Dream Again - 2

Dream Again - 2

Subject: Our Dream for Life Church

By Rick Welborne

Proverbs 13:12 (NLT)
¹²  Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. 

Acts 2:17 (NLT)
¹⁷  ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 

Matthew 16:13-19 (NLT)
¹³  When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
¹⁴  “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
¹⁵  Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
¹⁶  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
¹⁷  Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
¹⁸  Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
¹⁹  And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” 

--Last week we started this series about “Dream Again” and I hope and pray that you are believing God to fulfill His dreams…His dreams in your lives.

--I want to say thank you for allowing me to live out God’s dreams as I pastor you…and, yes, thank you and the Board of Deacons for supporting your pastor.I want to share three things I am dreaming for Life Church.

1. Dream that Life Church will be a church on the offense. 

--Peter had received a revelation of Who Jesus was, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  I hope we have the same revelation Peter did. He is our Savior and soon coming King.

¹⁸  Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

Matthew 16:18 (NKJV)
¹⁸  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

--Jesus had a dream that these twelve disciples He had chosen were going to build the Kingdom of God. I am sure He was planting dreams in their hearts.

--Jesus said I am going to build my church and I am going to use you in fulfilling my dream…I am looking for people here at Life Church to help me dream for God’s Kingdom.

--Aren’t you glad that when you dream and when you proclaim your dream that you never have to face opposition?…Just sit back and watch Him. Not!

--As you read the Word, you see that there was opposition on every front…we are kidding ourselves if we think Satan and his imps are going to just sit back. They are fighting already.

--Jesus is dreaming of building His church and the disciples are arguing who is going to sit on the right hand and left hand of God. They are even trying to get momma to politic for them. I hate politics.

--Jesus is dreaming of building His church and Peter is running his mouth about how he will never deny the Lord even if he has to die. Jesus is trying to build His church and Peter is running!

--Jesus is dreaming of building His church and Judas is betraying Him…don’t you ever believe everyone will come along with you on your dreams…some will even sell you out for 30 pieces of silver.

--Jesus is dreaming of building His church and Thomas is doubting Him…listen, these are the main guys to help Jesus fulfill what God willed Him to do. 

--Jesus is dreaming of building His church and He is arrested, mocked, scourged, made to carry an old wooden cross, and is crucified…the dream is over because the dreamer is dead. 

--The disciples have scattered…confused, broken, and afraid that they could be the next ones on a cross. Just when you think there is no hope…three days later Jesus is raised from the dead!

--You see, dreams can be resurrected and people can be restored…Jesus spends 40 days with the disciples and then departs for heaven…they are filled with Holy Spirit…the church grows. 

--Jesus is still living the dream and He is living it thru us, His church! It is time that we experience the resurrection power of Jesus and go on the offense…Gates of hell can’t stop us! 

2. Dream with me and let’s fulfill the Great Commission.

--Right before Jesus left for heaven he told the disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait there until they were filled with Holy Spirit power to be able to fulfill what He told them to do. Why would He do that?

--These guys had been thru a 3-year roller coaster…quit your job and follow Me, we are going to build the Kingdom of God, we are going to save people and set them free…yippee!! Liberators!

--Then comes along that whole crucifixion thing, they flee, they fear, they go back to their former lives, Jesus rises from the dead, they are restored and happy…By the way, I am leaving…What?

--I am leaving but My dream of building My church is still fully in operation…stay in Jerusalem until you are filled with Holy Spirit power…then go!

Mark 16:14-20 (NKJV) ¹⁴  Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
¹⁵  And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
¹⁶  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
¹⁷  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
¹⁸  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
¹⁹  So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
²⁰  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. 

--I wonder where Jesus would start dealing with our unbelief. Ok guys, you messed up and you, kind of, deserted me, the dream is still on. Go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

--Some people…some churches have a misconception that the Great Commission or missions is optional…not to me and not according to the Scriptures…He said go! Dream!

3. Dream with me and see a modern day church set apart for God!

Joshua 3:5-7 (NIV)
⁵  Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."
⁶  Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people." So they took it up and went ahead of them.
⁷  And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 

--Is your God given dream of enough value that you would be willing to be set apart for God…to be sanctified for Him? To live holy?

