Custody?vsownership? Does The Box Define Me?

CUSTODY VS. OWNERSHIP? Does the box define me?

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

I do this lesson in three parts.

INTRODUCTION:

COULD THE FAITH YOU EXERCISE DETERMINE THE GROWTH?

OR LACK OF GROWTH YOU SEE?

I have heard that many fishes size will grow in proportion to it’s environment. If you put a little fish in a little bowl, it will stay little. If you take the same fish and place it in a huge tank and increase it’s food the fish will grow large?

GOD GROW ME! STRETCH ME! RELEASE IN ME A GREATER THAN

ME! Do not allow the past to dictate the future.

I. THAT IS NOT IN MY JOB DESCRIPTION? I DON’T HAVE TO DO IT! THAT IS NOT IN MY JOB DESCRIPTION? WE MUST LEARN TO GLADLY GIVE THE OFFERING OF THE SECOND MILE.

Matthew 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

A. Recently I had a rental car. It was beautiful and so shiny. I love new cars. I had this Chrysler Magnum Wagon and under it’s hood was a powerful engine.

After I returned the car a friend of mine asked me:

WHAT WILL IT DO? DID YOU PEEL OUT AND SMOKE RUBBER?

I explained: I never peeled out once? Nor had I broken the speed limit. My friend was so disappointed in me!

He told me: THAT IS WHAT YOU DO IN A RENTAL CAR?

I informed him: I TREATED THE CAR JUST LIKE IT WAS MINE!

He could not believe that?

B. I say: WHAT YOU ARE IN THE DARK WHEN NO ONE SEES YOU

WILL TELL MORE ABOUT YOUR REAL CHARACTER THAN WHEN YOU

ARE IN FRONT OF A CROWD?

Are you the same in the light as you are in the dark?

C. WHAT IS MY JOB DESCRIPTION?

Most know I spend much time reaching to the widows and orphans, because I want pure and undefiled ministry to develop within my reach. My team travels playing music to rest homes. Once a month we travel an hour away to play music at a Retirement Village. The group finished

lunch and we started setting up our amps and tuning our instruments.

On one of the tables someone had spilled a few drops of liquid and I did not want to place my amp in the fluid. I asked a lady that worked there if she would clean the fluid as she picked up the dishes from the table. I asked for a rag, or if she would clean these few drops from the table before we sat up.

THE LADY HAD A RAG IN HER HAND AND IN GREAT ANGER THE LADY LOOKED UP AT ME AND SAID: THAT IS NOT IN MY JOB DESCRIPTION!

I was sorry I asked, I took my hand and cleaned up the fluid.

That was not in my JOB DESCRIPTION EITHER?

I was a volunteer and the men and women with me were donating our time, effort, and ministry for the old people. Over the months I watched this bitter person hate her job and hate the people for which she was working.

She had a great job? Seems she was unwilling to help make the place she worked better.

D. DO I DO WHAT I DO BECAUSE --- "I HAVE TO..."

Any life reduced to ’HAVE TO ..." is a sad life.

How about the words: " I AM BLESSED, I AM HONORED TO HELP?"

The attitude will determine the ALTITUDE AT WHICH I WILL FLY!

Here --- Let me help you?

E. When any one says: DO I HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH?

DO I HAVE TO PAY MY TITHES? DO I HAVE TO SMILE?

How about the family that is so defined that they can’t reach out of their little box to help in their own home?

F. We grow many issues of the heart!

AM I COMPELLED? DO I HAVE TO... ?

TO DO MY WORK BY MY JOB DESCRIPTION CAN IDENTIFY A HEART PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OF THE HEART IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM!

G. The first mile was a legal requirement, the second mile is stepping into the realm of Divine Blessings! I will do more than what is expected of me to illustrate God’s Love. I want more than part time CUSTODY! I will take ownership!

H. Gladly going the second mile is one of the greatest acts of love and demonstrations that we have taken OWNERSHIP!

II. LET US BRIEFLY LOOK TO THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA.

THE BIBLE IS FULL OF GREAT HIDDEN LESSONS. REVELATIONS

HAVE MANY HIDDEN LESSONS. ONE OF THE GREAT LESSONS IS

OUR LORD SPEAKING TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES. MOST BELIEVE

THAT WHILE THESE CHURCHES WERE REAL, THESE CHURCHES ALSO SPEAK OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO CHURCHES DOWN THROUGH THE AGES.