Not Of Lords ---Not Of Swords

NOT OF LORDS --- NOT OF SWORDS ---

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

I. GOD HAS MADE A CHOICE. GOD’S SYSTEM IS NOT OF LORDS AND SWORDS. MANY WOULD DIE FOR THE LORD? THEY JUST WON’T LIVE FOR HIM? DO YOU DESIRE AN ADVISORY POSITION WITH GOD? BOSS OR SERVANT?

A. God has often baffled the religious crowds and educational systems by how He chooses to advance THE CHURCH.

B. GOD HAS NEVER CONDUCTED A POPULARITY POLL OR SOUGHT MAJORITY RULE.

1 Cor. 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things

which are mighty; 28. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

C. GOD’S LOVE IS TO DO HIS PLAN WITHOUT THE STARDOM AND WEALTH AND RELIGIOUS POWER OF THE ESTABLISHMENT.

D. I love to feed the birds in my neighborhood.

I love to watch the birds and hear the birds sing.

While I fill up the bird feeders all over my yard, I remember when the birds fed the discouraged preacher.

When the King was mad at the preacher and his message, the King and his wife refused to support the Preacher and his ministry, but God had a plan!

The birds brought the Preacher’s meals to him and kept the Ministry alive and well.

For this reason I place several hundred pounds of bird seed for the birds each winter.

E. As I watch the birds they seem to be frightened by every movement and sound. The birds are so timid and fly away and sit in a tree until the fear passes by ...

I would not let anything harm the birds, but the birds nature is ruled by fear.

Seems the birds are so watchful and fearful, that another bird or the wind blowing will send the birds in a panic to fly and hide.

One bird is dominate and mean and he will pick on the other birds, and off they fly.

F. WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING AND WISDOM WE ARE MUCH LIKE THE BIRDS.

Every little news report, every negative message, every failure of the past, will cause us to FLY AWAY FROM OUR SOURCE OF SUSTENANCE?

G. I REALY LIKE THE BIRDS THAT JUST STAY AND EAT UNTIL THEY ARE FULL. They refuse to allow FEAR AND DREAD DICTATE TO THEM.

II. JOHN THE BAPTIST COMES ALONG AS A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE TIME. JOHN CAME IN GREAT BOLDNESS AND DECLARED: THERE COMES ONE, NOT IN STRIFE, NOT IN FLIGHT, --- FOR LOVE NEVER FAILS. GOD CHOSE ONE THAT APPEARED WEAK AND REJECTED, BUT GOD’S PLAN WILL

RAISE UP A MINISTER.

Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

A. Jesus has a plan. Jesus offers His people --- love, compassion, tender mercies, grace, we don’t have to fly away.

B. We don’t have to grow weary in well doing.

We don’t have to faint.

C. Very few things seem weaker than a bruised reed?

A water fowl can land in a marsh and the reed will snap, and be broken, and wither away?

D. Every wind that blows around the water shakes the reed. A bruised reed is much weaker and frail than just a regular reed.

E. Dry FLAX THAT IS SMOKING has been exposed to a spark or flame. God chooses weak things to confound the wise.

F. What appeared as a bruised reed, and the weaker smoking flax appears to man’s eyes as so weak it is useless and vain, BUT NOT TO GOD!

G. MANY WANT TO ACT AND CLAIM THEY HAVE POWER THAT HAVE NEVER UNDERSTOOD NOR KNOWN JESUS IN A PERSONAL WAY.

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many

wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.