Courage – 6

Courage – 6

Subject – Courage to Rethink Our Prayers

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.

--Last time we talked about how important it is for us to unlearn our fears. This week we are going to look at having the courage to rethink our prayers.

1. An Honest Assessment of Our Prayers.

--We would probably be amazed to discover how many of our prayers are aimed at simply reducing our problems. We pray God will keep us out of a pit with a lion on a snowy day.

--We pray that God will help steer clear of Egyptian warriors with spears. Also, if we have to fight against the Moabites, please let the numbers be on our side. 

--What if these problems are just opportunities in disguise? Our prayers are misdirected.

--I believe David and Benaiah had kindred spirits. They both were in the Jerusalem hunting club where giants and lions were favorite targets. I believe David saw himself in Benaiah to some degree. 

--Long before David became king, David was a simple shepherd boy. While his brothers were away fighting Philistines, he was stuck on the sidelines tending sheep.

--I am sure David had no idea that God was setting him up to become the next King of Israel. As David practiced with his sling and has he fought lions and bears, God was preparing him.

--Before his epic battle with Goliath it is amazing how David was able to connect the dots between his past problems and his current opportunity. 

1 Samuel 17:34-37 (NIV)
³⁴  But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,
³⁵  I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.                                                                                                                                                ³⁶  Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.
³⁷  The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."

--Don’t you just suppose that David prayed for his sheep? Kids always pray for their pets. But on numerous occasions, lions and bears would attack his sheep.

--I wonder if David ever questioned, “Why doesn’t God answer my prayers for safety?” I’m sure the answer dawns on David as he gets ready to face Goliath. He puts two and two together.

--His unanswered prayers had set him up for an opportunity of a lifetime. Every time he used his sling, took aim, and fired, it was just target practice for the giant in his life.

--At the end of our lives I believe we will thank God for the lions, bears, and giants in our lives. We will even thank God, like Benaiah, for the pits we end up in. Think about Joseph. 

--Someday we will thank God for the bad things that have happened to us because they were preparing us for the good things God was setting us up for. Our biggest problems present the greatest opportunities. 

2. The law of Unintended Consequences

C.S. Lewis – If God had granted all the silly prayers I’ve made in my life, where would I be now?

--Lewis went on to say that there will come a day that we will be more grateful for the prayers God did not answer than the ones He did. Why? 

--Many of our prayers are misguided. We pray for comfort instead of character. We pray for an easy way out instead of strength to make it through. We pray for no pain, when the result would be no gain.

--We pray that God will keep us out of pits and away from lions. But if God answered our prayers, it would rob us of our greatest opportunities. It would hinder God’s plans for us.

--Maybe we should stop asking God to get us out of difficult situations and start asking Him what we need to get out of these difficult circumstances.

--We have a tendency to blame our circumstances when things are not going well, just like we blame to ref when our team is losing. We look for an external scapegoat.

--But maybe our problem isn’t our circumstances. Maybe it is our perspective. We must remember God has perfect perspective on every situation while our view is so limited and narrow.

--So why do we assume that what we pray for is always what’s best for us.? If we could see what God sees, we would pray different prayers. 

--Have you ever heard of the Midas touch? Or everything he touches turns to gold. Legend tells it that Midas was granted a wish that everything he touched would be turned to gold.

--Midas was delighted until he realized his touch made food inedible and that his embrace made loved ones lifeless. Midas stumbled upon what sociologist call the law of unintended consequences. 

--Sometimes an unanswered prayer is God, in His sovereign wisdom, sparing us the pain of unintended consequences. Someday we will thank Him for those unanswered prayers. 

Batterson – Maybe prayer is less about changing our circumstances than it is changing our perspective. Most of our problems are not the by-product of our circumstances but of our perspective on our circumstances. Maybe we need to quit praying safe prayers. 

3. Worship is Our Way of Escape.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NCV)
¹³  The only temptation that has come to you is that which everyone has. But you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it. 

--Think about Paul and Silas (Acts 16) being in stocks in a Philippian dungeon. Landing in a Middle Eastern prison isn’t much better than landing in a pit with a lion on a snowy day.

--Not long before this Paul had cast a demon out of a fortune teller and her master didn’t like it because his fortune-telling slave was his ticket to wealth. 

Acts 16:22-24 (NLT2)
²²  A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods.
²³  They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape.
²⁴  So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

--Just imagine if you were Paul or Silas. You are physically, emotionally, and spiritually spent. Drained with nothing left to give. Your back is still bleeding. Upset with the mob and questioning God.

--Circumstances truly can’t get much worse and Paul and Silas’ reaction is remarkable. If it had been you or me the text would have read, “Around midnight Rick and _____, were complaining.” Not these guys.

