#1 REASSURANCE, GOD’S GIFT!
WHEN FEAR TRIES TO HINDER, GOD WILL GIVE US REASSURANCE!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part #1 of a #2 part lesson.
I. INTRODUCTION:
A. Often times life throws us some strange twists that we never expected.
Our hopes can seem so far away. Why? Why did this happen?
B. Years ago I was driving on 68 in south west Virginia when a lady passed my VW just flying. She had a brand new fancy Ford Thunderbird. She had her foot in the carburetor and she passed me like I was sitting still. On up the road I came around a curve and this beautiful new Thunderbird was resting against a concrete wall of the bridge. The car was totalled.
We helped pull the lady out of the car and she was crying hard.
She kept saying: WHY GOD? WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?
A man spoke up and said: GOD DID NOT MAKE YOU WRECK,
YOU WERE DRIVING TOO FAST!
C. When my sons were growing up and we would travel, we would often
sing. I had a Pinto station wagon and my two sons were singing up a storm. I listened to them --- they were singing a familiar song ---
I just quietly listened as they sang: BLESSED INSURANCE --- JESUS IS MINE...
Now they are grown and are both POLICEMEN ---
I have often recalled those words: BLESSED INSURANCE --- JESUS IS MINE...
JESUS IS BETTER THAN INSURANCE AS HE BRINGS HIS PRECIOUS PEOPLE
BLESSED ASSURANCE.
D. DEFINE:
1. ASSURE:
Guarantee.
To inform POSITIVELY.
To make feel safe. To make sure or certain.
To give confidence.
2. REASSURE:
To assure ANEW.
To restore to CONFIDENCE.
II. ARE WE THINKING KIND THOUGHTS? WHAT IF WE LOOSE THE GAME?
HAVE WE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE THINGS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW
THAT ARE PREPARING US TO FULFILL VISIONS, DREAMS AND PURPOSE
THAT OUR GOD HAS PLANNED FOR OUR LIFE?
SOMEONE NEEDS YOU TO REACH OUT OF YOUR BOX AND HELP!
A. Did you hear about SARA TUCHOLSKY? Sara Tucholsky played softball for Western Oregon University. Western Oregon University was playing their rival team Central Oregon University.
Central Oregon University had a star first base player named MALLORY HOLTMAN. Mallory Holtman had many accomplishments while playing for Central. Mallory was the CAREER HOME RUN LEADER IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST ATHELETIC CONFERENCE.
B. In the game Central Oregon University had the lead over Western Oregon in the last inning. Western rallied and had two players on base when SARA TUCHOLSKY STEPPED TO HOME PLATE TO BAT. The first pitch was STRIKE ONE. The second pitch SARA SWUNG WITH ALL HER MIGHT AND HIT HER VERY FIRST CAREER HOME RUN.
C. Sara started running the bases and was celebrating her HOME RUN. Sara
rounded FIRST BASE and headed toward second when she noticed that she
had not tagged first base. So Sara turned around and returned to first base. Sara twisted her leg as she turned and seriously INJURED HER KNEE.
The pain was so terrible, Sara CRAWLED back to first base. She realized
she could not make it to HOME. THE UMPIRES TOLD THE COACHING STAFF
IF THEY TOUCHED SARA TUCHOLSKY SHE WOULD BE DISQUALIFIED AND
CALLED OUT.
D. IF THE COACH CALLED TIME AND USED A PINCH RUNNER SARA’S HOME RUN
WOULD BE REDUCED TO A SINGLE AND HER RUN WOULD NOT COUNT.
MALLORY HOLTMAN, the opposing teams first base player and the home run
queen, stepped to the UMPIRE and ASKED PERMISSION THAT SOME OF HER
TEAM MATES WOULD CARRY SARA AROUND THE BASES IF POSSIBLE?
E. The Umpire said there was nothing in the rule books against that.
So MALLORY and ONE of her team members, the short stop --- LIZ WALLACE
got under SARA’S ARMS and picked Sara up and carried her.
They stopped at first base and allowed Sara to touch the base with her
GOOD LEG. The three girls headed around the bases stopping at each one
to allow Sara to touch the base with the good leg. Then MALLORY and LIZ
would carry her to the next base.