--Someone was sharing their God given dream beyond what human capability…they questioned God…God said, “I have not called you to do easy! I have called you to accomplish My dreams in your life!”

--We are so guilty of making Christianity difficult…I want God to do amazing things in my life but it seems so difficult, so unattainable. "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people."

--The answer…follow His presence…follow Jesus to your dreams follow Him in this adventure.

Matthew 16:24-25 (NLT)
²⁴  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.
²⁵  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

Genesis 12:1(NIV)
¹  The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 

Hebrews 11:8 (NIV)
⁸  By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

--If we will be set apart to live out our God given dreams…we must follow and we must obey the Lord, even if He leads us in a direction where we do not know where we are going. It is called trust.

--Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Identity Theft – 6

Identity Theft – 6

Subject – The Lost Need to Know Who They Are in Christ

By Rick Welborne

1 Peter 2:9-10&12 (NLT)
⁹  But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
¹⁰  “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”
¹²  Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. 

--We have looked at people who have struggled with their identity and who have questioned what their real purpose is in this life. Many would question this familiar verse:

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

--Maybe you would question whether God has a plan for you or not. Maybe the thought of living a prosperous life is beyond your comprehension. A hope and a future…you think…I have no hope or future.

--Many could stand and testify today that their lives were empty and they seemed to have no hope at all. Many of them may have had ‘things’ but they did not have true happiness or joy! Maybe you were destitute.

--Don’t misunderstand me, growing up we were never without food or shelter but when I was born we lived in an 800 sq. ft. slave tenant house…My first bike came from the junk yard…junk!

--What was funny, as a very young kid, I did not know how poor we were…when we were in the third grade my parents bought a house in a real neighborhood with paved streets…Clampets had come to town.

--The house cost $6900 and I remember my parents talking about how tough it would be to make a $76 payment every month. When they sold it four or five years after I graduated they got $35,000 dollars. Up town.

--We definitely were poor spiritually…church was never on the radar, and God and Jesus were talked about often but never in ways that was respectable or honoring. We were lost with no plan or hope.

--By the time I was 17, not only was I poor, my life was bankrupt. Without love and guidance, I kept falling deeper and deeper into a spiritual abyss. This is when I met Ronnie Chunn…he saw identity.

--He started a two-year process of witnessing to me. He took much abuse but remained faithful to what I truly believe was God’s mission for him at that time…Imagine being assigned with that task!

--I finally went with him to a revival service…the rest has been history…that one encounter with Jesus has impacted me for eternity…I found my identity…I obviously found out God had a plan for my life. 

1. We must know who we are in Christ!

1 Peter 2:10 (NLT) ¹⁰ “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

--We once had no identity as people but now we have received the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ and everything has changed, or at least, it should have changed.

--Once you have given your heart to the Lord, the devil has only one plan for you, and that is for you to not know who you are in Christ…for you to lose your identity.

John 10:10 (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.

--Jonah was an Old Testament example of what happens when we do not know our identity in God and how that affects our lives.

--Jonah thought like many of us do, it does not matter what I do or what I am called to do…I will do my own thing and go my own way. We don’t have time to read all of the book of Jonah but:

--First the people on the ship he was taking to Tarshish were affected…They found themselves in a storm that was sent for Jonah…wow…our decisions do affect others who are around us.

--His decision cost others financially…because of the storm and Jonah they had to throw their cargo off the ship to lighten the load…the bad decisions you make can cost others bigtime. 

Romans 14:7 (NKJV) ⁷ For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

--Even though Jonah told the men on the ship to throw him overboard, they wanted to preserve his life…they rowed harder and harder…our decisions make others have to work harder. 

--He ends up in the belly of a big fish…addiction can be a big fish…the wrong decision can be a big fish…not doing what God called you to do can be a big fish…we can disobey but there is a cost.

--Because Jonah tried to choose a different identity and a different plan an entire city could have been affected. When he obeyed, the people of Nineveh heard the Word and repented…revival came.

