Normal or Supernatural - 3

Normal or Supernatural - 3

Subject – The Church Must Decide – Are We Pentecostals 

By Rick Welborne

Acts 1:4-8 (NKJV)
⁴  And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;
⁵  for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
⁶  Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
⁷  And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
⁸  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

--Today we are celebrating Pentecost Sunday, or at least, as a Spirit-filled church, we should be celebrating the fact that God sent Holy Spirit to be with us after He left.

--My prayer is that we are not just Pentecostal in name only but that we are truly baptized or filled with Holy Spirit power. Are we Pentecostal? Are you Pentecostal?

--Sometimes I wonder if we even know what it means to be Pentecostal or Spirit-filled. Someone told me a church close to us was also Spirit-filled. How do you know?

--Well, they sing the same songs we sing, some of their people lift their hands, and, oh yeah, some of them even clap their hands during the worship. What?

--Jesus was definitely telling the disciples (the 120) that when they received Holy Spirit, they would receive power. Dunamos – dynamite power. Can we say we have dynamite power?

--He also goes on to tell them what I believe is the main purpose of sending this wonderful power, so they can be witnesses locally and all over the world. 

--Pentecostal churches (Spirit-filled churches) should be growing because of the power of God to be witnesses. Having Holy Spirit should make us more effective witnesses.

John 16:7 (NKJV)
⁷  Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

1. Jesus is taking the disciples from the normal to the supernatural. 

--The disciple had witnessed Jesus being crucified, being buried, and placed in a tomb. They ran, they fled, they deserted Him. Three days later, He rises from the dead.

--Even though He is back, He is really back. Their hearts, their dreams, their destinies have been crushed. After revealing Himself twice to them, they still go back fishing. The safe and the normal.

--Jesus did not call the disciples to be a part of a normal life but He was calling them to a life that was not only going to change them, but to a life that was going to change the world.

--Jesus knew that if this band of believers were going to make any kind of difference in this world, it would absolutely take supernatural power. 

--I believe I have a word for the church today. No matter what Covid 19 was or is God’s plan is the same for us.

--Some of you are still walking in fear and that is understandable if your source is the news and all of those supposedly experts. An ex is a has been and a spurt is a drip under pressure. Paul says:

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
⁷  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

--If we have a spirit of fear it did not come from God. So who did it come from? It came from the media; it came from committees put together by our government.

--Let’s get real, fear does not come from the Lord, it comes from the pits of hell, it comes from the enemy of our souls, Satan. If he can make us fearful, he can neutralize us. 

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)
⁸  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

--Satan is like a roaring lion but he only has the power that we give to him. I am not telling you the virus is not real, but I am telling you not to walk in fear but power, love, and a sound mind. Lord, give us a sound mind! 

2 Timothy 1:6 (NKJV)
⁶  Therefore I remind you to stir up (fan into flames) the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

--Someone help me preach a little bit this morning, you will never go from the normal to the supernatural until you fan into flames the gift inside of you. What gift? The gift of the Father…Holy Spirit!

--The reason you are numb and the reason you are in such a funk is because you have allowed the enemy to give you a spirit of fear, or frustration, or suspicion. 

--I have said this to many people individually but let me say it to Life Church and those who are live-streaming with us. No matter what you think Covid 19 is or what our government is doing the answer is the same:

A. Our response is to get on our knees and pray.

B. Our response is to seek God with all our hearts until we find Him.

C. Our response is to fulfill the Great Commission with every fiber of our being.

D. Our response is to evangelize everyone we come in contact with every day.

E. Our response is to be filled with Holy Spirit power and to stir up that gift within us.

F. Our response is to be faithful to God in every area (attendance, giving, service) with all our hearts.

--Our job is not to forward fear on the internet with every kooky video that comes across FB or Messenger. You will be held accountable for every crazy thing you have forwarded without verifying. Please stop. Pray!

--Until you have done the above list with all diligence and with all your heart, please just remain quiet. Please!

Proverbs 17:28 (NLT2)
²⁸  Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

--If we will go from normal to supernatural we must make our way to the upper room and wait on the Promise of the Father until He comes in power and glory. 

Luke 24:49 (NKJV)
⁴⁹  Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." 

2. To go from normal to supernatural we must wait and we must worship.

Luke 24:52-53 (NKJV)
⁵²  And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
⁵³  and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

--After Jesus rescued the disciples from going back to the normal, He promised them something supernatural if they were willing to tarry or wait to receive Him.

--I love what these verses say…they worshiped Him and they were continually in the temple. They were focused on worshiping Jesus and them being continually in the temple, signified their diligence. 

--Please don’t tell me that you want another Pentecost when you only give God a token of your worship and your time with Him is so minimized based on your important schedule. 

