this family!

--A lady by the name of Naomi loses her husband and it happens during a famine. Her two sons marry Moabite women, Oprah and Ruth. Ten years later the two sons also die. All 3 widows.

--During that time, widows without children were pretty much without hope or opportunity. Society was not set up for women to work. If the husband died, their children assumed the position of caregivers. 

--Naomi’s only option was to become a beggar, a position that was considered even lower than a slave. Knowing her situation, she encourages Oprah and Ruth to return to their homes.

Ruth 1:8-9 (NLT2) ⁸ But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the LORD reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me.
⁹  May the LORD bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept.

--Oprah realized that Naomi was right and made the decision to go back to her family. Ruth saw things differently…she chose to stay with her mother-in-law though her future was uncertain.

--Naomi strongly encourages Ruth to go back home but she says no!

Ruth 1:16-18 (NLT2) ¹⁶ But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
¹⁷  Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”
¹⁸  When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.

--This path that Ruth chooses is serious business…we are family and we are committed to each other no matter what. Even your God will be my God…only death can separate us…what loyalty!

--She is choosing to be a beggar right alongside of Naomi and she is choosing selfless sacrifice to take care of this lady. She had grown to love Naomi…even more, her God!

--Ruth works the fields…gleaning what she could behind those harvesting the crops…Boaz (the owner of the field) sees her and has compassion for her…He blessed her and protected her…ever wonder why?

 Ruth 2:11-12 (NLT2) ¹¹ “Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers.
¹²  May the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”

--He had heard of her selfless sacrifice to care for Naomi…he heard Ruth’s story and saw the path she had chosen. His heart was touched. Boaz is a type of Jesus in the Old Testament. Boaz and Ruth marry.

--You can trace Jesus’s lineage all the way back to Ruth… a person who chose to take the most unlikely path to seek selfless sacrifice. She was greatly rewarded!

Please, Lord, Direct My Path - 4

Please, Lord, Direct My Path - 4

Subject: Finding God’s Divine Direction in Our Lives

By Rick Welborne

Proverbs 3:1-10 (NKJV) ¹  My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
²  For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
³  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
⁴  And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
⁷  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
⁸  It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
⁹  Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
¹⁰  So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. 

Last sermon:

1. To Find God’s Direction, You Must Avoid that One Stupid Mistake.

2 Samuel 11:1 (NKJV)
¹  It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab…

2. To Find God’s Direction, You Must Start Where You Are.

3. To Find God’s Direction, You Must Start Flossing.

--You do not have to floss all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep!

--Tonight’s message…we must all realize that there is a cause and effect. Good decisions, good results. Bad decisions, bad results. Our stories we write are the result of many variables. 

--You don’t get to choose your parents, your family, or where you are born. As children, all the big decisions are made for us…where we lived, schools we went to, what we ate, when to go to bed.

--You learn if you drive over the speed limit, you get a ticket. You date the wrong person, you could end up brokenhearted, struggling to trust again. 

--If you choose the wrong friends, if you attempt to drink an entire six-pack in less than a few minutes, your decision may leave you in an intimate relationship with a toilet. Don’t want to throw it up to you!

--On the other hand, if you choose to show up to work on time…your boss notices and gives a promotion. You make good choices with what you eat and how you exercise…you lose weight!

--Every choice you make, both big and small, affects the aspects of your life. You either learn to take responsibility for your actions, or you make excuses.

1. God’s Navigational Tool…Wisdom.

--Before I counsel with anyone who comes to my office…I do the same thing every time…I pray this portion of scripture and truly believe that God is going to do it. 

James 1:5-8 (NIV) ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
⁶  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
⁷  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
⁸  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

--God wants us to find His path and He wants us to receive His wisdom but so many times we do not stop and ask Him…can I offer you some good advice…some good wisdom?

--Many times things are out of our control; conversations escalate in a direction we never intended for them to go and wisdom is needed to navigate treacherous waters…what are we to do?

--Many of us just plow on through as if we had good sense or as if we did not care what the collateral damage will be. Ok, Pastor, what should we do in those moments?

--Hit the pause button…don’t say anything and for sure, do not do anything. Even if you cannot pray it out loud, pause and pray for wisdom and then, listen to what God speaks. Any verse for this?

Psalm 46:8-11 (NKJV) ⁸ Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth.
⁹  He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
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 

--Maybe I read these verses different than you but they definitely work for me. 

A. Stop and behold or see what God has already done!

B. Stop and see how He even controls wars…things bigger than us!

C. Stop! Be still! Be quiet! Don’t do anything or say anything! Know I am God!

D. Stop and realize the Lord is with us and He is our refuge!

--Wisdom is God’s navigational tool for helping us make decisions about the life we want to live. The tricky part is stopping for a moment and actually using it.

2. God’s Beautiful Gift…Seeing Into the Future. 

 --Pastor Rick, we do not have the ability to see into our future. If we could, some of us would be happy while others of us would be extremely sad and troubled. 

--I am telling you with certainty that God has given us this gift of seeing our future. God has given us the ability to affect what that future will be. Example of someone not using the gift.

--Tricia and I pull up in our driveway and get out of the car…we hear a voice in the wilderness crying…hey! Hey, Dad! Mom! Help! It was our son Jeremy when he 14 or 15 years old.

--We hurry through the back yard out to the pasture. We look half way up in a very large tree and there is Jeremy holding a saw yelling for help. What are you doing?

--As we inspect his dilemma, we see that he has climbed higher and higher cutting off each limb that was under him. And, yes, we burst out laughing at his predicament!  We get the ladder for him.

--Now I ask you, do you believe that if Jeremy would have just hit the pause button for a moment before he started cutting the limbs under him, he probably would have laughed to himself. 

--He would have seen in his mind what we saw in reality and he could have averted the situation. All of our decisions are like this and the scriptures bear this out. About giving God says:

2 Corinthians 9:6 (NKJV) ⁶ But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Luke 6:36-39 (NKJV) ³⁶ Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
³⁷  "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
³⁸  Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
³⁹  And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 

--If you give generously now…in your future it will be given back to you generously. Choose now not to judge people and in your future God will surround you with people who do not judge you.

--Example…I worked for people who were cruel, mean, stingy, abusive. This was in the ministry. People encouraged me to expose what was happening but I said “Emphatically no!”

1 Chronicles 16:22 (NKJV) ²² Saying, "Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm." 

--I chose to honor God’s man who was pastoring the church where I was serving. Why? Because I could see into the future! I could see God surrounding me with pastors who are loyal.

--I could have created my own future in a much different light if I had chosen to attack the man of God and to write a letter telling of his abuse. When I left there, I honored him before the people. 

--Can the blind lead the blind? If you hang out with someone who is ungodly, with someone who is willfully disobeying God’s Word, who is spiritually blind…the ditch is in your future.

--If you are a person who forgives others even when they do not deserve it…you have a wonderful future!

Luke 6:37 (NKJV) ³⁷ Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

3. Seek God’s Wisdom for Each Situation.

1 Chronicles 14:8,10-11,13-17-17 (NLT2)
⁸  When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he marched out to meet them.
¹⁰  So David asked God, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The LORD replied, “Yes, go ahead. I will hand them over to you.”
¹¹  So David and his troops went up to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “God did it!” David exclaimed. “He used me to burst through my enemies like a raging flood!”                                                    ¹³  But after a while the Philistines returned and raided the valley again.
¹⁴  And once again David asked God what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” God replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees.
¹⁵  When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, go out and attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.”
¹⁶  So David did what God commanded, and they struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
¹⁷  So David’s fame spread everywhere, and the LORD caused all the nations to fear David. 

--Everyone say strategy…God has a strategy. He wants us to pause and to inquire of Him what His plan is for this particular situation. David had the wisdom to inquire in both situations.

--One enemy needed to be taken head on…the next time…circle behind them and listen for marching feet in the poplar trees. Wow, this is totally different. So important to get wisdom from God. 

--So many times we put God in a box and can I say it…God does not do boxes! He expects us to seek Him in every situation for His will and wisdom to defeat our enemies.

Partnership – 4

Partnership – 4

Subject – God Uses People

By Rick Welborne

2 Chronicles 20:1-3 (NKJV)
¹  It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat.
²  Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar" (which is En Gedi).
³  And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 

--As we continue this series on Partnership, we see how people who have partnered with God have been used to bless others and to bring glory to God.

--Our LOL group have put together Care Baskets to bless people who really needed encouragement and hope. Individuals have done the same thing. God gets the glory but He uses people.

--We have watched our Honor Bound Motorcycle Ministry go to Harley Davidson in Leesburg during Bike Fest, set up a booth, give away Bibles and literature, and lead people to Christ.

--This group of men and ladies have decided to be used by God to touch a segment of our society that most of us would never reach. God is glorified because He uses people like this.

--You may not even know about this ministry. Pastor Mark with a few of his children’s workers every week go into some of the roughest neighborhoods to share Jesus.

--Jesus said, when you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto Me. Kids come to church on the bus, picked up by people who are used by God, and Jesus is glorified. Partnership.

