Courage – 3

Courage – 3

Subject – Lion Chasers Who Defy the Odds

By Rick Welborne

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

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

1. Odd Things About Odds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. Defying the Odds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Little is Much When God is in it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

--You and God go and defy the odds. 

The Fruit of Holy Spirit - 3

The Fruit of Holy Spirit - 3

Subject: Walking in the Fruit of the Spirit - Peace

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.

--Last week we looked at the fruit of the Spirit – Joy. Tonight we will look at the fruit of Holy Spirit – Peace.

1. The Fruit of Holy Spirit (Peace) and What It Means.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Peace – Old Testament - Is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies, or inwardly, within the soul. The Hebrew word is shalom, meaning, primarily, "soundness," "health," but coming also to signify "prosperity," well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God. In early times, to a people harassed by foes, peace was the primary blessing. 

--Please hear what this is saying: Peace in our spirit and our mind, peace and health in our bodies, and peace and health in our finances. Who wouldn't want that. Secular Definition:

Peace - freedom from disturbance; tranquility. A state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended.

--The biblical concept of peace is larger than that and rests heavily on the Hebrew root shalom, which means "to be complete" or "to be sound." 

--The verb (peace) conveys both a dynamic and a static meaning" to be complete or whole" or "to live well." 

--The noun (peace) had many nuances, but can be grouped into four categories: 

A. Shalom – Peace - as wholeness of life or body (i.e., health); 

B.  Shalom – Peace - as right relationship or harmony between two parties or people, often established by a covenant and, when related to Yahweh, the covenant was renewed or maintained with a "peace offering". 

C. Shalom – Peace - as prosperity, success, or fulfillment (Lev 26:3-9 ).

D. Shalom – Peace - as victory over one's enemies or absence of war. 

--It is so amazing to me how our world and even those in the church have evolved into such a state of desperation and even depression.

--The opioid addiction has swept through our country and other countries and has become a killer, even surpassing auto-mobile accidents here in the United States. The Northeast is terrible. Funeral Director. 

--People are looking for relief from pain…emotional, physical, relational, and even spiritual pain. Sadly, they are looking for an easy way of escape. Looking for peace.

--Addiction to pills or anything else that is addictive is never an escape from all that pain, it is just another form of bondage and is there to take you out. 

--God is in our lives, not to take us out but to bring us in. I love what God told the children of Israel when He was taking them out of Egypt:

Exodus 3:6-10 (NLT2)
⁶  I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
⁷  Then the LORD told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.
⁸  So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.
⁹  Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.
¹⁰  Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 

2.The Fruit of Holy Spirit (Peace) and How to Get There.

--What you must understand to get to a place of peace in your life:

A. If you are in any kind of bondage, you must know that God sees. He cares!

--I do not want to over simplify finding peace but your beginning place has to be with the Lord. You must know that God cares. 

1 Peter 5:6-8 (NKJV)
⁶  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
⁷  casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
⁸  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

--He has seen your oppression and He has heard your cries when no one else is listening. He is touched by the feelings of your infirmities and your brokenness. 

B. Always remember God brings you out so He can take you in.

Exodus 3:8 (NLT2)
⁸  So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey…

--God was not finished with Israel when He brought them out of Egypt…He wanted to take them into a place flowing with milk and honey…the Promised Land. 

--If God is going to get you to a place of peace…it has to be more than just taking you out of the world. Something has to be placed in your life to fill that void. 

--I remember a story that was told to me when I was just a young Christian and I am sure there was purpose and intention for why the person told me.

--He said there was a man who had climbed over a fence where he was not supposed to be and he kept hanging out close to the edge of this sewage pond. It was deep and filled with nasty stuff.

--Just like anyone who stays close to the edge, the man eventually fell into the pond. He was yelling and fighting for his life but he could not get out. 

--The man always thought, even if I fall in, I can get out because I am a good swimmer…I can handle this. Please don’t tell me the dangers…I know the risk and everything will be okay!

--What the man did not anticipate was that the bank of the pond was very steep and was obviously very slippery because of the mess in the pond.

--You may think you can handle just a little alcohol, using just a little drugs, or handle an inappropriate relationship. Watching things you should never see. The slope is very slipper.

--The man kept yelling and begging for someone to come and rescue him. Fortunately, there was a good Samaritan going by and heard the man’s cry for help.

--By the time the good Samaritan got over the fence and made it to the man, he was already tired and was going under for the last time. He had swallowed so much water and filth.

--A crowd had gathered outside the fence and watched as the man was rescued…they cheered and clapped. They probably should have been helping but just watched.

