Pursuing Peace and Breaking Down Walls

Subject: Praying Circles Around Walls that Need to Fall

by Rick Welborne

Ephesians 2:10-14 (NKJV)
¹⁰  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
¹¹  Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--
¹²  that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
¹³  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
¹⁴  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 

Hebrews 12:14-15 (NKJV)
¹⁴  Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
¹⁵  looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

1. Pursuing peace becomes a reality when we understand some important things about it.

--All of us, at some personal deep level, long for the reality of peace.

--The absence of war and conflict does not constitute the presence of peace.

--Real peace is an internal phenomenon.

--Real peace enables you to sleep when the wind is howling.

--Real peace assures you of the right even when standing in the presence of wrong.

--Real peace lets you see yourself standing when all around you are falling.

--Everyone longs for this kind of peace but sometimes it seems so allusive. 

--Paul, in our text, could see that there was the absence of real, genuine, authentic, abiding peace. There were, as you know, divisions in the church.

--There were divisions between the Jews and Gentiles. Jews were the upper crust and the Gentiles were the intruders. The Jews were the circumcised and the Gentiles were the uncircumcised.

--The Jews had been there a long time and the Gentiles had just gained entrance. The Jews understood the impact and importance of ceremonial law. Gentiles were new to all this.

--Because of these differences there seemed to be a spirit of strife and a lack of peace.

2. Where there is a lack of peace…there is the presence of walls.

--You do remember that the temple in Jerusalem was a temple divided. There were the men…a wall…the women…a wall and then the Gentiles. All behind a wall.

--The wall created division, the wall created strife, the wall meant separation, the wall divided husbands from wives, men from women, Jews from Gentiles…therefore there was no peace.

 --We all know walls are important in Scripture. In Isaiah we read about the watchman on the wall. In Nehemiah we read about him rebuilding the walls and gates that were destroyed.

--In Ezra we read how Zerubbabel and how he had the assignment of rebuilding the wall.

H. Beecher Hicks, Jr. - “Walls are funny things.  Walls not only invade our lives physically, but also affect our lives emotionally. They influence our lives mentally. Walls bother our lives psychologically. Are you aware of the walls in your life? Are you aware of the walls that lurks in your own mind?

3. Let’s see what a wall is or what it does.

Defense Mechanism - designed to shut out. It protects me from you. A wall defends me from being known for what I am. If there is no wall, you can see my weaknesses and I can see your weaknesses, so to protect and defend myself, I build a wall.

Prevents Communication - as long as a wall exists I can possibly know that you are talking but I cannot understand what you are saying.  As long as I don’t understand what you are saying, there is no communication, therefore, there can be no peace.

Prevents Sight - I do not have x-ray vision like superman. I can’t see you and you can’t see me if there are walls - when I cannot see you, I cannot sense you, or understand you. I cannot appreciate you. Therefore, there is no peace.

As long as there is a wall there:

--I cannot see the smile on your face and therefore share your joy.

--I cannot see the frown on your face and therefore participate in your pain.

--I cannot see the tear that flows down your cheek and therefore, I am insulated from your hurt.

--I have a defense mechanism. I cannot hear you. I cannot see you, there is no communication, and therefore, because our relationship is incomplete, because our relationship is not full, because I have not really sought to share with you and you have not sought to share legitimately with me, therefore, there is no peace.

4. Let’s look at the dangers of allowing these walls (this lack of peace in our lives).

Compartmentalization - We compartmentalize our homes, our churches, and our Christianity.

--The enemy’s strategy for our homes and churches is divide and conquer.

--You do your thing and I will do mine. We live and worship under the same roof but have no peace.

--Jesus prayer for us was that we would be one (unified, together, with one mind, with peace).

--As long as we are comfortable with our compartments there will be no peace.

5. There are two kinds of walls. A bearing wall and an interior (middle) wall.  

--To simplify: the bearing wall is designed to bear the weight of a structure and is connected

to the foundation. No wall is a bearing wall unless it is connected - foundation.

1 Corinthians 3:11 (NKJV)
¹¹  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

--This is so important: The middle wall can be removed without any danger to the structure.

Ephesians 2:14 (NKJV)
¹⁴  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 

--Tonight would be a good time to confess the walls we have in our lives and get free. To find peace.

