DEAD FISH SWIM DOWN STREAM? Drifting is dangerous!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
INTRODUCTION:
WILL YOU ALLOW HURT, BITTERNESS AND REJECTION DRIVE YOU DOWN A DEAD END STREET? WILL YOU REACH HIGHER?
Your enemy wants you to think your family, your church, and your ministry has hit a wall and your limits are to define your situation.
I think not. DON’T GIVE UP! NEVER GIVE UP! It is always too soon to give up. If the well has gone dry, dig the well deeper. There is cool water.
Depression, discouragement, and your emotions can run wild. God is not finished. There is a new hope. Don’t give in to the negative whispers.
God has a day of new beginnings.
Don’t give up on your family. REACH HIGHER. DREAM BIGGER!
Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
10 Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants
thereof.
Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
TEXT:
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.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 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. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
I. HAVE YOU BUILT YOUR SPIRITUAL BEING AS A THEMOMETER OR A THERMOSAT? DO WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?
A. I understand that even dead fish can swim down stream. It may depend on the speed and power of the current, but in some streams a dead fish could travel over a mile in one hour. So just because you are traveling does not mean you are accomplishing much.
B. Have you ever noticed how hard it is to keep a knife sharp? Using a knife brings dullness.
C. Have you ever noticed how hard it is to keep HOT stuff HOT? Or cold stuff cold?
D. Will you build an environment that is conducive to GROWTH?
E. DEFINE:
1. DRIFT:
Slow, gradual movement.
Movement caused by following a current that is around ...
To be blown from the course ...
TREND, TENDANCY ... Inclination
2. AIMLESS:
Lack of focus, no training or discipline.
No plan, no purpose, undirected, haphazard,
No goals, no evaluation of achievement.
3. GRADUAL
Proceeding by steps or degrees.
Moving, changing, developing by fine often imperceptible degrees.
Go by small increments.
4. PROGRESS --- PROGRESSIVE
Onward movement... Gradual betterment.
Development to higher, better, advanced stages.
II. I WANT GOD AT A REDUCED PRICE? BARGAIN BASEMENT SERVICE?
IN THE PROCESS OF TIME:
A. Cain and Abel were sons of Adam and Eve.
Cain slowly developed bad attitudes and drifted into dangerous water.
B. It was offering time. YOUR GIVING HABITS CAN BE REVEALING! Often when offering time comes it can reveal good attitudes or bad attitudes.
C. Cain was the first born son.
Cain desired the presence of God at A REDUCED PRICE?
D. Cain was self-willed, high-minded and very VINDICTIVE.
Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
E. CAIN WAS HAPPY TO DRIFT IN A SPIRIT OF GRADUALNESS UNTIL HE SEES HIS BROTHER’S OFFERING IS BETTER THAN HIS.
Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
F. OUT OF THIS GIVING LESS THAN THE BEST SPIRIT, CAIN DEVELOPS A GREEN EYED MONSTER --- JEALOUSY --- JEALOUSY BREEDS HATRED.
G. JEALOUSY --- HATRED --- ANGER --- NEGATIVE ACTION...
Genesis 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule
over him.
H. CAIN HATES HIS PUNISHMENT, AND DRIFTS DEEPER AND DEEPER AWAY FROM A HOLY GOD. WHY?
Genesis 4:12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
I. THERE IS A NEVER RECORD OF THIS DRIFTER BEING SORRY.
He never shows remorse. He never repents and seeks forgiveness.
Genesis 4:13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
J. CAIN HAS THE SAME ATTITUDE OF HIS MOM AND DAD.
Adam and Eve never repented of breaking God’s rules.
Cain follows in their tracks.
III. NO ONE PLANS TO FAIL, THEY FAIL TO PLAN.
NO ONE PLANS A DIVORCE, BACKSLIDDING, OR GOING TO HELL.
WE AIMLESSLY DRIFT BY GRADUAL BAD HABITS AND BAD ATTITUDES.
A. I have heard the path to hell is paved with good intentions, and I believe this.
I don’t think there is one person in hell that planned on going there.
They planned on changing before they died? The drifting will catch up?
B. I think PEOPLE always made plans on getting right and turning their life to a meaningful direction.
C. But there is a hidden trap, gradualness ---
SIN leads down twisted roads that become harder and harder to correct.
D. Sin will take you farther than you planned on going.
Sin will keep you longer than you planned on staying.
Sin will cost you more than you planned on paying.
E. Hell is full of people that played with sin and gradually got deeper and deeper, until the trap closed around the neck of the person that had plans.
IV. ONE OF THE GREATEST LESSONS IN A SPIRIT OF GRADUALNESS AND DRIFTING IS A WISE MAN NAMED SOLOMON.
A. Solomon had very special parents: DAVID AND BATHSHEBA. David was a great genius that knew God in a personal way.
B. Solomon had a special request he asked of God: WISDOM.
C. Solomon was wealthy and very famous. LUXURY, EXTRAVAGANT LIFE STYLES...
D. GRADUALLY SOLOMON DRIFTED INTO SENSUALITY.
E. Solomon’s desire to please the five senses and become a powerful leader with many allies birthed in him a LOVE OF WOMEN.
F. Solomon knew God warned him to not specialize in HORSES and WOMEN, but depend on God.
G. SOLOMON:
1. LOOKED AT,
2. TALKED TO ...
3. FLIRTED AND MADE FRIENDS WITH THE WORLD...
4. DATED GIRLS THAT WOULD NOT MAKE GOOD MATES ...
5. MARRIED STRANGE WOMEN
6. ALLOWED THEM TO BUILD ALTARS IN HIS BACK YARD...
7. WATCHED THEM AND WAS CURIOUS AND ASK QUESTIONS...
8. FOUND HIMSELF BOWING AT FALSE GOD’S ALTARS THAT HE HAD PAID
TO BUILD.
1 Kings 11:9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.
11 Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give
it to thy servant.
H. SOLOMON JUST DID NOT WANT TO BE PUBLICLY HUMILIATED? NO REPENTANCE.
V. GRADUALNESS IS INEVITABLE! Life moves by gradual and silent encroachments more often than by violent and sudden usurpations.
A. OFTEN WE CONQUER BY SMALL STEPS.
Did you hear about the guy that had many great fears. He was so afraid of elevators.
He decided to approach his fear of elevators.
His mentor taught him --- TAKE BABY STEPS TOWARD YOUR FEAR.
In the next scene we saw the man as he slowly ---
gradually took baby steps toward his fear of the elevator.
He conquered the fear by using baby steps.
B. I am told if you put a frog in hot water it will jump out immediately. I am also told that if you put a frog in cold water, and gradually, slowly warm the water, that the frog will boil to death and grin the whole time?
VI. THE TEN WERE ALL VIRGINS! WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE SIN OF THE FOOLISH?
Matthew 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
A. GRADUALNESS....
B. LACK OF PREPARATION!
VII. SICKNESS CAN GRADUALLY PUT A DEATH GRIP ON ONE.
A. LIFE HAS A WAY OF CATCHING US OFF GUARD.
B. We need a good diet, good exercise habits, and avoiding things that can bring us hurt. (Excessive salt, lack of sleep, etc.)
Mark 5:26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
VIII. BAD HABITS TAKE ROOTS --- at first we drive our habits, then gradually our habits can drive us.
A. THEY GRADUALLY BY REPETITIVE BEHAVIOR GAIN CONTROL.
1. TOLERANCE
2. FREQUENCY
3. CONTROL
B. PREACHER --- PAUL WARNS OF GREAT DANGER ---
THE SHIP GRADUALLY WILL BE DESTROYED.
Acts 27:11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
C. SHALL WE BELIEVE THE PREACHER OR THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP? FALSE EVIDENCE LEADS TO WRONG CONCLUSIONS.
Acts 27:13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
D. BREAK THE SPIRIT OF GRADUALNESS.
WE MUST SOUND OUT AND TRUST GOD’S WORD AND GOD’S MAN?
Acts 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
Acts 27:28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
IX. THE STORY OF FAITH OR FEAR BOTH GAIN BIRTH IN GRADUALNESS.
A. SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS A PROCESS.
B. IT IS A GRADUAL PROCESS.
C. The new King, Jehoash, had a duty to go see the old Preacher.
ELISHA IS A HAS BEEN IN THE NEW KING’S EYES.
D. THE NEW KING’S VISIT WAS ALL 1/2 HEARTED AND LUKEWARM.
2 Kings 13:18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and
stayed.
19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed
it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.
E. JEHOASH HAS BEEN GRADUALLY REDUCED TO --- "HAVE TO" ATTITUDES.
1. Take the bow
2. Take an arrow
3. Put our hands on it
4. Open the window
5. Shoot arrow out the window
6. Take the arrows
7. HIT THE GROUND...
F. THE GRADUAL PROCESS MADE THE KING MISS THE ZEAL AND ENTHUSIASM AND THUS MISSED ON THE DELIVERANCE.
CONCLUSION:
Don’t be a spiritual vagabond drifting aimlessly and gradually down stream.
Samson drifted...
Judas drifted...
LONG DISTANCE RUNNERS HIT THE WALL --- SPLAT, BUT THEY HAVE TO KEEP PUTTING ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER! BELIEVE! DREAM AGAIN! DREAM BIGGER!
LET US FIGHT THE CURRENT WITH ZEAL AND ENTHUSIASM.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass it on?
