#1 EUREKA... I HAVE FOUND IT...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I. INTRODUCTION:
I KNOW FOR A CERTAINY THAT MOST OF MY LIFE UNCERTAINITIES WILL BE PART
OF MY JOURNEY.
WHAT WILL WE DO WHEN WE RECEIVE BAD NEWS... ???
HOW WILL YOU LOOK AT THE FUTURE WHEN THE FUTURE APPEARS TO BE TERRIBLE?
Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,
and which entereth into that within the veil;
A. Do you realize the way you look at the future influences what you will do with today?
They way we look at the future we can harbor tenancies of gloom, despair and we can
be OVERCOME by EXPECTING THE WORSE.
If we are moved by PESSIMISM... doom and gloom... OUR THOUGHT PATTERNS and
DAILY ACTIONS and even our WORDS will establish the PATTERN TO ACCEPT WE HAVE
NO FUTURE...
B. We yield to HOPELESSNESS, DEFEATISM, NEGATIVIITY, CYNICISM, MISERY, DESPAIR,
GLOOM and we walk daily in DEPRESSION as a way of life.
C. Are we allowing the circumstances and happening of today to DICTATE to our SPIRIT
PERSON? The Bible has ALWAYS FOCUSED on a GREAT SENSE OF EXPECTATION OF
HOPE. We clearly state on BIBLICAL PROMISES...
D. FEAR CAN PARALYZE ANY BELIEVER... I propose that LOOSING HOPE AND PEACE will make
one feeble and LOOSE SIGHT OF THEIR GOAL.
Most journeys may have STRANGE TWIST that make little sense to the eyes or the emotions.
Often mental, physical, emotional and SPIRITUAL HEALTH CAN BE TESTED WHERE THERE IS
A LOSE OF HOPE AND PEACE.
E. THERE IS GOOD NEWS... THE BAD NEWS DOES NOT HAVE TO CONTROL OUR HEARTS.
We can make the choice to NOT BE DOWN-HEARTED...
THE GOOD NEWS ALLOWS EACH BELIEVER TO STAND AND DREAM AND LONG IN
CONFIDENCE THAT OUR GOD IS IN CONTROL.
F. NOTHING CAN HAPPEN TODAY THAT CAUGHT OUR GOD OFF GUARD.
God all through history has taken BAD NEWS and IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS and turned
the SITUATION to benefit the individual, the family, the church or the whole society.
G. IF GOD BRINGS ME TO IT --- GOD CAN BRING ME THROUGH IT ---
WE HAVE A FUTURE! JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!
WE MUST DEVELOP A STRONG FAITH FOUNDATION THAT NOTHING CAN HAPPEN TO ME
OR IN ME THAT CAN NOT MAKE ME A BETTER PERSON...
H. I am here to learn, to develop, to grow... God has a plan... This plan will make me a better
person.
I. I am told about a great masterpiece sculpted out of marble.
When it was unveiled the masterpiece was a huge horse. The horse's nostrils were perfect.
The muscles were amazing, even the veins stood out.
The critics were all amazed at the great statue of the horse.
Someone spoke out of the crowd... "HOW DID YOU DO IT?'
The master with the hammer and chisel stepped forward and said:
"IT WAS VERY EASY, I TOOK MY HAMMER AND CHISEL AND KNOCKED OFF EVERYTHING
THAT DID NOT LOOK LIKE A HORSE!
J. Can you hear the Master? The plan is to build better people.
It is important to focus on HOPE...
THOSE CAN THHAT THING THEY CAN!
K. Any person that is breathing that HAS LITTLE TO NO HOPE is limited...
I MUST FOCUS ON THE ANCHOR OF HOPE...
HOPE CAN BE SURE AND STEADFAST
L. Paul the preacher had warned the captain of the ship...
The storms came and appeared to have DEFEATED the PURPOSE...
Yet, the leaders had enough sense to DROP THE ANCHOR AND WISH FOR THE DAY...
Acts 27:29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the
stern, and wished for the day.
M. If uncertainties are certain... Then I must find that spot at the FOOT OF THE CROSS...
When all around me appears to be SHIFTING SAND ... THE IS A SOLID ROCK ON WHICH
I CAN STAND.
N. IT IS EASIER TO DIAGNOSE PHYSICAL PROBLEMS THAN SPIRITUAL TRUTHS...
Seems we can X-RAY or use a CAT SCAN on the heart or lungs than to
O. SEE SPIRITUAL SYMPTOMS and DIAGNOSING THE REAL PROBLEM OF LIFE AND
WORSHIP AND KNOWING GOD CAN NEVER BE EASY.
We must IDENTIIFY and CORRECT UNHEALTHY EMOTIONAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL
PROBLEMS. We have a HEALER IN OUR MIDST.
