FLEECE TO CHANGE?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com This is a two part lesson. 1
CHANGE YOUR HITCHING POST?
A cowboy lived in the west. This cowboy was known throughout the whole area as a wild man. He was a heavy drinker and party man. One Sunday he attended church and had a glorious personal salvation. Everyone could see the difference and the ole drunk promised God at the altar to abstain from all his former behavior. But when the cowboy came to town he always hitched his horse to the post outside the local saloon.
The Preacher said: NOW, GEORGE, I am much older than you are, and I have some good advice for you. Just listen, NO MATTER HOW STRONG YOU THINK YOU ARE, IT WOULD BE A GOOD TESTIMONY AND A GOOD OPTION FOR YOU TO AT LEAST, CHANGE YOUR HITCHPOST.
Text:
Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV) Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Jeremiah 33:3 (MSG) 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.'
Jeremiah 33:3 (NLT) Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
OFTEN WE PASSIVELY SIT BY THE ROAD AND WAIT FOR CHANGE TO OCCUR...
GOOD HEALTHY CHANGE COMES NOT BY ACCIDENT, BUT BY A DISCIPLINED PLAN.
People seldom plan to fail, they fail to plan and thus are doomed to failure.
Job 14:14 (KJV) If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
Job 14:14 (MSG) If we humans die, will we live again? That's my question. All through these difficult days I keep hoping, waiting for the final change—for resurrection!
The experience of Change often leads to worry, weariousness, and anxiety.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?
This darkness might lead us toward the great light...
This trouble may cause us to find REAL PEACE...
Say to this mountain --- my heart shall be FIXED, I shall not be moved ---
GOD GIVES US A STILL QUIET VOICE TO HEAR AND CHANGE...
WE MUST SEE WE HAVE GREAT NEED TO CHANGE ---
HAVE WE LEARNED THIS TRUTH: I KNOW WHEN YOU WILL CHANGE ---
WHEN THE PAIN OF SAYING THE SAME BECOMES GREATER THAN THE PAIN OF STAYING
THE SAME, THEN YOU WILL CHANGE.
There was a time when God gave clear orders from headquarters WHEN TO CHANGE...
This was a visible GUIDANCE and LEADERSHIP.
Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
WE TEND TO DEMAND A FLEECE TO DIRECT US TO CHANGE ---
While God no longer uses a pillar of a cloud by day, or a pillar of fire by night...
WE TEND TO DEMAND A FLEECE TO DIRECT US AND FORCE US TO CHANGE.
GOD STILL LEADS HIS PEOPLE... We have the tendency to look for GREATER SIGNS...
There is only ONE FLEECE IN THE BIBLE AND THE MAN OF GOD DID NOT BELIEVE IT AND HAD TO BE REASSURED EVEN AFTER THE FLEECE WAS CONFIRMED TWICE.
Often the call TO CHANGE WILL COME BY A STILL SMALL VOICE... 2
1 Kings 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
WE DEMAND THE WIND, THE FIRE, THE EARTQUAKE, HOW ABOUT A BOLT OF LIGHTNING HERE GOD... THEN I WILL CHANGE...
1 Chronicles 14:14 Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 15 And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.
To we must realize CHANGE IS ABOUT YOU:
• CHOICES
• INTENSITY
• MOTIVATION
• ATTITUDE
• YOUR ABILITY TO SEE THE NEED TO CHANGE
GOD ASKED THE KING: CHANGE ---
I KNOW WHEN YOU WILL CHANGE ---
WHEN THE PAIN OF SAYING THE SAME BECOMES GREATER THAN THE PAIN OF STAYING
THE SAME, THEN YOU WILL CHANGE.
O, KING --- LISTEN AND CHANGE... You do not have to go through this mess...
God has a better idea...
There is a clear warning CHANGE OR ELSE...
Daniel 4:14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: 16. Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
King you can change, God's call is here: LISTEN.
Daniel 4:24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. 27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. 28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
YOU, O, MIGHTY KING --- YOU CAN BE STUBBORN, YOU CAN RESIST CHANGE --- BUT THE COST WILL BE GREAT...
Daniel 4:32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
GOD GIVES THE KING A SECOND CHANGE --- HE WILL CHANGE --- FORCED?
CHANGE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PAINFUL ---
CHANGE CAN BE HEALTHY... AND PROMOTE GROWTH.
IT IS VERY CLEAR WHEN YOU WILL CHANGE...
• When your spouse walks out the door and vows to never return.
• When your boss pulls you aside and says: SORRY, we do not need you anymore.
• When the doctor closes the door and informs you, IT IS TOO LATE, there is nothing we can do ---
• You have a stroke from high blood pressure ---
• The family puts you in the rest home and both of your feet have been amputated.
• When you are standing over a warm dead body and release you killed them...
• When you crawl out of a wrecked car and see several people dead in the other car, and release your speed, your beer ---
O, MY SOUL --- WE MUST CHANGE TO SEE OUR GOD REIGNS AND WE NEED TO COME TO THE PLACE WHERE WE SEE GOD'S PURPOSE AND PLANS ---
IS THIS REALLY GOD'S PLANS?
Seems like yesterday I COULD CLIMB to the top of MOUNT PISGAH and rejoice in confidence in GOD'S PROMISES...
But today my HOPES have turned to FEAR, my joy to DISTRESS...
My faith has turned DOUBT--- SELF-DOUBT?
GOD'S PLAN IS THAT THESE TRIALS AND SEASONS OF TESTING WILL
STRENGTHEN MY FAITH:
In my weakness God brings His strength.
By persecution we find a PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.
Hearing the evil report causes us to KNOW THERE IS A GOOD REPORT.
WE MUST THROUGH GREAT TRIBULATION ENTER INTO THE HAVEN OF REST
AND LEARN TO JOY IT ALL JOY WHEN WE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS.
LET US CHANGE THE TRUTH?
TODAY WE DESIRE TO CHANGE THE WHOLE WORLD AND ALL THE RULES INSTEAD OF CHANGING ME?
Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Our news is reporting that our children are not getting enough sleep ---Therefore let us start school later in the day? WHY NOT TURN OFF THE COMPUTER AND TELEVISION AND GO TO SLEEP AT A EARLIER HOUR? Will we change what time everyone goes to work instead of going to sleep a few hours earlier?
Let us re-define marriage the foundation of our society?
These TEST we are giving are too hard, LET US LOWER THE STANDARD ---
Used to 100 to 95= A. 94 to 85= B. 84 to 75 =C. 74 to 70 = D. 69 below F.
Now 100 to 90= A. 90 to 80 =B. 79 to 70= C. 69 to 60=D. 59 and below F.
MANY SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO P---F; Pass or Fail. No motive to study.
The church is becoming like nightclubs.
The world is getting churchie. The church is getting worldie...
We can grow so seeker sensitive that we become God deniers...
WE NEED CHANGE FROM THE WHITEHOUSE TO THE CHURCH HOUSE...
WE MUST RECOGNIZE WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE...
Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Philippians 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
CHANGE COMES WITH A PLAN --- PRAYER AND THE WORD OF GOD...
Psalm 109:4 For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
GOD CAN HELP YOU CHANGE --- DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE?
1. Jacob was a subplanter, cheater --- CHANGED TO PRINCE OF GOD...
Genesis 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
2. RUTH the Moabitess --- OBED, JESSIE, DAVID --- JESUS3. HANNAH dysfunctional family, has SAMUEL --- anoints first two kings of Israel.
4. DANIEL --- hated and abused, lions' den.
5. SAUL is identified as a prophet? (1 Sam. 10:11-12)
6. DAVID the adulter, to a man after God's own heart.
7. PETER the denier, to boldly proclaim first message after Pentecost: WHAT MEANETH THIS!
8. SAUL the cruel man killing Christian's, to #1 writer of New Testament.
9. RAHAB THE HARLET married a Jew, SALMON a prince of Judah.
10. August 5, 1945 God changed my family history. My Dad Wade M. Hughes accepted Jesus as his personal savior, Dad's life is changed. He has pastored 60+ years, and his family serves the Lord.
Will come to THE SAVIOR AND FOREVER BE CHANGED!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