2018 - Leaving It All Behind

Subject: How to Move Forward in 2018

Rick Welborne

Philippians 3:1-14 (NKJV)
¹  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
²  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
³  For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
⁴  though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
⁵  circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
⁶  concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
⁷  But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
⁸  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
⁹  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
¹⁰  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
¹¹  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
¹²  Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
¹³  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
¹⁴  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

--All of us go through times or even years that we are glad to get those things behind us. Sometimes life stinks or life hurts and we just need a new beginning…a new mind and heart set.

--Maybe you lost a loved one or relationships went south…whatever it was, it hurt and now we have to make a choice…do we live back there or do we move forward.

--Some people say the Christian things that they know they are supposed to say but their hearts are still stuck in the mire of the mess of days gone by.

--Maybe you are saying you have forgiven someone but you know…you know that you have not let it go and secretly (or at least you think) you are carrying the grudge or the bitterness. It shows more than you know!

--I am here tonight to see you get free so that 2018 can be everything God wants it to be for you and really everything you want but can’t see it because of the pain or anger. Time to grow so let it go!

1. If we will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because nothing will be more important than knowing Christ.

--Let’s face it…no one else hung on a tree for you and died for you…only Jesus did that for you!

--My relationship with Him…me getting to know Him will determine my destiny and my future…doesn’t it make sense that if I will discover His plan for my life, I must know Him intimately.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (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.
¹²  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
¹³  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
¹⁴  I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

--My son Jeremy texted me while I was reading this scripture…He wanted prayer about a job interview…I told him it was not a coincidence! 

--We all know pain, disappointment, hurt, struggles, broken hearts…If we leave all this stuff behind it will be because we know Christ. 

Philippians 3:8 (NIV)
⁸  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

2. If we will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because we put on His righteousness and not ours.

--Can we get something straight once and for all, anything that comes out of our lives that is good is because of Jesus in us, not us. Stop thinking you are all that. Without Jesus you are ugly!

--We always want to prove how we are right…If we are right it is because of the righteous God Who dwells inside of us…not ourselves.

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.

--This scriptures shouts to us to stop being arrogant Pharisees and start being humble servants…thankful that we are forgiven and thankful that we are right with God because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus!

Philippians 3:9 (NKJV)
⁹  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

3. If we will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because we are filled with God’s resurrection power…baptized in His Holy Spirit.

--Charles Finney in his own testimony of his conversion tells of how Holy Spirit came upon him transforming his life. Life Church, if we lose this…we lose our true identity and destiny.

--A Chinese pastor visiting the United States made this comment about our American churches: It is really amazing how much your churches can get done without the power of Holy Spirit.

--Sadly we have learned here in America to relegate Holy Spirit to a back room somewhere or not to invite Him at all…Here at Life Church I want us to learn to depend on Him more and more.

Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)
¹⁰  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

4. If we will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because we understand that the suffering and death of 2017 were only part of the process of experiencing His resurrection power.

Philippians 3:10-11 (NKJV)
¹⁰  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
¹¹  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

--Either everything we have been thru can just be horrible memories or it can be a working of God’s grace and power in our lives to make us trust Jesus more…We choose the latter.

--It is impossible to have a resurrection without experiencing death.

Ezekiel 37:12-14 (NKJV)
¹²  Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
¹³  Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.
¹⁴  I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.' "

--If you have been experiencing death in whatever way it came at you in 2017…maybe walking thru the valley of the shadow of death…get ready to experience the resurrection power of Holy Spirit.

Psalm 23:4-5 (NKJV)
⁴  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
⁵  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 

5. If you will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because we have determined to lay hold of that which Christ has laid hold of us. 

Philippians 3:12 (NKJV)
¹²  Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

--How many of you are glad that Jesus laid hold of you…say what? He saved you!! 

--He passionately and aggressively saved you…He gave His life! We must lay hold of Him because of how He saved us…if we will start a new campus and grow to over 1000 we must aggressively take hold of the lost. 

--When we are truly glad for what Jesus has done for us, it will motivate us to seek Him with all of our hearts. This causes us to passionately go after the lost. Skating rink in Louisiana.

6. If we will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because we forget those things which are behind us and start reaching forward for the new life Christ has for us.

