A WET BLANKET ON YOUR DREAMS?! DEAL WITH MORE OR LESS?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
THIS IS A TWO PART LESSON.
I. WITH A WET BLANKET THE HOPES AND HEALING WAS HINDERED.
A. Consider the wet blanket treatment?
CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT EXTINCT, BUT CHRISTIAN LIFE CAN BE SMOTHERED WITH HOPELESSNESS, GLOOM, DESPAIR, DEPRESSION AND A SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS.
B. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A WET BLANKET?
Ben-Hadad was the King of Syria.
Ben-Hadad was very sick.
Ben-Hadad sent HAZAEL WITH AN OFFERING AND HE WANTED TO HEAR A MESSAGE
from God through the messenger --- ELISHA, the man of God.
C. ELISHA SAW CLEARLY THAT HAZAEL WAS A REBELLIOUS --- UNDERCUTTING SERVANT OF KING BEN-HADAD!
2 Kings 8:11 And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.
12 And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children,
and rip up their women with child.
D. HAZAEL TOOK A WET BLANKET AND STOPPED THE DREAMS AND HOPES OF KING BEN-HADAD!
2 Kings 8:15 And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.
E. THERE ARE SOME HAZAEL’S THAT WILL TRY TO THROW A WET BLANKET ON YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR CHURCH.
II. THERE IS A TERM WE HEAR TODAY IN THE MEDIA ---
THEY CALL PEOPLE KOOL-AID DRINKERS?
A. Many don’t understand who a Kool-Aid drinker is?
A Kool-Aid drinker refers back to a Preacher Jim Jones
that mislead those that followed him.
The ultimate end to the deception in Jonestown in Central America was when the leader called for the people to drink KOOL-AID LACED WITH STRONG
POISON AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DIED AT THE FEET OF FALSE DOCTRINE AND IGNORANCE.
B. GOD HAS A PLAN BEYOND KOOL-AID DRINKERS AND WET BLANKETS!
C. GOD KNOWS YOUR FIRST NAME! GOD LOVES YOU! GOD HAS MORE.
TEXT:
Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt
nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.
Col. 2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
1 Thes. 4:10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
III. THE SIZE OF YOUR PREPARATION FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS MAY DETERMINE HOW MUCH OF A BLESSING YOU GET!
A. MORE:
Greater or higher degree, additional, further.
More than expected
Plenty
B. LESS:
Little, limited number, lower rank or degree
Reduced, fewer
Progressively smaller
Not as important, not big, small
C. INCREASE:
To cause to be more
Enlarge, expand, extend
To add to
To become progressively greater
To multiply
D. We must never be satisfied with where we are!
1 Tim. 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
2 Cor. 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
2 Cor. 10:15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
E. WE SERVE A GOD OF THE INCREASE!
1 Cor. 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Ephes. 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
F. WE HAVE PRECIOUS PROMISES!
2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust.
IV. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR MORE!
DON’T ALLOW A WET BLANKET TO SMOTHER THE DESIRE FOR MORE!
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Ephes. 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
A. MORE ENCOURAGEMENT, LESS CRITICISM
Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Ephes. 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
1 Thes. 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
B. PLOW MORE, SOW MORE, SPARINGLY WILL LIMIT THE HARVEST!
Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
2 Cor. 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
C. AGREE MORE, FUSS AND ARGUE LESS! ----
Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings
about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
D. LISTEN MORE, TALK LESS ---
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
E. FORGIVE MORE, LESS VENGENACE!
Matthew 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
F. PRAISE MORE --- COMPLAIN LESS!
Psalm 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
Philip. 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
G. MORE FAITH, LESS DOUBT
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
1 Tim. 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
H. GIVE MORE, TAKE LESS
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said,
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
I. PRAY MORE --- FRET LESS
1 Thes. 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
J. MORE PEACE, LESS STRIFE...
Isaiah 66:12 For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
K. MORE BIBLE READING AND LESS TV?
Psalm 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
L. LOVE MORE AND NEVER HATE...
1 Cor. 13:8 Charity never faileth:
1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
GOD HAS BIG PLANS FOR YOU!
GROW MORE OF GOD AND LESS OF THE FLESHLY DESIRES.
REFUSE THE WET BLANKET OF LIFE!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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