BEWARE OF THE WET BLANKET... OF DISCOURAGEMENT
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com This is part #2
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. The man on his 5th marriage says: I HAVE FINALLY FOUND A GOOD WOMAN.
Later that year he was looking for #6.
C. IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY HERE, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU WILL BE HAPPY THERE?
II. LIFE CAN THROW MANY WET BLANCKETS AT US... WHAT WILL WE DO WITH THIS
WET BLANKET?
A. THERE IS A BATTLE --- THE BATTLE OF THE WET BLANKET... IT IS REAL BATTLE.
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 difficulty 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.
III. THERE IS A WET BLANKET WE CALL THE JUNIPER TREE EXPERIENCE.
IN OUR DISCUSSION OF REAL WET BLANKETS, WE MUST CONSIDER WHAT TIREDNESS
CAN DO TO OUR ATTITUDES... AN IMPROPER DIET CAN HELP BRING ON DEPRESSION...
A. I have a friend that has been terribly upset because someone UNFRIENDED them on
FACEBOOK? Well, get over it and go on... How many people would un-friend Jesus?
B. THE OLD PREACHER HAD BEEN UNDER SO MUCH STRESS. The queen has told many
she hates the Preacher and she is going to DESTROY HIS MINISTRY and KILL HIM deader
than a DOOR NAIL...
1 Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a
juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take
away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
C. Remember the OLD PREACHER has been SO BUSY doing God's stuff that he has not
rested in sometime...
God knew his man was TIRED, and that discouragement was DRIVING HIS MESSAGE...
and HIS MINISTRY... GOD SENDS AN ANGEL WITH A PLAN...
LAY DOWN AND REST --- THINGS WILL LOOK DIFFERENT IN THE MORNING
D. Elijah's diet was lacking ---
Remember when they asked JESUS, WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO EAT?
HE REPLIED, I HAVE FOOD THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND: THE PRESENCE OF THE FATHER.
So there can be physical food and forget about the SPIRITUAL FOOD.
1 Kings 19:5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said
unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse
of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came
again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto
Horeb the mount of God.
E. GOD'S FOOD WILL SUSTAIN YOU UNTIL --- 40 DAYS!
IV. LET US CONSIDER THE WET BLANKED OF THE BLAME GAME ALLOWING THOSE THAT
DISLIKE YOU ANGER YOU... FEAR OF REJECTION CAN DRIVE YOU THE WRONG DIRECTION.
A. I have a friend that has been terribly upset because someone UNFRIENDED them on
FACEBOOK? Well, get over it and go on... How many people would un-friend Jesus?
B. He who angers you, controls you.
If someone angers you, you are allowing them to LIVE RENT FREE in your brain?
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness
springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
1 Corinthians 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being
persecuted, we suffer it:
V. THERE COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS WET BLANKET OF DISCOURAGEMENT:
LET US CALL IT FOCUSING ON YOUR OWN PROBLEMS...
A. Several years ago a question was asked to a famous psychiatrist, DR. KARL MENNINGER.
The question was as asked: WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE A PERSON TO DO IF A PERSON
FELT A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN COMING ON?
Dr. Karl amazed the crowd as he answered: I WOULD LOCK UP MY HOUSE AND GO ACRoSS
THE RAILROAD TRACKS TO FIND SOMEONE IN NEED, AND I WOULD DO SOMETHING TO
HELP THAT NEED...
Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one
may edify another.
B. To overcome DISCOURAGEMENT. "NEVER FOCUS ON YOURSELF, GET INVOLVED IN
HELPING OTHERS ---!"
VI. WORRY IS A TERRIBLE WET BLANKET THAT WILL SMOTHER HOPE & LIFE.
A. There were two sisters that knew Jesus in a personal way.
One came to Jesus' feet and heard the heartbeat of heaven...
We call the other one: THE WORRIED HOUSE KEEPER... She missed the communion
with SERVICE...
Luke 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord,
dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
B. IT IS EASY TO BE A LAKE TWO MILES WIDE AND THREE INCHES DEEP?
VII. DISCOURAGEMENT IS GIVEN BIRTH BY MIS-IDENTIFYING THE REAL ROOT
OF THE PROBLEM --- IF THE DIAGNOSIS IS INVALID WE ARE FOREVER TRAPPED.
WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM.
John 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that
he was born blind?
A. I once read where this lady purchased a very expensive bird. She loved the bird. After several
months the bird developed a terrible cough. She doctored the bird, and his cough grew worse.
She took the beautiful bird to a local VET and he gave the bird medicine. The cough persisted.
The VET referred the bird to specialist, the bird's cough was very bad.
They took it to the VET School of a huge university to be studied. After several visits there was
no effective diagnosis of the COUGHING PROBLEM.
One day the lady took the bird in for some serious testing. She waited in the lobby. Several
times the lady went outside to smoke. A young student heard the lady COUGHING HER HEAD
OFF. The student went and got the teacher and said, LISTEN, THAT LADY IS COUGHING
AND HER BIRD SOUNDS JUST LIKE HER. The problem was the bird had learned to mimic
the owner. The bird copied the sounds and behavior of the owner.
B TO CORRECT ANY PROBLEM WE MUST HAVE THE PROPER ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY
THE REAL PROBLEM... A PROBLEM WELL STATED IS A PROBLEM HALF SOLVED...
CONCLUSION: Today we face many obstacles and difficulties. Negative thought patterns
define that OPPORTUNITIES come with great difficulties. Where people of faith see the same
difficulties as great opportunities. There are real battles with DEPRESSION AND
DISCOURAGEMENT, we must allow God to arise and help us correct these problems.
(NOTE: THIS LESSON IS NOT ABOUT CLINICAL/CHEMICAL ISSUES)
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass this on... This is part two WET BLANKETS...