Philippians 3:13 (NKJV)
¹³  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

--2017 has been a lot of hurting, sickness, pain, trials, setbacks, frustrations, deaths, challenges, attacks of the enemy from without and within, and disappointments…okay!

--We can wallow in it like a pig wallowing in his mud hole or we can say, Thank God we have come through and now we are excited about what God has for 2018. 

1 Peter 1:3-9 (NKJV)
³  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
⁴  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
⁵  who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
⁶  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
⁷  that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
⁸  whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
⁹  receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.

--We have to believe that God is working all things together for our good. Looking back causes crashes…set your face like a flint on the prize…Jesus!

7. If we will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because we press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!

Philippians 3:14 (NKJV)
¹⁴  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

--God help me to press…to strain…to resist the enemy…to fight to get the prize! Resistance in our natural bodies is what makes us physically strong.

--It is also true in the spiritual realm…all the mess is only to make us stronger. The crushing is not to kill us but to produce the oil of the Holy Spirit flowing out of us.

Acts 20:22-24 (NKJV)
²²  And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
²³  except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
²⁴  But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

--We need to press forward and we need to finish…to finish strong!

Pray Circles Around Your Walls

Subject: Pray Until Something Happens – P.U.S.H.

Rick Welborne

Joshua 6:8-20 (NLT)
⁸  After Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests with the rams’ horns started marching in the presence of the LORD, blowing the horns as they marched. And the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant followed behind them.
⁹  Some of the armed men marched in front of the priests with the horns and some behind the Ark, with the priests continually blowing the horns.
¹⁰  “Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!”
¹¹  So the Ark of the LORD was carried around the town once that day, and then everyone returned to spend the night in the camp.
¹²  Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests again carried the Ark of the LORD.
¹³  The seven priests with the rams’ horns marched in front of the Ark of the LORD, blowing their horns. Again the armed men marched both in front of the priests with the horns and behind the Ark of the LORD. All this time the priests were blowing their horns.
¹⁴  On the second day they again marched around the town once and returned to the camp. They followed this pattern for six days.
¹⁵  On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the town as they had done before. But this time they went around the town seven times.
¹⁶  The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the town!
¹⁷  Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies.
¹⁸  “Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel.
¹⁹  Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the LORD and must be brought into his treasury.”
²⁰  When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it. 

Luke 18:1 (NLT)
¹  One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 

--When I shared with you, Life Church, about the dream God has given me about a campus in the Villages, I shared the story about Honi…the Circle Maker!

--In the 1^st Century BC there was a devastating drought that threatened to destroy a generation…the generation before Jesus. Miracles were only a distant memory and it seemed God was nowhere to be found.

--But there was a man, a sage, who dared to pray and believe God anyway. His name was Honi. He believed that even though people could not hear God, he believed God could still hear them. 

--Honi was known for his ability to pray for rain and today was going to be his big opportunity (huge)…with a six-foot staff in his hand, he began to turn like a math compass in a circular motion…very methodical.

--Without looking up he turned 90 degrees, then 180 degrees, then 270 degrees, 360 degrees as the crowd looked on…After what seemed like hours but had only been seconds, Honi drops to his knees.

--With his hands raised to heaven and with authority like the prophet Elijah when he called fire down from heaven, Honi called down rain:

Honi – Lord of the universe, I swear before Your Great Name that I will not move from this circle until You have shown mercy upon your children.

--This prayer was not just a prayer of his voice but a prayer from the depths of his soul…Those who were nearby and heard the prayer were impacted by the authority in which he prayed.

--His prayer was resolute but humble, confident yet meek, expectant but unassuming. Then, it happened as the prayer ascended into heaven, raindrops began to fall as the people gasp. 

--While all heads were looking upward, Honi’s head was still bowed because he was not yet satisfied with a few drops from heaven, his voice raised above those who were celebrating:

Honi – Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain that will fill cisterns, pits, and caverns. 

--History tells us that eyewitnesses said there were not drops of rain smaller than an egg in size…so much rain that the people had to run to the Temple Mount to avoid the flash floods…what a picture.

--Honi has not moved outside the circle and again raises his voice with another bold prayer:

Honi – Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain of your favor, blessings, and graciousness. 

--The day before the day it had been difficult to believe it could be possible but the day after the day, it was impossible not to believe. 

