SETTLING FOR LESS THAN THE BEST...
THE GRADUAL SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is a two part lesson.
I. TO CONTINUALLY WASH OFF PIGS IS A WASTE OF YOUR EFFORT AND THEN YOU JUST ANNOY THE PIG. THERE ARE MANY PIGS IN THE PIG PEN THAT ARE NOT REALLY PIGS.
THEY HAVE JUST ALLOWED FAILURE AND DISAPPOINTMENT TO MAKE THEM ACT LIKE A PIG.
1 Cor. 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
A. Much of our enemy’s work is done so gradually that it is easy to slowly drift away from our dreams and never reach our potential for the cross and not
realize we are settling for pig slop.
B. LUKE 15 RECORDS A SAD STORY ABOUT A YOUNG MAN ACTING LIKE A PIG.
The son that got his inheritance and wasted it all, sold his great potential that his Father had hoped for him, DID NOT BECOME HIS PERSONAL DREAM.
C. One day the young man awoke from his spirit of gradualness and found himself in the pig pen.
D. The man woke up, washed off and said, I WILL ARISE AND GO TO THE FATHER.
The son could never be complete in the pig pen.
E. How many young people have died in the PIG PEN?
How many people are like a pig, you wash him off, and he returns as a pig to the mud?
F. WILL WE DEVELOP AND FEED A PIG PEN MENTALITY?
THERE ARE NO SADDER WORDS OF PEN OR TONGUE:
THAN THE WORDS WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN... IT IS ALWAYS TOO SOON TO QUIT!
G. Our enemy sneaks into the camp and steals God’s children’s hope.
He wants you so busy that you fail to remember heaven.
There are no sadder people than the people that have lost all hope, and they believe that all is doom and gloom, and they are trapped by a PIG PEN MENTALITY.
H. The pig pen does not have to become a life long trap.
The FATHER IS WAITING FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NEVER ACHIEVED HIS PLAN.
GOD HAS MORE FOR YOU! YOUR SPIRIT KNOWS THERE IS MORE THAN THIS!
I. PART OF SETTLING FOR LESS IS A POOR FOUNDATION ---
DO YOU BUILD ON SAND?
God’s plan for you --- HOW CAN YOU SINK THROUGH A SOLID ROCK?
J. THERE IS SOMETHING THAT LIMITS THOSE WITH A SOLID FOUNDATION, THAT IS BUILDING OUT OF POOR BUILDING MATERIAL, wood, hay and stubble?
II. ARE WE WORKING FOR GOD WITHOUT GOD? MAYBE WE SHOULD DO OUR WORK WITH GOD?
A. I once read a cool story about Doctor Billy Graham.
Billy had just finished a series of revival services and had to travel a great distance for his next services. A dear friend was driving Billy to the next
place. Billy was curled up in the back seat asleep.
Where Billy was so tired he was sound asleep under the covers.
B. The driver was getting tired and he decided to pull into a truck stop and go to the rest room and then get him something to eat and drink.
The driver stopped and went to the rest room and then into the store.
He got back in the car, looked at the blanket, everything appeared to be in order, so back on the road again.
C. The driver had not realized that Billy Graham woke up while they were stopped and Billy went inside to go to the rest room.
D. Billy stepped back out to the car and it was gone.
The driver was traveling without his precious cargo.
E. Billy went over to a state trooper and explained his case, and the trooper loaded Doctor Graham into his cruiser and they went up the interstate
chasing the driver.
Several minutes later the state trooper turned on his blue lights and pulled over the car. The driver explained he was not speeding and he had a very
important person asleep in the back seat.
F. At that time the trooper had Doctor Graham get out of his cruiser.
The driver was very embarrassed as Doctor Graham explained he got out at the rest area to run to the rest room and the driver left him.
G. The driver explained --- HE THOUGHT DOCTOR GRAHAM WAS STILL ASLEEP UNDER THE COVERS.
Doctor Graham reunited with his driver and they finished their journey.
H. HOW OFTEN DO WE ASSUME OR PRESUME THAT WE ARE DOING OUR DUTY WITHOUT REALIZING WE HAVE LOST SIGHT OF THE GOAL?
III. WHAT IS IN GOD’S STORE HOUSE FOR YOU?
WILL WE SELL TREASURES FOR TRINKETS?
A. COMPROMISE:
A settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions.
Something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things.
A concession of something derogatory or prejudicial
To bind by mutual agreement
To adjust or settle by mutual concessions
To reveal or expose to an unauthorized person, to an enemy
To make a shameful or disreputable statement
To devalue one’s opinion and yield and give away your personal belief
B. WILL WE WORSHIP WORSHIP, AND PRAISE PRAISE AND MISS THE PERSONAL REVELATION OF A HOLY GOD?
C. Never compromise PRINCIPLE for riches, favor, position, or advancement.
There is a deep cry today to speak a softer word THAN SIN.
D. HEAR THE CRY TO REPLACE ETERNAL VALUES FOR THE PURSUIT OF TRIVIALITIES?
E. THERE CAN NEVER BE FIRE IN TESTIMONIES AND SERMONS WITHOUT A FIRE IN THE HEARTS AND BONES OF GOD’S PEOPLE.
F. JESUS CALLS BELIEVERS TO: LAUNCH OUT IN THE DEEP...
You can’t catch many fish in ankle deep water?
G. Compromisers rarely attack the lukewarm wishy washy passivity, they will most always attack the fundamentalist that take a strong truth stand.
The world will always attack old-fashioned Bible believer that stand for the Bible and Jesus Christ.
H. IT IS GOOD TO BE COOPERATIVE, BUT TO SELL YOUR VALUE SYSTEM TO BE APPROVED AND POPULAR IS NOT GOOD.
I. A Christian that tries to satisfy everyone ends up not pleasing anyone.
J. Good people can fail because they have a wishbone instead of a back bone.
IV. LINGERING LOT? THERE IS A BIG LESSON IN ACCEPTING LITTLE AS THE NORM! ZOAR MEANS LITTLENESS ... LIMITED OPPORTUNITY --- COMPROMISING VALUE SYSTEMS ...
A. LOT HAD A FAMOUS UNCLE, ABRAHAM...
Lot’s dad died and Abraham took Lot and helped him.
Lot was known to visit Abraham’s altars, but there is never any record of Lot building an altar.
B. LOT AND HIS FAMILY WAS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING ALONG WITH HIS UNCLE.
THE DAY FINALLY CAME THAT ABRAHAM HAD TO SAY TO LOT, YOU GO YOUR WAY, AND I WILL GO MY WAY.
C. LOT HAS AN ATTITUDE PROBLEM AND HIS POOR ATTITUDES HAD AN EFFECT ON HIS SPIRIT MAN.
LOT LACKED ALOT IN HAVING RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR HIS ELDERS AND GOD.
D. LOT SHOULD HAVE DEFERRED THE CHOICE TO HIS UNCLE ---
E. ALL OF LOT’S BLESSING FLOWED FROM ABRAHAM...
Genesis 13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
F. LOT’S PROBLEMS AND STRIFE SEEM TO ISSUE FROM HEART PROBLEMS... LOT HAD AN EYE AND HEART PROBLEM!
G. LOT NEVER BUILT AN ALTAR AND SOUGHT GOD ABOUT HIS CHOICE?
LOT NEVER SEEMED TO THINK ABOUT OR CARE WHAT HIS CHOICES MIGHT BRING?
Genesis 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
H. Abraham had been with the Lord, Abraham never compromised the PROMISE. Abraham interceded?
If there is 50 righteous? 45? 40? 30? 20? 10?
I. LINGERING LOT? WHAT MADE LOT WANT TO LINGER?
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IN LOT’S HEART THAT MAKES HIM DESIRE TO STAY A LITTLE LONGER IN SODOM?
