Courage to Get Out of the Boat - 8

Courage to Get Out of the Boat - 8

Subject: Our Greatest Example of Getting 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 I want us to look at our greatest example of courage and willingness to get out of the boat...Jesus Christ. None of us would ever have the privilege to get out of the boat if it were not for Jesus.

1. Jesus stepped out of the boat when He stepped out before the foundation of the world to save us.

1 Peter 1:17‑21 (NKJV) 

17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 

20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 

21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 

–The decision had already been made. It had been ordained since the beginning of time that Jesus would step out of the boat (out of heaven) to save us. What kind of King lays all His glory aside to save others?

Romans 5:6‑8 (NKJV) 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  

2. Jesus stepped out of the boat when He entered the city of Jerusalem knowing what fate awaited Him.

--During His triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem people waved palm branches and shouted for Him. Listen to Jesus after Mary sister of Martha anointed Jesus feet with costly perfume.

–She was saying...the most uncomely part of Jesus (His feet) was more precious than anything beautiful about man...He is worthy of our worship!

John 12:7‑8 (NKJV) 7 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 

8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always." 

–Jesus knew He was stepping into the city to die for the salvation of mankind. The crowd cried:  "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!" 

–Truly their King was stepping into what God had planned for Him...how tough it must have been to know they would soon be crying “crucify Him!” How quickly things can change. 

3. Jesus stepped out of the boat when He submitted to the will of God.

–I hope you see how Jesus was tested like us and how difficult it was for Him to get out of His boat...humanity.

Hebrews 2:18 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                           18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. 

Hebrews 4:14‑15 (NKJV) 

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 

15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 

–Was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin...see His struggle...He not only was facing the pain and suffering thru His abuse but also becoming sin for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

Matthew 26:38‑39 (NKJV) 

38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." 

39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." 

–Matthew says he was sorrowful, deeply distressed, exceedingly sorrowful even to death.

Luke 22:44 (NKJV) 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

–Doctors indicate that this is the most extreme stress a person could be under. What was He saying? I am struggling to get out of the boat but, Father, if You want me to...I will!

4. Jesus stepped out of the boat by not reverting back to His divine power.

–Never under estimate what Jesus could have done:

Mark 15:29‑31 (NKJV) 

29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 

30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" 

31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 

–When we are faced with the trial of our lives we have a tendency of reverting to whatever brings us comfort. Jesus simply submitted to the will of the Father even in His pain. They did not take Jesus’ life.

John 10:18 (NKJV) 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."  

–You see, the Bible says Jesus could have used His position as Son and His divine power to escape or crush…

John 10:39 (NKJV) 39 Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand. 

Matthew 26:53 (NKJV) 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 

John 18:5‑6 (NKJV) 5 They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 

6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground. 

Philippians 2:5‑8 (NKJV) 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 

5. Jesus stepped out of the boat by His death, burial, and resurrection!

Luke 24:1‑7 (NKJV) 

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 

2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 

3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 

4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 

5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 

6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 

7 saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' " 

–“Why do you seek the living among the dead?   He is not here, but is risen! 

Acts 2:22‑24 (NKJV) 

22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know‑‑ 

23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 

24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 

–So why stay in your tomb...your boat?

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. 

–The Spirit of God can bring you out of your tomb or your boat!

Ezekiel 37:12‑14 (NKJV) 

12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 

13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 

14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.'  

The Fruit of Holy Spirit – 5

The Fruit of Holy Spirit – 5

Subject: Walking in the Fruit of the Spirit - Kindness

By Rick Welborne

Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV)
²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
²⁴  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
²⁵  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  

²⁶  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

--We have already looked at the fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, peace, and longsuffering, tonight we will be looking at kindness which will be one of the most important. 

Kindness -  the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Synonyms: kindliness · kind-heartedness · warm-heartedness · tender-heartedness · goodwill ·

Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary – Kindness - An attribute of God and quality desirable but not consistently found in humans. Yet human imitation of God's kindness does not come naturally. In fact, ultimately no one is kind. It is only as the fruit of God's Spirit that kindness can be a consistent part of the believer's experience.

Romans 3:10-12 (NKJV)
¹⁰  As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
¹¹  There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
¹²  They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." 

--I love Jensen Franklin’s transparency about his difficulty with being kind especially in the environment of the home. He said that when he was single, kindness did not seem to be an issue.

--He said that he did not turn into some kind of monster or anything like that, but married life was so different than being single. It was not just him anymore. 

