Do Not be Afraid – 10

Subject – Dealing with Fear in the Fire

by Rick Welborne

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.  

–Tonight I want to share with you that now is not the time to fear what is coming but to understand our God can take us thru, even if He has to take us thru the waters or deliver us out of the fire.

–I personally believe we are entering a time of Daniel where everything we hold dear is going to be challenged but understand our God holds us in His hand and He will glorify His Name in the midst of great tribulation and persecution.

--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. They were 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. If you are unwilling to conform, the fire is waiting for you.

–Do not think that you are going to be given rite of passage 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.

2. If you attempt to stand against principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness get ready for the fire.

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 not fear is alive in these boys. Our God is able to deliver from you and the fire. 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. Get ready! And give thanks to the Lord!

 Psalm 18:46‑49 (NKJV) 

46 The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. 

47 It is God who avenges me, And subdues the peoples under me; 

48 He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. 

49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name. 

3. If you attempt to stand against the principalities, powers, and rulers get ready for the strong men.

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, 

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

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

Psalm 30:1‑4 (NKJV) 

1 I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. 

2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. 

3 O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 

4 Sing praise to the LORD, You saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 

4.  When you are cast into the fire, trust God!

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. Humble yourself because you may be right where God wants you to be. You may not have chosen to be in the situation you are in... fall in His presence!

Psalm 145:14‑19 (NKJV) 

14 The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. 

15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season. 

16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. 

17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. 

18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. 

19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. 

5.  If you are cast into the fire you may find yourself in 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.

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

Psalm 97:9‑12 (NKJV) 

9 For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. 

10 You who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. 

11 Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart. 

12 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 

6.  If you are cast into the fire, and you come out without even the smell of smoke...what a great testimony. 

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. 

–People will see your sincerity and dedication and give God the glory. 

Psalm 106:1‑5 (NKJV) 

1 Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 

2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can declare all His praise? 

3 Blessed are those who keep justice, And he who does righteousness at all times! 

4 Remember me, O LORD, with the favor You have toward Your people; Oh, visit me with Your salvation, 

5 That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones, That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, That I may glory with Your inheritance. 

7.   If you are cast into the fire and come out victorious you will 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.

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

Psalm 107:1‑9 (NKJV) 

1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 

2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, 

3 And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south. 

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in. 

5 Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them. 

6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. 

7 And He led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city for a dwelling place. 

8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! 

9 For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness. 

–What if these guys would have died?

1 Corinthians 15:54‑58 (NKJV) 

54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 

55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" 

56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 

 Normal or Supernatural – 12

Subject – Caution About Becoming What the Crowd Wants

by Rick Welborne

Acts 14:8-15 (NKJV)
⁸  And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked.
⁹  This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,
¹⁰  said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked.
¹¹  Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"
¹²  And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
¹³  Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
¹⁴  But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out
¹⁵  and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 

--I started to skip Acts 14 in discussing going from normal to supernatural but Holy Spirit would not allow me. There is a message here especially for those of us who believe in the supernatural. 

--Lystra was a pagan city where the people worshipped a host of false gods. When Paul and Barnabas show up, things get real in a hurry.

--God knew these religious people needed a reason to receive the message that Paul was preaching, thus the man who had never walked. Paul saw his faith to be healed. Wonder what he saw.

--Paul, under the authority of Holy Spirit, commands the man to stand up straight on his feet and he does so. He begins leaping and walking. The people are amazed!

--Let me reiterate that these people were pagan who witnessed this man go from normal (crippled) to supernatural (walking and leaping). His faith in what Paul was preaching (the gospel) changed his life.

--The reason for pointing out these people were pagan was to show how far we have drifted as the body of Christ because we basically have the same reaction they did.

--There first response to the healing was not to give glory and honor to Jesus but to make Paul and Barnabas into gods to be worshipped. They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes.

Zeus - Zeus was the first of the gods and a very imposing figure. Often referred to as the “Father of Gods and men”, he is a sky god who controls lightning (often using it as a weapon) and thunder. Zeus is king of Mount Olympus, the home of Greek gods, where he rules the world and imposes his will onto gods and mortals alike.

Hermes - Hermes is a deity in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Hermes is considered the herald of the gods, as well as the protector of human heralds, travelers, thieves, merchants, and orators. He is able to move quickly and freely between the worlds of the mortal and the divine, aided by his winged sandals.

--Before we think these people have completely gone off the deep end, the church may need to take a look at how we react to the latest hot preacher or worship group. 

--You would think the church would have learned by now that when you look to men, you will be disappointed but when you keep your eyes on Jesus, you’ll never be disillusioned.  

--When I came to Jesus, Marvin Gorman and Jimmy Swaggart were the two superstars in Louisiana. Most people were a Swaggartite or a Gormanite. I was a Jesusite.

--Both of these men’s ministries impacted me as a young believer. Pastor Gorman prayed with me at the altar during a youth rally for about 30 minutes to confirm my call. I received my license at Swaggart’s church.

--My pastor back then was a Swaggart man. Many of you know the fall of these two guys and great was the fall. So many hurt. Both have repented. Be careful not to repeat the same sin.

--Many of our churches and people followed Todd Bentley down in Lakeland. Many were touched but that also ended tragically. Brownsville was great but ended negatively. The point…stop looking to man. 

--I have pastor friends who are struggling in their churches because they are either following someone who was a superstar and that’s what their people want. Some pastors want to be Zeus or Hermes. 

--Our goal should not be any of this but to be good and faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)
²¹  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

1. Going from Normal to Supernatural Will Require us to Glorify God.   

--What kind of revival could Lystra been blessed with if they had not tried to make Paul and Barnabas into gods? People tend to want gods to follow with flesh on them.

--Years ago there was a pastor in this area who openly said his church would be the fastest growing and the most happening place to be. It will be the largest church in the area.

--He was a gifted person. He could preach, sing, play instruments, and he had the power to sway people to follow him. Sadly, people who wanted to be a part of something that was cool flocked to him.

--This was when I knew something was really wrong…past all the arrogance and pride, which was bad enough, the young men in the church wanted to be him. Dressed like him, talked like him. He loved it.

Romans 8:29 (NIV)
²⁹  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

--When you are willing to stay in the same area for almost 32 years, you see many of these people come and go. People call or contact me…this person is starting a new church and will take our people. Really?

--Have we lost people? Of course, but we have found if we lift up Jesus, glorify Him, and make His Great Commission a priority, He will take care of us. Sadly, many of these people are no longer in the ministry. 

--Paul and Barnabas quickly ran to the people who were trying to make them into gods, tore their clothes (sign of humility), and told them what they did not want to hear. We are men just like you with the same nature.

--When I first became the lead pastor here (I had been the youth pastor for two years) people, all of a sudden, were treating me differently. People wanted to serve me and treat me as if everything had changed.

--We had a fellowship shortly after I became pastor and when it was done, I started picking up chairs and cleaning up like I had always done. No, you are the lead pastor you can’t do that stuff anymore. What?

--I had business men who took me to lunch and told me the church and my family would never lack for anything if I would be the pastor they wanted. I was shocked!

--People wanted a human god who could be conformed to their image. The thought terrified me. I declined. They said they would leave the church. I shook their hands good bye! I still pick up chairs too.

--Because we have access to almost every preacher in the country thru podcast you can literally listen to preaching 24/7. Many do. I listen to some. Any hint of arrogance or coolness, I cannot handle it.

--I have always been a student of revival and lately I have been reading about Azusa Street (the beginning place of the Pentecostal movement in the US) again. What we call revival is not what they considered revival.

--We imagine large gatherings with exciting worship where the atmosphere is so high charged, the human body can hardly stand it. The evangelist is a charismatic figure who sways a crowd. 

--The Azusa revival was more about being on your face seeking God, repentance of sin, sensitivity to Holy Spirit, where men and women, blacks and whites came together seeking God’s face. Glorifying God.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15 (NIV)
¹⁴  if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
¹⁵  Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

2. Going from Normal to Supernatural Will Require Us to be Contrite.

--Paul and Barnabas humbled themselves before the people but they would not hear of it. They wanted something to worship that they could see and touch.

--The people of Azusa knew that revival was a time of soul searching, repentance, and humility.

BEWARE OF REVIVAL BY MICHAEL AMICO

There is nothing soothing about revival. Revival is not a season to be jolly. It’s not celebration or festivity. The church in revival is faced with the anguish of unforgiven sin. Like Isaiah of old the church cries out “Undone”.  Revival often takes the church in its grasp and refuses to let go until every last ounce of sin and self has been squeezed out. There is nothing soothing about revival.

           *   Revival often scorches before it soothes!

           *   Revival burns before it blesses!

           *   Revival eliminates before it edifies!

           *   Revival hurts before it heals!

           *   Revival empties before it fills!

*   Revival breaks before it builds. Revival breaks everything in its path.

*   Revival breaks pride, programs, prejudices, and platforms.

*   Revival makes demands, real demands.

*   Revival demands painful repentance!

*   Revival demands painful sacrifice!

*   Revival demands painful commitment!

*   Revival demands ambitious evangelism!

Beware of revival!  Revival is not all preachers and teachers have made it out to be.  Let me suggest that the next time you pray for revival, you first of all count the cost.

--Paul and Barnabas decided to be contrite. What did their humility get them? Suffering with and for Christ.

Acts 14:19 (NIV)
¹⁹  Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.

--I see in this chapter that their humble spirit also got them something else. Resurrection power!

3. Going from Normal to Supernatural Will Bring Resurrection Power.

Acts 14:20 (NIV)
²⁰  But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

--I am sure they gathered around Paul and prayed. What happened? He got up and went back into the city! Surprise! They really thought he was a god after this! We see normal going to supernatural.

Romans 8:11 (NIV)
¹¹  And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 

--God raised up Paul with resurrection power. You don’t get stoned and get back up (the same day) and go preach unless you have experienced the supernatural.

Acts 14:21-22 (NKJV)
²¹  And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
²²  strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."

Do Not be Afraid – 9

 Do Not be Afraid – 9

Subject – Do Overcome Fear, Do Not Look Down

by Rick Welborne

Matthew 14:22‑33 (NKJV) 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

–Last week:

1. The cave is a place where I can actually see that failure can be my teacher.

2. The cave is a place where I can definitely learn from my mistakes and failures but also a place I can learn God’s plan.

Isaiah 55:8‑11 (NLT) 

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 

9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. 

10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 

11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. 

3. The cave is the place where we can find our ultimate refuge.

Hebrews 2:17‑18 (NIV) 

17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 

18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. 

–Tonight’s message:

1. One of the greatest lessons in life to overcome fear is: Don’t Look Down!

–Whether it is snow skiing, climbing a mountain, crossing a swinging bridge, turning on a motorcycle, or some crazy ride at a theme park...the key to your conquering your fear is Don’t Look Down! 

–For however long Peter could...he walked on the water...then, we are told three things that happened: The focus of his attention shifted from Jesus to the storm...he saw the wind!

–Once this happened, his thoughts and feelings shifted from being focused on Jesus to focusing on the storm ...He became frightened. He looked down!

–This in turn, disrupted his ability to continue walking on the water in Jesus’ power—he began to sink and cried out...Jesus, save me!

–I am a connoisseur of the old cartoons...this new stuff is so twisted in so many ways and if you listen to much of it...there are hidden messages...adult themes not child friendly.

–Give me Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Tasmanian Devil, and Road Runner. Wile E. Coyote always got my attention...I wanted him to catch the RR.

–He was always funny when he would run off the edge of a cliff but would not begin to fall until he looked down...He would have been ok but He looked down.

Psalm 3:1‑3 (NKJV) 

1 LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. 

2 Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah 

3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. 

–Even when your enemies and problems have increased remember He is your glory and the One Who lifts up your head. Don’t look down!

–It does not really matter what others think about you...it is God Who will sustain you and lift up your head.

Psalm 27:4‑6 (NKJV) 

4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. 

5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.  

–When Jesus asked Peter why he doubted...I don’t think He was just blaming Peter...I think as any good teacher He was wanting Peter to learn from his experience.

2. We must realize that hope is the fuel that helps us overcome fear.

–Matthew seems to want us to understand something clearly...while Peter’s mind was focused on the Lord, he was empowered to walk on water.

–But when his focus was on the storm...his fear short-circuited his ability to receive God’s sustaining power.

Hope got Peter out of the boat...Trust held him up...Fear sank him.

