Partnership – 5

Partnership – 5

Subject – Passion for the House of God

By Rick Welborne

John 2:16-17 (NLT2) ¹⁶ Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
¹⁷  Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.” 

Psalm 69:9 (NLT2) ⁹ Passion for your house has consumed me…

--Today I want to continue the series “Partnership”. This subject is something I have spoken to the pastoral staff and the Board of Deacons quite a bit.

--I know that when we speak about the church we are not talking about a building or buildings but we are talking about the people who make up the Kingdom of God.

--That being said, according to our text, Jesus had such a passion for God’s House (Sanctuary) and that was obvious by what He did with the whip and the money changers.

Question: Do you have a passion for God’s House to be here, to meet with your brothers and sisters, and even a desire to make sure the House of God is well taken care of?

--We used to sing a song, “To Be Like Jesus, To Be Just Like Him.” Jesus had a love and a passion so much for the House of God. Do we have that same love and passion like Him?

--Today we worship in the House of God because so many who came before us were so sacrificial and had a determination to make this sanctuary a refuge for many to come.

--In 1979 they purchased this property and built the Sanctuary which is now the Family Life Center, La Vida Church, Children’s Church, and Youth. Thank you for your sacrifice.

--In 2000-2001 we set out on a journey to build this beautiful building you are in today. 2.2 million dollars. Imagine this poor boy from Louisiana signing his name to that. Scary.

--We felt that if it was God’s will, it would be God’s bill. But remember, God uses people and the people responded. We all began to give and we did not pressure the people to give.

--We even said to the people, if you have to make a decision about giving to missions or giving to the building fund, give to missions. They were faithful in tithing, missions, and the building.

--It was miraculous what God did and how He used people. Our people’s love for God’s House showed up in their giving. Even guest and people who were not members gave. 

--With God’s blessings we paid it off in three years. To God be the glory! By the way, our mission’s giving continued to increase during that time also. God is faithful.

1. In this Partnership, God’s House Should be a House of Prayer.

Mark 11:17 (NKJV) ¹⁷ Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "

Isaiah 56:7 (NKJV) ⁷ Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." 

--God’s intent and will was that His House should be a place of prayer and a place seeking God with all our hearts. Not a place of entertainment or a display of talent, but prayer.

Jim Cymbala – God didn’t say His House was to be a House of preaching, a House of singing, a House of teaching, but a House of Prayer. All those things have their place, but the priority must be prayer.

--As you prepare to come to God’s House, pray. As you drive to God’s House, pray. Even before the service starts, pray. When the singing starts, pray and worship.

--God wants prayer going on in His House (pray without ceasing) non-stop. When the pastor leads in prayer, pray. When he receives tithes and offerings, pray.

--When the pastor or missionary begins to speak, pray. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. When the altar call is given, pray. My House shall be called a House of Prayer.

2 Chronicles 7:12-16 (NKJV)
¹²  Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
¹³  When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
¹⁴  if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
¹⁵  Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
¹⁶  For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

2. In this Partnership, God’s House Must be a Priority.

--Again, we thank God for those who have sacrificed to build this house (sanctuary or complex) but please understand there is ongoing care that needs to be addressed.

--When I came here the congregation was in the process of purchasing property over on South Street. The first time I saw it, I felt it was not God’s will for us to buy it. I told the pastor.

--He said that he knew but this wasn’t the time to address it. Fast forward, two years and we become the pastors. I felt it was time to address it. It was draining us financially.

--My first Board Meeting, I tell the men I didn’t feel it was God’s will for us to build on South Street. Can we get more land here? Let’s pray. While we were praying (above) the phone starts ringing.

--Are you the pastor? Just barely. If you need land I will sell you the land next to the church…cheap! What was only 9 acres has since become 34 acres. Two houses and the House of Hope. 

--Obviously, we give God all the glory, but praise the Lord, He uses people to bless the church and to sustain it. I could go on and on about God’s blessings but let’s get to the point.

Haggai 1:1-4 (NLT2)
¹  On August 29 of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the LORD gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel…                                                                                                                                                ²  “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’”
³  Then the LORD sent this message through the prophet Haggai:
⁴  “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? 

--This is not a message of condemnation but a message of exhortation to value, to love, and to take care of the House of God. We are the stewards of these facilities.

--Haggai receives a message from the Lord and he says, “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’” 

--Before he gives the word he tells them this is what God is saying…The message that he is saying to the people, you are not making care of God’s House a priority.

--We have always been careful here at Life Church not to burden you with things that we can take care of from the General Fund and from extra-ordinary blessings.

--But there comes a time when a facility begins to age (25years) and the needs are more than what can be taken care of by using what we have on hand. 

--This is what Haggai was doing when he gave the word from the Lord to the people. He was reminding them that it was their responsibility to take care of God’s House.

--Our pastors and supporting staff have done an amazing job of being stewards of God’s House and resources but the time has come that we need help.

--Haggai saw that the people were blessed with nice houses but he also pointed out that God’s House was lacking attention and something needed to be done about it.

3. In this Partnership, Notice the Connection of Caring for God’s House and Blessings.

Haggai 1:5-8 (NLT2) ⁵ This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!
⁶  You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!
⁷  “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!
⁸  Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the LORD. 

--In Hebrews 10 the writer exhorts us to not forsake (neglect) our attendance in God’s house because as Christ’s coming draws near, we need to be encouraging each other.

--Here in Hag.1, Haggai not only tells us to care for God’s House but he goes as far as to explain to us why we are potentially in financial difficulty. 

You plant but harvest little. You eat but not satisfied. You drink but still thirsty. Your clothes don’t work right. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!

--In verse 8 he says go get what you need to care for God’s House. I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the LORD. God uses us and His Name is glorified. God uses people. Paul in prison:

Philippians 4:10 (NKJV) ¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.

--Like the Philippians lacking opportunity to help Paul because they didn’t know, I believe the same is true, about the needs of the Church. Paul said their care flourished. Do it again, Lord!

--So what do we need at this present time? Great question:

House of Hope – Walk in Freezer - $28,000 – Given or committed approximately $20,000

Carpet for Sanctuary and Foyers - $80,000 – Given already $50,000

Life Church Sound System - $175,000 – Given already $2500

Roof Over the Educational Wing and Bailey Hall – Approximately $60,000

Parking Lot Repaint - Approximately $9000

Freezer for Bailey Hall - $1000

--Of course, there are other needs but these are very important for us to care for as soon as possible.

Total - $353,000 Needs

Given or Committed - $72,500

Remaining Approximate Balance - $280,500

--We want you to understand this can’t come from your tithes. Also, if you can only give to Missions or this project, give to Missions. 

--Put on your offering – God’s House.

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.