Acts 16:25 (NLT2) ²⁵  Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.

--Usually when we get in a situation like this we have a tendency to be fixated on the problem. Instead, we should take a step back and zoom out of the present situation. The word is “worship.”

Quote – Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God.

--We have to learn as disciples to reframe our focus when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. We have to start focusing on God and how wonderful He is and just worship.

Psalm 29:1-2&10-11 (NKJV)
¹  Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones, Give unto the LORD glory and strength.
²  Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
¹⁰  The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, And the LORD sits as King forever.
¹¹  The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace. 

--Worship is forgetting about what’s wrong with you and remembering what’s right with God. It restores the joy of your salvation. It renews your mind. 

--Is it easy? Absolutely not. Nothing is more difficult than praising God when nothing seems to be going right. But one of the purest forms of worship is praising God when don’t feel like it. 

Psalm 96:1-4 (NKJV)
¹  Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
²  Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
³  Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.
⁴  For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 

Praying with Power – 1

Praying with Power – 1

Subject – Praying Earnestly Until Revival Comes

By Rick Welborne

James 5:13-20 (NLT2)
¹³  Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.
¹⁴  Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.
¹⁵  Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
¹⁶  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
¹⁷  Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!
¹⁸  Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.
¹⁹  My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back,
²⁰  you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. 

--Today we begin this new series “Praying with Power” and I hope this is exactly what Life Church will begin to do. Anyone with their eyes opened can see our world is in a mess.

--Please understand where I am going with this message and maybe where I am not going. I have heard recent prophesies that say this next revival or move of God will be easy (effortless).

--I have heard some people, of whom I respect very much, say that that basically all we will have to do is stand back and watch. I wish that were true. I wish it would be that easy. 

--We can plan and organize camp meetings or exciting services with tremendous worship that will make us shout and actually have fun but the spiritual high is only temporary.

--The kind of revival I am talking about takes a church takes the church in its grasp and refuses to let go until every last ounce of sin and self has been squeezed out. 

--Revival is not a season to be jolly. It’s not celebration or festivity. The church in revival is faced with the anguish of unforgiven sin.  Like Isaiah of old the church cries out “Undone”.  

--We have this misconception about revival that it is all about celebration and goosebumps when the reality is a true move of God reveals to us our sinful hearts and how we have turned from God. 

--I don’t worry as much about the believers who mess up, and then, feel guilt and shame followed by returning to God. I worry about those who sin and feel no guilt at all. Dangerous.

--Many times when we read about former revivals, we say we wish revival would come to us like it came to them, implying it was something easy.

--Revival does not come easy; it comes thru travail before God until the birth takes place. And just as Satan in the Revelation waited to destroy the Christ child, he waits to destroy revival.

--We are in for a battle, my friends, and it will not be easy. We have to be willing to take hold of eternal life and to never let it go. 

--Like with babies, revival has to be conceived, it has to be nourished for a period of time, then there comes the labor pains, and at the right time, there comes the birthing of the move of God. 

--I am not sure we are ready or willing to pray or pay that kind of cost. We say we need it, we say we want it with hands raised, but are we willing to agonize before God until it comes? Back to our text.

--James is telling us that if we are facing hard times, if we have sickness, if we have unforgiven sin in our lives, we should pray! The earnest prayer of a person right with God produces wonderful results. 

--James shifts and gives us Elijah as a man like us but a man who prayed powerfully. He prays and there is no rain, he prays and the oil and flour do not run out, and he prays and a dead child rises.

--He prays and fire comes down from heaven, he prays and the rain returns, he prays and chooses his successor, he prays (my favorite story) and says if I am a man of God let fire come down and destroy the captain (50).

--He prays and he and Elisha go across the Jordan River on dry land and he prays again, and he is taken up in a chariot of fire. So what’s the point? His prayer was powerful. His impact on Elisha:

2 Kings 2:14 (NKJV) ¹⁴  Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" 

--Maybe this is not the question we should be asking. God is where He has always been, on His throne but where are the Elijahs of God?

1. Elijahs of God

--James tells us that Elijah was human or of like passions as we are but we are not like him obviously when it comes to praying and seeking God. 

--He and God stand together as a majority against a wicked nation, against a wicked king, and a wicked Jezebel. We think we can’t make a difference in the mess today but we can if we pray.

Romans 8:28&31-32 (NIV)
²⁸  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
³¹  What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
³²  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 

--We think elections are about either our team winning or the other team winning. Please stop it! This is about the soul of a nation, it is about standing for righteousness, and taking responsibility as believers.

--The things Elijah did to fight against wickedness could not have been done any other way than through prayer. If you want to make a difference, please vote but even more important pray for our nation.

