CUSTODY VS. OWNERSHIP? Does the box define me?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I do this lesson in three parts.
INTRODUCTION:
COULD THE FAITH YOU EXERCISE DETERMINE THE GROWTH?
OR LACK OF GROWTH YOU SEE?
I have heard that many fishes size will grow in proportion to it’s environment. If you put a little fish in a little bowl, it will stay little. If you take the same fish and place it in a huge tank and increase it’s food the fish will grow large?
GOD GROW ME! STRETCH ME! RELEASE IN ME A GREATER THAN
ME! Do not allow the past to dictate the future.
I. THAT IS NOT IN MY JOB DESCRIPTION? I DON’T HAVE TO DO IT! THAT IS NOT IN MY JOB DESCRIPTION? WE MUST LEARN TO GLADLY GIVE THE OFFERING OF THE SECOND MILE.
Matthew 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
A. Recently I had a rental car. It was beautiful and so shiny. I love new cars. I had this Chrysler Magnum Wagon and under it’s hood was a powerful engine.
After I returned the car a friend of mine asked me:
WHAT WILL IT DO? DID YOU PEEL OUT AND SMOKE RUBBER?
I explained: I never peeled out once? Nor had I broken the speed limit. My friend was so disappointed in me!
He told me: THAT IS WHAT YOU DO IN A RENTAL CAR?
I informed him: I TREATED THE CAR JUST LIKE IT WAS MINE!
He could not believe that?
B. I say: WHAT YOU ARE IN THE DARK WHEN NO ONE SEES YOU
WILL TELL MORE ABOUT YOUR REAL CHARACTER THAN WHEN YOU
ARE IN FRONT OF A CROWD?
Are you the same in the light as you are in the dark?
C. WHAT IS MY JOB DESCRIPTION?
Most know I spend much time reaching to the widows and orphans, because I want pure and undefiled ministry to develop within my reach. My team travels playing music to rest homes. Once a month we travel an hour away to play music at a Retirement Village. The group finished
lunch and we started setting up our amps and tuning our instruments.
On one of the tables someone had spilled a few drops of liquid and I did not want to place my amp in the fluid. I asked a lady that worked there if she would clean the fluid as she picked up the dishes from the table. I asked for a rag, or if she would clean these few drops from the table before we sat up.
THE LADY HAD A RAG IN HER HAND AND IN GREAT ANGER THE LADY LOOKED UP AT ME AND SAID: THAT IS NOT IN MY JOB DESCRIPTION!
I was sorry I asked, I took my hand and cleaned up the fluid.
That was not in my JOB DESCRIPTION EITHER?
I was a volunteer and the men and women with me were donating our time, effort, and ministry for the old people. Over the months I watched this bitter person hate her job and hate the people for which she was working.
She had a great job? Seems she was unwilling to help make the place she worked better.
D. DO I DO WHAT I DO BECAUSE --- "I HAVE TO..."
Any life reduced to ’HAVE TO ..." is a sad life.
How about the words: " I AM BLESSED, I AM HONORED TO HELP?"
The attitude will determine the ALTITUDE AT WHICH I WILL FLY!
Here --- Let me help you?
E. When any one says: DO I HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH?
DO I HAVE TO PAY MY TITHES? DO I HAVE TO SMILE?
How about the family that is so defined that they can’t reach out of their little box to help in their own home?
F. We grow many issues of the heart!
AM I COMPELLED? DO I HAVE TO... ?
TO DO MY WORK BY MY JOB DESCRIPTION CAN IDENTIFY A HEART PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OF THE HEART IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM!
G. The first mile was a legal requirement, the second mile is stepping into the realm of Divine Blessings! I will do more than what is expected of me to illustrate God’s Love. I want more than part time CUSTODY! I will take ownership!
H. Gladly going the second mile is one of the greatest acts of love and demonstrations that we have taken OWNERSHIP!
II. LET US BRIEFLY LOOK TO THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA.
THE BIBLE IS FULL OF GREAT HIDDEN LESSONS. REVELATIONS
HAVE MANY HIDDEN LESSONS. ONE OF THE GREAT LESSONS IS
OUR LORD SPEAKING TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES. MOST BELIEVE
THAT WHILE THESE CHURCHES WERE REAL, THESE CHURCHES ALSO SPEAK OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO CHURCHES DOWN THROUGH THE AGES.
