BETTER IN THE END, October Sermon notes

Partners In Courage, October 2021

Sermon by Wes Daughenbaugh

 “We’ve passed through fire and flood, yet in the end you always bring us out better than we were before, saturated with your goodness”  (Psalm 66:11-12 TPT).

1. WHATEVER YOU ARE GOING THROUGH, GOD INTENDS TO BRING YOU OUT BETTER THAN YOU WERE BEFORE.

This is God’s desire.   We pass through on our way to.

Through fire and flood, to something better than before.

And not just better, but with a more intimate knowledge of God’s person, His goodness and faithfulness.

2.  MY BIGGEST PROBLEM IS NOT THE FIRE OR THE FLOOD.

            External problems are not to be feared.  God easily mixes His grace with them and turns them into miracles.  So we must not complain or fear them, but say, “That’s a perfectly good problem.”

            If it’s outside of us---and not a problem of the heart—then it’s external.  In those cases we praise God and expect grace to be mixed into it.  Real grace always has power.  It always strengthens.  It turns problems into blessings.

            **** Once when I was a young associate pastor I had to turn out the lights in the church. I found a few lights on in the basement, turned them off and had to come up a stairway with no light switch. It was so completely dark I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.  A spooky thought came to me, “What if the devil were to jump out in front of you right now?”  I made it up the stairs without seeing the devil and went to my office to do a bit more work before going home.  My desk faced the door, and my back was to an outside window.

            The spooky thoughts continued.  “You have the light on, but you’re all alone.  If the devil were to appear there would be no one here to help you.”

            Just then a cat walked outside the window and let out the most terrifying MEEEEOOOWWWWW!  I leaped out of the chair, my heart beating wildly, because it was as if the devil had sneaked in behind me!  Then God spoke to me.

            “Wes, if the devil were to appear, he’d be outside of you.  You could easily rebuke him in my name.  He’d be no problem at all.  Never fear the devil if he’s outside of you.  Only be afraid of the devil if you let him in on the inside a little bit at a time.  Then be terrified of the devil.”

What we think are our biggest problems are usually outside of ourselves. They are “devil on the outside” types of problems.

            A. Something financial

            B. Something physical or

            C.  Some person who isn’t behaving as we think they should.

But my biggest problem is always ME, meaning, a problem in my heart my mind, my attitude, my emotions that isn’t godly or lined up with God.

REMEMBER THE TWO BIG THINGS GOD WANTS TO DO.

            1. To make us just like Jesus.

            2. To unify us, build us together in perfect harmony and peace.

            “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:29 NIV).

             “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21-22 NIV). 

         “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5 NIV).

         We should constantly desire both of these “better ends.” I don’t want to be like brick out in the field alone. I don’t want to be a self exalting brick in the wall—bigger than the others, sticking out and destabilizing the building.  I want to be built together rightly with God’s people.   This takes God doing it.

         Paul wrote, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

            **** Annie Schisler had a vision where God showed her three little vessels.  They were molded together into one bigger vessel and together they held more of God’s glory.  We always do more for God when we are unified with others than when we are just working alone.

         Always desire these two great purposes that God desires:

            A. That God will make you like Jesus.

            B. That he’ll fit you, as a living stone, properly in your place in his eternal temple.

            Our biggest problem then is always when we are not cooperating with these two things, when we are slowing them down or going backwards away from them.  If we are on board with these two desires of God, all other problems get conquered.

3.  SPIRITUAL REFLEXES TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT OUR SPIRITUAL MATURITY AND HEALTH.

Paul wrote, “When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;  when we are slandered, we answer kindly” (1 Cor. 4:11-13 NIV).    This is an example of spiritual reflex.

            HOW WE REACT REFLEXIVELY when we are cursed, persecuted or slandered reveals our stage of Christ-like maturity.  The more we are Christ-like, the more we reflexively react in love and kindness when we respond to those who speak evil of us.

            Jesus said, “If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also.  If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them” (Luke 6:29 NIV).

            Peter said, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.  On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9 NIV).

TELL GOD, I LIKE THAT IDEA AND I WANT TO COOPERATE.

             **** Remember, when our spiritual reflexes are tested—they often reveal a LACK on our part. We might respond in anger, self-pity, depression, sadness, withdrawal or isolation.

         **** God is painting a nice picture of Christ in Wes, and when Wes responds in the flesh it’s as if he splashes some kind of mess on God’s painting.  He messes up what he’s doing. 

            **** People Scotchguard carpets so that stains are easily wiped off.  I pray God “Scotchguards” what he’s doing in me so that when I come and mess it up He can wipe it off without ruining all the work he’s already done!