--I could go on talking about God using people in jail ministry, nursing home ministry, visitation ministry, altar ministry, kitchen ministry but time is short. A beautiful partnership where God gets the glory.

--The story in our text was so magnified in my heart about this partnership, that I felt it was necessary to share with you the characters who were important to seeing the miracle.

1. In This Partnership, God is the Main Character.

2 Chronicles 20:1-3 (NKJV)
³  And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 

--Jehoshaphat had every reason to fear. A great army is on the way to destroy and to take captive the people of Jerusalem and Judah. Any leader with half a brain would be afraid.

--That being said, Jehoshaphat knew who his source of help was. He set himself to seek the Lord. He realized if deliverance would come, it would be God. God loves these situations.

Psalm 118:5-7 (NKJV)
⁵  I called on the LORD in distress; The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
⁶  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
⁷  The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. 

--Because God is the main character, we call on Him first. This poor man cried out and the Lord heard him and delivered him out of all his troubles. 

--Jehoshaphat was wise to see that partnering with God was his only hope. But God uses people.

2. In This Partnership, A Leader is Needed.

--We live in an interesting day when it seems to be more than acceptable to disrespect and even ridicule leadership, in and out of the church.

--Our national leaders have done so much harm to our country by resorting to name calling, lying about, and even manipulating facts to make the other person look bad. Creates division.

Proverbs 14:34 (NKJV) ³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people. 

Romans 13:1-2 (NLT2) ¹ Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
²  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 

--Israel and Judah were in trouble and they needed a leader. They needed Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

--God could have just went out and destroyed all the enemies coming against them but God uses people. Jehoshaphat began to seek the Lord, proclaimed a fast, and prayed giving God the glory.

2 Chronicles 20:6 (NLT2) ⁶ He prayed, “O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!

--God uses people especially those who seek God and give Him all the glory.

3. In This Partnership, Someone Needs to be Sensitive to Holy Spirit.

2 Chronicles 20:14-17 (NKJV)
¹⁴  Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah…
¹⁵  And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
¹⁶  Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel.
¹⁷  You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."

--We read about the gifts of Holy Spirit in the NT but obviously, Holy Spirit was active and speaking through people in the OT. He uses people to encourage people and to glorify God.

--To those of you who are used by the Spirit of God, let me say thank you and let me give you an exhortation that will give glory to God and edify those who hear.

--V. 15 Jahaziel tells the people, including King Jehoshaphat to listen but listen to how he prefaces his remarks to them…Thus says the LORD to you. This is what the Lord says. NLT

--First, in this partnership you need to make sure that you have truly heard from God before you speak, and second, you begin what you are saying, Thus says the LORD to you.

--Why is this important? Not everyone has been raised in Pentecost. When you just speak out speaking in first person, which sounds like to new people, you are God, it is confusing.

--But when you say, Thus says the LORD to you. or this is what the Lord is saying to His Church, they can understand you are speaking on God’s behalf. God is glorified. 

--Sensitivity to Holy Spirit helps us glorify God and helps us be used by God to encourage others.

--We love when God says You will not need to fight in this battle but that doesn’t mean we have nothing to do in the situation. We still must be obedient.

--Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."

--Many believe God will do it all but always remember, God loves using His people to glorify His Name. Position yourselves, stand still, don’t fear, and see. They worship God.

4. In This Partnership, We Have to Be Boldly Obedient.

2 Chronicles 20:21 (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." 

--Get this in your mind, a great army is coming toward you with the sole purpose of destroying you. You have been praying with your leader and he says he has a plan from God. Great!

--Jehoshaphat says I want the singers and musicians with all your instruments to go out on front of the army and sing and play. Wait a minute, partnership with God is one thing, but…

--Not sure which musician it was but probably one of them spoke up and said, wouldn’t it make more sense for the soldiers with all their weapons to go out front…just saying.

--Partnership with God and how He uses people will not always make sense but our job is to be boldly obedient to God’s plans and ways. Okay, singers and musicians out front.

--When the enemy comes against you and your family, and one of your pastors say to you, get out front of your problem with your praise and worship. Hear his advice. Your worship can defeat the enemy.

--Probably some brave singer like me would say, I will go out front and we will attack the enemy with our singing. Thanks but remember the instructions.

2 Chronicles 20:21 (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." 

--Appoint those who should sing…Partnership with God and with each other means we are boldly obedient but it also means we should recognize the gifts and talents around us. God deserves the best.

--Because God is to be glorified and because He wants to use people, He also, chooses who should be…should be, doing what.

1 Corinthians 12:11 (NKJV)
¹¹  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.