#5 The Skeleton At The Feast: Will You Go Away? Series

#5 THE SKELETON AT THE FEAST... WILL YOU GO AWAY? TAKING OWNERSHIP OF OUR ATTITUDES

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

WE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS HAVING A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS HAVING A HUMAN EXPERIENCE. PEOPLE SHOULD COME TO THE TRUTH THAT OUR NATION AND OUR CHILDREN

ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS AND WILL SPEND ETERNITY WITH OR

WITHOUT GOD. MAY WE RAISE OUR CHILDREN WITH THE PROPER

PRIORITIES. LIVE WITH ETERNITIES VALUES IN VIEW FOR THERE IS

TOO MUCH TO GAIN TO LOSE.

YOUR ATTITUDES ARE THE FOUNDATION STONES OF REAL DAILY LIVING...

Matthew 7:26 (KJV) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matthew 7:26 (MSG) "But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. 27 When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."

WISDOM MAY BE FOUND AT THE CORNER OF ADVERSITY AVENUE and DETERMINATION DRIVE...

Life maybe 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you handle what happens to you.

IF YOU CAN NOT ALTER THE PROBLEMS YOU FACE, YOU MUST ALTER THE WAY YOU HANDLE YOUR PROBLEMS...

I have three items before me... WE ARE DISCUSSING HEAT/PRESSURE.

1. I have a hard-boiled egg. 2. I have a stick of butter. 3. I have a large tea bag.

Then we discuss what heat does to these three items. 1. Hardens, 2 melts, 3. Brings out the taste....

FEW PEOPLE LEARN THE REAL LESSON OF ADVERSITY: I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD THAT WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING. I HAVE FOUND THE REALITY THAT WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THE TOUGH QUIT...

John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

WHEN THINGS GROW ROUGH... IT IS IN THIS RUBBING THAT GOD BRINGS OUT THE SHINE.

THERE IS ONE WAY TO EVALUATE YOUR LEVEL OF FAITH...

THAT IS REAL: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN ADVERSITY COMES? ANY CANDLE CAN BURN IF THERE IS NO WIND OR RAIN. AFFLICTION, TRIALS AND PROBLEMS BECOME GOD GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES TO LET THE LIGHT SHINE...

Proverbs 24:10 (KJV) If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

Proverbs 24:10 (NIV) If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!

Proverbs 24:10 (MSG) If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn't much to you in the first place.

PROBLEMS, HARDSHIPS, TRIALS, TEMPTATION WILL ABSOLUTELY REVEAL YOUR REAL ATTITUDES... ALTITUDES?

HOW MUCH DISCOURAGEMENT AND PROBLEMS DOES LIFE REQUIRE TO DISCOURAGE YOU AND GET YOU DOWN...

WHAT BRINGS YOU TO THE PLACE OF THROWING IN THE TOWEL?

Do not tell me how you handle your emotions and words when everything is going good? Tell me what you do doing ADVERSITY? We learn so much from our blessings and when everything goes good! But if we really desire to see the real person: DON'T TELL ME WHAT MAKES YOU TICK? Show me what TICKS YOU OFF and what you say and do when things are not going well?

AS DR. PHIL SAYS: YOUR PAST BEHAVIOR CAN BE A PREDICTOR OF YOUR FUTURE BEHAVIOR?

CRUCIBLE: A SEVERE TEST...

A SITUATION THAT FORCES PEOPLE TO CHANGE AND MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS...

PERHAPS ONE OF THE GREATEST TEACHING TOOLS IS THE CRUCIBLE...

A CRUCIBLE IS A POT IN WHICH THINGS ARE HEATED TO VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES...

A VERY DIFFICULT TEST OR CHALLENGE...

We may learn many things from the way we handle ADVERSITY.

WHAT WOULD MAKE A PERSON CARRYING A TEASPOON OF PROBLEMS THINK THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CARRY A BUSHEL?

EACH PROBLEM IS THE ATTITUDE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND TRAIN THE SPIRIT PERSON...

IT MAY BE LIKE CLIMBING A LADDER... TO REACH THE NEXT RUN YOU HAVE TO REACH HIGHER AND LET GO OF THE RUN BELOW YOU...

LET US COME TO GOD IN HONESTY OF HEART WE MUST SEARCH OUR HEARTS AND HOW OUR ACCOUNTIBILTY TO AN ETERNAL VALUE SYSTEM...

What is really important to you?

One line I often repeat is: KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING!

I can never define for you what is important for you. YOU MAKE THAT CHOICE DAILY!