2 Chronicles 7:13-15 (NIV)
¹³  "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,
¹⁴  if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
¹⁵  Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

--Pastor, we have heard those verses over and over. Great, start doing what they say. Humble yourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from your wicked ways. Commentary on Elijah…he prayed.

2. Stand in the Gap.

--So many times we think we have it worse now than any time in history but Elijah was raised up at a time when darkness covered the land.

Isaiah 60:2 (NKJV) ²  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 

--The Lord is telling of a time when darkness will be so prevalent over the land and people but God, in His mercy, will reveal His glory thru His servants. How can this happen? 

--In Elijah’s day you could look across the landscape and see the smoke coming from a thousand pagan temples and altars and this was among the people who claimed Abraham as their father. God had departed!

--So what did God do? He looked for a man, not a committee, not a certain denomination, not the best worship group, but a man who would stand in the gap and make a difference.

Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV) ³⁰  So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

--Pastor, I can’t pray unless we have good worship songs, music with no word, no music, loud music, quiet music, a devotion, a time of worship…please stop. Stand in the gap and pray!

--None of us can even imagine what America will look like in the next ten years if we do not have a revival that sweeps across the land and changes people. 

--Babies dying, cities with gun fights in the streets moving to neighborhoods, traditional marriage being mocked, pandemics keeping kids out of school, businesses destroyed. This is today!

3. Stand in the Gap and Pray.

--The secret to praying is praying in secret. If we are not praying, we are playing with the future of our kids and grandkids. I love the song…The Blessing but we have to pray for that to happened. 

--We love to talk about, read about, even quote Azusa, Hebrides, Wesley, Ravenhill, Bartleman, and other great men and moves of God. We do everything but imitate what they did for revival. They prayed.

--We marvel how they gave their last drop of blood to see God move and to change entire countries but we dare not sacrifice any of our own blood. The cost is too great. 

--God is by-passing so many men and women now, not because they do not know what to do, they are not too ignorant, it is because we are to self-sufficient. We have everything we want.

Revelation 3:15-22 (NKJV)
¹⁵  I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
¹⁶  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
¹⁷  Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—                                                                                                     ¹⁸  I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
¹⁹  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
²⁰  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
²¹  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 

²²  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' "

--We must repent, we must stand in the gap, and we must pray!

Fear of the Lord - 3

                Fear of the Lord - 3

Subject – Content with Jesus

By Rick Welborne

Isaiah 33:5-6 (NIV)
⁵  The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.
⁶  He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. 

Numbers 21:4-9 (NLT2)
⁴  Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey,
⁵  and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”
⁶  So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died.
⁷  Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people.
⁸  Then the LORD told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!”
⁹  So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed! 

The fear of the Lord - can be defined as a continual awareness that you are in the presence of a holy, just, and almighty God, and that every motive, thought, word, and action is open before Him and will be judged by Him.

--As I sat here praying for the people I love and the people I have invested about half of our lives in, I simply asked God, what is He saying to the church right now.

--I believe he immediately led me to this story in the book of Numbers. I truly believe God has much He wants to say to us so please open up your heart to receive the Word. 

1. The People Grew Impatient.

--God had brought them out of Egypt and had delivered them from the hand of Pharaoh. He set them free from their bondage and oppression. No more whips and beatings. 

--He opened up the Red Sea in front of them so they could walk across on dry land. How awesome is that?

--Pharaoh’s army pursued them and tried to follow them on the floor of the Red Sea (for them it was the Dead Sea). Just saying, but didn’t someone think that was a bad idea?

--If God can make water stand up and part, couldn’t that same God make that water come back together and destroy whoever was in its way or wake? Rage can make us dash into our own disaster.

--We see two sides of God in this story, we see a God Who rescues and a God of judgment who deals with those in rebellion to Him. In America we have only chosen to see the love side of God.

--That being said, when something horrible happens to us or in our world, we begin to question the character of God. The truth is, He has always had both sides, we have just chosen not to acknowledge them. 

Numbers 21:4-5 (NLT2) ⁴  Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey,
⁵  and they began to speak against God and Moses.

--Please get this, God delivered them by His mighty hand, He sent plagues on Egypt and Pharaoh, He opened up the Red Sea so they could walk across on dry land. 

--He destroyed their enemy by drowning them. Before that, even though they were complaining, God brought water from a rock.   

Numbers 20:4-5 (NKJV)
⁴  Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here?
⁵  And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink."

--Israel became extremely impatient and if we are not careful, we can become impatient with what is going on. Please be careful what comes out of your mouth.

--They began to complain against God and against Moses. We are quick to complain against those who are in authority…what they are doing or what they are not doing.

