Faithful People - 1

Faithful People - 1

Subject - Faithfulness and Obedience Brings Blessings

by Rick Welborne

Judges 6:1‑6-16 (NKJV) 

1 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, 

–The children of Israel had to hid from the Midianites in dens, caves, and strongholds which were in the mountains. They would come and destroy whatever crop they had and take their animals.

–The enemy would come to destroy the land...the economy...sound familiar?

6 So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. 

7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried out to the LORD because of the Midianites, 

8 that the LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage; 

9 and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. 

10 Also I said to you, "I am the LORD your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell." But you have not obeyed My voice.' " 

11 Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. 

12 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!" 

13 Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." 

14 Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" 

15 So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." 

16 And the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man." 

–V 13 - Gideon...If the Lord is with us, why - Listen to this question and see if you can relate on any level. This can give us insight of why as a nation or as individuals we are going thru so much junk.

–Many of us, I am sure, have wondered where God’s miracles are. We hear of miracles in third world countries and where persecution is prevalent but why not us? 

1. Maybe it is time for us to have an honest discussion with God like Gideon did. 

--Have any of you ever had an honest discussion with God and said, “Why has all this happened to us…to me?”

–Maybe we should be compelled to ask the questions to each other - What is going on...with unanswered prayer? With what appears to be judgment and maybe even wrath?

–Why is it that we are not seeing God manifest His mighty power among us? One thing is for sure, “If we are keeping score...we are definitely losing!” We pray for so many and seeing so little results.

–Why is it we see and hear in third world countries of healings and miracles? Someone suggested that maybe we have learned to depend on everything except God in America.

–Maybe we do not trust God to heal us because we can depend on doctors and medicine and technology.

–Maybe we have learned to trust the government, our parents, or others to meet our needs. Some go from church to church taking advantage of good hearted people who love to give. Sad!

–Why are our children rebelling...why are my finances in such disarray...why is our country in such a mess?

2. Maybe it is time for us to boldly come before God’s throne and ask Him some difficult questions. 

--Have any of you ever asked God, “Where are all Your miracles that we have heard about?”

–How many of you would love to see God once again do signs and wonders in the middle of His people again.

Have we become so carnal that we cannot hear from God or receive from His hand?

–How many of you are sick of being tired and tired of being sick...are we being attacked by the enemy or have we made ourselves vulnerable to him because of our lifestyles?

Judges 6:1 (NKJV) 

1 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, 

–Could it be that America has done evil in the sight of the Lord and now our enemy seems to be thriving… Rogue nations so close to getting nuclear weapons...our own nation moving further and further away from God.

–God, why are we in such a mess and where are your miracles? We are weary of being ran over by the enemy of our souls.  Where are you, God?

Judges 6:6-10 (NKJV) 

6 So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. 

7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried out to the LORD because of the Midianites, 

8 that the LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage; 

9 and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. 

10 Also I said to you, "I am the LORD your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell." But you have not obeyed My voice.' " 

3. Maybe it is time for us to be faithful followers of Christ. 

–Do you suppose God was saying to Israel...you have not been faithful to me and that is obvious by your lack of obedience.

–We are and will be challenging you to be faithful in your life and in your giving to God.  I think God was doing the same in Malachi:

Malachi 1:6‑10, 14 (NLT) 

6 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’ 

7 “You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. “Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?’ “You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect. 

8 When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. 

9 “Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?” asks the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. 

10 “How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings. 

14 “Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “and my name is feared among the nations! 

–God was saying (is saying) you are not showing honor to My Name...How?  When you bring your offering (your sacrifice) you don’t give Him your best...you are doing the opposite.

9 “Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?” asks the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.  Wow!

–God is saying, “You are not being faithful to me...why should I be faithful to you?”

10 “How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings. 

–Someone has done a study about giving...members (leaders) who are not being faithful to God...not only not your best...not at all...God says shut the doors. Why would God bless us?

–Pastor, times are tough...since when has how tough the times are determined whether we are obedient and faithful to God or not.

–Since some are already ticked...let me continue: God is looking for faithful people...obedience in our marriages. The church looks so much like the world. 

Malachi 2:13‑16 (NLT) 

13 Here is another thing you do. You cover the LORD’s altar with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings and doesn’t accept them with pleasure. 

14 You cry out, “Why doesn’t the LORD accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.  

15 Didn’t the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. 

16 “For I hate divorce!” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.” 

–Since I am already out there...let me continue!

Malachi 3:6‑10 (NIV) 

6 "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 

7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?' 

8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 

9 You are under a curse‑‑the whole nation of you‑‑because you are robbing me. 

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 

--Listen to how God says He will respond when we decide to be faithful to God:

Malachi 3:16‑18 (NIV) 

16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. 

17 "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 

18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. 

--God was wanting to use Gideon and He is wanting to use us. He wants us to be faithful and, when we are, the victory is waiting for us. Listen to His promises of faithfulness. 

Judges 6:14-16 (NKJV) 

14 Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" 

15 So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." 

16 And the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man." 

–Listen to Jesus’ response to faithfulness and obedience and how it gets His attention:

John 14:15,21,23 (NKJV) 

15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 

21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." 

23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 

--If we love Him we will do what He says…I guess the opposite would be true…if we do not love Him, we will not keep His commandments.

--If we love Him we will be loved by His Father, and of course, by Him. Listen to this promise…I will manifest myself to Him. What a promise!

--This last “if” was just copy and paste: If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Boundaries

Boundaries

Subject – Our Lives are a Matter of Boundaries

by Rick Welborne

Proverbs 22:28 (NKJV)
²⁸  Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set. 

Nehemiah 1:1-4 (NKJV)
¹  The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel,
²  that Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
³  And they said to me, "The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire."
⁴  So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 

--Before I went on vacation and while I was on vacation I could not get this idea (this concept) of boundaries out of my mind. I read and wrote notes daily but still could not get clear direction.

--Now I am at General Council and still struggling to formulate my thoughts. Today I went back and read other sermons where I have preached about boundaries…it helped yet I still struggled.

--Obviously we see boundaries crossed all around us every day. It is called trespassing which is one of the Bible words for sin. Trespassing is sin. It hurts people when boundaries are crossed.

--Nehemiah’s heart was broken when he saw the distress that Jerusalem (God’s people) were in. The walls which represented the boundaries were broken down and the gates were burned. 

--Your pastors, your leadership’s hearts are broken quite often when we see boundaries that are crossed, by those who know better, and when you know they are headed for a load of pain.

--Of course, sin is always fun and exciting for a season but eventually what seemed to bring so much excitement and pleasure now begins to catch up with you. 

--Israel’s sin had led them into captivity and into a place of pain and bondage. Now those who had survived the captivity and had escaped were back home but there was a problem.

--Their boundaries had been broken down and their gates had been burned down. They had no protection from the enemy and something had to be down.

--Someone has to be broken hearted about the lack of boundaries in our churches and in our lives, enough so, that something has to be done about it. Nehemiah did something:

Nehemiah 1:5-7 (NKJV)
⁵  And I said: "I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments,
⁶  please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father's house and I have sinned.
⁷  We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.

--I have noticed much misery in the church because people do not recognize that their lives have to be lives of boundaries…not just what we do or do not do but also what we allow others to do or do not do to us. 

--Please understand all I am about to share with you…Tricia and I have walked through. Some of it we did real well and other things were definitely learning experiences that we could have done better. 

--We (most of us) have had kids where we struggled with where to draw the line (set boundaries) in our kid’s lives especially when they are teenagers. We wonder what happened to them?

--Those of you who have young children or pre-teens please listen. Enjoy the years you are in now where your kids think you are great, smart, and fun because soon something will happen. 

--It is almost like it happens overnight…I think it is called puberty. Their bodies will be turned on and their brains will be turned off. They will think you are dumb, mean, and an old fuddy duddy. 

--We almost cannot believe the change…one day they loved us and the next day they are screaming at us about how much they hate us. They tell us how unfair we are to them. No one else has it as bad as they do. 

--If there has ever been a time they need boundaries, it is now. Hear me, this is a time they want you to compromise your boundaries to accommodate them moving theirs. Don’t do it!

--We find ourselves in conferences (meetings) with teachers or with pastors defending junior or juniorette because they have never been this way before. This cannot be my child. 

--I have had parents angrily look me right in the eyes and tell me…It is not possible that my kids did what you are saying they did because we asked them and we know our kids would never lie. Oh, they lied.

--If you ever want proof that we were conceived in sin from the womb just listen to young kids and teenagers lie and do it so incredibly well. (Video with kid eating the candy). I didn’t do it. Really?

--Boundaries can be and are crossed every day even by people who should know better and who should truly be ashamed of themselves. Look at what God’s Word says about giving:

 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)
⁶  Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
⁷  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

--Years ago I went to check on one of our widows (with the Lord now) and she was an emotional wreck. She was an extremely faithful believer and was very supportive. I asked her why she was crying.

--There was a telethon on TV and they had a book they were giving away ($5) but you had to send in a minimal of $75 to get the book. She had already given three times in the telethon and could not afford anything else.

--I told her I was going to help her…you will give me the money…nope! I will buy the book for you for $5. Also, I am going to help you more…I turned off her TV. Why? Because boundaries were being crossed.

--Whoever was challenging people to give at that time was crossing lines of getting people to give under compulsion (psychologically forcing them to give). This widow’s income was less than $800 a month.

--I turned the program off which stopped them from trespassing (crossing boundaries) on this lady’s property. I also told her she had to stop allowing people to do that to her. She had to enforce biblical boundaries in her life.

--Many times people (even other believers) are trespassing over our boundaries and it needs to stop. People love to guilt us into doing things that cause us hurt and frustration which leads to bitterness. 

--People come up with good questions about people crossing boundaries: 

1. Can I set limits (boundaries) and still be a loving person?

2. What are legitimate boundaries?

3. What if someone is upset or hurt by my boundaries?

4. How do I answer someone who wants my time, love, energy, or money?

5. Why do I feel guilty or afraid when I consider setting boundaries?

6. How do boundaries relate to submission?

7. Aren’t boundaries selfish? 

--Many times even in the church we are misinformed by people, who possibly have good intentions, condemning us for trying to set legitimate boundaries that will keep us safe.

--Not only that but clinical psychologist tells us that depression, anxiety, eating disorders, addictions, impulsive disorders, guilt problems, shame issues, panic disorders, marital issues find their root in boundary conflicts.

--Let’s face it, so many people do not know where to draw the line or where to set boundaries in what they do and what they allow others to do to them. Even those close to them. Especially those close to them. 

--In my restaurant ministry I am dealing with someone who has been physically abused multiple times by her boyfriend she lives with. She struggles to put up boundaries because she is afraid of being alone. 

--He was arrested the last time he abused her and in less than a month she has bailed him out and is wanting to get back together. I have challenged her to set boundaries and conditions with their reconciliation. 

--In Pastor Mark’s message two weeks ago he talked about how God commended unbelievers for their great faith. Sometimes sinners seem to have greater hope and faith than those in the church. We give up so easily.

--My intention in this series is to present biblical boundaries, what they are, what they protect, how they are developed, how they are injured, how to repair them, and how to use them properly.

1. Water your own lawn.

--Let me give you this example…we have (many of us) kids who have grown up, moved out, lived irresponsibly, came home and continued to live contrary to our values.

--Many times we support them…we buy their vehicles, supply their insurance, give a phone to them, and we give them spending money. They probably have addiction problems yet they tell us they do not have problems. 

--They are right! We are watering their grass! Let’s say your sprinkler system sprays water really well but it always lands on your neighbor’s yard. His yard is green and yours brown and you are paying for it. Wrong!

--Our kids are right saying they do not have a problem; their grass is green. We have the problem. We are spending our money, we are compromising our values, and we are getting angry while they have it good!

--As it stands now, they are irresponsible and happy and we are responsible and miserable. A little boundary clarification would do the trick. You need some fences to keep their problems out of your yard, and in theirs where they belong.

--Pastor Rick, isn’t that cruel to just stop helping them like that? Let me ask you a question; has helping them helped to fix the situation? Why would they change when there are no boundaries? No consequences?

2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 (NLT2)
¹⁰  Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”
¹¹  Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business.
¹²  We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.
¹³  As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good. 

--Wow, these verses really give us clear instruction and boundaries to help our troubled kids who are old enough to contribute. Verse 11 says they are idle, refusing to work, and stirring stuff up at home. 

--The boundaries at this home are get a job, get a life, settle down, earn your own living. Pastor Rick, I feel guilt when I do that. Stop it! It is biblical and it gives them clear directions to get their lives together.

--The boundaries force them to make some really tough decisions. Hunger is a good motivator. Be ready for what comes because it may just surprise you. Could be the Marines or the Army!

2. Boundaries are an issue of the heart.

--The entire book of Proverbs is a book of boundaries and it will help you guard your heart if you allow it.

--In the physical world it is easy to see boundaries…fences, signs, walls, hedges, moats with alligators, security lines at airports…they give same message…This is where my property begins. The owner is responsible there.

--Those who do not own the property are not responsible for the property. The owner holds a deed to the property. In the spiritual realm the boundaries are just as real but often harder to see.

--A good godly Christian lady has the right to say to any guy who wants to pass boundaries…no trespassing. God has set boundaries of marriage and I must wait. If you will not wait there will be no date!

--Solomon was trying to set boundaries and help us to identify them because realizing them can very well save our lives and increase our love for God. Recognize the boundaries.

Proverbs 3:1-2 (NKJV)
¹  My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
²  For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. 

--Look at Proverbs 4 (for example) and see the short list of boundaries that are there to protect our hearts.

Proverbs 4:23-27 (NLT2)
²³  Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
²⁴  Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.
²⁵  Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
²⁶  Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.
²⁷  Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. 

--The Word of God is filled with boundaries, not to make our lives miserable but to bless our lives.

Resilient People - 3

Resilient People - 3

Subject - Joseph Teaches Us to Deal with Our Rockies 

by Rick Welborne

Genesis 45:1‑9 (NLT) 

1 Joseph could stand it no longer. There were many people in the room, and he said to his attendants, “Out, all of you!” So he was alone with his brothers when he told them who he was. 

2 Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh’s palace. 

3 “I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. 

4 “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. 

5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. 

6 This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 

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. 

9 “Now hurry back to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me master over all the land of Egypt. So come down to me immediately! 

--Lewis and Clark thought they were at a place of great victory and almost the completion of their expedition just to find out they were faced with the Rocky Mountains. How do we face adversity in times like that?

1. Purpose in our lives.

Frankl: Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms–to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way. The way in which a man accepts his fate and all the sufferings that it entails, the way in which he takes up his cross gives him ample opportunity to add a deeper meaning to his life.

–Adam Szymusik found that those who were taken into the prison camps who had no strong convictions did not do well...those who felt like they were suffering for a political or religious cause had greater resilience.

–Studies done of the notes left by those who have committed suicide rarely mention health, finances, or rejection but did mention “tired of life” and they were looking for a way out...no purpose or meaning in their lives.

–Joseph was able to find purpose and meaning even in prison...even looking at the Rockies...The Lord was with Joseph.

–God shows up on the mountain (transfiguration) but He also shows up in the storm and when we find something bigger than we are.

Genesis 39:21‑23 (NLT) 

21 But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. 

22 Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. 

23 The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed. 

–What could your purpose be in a prison when you were not supposed be there anyway? He had a couple of cell mates...a baker and a butler who needed him.

–One day after these guys had troubling dreams Joseph asked them this question...

Genesis 40:6‑7 (NLT) 

6 When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset. 

7 “Why do you look so worried today?” he asked them. 

–This is such a great detail of the story...why?  Joseph could have hidden in a corner and pouted about how God was treating him and not see others are hurting too!

–You can get to the point that you believe your problems are the only problems in the world and forget the pain of those around you.  

--This is when your heart starts to die because you have lost the meaning and purpose God has put you where you are.

–Joseph decides to live like Jesus and be concerned about the pain of others and treat them as having value to himself and to God. By his noticing their hurt he finds meaning for his being in prison.

–Do you just suppose that Joseph (Mr. Robe and Mr. Dreamer) needed to face the Rockies so that he would not think only about himself but have compassion on others.

–Do you think maybe (just maybe) our adversity may be God’s way of teaching us to have compassion on others?  We need to walk a mile or two in their shoes to learn to love.

–Not an accident that Joseph was a slave and in prison before God exalted him.

Key: 

A. As long as he was wearing the Robe, Joseph could never move into community with his brothers.

B. As long as he was wearing the Robe, Joseph would never know what he was capable of under pressure.

C. As long as he was wearing the Robe, Joseph would never understand that God is enough even when you have lost everything.

–Whether Joseph’s adversity was sent by God or just because we live in a fallen world he learned what life was like without the robe.

–When he was home he never seemed to learn how hurtful him wearing the robe and sharing his highfalutin dreams was to his brothers. In prison, he noticed. His suffering gave him eyes of compassion...it helped him find his purpose.

 2. Our actions must show forth our compassion. 

– How compassionate are your actions? In the middle of your storm or while you are facing the Rockies how well do you read the faces of those around you?

–We must learn that most people wear on their faces what is going on inside of them unless they have learned to “turn it on or turn it off” to keep their image.

–Do you really look at the faces of your family, your friends, your co-workers or even people who serve you and notice their faces are downcast?

Ortberg: It is a paradox: Self-preoccupation is actually self-defeating and produces loneliness.

–Joseph expressed his heart to his fellow prisoners in a single question: Why are your faces downcast today?

–Someone noticed them...someone cared about their lives. Words are powerful! Every word you speak boost someone’s hope a bit, or kills it just a little.

Proverbs 18:21 (NIV) 

21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. 

–Here’s a little test: When you are facing the Rockies in your life or a storm, how often have you expressed genuine concern to others when you have nothing to gain?

–Because Joseph asked and because he cared he not only offered them help himself but shared with them that God could help...Do not interpretations belong to God!

–The butler gets good news but the baker...not so much.

–The butler agrees to speak in behalf of Joseph and I am sure he was so elated that his freedom was in sight...I can go home and see dad.

–Can you imagine the wait...first day anticipation...maybe tomorrow...maybe the butler is just waiting for the right time...days turn to weeks and weeks to months...still he sits there.

–It becomes clear that the butler has forgotten or just was so elated to be out that all he can think about is his own life...forgot to be compassionate for two years.

–Two years was the time that it took Lewis and Clark to cross our continent, and as Joseph sat alone, I wonder if he thought this was the end of his story?

–Of course you and I know that this was not the end of his story but at this moment he had no way of knowing except for his dreams...were they really from God?

–As God was helping him to learn compassion from the things he was suffering eventually it would be revealed to him God’s ultimate plan...His dreams.

Hebrews 5:8 (NKJV) 

8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 

–After his being reunited with his brothers listen to what he tells them about all that happened:

Genesis 45:3-5 (NLT) 

3 “I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. 

4 “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. 

5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. 

–All of Joseph’s best days, his rise in Egypt, his service to a nation, his impact as a leader, his reunion with his father, his reconciliation with his brothers, all lay on the other side of the Rockies.  

3. Being resilient is being like Jesus.

–The reason for that is because his story became part of God’s story. Joseph reminds us of another young man who was a dreamer and His life seemed to be not good at all.

--Notice how these two stories parallel each other…Biblical typology.  

Philippians 2:1-11 (NKJV)
¹  Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
²  fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
³  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
⁴  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
⁵  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
⁶  who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
⁷  but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
⁸  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
⁹  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
¹⁰  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
¹¹  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

–He, too, wore a robe, a scarlet robe given to Him in mockery, and He too found His robe taken from Him by those who wanted to kill Him.

–Crowds mocked Him, friends abandoned Him, Peter denied Him, Judas betrayed Him, soldiers crucified Him, and His body was laid in a tomb.

–One more dreamer - One more young man whose life turned out to be a disappointment. Until one day...on the third day He woke up...ultimate resiliency!

–One third day...bad news lost for all time!

–Ever since that third day, whatever bad news may enter your life has no power to separate you from God...for the story of this world is a good news bad news story.

Romans 8:37‑39 (NIV) 

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 

39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

 –Just wait until you reach the other side of the Rockies.

I Can’t Stay Here – 7

I Can’t Stay Here – 7

Subject – Three Keys to Spiritual Passion

by Rick Welborne

1 Chronicles 11:15-19 (NKJV)
¹⁵  Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
¹⁶  David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
¹⁷  And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!"
¹⁸  So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD.
¹⁹  And he said, "Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it." Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

--We see at this time in David’s life that it recalls, as usual, he found himself in hostile conditions…forced to flee into the desert or wilderness just to survive.

--The enemy were the ruthless Philistines who were a hostile tribe on the southern border of Israel. They were strong and were, at this moment, victorious against David’s people. At this time, they held Bethlehem.

--Certain men had drifted into the hills to join David, a guerrilla army of friends and mighty men willing to show their bravery and loyalty to him. They were mighty men and they were devoted. 

--We can pretty much assume that David was at a time where he was tired of running, tired of living in caves, and tired of being at war. 

--In a quiet moment David spoke out from his heart…"Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" 

--It was clearly not a command that he gave; not even a call for volunteers…merely a wish. It is worthy to note that just a wish from the king’s lips was powerful.

--His loyal mighty men of valor wanted to deliver this water as a gift to their king as soon as possible with no thought of their own peril. They loved their king. What a lesson for us.

--Children, adults, and even my oldest son have been thrilled by these three unnamed men who set out to fight their way through the Philistines, get the water David was wishing for, and then, fight their way back.

--David was so moved by their courage and their act of kindness that he could not drink the water. This was another one of those stories I could not understand as a new believer. 

--He poured it out as a drink offering before the Lord.

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee - Notice how David's men responded when he merely expressed a wish -- he would never have given such a command. Yet our Lord has commanded us to take the Water of Life to the whole world. And what have we done with it? Are you obeying His orders?

--Notice what David did with the water that was brought to him at such tremendous risk. David was unselfish -- no wonder his men loved him. They were willing to suffer for him because he was willing to suffer with them. 

--He wouldn't take that drink because his men didn't have water, and he chose to take his place with them.

--Psalm 22:14 tells us that when the Lord Jesus died on the cross He said, "I am poured out like water...." He poured His life out like water on the ground. 

--He took His place down here as one of us -- "...unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given..." (Isa. 9:6). He took our hell that we might share His heaven.

Gordon MacDonald – So moved was David by this action that he could not drink the water but wisely poured it out on the ground as a drink offering to the Lord. He knew devotion when he saw it, and he appreciated the fact that no human being was worthy of the intense devotion these three men had given to him. The water had to be re-designated as a gift to David’s God. A good decision.

--As we look at these three mighty men of valor we see how they had established a pattern of performance that most describes a man or woman whose spiritual passion is clear and forceful. 

--The remainder of this message I want us to look at three powerful truths that put the Christian life in perspective. In these mighty men are simple but powerful truths.

--Their action symbolized the way a man or woman with spiritual passion lives.

1. Staying close to the King makes it possible to hear His wishes. 

--The fact is that David’s wish was most likely uttered quietly, informally. You had to be close and in his presence to hear his wish. 

--Use your imagination with me and ask yourself where were the other soldiers who were fighting with and for David. Doing good things…watching, sharpening their swords, maybe cooking, checking supplies.

--All these things were good and necessary but the best place to be at that particular moment was in the presence of their commander and chief where not only commands could be heard but also a few wishes.

--To be in the presence of the Commander (Jesus) is to be in a safe place; and to be able to hear His wishes demand a still time when listening is the most important thing. 

Psalm 46:10-11 (NKJV)
¹⁰  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
¹¹  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah 

--That’s intimacy, and it generates passion, a desire to hear and to please. No hearing, no intimacy, no passion.

--With my imagination still running, I can see those three sitting close to the king listening to every word anxious to know how they can, in fact, please him. 

--They have learned how to do pro-active listening where they are intently trying to hear the wishes of the one to whom they have devoted themselves to totally.

--I have noticed these people in 42 years of ministry. All I have to do is think about something or wish out loud for something and these people are on it. So many I could name.

--Hear me…only in still and quiet places will one hear the wishes of Jesus or Holy Spirit or actually anyone else in your life. God’s wished are not shouted…often they are hidden behind His commands. 

--Any of us can, if we choose to, hear the commandments of God but it takes a sensitive ear to hear the wishes of God, and that comes as we have said, by being close to Him. 

MacDonald - The intimacy of the commander’s presence (of God’s presence) is something that is sought by relatively few people. In a world that offers too many experiences of easily achieved, and therefore cheapened intimacy, not many people are willing to pay the price demanded to gain the presence of God. 

--Sir Francis Bacon made this observation. The incessant, and unwillingness to rest, pursuit of fame and fortune leaves out any time for devotion to God that He deserves. 

--I have gained great assistance in the development of my own spiritual life as I have thought about the God Who wants us to not only hear His commands but to hear His wishes. 

--His commands in the Word are there for all to read and see; but His wishes are only for those who set out each day to listen eagerly and carefully to His heart. It takes time and closeness.

--I am amazed how often His wishes are revealed in the intimacy of time with Him, in quiet moments, in the still times, and even in the times of tragedy, pain, and hopelessness. God is there for us.

--When our planners and road maps do not indicate the discipline of quiet place experiences, we forfeit the chances we would have to hear the wishes of God. 

--Sadly, we will have to depend upon what other people tell us about intimacy with God instead of experiencing it ourselves. Our neglect is a serious loss. 

--That is why I have learned, and continue to learn, that time cut out to spend intimate wonderful time in the presence of God is the most important activity of my daily activities. Neglect of this leads to weariness. 

2. The choice to act is often taken at great risk.

--Nowhere in this account of these mighty men do we hear that there was debate about going to get the king water. “Are you crazy” “Do you know where the well is?” “Get water for one person…nope!” I can’t stay here!

--The reason perhaps that the scriptures do not record such questions is probably because they did not happen. The indication is to show how devoted passionate men think and act.

--The wish of the general came through like a command to the devoted. These three went from listening mode to action mode because of their love for the king.

MacDonald – Convictions generated from a genuine encounter with the living God create the passion to act and the strength to carry out the action. What too often happens, I fear, is that modern Christians try to move on other people’s passion. We respond with genuine excitement, but it is a thin sort of passion easily dissipated or quickly supplanted by the next powerful message. 

--David’s men heard the wish from the lips of their commander. The man or woman who takes the time to hear God speak is apt to have the same reaction: instant motion. We see this with Moses.

Exodus 3:7-10 (NKJV)
⁷  And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
⁸  So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.
⁹  Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
¹⁰  Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."

--Moses heard God’s voice from the burning bush and realized God was on mission to deliver His people from Egypt. He went with God and maintained his spiritual passion by spending intimate time with Him.

--What these three mighty men did, what Moses did, what the Apostle Paul did…all did at great risk to themselves but because they had heard the heart and the wish of the Master…the risk was worth it.

Risk - spending your life making a difference that God’s dreams dared you to believe.

3. God’s divine power creates our ultimate passion.

--From Genesis to Revelations there has always been this wonderful, powerful, mysterious power planted into the hearts of men and women to enable them to accomplish God’s wishes.

--We know that divine power and energy to be Holy Spirit (The Third Person of the Godhead). In the Old Testament Holy Spirit would come on certain individuals to do the miraculous. 

--Adam and Eve were such a wonderful model to us of what life should be like communing with God every day, walking and talking with Him was normal life. Then they chose to sin…passion lost.

--They also show us how we can lose beautiful fellowship with Holy Spirit when we choose to do our own thing and go our own direction. How sad!

--Everything we have spoken about in this series…weariness, dryness, and lack of intimacy with God was exactly what the disciples were going through after Christ was crucified.

--But what a difference when they tarried (they waited) in God’s presence for the Promise of the Father…the promised Holy Spirit. Weak, tired, and fearful men became giants for God when Holy Spirit came. 

MacDonald – The chief purpose of Holy Spirit in our lives is to enlarge our capacity to join the task of Kingdom building: demonstrating in life and in word the splendor of the living Christ and His incredible power to rescue lost people and then turn them around to a higher life. Acts 1:8 “You shall receive power…” We have organized Him, strategized Him, and compartmentalized Him. We have reduced His ways of working with us to cute little formulas but it is clear that God longs to renew our spiritual passion.

--I believe Holy Spirit missing in our lives in His fullness is much of the problem with the modern church. We have our plans, programs, technology, and cleverness to get us through…we think.

--An underground Chinese pastor who was visiting American churches made this observation about us…It is amazing what you can accomplish without Holy Spirit in your services…He is all we have.

--I challenge you to be filled with Holy Spirit power every day…to be constantly inviting Him to be with you, to be in you, to empower you, to guide you, to teach you, to give you power to witness for Christ. 

--We have a choice…we can be intoxicated by the things of this world or we can drink of the Living Water (Holy Spirit) and never thirst again for all the other junk.

Ephesians 5:15-18 (NLT2)
¹⁵  So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
¹⁶  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
¹⁷  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
¹⁸  Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 

--I can’t stay here…I can’t stay where I am spiritually…I must be filled with Holy Spirit!