BE AN UNASHAMED ACCOMPANIMENT--- HOLD THE ROPE...
THERE ARE THREATS TO THE MISSION: GIVE SEED TO THE SOW?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I buy a spool of red yarn, I cut several long pieces, I attach to the inside of my coat,
(hidden from view), I identify a few support the preacher and the ministry. I give one end
of the scarlet thread to the support and run it to the pastor. Ministry can never succeed
without supporters. I do this part after the introduction below of Rahab.
At a later time in the lesson I give every person in the crowd and red cord (8 to 12 inches long)
as a reminder to support the local man of God and to place in their Bible to pray.
INTRODUCTION:
The advancement of the Gospel comes from TEAMWORK...
TEXT:
KJV
2 Cor. 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and
multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
NIV
2 Cor. 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and
increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
THERE COMES A GREAAT DAY OF REVERSALS...
KJV
Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
MESSAGE
Matthew 20:16 "Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the
last first."
KJV
Mark 10:31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
MESSGE
Mark 10:31 This is once again the Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last,
and the last first."
I. ARE WE OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN LIVE IN VICTORY EVEN IN THE MIDST OFSOME
DEFEATS?
A. MISSION: assignment, purpose, job, calling,
Particular task or goal assigned to or assumed by a person or a group.
Military or scientific operation or expedition
Body of people sent to conduct negotiations, propagate religious faith.
B. THREAT: declaration of an intention to punish or hurt, expect something undesirable.
person that will bring harm, intimidation
C. THE THREAT WE FACE COMES FROM SEVERAL DOFFERNT SOURCES.
1. THREAT THAT COMES FROM WITHOUT... external powers
2. THE THREAT THAT COMES FROM WITHIN...
3. THERE IS A TERRIBLE THREAT THAT COMES FROM OUR ETERNAL ENEMY.
D. God has a plan of VICTORY for His people.
God desires His people to CLAIM THEIR PROMISES and live within the COVENANT He
has made with His people. God loves His people. God desires to BLESS HIS PEOPLE.
E. God's blessings will come His way and in His Time.
Part of the PLAN OF GOD is to find DIVINE REST and PEACE.
F. THE LESSON WE MUST LEARN IS:
1. GOD'S SOVEREIGNITY...
2. GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISE TO HIS PROMISES...
3. GOD WILL BRING JUDGMENT...
II. ALL GOD'S PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASSIGN THE MISSION OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S
PLAN.
A. GOD ENCOURAGES HIS MAN AND HIS PEOPLE...
Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with
Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
[6] Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land,
which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
[7] Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law,
which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou
mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
B. GOD GIVES A CLEAR MISSION AND A CLEAR WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THE PLAN.
God uses the most unlikely sources to accomplish HIS MISSION.
Joshua 2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view
the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
C. Joshua had stood with 11 OTHER SPIES and had learned the lesson.
Joshua SENDS ON A SECRET MISSION... TWO MEN... OPTIMISTIC GOOD MEN...
D. The OBSTACLLE is JERICHO, there is an OASIS in the middle of nowhere.
Jericho has had 40 YEARS TO PREPARE for this battle, and WOW, was she PREPARED...
III. EVERY MISSION HAS OBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF FAILURE...
SURE ENOUGH THE ENEMY ATTACKS FROM WITHOUT...
A. THE KING AND THE ARMY OF JERICHO ARE HOT AND HEAVY ON THE TRAIL OF THE MEN
ON GOD'S MISSION.
B. This MISSION is a SPIRITUAL MISSION...
Joshua 2:2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the
children of Israel to search out the country.
[3] And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are
entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
C. GOD GIVES THE MEN ON A MISSION A SUPPORT SYSTEM TO HELP THEM MORE THAN
SURVIVE --- BUT TO THRIVE ON THEIR MISSION.
Joshua 2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax,
which she had laid in order upon the roof.
IV. MEN ON A MISSION NEED A SUPPORT STRUCTURE... GOD IS FAITHFUL...
GOD WILL SAVE A WHOLE HOUSEHOLD THROUGH THE SUPPORT SYYSTEM OF A RED ROPE.
A. Let's talk and DEVELOP a plan...
THE MEN OF GOD ON A MISSION OF GOD WERE TOTALLY DEPENDANT UPON A STRANGER.
Know this: GOD HAD ENPOWERED AND MADE A WAY OF ESCAPE...
Joshua 2:8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
[9] And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen
upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
[10] For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of
Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and
Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
[11] And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more
courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
[12] Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will
also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:
[13] And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that
they have, and deliver our lives from death.
B. THE SCARLET CORD TO KEEP THE MEN ON THEIR MISSION WILL BECOME THE SALVATION
OF THE HOME OF PEOPLE... GOD USES PEOPLE TO TOUCH PEOPLE.
Joshua 2:15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall,
and she dwelt upon the wall.
[16] And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves
there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
V. WE SHALL TRUST THE UNSEEN HAND FOR THE MIRACLE...
THE DELIVERANCE WILL COME BY THE SAME TOOL THAT WE USE TO ACCOMPLIISH GOD'S
MISSION... THE SCARLET CORD WILL BE GOD'S DELIVERANCE... GET READY IMMEDIATELY
FOR THE DELIVERANCE TO COME.
A. THE ROPE OF DELIVERANCE FOR THE MISSION BECOMES THE ROPE OF SALVATION FOR
A WOMAN AND HER WHOLE FAMILY.
Joshua 2:17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made
us swear.
[18] Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which
thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy
father's household, home unto thee.
[19] And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall
be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall
be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
[20] And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
[21] And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed:
and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
B. You must stay within the HOUSE OF THE MISSION...
C. RAHAB DID NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF THE BATTLE, SHE IMMEDIATELY UPON THEIR
DEPARTURE HUNG THE SCARLET CORD.
D. THE CORD REPRESENTS A COMPLETE TRUST--- KNOT IN MY WINDOW, MY TRUST CAN
NOT BE REMOVED...
E. The scarlet cord over looking the DEAD SEA, or maybe toward JERUSALEM?
The scarlet cord represents OUR HOPES ---
As it hangs from the window it DECLARES IT SHALL BE WELL...
F. LET ALL MEN AND EVERY DEVIL LOOK AT THE SCARLET LINE THROUGH OUR LIVES.
G. JEVOVAH --- THE AVENGER OF THE AGES --- WILL SEE AND PASS OVER...
H. THE MISSION OF GOD IS FINISHED AT THE SCARLET THREAD...
VI. GOD HAS A GREAT MISSION FOR A LITTLE BOY... LITTLE BOYS GROW UP TO BE MEN
OF GOD... IMMEDIATELY THE ENEMY OF THE AGES DEVELOPS A COUNTER-BLOW TO
STOP GOD'S MAN... IF THE ENEMY CAN STOP GOD'S MAN, PEOPLE WILL SUFFER...
A. MOM'S HAVE A GREAT LOVE FOR GOD'S MISSION, WHEN AMRAM AND JOCHEBED
LOOKED INTO THE BABY'S EYES... THEY KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT
ABOUT THIS BOY.
B. Mom did what she could and when she could do no more she MADE A BASKET and
TRUSTED IN THE UNSEEN HANDS.
Exodus 2:3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and
daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by
the river's brink.
C. God will use the enemy to pay to feed this baby and educate him.
Exodus 2:6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept.
And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.
D. CAN WE SEE A MINISTRY IN BASKET WEAVING...
GOD TAKES THE HANDS AND DOOES HIS WORK.
VIII. ROPE HOLDERS MAY NEVER BE FAMOUS, BUT THEIR WORK IS IMPORTANT.
THERE IS A MISSION'S CALL TO EVERYONE, SOME ARE CALLED TO BE ON THE FRONT
LINES, OTHERS ARE CALLED TO BE ROPE HOLDERS... FEW SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF
HOLDING A ROPE?
A. The man of God was growing and learning and being more and more EFFECTIVE.
B. The ENEMY had a plan to SNUFF OUT THE LIGHT...
C. History records SAUL/PAUL as a very heavy man...
DOES A BASKET HAVE A CHRISTIAN ROLE?
The basket was used to keep bread fresh. Used to gather leftovers after miracles.
The basket was used to gather fruit.
The basket was used around the home for household purposes.
The basket was used to gather and keep FIGS.
D. THERE IS AN ALL OUT ATTACK TO HINDER THE MAN FROM GOD'S MISSION...
WE NEED SUPPORT --- ROPE HOLDERS ON A DAILY BASES.
Acts 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus,
proving that this is very Christ.
[23] And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
[24] But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
[25] Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
D. PAUL REMEMBERS HIS ROPE HOLDERS...
I believe many a night as Paul closed his eyes to sleep, he looked up and saw the FACES
OF THOSE HOLDING HIS ROPE, CONTROLING THE BASKET'S SUCCESS.
E. PAUL WERE RECALL HIS BASKET CASE CINDITION MANY TIMES IN HIS MINISTRY.
2 Cor. 11:32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with
a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
[33] And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
F. God's plan would use Paul to write much of the New Testament, each person that held to
the rope will receive a reward...
Matthew 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water
only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong
to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
CONCLUSION:
MINISTRY TAKES MANY FORMS. There are no big who-who's, and there are no little nobodies.
HUR WAS AS IMPORTANT TO GOD AS WAS AARON AND MOSES...
BE AN UNASHAMED ACCOMPANIMENT...
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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