Courage to Get Out of the Boat - 1

                                                         Courage to Get Out of the Boat - 1

Subject: Finding the Courage to Get Out of the Boat

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 14:22‑33 (NKJV) 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

–Tonight, with God’s help, I want to start a series on walking on water...more specifically finding the courage to get out of the boat. To rise up from your situation and go to Jesus.

–It will be a message of trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ no matter what He asks us to do. No matter the storm we find ourselves in. The Bible is full of stories about unforgettable walks...such as:

–God Himself walking in the garden in the cool of the day...what God usually does is to ask someone to walk with Him. God is on mission and looking for someone to join Him.

–There was the walk that Abraham took with his son Isaac on the road to Moriah to sacrifice him to the Lord. This had to be one of the most difficult walks ever. 

–There was Joshua’s walk around Jericho where the walls fell before them. Sometimes the walks God sends us on can seem to be foolish in our own eyes. 

–There was Paul’s walk on the road to Damascus where he had a bright light (the presence of God) shown all around him…he had a confrontation with Christ...Who are you, Lord? That’s funny!

–There was the sad and holy walk that Jesus made from the Praetorium to Golgotha called the Via Dolorosa–the way of great sorrow. Simon the Cyrene was compelled to walk with Him and to carry the cross. 

–Probably the most remembered walk of all was taken by Peter when he got out of the boat and walked to Jesus...he was walking on water...H2O...a liquid.

–When Peter was walking on water he was walking in the most incredible way…he was doing something that was not possible…except that Jesus was there and told Him to come. 

–This message about Peter walking on water is an invitation to everyone who wants to step out in faith and who wants to experience more of the power and presence of God. To experience miracles. 

–I want walking on water to be a picture of what you could never do without faith in God. To trust Him.

1. There is always the call.

–God asks an ordinary person to engage in an act of extraordinary trust...that of getting out of the boat. Notice God’s call can be heard even in a powerful storm. 

Romans 11:29 (NKJV) 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 

–God’s call for me to preach and my knowledge of my difficulty with speaking. It wasn’t just public speaking ...no one could understand me. Can we trust God knows what He is doing?

–His call on my life became a matter of trust...Could the One calling be trusted to not put me in a situation where I would fail but would be able to accomplish His will for my life. 

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. 

--These verses are so wonderful to quote but imagine them in the situation of Jesus telling you to get out of the boat and to come to Him. Trust you when my understanding of water leaves me with a sinking feeling.

--He will direct your path and sometimes it is in the sea…really makes no sense. Sometimes He makes a road in the sea and sometimes He just says…Walk on the water.

Psalm 77:19 (NCV)
¹⁹  You made a way through the sea and paths through the deep waters, but your footprints were not seen. 

2. There is always fear.

–God has always had an inextinguishable habit of asking people to do things that are scary to them...walking on water can could be at the top of the list. How many of you have tried? 

–It can be a fear of being inadequate...Moses, “I am slow of speech and slow of tongue”. It may be the fear of failure...the spies saying we cannot take the land because we are like grasshoppers to the people there.

–It may even be an unhealthy fear of God...I knew that you were a hard man, seeking to reap where you have not sown. Fear of how people perceive us. 

2 Tim. 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.

–Trusting God with tithing (giving 10%) and giving to missions...we fear if God can really take care of us and will bless us like we are told. How many of you can testify of His faithfulness?

3. There will always be God’s reassurance. 

–When God asks us to do something we cannot do, like getting out of our boat (our comfort zone), He always promises us His presence. “The Lord is with you, Mighty Warrior!” the angel told Gideon at God’s call.

–God also promises to give whatever gifts are needed to fulfill His call.  “I will teach you to speak and tell you what to say” He said to a stuttering Moses. He told an apprehensive Joshua who was taking over for Moses:

Joshua 1:5 (NKJV) 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 

--When God called me to pastor this church He also promised me help and assurance…allow Holy Spirit to do what He wants to do when He wants to do it. 

4. There is always a decision when God calls.

–Examples like Moses and Gideon are people who said yes to the Lord. Then there are those like the ten spies who say no. Choose this day who you will serve...you must make a decision every day.

