Village Campus Re-Launch

Village Campus Re-Launch 

Subject: Joseph’s Tests and Our Vision

By Rick Welborne

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

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

--We really do not know why in God’s economy or in His providence that He has chosen for things to be, let’s say, extremely difficult or just outright impossible.

--I believe Psalms 105 explains to a great degree the answer to this question and this a sermon within the sermon which I am sure I will refer back to at some point.

--Verse 17 God sent someone (Joseph) ahead of them (Israel)…ok, Pastor, that is profound but what are you saying. Thanks for asking…My first point is this…

1. It is not so much about us as it is about “them”.

--Have you ever considered that the dream God has given you is not really all about you…it is about “them”. “Them” in your life may be family, friends, co-workers, classmates…God always thinks bigger.

--Their deliverance is more important to God than your comfort…their deliverance is more important to God than your plans…their deliverance is more important than your own personal dreams.

--God is so consumed with “them” that He did something that most of us would think to be inconceivable:

John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
¹⁶  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
¹⁷  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

--I hope you can see the parallel between Jesus and Joseph…God so loved “them” that He sent Jesus and He so loved “them” that He sent Joseph. God is consumed with reaching “them”. What about us?

--So many times we miss God’s dream for us because we think it is all about us, we think it is for us, and we think God’s goal is to elevate us. That is not how God thinks!

--One of the reasons (my personal opinion) that churches have lost their power and effectiveness is that people have been led to believe it is all about self instead of “them”. Super Wal-Mart mentality!

--God has tried to help your pastor keep before you the “them” who desperately need Jesus…The “them” around the world we reach thru missions or the “them” we reach thru local ministries.

--The “them” we can reach thru La Vida, thru Hallowed King, thru House of Hope, thru our bus ministry, thru each of us sharing Christ with “them”. It is about reasonable service to others.

Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
¹  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 

--Poor Joseph thought he was going to become a living sacrifice for his dreams…Jesus did become a sacrifice for His dreams of saving “them” for saving us. 

--Joseph, once he arrived in his land of bondage, chose to serve whomever he was placed under their authority and, every time, God’s hand was upon him with favor and blessings…he served “them”.

--He served those whom he would eventually rule over and the “them” God would use him to save through his wisdom and compassion. His willingness to serve would be his family’s salvation. My dad and mom.

--As you pursue the God given dreams in your life, recognize God is always thinking about “them” so He will require you present your body as a living sacrifice which is your reasonable service.

--You see, your ministry to “them” can be derailed by your selfishness to take care of “you”. The devil will always provide opportunities for you to abandon your dreams. It may even feel right.

--Do you think he just kept believing God has given me great dreams and I do not want to do anything to derail His plan…One mistake and we can spend 40 years in the desert…ask Moses. Killed the Egyptian.

2. It is about the timing of God.

Psalm 105:17-21 (NLT) ¹⁷ Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
¹⁸  They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar.
¹⁹  Until the time came to fulfill his dreams…

--It is almost inconceivable for us to think (with our American Christian mentality) that God would be willing to allow His children to suffer just so He can reach other people.

--Maybe we should ask Jesus what He thinks about that. Waiting on the timing of God can be, actually it is, one of the most difficult things we believers can go thru.

--Joseph was given dreams as a young teenager about his family and the world coming and bowing down before him. Just imagine with me Joseph being in a pit looking up into the heavens. “Trust Me!”

--Imagine being sold as a slave, feet bruised with fetters, his neck in an iron collar…I have dreams and God is saying trust me!

--Imagine in Potiphar’s house being in charge of everything and suddenly you are falsely accused of rape…the whole time God is simply saying to trust Me with your dreams…it is not the right time.

--Imagine being put in prison for something you did not do…the years are passing quickly and it seems the dreams are getting more and more dim…did I really hear from God? Was it just me?

--Imagine helping someone in prison who was restored to his position (the butler) with the king and God used you to interpret his dream…the irony…his dream comes true but what about your dreams. 

--He is restored and is so happy to be living his dream…note here…while you are living God’s dreams for you don’t forget those who are still waiting for their dreams to come to pass. Joseph was forgotten in prison.

Genesis 41:1 (NKJV)
¹  Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river. 

--Two full years go by and the Pharaoh has a dream that he cannot interpret…the butler remembers Joseph’s words to him before he left the prison:

Genesis 40:14 (NIV) ¹⁴ But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. 