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

2. We must know what we are called to do!

--Do you know what is sad? We are so much like Jonah, in that we know what God has called us to do but we choose to go a totally different direction. 

--When we speak of being called by the Lord we quickly think about specific ministries that God may or may not be calling us into.

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT) ¹¹ Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 

¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

--This next list expands on the first and really opens up the areas we can be called into.

Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)
⁶  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
⁷  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
⁸  if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Galatians 5:13 (NLT) ¹³ For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 

--I do not want to over simplify this message but according to what we just read, I come up with this basic conclusion…We are called to serve God and serve one another. Agree?

--I truly believe that we, after we have been saved, should feel a call from God to love, serve, and disciple those who have received Christ. But what of those who have not received Christ? His call for us is to go!

Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV) ¹⁵ And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
¹⁶  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

--Once we lead them to Christ, our next job is to disciple them into who God wants them to be…in other words…once they are saved we are called to serve them.

--The reason so many Christians are not enjoying their life in Christ is because they are neither going nor serving. We think, we pay others to go (missionaries) and others to serve (pastors). Out text:

1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)
⁹  But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 

--Because you are royal priests, because you are God’s very own possession, because you are saved you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 

3. We must know our identity is found in helping others find their identity.

--Right after Peter tells us that we can show others the goodness of God (in others words we show them their identity in Christ) we see that it says…Once we had no identity as a people and now we are God’s people.

--Once I did not know who I was or what I was supposed to do with my life, but now, because of finding God’s mercy…I know my identity.

--The sad woman at the well in John 4 did not know who she was and she surely did not know God had a plan for her life…Jesus knew His identity and that He came to seek and to save the lost.

--This woman thought her identity was found in having the right man, and she was right, it was the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. Once she found Him and her identity she became just like Him…what did she do?

John 4:28-42 (NKJV) ²⁸ The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men,
²⁹  "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"

--Watch this…the woman finds her identity in Christ and goes to tell the men of the city about Jesus. She did for them what Jesus had done for her!

--Jesus is saying the time is now to go and help people figure out who they are. Many received Christ because of this woman! A job well done!

Identity Theft – 5

Identity Theft – 5

Subject – One Church/One Family – The One Hundred and Twenty

By Rick Welborne

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

Acts 1:8 (NKJV) ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 

Acts 1:15 (NKJV) ¹⁵  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty)…

--Again today we welcome Pastor Neftali, Shelia and La Vida Church. We are very excited because when we come together something beautiful happens. Unity! Holy Spirit comes!

--About three weeks ago I was praying and worshiping the Lord and God began to pour this message into my heart. Obviously, I didn’t write anything down, I was in the shower.

--At first, I thought I would veer away from the series about Identity Theft but as God spoke to my heart about the One Hundred and Twenty, I knew it had everything to do with our identity.

--Life Church and La Vida church we need to know who we are in Christ and we need to know what our identity can be in Him.

1. We Have a Choice About Our Identity.

--A couple of Sundays ago I preached about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and how those events have such an impact on our identity. Without that we are lost.

--We all know Jesus was crucified for all of our sins but we also know that He was resurrected from the dead which gives all of us new life. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.

--Jesus appears during the time after His resurrection and before His ascension into Heaven, and actually, He gave all of us a choice about our identity and who we would become.

1 Corinthians 15:3-6 (NKJV)
³  For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
⁴  and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
⁵  and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
⁶  After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

--Jesus appeared, after His resurrection, to over 500 people all at one time, showing that he had conquered death and the grave, and giving them a choice to truly identify with Him.

--You see, Jesus said He would build His church and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. He was putting together His army to change the world. Then, He gave this promise:

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

--Jesus gives an invitation (altar call) to more than 500 people at one time to identify with Him and to be on His team. Wait in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Father…Holy Spirit.

--How many of them showed up? Acts 1:15 (NKJV) a hundred and twenty. Jesus gives them the opportunity of a lifetime to be world changers and to identify with Him and only about one-fifth show up.

--Does any of this sound familiar? Week after week, month after month, year after year, we give people an opportunity to identify with Christ and change their world, their families.

