3 Attitudes When A Person Falls?

LEARN THE THREE LESSONS FROM THOSE KNOCKED DOWN?

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

I. INTRODUCTION:

A. I have a piece of paper, 8 1/2 by 11.

I draw a real black spot about the size of a quarter right in the middle. I ask people that have seen this illustration to please not respond.

I pick out a person that I know this is a new illustration to answer me.

I say, Don’t think a lot, I am going to show you something, and I want you to answer very quickly what you see?

I hold up the piece of paper with the dark black spot and I ask them: --- WHAT DO YOU SEE?

100% OF THE TIME THE PERSON HAS ANSWERED --- A BLACK SPOT?

I am always amazed, in all my years of doing this, no one has ever said, I see a piece of paper?

They have always answered --- I SEE A BLACK SPOT.

B. THERE ARE 98 X’s MORE WHITE THERE THAN WHAT IS BLACK? BUT PEOPLE FOCUS ON THE BLACK SPOT.

Is that amazing, no one has ever said they see a big piece of paper?

C. I tear the black spot out and leave just the paper, but the hole is very apparent.

Though you remove the black spot, the scar or damage is left behind as a result.

You cannot remove the black spot or the damage it has caused.

D. WELL, THAT IS THE WAY LIFE GOES YOU CAN DO GOOD 98% OF THE TIME, BUT SOME PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER YOUR BLACK SPOT UNTIL YOU DIE?

E. Let me prove this point.

In 1982 I was visiting this old widow lady from the church I pastored.

She told me the story of a young girl that got pregnant and was not married. The young girl’s dad was mad and disappointed at her.

I understood that the Dad was going to kick the girl out of the house.

I felt so sorry for her?

As I was leaving, we had a prayer and I prayed for this young girl and her Dad.

I inquired where did she live? I would visit her and try to help?

The old lady told me, OH, THE BABY IS 28 YEARS OLD NOW.

The baby she was referring to was about my age.

The lady could not let go of the mistake this woman

II. WE OFTEN WANT TO JUDGE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN KNOCKED DOWN? OTHERS OF US LOVE TO JUDGE THOSE PEOPLE THAT FELL DOWN ON THEIR OWN? LET US STUDY THE BASIC THREE ATTITUDES OF I HAVE FALLEN ---

A. LORD HELP ME ---

Those who deserve love the least need it the most.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

B. LOVE MUST BE A LONG TERM INVESTMENT.

We must give today, and hope to have a return on our investment at a later date.

III. WHAT ATTITUDE WILL I TAKE WHEN I HAVE FALLEN?

WHAT ATTITUDE WILL I TAKE WHEN OTHERS FALL?

WILL I TREAT OTHERS LIKE I WANT TO BE TREATED?

Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

IV. ATTITUDE NUMBER ONE WE LIKE TO WHITEWASH OUR BEHAVIOR. I HAVE FALLEN, I AM HUMAN, HUMANS FAIL.

MY MISTAKE? SO WHAT? I AM STILL PRETTY GOOD AND BETTER THAN MANY OTHERS.

Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

A. CAN WE NOT UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

WHITEWAHSED?

WASHED WHITE?

B. THERE IS AN IMPORTANT WORD WE DON’T WANT TO HEAR IN THE CHURCH

TODAY --- IT IS CALLED PALLIATE!

C. LET US LOOK AT WHAT PALLIATE MEANS:

To cover up with excuses and apologies.

To moderate the intensity of.

To cloak or conceal.

To cause to have a less harsh effect. To ease, to lighten.

To sugar coat, whitewash.

To hide with flattery or deceptive pleasantry.

D. MAN CAN LIE, EXCUSE HIS BEHAVIOR, AND MAKE FALSE CLAIMS OF OBEDIENCE and sell himself on a lie?

1 Samuel 15:10 Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying,

11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved

Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.

13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.