On The Shelf: Not Ready

ON THE SHELF: PREPARED, READY OR NOT…

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)

Part #2. COME LET US REASON TOGETHER… BE READY… (You have to do this as two parts, or cover the points quickly.)

As a child we played a game: “HIDE AND SEEK.” One person would face a tree and hide their eyes. Everyone else would run and hide. The person with their eyes closed would count to 100 and give each person a chance to hide. When we counted to a hundred we would give a loud warning. HERE I COME READY OR NOT. Then the person would go looking for the individuals that were hiding.

*READY: (can be physical, mentally, emotionally and/or spiritually) fully prepared, within reach, available, alert, on guard, development, of needed skills, willing, EXPECTING,

*PREPARED: BE READY IN MIND, IN DEED, IN ACTION. BE EAGER. GIVE ACCOUNT, WILLING.

WHERE ARE YOU? ARE WE FORGETFUL HEARERS? HEARING IS NOT ENOUGH… DON’T DECEIVE YOURSELF, GOD IS MORE THAN MERE LISTENING…

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

“ON THE SHELF.”

I was so excited to hear about an information book that had much wisdom. I took the book home with me and I spent hours reading the book and making personal notes. The book was powerful. I finished the book and I PLACED THE BOOK ON A SHELF. Every now and then I ponder some of the points from the book, but the BOOK STAYS ON THE SHELF. I might look up something in the book, but it always goes back on the SHELF. I have loaned so many books to others instead of sitting on the shelf. With my limited income I have often went in the book store and read one chapter. I would go back later and read another chapter. The book always goes back on the shelf. I feel so sorry for books that are gathering dust on the shelf. I ponder HOW DOES THAT BOOK FEEL SITTING IDLY covered by dust? The book could help someone’s marriage? Not while on the shelf! How many people have purchased a book to read a few pages, maybe a chapter or two, then put the unfinished book on the shelf… WHAT A WASTE? How sad is it WHEN A PERSON LEARNS FROM A BOOK AND NEVER APPLIES THE KNOWLEDGE HIDDEN IN THE PAGES!

DAVID IS NOT ON THE SHELF! DAVID WAS READY… EVERYONE SAW DAVID AS A SHEPHERD BOY. GOD SAW DAVID’S POTENTIAL BECAUSE OF HIS SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE. GOD PREPARED HIM FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD.

WHAT IS A HERO? A hero is a person that is always ready? Ready for what? READY FOR ANYTHING! DAVID WAS FAITHFUL… AND HUMBLE. DAVID WAS DILIGENT IN LITTLE THINGS…

1 Samuel 17:15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

While working with the sheep David learned many lessons that built his confidence and skills. David learned how to keep a watchful eye. He also learned to TRUST GOD…

1 Samuel 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

GOD PREPARED THIS YOUNG MAN FOR YEARS… DAVID WAS READY, TRAINED, SELF-DISCIPLINED AND READY… AS DAVID WAS PULLING A WAGON OF BREAD AND CHEESE TO HIS BROTHERS THERE WOULD BE AN OPEN DOOR… NO FEAR --- GOD HAD PREPARED DAVID FOR THIS JOURNEY FACING THE GIANT.

DAVID WILL FACE THE ENEMY OF THE GOD THAT DAVID SERVED.

1 Samuel 17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

1. GOLIATH WAS AN EXPERIENCED WARRIOR. Goliath had many victories under his belt. GOLIATH WAS A CHAMPION! He was big and he had never lost to any competitor.

2. Goliath's sword had known blood and great superior skills. Goliath was a giant, a legend, a name associated with super human strength and powers. Giants were not just huge in size, but in proportion of power. Goliath was over 9 feet tall. (READY?)

3. Goliath had the best military training and equipment of his day. His helmet was of the best polished brass. He had bronze leggings. (READY?)