No More Excuses

Notes: No More Excuses

Exodus 3–4

SPEAKER: Pastor Steve Wilburn

Sunday, August 23, 2015 — 8:00 a.m.

We all make excuses, some more than others.

Don't make excuses, just make good.

Several excuses are always less convincing than one.

Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

[9] But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Our purpose is to serve God.

The Harvest Crusade depends on us believers to get people there. Working as a church to spread the word of God.

You are the perfect candidate to invite people and to take them to the Harvest Crusade.

Moses is the perfect example of how God can use those unlikely candidates.

Moses is mentioned in the Bible over 850 times.

God is never late or or early, God is always right on time.

Exodus 3:7-8 NKJV

[7] And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. [8] So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.

Ezekiel 2:7 NKJV

[7] You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.

Moses was chosen to be Gods spokesman. Yet he did everything thing he could get out of this calling.

Three points to review today:

1. Who am I?

2. What if?

3. I Can't Speak.

1. Who am I?

Exodus 3:9-14 NKJV

[9] Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. [10] Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." [11] But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" [12] So He said, "I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." [13] Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" [14] And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

At this point Moses was a nobody, all of his fame and fortune was gone.

It doesn't matter what we think of ourselves or what others think, God is looking for a heart that will serve Him.

God uses all: the weak, the feeble, the foolish and despised.

A cost of true greatness is humble sacrificial service.

People need to know that there is no problem in life that God can not heal.

Many Christians are not used by God...most people fail to serve for lack of purpose with a deep, subtle resistance, not a lack of talent.

The last will be first, those who gave the most will gain the most.

It was said, "we are born trying, we live complaining, and we die disappointed".

Exodus 3:13-14 NKJV

[13] Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" [14] And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

John 8:58 NKJV

[58] Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

God has been around since eternity past and will be around for the rest of eternity.

Where else do you see an event like the Harvest Crusade in the world that people can be brought to a stadium to learn about The Gospel?

John 8:24 NKJV

[24] Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

    Don't just choose to say nothing!

2. What if?

Exodus 4:1-5 NKJV

[1] Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you.'" [2] So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." [3] And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. [4] Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), [5] "that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you."

People in life are either a pessimist or an optimist. Who needs the devil to discourage us, we do that all by ourselves.

Don't miss what is on the golden platter in front of you. Always take the opportunity to serve God.

Exodus 4:6-9 NKJV

[6] Furthermore the LORD said to him, "Now put your hand in your bosom." And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. [7] And He said, "Put your hand in your bosom again." So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh. [8] "Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign. [9] And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land."

3. I can't speak.

Exodus 4:10-17 NKJV

[10] Then Moses said to the LORD, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." [11] So the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? [12] Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say." [13] But he said, "O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send." [14] So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said: "Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. [15] Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. [16] So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. [17] And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs."

Moses could speak:

Acts 7:22 NKJV

[22] And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.

Not speaking was just an excuse.

Psalm 6:8 NKJV

[8] Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NKJV

[16] Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. [17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

Don't look at your life just in this life, but look at your life in an eternal light. You may be in a time of affliction now, but it may be a light affliction in eternity.

How many times has God tried to use us and we just walked away?

We lose when we walk away, but we aren't the only losers. The ones we haven't shared the Gospel with lose out even more.

Everyone shares guilt and shame. The reason people feel guilt is because they are guilty.

Exodus 32:32 NKJV

[32] Yet now, if You will forgive their sin-but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."

We are all going to die. Either today or in the future, but we will die.

We will all stand before God, and everything we have ever done will be brought into the light as we stand there.

Not Again!

Notes: Not Again!
Pastor Steve Wilburn
Romans 8
April 12, 2015

Have you ever done something that you said that you would never do again, yet you do it again?

We have all had our share of missed steps.

It happens to all of us. It’s like a self inflicted curse that has happened to all of us.

Like going to the DMV without an appointment. We like to be our own worse enemies. That seems to lead to condemnation.

At times we cause ourselves multitudes of misery. We cause ourselves misery in the little things. We fail and we fall. These things can lead us to feel shame.

For the Christian there is hope! It’s found in the pages of God’s word.

In the midst of failures in life there is hope we can grasp.

Ps 103:13-Ps 103:14 NKJV As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

For those who fear the Lord he has compassion on them.

