Give Us Today - 5

Give Us Today - 5

Subject – Kiss the Wave – Part 2

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 6:9-15 (NLT2)
⁹  Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
¹⁰  May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
¹¹  Give us today the food we need,
¹²  and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
¹³  And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
¹⁴  “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
¹⁵  But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. 

--Last week we spoke about Joseph Merrick, he was the infamous Elephant Man. Very few people in the world have ever suffered from more physical deformities than him. The sight of him scared people.

--We also talked about how Doctor Frederick Treves took an interest in him, had compassion, and provided a place of healing spiritually and emotionally. The Elephant Man was able to find peace.

--We also spoke about kissing the wave which was a famous quote by Charles Spurgeon:

Spurgeon – I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages. 

--If Merrick (The Elephant Man) could allow the pain of life and the obstacles he faced to push him into a deeper relationship with God, what is our excuse? We must kiss the wave. Paul said:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NKJV) ⁹  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
¹⁰  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

--Hear your pastor, all of us are fighting some kind of battle or obstacle. Usually, it is a battle that no one else is aware of but we must allow it to throw us against the Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ.

--Most of us cannot relate to the Elephant Man but all of us have our deep wounds and broken hearts that will either push us away from God or into a deeper relationship with Him. 

--Like every parent I know, we all have regrets about not doing the best job at raising our kids, many have deep wells of sadness, like every person I know. We have all walked thru the valley of the shadow of death. It hurts.

--Good news, we have seen God turn some of our toughest tests into our most treasured testimonies. We would not want to go thru that stuff again, but we wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. 

--Every testimony starts with a test. Pass the test and you get a testimony, and your testimony is how you overcome the next obstacle. Verse please:

Revelation 12:11 (NKJV)
¹¹  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

--Winning the day or praying “Lord, give me today” is never about a quick fix. It is about kissing the wave that throws you against the Rock of Ages. Be thankful for the pain that made you run to Jesus.

1. Kiss the Wave, and Know, It is Okay to Grieve.

--We all know of and have heard much about Charles Spurgeon and rightfully so. He’s the one we quoted about kissing the wave that throws us against the Rock of Ages. He accomplished so much for the Kingdom.

--Along with pastoring the largest church in the world, he wrote 150 books, started a college, and led sixty charities. Makes you wonder what he did in his spare time. Maybe something you did not know:

--On October 19, 1856, he was preaching to 10,000 people in London’s Surrey Gardens Music Hall when someone yelled “Fire!” It was chaos. Those trying to get out were blocked by those trying to get in.

--A balcony collapsed beneath the stampede and when the commotion had stopped, seven people had died and twenty-eight were seriously injured. Spurgeon’s text that night was:

Proverbs 3:33 (NKJV) ³³  The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked…

--He would never preach that passage again and the man who was known as The Prince of Preachers came close to never preaching again. For a long time, just the sight of his Bible would make him weep. 

--When he finally stepped back into the pulpit, painful emotions flooded his soul. Even 25years later while preaching to the Baptist Union, something triggered a flashback that left him speechless.

--Spurgeon was only 22 years-old at the time of the tragedy, he was the newly installed pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle (largest church), plus he was ten months into his marriage with twins only days old. 

--His stress was through the roof even without the tragedy. In my Master’s Program on Ministerial Leadership they taught us that in the top ten most stressful jobs is pastoring a large church.

--Imagine throwing in a new wife, twins, the pressure of speaking multiple times, writing books, and then, to face the tragedy of people dying and being injured at your meeting…He was being pushed against the Rock.

--Is it no wonder that Spurgeon admitted reluctantly that his thorn in the flesh was depression.

Spurgeon – My spirits were sunken so low that I could weep by the hour like a child, and yet I knew not what I wept for.  

Grief is depression in proportion to circumstance. Grief is a good thing, a God thing. God is the One Who created our tear ducts. But grief can be out of proportion to our own personal situation.

--This is where we have to allow our circumstances to push us closer to the Rock. Kiss the wave and run to the Rock. There is a danger to ourselves…Depression is grief out of proportion to circumstance.

