DOUBT IN THE DARKNESS?
EVER FEEL LIKE YOU ARE RUNNING INTO BRICKWALLS?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
WE MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT CHALLENGE MEANS:
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US...
A SENTRY'S COMMAND TO HALT AND PROVE YOUR IDENTITY...
Acts 20:24 (KJV) But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself,
so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord
Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24 (NLT) But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work
assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the
wonderful grace of God.
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US...
WHY DO WE DOUBT IN DARKNESS WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR US IN THE LIGHT?
Hey, I am worried about what is ahead?
I am very anxious? WHY? WHY? WHY?
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US...
I LOOKED FOR THE LIGHT, but darkness tried to smother me?
I expected peace, but trouble surrounded me on every side?
That mountain before us is MUCH GREATER THAN WE ARE?
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US...
YESTERDAY, I SAW A CLEAR TITLE --- TODAY, I DO NOT FEEL IT?
YESTERDAY, I COULD CLIMB TO THE TOP OF MOUNT PISCAH AND SEE ALL THE
PROMISE LAND...
TODAY I AM BURIED BENEATH THE SOD WITH THE TRIALS, OBSTACLES AND PROBLEMS.
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US...
MY HOPE IS CLOUDED WITH SELF-DOUBT.
MY FAITH AND HOPE ARE FAINTING...
GOD, I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND YOUR METHODS AND THIS TESTING?
IT IS LIKE I AM BUILDING A SAND CASTLE AND THE WAVES ARE WASHING ALL MY WORKS
AWAY?
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US... I GET IN MY CORACLE?
A CORACLE IS A SMALL BOAT WITH NO SAILS, NO OARS, NO STEERING SYSTEM?
A MAN GETS IN AND TRUST GOD...
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US...
Seems the wind is driving me into SHARK INFEST WATERS...
On the shore are cannibals waiting to devour my flesh?
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US...
Through fullness? Through emptiness?
Through lack? Through plenty?
Through worry and fear? Through peace?
Though anger and distresses? THROUGH PEACE AND GREAT JOY?
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US...
HAVE I LEARNED THE GREAT LESSON THAT MY PAIN AND SORROWS ARE
ALL PART OF GOD'S PLAN? THIS WIND IS NECESSARY TO TAKE ME
WHERE GOD WANTS ME TO BE... RIDE MY CORACLE?
AM I LEARNING: COUNT IT ALL JOY?
WAIT ON THE LORD?
James 1:2 (KJV) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
James 1:2 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity
for great joy.
James 1:2 (NIV) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
James 1:2 (MSG) Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from
all sides.
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US... DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MAN?
Matthew 10:38 (KJV) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Matthew 10:38 (MSG) "If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't
deserve me.
Did you hear about the man that made a willful decision to CARRY HIS CROSS?
JESUS GAVE THE MAN A CROSS TO CARRY?
After a while the cross seemed very heavy and hard to carry.
He went back to Jesus and told Jesus: THIS CROSS IS MUCH TO HEAVY AND WAY TOO HARD
TO CARRY? He complained and complained to Jesus.
So Jesus escorted the man to a door and opened the door. Jesus allowed the man to return his cross.
The man went into a large room and there were thousands of crosses.
Jesus said: OK, you can choose any cross that you desire to carry?
So the man walked in the room, he looked at this cross, that cross?
There were large cross. There were small crosses. The were shiny crosses? The were rugged crosses?
The man freely walked around and observed all the crosses.
Finally, he picked up one and decided, NO!
He picked up another cross, this isn't right?
So after many hours of searching the man decided which cross was best for him...
He picked the cross up and said: YES! YES! THIS IS MY CROSS! I LOVE THIS CROSS. THIS
IS MY CROSS!
He went to Jesus standing in the door way and said: JESUS THIS IS MY CROSS, I LOVE IT,
AND I WILL GLADLY CARRY MY CROSS!
As he was leaving Jesus stopped him and said: LOOK AT THE CROSS YOU CHOSE?
The man looked at his cross and said: Yes, Lord, I love this one.
JESUS SAID: SIR, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR CROSS THAT YOU CHOSE...
SIR, LOOK AT IT. IT IS THE ONE THAT I GAVE YOU YOUR FIRST DAY.
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US... IT IS SO EASY TO COMPLAIN ABOUT
OUR LOT IN LIFE AND REFUSE TO SEE GOD HAS A PLAN...
