Trust God Not Fear – 6

Trust God Not Fear – 6

Subject – Leaning on Each Other - Community

by Rick Welborne

Luke 5:18-26 (NLT2)
¹⁸  Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus,
¹⁹  but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
²⁰  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”
²¹  But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
²²  Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?
²³  Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?
²⁴  So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
²⁵  And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.
²⁶  Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” 

--Being in the ministry for a few years I have heard a particular statement many times and I do believe there is truth to it that bears some attention. 

--Pastor Rick, I know God is with me and I know Holy Spirit is in me but I need something or someone with flesh (skin) on it. Most people say this when they want a man or woman!

--I believe that if there is a story that addresses this issue of needing each other and being there for each other, it is this one. Hopefully we will look at how trusting each other is trusting God and minimizing fear.

--They chose to become friends. These guys chose to be a friend to someone who indeed needed a friend.

John Ortberg – The requirement for true community is chunks of unhurried time. If you think you can fit deep community into the cracks of an overloaded schedule---think again. Wise people do not try to micro-wave friendship, parenting, or marriage. You can’t do community in a hurry. 

--Everyone has a mat. This guy was paralyzed physically. Maybe we are paralyzed by fear especially during a Pandemic. There is so much that paralyzes us. 

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

--You must allow someone to carry your mat. If you will learn to trust God through people, you will have to work with them. You will have to be patient and forgiving.

Jean Vanier – There is no ideal community. Community is made up of people with all their richness, but also with their weakness and poverty, of people who accept and forgive each other, who are vulnerable with each other. Humility and trust are more at the foundation of community than perfection. 

--Tonight I want to share this story about this small community, this small connect group, this community of roof crashers. We need more roof crashers. People willing to get their hands dirty.

--These four friends get word that Jesus was there in their town and, of course, they want to hear this famous Rabbi. One of them says, “We have to get our friend to hear Jesus!”

--This could really be encouraging to him and if everything we have heard about Jesus is true…maybe, just maybe our friend will be healed. We have to get him there!

--To do what they are wanting to do will not be easy logistically. It is so important to understand that they were not thinking about themselves, they were thinking about their friend. They wanted to relieve his fear.

Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV)
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.

This is key to community - True friends get their friends to Jesus!

--They tell their friend that he is going to see Jesus. They tell him they will be there at 9:00 to pick him up. He really doesn’t have much choice because when his friends pick him up, they really pick him up.

--They arrive at the house where Jesus is teaching and the house is packed…standing room only. There was no room left, not even outside the door. Jesus is so close but they can’t get to Him.

--You see, this happened before the American churches adopted the unwritten verse…Thou shall place a bulletin on the pew to reserve your seat and anyone who sits there on shall be cast into outer darkness. Amen!

--These friends had not counted on the crowd. One of them (the management guy) says how can we get him to Jesus…let’s brainstorm. Remember, no idea is a bad idea. 

--Soon one of them gets an idea…probably the youngest, the tattooed and pierced guy…I have an idea, Dudes! What if we make a hole in the roof and lower him down? Whoaaa! Any other ideas? There are none.

1. People of community push past their fear and are desperate to get their friends to Jesus.

--This can be for salvation, deliverance, or healing but holy desperation is necessary to get people to Jesus. Community recognizes that the only hope people have is Jesus.

--They are so desperate to get to Jesus that they decide nothing was going to get in their way…not even a crowd or a roof. They were motivated by their love for their friend and their trust that Jesus could do something.

Proverbs 3:5-8 (NKJV)
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
⁷  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
⁸  It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. 

--Catch how these verses tell us that our trust in the Lord will bring us to the healing we need. Your trust in the Lord will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones. This man needed that.

--So they get ropes to lower him and they head up on the roof. Many house had outside stairs which led up on the roof which was used like a patio area. 

--I am sure people outside the house were asking them what were they doing and were told how ridiculous of an idea it was. When you are truly desperate, you do not care what people think. 