Genesis 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
V. LINGERING LOT HAS COMPROMISED ISSUES IN HIS HEART AND HIS SPIRIT MAN. GOD GIVES LOT CLEAR DIRECTIONS --- GO TO THE MOUNTAIN --- AND DON’T EVEN LOOK BACK ----
Genesis 19: 17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
A. What heart issues would make a person desire to LOOK BACK?
Genesis 19:18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
B. LOT MAKES A CLAIM, HE CAN NOT OBEY THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO HIM. LOT DEMANDS THE ANGELS COMPROMISE --- I CAN’T, --- I CAN’T?
C. WHY CAN’T YOU GO TO THE MOUNTAIN LOT?
ARE YOU LAZY?
Genesis 19:19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
VI. LOT WILL COMPROMISE AND SETTLE FOR THE LITTLE PROMISE AND THUS LOOSE SIGHT OF THE BIGGER PICTURE. THIS CHOICE WILL HAVE DEEP CONSEQUENCES!
A. WHY WOULD WE SETTLE FOR LESS THAN GOD’S BEST?
DO WE SEEK THE LEVEL, FLAT PLAINS THAT ARE EASY?
Genesis 19:20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
B. God had much bigger plans for Lot, than Lot had claimed.
ON THE MOUNTAIN LOT WOULD HAVE DISTANCED HIMSELF FROM THE LURE OF SIN --- FAITH WOULD HAVE BEEN EXERCISED.
Genesis 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
C. How sad is it to be remembered in the New Testament as a good example of a bad example?
Luke 17:32 Remember Lot’s wife.
VII. AS WITH ANY SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE COMES A SPIRIT OF FEAR.
PLUS ONE IS NEVER SATISFIED AND CONTENT.
A. LOT HAS TO MOVE AGAIN, THIS MOVE IS IN GREAT FEAR AND WANT.
B. Little Zoar? GREAT FEAR?
Genesis 19:30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.
C. Why should God’s people settle for less?
VIII. MUCH OF WHAT GOD HAS FOR US WILL DEPEND ON THE EFFORT WE INVEST?
WILL WE SETTLE FOR DISTORTED VISION? TRY AGAIN?
A. WE HAVE FINALY GOT JESUS’ ATTENTION, JESUS HAS A LESSON TO TEACH ABOUT REACHING ONE’S POTENTIAL.
Mark 8:23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him
if he saw ought.
B. WILL WE SETTLE FOR LESS THAN CLARITY?
Mark 8:24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
C. SOMETIMES WE MUST REACH A LITTLE FARTHER THAN OUR REACH.
D. THERE IS A SECOND TOUCH, WILL WE CLAIM OUR SECOND TOUCH?
Mark 8:25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
IX. TO THE CARNAL EAR IT SOUNDS GOOD, GO WORSHIP BUT STAY NEAR? IN THE MIDST OF A MIGHTY MOVE OF GOD A GREAT WORLDY LEADER OFFERS GOD’S MAN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY OF COMPROMISE.
Exodus 8:28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.
A. THERE HAS BEEN FIVE MIGHTY MOVES OF GOD:
1. The rod turns into a snake.
The magicians can do the same... BUT MOSES’ ROD EATS THEIRS.
2. The river’s waters turn to blood.
3. There are FROGS every where.
4. The dust turns into LICE --- The magicians and the world can not duplicate.
5. Here come the FLIES --- God exempts his people from here on out.
B. PHAROAH IS MOVED BY THE 4 TH PLAGUE.
Pharaoh heard Moses’s demand, TO WORSHIP GOD THEY NEEDED TO DISTANCE GOD’S PEOPLE FROM THE PAGAN!
C. Pharaoh laid claim to be more than a King, he said he too was god.
D. The Egyptian religious system claimed oxen and cattle as sacred, and thus while in Egypt God’s people could not make sacrifices as God demanded.