"If you fear God you can fear nothing else. If you don’t fear God then you fear everything else."

Psalm 27:1 NKJV The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Heb 4:14-Heb 4:16 NKJV Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

God says to come boldly into His presence when we have failed. Oops is not in Gods vocabulary.

God requires us to have victory in our lives. We can find true peace and a place of quietness and true rest through the victory we celebrate in Jesus Christ.

Today we will consider where we can find victory over sorrow, fear, depression, hopelessness, despair.

Romans 8 is like a cure all for all of us.

1. Victory from our past
Rom 8:1 KJV There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

2. Victory from our present
Rom 8:28 NKJV And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

3. Victory for our future
Rom 8:39 NKJV nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8 starts with no condemnation, ends with no separation and in the middle with no defeat.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

No one can say they don't sin.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 NKJV For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.

Victory from our past:
Rom 8:1-5 NKJV There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Titus 3:3-Titus 3:6 NKJV For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Jesus paid the full penalty of our sins on the cross. No one can reverse that fact on a Christian.

Jesus Christ's righteousness has been imputed for us who believe.r

When we sin before God we sin against God, and we should feel guilty. But when we return to God then we are free from it.

God convicts us of sin but the devil condemns us for our sin.

We have three voices in our head. Our voice, the devils voice and the Lords voice. 

The devil tells us to run from God, but the Holy Spirit will ask us to return. The devil will call us hypocrites and that we need to stay away, but God will accept us and have us return.

99% of the time when you feel guilty it is because you are guilty. So return to God.

1 John 1:9 NKJV
[9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The apostle Paul had to forget his horrible past of killing Christians and look forward to what God says he was to do.

Colossians 2:14 NKJV having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

God has erased the sins that you have committed.

Luke 12:3 NKJV Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

There are 613 laws in the first 5 books of Bible. Those laws are not friendly toward us, they work against us. Those laws are like a finger of guilt pointed right at our face. God nailed those laws to the cross!

Are you in Christ Jesus?

Victory in our present:
Rom 8:7-Rom 8:8 NKJV Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

In our own strength we are utterly destitute. God doesn’t leave us to our own.

Rom 8:11 NKJV But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

The very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, is living inside of you.

1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV - [16] Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

That was reserved for only a few in the Old Testament, but in the new covenant the Spirit is in all of us that our followers of Jesus. 

We have all struggled with the flesh and our faith. At what point will we come to the end of ourselves?

Rom 8:13 NKJV For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

He is not talking about dying physically but spiritually.

We can die to our own sinful passions, by allowing the Spirit of God to fill us.

John 12:24 NKJV Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

Every seed in an orange has the ability to grow an orange tree.

Die to yourself, live unto Christ!

Have you truly died to yourself?

At what point will we throw up the white flag of surrender, trading our will for God's will?

Rom 8:14-Rom 8:16 NKJV For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Jesus Christ called the Spirit of God a comforter.

God doesn’t put us in a choke hold, we don’t have to be scared or afraid of Him.

God has made us His sons and daughters. He has allowed us to call him Papa! 

The Old Testament mind couldn't even comprehend this thought. But now in the New Covenant the Spirit of God lives in us.

Romans 8:17 NKJV
[17] and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

We learn lessons in the valleys of life.

Psalm 23:4 NKJV
[4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

John 14:1-3 NKJV
[1] "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. [2] In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

We need a tough hide and a tender heart to follow Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:28 NKJV
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

How can He work all things for the good when there is so much bad in the world? It is a promise of God.

God works through the hardships of our lives to make us who we never could of made ourselves.

Victory for our future.

Romans 8:31-34 NKJV
[31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? [33] Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Revelation 12:10 NKJV
[10] Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

Hebrews 7:25 NKJV
[25] Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Romans 8:35-37 NKJV
[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." [37] Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Romans 8:38-39 NKJV
[38] For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, [39] nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Have you made Christ Jesus Your Lord?

Acts 3:19 NKJV
[19] Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

You need to come home in order to have refreshing from the Lord.

Turning Point

Notes: Turning Point
Acts 4
Pastor Steve Wilburn of Core Church in LA.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Harvest OC

Greg is out of town but played a little video for us giving a short message. A good marriage requires two good forgivers. Leave and cleave, is leaving other relationships and making your spouse your best friend. Cleaving is more than being stuck together it is holding on to one another.

