Pastor Goforth

I’ve Got Your Back

August 15th, 2015

Men’s Breakfast August 15, 2015

Meaningless … My Dad likes the word “Pitiful”. “That’s pitiful” … my Dad likes that phrase … The book of Ecclesiastes is written by an old man, who happens to be the King of Israel and the son of David. So, this is Solomon. Solomon is looking back on his life, successes and failures, highs and lows, and giving an honest assessment of what he has learned, in hopes of someone learning from his life. It is about the meaning of life, the important things in life. Over and Over he says “meaningless” maybe he would say like my Dad “that’s pitiful”. I think 35 times Solomon says “meaningless”. The word, hebel = vapor, vanity, breath, nothingness, perishable, void
The word means it goes, it’s gone, and you have NOTHING to show for it. We are going to consider this word today in one area. I was asked to give consideration to the phrase “I’ve got your back”.

Of the 35 times that Solomon uses the word and for a variety of topics. This related topic is found in Chapter 4:7-11. Tell me if you can hear Solomon say “that’s pitiful”

Ecclesiastes 4:7–8 (NIV84)
7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: 8 There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business!

Did you hear it? Where was it? V8 “for whom am I toiling” … and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” this too is meaningless – a miserable business!

How does he start out? I saw something meaningless … there was a man alone

Now maybe you LIKE your ALONE time … I think we all do. But being truly alone
Solomon says is “empty, void, life a breath, nothingness … meaningless” … to spend all of your energy, to spend all of your time, to give your life to something, to risk your life, it should be FOR something and someone.

Do you get this image as he begins … There was a man all alone
The ESV says one person who has no other

THIS is nothingness … Gentlemen, when I first said “a man alone”, some of you thought “oh I wish”  but this is truly sadness, emptiness, a life lived with nothing to show for it.

Solomon’s purpose in all of this is to show where meaning can be found.
Meaning is found in finding purpose for everything, and that everything has a purpose. That is the point of this entire book.

Men we tend to be lone wolves. We may like being on a team, but don’t want to be too close, we don’t want to reveal too much. Maybe this conversation itself is a little too close, a little too uncomfortable. We don’t want to reveal too much.

But Solomon says we need people, we need someone to share it with. What point is a victory with no one to give a “high five”? I saw a clip from the Chicago White Sox this week and a rookie got his first major league homerun and he came to the dugout and he walked through the dugout and no one looked at him, no one celebrated, and he just high fived the air … then at the end … they jumped around him and celebrated.

This sad picture … is a man working hard, working with no stopping … yet never content with what he achieved … and looks up from his toil, and says “for whom am I toiling”. Oh you can be sure it isn’t because there wasn’t anyone, but he had LOST them … he looked up and they were gone and I hear my Father say “that is pitiful” … Solomon says “a miserable business” …

Do you know someone like that? I won’t ask if that is you. But what do we do?

What does Solomon say we should do? It is what we have said “I’ve Got Your Back”

Ecclesiastes 4:9–11 (NIV84)
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

Living, Working, Fighting, Dying … ALONE … that’s Meaningless … But we don’t have to …

Life to LIFE men … Back to Back … Face to Face, Eye to Eye … sometimes nose to nose but doing LIFE …

Got any battles you are facing? If I asked you to make a list of 10 of the biggest challenges you have faced, and then asked you which ones have you handled mostly alone, and which ones you have reached out for help, which list would be greater? ALONE? Probably … or is it just me. Men, I’m talking to myself today.

I’ve never been to war, but is that the way you go to war?
No, but is that the way we do it too often? YES

But SHOULD it?
No, Solomon says “TWO are Better than ONE” Don’t we see that? Adam couldn’t be alone, so God gave him Eve because it wasn’t good for him to be alone. Yes we have spouses if we are blessed, and perhaps children, but we need each other Gentlemen. What do you call them? Battle Buddies, Wingmen … If I’ve got a weapon, if I’m in a plane, why do I need a Battle Buddy?
Blind Spots, Protection, Encouragement, Accountability, Vulnerability
Are those things only for war? Or maybe I should say it this way, is ANYTHING NOT war?
Eph 6 says we wrestle not against flesh and blood but rulers and power, authorities, forces of this dark world
Peter says that our enemy prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour
Jesus said the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy …

We Are at War … we will always need a Battle Buddy, a Wingman …

In your marriage you need to be back to back with a man who will ask you if you are treating her right, if you are caring for your kids
In your thought life, you need to be back to back with a man who will ask you what you are dwelling on, what you are putting into your mind, in front of your eyes

Two are better than one …
I pictured one of those Big Two Handled Tree Saws … would you rather be ONE Big Burley Lumberjack, or have another on the other side. Sometimes we don’t know any better. Perhaps you have always thought, being a man means getting it done alone. But you don’t have to … Heard about the old guy who got a new fangled chain saw. He was given one told it would cut his work to a fraction. He brought it back to the store and asked for his money because he couldn’t get anything done with it. The guy took it from him and Cranked it up and Scared the guy out of his pants … “wow … what is that, that is loud”. He had power but wasn’t using it.

Two are BETTER than one … they have a good return for their work:
How so?
If one falls down … his friend can help him. Why do we refuse help, or always stay alone, we need some help to get up. Sometimes we don’t even know

Jorge and I were in El Salvador, it had been a long hard day in the hot sun. We were riding back from a remote village and it had slowly gotten dark and we were standing in the back of this pick up and it was nice, we were tired, but a good tired. I was looking around at the night. I said to Jorge “Wow, it is really dark out here away from lights of the city”. I said “I don’t think I have ever seen it so dark.” Jorge looked at me, smiled, and reached up to my face and took off my sunglasses”.  We need someone with us.
If you fall down, if you have FALLEN down, who is going to help you up?
Pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up

We don’t have to be alone … but we have to ask …

What do we have to do for Back to Back to happen?
We have to TRUST,
We have to take position
We have to get close
We have to be willing

But what a return …
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves

I don’t care how good you are, you can’t see your back, you can’t defend both sides, you can’t handle overwhelming force …

But two … back to back … now we have got something
And three … a triple braided cord is NOT quickly broken
Two can defend, Three can stand, Four can advance

And if you and I, if WE, have God in the mix … Joshua 23:9-10 The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 one of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you 11 so be careful to love the Lord your God

The story of scripture is full of men standing together. It is full of men and women in committed marriages relying on God. Moses in Exodus 17 had a command to keep his hands up while God’s people fought a battle. He couldn’t do it alone, his arms got tired. Sometimes we lose, not because we don’t want to obey, we just get tired … but he had Aaron, an older brother, and Hur, a young man, and they held his hands up. They enabled him to obey when he wasn’t physically able … we need each other

… Joshua at the end of his life says … Joshua 24:14–16 (NIV84)
14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” 16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!
When we first read this we see a man standing alone … but is that really what it is?
No I don’t think so. We look at the world we live in and it seems more and more that we are forced to “stand alone” but are we really? Oh the world may be evil, and Christians may be the cross hairs but so it has always been … but generally you aren’t really standing alone, few times is that completely true. Noah was the only man recorded as faithful to the Lord in his day … but he still had his family, wife, three sons, and their wives.
David had Jonathan, and then his men that stood with him through thick and thin.
Paul had Barnabas, then Silas, but also Timothy and Luke and others alone the way
Barnabas had Paul, then Mark
Jesus had disciples, though the day came when he died alone on a hill, but John was there to the end

So I look again at Joshua at Shechem telling the people to make a choice … As for ME and My House …
Joshua knew what it was to be singled out … Back there after leaving Egypt … Israel came to the promised land … 12 spies were sent in to scout out the land and when they came home 10 of them said “yeah it’s beautiful, yeah it’s flowing with milk and honey … BUT there are Giants in the Land” … They together FORGOT … IGNORED the Word of God. God said it was THEIRS … the question … would they go together … and there stood Joshua alone … saying “we can do this” … wait no he wasn’t … he wasn’t standing alone … he was back to back with Caleb … He silenced the people and said “we should go up and take possession, we certainly can do this” (Num 13:30) … Back to back … men … we need someone with us that says “we SHOULD” and “we CAN”

And so after 40 years in the desert, God’s people went into Canaan, all of that generation had died, but there was Joshua leading the people and there was Caleb still back to back at 85 years of age … why? Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly (Num 14:24) … If you are picking your Battle Buddy, your Wingman, we need a guy like that don’t we? Someone that isn’t your average guy,, someone who follows wholeheartedly …

Oh what was Joshua saying that day in Shechem when he said Fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness, throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the river … and serve the Lord … if serving the Lord seems undesirable … then choose you this day whom you will serve … but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
What was he saying, Yes he was willing to stand alone. And a man of principle, a man of faith, a man of God, must be WILLING to stand alone … but what he is saying is … I am going to Serve God, no matter the no, no matter who else does … but WHO IS WITH ME?
Who has Got My Back?
Who is with me?
We can do this
Have you fallen down?
Holler out … we will help you up
Don’t do this alone
Don’t fight for your marriage alone
Don’t fight addiction alone
Don’t fight satan alone
Don’t fight for answers alone
We ARE with you.

Will you let us?
Will you walk together with someone?
Make a decision Amos 3:3 do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?
Take Me Lord

August 4th, 2015

Luke 18:31-34 (NIV84)

Jesus took the Twelve aside … we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be handed over to the Gentiles, they will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him. 33 on the 3rd Day he will rise again 34 The disciples did not understand any of this …

First, does it ever amaze you that Jesus would take us into the family of God let alone into his plan for the Kingdom? We are talking life and death, blessing and curses stuff here and God brings us into that mission WOW

Jesus didn’t need the disciples. He doesn’t need me. But he takes us. That means he considers all our failures, our strong points, HA and he takes us. That is what he has always done. He made man out of DUST … so I think he can take the dirt I bring and make something beautiful.

Psalm 78 is a picture of God’s History with his people. He took Israel, he used them. V70 says he CHOSE David, he TOOK him from the sheep pens v71 he BROUGHT him to be the shepherd of his people.

So, Jesus went to the disciples and said “follow me”. But Jesus’ message was the same for all. He came in Matthew 4 saying, “Repent … here is the Kingdom” Repent means stop that way, let me help you go this way.”

So here we are, serving the Lord Jesus has taken us aside from the path we were on and brought us into this. Jesus said “we are going up” It is alays GOING with Jesus. Blackaby says you “can’t stay where you are and go with God.” So where is he going? Here he was going to Jerusalem, not Bethlehem, not Galilee, not Cesaerea, but Jerusalem. There they will mock, insult, spit, beat, and Kill him. “Well Lord, let’s go somewhere else” No it is FOR this reason that I have come.

God has called us in and brought us into his work and his work is HERE. And you know if we go WITH we get WHAT … so if we come with and it rains, we get rain. If sun, we get Sun … Mock … Insult … Spitting … Flogging … wait stop right there … no that is not our right … we aren’t planning the trip, we are going WITH … so if it means all of that AND KILL … well do not be surprised if the world hates you Jesus says because they hated me first (John 15:18)

So we Go …. why, because what must be accomplished for this season can’t be accomplished anywhere else. They couldn’t go anywhere but Jerusalem because it was time for sacrifice and sacrifice happened in Jerusalem.

Lord, am I where you want me? If no, then I need to follow him into his purpose. If yes, then Lord what is our purpose here? v34 says the disciples did not understand. Lord help me understand. Help me endure. Help me embrace mocking, insults, spitting, beatings, even death.

The life of the Christian, Bonheoffer says, is a call to come and die. Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ in me. I live this life strictly by Faith in the one who loved me and gave himself for me. Does Jesus Love you? Look at the Cross. You can see there HOW MUCH. Do you trust, have faith, in the one who loves you that much. Then live in that faith, follow with that faith.

Go aside even when you don’t understand say “yes Lord” But I’ve left everything for Jesus … God … do you trust him? Peter said v 28 “we have left everything.” and Jesus, the one who truly left everything, laid aside his glory to serve us to life through death (phil 2) says in vv29-30 I tell you the truth … no one who has left home, wife, brothers, parents, children, for the Kingdom 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Take me Lord, aside from my plans, aside from personal glory, aside from rights, aside from desires

Take me to fulfill your purposes

Though mocking, take me Lord

Though insults, take me Lord

Though spitting, take me Lord

Though beatings, take me Lord

Though death, take me Lord

Because the Resurrection is Coming

Life is now, Life is Eternal, Take me Lord
Since We Have Confidence

June 30th, 2015

The law wasn’t done away with but fulfilled through the gracious working of Jesus Christ.
There is no longer sacrifices because of the last sacrifice in Christ and so Hebrews 4:16 NIV84 says Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” and Hebrews 10:19-22 NIV84 says “Therefore brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith …
Since we have CONFIDENCE to ENTER …
There is discussion that seems to be ever running around the church about The Law in the daily practice of Christians who are in the state or age of grace. There is really, in my opinion, a lack of understanding of what The Law is and what Grace is. Living in communion with God has always been an act of God’s grace. From the moment sin entered the world, it is only God’s mercy and grace that allows us to have a relationships with Him. The wages of sin has always been death. But God, in his grace made provision for us to remain in relationship with him. This initial provision was through the death of a substitute sacrifice in the blood of oxen and lambs, it was always a sacrifice. Those sacrifices also pointed toward the coming of one sacrifice that would end the need for sacrifices.
The “anti-law” folks today miss this fact that grace has always existed. The law didn’t make men perfect, it was a standard of living that we were called to even though we would fail, yet the sacrifice atoned for our failure. But a promised one was coming.
Jeremiah 31:31 the time is coming when i will make a new covenant
v32 it will not be like the covenant made with their fathers
v33 this is the covenant I will make … after that time … I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people
v34 … for I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sin no more

When we want to understand the inspired word of God, the best teacher is The Holy Spirit. So the same Spirit inspired one verse speaks of it in another verse, that is the easiest way to understand. It is the best commentary. So in Hebrews 10:16-17 the writer, inspired by the Holy Spirit who inspired Jeremiah, quotes Jeremiah 31 and then explains it. In verse 18 he says “where these have been forgiven (sin and lawlessness) there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.”

You see, the law has not been eliminated as a standard for living except where God specifies like with Peter being told he could change the eating requirements in Acts 10. But Jesus himself enlarged the expectations in the sermon on the mount.