--Have you ever asked yourself what was so important in the lives of the other four-fifths that they didn’t think it was important enough to go and wait in Jerusalem? In church? To do what Jesus said?

--Have you ever asked yourself what is so important in the lives of people today that they choose to not show up to hear God’s Word and to experience His presence? 

--Their identity is in the world. How can something like Covid make people choose to neglect God’s house. Shouldn’t we run to God instead away from Him?

Deuteronomy 30:18-20 (NKJV)
¹⁸  I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.
¹⁹  I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
²⁰  that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; 

2. Our Obedience Leads to Our Identity.

Acts 1:4-5&8 (NKJV)
⁴  And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;
⁵  for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
⁸  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

--Jesus commanded them…if you do what I tell you, you will become a part of propagating the gospel all over the world. A Kingdom Builder. Think about the other four-fifths who didn’t show up.

--Here at La Vida Church and Life Church you can be a part of being a Kingdom Builder. How? Through Missions and Faith Promises. Obedience to the Great Commission.

--Think about, not only what Jesus thought about the one hundred and twenty, but what the world thought about them. Pastor, do you have a verse for that? I do!

Acts 17:6 (NKJV) ⁶ "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

--How many of you would love to be a part of the one hundred and twenty and be accused of turning the world upside down? Obedience does that.

--Our disobedience puts us in the category of the four-fifths who kind of disappeared into oblivion because they chose not to show up for church and be filled with Holy Spirit power.

--I want to identify with the one hundred and twenty who went against the grain of society and did not fear what man thought about them. They simply wanted to be obedient to God.

--Their obedience was not only a willingness to die to themselves but a willingness to possibly die physically which happened to many of them.

--I am afraid we have raised a generation of disobedient professors of Christ but deny the power of Holy Spirit. We are seeker sensitive and we don’t want to offend anyone.

--Is there anything more offensive that letting people perish when we are supposed to have the treasure of Christ in our earthen vessels? We actually care for their souls.

Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) ¹⁸ Where there is no vision, the people perish: 

--We need to get a vision that our identity is wrapped up in being a part of the one hundred and twenty and that we are unashamedly obedient to Jesus, whatever that may cost us. 

--How will I ever find my identity until I am obedient to the creator God Who has my life in His hands and He is molding me into what I am supposed to be?

 Isaiah 64:7-8 (NLT2)
⁷  Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins.
⁸  And yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. 

3. What it Means to be in the One hundred and Twenty Club.

--It means that we obey what Jesus commands us to do. We don’t filter His commands thru a world system that says life is all about me. 

Acts 1:4 (NKJV) ⁴ And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father…

--To be part of the One Hundred and Twenty, we simply do what Jesus tells us to do. It comes down to this, is He the Lord of your life or is it you who is in charge of your identity and destiny?

--To be part of the One Hundred and Twenty, we wait and we worship until Holy Spirit comes.

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

--They waited and they worshiped. They waited and they worshiped. They were filled with great joy. Why? They were doing what Jesus said and they were expecting the Promise of the Father!

--To be part of the One Hundred and Twenty they allowed Jesus to decide their identity and their destiny. Because He is Lord, He is the Potter and we are the clay.

--He decides who we are and what we become. 

1 Peter 2:10 (NLT2) ¹⁰ “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” 

--I want to identify with the One Hundred and Twenty! How about you?

Dream Again - 1

Dream Again - 1

Subject: Don’t Give Up on Your Dreams

By Rick Welborne

Genesis 37:5 (NLT) ⁵  One night Joseph had a dream… 

Proverbs 13:12 (NLT) ¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. 

Acts 2:17 (NLT) ¹⁷ ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 

--Today with God’s help we are starting a series called Dream Again.

--I will be the first to admit that it has been difficult to focus on dreams promised either recently or years ago because of all that is going on in the world.

--It is hard to focus on dreams when our country is so divided and, again, we are getting ready to go through the brutality of another election season. So many distractions. 

--When innocents are buried in the rubble of an earthquake, when people are drowned because of flooding, when people who are just having fun and are killed…it affects me.

--Do we care enough to pray when they are perishing…souls lost or saved for eternity? Through storms, earthquakes, God will give us a voice like never before…the ability to dream again.