A. John the Revelator writes about seven churches that reveal some up and coming events in the church world to come!
B. Jesus has something good to say about six of the churches, but one church posses as a real problem.
Revelations 3 records the LAODICEAN CHURCH.
We are in a terrible war. Our enemy is out to steal, kill and /or destroy.
C. We often come to church as SPECTATORS.
JESUS SPEAKS THROUGH JOHN’S PEN THAT THERE COMES A
SELF-SUFFICENT CHURCH THAT IS LUKEWARM, SELF-SATISFIED
FORMAL, HALF-HEARTED THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO BACKSLIDDING?
D. Jesus asked if there are those with ears to hear ---TO HEAR! The Laodicean church had great SPIRITUAL-PRIDE and was very focused on MATERIAL BLESSINGS to the point that the TREASURES of the church became MORE IMPORTANT than God.
Rev. 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
E. THE LAODICEAN CHURCH HAD EVERYTHING BUT GOD?
Will we come to an honest evaluation system and search for correction and improvement?
III. OUR GREATEST ENEMIES PROBABLY COME FROM WITHIN.
COLD HEARTS DEFINED BY JOB DESRIPTIONS THAT BECOME PRISONS!
Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
A. APATHY
Lack of interest.
Little to no feelings or emotions.
Unmoved and unchanged.
B. INDIFFERENCE:
Neither for or against.
Having no interest or sympathy.
Neither good nor bad.
C. COLD:
INTENTIONALLY UNFRIENDLY.
Without feeling or passion.
Lacking friendliness or affection.
Depressing, uninterested.
Far from finding what is sought.
Cold feet --- loss of nerve.
D. LUKEWARM:
Moderately warm, tepid.
Half-hearted. Cool.
E. While discussing CUSTODY VS. OWNERSHIP I always
ponder this poem I ran across in the early 70’s.
THE COLD WITHIN?
(Author Unknown)
Six humans trapped by happenstance in bleak and bitter cold, Each one possessed a stick of wood, or so the story goes.
Their dying fire in need of logs,
The first man held his back,
For on the faces around the fire he noticed one was black.
The next man looking across the way and saw one not of his church
And could not bring himself to give his stick of birch.
The third one sat in tattered clothes he gave his coat a hitch.
Why should his log be put to use to warm the idle rich?
The rich man just sat and thought of the wealth he had in store,
And how to keep what he had earned from the lazy, shiftless poor.
The black man’s face bespoke revenge as the fire passed from his sight,
For all he saw in his stick of wood was a chance to spite the white.
The last man of this forlorn group did naught except for gain.
Giving only to those who gave was how he played his game.
Their logs held tight in death’s still hand was proof of human sin.
THEY DID NOT DIE FROM THE COLD WITHOUT:
THEY DIED FROM THE COLD WITHIN! (Author unknown)
IV. GOD HAD A REMEDY FOR HIS SELF-DECEIVED CHURCH!
THERE IS A CURE! THERE IS AN ANTEDOTE! TAKE OWNERSHIP?
QUIT FUSSING ABOUT CUSTODY.
A. Do we realize that we often lose God while we have great discussions, debates and arguments about trivial pursuit?
While the battle of many words grows, God quietly exits the scene.
B. Is God in the house? How can we make this better?
Rev. 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes
with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
C. We must gladly come into the HOLY PRESENCE of a MIGHTY GOD, take ownership and humble ourselves to be AGENTS OF REVIVAL AND CHANGE!
V. PUBLIC WORSHIP CAN BECOME A CUSTODY ISSUE INSTEAD OF OWNERSHIP. WHAT KIND OF CHURCH WOULD MY CHURCH BE IF EVERY MEMBER WERE JUST LIKE ME?
A. PREACHERS WINK AN EYE AT SPIRITUAL LEADERS THAT ARE
UNFAITHFUL TO GOD’S HOUSE?
