I Am From Missouri: Show Me State

I AM FROM MISSOURI --- I WILL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT!

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

We have allow of people here from Missouri. In 1981 the Corvette plant moved from the crowded plant in St. Louis to Bowling Green, Kentucky. So many moved with GM here. One of my first sermons, I said: MANY ARE LIKE THOSE FROM MISSOURI, THEY WILL BELIEVE WHEN THEY SEE!

At the end of the sermon, someone stood up and said: NOW, HOW MANY HERE ARE FROM MISSOURI? Over half the crowd stood to their feet. Wow!

SOME TIME BACK, I FELT A SERIOUS QUESTION IN MY HEART?

This questions was so real and I pondered it for weeks.

THE QUESTION WAS SIMPLE: DO YOU REALLY TRUST THE LORD?

Well, the quick answer was: SURE!

But the question lingered and lingered in my heart. DO I REALLY TRUST GOD?

Is my trust conditional and limited?

After a few days I kind of felt like PETER? DO YOU LOVE ME?

Of course I love you, Jesus!

Then my journey took me to David's words...

Proverbs 3:5 (KJV) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 (MSG) Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.

I have honestly evaluated my heart, my words, and behavior. Am I living the life style that reflects a complete reliance and dependency up God and His word?

DO I TRUST? DO I BELIEVE WHEN I SEE IT? WHEN I FEEL IT? WHEN LIFE IS WONDERFUL AND LOGICAL? AM I FROM MISSOURI? DO I REALLY SEE THESE OBSTACLES AND TROUBLES AS GOD ORDAINED OPPORTUNITIES? TRUST BEYOND SIGHT! ????

Today we often "NOT WITH OTHERS" We lack UNITY and purpose.

WE VALUE OTHER THINGS AS MORE IMPORTANT IN OUR PRIORITY SYSTEMS.

For some reason THOMAS felt it not necessary to ASSEMBLE HIMSELF AS OTHERS DO.

What does skipping church hurt?

John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Thomas was not "WITH THEM" when Jesus came.

EXCEPT I SEE! EXCEPT I TOUCH! I WILL NOT BELIEVE...

Was Thomas from Missouri?

John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

TODAY, WITH US--- MANY NOT WITH US... We seldom see: THE SEEK YE FIRST BEHAVIOR...

EXCEPT I SEE... EXCEPT I TOUCH... EXCEPT I THRUST MY HAND IN HIS SIDE...

IF I SEE I WILL BELIEVE... WELL, HONEY THAT IS NOT FAITH...

BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET BELIEVE. DO WE REALLY TRUST?

I have never SEEN JESUS! I have never touched him.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

WE MUST REFUSE TO TRUST OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING AND 5 SENSES...

SEE! Feel, taste, smell, HEAR?

SHOW US? LET US MAKE THIS A THREE RING CIRCUS AND MAKE A SHOW...

WE MUST EVALUATE AND CORRECT WHAT IS HINDERING THE MOVE OF GOD...

ARE WE LOOKING FOR A VISIBLE SIGN? LET US FLEECE GOD? SHOW US LORD AND IT WILL SUFFICE US...

John 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

WE CAN NOT TRUST GOD BECAUSE WE DO NOT BELIEVE HIM? NOR HIS WORDS...

John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

WILL WE LEARN TO WALK BY FAITH? DO WE REALLY TRUST GOD? WHEN THE STORMS ARE RAGING HIGH? WHEN THE DOCTORS TELL US WHAT WE FEAR? CAN WE SEE BEYOND THE PILL BOTTLE?

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

WE DEMAND THE FATHER SHOW US AND EXPLAIN TO US EVERY DETAIL...

WE DEMAND VISIBLE FAITH, GOD'S WORDS SAYS: SEE THE INVISIBLE...

Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.