My Purpose? My Goals?

MY PURPOSE? --- MY GOALS?

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

I HAVE A PAIR OF SPURS, I ATTACH THEM TO MY SHOES...

Proverbs 26:20 (KJV) Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is

no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Proverbs 26:20 (MSG) When you run out of wood, the fire goes out; when the gossip

ends, the quarrel dies down.

I. WHAT MESSAGE AM I REALLY SENDING?

DO I HEAR THE HEART OF GOD? DO I HAVE MIXED EMOTIONS?

WHAT AM I REALLY DO FOR GOD? THE CHURCH? MY FAMILY?

I PONDER TODAY: WHAT IS MY PURPOSE? WHAT ARE MY GOALS?

MODEL: to copy something, to serve as a pattern, to mimic, imitation,

to guide, to lead, worthy of imitation, good example,

1 Corinthians 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself

to the battle?

1 Corinthians 14:8 (NIV) Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get

ready for battle?

1 Corinthians 14:8 (MSG) If the trumpet call can't be distinguished, will anyone show up

for the battle?

A. AM I REALLY READY?

AM I PREPARING OTHERS?

AM I HUNG UP IN THE THINGS OFF THIS WORLD?

And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?

B. IT IS PROBABLY TO LATE TO SHARPEN YOUR SWORD WHEN YOU HEAR THE

CRY OF THE CALL TO BATTLE FROM THE TRUMPET?

C. My simple definition of A GOOD LIFE is seeing a need and doing what you can

physically, also doing battle in the spiritual realms until God and you make

a difference.

1. GIVING OUT FISH VS TEACHING TO FISH?

Ministry to be real effective must be more than feeding in a soup-line and

returning to the vomit of this world. Many are like the poor "certain priest"

and "certain levite" in the NT, they saw the hurting Samaritan, but they didn't

minister to him. He was left hurting. Perhaps the certain leaders prayed, and

then said be thou warmed and filled (James 2:15--17.) This is not real ministry?

James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding

ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

2. Yes, real ministry helps fulfill physical needs where possible, but real ministry must reach

beyond the reach of human hands. We are no more than government projects if we minister

not to the soul and spirit. I have made hospital visits and forgot to pray? We need to survey

what is real ministry and am I effectively reaching to human needs and bypassing spiritual truths?

3. We fine great emptiness and lack of satisfaction when we have done our best and never

ministered to the real need?

E. ARE WE JUST ENABLERS ---

IF WE CONTINUE HABITS, AND NEVER CHANGE --- WE BECOME SPIRITUAL ENABLERS

II. REAL LIFE REALIZES THERE IS GREAT VALUE IN MODELING...

SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF PROMISE KNOW LEAN TIMES, SEASONS OF TESTING,

AND THE VALUE OF THE TEST.

A. --- MODELING! Today, we suggest do as I preach.

Paul warned us, that we must model our sermons before the people we lead.

B. Leadership must know hard trials and obstacles and how to overcome; to first learn to rely

on God and secondly, to effectively declare the potential of trusting the Lord.

C. The great "sons of the promise" went through terrible test and hard times, to teach the minister

that effective ministry can come only after the "TEST OF FAITH."

Abraham had one dream, --- a son, --- and how cruel was God for suggesting to Abraham to lay

his SON ON THE ALTAR? God never needed to test Abe, God knew Abe! Abe needed the test to

be an effective FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL.

1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

WE TEND TO MAKE EXCUSES AND PROCRASTANATEAND BECOME POOR MODELS.

Luke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury

my father.

III. TO MODEL MEANS WE HAVE TO REALIZE OTHERS ARE WATCHING.

Luke 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life

shall preserve it.

A. The message burns in my bones! I can't quit.

B. Several years ago in Virginia, some kids were found in a cave, the Mom slopped the kids like pigs,

the kids lived in a cave. They never saw anyone walk, or heard anyone talk.

When they were found, the kids were believed seriously retarded.