MY PURPOSE? --- MY GOALS?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I HAVE A PAIR OF SPURS, I ATTACH THEM TO MY SHOES...
Proverbs 26:20 (KJV) Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is
no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
Proverbs 26:20 (MSG) When you run out of wood, the fire goes out; when the gossip
ends, the quarrel dies down.
I. WHAT MESSAGE AM I REALLY SENDING?
DO I HEAR THE HEART OF GOD? DO I HAVE MIXED EMOTIONS?
WHAT AM I REALLY DO FOR GOD? THE CHURCH? MY FAMILY?
I PONDER TODAY: WHAT IS MY PURPOSE? WHAT ARE MY GOALS?
MODEL: to copy something, to serve as a pattern, to mimic, imitation,
to guide, to lead, worthy of imitation, good example,
1 Corinthians 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself
to the battle?
1 Corinthians 14:8 (NIV) Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get
ready for battle?
1 Corinthians 14:8 (MSG) If the trumpet call can't be distinguished, will anyone show up
for the battle?
A. AM I REALLY READY?
AM I PREPARING OTHERS?
AM I HUNG UP IN THE THINGS OFF THIS WORLD?
And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?
B. IT IS PROBABLY TO LATE TO SHARPEN YOUR SWORD WHEN YOU HEAR THE
CRY OF THE CALL TO BATTLE FROM THE TRUMPET?
C. My simple definition of A GOOD LIFE is seeing a need and doing what you can
physically, also doing battle in the spiritual realms until God and you make
a difference.
1. GIVING OUT FISH VS TEACHING TO FISH?
Ministry to be real effective must be more than feeding in a soup-line and
returning to the vomit of this world. Many are like the poor "certain priest"
and "certain levite" in the NT, they saw the hurting Samaritan, but they didn't
minister to him. He was left hurting. Perhaps the certain leaders prayed, and
then said be thou warmed and filled (James 2:15--17.) This is not real ministry?
James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding
ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
2. Yes, real ministry helps fulfill physical needs where possible, but real ministry must reach
beyond the reach of human hands. We are no more than government projects if we minister
not to the soul and spirit. I have made hospital visits and forgot to pray? We need to survey
what is real ministry and am I effectively reaching to human needs and bypassing spiritual truths?
3. We fine great emptiness and lack of satisfaction when we have done our best and never
ministered to the real need?
E. ARE WE JUST ENABLERS ---
IF WE CONTINUE HABITS, AND NEVER CHANGE --- WE BECOME SPIRITUAL ENABLERS
II. REAL LIFE REALIZES THERE IS GREAT VALUE IN MODELING...
SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF PROMISE KNOW LEAN TIMES, SEASONS OF TESTING,
AND THE VALUE OF THE TEST.
A. --- MODELING! Today, we suggest do as I preach.
Paul warned us, that we must model our sermons before the people we lead.
B. Leadership must know hard trials and obstacles and how to overcome; to first learn to rely
on God and secondly, to effectively declare the potential of trusting the Lord.
C. The great "sons of the promise" went through terrible test and hard times, to teach the minister
that effective ministry can come only after the "TEST OF FAITH."
Abraham had one dream, --- a son, --- and how cruel was God for suggesting to Abraham to lay
his SON ON THE ALTAR? God never needed to test Abe, God knew Abe! Abe needed the test to
be an effective FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL.
1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
WE TEND TO MAKE EXCUSES AND PROCRASTANATEAND BECOME POOR MODELS.
Luke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury
my father.
III. TO MODEL MEANS WE HAVE TO REALIZE OTHERS ARE WATCHING.
Luke 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life
shall preserve it.
A. The message burns in my bones! I can't quit.
B. Several years ago in Virginia, some kids were found in a cave, the Mom slopped the kids like pigs,
the kids lived in a cave. They never saw anyone walk, or heard anyone talk.
When they were found, the kids were believed seriously retarded.
C. An old lady took the kids, adopted them. They watched her walk and learned to walk.
They heard her and her husband talk and soon the kids were talking. They learned to eat with
a spoon and fork. Why now and not before?
D. They had a role-model ---to see and learn. What are you modeling before others?
E. Quit screaming!
Others are watching you ... they will copy you, they will pattern their actions by your reactions?
We must show God's design. The world can show you how to act in good times, only a servant
of God can stand before the fire and declare a trust no matter what?
IV. What kind of church would the church be, if every member were just like me?
Don't preach how to pray and then not model before God's people?
Parents you are a model! Your little controlling fits teach! Like it or not you model, and are setting
guidance patterns before others. BEWARE, OF THE MILLSTONE!
V. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR US TO MENTOR... COACH
ATEACH HAS TO LEARN TWICE ---
A TEACHER LIVES FOREVER...
MENTOR: TO TEACH BY EXAMPLE, TO HELP, GIVE ADVICE, TRUSTED COUNSELOR,
GUIDE, TUDOR, COACH, TO TRAIN, TO DISCIPLINE, TEACH TO MAKE WISE DISCISIONS,
A. ---MENTOR. GOD'S WORDS ABOUT THIS ARE FOUND:
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort
with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Mark 12:14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true,
and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in
truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased,
one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
B. WE ARE TWO THINGS IN LIFE:
1. A STUDENT
2. A TEACHER
WHAT ARE YOU TEACHING?
C. As I ponder mentoring, it is much different from modeling.
Modeling has no choice, mentoring is like adopting.
D. No ministry is a success without a successor.
Good ministry must train others to help at home.
But real good ministry trains for an investment, to give to another flock and
to aid this flock, a well trained leader.
Good mentoring reaches out, and is not just to use at home, but to send out as
seed for the harvest.
E. To mentor one must give much time and talent, that may never be returned to the
teacher directly, but for the Kingdom's sake.
Most OF LIFE is self-feeding. Seeking self return. This is good but we must launch others,
and kiss them with blessings and guidance even after the launch.
F. We need coaches in the church. We need trusted counselors to share burdens
with little to a no applause returned? If every good worker in the church, saw part of their
duty was to train others. But, it is easier to do everything yourself today, but tomorrow
may come ... death is sure.
G. We pray enlargement will come.
We must train more workers. We are to pray for more workers in the harvest, but wise
leadership is always preparing new ones. We must put feet and training to our prayers.
H. I have told pastors complaining of no musicians, they should take lessons to learn to
play and their family should, too. He would rather pray for musicians than learn?
Maybe he could answer his own prayer? For two years, I have given every Friday night to
teaching a group of musicians music, now they play in every service with me.
I had a selfish motive, I need them. I have taught a near 55 year old man to play,
I needed him in the rest home to play with me. He goes to another church, but he helps me.
But it has cost me time and money!
I. MY SONS AND GRANDSONS play music on either side of me. This has cost me thousands of
dollars and more hours. They never wanted to practice. I had to take on their momma,
but today both can play more than one instrument. What if every good teacher and eve
good musician taught two more?
I can take you to many pastors that have modeled, I am pastor, I don't
have to use my talent publicly, and thus missed a mentoring experience? What if the
members never used their talent? It is easier to pray for God to send us workers, than to be
patient and train our own?
J. I asked God for a 2x6, and He gave me an acorn?
VI. WE HAVE SOME MEGA BUCK SPEAKERS THAT HAVE ONE PURPOSE...
THEY TRAVEL TO MOTIVATE AND SPUR A GREAT ACTION OF THOSE
AROUND THEM...
A. ARE YOU A MOTIVATOR! God's words MUST MOTIVE...
MOTIVATOR: TO GIVE REASON TO DO SOMETHING, to count the consequences,
to impel, the locomotive on a train, to spur to greater action, to stimulate action, to induce,
SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU WANT THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name.
But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with
forbearing, and I could not stay.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto
you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
B. We have a serious problem in the church today: People with great wisdom and no ZEAL.
ZWW OR WWZ:
ZEAL WITH NO WISDOM VS WISDOM AND NO ZEAL?
C.Remember in the NT, where there were people addicted to the ministry?
Addicted, you can't live without --- tolerance is involved in addiction ---
you must have more and more.
I can tell which team is winning and never look at the score board?
Prov. 6:6 Go to the ant ---- ants have no leaders bossing, just excited
workers and other ants feel and smell the excitement and they all join to
complete the task. What would happen if the pastor got excited?
I am not in Smiths Grove because I have to be. I love the Lord, I love His church, I love
His people.
You know what a spur is to the horse? We need people to step into the role
of stimulator. To encourage and challenge. Many tears on Judgment Day will
come because we will see what we could have done and didn't. Try. Try again.
D. We have much potential energy setting on our pews, we need kinetic energy in
motion. You could cause desire to increase, or excuse yourself? Pass excitement
on to others? Are you too tired to motivate?
Get excited, energized, invigorated, revitalized, renewed, and ignite.
I have prayed for some ignitors to help me.
Someone says, "Yes, but the wood is wet!"
God says, "Build a fire, your heat can dry out the wood, and
revival fires burn. It is up to YOU!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
