RECOGNIZE THE RED FLAGS #2
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
DO WE UNDERSTAND RED FLAGS?
A. IN MY MINISTRY I WORKED WITH A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY, THAT DID NOT HAVE
A LOT OF SELF-CONFIDENCE. She dated a few fellows, but never a long term relationship.
I knew her several years. She was a great worker with children at church. She taught Sunday
School class and did children's church. The kids loved her and her ministry thrived. It was great
to watch her develop. She longed for a boyfriend so bad. After several years. I thought she was
called into missions or full time children's ministry.
She met a "baser sort" of man, he seldom attended church except to please her. They dated.
She was so serious about him. Her mother had bad feelings and talked to her, she felt he was
not the right man to marry her daughter. RED FLAG. The mother had a heart to heart discussion,
BEWARE!
A lady from the church had prayed and prayed and felt impressed to talk to her. The lady took her
to lunch and said: I SEE RED FLAGS. The girl listened but she continued dating.
I rarely discuss certain areas, but the girl was like my daughter and I decided to talk to her.
I told her I had seen her missing more church to be with her fellow. I also saw some dangerous
and bad attitudes in this man. She listened but the trap seemed to be set.
I married her to this man even though the RED FLAGS WERE ALL AROUND.
So the faithful lady quit teaching children. They were completely out of church. I would visit
and pray with her. Before long a child was born, they were fussing all the time. He would not
hold down a job. He drank and liked to party. Every time I saw her, she was crying. Another child
came. The man was seldom home and his drinking increased. He beat her and would say he was sorry.
He moved her away to get her away from her family.
The man left her and had several affairs. It was all her fault. She called me late one night?
She saw the red flags, she refused to pay attention.
Several friends warned her, she refused to listen. Now many years later, he comes home a while,
but he is gone more than he is home. The children are teenagers with no dad. She never attends
church.
RED FLAGS ARE SERIOUS ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE HEEDED.
WHAT IS A RED FLAG?
A. RED FLAG:
A warning sign, a sign that there are problems that should be noticed and dealt with...
Something that ATTRACKS USUALLY IRRITATED ATTENTION...
B. A wake up call...
C. God is watching Jupiter for a pillow, a angel choir for a lullaby, the moon is his night light,
He don't ever sleep, HE IS BUSY WATCHING OVER HIS CREATION...
He rules the universe... but he watches over HIS PEOPLE.
CAN WE SEE THE RED FLAGS IN THE CHURCH TODAY?
21 CLEAR SIGNS THAT ARE ESTABLISHED FACTS IN TODAY'S SOCIETY AND CHURCH.
BEWARE: SIGNS OF THE TIMES ARE EVERYWHERE...
2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers
of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that
are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep
into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1. PERILOUS: possibility of death, danger, hurt, bad, unpleasant,hazardous, dangerous, risky, unhealthy,
unsafe.
2. LOVE SELF: self-focused, selfish, self-centered,
3. COVETOUS: desire, want more than you have, lust, wish
4. BOASTERS: brag, to state too much pride in self and what you have done, to lift you up and
thus put others down, to be puffed up, demand attention.
5. PROUD: very happy and pleased with self, attitude that you are more important and better than...
excessive self esteem, superior
6. BLASPHEMERS: to show a lack of respect for others and God, irreverence,
7. DISOBEDIENT TO AUTHORITY: (parents) to fail to obey rules and authority, mock, rebel...
8. UNTHANKFUL: not grateful, demanding, entitlement,owe me
9. UNHOLY: no respect for God or religion, working together for a bad purpose, bad, to show disregard
for what is holy.
10. WITHOUT NATURUAL AFFECTION: To make choices that are against the laws of nature, to love
the things that not based on a sense of right or wrong.
11. TRUCEBREAKER: to lie, to hide the truth, untrue, false, not the whole truth, to not keep
your word, to break agreements, to fight, to oppose, to be disagreeable.
12. FALSE ACCUSERS: To blame others falsely, to say destructive and harmful ideas.
13. INCONTINENT: not in SELF-CONTROL, lacking self-restraint, unable or unwilling to accept discipline.
14. FIERCE: aggressive, very violent, angry, willing to fuss, fight and argue, to show strong emotions,
desire to kill or destroy, uncontrolled vexation...
15. DESPISE THOSE THAT ARE GOOD: There was a day when our hero were ZORRO, LONE RANGER,
those that helped the law. Today our hero show how stupid and out of touch the preachers and law
enforcement officers really are?
16. TRAITORS: a person that is not faithful, not loyal, prone to betray, not support, no help, treason,
back stabber, double crosser
17. HEADY: To love power, to get excited or dizzy with power, intoxicate,
18. HIGHMINDED: to think in elevated terms, selfish
19. TO LOVE PLEASURE AND HAPPINESS MORE THAN LOVE GOD'S WAYS:
Motivation to enjoyment and satisfaction, to desire good feelings, desire to the flesh or carnal
amusement, to seek entertainment,
20. HAVE A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING THE POWER:
Religious without personal relationship... belly as a god, no prayer life or Bible study but
love to talk about it...
21. EVERLEARNING, BUT AVOID THE TRUTH...
We are learning more and more about less and less until finally we know everything about nothing.
THE RED FLAG OF WAITING TO LATE ---
PROCRASTINATION AND DELAY --- A MORE CONVENIENT SEASON...
A. I have a friend that bought a camper and worked on it all winter preparing for a summer of
building memories with his family and grandchildren. His plans included the Smokies, the
mountains of North Carolina and east Tennessee. For the first time of his life he was concerned
about the Lord and building memories. HE HAD A BEAUTIFUL CASKET, AND A WONDERFUL
FUNERAL --- TODAY HIS BLANKET IS GRASS.
B. The Preacher preached with all his heart ---
the King heard the message and was moved...
Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled,
and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
C. Joseph and Mary lost Jesus... They found him in the FATHER'S HOUSE doing His
FATHER'S BUSINESS...
Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about
my Father's business?
CONCLUSION: JESUS IS COMING... THE SIGNS OF TIMES ARE EVERY WHERE...
THERE ARE MANY SPIRITUAL RED FLAGS... WILL WE IGNORE THE RED FLAGS AND
BE LIKE THE FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS SLEEPING WITH NO CURRENT OIL RESERVES?
Hear my heart--- BE READY!
SPIRITUAL EROSION WILL UNDERMIND THE TRUTH AND THE CHURCH.
Erosion is a slow gradual destruction. This erosion will slowly wear away the very foundations
on which Jesus has built HIS CHURCH... BEWARE OF THIS UNDERMINING OF TRUTH.
Be faithful and pray and study your Bible as never before.
Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the
earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads;
for your redemption draweth nigh.
REMEMBER LOT'S WIFE?
SAMSON HAD MANY RED FLAGS?
JUDAS HAD RED FLAGS?
Will you be like the 5 foolish virgins and miss the Lord's return?
Keep your lamp full with the oil of the Holy Spirit and your globe clean.
This is an exciting day to be alive. We have great opportunities to LET OUR LIGHT SO SHINE...
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
