2019 - The Great Commission

2019 - The Great Commission

Subject – Let’s Make It Personal

by Rick Welborne

Isaiah 64:1‑12 (NKJV) 

1 Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence‑‑ 

2 As fire burns brushwood, As fire causes water to boil‑‑ To make Your name known to Your adversaries, That the nations may tremble at Your presence! 

3 When You did awesome things for which we did not look, You came down, The mountains shook at Your presence. 

4 For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him. 

5 You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways. You are indeed angry, for we have sinned‑‑ In these ways we continue; And we need to be saved. 

6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. 

7 And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities. 

8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. 

9 Do not be furious, O LORD, Nor remember iniquity forever; Indeed, please look‑‑we all are Your people! 

10 Your holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. 

11 Our holy and beautiful temple, Where our fathers praised You, Is burned up with fire; And all our pleasant things are laid waste. 

12 Will You restrain Yourself because of these things, O LORD? Will You hold Your peace, and afflict us very severely? 

1. To fulfill the Great Commission you must come to a place of personal crisis. 

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) 

6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. 

Crisis - a crucial stage at which future events are determined.

–By what you decide to do with this mission’s convention...by that, I mean it can determine your future, our missionaries’ future, and those they will reach.

–Life Church members and faithful attenders, you may find yourself at a crucial stage- a change and the future is what is at stake...I am speaking of personal crisis and responsibility.

–You may have been distracted, possibly negligent, desperate - a new day - a new future.  God sent me tonight to tell you, your future is not what it used to be. It can be awesome!

–Do you suppose it was a time of personal crisis in my life the first time God dealt with me about pastoring a great mission’s church, how about when I first became pastor of Life Church, and the first thing God wanted me to plan was a mission’s convention?

–Did these decisions set my course...did it set the course of Life Church...when I realized I was responsible to do something about the lost everywhere...it moved me to action.

–Two examples - Judas (Crisis) - Accomplished nothing - Peter - Crisis - led thousands...

2. To fulfill the Great Commission you must come to a place of personal contact. 

Isaiah 64:7 (NKJV) 

7 And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities. 

–In the midst of your crisis you must purpose in our hearts to wait on God...to call on Him…to take hold of Him

–Many of you have been waiting on God - you know He has a plan...don’t let go!

–You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness -Missions - right thing to do...it is the obedient thing to do.

5 You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways.

–You cannot stir yourself and take hold of God and not be consumed with a passion for the lost...not possible because you will have His heart.

–If we are not supporting missions - He is not on our minds - we are not experiencing His heart - disobedient.

–We need to be set free from our apathy & negligence of the Great Commission...Pastor, He has not laid Missions on my heart...does He have to when it is in His Word?

3. To fulfill the Great Commission you must come to a place of powerful confrontation.

Isaiah 64:1, 8 (NKJV) 

1 Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence‑‑ 

8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. 

–Life Church, it is God rending the heavens and coming down for us...for you! It is surrendering into the Potter’s hand in your crisis and while you wait on Him.

–It is a road to Damascus experience - a wrestling with an angel - a Brownsville.

It is an undeniable experience with the living God confirmed by a changed life.

–You cannot have a powerful confrontation with God and not love missions...not care for the lost here and on foreign soil.

–An obedient church and obedient individuals to the Great Commission - blessed- powerful confrontations ...they set themselves up for encounters with God for themselves and for those in their lives.

4. To fulfill the Great Commission you must come to a place of persistent commitment. 

Isaiah 64:7 (NKJV) 

7 And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You;. 

–It is Him increasing in our lives and us decreasing.  Persistent faithfulness. Commitment. It is persistently calling on His Name (lost) and stirring ourselves to reach out.

2 Timothy 1:6‑12 (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. 

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 

9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 

10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 

11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 

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

–It is passionate discipline born out of a powerful confrontation with Him...please catch the vision of the great commission...the Godly vision:

Godly vision - the power to see beyond our limitations.  

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Helen Keller - What’s worse than being blind?  Having eye sight but no vision.

Vision:  1.the ability to see. 2. The faith to believe. 3. The courage to do. 4. The hope to endure.   

–Life Church, can you see it? Do you have faith to believe it? Do you have the courage to do it? Do you have a willingness to endure what God commands?