–Everything hinged on whether Peter was focused on the Savior or on the storm. There is a condition of the mind that is essential for us to live the kind of lives we want to live...Call it hope, trust, or confidence.

–It is the single greatest difference between those who try and those who give up. When it is lost, like Peter we are sunk. Don’t look down.

–Hope is the fuel that the human heart runs on. A car crash or a diving accident can paralyze a body, but the death of hope paralyzes the spirit.

–Hope is what makes a young couple and in this area (the not so young) to stand before a preacher and say “I do” though they have no guarantees.

–Hope is what fuels the same couple, many years later, after broken hearts and broken promises, to give their promise another try. Hope is why human being keep bringing children into a messed up world.

–Hope is why there are hospitals and universities...most of our older universities were Christian at their beginning. Hope is why there are counselors and therapist and why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers keep trying.

–No composer of music would struggle as he does over his notes and bars without a glimmer of hope that something of beauty will emerge.

–When he was an old man, the master painter Henri Matisse was crippled by arthritis. Wrapping his fingers around a brush was painful; painting was agony. Someone asked him why he kept painting...  

Matisse: The pain goes away; the beauty endures.

That is hope. Pablo Casals continued to practice the cello five hours a day after he was recognized to be the world’s greatest cellist, even when he was so old that his practice exhausted him...Someone asked him why he did it...I think I am getting better.

–The story of every Bible character God uses is a story of hope:

--Hope is what made Abraham leave his home...hope is what made Moses take on Pharaoh. Hope is what made the prophets take on the corruption of their day.

3. Our capacity to have hope, and to stay focused on the presence and power of God in our lives, is vital.

–We can suffer the loss of a lot of things but no one can live without hope. When we forget this truth we are like the steel worker walking on an I-beam 300 feet up and starts to look down.

–When we become more focused on the overwhelming nature of the storm than on the overwhelming presence of God, we are in trouble. The Bible calls this losing heart.

Luke 18:1 (NKJV) 

1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 

2 Corinthians 4:1 (NKJV) 

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.

–What ministry is this speaking of and why we do not lose heart?

2 Corinthians 3:17‑18 (NKJV) 

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  

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. 

–You see, losing heart is the total opposite of having hope...Listen to David:

Psalm 27:12‑14 (NKJV) 

12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. 

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. 

14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! 

–David said I would have lost heart but I had hope (I believed) that I would see the goodness of God. God never wants us to fail but we have to be so careful to wait on God and let Him strengthen our hearts.

–When you are faced with adversity...what do you see?  Do you see giants or do you trust God?

–The twelve spies saw the same thing that Joshua and Caleb saw, they faced the same situation, but reached two diametrically opposed conclusions.

–The twelve saw giants so big that they should not be hit but Joshua and Caleb saw giants so big they could not miss them when they fought.

–The truth is, we all face giants...but what do you see...do you see a foe too large or do you see a big God? Are you focused on God when the giants are before you? What do you see today? A mess or God?

Luke 21:28 (NKJV) 

28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." 

Normal or Supernatural – 11

 Normal or Supernatural – 11

Subject – Constant Prayer

By Rick Welborne

Acts 12:1-6 (NKJV)
¹  Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
²  Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
³  And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
⁴  So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
⁵  Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
⁶  And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.                                                                                  

--I think all of us have a tendency to love adventure movies where someone is captured and a hero comes along and rescues the person. Usually pretty girls.

--I used to laugh at the King Kong movies where there always appears to be this weird relationship between Kong and the main actress in the movie. Wow, how abnormal is that.

--Now I have a daughter that seems like every animal she is around loves her. The latest horse she brought home is like a baby dinosaur. Over 17 hands. It follows her like a puppy. Not so strange. 

--The New Testament has one of these amazing stories where a rescue took place and it was with the Apostle Peter who was locked up in prison. He was in a mess.

--This story brings out or highlights in our lives an area that is truly lacking. It brings out a weapon of spiritual warfare that is hardly ever used by the church. Constant prayer. 

--Commentators tell us that this story happens in Jerusalem about 15 years after Jesus had died and had risen from the dead. The church is growing and Peter and the others have stayed there.

--Paul and some of the other apostle have gone out from Jerusalem to spread the gospel. Things are starting to heat up. The second martyrdom happened. The first was a deacon Stephen.