When they approached God under the law, they had to be certain they had followed the regulations for fear of being struck down dead.
But we have confidence (parresia) = courage, boldness, candor, plainly
Since we have confidence – What takes away the fear of approaching God? What removes the need for sacrifice? It is the certainty of the Grace of God in Christ.
WE individually can enter the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus. Only One, the High Priest, could enter the Most Holy Place. Only One Time, on the Day of Atonement, could he enter. Only One way, could he enter, with a perfect sacrifice.
But WE have, CONFIDENCE, courage, boldness, candor, to speak freely, openly plainly, to come, EVERY DAY directly to God … Because of the Sacrifice of Christ which settled the issue.
So
v22 Let us draw near … with full assurance
v23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope
v24 Let us encourage each other
Since we have CONFIDENCE
The Confidence doesn’t mean there isn’t an expectation for what RIGHT Living is. It means that I don’t need any other sacrifices to cover my sin and lawless acts
It means that the Right Living and the Desire has been placed in my heart in the person of The Spirit. The Holy Spirit, living in me doesn’t free me from living a holy life, but places in me the desires as well as the ability to say “yes” and then removes the need and fear of a sacrifice
Since we have Confidence
Stand Firm
Since we have Confidence
I … the pot … can approach the potter with confidence and say “Dear Potter, my pot has some things that don’t fit your vision. Will you place your hands on me and continue to form me?”
Since we have Confidence
We know He will shape us and not shatter us. He will receive us and not reject us.
Since we have Confidence
Be Encouraged and Encourage Others
Cut Off Your Right Hand?

June 29th, 2015

Oswald Chambers says “there never has been a saint yet who did not have to live a maimed life. But it is, better to enter into life maimed and lovely in God’s sight than to be lovely in man’s sight and lame in God’s”
Jesus is seated on the hill overlooking Galilee teaching. But he isn’t teaching easy stuff, he is teaching the “much more” life of the Kingdom, the hard stuff. Jesus doesn’t speak about canceling the standards of the law, no he enlarged it, he went deeper. The moral standards of God were never done away with in the “grace age”. They were taken to a more full meaning. In this “sermon on the mount” Jesus says “hate=murder” and “lust=adultery”. So if our thought life is important, if our desires lead us astray, this is important stuff.
Peter taught us to “make every effort to add to your faith goodness … knowledge … self-control … perseverance … godliness … kindness … love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. If anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from the past sins. Therefore … be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure …” (2 Peter 1:5–10 NIV84)
Peter was getting us to Jesus’ point of these radical words in Matthew 5 and the sermon on the mount. Jesus says if your eyes are a problem, pluck them out. If your hand v30 causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than your whole body to go to hell. Then Jesus continues with the radical interpretation of the depth of the commands of God. So then, there are things, relationships, activities that might seem normal, even “right handed” but if they get in the way of our relationship with God, they have to go.
Really?? Would Jesus have me deny myself?
Luke 9:23 “If anyone would come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
ANYONE(tis)=”who, what, what sort of person” the Sort of Person that denies himself to embrace coming AFTER him
After =Jesus Denied himself according to Philippians 2. He Emptied Himself. He Employed Himself in the service of others.
So, if we will come AFTER him … we come after him cutting off what we think we need, but do not, in order to keep what we want … viz a viz HIM … being LIKE, AFTER, CONFORMED to His Image.
So, is this OPTIONAL for the Disciple this life of denial?
Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not HATE his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes even his own life – he CANNOT be my disciple”
Hate(miseo)=hate, love less, disfavor
It is not saying that the way of discipleship is hatred or rejection. If they will go the way of Christ, fine … but the Way of Christ supersedes all OTHER ways, relationships, passions and purposes … Yea Even Your Own Life
Jesus continues then in Luke 14 by saying that you have to count the cost of completion before you start a building project.
So, if you are building a life of discipleship, it often involves, as Chambers puts it, personal maiming, spiritual surgery
Denial is part of the process
Matthew 5:40 says if someone wants your shirt give them your jacket too
v41 if they want you to go a mile, go another mile
v44 love your enemies, pray for your persecutors
WHY? Why should we adopt these RADICAL ways? So we will …
v48 Be Perfect, there fore as your heavenly Father is perfect
The Perfection being sought IS the Goal of Discipleship, to Look Like Jesus
It doesn’t happen magically, it happens decidedly. It comes in surrendering as a pot to the hands of the potter.
The lump of clay is not thrown on the wheel and told to “be a beautiful pot”. Jesus never worked that way with Humans. He spoke the world into existence and everything in it, but he SHAPED man with his own hands. And he still does. Yes we are “declared righteous” when we receive Christ, and positionally we are immediately. But, he is shaping us to look like him.
So that LUMP on the wheel receives the Master’s Hand and the pot begins to take shape. And so then again, in 2 Peter 1, we see picture. Verse 4 says we are participants in his divine nature … SO v5 add to your faith
“No thanks … I’m good with faith that’s enough for me …”
NO … Peter says ADD(epichoregeo) = give, supply, support – Support, supply, give to your faith … So many Christians stay in the “faith zone” and don’t ADD to it.
But the thing we are told is to ADD … but we CAN because v3 says “his divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness” His Glory and Goodness provides us what we need, through who he is and what he has said, we canparticipate v4 (koinonos)=partner, a companion. We WALK with Christ, come after him, and we add to faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness, love. These additions each develops the next. Faith leads to goodness, which helps have have greater knowledge of God, which leads us to self-control enabling us to persevere, which makes us more godly, leading to kindness, which finds us fully in love.
And so a pot in the hands of the potter will look up and realize we are becoming beautiful, useful, effective, and productive … Perfect for his Purpose
Cut off a hand?
To become beautiful and useful? Maybe.
To become Perfect for HIS Purpose? Gladly.
The Voice Of The Lord

May 2nd, 2015

Men of Faith Breakfast
2 May, 2015
The Voice Of The Lord

Men … let’s talk about Voices … whose voice gets your attention?
The voice of your Mom or Dad, the voice of your wife, the voice of your kids, the voice of your boss
What voice scares you, what voice excites you, what voice makes you smile, fearful, sad …

So … the VOICE of the Lord …

Psalm 29:3–9 (NIV84)
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. 5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. 8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

David … is showing himself a mature songwriter … He is painting a picture of a STORM rising … it’s gathering in the west it is rolling across the Mediterranean Sea, the waves are crashing on the shore, rolling eastward toward Jerusalem. The storm is gathering strength as it climbs upward to Jerusalem … David, perhaps laying in his bed, hearing the storm in the distance, the first pit pat of rain turns into a blast of lightning, a ROAR of Thunder and the STORM blows in … and it is the VOICE of the LORD …

Gentlemen, I’m here to tell you something … there are lots of voices we like, other voices we must live with, but there is only one voice that we desperately NEED and that is the Voice of the Lord … We need it, we cannot live without it …

I want to spend an HOUR or so here, but let me try and just spend a few minutes …
What am I talking about …?

1. What IS the VOICE of the Lord?

David most likely “hearing” God through a storm recognizes the importance, the power, the vitality of the voice of the Lord.

What am I talking about? What Is the Voice of the Lord?

A. It is Creative
… the Voice of the Lord said “LET there Be … and there was Light, let there be and there was land and see, let there be, and fish and flying things, let there be and there were heavenly bodies, let there be and there were plants and trees, let there be and there were animals of every kind, and the VOICE of the Lord said “let us make someone in our image and he reached down and did what he degreed … The VOICE of the Lord

B. It is Prophetic
… Prophesy is not just about FORETELLING but the Voice of the Lord certainly tells us what is yet to come, but more Importantly Prophesy is FORTH Telling. The Voice of the Lord is TRUTH Spoken into our lives … we need the Voice of the Lord

C. It is Revelation
… As the Voice of the speaks truth to us … it reveals to us God, his Purposes and his Ways … Moses said “who will I tell them has sent me?” and God said “I AM who I AM” … God is revealing himself every time he speaks to us

D. It is an Invitation
… as we learned God never speaks simply for information, he is inviting us to join him

E. It is Frightening
… if we really hear it, if we really understand who is speaking to us it ought to scare us … and that’s ok because the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom … you aren’t ready to learn anything until you have a healthy dose of Fear instilled by the Voice of the Lord

Lastly … it is
F. Necessary
… Gentlemen if you tell me this morning, I’m not hearing the Voice of God, it would tell you, ask for it, beg for it, plead for it. Shut off every other competing voice, because you NEED the Voice of the Lord …

What does David teach us about the Voice of the Lord?

2. What Does the Voice of the Lord Do?

It is …
A. Over the Waters
Remember David is in a Thunderstorm … the Lord is over the Rainclouds and the Showers, the destructive storms and the showers of blessing. But also this makes us mindful of the Creative Voice of God … Remember Genesis 1:2 the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters … if things are formless and void, that is a prime place for God to work … Listen to the Voice of the Lord

B. Awesome v4

It is powerful – the word means strength, might, power, ability … The Voice of the Lord IS the Power we seek, we need
It is Majestic – the word means, an adornment, ornament, splendor

C. Breaks Cedars
The Cedars of Lebanon were in the Mountains where the source of all life for Israel began.
The Cedars provided for building, fortifying the country …
HE breaks our high places, the Voice of the Lord Shakes the Mountains and Shatters our Greatest strengths

D. Flames of Fire, Lightning v7

Fire, Lightning, Thunder in the scripture refers to cleansing, judging, the removal of sin
The Voice of the Lord, in Revelation, in Prophesy, brings judgment but when we respond it brings cleansing and removal of sin

E. Shakes the Desert / Wilderness

Shakes the desert of Kadesh … Kadesh Barnea was the place where Israel had a chance to follow God into the Promised Land, but instead they looked with their eyes instead of with their heart. They went by their perception instead of by the Voice of the Lord. Their unbelief, sent them into the desert of correction.
But the Voice of the Lord removes our unbelief, removes our fear, removes the potential consequences by inspiring obedience and an adventurous spirit that says “this doesn’t make fit my sensibility, but it inspires my faith, yes Lord …

F. Inspires New Birth v9
Some translations say “deer give birth” others say “twists the oaks” … then it says “strips the forests bare” … either way, the stripping and twisting of the Voice of the Lord, makes room for New Birth to come forth …

The Voice of the Lord
The Sound of God … can you hear it?

Alright then Pastor, So, How do I hear the Voice of the Lord?
3. How Do I Hear the Voice of the Lord?

Let’s get practical …

A. Read His Word
Are you reading the Word of God? This is the Voice of the Lord. We have many things that compete for our ear. People ask me all the time, “how do I know if what I think I hear God saying in my Spirit IS Really the Voice of God?
We have the Voice of God in print. All scripture, that means OLD AND NEW, Law, History, Poetry, Prophesy, Parables, Epistles, it is ALL God breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17)

If you are not building into your schedule time to read God’s word every day, you cannot trust that what you think you hear is truly the Voice of the Lord. God’s Voice in Prayer, in Our Spirit, will NEVER Contradict His Written Word …
How do I start? Take 10 Minutes to P-R-A-Y
1. P-ray – Lord Speak to me from your Word (2 Minutes)
2. R-ead – start with the gospel of John if you don’t know where … read 10 verses or read a proverb a day (3 Minutes)
3. A-pply – what did God show you? What is he saying to you? write it down (3 Minutes)
4. Y-es – Say Yes … Lord I hear you, I will do it … (2 Minutes)

B. Listen
If you are reading his word, and know his word then you should be spending time LISTENING to God … I didn’t just say “Pray” because most of the time our “prayers” are just list-giving to God … but we need to build into our prayer time LISTENING … that means SILENCE … can’t do that, don’t like to do that? Start small … 5 minutes … “Lord Speak” … Have a Pad and write down what you think God is saying to you

C. Sit Under the Proclamation of the Word
When you come on Sunday do you come intentionally and prepared? That is do you come because you want to hear from God and ready to do something with what you hear …
How do you do that?
Come in on Sunday believing that what you are going to hear is FROM God, not just from the Preacher
Let it Wash Over You …
Meditate on what you have heard, that means to dive in, best way to do that is to spend some time during the week studying what God has given you on Sunday.
Stand Under the Water Fall and let it wash over you.
Don’t just run through the Sprinkler, Go to the pool.
Don’t just dip your feet in the edge of the pool … Dive In.
Some of us come to the pool but we just sunbathe, we never get in the pool.
Spend the time
Meditate …

D. Believe It
All of it is true
All he says is for me

Last two things …

4. WHY Don’t We Hear It More?

It is NOT for a lack of his voice, a lack of his Written Word, a Lack of Preachers …
Look at vv1-2
Psalm 29:1–2 (NIV84)
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

We don’t hear the Voice of the Lord Because we don’t ASCRIBE … that means to GIVE and it is in the IMPERATIVE … I MUST …
Ascribe to the Lord the GLORY DUE … Glory is the Word kabod – it means heaviness, weight … Due shem – name
GIVE … you MUST … the weight, that his NAME deserves …

Do you worship him with your ATTENTION? We give attention to so many things, most of them important but most of them are TEMPORAL … God is Eternal … is he worthy of our ATTENTION? Ascribe to the Lord

It is Imperative

5. Why MUST I?
Psalm 29:10–11 (NIV84)
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. 11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
`
The Lord sits ENTHRONED over this STORM …
I can see David laying in his bed overlooking the Kidron Valley. The Kidron Valley was dry most of the time, but when the rain fell and the floods came it washed through the Valley and David said The Lord is God of the showers of blessings but also through the Storms as life as well
Why?
The Lord sits ENTHRONED as the Universe’s King FOREVER as well
So as Lord of the storm, and Lord of the Universe, I MUST Have His Voice, I Must Listen
Why Must I Have the Voice?
The Lord Gives Strength … I Need Strength
The Lord Blesses … I need blessing
The Lord gives PEACE … I Need Peace

The Voice of the Lord
The Voice of the Lord
Can you Hear it?
Will You Hear it?
Do you know how desperately we NEED It

Speak Lord
Speak Lord
I will Sit Right Here, I will Listen, Speak Lord
YES – The Big Eternal, Irrevocable, Irrepressible, Inexplicable, Yes

April 21st, 2015

YES – The Big Eternal, Irrevocable, Irrepressible, Inexplicable, Yes

We live in a world that only wants “yes” and hates the word “no”. It has so invaded modern day thought, parenting, and life in general, don’t say “no”.
Toleration is the seeming focal word of our day. I heard Josh McDowell, in the mid 90’s say that within 5 years the “only intolerance that would be tolerated will be intolerance of intolerance.”

So here we are 20 years after I heard him say that and those of us who believe in an eternal standard found in the Word of God in print, the Bible, and the Word of God in the Flesh, Jesus, we find that our belief in a standard is not tolerated by the “toleration police”. We cannot say that there is a standard for marriage. We cannot say that there is a standard for being a Christian and for being IN Christ.

Yet Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me” And people read into those beautiful words a big “no”. They see the exclusivity and say “how dare you tell me I can’t make my own way, my own truth, define my own life.” But in their belief in a big “no”, they are missing the “YES”.

Jesus wasn’t saying, “You can’t come to God”. He was saying “You CAN come to God, HERE is the Way.”

I stood on a cliff in Portugal with my wife and I looked down about 150-200 feet and saw a beautiful little beach. I thought, I want to go to that beach. Well, what if I said to my bride, “I’m going to the beach, I’m going to jump down there?” She would have said the LOVING thing, “NO”. She would have said “NO” to the jump, but NOT to the Destination. She would have said “let’s take the path, it is over there.” There was a winding path down the rocks to that beautiful beach. But jumping is faster. Yes, but you won’t like the sudden stop, and you won’t be able to enjoy the beach. So the path was the “YES” to my desire, not a “no”. If I want to go to that beach, “there is a way.” (I did go to that beach with my bride)
Jesus said in John 14:2-3 – “I go to prepare a place for you …” v4 “you know the way …” and Thomas says “We don’t know where you are going and so how can we know the way.”
So, when we see v6, and hear Jesus say “I am the way …” That is not a “no” it is a “YES”. It is a statement that says “I want you to enjoy the beach with me.”
How? Where? Is the question and Jesus says “ME … I am the YES, I am the Way, into what you want, I am the path. It may be narrow and difficult, even slow, but I AM the way and that is the TRUTH that leads to LIFE. You can jump … that may seem faster, easier, but it doesn’t lead to LIFE”.
And so … then go forward to the Apostle Paul teaching in 2 Corinthians chapter 1. He is correcting an immature church who is arguing over “yes” and “no” stuff. And he says in v18 “As surely as God is Faithful, our message is not ‘yes’ and ‘no’ 19 For Jesus … was not ‘yes’ and ‘no’ but in him it has always been ‘yes’. 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ … 21 It is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us 22 set his seal of ownership on us and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

In Christ don’t look at direction and commands and see them as “yes” and “no” … See Jesus as the Eternal, Irrepressible, Inexhaustible, Yes of God and say “Amen… So Be It Lord, I will turn to Christ, I will Submit to your will and way, and the answer will be ‘yes, Lord, yes’”.
An Honest Prayer From an Intimate Fellowship

April 21st, 2015

A “prayer life” is something that many seek, but fewer really experience. We talk about a prayer LIFE … but the use of that definer talks of something deeper than just a simple time of talking to God
You’ve heard “a friend must show himself friendly” . Many people want friends, they want relationships but they don’t want to do the work of intimacy. They are afraid of rejection, disappointment, or openness. To have a relationship we have to relate.
Well, a prayer life is just that, it is a course of life. We all pray. Whether you are blessing food, giving God a daily list of your concerns, or breathing a simple “Lord help me”, those are all prayers. But a prayer LIFE is an intimate engagement with God. It is the sharing of hurts. It is give and take, speaking and listening, crying, sharing joys, and so much more. Just like a relationship involves an honest exchange, even when not beautiful or warm and fuzzy, so is a prayer life.
David had a relationship that fostered a prayer life. It was most likely born of parents that taught him of God’s love, concern, compassion. It was developed, no doubt, in the loneliness of the life of a shepherd. David, alone with his sheep, his rod and staff, perhaps his lyre strapped over his shoulder, learned to relate to God because there was no one else but sheep to talk to. So David shared, probably his fears, frustrations, joys, and sorrows with his sheep, but more importantly HIS Shepherd, The Lord. He knew the Lord’s “rod and staff”. He knew the Lord’s provision and the possibilities. He know the Lord’s overshadowing even in the shadow of death. He knew the Lord’s Table even in the presence of enemies. He knew that his dwelling place was with God.
So, when you read David’s Psalms you see that intimacy. Intimacy is able to be honest. Most of the time, we don’t really get honest with God because 1) we don’t know how he will respond because a) we don’t know his character, nature, because that comes from education and experience or b) we haven’t been honest enough before to find out. And 2) we don’t want him to be honest with us, knowing that if I’m honest with him,, i have to let him respond and be honest with me. Remember when Job asked God for an answer and God said “brace yourself like a man and I will answer you”.
But David had a prayer LIFE. He had a relationship with God.
Look at Psalm 55
Verse 1 – “listen to my prayer O God, do not ignore my plea”
Verse 2 – “hear me and answer me”
David came to God expecting interaction. He didn’t require anything from God other than the natural expectation of interaction
David was Open and Honest
Verse 2 – ” … my thoughts trouble me and I am distraught”
Verse 3 – “the voice of the enemy … the stares of the wicked …”
How honest are we about what we are struggling with?
Verse 4 – “my heart is in anguish … terrors of death”
verse 6 – “Oh that I had the wings of a dove …”
I remember hearing the great preacher EV Hill say of this verse “But David you don’t have the wings of dove you are a man, you can’t fly away, you have to stay”
Verse 9 – “Confuse … Confound”
Ask God for specific actions … My old pastor John Brady used to say “when we pray generally, generally nothing happens”
Verse 13 – this was personal these were attacks from a friend, from a fellow worshipper
Verse 16 – “But I call to God and the Lord saves me”
Where do you take your complaints, who is your “go to guy”? The Lord?
Verse 17 – evening, morning, noon … that’s LIFE

Verse 21 – His Speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart, Words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords”
Have you been there? I have been there
What am I supposed to do against this “smooth criminal”, this Velvet Adversary?

Verse 22 – “Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you, he will never let the righteous fall”
If I hold onto my burdens, they weigh me down, throw it off, let the Lord hold, measure, contain you because he will never let the righteous be yoked or shaken by challenges
Cast is in the imperative … you must. Do you ever need to encourage yourself, do a self-talk?

Verse 23 – “You God will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption”
David lifts his eyes here off the immediacy of his problem and looks to the end and it gives him hope for today.

Verse 23 – “As for Me, I will trust in you”
We have to set our hope and confidence in the one in whom we are in relationship
Not, … I will … but a statement of fact … I TRUST … active tense right now
Trust yes is a life choice from life experience by a man with a prayer LIFE
Team Me David …
Remember, prayer is not so much about me changing God, but God changing me
A Persistent Question From The Savior

March 3rd, 2015

This may seem random, but maybe it is for you
Does Christ seem to be asking you the same persistent question, even though you have already answered? Maybe there is more to the question than you think.
John 21 is an amazing interaction between Jesus and the disciples, especially Peter. It seems that John, an old man as he write his gospel, is finished at the end of chapter 20. But then he comes back with another story.
Mega-failure had happened for Peter. The night before Jesus died, Peter declared his confidence, “I won’t fail Lord, even if everyone else does” Then Luke records Jesus as saying that satan is going to sift Peter like wheat but that God was going to use this failure then to develop Peter. He tells Peter, I’m praying for you, that you won’t fail me, but after you do, strengthen the brothers.(Luke 22:32) He tells him that he will deny him 3 times before morning.
So then, Jesus died, he has been resurrected, he has appeared to his disciples multiple times but I think there is this lingering question in the back of their minds about the future. “Can God still use me?” So here in John 21, Peter says “I’m going fishing” and the guys follow (Thomas, Nathaniel, James, John, and two others, probably Andrew and Philip). Peter was heading back to where he was when Jesus found him. Hmmm, who will you take with you when you think about backtracking?
So they fish, get nothing, then early in the morning, someone is on the shore and calls out to them. They were only 100 yards out. I’ve stood in the place where they say this took place. He suggests they try the other side of the boat and when they do, sure enough they have more fish than they can manage. That’s when they realize that this is Jesus. Why? Because this same thing happened the day Jesus called them to follow him and that day they left all, dropped their nets, pulled the boats up on shore, and followed him. But now, they had taken it up again, in their failure they were contemplating turning back.
There are a lot of reasons we doubt but it is usually about our failures … “Maybe he doesn’t want me …”
So, after breakfast, the question comes from Jesus to Peter. Perhaps Peter had been wondering when this question would come up. Bold Peter, had been embarrassed in the courtyard. Now Jesus asks “Peter do you truly love me more than these?” .
THESE? What these? More than these nets, more than these boats, more this these fish, more than this lake, more than these men do? That latter one is what he had proclaimed, “if all else fails Lord, not me”. And Peter answers “Yes Lord, I love you, you know that”
Tough Question, you knew it would come, now we have it out there and we can move on. Have you been there? I failed, Jesus questions, now let’s move on and pretend it hasn’t happened.
Jesus says “Feed my lambs” – or graze my little sheep
Ok Sure Lord, I’ll do that
but then immediately, the persistent Savior says “Simon, do you love me truly?”
“Why is he asking me this again? Is he trying to embarrass me?”
“Yes Lord, you now I love you”
“Take care of my sheep” or Be a Shepherd to my sheep, rule, govern, protect, tend, guide, care for … my sheep
But it doesn’t stop
Then a 3rd Time
“Simon, then do you love me?”
WOW … Three Times Lord?
Now you may know and have heard of the language dynamics that are going on here in the Greek. The first two times when Jesus says “truly love” it is the word AGAPEO or the perfect God Kind of Love. But both times when Peter answers and the word “love” is translated it is the word PHILEO which is conditional, brotherly love more like our word “like”. The last time however Jesus comes back to the word PHILEO and says Peter do you PHILEO me then?
See for me the real important dynamic in the repetition is getting Peter to the point of honesty with himself and with Christ. “Peter … do you really PHILEO me? Do you know in honesty where your heart is? You left me in the courtyard, you picked up your fishing boat and nets here again, are you with me?”
Peter was hurt it says because Jesus asked him a 3rd Time.
Has Jesus lovingly wounded you? If Jesus has wounded you, he is trying to heal you, trying to get you to the real deal.
Persistent Questions from our Savior are about understanding what is real and what is just been boasting. Persistent questioning from our Savior is about getting us to surrender and submit to walk with him in truth and to go with him to ANY destination. Persistent questions reveal the deeper truth, the deeper reality of service.
With each question Jesus says “SERVE”
“Feed my lambs”
“Take care of my sheep”
“Feed my sheep”
Because …
Here we go …
We are all ready to sign up when we think it is easy, it is notable, but now Jesus says “Peter this isn’t going to be easy” … he says “I tell you the truth … if you say yes, if you love me, it is going to cost you your comfort, your ease, your very life.” v19 Jesus indicated the kind of death by which Peter would Glorify God
When our Savior presses us with persistent questions, he is trying to lead us into lives that Glorify God … no matter the path, his glory is always the destination and so he says to Peter
“Follow Me”
Peter looks around and sees John and says “what about him Lord?”
As we point to someone else, Jesus says, as in v22, “What is it to you? YOU MUST FOLLOW ME”
So, if the Savior has persistent questions for you right now …
… take your eyes off the ground where your head is down
… take your eyes off your friend where your head is looking around
… and look up to him, look to the road ahead and follow him
Surrender, Understand, Serve, that’s what persistent questions are about
“Yes Lord, You know what I am, Yes Lord, I will Follow”
I Want The Big Chair

March 3rd, 2015

Mother’s don’t change much, haven’t changed much in 2000 years. We don’t change much either. In Matthew 20 Jesus is teaching on servanthood and talking about his impending death unjustly administered albeit for the sins of the world. He begins by telling a story of out of work laborers hired throughout a day and some thinking that it wasn’t fair that they were all paid the same as those hired first. The first comers thought it unfair that the latecomers got the same reward.
v13 says “I am not being unfair … didn’t you agree … 15 don’t I have the right …”
The issue underlying is that none of us were anything till Jesus called us and any reward is more than we had or deserve.
So then, Jesus says in vv18-19 “we are going to Jerusalem … I will be betrayed … they will condemn me to death 19 turn me over … mocked, flogged, and crucified. On the 3rd day he will be raised to life.”
Are they LISTENING? Crucifixion, was a brutal public humiliation of an execution. This SHOULD have gotten their attention.
Then did they hear him say that he would be raised to life? Resurrection talk should have gotten their attention. This conversation could have gone in many directions. If they were listening … But James and John’s Mother, Zebedee’s wife comes and says “Jesus I have a favor to ask.” v20 says she had the boys, who weren’t little boys, but young men, kneel down at Jesus’ feet.
Then if i can paraphrase, she says “Jesus can my boys have the big chair in your kingdom?”
REALLY
Jesus replies “you don’t know what you are asking” he says “Can you drink the same cup as me?”
WE CAN
They weren’t listening earlier … this cup involved condemnation to death, mocking, flogging, and crucifixion
But they said “we can”. and Jesus says “You will, but the chair is not yours and it is at the Father’s discretion.”
v24 says that the other 10 were not very happy … I think probably because THEY wanted the big chair too. This wasn’t the first time this discussion had come up but it was the first time they had played the “mom card”

Jesus replies, and here is where we need to pay attention, “we don’t serve to be rulers or just an authority for it’s own sake …”
He says “whoever wants the big chair (to be great) must be our servant, whoever wants to be first must be your slave, just as the son of Man didn’t come to BE served but to give his life”
That is to say to appoint your life for disposal. The word didomai means give, appoint, grant, allow
as a ransom for many … ransom is the word lytron atonement … give one for another
Oh can we live as if we were in someone’s stead?
Can we fix our eyes to the cross of Christ and look away from the Big Chair?
When we become servants, servants appointing ourselves for service, we find we HAVE the Big Chair, but that is for God to give not for us to seek.
Lord give me the towel and not the chair
Present Your Requests Philippians 4:4-9 – Going Deeper

January 30th, 2015

This past Sunday I preached a message in Philippians 4:1-9 as we continue through the book of Philippians. You can find the video online at the church link and media page if you are interested.

I received several emails and questions for going deeper regarding how we guard against worry/anxiety when we PRESENT our requests to God …

So, as I answered that with someone via email, I decided to copy you all on these thoughts today and as a BONUS, I’ve attached the entire sermon manuscript below about learning to Practice Joy

I believe this passage in Philippians 4 is very useful and practical in the battle for our mind and hearts and keeping us in peace.

So to the questions asked via email was … “you said I know I have some things that I have “presented” to God but then have taken back, and I’m ready to let them go. But, I don’t know how. I can pray about things and ask God to take them from me and what not. But does giving them to God mean not ever thinking about the problem anymore? In that case, is giving something over to God praying about it and making a conscious effort to not think about it anymore, just as we have to make a conscious effort to be joyful?”

It really is a constant struggle … Let me enlarge on the idea of “Presenting” these things to God

1) Presenting it does have to start with actually praying about it and seeking God’s answers regarding the issues.
Often we talk about, even complain about, our problems or struggles with everyone except God. We don’t actually get alone with God and lay them before him. One way to do this is to take a notepad with you and pray about your concern. Start by Praising him and recounting his deeds for others and for you. This will build your faith and understanding that God can and has in the past. Then present your request to God. Write down what you are asking from God … sometimes as you write it down you will realize that the request isn’t right and you will need to reword it or refocus it. After you are satisfied with what you have written then be quiet, sit in silence saying “Lord speak to me and I will listen” … If God impresses something on your heart write it down. Sometimes God says “what you are asking is something I am not going to do” perhaps it doesn’t fit his nature, other times it doesn’t fit his plans. If you clearly hear God say “no”. Write that down, thank him for answering you and give that desire to him and ask him to replace that desire with something that is in his will. If God says “I will do this, but not yet.” Then thank him again, and pray for patience to trust him in the intervening time. If God says “yes, I’m going to do this and will do this alone” then sit back and believe his word and watch for his answer. If he says “yes I’m going to do this, but I have action for you” write down your action, ask someone to hold you accountable and do what he said, then trust him for his part Remember God always answers … but He may say “no”, “yes” or “wait”. All of those are still answers from a loving God
2) Giving it to God does NOT mean it may not still be on our heart or mind. But it DOES mean I will continue to verbalize that it belongs to God and not to me and that I will trust him.
Giving it to God also means that unless he gives me a clear action that is my responsibility, then I will not CHASE AFTER these things. In Matthew 6:31-32 Jesus talks about some of our basic needs for necessities, concern for tomorrow etc and says that “pagans run after such things”. You know pagans had “gods” too, so why did they run after their concerns? It was because their gods weren’t real. God knows and God loves … so present your request to him and then unless he gives you a clear instruction, then commit to trust him with the outcome instead of chasing after it. Example: If I’m asking God to send me my mate … then I’m going to trust him to bring that person to me and not try and orchestrate this but trust God to bring them to me. However, when he brings that person to me and says “there she is …” now it is time for me to move and respond to what God is doing.
3) Is giving it to God consciously not thinking about any longer?
Not necessarily but it is certainly not being WORRIED / ANXIOUS about it anymore. It is natural to think about something that I want, or something I know God is doing, but not be worried about it. In 2009, the Lord made it clear to Mrs Lisa and I that we would be leaving our church at some point and going to another church. I didn’t start working hard trying to find a church to go to, I just trusted the Lord to bring about those circumstances. In the meantime, I had a job from the Lord to do, to be the Pastor to the church where I currently was called. I continued to work hard to preach, serve and care for the people, cast vision for the future to lead them where the Lord wanted them. Two years passed. Some churches would contact me or friends would recommend me to places, I would answer their requests, but had to trust the Lord, even when doors closed for inexplicable reasons. It was CONSTANTLY on my mind, but we committed to not be anxious. In August of 2011, I came in contact with the search committee of my current church. I knew they would be our church. But I couldn’t work their process I had to wait. In the meantime I was still preaching, caring, serving. I led our annual Leadership Conference at the other church. I helped think through important decisions for the future, knowing that at some point I wouldn’t be there. Finally in November the committee here said “we think you are our next pastor”. I shared this with my church where I was and then came here for review and a vote. I finished my ministry in St. Louis at the end of January 2012 and started ministry here in March of 2012 … that’s 2 ½ years of constant THOUGHT, but constantly GIVING it to the Lord and not letting anxiety take control.

I hope this helps … It is important and valuable to have someone to help hold you accountable to what the Lord is saying. It helps keep you true to what the Lord says and what he expects from you

Present your requests, with Thanks Giving and the peace of God will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus …

BONUS … here is my sermon manuscript from this message

Philippians 4:1-9
Practicing Joy

Paul finishes chapter three with an admonition to follow his example as he seeks to follow Christ, to know him in the Power of the Resurrection, Fellowshipping in his suffering,, conformed to his death.
Knowing that we may be residents of this world but not citizens of this world, and that Christ will return and set everything out of order, in order, Paul says “Therefore”

So, let’s read his next instruction. Notice in particular, the disciplines and instructions that allow Joy to reign in our lives …

READ 4:1-9

Yes, we have that glorious hope … that hope enables us to stand firm in the Lord …

The place you stand will determine your joy source. If you stand on your career accomplishments, then your joy will rise as you rise and fall when you fall. If you stand in your human relationships these too will eventually let you down … But Paul says, if our hope … our place to stand … is in the Lord, then we stand firm.

Christ in You … you in Christ that is our hope. Jesus prayed in John 17 to the Father saying “you are in me, I am in you, may they also be in us so that the world may believe …”

So as yokefellow with Paul … that is people committed with him to the advancement of the Gospel … how do we live out Joy?
Here it is in what I believe may be the most practical, yet under practiced passages in scripture.

Whether distracted by depression or stalked by sorrows or simply living life … How do you battle these messengers of satan?

It begins with

1. Perpetual Rejoicing

Rejoice in the Lord Always, I will say it again: Rejoice!”

This is not a suggestion, or even a proverb but this is

A. A Command

The word, chairo = rejoice, be glad, welcome – is in present active imperative 2nd person tense

So this sentence is “You Understood” … “You, right now, must, Rejoice, be glad, Welcome Joy”

The reason we are often not joyful is because we often don’t seek joy, we don’t foster joy, we don’t welcome joy.
Paul says, in every circumstance, on every day, welcome joy, Today, YES, but …

B. Always

Rejoice in the Lord … when convenient? … no Always …
Rejoice in the LORD … the word used here is Kyrios = Master, Lord

I can welcome Joy, as I welcome the Sovereignty and Lordship of Christ over the Universe, but also over my life and circumstance

Joy is not welcome in my life as I argue with God over the direction and outcome of the road he lays out for me. I don’t like where I am, who I am, and so joy is not welcome

There is nothing wrong with bringing questions before the Lord, but if I do not welcome his lordship, I will not welcome joy when his will is different than mine.

Rejoice in the Lordship of Christ, Always – pantote = at all times … in good times and bad times, the first time and the last time. In successful times and in times of failure. In happy and sad times, Rejoice … welcome joy

Job, in facing the greatest challenge of his life, when it seemed God was not giving him a fair hand, said in chapter 27 “as long as I have life … my lips will not speak wickedness … I will maintain my righteousness … (of the wicked he says) will he find delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon you at all times?”