--The man said to the crowd very powerful words…Thank God we got him out of the sewage but now we have to get the sewage out of him. 

--When we are saved out of this world…to find true peace, we have to ask Holy Spirit to help get the nastiness of the world out of us. Again look at the list of things that can rob our peace. 

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.

--The world is the sewage pond, Jesus is the One Who rescues us, and Holy Spirit wants to cleanse us and give us peace. He fills us with God’s power and fruit.

Philippians 4:6-9 (NIV)
⁶  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
⁷  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
⁹  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

3. The Fruit of Holy Spirit (Peace) and Looking for Others Who Have no Peace. 

Exodus 3:9-10 (NLT2)
⁹  Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.
¹⁰  Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 

Shalom – Peace - as wholeness of life or body (i.e., health); 

--People finding peace means they find wholeness…Jesus wants more for people than just freedom from their infirmity or sin…He wants them whole and at peace with Him. Example man at the gate:

Acts 4:9-12 (NKJV)
⁹  If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
¹⁰  let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
¹¹  This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'
¹²  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

--Yes he was healed but more important…He was saved and made whole…He was at peace. 

Courage – 2

Courage – 2

Subject – Lion Chasers

By Rick Welborne

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

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

--In his book “If Only” Dr. Neal Roese makes a distinction between two types of regret. Regrets of action and regrets of inaction.

--A regret if action is “wishing you hadn’t done something.” Theologically we call this the sin of commission. A regret of inaction is “wishing you had done something.” The sin of omission.

--I have noticed thru the years that the church is fixated on sins of commission. We have our lists of don’ts. Think about it as holiness by subtraction. Holiness definitely involves subtraction.

--But I think God is more concerned with sins of omission…those things we could or should have done. It’s holiness by multiplication. Goodness is not the absence of badness. 

--You can do nothing wrong and still do nothing right. Those who simply run away from sin are only half Christians. We are not just called to run away from evil but our calling is to chase lions. 

1. No Guts, No Glory.

--When we don’t have the guts to step out in faith and chase lions, God is robbed of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him. 

--Is anyone else besides me tired of reactive Christianity that is more known for what it’s against than what it’s for. We have become too passive and too defensive. 

--Lion chasers are proactive. They know that just playing it safe is risky. Lion chasers are always on the lookout for God-ordained opportunities. Doing something instead of just talking about it.

--Maybe we have measured spiritual maturity the wrong way. Just maybe following Christ is not supposed to be safe as we have been led to believe. Maybe God wants us being dangerous enough to chase lions.

Matthew 10:16 (NKJV) ¹⁶  "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

--Maybe Christ was more dangerous and uncivilized than our Sunday School flannel graphs made Him out to be. Maybe God wants to raise up courageous lion chasers.

Matthew 11:12 (NKJV)
¹²  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

--There have been many lion chasers and we tend to applaud them from the sidelines. We are inspired by people who face their fears (lions) and chase their dreams. 

--What we fail to see is that these lion chasers are ordinary people like us. They put their pants on one leg at a time like everyone else. They were probably scared to death when they bought their plane ticket.

--I am sure that weighing the pros and cons caused some ulcers along the way and I am sure they felt they were the ones cornered by the lion in a snowy pit.

--I wish I could tell you that every lion chaser ends up with a lion skin on his wall but that is simply not the case. Some have run for office and lost. Some have returned home asking what happened.

--What sets lion chasers apart isn’t the outcome. It’s the courage to chase God sized dreams. Lion chasers don’t let their fears or doubts keep them from doing what God has called them to do.

2. Successful Lion Chasers

--Mark Batterson has a simple definition of success. He says do the best you can with what you have where you are. In essence, making the most of every opportunity.

Batterson – Spiritual maturity is seeing and seizing God ordained opportunities. Think of every opportunity as God’s gift to you. What you do with those opportunities is your gift to God. I’m absolutely convinced that our greatest regrets in life will be missed opportunities. 

--At the end of the day, success equals stewardship and stewardship equals success. Our view of stewardship is too narrow. Yes, it is important what we do with our time, talent, and treasure.

--But what about being good stewards of our dreams and imaginations? Stewardship is all inclusive. We have to be good stewards of every second and every ounce of energy. It’s opportunity stewardship. 

--When you face a lion (and you will) you either run away like a scaredy-cat or you can grab life by the mane. Lion chasers grab life by the mane. David:

1 Samuel 17:33-35 (NIV)
³³  Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth."
³⁴  But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,
³⁵  I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 

--Benaniah went on to have a brilliant military career. In fact, he climbed all the way up the chain of command to become commander in chief of Israel’s army.