Deuteronomy 30:19‑20 (NKJV) 

19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 

20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." 

–What has God set before you...you have to make a decision, a choice. Stay in the boat or get out and walk whether it makes sense or not. God has set before something He wants you to do...it will be life.

Luke 11:9-13 (NKJV)
⁹  "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
¹⁰  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
¹¹  If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
¹²  Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
¹³  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

–Just by the mere fact that you do not choose life and good, you have made the decision to choose death and evil. Don’t blame God for your bad choices. 

–Making a decision to follow God will obviously be a little frightening (ok, a lot) but think how exciting it will be. How many of you remember jumping into your dad’s arms or your kids jumping into yours?

–Think about the conversations between Peter and the disciples...what was it like...why did you start sinking ...doubting Thomas...I think it was a floating board going by.

–People who get out of the boat and walk on water never lack for a testimony...they have a story to tell. 

5. There is always a changed life.

–Let’s face it...those who step out of the boat and attempt walking on water do not do it perfectly. We have all made mistakes and will continue to make mistakes. 

–But because they say yes to God when He says “Come” or “Go” they learn and grow even from their failures. They become part of God’s redemptive hand to redeem a fallen world.

Matthew 14:30-31 (NKJV)
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?"

–Those who say “No” are changed also...they become a little harder in their hearts, a little more resistant to His calling, and a little more likely to say “No” the next time.

–Whatever the decision, it always changes a life and it changes the world that life touches.

–Could this event...this stepping out of the boat and onto the water by Peter have been the catalyst for Peter becoming one of the greatest disciples after Jesus’ death? 

–Could you stepping out of your boat be the great and effective door...the extraordinary faithfulness God is looking for...Your walking on water moment?

–One thing is for sure...you will never walk on water if you don’t get out of your boat (your comfort zone).

Under a Tree – 5

                                                                         Under a Tree – 5

Subject – Three Keys to Spiritual Passion

By Rick Welborne

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

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

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

--Certain men had drifted into the hills to join David, a guerrilla army of friends and mighty men willing to show their bravery, loyalty, and devotion to him. At this time, David was just tired.

--David spoke out from his heart…"Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" Not a command…a wish. A wish from the king’s lips was powerful.

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

--David was so moved by their courage and their act of kindness that he could not drink the water. Another one of those stories I could not understand as a new believer. He poured it out as a drink offering before the Lord.

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

--Notice what David did with the water. David was unselfish -- no wonder his men loved him. They were willing to suffer for him because he was willing to suffer with them. He poured it out.

--Psalm 22:14 tells us that when the Lord Jesus died on the cross He said, "I am poured out like water...." Paul said when he was facing death that he was being poured out like a drink offering. 

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

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

--As we look at these three mighty men of valor we see how they had established a pattern of performance. 

--The remainder of this message I want us to look at three powerful truths that put the Christian life in perspective. Their action symbolized the way a man or woman with spiritual passion lives.

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

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

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

--Good things but the best place to be at that particular moment was in the presence of their commander where not only commands could be heard but also a few wishes.

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

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

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

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

--I have noticed these people in 45 years of ministry. All I have to do is think about something or wish out loud for something and these people are on it. So many I could name.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Exodus 3:7-8 (NKJV)
⁷  And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
⁸  So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

--I can’t stay here…I can’t stay under this tree…I must be filled with Holy Spirit!

Intimacy with God - 2

                                                                  Intimacy with God - 2

Subject – The Apostle Paul’s Passionate Quest

By Rick Welborne

Philippians 3:7-14 (NKJV)
⁷  But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
⁸  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
⁹  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
¹⁰  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
¹¹  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
¹²  Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
¹³  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
¹⁴  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 3:10 AMP                                                                                                                                         [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him—that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His person] more strongly and more clearly. And that I may in the same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [the power it exerts over believers]; and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death.    

--In this single sentence we find the Apostle Paul’s goal or quest for his life. He refers to it as his “determined purpose” as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

--Did you hear what he said. You need to read it again and again probably out loud watching for key statements and words that can blow your mind. Such as:

--That I may know Him…progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him…perceiving …recognizing…understanding…continually transformed.     