--I hope Covid 19 pushed you into your prayer closet where you sought God and worshiped Him with all your heart instead of spending all your time on your phone or computer. 

--I have said this often but let me say it again, pressure was never supposed to push you away from God or away from His church, pressure should push you into a deeper relationship with God.

--Let me continue, I hope you realized thru Covid 19 that church is more than just a building or a mass gathering, it is saints who have shut their doors and spend time alone with God. 

--Even though all of us love getting together for church, what do you think the early church did when they were being hunted like animals and what believers do in the Middle East, in China. Church is home too!

Matthew 18:20 (NKJV)
²⁰  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." 

--When was the last time you had a personal Pentecost with the Lord that while you were praying and seeking Him? He came and baptized you with Holy Spirit power and fire.

--Many times when I am diligently praying for someone who is lost, someone who is terribly sick (Greg Mundis or Pastor Larry Boone), or someone going thru trauma, Holy Spirit shows up! Wow!

--I cannot begin to tell you how awesome it is for me when Holy Spirit shows up when I am seeking Him! Sometimes when I am riding 20 or 30 miles on my bicycle, tears are flowing down my face. Not from pain.

--We have so many tools to help us draw near to the Lord in worship and waiting on Him. What did the disciples have? Memories and promises. No worship, no air pods, no Podcasts! Just a relationship.

--Let us stop making excuses about why we are so miserable and let us wait on the Lord and let us worship Him with all our hearts. Seek Him until you find Him and until He fills you!

--I am not going to tell you that worship is always easy nor will it always be convenient but if you will be the man or woman of God He wants you to be, you must wait and worship even in difficult times.

--Abraham had waited for what seemed like an entire lifetime for the son of promise and now the Father is telling Him to take you son, your only son, and sacrifice him where I tell you.

Genesis 22:5 (NKJV)
⁵  And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."

--In Covid 19, in the midst of a fear propagating media, in your own sickness, or in your own mess, wait and worship. Have your own Personal Pentecost.

3. Holy Spirit is the Promise of the Father.

Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV)
⁴  And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;
⁵  for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 

--Jesus said (so it must be important), don’t leave Jerusalem but wait on the Promise of the Father. Who is this Promise of the Father? He tells us. You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. 10 days

--On the Day of Pentecost what happened? While they waited, while they worshiped, while they obeyed Jesus,
suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house. 

--They were all filled with Holy Spirit power and they all spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance. Why would God choose the Day of Pentecost to pour out His Spirit? Great question.

Day of Pentecost - Historically, Pentecost (Shavout) is a Jewish feast celebrating the giving of the Torah and the summer wheat harvest. It was celebrated 50 days after Passover and was marked by pilgrims coming to Jerusalem from all over the world to celebrate the event.

--Our question was why the Day of Pentecost? My answer…Jesus is always interested in people and in their salvation. Pilgrims came to Jerusalem to celebrate. God saw the most potential for people to be saved. 3000

--Please do not give me the hogwash that this was just for them. Not for today. Read the Word!

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

--Pentecost is for you, for all of us! Will you receive His gift? Holy Spirit is available for you today!

Do Not Be Afraid – 2

Do Not Be Afraid – 2

Subject – Biblical Reasons Not to be Afraid

by Rick Welborne

Isaiah 43:1-7 (NLT2)
¹  But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.
²  When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
³  For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
⁴  Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.
⁵  “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west.
⁶  I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth.
⁷  Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’” 

Last week we looked at this:

1. Let’s look at why God tells us to not be afraid.

2. We must know based on God’s Word that He can be trusted even when we are afraid.

Ortberg - I believe the reason God says “fear not” so often is that fear will sink us faster than anything else.  Fear disrupts faith and becomes the biggest obstacle to trusting and obeying God.

3. Fear and the cost of living in fear.

Ortberg - At is simplest and most benign, fear is an internal warning cry that danger is nearby and we had better do something about it. It is designed to be what researchers call a “self-correcting mechanism”–to be unpleasant enough to motivate us to take action and remove ourselves from whatever is threatening us. It readies our bodies to flee, hide, or fight.

A. Fear will cost us our self-esteem.

B. Fear will cost us a loss of destiny.

C. Fear will cost us a lack of joy.

Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) 

11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

D. Fear will cost us a sense of real intimacy.

E. Fear will cost us our availability to God.

F. Fear gets passed from generation to generation.

–Todays’s message...

1. What to do when fear knocks.

–So many things make us afraid or cause us anxiety.

–Maybe they are talking about layoffs at work, slow downs in the economy, flare-ups in the Middle East with terrorism, downturns in the housing market, upswing in global warming, breakouts of al Qaeda or COVID 19..

–Maybe fear of a dictator in Iran getting nuclear weapons or fear of a Pandemic has shaken you to your foundation

–We fear being sued, finishing last, going broke, we fear the mole on our back, the new kid in the neighborhood, we fear being alone...we fear death.

–We have a sophisticated financial plan, get elaborate security systems, and we can even wear a button around our necks to cry for help yet we depend more on drugs more than any other generation in history.

Max Lucado: Fear, it seems, has taken a hundred-year lease on the building next door and set up shop.  Oversize and rude, fear is unwilling to share the heart with happiness. Happiness complies.  Do you ever see the two together? Can one be happy and afraid at the same time? Clear thinking and afraid? No. Fear is the big bully in the high school hallway: brash, loud, and unproductive.

–For all the noise that fear makes and all the room it takes, fear does little good.

Lucado: Fear never wrote a symphony or poem, negotiated a peace treaty, or cured a disease. Fear never pulled a family out of poverty or a country out of bigotry. Fear never saved a marriage or a business. Courage did that.  Faith did that. People who refused to consult or cower to their timidity did that. But fear itself? Fear herds us into prison and slams the door. 

–Wouldn’t it be great to be able to walk out of the prison that fear makes? Wouldn’t it be great that when fear knocks we refuse to answer the door?

–Imagine your life wholly untouched by fear and anxiety. What if faith, not fear, was your default reactions to threats? Imagine living a day, just one day, absent of the dread of failure, rejection, calamity, and insecurity. 

2. Why be afraid. 

Matthew 8:23‑27 (NKJV) 

23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 

24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 

25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 

26 But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 

27 So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" 

–Jesus asked...Why are you fearful...why are you so afraid? Is He serious...He must be kidding. Teasing obviously. Like one swimmer asking the other one - why are you wet?

–Jesus is not kidding...He is sincere...why are you so afraid? It appears that Jesus has forgotten a small detail... 

23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 

24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. 

–Matthew remembers well following Jesus onto the boat and then a great storm hitting so quickly and massive waves coming over the boat.

–The word Matthew uses bypasses your typical words for a storm...a shower, squall, cloudburst, or downpour ...none of these fit this storm.

–The word he used was Seismos - a quake, a trembling eruption of sea and sky. A great Seismos arose on the sea and they were in the middle of it.

–We still use the term today...seismologist study earthquakes, seismograph measures them and Matthew and the crew felt shaken to the core by a wet and wild earthquake.

–Only two other occasions was this word used...Once at Jesus death when Calvary shook and again at Jesus resurrection when the graveyard trembled.

–This occasion was comparatively part of a trilogy of Jesus earth shaking events where he defeats sin on the cross, death at the tomb, and here He silences the sea. Amazing.

–The storm comes suddenly, no preparation time...sudden fear that catches you off guard.

–This story reminds us that when you get a board with Jesus that you can get wet and afraid. Disciples can expect rough seas and strong resistant winds.

John 16:33 (NKJV) 

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 

–You see, believers in Christ are not set apart by the lack of storms...they are set apart by Whom they find in the storm with them. He was sleeping.

–I believe (Actually I know) His sleeping was premeditated...He knew the storm was coming. 

3. Does God care when we are fearful. 

Mark 4:38 (NKJV) 

38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" 

–This is very interesting...they do not ask Jesus about His strength...Can you still the storm? Or His knowledge - Are you aware of the storm? Or His know how - Do you have any experience with storms?

–They raise doubt about Jesus’ character...Do you not care? Fear does this!

–Fear corrodes our confidence in God’s goodness...if God can keep His eyes shut when mine are wide open and He can sleep when I think I am going under...Does He really care? Fear unleashes doubts, anger stirring doubts.

–Fear, at its center, is a perceived loss of control. In the storm we start grabbing for something to hang on to. The more insecure we feel, the meaner we become. We do not like being out of control.

–When Pastor Martin Niemoller was asked about meeting Adolf Hilter and what he had learned, he responded:

Niemoller:  I discovered Herr Hitler is a terribly frightened man.

–Fear releases the tyrant within...frightened and insecure people become mean. The disciples had every reason to believe and know that Jesus cared and was good.

Lucado - Fear creates a form of spiritual amnesia. It dulls our miracle memory. It makes us forget what Jesus has done and how good God is. 

–When fear shapes our lives, safety becomes our god. We take no risk.

–The fear filled person cannot love deeply. Love is risky. They cannot give to the poor because they fear benevolence has no guarantee of return. The fear filled cannot dream big dreams.

–Out of 125 Christ issued imperatives...21 of them tell us not to be afraid...it is His number one statement...2nd was love God and neighbors.

Matthew 10:31 (NKJV) 

31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 

Matthew 6:25 (NKJV) 

25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 

Matthew 14:27 (NKJV) 

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

Matthew 10:28 (NKJV) 

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

John 14:1‑3 (NKJV) 

1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 

2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 

John 14:27 (NKJV) 

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

--Paul:

2 Timothy 1:6‑7 (NKJV) 

6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

Normal or Supernatural - 2

Normal or Supernatural - 2

Subject – The Church Must Decide – Normal or Supernatural

by Rick Welborne

Luke 24:44-53 (NKJV)
⁴⁴  Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."
⁴⁵  And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
⁴⁶  Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
⁴⁷  and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
⁴⁸  And you are witnesses of these things.
⁴⁹  Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
⁵⁰  And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
⁵¹  Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
⁵²  And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
⁵³  and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen. 

--Last week we saw how the disciples were in such a tough place. They had witnessed Jesus arrested, they watched Him beaten and tortured, and they watched Him be crucified.

--If this was not bad enough, they fled when He was arrested. They deserted Him when He needed them the most. Peter denied Him three times just as Jesus had predicted.

--The United States, actually the world, has been in a tough place for the last several weeks. We have been isolated thru Social Distancing. You could feel the oppression of so many. Retirements affected.

--We are still praying for so many who were stricken with this virus and praying for their complete recovery. We are praying for an economic recovery after millions have lost their jobs. 

--Jesus showed up for the disciples, after they had gone back fishing, seeing if they wanted to do normal or if they were ready to go for more. 

--Again, Life Church, I ask you, do you want normal or do you have a desire for more? Do you really want a supernatural life with Jesus? 

--Jesus invited the disciples to come and to eat. He knew they needed to be restored physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I truly believe the same is true about us. We need restoration. Come and eat!

--When Jesus had that serious conversation with Peter about…Do you love Me…it was a serious conversation for all of us. Jesus was asking Peter and He is asking us, are you ready to go to a new place with God?

--Wonderful, we are coming to eat and we are being restored by the Lord but that isn’t the entirety of the story. Jesus was not finished with His disciples and He is not finished with us. 

--If we believe God is only interested in getting the church back to the same ole same ole normalcy we had before the Coronavirus, I believe we are very mistaken.

--I hope the scales have fallen off our eyes to know that everything we hold dear can be taken away quickly. Our freedoms can be striped in a matter of days leaving us in shock and dismay. Disillusioned! 

--Do we have a deep enough relationship with the Lord, that whatever comes, hell or high water, we can stand.

Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)
¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
¹¹  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
¹²  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
¹³  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

--Though I do not believe like the conspiracy theorist that everything about COVID 19 was aimed at the church, trying to shut it down. I do believe Satan is definitely like politicians.

--Satan never lets a crisis go to waste. If what is happening to the world can be a tool to impact the church negatively, he will do it. We have seen much of that. Attempts to limit our freedom to worship.

--Hear your pastor, I also believe that what Satan has intended for evil can be used to bring honor and glory to God! It also can be a time for the church to experience supernatural growth and miracles. 

Romans 8:28 (NIV)
²⁸  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

--Stay with me, the death and burial of Jesus happened to put an end to this movement of believers (The Way) and to, once and for all, kill God’s plan of redemption.

--The disciples were so discouraged that Satan almost succeeded, but Jesus said He would build His church and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it.

--Jesus was raised from the dead and I believe the church is about to rise in supernatural power! I believe there is coming a last day’s revival where millions are going to be saved. 

--As the outpouring of God’s grace and mercy was supernatural the first time, it must be the same this time. God gives us His Word and patterns for a reason. 

1. The Move of God that is Coming Must be Biblical.

--Jesus was trying to prepare the disciples for such a move of God that they would eventually be accused of turning their world upside down. Lord, do it again. 

Luke 24:44-45 (NKJV)
⁴⁴  Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."
⁴⁵  And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 

--If we will come out of this Coronavirus with a mighty move of God, it will be because we follow the Word of God not the latest kooky thing coming down the pike.

--These guys have been with the Lord for three years and many of you have been with the Lord a very long time. Our obedience to His Word and the following of His commands will lead us to revival.

--Stop worrying about the latest video on the internet. I received one the other night telling me to make sure my cell phone had to be at least three feet from me that night or I would die from the radiation. What?

--They even told me that millions would die. Nothing on the news but this is sent forth like it is real. Fake news! I slept with my phone closer that night. I am ready to see Jesus. If it can’t be verified, don’t send it.

--But God’s Word, send it to everyone. Heaven and earth will pass away but Jesus says My Word will endure forever. Does the Word of God say anything about the last days? I believe it does.

Daniel 12:3-4 (NKJV)
³  Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.
⁴  "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." 

