According To Your Faith?

ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH!

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

I have a huge rubber band, and we discuss the flexibility and stretch that the rubber band has.

1. The rubber band has a potential to stretch beyond where it is.

2. At some point the stretch has limitations. The rubber will not stretch any more, it will break.

3. If the rubber band had feelings ---? What might it say as it is stretched?

4. The rubber band has a comfort zone?

5. If the rubber band is not used and stretched from time to time it will dry rot and loose it’s elasticity.

I. AT BEST LIFE IS A TESTING ZONE. YOU SAY YOU HAVE FAITH? THERE WILL BE A TESTING PROCESS THAT WILL REVEAL IF YOU HAVE FAITH OR IF YOU ARE PRESUMPTIOUS OR A DOUBTER? AT TIMES IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEPERATE FEELINGS AND FAITH.

Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

A. Your emotions can play serious games with your head and your faith?

B. Emotions can distort facts and cause fear to run away wildly.

Life is more than just facts! Life is how we handle the facts that run through our minds.

C. One day David was so touched by God that David said:

GOD IS EVERYWHERE! I have been in the lowest cave and God was there.

I have known the high mountain and God was there.

Within a few days DAVID’S EMOTIONS WERE PLAYING WITH HIS MIND AND SPIRIT! David said: WHERE ARE YOU GOD? God did you leave me? God are you hiding from me?

WHAT CHANGED? DID GOD CHANGE? Never!

DAVID’S EMOTIONS WERE PLAYING GAMES WITH HIS HEART!

God was still there, just David’s battles became hot and heavy.

D. While teaching school I would have a few students that would learn, then their ATTIUDE OF SO WHAT would limit what they could do with the power of the information they just learned.

II. ALWAYS REMEMBER FAITH HONORS GOD AND HIS WORD.

BY THE SAME TOKEN GOD HONORS ALL FAITH.

A. THERE SEEMS TO GROW A NEGATIVE CROWD THAT SPIES OUT THE LAND AND SAYS WE CAN’T DO IT!!!

Numbers 13:31 But the men that went up with him said,

We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

B. Years ago I was facing major throat surgery. I had prayed for healing and healing never came. Our family doctor told me surgery was the only option.

I prayed and went to the surgeon and he ordered the surgery immediately. The church gathered around me and prayed and we set the date.

C. I was OK with the surgery and had little fear until one of the men at church knocked on my door late the night before the surgery. The man was nervous and talked for a while, then he said: LET ME GET TO THE POINT WHY I AM HERE, I HAVE TALKED TO MY INSURANCE MAN AND HE CAN WRITE A POLICY TONIGHT THAT WILL BE IN EFFECT BEFORE THE SURGERY TOMORROW?

I thanked my brother. I informed him I had life insurance in tack.

With tears in his eyes, he hugged me and left.

D. AFTER HE LEFT I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT INSURANCE, MY LITTLE FAMILY, AND DEATH. WOW, I GOT SO HEAVY I COULDN’T GO TO SLEEP.

What if I die? What about my wife and kids? Who will pay the bills? Where will my wife move? Who will she re-marry? Who will my kids’ step-dad be? Will he take care of my sons? Will my sons remember me?

Should I call my Mom and Dad? I don’t have a will written? Should I get up and write the will? Will the will be legal? Do I have enough insurance?

Should I call my friend in the Lord and have him write me another policy?

Who will be elected the next pastor of the church? Will they be a good pastor?

Will they be a hireling? Maybe I shouldn’t have this surgery? I the doctor a quack? What if there is infection in the operating room? What if I get

infection and it is one of those that will not respond to antibodies? What if the anesthetist was not licensed? What if he does not get me to sleep all the way?

What if they leave a sponge inside me? What if I stop breathing and they put me on a respirator? What if I am brain dead? I don’t have a living will?

What if they realize I am an organ donor and because I am brain dead the doctor reaps my organs too soon?

The WHAT IF’S WERE DROWNING ME...

E. Now, that was 25 years ago... I made it. I raised my sons. I have played music with my grandsons.