--It started by what many would consider him being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Benaniah was faced with a choice that would determine his destiny. Fight or flight?

3. Our Snowy Pit.

--I doubt if any of you have to worry about running into a lion and ending up in a snowy pit staring death in the face. Lion encounters are not at the top of our worry list. 

--I don’t pretend to know what is going on in every life represented here today but I am very convinced that all of us have had to face a few lions in our lives. Maybe you are facing one now. 

--I don’t know the depth of you pit or how cold your heart is right now. I don’t know the fear you are facing knowing that this situation feels like life or death. 

--What I do know and transparency demands that I share with you that we all (all) have our pits and we all have to face lions. It could be habits, relationships, or your world crumbling before us.

--I know I am not only talking to culturally different people, some from the north or south or another country, but also, people who some are optimistic by nature and some pessimistic by nature.

--What I do know is that there is a God Who was with Benaniah in the pit and He will be with you in your pit if you will only acknowledge Him. 

--Whatever your personality type, however deep your pit is, however fierce your lion is, you serve a God Who is all powerful who can deliver you from the paw of the lion.

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT2) ⁸  Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 

--Read this verse very carefully…The devil prowls around like (like) a roaring lion. But what is he compared to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

--Don’t misunderstand me, the devil is strong and vicious but not compared to God. To the infinite God, all finites are the same. God is all powerful! God can deliver us.

Psalm 40:1-4 (NCV)
¹  I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me and heard my cry.
²  He lifted me out of the pit of destruction, out of the sticky mud. He stood me on a rock and made my feet steady.
³  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many people will see this and worship him. Then they will trust the LORD.
⁴  Happy is the person who trusts the LORD, who doesn’t turn to those who are proud or to those who worship false gods. 

--Listen, lion chasers, God is not finished with you yet. Wait patiently for Him. Verse one where it says He turned to me (inclined His ear to me) means God bent down low to hear our request. Deathbed.

--He lifted me out of the pit of destruction. Pretty good description of being in a pit with a lion on a snowy day. He set me on a rock…Who would that Rock be…Jesus! Steady feet. Another miracle.

--He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many people will see this and worship him. Then they will trust the LORD.

--Happy is the person who trusts the LORD. Come on, let’s chase some lions!

The Fruit of Holy Spirit - 2

The Fruit of Holy Spirit - 2

Subject: Walking in the Fruit of the Spirit - Joy

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.

--Last week we looked the fruit of the Spirit – love – and how, when we are filled with Holy Spirit power, God can impart supernatural love to us in a moment when we need it most. 

Romans 5:5 (NKJV) ⁵  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

--When we are truly filled with the Spirit of Christ and we are walking in the Spirit, we can expect God to help us love the unlovable and to actually get past our anger and bitterness.

1. The Fruit of the Spirit – Joy.

--Tonight we are going to look at the fruit of Holy Spirit – joy. If there is anything lacking in the body of Christ or in the world in general, it is joy. Miriam Webster definitions:

Joy – Noun - the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires – delight. Verb - to experience great pleasure or delight – rejoice.

--Biblical joy isn’t like happiness which is based upon happenings or whether things are going well or not. No, joy remains even amidst the suffering. 

--Joy is not happiness. Joy is an emotion that’s acquired by the anticipation, acquisition or even the expectation of something great or wonderful. God is great and wonderful!

--Joy sometimes is very much misunderstood in the church...joy is not necessarily uncontrollable hilarity though it can have great expression. Biblical joy is not dependent on good outward circumstances.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Christian joy is not mere happiness that knows no gloom, but is the result of the triumph of faith over adverse and trying circumstances, which, instead of hindering, actually enhance it.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
¹  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
²  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
³  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

--These three verses offer to us a description of how to have Christian joy:

A. Remember we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. 

--Most biblical scholars interpret this verse as meaning…this is like an arena with the on-lookers cheering us on to great victory. Those who have gone before us and those who support us now are cheering us on. Joy!

B. We have joy when we are willing to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and we run the race marked out for us. We are free!

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

C. We have joy when we fix our eyes on Jesus.

--Doesn’t it make sense that if we keep our eyes on the One Who is the Author and perfecter of our faith…the One Who begins our faith and the One Who helps us get things right…we will have joy. 

D. We have joy when we endure tests knowing there is something greater that is coming. 

--For the joy set before Him…wait a minute, He had the torture, the cross, the shame, and death. Where is the joy in Him enduring all that He did?