--Could anything on this earth be more important for any of us who call ourselves Christians? I don’t think so, yet, strangely so few of us pursue this most important priority.    

1. A Determined Purpose

--What is that saying to us? It says that there is or should be a change in order. We have to deliberately embrace this aim to “become more intimately acquainted with Christ.” That I may know Him. 

--Hear me, not intimately acquainted with theology, as important as theology may be. Not intimately acquainted with the church, as valuable as the church may be.

--Not even with sharing Christ with others, as important and significant as evangelism may be. We must become intimately acquainted with Christ and with Him alone. 

--It is not knowing about Jesus, hearing another sermon, watching a video, listening to a podcast…about Him.

John 5:37-40 (NLT2) ³⁷  And the Father who sent Me has testified about Me Himself. You have never heard His voice or seen Him face to face,
³⁸  and you do not have His message in your hearts, because you do not believe Me—the One He sent to you.
³⁹  “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to Me!
⁴⁰  Yet you refuse to come to Me to receive this life. 

--From this day forward, our goal in life should be to become intimately acquainted with Jesus and with Holy Spirit. I believe this is what Jesus was talking about in the book of Matthew:

Matthew 6:33 (NCV)
³³  The thing you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.

--The psalmist understood the desire, the quest that I am speaking about. Nothing was more important to him.

Psalm 42:1-2 (NKJV)
¹  As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.
²  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 

--These are the words of a man whose inner being ached to go deeper with God and to be more intimately acquainted with Him. 

--How powerful are the words, “My soul pants for you, O God.” When was the last time you were so hungry to get into God’s presence? To have intimate communion with Him? 

--Listen to Charles Spurgeon describe the word picture that the psalmist is trying to convey:

Spurgeon – David was heartsick. Ease he did not seek, honor he did not covet, but the enjoyment of communion with God was an urgent need of his soul…an absolute necessity, like water to a stag…His soul, his very self, his deepest life, was insatiable for a sense of the divine presence. O to have the most intense craving after the highest good!    

2. Nothing is of Greater Importance than Knowing Christ Intimately

--This was the whole point the Apostle Paul was trying to make to the Philippians before he shared with them his “Determined Purpose.”      

--Paul quickly and intentionally shares with his readers his accomplishments which would have made the finest Jews stand up and take notice.

 Philippians 3:3-6 (NLT2)
³ …We put no confidence in human effort,
⁴  though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!
⁵  I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.
⁶  I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. 

--Talk about a resume’. If anyone had reason to be proud of their accomplishments, it was Paul. But before you could absorb or applaud what he just said to you he follows up and declares:

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

--In comparison to knowing Christ deeply and intimately, he considered everything else as loss, as rubbish, and even one translation which I believe to be more correct ‘dung’. Crap! 

--We almost have it completely backwards in the church today. Our faith is no longer a means of drawing us closer to Jesus but a means of getting more things…we want more stuff. 

--Bumper sticker – The one who dies with the most toys wins. It is all about having more and more. Accumulating more and more things that we cannot take with us. John warned us about this attitude.

 1 John 2:15 (NKJV)
¹⁵  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  

--This was more than just some cute idea for Paul. It was a very strong conviction in his life…something he believed passionately and with every fiber of his being.

--Paul’s conviction about intimacy with Christ should be an encouragement to us to spend less energy and time pursuing human accomplishments and more time cultivating an intimacy with Christ.

3. Holy Spirit is Our Key to Intimacy with Christ.

--Think about this…Jesus is the Mediator between God and man. Without Jesus to fill that gap, we are all in trouble. We have been reconciled to God through Christ.  

--Question…Jesus is the Mediator between God and man is indisputable, but Who is the Mediator between Christ and the believer? In other words, Who is the One Who connects us to Jesus? Of course, Holy Spirit.

--When Jesus was on the earth, He was limited by being in only one place at a time. When He was leaving He knew His followers would need someone close to all of them all the time. 

 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. 

--It is amazing to me what different translations say about Holy Spirit in this passage…Helper…Advocate… Counselor…Friend…Comforter. All of this points toward intimacy.      

--When King David messed up so badly with Bathsheba, what was one of his greater concerns?

  Psalm 51:11-12 (NKJV)
¹¹  Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
¹²  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 

--David knew his connection (his intimacy) with God was through the presence and power of Holy Spirit. So many times we worry about not making it to heaven because of our sins.

--David knew the potential of his sin and that was losing his intimacy with God by Holy Spirit. Take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 

--You Pentecostals are so emotional. Absolutely! My emotions are attached to the presence of Holy Spirit in my life drawing me closer to Jesus.

--God, please draw us closer to Jesus by the beautiful intimacy we can have through Holy Spirit.

You be the Change You Want to See – 7

                                                You be the Change You Want to See – 7

Subject:  Leading The Change in Your Family, Church, or Business

By Rick Welborne

Joshua 1:1-9 (NIV)
¹  After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide:
²  "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites.
³  I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
⁴  Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west.
⁵  No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
⁶  "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
⁷  Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
⁸  Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
⁹  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." 

--Leadership is a process, not a job. It requires the passing of the torch from one leader to another. We see this with Moses and Joshua.

--That means that those who would want to be leaders will need to stay close to those who are currently leading so that when the torch is passed they will be ready. Again, attitude and humility are imperative.

--Though we sometimes hear of born leaders, the truth is, most leaders have learned how to lead. We all have a responsibility in ministry to pass the leadership torch to those future leaders who will take the responsibility.

--Think about it, if we are not prepared to pass the torch to the next person God has His hand on, the ministry itself is in jeopardy. We see it happen in so many churches where there is not a plan.

--If the leader (pastor) is a person of prayer and has a sensitivity to Holy Spirit, he will know who God has His hand on to lead. Many avoid even going down this road because of insecurity…very sad. 

1. Moses passed the torch to Joshua.

--You remember how Moses had led the children of Israel right up to the edge of the promised land but they could not go in because of their rebellion. The next generation would have opportunity to go in.

--They could not go in without a leader. Moses had led them for 40 years and no one under age of 40 had ever known any other leader. The time came for a new leader but who was qualified to take Moses’ place?

--Joshua had been Moses apprentice. He had never had full authority and someone above him always had the final word in making decisions. Oh, the joys of being number 2 but the fears of being number 1.

--I was the youth/associate/ministries director/ here at Life Church and life was good…do my thing and let the lead pastor deal with all the tough decisions…he leaves and I become the pastor.

--All of a sudden, I was called every day for counseling, my wisdom was needed, people lined up to get my advice…what had changed? My office was now one door over…Senior Pastor…scary!

--Have you ever asked the question…Why Joshua?  Moses picked Joshua because God had picked Joshua. And I believe God picked Joshua because he was a real leader. Remember the twelve spies sent into the land?

--Moses was acting in obedience to God’s instructions. Moses remembered Joshua and Caleb insisted that the other ten spies were wrong. Joshua was showing great leadership way back when.

--Joshua did not just appear on the scene and then was chosen to become the next great leader of Israel…He had stayed close to the leader and had been loyal and faithful to him.

Seneca the Younger who lived from 4BC to AD 65 supposedly said this:  Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

--Adjustment. Leadership happens when preparation meets opportunity. So what can you do to be ready to lead.

A. Pay attention to what is going on around you.

--To become a great leader you cannot just focus on one thing but you must be able to see the big picture. See what is needed to make the organization better and wisely share with the leader the facts.

--Become a good listener…there is a reason God gave us two ears and one mouth…listen twice as much as you talk.  Look people in the eye when they are talking to you and actually hear what they are saying.

--Fulfill your responsibilities…do your job and do it with excellence…do it ahead of schedule…let the leader know you are ‘all in’ at making the organization shine and making him successful!  

B. Be a problem solver.

--Problem solving will more than likely come from someone who is forward thinking, not always looking back of how we used to do it. Past experience can be beneficial but be willing to learn.

--Many churches and businesses have brought much detriment to themselves but always looking back. Many of our churches are trapped in the 50s and 60s and that is why they do not grow.

--True leadership is about solving problems and taking the load off of the head of the organization. You get better at solving problems as you encounter problems…start practicing before you lead.

--Read, study, and put into practice problem solving skills and be prepared to step into what God has for you.

2. To be a good leader hold yourself accountable.

Ketterling:  You probably think about becoming a leader more than existing leaders think about you becoming a leader. They have other things on their minds. If there isn’t someone to hold you accountable, hold yourself accountable. Don’t let the day to day routine leave you in the shadow.  

I believe the Apostle Paul said it this way:

Philippians 2:12-15 (NKJV)
¹²  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
¹³  for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
¹⁴  Do all things without complaining and disputing,
¹⁵  that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

--I think one of the most frustrating things about ministry is trying to convince people who should know what is right and who should be mature in their faith to keep living for God.

--Oh, pastor, I just need you to keep me accountable. Really? You have been saved for 25 years and you still need someone to keep you in line?  Shouldn’t you be helping someone else by now?

--Paul was saying that he was glad that they obeyed in his presence and that was good, but he said the real test of your faith is that you obey when he is not there to keep you accountable.

--Paul said…You keep yourself accountable…YOU work out your OWN salvation with fear and trembling. God wants to do His will in you and He wants to use you in such a way that brings Him pleasure or glory. Serve

Matthew 23:11-12 (NLT)
¹¹  The greatest among you must be a servant.
¹²  But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

3. True leaders are careful about what comes out of their mouths. 

--True leaders will try their very best to have their conversation to be constructive and not destructive. 

Negativity erodes unity and peace. Be careful what you say.

--Leaders want to know they can trust those who are invited into the leadership team. The leader must have confidence that those who work with him will be loyal to him and the organization. Jesus and Words.

Matthew 12:34 (NKJV)
³⁴  Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

--The Word has so much to say about the power of our words…obviously this was a problem before social media but now everyone has a megaphone to spew their hateful words.

James 3:8-10 (NKJV)
⁸  But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
⁹  With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
¹⁰  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

--Hear me, your words have the ability to make you a great leader or the ability to disqualify you from leadership. No good leader would ever put a person in a position who tears people down.

--If you are leading (we all are) or plan to be a future leader, realize everything you do, everything you say is preparing you to lead or disqualifying you.

Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
³  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
⁴  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

Under a Tree – 4

 Under a Tree – 4

Subject – Almost Ready to Quit

By Rick Welborne

1 Kings 19:1-8 (NLT2)
¹  When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal.
²  So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”
³  Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.
⁴  Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”
⁵  Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!”
⁶  He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.
⁷  Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”
⁸  So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 

--Last week we dealt with the issue of doing more but enjoying it less. We talked about inner weariness and how there is always one more thing that needs to be done…the 90/10 syndrome in our lives.

--Today I want to talk about the feelings or the dangers of a condition that can be a threat to our spiritual passion. It is the feeling of being totally drained.

1. Spiritual hangovers. 

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

--Hopefully most of you can say that you have never had a hangover from being drunk the night before, but almost anyone who has been involved heavily in Christian ministry can attest to hangovers.

--Let me just use my profession as an example. So many pastors, after a Sunday or weekend of speaking and giving of themselves and all their inner resources can have this feeling of a hangover. 

--People who like to over-spiritualize everything choose to not understand that the supply of energy and passion (even in a Spirit-filled Christian) is not inexhaustible…it can be depleted.

--You hear often and it is even joked about in churches that Mondays, for ministers, are days of imagined resignations and exhaustion. Many talk of quitting or being hit by a Mack Truck. 

--Let me say here, those feelings have much to do with the atmosphere of the church. If there is unity, peace, and a strong presence of Holy Spirit, these feelings are lessened although still present. 

--I commend you as a congregation (90/10) for making the lives of your pastors good and I commend the Board of Deacons for being the best Board ever. They take good care of us. 

--Many people ask me do I take Mondays off because of what we are talking about and I always give them the same answer…No, I am too tired to enjoy it.

MacDonald – Young men and women tend not to know that. They surmise that the brute strength of their physical energy level can carry them on indefinitely. It can work for a while. But not forever! One day, having ignored this possibility, they awake to the extreme inner stress of exhaustion of spirit. It is a terribly confusing experience. 

--This hangover cannot be illustrated much better than what was going on in Elijah’s life. When he had used up all his spiritual energy and hit bottom…he ran and hid. Death would be better.

--How did he get there? His desert depression was preceded by a Mount Carmel triumph. Just three days earlier he was in a confrontation with the pagan priest of Baal. Ahab and Jezebel – on the throne. No rain.

--The showdown had begun; Elijah had challenged the prophets to a duel. An altar had been erected, two bulls were prepared: one for the Baal folk and one for Elijah. A great crowd had gathered. Reputations at stake.

--Elijah was very much alone (this is significant) and the prophets had an army of supporters. 

1 Kings 18:24 (NKJV) ²⁴  Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." So all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken." 

--Elijah told them to go first, take your best shot, and shout loud. They did! All mourning the prophets danced, screamed, prayed, cut themselves trying to get the attention of their gods. No answer.

--It is now Elijah’s turn. Once he was thru mocking them, het set up the sacrifice and for added drama, saturated with water. Three times. The water was overflowing. The thing they had not seen for three years.

1 Kings 18:36-39 (NKJV)
³⁶  And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word.
³⁷  Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again."
³⁸  Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.
³⁹  Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!"

--You talk about passion, faith, power, demonstration…one man against a wicked king and queen, against 450 prophets of Baal, against a nation who had turned its back on God…one of the greatest stories.

--God answers by fire…fire falls from Heaven and consumes the sacrifice and licks up the water. Israel burst in applause (for a moment), the false prophets are killed according to Deut. 13, all is good. Not quite.

2. Elijah is totally drained.

--Just a few days after this amazing victory, Elijah is now in the hangover of his life. It is difficult to describe what the encounter on the mountain top had taken out of Elijah. 

--All we have in scriptures is the foul mood Elijah was in when he ran for his life from Jezebel. Death threats.

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

--The first time I read this (new Christian) part of the story I was indignant. I was upset with Elijah and did I have questions. It is important that we are available to answer new converts. 

--I am thinking…Don’t run from Jezebel…the God Who took care of the false prophets and sent fire down from heaven will come on the scene and kill Jezebel too. Don’t be a wimp. 

--By this time Elijah was so drained and wearied that he believed Jezebel would do what she said. Burnout. 

--Three days after Mount Carmel he is telling God to just take his life. He needed to have a prayer meeting and go right back down there and tell Jezebel what for. Nope, he really needed some rest and food. 

--Even though he did not come out of his despair, the food and the water and the rest revived him enough to complete the journey God had sent him on. 

--I obviously cannot relate to Elijah’s Mount Carmel showdown, I can relate to being so tired and empty that going to heaven would definitely be a better answer than facing anything else. 

--I have been so tired and weary that I literally could feel the stress in my heart when one more thing was mentioned. It can be one more thing at home, at church, at work, or wherever. Vacations don’t fix this. 

--I feel God has spoken to me or shown me about the bread, the water, and the sleep Elijah received. I love typology. Elijah did not need a prayer meeting or a special church service. 

--First of all, he needed rest…God’s kind of rest. Not a conference, not a podcast, not a lecture…rest!

 Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) ²⁸  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
²⁹  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
³⁰  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

--Secondly, he needed bread. Jesus said I am the Living Bread come down from Heaven. 

John 6:33&35 (NKJV)
³³  For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
³⁵  And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

Third, he needed water…God’s living water…He needed Holy Spirit to come upon him…to come in him. 

John 4:10 (NKJV) ¹⁰  Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

--We all want living water to flow out of us but that can never happen until Living Water (Holy Spirit) is flowing into us. Out of your inner most being shall flow Rivers of Living Water. 

3. That still small voice. 

--Elijah was still not whole when he left the broom tree. He still felt all alone (I am the only prophet left). He did not need another Mount Carmel experience. He needed something better. 

1 Kings 19:10-12 (NKJV)
¹⁰  So he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life."
¹¹  Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
¹²  and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 

--Hear me…He was alone but not by himself. He needed a gentle wonderful amazing encounter with God. Not wind, not fire, not an earthquake, not another Mount Carmel, He needed an encounter with God.

--I can’t stay under this tree…I must get to that quiet place where I can hear the beautiful voice of God.