1 & 2 ARE WE FIGHTING THE DARKNESS? WE NEED A LAMP!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part one and two of a four part series on darkness and light.
ARE WE FIGHTING THE DARKNESS? WE NEED A LAMP!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
We know that laughter does good like a medicine ...
I was thinking about some funny songs that should be written...
Nashville should take notes... ( Aaron Wilburn)
**1. How can I miss you --- when you won’t go away...?
**2. Baby, if you are going to leave me .... CAN I GO WITH YOU?
**3. If the phone does not ring, you will know it was me!
**4. When you leave, Baby, if you will walk out backwards...
I will think you are walking in...???
**5.Baby, If you won’t leave me alone, I will find somebody that will...
**6. I am so sorry I made you cry, Baby --- But at least your face is cleaner...
**7. All our oil is in Texas ---
But all the DIPSTICKS ARE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
**8. BABY, I AM SO MISERABLE WITHOUT YOU---
IT IS ALMOST LIKE HAVING YOU HERE...
**9. If I had shot you when I wanted to --- I WOULD BE OUT BY NOW...
I. HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM UP HERE... OUR PROBLEM?
A LOST COIN? THERE IS A GREATER ISSUE THAN A LOST COIN...
OVER TIME DIRT HAS ACCUMULATED DIRT...
A. I don’t know where to start this series here or to end the series with this?
B. A woman had 10 coins...
By HAPPENSTANCE? For some reason the lady lost one of her 10 coins.
The lady looked for her lost coin and could not find it...
C. THERE IS TO BE A PARIDIGM SHIFT...
If I can not find the coin, I have to do something different...
D. The woman survey’s the possibilities before her...
Luke 15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
E. IF I KEEP LOOKING WITH NO RESULTS --- I MUST CHANGE MY GAME PLAN...
SHE GRABS A LAMP OR A CANDLE AND LIGHTS IT...
F. When she lights the candle the light EXPOSES DIRT...
With the dirt exposed --- SHE REALIZES I MUST CLEAN THIS HOUSE IF
I PLAN ON FINDING THE COIN...
G. When the lady sees the dirt and she gets her house clean...
THE LOST COIN THAT WAS HIDDEN FROM VIEW IS FOUND...
The issue was DIRT, we NEED THE LIGHT TO EXPOSE THE DIRT.
Now with 10 coins the woman is complete...
H. We have the candle, will we light it?
The Holy Spirit’s office work is to expose the dirt...
It is our job to clean the house...
II. ARE WE FACING THE ISSUE OF THE CANDLE? OR IS THE REAL ISSUE
THE LIGHT? DARKNESS CAN SURROUND ANY LAMP? WE NEED THE
LIGHT!
A. TEXT:
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
B. LET US DEFINE DARK/ DARKNESS:
Little or no light; absence of light... miserable, feeble
Suspicious, shady, gloomy, gray,
Sullen, angry; secret or mysterious...
Gloomy, depressing, dismal; shady, dreary, bleak
Evil, sinister;
C. It is all about the light, not about the darkness...
HIS LAMP I AM
By A.J. Flint
His light I am to shine where He shall say;
And lamps are not for sunny rooms, nor for the light of day;
Lamps are for the dark places of the earth,
Where shame and wrong and crime give birth,
Or for the murky twilight gray.
Where wandering sheep have gone astray,
Or where the lamp of faith grows dim,
And souls are groping after HIM.
And sometimes a flame we find,
Clear shining through the night so dark,
We can not see the lamp, but only see the LIGHT!
So may I shine His Love and Flame,
THAT MEN MAY GLORIFY HIS NAME.
III. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE DARK AGES? THE DARK CONTINENT?
A SLEEPING CHURCH IN A DARK TIME? LIGHT MUST DEFINE THE DARKNESS...
A. My son, Wade Jr. penned these words below... as we consider darkness we must know the "LIGHT CAN BRING A NEW LEVEL and a NEW DEFINITION
TO LIFE."
B. What is a defining moment?
A defining moment to me is an exact point in time in which an event occurs that forces a decision that will affect the future. This affect can be positive or it can be negative.
C. Who decides the outcome of a defining moment?
Is it the person or thing that caused the defining moment to occur? I personally don’t think so. I don’t choose to put my life or decisions in someone or something else’s hands.
I think the outcome of a defining moment is up to me!!!
D. In John 6 I find that in while Jesus is in the “prime” of his ministry the teaching and the way gets hard. It’s all fun when there is people being healed and miracles being performed….. but this is more than just a feel good ministry.
Verses 1-14 were great. People eating (without having to work for it), fellowship, etc.
Verses 22-59 is not so great to the people. Jesus actually calls them out……vs. 26-27…… its not about food, it’s about me Jesus says.
He then tries to explain this and it’s not a popular message, but a necessary one.
Verse 60 says when many heard this they said “This is hard”.
Then when I read vs. 61 I can actually read the hurt in this verse……
When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you?” After all of the good times, effort, sweat, sleepless nights, prayers, and work….. are they complaining? Are they mad? After all Jesus had done for them???
When Jesus realized what was yet to come? Even in verse 64 it says Jesus knew from the beginning who would believe and who would not, and who would betray him.
But did this stop him? He loved anyway! He gave anyway! He sacrificed anyway! He healed anyway! He fed anyway! He prayed for them anyway! And He died for them anyway!
In verse 66….. from that time many of His disciples went back and walked with him no more.
Verse 67…..Jesus said to the twelve….Will you leave me to?
TALK ABOUT A DEFINING MOMENT?!?!?
But did the moment define Jesus, or did Jesus define the moment?
Then in Chapter 7 his brothers don’t even believe…..What a blow!!!
E. What would cause a minister to minister anyway?
Why would a police officer put on a uniform and face death daily knowing that some like him but many hate him? Why do firemen go into burning buildings for strangers?
Why do teachers spend hours teaching children for little pay knowing that many parents are not behind them and are quick to blame them? Why do soldiers go to war and fight for a cause knowing some are behind them and some think it is despicable?
F. I think it is because there are people that exist that choose to define the moment and not to have the moment define them. Does it hurt? Sure it hurts!!!
Can it bring you down? Sure it can (if you let it)!!! Is it hard? Sure it’s hard!!! That’s why not everyone can do this!!! Is it worth it? Sure it’s worth it!!!
G. A warrior goes at it anyway, just like Jesus did! Let’s make no mistake….we are in a war.
II Corinthians 10:3-4 make that very plain. It’s bloody, messy, hard, tiring and so much more…… but a warrior goes at it anyway. There are casualties, deserters and chickens…… but a warrior goes at it anyway.
A warrior is not defined by the moment, but a warrior defines the moment….because he chooses to anyway.
Despite what is happening around him he is still a warrior.
H. KNOW THAT GOD IS WITH YOU... EMMANUEL...
KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH ARE BEHIND YOU!!!
SATAN WILL TRY TO ATTACK YOU WHERE HE CAN HURT YOU THE MOST.
OUR ENEMY ATTACKS IN THE NIGHT.
IT WOULD BE FOOLISH FOR HIM TO ATTACK YOU WHERE IT WOULD NOT
HURT……BUT A WARRIOR GOES AT IT ANYWAY!!!
A WARRIOR WILL NOT ATTACK THOSE AROUND HIM BECAUSE HE IS
HURTING…..BUT WILL RESOLVE ALL THE MORE TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO
THE ENEMY ANYWAY!!!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Jr.
IV. WE HAVE A CHOICE: DARKNESS OR LIGHT? OR SHADE?
WHAT WILL WE DO WITH THE LIGHT?
A PERSON IS CONSIDERED "IN THE DARK" THAT LACKS KNOWLEDGE OR WISDOM.
A. As we consider darkness and the absence of light the Bible discusses... We must consider darkness in several areas...
1. Darkness as physical ... the world was without form and in darkness...
Before God’s work there was no light and creation has no order...
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,
[2] the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
[3] Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
2. GOD SAID LET THERE BE LIGHT... AND THERE WAS LIGHT...
One of the defining moments of creation was LIGHT --- GOD’S SWEET PRESENCE...
3. In the Bible darkness can be considered as JUDGMENT...
4. DARKNESS IS ALWAYS AT ENMITY TO GOD.
B. A doctor in the Operating Room needs great light focused on the area where he is called to repair. Bright light can expose things hidden in darkness or dim lit areas. A cancer could be hidden if the light can not penetrate the darkness.
C. We must have the light of the Holy Spirit to expose the dirt before we can correct our problems...
D. The more light --- the more the crop will grow... THE MORE FRUIT WILL BE YIELDED...
E. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF DARKNESS, GOD CAN SEE...
DARKNESS WILL CAUSE THE COINS TO BE LOST...
LIGHT WILL EXPOSE THE DIRT AND TO CLEAN WILL OPEN THE VISION TO REALITY...
WE CAN FIND GOD’S PLAN AND PURPOSE IF WE COME TO THE LIGHT...
V. DARKNESS... THREE DAYS OF EXTREME DARKNESS... THERE IS A DARKNESS
THAT COMES FROM GOD THAT IS A WARNING THAT JUDGMENT IS COMING.
A. There were 10 plagues that tried to gain people’s attention in Egypt.
1. Water to blood; 2. Frogs; 3. Lice; 4. Flies; 5. Sickness in cattle and animals; 6. Boils; 7. Hail; 8. Locust...
B. The 9th plague in Egypt was DARKNESS...
10. Death of the first born.
Exodus 10:21 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
C. A DARKNESS SO DARK YOU COULD FEEL IT...
This darkness was so dark that people’s vision was limited...
D. There was a LINE OF LIMITATION THAT THE DARKNESS HAD TO STOP...
Exodus 10:23 They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
VI. THERE ARE DAYS WHEN THE ACCUMULATION OF MANY SMALL THINGS ADDED
TOGETHER TO BRING A SITUATION OF DARKNESS... A DAY OF DARKNESS THAT
AFFECTS/ EFFECTS THE TOTAL PICTURE... AND BECOMES DARK CLOUDS HIDING
THE HOPE OF BLESSINGS...
A. We are a SUM TOTAL of our MENIAL DAILY CHOICES...
LITTLE THINGS ADD UP...
B. IT IS THE LITTLE FOXES WITHIN THE FAMILY THAT CAN DESTROY THE FAMILY...
Song 2:15 Catch us the foxes, the little foxes, that ruin the vineyards--for our vineyards are in blossom."
C. Few of God’s people seem to WANT TO REALIZE THAT CALAMITY and DARKNESS
can be a SIGN OF GOD’S JUDGMENT...
D. God can allow some very SMALL INSTRUMENTS to bring on a lesson about
DARKNESS within the camp... LOCUST... small bugs...
Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
[2] A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
[3] A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. [4] The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. [5] Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
Joel 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: [13] And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
VII. DARKNESS CAN BE A TERRIBLE SIGN OF IGNORNANCE AND STUPIDITY...
We must have PUBLIC LIGHT as well as PRIVATE LIGHT burning within the family.
A. Years ago in the homes people had wringer washers. Most families established a day of the week to do their washings...
Two neighbors’ properties adjoined in the back yard...
The one lady would wash her dishes and watch her neighbor as she hung her wash out to dry on the clothes line.
In the winter, week after week the lady watched her neighbor hang out the wash.
Each week the wash became dimmer and dimmer.
At church the one neighbor told some of the ladies standing around:
Boy, Sister So in So’s wash is not getting clean at all.
Spring time came, the coal pot-bellied stove was taken down.
Spring cleaning began.
The long tongued lady washed her windows and the sun came in her house much brighter.
On wash day, as was the norm, her neighbor washed her clothes and hung them on the line. The lady doing her dishes was amazed at how much cleaner her neighbors clothes were...
B.THE REAL ISSUE WAS NOT ABOUT THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE CLOTHES,
THE REAL ISSUE WAS ABOUT THE DIRTINESS OF HER WINDOWS...
C. Maybe we need to clean our glass instead of judging other people?
VIII. CHARACTER IS WHAT YOU ARE WHEN THE LIGHT IS DIM ...
AND YOU THINK NO ONE CAN SEE YOU...
Matthew 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
A. DARKNESS CAN BE A SYMBOL OF GOD’S JUDGMENT...
Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
B. DARKNESS CAN REPRESENT GLOOM, DESPAIR, MISERY AND ADVERSITY
WITHIN THE CAMP OF GOD’S PEOPLE...
Psalm 107:10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
C. THE CROSS BROUGHT A DARKNESS TO JERUSALEM...
Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
Luke 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
D. THE DARKNESS OF THE DAY OF THE CROSS CHANGED...
MONDAY IS COMING... MONDAY THE DAY OF LIGHT...
As an airplane needs runway lights to land at night, so we need to light the way for others.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part one and two of a 4 part series.
Help me? Pass this on...