--Boom! God’s Word has nailed this! We have seen knowledge increase so rapidly that by the time you get home with your smart phone, it is already dumb. 

--In the last days it has been prophesied that the Jews will return to Israel in extremely large numbers:

 Isaiah 43:5-6 (NKJV)
⁵  Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west;
⁶  I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth-- 

--On the day of Pentecost when Holy Spirit was being poured out on God’s people, Peter quoted the Scriptures from Joel that should make all of us shout! It is God’s Word!

Acts 2:16-21 (NKJV)
¹⁶  But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
¹⁷  'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.
¹⁸  And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
¹⁹  I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
²⁰  The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
²¹  And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.' 

--Yes, the disciples went thru hell. Yes, we have been thru COVID 19. Nothing stops the Word of God from being fulfilled. If those were the last days, then we are the last of the last days!

--Please excuse me for getting excited about what God is about to do before His return. Yes, I believe evil is waxing worse and worse, but I also believe God’s glory is going to be shown in the earth again.

--The Word of God says Jesus died, was buried, and rose on the third day. According to God’s Word I declare to you, the Church of the Living God is getting ready for resurrection power.

2. The Move of God that is Coming Must be Focused on the Great Commission.

--Please keep in mind that our text we read and quoted from is what Jesus was telling His disciples right before He left and right before Holy Spirit outpouring.

Luke 24:46-47 (NKJV)
⁴⁶  Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
⁴⁷  and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 

--A little more detail is given in Matthew’s gospel:

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
¹⁸  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
¹⁹  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
²⁰  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

--I believe churches who are not focused on the Great Commission will not be a part of this last day revival. How can they be and why would they be? What would they need Holy Spirit’s power? To dance harder!

--I will say it! Any church, any Christian who are not mission’s minded are out of the will of God. Jesus is giving instructions before He ascends to the Father…He expects us to be obedient to His commands!

--They are just days away from Jesus showing them how He is about to build His church. Just on the Day of Pentecost 3000 souls were born again. It was supernatural! Jesus, do it again!

3. The Move of God that is Coming Must be Holy Spirit Empowered.

Luke 24:49-53 (NKJV)
⁴⁹  Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
⁵⁰  And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
⁵¹  Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
⁵²  And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
⁵³  and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen. 

--Hear your pastor, if we will come out of Covid 19 (this Pandemic) with supernatural power and growth like never before, it will come from the Promise of the Father. Holy Spirit!

--Man can build big churches and man can even draw big crowds but having Hollywood entertainment and bells and whistles with the singing, but to have Biblical revival it must be Holy Spirit.

--The disciples had pretty much been in isolation and in hiding until God fulfilled His Promise to pour out Holy Spirit power. When that happened the Church exploded in growth. Lord, do it again!

--You can go back to normal and be content with that if you want to but not me! If God has promised a last days outpouring I want to be a part of it!

--Pastor, I am still weary from the Pandemic. You shall receive power when Holy Spirit comes upon you. Tarry like the disciples did until you receive power from on high! We need something from Heaven!

Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV)
¹  When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
²  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
³  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
⁴  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.   

Acts 2:39-41 (NKJV) ³⁹  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." ⁴⁰  And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." ⁴¹  Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about
three thousand souls were added to them.

Wednesday May 20 - Do Not Be Afraid – 1

Wednesday May 20 - Do Not Be Afraid – 1

Subject – Biblical Reasons Not to be Afraid

by Rick Welborne

Isaiah 41:8-10 (NLT2)
⁸  “But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend,
⁹  I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.
¹⁰  Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 

–What would you guess would be one of the most common commands in the Scripture? It is not for us to be loving even though that may go to the core of God’s desire for us...It is not His most common instruction for us.

–Those who write about our spiritual lives often point to pride as being the root of our human fallen-ness but God’s most common command does not tell us to avoid pride.

–Walking in integrity and keeping oneself pure sexually is so important to God but these are still not what God commands us the most about.

–The single command in Scripture that occurs more often than any other—God’s most repeated instruction is formulated really in these words…Do not be afraid or fear not.

–God may say “Do not be afraid.  Be strong and courageous. You can trust Me. Fear not.”

1. Let’s look at why God tells us to not be afraid.

–When you think about it, fear does not seem like one of the more serious vices in the world...it does not even make it into the seven deadly sins that God names.

–As far as I know, no one has received church discipline for being afraid. So why does God tell human being to stop being afraid more than anything else?

–This hits me as humorous...God does not tell us to “not be afraid” because He is trying to spare us from emotional discomfort...usually what He asks us to do causes greater fear.

–I believe the number one reason God tells us to “not be afraid” is because fear is the reason humans are tempted to avoid doing what God asks them to do...to trust Him.

–All of us have more than likely played this game with our children when they were young...you are in the water trying to get your toddler to jump into the water.

–You can trust daddy...go ahead and jump...I will catch you...you will not fall! There is inner conflict in the child...their brain is saying don’t do this it’s dangerous!

–On the other hand it is daddy who is in the water...he is bigger and stronger and is relatively trustworthy...in most cases...The battle is between fear and trust.

–The child can’t stand there forever...the moment of decision...trust says “jump” and fear says “no”. Either he will jump or he will walk away...Tricia on the edge of the pool with Josh. He walks in and goes under.

–The choice he has will have great consequences...if he chooses to jump now he will trust his father more and will be more likely to do it again...Do it again...100 times.

–On the other hand...deciding not to jump also has consequences...he loses the opportunity to discover his dad can be trusted and also will live a more cautious life.

–This kind of person will work hard at avoiding fear or being put in situations where trust is so important.

–Everyone should have a healthy fear of water...of stepping out into the deep but we must work on our trust being greater than our fear. We never want the no of fear to be greater than the yes of faith...God can be trusted.

2. We must know based on God’s Word that He can be trusted even when we are afraid.

Isaiah 43:1‑7 (NKJV) 

1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 

3 For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 

4 Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. 

5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; 

6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth‑‑ 

7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him." 

–Father God can be trusted as long as we acknowledge Him...

Proverbs 3:5‑6 (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. 

–The key word here is trust...trust is the opposite of fear. Remember when Peter asked Jesus could he could come to Him on the water...Come.

–Trust said to Peter “Jump!” Fear said no...Peter jumped!  Peter got out of the boat and for a while everything went smoothly...then fear struck a second time. Peter saw the wind and he became frightened. 

–He lost his sense of confidence (trust) that Jesus was the Master of the situation. He did not just sink in the water...He sank in his own anxiety and fear.

Ortberg - I believe the reason God says “fear not” so often is that fear will sink us faster than anything else.  Fear disrupts faith and becomes the biggest obstacle to trusting and obeying God.

–Everyone of us will face those moments when we must choose between trust and fear. Trust and fear have been battling for supremacy in your heart for a long time...eventually one or the other will win.  

–Think about it...where is Jesus calling you to trust Him with all your heart. What is keeping you from doing it? More than likely it is fear.

3. Fear and the cost of living in fear.

Ortberg - At is simplest and most benign, fear is an internal warning cry that danger is nearby and we had better do something about it. It is designed to be what researchers call a “self-correcting mechanism”–to be unpleasant enough to motivate us to take action and remove ourselves from whatever is threatening us. It readies our bodies to flee, hide, or fight.

–When we are not willing to face our fears...it will definitely cost us...What?

A. Fear will cost us our self-esteem.

–Avoiding our fears kills a sense of confidence and esteem. Not even praise from others will encourage when we are stuck in fear. 

–We go into “impression management” pretending to be what others accept...allusion. In our hearts we think...If you knew the real me and my fears you would not compliment me. 

–When you take on a fear or challenge, it builds the core of who you are even if it does not turn out perfectly ...Witnessing or planting seeds for the harvest. 

–Every time you wimp out to a perceived fear you die a little on the inside. If this continues you will learn to live in fear and avoidance. You will feel bad about yourself.

B. Fear will cost us a loss of destiny.

–If you live in fear, you will never experience the potential and destiny God has planned for you. The truth is that growth always requires risk. Fear always makes us ask the “what ifs?” Failure or finances. 

–Some are afraid of success...higher expectations and more pressure from others. We don’t move until we get a guarantee we will succeed...we stay stagnate.

–If this pattern does not change you find yourself at the end of your life looking back wishing you had not been so careful...start wherever you are now. Fear will cost you your destiny...and that is too high of a price to pay. 

C. Fear will cost us a lack of joy.

–Fear destroys joy...if you choose to live in fear you will join the multitudes who live in constant paralyzing anxiety...look to pills for help. So sad how many are addicted because of ansiety.

–Have you ever noticed that the people who live next to the edge in their businesses, in their sports, in their lives are the people who are having the time of their lives. They seem slightly crazy!

–You see, trusting in the face of fear and challenge produces joy! On the other hand, those who give in to fear see that it is a joy killer. Imaginations running wild...worry!

Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) 

11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

D. Fear will cost us a sense of real intimacy.

–Fear has a way of making us hide from those in whom we should be close...Adam and Eve...Where are you?  I heard You in the garden and I hid myself because I was naked.

–We have been hiding ever since...behind fake smiles...behind agreeable words we don’t believe, behind things we feel but are too afraid to say.

–We hide behind what people might think of us, we hide by not saying what we feel at church, the lack of conflict does not equal peace.

