WE REMEMBER THE FISH AND GARLIC
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
INTRODUCTION:
There was a beautiful young dove. She was not only beautiful she was smart
and very educated. Pretty Dove was raised in church and Sunday School was
a love for her. Pretty Dove was taught the Bible and she learned right from
wrong. Pretty Dove's parents were leaders in their community as well as in their
church. Pretty Dove was a great example for the other young doves around her.
One day Pretty Dove was out at the local Shoney's and Buzzard was hanging
around. Buzzard was much different than any male Pretty Dove ever met. Buzzard
was rough and had a great appeal to her.
Buzzard was exciting and very physical. Pretty Dove loved the attention Buzzard
gave her. Buzzard kept Pretty Dove out passed her normal time. Pretty Dove
started smelling like Buzzard.
One night Momma Dove waited up and had a serious talk about Buzzard and
how his life style was against everything they taught.
Pretty Dove said: MOM, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW BUZZAED MAKES ME FEEL...
I LOVE HIM AND BESIDE THAT ALL YOU DOVES TALK NEGATIVE ABOUT BUZZARDS
AND YOU DON'T GIVE THEM A CHANCE. Mom, I can change BUZZAED. Quit being
so prejudice.
Pretty Dove went to bed crying.
The next morning was Sunday, and Preacher Dove asked to speak with Pretty Dove.
Preacher Dove said I have noticed a serious change in your appearance. Pretty Dove
you have bad attitudes and you are headed down a SLIPPERY SLOPE. Pretty Dove
got very angry at Preacher and told him: PREACHER, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I LOVE BUZZARD AND I AM GOING TO CHANGE HIM.
Pretty Dove wanted her FREEDOM from all the cruel rules and judgmentalism of
her parents and the people at church. So Pretty Dove moved out of the house and
stayed with her friends here and there. Pretty Dove started spending more and more
time with Buzzard.
She would go to the old dead varmints just to hang with Buzzard. It was not to long
until Pretty Dove had fleas and then later lice that Buzzard gave her. They would hang
together with many other Buzzards and the smell got horrible.
Pretty Dove accepted the invitation to move in with Buzzard. Then Pretty Dove
was so happy. Buzzard quit taking Pretty Dove out with him. One night Buzzard never
came home all night. When he came home Buzzard was mean and pushed Pretty Dove
around. Pretty Dove cried all night. Pretty Dove prayed and asked God to help change
Buzzard. Buzzard would not listen.
Pretty Dove felt trapped. She could not leave. She could not admit that her Mother and
that the Preacher was right. Pretty Dove called the Jerry Springer Show and even tried
to get on MAURY as she wanted others to know: BUZZARDS ARE BUZZARDS AND CAN
NEVER BE MADE INTO DOVES.
I. THERE IS A WONDERFUL TOOL IN FRIENDSHIPS ---
SPIRITUAL COMPROMISE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS...
COMPROMISE:
A. Mutual settlement of a dispute
Intermediate state of conflicting opinions or actions
Mutually settle a dispute
To modify opinion or demand
B. We are not saved by COMPROMISE!
We are saved by GRACE and MERCY that will always defeat justice.
The LETTER OF THE LAW KILLS --- IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT BRINGS NEW LIFE...
II. NOT TO FAR AWAY
PHAROAH IS A WISE POLITICIAN AND HE HAS LANGUAGE SKILLS TO
MANIPULATE, WORLDLY WISDOM WANTS TO KEEP A SECURITY BRIDGE
THAT LEAVES THE AVENUE OF COMPROMISE OPEN...
Exodus 8:28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord
your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.
A. LET US MAKE A POTICIAL COMPROMISE AND A REAL BARGAIN:
PHAROAH WILL LET YOU GO... IT SHALL NOT BE VERY FAR AWAY...
B. LET US COMPROMISE AND STAY IN MODERATION...
C. NOT FAR AWAY... LEAVE IT EASY TO RETURN...
NOT FAR AWAY... TO MAKE THE ESCAPE IMPOSSIBLE
NOT FAR AWAY... TO KEEP GOD'S CHILLDREN UNDER EGYPTIAN CONTROL
NOT FAR AWAY... TO KEEP PHAROAH'S ARMY AND POWERS TO MANIPULATE
NOT FAR AWAY... TO KEEP THE GOSSIP AND BIG MOUTHS TALKING ABOUT
THE FISH, LEEKS, GARLICS, CUMCUMBERS...
D. PHAROAH WOULD NEVER CARE IF GOD'S CHILDREN KEPT CONFORMING
TO HIS DICTATES...
E. Compromise would demand the ISRAELI'S STAY WORLD AND LINKED TO THE
FLESHLY SATIISFACTION and SECURITY of Egypt...
F. COME ON NOW, LET'S BE SPIIRITUALLY MINDED BUT FOR 400 YEARS THIS
HAS BECOME HOME...
G. DON'T CLOUD THE TRUTH WITH THE FACTS...
III. PHAROAH OFFERS A SECOND BARGAIN OF COMPROMISE:
OK, I WILL LET YOU GO...
JUST LEAVE YOU FAMILIES BEHIND... THANK GOD FOR LEADERSHIP
THAT REFUSES TO COMPROMISE...
Exodus 10:10 And he said unto them, Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let
you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.
[11] Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord; for that ye did desire.
And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.
A. Our enemy does not mind part of the family worshipping God...
B. MEN WORSHIP GOD... BUT LEAVE YOUR FAMILY back here in Egypt...
C. Often now days the WOMEN have to be the spiritual leaders of the home.
D. NEVER COMPROMISE AND GO WORSHIP GOD WITHOUT THE FAMILY.
WORSHIP CAN NEVER BE COMPLETE UNLESS THE LAD BE WITH US...
IV. BY LEADERSHIP PRESSURE AND BAD CONDITIONS PHAROAH HAS ANOTHER
BARGAIN TO OFFER... MAYBE THE CHILDREN OF GOD ARE TIRED NOW AND
MAYBE THEIR LEADERSHIP IS READY TO ACCEPT MY BARGAIN...
YES, I WILL LET YOU GO --- LEAVE YOU STUFF HERE...
Exodus 10:24 And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the Lord;
only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.
[25] And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that
we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God.
[26] Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for
thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God; and we know not with what we
must serve the Lord, until we come thither.
A. THIS DEAL IS VERY CARE, GO WORSHIP GOD ALL YOU WANT TO...
TAKE NOT SACRIFICE...
B. WORSHIP CAN NEVER BE WORSHIP WITHOUT AN OFFERING OF LOVE...
C. Abraham made a prophetic statement: GOD WILL PROVIDE THE LAMB...
D. TO WALK SUCCESSFULLLY TOWARD THE WILDERNESS OF GOD ONE
MUST BURN THE BRIDGES TO KEEP ONE FROM RETURNING...
E. Materialism and wrong priorities will always lead one to RETURN TO THE VOMIT...
F. Once again thank God for GOD CALLED LEADERSHIP THAT SEES THE
TEMPTATION OF BARGAINING AWAY BY SPIRITUAL COMPROMISE...
GOD'S LEADERS MUST NEVER COMPROMISE...
THE CHURCH AND HER LEADERS MUST NEVER BARGAIN AWAY:
1. STAY NEAR EGYPT...
2. LEAVE YOUR FAMILIES...
3. LEAVE YOUR POSSESSIONS...
V. THERE WAS A BATTLE GOING ON WITHIN THE CAMP OF GOD...
ABRAHAM AND HIS NEPHEW LOT...
THE PROBLEM OF THE HEART IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM...
A. Lot did not respect and honor his Uncle Abraham as he should...
B. There was strife and contention within the camp...
C. Lot had a BAD ATTITUDE... and it shows...
Genesis 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities
of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
D. LOT'S HOUSE WAS NOT FAR AWAY FROM SODOM GOMMORAH...
HIS HOUSE WAS IN THE TOWN...
THUS LOT LOST EVERYTHING BUT WHAT THEY COULD CARRY...
LOT WANTS TO BARGAIN WITH THE ANGEL... I CAN'T MAKE IT...
CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN IS TOO HARD...
Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad,
that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in
all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
[18] And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
[19] Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast
magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life;
and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
[20] Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me
escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
E. LOT WAS NOT FAR AWAY...
F. God calls His People to COME APART or Come apart...
God's call is clear: COME OUT FROM AMONG SIN AND SEPARATE YOURSELF...
G. IF YOU LOOK LIKE THE WORLD... SMELL LIKE THE WORLD... AND ACT LIKE
THE WORLD... YOU PROBABLY ARE THE WORLD...
H. LOOK AT WHAT LOT'S DESIRES COST HIM...
LOT WAS NOT HAPPY WITH HIS COMPROMISE AND FEAR GREW WITHIN...
Genesis 19:30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his
two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave,
he and his two daughters.
I. FEAR IS A BY PRODUCT OF COMPROMISE.
2 Samuel 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the
time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants
with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon,
and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
CAN YOU HEAR GOD'S TRUMPET? COME YE OUT...
GOD IS CALLING HIS PEOPLE FAR AWAY...
TO FOLLOW GOD'S PLAN HOLY AND WHOLLY WE MUST LEAVE THE PAGAN
EGYPT AND GO STRAIGTH TO THE WILDERNESS...
THERE MUST COME A CLEAN BREAK.
THE WILDERNESS HAS A PURPOSE TO SEPARATE US... FROM THE CARNAL.
Do we want to BARGAIN WITH GOD?
PLEASURE VS WORSHIP?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Pass it on?
