Courageous – 8

Courageous – 8

Subject – The Fear of Being Foolish

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 Corinthians 1:27 (NKJV)
²⁷  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

--None of us like looking foolish in front of our friends and peers but I had a day in the 9^th grade that is forever stuck in my memory banks. I had help from my mother.

--I needed new shoes for school and for whatever reason my mom thought I would look good in solid white dress shoes. I was very short in 9^th grade but my shoe size was a 12.

--I was shaped like the letter L and with white shoes, I looked like the school clown. I never heard so many remarks and so much laughter from everyone. I wore those shoes one time. Good bye!

--We have all felt the pressure of wanting to fit in, to be like everyone else. You can call it peer pressure or herd mentality. We all want to be accepted at all cost.

--We try to look like everyone else, we try to talk like everyone else, we try to dress like everyone else. The end result is that we become like everyone else. 

--Sadly, we hide behind all of our insecurities of who we think we are supposed to be. We stop being ourselves and start being who we think everyone wants us to be. 

--When we cave into conformity (being like everyone else) we lose something very valuable. We lose our personality and the one of a kind original that God wants us to be. Become carbon copies.

--When we do this we settle for something less than what God intended for us. If you will defy the odds, face your fears, you will have to risk looking foolish in the world’s eyes.

--Hear your pastor, being who God created you to be and doing God’s will for your life is never foolish.

--I truly believe there is deep inside all of us a longing to do something crazy for God. We want to chase a lion but our fear of looking foolish keeps us hog-tied.

--Polls have found that the people’s number one fear is speaking in public. Death ranks number two. Some people would rather die than speak in public. Why? The fear of looking foolish. 

--I remember trying to speak in front of our youth group after I felt a call to preach. Terrifying for sure. Trying to stop crying and trying to ignore. Bless him, Lord. Help him, Jesus.

--To this day, I still come to the pulpit with fear and trembling. Mostly because of the awesome responsibility but also, for the fear of looking foolish or messing up.

--A friend of mine who is in the ministry said this to me about the ministry and preaching. You are only as good as your last sermon. Lots of pressure.

1. Faith is the Willingness to Look Foolish.

Hebrews 11:1&6 (NKJV)
¹  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
⁶  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

--Noah looked foolish building an ark in the desert. Sarah looked foolish buying maturity clothes at 90. Israel looked foolish marching around Jericho blowing trumpets. 

--David looked foolish attacking Goliath with a slingshot. Benaiah looked foolish chasing a lion into a pit on a snowy day. The wise men looked foolish following a star to find the Messiah. 

--Peter looked foolish stepping out of a boat on the lake in a storm to attempt walking to Jesus. Jesus looked foolish hanging on an old rugged cross with His clothes stripped off.

--But that is the essence of faith. The results speak for themselves. Noah and his family were saved from the flood. Sarah gave birth to Isaac. The walls of Jericho came tumbling down. 

--David defeated Goliath, Benaiah killed the King of the Beast. The wise men found the Messiah. Peter walked on the water. And, Jesus rose from the dead three days after His death.

--The reason so many Christians have never killed a giant, or killed a lion, or really have never done anything great, it is because they were not willing to look foolish. James says it like this:

James 2:20-24 (NIV)
²⁰  You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
²¹  Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
²²  You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
²³  And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
²⁴  You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

--It may be true that you will not look foolish if you do not attempt anything but it will also be true that you will never accomplish anything great for God until you combine your action with your faith.

--Maybe the mantra of the church should be “Call me crazy!” I could imagine that in his mind Benaiah probably said right before he jumped in the pit, “Call me crazy but here goes nothing!”

--Do you just suppose that one of the reasons that Benaiah became David’s bodyguard and Commander of Israel’s army was because his “crazy quotient” was off the charts.

--In my own life some of my greatest memories are from times I did things that seemed foolish and crazy to others. Jumping from 18,000 feet out of a plane. Jumping from 65 ft into a lake. Crazy but fun.

1 Corinthians 1:27 (NLT2)
²⁷ God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. 

2. Faith is Thinking Outside the Box

--There are way too many boxes in the church. A/G box, Baptist box, Charismatic box. Lose the box! 

--As you read the Bible you see a lot of weird and whacky stuff which leads you to believe that God says and does a lot of things that are extremely weird. Outside the box. Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 4:15 (NCV) ¹⁵ “Very well,“ he said. “Then I will give you cow’s dung instead of human dung to use for your fire to bake your bread.”

--Now what about that? He has to do it for 390 days. That gives new meaning to a poo-poo platter!

--God uses a dumb donkey to speak to Balaam and his name wasn’t Jack. (as far as I know). He tells Hosea to marry a prostitute. The District would have a time with that. 

--How many of you know God is infinitely above anything we could ever imagine and He has all the resources in the world at His disposal and He chooses speaking in tongues on the Day of Pentecost.

--All of this tells us something beautifully unique about God, He speaks and acts in divergent (original) ways. Being normal and being like everyone else is definitely overrated. 

--Think about this: We are called to conform to the image of Christ. Agree? And Christ was a non-conformist. He drove the Pharisees crazy. So conforming to Christ results in nonconformity. 

--My sister-in-law Janet years ago started a ministry to the young ladies who work in the strip clubs in St. Pete, Florida. She and other ladies go down to the club and share Christ with these women.

--That is definitely thinking outside the box and it is definitely going into the world to reach the lost. They do not condemn these ladies but share love with them. Buy them gifts. Probably clothes!

--The results have spoken for themselves, because they were willing to look foolish to many in the church (Pharisees), they have seen many come to Christ and leave that lifestyle.

3. Faith Sets the Captives Free.

--Many of our churches seem to have this mantra: Maturity is equal to conformity. Dress like us, talk like us, don’t go to certain places, and you can become one of us.  

--Many people believe that church is only the church if we sing the right songs and play the right music: Give me the old stuff and I am happy. Give me the latest greatest and I am happy. 

--Something that I want you to at least consider is this: what the church looks like now does not hardly resemble the church in the New Testament. Today we have to be entertained to be motivated.

--Lots of pressure on pastors and worship leaders to keep the sheep dancing and happy but maybe spiritual maturity of the church has little to do with all that. Then enters Jesus. 

--I truly believe Jesus’ mission should be the same mission of the church:

Luke 4:18-19 (NLT2)
¹⁸  “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,
¹⁹  and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” 

--It is more than just eliminating sin from our lives, it is also redeeming our God given potential to make a difference in those who are lost or even foolish.

Luke 19:10 (NLT2) ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

--Shouldn’t our faith be used to seek and to save the lost around us instead of trying to just have exciting church services. By the way, nothing is more exciting than winning the lost.

Finding God’s Direction - 5

Finding God’s Direction - 5

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 week:

1. God’s navigational tool…wisdom.

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

3. Seek God’s wisdom for each situation.

Tonight:

1. Stick It Out!

--Many years ago I was speaking at a men’s gathering at Trinity Assembly of God…I had been made aware that there was a gentleman who was there who had just celebrated 65 years of marriage with his wife.

--Your secret? It took him quite a while to stand and balance himself. “All of us younger guys need to hear your wisdom and secret to a good marriage.” Just keep your big mouth shut! Don’t give up!

Luke 18:1-8 (NLT2)
¹  One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
²  “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.
³  A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’
⁴  The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 

⁵  but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
⁶  Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.
⁷  Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
⁸  I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” 

--Jesus tells us this widow kept coming to this judge repeatedly…she had the tenacity not to take “no” for an answer. Some theology says just ask once but I believe this story tells us differently.

--The original language in Mat. 7, not only tells us to ask, but it tells us to keep asking, not to only knock but to keep knocking, not to just seek but it tells us to keep seeking.

--Well, I asked them to forgive me one time…I believe Jesus may want you to ask for forgiveness and keep on asking until you are forgiven. Sometimes they do not know if you are sincere the first time.

--If an unjust judge will give justice to a poor widow who cries out non-stop…how much more will our heavenly Father grant you justice quickly…Stick it out!

--When I had just turned 18 and could work at International Paper Company, I went in and filled out an application…Thanks for your application but we have no openings. I said thanks!

--The next day I went back and told them I wanted a job…we just told you yesterday that we have no openings at this present time. You never know when someone may quit…I want a job!

--I went the next day, and the next, and the next. I went back the following week and did the same thing! Same answer. You do not have to come every day…we will call you! Thanks, I’ll see you tomorrow.

--After a couple of weeks I went back and did the same thing…this time a supervisor came out of his office because he had been watching every day. How many know I am loud…I knew he was watching.

--How many of you know that Jesus is watching and listening? The supervisor invited me into his office. Rick, you just will not take no for an answer will you. Nope, sir! I need a good job!

--Similar to the unjust judge, he said I am going to give you a job (even though we do not have one) so you will leave us alone here in the office. How long would you have kept this up? As long as it took! 

--What are you going through…tough marriage, rebellious kids, sinking finances, family disruption, dryness in your spirit…Stick it out! Hang in there! Don’t quit! Don’t give up! Your King is coming!

Hebrews 10:35-39 (NKJV)
³⁵  Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
³⁶  For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
³⁷  "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
³⁸  Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
³⁹  But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. 

2. Stay the Course!

--Many of you were so sure that God had ordered your steps years ago, you were so sure God told you to do what you started doing, and no one could convince you differently.

--No one could persuade you that you were not doing God’s will. Now you are so unsure of yourself and now you are trying to accomplish what God told you to do in your own strength.

Galatians 3:1-7 (NLT2) ¹ Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross.
²  Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 

³  How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
⁴  Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?
⁵  I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.
⁶  In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
⁷  The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. 

--Stay the course! Keep trusting God! Don’t try to fix what is messed up in your own strength! If you started in the Spirit, then, determine to finish in Him. Jesus sent Him so you could stay the course!

3. Seek Selfless Sacrifice!

--There is a story in the Old Testament about a lady named Ruth…there is so much tragedy in this family!

--A lady by the name of Naomi loses her husband and it happens during a famine. Her two sons marry Moabite women, Oprah and Ruth. Ten years later the two sons also die. All 3 widows.

--During that time, widows without children were pretty much without hope or opportunity. Society was not set up for women to work. If the husband died, their children assumed the position of caregivers. 

--Because of the system, Naomi’s only option was to become a beggar, a position that was considered even lower than a slave. Knowing her situation, she encourages Oprah and Ruth to return to their homes.

Ruth 1:8-9 (NLT2)
⁸  But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the LORD reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me.
⁹  May the LORD bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept.

--Oprah realized that Naomi was right and made the decision to go back to her family. Ruth saw things differently…she chose to stay with her mother-in-law though her future was uncertain.

Ruth 1:16-18 (NLT2)
¹⁶  But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.

¹⁷  Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”
¹⁸  When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.

--This decision, this path that Ruth chooses is serious business…we are family and we are committed to each other no matter what. Catch this…even your God will be my God…only death can separate us…loyalty!

--She is choosing to be a beggar right alongside of Naomi and she is choosing selfless sacrifice to take care of this lady who is not even her own mom. She had grown to love Naomi…even more, her God!

--Ruth goes to work the fields…gleaning what she could behind those harvesting the crops…Boaz (the owner of the field) sees her and has compassion for her…He blessed her and protected her…ever wonder why?

Ruth 2:11-12 (NLT2)
¹¹  “Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers.
¹²  May the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”

--He had heard of her selfless sacrifice to care for Naomi…he heard Ruth’s story and saw the path she had chosen and his heart was touched. Boaz is a type of Jesus in the Old Testament. Boaz and Ruth marry.

--You can trace Jesus’s lineage all the way back to Ruth… a person who chose to take the most unlikely path to seek selfless sacrifice. She was greatly rewarded!

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?