--Herod has James (the brother of Jesus) killed and because it pleased the Jews, he went after Peter and has him locked up in prison. He was happy his approval ratings were going up. Politicians!

--The Bible tells us that constant prayer…earnest prayer was going up for him and there are multiple interpretations to what this earnest praying that was going up for him meant. 

--One translation said that the church shut down all the other business going on and a steady stream of prayer was going up for Peter…it was fervent, it was intense, it was focused.

--It was not a prayer meeting where they were praying for twenty different things. The people understood their leader, their senior pastor was locked up and he was in much trouble. The apostle looks like he may die. 

--And please notice that it appeared to be a very hopeless situation, no governmental official to go to or no bail that could be paid. No court or no plea bargain…there was nothing that they could do but pray.

--They had no money to pay off a judge or a guard. They had nothing like that. A truly hopeless situation. How many of you know that when God allows us to go into these situations, He is getting ready to do great work.

--There are times that life and even God will make sure that you do not have crutches or anything else to lean on except for Him. Prayer and God. God and prayer. 

Quote - Anything God can do; prayer can do.

 --Why? Because prayer is our link to God. The prayer of faith is the link to God’s power. Nothing is impossible with God…nothing is impossible when we pray.

--That night Peter was in jail waiting to be brought to a trial, a phony trial, sleeping between two guards. They actually had 16 guards watching him…four at a time. Six hour shifts. They wanted to keep this boy in jail. --They had two chains on him in a filthy cell with no light.

Acts 12:7-11 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                               ⁷  Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands.
⁸  Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me."
⁹  So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
¹⁰  When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
¹¹  And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people."

--What a rescue…what a deliverance. Am I right? Wow! I want us to notice a couple of things about this rescue. I want us to see the awesomeness, the glory, and the power of what prayer can do.

E. M. Bounds – There are only two kinds of people on the earth, people who pray and people who don’t. 

--I think that is how God looks at it too. We can say there are those who are born again and those who are not. Those who are saved and those who are unsaved.

--When Ananias was sent to Saul who was persecuting the church he wanted a sign that He was okay…what did he tell him? Behold he is praying. A sign he was seeking God.

--The Bible tells us that prayer is kept in bowls in heaven? How important must our prayers be?

Revelation 5:8 (NKJV)
⁸  Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

--Imagine how important to God your prayers must be. Every prayer ever uttered by Christians have been kept in bowls. Even after we die, our prayers will still chase down the prodigals.

--How many of you remember Cornelius in the book of Acts? An angel came to him and said that God has seen your kindness to the poor and He has heard your prayers.

--He did not pray in Jesus Name because he was not a believer. He sent for Peter to come and to tell them the good news about Jesus. He prayed so much that it moved God to do something on his behalf.

--God’s Word has so many promises in regard to prayer: Prayers to help us go from normal to supernatural. 

Psalm 50:15 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                                ¹⁵  Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." 

--So many times in the day of trouble, we do everything but call upon the Lord. We worry and call friends. We have a pity party, we get grouchy, and we get irritable. But we do not call on Him Who can save us.

Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                            ³  'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' 

--Didn’t Jesus say My House shall be a house of prayer? Not singing, not preaching, not anything else. When Jesus saw the money changers using His House as a place to make money…He made a whip. He was angry.

--When we pray God says that He will open the windows of Heaven and pour out blessings. When you call I will answer. God understands prayer that does not even use words. A sigh, a tear, a groan.

Romans 8:26 (NIV)
²⁶  In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

--Don’t strive to be a good public pray-er but strive to pray from your heart…be honest…be sincere. Most American churches struggle to get people to come out for prayer though people admit it would help them.

--It is so hard to get people to pray yet God has promised to rescue us when we pray. Have you ever had your back up against a wall and had no place to turn but to God in prayer? No hope! Like this story with Peter.

--Peter is in a prison where if he gets help, it will be from the church. If he gets food or clothes, it will be from them. About the only option he is looking at with Herod is death. So hopeless except that the church is praying.

Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV)
⁷  "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
⁸  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

--The disciples are in a situation where everything seems hopeless but they remember what Jesus said…Ask and it will be given, seek and you shall find, knock and it will be opened. Normal becomes supernatural.

