Fruit of the Spirit – 4

Fruit of the Spirit – 4 

Subject: Learning to Walk in the Fruit of the Spirit

by Rick Welborne

Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV)
²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
²⁴  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
²⁵  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  

²⁶  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

--We have already looked at the fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, and peace. Tonight we will be looking at longsuffering which will not necessarily be one of our favorites. 

4. The fruit of the Spirit – Longsuffering.

Longsuffering - having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people. Patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship. Suffering for a long time without complaining. Very patient during difficult times.

Biblical Longsuffering - It has been said that longsuffering means “suffering long.” That is a good answer, but a better definition is needed. The word longsuffering in the Bible is made up of two Greek words meaning “long” and “temper”; literally, “long-tempered.” To be longsuffering, then, is to have self-restraint when one is stirred to anger. A longsuffering person does not immediately retaliate or punish; rather, he has a “long fuse” and patiently forbears. 

--In regard to God’s longsuffering is that it associated with mercy (1 Pet. 3:20) and hope (1 Thessalonians 1:3). God was longsuffering as he waited for Noah to build the ark. Eight people were saved by His patience.

--Thank God that He did not surrender to circumstances like we do or succumb to trials. Many translations of the Bible replace the word longsuffering with the word ‘patience’. One of our favorite words.

--God is the source of longsuffering or patience because it is part of His character. He is patient with sinners. 

Romans 2:4-6 (NLT2)
⁴  Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
⁵  But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
⁶  He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 

--At the same time, God’s longsuffering can come to an end, as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the sending of Israel into captivity.

--The believer in Jesus Christ receives the very life of God, His divine nature. We receive certain promises when we receive Jesus and we are filled with His Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:3-8 (NIV)
³  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 

⁴  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
⁵  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
⁶  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
⁷  and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
⁸  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

--That life produces certain characteristics (fruit) that are displayed in the believer as he obeys the Holy Spirit who lives within him. One of those godly characteristics from Galatians 5:22 is “longsuffering.” 

--The word is translated “patience” in the New American Standard Bible. Longsuffering is to be exhibited by all believers:

Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV)
¹  I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
²  with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
³  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

Colossians 1:9-14 (NKJV)
⁹  For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
¹⁰  that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
¹¹  strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
¹²  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
¹³  He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
¹⁴  in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 3:12-13 (NKJV)
¹²  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
¹³  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

--Think how our lives would be affected if longsuffering were exhibited in individual relationships, family relationships, church relationships, and workplace relationships. 

--The old nature can be very short-fused at times, and we tend to strike back against offenses with unkind words and unforgiving spirits. 

--By obeying the Holy Spirit, the believer in Christ can say “no” to retaliation and exhibit a forgiving and longsuffering attitude. As God is longsuffering with us, we can and must be longsuffering with others.

Ephesians 4:30-32 (NLT2)
³⁰  And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
³¹  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
³²  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

--The ultimate example of God’s longsuffering is His waiting for individuals to respond in faith to Jesus Christ. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

2 Peter 3:9-11 (NKJV)
⁹  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
¹⁰  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
¹¹  Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 

--When I first became pastor here at Life Church we had a guest to come and speak to us by the name of Roger Heligas. He was not your typical Pentecostal evangelist but he was a great teacher. 

--He told us a story of a lady who knew what it meant to be have endurance, to have patience, and to definitely fit in the category of longsuffering. 

--This lady was not a Christian when she got married but soon after someone shared Christ with her and she became a believer…a follower of Christ.

--She wanted so much for her husband to be saved but he wanted nothing to do with her Jesus or her church. God spoke to her and told her that her husband was her mission field. 

--She did not harass him or talk down to him as an unbeliever but she loved and honored him as her husband. She thought surely he would give his heart to Christ quickly. He didn’t.

--He did not forbid her to go to church or to read the Bible at home but he did tell her that he did not want to be constantly preached to. He was okay with where he was in life.

--At times, when the church had something special, she would invite him but he always said “No, but you go ahead!” She would faithfully go still believing God would save him.

--How long did she wait? 10 years? 20? 30? 40? 50years? Nope still not saved! The devil would tell her he was never going to be saved…just give up! She refused! He is my mission field!

--Shortly after their 55^th Anniversary her husband gave his heart to the Lord! The lady was ecstatic and was so thankful to God for saving him. The next 6 months were like heaven on earth!

