Subject: Why for Many in the Church is it One or the Other
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.
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.
--I kept running into professing followers of Christ and I noticed (you couldn’t help but notice) that their worlds were disturbingly troubled…it seemed they had lost faith.
--I have noticed over a long period of time that there are certain individuals in the Kingdom of God who are either in a total feast or a frightening famine…it is revival or backsliding.
--In this message I want us to examine why that is, and if there are things we can do to change this situation.
--I get the image of a bike ride (I have been on many 150 mile rides), everyone loves going down the hill with the wind blowing in your hair without very much effort…unless it is North Carolina…gravity bad!
--On the other extreme, going up a steady incline or peddling against a 15 mile and hour wind…thinking you will never make it without passing out.
--Note here: the same wind that feels so good going down the hill or riding with the wind to your back (wind good) can immediately seem like an enemy fighting against you and you despise it (wind bad).
--It just hit me, that is kind of how we feel about God…everything going well…God good…everything going wrong…God bad.
--Maybe this is just me, but what I found to be the most challenging was not going up a hill or going down a hill but the monotonous flat areas where it just had to be one pedal after the other…boring.
--Please do not misunderstand me and please do not think I am minimizing the difficult times that people face. I definitely do not want to come across as not being able to empathize with people and their problems. I do!
Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
--If we will be like Jesus, we will have to be touched by those who are hurting around us and do our best to relieve their suffering and pain. Pretty much everyone has been hurt deeply at some point or will be.
--I believe there are those who have not found that middle ground or maybe that stable ground where life does not have to be one or the other…feast or famine…total victory or total defeat…There is something in between.
--Solomon, in our text, is exhorting his son and all of us to listen to his commands, his teachings, (the Word) and that by doing so we will be blessed by God and have a fulfilling life…a long life too!
--He also exhorts us to be people of mercy (oh, how we need mercy and grace) and to be people of truth (God’s truth).
John 1:14-17 (NKJV)
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' "
16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' "
16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
--Because the scriptures in Proverbs 3 are life verses to me…as I was greeting one of these people the other day that was going thru famine (just a week before they were all smiles) God spoke to me our text:
Proverbs 3:5-7 (NKJV)
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.
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.
1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
--You see, trusting in the Lord with all your heart is polar opposite of leaning on your own understanding. We have a tendency to think we have God figured out.
--Do not forget the two rules of theology…There is only One God…You are not Him.
--Trusting is not just what you do when things are going well…trusting with all your heart means even when you do not understand or cannot see anything good coming out of this situation…I trust Him!
Job 13:15-18 (NKJV)
15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
16 He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him.
17 Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears.
18 See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated.
15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
16 He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him.
17 Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears.
18 See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated.
--Now that is trust…Job is saying, even if God chooses to kill me I will trust Him…Abraham said, even if He instructs me to kill my son, I will trust Him.
--Jesus said, while He was being crucified…Father, into your hands I commit My spirit. That’s trust!
Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV)
3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
Isaiah 12:2-3 (NLT)
2 See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.”
3 With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!
2 See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.”
3 With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!
Isaiah 49:4-5 (NLT)
4 I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the LORD’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.”
5 And now the LORD speaks— the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The LORD has honored me, and my God has given me strength.
4 I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the LORD’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.”
5 And now the LORD speaks— the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The LORD has honored me, and my God has given me strength.
--I would never tell you that life will be easy, and that, you will not face severe adversity but I will tell you that running from God is not the answer…run to him when life is unfair…worship Him at all times.
--This is when you shine as light in the darkness…The world sees you trust God even when you seem to be going under for the last time…Trust in the Lord with all your heart!
2. In all your ways acknowledge Him.
--The Apostle Paul had persecuted the church and was very good at it…He thought he was doing God’s will. Now that He belongs to Christ, he is called to suffer. Wrap your mind around that.
Acts 9:15-16 (NIV)
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
--In all your ways acknowledge Him…even in suffering…even in the bad times…even when life seems cruel and destructive. Acknowledge means getting to know Christ better.
Philippians 3:8-11 (NIV)
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
--Paul said, I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…
--You can’t know Christ and the power of His resurrection without suffering…without being like Him in His death. Do we really want to know Him? Are we really willing to suffer for Him?
2 Corinthians 11:23-28 (NLT)
23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.
24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.
26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.
27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.
23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.
24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.
26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.
27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.
--I heard with these ears one of the great well known faith preachers say that if Paul would have had his revelation of the Word that he would not have needed to go thru the suffering he did.
--Can I say it loud and clear…Hog wash! This faith preacher lives in great prosperity because he is taking advantage of believer’s selfishness thinking that they can have it all.
--The strange thing is, you have to plant your seed (your money) in their ministry if you are truly going to be blessed…as dumb and blind sheep we follow as if we had never read the Word of God.
--Why wouldn’t the same principle work by planting your seed in your local church and in their mission’s program. There is prosperity but it is for these wolves who are laughing all the way to the bank.
--You can’t know what resurrection is until you learn to die to yourselves…yes, God will bless you for giving but give thru your local church where at least one third of the income goes back into ministry.
--Do you want to know Christ? Will you acknowledge Him in all your ways? Are you willing to live dead? Are you willing to sacrifice what God has blessed you with so others can hear?
--If we had six more people who were willing to give $100 a month to missions we could add six more missionaries to our total…that would represent 200 family units committed to the Great Commission.
--Satan tried to destroy Job by taking from him what God had blessed him with but Job said I will trust Him with all my heart and I will get to know Him even better.
--Job in one day’s time lost his oxen, his donkeys, his servants, his sheep, his camels, his sons and his daughters. He lost his wealth and he lost all of his children.
--Surely he was angry with God…surely now was the time to turn away from God because God could not be trusted…surely this was more than any man could bare…surely he cursed God to His face!
--Job set a standard…he set a precedence…he set the bar real high for us by his response.
Job 1:21-22 (NLT)
21 He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!”
21 He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!”
22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
--What did this say about Job? This said he knew his God and His God could be trusted in prosperity and God could be trusted in devastation…Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
--Do you know Him in all your ways, in all your situations, in all your disappointments, in all your suffering? If you only know Him when things are going well, you do not know my God.
3. Do not be wise in your own eyes.
--It is amazing to me how smart we become when life is not fair. We truly believe that what we are going thru is so unique and difficult that it is too big for God.
--We must stop turning away from God when things get tough…stop going from revival to backsliding, from feast to famine, from life to death. We must grow up in our faith.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)
13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
--The Word of God tells us that what we are going thru is no different than what others have gone thru and endured…the key is that we either determine God is faithful or He is not faithful!
--Your job is to trust the Lord with all your heart, acknowledge Him in all your ways…in all of your circumstances…and stop being a pretend know-it-all!
Isaiah 29:15-16 (NLT)
15 What sorrow awaits those who try to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their evil deeds in the dark! “The LORD can’t see us,” they say. “He doesn’t know what’s going on!”
16 How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid”?
15 What sorrow awaits those who try to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their evil deeds in the dark! “The LORD can’t see us,” they say. “He doesn’t know what’s going on!”
16 How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid”?
--Trust Him…Know Him…and know He is a whole lot smarter than you are….
Romans 8:26-28 (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.
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
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.
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
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