--Paul said that first of all men and women should pray, lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubting. Prayer should be the first thing. The church is full of knowledge but little prayer is going on.

--Imagine the prayer going up for Peter…Rescue our pastor, please don’t let them kill him, Oh, God, set him free. Can you imagine the tears? They didn’t pray just for a couple of minutes…they continued in prayer.

1. When people pray something from heaven shows up.

--There was an angel…a light showed up in the prison. When we pray here, God responds from heaven. We have not because we ask not. We need something supernatural from God. 

--Too much of what we have today has the smell of flesh instead of the touch of heaven. Quiet churches can be so predictable but so can the ones with everyone running around. We need heaven’s touch.

--If we control the services we leave no room for Holy Spirit to come. He has to work in our schedule not the other way around. Maybe you are here needing something from heaven…pray until heaven shows up!

2. When people pray God wakes people up.

--When the angel came to Peter, what did he do? He smote him in the side and woke him up. When God’s people pray…God wakes up those who are sleeping. Do you know anyone like that?

--Listen, we can go through all the motions of church, church life, going on vacations, living life and still be sleeping spiritually. We are so unaware of the battle spiritually going on around us. Wake up!

Ephesians 5:14-18 (NIV)
¹⁴  for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
¹⁵  Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,
¹⁶  making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
¹⁷  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
¹⁸  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 

--People are sleeping…we must pray until they wake up. Our son was sleeping. We had to pray until he woke up. We had to call until God answered…until Josh responded. Normal becomes supernatural. 

--Finney, before he would go to the next town to preach, would have people praying. Brother Nash traveled with him but was seldom in the meetings. He was praying and people were converted. Dynamic duo.

3. When people pray chains fall off.

--Chains are restrictive. If you have chains on your legs, you can’t run. When we pray personally we find a freedom we did not have before. A new ability or freedom to witness…no longer restricted.

--When we pray God sets people free. Listen, your prodigal can’t be worse off than Peter. I know with the opioid crisis we wonder if they can be free. They can! Pray! I was there before it was popular.

4. When people pray doors are opened. 

--Pastor, the door is not opening…pray! There’s a battle! Pray!

1 Corinthians 16:9 (NKJV)
⁹  For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

--When God’s people pray…doors are opened just like for Peter. God opened the door and set him free. We don’t need a battering ram…we do not need to force it…God will open the door. Pray!

--Pray until the normal becomes supernatural.

Do Not be Afraid – 8

 Do Not be Afraid – 8

Subject – The Cave Can be Good for Us

by Rick Welborne

1 Samuel 22:1 (NIV) 

1 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam...

1. Courage to venture out.

2. Elijah found himself in a cave and he had to deal with his fear and failure.

John Ortberg: You can risk being fully honest with God for a very important reason: God is never a God of discouragement. When you have a discouraging spirit or train of thought in your mind, you can be sure that it is not from God. Always, His guidance leads to motivation and life. 

3. Take action when you find yourself in a cave!

This week:

1 Samuel 30:6 (NLT) 

6 David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God. 

 

–Tonight let’s look and see how the cave can actually be a good thing...a good place for us to be.

1. The cave is a place where failure can be my teacher.

–In a book “Art and Fear” it shows how it is necessary for us to understand we can learn from failure.

–Example: a class is divided into two groups. One is graded on the quantity of work...50lbs an A...40 lbs a B...so on.

–The other group is graded on quality...students could only produce one pot but it better be a good one.  Amazingly, the highest quality pots were turned out by the quantity group.

–It seemed that as they were churning out pot after pot that they were learning from their mistakes and growing each time. Even sports teach us that repetition is the best teacher.

–The quality group kept sitting around talking about theory and perfection but their product was none the better for it. Wasting time!

–At least when it comes to pottery...trying and failing...learning from failure, and trying again works a whole lot better than waiting for perfection. 

–You see; no pot is really a failure...no matter how miss-shaped it is...each is just one step closer to being an A.  Our road is littered with imperfect pots but it is the only road.

Jeremiah 18:1-6 (NKJV) 

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: 

2 "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." 

3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 

4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. 

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 

6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! 

