READY, WATCHING, VIGILANT--- Think ahead. PART #2
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
DO WE UNDERSTAND IT OFTEN TIMES IS EASIER TO START A FIRE THAN IT IS TO
KEEP THE FIRE BURNING?
You have to be vigilant to keep the home fires burning.
1 Corinthians 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to
the battle?
Often life is like a GAME OF CHESS?
A good chess player knows to win this game we must see beyond this move. We must think about
our choice and the consequences of this move. A good chess player most consider what this move
might develop. To be a Chess Champion you must weigh and think about this move and the moves
beyond here.
CODE BLUE? RED ALERT?
VIGILANCE MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IMPORTANT?
BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT IN THE LIGHT OF TEMPORAL VS ETERNAL?
VIGILANT: Carefully noticing problems noticing problems or signs of danger.
Alertly watching to avoid danger, open eyed,
Amos 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are
named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
When the church eases up and we demand to get "what we think we deserve right now!"
We are doomed.
Are our priorities focusing on NON-ESSENTIAL elements as essential and then the essential
elements fade to obscurity? ARE WE DAILY LIVING FACING TRIVIAL PURSUIT?
THE COST OF FREEDOM IS VIGILANCE... WHO WILL WE TRUST?
WHERE WE INVEST OUR TRUST? ON WHAT DO WE LEAN...
Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and
doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this
mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
WHAT WE DO WHEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM WILL REVEAL IN WHOM WE TRUST...
1. We run to a person: friend, family, preacher, counselor...
2. We can run to our stuff... MATERIALISM... A way of thinking that leads us to value material
possessions more than intellectual or spiritual things.
This is a theory that only matter, material things count.
We tend to place the highest value in physical well being.
IN WHAT CONFIDENCE WILL I TRUST?
THIS LOOKS GOOD TO THE EYE?
The old Preacher has cried many tears.
God's people have QUIT SEEKING THE MOVE OF GOD BY FAITH...
ISRAEL WILL TRUST IN THE FLESH AND BUILD ALLIANCES WITH THE EVIL CAMP.
2 Kings 18:19 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great
king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? 20 Thou sayest, (but
they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust,
that thou rebellest against me? 21 Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed,
even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king
of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
ARE WE TRUSTING ON A BRUISED REED THAT WILL PIERCE OUR HANDS?
GOD HAS A CLEAR WARNING ABOUT TRUST AND VIGILANCE?
If I had a million dollar budget? If I can just learn more and more?
It is all about the program?
Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the
LORD our God.
Never forget the GOD FACTOR OF FAITH.
Isaiah 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots,
because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the
Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
LEANING? WHAT WILL WE LEAN ON...??
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
When I was a student in college I had an atheist professor. He was very smart and skilled
in teaching. One day he told me: HUGHES, GOD IS A CRUTCH TO YOU!
I was very offended by what he said. He started me thinking.
I went to the dictionary and looked up crutch.
A crutch is something that a person uses to help support them. A crutch is often used
because someone has suffered an injury and is suffering.
The next class I sought an opportunity to speak with this professor.
After class I discussed with him, his line that GOD WAS A CRUTCH TO ME.
He was surprised when I came in agreement with him. I had never realized before that
I am so limited and life often knocks me down. I REALLY NEED A CRUTCH.
YES, GOD IS MY CRUTCH. GOD HELPS ME WALK AND SUPPORTS ME. HE HELPS
ME ... HE IS A VERY PRESENT HELP IN MY TIME OF NEED.
There is a truth thought: WE OFTEN SEE THINGS NOT AS THEY ARE BUT AS WE ARE.
PRAYER IS ONE OF THE GREATEST TOOLS AVAILABLE TO US.
What we gain my intercession --- we keep by intercession.
Prayers can't be answered unless they are prayed...
I thank God for can openers, but what really opens our families to the heart of God
is not a can opener. We must open the EYES OF OUR HEARTS TO SEE AND HAVE
VISION OF ETERNITY.
I read in one source there are 667 prayers in the Bible.
Of those 667 prayers 454 have a recorded answer.
One of the greatest gifts any nation can have is a PRAYING FAMILY.
Often times long, beautiful poetic prayers are prayed for the ears of the people that
are listening... I good prayer's design is prayed for God to hear.
Perhaps the designs of problems and trials we face are to DRIVE US TO OUR KNEES?
Great prayers may not be from our knees but when we are backed to the corner and there
is no other escape.
TELEVISION HAS SOME LESSONS TO LEARN.
ONE SUCH CASE ON TELLEVISION MIGHT BE PRO-WRESTLING IS JUST ENTERTAINMENT.
I am told that the wrestlers practice before the match. They go through the holds and body slams.
IT HAS BEEN KNOWN BEFORE THE MATCH WHO WILL WIN. It is not about who is best,
it is about TICKET SALES and entertainment. COME ON, LET US MAKE A SHOW.
THE VICTOR ALREADY KNOWS HE WILL WIN.
We know about this ETERNAL BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL.
WE KNOW WHO WINS...GOD WILL SHOW HIMSELF STRONG AND ALL WILL SEE...
EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AND CONFESS...
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world
ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 (MSG) I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured,
deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart!
I've conquered the world."
BE VIGILANT --- THERE IS A GREATER THAN AMONG US.
JESUS IS GREATER THAN JOHN THE BAPTIST...
THERE IS A GREATER THAN JONAH HERE...
THERE IS A GREATER THAN THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, SHEBA...
THERE IS A GREATER THAN SOLOMON...
THERE IS A GREATER THAN THE MUSTARD SEED...
THERE IS A GREATER THAN ABRAHAM...
1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
WITH VILILANCE WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS...
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be
able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
LET US UNDERSTAND MORE THAN A CONQUEROR.
As a young man I was watching ABC SPORTS with Howard Cosell the announcer.
The was a mighty boxer named SUGAR RAY LEONARD.
Sugar Ray had trained hard for months. He had ran 100's of miles. He had fought
some rough fights. The World Championship Belt was at stake.
The Champion would take home over a MILLION dollars.
Sugar Ray was battered, bruised, bleeding and hurting... HE WON.
HE WON THE TITLE OF WORLD CHAMPION... He was suffering.
His wife climbed into the ring. Sugar Ray was holding the belt and a huge check that
said: ONE MILLION DOLLARS. MRS. LEONARD STEPPED OVER AND TOOK THE
CHECK OUT OF HIS HAND.
SHE WAS MORE THAN A CONQUEROR, SHE HAD THE CHECK, AND SUGAR RAY
HAD FOUGHT...
THE GREATER THAN WILL HELP US...
PRIZE WITHOUT ANY TRAINING, WITH OUT ANY BRUISES, MRS LEONARD WALKED
OUT THE RING WITH THE PRIZE IN HER HAND.
Conclusion: God has set his people as a WATCHMAN ON THE WALL. We must be wise
to the tactics and strategy of our enemy. We must know our enemy is out to steal, kill and destroy
our families. We must be VIGILANT TO ANY TRICKS HE HAS.
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore
wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
BE ALERT. BE READY. BE COVERED IN THE POWER OF THE OVERCOMER.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