--They went to church together, they prayed together, they read God’s Word together…it was truly everything she dreamed it would be!

--Six months after his salvation he had a heart attack and died. Many of her friends and family asked her what kind of God did she serve to do that to her.

--She told them He is a faithful God who saved my husband…He gave a ministry to me 55 years ago and was faithful to see her accomplish what He sent her to do. Thank God he got saved! I will see him again!

Philippians 1:6 (NLT2)
⁶  And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 

--This was what it meant to go through longsuffering…to persevere…to wait in patience for God to complete His work. Could she have given up? Of course! But her husband would probably have been lost forever.

--When I think of this kind of longsuffering…I always think about what Joseph went through…His story was similar to this lady…how so?

A. Joseph was given a dream and a promise.

Genesis 37:5-7 (NKJV)
⁵  Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more.
⁶  So he said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed:
⁷  There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf."

--We all have dreams and we receive certain promises from God. Our job is to be faithful until those dreams are fulfilled like the lady we spoke of. 

--Joseph started a journey that would test whether he had longsuffering in him or not.

B. Joseph faced adversity that would test his patience and perseverance. 

--He found himself in a pit! By the way, the other choice was to kill him. The pit was his refuge.

--He was sold into slavery and taken to a foreign country where nothing good could come out of this. Unless God got involved and had His hands on the situation.

Genesis 37:36 (NKJV)
³⁶  Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

C. Joseph was falsely accused…another test.

Longsuffering, then, is to have self-restraint when one is stirred to anger. A longsuffering person does not immediately retaliate or punish; rather, he has a “long fuse” and patiently forbears.

--Joseph is falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife of rape and now it is not a pit but a prison he finds himself in. Just like the pit was a refuge…the prison was another refuge. He could have lost his life for being accused of rape. 

--Because of his praying, I believe Joseph is receiving supernatural strength and longsuffering. How else could a man walk through all this with supernatural intervention. He is patiently waiting for God’s promise.

D. Joseph is forgotten in prison. Longsuffering.

--The years are starting to add up and the dreams seem like a distant memory. A baker and a butler have dreams and Joseph interprets them. The baker restored but the butler is executed. 

--Joseph encourages the butler to remember him when he is again with the king. For two years he forgets until the king has dreams that cannot be interpreted. Joseph is suffering long with supernatural patience. Tough!

E. Joseph’s dreams finally come true. Patience pays off big-time!

--Joseph is put in charge of everything in Egypt only answering to Pharaoh. God uses him to save the then known world from starvation. His brothers come and bow before him not knowing who he was. His dream!

--The only way longsuffering, patience, and perseverance pays off is when God’s supernatural fruit leads to salvation and restoration. 

Genesis 45:7-8 (NLT2)
⁷  God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.
⁸  So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.

--The fruit of Holy Spirit – longsuffering helps us see the whole picture and helps us to save others and to restore families. From the promise to the prize was about 22 years. Wow!

Make Disciples – 2019 - 4

Make Disciples – 2019 - 4

Subject – Teaching Believers to Obey Christ’s Teaching

by Rick Welborne

Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT2)
¹⁶  Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
¹⁷  When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
¹⁸  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
¹⁹  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
²⁰  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

--‘Make Disciples’ – I truly believe that is what God is calling the Leadership here at Life Church to do with our church body…Our calling is to teach our congregation to obey all of Jesus’ commands. It’s biblical:

Ephesians 4:11-16 (NIV)
¹¹  It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
¹²  to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
¹³  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
¹⁴  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
¹⁵  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
¹⁶  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 

--God has given you pastors and other leaders to do what? To prepare God’s people (are you God’s people?) for works of service…to prepare you to serve the body of Christ…to become servants in God’s Kingdom.

1. Paul was saying that God’s people should be developed into disciples who work and serve.

--So why is this necessary? Question of the year…these verses that we just read gives us several reasons why it is so important for people in the local body to work and serve. 

A. They work and serve so the body of Christ will be built up.

--What does they say? God expects His church (our local church) to grow…numerically, spiritually, and financially. You are here to help this body to grow in all those areas.

--So how can you help us grow numerically if you are not reaching out to others. How can you help us grow spiritually if you are not praying and investing, and how can you help us grow financially if you are not giving? 