–When you think of Peter when he walked on the water he definitely was not “A” material but at least he was a little stronger than those who sat in the boat.

--Peter was on his way to getting an “A” but he had some growing and reshaping to do. Are you growing?

2. The cave is a place where I can definitely learn God’s plan.

–Hear me...taking a short cut or taking the easy way out is definitely not God’s plan.

–Sometimes the Scriptures is so transparent that it tells us more than we want to know.

1 Samuel 24:1-7 (NLT) 

1 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En gedi.

2 So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats. 

3 At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave! 

4 “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the LORD is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe. 

5 But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. 

6 “The LORD knows I shouldn’t have done that to my lord the king,” he said to his men. “The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the LORD’s anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him.” 

7 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul, 

--I love how transparent the scriptures are. David’s men were telling him what the Lord was saying to him in the middle of his mess. They had not heard from God.

--The Bible tells us that even a fool seems wise when they keep their mouths shut. Though we understand where these guys are coming from, they did not have the mind of God. 

–David’s group of misfits could not understand David...this looked like it was God’s way out of the cave. David knew God does not think like we do. From Isaiah: 

Isaiah 55:8-11 (NLT) 

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 

9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. 

10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 

11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. 

–God had sent Samuel to anoint David as king and David knew God did not need his help to accomplish His will. God’s Word would be accomplished.

–Remember, God’s ways are always higher and better than our ways...His Word is legitimate.

 

–Would this be a temptation for David...I am sure. David discovered that more than he wanted to be king, he wanted to belong to God. Be obedient to God. 

Key: He would rather please God and live in a cave than to displease God and live on a throne.

–In the long run, being king–achieving outward success–was not a big enough dream for David...He had a better dream–to please God.

–How many Christians have wanted position and prestige so much that they by-passed God’s ways just to forfeit intimacy with God...His ways are higher!

–Are we chasing the right dreams? Is what we are pursuing consistent with God’s calling on our lives?  

Romans 11:29 (NCV)
²⁹  God never changes his mind about the people he calls and the things he gives them.

–Are we operating out of what God made us to do, or out of our own need to appear important and significant?  Are we willing to stay in the cave if it means being true to God?

3. The cave is the place where we can find our ultimate refuge.

–In the cave David says to God, You are my refuge! Of course we know the rest of the story...we know David will not die in the cave and we know he has a crown coming.

–It is very important that we understand David did not know this...for all he knows, this cave may be as good as it gets. But he makes an important discovery...He has a refuge!

–Sometimes you are in a cave and no human effort can get you out. There is something you can’t fix, something you can’t heal, or escape, and all you can do is trust God.

–Finding ultimate refuge in God means you become so immersed in His presence, so convinced of His goodness, so devoted to His Lordship that you find even in the cave is a perfectly safe place to be because He is there with you.

–Life has a way of hitting us right between the eyes and causing us to be in a cave, and as I said earlier in this series...maybe by our bad choices or by circumstances beyond our control...many times a combination of both.

–Sometimes there is no way out of the cave...in those times all we can do is find out that God is our refuge.

–As you submit to God in the cave you learn that God knows about caves...because Jesus suffered like us and for us.

Hebrews 2:17-18 (NIV) 

17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 

18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. 

–Jesus understood the feelings associated with the cave even more than David...He lost His position in Heaven, he lost His throne, he lost His best friend (John the Baptist), He lost all of His friends when they fled.

–The religious leaders were always looking to take His life, and eventually He went to the cross and died. All of His dreams and all the dreams He inspired seemed to die with Him.

–What started out to be so much wonder and hope for so many ended in tragic death. And then they put His body in a cave.

–That was their mistake...His body was there for three days...but they could not keep Him there...they forgot that God does His best work in caves.

–The cave is where God resurrects dead things!

–I don’t know where you are right now...maybe you have lost your job, maybe your marriage is failing, maybe a child is wandering, maybe you are wondering if you will ever see the light again.

–Maybe you are not in a cave now but one day you will be...sooner or later everyone spends time in the cave.

–When your time comes...always remember...God does some of His best work in caves.

–He is our ultimate refuge!!!

Psalm 30:1-5 (NKJV) 

1 I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. 

2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. 

3 O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 

4 Sing praise to the LORD, You saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 

5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.