--I have been asking God this week to speak to me about His dreams for me, my family, and for you…the church of Jesus Christ…three things He spoke to me.

1. Don’t worry! Your dreams will be fulfilled!

--When the Lord first spoke those words to me I must admit that I was not very excited…I was about as excited as a one legged man in a hiney kicking contest.

--God had forgotten the world was going to hell in a hand basket, that I am praying for a prodigal, that I am praying for finances, praying for family situations, praying for hurting people in the church.

--I felt the need to remind Him what all was going, obviously He was surprised and apologized immediately…

No, He did not do that, He simply said “I know…dream again! Led me to these verses:

Philippians 4:4-8 (NLT)
⁴  Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
⁵  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
⁶  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
⁷  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
⁸  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 

--Rejoice…I say it again—rejoice…I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall be continually in your mouth. Why does God have to keep reminding us of this…because life is tough and draining.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV)
¹⁷  Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls--
¹⁸  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
¹⁹  The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. 

--Not only does He tell us to rejoice and to worship Him…He goes on and tells us that in whatever situation we are in we must be considerate, gentle to everyone. Really, God, I don’t feel real nice.

--Oh, I need to be nice because You are coming soon…that is really a great reason. Don’t worry…pray! Sounds good and it even sounds spiritual but it ain’t easy when life is tough.

--Spirit filled people like to say…Pray thru…which my interpretation of that was always that we stay at the altar until we have some kind of manifestation of God’s presence…I think it can be that but even more!

--My interpretation is that when we are in a tough situation…we worship, we treat people right, we recognize the soon coming of Christ, we don’t worry, and then, we pray until we get thru the situation.

--Worry has never changed anything but prayer has moved mountains…You are dreaming again and there is a mountain in the way…worry won’t move it but prayer can. 

Matthew 21:21-22 (NKJV)
²¹  So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,'

it will be done.
²²  And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

--Once we gain God’s peace thru worship and prayer God’s peace comes. Then, we can think on those things that are true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.

2. Never forsake your God given dreams! God will fulfill them!

Genesis 37:5 (NLT) ⁵ One night Joseph had a dream… 

--Joseph, as a teenager, had a dream that his brothers and his parents would someday bow down to him and they were so happy about that…might have been better to use wisdom about his dreams.

--But you see, God dreams are that way, they are so exciting and so beautiful that you cannot keep them to yourself. Note: There will always be those who will try to kill your dreams.

--When I was a youth pastor in South Louisiana…we were on a mission’s trip to Mexico…I was on the backside of a mountain praying for the evening service…also begging God to let me be a missionary there.

--God spoke in 1982 and said you will go back to La. You will eventually become a lead pastor and when you do, your mission will be to make that church a great missions church. You have heard that part of the story.

--Key…when I got back to La. I did not immediately start looking for a church to pastor. God had said I would eventually become a lead pastor…it was not something I had to force. Just be faithful!

--Soon after I returned I was invited by the A/G leadership to come to the District for an important meeting…I had no idea what was happening…I asked my lead pastor to go with me. I was under His authority.

--He already knew about the meeting…I was so humbled when those men of God began to share one by one how they saw God’s hand on my life and how God was going to use me in the ministry. Shocked.

--The Superintendent led the other leaders (20) to lay hands on me so that God would anoint me…they said I would hear from them soon about my future…OK! I did but what happened?

--I received a letter from the GC that my license has been pulled by the La. District and they were serving me notice. I immediately contacted my Superintendent to find out what was up.

--I found out how Joseph felt when he was thrown in the pit…I asked my leader if I had misunderstood the meeting I just had with them. No, it all happened the way you say but I changed my mind.

--You called me to a meeting, I came. You and everyone else laid hands on me (with you leading the prayer) and invoked God’s blessing on me to be used in a mighty way. Yes, but I changed my mind.

--I would be dishonest if I told you I handled that gently because I was confused and angry. He warned me to calm down and I encouraged him to be honest and keep his word. They pulled my license. 