Psalm 37:23 (KJV) The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in
his way.
Psalm 37:23 (MSG) Stalwart (A PERSON THAT IS STRONG, LOYAL AND DEDICATED)
walks in step with God; his path blazed by God, he's happy.
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US...
WHY CAN'T WE SEE THIS PROBLEM IS AN OPPORTUNITY?
I CAN HANDLE THIS --- SELF-HELP!
LIFE IS A STRANGE TWISTED JOURNEY THAT DOES NOT ALWAYS MAKE
LOGICAL SENSE.
Matthew 16:24 (KJV) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the
whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:24 (MSG) Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with
me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it.
Follow me and I'll show you how. 25 Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to
finding yourself, your true self. 26 What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself?
What could you ever trade your soul for?
AT BEST LIFE IS A CHALLENGE...
**CHALLENGE:
TO TEST
a difficult task, something hard to do, an invitation to compete,
a calling to account...
A SENTRY'S COMMAND TO HALT AND PROVE YOUR IDENTITY...
**OBSTACLE:
SOMETHING THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DO SOMETHING...
Something that stand in your way of progress.
Something that slows you down or impedes you.
**PREPARATION:
To get ready for doing something you expect to happen.
**CRUCIBLE: (THE CROSS)
A pot in which metals or other substances are heated to very high temperatures.
To melt. a SEVERE TEST.
A difficult test or very hard challenge.
A PLACE OR SITUATION THAT FORCES PEOPLE TO CHANGE OR MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US...
THIS OBSTACLE MIGHT BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY....
Can you imagine a 100 year old man in the delivery room?
Imagine a 100 year old man going in Wal-mart to buy pampers?
ABRAHAM IS 100, SARAH IS 90?
STAND ON GOD'S PROMISE...
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US... JERICHO ...
Jericho is in the plain of the Jordan River.
Jericho knew for 40 years that God's children were headed that way...
Jericho prepared and built stronger and higher walls...
GOD STARTED THE BATTLE PLAN WITH THE LARGEST, MOST PREPARE AND STRONGEST
FORTIFIED ENEMY...
Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven
days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received
the spies with peace.
BY FAITH JERICHO'S OBSTACLE WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY...
RAHAB'S DESTRUCTION WAS STOPPED BY FAITH...
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US...
DAVID YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A SHEPHERD BOY? UNTIL...
THE SONG CHANGES...
A giant nearly ten feet tall stepped out from the Philistine line into the open area and said:\
I AM THE CHAMPION... I HAVE BLOOD ALL MY SWORD... I HAVE NEVER LOST...
ALL OF GOD'S ARMY WAS: SORE AFRAID...
There was a huge reward on the head of this giant...
We are doomed, hopeless...
WHY BE SURPRISE AT THE IDLE, FEARFUL SOLDIERS REACTION?
1 Samuel 17:28 (MSG) Eliab, his older brother, heard David fraternizing with the men and lost his
temper: "What are you doing here! Why aren't you minding your own business, tending that scrawny
flock of sheep? I know what you're up to. You've come down here to see the sights, hoping for a
ringside seat at a bloody battle!"
THE MEN NEVER SAW: THIS IS OUR OPORTUNITY, THEY FOCUSED ON THE PROBLEM...
THE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US...
DAVID NEVER SAW THIS IS MY OPPORTUNITY...
SAUL THOUSANDS --- DAVID TEN THOUSANDS...
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US... THE ENEMY WAS MUCH STRONGER
THAN GOD'S PEOPLE... THE BRICK WALL IS SO STRONG...
GOOD SAYS: DIG DITCHES?
YOU WILL SEE NOTHING AND FILL NOTHING... BUT GOD...
WILL PROVIDE WATER FOR YOU AND SLAY THE ENEMY'S CAMP...
2 Kings 3:16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
17 For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall
be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.
There was plenty of water...
The enemy saw BLOOD IN THE DITCHES?
THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US... GIDEON GOD WILL USE THIS THIS OBSTACLE
TO PPROMOTE YOU AND BRING GLORY TO HIS NAME... THIS BRICK WALL IS
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY...
Judges 7:20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held
the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried,
The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
CONCLUSION: THERE IS A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF US...
WE ARE HELPLESS AND HOPELESS THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD TO SHOW
HIS STUFF. DO NOT GIVE UP! DO NOT QUIT. HANG ON AND EXPECT A MIRACLE.
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew
himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done
foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
