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Wise to Win Souls – Rick Bagwell
Tag: WISE
PART II – NEITHER FEARFUL NOR SELF-SUFFICIENT
I CORINTHIANS 1:26-29 – FOR YE SEE YOUR CALLING, BRETHERN, HOW THAT NOT MANY WISE MEN AFTER THE FLESH, NOT MANY MIGHTY, NOT MANY NOBLE, ARE CALLED:
BUT GOD HATH CHOSEN THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD TO CONFOUND THE THINGS WHICH ARE MIGHTY;
AND BASE THINGS OF THE WORLD, AND THINGS WHICH ARE DESPISED, HATH GOD CHOSEN, YEA, AND THINGS WHICH ARE NOT, TO BRING TO NOUGHT THINGS WHICH ARE:
THAT NO FLESH SHOILD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE.
WE ARE TO SPEAK WHAT GOD GIVES US, AND NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT OUR DELIVERY OR THE OUTCOME. HE KNOWS TO WHOM WE ARE MINISTERING, AND WHAT ARE THERE NEEDS.
HE KNOWS OUR ABILITIES AND HOW TO STRETCH THEM. HE DOESN’T SEND US TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT PREPARED TO HEAR HIS HEART. WHAT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT MESSAGE FOR ONE GROUP, MIGHT NOT BE THE MESSAGE FOR ANOTHER. HE ALSO KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE LIVES OF THOSE AT YOUR DIVINE APPOINTMENT WITH THEM.
IT SHOULD BE OUR DESIRE TO FOLLOW THE CLOUD LIKE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN THE BOOK OF EXODUS. WHEN HE MOVES, WE MOVE!
IT IS SO MUCH EASIER FOR ME NOW, FOR I CONTINUE TO FIND OUT WHAT HE WANTS, SAY WHAT HE GIVES ME, AND WAIT FOR THE DEMONSTRATION OF HIS POWER AND HIS SPIRIT.
IF GOD USED A DONKEY; AND THEN A ROOSTER WITH A THREE PART SERMON, HE WILL USE YOU AND ME!
PREPARATION, STUDY OF THE WORD, PRAYER, AND FASTING, IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO; BUT OUR MOST IMPORTANT PART IS FINDING A PLACE TO BE ALONE WITH, GOD AND SEEKING HIM, AND WORSHIPPING HIM. THEN, STEP OUT IN FAITH, BELIEVING. FOR WITHOUT HIM WE CAN DO NOTHING; AND WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT HIM; BUT PHILIPPIANS 4:13 – SAYS, I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.
II CHRONICLES 26:5b,16 – AND AS LONG AS HE SOUGHT THE LORD, GOD MADE HIM TO PROSPER.
BUT WHEN HE WAS STRONG, HIS HEART WAS LIFTED UP TO HIS DISTRUCTION:
IF WE KEEP OUR EYES FOCUSED ON GOD AND WHAT HE CAN DO THROUGH US; AND NOT ON OUR OWN ABILITIES, WE WILL CONTINUE ON THE PATH OF MINISTRY PROSPERITY.
OUR DESIRE SHOULD BE THAT WE FLOW CONSTANTLY IN THIS PRINCIPAL, BECAUSE FAILURE TO DO SO, WILL BRING US BACK TO OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING AND ULTIMATELY IN A FALL; OR EVEN INTO SATAN’S TRAP OF SELF-WORSHIP, WHICH LEADS TO DESTRUCTION.
WHEN UZZIAH BEGAN HIS REIGN, HE BEGAN A GODLY REIGN.
II CHRONICLES 26:4a,5 – AND HE DID THAT WHICH WAS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD…
AND HE SOUGHT GODIN THE DAYS OF ZECHARIAH, WHO HAD UNDERSTANDING IN THE VISIONS OF GOD:
HE PROSPERED IN WAR AND FAME. THEN HE BAGAN TO THINK TOO HIGHLY OF HIMSELF; HE TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THE LORD, BY STEPPING OUT OF HIS PLACE OF AUTHORITY.
WHEN CORRECTED BY THE PRIEST, HE BECAME ANGRY.
V.19-21a – THEN UZZIAH WAS WROTH, AND HAD A CENSER IN HIS HAND TO BURN INCENSE:AND WHILE HE WAS WROTH WITH THE PRIESTS, THE LEPROSY EVEN ROSE UP IN HIS FOREHEAD BEFORE THE PRIESTS IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, FROM BESUDE THE INCENSE ALTER. AND AZARIAH THE CHIEF PRIEST, AND ALL THE PRIESTS, LOOKED UPON HIM, AND, BEHOLD, HE WAS LEPROUS IN HIS FOREHEAD, AND THEY THRUST HIM OUT FROM THENCE; YEA, HIMSELF HASTED ALSO TO GET OUT, BECAUSE THE LORD HAD SMITTEN HIM. AND UZZIAH THE KING, WAS A LEPER UNTO THE DAY OF HIS DEATH, AND DWELT IN A SEVERAL HOUSE (INFIRMARY), BEING A LEPER; FOR HE WAS CUT OFF FROM THE HOUSE OF THE LORD:
IT IS IMPORTANT TO START THE RACE, BUT MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE FINISH IT; AND REMEMBER: WE NEVER GET ABOVE CORRECTION.
PAUL WROTE TO TIMOTHY IN II TIMOTHY 4:5,7 – BUT WATCH THOU IN ALL THINGS, ENDURE AFFLICTIONS, DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST, MAKE FULL PROOF OF THY MINISTRY.
I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH;
ACTS 20:24 – BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME, NEITHER COUNT I MY LIFE DEAR UNTO MYSELF, SO THAT I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY, AND THE MINISTRY, WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD JESUS, TO TESTIFY THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.
ALL WE DO IN THE KINGDOM, THE PRAISE AND GLORY MUST GO TO GOD. IF WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO RECIEVE ANY, WE REALLY ARE FAILURES IN THE END.
WORDS
PROVERBS 18:21 – DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE: AND THEY THAT LOVE IT SHALL EAT THE FRUIT THEREOF (OR PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM SAYING THE WRONG THING).
PROVERBS 17:27a, 28 – HE THAT HATH KNOWLEDGE SPARETH HIS WORDS:
EVEN A FOOL, WHEN HE HOLDETH HIS PEACE, IS COUNTED WISE: AND HE THAT SHUTTETH HIS LIPS IS ESTEEMED A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING (OR IT PAYS HIM OR HER TO KEEP THEIR MOUTH SHUT).
I HEARD FROM SOME SOURCE: EVERY PERSON HAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000 IN THEM TO SPEAK EVERY DAY.
I DON’T KNOW IF THAT IS TRUTH OR NOT, BUT SOMETIMES WE ARE AROUND THOSE, WHO SEEM TO USE ALL THEIR WORDS UP ON YOU AT ONE CONVERSATION.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
OF COURSE YOU DO.
WE DON’T REALLY MIND, THOUGH, IF IT IS EDIFYING AND UPLIFTING.
CREATION IS IN EXISTENCE BECAUSE OF THE SPOKEN WORD, OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.
ALL THROUGH THE FIRST CHAPTER OF GENESIS, WE READ: AND GOD SAID…
SO WE MUST COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WORDS ARE POWERFUL AND CREATIVE, WHEN SPOKEN.
WHEN ADAM AND EVE SINNED, THE FIRST NEGATIVE WORD WAS SPOKEN BY ADAM. ADAM SAID IN GENESIS 3:1 – I WAS AFRAID…
RIGHT THEN AND THERE , THE SPIRIT OF FEAR WAS SPOKEN INTO EXISTENCE.
SO, SOMETHING CHANGED IN OUR SPOKEN WORDS WHEN SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD.
WE ALREADY HAD THE POSITIVE WORDS; BUT HERE CAME THE NEGATIVE.
MATTHEW 12:37 – FOR BY THY WORDS THOU SHALT BE JUSTIFIED (OR AQUITTED), AND BY THY WORDS THOU SHALT BE CONDEMNED (OR SENTENCED).
WHEN THE JUDGE SAYS, “GUILTY,” IT MEANS SOMETHING. WOULDN’T YOU AGREE?
WE CHOOSE WHAT HAPPENS AROUND US, AT TIMES, BY THE WORDS WE SPEAK ABOUT OURSELVES AND OTHERS.
AS WORDS ARE SPOKEN OVER US, WE CAN RECEIVE THEM OR REJECT THEM.
BECAUSE WE LIVE IN SUCH A NEGATIVE SOCIETY, THOUGH, MOST PEOPLE ACCEPT THE NEGATIVE. I FEEL LIKE MANY OF YOU CAN RELATE TO THAT STATEMENT. I KNOW I CAN.
OUR CHILDREN HAVE WORDS FOLLOWING THEM WE SPOKE OVER THEM SINCE BIRTH, AND THEY REMAIN AROUND THEM, FOLLOWING THEM, WHEREVER THEY GO, UNTIL THEY RECEIVE THEM, OR REJECT THEM.
