#4 DARKNESS CAN HAVE A DEFINING MOMENT!
THE LIGHT CAN PUSH AWAY THE DARKNESS...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part #4 of darkness with part 5 on the light to follow.
FRIDAY IS HERE, BUT SUNDAY IS COMING...
I. DARKNESS HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH THE LAMP --- YOU CAN HAVE A BEAUTIFUL
LAMP BUT IF THE LIGHT BULB IS BURNED OUT THERE WILL BE NO LIGHT.
A. Today thanks to TV and other media we have had many bright preachers and bright ministries arise to reach the world. Sin has darkened the globe and dimmed the light.
Many ministers today "BURN OUT" and grow weary in well doing...
B. TEXT:
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
2 Thes. 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
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.
C. 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;
D. 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.
II. IS IT EASIER TO SERVE THAN TO COME INTO HIS PRESENCE?
I SERVE? I SERVE WELL? I SERVE MUCH?
MINISTRY CAN CUMBER THE LIGHT... DO NOT LAY THE TORCH DOWN...
A. I OWE --- I OWE --- SO OFF TO WORK I GO...
B. Our we good for the EXTERNAL SERVICE and SKIP THE INNER ALTAR?
For our Christian service to be balanced we must serve with our HEAD and our HEART!
MINISTRY HAS MANY OPPORTUNITIES...
Luke 10:[38] Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. [40] But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost
thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
[41] And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
[42] But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
C. WHEN OUR MINISTRY BECOMES HEAVY AND A DUTY AND WE BECOME CUMBERED
THEN WE ARE HEADED FOR DARKNESS...
D. Martha remembered her DUTIES in His service, but SHE FORGOT HIS PRESENCE AND HIS SWEET COMMUNION.
E. HAVE YOU SPENT TIME SITTING AT JESUS’ FEET?
Or are we trying to keep all the manure cleaned out of the stable?
III. CONTINUAL --- INCESSANT DRAINS EMPTY THE TANK...
HOW DOES THE LAMP’S LIGHT GROW DIM?
WHY DO WE FIND OURSELVES SO BUSY WE FORGET GOD...
WE PRAISE A BEE ... BUT WE SWAT A MOSQUITTO? IS THE ISSUE BUSYNESS?
A. We have a personal responsibility to KEEP OUR LAMPS BRIGHTLY BURNING...
Matthew 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
[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.
Matthew 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil;
for our lamps are gone out.
B. What was the SIN of the FOOLISH VIRGINS? They were still virgins?
The SIN was easy... they LOST THEIR RESPECT FOR THE LIGHT...
I will BORROW FROM THE WISE?
C. MANY YEARS AGO THE LIGHTHOUSE ON THE SHORE LINES THAT WOULD
PROTECT THE SEA VESSELS WORKED ON OIL OR GAS...
The keepers of the LIGHTHOUSE HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY TO:
1. Keep fuel for the light.
2. Keep the lens and globe clean...
D. We let the SPIRIT OF GRADUALNESS SLOWLY DIRTY THE GLOBE OF THE
LAMP?
IV. HOW DO WE GET INTO DARKNESS?
FREQUENT --- CONTINUAL --- INCESSANT DRAINS --- NEGLECT ---
WE SEEM TO BE SO BUSY THAT WE FORGET TO REFILL OUR LAMP...
NO OIL --- NO SUSTAINED LIGHT?
A. Most would not ABUSE GOD, WE TEND TO NEGLECT HIM...
B. NEGLECT:
Fail to care for or to do, lack of care...
Not to pay attention,
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
C. FREQUENT --- CONTINUAL --- INCESSANT DRAINS...
unceasing, continual, repeated, consistent, constant, PERPETUAL ...
D. Have you ever spent so much time with the CREATION that you
NEGLECTED... the CREATOR?
E. HOW DID WEAK DELIAH GET STRONG SAMSON? CONTINUAL NAGGING?
F. We do not have to faint! We do not have to grow weary!
Isaiah 40: [28] Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
[29] He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
[30] Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
[31] But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
G. GOD HAS THE POWER OF REGENERATION IN HIS HAND...
WAIT ON THE LORD... COME IN COMMUNION WITH JESUS...
HE WILL RENEW OUR STRENGTH.
V. SHALL WE STAY IN DARKNESS? WILL WE COME TO A DEFINING MOMENT?
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 ust know the "LIGHT CAN BRING A NEW LEVEL and a NEW DEFINITION TO
LIFE."
B. What is a defining moment?
EVERY MORNING YOU GET UP YOU MAKE CHOICES... WHAT MOOD WILL I DECIDE
TO SERVE IN TODAY? Will I stay in the dark? Or come to the LIGHT?
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. WILL WE WALK AWAY?
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH --- THE TOUGH TEND TO QUIT...
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?!?!? DARKNESS OR LIGHT?
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 --- IN THE DARKNESS ---
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 my oldest son... Wade Martin Hughes, Jr.
VI. GOD CAN REASSURE HIS PERSON EVEN DURING THE DARKEST NIGHT...
THE LESSON OF GIDEON... OVERCOME A DARK NIGHT?
A. We must ARISE FROM OUR EXCUSES...
Judges 6:15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
B. 32,000 MEN? --- TOO MANY...
C. 22,000 MEN GO HOME? --- STILL TOO MANY?
D. 10,000 MEN? --- Reduced to 300 men in the WATER TEST?
E. IT WAS A DARK NIGHT IN THE CAMP OF 300? GET UP!!!
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
F. DURING GIDEON’S DARKEST NIGHT GOD REASSURES HIS MAN...
THE ENEMY ASSURES THE MAN OF GOD... IN THE DARKNESS GOD WILL
STILL MOVE.
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.
[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.
G. The man of God has BLESSED ASSURANCE AND ARISES TO WORSHIP
A HOLY GOD... AND IT WAS STILL A DARK NIGHT.
VII. ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID: IN THE END IT IS NOT THE YEARS IN YOUR LIFE THAT COUNT, IT IS THE LIFE IN YOUR YEARS...
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
A. Someday the newspaper will carry your OBITUARY... It will tell your name. It will record the day of your birth. It will record the day of your death. It is not your DOB or the DOD that is important to you...
It is all those DAYS BETWEEN THOSE TWO DATES THAT WILL MATTER...
B. I may be in a DARK STORM, but the dark storm does not have to BE IN ME!
C. CRISIS PLUS DANGER EQUALS OPPORTUNITY.
D. THERE IS AN UNUSUAL SONG BIRD.
THE BIRD IS CALLED THE THRUSH SPARROW.
THE THRUSH SPARROW IS ONE OF THE BEST SINGING BIRDS KNOWN.
THE THRUSH SPARROW SINGS IT’S MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG WHEN IT IS
HURT OR WOUNDED...
CONCLUSION:
Dark moments --- COME INTO THE LIGHT!
Doubting moments --- ANCHOR IN FAITH!
Happy moments --- PRAISE GOD!
Difficult moments --- SEEK GOD!
Quiet moments --- WORSHIP GOD!
Painful moments --- TRUST GOD!
Every moment --- THANK GOD!
In life we are like a BROKEN MIRROR...
We are not the light, we just reflect the light!
Even in times of darkness a BROKEN MIRROR CAN REFLECT THE LIGHT.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part 4 of DARKNESS, part 5 is about the light...
Friday is here, BUT SUNDAY IS COMING...