B. Paul had a custom or habit, he was faithful.
Jesus was God’s Son, yet he developed a habit of ownership:
AS IT WAS JESUS’ CUSTOM HE ATTENDED GOD’S HOUSE FAITHFULLY.
Psalm 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
John 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Psalm 122:1 A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
Psalm 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
C. How easy is it to drift into JUDGMENTALISM and HYPOCRISY?
We bypass the weightier things and justify our lacking as OK.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more,
as ye see the day approaching.
D. Beware of WANDERING and NOT FOCUSED (FIXED) HEARTS!
Church can become ceremonies, having a FORM OF GODLINESS, formality, and become irreverent to the WHOLE POINT THAT WE FORGET GOD!
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
E. I would never argue church attendance is a requirement for heaven,but I would stand that LEADERS SHOULD BE FAITHFUL!
A LEADER SHOULD BE FAITHFUL TO THEIR LOCAL BODY!
An unfaithful leader is sitting a poor example.
F. I am not discussing sickness, work requirements, and those issues that require attention.
VI. WHICH IS MORE DANGEROUS? ZEAL WITHOUT WISDOM? OR
WISDOM WITHOUT ZEAL?
1 Kings 11:6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.
A. I have seen people with great ignorance of God’s word hurt people. But I have seen people with wisdom and ability sit idle while a few people are so overworked and tired.
B. Our battle today within the church is a battle of custody or ownership!
C. I read a study years ago. The study was about leadership and the common traits that leaders shared. There were some very unusual traits that were common in successful leaders. The observation was that
when a gifted leader saw paper on the floor, they would stop and pick it up?
The crowd may or may not even notice the paper on the floor, but the crowd were too busy to stop and bend over and pick up the paper.
A leader did more than observe when things were out of order. The leaders would set in motion a solution to solve the problem.
D. In a discussion later, 90% said they saw the garbage on the floor, but the garbage was not their responsibility. Why was the paper on the floor not their job, yet the leadership people took action?
While the worker had job custody, he didn’t care!
THE ANWER IS OWNERSHIP!
VII. HOW DO WE DEFINE THE SPIRITUAL TEMPERATURE?
GOD GROW AN ATTITUDE WITHIN THE CHURCH --- THAT WE CAN!
WE CAN DO IT! WE WANT TO DO IT! I CAN DO MORE THAN IDENTIFY PROBLEMS --- WITH GOD WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION!
1 Samuel 17:40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
A. I have a GALILEO THERMOMETER --- the lowest floating ball in the tube defines the temperature!
My friend, I feel like the lowest floating bulb in the church must not define the SPIRITUAL TEMPERATURE?
B. We have developed many SPIRITUAL THERMOMETERS within the church. Many can tell you: WE ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD?
We don’t have this and we never did it that way before?
C. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER SPIRITUAL THERMOMETER WITHIN! WE NEED SOME GIANT KILLERS TO PICK UP FIVE SMOOTH STONES AND HEAD TOWARD THE GIANT?
WHO KNOWS WHAT GOD MIGHT DO?
D. GOD CALLS HIS PEOPLE THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO BE
THERMOSTATS! We can help regulate the spiritual temperature.
I WILL TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS FAMILY PROBLEM!
GOD WILL HONOR US WITH HIS PLAN OF DELIVERANCE!
VIII. GOOD FAMILY PEOPLE? GOOD CHURCH PEOPLE CAN STAND AROUND AND DISCUSS AWAY THE MOVE OF GOD!
A. I once heard TOMMY BARNETT of Phoenix, Arizona speak many years ago. Their church had been small and started to grow. Some people started to attend the church that looked different from those that were
there before.
At a meeting someone complained in great anger about cigarette butts being outside the church doors around the parking lot and the person vehemently said:
ALL THESE CIGARETTE BUTTS ARE A DISGRACE TO THIS CHURCH, IF IT DOESN’T STOP I WILL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO ATTEND.
WHO ARE WE DRAWING TO THIS CHURCH?
There was discussion and most felt this was a bad trait to be displayed in front of the good church!
Pastor Tommy said: I DON’T SMOKE, the cigarette butts aren’t mine.
B. TOMMY BARNETT LOOKED BEYOND THE CIGARETTE BUTTS TO REAL PEOPLE COMING TO CHURCH WITH REAL NEEDS. The great pastor cried and prayed and sought God about this problem. Tommy knew if he addressed this problem from the pulpit some may be offended and not return.
C. WHAT DID THE GREAT MAN OF GOD DO?
Pastor Tommy Barnett went to church EARLY every service. Tommy willingly PICKED UP ALL THE CIGARETTE BUTTS. Tommy would go out there and talk to the people that were smoking and love them anyway. Tommy saw this as a MISSION’S FIELD.
D. WE HAVE MANY IN THE CHURCH TODAY THAT CAN TELL THE PASTOR WHAT IS WRONG! The pastor needs a team of supporters and helpers to see that real ministry must leave the steeple and get down and become an example.
E. I may see this different than the average church Joe? But it breaks my heart that this great man of God had to pick up cigarette butts.
Tommy would tell you --- HE DIDN’T HAVE TO ---
HE TOOK OWNERSHIP --- NOT CUSTODY OF GOD’S WORK.
F. Let me tell of a great ministry of a little man named JOE ARNETTE. Joe Arnette was in his 70’s when I became his pastor in the mountains of eastern Kentucky. I was Joe’s pastor 8 1/2 years, 1370
sermons.
Joe was one of the most faithful laborers I have ever served. I had the privilege of returning to the mountains to preach Joe’s funeral. Joe was 92 when he died. There was a huge, huge crowd at Joe’s funeral. One of Joe’s sons, Joe Jack stood and honored his father. As I sat there and prepared my heart for the message, I thought of Joe’s faithfulness to the little work. I thought how Joe had often refreshed this young minister.
Then I thought how Joe had a special ministry no one else in the church would do.
One day Joe said: NO MORE PASTOR, THAT IS MY JOB!
When people left the church after service often the bathrooms needed attention as some would not flush the toilet?
By the next service there was a smell and people would complain.
Joe honored me his pastor by LEARNING A SECOND MILE MINISTRY...
Joe was the last person out of the church, he personally flushed every commode in the church.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU --- JOE ARNETTE.
I was honored to preach Joe’s funeral.
20 years later, I was leaving the church where I now pastor.
I didn’t know who was doing this ministry, but I kept watching until I CAUGHT THE MINISTER RED HANDED ---
IT WAS MY OLDEST SON --- WADE JR.
I need no one to smell and complain...
I need a LIFTER OF THE ARMS!
IX. CAN WE ADMIT THERE GROWS A SPIRIT OF SLEEP AND FALLING AWAY FROM WITHIN? YOU CAN NEVER ARISE IN PUBLIC ABOVE WHAT YOU ARE IN PRIVATE!
2 Thessalonicans 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
A. Christianity can digress into PROFIT FOCUS instead of PROPHET LISTENING.
B. Our ships are floating in dangerous waters when the human focus becomes: WHAT IS IN THIS FOR ME? Selfishness is a long way from the attitude:
WHO IS THE GREATEST? WHERE IS THE TOWEL OF SERVICE?
C. WHEN CHURCH LEADERS ARE UNFAITHFUL THEIR TESTIMONY LACKS.
I will attend when I lead, I will stay at home for the rest of the time. Church leaders can become so OFF CENTERED that they forget what they are teaching. You are an example, people are watching you.
D. WHEN GOD’S MEN ARE ANEMIC IN THE WORD, THE CHURCH WILL BE ANEMIC.
I have seen a stat that 80% of pastors do not read their Bible every day?
E. We have some LEECHES that are sucking the VITAL ZEAL OUT OF CHURCH LEADERSHIP? No one claims OWERNSHIP? We want custody of the kids?
F. We are in a business? Most employees would lose their job if they attended work like they attend church? Where is our witness?
G. THIS BOX WAS NEVER MEANT TO DEFINE US!
When I give permission to a spirit of sleep, laziness, laxity, coldness and neglect and I submit my ministry to SLIP SHOD EFFORT, the rewards will be forever limited.
