BEWARE OF THE WET BLANKET... OF DISCOURAGEMENT
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Part #1
I. I AM NOT HAPPY HERE?
A. HAYDEN PLANETARIUM ran several advertisement in different news paper.
The ad invited people to submit applications for those that would like to be the first
to journey to another planet.
Immediately there were 18,000 applications.
The applications were given to a panel of PSYCHOLOGIST to study.
The vast majority of the 18,000 applications replied THEY DESIRED TO START A NEW LIFE
ON ANOTHER PLANET BECAUSE THEY WERE SO DISCOURAGED WITH LIFE ON EARTH.
B. if you are not happy here, what makes you think you will be happy there?
C. The man on his 5th marriage says: I HAVE FINALLY FOUND A GOOD WOMAN.
Later that year he was looking for #6.
II. DO I GIVE LIGHT?
WHAT KIND OF CHURCH WOULD MY CHURCH BE IF ALL THE MEMBERS WERE
JUST LIKE ME?
A. They tell a story of a man that was told: "CHEER UP, THINGS COULD BE WORSE."
He said: "I CHEERED UP AND THINGS GOT WORSE!
B. NEGATIVE MINDS SEEM TO FIND DIFFICULTY IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES
THEIR WAY.
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be
hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;
and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
C. A positive attitude and mind set will define THIS DIFFICULTY has great opportunity
hidden here for me.
III. THERE IS A BATTLE --- THE BATTLE OF THE WET BLANKET... IT IS REAL BATTLE.
A. The fire at the campsite seemed to be out of control and several just stood and watched.
One man grabbed a blanket and ran to the river. He held the blanket by the corner and
threw it into the river's edge. He let the blanket soak up water, then he pulled the wet
blanket out of the water and ran up to the fire.
The WET BLANKET EASILY SMOTHERED THE FIRE...
B. WET BLANKET: grinch, kill joy, one that quenches or dampens pleasure/enthusiasm
A person who makes it difficult for other people to enjoy themselves by
complaining and showing no respect or enthusiasm.
C. The wet blanket becomes a symbol of QUENCHING, DAMPENING ZEAL.
ELISHA, the preacher cries long and hard, because he sees what is coming ahead...
2 Kings 8:15 And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in
water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.
IV. WE TEND TO GET DISCOURAGED AND HIDE IN A CAVE ---
WHEN WE ALLOW THE ATTITUDE: ME, MYSELF, & I... I AM THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH
THIS...
1 Kings 19:9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of
the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of
Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with
the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
A. DISCOURAGE:
To hinder by disfavor, to dissuade from doing, to deprive of courage and confidence, to
dishearten, TO MAKE LESS DETERMINED, to be less confident, less hope, to make less likely
for something to happen, to make people not want to do something
B. 1 KINGS 19: 18 God tells the Preacher, ELIJAH WHILE YOU ARE HAVING YOUR PITY PATY,
I WANT YOU TO KNOW SOMETHING --- I HAVE OVER 7,000 PEOPLE IN ONE CITY THAT HAS
NEVER BOWED TO BAAL, NOR EVER KISSED AN IDOL.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way
to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
V. DISCOURAGEMNET GROWS WHEN WE DEVELOP A: DO I HAVE TO ATTITUDE...???
THE HAVE TO ATTITUDE WILL ALWAYS FLOW TO DEPRESSION...
A. ALL THESE HAVE TO STUFF MAKES THIS RELIGION HARD...
How many laws do we have to pass to enforce DOING RIGHT?
Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what
shall I do to inherit eternal life?
B. We tend to want to fuss and argue and depression & discouragement smothers us like
WET BLANKET...
Luke 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
C. THE FIVE VIRGINS MAKE THIS A HARD SAYING AND THE COMMANDMENTS GREVIOUS...?
CARELESSNESS, APATHY,
DO WE LIVE BY SAD, MOURNIFUL, SLEEPFUL RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS AND A FORM OF GODLINESS?