--His joy came from His obedience to the Father, His joy came from purchasing our salvation, and His joy came from sitting down again at the right hand of God. 

2. Supernatural Joy!

--What about us? What joy is there in suffering? What joy is there in our laying our lives down for Him? Maybe we are looking at this life in a warped kind of way.

 Hebrews 11:16 (NLT2) ¹⁶  But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

--There is a supernatural joy in knowing that this life is not all there is. That is why those in the Bible like Stephen could look up and see Jesus at his time of death. 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NKJV)
¹⁶  Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
¹⁷  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
¹⁸  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

--One of the meanings of joy in the Old Testament is Semeah which means to shine. I believe this gives us insight into where our joy actually comes from. God speaking to Moses. Moses to Aaron.

Numbers 6:25-27 (NKJV) ²⁴  "The LORD bless you and keep you;
²⁵  The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
²⁶  The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." '
²⁷  "So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them." 

--When we find ourselves in God’s presence and His face is shining upon us, we definitely find supernatural joy. When He lifts up His countenance upon us we find joy the world knows nothing about. 

--There are times that we must admit that we could not have joy outside a divine act of God thru His Holy Spirit...it is God supernaturally shining on us...imparting the fruit of joy by His Spirit.

3. Joy in Holy Spirit

--Paul tells us that one of the essential marks of the Kingdom of God is this:

Romans 14:16-17 (NKJV) ¹⁶  Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
¹⁷  for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 

--When I still lived in Texas (this was pre-Tricia) I was in a relationship that I thought was God’s will and that I thought would be forever. 

--Things suddenly went south and I found myself brokenhearted and hurting like I had never hurt before. People I thought would support me and help me really abandoned me. 

--Soon after that, when the pressure was getting to be more than I thought I could handle, God reminded me that He would not put on me more than I could handle. 1 Cor. 10:13

--It is so hard for us to believe that but I am here to testify to you that verse is true…When I was at my breaking point God showed up. He made a way for me to endure. Supernatural joy!

--I came home from work about midnight and as soon as I walked through my door of my apartment I fell on my floor and began to cry out to God…I even reminded Him of that verse.

--I told Him I was not going to get up from there until He healed my broken heart and until He restored the joy of my salvation. I felt like King David.

Psalm 51:10-13 (NKJV)
¹⁰  Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹  Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
¹²  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
¹³  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 

--This is after David had messed up royally and his sin had been called out. He was wrong, he was broken, and He needed God to come through for him. I made plenty of mistakes myself. 

--I love what David says… Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. God’s presence and Holy Spirit were going to be the answers he was looking for. 

--I asked God to do what David was asking Him to do…restore to me the joy of my salvation and hold me up with your generous Spirit. Do you see how involved Holy Spirit is in our lives?

--As I cried out to God, His Spirit came upon me and re-baptized me and for about four hours I prayed in the Spirit and spoke in tongues…God began to heal me from the inside out.

--Supernatural fruit (Joy) of Holy Spirit flooded my being and I cannot tell you the transformation that took place in me. I went from being a broken mess to being filled with Holy Spirit joy!

Nehemiah 8:9-12 (NLT2)
⁹  Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
¹⁰  And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”
¹¹  And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.”
¹²  So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them. 

--Why are there weak among us? They lack supernatural joy. The joy of the Lord is your strength and it is provided to us by Holy Spirit operating in our lives!

--As I wrote that last statement…Holy Spirit operating in our lives…I truly believe that is exactly what He does in us. He operates on us. He cuts out the junk and He does a Holy Spirit infusion that changes us forever.

--I said I asked God to replace the love I had for this person and give me a love for souls…that year I personally led about one hundred people to Christ. I was so joyful and God was to blame.

--Let’s conclude tonight’s message with this prayer: 

Romans 15:13 (NLT2)
¹³  I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Courage to Get Out of the Boat - 6

Courage to Get Out of the Boat - 6

Subject – The Four Stages of the Boat

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 14:22‑33 (NKJV) 

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 

23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 

24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 

26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 

28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 

29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 

30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" 

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 

33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." 

–Many of you have responded to getting out of the boat financially by responding to God’s Word to tithe and God’s mandate for missions...faith promise cards still available. So many blessings!

–In 1 Cor. 8 their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do...this is so important. If He has you...He has all you have...you will get out of the boat.

–Today I want us to look at four stages of the boat...of those in the boat.

1. There are those in the boat who are questioning what are they doing in the boat in the first place.

–They know being in the boat is good...at least that is what momma or someone told them along the way.They have found themselves gravitating toward the boat...appeasing a guilty conscience.

–They look around the boat that is in the middle of a storm and see that it is filled with crazy people...some shouting the rougher it gets...those Pentecostals! Fanatics! You are in good company.

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." 

–There is one in the boat who takes charge because of his experience on the water (Peter)...one whose eyes seem to be filled with deceit (Simon)...one who doubts their chances of survival (Thomas).

–I should not be here...I am not really one of His disciples...I got caught up getting in the boat...that is where the crowds were going. I am afraid...afraid of hell, heaven, sinking, drowning in waters I should not be in.

We have the lost. They may be faithful, to give and to serve. In church but not in the Kingdom of God. 

–Thank God that they are here hearing the Words of Jesus and are being given that opportunity Sunday after Sunday to get saved. They are clinging to the boat, and what looks like a ghost is passing by.

Matthew 14:26-27 (NKJV) 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 

–Don’t be afraid...it is Jesus...it may be a ghost...the Holy Ghost...the Spirit of God is passing by to save you...to love you...to give you the adventure of your life. To walk on water for the first time...To be saved!

2. There are those sitting in the boat wondering how invested they are in the trip.

–To me...these folks are somewhere between those clinging to the floor (unsaved) and those walking on the water (passionately dedicated).

–Their minds are back on the shore where the loaves and fish are...sure was nice over there in the grass, very comfortable, being fed, and getting some good teaching.

–This idea of riding the waves, enduring the terrible winds, possibly laying down your lives stuff is not for them.  Jesus said:

Matthew 16:24‑25 (NKJV) 

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 

25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 

–Sounds like Jesus is saying that once you get in the boat that just being a spectator is not an option...these are usually the ones who become lifeguards for the others.

–Do not stand next to the edge...do not get in the water...the rip tide is too great...it will pull you under...it safer just sitting and hanging on...Danger Will Robins!

–There are many in church...we are in the boat, we are in the majority, our names are written in the Book so we are ok. The parable of the talents come to mind here...one five, one two, and one…one. 

John Ortberg: A talent was an expression for a sum of money worth in the neighborhood of fifteen years wages. In that era, people lived from day to day, and to have accumulated one year’s worth of wages was enormous wealth. 

–The one given five sees the opportunity of his life...The master has given him the privilege of showing initiative, judgment, and responsibility. A chance to get out of the boat and do something great for his master. 

--The others were given the same chance. Are you looking at this opportunity to get out of the boat properly...a time where you can bring glory to Christ or a time to stay seated safely in the boat?

–The truth is we are going to give our lives to something...we must come to prize and appreciate the opportunities Jesus is giving us. The servant given 5 talents:

Matthew 25:15‑16 (NIV) 

15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 

16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 

–He responded at once...we better respond at once when Jesus gives us the opportunity to walk on the water.  The 3^rd chose not to do this...he buried his chance...The Master went away but He is coming back. 

3. There are those who are standing at the edge of the boat looking at Jesus.

–There are many in the boat (in the church) like this...I love Jesus...I want to be used by God...I want to walk on water but...so many buts in the church. They are white knuckled wanting to step out. 

–Pastor, I was hurt by someone, I had a bad experience, I thought Jesus was saying “Come” before and I almost drown, I really want to but I am afraid. You see Jesus...you hear Him calling...you are paralyzed by fear.

–Voices...too many voices...sit down before you fall over board...you are faithful...you are committed...don’t become a fanatic...what will others think...super spiritual saint.

–What will I give up? Who will I give up? Will I stay up or sink? Will Jesus catch me if I start sinking? Your grip is getting tighter and your knuckles are whiter than ever.

–What will your legacy be? One who played it safe or that of a water walker...will there be months of preaching about you or will you be remembered as a fairly faithful person.

–Are we leaving them (our kids) something powerful enough to make them get out of the boat and make a difference where they are?  

–It is worth overcoming the fear to make sure their lives are directed toward complete obedience to Christ. Think of Abraham when God asked him to get out of the boat…sacrifice your son.

Genesis 22:15-18 (NKJV)
¹⁵  Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,
¹⁶  and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son--
¹⁷  blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
¹⁸  In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

4. There are those who step out of the boat just so they can be closer to Jesus.

–Peter wanted to get out of the boat because he wanted to be where Jesus was.

Psalm 27:4 (NIV) 4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. 

–One thing...one thing...to dwell in the house of the Lord...but Lord, let me attach this to that...to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord (to keep my eyes on Him). Who do you want to be? I love this story:

Ezekiel 47:1‑5 (NKJV) 

1 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. 

2 He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. 

3 And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. 

4 Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. 

5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed!