LET US TALK ABOUT UNDER DOGS... WE CAN'T DO THIS...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
When I was a boy we had a super hero: incognito he was a shoe shine boy...
He had a secret compartment in his ring... it had a "SUPER ENERGY PILL" in his ring.
He would say: THERE IS NO FEAR --- UNDERDOG IS HERE...
NO BIRD, NOR PLANE, NOR EVEN A FROG
JUST LITTLE OLD ME --- UNDERDOG...
Then Underdog would crash in...
UNDERDOG VS TOP DOG...
Underdog: In any competition the UNDERDOG by popular opinion and odds are suppose to
be the loser...
Top dog: by odds setters are suppose to win...
I. THERE ARISES A CRY FROM WITHIN THE CHURCH...
WE CAN NOT DO THIS...
I CAN'T, I QUIT...
KJV
Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the
streets.
MESSAGE...
Proverbs 22:13 The loafer says, "There's a lion on the loose!If I go out I'll be eaten alive!"
A. BEN FRANLIN SAID:
A MAN THAT IS GOOD AT MAKING EXCUSES IS GOOD FOR NOTHING ELSE...
B. THOMAS EDISON SAID:
GENIUS IS ONE PER CENT INSPIRATION, NINETY NINE PER CENT PERSPIRATION...
II. I CAN'T HAS SEVERAL PARTNERS...
A. LAZINESS
B. I QUIT... I CAN NOT DO THIS...
Luke 14:18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him,
I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused
C. ONE MAKES AN EXCUSE... MANY OTHERS WILL FOLLOW...
1. BOUGHT LAND... he already looked at the land or he was a fool... materialism
2. BOUGHT OXEN... he already proved the oxen or he was a fool... relationship
3. MARRIED A WIFE... he could have changed the schedule... relationships
III. I CAN'T DOES NOT CONSIDER THE PRECEDENCE IT SETS FOR OTHERS...
A. PRECEDENCE: setting a priority of importance.
B. Adam set precedent for his son... That woman you gave me---
Cain says: I AM I MY BROTHERS KEEPER...
C. Older brother Moses excuses: I can't talk good...
Younger brother Aaron excuses: We broke gold and put it in the fire... CALF walks out.
D. THE PRODIGAL SON set a precedence...
Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that
falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
[13] And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a
far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
[14] And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
[15] And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to
feed swine.
IV. PAUL HAS A SPECIAL MESSAGE ABOUT QUITTING... A PRECEDENT FOR A FRIEND...
PAUL WROTE 14 OF THE 27 NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS...
PAUL IS NOW AN OLD MAN AND WE SEE HIS BOOKS TAKE ON A NEW FEVOR...
PAUL WRITES A BOOK TO THE CHURCH AT COLOSSIA...
NEAR THE END OF THE BOOK PAUL WRITES A PERSONAL NOTE TO ONE MAN...
WE ARE THAT ONE MAN...
A. PAUL HAD A FRIEND NAMED ARCHIPPUS...
Archippus is twice mentioned in Paul's writings...
B. Paul must have seen something developing in his friend, Archippus...
KJV
Col. 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,
that thou fulfil it.
NIV
Col. 4:17 Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."
LB
Col. 4:17 And say to Archippus, "Be sure that you do all the Lord has told you to."
MESSAGE
Col. 4:17 And, oh, yes, tell Archippus, "Do your best in the job you received from the Master.
Do your very best."
C. WHAT IS PAUL'S LESSON TO ARCHIPPUS?
We don't know who Archippus was?
We don't know what Archippus work was?
D. SOME SCHOOLS HAVE SOCIAL PROMOTION...
THE LESSON OF ARCHIPPUS IS CLEAR: FINISH THE WORK BEFORE YOU...
V. WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE LEAVE UNFINISHED WORKS?
I HAVE HEARD ALL MY LIFE A COW GIVES MILK...
I HAVE NEVER SEEN A COW GIVE A GALLON OF MILK...
A. WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
1. An art gallery to display talent?
2. An ABOTION CLINIC where we kill new life?
3. A nursery where we baby sit and keep the eternal babyhood of believers?
4. The church is not a TREADMILL?
5. The church is not a kitchen for gluttony?
6. The church is not an ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, or Convention center?
B. DID PAUL PRACTICED WHAT HE PREACHED?
2 Tim. 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
VI. THE LION DIES AT THE CROSS...
THOSE WHO SAY IT CAN'T BE DONE ARE BEING PASSED BY THOSE THAT ARE
DOING IT..
KJV
Philip. 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
MESSAGE
Philip. 3:14 where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not
turning back.
KJV
Philip. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
NIV
Philip. 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
MESSAGE
Philip. 4:13 Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who
makes me who I am.
VIII. WE HAVE A VALUABLE TREASURE...
GAIN CONFIDENCE... HAVING EXPECTATION AND HOPE... EVEN IN THE MIDST OF
TRIALS AND SUFFERINGS...
A. THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS IS WRITTEN BY PAUL... to the church at Philippi.
Philippi claimed to be deeply religious but they WERE VVERY IMMORAL...
Paul has this deep lesson that we tend to bypass now days:
TO JOYFULLY SUFFER... Paul wrote this while he was in prison.
B. THE NOUN JOY OR THE VERB REJOICE IS USED 15X's in 4 chapters...
C. Paul wants people to KNOW JESUS in a personal way...
Philip. 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much
more bold to speak the word without fear.
Philip. 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be
ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in
my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Philip. 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for
your furtherance and joy of faith;
[26] That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
D. Paul had CONFIDENCE, and he wanted this confidence to grow in us.
Paul desired to ENCOURAGE US...
NIV
Philip. 1:14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to
speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
Philip. 1:20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient
courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
Philip. 1:25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for
your progress and joy in the faith,
[26] so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account
of me.
E. THIS CONFIDENCE THAT SUFFERING WILL BRING PROGRESS...
AND JOY IN THE FAITH...
NLB
Philip. 1:14 And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence
and become more bold in telling others about Christ.
Philip. 1:20 For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me
shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will
always honor Christ, whether I live or I die.
Philip. 1:25 I am convinced of this, so I will continue with you so that you will grow and
experience the joy of your faith.
[26] Then when I return to you, you will have even more reason to boast about what Christ
Jesus has done for me.
F. ALL THIS NEGATIVE STUFF AND SUFFERING HAS GIVEN ME A PULPIT...
LET US LOOK FORWARD...
MESSAGE
Philip. 1:14 Not only that, but most of the Christians here have become far more sure of themselves
in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah.
Philip. 1:20 I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don't expect to be embarrassed in the least.
On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately
known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn't shut me up; they gave me a pulpit!
Philip. 1:25 So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of
trusting God continues.
[26] You can start looking forward to a great reunion when I come visit you again. We'll be praising
Christ, enjoying each other.
IX. PREACHER YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND... I CAN'T, I JUST CAN'T DO THAT...
THERE IS A FAMINE GOING ON... MY SON AND ME?
A. THE WIDOW WOMAN KNEW HER CONDITION...
I CAN'T DO THIS PREACHER...
1 Kings 17:12 And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal
in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and
dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
B. NOW WAIT A MINUTE, I THOUGHT GOD TOLD ME...
1 Kings 17:8 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, [9] Arise, get thee to Zarephath,
which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to
sustain thee.
C. DO NOT FEAR AN EMPTY BARREL...
D. PREACHER DECLARED GOD'S WORD BY FAITH... GIVE NO PLACE TO FEAR...
THEY SET A PRECEDENT... GOD WILL CARE FOR YOUR DAILY NECESSITIES...
1 Kings 17:13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me
thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
[14] For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the
cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.
E. IF YOU LIVE TO BE AS OLD AS METHUSELAH... GOD CAN TAKE CARE OF YOUR
NEEDS...
EACH DAY BROUGHT IT'S OWN TROUBLES AND TRIALS, .
1 Kings 17:15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and
her house, did eat many days. [16] And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse
of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.
F. THREE YEARS OF LACK? NO RAIN? NO DEW OF HEMAN?
SHE, HER SON, AND THE PREACHER NEVER KNEW THE SHORTAGE AND FAMINE...
G. WE HAVE A HOPE OUT OF THIS WORLD...
NEVER I CAN'T... ALWAYS GOD CAN... God is better than the biggest bank in the USA...
X. MY BEST EFFORT, NOW LOOK... OUR REPUTATION IS ON THE LINE...
I CAN'T, I AM A STUDENT, I WAS WORKING HELPING BUILD THIS ADDITION ON THE
SCHOOL THAT TRAINS PREACHERS... I WAS PUTTING MY BEST
A. WE HAVE SEVERAL REALLY BIG PROBLEMS...
WE HAVE NO LOGICAL SOLUTION...
2 Kings 6:5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said,
Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
B. I CAN NOT FINISH MY JOB...
THE WHOLE WORK WILL SUFFER...
THE BUILDING WILL BE DELAYED...
SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE TO TAKE UP THE SLACK...
C. This is a borrowed axe...
D. THE AXE IS IN THE JORDAN... THIS JORDAN IS A TYPE...
THE AXE IS IN DEATH... DESTRUCTION...
E. THE OLD PREACHER IS CALM... GOD HAS A PLAN WHEN THE SHARP EDGE IS
GONE... SHOW ME THE PLACE...
2 Kings 6:6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut
down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
F. THE OLDER PREACHER CUT A STICK, THREW IT IN THE JORDAN...
THE STICK IS A TYPE OF GOD'S DIVINE PLAN OF DELIVERANCE...
G. WHILE THERE WAS A DIVINE PLAN OF DELIVERANCE...
THE YOUNG MAN STILL HAD TO REACH OUT...
2 Kings 6:7 Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
H. OUR TERRIBLE ENEMY HAS A PLAN TO GET US TO LOSE OUR HEAD...
TO HINDERR THE WORK...
THIS MAY LOOK PHYSICAL... BUT THIS IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE...
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Pass it on?
