Almost: Decision Making

DECISION MAKING: ALMOST?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)

DO WE UNDERSTAND FAITHFULNESS? Have you heard RHONDA VINCENT’S STORY OF FAITHFULNESS? Rhonda and her family were under contract at SILVER DOLLAR CITY TO DO 5—ONE HOUR MUSIC PROGRAMS A DAY. One day it was raining real hard. No one was in the crowd. No one, but the contract was for 5 shows. Rhonda and her family stepped to the stage and did their show as promised. A few days later Rhonda got an important phone call from a man named HOUSER. Houser was the GENERAL MANGER of the GRAND OLE OPRY in Nashville, Tennessee. He invited Rhonda and her band to come to Nashville to perform. She said: SIR, HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT US? He said: Last week we were on vacation at Silver Dollar City. It was raining real hard. We sat around the corner in the dry and we heard you and we liked what we heard. WHAT IF RHONDA VINCENT AND HER BAND HAD NOT PREFORMED THAT DAY BECAUSE NO ONE WAS IN THE CROWD? THEY ALMOST MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY?

ALMOST? There was a famous TV preacher named: PAUL CROUCH that was with a NETWORK KNOWN AS TBN (TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK.) Often Paul would travel with his duties. Paul was in West Virginia raising funds. He had to stay in a cheap motel. He could not sleep. He got up and turned the TV on. All he could watch was a local cable channel. There was a poor black preacher teaching. The preacher was faithful to his little church. The poor preacher lived on food stamps. Paul Crouch was amazed with the black man’s preaching. Paul could not sleep so he watched this black preacher. When Paul got back to the TBN headquarters he had the West Virginia preacher contacted. The rest of the story is history. We all know the struggling preacher today. T.D. JAKES was almost trapped? WAS THIS AN ACCIDENT? IF PAUL CROUCH COULD HAVE SLEPT, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN PASTOR T.D. JAKES? ALMOST?

Almost is found at least 6 times in the Bible. We all make decisions. Seldom do we consider the consequences of our choices. What will we make a commitment to do? ALMOST becomes a problem when we refuse to make a total

commitment and not realize the consequences of ALMOST.

Almost: a little short, not quite, very nearly, not entire, MISSED OPPORTUNITIES. CAN WE SEE THE TRAPS SET AROUND US… THERE IS A GREAT TRAP OF NOT TOTALLY MAKING A DEEP COMMITMENT TO GOD’S PLAN.

ALMOST? TIMING? THERE WAS A SONG: DON’T GIVE UP ON THE BRINK OF YOUR MIRACLE! ARE WE ON THE VERGE? YOU ALMOST PERSUADED ME.

Just by chance Paul was imprisoned for the Gospel’s sake. There are 3 leaders gathered FESTUS, HEROD AND AGRIPPA in Jerusalem. Paul appealed to the Roman court. Festus tells AGRIPPA about PAUL. Agrippa was a Jew and had heard about Jesus and Paul. Paul asked Agrippa to PATIENTLY HEAR.

Acts 25:22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

So in a party like atmosphere, Agrippa and Bernice have a meeting to hear Paul. Paul boldly proclaims Jesus. Paul asked Agrippa to patiently hear the message.

Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

AGRIPPA LISTENS INTENSELY. The great leader says: ALMOST THOU PERSUADEST ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN. Agrippa wants to remain popular and stay in power. THERE IS NO RECORD IN THE PAGES OF HISTORY AGRIPPA EVER CONSIDERED ETERNITY AND CHOICES AGAIN. WE HEAR THE WORDS FROM HELL: ALMOST, ALMOST YOU PERSUADED ME?

WE ALMOST MISSED IT? THIS LOOKS HOPELESS TO US? WE CAN FIX THIS? CAN WE ABSOLUTELY TRUST GOD’S PLAN? WE ALMOST MISSED IT….WE CAN’T AFFORD TO GIVE UP ON THE BRINK OF OUR MIRACLE! PONDER THIS: WE CAN’T AFFORD TO ALMOST GIVE UP? CARNAL VS. SPIRITUAL? STAND STRONG!

Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Romans 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:

ABRAHAM and SARAH ALMOST MISSED THEIR MIRACLE WITH HUMAN REASONING.

ALMOST? KNOW THIS OUR FAITH WILL BE TESTED. WILL WE OBEY? OR WILL WE DIE ON THE VINE OF THE PROMISE? WILL WE OBEY? OR WILL WE REBELL?

WHEN FEAR HINDERS THE PROMISE.WE TESTIFY: WE SAW THE PROMISE LAND. WE WALKED IN THE PROMISE LAND. THE PROMISE LAND IS FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY.