I Came Here to Stay

1 Kings 19:1-8

We all have times of trouble in our life. Every one of us have trouble. We all have bad days, bad weeks, bad months, and bad years. Times can get really tough.

Out on the streets on Tuesday of this week, a man told me that he was tired of losing in life. He told me he is angry and just wanted to kill someone. He said I might just start killing because this world is setup to make me fail. He’s right. This world is setup to make you fail, but God sets you up to win.

Satan wants you miserable and dead. All the darkness in this world wants you miserable and dead. God doesn’t. God wants you happy, joyful, and alive.

The World’s Way = Loss, God’s Way = Victory

With the ways of this world, you lose. With the ways of God, you win. And that’s what I want to talk about. You can be a runner who runs away from the difficult times. You can give up and quit. Or you can be a fighter who runs right through the difficult times.

The title of this sermon is, “I Came Here to Stay.” At the end of this sermon, I want you to be saying that. “I Came Here to Stay.”

Hey, realize that you aren’t alone when you’re having trouble. When you’re with us in this church, we’re with you. We’re for you. We’re with you. We love you. We care for you. And you all that are here you know this to be true. I care about you. We care about you. I want good for you. I don’t want bad for you.

In the Bible, many of God’s leaders had trouble. At many points, you see them wanting to die. They wanted to just give up and die. I’ve been there before. I’m not going to act like I haven’t been there. I’m not perfect. We’ve all been there. God’s people have been there. Listen to this. This is Moses speaking here.

Numbers 11:13-15
Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.  14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.  15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

Moses Says, “Kill Me, I Pray Thee”

Moses says to God, “If thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee.” He didn’t want to have to deal with all the people. He says, “I am not able to bear all this people alone because it is too heavy for me.” At times in our life, we believe something is just too much for us to handle so we would rather die. Moses was there.

The prophet Elijah, one of my favorite people in all the Bible, ran away because of a threat from Jezebel. He was afraid so he ran away. This wasn’t his best day. We’re just men and women. We aren’t perfect. We have bad days.

1 Kings 19:1-3
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.  2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.  3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

Elijah slew all the false prophets. Jezebel threatened him. He arose and ran for his life.

1 Kings 19:4
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

Elijah had enough. He requested for himself that he might die. “It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life.” Hey, Elijah was tough but he had bad days too. He ran away. Job, the most upright man on the face of all the earth at the time he lived, had bad days.

Job Thought It Better That He Was Never Born

Job 3:1-4
After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.  2 And Job spake, and said,  3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.  4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

Job was wishing that he was never born. “Let the day perish wherein I was born.” And he hoped to die many times within the book of Job. People get to the lowest of lows in their life. We all have bad times. Tough times. Sometimes we want to run away and just die.

One of the greatest prophets in the Bible, though many preachers talk trash about him, Jonah; he had low points. His low points are shared with us in the Bible.

Jonah 4:1-3
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.  2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.  3 Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

Jonah was very angry. He wanted to die. He says, “It is better for me to die than to live.” We’ve all had those thoughts before. Trust me, you are not alone in those thoughts. The Bible tells you this. Some of God’s greatest people in the Bible had these same thoughts. I’ve had them. You aren’t alone.

Paul Had a Desire to Die

The Apostle Paul had tough times. We all know that going to heaven is far better than being here. But listen to this.

Philippians 1:23-24
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

Paul had a desire to depart and to be with Christ. In other words, he desired to die. He wanted to die and go on to heaven. But he thought about others besides himself. Hey, listen, if it were just about me, I would rather just go on to heaven too. This life is rough. This life is tough.

If it were just about me, that’s what I would want. But it’s not just about me. We all can get to those points where we just want to die. You’ve been there. I’ve been there. We’ve all been there. But we must think about others. Paul says, “Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.”

Hey, I’ve got people to take care of and to love. I’ve got my wife who needs me. My kids need me. You all need me. There’s people out there waiting today that I will go out and preach the Gospel to that need me. God put me here for that reason. Other people out there need me. There’s people that I don’t yet know that need me. I’m here for a reason.

