2down? Why Am I Here? Did I Miss It?

# 2 DOWN? WHY AM I HERE? DID I MISS IT?

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

I have an OSCAR THE GROUCH, remember he lives in a garbage can? On the side of Grouch’s garbage can, it says: UNWELCOME TO GROUCH LAND?

And a TICKLE ME ELMO. I use these to be the introduction to this lesson.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

I. YOU WILL NEVER KNOW ---?

DO YOU EVER FEEL THE NEED TO WEAR A MASK TO HIDE YOUR HEART? HAVE YOU EVER HURT SO BAD THAT UP SEEMED TO BE DOWN AND DOWN SEEMED TO BE UP? HANG ON MY FRIEND.

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

A. Why do people feel a need to wear mask? Yet let me be honest some times leadership can not tell you or maybe share with you the load that has been crushing the breath out of them.

B. Sometimes a Mom can not share the burden she is carrying?

Other times there is a good father going through a bad time? Maybe he can’t even identify the problem that is haunting him? What can he do?

Put on the mask?

C. Monday I was in Lexington, KY. Joe Girdler called the pastors from across the Bluegrass State to prayer. The prayer time was so precious and sweet.

Many times I have gone to a District function absolutely crushed, and we preachers put on a mask to hide our pain and burden.

D. Pastor Joe shared some thoughts and called the preachers that were hurting to come to the altar. There was no one coming. An older preacher shared some

tears, and the call was again offered. Many men of God slowly worked their way to the altar at King’s Way. Tears began flowing like a river, the anointing

came. This year I did not come crushed, and I lingered back. A sweet friend and pastor became my focal point. Others had gathered behind Tom. I hadn’t seen Tom in sometime but my heart was crushed, and crushed again for this powerful man of God.

E. I stepped around those praying and I got in front of my little pastor friend, I started crying uncontrollably. I sensed the load was not only heavy, but the load had been long and hard. I laid my hands on Tom and started pouring my self before the throne. Today I don’t remember a lot about our prayer,

I just recall God came down and was WITH US! Somehow the sweet presence of Jesus visited and nothing else mattered for a while.

F. Later as we were leaving, Tom came up to me. I kissed Tom. I had no fancy words, I just hugged him. The mask didn’t matter to me. It was the man that mattered! Tom hugged me so tight, and whispered

in my ear: THANK YOU! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

II. SOMETIMES WE COME BEFORE THE LORD CRUSHED? HAVE YOU EVER HAD YOUR DREAMS DASHED? MY HEART IS BROKEN? WHERE IS GOD?

A. Sometime back I was in the midst of a battle.

I couldn’t find anyone that I could talk to, no one to listen or understand where I was coming? In my ministry I had two friends, two friends that I could

share anything on my heart and they didn’t judge me or analyze the problem, they just listened. Things have happened and I do not have either one of the friends to turn. For several years, there was no place to turn.

B. I could not share the load of confidence that pressed me? I could not defend

my self without hurting another.

I was down, I had been down several days.

I was hurting, and on top of this I was sick. I had 8 funerals in 8 weeks?

I heard a Boeing 347 flying over head. The jet seemed so closed. I opened my eyes to realize a cockroach had just walked over my head.

C. Then my heart received a message not by my ears?

SON, AT TIMES YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO STAND BY YOURSELF.

There was no phone call? There was no card? There was just unanswered questions. Wisdom eluded me? Patience was long gone? Why am I here?

No, it was not hidden sin? It was just fear and self-doubt drifting slowly?

D. A FEW DAYS AGO A FRIEND SENT ME A NOTE, AT THE END OF THE NOTE WAS TWO LINES FROM MAX LUCADO’S BOOK, FACING THE GIANTS, Page 48 she said:

YOU’LL NEVER KNOW THAT JESUS IS ALL YOU NEED UNTIL JESUS IS ALL YOU HAVE.