--So what are you saying, Pastor Rick? I am asking you to draw a circle around you today and pray boldly that the dream God has given you and Life Church will come to pass just like the rain fell for Honi.

1. In 2018 I challenge you to pray bold prayers!

--Life Church, God is looking for people who will pray prayers like their lives depend upon it, pray prayers that will resurrect the dead (prodigals), and prayers that will make walls come crashing down.

--Our bold prayers honor God and God honors bold prayers.

Mark Batterson: God isn’t offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren’t impossible to you, they are insulting to God. Why? Because they do not require divine intervention. But ask God to part the Red Sea or make the sun stand still or float an ax head, and God is moved to omnipotent action.

--We must be convinced in 2018 that God loves keeping promises, answering prayers, performing miracles, and fulfilling dreams. That is Who He is! That is what He does! The bolder the prayer, more glory for God!

--God is just waiting for our human impotence to intersect with His divine omnipotence, and they intersect when we go around those walls one more time and pray for them to fall. 

--But, Pastor, I have prayed for ten years for the miracle…pray another year and pray boldly that this is going to be the time for God to show up in power and majesty!

--I promise you God is ready and He is willing…you must get in your mind and seal it in your heart that God is for you. If you don’t believe that you will pray weak timid prayers. If you believe it you will pray bold prayers!

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

2. In 2018 I challenge you to pray and not give up or quit!

Luke 18:1-8 (NLT)
¹  One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
²  “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.
³  A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’
⁴  The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,
⁵  but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
⁶  Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.
⁷  Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
⁸  I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” 

--Justice will come from a just Judge…How do we view God?

--Do we see Him as just to others but not to us? Is He just to Americans but not to Muslims? Is God just to everyone? Is He truly willing that none should perish? Is He willing to answer our prayers?

--Is your God waiting with a big stick wanting to crack you on the head the first mistake you make or is He so far away and so unconcerned about you and your problems…He can’t be touched by your stuff.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV)
¹⁴  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
¹⁵  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
¹⁶  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

--How we view the justice of God will determine how we view our world and those closest to us. If we believe He does not care…we will not care for them…the judge neither feared God or cared about people.

--Justice will come to the chosen who cry out night and day. The story Jesus told was to emphatically say that if an unjust judge will give justice, how much more will the just Judge God answer those who cry out night and day! Don’t quit praying!

--How we pray will determine how we live…how we pray will determine how we care for the lost and hurting…how we pray will determine how much we trust our just God.

--Justice will come to those who pray and never give up. We give up, we quit way to soon! What if Israel would have gone around Jericho one less time on that last day? Stopped on lap 12. No miracle!

--What would have happened if the people would have started talking instead of being silent …Be still and know I am God? Their history proved their grumbling and complaining killed miracles.

--What if we pray one more time today and then, do it again tomorrow…what will happen if we pray and never give up?

3. In 2018 pray circles around those things that are most important.

--When I first read about Honi (the Circle Maker) and his miracle of praying for rain…I started trying to pray circles around everything and everyone I was already praying for. God said…you’re missing the point!

--Don’t misunderstand me, everything I pray for is very important and every person I mention in my prayers are dear to me and obviously are dear to God.

--I will continue to pray for all these needs but when it comes to praying bold circles around certain needs that are absolutely near to God’s heart and mine…I pray with a different intensity.

--Three needs that are near to me are my family, my church, and the lost! All these things are near to the heart of God so I will pray bold circles around them.

--When I am praying bold circles around my family, I am praying for my marriage to Tricia…do we have a good marriage, yes, but could it be better by me praying circles around it…of course.

--I pray for my kids to love God and to find their calling and destiny with Him…I plead the blood of Jesus over them and I pray favor over them every day.

Joshua 24:14-15 (NKJV)
¹⁴  "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!
¹⁵  And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

--When I pray bold circles around the church (Life Church) I pray for Holy Spirit, Book of Acts growth and that Jesus will build His Body and multiply us by souls being saved. Pray circles around the Villages for the campus

Matthew 16:18 (NIV)
¹⁸  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

--When I pray for the prodigals I pray circles around my own family (who are lost), your families, and those I am witnessing to in our communities.

Isaiah 60:1-4 (NKJV)
¹  Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
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.
³  The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
⁴  "Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side.