Romans 13:1-5 (NLT2)
¹  Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
²  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.
³  For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
⁴  The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.
⁵  So you must submit to them…

--Please be patient with those in authority and pray for them. --I know none of us probably want to hear this, but when the people began to speak against God and Moses, it was God who sent the snakes.

2. The Secret.

Philippians 4:10-13 (NIV)
¹⁰  I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
¹¹  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
¹²  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
¹³  I can do everything through him who gives me strength. 

--Most of us have heard that last verse to mean I can do anything, I can climb mountains, I can build a great business, I can get wealthy, but the context here is quite different.

--Paul is in prison, yet, he is still teaching and sharing a secret to living in tough times as a Christian. This is one of his prison epistles. Writing to the church in Philippi…First city he hit on his 2^nd missionary journey.

--The church in Philippi remembered Paul and how he blessed them by preaching the gospel so they sent gifts to him. Prisons of that day, if people didn’t come and help you, you were in trouble. He was thankful.

--Paul is sending a letter back with Epaphriditus telling the church that he appreciates the gifts that they have sent him but then, he says something strange…Not because I was in need. What? You are in prison.

--Paul tells them that I have learned a secret in my Christian walk which takes me to a different level. I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in. Better than a PHD.

--Our education or status in life has very little to do with contentment. You can have more degrees than a thermometer and not be content. You can have the title of CEO or CFO and not be content.

--Unhappy people will find a reason to be miserable. Glass always half empty. Paul is writing that I have learned that in every situation to be content. Can you see how this is being applicable?

--But the man who has been beaten, stoned, left for dead, and thrown in prison says I have learned a secret. He is content? He is okay with where God has him.

--Paul said I have learned to be content when I have very little. I have a roof over my head and enough food to live on. He had learned the secret.

--Paul said I have learned how to be content with plenty. Paul said I have learned the secret. I have had little; I have had more. Life changes…I guess we all know that.

--Our world changed so quickly with Covid. People being told to stay home. You can only shop at certain times. Restaurants closed. People getting sick and dying. Struggling!

--Are we going to trust God and attempt to learn the same secret that Paul learned? To be content and rest in Jesus.

--Our son Jeremy had one of those slips of the tongue that made me laugh so hard. He said: We all have a skeleton full of closets! Of course he meant: We have a closet full of skeletons!

--As we look at this Pandemic I think he may have been right in what he accidently said. We are struggling as if we are a shell of what we used to be and it is exposing the closets we have hidden in our lives. 

--The secret is this, do we have Jesus with us? Isn’t Jesus enough? So how did Paul get to the secret place of I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me? 

--I am sure Paul first thought about what Jesus went through. We may have it tough but nothing like Jesus. If Jesus could go thru what He went thru, can’t we get thru whatever?

--Think about those who have it worse than we do. Paul learned that whatever we go through, it has a beginning and an end. We will get through this with God!

Psalm 30:2-5 (NKJV) ²  O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.
³  O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
⁴  Sing praise to the LORD, You saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
⁵  For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. 

3. A Snake on a Pole

--What’s that all about? So Moses prayed for the people. Then the LORD told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” 

--So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed! What a strange way for people to be healed. Maybe it was a type.

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

--Jesus is still the answer…look to Him Who hung on the cross (like the snake on the pole). A snake on a pole?

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

Courage

Courage

Subject – Courage to Worship and Believe

By Rick Welborne

--During our week of prayer, the night Pastor Dwaine was speaking, God took me to this passage of scripture. I said, Lord, if you want me to share this tonight have Pastor Dwaine ask me. He didn’t.

--The next morning Pastor Aaron came to my office and asked if I thought it would be good to have a time of worship today, January 22, 2023. He said you could share a quick devotion and we could worship.

--Immediately God spoke to me that this was the time to share this word.

Matthew 17:14-21 (NKJV)
¹⁴  And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying,
¹⁵  "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.
¹⁶  So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him."
¹⁷  Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me."
¹⁸  And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
¹⁹  Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?"
²⁰  So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
²¹  However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

1. Say to This Mountain.

--What is your mountain? Kids away from God, a sickness (you or someone you love), a job situation, or whatever your mountain is. Someone needs to talk to your mountain today. 

--Jesus said, if you have just a little faith, you can speak to your mountain and your mountain will listen. Has anyone gotten angry enough to say something to the mountain you are facing?

2. Move from Here to There.

--It sounds like to me that Jesus was telling the disciples and He is telling us that it is time to pray with authority and to speak to our mountain, our prodigal, our sickness, our need.

--Pray or say what? Move from here to there! Move from here to there! Your prodigal may be here (away from God) but it is time for them to move there (right with God).

--Your body or your loved one may be here (overwhelmed with sickness) but it is time for them to move there (well and whole). Your finances may be here (struggling) but it is time for them to be there (blessed).