--Don’t forget the people God has placed in your lives to help you get to your destiny and who have helped you to fulfill God’s dreams. Being forgotten hurts and it opens up other doors.

--Joseph had the potential of getting angry with God and bitter with people…I was forced to leave my family and I did nothing worthy of prison…this is where trusting God must trump difficult circumstances. 

Ephesians 4:26-27 (NKJV) ²⁶  "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
²⁷  nor give place to the devil.

--Five years goes by, ten years goes by, fifteen years goes by, twenty years goes by…one trial after another…I must be faithful…I must not quit…I have to keep dreaming…I have to keep trusting.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 

Psalm 105:19 (NLT) ¹⁹ Until the time came to fulfill his dreams…

--Whether we believe it or accept it or even like it…God has a timing in what He does and that includes the dreams He has for us.

--Ecclesiastes 1 tells us there is a time and a season for everything under the sun and that God has made everything beautiful in its time. Not sure we believe that the way we act and react.

--When the time is right, God will fulfill His dreams for us and it will be a beautiful thing. Our job (like Joseph) is to remain faithful no matter the length of time or the difficulty until He does it.

3. It is about the test.

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

--How are you doing with the test you are in? How are you doing as you wait for your God given dreams? What about your character? Is it in tact with God and His will for your life? Passing or failing? 

--Most of us, if we were honest, if we had been Joseph would have failed the test at some point. We would have been angry at God and bitter toward our siblings…just not fair.

--So why should we dream, why should we be concerned about “them”, why should we trust God’s timing, and why should we pass the test we encounter:

Genesis 45:7-8 (NIV)
⁷  But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
⁸  "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. 

Finding God’s Direction - 4

Finding God’s Direction - 4

Subject: Finding God’s Divine Direction in Our Lives

By Rick Welborne

Proverbs 3:1-10 (NKJV)
¹  My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
²  For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
³  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
⁴  And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
⁷  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
⁸  It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
⁹  Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
¹⁰  So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. 

--Last sermon:

1. To find God’s direction you must avoid that one stupid mistake. 

2. To find God’s direction you must start where you are.
3. To find God’s direction you must start flossing.

--Tonight’s message…we must all realize that there is a cause and effect. Good decisions, good results. Bad decisions, bad results. The stories we write are the result of many variables. 

--You don’t get to choose your parents, your family, or where you are born. As children, all the big decisions are made for us…where we lived, which schools we went to, what we ate, even when to go to bed.

--You learn if you drive over the speed limit, you get a ticket. You date the wrong person, you could end up brokenhearted, struggling to trust again. 

--If you choose the wrong friends, if you attempt to drink an entire six-pack in less than a few minutes, your decision may leave you in an intimate relationship with a toilet. Don’t want to throw it up to you!

--On the other hand, if you choose to show up to work on time and work hard…your boss notices and gives a promotion and a raise. You make good choices with what you eat and how you exercise…you lose weight!

--Every choice you make, both big and small, affects the aspects of your life. You either learn to take responsibility for your actions, or you make excuses always looking for someone to blame.

1. God’s navigational tool…wisdom.

--Before I counsel with anyone who comes to my office…I do the same thing every time…I pray this portion of scripture and truly believe that God is going to do it. 

James 1:5-8 (NIV)
⁵  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
⁶  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
⁷  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
⁸  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

--God wants us to find His direction and He wants us to receive His wisdom but we do not stop and ask Him. From someone who loves you, can I offer you some good advice. Ask God.

--Many times things are out of our control; conversations escalate in a direction we never intended for them to go and wisdom is needed to navigate treacherous waters…what are we to do?

--Many of us just plow on through as if we had good sense or as if we did not care what the collateral damage will be. Ok, Pastor, what should we do in those moments?

--Hit the pause button…don’t say anything and for sure, do not do anything. Even if you cannot pray it out loud, pause and pray for wisdom and then, listen to what God speaks. Any verse for this?

Psalm 46:8-11 (NKJV)
⁸  Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth.
⁹  He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
¹⁰  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
¹¹  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah 

--Maybe I read these verses different than you but they definitely work for me. 

A. Stop and behold or see what God has already done!

B. Stop and see how He even controls wars…things bigger than us!

C. Stop! Be still! Be quiet! Don’t do anything or say anything! Know I am God!

D. Stop and realize the Lord is with us and He is our refuge!

--Wisdom is God’s navigational tool for helping us make decisions about the life we want to live. The tricky part is stopping for a moment and actually using it before we make the wrong decision.

2. God’s beautiful gift…seeing into the future. 

--No! I am telling you with certainty that God has given us this gift of seeing our future. God has given us the ability to effect what that future will be. Example of someone not using wisdom.

--We had been somewhere and we pull up in our driveway and get out of the car…we hear a voice in the wilderness crying…hey! Hey! Dad! Mom! Help! It was our son Jeremy when he 14 or 15 years old.

--We hurry out to the pasture where we thought we had heard the sound coming from. We look half way up in a very large tree and there is Jeremy holding a saw yelling for help. What are you doing?

--As we look at the tree and inspect his dilemma, we see that he has climbed higher and higher cutting off each limb that was under him. We burst out laughing at his predicament! We get the ladder for him.

--Now I ask you, do you believe that if Jeremy would have just hit the pause button for a moment before he started cutting the limbs under him, he probably would have laughed to himself. 

--He would have seen in his mind what we saw in reality and he could have averted the situation. Our decisions are like this and the scriptures bear this out from Gen. to Rev. God says:

2 Corinthians 9:6 (NKJV) ⁶ But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Luke 6:36-39 (NKJV) ³⁶  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
³⁷  "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
³⁸  Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
³⁹  And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 

--If you give generously now…in your future it will be given back to you generously. Choose now not to judge people and in your future God will surround you with people who do not judge you.

--An example…I worked for people who were cruel, mean, stingy, abusive. This was in the ministry. People encouraged me to expose what was happening but I said emphatically “no!”

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

--I chose to honor God’s man who was pastoring the church even though it was difficult. Why? Because I could see into the future! I could see God surrounding me with pastors who are loyal.

--I could have created my own future in a much different light if I had chosen to attack the man of God and to write a letter telling of his abuse. When I left there, I honored him before the people. 

--Can the blind lead the blind? If you hang out with someone who is ungodly, with someone who is willfully disobeying God’s Word, who is spiritually blind…the ditch is in your future.

--If you are a person who forgives others even when they do not deserve it…you have a wonderful future!

Luke 6:37 (NKJV) ³⁷ …Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

3. Seek God’s wisdom for each situation.

1 Chronicles 14:8-17 (NLT2)
⁸  When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he marched out to meet them.
⁹  The Philistines arrived and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.
¹⁰  So David asked God, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The LORD replied, “Yes, go ahead. I will hand them over to you.” 

¹¹  So David and his troops went up to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “God did it!” David exclaimed. “He used me to burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So they named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”).
¹²  The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, so David gave orders to burn them.
¹³  But after a while the Philistines returned and raided the valley again.
¹⁴  And once again David asked God what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” God replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees.
¹⁵  When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, go out and attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.”
¹⁶  So David did what God commanded, and they struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
¹⁷  So David’s fame spread everywhere, and the LORD caused all the nations to fear David. 

--Everyone say strategy…God has a strategy. He wants us to pause and to inquire of Him what His plan is for this particular situation. David had the wisdom to inquire in both situations.

--One enemy needed to be taken head on…the next time…circle behind them and listen for marching feet in the poplar trees. Wow, this is totally different. So important to get right now direction and wisdom from God. 

--So many times we put God in a box and can I say it…God does not do boxes! He expects us to seek Him in every situation for His will and wisdom to defeat our enemies.

Courageous – 7

Courageous – 7

Subject – To Be Courageous, We Must Pray

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.

Colossians 4:2&5 (NIV) ² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
⁵  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 

--In just stands to reason, if you want to make the most of every opportunity, you’ve got to devote yourselves to prayer and be watchful.

--The word watchful is a reflection of the Old Testament watchmen whose job was to sit on the city wall, scan the horizon, and keep watch. Imagine a day like that.

--The watchmen were the first ones to see an attacking army or merchant traders coming toward the city. 

--Three things watchman who live in prayer see: 1. They see further than others see. 2. They see things before others see them. 3. And they see things others do not see. 

--People who truly live in prayer see opportunities that other people don’t even notice. People who do not live in prayer are opportunity blind.  

1. Two Ways to Live Your Life

--There are only two ways to live your life: survival mode or prayer mode.

--Survival mode is simply reacting to the circumstances around you. To be completely honest, it is a predictable and boring way to live your life. 

--Prayer mode is the exact opposite. Your spiritual antenna is up and your radar is on. Your reticular activating system is on red alert. Prayer puts you into a proactive posture. 

--In fact, the Aramaic word for prayer is slotha which means to set a trap. Prayer helps us catch the opportunities God throws our way. An example:

--Sitting in my office, I get a phone call from folks in our church. We (wife and daughter) are at the hospital with (husband/dad). He needs prayer. He’s not saved and he hates preachers.

--I’ll be right there. I went into prayer mode. I prayed in my car and I prayed in Holy Spirit as I walked down the hallways of the hospital. I didn’t know what to expect.

--As I walked in I sensed a God opportunity. Within two minutes the man was allowing me to pray for his healing and within five minutes, he prayed the sinner’s prayer. He was saved. 

--A little while later I get back to my office. Another phone call from the same family. Understand the man was getting ready to be sent home from the hospital. Get stronger and return for surgery.

--This was the phone conversation when I answered. Pastor, will you do my husband’s funeral. Yes, when he dies. He just died. 

Colossians 4:2&5 (NIV) ² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
⁵  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 

--If Benaiah had been in survival mode he would have reacted by running from the lion. Living in prayer mode made him react proactive. He knew God was ordering his steps even facing a lion.

2. Coincidences or Providences.

--When we live in prayer (pray without ceasing) it shows us the difference in coincidences and providences. 

--Prayer has a way of helping us recognize what we might dismiss as human accidents are really divine appointments set up by God. Listen to David:

Psalm 37:23-25 (NLT2)
²³  The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
²⁴  Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.
²⁵  Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. 

--What I can tell you from my own personal experience is this: When I pray, providences happen. When I don’t pray, they don’t happen. So, pray!

--Let me take the pressure off of some you listening to me now. You don’t have to and should not be trying to manufacture them. That’s God’s job.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT2) ¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) ¹⁰ For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

--Knowing that, what should that do for you? It should give you a great sense of destiny because, as you pray, you will have plenty of God-ordained opportunities.   

--Your job is to see and seize those opportunities by hearing that still small voice of Holy Spirit. Especially, in these last days I believe it will be imperative to hear Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-19 (NCV) ¹⁷  Pray continually,
¹⁸  and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.
¹⁹  Do not hold back the work of the Holy Spirit. 

--I promise you that as you continuously pray and are sensitive to Holy Spirit, you will be amazed at the divine set-ups you will have in your life.

--I had a young pastor ask me not so long ago, where do you get all these stories about witnessing and sharing Christ? I said easy answer. Get around the lost and listen for God’s instructions.

--The place where we were (a restaurant) I had shared Christ several times. God wanted this young man to get it. As we talked a waitress came to our table with tears in her eyes. Pray for me.

--We prayed. As soon as we finished praying, another waitress was standing behind her and said, I need prayer for my family. As the tears flowed we prayed.

--Not kidding, as soon as we finished praying, a lady who was there eating was standing behind the second waitress. She says, I’m not sure what is going on here but I need prayer.

--The young pastor was amazed by the divine set-ups that he witnessed. Praying and sensitivity to Holy Spirit allows you to have an exciting life. He said, everyone in here is watching. Good!

--When I am not praying I can have some good ideas but when I am praying, I have God ideas. I would rather have one God idea than a thousand good ideas. 

3. Don’t Miss Your Opportunity

--One of the saddest verses in the Bible is this:

Jeremiah 46:17 (NIV)
¹⁷  There they will exclaim, 'Pharaoh king of Egypt is only a loud noise; he has missed his opportunity.' 

--Pharaoh ruled over one of the most advanced ancient civilizations on earth. Think of his power and influence. But he missed his moment. It came and went without him seeing it or seizing it.

--The English word “opportunity” comes from a Latin Phrase ob portu. Before modern day harbors, ships had to wait to flood tide to make it into port. 

--So the word referred to “that moment in time when the tide would turn.” The captain and crew would wait for that window of opportunity. If they missed it, they had to wait for the next flood tide. 

--In August of 1987, Howard Schultz was faced with the biggest decision of his life. Buy a chain of coffee shops called Starbucks for 4 million dollars. It seemed overwhelming to him. 

Schultz – This is my moment, I thought. If I don’t seize the opportunity, if I don’t step out of my comfort zone and risk it all, if I let too much time tick on, my moment will pass. I knew that if I didn’t take advantage of this opportunity, I would replay it in my mind for my whole life, wondering: What if?

--He purchased it. Five years later on June 26, 1992 Starbuck’s stock went public. At the closing bell Schultz’s 4-million-dollar investment stood at 273 million dollars. Not too bad.

--So many times when we hear of success stories like these we tend to envy those people of what they have and we, even as Christians, consider them as just lucky. I see more than that.

--I see people who were willing to take advantage of their opportunity and to be courageous when tough decisions have to be made. We need to break free from survival mode as believers.

--As we live a life of praying in Holy Spirit, divine opportunities will present themselves. Will we have the courage to pray for someone in public? Will we seize the opportunity for God’s glory?

--I can guarantee you that there are going to be lions, giants, and warriors in your future. You can run and just survive but what kind of legacy will you leave for those coming behind you?

--We mistakenly think of righteousness as doing nothing wrong when, in fact, righteousness is doing something right. Righteousness isn’t just running away from sin. 

James 4:17 (NLT2) ¹⁷ Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

Schultz – This is my moment, I thought. If I don’t seize the opportunity, if I don’t step out of my comfort zone and risk it all, if I let too much time tick on, my moment will pass. I knew that if I didn’t take advantage of this opportunity, I would replay it in my mind for my whole life, wondering: What if?

Courageous – 6

Courageous – 6

Subject – Make the Most of Every Opportunity

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.

Colossians 4:2-5 (NLT2)
²  Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
³  Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains.
⁴  Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
⁵  Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 

--Make the most of every opportunity. Let me make this observation. Many of the wonderful things that happen to us start out as small mustard-seed opportunities.

--Some of our biggest dreams often start out as the smallest opportunities. In fact, the seed is so small we wonder if it can grow into anything that is significant.

1. We Must Seize the Opportunity.

--Our greatest destiny is determined by whether or not we seize the God-ordained opportunities presented to us. When we do, it is like the domino effect and things begin to fall into place.

--If we miss these opportunities we can short-circuit God’s plans for our lives. That does not mean God will not give us another chance to get it right. He gives us second, third, and fourth chances. 

--Moses is a perfect example of how God can give us another chance but, I don’t know about you, I don’t want to delay the process for forty years…life is too short. Seize the opportunity when it is presented.

--Now put yourself in Benaiah’s sandals. His story could have been scripted so differently. He sees a lion. He runs away. He breathes a sigh of relief that he is still alive. No harm. No foul.

--Running from the lion may have even been the logical thing to do. Even prudent. But guess what, Benaiah would have disappeared into the annuls of history among other lost souls. Sad.

--But people like Benaiah are not prudent, they are opportunist. They are not focused on just avoiding problems. Our text said he was valiant.

Valiant- possessing or exhibiting valor, bravery, courage, or determination. It can be used to describe a person, an effort, or an action. Synonyms for valiant include brave, heroic, bold, and valorous. 

--Benaiah starts out as a brave soldier. Then, he becomes body guard for the King of Israel. A good low ranking job. He evidently proved himself in that capacity and was appointed an army commander.

--In this position he was given leadership over twenty-four thousand men. He must have proven himself again because under Solomon he became commander and chief over Israel’s entire army. 

1 Kings 2:35 (NKJV) ³⁵ The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army…

--So how did Benaiah fulfill his destiny? How did he climb to the top of the military chain of command? How did he become the most powerful person in Israel next to the king?

--He did it by seizing one opportunity at a time. We fail to realize the hoops Benaiah had to jump through to become the kings body guard. He had to have a resume. Wow, did he!

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. 

--Seizing the opportunity one battle after another…being valiant set him up to be commander in chief. Be faithful and brave wherever you are, and watch God open amazing doors.

--Who knows what small beginnings can lead to? 

Job 8:7 (NKJV) ⁷ Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly. 

--Most of you have heard my story about being the youth pastor here before I became your lead pastor but there is more to the story. Little opportunities. 

--The pastor here was in Bartow and when I came to SE University to finish my degree, I went to his church. I didn’t know him. They needed someone to pressure wash the buildings so I did.

--They lost the people who were cleaning the church so I did that. There was a transition with the YP so I was hired to do that. $25 a week. I was just faithful to do what God wanted me to do. 

--So what’s my point or really, what is the point given by the Word of God?

Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)
²¹  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

--We simply seize the opportunities God puts before us and we remain faithful, and God does the rest! Benaiah was a bodyguard, Joshua was a personal assistant, and Nehemiah was a cup bearer. Amazing.

--You prove yourselves when the little opportunities arise and when you do, God will bring bigger and better opportunities your way.