At all times …
David said
Psalm 34:1 (NIV84)
1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
Psalm 62:8 (NIV84)
8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah
Psalm 119:20 (NIV84)
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.

If I Praise the Lord at all times
Trust the Lord at all times
And Love the Word of the Lord at all times …
Then I will Welcome Joy at All Times

And then Paul encourages
C. Repetition
Again I say – palin = again, on the other hand
Some of us want to rejoice when it feels right, but on the other hand … we will not rejoice …
But Paul says “rejoice and on the other hand, also continue to Welcome Joy in the Lord”

If we are going to welcome joy, we have to look in the mirror sometimes when our face has fallen, when your heart is discouraged, when complaints arise, and
Welcome, make a place for, open the door for Joy
Rejoice …
Again, today, now, Rejoice!

That’s the command and it often takes decisive though not desired action … but what are the disciplines that help me welcome joy?

2. Patient Petitioning

V5 says let your gentleness, or forbearance, or tolerance in the face of all things, at all times, your joy, show the nearness of God

Too many Christians face challenges like either a frightened child who doesn’t believe God will come through or like a spoiled child who believes what they want is more important that what the father decides best.

But the child of God who welcomes joy makes their request of their Sovereign and Master but does so in a patient manner …

A. Do Not Be Anxious
The word is merimnao –

Jesus uses the word when he says in Matthew 6:31-32 Do not worry saying what shall we eat … drink … or what shall we wear for the pagans run after all these things … your Father knows that you need them
So then v33 says Seek First the Kingdom

Worry is evidence that we are not standing in, trusting in, the Lord and welcoming Joy.
Patience doesn’t “run after” things that God will provide for me …

What is on your prayer list? Do you pray in fear or in faith?

A patient petition doesn’t ask for them and then chase after them … Jesus says not to chase after clothes, food, drink, tomorrow, but chase after, seek first, place in primary order, the Kingdom of Heaven and His Righteousness …
Does that mean that a joyful heart doesn’t ask for anything temporal? No, of course not, but I don’t set my heart on those things. So, then, our prayers that Welcome Joy are …

B. Grateful Petitions

Prayer and petitions, with thanksgiving
Prayer – proseuche = approach God
Petition – deesis = entreaty, supplication, want, personal desire
Requests – speaks of the specific things

When we approach God …
and we MUST approach God … we often, and by we, I mean me, often talk about things we want or need, but don’t actually come before God with those desires …
Come before God with our desires with the actual thing that we want but there is an overriding emotion that welcomes joy … it is Gratitude … Paul says Come Before with Thanksgiving
We used to sing “I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter his court with praise, I will say this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice for he has made me glad.

He has made me glad … If I need the thing I seek to “make me glad” I can’t rejoice at all times. Oh don’t get me wrong, I want what I am requesting, I might even be convinced I need it, but HE has made me GLAD … Apart from anything else … He is enough to make me and keep me glad

Practicing Joy comes with that perspective.
It is not worried for tomorrow, but grateful for today.
It is not worried about what I will eat or drink but grateful for what already fills my stomach.
I am not worried for what I will wear but grateful for the clothes that fill my closet

So I come before God with my desires in

C. Worshipful Prayer

Paul says do not be anxious … but in everything … Present to God

I am mindful of a couple of things with that word “Present” or “Present”

Prayer is an act of Worship … I give it to God and I leave it in his hands. Talking about it isn’t presenting it. Complaining isn’t presenting it. Pretending it doesn’t exist is also not presenting it. But, Joy comes as I present my request to God …

Giving it to Him is
Believing He Cares … that he wants to know what he wants what is for my good and
Believing in his ability to meet my needs,
While trusting his Sovereignty to transform me into his image and to work all things for that good thing.

Then I can sing the 100th Psalm of David
Psalm 100 (NIV84)
A psalm. For giving thanks.
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Shout for Joy
Worship the Lord
Come before Him
Enter with Thanksgiving and praise
For the Lord is Good … love endures … faithfulness continues …

When I pray like that I find I am

D. Protected By Peace

V7 the peace of God … will guard your hearts and minds

Peace – Eirene = freedom from worry, peace, welfare
Peace OF GOD … knowing that I am free from being tied to this world, tied to a need for anything material or earthly guards me from my most dangerous and deceptive things, my heart and my mind.
Jeremiah 17:9 says the heart is deceitful above all things
2 Corinthians 11:3 says our minds can be lead astray …

Without the guard of the Mind of Christ, without the Breastplate of Righteousness and the Belt of Truth, my passions, desires, and understandings can deceive me

But when I am free from the need for anything but God … that Peace with God guards my heart from wanting anything but the will and rule of God and guards my mind from bringing requests beyond his will and I am able to welcome joy
To Practice joy … and with a guarded heart and mind … I am free for

3. Joyful Thinking
What IS joyful thinking? It is a decision … it is

A. Disciplined Thinking v8
Finally – loipos = lastly; from now on
Living the practices of joy requires taking captive every thought and making it obedient to truth
2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (NIV84)
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

You and I are attacked every day … when we recognize that our battle is not a flesh and blood Ephesians 6:12 … and we do not fight like the world fights … then we have to join in the battle for our mind, our will, our emotions
satan would discourage and defeat you, he would have you keep your heart and mind set on things below
Colossians 3:1–3 (NIV84)
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Paul tells us how we do that … how we take captive everything thought … He tells us what to think on …
As the battle rages … fight to dwell ONLY on
Whatever is …
True – alethis = sincere; real
Noble – semnos = worthy of respect, dignified
Right – dikaios = righteous, just
Pure – hagos = innocent
Lovely – prosphiles = pleasing
Admirable – euphemos = commendable
Excellent – arête = excellence of character
Praiseworthy – epainos = praise

Only These things …
Logizomai = think about, credit, consider, dwell on
THESE Things …
For Joy to be Welcome, these things must rule … other thoughts must be taken captive and surrendered to the rule of Christ

Make a list of These Things .. and put it on the margin of your computer screen, on your fridge, on your mirror, on your TV set … and Think on THESE things … put aside anything that doesn’t pass this test … and then Joy Can Reign …

Disciplined Thinking leads to

B. Disciplined Action v9

Whatever you have learned … received … heard … seen … PUT INTO PRACTICE

Not just today, but for 12 messages now we have lit the path for Joy … but you must commit to walk the path … to put it into practice …
The word prasso = do, accomplish, make your business; a practice of habit

And when you make these things your practice …
When you pray in grateful worship
When you take captive thoughts and make them obedient to truth
You look and find you are not walking this path alone … but are

C. Accompanied by Peace
And the God of all peace will be with you

What was prophesied of Jesus, he will be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

If you walk in his way, thinking his thoughts, if peace doesn’t accompany, comfort, and guide you then you are not walking his way, or he is not able … and Oh he IS able …

This is Jesus … I’m not telling you that this is the way to get Jesus INTO you … That is by Grace Through Faith …
But Paul is teaching us how to let the Christ IN You Get OUT of you …

When I welcome Joy and Patiently petition him, and live according to the disciplines of Joyful thinking and living, then Christ in me, is reflected OUT of me and …
He walks with me and he talks with me
And he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

When we dwell on Jesus, the Truth … Then we Know Peace
When we Know God … we Know Peace …
But if we have NO God, then we have NO Peace