--Someone got to the leader and questioned him so he told me to re-fill out all my papers and I would be re-instated. A month later…sorry I lost your papers…do it again. Happened again. 1983 moved Fla.

--Left La to come to Fla SEU to finish my degree. No longer licensed with AG going to an AG school to get an AG degree…offers to go to other denominations. God said stay and dream!

--Got married in 1984 and it was still not resolved…can’t be an AG pastor unless you are licensed or ordained. Met a Supt from Ohio and became friends…told him my story…He, Milton, and I went to Fla Supt.

--Funny…I told him my story and he told me I was lying…that couldn’t happen. It did happen. Who was in the meeting? I told him…I know this guy…I will call…everything was confirmed.

--PFDC Supt tells me to fill out their paper work and he would fight for me…not kidding…I did the paper work and they said they lost it…I almost did too…had to meet with them and do the paper work again.

--We were almost resolved to the fact that me being ordained in the AG was not going to happen…so close to giving up…no correspondence for months and one night at 10PM Supt calls:

--You have been fully re-instated with the AG and will be receiving a formal apology for the years you have been put thru this…I did. Their words humbled me:

PFDC Leadership: At a time when many are walking away from the AG and many are walking away from the faith, you have remained faithful and we thank you. You remained faithful in serving and ministering even when you did not have our formal blessing. Many of us in this room would probably not have stayed. Again forgive us and thank you.

--They laid hands on me and prayed for me. In Jan. 1989 I became youth pastor here and in 1991 I became the lead pastor…Dream again…First thing I planned (with Margaret Belew) Missions Convention. 

--Today we celebrate having 212 FP supporting 225 missionaries…this will be a banner year for Life!

Psalm 105:17-21 (NLT)
¹⁷  Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
¹⁸  They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar.
¹⁹  Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph’s character.
²⁰  Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
²¹  Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household; he became ruler over all the king’s possessions. 

3. When God fulfills the dream! Shout! The Lord has done great things for us!

Psalm 126:1-6 (NKJV)
¹  When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream.
²  Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
³  The LORD has done great things for us, And we are glad.
⁴  Bring back our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South.
⁵  Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.
⁶  He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. 

Identity Theft – 4

Identity Theft – 4

Subject: Taking Responsibility for your Identity

By Rick Welborne

Joshua 24:15&22-24 (NCV)
¹⁵  But if you don’t want to serve the LORD, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. You may serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River, or you may serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land. As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.“
²²  Then Joshua said, “You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the LORD.“ The people said, “Yes, we are.“
²³  Then Joshua said, “Now throw away the gods that you have. Love the LORD, the God of Israel, with all your heart.“
²⁴  Then the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God, and we will obey him.“ 

--As we continue to look at this subject of “Identity Theft” I am concerned about how our world will look going forward and what our children and grandchildren will face in the days ahead. 

--Everyday there is at least one story where this issue of gender identity is brought up…a guy who competes as a girl in weight lifting and wins the National Championship in that division.

--Issues in multiple states where men claiming their identity is female going into the women’s restrooms and videoing the ladies in there…of course you do not here this on the national news.

--Don’t misunderstand me, I truly believe these people need our help and our prayers. Most of them have been abused in one form or another and have definitely lost their way.

--It is our responsibility to show them the way not just in words but in how we live. We will more than likely have to do spiritual warfare to see them set free. We must agonize in prayer!

--Just remember, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus has the power to set all of them free just like He did for us. We should never look down our noses at others because we were lost too.

1 Corinthians 6:11 (NKJV) ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

--In our text today Joshua is getting ready to pass from the scene and he is giving some very important great instructions. The more I meditated on these verses the more I saw them in the context of our identity.

Joshua 24:15 (NCV)
¹⁵  But if you don’t want to serve the LORD, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. You may serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River, or you may serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land. As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.“

--That last sentence was so magnified by Holy Spirit that I could not get away from it…we must make a choice when it comes to ourselves, our families, and our determination to serve God.

1. I Choose to Find My Identity in Christ.

--It almost sounded like Joshua was trying to talk the people out of serving God…I know how your ancestors lived and how they served the gods of the Amorites. Who were these Amorites?

Amorite – People of the hill country - Bitter; rebels; babblers.

--Joshua was asking…who are you going to identify with…the Lord or your ancestors who were a bitter bunch of rebels who were mostly talk and trouble! Where are the strong?

--Where are the men who will stand up for what is right and not be afraid to be real men…God never intended men to be effeminate and emasculated. 

--I am not saying that all men have to go out and slay a dear for dinner or love sports or be able to bench press 300 pounds but I think it is time for some Joshua’s to come forth!

--Joshua said…as for me…maybe I can’t speak for anyone else but as for me…I will serve God, I will fight for what is right, and I will be a leader, I will attempt to lead my family!

--Before it was politically incorrect, little boys played army and they played cowboys and Indians. We dreamed of being the hero of every fight we were in…we imagined doing great feats! 

--We blew something up, we got rid of the bad guys, and we rescued the damsel in distress. We wanted to be the strongest, the fastest, the best. We wanted to come in on a white horse and rescue everyone.

--Kind of like Jesus when he comes back for the final battle…He is coming on a white horse and we are coming with Him to do battle with the enemies of God and we will win…shout Hallelujah! 

Revelation 19:11-14&16 (NKJV)
¹¹  Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
¹²  His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
¹³  He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
¹⁴  And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.                      ¹⁶  And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

--Joshua said…as for me…there is a time to be a suffering servant and a time to be a conquering King. There is a time that a man has to rise up and say I am heading to war!

--Jesus does not sound wimpy to me! He sounds strong, powerful, protective! Listen men, trust me, your wives and ladies, in general, are still looking for their prince coming on a white horse.

--You can be that man. Feel that gap! Take your place and let your family know that as for me…I am going to serve the Lord…no more excuses…no more being weak!

--I wish some men would get on their feet and say…as for me, I will be that man!

2. You Will Help Your Family Find Their Identity in Christ.

--I am well aware of the dynamics or make up of our church when it comes to family and what that looks like for our congregation.

--We have traditional families with mom and dad and the kids. We have husbands and wives and no kids. We have singles and we have single moms. We have widows and widowers.

--Everyone is an integral part of the body of Christ that makes up Life Church A/G. All of you are important to God and to us. Someone in that family has to take the lead…we will serve the Lord. 

--As I have already stated, there are men in our church who should take the lead and lead their wife and children in the ways of God and His Word.

--Some of you single moms have a great challenge before you, in that you are trying to lead your family. You can be the one saying…as for me and my house we will serve the Lord

Isaiah 54:4-5 (NIV)
⁴  "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
⁵  For your Maker is your husband-- the LORD Almighty is his name-- the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. 

--Get past the fear, the disgrace, the humiliation, the shame, your loneliness and realize that God is your husband now…He is your redeemer so let Him redeem you…As for me and my family!

--Your family is looking to you for leadership…by God’s grace make some declarations and lead. We parent or parents are the greatest hope of our kids salvation and calling. Yes, it is a tough job!

--You may say…My kids are choosing the wrong path…listen, as long as they are in your house you lead them to God, to church, to the Word…you show them the way…As for me and my house!

3. You Will Find Your Identity in Serving the Lord.

Joshua 24:15 (NCV) ¹⁵ But if you don’t want to serve the LORD, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.

--The Scriptures are clear, in that, we only have two choices in whom we will serve…it is either God or Mammon, money, the Cosmos, the world, the flesh, ourselves, Satan.

Matthew 6:24&31-33 (NLT)
²⁴  “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
³¹  “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
³²  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
³³  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 

Dave Arnold – Faith is the link that connects our weakness to God’s strength. When we depend on ourselves, people can see what we can do. When we serve and depend on God, people can see what He can do.

--As for you and your family, serve God…be faithful and watch what He will do!

2 Peter 2:9 (NCV) ⁹ So the Lord knows how to save those who serve him when troubles come. He will hold evil people and punish them, while waiting for the Judgment Day.

Listen to what Jesus said when Satan tried to tempt Him to bow down:

Luke 4:5-8 (NIV)
⁵  The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
⁶  And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
⁷  So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
⁸  Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"