2. We Must Steward Our Opportunities.

--There is another guy in the Bible that you more than likely have never heard of or you just simply chose to overlook him. There is only one verse in the Bible about him but it says so much.

--He singlehandedly delivered the Israelites from the Philistines:

Judges 3:31 (NIV)
³¹  After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an ox goad. He too saved Israel.

--As far as we know, Shamgar had no armor, no military training, and no weapons. There is nothing that qualified him to do what he did. He was a plowman.

--All he had was an ox goad, a long stick used to prod oxen while plowing. Not much of a weapon.

--Just think of what he could have done with a real weapon like a sword or spear. He didn’t have either one. He had an ox goad. He did the best he could with what he had. 

--Shamgar and Benaiah had kindred spirits. They displayed epic courage and they defied the odds. They changed the course of history. Both could have said “no” to their opportunities.

--Shamgar was outnumbered 600 to 1 and all he had was a stick. The giant Egyptian had a spear the size of a weaver’s rod and Benaiah only had a club.

--People who chase lions for God do not look for excuses, they don’t focus on their disadvantages, but they submit what they have to God and let Him turn the odds.

Batterson – Isn’t it ironic that some people who have so much do so little and others who have so little do so much. Lion chasers don’t let what they can’t do keep them from doing what they can. Success is doing the best you can with what you have where you are.

--Opportunity stewardship is seizing the opportunity that is before you and trusting God to work out all the details. It is grabbing life by the mane and not letting go.

--We need to think of every opportunity as a gift from God. What we do with the opportunity is your gift to God. 

3. Make the Most of Every Opportunity.

Colossians 4:5 (NLT2) ^5…make the most of every opportunity. 

--The Word of God doesn’t specifically tell us how many or how few opportunities we will have or how big or small they are; we are simply to make the most of every opportunity. 

Opportunity (Greek definition) – a serendipitous window or occasion. 

--Every day is filled with countless God-ordained opportunities to love, to serve, to give, and to learn. What we do with those opportunities is so important to our spiritual maturity.

--About three years ago I was going through Walgreens. Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “Tell the lady behind the glass that I love her and that everything will be okay. I did.

--She burst into tears so I went in to pray for her. Over the next couple of years, I was able to pray for her and, with her. She turned her life over to Christ.

--A few weeks ago I sent her a “Happy Birthday” on FB. I received a private message that she had suddenly passed away. 51 years old. I believe this was a divine opportunity. 

--Here’s the catch, many times opportunities come disguised as 500lb lions, a giant with a spear, 600 Philistines, or maybe as an opportunity to share Christ with someone. Be courageous!

--People who chase lions for God make the most of every opportunity. They know that whatever they face may have an uncertain outcome but they know God is with them.

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

Finding God’s Direction - 3

Finding God’s Direction - 3

Subject: Finding God’s Divine Direction in Our Lives

By Rick Welborne

Proverbs 3:1-10 (NKJV)
¹  My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
²  For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
³  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
⁴  And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
⁷  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
⁸  It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
⁹  Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
¹⁰  So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. 

Review:

1. To find God’s direction we must daily weigh the options before us.

2. To find God’s direction you must be willing to pass the multiple choice test.

3. To find God’s direction you must realize the choice is yours. 

Groeschel – You can’t change your past, but God can help you rewrite your story and change your future. 

Tonight’s Message:

1. To find God’s direction you must avoid that one stupid mistake. 

Psalm 118:24 (NKJV) ²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 

--This is the day…everyone say…this is the day…the Lord made this day and He made it for me. No matter what your past looked like. Today you can decide to start new and fresh.

--Pastor, I have started over so many times and I have failed every time. Everyone who has ever accomplished anything of significance have failed and started over many times.

--More than one time every pastor has someone sitting in their office saying…I made just one stupid mistake and it is costing me everything. 

--How far could we go back in this person’s life to find out many bad mistakes and bad decisions, one after another…they pile up and so does the sin. Example of David.  

2 Samuel 11:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
²  Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.
³  So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 

⁴  Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.
⁵  And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, "I am with child." 

--In a time when kings go out to war…other translations say in a time when kings normally go out to war, David was home lounging. He was getting lazy…it is a choice.

2 Samuel 11:2 (NLT2)
²  Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.

--Late one afternoon he gets out of bed and goes on the roof (a good view) to watch HBO – Home Bought Oppression…probably came on at that same time every day. Most likely premeditated. 

--He looked, he lusted, he called for her, he slept with her, she became pregnant, and he had her husband put up at the front lines of the battle to have him killed…he did the noble thing and married her…wow!

--He made many bad choices but if there was one stupid mistake…it was staying home during a time when kings go out to war. Do you see the domino effect? There was a prophet willing to deal with David.

2 Samuel 12:1-7 (NLT2)
¹  So the LORD sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor.
²  The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle.
³  The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter.
⁴  One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”
⁵  David was furious. “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die!
⁶  He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.”
⁷  Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! 

2. To find God’s direction you must start where you are. 

--It has been said that two of the biggest mistakes you can make in life are not starting and not ending well. If you are like most people, you have good intentions to start new habits or a new life.

--It is pretty safe to say that many of us never followed through with those good intentions. Also, many of us are guilty of starting that new life or new habit, just to quit. It is easy to feel like a failure.

--We must somehow find the strength to know that God is our beginning and He is our ending. Also, He is everything in between.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
¹  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
²  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

--If you are to start where you are, you must first look to Jesus, the author and the finisher of your faith. Our motivation to start over has to be what He did on the cross…His suffering for us gives us hope. 

Revelation 1:8, 17-18 (NKJV)
⁸  "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
¹⁷  And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
¹⁸  I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 

--Jesus says I am the Author and Finisher, I am the Alpha and Omega, I am the Beginning and the End, I am the One Who was, Who is, and Who is to come, the Almighty!

--He says I am the First and the Last, I am He Who lives and was dead, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death…I am Everything from A to Z!

--How easy should it be to start…to start over…to start afresh? Start today, start again tomorrow, and start every day after that. Pastor, I need a new heart! OK!

 Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NIV)
²⁵  I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.
²⁶  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
²⁷  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

3. To find God’s direction you must start flossing.

--Say what…sometimes we get the strangest answers in the most unusual places. I had horrible gums. I could lose all my teeth. I was sitting in the dentist chair when I looked up on the ceiling.

--As I contemplated being toothless, I looked up and there was an answer and a challenge to my teeth and gums. You do not have to floss all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep!

--I started that day. It is one of my greatest commitments. Within weeks my gums started improving and improving rapidly. When I went back to the dentist in 3 months, he was shocked.

--My gums were almost perfect. Most of the issues I was having with cavities went away also. It felt like a miracle! My dentist thought it was! He wanted to use me as a poster child for flossing. 

Zechariah 4:6-10 (NKJV)
⁶  So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.
⁷  'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ' "
⁸  Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
⁹  "The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
¹⁰  For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth." 

--Catch what the Lord is saying in your situation…What you are believing God for will not happen by your own strength or power but by Holy Spirit. He will remove the mountains in your way as He applies His grace.

--Phil.1:6 – You can have confidence that what God has started in you, He will complete…you will finish well. Do not despise a small beginning…God has this!

--Start flossing! Get started with what God called you to do!

Finding God’s Direction - 2

 Finding God’s Direction - 2

Subject: Finding God’s Divine Direction in Our Lives

By Rick Welborne

Proverbs 3:1-10 (NKJV)
¹  My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
²  For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
³  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
⁴  And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
⁷  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
⁸  It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
⁹  Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
¹⁰  So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. 

Review last week: 

1. Small Decisions Can Have Huge Effects on Our Lives.

2. Our Choices Accumulate to Tell Our Life Story.

Craig Groeshel – What is always true is that the decisions we make today determine the stories we tell about our lives tomorrow. Every day, all day, we make one small choice after another. And those choices keep accumulating, each one woven into the rest, forming the tapestry that is your life story. 

3. Our Decisions Lead to Predictable Consequences. 

--Most of us look at other people and we just assume that they made some really big wonderful choices and that is why they ended up so successful. Don’t forget all those small choices no one sees.

--Let me give some examples…When you choose to forgive your spouse instead of holding on to resentment, no one sees that happen. The evidence shows up later in your marriage. 

--People may think you’re lucky your kids turned out great by serving God and working hard but no one saw you make the small choices to pray with them, to take them to church, to teach them strong ethics. 

--Small, every day choices lead to big results. This one small choice in Daniel’s life was what, I believe, led him to be exalted before God and man.

Daniel 1:8-9 (NKJV)
⁸  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
⁹  Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.

--Small decisions can have eternal consequences…Right before I moved to Florida, I bought gas at a Quick Stop…went in to pay…I made the choice to quickly share Jesus with the lady.  