--When you see the person you have fallen in love with just a couple of times a week and you are anticipating the day you get married…kindness seems so wonderful and so easy.

--How many of you have ever heard, you really do not know someone until you live with them. No longer can you hide your feelings are your little pet peeves…everything is out in the open.

--The man you thought was your prince charming has all kinds of bad habits that you never knew he had from belching, to leaving the toilet seat up, and leaving toothpaste all over the sink. Just clean it up!

--You can’t hide the fact that you are in a bad mood, your impatience is on display, your lack of interest is obvious to the person before you. It is definitely different when you get married.

--If that is not enough to put a damper on kindness…start having kids and bringing them into the relationship. This little gift from God pees, poops, and screams for seemingly no reason. 

--He’s colic, he’s cutting teeth, he’s hungry…he’s whatever and you do not know what the whatever is because he can’t talk yet. Please do something with that thing…put a plug in it.

--It’s your turn to get up with him…no, I got up last time. No, you slept last time while I got up and rocked him for two hours. But I’m tired…I’m tired too! 

Ephesians 4:30-32 (NLT2)
³⁰  And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
³¹  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
³²  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

--How many of you know that we need supernatural power from God to be able to put on kindness the way God wants us too? 

Vine’s Biblical Dictionary – Kindness – willingness to serve someone – to be good – to be gracious – to be kind. 

Luke 6:31-36 (NKJV)
³¹  And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
³²  But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
³³  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
³⁴  And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
³⁵  But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
³⁶  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

1. Kindness can be as simple as the golden rule.

Golden Rule – Do unto others as you would have them do you.

--Kindness is treating others the way you want to be treated. Pastor, what if they are not treating me right? Wrong question! Jesus said for you to treat them the way you want to be treated.

--When we treat those who are mistreating us the way we want to be treated (kindness)…we are showing them the love of Christ and we are showing them supernatural kindness. 

--Rude people do not know what to do when we show usual kindness to them. It is truly a glimpse of the love Jesus had for us when He went to the cross. Watch this:

Luke 23:32-35 (NKJV)
³²  There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.
³³  And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
³⁴  Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.
³⁵  And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."

--It is amazing to us that Jesus would pray such a prayer for those who would falsely accuse Him, who would humiliate him by putting Him between criminals, stripping His clothing, mocking Him.

--What would His kindness have Him to pray? Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. Our reaction to them would probably be much different. One of anger and retaliation. 

--Jesus was showing us a way of kindness that is so opposite our human nature but so much like His life and sacrifice for each of us.

2. Kindness is not about saving ourselves.

Matthew 27:41-43 (NKJV)
⁴¹  Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said,
⁴²  "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.
⁴³  He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 

--"He saved others; Himself He cannot save.” Is that a true statement? Of course, it is not a true statement. Jesus had the power and the ability to save Himself at any moment. 

--Remember early in Jesus ministry when those who would do Him harm came to take Him by force and hurt Him but the Bible says that He walked right through the middle of them undetected. He could have done that.

--Remember when He was in the garden and they came to arrest Him and they asked Him if He was Jesus? When He answered, I am He? They fell to the ground because of His great power. Watch this:

Matthew 26:51-53 (NKJV)
⁵¹  And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
⁵²  But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
⁵³  Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?

--A legion of angels could have been 6000 angels so 12 legions of angels could have been 72,000 angels. Jesus could have had them at His disposal but His kindness said no. Two angels destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. 

--The truth is, Jesus did not come to save Himself, He came to save others. When you find yourself in a challenging situation, who are you trying to save?

--Are you trying to save your reputation or your pride when you are under attack or do you show kindness and try to save others? We say we want to show them Jesus but we act like the devil. 

--One of the toughest ways of exemplifying kindness is when we are under attack by others and we make the choice to keep silent and not to react or, even worse, over react.

3. Kindness is following Jesus’ model.

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

--Because you love Jesus and because you love people you show the fruit of the Spirit ‘Kindness’ by being and acting like Jesus did when He was here on this earth. So much is in these verses.

1. To show kindness, let nothing you do be done out of selfish ambition or by being conceded. 3

2. To show kindness, humble yourself and esteem others better than yourselves. 3

3. To show kindness, don’t only look out for your interests but the interests of others. 4

4. To show kindness, have the same mind that Jesus had. 5

5, To show kindness, stop worrying about your reputation and become a bond servant. 7

6. To show kindness, humble yourselves, take up your cross, and die to yourselves. 8

7. Showing the fruit of kindness is allowing God to exalt you and Him taking care of your name. 9

The Fruit of Holy Spirit – 4

The Fruit of Holy Spirit – 4 

Subject: Walking in the Fruit of the Spirit - Longsuffering

By Rick Welborne

Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV)
²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
²⁴  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
²⁵  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  

²⁶  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

--We have already looked at the fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, and peace. Tonight we will be looking at longsuffering which will not necessarily be one of our favorites. 

4. The Fruit of the Spirit – Longsuffering.

Longsuffering - having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people. Patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship. Suffering for a long time without complaining. Very patient during difficult times.

Biblical Longsuffering - It has been said that longsuffering means “suffering long.” That is a good answer, but a better definition is needed. The word longsuffering in the Bible is made up of two Greek words meaning “long” and “temper”; literally, “long-tempered.” To be longsuffering, then, is to have self-restraint when one is stirred to anger. A longsuffering person does not immediately retaliate or punish; rather, he has a “long fuse” and patiently forbears. 

--In regard to God’s longsuffering, it is associated with mercy (1 Pet. 3:20) and hope (1 Thessalonians 1:3). God was longsuffering as he waited for Noah to build the ark. Eight people were saved by His patience.

--Thank God that He did not surrender to circumstances like we do or succumb to trials. Many translations of the Bible replace the word longsuffering with the word ‘patience’. One of our favorite words.

--God is the source of longsuffering or patience because it is part of His character. He is patient with sinners. 

Romans 2:4 (NLT2)
⁴  Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? 

--At the same time, God’s longsuffering can come to an end, as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the sending of Israel into captivity.

--The believer in Jesus Christ receives the very life of God, His divine nature. We receive certain promises when we receive Jesus and we are filled with His Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:3-8 (NIV)
³  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.                                                                                                   ⁴  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
⁵  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
⁶  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
⁷  and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
⁸  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

--That life produces certain characteristics (fruit) that are displayed in the believer as he obeys Holy Spirit who lives within him. One of those godly characteristics from Galatians 5:22 is “longsuffering.” 

--The word is translated “patience” in the New American Standard Bible. Longsuffering is to be exhibited by all believers:

Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV)
¹  I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
²  with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
³  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

Colossians 3:12-13 (NKJV)
¹²  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
¹³  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

--Think how our lives would be affected if longsuffering was exhibited in individual relationships, family relationships, church relationships, and workplace relationships. 

--By obeying Holy Spirit, the believer in Christ can say “no” to retaliation and exhibit a forgiving and longsuffering attitude. As God is longsuffering with us, we can and must be longsuffering with others.

--The ultimate example of God’s longsuffering is His waiting for individuals to respond in faith to Jesus Christ. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

2 Peter 3:9-11 (NKJV)
⁹  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
¹⁰  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
¹¹  Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 

--When I first became pastor here at Life Church we had a guest to come and speak to us by the name of Roger Heligas. He told us a story of a lady who knew what it meant to have longsuffering. 

--This lady was not a Christian when she got married but soon after someone shared Christ with her and she became a believer…a follower of Christ. She wanted so much for her husband to be saved.

--God spoke to her and told her that her husband was her mission field. She did not harass him or talk down to him as an unbeliever but she loved and honored him as her husband. 

--She thought surely he would give his heart to Christ quickly. He didn’t. He did not forbid her to go to church or to read the Bible at home but he did tell her that he did not want to be constantly preached to. 

--How long did she wait? 10 years? 20? 30? 40? 50years? Nope still not saved! The devil would tell her he was never going to be saved…just give up! She refused! He is my mission field!

--Shortly after their 55^th Anniversary her husband gave his heart to the Lord! The lady was ecstatic and was so thankful to God for saving him. The next 6 months were like heaven on earth!

--They went to church together, they prayed together, they read God’s Word together…it was truly everything she dreamed. Six months after his salvation he had a heart attack and died. 

--Friends and family asked her what kind of God did she serve? He is a faithful God who saved my husband…He gave me a ministry 55 years ago and was faithful to see her accomplish his mission.

Philippians 1:6 (NLT2) ⁶  And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 

--This is longsuffering…to persevere…to wait in patience for God to complete His work. Could she have given up? Of course! But her husband would probably have been lost forever.

--When I think of this kind of longsuffering…I always think about what Joseph went through…His story was similar to this lady…how so?

A. Joseph was given a dream and a promise.

Genesis 37:5-7 (NKJV)
⁵  Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more.
⁶  So he said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed:
⁷  There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf."

--We all have dreams and we receive certain promises from God. Our job is to be faithful. Joseph started a journey that would test whether he had longsuffering in him or not.

B. Joseph faced adversity that would test his patience and perseverance. 

--He found himself in a pit! The other choice was to kill him. The pit was his refuge. He was sold into slavery and taken to a foreign country where nothing good could come out of this. Unless God got involved…

Genesis 37:36 (NKJV)
³⁶  Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

C. Joseph was falsely accused…another test.

Longsuffering, then, is to have self-restraint when one is stirred to anger. A longsuffering person does not immediately retaliate or punish; rather, he has a “long fuse” and patiently forbears.

--Joseph is falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and now is in prison. Just like the pit was a refuge…the prison was another refuge. He could have lost his life for being accused of rape. 

--Because of his praying, I believe Joseph is receiving Holy Spirit strength and longsuffering. How else could a man walk through all this? He is patiently waiting for God’s promise. Longsuffering.

D. Joseph is forgotten in prison. Longsuffering.

--The years are starting to add up and the dreams seem like a distant memory. A baker and a butler have dreams and Joseph interprets them. The baker restored but the butler is executed. 

--Joseph encourages the butler to remember him when he is again with the king. For two years he forgets until the king has dreams that cannot be interpreted. Joseph is suffering long with supernatural patience. Tough!

E. Joseph’s dreams finally come true. Longsuffering pays off big-time!

--Joseph is put in charge of everything in Egypt only answering to Pharaoh. God uses him to save the then known world from starvation. His brothers come and bow before him not knowing who he was. His dream!

--The only way longsuffering, patience, and perseverance pays off is when God’s supernatural fruit leads to salvation and restoration. 

Genesis 45:7-8 (NLT2)
⁷  God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.
⁸  So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.

--The fruit Holy Spirit – longsuffering helps us see the whole picture and helps us to save others and to restore families. From the promise to the prize was about 22 years. Wow!

Courage to Get Out of the Boat - 7

Courage to Get Out of the Boat - 7

Subject: Why Sit Here Until You Die

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 time we talked about the four stages of the boat and hopefully you know where you are. We need to be hearing Jesus command to “Come”...time to make a change.

–If you keep doing what you have been doing you will keep getting what you have been getting.

–As a pastor I see people who are hurting, who are addicted, who are in a difficult relationship, who seem to be stuck in the muck of life. Jesus is at the door knocking or standing on the storm saying “Come” .

2 Kings 7:1‑4 (NLT) 

1 Elisha replied, “Listen to this message from the LORD! This is what the LORD says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, five quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and ten quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.” 

2 The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the LORD opened the windows of heaven!” But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!” 

3 Now there were four men with leprosy sitting at the entrance of the city gates. “Why should we sit here waiting to die?” they asked each other. 

4 “We will starve if we stay here, but with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there. So we might as well go out and surrender to the Aramean army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway.” 

1. To those in the boat or at the gate waiting to die...Things can be better for you.

–You don’t understand, Pastor, I am a leper...I am an outcast...I am separated from my loved ones...I have an incurable sickness...an incurable addiction...I am a loser.

–I may be surrounded by people, by family, by your church but if everyone knew my dirty little secrets no one would accept me...I am a lost cause.

–Maybe you have had words spoken to you or over you that have found a resting place in your heart and you know you will never be anything but a leper...word curses. I know that pain.

–You have it bad (you think) but listen to how bad it was for the people of Samaria...Ben Hadad had the city besieged and everyone was starving. They were even eating their own children. 2 Kings 6:25‑30 (NLT) 

–Let me caution you parents...single or married...Your unwillingness to get out of the boat or your decision to sit there until you die may cause your children to be devoured by this world. 

–You can get into such a place that you can convince yourself that God has doomed you to destruction:

–The message from the Lord is that in just a day there can be abundance from the Lord but you must not sit there until you die...get out of the boat.  Jesus said:

John 10:10‑11 (NKJV) 

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 

–Why sit there...why stay in the boat when God is promising life and that abundantly.

John 8:36 (NKJV) 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 

2. To those in the boat or sitting at the gate...why not confront your enemy?

–I wish to God that there would arise in us a spirit (Holy Spirit) that would say...this enemy of mine will be confronted and if I die, I die! What glory is there staying in the pig pen of life?

–These four lepers need to motivate us not to accept the status quo but to realize beyond this present situation can be a glorious miracle.

–If we stay here we die...if we go to the city we die...if we stay in the boat…but let’s face our enemy and sees what happen...Paul said:

Philippians 1:19‑21 (NKJV) 

19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 

20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 

21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

–Someone at the gate (boat) needs to put there “I know” on...I know that this will turn out for my deliverance. 

2 Timothy 1:12 (NKJV) 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 

Job 19:25‑26 (NKJV) 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 

26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 

Job 42:2 (NKJV) 2 "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. 

Psalm 56:9 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                                 9 When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. 

Psalm 135:5 (NKJV) 5 For I know that the LORD is great, And our Lord is above all gods. 

Philippians 4:11‑13 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 

12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

3. To those in the boat or those sitting at the gate...why not be the hero of the story?

 

2 Kings 7:5‑11 (NLT) 

8 When the lepers arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another, eating and drinking wine; and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and hid it. 

9 Finally, they said to each other, “This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.” 

10 So they went back to the city and told the gatekeepers what had happened. “We went out to the Aramean camp,” they said, “and no one was there! The horses and donkeys were tethered and the tents were all in order, but there wasn’t a single person around!” 

11 Then the gatekeepers shouted the news to the people in the palace. 

–One thing is for sure...you will never be the hero of the story if you do not get out of the boat or arise from your sitting and face your enemy. The enemy were gone because God had confronted them. 

–These four were set up to be heroes because God made the enemy to hear what was not there...chariots, horses, a great army. I don’t have...I can’t because...It is not possible...how do you know what God will or will not do? 

Mark 10:27 (NKJV) 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." 

–When God does the impossible please do not forget where your miracle came from...God’s deliverance and rescue of you is not all about you!

2 Kings 7:8-9 (NLT) 

8 When the lepers arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another, eating and drinking wine; and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and hid it. 

9 Finally, they said to each other, “This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.” 

–God’s miracle for you can be and should be a miracle for someone else. Why sit here until we die becomes Why sit here until they die? We have the good news!

–When Israel was being routed by their enemy...Joshua fell on his face and began to cry out...There is a time to cry out but there is a time to “Get up” and do something.

–Time to get up and get out of the boat...time to get up and face your enemy...Sounds like God was a little frustrated with Joshua:

Joshua 7:10&13 (NKJV) 10 So the LORD said to Joshua: "Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 

13 Get up, sanctify the people, and say, 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the LORD God of Israel: "There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you." 

–If you will be a hero for God...why sit there until you die...Get up! Get up! Get out of the boat!

Courage – 3

Courage – 3

Subject – Lion Chasers Who Defy the Odds

By Rick Welborne

2 Samuel 23:20-23 (NLT2)
²⁰  There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it.
²¹  Once, armed only with a club, he killed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.
²²  Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three mightiest warriors.
²³  He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NLT2)
⁸  Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
⁹  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

1. Odd Things About Odds

--It is hard to imagine what odds the Jerusalem odds makers would have given Benaiah in the three incidents we see in 2 Samuel but I do know he would not have been the favorite pick.

--I am just guessing he was a two to one underdog when he fought two Moabite champions (warriors). This was not tag team wresting and he had no one to tag anyway. 

--The odds makers would never have given Benaiah a chance against the Egyptian warrior (giant). To start with, the giant had a spear and Benaiah only had a club. For me, a spear wins every time.

--According to Scripture the Egyptian was seven and a half feet tall. In boxing, that would give a person a great advantage because of longer reach. But then, add a spear…Whoa!

1 Chronicles 11:23 (NLT2)
²³  Once, armed only with a club, he killed an Egyptian warrior who was 7¹/₂ feet tall and whose spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.

--This is definitely one of those David and Goliath mismatches when you consider the Egyptian’s size, reach, and that he also had a spear. The odds are absolutely against Benaiah.

--How awesome would it be to see a normal size man wrench a spear out of a giant’s hand and then, to kill him with it. This would have been a made for movie event.

--Let’s not forget about the lion in a pit on a snowy day. I personally would not want to be in a pit with a lion on any kind of day with or without a weapon. A recipe for disaster.

--The Bible is not exactly clear on whether Benaiah even had a weapon, but even if he did, it was not a hunting rifle or double barreled shotgun with buckshot or slugs in it. Hand to paw combat!

--Again he is faced with a major physical disadvantage because a fully grown male lion can weigh up to 550 pounds, can run much faster, and leap up to 35 feet. 