--Years ago as I was fulfilling my call to restaurant ministry…I met a young lady by the name of Hollie. For about two years I felt such a holy desperation to get her to Jesus.

--She met my entire family and we would encourage her to come to church and to come to Jesus. She would disappear for a while and then, show up at another restaurant. Jesus had a plan for her life.

--Again she disappeared but I kept praying for her salvation. Desperate people do not become weary in reaching out to people who need Jesus. 

Galatians 6:7-9 (NKJV)
⁷  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
⁸  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
⁹  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

--After church one Sunday we were going into Moe’s and guess who was coming out…Hollie and her mother. She introduces me to her mother as the preacher trying to get her to church.

--Her mother said, we will be in church next Sunday and that is a promise. She kept her word. During the prayer time, Hollie runs forward and gives her heart to Jesus. She is gloriously saved. I was so happy! So was heaven!

--The story does not stop there…the following Thursday she breaks up with her boyfriend because of her new found relationship with Jesus. She determined nothing would keep her from serving Jesus.

--Her boyfriend explodes in anger, drags her into his car, drives over 80 miles an hour, and purposely crashes into a tree killing her instantly. She made it to Jesus! Desperation paid off. Her mom was so thankful.

--Here’s a thought about community we must understand…when you witness to people and share Christ with them, you are probably answering the prayer of someone in the community of God. We were her answer.

2. People of community overcome fear and break through.

--These words (Break thru) were used much more when I first came into the Kingdom of God than they are now and I have a theory of why that is true. You may not like my answer.

--I believe the answer is that we have become quite lazy in our Christian walk and since a break thru implies effort and work, we are less likely to go after the things we say we need from God.

--Prosperity has made us lazy…why struggle or labor in prayer when I can buy an earthly solution to my need?

Revelation 3:15-17 (NKJV)
¹⁵  I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
¹⁶  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
¹⁷  Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--

--Jesus is teaching and because He is the greatest teacher ever, people are listening. Suddenly there is a distraction…a sound from the roof, and then, a little dust falling.

--Dirt, dust, and small parts of reed begin to fall into the meeting messing up people’s hair and their concentration. Then bigger pieces begin to fall. The owner is getting a skylight he did not ask for.

--The owner steps outside to call Allstate to let them know about the damage to his house. Jesus is here so can I clam it as an act of God? People begin to see four sets of hands laboring hard to break through. 

--These men are not going to allow anything to stand in their way…they are going to get their friend to Jesus. They become roof crashers because they love their friend and this is his only hope. 

--When was the last time you determined to break thru for a friend or someone in this community who needed a miracle? Communities pray for one another and we fight for one another. May stay up all night praying.

--Remember if this man does not have these friends he does not get to Jesus, he doesn’t have his sins forgiven, he doesn’t get healed…he doesn’t have a break through.

Ortberg – Community gets built by servants. Great community gets built by roof-crashers.  

3. People overcome their fear and are committed to community.

Urie Bronfenbrenner – A family or community is a group which possess and implements an irrational commitment to the wellbeing of its members.  

--The key word here is irrational. In great communities, people carry mats and crash thru roofs without asking the question…What’s in it for me? They trust God to do what they cannot do.

--How often do you do roof crashing? You do not have to destroy someone’s home. Mostly it involves doing two things. Noticing and doing. See a need and fill a need. 

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NCV) ²⁴  Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds. ²⁵  You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the Day coming.

The Cross and the Cost

Easter – 2020 – The Cross and the Cost

Subject – Christianity that Costs Us Nothing

by Rick Welborne

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 (NIV)
¹⁷  For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
¹⁸  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

Philippians 3:18-20 (NLT)
¹⁸  For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
¹⁹  They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
²⁰  But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

--I heard someone use the term “Christian Atheist” and I thought immediately that statement is definitely an oxymoron. Then I listened to their definition. 

Christian atheist:  Someone who confesses Christ but lives like He does not exist.

--Today I want to speak to you about cross-less Christians.

Cross-less Christian – Someone who believes that their life in Christ should be, and must be, free from pain and suffering.

--Much damage has been done in the Kingdom by those who have taught a prosperity gospel that is all about what we receive and enjoy compared to what we give up and endure.

--Please, Pastor Rick, I do not want a gospel that tells me that I will have to endure any kind of suffering or having to give up anything. Covid 19 hopefully is teaching us something about this. 

--This is probably not the kind of sermon you would preach if you were trying to be seeker sensitive or trying to boost your offering for your television program. These are sober times.

--So many want preachers to tell them what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. Preaching or teaching the Word of God comes with great responsibility and with fear and trembling. My job:

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

--Today I want us to talk about the cross of Jesus Christ…The Purpose…The Pain…The Power!

1. The Purpose of the Cross

John 3:14-16 (NKJV)
¹⁴  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
¹⁵  that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
¹⁶  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

--The absolute purpose of the cross…the reason Jesus was lifted up was so that all of us could be saved. We do not have to be lost or to spend eternity away from God because of the price Jesus paid. 

--The message of the cross may seem to be foolish to some…think about the pretty cross you wear around your neck as jewelry. The symbol of death for our Lord Jesus Christ!

--Celebrities wear crosses…athletes have crosses tattooed on their bodies…right next to momma…people have crosses on their walls or desks…oh, that we would remember what it stands for. Its message.

--Just imagine people wearing an electric chair ornament around their neck because someone they loved or someone who died for them was being electrocuted. That’s crazy!  Really?

--How about someone wearing a hypodermic needle for those who die by injection…that is sick, Pastor Rick.

--So what’s my point?  We have so softened the purpose of the cross and we have so devalued the price Jesus paid to the point we can wear the symbol of His death and still live like Hell.

--Please don’t misunderstand me, you can wear your cross but please don’t forget what it was for. When people tell you your cross is pretty, you tell them about Jesus. The cost.

Matthew 27:39-43 (NKJV)
³⁹  And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads
⁴⁰  and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
⁴¹  Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said,
⁴²  "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.
⁴³  He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.' "  

--He saved others; Himself He cannot save…the chief priest, the scribes, and elders didn’t know how true their statement was…His purpose was not to save Himself but to save all of us.

--His purpose was not to get off the cross and save Himself but to bear our sins on that tree so that you and I can walk in freedom every day. 

Missionary Joseph Gordon – You hear people say the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will. Tell that to Jesus. God’s perfect will hung Him on the cross. 

2. The Pain of the Cross

Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
⁶  You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
⁷  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
⁸  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

--You see Jesus did not endure the cross for a bunch of wonderful people…He did it for rotten sinners like you and me. Our veterans went to fight for those who loved our country and those who do not. Thank you!

--Oh, how we here in America want a painless Christianity…give me the assurance of Heaven, give me my children serving God, give me blessings (big house and fancy cars) but no suffering please. No pain.

1 Peter 4:12-14 (NKJV)
¹²  Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
¹³  but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
¹⁴  If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

--Only a century ago there were brave souls who became known as one-way missionaries. They purchased their tickets to the mission field without the return half. Today we have Live-Dead Missionaries. 

 --Instead of suitcases they packed their belongings in coffins. Most said their goodbyes to family knowing they would never see them again.

--A.W.Milne was one of those missionaries. He sailed to the New Hebrides in the South Pacific knowing that the missionaries before him were martyred by the headhunters there.

--Milne did not fear for his life because he had already died to himself. His coffin was packed. He had counted the cost and considered the pain. 

--He lived among the people there for 35 years and loved them. When he died they buried him in the middle of their village.

Milne’s Tombstone – When he came there was no light. When he left there was no darkness.

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

3. The Power of the Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)
¹⁸  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

--The cross is the power of God…the cross is the power of God to save us and to save those who are lost. The power of the cross was by Him (Jesus) Who hung on it. 

John 12:32-33 (NKJV)
³²  And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."
³³  This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

--To the carnal mind this does not make sense…how can a dead man on a cross draw people to Himself?

--Yes, He died on the cross and, yes, He was buried but that is not the end of the story…something happened three days later.  Jesus walked out of the tomb sealing the deal forever.

Philippians 3:7-14 (NKJV)
⁷  But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
⁸  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 

⁹  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
¹⁰  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
¹¹  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
¹²  Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
¹³  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
¹⁴  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

--Pastor, I can’t press on…I can’t serve God because I have done ________.  The power of the cross can take away all your sin. It is nailed to the cross.

Colossians 2:13-15 (NLT2)
¹³  You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.
¹⁴  He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
¹⁵  In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Trust God Not Fear – 5

Trust God Not Fear – 5

Subject – Overcoming Fear of What is Coming

by Rick Welborne

–Tonight I want to talk to you about what it means to be thrown into the fire and how we can trust God!

Isaiah 43:1‑2 (NIV) 

1 But now, this is what the LORD says‑‑ he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  

–I want to share with you that now is not the time to fear what is coming but to understand our God can take you thru the waters or deliver you out of the fire. And the Coronavirus. 

–I personally believe we are entering a time of Daniel where everything we hold dear to us is going to be challenged.

 --We must understand our God holds us in His hand and He will glorify His Name in the midst of great tribulation and persecution. Can we trust Him?

--Nebuchadnezzar has set up a golden image and says everyone has to bow when the call is put out to the people. Three Hebrew young men decided not to bow. Faithful to God.

Daniel 3:13‑15 (NIV) 

13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 

14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 

15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" 

1. You can trust Jesus when the fire is waiting for you.

–Do not think that you are going to be given rite of passage thru the doors without a fight...Satan is furious because his time is short and we are storming his gates.

--Nebuchadnezzar was furious with rage...have you noticed how angry people get when they speak of the religious right...all we want to do is love God and love people. Just be right with God.

--These boys are in a heap of trouble. They are slaves in a foreign land which simply means that they are expendable. Plenty more slaves available. 

Psalm 9:9-11 (NKJV)
⁹  The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.
¹⁰  And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
¹¹  Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. 

2. You can trust Jesus when you stand against principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness.

--Have you noticed how anyone who invokes the Name of Jesus or who speaks of prayer during this Pandemic are mocked as being crazy or un-scientific? 

Daniel 3:16‑19 (NIV) 

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 

17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 

18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." 

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual

–O King, there is no need for us to answer you.  Faith is alive in these boys. Our God is able to deliver from you and the fire. They chose to trust God no matter how much the heat is turned up. 

–Faith says, whether God delivers us or not, we will not bow or compromise. This kind of faith causes the enemy to turn up the fire seven times.

3. You can trust Jesus when strong men come against you. 

Daniel 3:20‑22 (NIV) 

20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 

21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 

22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 

--It is extremely curious to me that the king felt like he needed to get his strongest soldiers to take care of these three young Hebrews. No indication they were resisting.

--The king’s rage shows us how we can be so out of control that our decisions are on the border of insanity. It was definitely an opportunity for God to show His power over the strength of men. 

–Not everyone will be thrilled that you are going against the flow - going after God! The strong Pharisees will lose control if Holy Spirit takes over.

–They want to bind you up, shut you up, and throw you out. The fire will get them!

Hebrews 12:28-29 (NKJV)
²⁸  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
²⁹  For our God is a consuming fire.

4. You can trust Jesus in the fire!

Daniel 3:23 (NIV) 

23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 

–These three fell down bound right in the middle of the fire. Humility and trust. Humble yourself because you may be right where God wants you to be.

James 4:6-10 (NKJV)
⁶  But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
⁷  Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
⁸  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
⁹  Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
¹⁰  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. 

–You may not have chosen to be in the situation you are in...trust that God is there.

5.  You can trust Jesus in the fire, and you may just have a close encounter of the God kind. 

Daniel 3:24‑25 (NKJV) 

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." 

25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." 

–Your unwillingness to compromise may have set you up with a visitation from God. What may have seemed like your destruction may prove to be your deliverance.

--If I have learned anything about walking thru this Coronavirus, it has been how precious the Presence of God is in my life. 

--It is not just about experiencing Him at church but having Him visit me in my car and in my home. 

–Your trust will cause God to be glorified as others see Him deliver you. Even your enemies will see. 

Psalm 59:9-10 (NLT2)
⁹  You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress.
¹⁰  In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies. 

6. You can trust Jesus in the fire, and what a great testimony you will have.

Daniel 3:26‑29 (NIV) 

26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 

27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 

–People will acknowledge that we are servants of the Most High God. People will be amazed at your deliverance and gather to see living testimonies. 

--If you never go through anything, how will people know your trust in God and your love for Him is genuine and for real?

Psalm 119:71-75 (NKJV)
⁷¹  It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.
⁷²  The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.
⁷³  Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
⁷⁴  Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word.
⁷⁵  I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. 

–This is a person with wisdom and understanding. People will see your steadfastness and dedication and give God the glory. 

7. You can trust Jesus, you can see God glorified, and His Kingdom expanded!  

Daniel 3:29‑30 (NIV) 

29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." 

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. 

–God’s Name is exalted above all other names (authority). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were promoted in the Kingdom.

–Do not fear the fire because our God is a consuming fire.  He wants to baptize us in the Holy Ghost and fire.

Malachi 3:1-3 (NLT2)
¹  “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
²  “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes.
³  He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the LORD. 

–When this happens (like the day of Pentecost) many will be saved into the Kingdom. Jesus says, Behold I stand at the door...even in the middle of the fire

What Jesus Accomplished on the Cross

Easter – 2020 – What Jesus Accomplished on the Cross

Subject – Looking at What the Cross and Resurrection Meant

by Rick Welborne

1 Corinthians 1:17‑18 (NKJV) 

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. 

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

–Today I want to talk to you about the amazing sacrifice and the extra-ordinary power of the cross on which Jesus gave His life.

–Paul says something very interesting...this message of the cross is foolishness to the world but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Promise - Prize - Process

–Let me establish this from the very beginning:

1. Jesus went to the cross to save others not Himself!

Matthew 27:35‑43 (NKJV) 

35 Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." 

36 Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 

37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

38 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. 

39 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads 

40 and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 

41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, 

42 "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. 

43 He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 

–They put over His head...This is Jesus...the King of the Jews...Can I declare to you today that He is not only the King of the Jews but He is the King of kings & the Lord of lords...

–If you are the Son of God come down from the cross..."He saved others; Himself He cannot save.”

–Let me state clearly to you today that He could have saved Himself if that had been His intention...He could have slipped thru the crowd like He had done so many times. 

--He could have called 12 legions of angels to defend Him, and also all He had to do was speak the word...Are you Jesus...I am He...they all fell to the ground.

–The chief priest, the scribes, and the elders said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save.” He could have saved Himself but He came not to save Himself but to save others – the world.

2. Jesus went to the cross to reveal God’s secret wisdom!

1 Corinthians 2:1‑8 (NIV) 

1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 

2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 

3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 

4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 

5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. 

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 

7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 

8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

–So many today have such superior wisdom because they have found a single truth in God’s Word and have made it the entirety of God’s Word...out of balance.

–Paul said let me sum up for you what I know...sum up for you my wisdom...For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 

–Paul did not come in pride and arrogance...he came in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. What a difference in what we get so much of today.

–Can I declare to you today God’s secret wisdom (Paul liked revealing God’s secrets – contentment) and His wonderful sacrifice and power...It was in the cross...it was on the cross...It was Jesus crucified.

–Paul said that is enough...Jesus Christ and Him crucified. That is more than enough!

–How authoritative was this extra-ordinary sacrifice and incomparable power...8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

–If they had known the unselfish love through Jesus’ sacrifice and the redemptive power thru the cross they would not have nailed Him there.

–Jesus declared it on the cross...Too late boys...It is Finished it is done...I have paid the price for all those who will come to God!  Look at your neighbor...It is finished!

3. What we do with this revelation and power found in the cross of Christ is of most importance. 

Hebrews 12:1‑3 (NIV) 

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 

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

3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

–What do we do with this revelation?  We stop being entangled with this world, stop willful sinning (presuming on God’s grace), and let us run after Him with all our hearts!

–We fix our eyes on Jesus...why?  So many are focused on COVID 19 but Jesus for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

–Since thru the cross God has made a way of escape for us...let us take it!

Theodore the Studite (9^th Century) sermon -The Precious and life giving cross of Christ.. He compares the tree that Jesus died on to the tree in the garden (Genesis).

Theodore - How precious the gift of the cross, how splendid to contemplate! In the cross there is no mingling of good and evil, as in the tree of paradise: it is wholly beautiful to behold and good to taste.  

–The fruit of this tree (the cross) is not death but life, not darkness but light.  

–This tree (the cross) does not cast us out of paradise, but opens the way for our return.

–This was the tree on which Christ, like a king on a chariot, destroyed the devil, the lord of death, and freed the human race from his tyranny.  

–This was the tree (cross) upon which the Lord like a brave warrior wounded in hands, feet, and side, healed the wounds of sin that the evil serpent had inflicted on us.  

–A tree once caused our death, but now a tree brings life. Once deceived by a tree, we have now repelled the cunning serpent by a tree. What an astonishing transformation!  

–That death should become life, that decay should become immortality, that shame should become glory!  

–Well might the holy apostle exclaim: Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  

–Though the rulers of this world did not see the significance of the cross God had been revealing it since the beginning.

1Cor. 2:8 (NIV)

8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

--Theodore points out the types and figures of the cross of Christ: “Was it not the wood of a tree that enabled Noah, at God’s command, to escape the destruction of the flood.  

--And surely the rod of Moses prefigured the cross when it changed water into blood, swallowed up false serpents of Pharaoh’s magicians, divided the sea at one stroke and then restored the waters to their normal course, drowning the enemy and saving God’s own people!  

--Aaron’s rod, which blossomed in one day in proof of his priesthood, was another figure of the cross, and did not Abraham foreshadow the cross when he bound his sound Isaac and placed him on the pile of wood?

1 Peter 1:18‑21 (NLT) 

18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 

19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 

20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days. 

21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. 

–God knew from the beginning that He would give His Son Jesus on the cross for us. This is glorious sacrifice personified.

--How do I identify with Christ’s extra-ordinary sacrifice and the power of the cross? We talked about this last week.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) 

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 

–Before I received Christ and surrendered my life to Him...I believed in Him, I believed He died and rose again but I could not make the connection of how that could help me.

–I knew I was lost...that was obvious...I was convinced I could not live for God so why even try. The night I gave my life to Christ, I had already told God I wouldn’t be back.

--Life Church, please do not ever forget the battle going on in the hearts of those who come our way. Prayer team, they may be at the brink of life or death. 

--Years ago we had one of those services where Holy Spirit just took over. I gave an altar call and people responded. As we worshiped, God said for me to give another altar call. People responded. 

--God’s presence was so strong! Again God said give another altar call. Someone else came. I’m thinking it is time to continue with the Word or something but He says give another altar call.

--I told God because He didn’t remember, we had already given three altar calls. He said give another one. Someone is here in despair and today is life or death for them. I repeated what God said to me to the people.

--A lady (a guest) screams from the anguish of her heart. She comes and gives her heart to the Lord. Her husband comes later. After a time of prayer, I asked the lady if she wants to share.

--She said, I woke up this morning with plans of committing suicide and felt something in me telling me to come to this church. If nothing happened I was going to end my life this afternoon. Something happened!

--God totally transformed their lives and their marriage. I saw her ten years after that day in a restaurant and without provocation she grabs me and shouts…We are still living for Jesus! She found hope in Jesus!

Colossians 1:27 (NIV) 

27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 

–The amazing sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the extra-ordinary power of the cross has introduced to me (Christ in me, the hope of glory!) He is the hope of this world.