--She just looked at me and said thanks. OK! When Face Book came out… I get a message from this lady. Evidently she listened to me and came to our church…I left right after that.

--She shared with me how she came to our church, she gave her heart to the Lord, and now all of her children and grandchildren are serving the Lord. The choices we make, make a difference.

1. To find God’s Direction We Must Daily Weigh the Options Before Us.

--Neurologist tell us that the first time we think about a decision, our brain starts weighing options, eliminating one possibility after another, until we settle on the one we feel is the best choice for us. 

--After a while, the tiny decisions we have to make every day, we do not have to think about that much. They just happen. In weighing options, how important is it that we know God’s Word. 

Psalm 119:9-11 (NKJV)
⁹  How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
¹⁰  With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
¹¹  Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! 

--God’s Word has to be the very foundation of the believer’s life. Every decision has to be weighed according to what God has to say about it.  

--David hid God’s Word in his heart…what does that mean? The Word was so strong in his heart that every decision was filtered through it. We need to stop being lazy about studying.

Proverbs 3:5-7 (NLT2)
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
⁷  Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 

--Again, why is it so important to do every day? These seemingly no-big-deal decisions add up over time. They become habits. Our habits have a cumulative effect, ultimately changing our story.

--Let me give you a few examples of people, who if they had thought about their decisions, if they had weighed their options, would have made better choices.

--Both my parents started smoking at very young ages (10-11). Of course they thought it was cool to sneak around and do it. Do you think they knew they would both become addicted and die of lung cancer?

--I knew a minister who started taking a little money from their church (embezzling). He was the associate pastor who was set up to be the next pastor…big church. He took over $300,000. He lost everything.

--People who get addicted to prescription drugs never dreamed that abusing the drug would lead to a DUI…I know the guy and he got two DUIs two evenings in a row…spent time in jail. Decisions!

--It is so easy to hear about people like these and say I would never do something stupid like that. Small decisions can lead to big addictions or problems. 

--The truth is that you are just one decision away from changing your life forever…good or bad. The best decision ever is the next one you make…to serve God with all your heart.

2. To Find God’s Direction You Must Be Willing to Pass the Multiple Choice Test.

--Please understand that your decision can do more in your life than just help you avoid the negative. It can ignite the positive that God has planned for your life. 

--Once you make your choice to do what is right and righteous, it propels you into a deeper relationship with Jesus and helps you to honor God in everything you do.

--Let’s just say you have a desire to honor God by living debt free. God speaks to you about things you can eliminate in your life. Multiple choices. A. Yes, Lord! B. No, Lord? C. I’ll pray about it later.

--You realize you can pay more against your debt if you brown bag your lunches, if you get a lesser smart phone, get the basic cable package, stop with the special drinks…wow, $300 extra a month!

--Our oldest son had never met a dollar he couldn’t spend and he was just as gifted in spending your money as much as he was spending his. He was headed for a life of debt.

--I talked to him many times about this issue…Multiple choices…Tithe – A. Yes B. No. C. Maybe. Will you continue down this path. A. Yes B. Maybe C. Will you take a Dave Ramsey class? Yes!

--This same son now is calling me and asking me…Dad, do you have enough for retirement? Are you saving money? What is your debt load now? What a transformation! Paying their house off early.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NKJV)
¹⁹  I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
²⁰  that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; 

--Do you see how God sets before us every day the multiple choice questions…the sad thing is that His choices are really no brainers. Yet, we struggle with our answers. Ok, here is your choices:

--Life or death? Let me think about it. Blessing or cursing? Now that is a tough one. God even gives us the answer to His multiple choice questions: therefore choose life.

Mark 8:34-37 (NKJV)
³⁴  When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
³⁵  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.
³⁶  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
³⁷  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

--God gives the answers before He gives the choices. I do not want to make any of us feel bad tonight but isn’t it obvious to us what the right answers are but we keep doing the same thing. Bad results.

Insanity – doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

James 4:17 (NKJV) ¹⁷ Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

3. To Find God’s Direction You Must Realize the Choice is Yours. 

--Our best decision ever is to follow Jesus. Rev. 3:20 tells us that He is standing at the door knocking. He wants to be in our lives and He wants to be our lives. The choice is yours!

--If you do not like the way your life is going, the good news is you have a choice and you can go a different direction. 

Groeschel – You can’t change your past, but God can help you rewrite your story and change your future. 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (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.