--It’s jaws are strong enough to crush the bones in a human’s skull and its canine teeth can rip through wildebeest hide so just imagine what their teeth would do to human flesh. Benaiah is small prey.

--The lion definitely has home field advantage. A pit would definitely be more of a lion’s domain. His eyesight is five times better than humans with 20/20 vision. 

--A sure footed lion in a snowy pit definitely has an advantage over a human in theses slippery conditions. When you add it all together it is probably a 100 to 1 long shot that Benaiah will win.

2. Defying the Odds

--Benaiah did what lion chasers do. He defied the odds. This is so important. He didn’t focus on his disadvantages. He didn’t make excuses. 

--He didn’t avoid the situation just because the odds were against him. Lion chasers know God is bigger and more powerful than any problem they face in the world.

Batterson – Lion chasers thrive in the toughest circumstances because they know that impossible odds set the stage for amazing miracles. That is how God reveals His glory—and how He blesses you in ways you never could have imagined. 

--There is a pattern that is repeated throughout Scripture: 

Biblical Pattern - Sometimes God won’t intervene until something is humanly impossible. And He usually does it just in the nick of time.

--I believe this pattern shows one dimension of God’s personality: God loves impossible odds. And I can relate to that. I love doing things no one else thinks you can do.

--The other day Stephanie and I were talking to some guys at the gym especially about how fast we ride the stationary bike and one of them said, “You don’t do anything like a normal person.” Thank you!

--In my mind God loves when His people want to defy the odds whether it is missions, tennis, or biking as long as it is for His glory. Even as a kid I wanted to do the longest wheelies or cut the grass the fastest.

--It is not possible for a church our size with the demographics that we have to be in the top ten in the state and in the top fifty in the nation in missions giving but we have defied the odds. 

--When I first started playing tennis I went to a tristate tournament at Samuel Grand Prix Tennis center in Dallas, Texas, with a friend who had been playing tennis for a while. 

--I felt God placed in my heart a dream and I said to my friend, “I am coming back to this tournament next year and I am going to win the whole thing.” He laughed me to scorn. Not possible.

Mark 10:27 (NKJV) ²⁷ But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."

--I am definitely one of the people who strongly believes faith without works is dead so I went to work. I practiced several hours a day and worked as hard as I could for the whole year.

--But my friend was right, I didn’t come back and when the tournament the next year, I did it for the next three years. With God’s help and for His glory we defied the odds. 

--Do you just suppose that sometimes God invites us to defy the odds because it is a way He can show His omnipotence? Maybe He allows the odds to be stacked against us so He can reveal more of His glory.

3. Little is Much When God is in it.

--What do you mean, Pastor? Think about God’s military strategy in Judge’s 7. Gideon has an army of 32,000 and is terribly outnumbered by the Midianites. They are underdogs but listen to God’s command.

Judges 7:1-3 (NKJV)
¹  Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the well of Harod, so that the camp of the Midianites was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley.
²  And the LORD said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.'
³  Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.' " And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained. 

--Say what? Just like that, God trims down Gideon’s army by two-thirds because those who were afraid left. Imagine what poor Gideon is thinking. What are you doing to me, God? God wasn’t done.

Judges 7:4 (NKJV)
⁴  But the LORD said to Gideon, "The people are still too many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. Then it will be, that of whom I say to you, 'This one shall go with you,' the same shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, 'This one shall not go with you,' the same shall not go."

--The 10,000 quickly become 300 because God didn’t like how they drank water. If you got down on your knees to drink, you were out. If you lapped water in your hand like a dog, you were in.

--I can just imagine, with my sense of humor, some of the 300 say, “Man, I knew I should have gotten down on my knees.” I think maybe God likes dogs. Spell dog backwards. What do you get. God!

--This makes military sense. Illustration. If you are on your knees, you can’t see the enemy but if you are drinking from your hand, you can watch for the enemy. God works miracles but He is also practical.

--So how big is this army that Gideon and the 300 are going against?

Judges 7:12 (NKJV)
¹²  Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.

--Impossible odds but little is much when God is in it. The odds had to be at least a million to one but that does not matter when God gets involved. You know the rest of the story. Gideon wins. No, God wins!

Romans 8:31-32 (NKJV)
³¹  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
³²  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

--God loves defying the odds when it seems all hell is against us. Maybe hell can defeat us but it cannot defeat the God we serve. Little is much when God is in it.

--No matter what you are going to face this next week, you are not going to face it alone. God is with you, God is in you, and He is for you!

--You and God go and defy the odds.