Isaiah 64:4 (NKJV) 

4 For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him. 

–I don’t know about you but I want God working or acting on my behalf...He will.

–Why be obedient?  Why have hope?  Why be persistently committed to Him? Jesus confronted our sinfulness and lost-ness and defeated it...Wow!  My freedom is worth me giving it all!

Romans 5:5‑10 (NIV) 

5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 

7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 

10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 

–We give faithfully because of the love of God shed abroad in our hearts. We love Him because He first loved us.

–We obey Him because He was obedient to die for us on the cross...Phil.2

5. To fulfill the Great Commission you must come to a place of passionate communion.

–Passionate communion makes us cry with Isaiah:

Isaiah 64:1 (NIV) 

1 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! 

–Passionate communion will make us tremble in Your presence (1-3), it will help us recognize the awesome things you have done (3), it will help us know that you act on behalf of those who wait on you!

–When we have passionate communion You gladly help us (5) and when we need to be remolded or re-made...You are the Potter and we are the clay...we become moldable. (8)

–When we have passionate communion You help us see what is important: Paul saw it:

Philippians 3:8‑11 (MSG) 

8 Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ 

9 and be embraced by Him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God's righteousness. 

10 I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience His resurrection power, be a partner in His suffering, and go all the way with Him to death itself. 

11 If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it. 

–I know it is not the American way of explaining our relationship with God especially when it comes to the Great Commission:

1. Paul said, “My love for Christ and His love for me is worth me eliminating things in my life that aren’t good.”  You fill in that blank.

2. Paul said, “My love for Christ and His love for me is worth me changing my priorities.”  Maybe 2019 is when you make Missions a priority and not just a token.

3. Paul said, “Nothing is more important than knowing Christ and partnering with Him in reaching the world.”

4. Paul said, “Nothing is more important than making sure others experience the same resurrection power that I have experienced!”

Mission’s Convention – 2019

Mission’s Convention – 2019

Faith Promise Challenge

by Rick Welborne

Romans 10:13-15 (NKJV)
¹³  For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
¹⁴  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
¹⁵  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" 

First, do you believe Jesus has told us to go into the whole world and to preach the gospel, making disciples of all nations?

Second, do you believe the message or the heart of your pastor when he tells you that God sent him here to build a great missions church? Did God really speak that to me? Can you trust the man of God He has sent to you?

Third, would there be power in unity if we all came on board with this vision and this dream?

The Fruit of the Spirit – 6

The Fruit of the Spirit – 6

Subject: Learning to Walk in the Fruit of the Spirit

by Rick Welborne

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

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

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

6. The Fruit of the Spirit - Goodness

Goodness – the state or quality of being good. Moral excellence, virtue. Kindness, generosity. Excellence of quality. The best part of anything. Essence or strength.

Biblical goodness - in man, goodness is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good.

--From this Biblical definition of goodness I see three things I want us to look at. A Deliberate Preference of Right, A Persistent Resistance of all Moral Evil, and The Choosing and Following of that which is Good. 

A. A Deliberate Preference of Right. 

--It sounds like God expects us to make a willful choice to do what is right and what is virtuous in His sight…really what is in His Word. Paul says it like this. Look at the different translations.

Ephesians 5:7 (NKJV)
⁷  Therefore do not be partakers with them. 

Ephesians 5:7 (NCV)
⁷  So have nothing to do with them.

Ephesians 5:7 (NIV)
⁷  Therefore do not be partners with them. 

Ephesians 5:7 (NLT2)
⁷  Don’t participate in the things these people do.

--If we will walk in righteousness and if we will have the fruit of the Spirit ‘goodness’ we will have to be deliberate in all of our ways and all of our choices. 

--As far as people who are choosing to do evil and to live contrary to God’s will and Word, we must not partake with them, we must have nothing to do with them, we must not be partners with them, we must not participate with them. 

--Probably the thing that has been most difficult to understand as a pastor is seeing people who know better, partake, fellowship with, become partners with, participate with people walking in darkness. 

--If that is not enough, they try to convince me that God is okay with what they are doing because now is their time to be happy and to enjoy life. 

--Please show me in the Bible where God gives any of us a pass to live anyway we want to and have the audacity to think or believe God is okay with that. Come out from among them and be separate says the Lord! Remember:

Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT2)
¹⁹  When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
²⁰  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
²¹  envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

--Maybe we should pause and ask this very important question…why or what would be our motivation to make a deliberate choice or to have a deliberate preference to do what is right?