–A husband and wife may choose to not argue...to play the quiet game...but what is lost is the intimacy that God has for them.

–We play the quiet game with the lost because we are afraid of rejection and embarrassment. Fear always lies behind the quiet game. What a price to pay for fear.

E. Fear will cost us our availability to God.

–Fear whispers to us that God is really not big enough to take care of our problems, that we are not safe in His hands, and it causes us to distort the way we think about Him.

–God has promised that if we go thru the water or the fire that He is with us but fear tries to convince us that it is not so. Fear and Satan are big liars. 

–This is key: you will never know God is trustworthy if you do not risk obeying Him. When you come to the end of your life all those “what ifs” becomes “might have beens”. What might have been if I had trusted God?  

F. Fear gets passed from generation to generation.

–Social science tells us that we are the most worried culture who ever lived. Life expectancy has more than doubled in the past century. Yet we worry!

–We have discovered more cures for more diseases than ever before. No group of human beings have been healthier but no one worries about health more than we do. Covid 19

–Journalist Bob Garfield tracked health articles in the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times and found out according to experts:

–59 million Americans have heart disease. 53 million suffer from migraines. 25 million have osteoporosis. 16 million struggle with obesity. 3 million have cancer. 12 million have severe disorders such as brain injuries.

–On and on it goes! The articles he read said that there are 543 million Americans who are sick, which is funny, since we only have about 350 million.  We are convinced to worry...fear sells!

–We teach our children to fear...don’t do that or this...people are evil...don’t play with sticks...How many people have had their eyes poked out with sticks? We propagate fear...we must learn that trust and faith can be spread.

–Have you ever para-sailed, sky dived, bungee jumped...it may be terrifying but it only last a moment...the memory lasts a life time.

Psalm 103:15‑18 (NLT) 

15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wild flowers, we bloom and die. 

16 The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. 

17 But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children 

18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! 

–What are we passing to our children...faith or fear?

Normal or Supernatural - 1

Normal or Supernatural - 1

Subject – The Church Must Decide – Normal or Supernatural

by Rick Welborne

John 21:1-3 (NLT2)
¹  Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened.
²  Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
³  Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 

--You have heard people say it, you have seen them post it, you have seen it on TV, and probably most of us have said it at some point: “I just want things to get back to normal.”

--COVID 19 has isolated us, it has depressed us, and it has changed everything we consider normal. You may believe it was a conspiracy, fake, or whatever, we all admit it messed up normalcy for all of us.

--There are people who definitely have a greater appreciation for school teachers and administrators taking care of our kids most of the day. We have been close for several weeks…very close.

--I know we all have a great admiration for those in the medical field, for first responders, custodians who clean the hospitals, our president and his team, truck drivers, and grocery stores.

--I hope you appreciate your church, your supporting staff (secretarial and maintenance), and your pastors who have worked so hard. While many of you were isolated, these folks were working very hard. Livestreaming!

--The disciples also had been thru a tremendously tough time. Their Messiah, their Lord, their Savior of Whom they had been following was arrested, abused, mocked, and eventually crucified on the cross. 

--On the third day He rises from the dead. At first, they could not believe it! They doubted. He revealed Himself to them on different occasions. Wow, this is wonderful. He is alive!

--Something happened in the process which is tough to explain. Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead and has showed up in their lives again.

--There is no way to measure the emotional distress that Jesus’ death caused to the disciples, and even though He is alive, they find themselves at a major crossroad. 

--They decide to take the comfortable path and to go back to the familiar…all it took was for one of them to make the decision, this new life is tougher than we expected…I’m going fishing! Me too!

1. We Have a Choice to Go Back to Normal if We Want.

--Before we get to hard on the disciples we may want to introspect about what we have been through and what our intentions are in coming out of COVID 19. 

--Do we go back to normal? Do we go back to where we were before as an individual, as a family, as the body of Christ? Many are asking…will life ever be normal again?

--I think it is important for us to understand what I am about to say…God can bless us if we go back to normal.

John 21:5-11 (NLT2)
⁵  He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied.
⁶  Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
⁷  Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.
⁸  The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore.
⁹  When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
¹⁰  “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said.
¹¹  So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. 

--Jesus shows up and even though they do not know it is Him, He asks them did you going back to your normal life pay off. Have you caught any fish? They replied that would be a big “no”.

--Jesus shows them that even in their choice to go back to “normal” that He can and will bless them. They caught no fish all night but he tells them, fish on the right side of the boat. Wow! So many fish!

--Let me stop here and ask all of us a question. Is life, what we consider normal life, about catching more fish or is it something deeper than having more? Maybe it is moving to the supernatural. 

--Jesus, even in the normalcy of your life He can reveal that He is there with you and that He is able to make sure you have enough, and to even have abundance. 

--Through this miracle, the disciple whom Jesus loved (John) perceived it was the Lord. Though Peter was impulsive he had this deep desire to be close to Jesus. 

--Just another thought I believe God dropped into my heart. Peter shows where he was spiritually. The first time He tries to walk on water to Jesus (He rescued Him), this time he simply swims. He knew he had failed.

Proverbs 11:2 (NKJV)
²  When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. 

--Listen to your pastor, how you come to Jesus during this time of normalcy is of such importance. He is on the shore waiting on you. You must approach Him with humility and fear.

--How you approach Him during this time will not only have a great determination with the rest of your life but it will also have a great determination by all those you touch going forward. 

Romans 14:7-8 (NLT2)
⁷  For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.
⁸  If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

2. Come and Eat.

--I think it is so significant how Jesus dealt with His disciples in this story. He obviously could have been hard on them because they went back to fishing.

--Jesus understands when we have been through a traumatic time and He knows that there is a time to be tough and a time to show compassion.

--What a message for us. When the kid wrecks the car, loses the game, or breaks up with the girl or guy of their dreams…now may not be the time to say I told you so or to lecture. Compassion is needed.

Psalm 145:8-9 (NKJV)
⁸  The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.
⁹  The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.

--When your child has been hurt, a friend has been through a really tough time, or medical workers or first responders have been giving of themselves, what would be a compassionate response?

--Here is a life lesson that all of us can learn and remember. No matter what someone has been through or no matter what they are going through presently, they still have to eat. They get hungry.

--Of course, they will say that they are good but hear your pastor, they are hungry. Hungry for food, hungry for love, hungry for compassion, and sometimes hungry for forgiveness.

--The disciples have been to hell and back with their experience with Jesus. They found their destiny and followed Him. They watched Him get arrested, tortured, and crucified. They fled when He was arrested.

--Now He is back. He is really back. He is alive. He said after three days He would be back and now He is here. They are hurt, wounded, embarrassed by their failure. They have walked away again…they’re fishing.

--They want to go back to their normal lives and Jesus keeps showing up in their lives with love and compassion. Now they are on the shore with Him.

John 21:12-14 (NCV)
¹²  Jesus said to them, “Come and eat.“ None of the followers dared ask him, “Who are you?“ because they knew it was the Lord.
¹³  Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, along with the fish.
¹⁴  This was now the third time Jesus showed himself to his followers after he was raised from the dead. 

--Can you even imagine the awkwardness and the quietness in that moment? Should we just blurt out that we are sorry? Should we just hold our tongue? What should we do?

--As Jesus is preparing the fish and bread with all of them gathered around He gives them some wonderful instruction…Come and eat!

--As we prepare to do church again in what we would consider a normal way, can your pastor give you some compassionate instruction? Come and eat.

--The only way you are going to be totally restored after COVID 19 is to come and to eat. Jesus said unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you cannot be my disciples. What was He talking about? Not cannibalism.

--Jesus is saying you need to recognize that I am your source to get thru COVID 19 and anything else.

 John 6:35, 48, 57-58 (NIV)
³⁵  Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.
⁴⁸  I am the Bread of Life.
⁵⁷  Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
⁵⁸  This is the Bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this Bread will live forever." 

--Jesus said whoever feeds on Him will live. Do want life after this virus? Many walked away from Jesus after He did this teaching because they did not understand what He was saying. Please don’t walk away.

--He said come and eat. He said the one who feeds on Me will live. He says I am the Bread of Life. Come and consume Me and you will find your life. 

--Hear your pastor, this conversation, this invitation was truly important because it was the life and future of the church. The decision you make to come and to eat will be the future and life of Life Church!

--Don’t walk away from Jesus’ invitation to come and eat because something or actually Someone supernatural is waiting in the wings. 

3. A Serious Conversation.

John 21:17-19 (NLT2)
¹⁷  A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
¹⁸  “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.”
¹⁹  Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” 

--This question is significant if you will move from normalcy to the supernatural. Do you love me more than these? These fish? Your normal life? Following Me into the supernatural will cost you everything. 

--Your life will never again be about self-preservation but about feeding others. Yes, you are eating now but to move in supernatural power will require for you to feed my sheep.

--The supernatural will require for you to be willing to die to yourself, and in Peter’s case, to die physically. You also will stretch out your hands on the cross and die. This is serious indeed.

--If we will go from normalcy to the supernatural it will require of us to follow Jesus. Do we love Jesus enough to die to ourselves and to follow Him even to the cross? 

--Jesus is asking us…Do you love Me? Do you really love Me? Do you love Me enough to die? 

--Do you really want a supernatural life with Christ? Jesus says…Follow Me!