--How can Life Church be built up if you are not building up the leadership and all that God is doing with what you tell others…what you tell the community. 

--The Word tells us, in regard to the local church, to let everything be done for the edification (the building up) of the body. The Book of Jude tells us to build ourselves up in our most holy faith praying in the Spirit.

B. They work and serve so the body of Christ will come into the unity of the faith. 

--Nothing of significance will happen in the body of Christ (in Life Church) unless we are all working toward that unity. When we are of one mind, one spirit, and one purpose we have unlimited potential.

C. They work and serve so the body will grow in its knowledge of the Son of God. 

--Young believers and maturing saints require effort. It takes people who are willing to teach, to mentor, to coach, to model what it is to be disciples. This is what it takes to ‘Make Disciples.’

Hebrews 5:11-14 (NLT2)
¹¹  There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.
¹²  You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
¹³  For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.
¹⁴  Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. 

Ephesians 4:15 (NLT2)
¹⁵  Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

D. They work and serve the body of Christ and are successful as each one does his part.

--Start the rotation of the ministries that are working well. See all these ministries that are doing well.

--Take the list out of your bulletin and start now praying over it…fill it out. Do not mark a ministry you are already involved in…Just new ones you may be interested in. 

--In a little while you will be able to sign up with these ministries…please just sign up and the department heads will call you and follow up. We are meeting with the Department Heads to make sure. 

Ephesians 4:16 (NLT2)
¹⁶  He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

2. Paul was saying that Christians serving in the body of Christ is simply reasonable service. 

Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
¹  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
²  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

--Paul was saying, because you have experienced the mercy of God we should be willing to serve and to give back to the One who gave His body as a sacrifice for us. How many of you have received mercy?

--In other words, if Jesus saved you, liberated you, broke chains, or just came and recued you, it is reasonable to think that you should be willing to serve Him and others. 

--Christianity is not a spectator sport…it is all hands on deck. Do not just show up and not serve. Don’t get so conformed to this world that you feel like church is only there to serve you.

--Myth – Life Church has so many volunteers that all the positions are filled…not true. These areas really need your help! Pastor, I will help wherever I am needed! OK! We need you in these ministries. 

Bereavement Ministry – Peggy Icker 

Connect Groups – Pastor Joseph Diaz

Greeter Ministry – Nancy Lipps

House of Hope – Everett Bass

Toddler and Nursery Ministry – Christie Ann LoGuidice

Church Maintenance – Joe Vilar

Special Events Ministry – Bruce and Patti Everhart

--Paul is telling us to find what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God, requires we thank God for His mercy, we offer ourselves in reasonable service, and that we do not conform to the world. 

Ephesians 6:7-8 (NIV)
⁷  Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 

⁸  because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 

3. Get in the River!

2 Kings 5:1 & 9-14 (NKJV)
¹  Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.
⁹  Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house.
¹⁰  And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean."
¹¹  But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.'
¹²  Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.
¹³  And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?"
¹⁴  So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 

--Okay, Pastor Rick, how can you tie this to ‘Make Disciples’? So glad you asked. To me, Naaman represents many in the body of Christ. How so?

A. Naaman was a man with a good reputation and a man with a good resume. But he had leprosy.

--How many of us come into the Kingdom of God and we have gifts to share but we have leprosy? We have issues. That would pretty much be all of us, we all have our junk! It’s a miracle that church works at all. 

B. Naaman knew his answer was in Elisha’s house and we know our answer is in God’s house.

--Naaman has heard testimonies of Elisha’s miracles so he shows up to get one. His problem is that he already figured out what the miracle looked like.

--We come to church and we don’t serve or use our gifts because we have already figured out what we should be doing. Any variation is unacceptable. No bending.

C. Naaman wanted personal attention from Elisha, from the leader. Anything less was demeaning.

--I know there is no one like this here. I will sing in the choir but I have to be asked by Pastor Aaron. Didn’t you see the invitation on the video announcements. 

--I will serve and help if Pastor Rick will contact me and ask me personally, and yes, I have to have a title. I must have authority and recognition. Yes, I am here to be your humble servant!

--I had a man tell me one time…If you do not make me an Elder of Heart my family and I will leave the church. I told him I would really miss his wife and daughter.

--Naaman wanted a show and he wanted to be the star. This is not a production with actors, this is a church in search of servants. Servant leadership…everyone serving…everyone like Jesus.

D. Naaman was into comparing…the rivers of Damascus are better than the rivers of Israel.

--At my old church…I was this…I did this…I decided this…I gave this. That church was better, cooler, more in touch, and they did nothing without my advice. All this available for you. Don’t you want me now?

E. Naaman was surrounded by great servants. Sometimes we need to listen to them.

--If the pastor would have asked you to be a deacon, you would have done it but since you were asked to be a greeter, you are insulted. Why not just serve where you are asked to serve and let God promote you?

Bill Wilson – Everyone is waiting on God to give them a personal invitation or a call from Him. The need is the call! The need is the call! Get up and serve where you see the need and God will promote you as He chooses!

--Make no mistake…God is keeping records of how we serve and work in His Kingdom.

Revelation 2:18-19 (NKJV)
¹⁸  "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:
¹⁹  I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience;

--Altar service…Deny yourself, take up your cross (serve), and follow Jesus! “Make Disciples!”

The Fruit of the Spirit - 3

The Fruit of the Spirit - 3

Subject: Learning to Walk in the Fruit of the Spirit

by Rick Welborne

Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV)
²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
²⁴  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
²⁵  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  

²⁶  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

--Last week we looked at the fruit of the Spirit – Joy.

Biblical Joy - Joy isn’t like happiness which is based upon happenings or whether things are going well or not. No, joy remains even amidst the suffering. Joy is not happiness. Joy is an emotion that’s acquired by the anticipation, acquisition or even the expectation of something great or wonderful.

--Last week we looked at how we could have biblical joy from Hebrews 12:1-3:

A. Remember we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. 

B. We have joy when we are willing to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and we run with perseverance the race marked out for us. We are free!

John 8:36 (NKJV)
³⁶  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

C. We have joy when we fix our eyes on Jesus.

D. We have joy when we endure tests and tribulation knowing there is something greater that is coming. 

3. The Fruit of the Spirit – Peace

Peace – Old Testament - Is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies, or inwardly, within the soul. The Hebrew word is shalom, meaning, primarily, "soundness," "health," but coming also to signify "prosperity," well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God. In early times, to a people harassed by foes, peace was the primary blessing. 

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia 

--Please hear what this is saying: Peace in our spirit and our mind, peace and health in our bodies, and peace and health in our finances. Who wouldn't want that. Secular Definition:

Peace - freedom from disturbance; tranquility. A state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended.

--The biblical concept of peace is larger than that and rests heavily on the Hebrew root shalom, which means "to be complete" or "to be sound." 

--The verb (peace) conveys both a dynamic and a static meaning" to be complete or whole" or "to live well." 

--The noun (peace) had many nuances, but can be grouped into four categories: 

A. Shalom – Peace - as wholeness of life or body (i.e., health); 

B.  Shalom – Peace - as right relationship or harmony between two parties or people, often established by a covenant and, when related to Yahweh, the covenant was renewed or maintained with a "peace offering" 

C. Shalom – Peace - as prosperity, success, or fulfillment (see Lev 26:3-9 ).

D. Shalom – Peace - as victory over one's enemies or absence of war. 

--It is so amazing to me how our world and even those in the church have evolved into such a state of desperation and even depression.

--The opioid addiction has swept through our country and other countries and has become a killer, even surpassing auto-mobile accidents here in the United States.

--People are looking for relief from pain…emotional, physical, relational, and even spiritual pain. Sadly, they are looking for an easy way of escape.

--Addiction to pills or anything else that is addictive is never an escape from all that pain, it is just another form of bondage and is there to take you out. 

--God is in our lives, not to take us out but to bring us in. I love what God told the children of Israel when He was taking them out of Egypt:

Exodus 3:6-10 (NLT2)
⁶  I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
⁷  Then the LORD told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.
⁸  So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.
⁹  Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.
¹⁰  Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 

--What you must understand to get to a place of peace in your life:

A. If you are in any kind of bondage, you must know that God sees. He cares!

--I do not want to over simplify finding peace but your beginning place has to be with the Lord. You must know that God cares. 

1 Peter 5:6-8 (NKJV)
⁶  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
⁷  casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
⁸  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

--He has seen your oppression and He has heard your cries when no one else is listening. He is touched by the feelings of your infirmities and your brokenness. 

B. Always remember God brings you out so He can take you in.

Exodus 3:8 (NLT2)
⁸  So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey…

--God was not finished with Israel when He brought them out of Egypt…He wanted to take them into a place flowing with milk and honey…the Promised Land. 

--If God is going to get you to a place of peace…it has to be more than just taking you out of the world. Something has to be placed in your life to fill that void. 

--I remember a story that was told to me when I was just a young Christian and I am sure there was purpose and intention for why the person told me.

--He said there was a man who had climbed over a fence where he was not supposed to be and he kept hanging out close to the edge of this sewage pond. It was deep and filled with nasty stuff.

--Just like anyone who stays close to the edge, the man eventually fell into the pond. He was yelling and fighting for his life but he could not get out. 

--The man always thought, even if I fall in, I can get out because I am a good swimmer…I can handle this. Please don’t tell me the dangers…I know the risk and everything will be okay!

--What the man did not anticipate was that the bank of the pond was very steep and was obviously very slippery because of the mess in the pond.

--You may think you can handle just a little alcohol, using just a little drugs, or handle an inappropriate relationship. Watching things you should never see. The slope is very slipper.

--The man kept yelling and begging for someone to come and rescue him. Fortunately, there was a good Samaritan going by and heard the man’s cry for help.

--By the time the good Samaritan got over the fence and made it to the man, he was already tired and was going under for the last time. He had swallowed so much water and filth.

--A crowd had gathered outside the fence and watched as the man was rescued…they cheered and clapped. They probably should have been helping but just watched.

--The man said to the crowd very powerful words…Thank God we got him out of the sewage but now we have to get the sewage out of him. 

--When we are saved out of this world…to find true peace, we have to ask Holy Spirit to help get the nastiness of the world out of us. Again look at the list of things that can rob our peace. 

Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT2)
¹⁹  When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
²⁰  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
²¹  envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

--The world is the sewage pond, Jesus is the One Who rescues us, and Holy Spirit wants to cleanse us and give us peace. 

Philippians 4:6-9 (NIV)
⁶  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
⁷  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
⁹  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

3. Always remember God wants you to “Look” for others who have no peace.

Exodus 3:9-10 (NLT2)
⁹  Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.
¹⁰  Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 

Shalom – Peace - as wholeness of life or body (i.e., health); 

--People finding peace means they find wholeness…Jesus wants more for people than just freedom from their infirmity or sin…He wants them whole and at peace with Him. Example man at the gate:

Acts 4:9-12 (NKJV)
⁹  If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
¹⁰  let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
¹¹  This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'
¹²  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

--Yes he was healed but more important…He was saved and made whole…He was at peace. 

The Fruit of the Spirit - 2

The Fruit of the Spirit - 2

Subject: Learning to Walk in the Fruit of the Spirit

by Rick Welborne

Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV)
²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
²⁴  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
²⁵  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
²⁶  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Romans 5:5 (NKJV)
⁵  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

2. The Fruit of the Spirit – Joy.

Joy – Noun - the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires – delight.

Joy – Verb - to experience great pleasure or delight – rejoice.

Biblical Joy - Joy isn’t like happiness which is based upon happenings or whether things are going well or not. No, joy remains even amidst the suffering. Joy is not happiness. Joy is an emotion that’s acquired by the anticipation, acquisition or even the expectation of something great or wonderful.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Christian joy is not mere happiness that knows no gloom, but is the result of the triumph of faith over adverse and trying circumstances, which, instead of hindering, actually enhance it.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
¹  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
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.
³  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

A. Remember we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. 

B. We have joy when we are willing to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and we run with perseverance the race marked out for us. We are free!

John 8:34-36 (NKJV)
³⁴  Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
³⁵  And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
³⁶  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

C. We have joy when we fix our eyes on Jesus.

D. We have joy when we endure tests and tribulation knowing there is something greater that is coming. 

Hebrews 11:13-16 (NLT2)
¹³  All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.
¹⁴  Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own.
¹⁵  If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back.
¹⁶  But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NKJV)
¹⁶  Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
¹⁷  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
¹⁸  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Numbers 6:22-27 (NKJV)
²²  And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
²³  "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
²⁴  "The LORD bless you and keep you;
²⁵  The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
²⁶  The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." '
²⁷  "So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them." 

Romans 14:16-19 (NKJV)
¹⁶  Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
¹⁷  for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
¹⁸  For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
¹⁹  Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT2)
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. 

Psalm 51:10-13 (NKJV)
¹⁰  Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹  Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
¹²  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
¹³  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 

Nehemiah 8:9-12 (NLT2)
⁹  Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
¹⁰  And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”
¹¹  And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.”
¹²  So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them. 

Romans 15:13 (NLT2)
¹³  I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Make Disciples – 2019 - 2

Make Disciples – 2019 - 2

Subject – Teaching Believers to Obey Christ’s Teaching

by Rick Welborne

Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT2)
¹⁶  Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
¹⁷  When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
¹⁸  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
¹⁹  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
²⁰  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV)
⁸  But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Acts 28:1-2 (NRSV)
¹ After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta.
²  The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it. 

Acts 13:1-5 (NLT2)
¹  Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul.
²  One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”
³  So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
⁴  So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.
⁵  There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant. 

1. We dedicate Pastor Bob and JoAnn to the special work God has called them.

A. They fasted: this was probably done by the whole Church. We have been fasting!

B. They prayed, that God would bless and prosper them in their work.

C. They land hands upon them; thus solemnly appointing them to that particular work.

Adam Clarke's Commentary - But was it by this fasting, praying, and imposition of hands that these men were qualified for this work? No. God had already called them to it, Acts 13:2, and he who called them had qualified them. Both their call and their qualification came from God; but he chose that they should have also the sanction of that Church of which they had been members; and therefore he said, Separate me, etc.

Isaiah 58:6-11 (NKJV)
⁶  "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
⁷  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

⁸  Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
⁹  Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
¹⁰  If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
¹¹  The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 

2. We send out Pastor Bob and JoAnn by Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:4 (NLT2)
⁴  So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 (NKJV)
²⁶  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

John 16:7-14 (NKJV)
⁷  Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
⁸  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
¹³  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
¹⁴  He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

3. We dedicate Pastor Bob and JoAnn to preach the Word of God!

Acts 13:1-5 (NLT2)
⁵  There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. 

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NKJV)
¹²  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
¹³  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
²  Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
³  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
⁴  and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
⁵  But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 

Make Disciples - 2019 - 1

Make Disciples - 2019

Subject – Teaching Believers to Obey Christ’s Teaching

by Rick Welborne

Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT2)
¹⁶  Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
¹⁷  When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
¹⁸  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
¹⁹  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
²⁰  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

--Can you believe that it is 2019 already? God has brought us to a new day and a new year. A new beginning for many of you and a new opportunity to be faithful to God. New opportunity to fast and pray!

--God woke me up early the morning of December 12, 2018 at about 1:30 and initially all I heard was ‘Make Disciples’ and I kept hearing it over and over.

--Finally, being the discerning person that I am, I began to ask God what was He trying to say to me. He began to speak to my heart and my mind so many things about His statement ‘Make Disciples’.

--I had the most ridiculous thought go through my mind…I will remember everything God is speaking to me! Once I got over that fantasy that I could remember, I started taking notes on my phone…went back to sleep.

--That morning it seemed that almost everything I dealt with had some kind of connection to what God had said, ‘Make Disciples’.

--I found myself dealing with situation after situation where believers who had been believers for many years were messing up and not putting into practice the basics of Christianity. ‘Make Disciples’.

Hebrews 5:11-14 (NLT2)
¹¹  There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.
¹²  You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
¹³  For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.
¹⁴  Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. 

--One of the reasons churches struggle to grow is because the lead pastor and his staff spend so much time trying to help or even appease people who have been saved a long time.

--Don’t misunderstand me, people have legitimate needs and we are more than willing to help in those situations. We have a track record of being caring and concerned about people. Christianity summed up:

Mark 12:29-31 (NKJV)
²⁹  Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
³⁰  And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
³¹  And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

--We have tried our best to practice this…to love God and to love people. We actually have no business calling ourselves Christians if we can’t get these two things right.

--As God continued to give me revelation about the thought ‘Make Disciples’, He began to show me the correlation of Jesus with His disciples and how He was making them into what He wanted them to become. 

1. Jesus started with water baptism.

--Why would Jesus begin with something like water baptism? In all four of the gospels we hear about John the Baptist (the baptizer) and how Jesus insisted on him baptizing Him.

--Please understand Jesus was communicating with them that if anyone would choose to follow Him, they would have to understand the symbolism of water baptism. Sadly, I think we have missed this basic truth!