H. If your ministry looked like a garden, what would it look like? To be effective we must do more than sow seeds, we must pluck up weeds that would choke out our fruit. We must kill insects. We must pray for rain.
X. I PROMISE GOD AND YOU I WILL TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS TALENT!
AGREE OR DISAGREE? WHOLE-HEARTEDNESS SHOWS?
WHOLE-HEARTEDNESS IS PERSEVERANCE?
WHOLE-HEARTEDNESS IS FAITHFULNESS?
I PRAY BECAUSE I HAVE TO? ARE WE SEARCHING FOR TOYS OR TOOLS?
Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
A. Know that acceptable prayer is birthed in zeal, fire, and great desire.
B. ARE OUR HEARTS BROKEN BY WHAT BREAKS GOD’S HEART?
GOOD PRAYER COMES FROM GOD’S HEART AND GOES TO GOD’S HEART!
C. Holy Ghost prayers come in great fervency --- RED HOT!
D. Lukewarm hearts pray lukewarm prayers.
Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
E. I RECENTLY SAW AN INFORMAL SURVEY OF SPIRITUAL LEADERS. The question was asked: ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH?
78% OF THE LEADERS ANSWERED: NO! 22% said: YES!
I am personally very concerned for every leader that said: YES, they were satisfied.
My friend, I know there is so much more than I have ever tasted.
How bad I desire to be an AGENT OF REVIVAL! I will take ownership!
My honest prayer? I will tell you: LORD, MAKE ME INTO A VESSEL THAT BRINGS SPIRITUAL SOLUTIONS TO THE LOST AND BACKSLIDDEN TO THE COLD AND INDIFFERENT, OR SLAY ME!
CONCLUSION: This box can not define us.
Many years ago there was a news story that amazed me.
The social services found a mother that had several children and the mother was very neglectful. After a few months with the mom, she placed the kids in a cave on the back of her property. There was a door on
the cave. Several times a day the mom would take slop and pour it in for the kids to eat. The kids had no contact with adults or the outside world. They lived in this cave as animals. They did not know how to
eat properly as they ate like pigs. The kids did not know how to walk.
WHEN THE KIDS WERE FIRST RESCUED MANY EXPERTS THOUGHT THEY WERE SEVERLY HANDICAPPED AND RETARDED.
An older couple that had raised a family took these kids in their home.
They patiently loved them and started teaching them.
The kids were brought to the table and the adults ate in front of them.
At first the kids ate like pigs. They watched the couple use forks and spoons. They soon started using them.
The kids crawled on all four?
The kids saw the adults walking and it was long until the older child wasn’t walking and he helped the younger children learn how to walk.
The kids grunted, howled and made all kinds of strange sounds.
The couple loved the children, hugged them, talked to them, and almost immediately the kids were talking.
The kids loved going to church with the old couple. The kids loved the music, at first they hummed, and then they learned how to sing.
Yes, some people were cruel, but for the most part the community accepted these children. They were socialized and loved to be good citizens in the community. The kids graduated from high school.
ALL THE KIDS NEEDED WERE EXAMPLES OF LOVE BEFORE THEM.
THEY WATCHED OTHERS WALK --- WALKING WAS BETTER THAN CRAWLING.
I THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE THAT CAN SEE BEYOND HERE!
Preach all you want, but the real GOSPEL is best taught by having people walk and love and exercise faith in front of those that don’t understand.
Maybe all that pregnant teenage girl needs is an arm up? Maybe all that terrible drunk needs is deep prayer and a friend that knows Jesus saves and life can be forever changed.
In November I did a man’s funeral. He had spent most of his life as a drunk that embarrassed his momma. His Mom never gave up. In the casket were a series of different colored coins? They were tokens of sobriety. The most recent coin stated 3 years without a drink. Three years with Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Maybe that man that has been in prison 20 years and is covered with tattoos, maybe all he needs is a friend that sees beyond the tattoos?
I know several successful men of God that have built great churches that have the same torrid past? One of the fastest growing churches in Tennessee has a tattooed shameful failure that met Jesus behind bars.
He has changed, JESUS IS LORD. He is taking his city for Jesus!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I do this in three parts. Help me? Pass it on?