F. WHEN MALLORY GOT SARA THE OPPOSING PLAYER TO HOME, MALLORY
SAID: "YOU DESERVE IT, YOU HIT THE BALL OVER THE FENCE!"
G. NOW CENTRAL OREGON LOST THE GAME TO WESTERN OREGON.
Central would be eliminated from the SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT.
Three young women learned a great lesson about life. The crowd was
wildly cheering. The HOME RUN QUEEN CARRIED HER OPPONANT
AROUND THE BASES TO HER FIRST CAREER HOME RUN.
I DON’T KNOW MALLORY HOLTMAN OR LIZ WALLACE BUT THEIR
REFLECTION OF COMPASSION AND LOVE THAT MADE THEM REACH BEYOND
THE PROBLEM AND CAUSED THEM TO LOAN A SHOULDER TO THEIR RIVAL
TEAM MEMBER WAS A TESTIMONY.
Softball games are much like real life --- WE CAN DEMONSTRATE KINDNESS,
COMPASSION AND SYMPATHY EVEN IF WE LOOSE THE GAME.
Are you kind? Do you have good attitudes?
Do you see the CHALLENGE before us? Are you BUILDING BETTER PEOPLE?
Thanks Jerry Parritt for this lesson.
III. THERE IS A TIME WE MUST QUIT LOOKING BACKWARDS!
DO YOU KNOW SPIRITUALLY --- WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU IS MUCH MORE
IMPORTANT THAN WHAT IS BEHIND YOU? TODAY MIGHT BE A SEASON OF PREPARTION --- WILL WE BE READY? OR WILL PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, METAL, MENTAL OR SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS DEFINE OUR JOURNEY?
A. Will we believe the WORD OF GOD?
Will we believe the MAN OF GOD? Or do we just hear the words of a man?
B. Will we grow more and more negative and worry and fret?
WE HAVE A CHOICE, WE CAN EXPECT THE POSITIVE TO THRIVE WITHIN
THE CAMP! Will we be READY?
KJV
Joshua 3:5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.
NIV
Joshua 3:5 Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."
LB
Joshua 3:5 Then Joshua told the people to purify themselves. "For tomorrow," he said, "the Lord will do a great miracle."
C. CLEAN YOURSELVES UP. ADJUST YOUR ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS.
GET READY --- GOD IS READY TO BLESS US!
IV. THERE IS A BURIED TALENT AND TRESURE WITHIN YOU!
DO WE THRIVE KNOWING GOD’S SEEDS ARE IN OUR HANDS?
IF THE HORSE IS DEAD --- THEN DISMOUNT!
WILL YOU WORK ON DEVELOPING NEW --- BETTER ATTITUDES?
THERE IS A TIME TO QUIT CRYING OVER THE PAST OF DEAD DREAMS AND
DISAPPOINTMENTS --- THEN EXPECT AND GIVE BIRTH TO THE POSSIBILITIES OF
GOD’S PLANS GROWING ...
A. Saul had been a terrible disappointment to PREACHER SAMUEL. Saul had not waited on the Preacher. Saul kept King Agag and the show cattle.
There is a time to ARISE --- GET UP --- GOD HAS A NEW PLAN.
1 Samuel 16:1 And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
B. Samuel confronted SAUL, and Saul’S BRAZEN ATTITUDE and non-correction
revealed a REBELLIOUS SPIRIT --- We take a REBEL SPIRIT as acceptable. God warned a great truth ... God compared rebellion to witchcraft. Don’t palliate and justify rebellion.
CONFESS AND REPENT.
1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
C. We must prepare our hearts for the BLESSINGS GOD HAS PLANNED FOR
OUR FAMILIES. God’s blessings and favor can be a choice before us.
D. I know some really good people that would help their local church so much, but all they can see is the NEGATIVE in people. They are CRITICAL and JUDGMENTAL and all they can function are within the limits of FAULT-FINDING. QUIT CRYING --- ARISE --- PREPARE FOR GOD’S PLAN OF BLESSINGS.
E. We need a FRESH HOPE and STRONG VISION to press against the NEGATIVE
FORCES THAT WOULD TRY AND SMOTHER US and kill our dreams.
We must build a HEALTHY, FAITH BUILDING and POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT
AROUND US. God has never given up on you or your family.
V. GOD CALLED HIS MAN AND CLEARLY GAVE HIM GOD’S PLAN...
YET THE MAN WAS A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS AND HAD SOME SELF-DOUBT.
GOD DOES NOT JUMP ON HIS MAN ---
GOD SAYS: IF YOU HAVE FEAR --- I WILL ENCOURAGE YOU...
A. Seems somebody had told Gideon something was wrong with him ---
and he believed it. GIDEON DON’T FORGET --- YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED OF GOD.
Gideon told God --- GOD YOU PICKED THE WRONG MAN?
I am the smallest guy from the smallest, weakest family.
GOD SAID, "WELL, GIDEON, I DIDN’T KNOW THAT?"
B. God said Gideon you have TOO MANY MEN ... 32,000, out numbered
20 to 1? Send those AFRAID HOME --- we need men that will trust God.
10,000 men drink at the river, 9,700 men disqualified?
NOW --- WE HAVE 300 MEN? AND GOD? THE AND GOD IS ALL THAT MATTERS.
God’s favor is what we need.
C. NOW REDUCED TO 300 MEN GIDEON GRASPS THE SITUATION?
Now the odds are about 3,000 to 1?
GOD UNDERSTANDS HIS MAN’S CONCERNS AND FEARS.
GOD SAYS: GIDEON IF YOU FEAR --- GET UP AND GO DOWN...
KJV
Judges 7:9 And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. [10] But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: [11] And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.
NIV
Judges 7:9 During that night the Lord said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. [10] If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah [11] and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp." So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp.
D. GET UP IF YOU FEAR --- GIDEON BOY JUMPS UP AND GOES...
VI. GOD DIRECTS GIDEON OUTSIDE ONE TENT ...
GOD KNEW WHICH TENT TO FIND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR HIS MAN...
A. You talk about DIVINE TIMING ...
The guard shift was changing, the guard getting ready to go on duty had a
dream ...
THE DREAMS TITLE: GUESS WHAT GOD CAN DO?
Judges 7:13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. [14] And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
B. The guard had dreamed about a BARLEY LOAF ---
Barley was what poor people and animals ate ---
GOD WAS GOING TO TAKE THE UNDERDOG AND BRING VICTORY...
C. The barley loaf came into the ENEMY’S CAMP AND CRUSHED THEM.
It was not long until the GOSSIP MILL HAD SPREAD AROUND THE CAMP ---
THAT GIDEON AND GOD MADE A GOOD TEAM. Fear grew!
D. GOD PLACES FEAR IN THE ENEMY’S CAMP BEFORE THE BATTLE STARTS!
VII. BY HEARING THE MESSAGE PREACHED BY THE ENEMY, GIDEON HAD
LEARNED TO COMPLETELY TRUST GOD. GIDEON WORSHIPS GOD WHILE
STILL IN THE ENEMY’S CAMP!
A. MANY LEARN TO WORSHIP GOD AFTER THE VICTORY OF THE BATTLE.
God’s good men learn WORSHIP IS A HEART ISSUE --- IF YOU TRUST GOD
YOU CAN WORSHIP HIM BEFORE THE V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!
Judges 7:15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
B. God loves to REASSURE HIS PEOPLE. We must find a good balance to
life. Don’t waste all that God gives you?
C. LOVE THE JOURNEY! FIND JOY IN YOUR DAILY LIFE.
Let God’s REASSURANCE REST UPON YOU.
Grow new attitudes, develop Godly habits.
D. We need teaching that will bring about SPIRITUAL PREPARATION to
claim God’s plans. Abandon all the IDOLS before us.
Clean the temple.
We have come too far. We have crossed hot burning deserts, God’s
plan will take away our fears as we learn to trust God.
Come to the altar of God. Invite God’s sweet spirit to reassure you.
Don’t give up! Don’t give in! The Lord will do mighty things.
Don’t give up on the BRINK OF A MIRACLE.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass this on to another?
This is #1 of a #2 part lesson.
