Chapel Service
Evergreen Speedway
August 17, 2019
“Our Commissioning”
Bob Butcher
At our home YWAM campus we recently commissioned and sent out two amazing young couples into a very dangerous part of the world that is not friendly or accepting to the Gospel or the message of Jesus Christ but ruled by His enemy. However, this goes on throughout the world daily as people follow Christ and “GO” as is His command in Matthew 28:18-20 “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Yes, pretty bold and brave, but thinking back Kathy and I led a number of trips into the former Soviet Bloc countries before the Berlin Wall fell, and at that time it was also Bold and brave. Both the couples’ kids are about the same age as our Leeanne and Sarah were.
This world is not a safe place, …anywhere! Here in the USA we constantly see news of unthinkable crime and killings. And right away “ban guns” is screamed, but guns are NOT the problem. Evil is, and without God who created and set the standards for right and wrong, evil grows stronger as we as a nation push God out of America and our life. I believe America was God’s dream like Israel was in the beginning, but like Israel did America keeps turning further away from Him.
I could go on here, but you get the picture. So does God. But He still has a plan and it will come to pass exactly as He wishes. Meanwhile, there is an abundance of danger, pain, trauma, and trouble in this life and often we choose to walk in it. But Jesus said in John 16:33 “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but, take courage—I have conquered the world.”
So, then does that mean we can overcome all the evil and trauma in the world also? Actually, it’s far easier for us because Jesus already did it. For the whole amazing details of the Apostle Paul and Silas’s painful and dangerous story go to Acts 16: 22-34 and Paul and Silas are point blank and simple when their Jail guard asks them due to his circumstances how he can be saved in verse 31: “They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And, take note it applied to everyone who believed, not just him. It wasn’t a special privilege for the jailer, but everyone! (in this case the Jailer’s family.)
But the point is simple and the same for us: Simply believe in Jesus! Paul explains this again in Romans 10: 9-10 and Paul’s next words in 11:1 says “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
Therefore, no matter what our situation then if we are a believer and stand strong in that faith in Jesus then we can deal with this world and its dangers of all kinds and coming from whatever source!
That’s cool for us since if you look at danger in our lives for all of us out here at a race track you don’t have to look far for trouble and danger, even since we choose it every time we race, no matter what our role is. This is a dangerous place!
With this in mind let me share straight from scripture one of the strongest words of protection you can trust in (among so many in the Bible) and then pray for you with the same words I had the privilege to pray over those two couples and their kids who were about to head into the world area filled with danger.
PSALM 91 – (GBB)
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust him.
3 For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side, and though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
11 For He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in My name.
15 When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life and give them My salvation.”
Now let me close and pray for you:
“Heavenly Father, I (we) ask You to place a hedge of protection around these faithful and obedient NASCAR Team Members, Drivers, Officials, Owners, Sponsors and even Kathy and me that You are sending out into this race here at Evergreen Speedway today. You must hide them from the enemy, familiar spirits, any and all demon spirits, making it difficult, if not impossible for them to effectively track or trace any of them in the realm of the spirit. There shall be no perforations or penetrations to these hedges of protection according to your word in Psalm 91. May the enemy not be able to even begin to tempt You to let him enter behind Your hedge like Job in Job 3. I know that You will answer this prayer because I (and all of them too) love You and we trust in Your name only. I pray that Your blood Lord Jesus will cover them and all that You have given them; That the enemy will not have access to what has been given to them. Thank you for your divine protection in Jesus Name, Amen.”
And, this we can trust as we stand in our belief and stay strong in the Lord at every race we go to and every other situation we find ourselves facing as long as we continue daily.
Now lets all go and have a safe and prosperous race today!