TO STAY NEAR WOULD BE A COMPROMISE OF WORSHIP AND SACRIFICE.
E. HEAR THE CRY TO COMPROMISE INSTEAD OF SEPERATION WORSHIP, EGYPT WANTED THEM TO WORSHIP AT THEIR ALTARS?
F, The farther you stay away from a RATTLE SNAKE the better you are!
X. AFTER MORE OF THE MOVE OF GOD’S MIGHTY HAND, PHAROAH USES THE WORLD’S SYSTEM TO MAKE A COUNTER OFFER, THIS OFFER IS STILL BEFORE THE CHURCH: YOU CAN WORSHIP YOUR GOD, JUST LEAVE THE YOUNG PEOPLE
OUT OF THE WORSHIP.
Exodus 10:10 And he said unto them, Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.
A. There is a false doctrine in the church today it sounds like Pharaoh’s offer: The young people are the church of tomorrow.
This is not true, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PART OF THE CHURCH TODAY.
B. Pharaoh’s offer sounded good to the carnal ear, but we believe in FAMILY WORSHIP.
C. As Abraham said, HOW CAN I COME BEFORE THE FATHER UNLESS THE LAD BE WITH ME?
D. Remember:
Grandmother --- Lois,
Mom --- Eunice and
then YOUNG TIMOTHY --- 3 generations on fire for God.
2 Tim. 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
E. Lydia’s household
Acts 16:15 And she was baptized and her household
Acts 16:32 The jailer and everyone in his HOME
Cornelius’ household
Stephanas’ household
Onesiphirus’ household
F. NEVER COMPROMISE YOUR FAMILY, BRING THEM TO WORSHIP WITH YOU!
XI. COMPROMISE ATTEMPT: COME TO GOD AND KEEP YOUR MATERIALISM AT HOME.
Exodus 10:24 And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.
A. PHAROAH HAD NO FEAR IF GOD’S PEOPLE APPROAHED HIM WITH NO OFFERING AND NO SACRIFICE.
B. Pharaoh desired God’s people to not BURN THE BRIDGES.
C. By keeping the material blessings at bay, Pharaoh knew the children of Israel
would return.
D. WANT TO CALL IT SOUL TIES?
E. WHAT IS MATERIALISM?
1. A PREOCCUPATION WITH OR THAT STRESSES MATERIAL THINGS RATHER THAN SPIRITUAL OR EDCUATIONAL.
2. A THEORY THAT PHYSICAL MATTER IS THE ONLY FUNDAMENTAL REALITY and that all being and processes and phenomena can be explained as manifestations and
results of matter.
3. A doctrine that the only or highest values of objectives lie in material well being,
and in the furtherance of material progress.
SEEK YE FIRST
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
XII. ONE CAN NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF WRONG FRIENDS IN THE COMPROMISE SYSTEM.
A. God warned his people, be careful with whom you will build friendships, covenant relationships, and alliances.
B. Be careful with those that want to marry and intermingle.
Exodus 23:32 Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
Exodus 23:33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.
Exodus 33:16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.
Exodus 34:12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:
C. NEVER DATE WHO WOULD NOT MAKE A GOOD MATE.
2 Cor. 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
XIII. TO AVOID THE SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE STAY ALERT AND VIGILENT AND GUARD AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF BURN OUT AND WEARINESS!.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
A. Many plan to come to God when they change?
God invites you to come the way you are, and He will bring about the changes for your life.
B. How many times have we done the work of God without God?
No wonder we get tired, weak and weary?
Isaiah 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
C. GIVE FROM A LOVING, WILLING HEART! GIVE IN LOVE AND REFUSE TO COMPROMISE.
D. Your friends are much like the buttons on an elevator, they can take you up, or they can pull you down.
Exodus 25:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
2 Cor. 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
E. ONE OF THE BIGGEST ENEMIES FACING THE MODERN BELIEVER IS THE GRADUAL SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me, tell another of my work? Pass it on.