I HAVE HEARD, THAT SPOKEN WORDS ARE LIKE SOUND WAVES: AFTER THEY ARE RELEASED, THEY STAY IN THE AIR UNTIL THEY ARE PICKED-UP BY A RECEIVER.
IF WE COULD SEE IN THE SPIRIT WORLD, WE COULD SEE THOSE ACTUAL WORDS, SPOKEN OVER US, REMAINING IN THE AIR, FOLLOWING US AROUND: CURSES AND BLESSINGS.
OUR PARENTS DIDN’T, AND WE DON’T PURPOSE TO SPEAK CURSES OVER OUR CHILDREN. WE JUST DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING.
LET’S CHANGE THE WORDS WE SPEAK ABOUT, OR OVER OTHERS. ASK GOD TO HELP YOU, AND HE WILL.
*WATCH FOR: WORDS PART II
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY TO YOURSELF
MARK 5:28 – FOR SHE SAID, IF I MAY TOUCH BUT HIS CLOTHES, I SHALL BE WHOLE.
SHE WAS A BLESSING TO HER OWN CAUSE.
SHE SAID TO HERSELF WHAT SHE KNEW SHE COULD HAVE.
MANY PEOPLE TALK THEMSELVES OUT OF VICTORY.
WHAT WE SAY TO OURSELVES IS VERY IMPORTANT.
LUKE 15:17 – AND WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF, HE SAID, (TO HIMSELF), HOW MANY HIRED SERVANTS OF MY FATHERS HAVE BREAD ENOUGH AND TO SPARE, AND I PERISH WITH HUNGER?
WHEN THE PRODICAL SON CAME TO HIMSELF, HE BEGAN TO SPEAK WISDOM TO HERSELF.
WHAT HE SAID TO HIMSELF GAVE HIM STRENGTH TO RISE AND RETURN TO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE. HE SAID, I WILL RISE AND GO TO MY FATHER’S HOUSE. HIS NEED JARRED HIS MEMORY OF HIS FATHER’S HOUSE, AND THE ABUNDANCE THERE.
IT CAUSED HIM TO TALK TO HIMSELF OF WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO: RETURN TO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE.
EXODUS 3:3 – AND MOSES SAID (TO HIMSELF), I WILL NOW TURN ASIDE, AND SEE THIS GREAT SIGHT, WHY THE BUSH WAS NOT BURNT.
MOSES FOUND PURPOSE WHEN HE TALKED TO HIMSELF – I WILL NOW TURN ASIDE AND SEE THIS GREAT SIGHT.
HE TALKED HIMSELF INTO DOING SOMETHING WISE.
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY TO YOURSELF!
JOB 9:27 – IF I SAY (TO MYSELF), I WILL FORGET MY COMPLAINT, I WILL LEAVE OFF MY HEAVINESS, AND COMFORT MYSELF.
NUMBERS 13:33 – AND THERE WE SAW THE GIANTS, THE SONS OF ANAK, WHICH COME OF THE GIANTS: AND WE WERE IN OUR OWN SIGHT AS GRASSHOPPERS, AND SO WE WERE IN THEIR SIGHT.
WE WERE IN OUR OWN SIGHT. THEY WERE SAYING TO THEMSELVES, WE ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO RECEIVE WHAT GOD PROMISED US.
THE ENEMY DEFEATED THEM IN THEIR OWN THOUGHTS, THEY TALKED THEMSELVESM INTO DEFEAT.
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY TO YOURSELF.
YOU WILL SPEAK FEAR, UBELIEF AND DOUBT TO YOURSELF AND BE DEFEATED.
SEE YOURSELF IN CHRIST, VICTORIOUS IN ALL OF HIS PROMISES. WHY NOT TALK VICTORY TO YOURSELF, FOR THAT IS GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU.
THE GREAT ESCAPE
THE GREAT ESCAPE.
I know, from one of our last messages, Wilderness Experience: where Jesus revealed to us; when He went through those temptations, he did this for us. Again, what the Father revealed to me today, is a revelation, I am likely never to forget.
When we get to the place, of complete surrender to God and His plans and purposes for our lives, we never again have to be troubled about anything. There is great freedom that comes with this level of our walk with Him. The Lord said to me, “I will take you to the place of escape for every temptation. I prepared this for you, when Jesus was in the temptation wilderness with Satan. Now, you understand how I did it. I gave My people the way of escape. This was My purpose for this great experience of Jesus. Nothing can take you under. I have prepared the way of escape.”
I always knew after I read the Scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:13, that God will make a way of escape; but I didn’t completely understand how the escape would come.
1 Corinthians 10:13 —- There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to men: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation wilderness,also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Studying this verse an comparing it with Mark 1:13a let’s read it —- And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan;…
Comparing these two, together, began to bring light to me: Jesus’ temptations; and our temptations.
Finding other references, that relate or connect, is also important for the full understanding of this great truth, or any other subject in the Bible: comparing Scripture with Scripture (Isaiah 28:10).
Hebrews 2:3a —-How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;…
Escape means = to evade, or slip away from.
Temptation means = a testing designed to strengthen, or corrupt.
2 Peter 2:9a —- The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,…
Temptation is withstood, through our trust in the faithfulness of God.
God has undertaken to defend, and deliver His servants, whether it is daily temptations, or the Great Tribulation period of the last days.
We all need to escape both.
Look at Luke 21:36 —- Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Jesus prepared the way of escape, but we can see in this verse we also have something to do: We are told to watch and pray.
This would go for any kind of escape we might need.
When Jesus was tempted in the Judean wilderness, He warded off every thrust by the power of the Scriptures.
God encourages us to call on Him in the day of trial.
The sentry or soldier, doesn’t advance or move forward, to meet the approaching enemy: he falls back, and gives warning to the commander.
So, when we are tempted, we should call upon our God.
It’s the difference in being strengthened, or corrupted.
temptation When God strengthens us, we just slip away from the temptation.
Joseph was given strength, by God, to do this very thing.
Most all Christians know this story, but for those who are listening who don’t, and those who would love to be refreshed, turn with me to Genesis 39:6b —- And Joseph was a godly person, and well favored.
Verse 7-9 —- And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house (or trusts me with everything in his house) and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand.
There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Look at verses 10-12 —- And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he harkened not unto her, to lie with her, or to be with her.
And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went in to the house to do his business; and there was none of the men in the house there within.
And she caught him by his garment, saying lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out (he got out of there).
We know from the next verses, he escaped this temptation, but she lied on him, and his master, Potifhar, sent him to prison; but we also know God was with him, and even used him in prison.
Verse 21 —- But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Verse 23 —- The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made to prosper.
As time went by, Joseph began to interpret dreams.
interpret,butler,One morning, Pharaoh awoke from a dream that troubled him, (Genesis 41:7,8) and the chief butler told Pharaoh, that Joseph could interpret it.
Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and in verse 16, we read —- And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not dream,in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Pharaoh shared his dream of which Joseph interpreted and verse 39 reads —- And pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet (or discerning) and wise as thou art.
Joseph showed himself not only to be a man of integrity no matter the cost, he showed himself to be a man who sought God.
My friend, sometimes when we escape temptation, the result is: trouble with man; but we can depend on peace with God. Obedience, and peace with God, are worth the stand we take. In the end, we win every time.
Verse 40 —- Thou shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
We see Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers, taken down to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, who was the captain of the guard, under Pharaoh; promoted by God’s favor to the second to Pharaoh.
My friend, only God, can give this kind of favor, that a man could come from a servant, to the second to a king, in approximately fourteen years.
Most of Joseph’s life was filled with troubles and trials, but he remained faithful to God, and completely trusted God.
He followed God’s plan and purpose for his life.
If you are going through a time of testing or temptation, my advice to you is, stand strong in you conviction of what is truth, and keep your heart and mind toward God.
Now, there are sins of disobedience that can cause us to fail to escape the judgment of God. We will take these last few minutes, and go over some of the Scriptures that cover failure to escape:
HE THAT SPEAKETH LIES SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
Proverbs 19:5 —- A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
Shall not escape what?
Revelation 21:8 —- But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.
All liars are eternally separated from God.
IF WE GET INTO DARKNESS WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
1 Thessalonians 5:3-5 —- For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
IF WE NEGLECT OUR SALVATION WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
Hebrews 2:1-4 —- Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at anytime we should let them slip.
For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
How shall we escape, if we neglect (or disregard) so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him.
IF WE JUDGE OTHERS WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
Romans 2:1-3 —- Therefore thou art inexcuseable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest (or criticizes anyone): for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
(a question) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgement of God?
Or we could say, Do you think God will judge and condemn others for doing them and overlook you when you do them, too?
God is saying,— There is no excuse for you, whoever you are, that criticizes anyone for doing something you are doing yourself. When you are condemning them, you are condemning yourself. And we know that God, in justice, will punish anyone who does such things as these.
