I Can’t Stay Here - 6

I Can’t Stay Here - 6

Subject – Distortions of Truth

by Rick Welborne

--The Lord had told Abraham to leave Egypt and go to a country the Lord would show him. His nephew Lot was with Him. They both were very wealthy and growing larger. 

Genesis 13:5-13 (NKJV)
⁵  Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents.
⁶  Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.
⁷  And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
⁸  So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren.
⁹  Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left."
¹⁰  And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.
¹¹  Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other.
¹²  Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.
¹³  But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.

--This may be one of the more interesting series that I have done in all my years being here at Life Church. We are looking at conditions or attitudes that can get us in trouble and why we can’t stay there.

--Except for those of you who can confess everything away the rest of us have to deal with the 90/10 syndrome of life being tough sometimes. 

--There are times that life just throws things at us that we probably were not expecting and because of that we become weary, dried out, and, as a believer, attempting to run on empty.

--As we attempt to run on empty, we find ourselves neglecting time of intimacy with the Lord which in itself is a design for disaster. Trouble is on the horizon. 

--When we get that way we always have an impact on others. Paul said it best when he said none of us live until themselves alone and none of us die until themselves. When we go down, we take others with us. 

MacDonald – It is action without heart, oratory without power, doctrine without love. People who are dried out within can often be, for a while, the hardest workers. But they can also become the harshest critics and the most negative teammates. Inside they experience a rising turbulence—confused goals and motives and inconsistent, unexplainable patterns of personal performance. 

--Last time we looked at David and how he got off track…he wasn’t where he needed to be, he was not spending time in God’s presence like before, he commits adultery, has a man killed, hurts an entire nation. 

--I shuttered the other day talking to a professional in our city telling me that kind of situation (adultery) could never happen to him because he was above all that. Take heed when you think you stand. 

--When we get bombarded with life, when we get weary and tired, when we allow our spirits to dry out, we can be among those who have fallen. David thought he had escaped until the prophet Nathan came.

--This is free but it is important: If you have shepherds who love you enough to confront you with an issue (not easy for us), please understand the gravity of the situation.

--You keep going your own way and you keep doing your own thing, that thing will take you further than you want to go and you will pay a price higher than you want to pay. Remember those around you watching. Kids.

--Today I want us to look at what can happen when this world (this cosmos) can begin to distort our lives and the truth of our lives. Our verse that goes with our name. You have two choices:

John 10:10 (NKJV)
¹⁰  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

--We can choose to serve Christ faithfully and find life or we can go down a road of bad choices and end up wondering (like David) how we got here. Forgive me and take not your Spirit from me.

1. Our spiritual passion is under attack.

--We are continuously bombarded with advertisements that tell us everything we really want to hear. If you drink a certain beverage you will be cool and everyone around you will be fit and beautiful.

--Mike Mindale has convinced us that My Pillow is the best pillow on the planet. And now, you can get a mattress topper that will help you sleep better too. We may never get out of bed. 

--If you have ever used any of the products they advertise you may find yourself extremely disappointed. Because of pain, I have tried Blue Emu, Australia Dream just to be disappointed and greasy.

--In the 1940s there was a convincing tobacco commercial that convinced so many about how good a certain cigarette could be. Listen to it:

Commercial – According to a recent nationwide survey, more doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette. Three leading independent research organizations asked this question of 113, 597 doctors: “What cigarette do you smoke, Doctor?” The brand named most was Camel. Now you probably enjoy rich full flavor and cool mildness in a cigarette just as much as doctors do, and that’s why if you are not a Camel smoker now, try a Camel on your T-Zone, (that’s T for taste and T for throat, your true proving ground for any cigarette…etc.

--Why would I bring this up? Can you imagine, back then, how persuasive this must have been. After all, doctors and experts were saying these things. If they smoke, why not me? 

--I can tell you why not, millions of people who have gotten cancer as a result of these professionals endorsing such a terrible addictive product. Both of my parents died of lung cancer. Raleigh – coupons.

--Our spiritual passion is constantly under attack by the distortions of truth that pervade our time. Think about the thousands of persuasive messages pressed upon us each day. 

--These attacks on our spiritual passion come through commercials (TV, Internet), direct human encounters, signs all around us. Stop here, stay off the grass, no food or drink. Endorsements by famous people.

--Hopefully, we automatically filter out most of these messages like an executive secretary might sort thru the junk mail for their boss. Our minds are having to say no over and over again.

--What we end up with is a small set of decisions in response to a large number of messages…the ones that cannot be left to our subconscious secretaries. 

--So what’s the point…choices make us weary and we do it every day. I remember talking to one of our missionaries coming back home after being on the mission’s field for four years.

--They went to Walmart and were completely overwhelmed by all the choices of everything. Just the chip isle was crazy…so many flavors, salted, unsalted, ribbed or un-ribbed. One choice where they came from if that.

MacDonald – Even though we are not aware of the relentless barrage of messages coming at us, the combined force of them is doing a number on us. They quietly sandblast the soul, the seat of conviction and value, threatening our ability to make and implement priority decisions. 

2.  The choices made by Lot…he listened to his eyes.

Genesis 13:7-13 (NKJV)
⁷  And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
⁸  So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren.
⁹  Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left."
¹⁰  And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.
¹¹  Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other.
¹²  Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.
¹³  But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.

--It is hard not to think about Lot because his inner life had become so distorted by the realities around him. He was living as a parasite off his uncle Abram and was in no place to make major decisions about his destiny.

--He and Abraham shared a business of sorts which had reached a place where it seemed best to split the assets and move in different directions. 

--The supply of resources was inadequate for the flocks and herds they had built up, and tension was increasing between their staffs. It is possible that it was no longer enjoyable for them to work together. 

--One of the most powerful lessons for me personally was how the magnanimous Abraham did not allow this split to be open for discussion. 

--Rather he gave Lot the first choice to go in whatever direction he wanted to go. Lot was only too willing to seize the advantage…Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan…he took that quickly.

--All kind of messages poured into his mind suggesting that he should grab the green grass and the lush valleys to the south while they were available as long as Abraham was stupid enough to give him first shot. 

--Lot listened to his eyes…Lot looked with his eyes and saw the beauty of Sodom. He did not look from an inner spirit of values and convictions that would have permitted him to see moral rot and filth. 

William Blake’s Poem – This life’s dim windows of the soul…Distort the Heavens from pole to pole…And lead you to believe a lie…When you see with, not through, the eye.

--Pastor, you talked about a lesson, please share. Being here 30 years has given me quite a bit of history to study. We have seen people come and go. Some left well and others, not so much.

--With much criticism, I have taken Abraham’s approach and decided to bless whoever worked with us and left for whatever reason. What are you doing and what are you thinking? I am thinking God is going to bless me.

Genesis 13:14-15 (NKJV)
¹⁴  And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, and westward;
¹⁵  for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.

--At least from my perspective, God never allowed any of those people to hurt me or to hurt Life Church. I told my critics it is more important for me to think about God’s Kingdom more than teaching that person a lesson.

--Lot looked with his eyes and Abraham looked with the eyes of his spirit and God blessed him. Lot’s choice would ultimately cost him his family, his dignity, and any sense of credibility he had ever had. 

--We can get so distorted by all the messages coming at us from the world but, hear me, not all of the negative messages are coming from the world. The Christian community has its share.

--When we preach a gospel of “I”…I can have it all, I can just say it, I can live in prosperity financially, I can confess anything negative out of my life. We sound like Lucifer…I will ascend above the most high. Danger.

3. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.

Ephesians 1:16-19 (NIV)
¹⁶  I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
¹⁷  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
¹⁸  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
¹⁹  and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,

--I pray that the eyes of our hearts are opened or enlightened. Yes, we are bombarded with all kinds of messages every day but we have a choice.

--Lot listened to his eyes…not the eyes of his heart but the eyes of his flesh, his desires. I am sure it was good for a while but consider the cost. The sin of Sodom so infected him that he was willing to give up his daughters.

Genesis 19:7-8 (NIV)
⁷  and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.
⁸  Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof."

--His wife’s heart was so attached to the sin there that she looked back and became a pillar of salt. God open the eyes of our hearts so we can see the price we are paying. Stop listening to your eyes and listen to God’s Word.

