Part #2 Ready, Watching, Vigilant (Think Ahead)

READY, WATCHING, VIGILANT--- Think ahead. PART #2

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

DO WE UNDERSTAND IT OFTEN TIMES IS EASIER TO START A FIRE THAN IT IS TO

KEEP THE FIRE BURNING?

You have to be vigilant to keep the home fires burning.

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

the battle?

Often life is like a GAME OF CHESS?

A good chess player knows to win this game we must see beyond this move. We must think about

our choice and the consequences of this move. A good chess player most consider what this move

might develop. To be a Chess Champion you must weigh and think about this move and the moves

beyond here.

CODE BLUE? RED ALERT?

VIGILANCE MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IMPORTANT?

BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT IN THE LIGHT OF TEMPORAL VS ETERNAL?

VIGILANT: Carefully noticing problems noticing problems or signs of danger.

Alertly watching to avoid danger, open eyed,

Amos 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are

named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!

When the church eases up and we demand to get "what we think we deserve right now!"

We are doomed.

Are our priorities focusing on NON-ESSENTIAL elements as essential and then the essential

elements fade to obscurity? ARE WE DAILY LIVING FACING TRIVIAL PURSUIT?

THE COST OF FREEDOM IS VIGILANCE... WHO WILL WE TRUST?

WHERE WE INVEST OUR TRUST? ON WHAT DO WE LEAN...

Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and

doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this

mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

WHAT WE DO WHEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM WILL REVEAL IN WHOM WE TRUST...

1. We run to a person: friend, family, preacher, counselor...

2. We can run to our stuff... MATERIALISM... A way of thinking that leads us to value material

possessions more than intellectual or spiritual things.

This is a theory that only matter, material things count.

We tend to place the highest value in physical well being.

IN WHAT CONFIDENCE WILL I TRUST?

THIS LOOKS GOOD TO THE EYE?

The old Preacher has cried many tears.

God's people have QUIT SEEKING THE MOVE OF GOD BY FAITH...

ISRAEL WILL TRUST IN THE FLESH AND BUILD ALLIANCES WITH THE EVIL CAMP.

2 Kings 18:19 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great

king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? 20 Thou sayest, (but

they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust,

that thou rebellest against me? 21 Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed,

even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king

of Egypt unto all that trust on him.

ARE WE TRUSTING ON A BRUISED REED THAT WILL PIERCE OUR HANDS?

GOD HAS A CLEAR WARNING ABOUT TRUST AND VIGILANCE?

If I had a million dollar budget? If I can just learn more and more?

It is all about the program?

Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the

LORD our God.

Never forget the GOD FACTOR OF FAITH.

Isaiah 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots,

because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the

Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

LEANING? WHAT WILL WE LEAN ON...??

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

When I was a student in college I had an atheist professor. He was very smart and skilled

in teaching. One day he told me: HUGHES, GOD IS A CRUTCH TO YOU!

I was very offended by what he said. He started me thinking.

I went to the dictionary and looked up crutch.

A crutch is something that a person uses to help support them. A crutch is often used

because someone has suffered an injury and is suffering.

The next class I sought an opportunity to speak with this professor.

After class I discussed with him, his line that GOD WAS A CRUTCH TO ME.

He was surprised when I came in agreement with him. I had never realized before that

I am so limited and life often knocks me down. I REALLY NEED A CRUTCH.