Steve Wilburn is now speaking. He has been going to Harvest since 1979. He sat in the sanctuary in Riverside for its first service.

Have you ever come to a turning point in your life? Of course you have.

Turning points, sitting up the first time, walking, graduating kindergarten, graduating 8th grade, getting a license, graduating, getting married, having kids.

We are also always facing painful turning points, losing a parent and loved ones.

Some turning points are welcome while others are greatly resisted.

There is one turning point that is greater than all turning points and what you do with it changes all other turning points in your life.

What may seem like the end of the road is just the beginning.

Steve faced it, like a small voice in his head from God. He faced, does he want to be a Christian business man or does he want to serve God.

He quit his job and moved back to Riverside and a year later was on staff at Harvest.

In a flash our lives can change, it can reach into our souls and change the core of our being. It can make sense of a world that makes no sense.

Many look at the Bible as a dead book with rules and regulations, at Jesus Christ as a dead historical figure. But when we focus on God we can see what God's desire is for us.

In Acts we see this played out in chapter 4.

The disciples went out in the face of persecution by the same people that had Christ crucified.

Peter and John had the boldness to preach in the temple. They were not educated, but spoke with boldness as Christ did.

Three points to be discussed today:
1. Silencing the power

Acts 4:13-22 NKJV
[13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. [14] And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. [15] But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, [16] saying, "What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. [17] But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name." [18] So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. [19] But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. [20] For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." [21] So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. [22] For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Who did this religious group of men really think Peter and John were?

They saw them heal a man that they all knew had been disabled for forty years.

We need to stop fighting God as He fills us with his grace.

Grace by God will allow us all to sit in heaven together one day.

Matthew 23:23-31,33-34 NKJV
[23] "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. [24] Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! [25] "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. [26] Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. [27] "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. [28] Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. [29] "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, [30] and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' [31] "Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. [33] Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? [34] Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,

These religious leaders all looked like the real deal on the outside but on the inside they didn't know God.

Leviticus 11:23 NKJV
[23] But all other flying insects which have four feet shall be an abomination to you.

Jesus Christ was basically saying, these guys were trying not to swallow the smallest unclean animal as a fly, but were instead swallowing the largest unclean animal, the camel.


Acts 4:20 NKJV
[20] For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

Acts 4:21-22 NKJV
[21] So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. [22] For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

They had to let them go, because all the people saw the man healed.

2. Speak with confidence.

Acts 4:23-31 NKJV
[23] And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. [24] So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, [25] who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? [26] The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.' [27] "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together [28] to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. [29] Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, [30] by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." [31] And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

When those who are serving the Lord speak together, they magnify the glory of God.

They were filled with the Holy Spirit again. This is the fourth time we see this.

The pattern shows that as they continued to pray and speak the Gospel of God, they were continually filled with the Holy Spirit.

It shows that the Lord, will not ask you to serve Him in your own weakness, you will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Steve says to people all the time, "when is the last time someone told you, that there is a God in Heaven that loves you."

Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV
[11] Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. [13] The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. [14] Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

We will all stand before Christ and not be able to hide anything from Him, we will all be held accountable.

We can all argue anything that the Bible says, but we can not argue the radical change in a saved persons life.

Our lives are a witness, but that is not enough. We must speak and share Christ.

1 Peter 3:15-17 NKJV
[15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; [16] having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. [17] For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

The secret to sharing Christ: fall in love with Jesus Christ.

When you fall I love, you want to talk about Him. Like you talk about your spouse and children.

Fall in love with your Master.

3. Seeking the cross.
Luke 19:10 NKJV
[10] for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Daniel 7:13-14 NKJV
[13] "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. [14] Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.


Jesus Christ came to seek and to save those who are lost.

Are you lost? Have you lost your joy, peace, quietness, rest? You need to come home.

Jesus came to die for us.

Hebrews 9:27-28 NKJV
[27] And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, [28] so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

We will all die once and face judgement.

Life has no real purpose apart from Christ. We have great worth in the eyes of God.

We were born crying, we lived with no expectations yet we gripe and complain and we can die disappointed. None of us should live this way.