--Grieve, it is one way that we kiss the wave. Much like physical wounds, if emotional wounds don’t fully heal, they can become infected. Don’t try to short-cut grief, it will short-cut your soul. Good news

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)
¹³  Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
¹⁴  We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
¹⁵  According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
¹⁶  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

 ¹⁷  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
¹⁸  Therefore encourage each other with these words. 

2. The Best of Times, the Worst of Times.

--A few of you may recognize this second point from Charles Dickens…he wrote “A Tale of Two Cities”:

Dickens – It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was epoch of belief, it was the epoch of skepticism, it was a season of Light, it was a season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.

--More than just an epic opening, it is a truthful take of life. We want the best of times without the worst. We want wisdom without foolishness, light without darkness, hope without despair. This is not reality.

--Maybe you believe all you have to do is name it, claim it, and you can have it, but having a 35½ year history here at Life Church I have watched people in that camp have both good and bad. It’s life.

--Christianity is not the avoidance of evil in the world and bad things happening to you, it is, however, having a Savior Who will walk with you thru every test and trial. He’ll never leave you or forsake you. 

--Remember the Elephant Man, how does someone who is misunderstood and mistreated for so many years consider himself blessed, not cursed? How could he get better instead of bitter? Merrick repeated

Merrick – Tis true, my form is something odd, but blaming me is blaming God. Could I create myself anew, I would not fail in pleasing you. 

--We all have opportunity to blame God. All of us have probably been guilty at some point. We have questions on this side of eternity we may never get the answers. This is when we trust Him.

Deuteronomy 29:29 (NIV) ²⁹ The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

3. From It or Through It.

--Sometimes God delivers us from suffering. More often than not, He delivers us through it. Why? So we can help others going through similar mess. 

Isaiah 43:1-3 (NKJV)
¹  But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
²  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
³  For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; 

--To be able to kiss the wave and to be able to pray, Lord, give us today, it may be good to pray the serenity prayer:

Reinhold Niebuhr – God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. 

The Gift - 2025 - 2

The Gift - 2025 - 2

Subject – The Gift of a New Beginning

By Rick Welborne

Isaiah 43:15-19 (NIV)
¹⁵  I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King."
¹⁶  This is what the LORD says-- he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,
¹⁷  who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
¹⁸  "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
¹⁹  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. 

--I hope and pray you are joining with us in fasting and praying for 2025 to be a new beginning for our church, our people, our nation, and your families.

--As we approach the inauguration of President Trump and his cabinet many are hoping for a new day and a more prosperous 2025.

--Please hear your pastor well. If true and lasting change will come to any of these areas, it will happen because God responds to the prayer of His people.

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.

--But pastor, we won. It’s okay to be happy about your candidate winning but please realize as a nation that we are still divided, babies are still being aborted, and terrorism is still a reality. 

--And most importantly, we are surrounded by lost people everywhere we go. If we want God to heal our land, that doesn’t mean He is going to redeem dirt, it means He will redeem people.

--A couple of weeks before the new year, Pastor Neftali gave a devotion to our pastors about evangelism. He exhorted us from Paul’s encouragement to young Timothy.

2 Timothy 4:5 (NKJV)
⁵  But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 

--He shared how it is good to have organized events which are aimed at reaching the lost and attempting or compelling people to come into the Kingdom of God.

--He shared how we must take personal responsibility and that we have to be intentional about reaching the lost. I hope and pray we will always be missional but I want us to be soul winners.

--Filling out a Faith Promise and dropping in a check for Missions here can help someone find Christ in another country but it may not help your neighbor find Jesus.

--Today let’s try to tie each of these scriptures together using 2 Tim. 4:5, as our launching pad. Be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

1. Be Watchful.

--Every day when I start the long list of people I pray for, I start the prayer this way. I will lift up my eyes because Jesus is coming soon. Then, I put on the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:13-19 (NKJV)
¹³  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
¹⁴  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
¹⁵  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
¹⁶  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
¹⁷  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
¹⁸  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
¹⁹  and for me, 

--To be watchful is to be alert and to always be ready. Ready for what? Christ return? Yes. For the enemy’s attack? Yes. For opportunities for ministry? Yes.