--It is time to say to our mountain, move from here to there, and Jesus said, it will move. 

3. This Move (Miracle) happens by Prayer and Fasting.

--What have we been doing for the last 21 days? Praying and fasting. Jesus said we can speak to this mountain. Jesus said we can tell it where to go (from here to there). Why? We have been praying and fasting.

--Do you have a little faith? Come and worship and speak to your mountain and it will move.

The Fruit of Holy Spirit – 9

The Fruit of Holy Spirit – 9

Subject: Walking in the Fruit of the Spirit – Self Control

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.

The Fruit of Holy Spirit – Self-control.

Self-control - the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior, especially in difficult situations.

Synonyms of Self-control - self-discipline · self-restraint · restraint · control · self-mastery · self-possession · will power · strength of will · composure · coolness · moderation.

--If there is anything missing in the body of Christ, it is the fruit of Holy Spirit – self-control.

Biblical Self-control - the ability to control one’s emotions and behavior in the face of temptations and impulses.

--Self-control, as a fruit of Holy Spirit, lets us know that there is available to us supernatural strength to be able to do what we cannot do without Holy Spirit’s help. John the Baptist:

Matthew 3:11 (NKJV)
¹¹  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

--The Apostle Paul gives us this command as he encourages us toward self-control.

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, 

--Maybe you do not see it like I do, but I see Paul telling us that if we will have self-control, it will be possible because we are filled with Holy Spirit. It will still be our choice.

--Paul says we need to be careful how we live…use self-control…don’t live foolishly. He tells us to understand what the Lord wants us to do…we should give great thought to what the will of God is for our lives. 

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

1. To operate in the fruit of the Spirit ‘self-control’ we must understand God is in control.

--Do you trust in the Lord with all your heart that He is in control of every situation? We usually have problems with self-control when we feel things are out of our control.

--There are many times when things are out of our control but there are never times when life is out of God’s control. how you react to life’s trials will be greatly affected by how you trust God or not.

--How you determine to flow in the fruit of Holy Spirit will also be determined by how you make up your mind to trust God with all of your heart. Everyone say, “God is in control!” 

Romans 8:26-28 (NKJV)
²⁶  Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
²⁷  Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
²⁸  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

A. God knows that we have weaknesses and He is always there to help us.

B. God knows there are times that things are so bad we do not even know how to pray. 

C. God knows Holy Spirit is there making intercession for us as we pray in the Spirit. 

D. God knows what is in our hearts and He knows what Holy Spirit is saying.

E. God knows what His will is so He prays according to His divine will. 

F. God knows what we need and He works all things together for our good. All things.

G. God knows we have all been called according to His purposes, so He works it for our good.

Pro. 19:20-21 (NKJV) ²⁰  Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
²¹  There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the LORD'S counsel--that will stand. 

--Remember that, it is the Lord’s counsel that will stand…you can trust Him because He is the One Who is in control. Pray for His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. 

Joshua 1:8-9 (NIV)
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."

2. To operate in the fruit of Holy Spirit ‘self-control’ we must walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

Galatians 5:25 (NKJV)
²⁵  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

 

1 Samuel 24:3-6 (NIV)
³  He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.
⁴  The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.
⁵  Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.
⁶  He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD." 

--Let me establish before we move forward with this story that David had blessed Saul in so many ways. He fought and killed the enemies of Saul. He killed his ten thousand and more for his king.

--He would minister music to Saul and the spirit that was sent from the Lord would depart from him and the Bible said he would be refreshed and made well. 

--He even defeated a nine-foot-tall giant who was taunting Israel and Israel’s God. Saul was too afraid to fight him but David trusted God. 

--David is the example of a man walking in the Spirit and Saul is definitely an example of a man walking in the flesh. You would think David would be Saul’s best buddy. See how sin blinds us. 

--Saul threw spears and David while he was playing the harp and trying to pen him against the wall. He chases him like a dog and wants to destroy him. Anger and bitterness out of control. No self-control.

--Saul has the Special Forces of Israel’s army pursuing David with him and he is bent on getting rid of this young guy who was a threat to his kingdom. 

--David never would have been a threat to Saul if he had lived righteously and had been obedient to God’s commands. Many of our problems are our all creations.

--The remainder of this message, let’s look at the self-control that David used in this situation where Saul was in the most vulnerable situation possible.

--Let me point out how incredible of a warrior David must have been to be able to sneak up on Saul in a cave when he is relieving himself and cut the corner of his robe off without him knowing. Maybe noisy! 

A. Recognize David’s self-control when he had his peers encouraging him by using the God card. 

--Many times our so-called friends will encourage us that God is on our side when we want to take vengeance on someone that we have an issue with. Be careful thinking that is the case. God wants you to be happy. Really?

B. Recognize David’s self-control had not allowed the evil of another to cause him to compromise. 

--He immediately felt bad that he had touched the king (his master) in such a threatening way. Trials and persecution never gives you a right of retaliation. 

Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV)
⁴⁴  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
⁴⁵  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

C. Recognize David’s self-control made him hesitate long enough to recognize God’s hand on Saul.

1 Chronicles 16:22 (NKJV) ²²  Saying, "Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm." 

D. Recognize David’s self-control gave him the strength to not allow others to attack the king.

Warning: Do not take up an offense of someone else or allow others to take up your offense. Be careful who you share your junk with. You may get over it but someone else will take it to the next level.

E. Recognize David’s self-control caused David to humble himself before the king (his enemy).

--Humbling ourselves before our enemies puts them in a place where they have to deal with God. 

F. Recognize David’s self-control left it up to the Lord to avenge him.

Romans 12:19&21 (NKJV)
¹⁹  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
²¹  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

Fear of the Lord - 2

Fear of the Lord - 2

Subject – Understanding the Fear of the Lord

By Rick Welborne

Isaiah 33:5-6 (NIV)
⁵  The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.
⁶  He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. 

--The more I look into this subject of the fear of the Lord and as I see what is going on in our world (COVID 19)\the more I realize God wants us to understand how serious it is for us. What are we fearing?

The fear of the Lord - a continual awareness that you are in the presence of a holy, just, and almighty God, and that every motive, thought, word, and action is open before Him and will be judged by Him.

--I wish there would be the same response and attention given to fearing the Lord as there has been toward this virus and the other crazy stuff going around.

--And no I am not just sticking my head in the sand and not wanting to KNOW what is really going on out there. I am sticking my head in the Word and bowing my head in prayer.

Philippians 2:12 (NIV)
¹²  Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 

--We have talked about David verses Goliath and how David, having the fear of the Lord, more than the fear of a giant, made such a difference in his life. He confronted the giant.

Psalm 89:7 (NKJV) ⁷  God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him. 

--We have also said this: We cannot truly revere God until we fear Him; nor can we properly fear Him until we revere Him. I think we have come to know a Jesus Who is not in the Scriptures. 

Isaiah 29:13 (NKJV) ¹³ Therefore the LORD said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, 

--I am afraid We have made God in our own image. I am afraid that in the church we are serving a Jesus Who is not depicted in scriptures. We have no fear or reverence for Him.

Romans 1:22-23 (NKJV) ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools,                                                                                                      ²³  and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man…

1. We have made Jesus in our own image.

--For several years I have preached about the downward spiral that we see in Romans1 but not until I started this series have I seen it in the light of us losing our fear of the Lord.

Romans 1:18-25 (NKJV)
¹⁸  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
¹⁹  because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
²⁰  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
²¹  because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
²²  Professing to be wise, they became fools,
²³  and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
²⁴  Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
²⁵  who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

--I am calling it losing our fear of the Lord. Maybe instead of looking at the government or the latest conspiracy that is out there, maybe we should look inside the church. These verses say although they knew God v. 21

A. Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God.

B. Although they knew God, they were not thankful.

C. Although they knew God, they became futile in their thoughts about Who God was.

D. Although they knew God, their foolish hearts were darkened. 

E. Although they knew God, in professing to be wise, they became fools.

F. Although they knew God, they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man.

G. Although they knew God, they exchanged the truth of God for a lie.                                                        

H. Although they knew God, they worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.

--Any way you read this downward spiral you will have to admit that these people had lost their fear and reverence for God. The scary part is that they knew God. 

--Notice that they did not glorify Him as God. The children of Israel who made and worshiped the golden calf acknowledged that their deliverance came from Jehovah. We say Jesus delivered or saved us. 

--Here in lies the problem…they did not give Him the honor, reverence, or glory that He deserved. --When you look at Paul’s writing here in Romans you see that things had not changed much .

--Again we see people reducing the One true God’s glory. This time it is not a calf but rather they are reducing Him to the image of a corruptible man. Are we trusting man or Jesus? 

--If you don’t believe me, the next time your team is playing awesome or you are watching some type of secular concert, turn off the sound and look at the people…it looks like they are worshiping.

--This is how bad it has gotten, this past year as I watched college football, I saw people bowing to an athlete who was playing incredible. They were bowing and lifting their hands to a man. It sickened me. 

--Before we get to critical, sometimes in watching preachers or Christian artists I wonder if people are worshiping God or the star of the show. 

--That downward spiral will take us further away from the fear of the Lord and reverence for the glory of God. Stop looking to man to solve this crisis and start crying out to Jesus. Jesus is Lord!

Psalm 130:4 (NKJV) ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. 

2. God understands.

--When we reduce the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, we lose our way.

--Like the children of Israel we are quick to acknowledge with our mouths Jesus is the One Who saved us (delivered us) but with our lifestyle and attitude we reduce Him to corruptible man. How so, Pastor?

--I have heard people say…I love God and He knows (understands) my heart. It is true God understands our hearts even more than we understand ourselves. 

--A disturbing thing I have seen through my years of pastoring is when we are trying to give guidance to someone who is living contrary to God’s Word and their family intervene for them.

--Don’t let that church or those pastors tell you how to live…it is your time to be happy. Hear me, the way you will truly show you love that person is to support your leadership when they are trying to help them.

Romans 1:32 (NLT2) ³² They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

--Please do not forget what we said earlier…how are we teaching others to fear the Lord? The church has to be the beacon of life and hope, not fear like the rest of this world. 

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV)
⁶  Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
⁷  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

--Please do not be deceived, God will not be mocked…it does not matter how many people (Christians or not) approve of what you are doing. The bottom line is God’s Word. 

--When we filter God’s Word and His commands through our own culture and the people who will approve of us, we are listening to the fear taught by man and we attest we do not honor, revere, or fear God. 

3. Our theology reveals our fear of the Lord or lack of it.

--It does matter what you believe about God and His Word. If your God is just a sweet “Sugar Daddy” in the sky just waiting to give you everything you want, your image of Him will be skewed. NT theology says:

Hebrews 10:26-31 (NKJV)
²⁶  For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
²⁷  but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
²⁸  Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
²⁹  Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
³⁰  For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people."
³¹  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

--Verse 28 is Old Testament but look again at verse 29, definitely New Testament. It is talking about willful sin 26…those who trample on the Son of God, those who said the blood of Jesus was common, insulted Holy Spirit 

--The Lord of the NT will judge His people…It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Might be important to have a healthy fear of the Lord. 

--In light of the fear of the Lord, what if God has not given us what we want but maybe what we deserve? When we turn our back on Him, chase the world, and have no fear of the Lord, maybe we reap what we have sown.

Hebrews 10:37-39 (NCV)
³⁷  For in a very short time, “The One who is coming will come and will not be delayed.
³⁸  The person who is right with me will live by trusting in me. But if he turns back with fear, I will not be pleased with him.“
³⁹  But we are not those who turn back and are lost. We are people who have faith and are saved. 

The Fruit of Holy Spirit – 8

The Fruit of Holy Spirit – 8

Subject: Walking in the Fruit of the Spirit - Gentleness

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.

The Fruit of the Spirit – Gentleness. Gentleness is one of those words that is consistent in every translation.

Gentleness - the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered. Softness of action or effect; lightness.

A courteous or chivalrous quality attributed to noble birth.

--Even though these definitions come from secular sources, we definitely can see them in our walk as Christians. Believers should be kind, tender, and mild mannered.

--Believers should have a softness to their actions and their intentions…a lightness in all their dealings that identify people with Jesus. 

--I particularly like this one. A courteous or chivalrous quality attributed to noble birth. We have been born again…we have been born again by the King of Kings. We should be courteous, chivalrous in Christ.

--There should absolutely be a difference in someone who identifies with Jesus Christ…someone who calls Him Lord and Savior. As far as I am concerned…rude is totally unacceptable in God’s House.

--Now we have all heard statements like…Christians are the rudest people on the planet. They are the only ones who shoot their wounded. Church people are the worst! It is simply not true.

--The issue is not with Christians or church people…the issue is with people. Until I came to Life Church, I always had to work secular jobs to supplement my income. I had to work with people.

--I have played team sports and I have been around people in every kind of setting. People can be extremely difficult no matter where you are. Tennis is a good example.

--A few months ago we were playing doubles and there was a dispute over a call. Three people were in agreement and one man totally disagreed. One of those three was his partner.

--He lost it! He started screaming and cussing like I had never heard on a tennis court! He called me what I have never been called…you may want to cover your ears. He called me a dictator!

--The other two guys were dying laughing which made the man even more angry. He cussed all the way to his car. Is he going to get a gun? He did not come back that day.

--Two weeks later he comes back to play tennis and he comes and apologizes. He said I am so sorry for getting so angry, but just for the record, I was right and you guys were wrong. I just laughed!

--My point here is to say that people are difficult in almost every setting but, Christians have no excuse for being rude and difficult, when we have Holy Spirit to help us. This man did not show gentleness.

1. Gentleness as an Action.

Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary - Gentleness - Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by God’s love. 

--The Old Testament. Gentleness is suggested by the waters of a stream or by wine flowing over lips and teeth. It stands in contrast to baseness, harshness, and wildness. 

--The supreme example of gentleness is Israel's God. He cares tenderly for the flock under his care, and "gently leads those that have young". He leads them by still waters. Ps. 23

--He discloses himself not just in wind and earthquake and fire, but in "a gentle whisper". God comes to console us with a gentle whisper. To Elijah, a still small voice. New Testament – Jesus.

Mat. 11:28-30 (NCV) ²⁸  “Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest.
²⁹  Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives.
³⁰  The teaching that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.“ 

--When I read these verses so much jumped off these pages into my heart and my spirit. Of course we immediately see the gentleness of Jesus wanting us to come to Him. What I saw about us. 

A. What if we so displayed gentleness people would feel they had an invitation to come to us?

B. What if those who are tired of sin or their burdens (the heavy loads of this life) could come to us?

C. What if people truly could feel that having spent time with us brought them rest and peace?

D. What if people could learn from us and accept our wisdom knowing it would bring them hope?

E. What if people knew they could come to us and find humility (gentleness). Their burdens lighter.

--Isn’t this what gentleness should look like from those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus and those who claim to be Christ-like…to be Christian. 

Colossians 3:12-13 (NIV)
¹²  Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
¹³  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

2. Gentleness as an Attitude.

--This is what Paul was saying in Colossians 3. Gentleness is something you should put on whenever you deal with people…family, friends, co-workers, church family.

--We have all heard people say…this is just who I am…like it or lump it! This is the way God made me and I am not going to change. Please do not blame God for your rude behavior. 

--The truth is people who do not operate or flow in gentleness are operating in a spirit of rudeness or intimidation. They try to control people through fear.

--Most people will not stand up to spiritual bullies because they come across with such a spirit of superiority and authority. Just let them have their way and everything will be alright.

--I don’t think so! I think spiritual bullies need to be confronted because of their anti-Christ attitude. Jesus would have never led with that kind of attitude. Listen to Paul:

 2 Corinthians 10:1 (NIV)
¹  By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you--I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away!
--Paul is simply saying here that as believers we don’t act like or deal with people the same way the world does. He did not like it but time to time he had to deal with rude worldly people. 

--My point here is this…we should constantly be dealing with everyone with a spirit of gentleness. Yes, it will take Holy Spirit to help us and to bear in us the fruit of the Spirit…gentleness. 

--I talked to our staff the other day about spiritual equity. You earn spiritual equity whenever you display the fruit of Holy Spirit to others over a long period of time. 

--Unfortunately, people try to spend spiritual equity they have not earned…it takes time and it takes consistency. Bearing this kind of fruit with a loving attitude increases your influence.

Warning – You can spend all of the spiritual equity you have built up with one outburst of anger or one display of an attitude that is not Christ like. One untimely mistake can bankrupt you in people’s eyes.

Romans 13:13-14 (NIV) ¹³  Let us behave decently…
¹⁴  Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

3. Gentleness as an Announcement (Our Words).

Proverbs 15:1-2 (NLT2) ¹  A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
                                                                                                                                                                                    --There is no way to adequately measure the damage that has been done to churches where harsh words have been spewed from one church member to another. 

--What is always so sad to me is that both feel they are right and that they are representatives of Jesus Himself. If we represent Him, it might be good if we acted like Him. 

Isaiah 53:6-7 (NLT2) ⁶  All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.
⁷  He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 

--Jesus did not open His mouth. Is that the kind of gentleness we show? No matter how hard you work in the church, if you have the disposition of a pit bulldog, all your acts of kindness will be nullified.

--When I think of gentleness being a fruit of the Spirit, I think about people like John Mason. He is the same every time you see him and he is always gentle with his demeanor. 

2 Tim. 2:24 (NKJV) ²⁴  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient…

4. Gentleness as an Affection (Touch).

--Jesus was such an example to us in this area of gentleness especially in regard to touch. He touched the lepers which was totally against Jewish law. You would be unclean. He touched children:

Mark 10:13&16 (NKJV)
¹³  Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
¹⁶  And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.

--The nurturing touch of a hug builds trust and a sense of safety. Hugs can heal feelings of loneliness, isolation, and anger. Holding a hug for an extended time lifts one's spirit and brings life. 

--Hugs strengthen the immune system. Hugging boosts self-esteem. From the time we're born our family's touch shows us that we're loved and special. 

--Hugs teach us how to give and receive. Hugs educate us how love flows both ways. Hugs are like meditation and laughter. The energy exchange between the people hugging is an investment in the relationship. 

Virginia Satir - a respected family therapist, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.”

--The fruit of the Spirit – gentleness – brings wonderful healing. This is why I love going around hugging and gently touching all of you. Healing for you and for me!