In a time of communion:
1 Corinthians 11:24-34 NKJV
[24] and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." [25] In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. [27] Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. [28] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. [29] For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. [30] For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. [31] For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. [32] But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. [33] Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. [34] But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

As you go in front of this communion table today, where are you at? If you are not a believer, you should not take communion.

Acts 3:19 NKJV
[19] Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Today could be the turning point in your life!

Don't Do That

Notes: Don't Do That

Pastor Steve Wilburn - Core Church in Los Angeles - Pastor Greg introduced him as the "Force of Nature"

August 10, 2014

Pastor Steve said there is no better motivator to spread the word of God then a prayer.

Speaking of the Harvest Crusade, he said over 5 million people have attended over the last 25 years and over 400,000 had stood up to make a commitment to Christ.

He said that God uses us to make that happen. Our purpose and time is now!

He is going to use the example of Jonah to emphasis his message today of "don't do that". Other figures in the bible May be less relatable to us because unlike Moses, we never parted the Red Sea.

We are reviewing four points today.

1. Don't be rebellious

Jonah 1:1-3 NKJV

[1] Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, [2] "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me." [3] But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

God told Jonah to go one way and Jonah went the opposite way, like many of us do.

There will always be consequences for resisting the call of God.

1. There is a cost to resist God

2. Jonah paid the fare

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

[9] But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Luke 19:10 NKJV

[10] for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

We are here to be the representative of God.

Today we are not suffering from a lack of knowledge, we are suffering from a passion filled heart.

Jonah did not want the Ninevites to be saved, he wanted them to burn. Is there anyone in your life that you feel that way about?

Ezekiel 18:32 NKJV

[32] For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore turn and live!"

Ecclesiastes 12:14 NKJV

[14] For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

When you are in front of God everything will be exposed.

Where is your course today? Are you serving God.

How many people are in your sphere of life that need to be saved? People that you think "look good"

2. Don't be asleep

Jonah 1:5-6 NKJV

[5] Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. [6] So the captain came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish."

Don't think for a second that the people around you aren't worried about what is going on around them. Don't be asleep like Jonah.

56% of people in a study said they would consider going to church if someone invited them.

Steve said that after reading that, he invited someone to church and the guy was there at church on Sunday. If he didn't invite he wouldn't of come.

Steve said he asked the guy originally "When is the last time someone told you that there is a God in Heaven that loves you?"

Take advantage of the opportunities to invite people! The Crusade is an even bigger opportunity.

What is the cost to ask people? It cost nothing to you, but can mean everything to a person that is saved!

Reach out to those in your sphere of life.

Jonah 1:15 NKJV

[15] So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.

3. Don't be Stubborn

It can always get worse!

Jonah 1:17 NKJV

[17] Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jesus referenced Jonah:

Matthew 12:39-41 NKJV

[39] But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. [40] For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [41] The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Jonah 2:5-7 NKJV

[5] The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head. [6] I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD, my God. [7] "When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple.

Jonah 2:10 NKJV

[10] So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Jonah's attitude was extremely bad and got worse.

Jonah 3:1-6 NKJV

[1] Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, [2] "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you." [3] So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent. [4] And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" [5] So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. [6] Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.

Jonah's message was precise, nothing but wrath. It changed the people to repent, even though Jonah was bitter.

Romans 2:4 NKJV

[4] Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

We need to deliver God's message with a smile and happiness!

God has forgiven you and will forgive everyone.

4. Don't be upset.

Jonah 4:1-3 NKJV

[1] But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. [2] So he prayed to the LORD, and said, "Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness, One who relents from doing harm. [3] Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!"

Don't do what Jonah did when your family and friends are saved.

The book of Jonah is a message to people with a hardened heart.

Jonah 4:4-8 NKJV

[4] Then the LORD said, "Is it right for you to be angry?" [5] So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. [6] And the LORD God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. [7] But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. [8] And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah's head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."

Jonah was hoping that God would change his mind and destroy the people.

The plant and worm was a lesson to Jonah. There was so many people being saved and Jonah was still upset, even more concerned about a plant and worm then the saving grace that God gave 120,000 people.

The bible never says if Jonah ever repented for his hardened heart towards the people of Nineveh. We do know 120,000 Ninevites were saved.

We don't know what will happen tomorrow. We all need The Lord today.

Are you going to help others find Jesus?