Hey, you and you and you and you, all of you, there’s people that need you. I need you. My wife needs you. Nathan needs you. Milana needs you. My Dad needs you. My Mom needs you. We need you. I need you to be here to encourage me and exhort me to keep going. I have tough days. I have days when I want to give up and quit just like Moses, Elijah, Job, Jonah, and Paul. I need you to be there for me. We need each other.

Remember at the Low Points That You Aren’t Alone

When we’re at those low points in our life, you have to keep in mind, always, that you are not alone. Sometimes it might feel like it, but you aren’t. I know many of you have had some really tough times in your life that I’ve never seen. But you’re here right now for a reason. God put you right here in this church for a reason. And I want you here. And God wants you here. He got you here. And you are in the right place.

Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Things are turning around. When Moses was down and wanted to die, God helped him.

Numbers 11:15-16
And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.  16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.

The Lord gave Moses the help of seventy men and gave them the Spirit of God. Hey Moses, it’s not time to quit. Let’s go, Moses. When Elijah was down and wanted to die, God helped him.

1 Kings 19:4-6
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.  5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.  6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

God sent an angel to help Elijah. Arise and eat. Hey, it’s time to get up Elijah. Don’t quit now. We all have bad times, but hey, this church is here for you now. We’re here to stay. We’re here to be that help for each other. We will get through the tough times together.

God Gives You Help

When Job needed help, God was there for him. God can and will take us to our end. And then we will call out to him for help. Sometimes we get mad at God. Moses was mad. Elijah was mad. Jonah was mad. Job was mad.

Job 40:1-4
Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,  2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.  3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,  4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

God knows what’s happening. The Lord answered Job and said, “Shall he that contendeth (or fight) with the Almighty instruct him?” Are you going to tell God what’s right and wrong. God said to Job, “Answer me.” It wasn’t Job’s best day. Job answered, “Behold, I am vile. I will lay my hand upon my mouth.” That’s the best thing for us to do when we get mad at God.

Job 42:10
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Job lost everything. But the Lord helped Job. Job came through that trial. He came forth as gold. The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Don’t quit. Don’t give up. The title of this sermon is, “I Came Here to Stay.”

We Came Here to Stay

I came here to West Louisville to stay. Nathan came here to West Louisville to stay. We started this church here. We are here to stay. This area, as you all know, is a huge challenge. It is for you. It is for I. Young men are taught to kill here. Young men are taught to do drugs here. Young men and young women are taught to fornicate here. Evil and wicked ways are taught here.

We have many things to overcome. We get threats. Hey, I’m not leaving. “I CAME HERE TO STAY.” I’m not leaving you alone here. Now, I want you to tell me that same thing. I want you to stick with me here. I came here to stay. Are you staying with me?

This sermon is titled after one of my favorite songs: “I came here to stay.” Moses wanted to quit. He didn’t quit. Elijah wanted to quit. He didn’t quit. Job wanted to quit. He didn’t quit. Jonah wanted to quit. He didn’t quit. Paul wanted to quit. He didn’t quit. This is what separates the people of God from the people of this world.

We will not quit. We will not run. We use these examples in the Bible to teach us. You might want to quit. Don’t quit. I came here to stay. I want you here to stay. I CAME HERE TO STAY.

The First Verse of I Came Here to Stay

The first verse of the song goes like this:

“”Now the champion marched for 40 days

Saying give me a man to fight

The Israelites said we got a brave heart

but our feet are sort of full of fright

Then a boy with a sling and a pocket full of rocks

that knew how to trust and pray

Said if you’re gonna run Goliath

you might as well take off now

Because I came here to stay””

The chorus goes like this:

“”So run if you want to, Run if you will,

But I came here to stay When I fall down

I’m gonna get right up I didn’t start out to play

It’s a battlefield brother not the recreation room

It’s a fight and not a game So run If you want to

Run if you will, I came here to stay””

Goliath is out there. He’s huge. He’s scary. Little David who was physically nothing compared to Goliath had God with him. This little church right here against this huge area filled with decades of wickedness and decades of Satan running it. Killing, murder, drugs. Hundreds and thousands of murders. Brother’s lost. Sister’s lost. Children lost. Dad’s lost. Mom’s lost. Big brother gone. Little brother gone.

It’s Goliath against little David. David didn’t run away from the fight. David was there to stay. The same man I talked to out on the streets the other day said, “I’m 34 years old. This area has always been the same. Killing everywhere. We just get used to it. And then we start killing. I’m angry.” He didn’t think this area is going to change. I told him it will change, but I need his help too. He looked me in the eyes. Hey, I came here to stay. I’m a fighter. Not a runner.

I’ll fight for the life of your little brother. I’ll fight for the life of your little sister. I’ll fight for your life. I want you in heaven. I want your family in heaven. I want all these people in heaven.

Goliath the Philistine mocked little David.

The Evil Will Mock at You and Run Their Mouth

1 Samuel 17:44-45
And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.  45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

Hey, understand that we come here to West Louisville in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel. Be with us and not against us.

1 Samuel 17:46-47
This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.  47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

Understand that the battle we’re fighting out there, in Louisville, is the Lord’s battle. I know that. That’s why I’m not afraid. That’s why I know we win. I don’t care what’s out there. We win. David won that battle. David ran to the battle. He didn’t run away. He ran to it. We do the same. We’re running to the battle every day that we can. We go out there on the front lines, into the streets, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the battle. We need you. Don’t be afraid.

Run if you want to, run if you will, I came here to stay. Join this battle. There will be great days, happy days, joyful days when you see things change. And it will change.

The Second Verse of I Came Here to Stay

Verse 2 of the song goes like this:

“”Now the decree had been signed by the hand of the king

But Daniel still prayed to the Lord

The hungry lions pacing the den

Here comes supper one roared

And if you’d been standing anywhere close

You’d have heard brother Daniel say

If you’re talking about me, forget it boys,

I came in here to stay””

“”So run if you want to, Run if you will,

But I came here to stay When I fall down

I’m gonna get right up I didn’t start out to play

It’s a battlefield brother not the recreation room

It’s a fight and not a game So run If you want to

Run if you will, I came here to stay””

Daniel disobeyed the king’s law because the law was against God’s law. For example, if the government makes a law that we can’t have church any more. We’re going to break that law. If the government tells us we can’t pray any more, we’re going to break that law. If a public schools tells our children they can’t pray in school, we’re going to break that law.

That’s what Daniel did, and they threw Daniel in a den of lions.

Daniel 6:16-17
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.  17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

Was That the End of Daniel?

We all would have thought that would be the end of Daniel. Cast into the den of lions. Do you know what happened? Let’s see. Next verse.

Daniel 6:18-19
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.  19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

Daniel 6:20-21
And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?  21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

Daniel was alive. In a den of lions, Daniel lived. And how did he live?

Daniel 6:22-23
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.  23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

Hey, life out there is like being in a den of lions. It’s tough out there. You need to see how Daniel did it. Daniel did right in his life. Daniel believed in his God. Daniel knew God could save him out of that situation. Whatever situation you’re in right now, do the right things, believe in God, and God will save you of that situation. Don’t do wrong. That won’t help you.

For example, when you’re having trouble in your marriage. Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Work on it. Get it right. Why? Because God says divorce isn’t an option. Do right according to God’s words. Daniel didn’t run away. Daniel didn’t quit. Have patience and fight. Daniel stood up against evil. And God took care of Daniel.

The Third Verse of I Came Here to Stay

Verse 3 of the song goes like this:

“”Now the boys wouldn’t bow, The king got mad

And said turn our old furnace up high

Tie em up, throw em on in,

The Hebrew boys are gonna fry

A little while later, he looked in the furnace

He heard brother Shadrach say

Pull up a chair boys, warm your hands,

We came in here to stay””

“”So run if you want to, Run if you will,

But I came here to stay, When I fall down I’m gonna get right up

I didn’t start out to play.

It’s a battlefield brother not a recreation room

It’s a fight and not a game. So run If you want to,

Run if you will, I came here to stay.””

What’s that verse of the song talking about? It’s talking about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. King Nebuchadnezzar made a huge image of gold and commanded the people to fall down and worship that image of gold.

Daniel 3:8-11
Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.  9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.  10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:  11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Thrown Into a Fiery Furnace

Now, look, this is serious. If a king tells you to do this, and you won’t do it, you get thrown into a fiery furnace. Would you bow down and worship a gold statue? Either you make the Almighty God of all creation angry or you make this man angry on earth. Which one? Think about it.

Daniel 3:12-13
There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.  13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.

Daniel 3:14-15
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?  15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

Oh king Nebuchadnezzar, you’re going to find out who that God is that will deliver them out of your hands. Now listen to this because you need to have this same attitude in your life about the Lord God Almighty.

Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

“We Are Not Careful to Answer You”

Hey, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. NOT CAREFUL. I am tired of people going up against the word of God. I am not careful to answer thee in this matter. They say, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.” Watch what they say. “But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

We will not do evil. Hey, in your life, you need to get this same attitude every single day. This area is tough. Don’t let it suck you right into the evil. When someone says, “Hey, why don’t you steal that.” I will not steal that. God COMMANDS me to not steal that. And I will not steal that.

“Hey why don’t you lie about that.” I will not lie about that. “Why don’t you go with me to kill that man.” I will not go with you and do that. “Why don’t you go drink that alcohol with me.” I will not go with you and drink alcohol. “Why don’t you go do some drugs with me.” I will not go with you and do drugs.

This is the same thing. Hey, we’re going to stick together here, and we’re going to be strong together. But I need you to get here to church as much as you possibly can. For example, when these doors are open, when we have a service, my attitude is this: “I will not miss church. I will get here. I will be here.” It’s a top priority. The more we are together here, the stronger we get. God ensures us of that.

So what happened to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?

Did They Die in That Fiery Furnace?

Daniel 3:19-20
Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.  20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:23
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

They didn’t get scared. They didn’t run away. They came to stay. I came here to stay. Are you here to stay? And now for one of the best parts in all the Bible.

Daniel 3:24-25
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.  25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

They were in the hot fire. But the Son of God was with them. There weren’t just three of them there. There was a fourth. There isn’t just us here right now. Add another one to the attendance count. Jesus Christ is here with us. They had no hurt. Jesus walked in the midst of the fire.

They Stepped Right Out of the Fire

Daniel 3:26
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

They came forth right out of that fire. It didn’t even burn them at all. Not even the smell of fire. It killed the others. It didn’t kill them.

Hey, I am not afraid. I want this same attitude to wear off on you. Never be afraid to do what’s right. We are here to do what’s right, and I am not afraid of the evil out there. Why? Because we win. We might lose a battle here and there, but we win the war.

You will have trouble, trials, and tribulation in this life. You will have it. But let’s get this right, let’s fight back, let’s do right at all times. We have God with us. We have Jesus Christ with us. We have the Holy Spirit of God with us. We can do this. We will not run. We came here, in this church, to stay. I’m staying. Stay with me.

Stay, Fight, Join Us

I’m going to fight this fight here until the day I die. And I’m going to see many victories. I going to see many losses because people choose to go the other way and they don’t choose to stay. Hey, make the choice right now. I’m going to do my absolute best for you. I want you to do your absolute best for me. I’ll give you all I’ve got by doing right for you. Please do the same.

We’re going to stay here, worship God, please God, and do his work. I didn’t come here to bow down to the evil. I came here to fight against the evil. I came here to fight for the ways of God. His ways are far greater and far more powerful than any other way out there. God has all the power. He can do anything.

“”So run if you want to, Run if you will,

I came here to stay, When I fall down I’m gonna get right up

I didn’t start out to play.

It’s a battlefield brother not a recreation room

It’s a fight and not a game. So run If you want to,

Run if you will, I came here to stay.””

Let’s pray.