D. THIS IS NOT ABOUT RELIGION, THIS IS ABOUT A LOVE RELATIONSHIP...
Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
E. WILL WE ACCEPT SIN AS THE NORM AND PERFORM LAZY, LAX DUTIES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO...?
Samson gets a haircut, sleeping on the LAP OF CARNAL SECURITY...
DISCOURAGEMENT FESTERS WHEN LIFE IS ABOUT YOUR COMFORT ZONE.
DISCOURAGEMENT THRIVES WHERE THERE ARE NO CONCERNS WITH ETERNITY?
SAMSON'S CARNAL FLESH DICTATES HIS SPIRITUAL WEAKNESSES...
ARE WE SLEEPING WITH OUR HEADS IN THE LAP OF PLEASURE AND SENUALITY
A. JONAH IS IN A SAFE COMFORT ZONE --- JEWS REMEMBER THE PAST AND HATED NINEVITES.
The last thing the Jews wanted is to see NINEVAH saved.
Jonah cries more over the gourd plant and his comfort... YES, GOD, I DO WELL TO BE ANGRY.
B. DEPRESSION COMES WHEN WE OVER-RIDE THE RED FLAGS WARNING US...
Samson gets a haircut, sleeping on the LAP OF CARNAL SECURITY
riddle was solved by he that plowed with the heifer of experience... HAVE TO...???
Judges 14:18 And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down,
What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not
plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.
C. WILL WE ACCEPT SIN AS THE NORM AND PERFORM LAZY, LAX DUTIES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO...?
Samson gets a haircut, sleeping on the LAP OF CARNAL SECURITY
Judges 16:3 And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the
city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and
carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.
D. SAMSON COULD NOT SEE THAT THE GLORY OF GOD WAS GONE...
Judges 16:20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep,
and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was
departed from him.
E. SEEMS SAMSON COULD SEE MORE ABOUT GOD BLIND THAN WHEN HE HAD 20/20 VISION.
VI. PEOPLE NEVER PLAN TO FAIL, THEY FAIL TO PLAN AND BECOME DOOMED...
DISCOURAGEMENT DEVELOPS BECAUSE WE DRIFT AIMLESSLY OFF COURSE..
PAUL HAD THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP SOUND OUT...
A. The Preacher warned the Soldiers and the Captain...
They refused to listen... To refuse God's message will always bring SHIPWRECK.
Acts 27:28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they
sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. 29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks,
they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
B. There is a GREATER THAN AMONG US --- WE WALK BY FAITH...
WE MUST DEVELOP A PLAN...
2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2 Corinthians 5:7 (MSG) It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going.
WRITE YOUR PLAN TO COME OUT OF THIS VALLEY.
Habakkuk 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon
tables, that he may run that readeth it.
CONCLUSION: Part one.
RECALL,PAUL IS IN A SHIPWRECK AND THEN LAND ON A ISLAND. It was cold and damp, so they
all pitched in and build a fire. Soon a poisonous snake warms enough to become active.
Out of the fire wood jumps the snake... Paul, gets discouraged? No, He shakes off the snake
and continues the work before him.
SHAKE OFF THE BANDS THAT BIND? REJOICE TO HOPEFUL WAKEFULLNESS? Quicken by the spirit!
SHAKE OFF THE BANDS THAT BIND? PAUL SHAKES OFF SNAKE --- Do not cry, press On beyond
the depression of this world.
Jason Lehman wrote a poem:
PRESENT TENSE
It was spring but it was summer I wanted ,
The warm days, and the great outdoors.
It was summer, but it was fall I wanted,
The colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air.
It was fall, but it was winter was what I wanted,
The beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season.
It was winter, but it was spring I wanted,
The warmth and the blossoming of nature.
I was a child but it was adulthood I wanted.
The freedom and respect.
I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted,
To be mature and sophisticated.
I soon was middle aged, but it was 20 I wanted,
My youth and the free spirit.
I was retired, but it was middle age I wanted,
The presence of mind without limitations.
MY LIFE WAS OVER AND I NEVER GOT WHAT I WANTED.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