Ephesians 5:7-8 (NKJV)
⁷  Therefore do not be partakers with them.
⁸  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…

--As a believer, do I really have to ask why I need to be deliberate about living for God and doing what is right. Paul says here…You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord!

--Well, Pastor Rick, I did not go down a rebellious road, I didn’t smoke, drink, or do drugs…I didn’t mess around and I was raised in church all my life. Congratulations! I am truly happy for you.

--Please understand that all of us are still in darkness until Jesus comes into our lives whether raised in church or out in the world raising hell!

 Psalm 18:28 (NIV)
²⁸  You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. 

--So because I was once darkness and because God has turned my darkness into light, I should make a deliberate choice or have a preference to do what is right.

--God deserves all the glory and deserves for me to want to or prefer to follow Him instead of the things of this world. One brought me liberty and freedom while the other held me in chains of darkness. 

Psalm 37:1-7 (NKJV)
¹  Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
²  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
³  Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
⁴  Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
⁵  Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
⁶  He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.
⁷  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;  

B. A Persistent Resistance of all Moral Evil

Ephesians 5:11-14 (NLT2)
¹¹  Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
¹²  It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.
¹³  But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them,
¹⁴  for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

--I looked up the word ‘Resistance’ and I think it is applicable to what we are saying tonight:

Resistance - the refusal to accept or comply with something; the attempt to prevent something by action or argument. Synonyms: opposition to · hostility to · aversion to · refusal to accept. The ability not to be affected by something, especially adversely.

--Verse 11 says take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness. In other words, we refuse to accept them or comply with them. We oppose them…we refuse to accept them.

--I am so afraid that the Church has bought into this idea of tolerance and hate speech. We are not to confront anyone with their evil ways, and if we do, it is hate speech. Ridiculous! The Bible says to expose them.

--Resistance to evil is not just doing the evil but also talking about evil and sin with great affection…¹² It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.

--We have all heard people talk about their past with such longing that they sound like Israel when God brought them out of Egypt…they complained so much that God killed some with fire. They continued.

Numbers 11:4-6 (NKJV)
⁴  Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: "Who will give us meat to eat?
⁵  We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;
⁶  but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!"

--Careful, Christians, when you say that Jesus, the Bread of Life is not enough to satisfy the desires of your heart and you start looking back at the world desiring to go back. 

--It takes tenacity and fortitude to resist the evil of our day. We and our children, our grandchildren are being attacked from so many directions. Our advancement is technology has made us vulnerable. 

 James 4:4-10 (NLT2)
⁴  You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 

⁵  What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?
⁶  But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”
⁷  So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
⁸  Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 

⁹  Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 

¹⁰  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. 

--Many seem not to understand this principle of God but nevertheless it is true…God will help us through whatever we are facing but we have to work with Him…we have to do our part. He will if you will! Absolute!

--It takes us humbling ourselves, it takes us resisting the devil, it takes us drawing near to God, it takes us having clean hands, it takes us having pure hearts, it takes us being broken and repenting…this is our part!

--God’s part…to give favor to the humble, to come close to you, and to lift you up! See how we work with God at resisting evil and drawing near to Him. As we do, He comes running!

C. The Choosing and Following of that which is Good. 

--The choosing and following of that which is good leads us to a place where we need to just Stop It! Video

--If you have been noticing we have referred back to the Apostle Paul in Eph. 5 again and again. Paul is showing us in these verses how to have the fruit of the Spirit…goodness!

--Goodness as a fruit of the Spirit is A Deliberate Preference of Right, A Persistent Resistance of all Moral Evil, and The Choosing and Following of that which is Good. 

Ephesians 5:14-20 (NLT2)
¹⁴  for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
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,
¹⁹  singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
²⁰  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

--Paul is saying ‘Wake up!’ What a great message for the church! Christ will give you light that will lead you to goodness. Be careful how you live…don’t live like fools…the fool has said in his heart, there is no God.

--Give thought to the will of God for you. Don’t be intoxicated by this world but be filled with Holy Spirit! Be a worshiper, Give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Find goodness!

--Choose to be filled with Holy Spirit and to walk in the fruit of the Spirit – goodness!

The Fruit of the Spirit – 5

The Fruit of the Spirit – 5

Subject: Learning to Walk in the Fruit of the Spirit

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.

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

Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary – Kindness - An attribute of God and quality desirable but not consistently found in humans. Yet human imitation of God's kindness does not come naturally. In fact, ultimately no one is kind. It is only as the fruit of God's Spirit that kindness can be a consistent part of the believer's experience (Gal 5:22).

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

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

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT2)
³¹  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
³²  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

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

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

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

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

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

B. Kindness is not about saving ourselves.

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

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

C. Kindness is following Jesus’ model.

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

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

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

3. To show kindness, don’t only look out for what you are interested but the interests of others. 4

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

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

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

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

Mission's Conference Week 1

Make Disciples – 2019 - 5

Subject – Celebrating God’s Faithfulness thru Our People

by Rick Welborne

Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT2)
¹⁶  Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
¹⁷  When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
¹⁸  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
¹⁹  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
²⁰  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

--As we approached this day I began to pray about how I would be able to share a message about “Make Disciples” and making that tie to Missions.

--Sometimes I feel God has to deal with me like that child that is very much loved but is not the brightest kid that He has. Thank God for His patience with us. Lord, how can I share this with our people?

--I kind of felt like He said, “Really, Ricky!” Of course, I said yes, Lord, please help me! He spoke to me and said, “Read the verse you have been using for your title real slow and pay attention!” Yes, Lord!

Matthew 28:19 (NLT2)
¹⁹  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…

--The Lord said, “Stop! Read that again!” I read it again and went real slow. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…Have you ever felt really silly talking with God…it’s right there in front of me. 

--God the Son, Jesus is saying to us…Go and make disciples of all nations. That’s the message and that is what I will be communicating to you today with Holy Spirit’s help. How can they go if they are not sent?

--If my pastoral staff and myself will help to make you into the disciple Jesus wants you to be…you must catch the vision of missions. After Jesus’ resurrection it was His primary message. Go and Make Disciples!

--Today we will be celebrating God’s faithfulness through His people…through you…through Life Church! Get ready to give all the glory to God…to celebrate His awesome faithfulness. 

1. Though our wonderful House of Hope and all their incredible volunteers, in 2018 we gave to our community 315,060 pounds or 158 tons of food. An increase of almost 54,000 lbs. 27 tons more of food.

--The House of Hope is led by Everett Bass and his awesome team…thanks so much! Please stand!

--Life Church spent only $13,842 in purchasing food (Second Harvest) and the rest was given by you, by First Baptist Church of Leesburg, Operation Blessings, and by Harbor Oaks Community. 

--They averaged about 367 families a month…4,400 families annually. Up 354 from last year. 

--Brother Bass’s report said that they ministered to or impacted about 1,200 individuals a month! Volunteer hours were 4800 hours. 92 a week! Up 900 hours from last year.

2. Through Joseph’s Storehouse (our benevolence ministry) we gave over $28,000 to help the poor and needy in our community, to help teachers in two schools, and to help those needing counseling.

Back to School Teachers      $5,900

Dr. Duke - 289 visits             $7,225

Christmas Blessing               $4,700

Community Benevolence    $10,193 - includes Utility & Rental Assistance as well as any monies spent on Funeral/Memorial Services

--We have cultivated an atmosphere of generosity at Life Church and I commend you for catching the vision of what God is doing and desires to do.  

--I figured that we gave close to $540 a week (an average) to help the poor and needy in our community. God bless you, Life Church, for your amazing generosity. 

Proverbs 19:17 (NLT)
¹⁷  If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD— and he will repay you! 

--I don’t believe there is a lack of funds for ministry but I do believe there is a lack of vision…people will put their money where there is vision.

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

--Leadership is here to bring vision and revelation about what our responsibilities are…the poor and missions!

3. Through our Life Church Mission’s Program in 2018 we were able to do amazing things!

--Life Church Missions is led by Dan and Peggy Duvall and Joel and Carrie Rosario and a wonderful mission’s board. Please stand!

--We started the year with 170 missionaries and because of your generosity we ended the year with 180…48 US and 132 World…do you understand how incredible that is? Thank you for being so faithful!

--I always want people to know how we support US Missions because many will try to say, “Why do we send so much money around the world when the US needs help?” We get it. We support 48 here and could do more!

--Because we had 82 new Faith Promises to Missions last year, for the first time we had over 250…actually 252. It is so important for everyone to give to the General Missions so that we can increase our numbers.

Our Faith Promises totaled    $272,916…our total giving was much higher than that…watch this: We gave to:

Speed the Light                      $  1,221 

BGMC                                    $14,844

Local Missions                       $     576 - Evangelism tracks & support for local benevolence ministry

Puerto Rico Missions Trip     $ 23,159

Sunday School                       $   3,674 - Sunday School Materials, Breakfast foods, and percent to Pen-FL)

LaVida                                   $   4,173 - outreach for Spanish Ministry

Light for the Lost                  $    2,450 

Hallowed King Family Fest. $    2,385 - outreach in our community

Disaster Relief                       $    1,465 - monies spent for North Carolina and North Florida relief. 

Missions To Assemblies       $ 10,685 Missions sent by people directly to AG

                                               $ 38,006 Non-AG - represents 26 different ministries

                                               $327,870 A/G 

Total for the above     $430,508

--Just think what we could do if we had 100% participation? Make a FP of $1 a week…can’t pay it…I will!

--Out of 13000 churches in the A/G…we have been in the top 100 (75 last year) for several years…how crazy is it that a relatively small A/G Church can accomplish that…your generosity! God’s faithfulness!

--I expect my pastoral leadership, my Board of Deacons, department heads, and all who lead to be an example of faithful and generosity to Missions…General Missions! It is our life blood and why we are so blessed!

--I have had people ask me thru the years does Life Church tithe (give 10%) of the money that comes in back into ministry and missions? I say “no” because we give about one-third of our funds into these areas.

--That being said, we had been taking 3% of our GF and putting it into all the other Mission’s giving of our church. This 

4. Life Church is celebrating God’s favor in an incredible way in La Vida, our Spanish Ministry.

• • 21 members received.
• • 1^st baby dedication (Jeremiah)
• • 6 baptisms
• • An average of 20 people serving each week.
• • Vida Kidz – 2 kids to an average of 6.
• • Under 15 people in average attendance in 2017 and an average of 35 in 2018.
• • Our 3-member band in 2017 is now a 7-member band. That’s a big deal for this ministry!
• • Gave under $500 to missions in 2017. Gave a little over $3,000 to missions in 2018. That’s about 12% of total ministry income!
• • Total giving in 2017 was $7,000. In 2018 it was $26,000! Which means more resources to reach more people for the kingdom of God!
• • Pastor Juan - Look at all that God did in just one year. Imagine what He’ll do this year!

5. Life Church is celebrating all the ministries and giving God the glory!

--Our Men’s Ministry under Bill Bibler is growing and thriving! Our WMs Ministry is flourishing under Donna Brooker.

--The Life Church Music Department under Pastor Aaron and his team is growing so much! Bible Quiz has exploded with growth and success under Pastor Mark and Christie Anne.

--BYF under Pastor Marty and Faye just had one of its largest attendances ever with their kick-off for this year.  Connect Groups are growing under Pastor Joseph. 

--We could go on and on but time will not permit. Thanks to all the other ministries that are also growing and making disciples on a regular basis.

--Yes, we are here to celebrate God’s faithfulness but we are here at the beginning of this Missions Month to boast in the Lord, to celebrate you and your faithfulness, and to challenge you again to commit to FPs.

--When we take on a missionary we do it basically for life or at least until they come off the field. We challenge you to be here these first three Sundays of February to hear our hearts and our speaker’s hearts for Missions.

--These speakers are great speakers and will challenge you! By the way, when we have guest missionaries, please do not decide to stay home…they need your encouragement and support. It’s not all about you!

--Be willing to give up something to do a FP for the first time or to increase your FP. God will bless you for it. Our family and our church has experienced those blessings for years.

2 Corinthians 9:12-15 (NKJV)
¹²  For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
¹³  while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,
¹⁴  and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
¹⁵  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Our faithfulness to giving and our faithfulness to Missions:

1. Meets the needs of the missionaries.

2. It causes thanksgiving to God.

3. It shows your confession of Christ is sincere.

4. It causes the recipients (the missionaries) to pray for you.

5. It magnifies God’s indescribable gift…Jesus!  

--I challenge to fill out your Faith Promise Card and trust God to provide all that you need and more.