Growing A Connoisseur Spirit

GROWING A CONNOISSEUR SPIRIT

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

C.S.LEWIS IN THE BOOK SCREWTAPE LETTERS warns of a satanic goal within the church that is a CONNOISSEUR SPIRIT.

The devil never minds you going to church as long as you are not faithful. The devils loves donuts, meals, entertainment in churches. The devil loves you to flip flop from here to there as long as you are unfaithful and going to and fro and tasting, but never cooking.

Spiritually seems we have developed the CONNOISSEUR SPIRIT:

WE LOVE TO THINK WE ARE EXPERTS AT TASTING AND NOT DOING MUCH...

BUT ARE ABLE TO TASTE AND CRITICIZE AND TELL WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG TO EVERY ONE ELSE...

WHAT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST OBSTACLES TO REALIZING FAITH?

EMOTIONS, SIGHT AND FEELINGS CAN BE REAL ENEMIES OF FAITH?

2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL WE WILL DEVELOP CIRCULAR FLIGHT PATTERNS IN FAITH AND NEVER GROW OR MAKE ANY PROGRESS IN OUR PERSONAL LIFE AND IN OUR FAMILIES?

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Let me insert a basic English lesson. This verse is an IMPERATIVE COMMAND.

It is not a mere suggestion.

The subject of this verse is omitted. The subject is YOU understood.

There are 2 growth areas on which we should focus attention:

1. Grow in GRACE,

2. Grow in KNOWLEDGE (learning)

SHOW ME YOUR GROWING PLAN?

TO FAIL, TO MAKE MISTAKES COULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED?

We can face many problems, obstacles and difficulties... LIFE GETS HEAVY AT TIMES.

WE TEND TO OBSERVE MISTAKES ARE MISTAKES and THUS WE FAIL BECAUSE OF AN INVALID CONCLUSION THAT TO FAIL IS ALWAYS BAD...

Invalid conclusions: I know a family that really believes peanut butter causes cancer. They had an Uncle that loved peanut butter and ate it often. He died of cancer. They had another friend die of cancer and guess what? He loved peanut butter? Someone they went to school with died at a very young age. It was cancer. They remembered the young person loved peanut butter crackers? CONCLUSION: PEANUT BUTTER CAUSES CANCER. Ask the next cancer patient you see if the ate peanut butter and you may come to understand the role of peanut butter in the USA health issues?

MAY I SUGGEST TO YOU THAT THE ONLY WAY A MISTAKE IS A MISTAKE IS WHEN WE FAIL TO GROW, LEARN AND CHANGE FROM OUR MISTAKES.

WE MUST APPLY A SERIOUS ASPECT: CREATIVE USE OF CONFLICT... This failure could drive us to our knees? This mistake could lead us BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. THIS FAILURE COULD CAUSE US TO OPEN THE EYES OF OUR HEART AND MIND...

Failure can be an obstacle or hindrance of FAITH ACTION...

DOUBT AND UNBELIEF CAN HINDER... SEARCHING FOR SIGNS...

BLESSED ARE THE HUNGRY? BUT HUNGRY FOR WHAT?

Empty can be very dangerous?

HUNGER: need for nourishment, lack of food, craving--- urgent need, to be weakened by the lack of ...

Matthew 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK? You are not what you eat? You are not what you wear, YOU ARE WHAT YOU FOCUS ON...

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? LAUGH AND SAY: NOTHING, OR TROUBLE? YOU WILL FIND WHAT YOU LOOK FOR!

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

John 4:48 (KJV) Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

John 4:48 (MSG) Jesus put him off: "Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe."

HUNGRY? HUNGRY FOR WHAT? I WANT TO SEE ...

We see a serious hunger and craving in the church today.

WE ARE DEMANDING FREE FOOD, FAST LOUD MUSIC, FANCY LIGHTS ---

WE SEE SYMPTOMS THAT REVEAL A SICK MIND SET

WE SEE THE CHURCH CRAVING MILK AND NOT SOLID HEALTHY NOURISHMENT.

Seems there is little love for the WORD OF GOD.

Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

If you know my words you know this phrase: ANEMIC IN THE WORD OF GOD LEADS TO BE ANEMIC IN THE WORK OF GOD.

ANEMIC MEANS: (In medicine it means too few red blood cells and leaves feeling of weakness and tiredness.