Hebrews 6:1-3 (NLT2)
¹  So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.
²  You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
³  And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding. 

--The writer of Hebrews thought all these things were elementary to their faith and he was encouraging them to move on to deeper understanding of God’s Word.

--Years ago when James Dobson was with Focus on the Family he took a survey of 30,000 Christian men and compared their spiritual growth in terms of Kindergarten to High School.

--Sadly the men only averaged being at a first grade level…his evaluation was that they had given their hearts to the Lord but had not grown much beyond just making it into the Kingdom.

--Ladies, before you get to feeling good about yourselves, the same test for 30,000 women showed that they were at the third grade level in their spiritual growth. Of course these are averages and there are exceptions.

--Back to the basics of Jesus starting with water baptism…obviously He was our example:

Matt 3:13‑17 (NKJV)

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"

15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."   

--Even though water baptism is symbolic and just being baptized in water cannot save your soul, it is still important to understand it is a command and Jesus modeled for us the obedience to it. 

--We are talking about the idea ‘Make Disciples’ and it is important that we understand from the beginning of our relationship with Jesus…much is required. We identify with Him in His death and resurrection:

Romans 6:3-5 (NLT) 

3  Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 

4  For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 

5  Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 

--Basic to discipleship and to following Christ is dying to self…This should be entry level spiritual growth but convincing people to live dead or to live sacrificially is challenging to say the least.

Matthew 16:24-26 (NKJV)
²⁴  Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
²⁵  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
²⁶  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  

--We make Christianity so fluffy and so sweet as we invite them into the Kingdom but when Jesus invited them, it was not come and dine, it was come and die. Try to save your life, you lose it. Lose it for Him and find it.

--I wonder if that is why so many fall away from the Lord after making a profession of faith at our altars. They did not know the cost when they came in. Deny yourself and take up your cross. 

--Water baptism…I want to identify with Jesus. Okay! As you go under the water, you are separated from air. Stay there and you die. Jesus died for us and baptism is saying I will die to self or die for you, Lord. Why?

--When we come up out of the water, we identify with Him in His resurrection! We are raised to a new life with Him on this planet or we are raised to eternal life with Jesus.

Philippians 1:19-21 (NKJV)
¹⁹  For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
²⁰  according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
²¹  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  

2. Jesus started with Holy Spirit.

--Before He appeared, John the Baptist was already prophesying about Him and about Holy Spirit:

Matthew 3:11-16 (NKJV)
¹¹  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
¹²  His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
¹³  Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
¹⁴  And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
¹⁵  But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
¹⁶  When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 

--‘Make Disciples’ – That will never happen apart from the presence and power of Holy Spirit.

--Can I ask you this? If Jesus started His ministry with the Holy Spirit coming on Him, doesn’t it just make good sense that if we will become His disciples we will need for Holy Spirit to come upon us!

--John the Baptist promised us that when Jesus came that He would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire. If Jesus promised us this power, how foolish are we to deny this promise. And yes, He is for us today!

Acts 2:38-39 (NKJV)
³⁸  Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
³⁹  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

--Please understand Holy Spirit was there the moment you got saved convicting you of sin, convincing you of God’s righteousness, and His coming judgment. You started with Holy Spirit…continue!

Galatians 3:1-3 (NIV)
¹  You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
²  I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
³  Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 

3. Jesus went through tough times.

--Listen to me my brothers and sisters, you will face tough trials and temptations as believers! It is a false doctrine that tells you anything different. You cannot simply confess it away.

--You immediately know the spiritual level of a person when they go through some kind of disaster or test. Job was tested beyond our wildest imaginations yet he could say:

Job 1:20-22 (NKJV)
²⁰  Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
²¹  And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD."
²²  In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. 

--Part of the process to ‘Make Disciples’ is encouraging you to worship God when everything is good and when everything is bad. Bless the Lord at all times!

--This may be a shock to some of you and it may mess with your theology about God but here it is…there will be times when you will literally be led by Holy Spirit into a tough time or place.

 --Notice how Jesus was led by the Spirit and then notice how He came out on the other side of the test:

Matthew 4:1 (NKJV)
¹  Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 

Luke 4:14 & 18-19 (NKJV)
¹⁴  Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.
¹⁸  "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
¹⁹  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."