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love                                                                                                                                

As we sing holy, holy, holy

Walking On Water - 7

Walking On Water - 7

Subject: Why Sit Here Until You Die

by Rick Welborne

Matthew 14:22‑33 (NKJV) 

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 

23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 

24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 

26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 

28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 

29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 

30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" 

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 

33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." 

–Last week we talked about the four stages of the boat and hopefully you know where you are and are hearing Jesus command to you “Come”...time to make a change.

–If you keep doing what you have been doing you will keep getting what you have been getting.

–As a pastor I see people who are hurting, who are addicted, who are in a difficult relationship, who seem to be stuck in the muck of life.

–Jesus is at the door knocking or standing on the storm saying “Come” and for whatever reason we do not make a move.

2 Kings 7:1‑4 (NLT) 

1 Elisha replied, “Listen to this message from the LORD! This is what the LORD says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, five quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and ten quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.” 

2 The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the LORD opened the windows of heaven!” But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!” 

3 Now there were four men with leprosy sitting at the entrance of the city gates. “Why should we sit here waiting to die?” they asked each other. 

4 “We will starve if we stay here, but with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there. So we might as well go out and surrender to the Aramean army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway.” 

1. To those in the boat or those who are sitting at the gate waiting to die...listen to the message from the Lord...”Things can be better for you.”

–You don’t understand, Pastor, I am a leper...I am an outcast...I am separated from my loved ones...I have an incurable sickness...an incurable addiction...I am a loser.

–I may be surrounded by people, by family, by your church but if everyone knew my dirty little secrets no one would accept me...I am a lost cause.

–Maybe you have had words spoken to you or over you that have found a resting place in your heart and you know you will never be anything but a leper...word curses. I know that pain.

–You have it bad (you think) but listen to how bad it was for the people of Samaria...Ben Hadad had the city besieged and everyone was starving.

2 Kings 6:25‑30 (NLT) 

25 As a result, there was a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for five pieces of silver. 

26 One day as the king of Israel was walking along the wall of the city, a woman called to him, “Please help me, my lord the king!” 

27 He answered, “If the LORD doesn’t help you, what can I do? I have neither food from the threshing floor nor wine from the press to give you.” 

28 But then the king asked, “What is the matter?” She replied, “This woman said to me: ‘Come on, let’s eat your son today, then we will eat my son tomorrow.’ 

29 So we cooked my son and ate him. Then the next day I said to her, ‘Kill your son so we can eat him,’ but she has hidden her son.” 

30 When the king heard this, he tore his clothes in despair. And as the king walked along the wall, the people could see that he was wearing burlap under his robe next to his skin. 

–Let me caution you parents...single or married...Your unwillingness to get out of the boat or your decision to sit there until you die may cause your children to be devoured by this world. 

–You can get into such a place that you can convince yourself that God has doomed you to destruction:

2 Kings 6:33 (NLT) 

33 While Elisha was still saying this, the messenger arrived. And the king said, “All this misery is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”   

–The message from the Lord is that in just a day there can be abundance from the Lord but you must not sit there until you die...get out of the boat.  Jesus said:

John 10:10‑11 (NKJV) 

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 

–Why sit there...why stay in the boat when God is promising life and that abundantly.

John 8:36 (NKJV) 

36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 

2. To those in the boat or sitting at the gate waiting to die...why not confront your enemy?

–I wish to God that there would arise in us a spirit (Holy Spirit) that would say...this enemy of mine will be confronted and if I die, I die!

–What glory is there staying in the pig pen of life and just decide this is all there is?

–These four lepers need to motivate us not to accept the status quo but to realize beyond this present situation can be a glorious miracle.

–If we stay here we die...if we go to the city we die...but let’s face our enemy and sees what happen...Paul said:

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. 

–We need someone in the boat or someone at the gate to put there “I know” on...I know that this will turn out for my deliverance...whether by life or by death.  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

2 Timothy 1:12 (NKJV) 

12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 

Job 19:25‑26 (NKJV) 

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 

26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 

Job 42:2 (NKJV) 

2 "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. 

Psalm 56:9 (NKJV) 

9 When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. 

Psalm 135:5 (NKJV) 

5 For I know that the LORD is great, And our Lord is above all gods. 

Philippians 4:11‑13 (NKJV) 

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 

12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

3. To those in the boat or those sitting at the gate waiting to die...why not be the hero of the story?

2 Kings 7:5‑11 (NLT) 

5 So at twilight they set out for the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there! 

6 For the Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the clatter of speeding chariots and the galloping of horses and the sounds of a great army approaching. “The king of Israel has hired the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us!” they cried to one another. 

7 So they panicked and ran into the night, abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything else, as they fled for their lives. 

8 When the lepers arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another, eating and drinking wine; and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and hid it. 

9 Finally, they said to each other, “This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.” 

10 So they went back to the city and told the gatekeepers what had happened. “We went out to the Aramean camp,” they said, “and no one was there! The horses and donkeys were tethered and the tents were all in order, but there wasn’t a single person around!” 

11 Then the gatekeepers shouted the news to the people in the palace. 

–One thing is for sure...you will never be the hero of the story if you do not get out of the boat or arise from your sitting and face your enemy. 5

–When they got there they did not have to face their enemies because they had been confronted by the face of God.

–These four were set up to be heroes because God made the enemy to hear what was not there...chariots, horses, a great army.

–Pastor Rick, I don’t have...I can’t because...It is not possible because...how do you know what God will or will not do...why sit there until you die...get up and see a miracle.

Mark 10:27 (NKJV) 

27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." 

–When God does the impossible please do not forget where your miracle came from...God’s deliverance and rescue of you is not all about you!

2 Kings 7:8-9 (NLT) 

8 When the lepers arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another, eating and drinking wine; and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and hid it. 

9 Finally, they said to each other, “This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.” 

–God’s miracle for you can be and should be a miracle for someone else. Why sit here until we die becomes Why sit here until they die? We have the good news!

–When Israel was being routed by their enemy...Joshua fell on his face and began to cry out...There is a time to cry out but there is a time to “Get up” and do something.

–Time to get up and get out of the boat...time to get up and face your enemy...Sounds like God was a little frustrated with Joshua:

Joshua 7:10&13 (NKJV) 

10 So the LORD said to Joshua: "Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 

13 Get up, sanctify the people, and say, 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the LORD God of Israel: "There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you." 

–If you will be a hero for God...why sit there until you die...Get up! Get up! Get out of the boat!

I Can’t Stay Here – 5

I Can’t Stay Here – 5

Subject – What Happens When Our Spirits Dry Out

by Rick Welborne

2 Samuel 11:1-5, 14-17, 26-27 (NKJV)
¹  It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
²  Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.
³  So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"
⁴  Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.
⁵  And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, "I am with child."
¹⁴  In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
¹⁵  And he wrote in the letter, saying, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die."
¹⁶  So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men.
¹⁷  Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
²⁶  When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
²⁷  And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. 

--Last week we talked about how we can get to the place of being spiritually drained and how that can have such an effect on all that we do.

--We talked about having spiritual hangovers from extending ourselves way too much and how not spending time with God can truly catch up with us.

--We saw how Elijah went from the Mount Caramel experience to the desert and sitting under a broom tree. He was definitely hung over and he was exhausted to the point of wanting to give up.

1 Kings 19:3-4 (NLT2)
³  Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.
⁴  Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” 

--We talked about him needing rest, bread, and water…Jesus tells us to come all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. 

--The bread represented Jesus and His Word…He is the Bread of Life and when we consume Him we find salvation and peace. The water represents Holy Spirit in our lives…Living Water!

--Today I want us to look at what happens to us if we allow our spirits to go un-nurtured for a long period of time and how we can allow our spirits to dry out…Danger!

1. Running on empty. 

--I have always enjoyed as a dad to have fun with my children and to get them stirred up about things that really do not matter that much.

--I love how these newer vehicles will let you know all kinds of things via computers…they let you know when your tires need air and when your oil needs changing.

--Concerning my kids, my particular favorite is when the truck begins to beep, lights come, a message on the screen pops up, all this to let you know you are low on fuel. 

--I actually read the manual about how many approximate miles you can go before you run out of gas but, of course, my kids didn’t know that. Dad, we need gas. Okay. No, Dad, we need gas now! Okay! Drive them crazy

--I worked for a pastor who was constantly running out of gas. Listen to what he would say. I am too busy to stop and get gas…I have too much to do and not enough time to do it.

--Well, guess who he called when he ran out of gas…AAA, nope…RDW, me! I had to stop whatever unimportant thing I was doing, get a gas can, go get gas, and take it to him. What took so long?

--Needless to say, this really blessed me spiritually and made me sing songs of praise. He got angry when I told him that if his time was so valuable 5 minutes pumping gas was much better than waiting 45 minutes for gas.

--Not to mention all the people he blessed when he ran out of gas on a long bridge…traffic slowed down to a crawl and people shouting wonderful blessings as they drove by. Not smart to run on empty.

--Last week we talked about the person who is drained and today we are speaking of someone who has been drained for some time. This person’s intake spiritually has almost disappeared.

--The unfilled tank spiritually is an invitation to disaster. We must understand that when we run out of gas, it not only affects us, but those around us. Like the cars on the bridge.

Romans 14:7 (NKJV)
⁷  For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

--Here is a caution to those of us who preach and those of us who are involved in the music of a Spirit-filled church. It is easy to mistake the applause and approval of the admiring crowd as God’s approval. 

--Because we sense that there is a response to what we are doing, we begin to abandon any sense of need for spiritual passion (seeking God) and energy found in resting in God. It becomes theatrics instead of Spirit.

--When we look to results and approval of man instead of re-fueling ourselves in the presence of God, we are drying out and headed for disaster. How can we describe the dried out condition?

MacDonald – It is action without heart, oratory without power, doctrine without love. People who are dried out within can often be, for a while, the hardest workers. But they can also become the harshest critics and the most negative teammates. Inside they experience a rising turbulence—confused goals and motives and inconsistent, unexplainable patterns of personal performance. 

2. King David facing another giant.

--As we study the life of King David I believe we can see a man who is faced with the temptation of adultery and murder and he is dried out spiritually and, unfortunately doesn’t even see it. 

--He was a man in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing getting himself into trouble. We think, he had the authority and power to have whatever he commanded as king. Why do this?

--Aren’t we kings in our own little domains in the privacy of our castles or offices, we make a command and we can have adultery within our reach in just moments. One command or one click of the mouse…it is the same.

--He was supposed to be with his army doing what God had purposed him to do. He would have called on God, like before, for plans and strategies and spiritual guidance, but he was not there. Absentee warrior.

--Instead, he was home and he was bored. Be careful when you have time on your hands and your spirit is dry, many bad decisions have been made in moments like these. 

--People always seem to be surprised when something bad happens at 2-3am in a bar or night club somewhere. They were just drinking and drugging and looking for someone to pick up. What could go wrong?

--People get surprised that kids get addicted to porn when they are left for hours on a computer with no supervision or protection. When we do not feed our spiritual man…the enemy comes like a flood. Ask David.

--Dried out, David made a number of bad choices and in the process, he destroyed a number of lives. Remember the analogy of the tunnel. Sadly, it took David a year to discover the magnitude of what he had done.

--When Nathan the prophet paid David a visit he had to resort to a parable to get David’s attention. Usually, parables are for people whose inner spirits are locked up, resistant to Holy Spirit. 

2 Samuel 12:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: "There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.
²  The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds.
³  But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.
⁴  And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him."
⁵  So David's anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! 

--It is abundantly clear that David is in a rough place spiritually when Nathan came to call. Let’s review just a little. He was supposed to be leading his army instead of staying home. Disobedient. 

--He was watching HBO – Home Bought Oppression. Don’t tell me it was by chance David just so happen to walk out on his roof at the exact time Bathsheba was bathing on her roof. He knew.

--We know how to access that which is desirable in our lives…we know how to time things just right. We know what time a certain program or show is coming on that we know will have what we are looking for.

--David ignored someone who evidently cared about the king but sometimes when your spirit is dry…you don’t listen and you move forward with your own desires.

 2 Samuel 11:3 (NKJV)
³  So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

--His servant tried his best to warn the king without suffering his wrath. This lady is someone’s sweet daughter; this lady is the wife of Uriah…one of your loyal soldiers. 

--It is amazing how sins are tied together…David was dry from neglecting time with the Lord (no worship) and he was being consumed by his lust in his weakened state. The devil knows.

James 1:12-16 (NKJV)
¹²  Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
¹³  Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
¹⁴  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
¹⁵  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
¹⁶  Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

--A year has passed since the sins happened and I am sure David thought he was free and clear. Be sure your sins will find you out. David was so dry he couldn’t feel the conviction of Holy Spirit. Wouldn’t listen to people

--What a terrible moment it must have been for David when he came to grips with his willful sin and even, his hypocrisies. How could I allow this to happen to me? How could I be this blind? What was I thinking?

--How could David after years of close wonderful fellowship with God get himself into such a mess? We are all vulnerable…all of us. When you are weak and dry you can make horrible choices.

--The patterns seem to be there for those who have made similar mistakes:

A. We become negligent in finding time for rest. Weariness emotionally and physically.

B. We become negligent in finding time for intimacy with God. Seeking His face and hearing His voice.

C. We become consumed with doing instead of being. Busyness becomes our sense of affirmation.

D. We over react to the attacks of our critics. Our affirmation must come from God not man.

E. We begin to entertain things that would never be a part of our lives if we were close to God.

Psalm 118:8-9 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                             ⁸  It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man.
⁹  It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes. 

3. Repentance and humility will restore us.

Psalm 51:1-12 (NKJV)
¹  Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
²  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
³  For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.
⁴  Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
⁵  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
⁶  Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
⁷  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸  Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
⁹  Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
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.

Walking on Water - 6

Walking on Water - 6

Subject – The Four Stages of the Boat

by Rick Welborne

Matthew 14:22‑33 (NKJV) 

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 

23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 

24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 

26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 

28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 

29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 

30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" 

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 

33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." 

–Sunday night at our Pentecost Rally Holy Spirit graciously showed up and did so many wonderful things in people’s lives...we are still hearing what He did. Getting out of the boat was made easier by God’s glorious presence.

–Many of you have responded to getting out of the boat financially by responding to God’s Word to tithe and God’s mandate for missions...faith promise cards still available. So many blessings!

–This is great but there is more...God wants you...He wants you to give yourself as a servant to Him and to others...this should be first.

2 Corinthians 8:1‑5 (NLT) 

1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 

2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 

3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 

4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 

5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 

–Their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do...this is so important. If He has you...He has all you have...you will get out - boat.

–Today I want us to look at four stages of the boat...of those in the boat.

1. There are those in the boat who are questioning what are they doing in the boat in the first place and they are clinging desperately to the floor.

–They know being in the boat is good...at least that is what momma or someone told them along the way.

–Maybe because of the God-void in our lives when we are born...they have found themselves gravitating toward the boat...appeasing a guilty conscience.

–They look around the boat that is in the middle of a storm and see that it is filled with crazy people...some shouting the rougher it gets...those Pentecostals! Fanatics! Please understand that you are in good company.

Romans 3:10‑12 (NKJV) 

10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; 

11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 

12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." 

–There is one in the boat who takes charge because of his experience on the water (Peter)...one whose eyes seem to be filled with deceit (Simon)...one who doubts their chances of survival (Thomas).

–I should not be here...I am not really one of His disciples...I kind of got caught up getting in the boat...that is where the crowds were going.

–I am afraid...afraid of hell...afraid of heaven...afraid of sinking...afraid of drowning in waters I should not be in...in the first place.

–This is the group in our churches who are lost...they may be faithful to attend and may even be faithful to give and to serve. In the church but not in the Kingdom of God. 

–Thank God that they are here hearing the Words of Jesus and are being given that opportunity Sunday after Sunday to get saved.

–They are clinging to the boat and what looks like a ghost is passing by...All of them are afraid...even the seasoned guys...this is bad.

Matthew 14:26-27 (NKJV) 

26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 

–Don’t be afraid...it is Jesus...it may be a ghost...the Holy Ghost...the Spirit of God is passing by to save you...to love you...to give you the adventure of your life.

–To walk on water for the first time...To be saved!

2. There are those in the boat who are sitting up in the boat but wonder how invested they are in the trip.

–To me...these folks are somewhere between those clinging to the floor (unsaved) and those walking on the water (passionately dedicated).

–Their minds are back on the shore where the loaves and fish are...sure was nice over there in the grass, very comfortable, being fed, and gettin’ some good teaching.

–This idea of riding the waves, enduring the terrible winds, possibly laying down your lives stuff is not for them.  Jesus said:

Matthew 16:24‑25 (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. 

–Sounds like Jesus is saying that once you get in the boat that just being a spectator is not an option...these are usually the ones who become lifeguards for the others.

–Do not stand next to the edge...do not get in the water...the rip tide is too great...it will pull you under...it safer just sitting and hanging on...Danger Will Robins!

–There are many in church today in this place...we are in the boat, we are in the majority, our names are written in the Book so we are ok. The parable of the talents come to mind here...one five, one two, and one…one. 

John Ortberg: A talent was an expression for a sum of money worth in the neighborhood of fifteen years wages.  In that era, people lived from day to day, and to have accumulated one year’s worth of wages was enormous wealth. 

–The one given five sees the opportunity of his life...The master has given him the privilege of showing initiative, judgment, and responsibility. A chance to get out of the boat and do something great for his master. The others were given the same chance.

–Are you looking at this opportunity to get out of the boat properly...a time where you can bring glory to Christ or a time to stay seated safely in the boat?

–The truth is we are going to give our lives to something...we must come to prize and appreciate the opportunities Jesus is giving us.  The servant given 5:

Matthew 25:15‑16 (NIV) 

15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 

16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 

–He responded at once...we better respond at once when Jesus gives us the opportunity to walk on the water.  The 3^rd chose not to do this...he buried his chance...This parable tells us the master went away but it also tells us he is coming when we do not expect.

3. There are those who are standing at the edge of the boat looking at Jesus on the water...white knuckled wanting to step out of the boat.

–There are many in the boat (in the church) like this...I love Jesus...I want to be used by God...I want to walk on water but...so many buts in the church:

–Pastor, I was hurt by someone, I had a bad experience, I thought Jesus was saying “Come” before and I almost drown, I really want to but I am afraid.

–You see Jesus...you hear Him calling...you are paralyzed by fear...you begin to rationalize...I am in the boat, my eyes are on Jesus, and I am so close to Him.

–Voices...too many voices...sit down before you fall over board...you are faithful...you are committed...don’t become a fanatic...what will others think...super spiritual saint.

–What will I give up? Who will I give up? Will I stay up or sink? Will Jesus catch me if I start sinking? Your grip is getting tighter and your knuckles are whiter than ever.

–What will your legacy be? One who played it safe or that of a water walker...will there be months of preaching about you or will you be remembered as a fairly faithful person.

–It is so rewarding to me what my son Jeremy and daughter in law are doing at their church...Share about their debt elimination, heart for missions, and their commitment to serve wherever. 

–Are we leaving them (our kids) something powerful enough to make them get out of the boat and make a difference where they are?  

–It is worth overcoming the fear to make sure their lives are directed toward complete obedience to Christ. Think of Abraham when God asked him to get out of the boat…sacrifice your son.

Genesis 22:15-18 (NKJV)
¹⁵  Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,
¹⁶  and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son--
¹⁷  blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
¹⁸  In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

4. There are those who abandon themselves and step out of the boat just so they can be closer to Jesus.

–Peter wanted to get out of the boat because he wanted to be where Jesus was.

Psalm 27:4‑6 (NIV) 

4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. 

5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. 

6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. 

–One thing...one thing...to dwell in the house of the Lord...but Lord, let me attach this to that...to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord (to keep my eyes on Him). Who do you want to be? I love this story:

Ezekiel 47:1‑5 (NKJV) 

1 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. 

2 He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. 

3 And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. 

4 Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. 

5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed!