#2 THE FOCAL POINT: IT IS HIGH TIME TO GET UP --- ARISE...
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part two of a two part lesson. I do part one in two parts, and part two in two parts.
I went to Lowes and bought a PLUMMET, or a PLUMBLINE. I hold the plumb line and tell how important a plumb line is as one starts to build.
A GREAT WORK CAN START WITH A SMALL TOOL CALLED A PLUMMET,
OR PLUMB LINE. We need a process to establish the FOCAL POINT.
A plumb line drops or falls perpendicularly.
To make a straight line.
If you find yourself in a hole, part of the solution is to quit digging. My friend, don’t make it any deeper.
One more note: Never drink water from the stream if you are down stream from the herd. Always drink upstream from the herd.
GOD CARES FOR PEOPLE THROUGH PEOPLE!
Great people’s vision see beyond what things are ...
THEY SEE INTO THE REALM OF POSSIBILITIES.
Poor vision looks back --- GOOD VISION DREAMS WHAT MIGHT BE.
I. INTRODUCTION: ONE OF THE FIRST PARTS OF REAL MINISTRY IS TO COUNT THE COST THEN DETERMINE IF WE ARE WILLING TO PAY THE COST, THE SWEAT, THE BLACKEYES AND THE EFFORT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WORK.
A. Sure --- a thousand mile journey starts with one step!
Yet one step will never get us there! This journey is going to require investment and great effort. Are we willing to pay what it cost?
Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
B. How does a child become a CRIMINAL?
How does D-I-V-O-R-C-E come? IT STARTS WITH SELFISHNESS, HARD HEART!
How does an alcoholic become an alcoholic? IT STARTS WITH ONE DRINK.
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
C. WHERE ARE THE WATCHMEN? IS THE ALARM SOUNDING?
The alarm is not always appreciated?
A good storm alarm many save lives?
II. WHY STAY HERE? GOD’S TRAIL LEADS UPWARD!
THE TRAIL TO THE BLESSINGS IS A PROCESS, A PROGRESSIVE TRAIL.
IF WE ARISE --- GET UP --- GOD WILL HONOR YOUR EFFORT!
A. ARISE:
Ascend, climb, to get up, to begin, to come into being.
To get out of bed, get up, rise and shine.
B. GET UP --- ARISE --- STAKE CLAIM TO WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR YOU!
KJV
Genesis 13:17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
LB
Genesis 13:17 Hike in all directions and explore the new possessions I am giving you."
C. LOT WAS CALLED TO ARISE AND GO TO THE MOUNTAIN, INSTEAD HE
COMPROMISED AND STAYED IN THE LEVEL PLAIN OF ZOAR! HE PAYS DEARLY.
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.
Genesis 28:2 Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.
3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
D. YESTERDAY IS GONE! THE FAILURES OF YESTERDAY SHOULD NEVER STOP YOU
FROM GETTING UP TODAY!
Genesis 35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
III. ARISE AND ANOINT! THE ISSUE OF THE HEART IS THE HEART OF THE ISSUE!
A. We are trying to do many spiritual things through the arm of the flesh.
The church operates on a different system than does business systems.
A good business system can build a church, but sustained SPIRITUAL GROWTH
CAN COME ONLY BY GOD’S SYSTEM --- THE ANOINTING!
B. Even the anointed preacher can JUMP TO THE WRONG CONCLUSIONS.
1 Samuel 16:6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
C. MAN MUST ARISE TO THE ANOINTING, NEVER BRING THE ANOINTING DOWN TO
THE LEVEL OF THE FLESH.
1 Samuel 16:12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
IV. HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO GET UP? THERE IS AN EASY ANSWER FOR
THIS! UNTIL! GET UP ONE MORE TIME THAN YOU GET KNOCKED DOWN!
A. One of the worse drought and famines of the Bible has been taking place.
B. Prayer and GETTING UP IS THE ANSWER.
1 Kings 18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
C. GET UP THAT MOUNTAIN SEVEN TIMES! --- UNTIL YOU HEAR AND SEE FROM GOD!
D. SO NAAMAN --- SO NAAMAN WENT DOWN?
YES, HE DID --- BUT NAAMAN HAD TO GET UP --- ONE MORE TIME THAN HE WENT DOWN!
2 Kings 5:14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
E. YOU MUST GET UP MORE THAN YOU ARE KNOCKED DOWN!
V. DECISIONS, DECISIONS? WILL I GET UP? WILL I ARISE TO A NEW LEVEL?
WILL I KISS OR WILL I CLEAVE? WE MUST FIX OUR HEART!
THE HOUR OF TEST WILL ALWAYS COME.
A. LOVE’S EXPRESSION CAN TAKE MANY FORMS AND MANY LEVELS.
Ruth 1:14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
B. Orpah and Ruth both loved Naomi, their Mother-in-law.
NAOMI SAW THERE WERE HOURS OF TESTS COMING TO THESE TWO WOMEN.
C. At the first glimpse both women declare to cast their lot with the Lord. Orpah makes a decision TO RETURN TO idolatry.
D. RUTH MAKES A LIFE CHANGING CHOICE... I WILL GIVE ALL, I WILL GIVE MYSELF TOTALLY NO MATTER WHAT. RUTH FOR EVER LIVES IN THE HISTORY OF GOD’S PEOPLE.
E. THE REALM OF DIVINE BLESSINGS WILL ALWAYS BRING GREATER BENEFITS
THAN JUST QUICK FIXES.
F. What are we going to do during SEASONS OF TESTINGS, TRIALS, STORM,
DROUGHTS, DIFFICULTIES AND DISCOURAGEMENTS?
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
G. May God’s Sweet Holy Spirit teach us the difference in value and worth between a "KISS" and "CLEAVING!"
VI. WILL I ARISE ABOVE EXCUSES? WE MUST NEVER EXCUSE ABUSE?
IT IS MUCH EASIER TO EXCUSE NEGLECT OF DUTY!
PLAYING WITH MATCHES CAN LEAD TO BURNT LIVES? PLAY WITH
MATCHES MAY SEEM FUN AT THE TIME?
Luke 14:18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
A. Years ago I traveled playing Southern Gospel Music.
We played in a church in the mountains of eastern Kentucky.
I could not help but notice this little girl on the left side of the church. She was deeply scarred and disfigured? My heart broke for the small child.
After service the crowd was gone and we were breaking down our equipment
and I had the chance to ask the Pastor about the scarred girl.
The Pastor told me the young girl loved to play with matches, candles, and fires.
Her parents had often warned her and they took the matches away.
One night the girl was in her bedroom. She playing with matches.
She accidentally caught her curtains on fire, and the next thing they knew the house was fully involved in flames.
The Dad risked his life and returned in the house and found the girl burnt beyond recognition. The girl lived in the hospital many months. She had many surgeries with many more to follow.
The Pastor added: NOW THE GIRL HAD A GREAT FEAR OF ANY FIRE SHE SAW.
The lesson was learned --- but look at the cost?
B. SIN COST MORE THAN YOU PLANNED ON PAYING.
SIN TAKES YOU FARTHER THAN YOU PLANNED ON GOING.
SIN KEEPS YOU LONGER THAN YOU PLANNED ON STAYING.
C. TO OFTEN TO EXCUSE SELF MEANS TO ACCUSE SELF!
The loins’ den will teach you! Don’t return if you don’t have to ...
VII. LIFE CAN DISTORT OUR VISION? WE CAN’T OPERATE PROPERLY UNDER INVALID CONCLUSIONS? EARTHLY VISION VS HEAVENLY VISION? PLAYING WITH THE SNAKE? SIN NEVER BRINGS PLEASURE OR SATISFACTION. SIN’S GAME IS NEVER CHEAP!
A. Is it easier to see small splinters than to see 10 feet --- 2 by 6’s?
1 Cor. 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
B. I read a parable or story many years ago. The first weather storm hit the area suddenly and the temperature dropped fast.
A POISONOUS SNAKE was dying by the side of the road.
A young teenage boy stopped and looked at the snake.
The poisonous snake had a LURE to this young man.
He picked up a stick and began to move the mean-old snake.
The SNAKE RAISED up his head and the boy stepped back.
The snake started talking to the boy and said, I will be dead in a few hours if you don’t help me?
The boy said: You are poisonous --- I know better than messing with you.
So the snake talked a while until the young man got more and more comfortable with him.
The snake said: Everyone around talks bad about me. I get a bum rap. I am
a good snake. I just do what snakes do.
The snake said to the young man: SEE, I AM NICE! JUST OPEN YOUR SHIRT AND I WILL CRAWL IN AND RAP MYSELF AROUND AND AROUND YOU AND YOUR BODY
HEAT WILL SAVE MY LIFE AND YOU CAN TAKE ME TO A SAFE WARM PLACE.
The young boy unzipped his coat, unbuttoned his shirt, and the cold snake slittered his way around and around the young boy. Slowly the snake warmed himself.
Several hours later the boy felt safe as he was working in the barn.
The boy told the snake I don’t guess you are really as bad as everyone says.
ABOUT THAT TIME THE SNAKE SANK HIS FANGS IN THE YOUNG BOY’S NECK and
he fell to the floor of the barn. The boy looked into the SNAKE’S EYES and said I thought you were nice?
Why did you bite me?
The SNAKE SAID: NATURE? IT IS JUST MY NATURE TO BITE.
C. We may often examine the body in a mirror?
How’s my hair laying? Is my make up made up?
Is my ANTI-PRESPERRANT still working?
D. Do we EXAMINE OUR SOUL and our SPIRIT?
There is a level beyond our FEELINGS and EMOTIONS.
Has my FEELINGS developed inwardly into HARDNESS OF HEART?
E. Seems the seed did fall on ground --- on the surface level...
The seed grew. The seed grew fast ...
THERE WAS BENEATH THE SURFACE A COLD STONE WHERE THE NOURISHMENT
FOR THE PLANT WAS LIMITED.
F. Does my life in the OUTER COURT match my life in the INNER COURT?
Does the unbroken, hard, cold rock hidden beneath the surface LIMIT my long term growth?
G. IS THE WORD OF GOD WORKING MIGHTILY IN ME?
WILL ENDURANCE AND PERSISTENCE BE A REAL GOAL, OR WILL OUR
EMOTIONS PLAY MENTAL GAMES WITH OUR SPIRITUAL WALK?
H. The trial by the SUN and hot long days will surely come.
We must be prepared.
VIII. WHICH IS EASIER TO SAY: --- ARISE? OR YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN?
A. Seems many people would want to argue the method, technique, or
the process? Why argue and debate? LET US JUST GET UP, ARISE AND WALK!
TRY! TRY AGAIN!
Matthew 9:5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
B. It was a small cloud the servant saw?
It was an 18 mile run to the city.
C. IT IS NOT ABOUT DOTTING EVERY I, NOR CROSSING EVERY T ---
IT IS ABOUT ALLOWING GOD TO ARISE!
Psalm 68:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
D. AS YOU ARISE FROM THE WATERS OF BAPTISM, MAY YOU ARISE
INTO THE REALM OF DIVINE POSSIBILITIES.
WHAT MIGHT GOD DO WITH YOUR EFFORTS? ARISE --- GET UP...
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass this on to another? You could double my reach?