         OUR SPIRITUAL REFLEXES OFTEN LET US KNOW WE NEED TO ASK FOR MERCY.  I do not assume I’m so spiritual that I don’t need mercy. I assume I DO need mercy.

         **** Dwight Moody, a great evangelist, was dying. Someone said, “You are going to receive your great reward.” He said, “I’m going to receive MERCY.”

            **** WHEN WE HURT THOSE WHO HURT US WE CAN JUSTIFY IT AND WASTE TIME, AND GO AROUND THE MOUNTAIN AGAIN—or we can ask for Mercy and hope that God has Scotchguarded his painting in us and that he’d keep working on and in us.  If we reject those who reject us—it reveals our lack of Christ-likeness.  If we hurt those who hurt us and insult those who insult us we should recognize that our spiritual reflexes are revealing our own immaturity in Christ.

            The Bible says,  “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head” (Romans 12:20, where Paul quotes Proverbs 25:21).

         Jesus said, “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also.  If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.  Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  Do to others as you would have them do to you.

            If you love those who love you what credit is that to you?  Even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners do that.  And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.  But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.  Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.  (Luke 6:27-36 NIV)

4.  THE MAN WHO PRAYED FOR MERCY WENT HOME JUSTIFIED.

            To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:  “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed:  ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evil doers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

            “But the tax collector stood at a distance.  He would not even look up to heaven but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

            “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.  For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:9-14 NIV).

         The Bible says, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2 NKJV).   (I pray, “Finish me, complete me.”  I tell God, “I wish I could present myself perfect for you.  If I could, I would do it for you.  But I cannot.  You started it, please complete me and help me cooperate.”)

         Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit he takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2 NKJV).

            Jude wrote, “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen (Jude 1:24 NIV).

5.  BRING ALL YOUR CARES, WORRIES, HOPES AND DREAMS TO JESUS.

            Bring all your financial problems and lack.

            Bring all your sicknesses, ailments and frailties.

            Bring every single care and concern to Jesus.

            **** I collect verses that encourage me to bring it all to Jesus.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV).

This verse in the Amplified translation says, “Casting the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”

            Psalm 55:22 TPT says, “So here’s what I’ve learned through it all:  Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you.  He will watch over his lovers, never letting them slip or be overthrown. “

            Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7 ESV).

            Psalm 62:8 TPT “Tell him all your troubles and pour out your heart-longings to him.  Believe me when I tell you--he will help you!

            David wrote, “You are the God who answers prayer; all of humanity comes before you with their requests” (Psalm 65:2 TPT).  This is a great description of God, “The God who answers prayer.” 

         Besides your anxieties and worries but also bring all your dreams, desires and hopes!

         **** I think it was in 1978 that my pastor and I were taking Evangelist Don Cox back to the Portland airport. I was in the backseat. Don kept saying, “God wants to give you the desires of your heart so he can grant those desires and get glory for himself.”  He said this about ten times and it was irritating my unbelief.

            I spoke up, “Don, if that’s true, could it possibly be God’s will to let my wife have a horse?”  Bonnie had been desiring a horse but I had squelched the idea.

            Don leaned into the back seat and began to poke me in the chest!  He said, “Don’t you ever mess with the desires in someone’s heart.  God permits those desires to be there so he can grant those desires and gain glory for himself.”  Then he lunged at me while continuing to thump me and yelled at me, “Would you actually steal glory from God?!!!”

            My pastor almost rolled the car. He looked at the evangelist like he was crazy.  But I said, “It’s okay, Pastor.  I receive the correction.”  I went home shaking and said to Bonnie, “I’ve changed my mind.  I’m going to let you have a horse.”  She said, “I know, and God’s going to give me a free one.”

            It’s a long story, and one I’ve told many times, but God gave us a free horse, five tons of free hay, a free saddle, free bridles and brushes, free feed bin and $400 extra dollars.  We bought used lumber and built a free barn and coral!

            We’d been desirous to have a child and over four years had passed without conception happening.  However, Bonnie conceived two weeks after receiving her free horse from God.  I always think that if I had continued to squelch her desire for a horse we never would have had children. Now we have two daughters, a grand daughter and three grandsons.  One fulfilled desire can lead to other fulfilled desires as our faith in God’s goodness increases.

            I repeat this story to emphasize that you should bring God the desires of your heart so that he can glorify his name and show his awesome love for you.

         Now bring all your good purposes, those special things you desire to do to help others and bring God glory.

            Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (2 Thes. 2:16-18 ESV).   God wants to establish you in every good work you desire to do and every good word you desire to speak, write or publish. 

            “Do they not go astray who devise evil?  Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness (Prov. 14:22 ESV).

            **** When I read this verse I felt it go into me.  I am going to keep devising good things.  Right now I’m devising a new tract called THE CREATION PLAY.  It’s for teens and children, but will also affect adults. The main characters are young people.  These illustrated tracts cost a lot to make and once printed in bulk I sell them at printing cost. It sounds like a bad business strategy. But I’m “devising good” and I have God’s promise that I’m going to meet his faithfulness face to face! 

            Isaiah wrote, “But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand” (Isaiah 32:8 NIV).

            **** I’m bringing God my desire to help Hispanics find God.  My tract, BEST NEWS EVER, is being translated into Spanish right now.  My book, 21 WAYS TO FORGIVE, is being typeset in Spanish right now.  I have the first $500 donation for the printing on 21 WAYS TO FORGIVE in Spanish which will cost about $5,000 to print 5,000 copies.  I bring this to God asking God to bring in others who want to join in this good purpose.

6.  IN ADDITION TO ALL THESE THINGS BRING YOUR HEART TO GOD.

         Bring all that is in your heart to him--the fears, the anger, the hurts, the self-pity, the self-justification, the critical judgment of others, the anger reflex, the sadness and any desire to isolate or withdraw from others behind self-made walls.

            **** Recently a pastor returned a call to me which I joyfully received, only to be told that he would not bring me back to speak at his church because he “works through relationships” and when I was there the last time he thought I neglected to build a relationship with him in order to meet with some people who were eager to help me with one of my projects.  He kept saying, “It’s my perception” and was basically saying that I was manipulative, secretive and sneaky.  I told him his perception was 100 percent wrong.  At least he used the word “perception” leaving some room for correction.

            After the phone conversation ended I was very troubled.  His words hit between the joints of my armor, so to speak.  King David wrote, “Reproach has broken my heart” (Psalm 69:20 NASB).  It took me a few days to fully recover and I was able to write him a nice letter and send him a gift, my newest book GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.  I promised to pray for him and asked for his prayers.

            **** But through this God showed me that those who talk the most about “working through relationships” are often the hardest people to have a friendship with.  By definition, a “relationship” excludes other people.  A marriage relationship excludes everyone but your mate.  Relationships by definition take a lot of time.  I realized that I do not work my ministry “through relationships” but through spiritual friendships where I bond with others in a faster and more permanent way.

            **** A verse kept coming up in my spirit about being “one in spirit and purpose.”  I finally found it in the NASB translation, which I used to read in the 1970s and wore out one of those Bibles.  The verse is Phil 2:2 NASB, “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”

            My “spirit” is the heart desire to always glorify and please God, to know him intimately, and to help others know him intimately and bring him massive glory.  My purpose is whatever project the will of God has me working on at the moment.  When I meet people with a sweet spirit, who are humble and love to glorify God we bond very quickly. We don’t need hundreds of hours to “build a relationship.”  We recognize each other by the Spirit of God. 

            Some of these sweet-spirited people are led by God to unite with me in a purpose and we become “intent on one purpose.”  This is God building us together as living stones.  I may bond in the Spirit with some lowly little saint who buys a few of my tracts.  We share the same spirit and purpose.  We don’t have a “relationship” that excludes others. We have a spiritual friendship that is inclusive—always welcoming others into our motive to glorify God and our purpose, our way of glorifying God.

            **** I’ve been wondering where pastors are getting their training that tells them to only “work through relationships.”  This thinking runs contrary to what Paul wrote, “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh” (2 Cor. 5:16 KJV).   Knowing someone after the flesh takes hundreds of hours.  Knowing someone by the Spirit of God can happen very quickly.

            I can meet a person just once in a fairly brief meeting and be bonded with them forever because we have the same spirit and purpose.  I call these “spiritual friendships” and I work through spiritual friendships. 

            **** I like spiritual friendships for another reason.  Spiritual friendships are not based on someone’s position or function of ministry.  I can bond with a humble person of a sweet spirit whether they are a person of authority and position or whether they are some unknown little saint, precious to God.

            After God showed me this I healed quickly from the “reproach.”  I’ll continue to be open to spiritual friendships with all those who have a sweet spirit and have some wonderful purpose, some way of glorifying God in the earth.  I may bond with their purpose or mission and help them. They may bond with my purpose or mission and help me. Maybe we’ll help each other so that two wonderful purposes will be completed, theirs and mine.  I must not just look for others to bond with my purpose, my vision or project.  I must be ready to bond with their spiritual purpose or project and sing harmony with them, so to speak. 

            After writing Philippians 2:1-2 Paul continued,  “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;  do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3-4 NASB).  In this way we’ll make the Apostle Paul’s joy complete—since he’s in that great cloud of witnesses who watch us run our earthly race and cheer us on (see Hebrews 12:1-3).  If we are one in spirit and purpose—we’ll bond in eternal friendships and be built together as living stones who all work together in harmony and are devoid of self-importance.

7.  JESUS SAID, “COME BUY FROM ME”

            The risen Christ appeared to the Apostle John and gave him a message for the Laodicean church. “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see” (Rev. 3:17-20 NIV).

            **** Once when I was reading a red letter edition of the Bible, I read all the words of Jesus from Matthew through Revelation that were written in red ink. When I came to these verses I notice that Jesus said to “buy” a white robe of righteousness.  I told God, “That makes it look like you don’t know your own theology.  Why did you say to buy it?”

            The Holy Spirit said, “Turn to Isaiah 55:1.”  There I read, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;  and you who have no money, come buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost” (Isaiah 55:1 NIV).

            The Holy Spirit gave me understanding to realize that when we buy with money there is an equal exchange of value.  The milk is worth the money and the money is worth the milk.  When you buy a car, you hope there is an equal exchange in value!

            When you buy without money there has to be an exchange but it isn’t equal.  We exchange our trash for God’s treasures!  We trade in our worthless anger and self-pity and receive patience, love and spiritual understanding.  

            **** God is asking all his people, “HAVE YOU NO TRASH TO TRADE IN?  Are you really so spiritually rich that you do not need a thing?”  If we traded in our judgment of others and our critical attitudes we could receive the treasure of God’s eye salve.  We’d see value in people.  We’d see the root cause of problems and we’d see the solutions.  We could see quickly where we are wrong.

            **** Once a pastor told me that he and his son hadn’t spoken in two years.  His son lived in the same small town.  I inquired as to what had happened.  The pastor said, “My son was going through a divorce.  He was staying with me.  The day his divorce was final was a Sunday.  I said from the pulpit, “Divorce is so painful” and he got up and left the church.  He hasn’t spoken to me since.  I have nothing to apologize for because I just said the truth.  Divorce is truly very painful.”

            I told him, “On the day of the divorce your son was in a lot of pain. By saying that, you drew the attention of the congregation to him and made him very uncomfortable.  What you did was inconsiderate.  You could ask his forgiveness for being inconsiderate.” The pastor called his son that night and apologized for being inconsiderate. The son drove over immediately and they hugged and were reconciled.  Eye salve from Jesus does things like that.  Do I need eyes salve from Jesus?  Do you need eye salve from Jesus?  Of course we do!

            Do we need true riches and a white robe of purity and total innocence?  Of course we do!  So bring your trash when you come to Jesus.

            He really loves us and wants us to bring all our worries, cares, stresses, desires, hopes, dreams, projects and especially the trash of our hearts.  Bring it all to Jesus.  He’ll sort and process and do his wonderful work of answering prayer and changing us so that “in the end” we come through the fire and flood to a better place in him. 

         **** When I was a pioneer pastor, I counseled a couple who were having marriage difficulties. I told the man, “You could work on these areas to improve your marriage.”  Then I said to the woman, “And you could work on these areas to improve your marriage.”  The man gave me a cash offering for my time.

            The next morning was Sunday and the woman approached me and said, “I saw a vision of a wrecking ball hitting your church and destroying it because you are a bribe taker.”  She thought her husband had bribed me to say that part of the marriage problem was her fault and that she needed to change a few things.

            I knew she spoke from the devil’s point of view but I was still shaken. I didn’t know how I could stand the ministry if people treated me like that. I cancelled all appointments and read the Bible for three straight days.  I posted comforting scriptures on the wall, the door, and even on my pencil sharpener!

         The third day I found this verse:  “You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance” (Psalm 68:9 NIV).  That went into my heart and I came through the trial better in the end, spiritually refreshed and with additional wisdom of what people with planks in their own eyes would be capable of.  I’m confident that whatever you are going through now, God will bring you through it and more importantly, he will bring you to a better place in life and in him.

CLOSING: “We’ve passed through fire and flood, yet in the end you always bring us out better than we were before, saturated with your goodness”  (Psalm 66:11-12 TPT).

Whatever you are going through right now, God wants to bring you through it and TO something better—a better place in life and a better place in Him. (Especially in Him!)

BETTER = CHRISTLIKE AND UNIFIED. 

I love you.  God bless you.