I HAVE NOTHING --- THE PLACE OF UNEXPECTED NEEDS...
IN THE DESPERATION COMES A DETERMINATION THE THE IMPOSSIBLE NEEDS WILL
BE SOLVED...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
We walk in perilous times, danger is surrounding us...
BE VIGILANT --- HAVE YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN...
We are not always good at telling time...
BE ON GUARD --- BE ALERT...
THERE IS A TIME COMING --- ARE WE READY?
I have nothing --- I am empty --- I have needs and no solutions... I CAN'T FIX THIS...
I LOVE TO BE INDEPENDENT --- LET ME HANDLE THIS...
THIS IS BEYOND MY ABILITY...
UNEXPECTED GUEST: HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE QUIETEST DISCUSSION?
Many years ago I drove a preacher, Lorie Announcing to be with a friend. We drove several
hours and walked in our friends church. Laver Snyder was so surprised when we walked
his service. We had the most wonderful visit. Brother Snyder invited us to their home. We
had been friends many years.
They just visited and we laughed a bunch. Laver asked us to share some GOOD
STRAWBERRY PIE. We declined the strawberries.
Peggy, his wife was waving her hands at husband, he ignored her.
He kept insisting we eat some pie and cool whip.
Finally Pastor Announcing said: OK, we will take a piece of that strawberry pie.
Laver walked into the kitchen and he and Peggy had a very quiet discussion.
We could hear their whispering.
In a few minutes Peggy came into the front room and we visited her. We wondered where
Laver was? After a while, we heard Laver in the kitchen and Peggy excused herself.
Laver resumed the discussion, and we had wonderful fellowship.
Several minutes later, Peggy brought each of us a wonderful piece of strawberry pie buried
in cool whip. It was so good.
A few days later, Lorie and I discovered why Peggy was waving her arms at her husband.
And we understood the quiet conversation in their kitchen. They had eaten the last pieces
of strawberry pie before church and there was none left.
So Laver ran to the local store bought some strawberries, some short cakes, and some cool
whip. Peggy was a gracious hostess and served us.
I CAN'T FIX IT.... I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS... I HAVE NOTHING...
I HAVE NOTHING, I HAVE BEEN CAUGHT BY SURPRISE...
I AM NOT READY --- I WAS NOT EXPECTING PROBLEMS...
Luke 11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at
midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For a friend of mine in his journey
is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7 And he from within shall answer and say,
Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his
importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall
be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh
it shall be opened.
IMPORTUNITY: commanding, forceful statement or question,
troublesome URGENCY, overly demanding, imperative,
making repeated, annoying request, to annoy or cause trouble.
PERSISTENCE: to go on in spite of warning and opposition.
to continue to expect beyond the normal time... to continue stubbornly, to insist,
the quality that allows someone to continue and to keep trying even if difficult are facing opposition.
SOMETIMES WE FACE UNEXPECTED NEEDS...
To help understand this lesson, may we consider a HOME in Biblical times.
Most homes were ONE ROOM... The whole family slept in this small area.
There was a raised area where the family lived and had their sleeping quarters...
Down below this area were stalls where the animals were kept at night for safety purposes.
If the owner was to get up, he would AWAKEN the whole family.
Not only would he disturb the family members, he WOULD AWAKEN THE COWS,
CHICKENS,
IF WE HAD KNOWN WHAT TIME THE THIEVE
5 FOOLIISH HAD UNEXPECTED VISITOR ---
THANK GOD, FOR FRIENDS --- WHEN THE UNEXPECTED PROBLEMS AND NEEDS OCCUR
WE CAN HAVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT CAN HELP...
Christianity is not about RELIGION, it is about RELATIONSHIPS.
I HAVE THIS SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED NEED --- I CAN SEE NO SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEMS.
THESE PROBLEMS CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD.
The friend clearly answers: GO AWAY, I AM SLEEPING, MY FAMILY IS SLEEPING...
THE ANSWER IS NOT JUST IN THE VALUE OF A FRIEND, THE ANSWER IS TO
KEEP ON--- KEEPING ON... IMPORTUNITY, PERSISTENCE, NOT QUITING, TRYING AGAIN,
This sudden, unexpected need MARKS DESPERATION ---
IN THE DESPERATION COMES A DETERMINATION THE THE IMPOSSIBLE NEEDS WILL
BE SOLVED...
AT MY FRIENDS DOOR --- MY IMPORTUNITY & PERSISTENCE WILL PREVAIL.
OUR UNEXPECTED PROBLEMS SHOULD CAUSE US TO REACH BEYOND OUR ABILITIES
TO SOLVE TO CAUSE US TO TRUST...
THERE IS A PROBLEM, WE HAVE SEVERAL THOUSAND HUNGRY PEOPLE ---
John 6:5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith
unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
I HAVE THE ANSWER? NEVER MIND --- THAT IS A SILLY THOUGHT?
BUT WHAT IS MY MY SOLUTION, WILL NEVER WORK...
John 6:9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are
they among so many?
JESUS SENDS OUT 70 PEOPLE TWO BY TWO... THE HARVEST IS GREAT,
THE LABORERS ARE FEW --- YOU WILL BE AS LAMBS AMONG WOLVES...
CARRY NO MONEY OR EXTRA ---
JESUS SENDS 70 BELIEVERS INTO A HORNET'S NEST, WHAT A MESS...
THIS IS AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK ---WE ARE IN GREAT DESPERATION?
THEY RETURN WITH GREAT JOY --- THE IMPOSSIBLE WAS ACCOMPLISHED...
MY FRIEND, WE SERVE A GOD THAT LOVES TO TAKE UNEXPECTED, UNSOLVABLE
PROBLEMS ... IN HIS SON'S NAME, JESUS THAT LOOSES THE HOLY SPIRIT'S POWER
TO BECOME OUR FRIEND TO HELP US--- KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK...
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK... UNTIL THE ANSWER COMES...
THE LADY IS NOT HINDERED WHEN SHE FINDS OUT THE BREAD IS NOT FOR HER ---
THE LADY KNOWS HER PROBLEM'S SOLUTION IS TO KEEP PRESSING ---
"GIVE ME THE CRUMBS!!!"
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
UNEXPECTED TIMES LIE AHEAD...
WARNINGS? CAN WE HERE THE WARNINGS?
IN 1938 the NEW YORKER MAGAZINE ran an advertisement for ABERCOMIE AND FITCH ---
for a very accurate and sensitive BAROMETER ---
An expensive barometer measures the atmospheric pressure very accurately.
This man ordered this BAROMETER ---
HE WAS SO SURPRISED: IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND THE NEEDLE ON THE
BAROMETER WAS CLEARLY POINTING TO "HURRICANE"...
So the new owner decided the SHAKE the sensitive instrument until it corrected itself.
To his surprise the instrument kept the arrow on "HURRICANE."
So the man wrote a mean, scathing letter to Abercomie and Fitch reporting how inaccurate
their barometer was... and he mailed it...
If you know history: SEPTEMBER 1938 A HURRICANE HIT AND LEVELED LONG ISLAND,
NEW YORK.
CONCLUSION: When it is over your head--- IT IS UNDER HIS FEET!
COME ON, LET US GO NEXT DOOR, THESE SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED
TRIALS AND PROBLEMS ARE GOD'S OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW HIS STUFF!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