P. GREAT MEN OF GOD KNEW THE CERTAINTY OF UNCERTAINIES AND HAD TO OVERCOME...
VICTORY MAY TAKE MANY FORMS...
Hebrews 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds
and imprisonment:
[37] They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they
wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
[38] (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in
dens and caves of the earth. [39] And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,
received not the promise:
[40] God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
II. WHAT ARE WE SEEKING? ASK? SEEK? KNOCK?
WHAT KIND OF VALUE SYSTEM HAVE YOU DEVELOPED... ???
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU?
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you:
[8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it
shall be opened.
A. There are several truths we find about a VALUE SYSTEM:
1. ASK ... to look for an answer, make a request, inquire ...
2. SEEK... to make a search, want to find, endeavor, hunt
3. KNOCK... to strike at a door to gain admittance, to finish work, to defeat, pound...
B. HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED FOR FOR SOMETHING AND FOUND SOMETHING ELSE?
C. THERE IS A CLEAR PROMISE... with your level of approach there is a benefit...
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you:
[8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it
shall be opened.
D. We find in life we develop a PRIORITY SYSTEM... WHAT YOU VALUE....
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.
E. WHAT YOU LOVE YOU WILL FIND TIME...
IT IS A SPIIRITUAL LAW... YOUR VALUE SYSTEM WILL EXPRESS IT SELF...
III. THERE IS AN OLD WORD YOU DON'T HEAR VERY MUCH CALLED EUREKA...
Eureka means: I HAVE FOUND IT...
A. Eureka was the way one ANNOUNCED THEY HAD MADE A DISCOVERY...
B. Eureka was often used in the west when one discovered silver or gold.
C. It was not enough to just YELL EUREKA, one had to stake a CLAIM.
A claim was an announcement of ACHIEVEMENT to assert a demand to
ONE'S DUE OR PROPERTY.
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
[25] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my
sake shall find it.
IV. I READ A STORY OF A SILVER MINE IN COLORADO, WHERE A FAMILY FOUND IT...
EUREKA...
Genesis 25:31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
[32] And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright
do to me?
[33] And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his
birthright unto Jacob.
[34] Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and
rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
A. One of the family members found some pure silver and they LAID THEIR CLAIM...
To the property. They found some huge PIECES of SILVER.
B. The family all pooled their resources and purchased mining equipment and they were
going to be RICH.
C. They worked hour after hour. They took little time to rest. Their thousands of
hours of work paid them nothing. They never found any more SILVER.
D. They gave up everything and worked until all HOPE WAS GONE.
The family was exhausted, BROKEN and SPILLED OUT.
E. One day the HOPELESS FAMILY discussed all their loses and decided to
SALE OUT AND RETURN TO THEIR JOBS IN THE EAST.
F. The FAMILY started advertising and told about all the SILVER they had found at
first and they could not find a buyer.
G. Finally the FAMILY FOUND A SUCKER, he bought the property and the MINING
EQUIPMENT FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR. They made the agreement, received
their money and caught the train for the east and was glad to GET AWAY. Their life
savings and all their HOPE was LOST IN COLORADO. They left their dreams in the mud.
H. It was rainy season, so the new owner didn't even go out to the property.
Come spring the owner and his family went out to the land.
He jumped up on the piece of equipment and it started right away.
He dug about THREE FEET and backed up and HE HAD UNCOVERED THE LARGEST
SEAM OF SILVER EVER DISCOVERED IN COLORADO.
I. IN LESS THAN THREE FEET THE MAN BECAME A MILLIONAIRE...
K. THE SAD STORY IS A FAMILY QUIT THREE FEET FROM A MIRACLE...
ARE WE ABOUT READY TO GIVE UP? HAVE WE LOST ALL HOPE?
WILL WE TRANSFER OUR DREAMS FREELY?
H. ESAU DID NOT VALUE HIS FAMILY...
ESAU DESPISED HIS BIRTHRIGHT....
ESAU GIVE HIS INHERITANCE FOR A BOWL OF SOUP...
V. THERE ARE THREE ISSUUES THAT WE SELDOM LOOK AT IN THE SPIRITUAL
REALM... THEY ARE VALUE, COST, WORTH...
WE LOOK AT VALUE, COST, WORTH IN THE CARNAL/ FLESH...
WHAT ABOUT THE SPIRIT...
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
[25] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake
shall find it.
[26] For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or
what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
A. One man gets paid minimum wage?
Another man makes $100,000 a day? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
B. I had a friend that had a beautiful GIBSON FLATTOP...
The Gibson was old and in mint condition.
HE SOLD THE GIBSON AT A PAWN SHOP FOR $35.
HE NEEDED MONEY TO BUY SOME BEER...
The Gibson would have been worth several thousand dollars...
The man made a CHOICE ... He had planned to buy it back?
C. VALUE:
ONE'S JUDGMENT OF WHAT IS VALUABLE OR IMPORTANT IN LIFE.
Worth as estimated...
The amount of money or goods something is expected to bring in open exchange.
The ability of a thing to serve a purpose or cause an effect.
D. COST:
What a thing will be obtainable for...
The price something will bring...
Value verses benefits...
E. WORTH:
What a person or thing is valued at...
Of value equivalent
Such as to justify or repay
Matthew 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
[44] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a
man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and
buyeth that field.
[45] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
[46] Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had,
and bought it.
VI. EVER HEARD OF SOME STRANGE TWIST IN LIFE REVEALING A VALUE SYSTEM?
A. I went to a yard sale in the mountains of eastern Kentucky. I saw an old dirty fiddle.
The man asked $35 for the fiddle and the case?
I had an old guitar someone gave me from Sears and Roebuck...
I offered to trade. He accepted.
I put the fiddle up for years. One day I got the dirty fiddle out of the case and started
cleaning and working on it. Under all the ROSIN (pine tar), dust and dirt was a beautiful
work of a master.
Come to find out it was built in 1919 in Germany by a man named Martin.
I had the fiddle appraised in Nashville... The man offered me almost $1,000.
I sold it.
What was the difference in $35 and $1,000? Value? Worth? Cost?
B. I read a man was traveling from yard sale to yard sale.
He saw this ''STRANGE ROCK" for sale for $8.00.
He offered the man $4.00 for the rock. The man agreed to $6.00.
Later the man that purchased the rock for $6.00 had the rock appraised
and sold it for $250,000? Wow. Cost? Value? Worth?
C. The other day while I was at BIG O Tire, I saw in a magazine a man paid $480
for a used guitar at a pawn shop. He bought it for his son. His son never hardly touched
the guitar and they put it upstairs. He read something about Gibson, he went upstairs
dug out the guitar and sure enough it was a Gibson.
The man sent the Gibson to Boston for an auction, the guitar sold for $525,000.
Why? Value? Worth? Cost?
VII. WALKING AND LIVING ON THE EDGE?
WANT A REAL LESSON IN SPIRITUALTREASURERS AND VALUE SYSTEMS?
RECALL THE SHORTEST VERSE IN THE BIBLE...
Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.
A. It does not take a lot of words to discuss value systems...
B. There is an Old Testament character that SEEMED CONTENT TO LIVE ON THE EDGE...
LOT'S VALUE SYSTEM SEEMED TO DIFFER FROM HIS UNCLE...
C. Abraham was Lot's uncle. Abraham built ALTARS and dug WELLS everywhere
he went... There is no historical evidence that Lot ever built an ALTAR or dug a WELL?
D. LOT'S PRIORITY SYSTEM WAS REVEALED EARLY IN HIS LIFE...
Lot was always LINGERING... his priority system was DISTORTED...
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.
E. LOT HAD CLEAR DIRECTIONS... HE WAS WARNED...
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.
F. LOT AND LOT'S WIFE DID NOT BELIEVE WHAT GOD SAID...
Genesis 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
G. THE REAL ISSUE WAS NOT THE LOOK BACK...
THE REAL ISSUE WAS A HEART PROBLEM...
THE PROBLEM OF THE HEART IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM...
CONCLUSION: WHO WOULD YOU HIRE?
I heard a story of a millionaire in the western states. He was looking for a man that
was very good with horses and buggy's. This rich man needed someone to drive
the horse and buggy with his wife and kids to take them places.
They had to ride by a huge cliff that dropped several hundred feet.
He asked the first man: HOW CLOSE CAN YOU DRIVE TO THE EDGE OF THE
CLIFF?
The man replied: I could drive within a foot of the edge of the cliff, and the man
hooked up the horses and demonstrated his skills.
The second man said: I could drive that horse and buggy within inches of the cliff.
The man hooked up the horses to the buggy and it took the owners breath to watch
how close the driver came to the edge of the cliff.
The third man was an older man.
When the owner asked the question, HOW CLOSE TO EDGE OF THE CLIFF CAN
YOU DRIVE THE HORSE AND BUGGY?
The old man said: I would stay as far away from the cliff as possible. Why take any changes?
Now, who would you have hired to drive your family on a regular basis?
The old man was hired and worked for so many years for the family, he became like the family.
WHAT VALUE SYSTEM WILL YOU DEVELOP?
HAVE YOU FOUND GOD'S SYSTEM? EUREKA! EUREKA!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Pass it on?