--God has set us up as watchmen on the wall to protect the church and to sound the alarm when the enemy is about to attack His people. 

Isaiah 62:6 (NLT2)
⁶  O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the LORD. 

--As we watch and pray, we can see God do a new thing which, in itself, is a gift from God. 

2. Endure Afflictions.

--It is obvious to me that because we live here in America, we have fewer afflictions than much of the world. That being said, we still have our issues and our challenges.

--Christian maturity has little to do with avoiding these situations because of our great faith, but rather, a willingness to trust God in the middle of the mess. 

Isaiah 43:1-3 (NLT2)
¹  But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.
²  When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
³  For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 

--The Bible says to each one there is given a measure of faith (a gift from God) to be able to trust God when you go through deep water, rapid rivers, and raging fires.

--You really do not know what kind of faith a person has until they are faced with adversity that is bigger than them and God is truly their only way of escape.

--Paul instructs Timothy to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ but much of what we have produced is spiritual draft dodgers who only want life and the gospel on their terms.

--Read your Bible and read Fox’s Book of Martyrs and see how those who came before us had to endure some stuff. Many gave their lives for their faith. They died in their faith.

 Hebrews 11:35-38 (NLT2)
³⁵ …But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.
³⁶  Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons.
³⁷  Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.
³⁸  They were too good for this world…

3. Do the Work of an Evangelist. 

--Philip was called Philip the evangelist in Acts 21:8. But he was one of the seven deacons chosen to serve and wait tables in Acts 6. Was he an evangelist or a deacon? Yes!

--No matter what your title is in the church, we are all called to watch and pray, to endure affliction, and to evangelize the lost. Philip was an on fire witness for Christ. A gift to the world.

--Philip went to Samaria and preached (shared) Jesus. Many were saved, demons were cast out, bodies were healed, miracles were done, and many received the power of Holy Spirit. A deacon!

Mark 16:15-18 (NKJV)
¹⁵  And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
¹⁶  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
¹⁷  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
¹⁸  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

4. Fulfill Your Ministry. 

--Fulfill your ministry not fill a pew. Fulfilling your ministry is standing on the promises not just sitting on the premises. It means getting involved. We Need Each Other.

Galatians 6:1-2 (NIV)
¹  Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
²  Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 

--You have the ability to be a gift to someone else who needs a new beginning. Yes, it may be messy and it may take time but it is worth it. If you are spiritual, help people. Our previous verse.

2 Timothy 4:5 (NKJV)
⁵  But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 

--God has mandated all of us to be watchful (to pray), to endure hard times, to do the work of an evangelist (to reach the lost), and to fulfill whatever ministry He has given us to do.

--In 2025, be a gift to the body of Christ and to the world…fulfill your ministry.

The Gift - 2025 - 1

The Gift - 2025 - 1

Subject – The Gift of a New Beginning

By Rick Welborne

Isaiah 43:15-25 (NIV)
¹⁵  I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King."
¹⁶  This is what the LORD says-- he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,
¹⁷  who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
¹⁸  "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
¹⁹  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
²⁰  The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
²¹  the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
²²  "Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Israel.
²³  You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense.
²⁴  You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.
²⁵  "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. 

--2025 – Can you believe it? It seems like just a few days ago it was 2024. So how are you entering or approaching 2025? With dread and fear or with hope and praise?

--For so many 2024 was an extremely tough year. For many a very sad year. The loss of loved ones. For many a year of life seemingly punching you in the gut. Spiritually, physically, and financially.

--Many of you heard from doctors’ news that shook you to the core and many of you had loved ones who heard that report and it broke your heart.

--A few weeks ago I shared with you Paul’s perspective toward all the things that were happening in his life and how he perceived those things to be a gift.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NKJV)
⁷  And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
⁸  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
⁹  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
¹⁰  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

--Perceiving the things Paul mentioned as gifts completely goes against the grain of what much of the American church believes. They believe that Christianity is nothing but happiness and bounty.

--Don’t misunderstand me, I believe the benefits of serving Jesus and being filled with Holy Spirit definitely makes a wonderful difference in our lives. But not free from difficulties.

--I have a little history here at Life Church which gives me a perspective that some may not have. When you stay in the same place for 36 years, you witness a lot.

--For example, no matter what camp you are in…Just confessing all your problems away or simply trusting God to help you when diverse trials come, life happens to everyone.

--I have seen those who have declared healing would happen but it didn’t. I have heard people declare someone wouldn’t die and they did. You shall live and not die. The Psalmist died.

--So many have been hurt by well-meaning Christians declaring certain things over people’s lives and, then, those things do not happen. I personally believe those people should be held accountable.

--On the other side, we cannot and we should not live our Christian lives without having tremendous faith in God. Nothing is impossible with God.

Hebrews 11:1&6 (NKJV)
¹  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
⁶  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

--Today, with God’s help, I want to share with you about the gift of a new beginning. Many need that. Matter of a fact, all of us need a new beginning.

1. The Gift of a New Beginning – Focus

--One of the many reasons why people are so hurt and frustrated with life is because they have focused on the wrong thing. We focus on people instead of on God.

Psalm 118:6-9 (NIV) ⁶ The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
⁷ The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.
⁸ It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
⁹ It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. 

--Much of the counseling we do to help people is trying to convince them to stop looking to people as the source of their happiness and fulfillment. The first two verses in our text:

Isaiah 43:15-16 (NIV) ¹⁵ I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King."
¹⁶ This is what the LORD says-- he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, 

--If He is your Lord and King and if He is the One Who has made a way through the sea for you and a path through turbulent waters…why do you keep trusting in man?

--Those of you who are single (young or old) you will never find that one person who is going to make you happy all the time. Stop thinking they are like God. They are not! Focus!

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2. The Gift of a New Beginning – Faith.

--One of the tough parts of being a pastor or a spiritual leader is getting people to understand that God can take better care of our situation or circumstances better than we can.

--We feel the need to help God out because He is either way too slow in responding or He is not doing what we want the way we want it.

--Whose judgment or wisdom do we trust when our back is against the wall, or the healing is delayed, or the finances are scarce, or our hearts are broken from loss or loneliness?

2 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT2)
³  By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
⁴  And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 

--These two verses should be major faith-builders letting us know that God is the provider of everything we need. Maybe not everything we want, but everything we need.

--The first thing I see in these verses regarding our faith is that God is our source. God has given us everything we need. Not man, not a job, and not the bottom line of our finances. God!

--One of the reasons we stay so frustrated and depressed is because we want our source or sources to be people. People can never do for you what God can do.

--The second gift I see in regard to our faith is that everything we need is obtained by getting to know Him better. Getting to know Jesus better is a gift for sure.

--The third thing I see as a gift in regard to our faith is great and precious promises. He is the Way Maker and Promise Keeper, and again, He is our source.

--As a good Father, He has control of those gifts and how they are dispersed. Just remember, He is the Potter and we are the clay. Why do we tell God what to do?

Isaiah 29:16 (NCV)                                                                                                                                                 ¹⁶  You are confused. You think the clay is equal to the potter. You think that an object can tell the one who made it, “You didn’t make me.” This is like a pot telling its maker, “You don’t know anything.”

--Faith gives us a new beginning when we make the decision to rest in His hands and let Him form us.

3. The Gift of a New Beginning – Forgiveness.

Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)
²⁵  "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. 

A. If you want a new beginning, you must let God forgive you.

B. If you want a new beginning, you must for give others.

Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)
¹⁴  For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
¹⁵  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

C. If you want a new beginning, you must forgive yourself.

Psalm 103:2-4 (NIV) ²  Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--
³  who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
⁴  who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 

D. If you want a new beginning, you must forgive God.

Malachi 3:14 (NLT2)
¹⁴  “You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the LORD of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins? 

--Some of you need to forgive God because you think He didn’t do you right. This is shaky ground.