DO WE HAVE A TON OF STUFF WITH AN OUNCE OF FAITH?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Text:
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
I GUESS I AM STUCK HERE?
THIS TRAP HAS DOOMED BY FAMILY SEVERAL GENERATIONS?
Once when I was a pastor at a small mountain mission church a young man finished his
education and was idle and drew several government programs. His rent and utilities were
paid. He drew so many food stamps that he traded half of them for cash money. He watched
TV all night and slept all day. There was talk in this poor area of Kentucky that able bodied people
would be losing their benefits.
This strong, young man came to the altar one Sunday night and he was broken and crying.
He tarried at the altar, so I went over and was praying with him. He explained to me:
PASTOR, I HAVE TO FIND A GOOD JOB AND I HAVE TO FIND IT SOON as he had a wife and
children.
So we called the church around the young family and prayed for THE LORD TO HELP HIM
FIND A GOOD JOB WITH GOOD PAY. The Spirit of God really moved as the church prayed.
I JUST KNEW HE WAS GOING TO FIND A JOB THE NEXT DAY.
I picked them up for church on the next Sunday night. I was so excited, I knew that week
he had a job. I asked him? He said: NO, I DID NOT FIND A JOB!!! I WAITED BY MY PHONE every
day this week and NO ONE CALLED?
I asked him, WHERE DID YOU APPLY? How many businesses did you visit? How many
applications did you fill out? The answer was --0--... He watched TV all night and slept all
day but HE KEPT THE PHONE RIGHT NEXT TO HIM and he said he knew he would have heard it
if it had rang. He said: I GUESS THE LORD LET ME DOWN????
He never did get a job??? HOW SAD? HE ENDED UP IN PRISON. They feed him and his family
continued drawing a check?
YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND AND BREAK THE THINKING PATTERNS...
ARE WE REALLY LOOKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY ---
YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO STOOP PRETTY LOW... TO GET UP...
Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for
whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people,
and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so
to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18 When she saw that she was
stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
RUTH'S LESSON IS VERY PRACTICAL --- YOU FIND THE WILL OF GOD IN GOING
AND DOING WHAT YOU CAN, WHERE YOU CAN, WHEN YOU CAN...
As Ruth was in a strange place... Ruth never knew the habits or customs of this strange land.
Ruth BLINDLY FOLLOWS NAOMI... RUTH HAD A MADE UP MIND...
WE MUST QUIT BURNING THE ROADS UP DOING NOTHING ---
WE MUST ARISE ABOVE THE LOTTERY MENTALITY---
LOOK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY--- SEIZE THE MOMENT---
Ruth 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears
of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
Ruth has heard about GLEANING.
SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO GATHER, WHEAT, CORN, GRAIN OR WHAT EVER WAS GROWING
FROM THE CORNERS OF THE FIELD.
BUT SHE HAD TO GET UP AND GO... TO GATHER THE THE BLESSINGS...
She did not wait in bed and watch TV?
WHILE STOOPING LOW, RUTH FOUND THE OPPORTUNITY, THE MOMENT OF BLESSINGS...
Ruth 2:17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and
it was about an ephah of barley.
WE TO MUST BE FAITHFUL TO THE CALL OF DUTY...
We must GLEAN from the WORD OF GOD, prayer, and meditation of SPIRITUAL FOOD...
RUTH'S WORK WAS LITTLE BIT? LITTLE BIT HERE? LITTLE BIT THERE...
WE MUST GLEAN WITH GREAT DILIGENCE
SHE HAD TO PAY ATTENTION, SHE HAD TO WATCH, SHE HAD TO WORK AND SWEAT...
GOD REWARDS THOSE THAT BY FAITH OFFER THE OFFERING OF AN HONEST EFFORT.
Ruth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of
Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
God was faithful to honor a SERVANT GIRL that was willing to get up and GO...
LET ME GO LORD...
How did she end of in the field of Boaz?
Was this an accident? Was this luck?
BECAUSE RUTH WAS FAITHFUL TO HER POST OF DUTY---
AND WAS WILLING TO EXERT GREAT EFFORT ---
RUTH FINDS FAVOR...
Ruth 2:16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she
may glean them, and rebuke her not.
CHECK OUT HISTORY ---
THE LITTLE STRANGER WOMAN THAT HAD NOTHING IS RECORDED IN THE BLOOD
LINE OF JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD...
Ruth 4:17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi;
and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
SEE LIFE WAS CHANGED WHEN RAHAB THE HARLOT, AND RUTH FROM MOAB
INVESTED IN THE ETERNAL AND DID WHAT THEY COULD...
Matthew 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed
begat Jesse;
DO YOU KNOW THE LAW OF ZERO?
ZERO MULTIPLED BY A MILLION IS STILL ZERO?
ARE YOU HONESTLY PUTTING FORTH EFFORT TO BE DILIGENT IN LOOKING FOR
OPPORTUNITIES?
--- for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him
ARE WE DOING OUR BEST? COULD WE DO MORE?
DO WE HAVE A TON OF STUFF WITH AN OUNCE OF FAITH?
WHAT KIND OF SEEDS HAVE YOU NOT PLANTED?
WHAT KIND OF SEEDS HAVE YOU PLANTED?
SHOW ME WHERE YOUR FAMILY SPENDS YOUR MONEY AND I SHALL UNDERSTAND
MUCH ABOUT YOU!
SHOW ME HOW YOU SPEND YOUR TIME AND I SHALL KNOW YOUR HEART!
Philippians 1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth,
Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 19 For I know that this shall
turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but
that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether
it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the
flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait
betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
HOW HIGH YOU CLIMB --- HOW MUCH EFFORT YOU INVEST WILL AFFECT YOUR
VISION. WHAT CAN YOU SEE THE MOUNTAIN TOP?
From the Mount of Olives where Jesus taught --- YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE TEMPLE
AND THE EASTERN GATE.
From the MOUNT OF THE BEATITUDES you can hear great teaching...
MOUNT MORIAH Abraham took Isaac --- talk about a clear vision...
From MOUNT PISGAH Moses looked into the PROMISE LAND...
WHAT DO YOU SEE FROM THE MOUNT OF PLEASURE?
1 Timothy 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
You might see more clearly from the MOUNTAIN OF SUFFERING?
WHAT CAN YOU SEE FROM THE MOUNTAIN OF A LIONS' DEN?
WHAT CAN YOU SEE FROM A PIT? SLAVERY AND A JAIL CELL?
WHAT CAN YOU SEE FROM MOUNT HERMON? The snow, melts to form
the Jordon River. fellowship, unity---
WHAT CAN YOU SEE FROM THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE? SWEAT AS BLOOD?
The garden just outside of Jerusalem the agony and the arrest?
WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM THE MOUNTAIN OF SUFFERING? Ask JOB?
The sick bed is a graduate school.
WHAT DO YOU SEE FROM THE MOUNT OF DUTY? VS ZEAL, LOVE?
WHAT ABOUT THE LESSONS OF THE CROWN? GOLD VS THORNS?
WHAT IS THE LESSONS FROM LONELINESS, TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS?
WHAT IS THE LESSONS OF THE FIERY FURNACE 7 TIMES HOTTER?
WHAT IS THE LESSON FROM THE MANGER TO THE THRONE?
FROM THE CROSS IN THE MIDDLE?
CONCLUSION: Are you willing to step into the waters, come out a little bit deeper,
come join angels praising... HOPE, JOY, PEACE, LOVE.
LIFE IS MORE THAN SUBSTANCE--- DO NOT WORRY --- DO WHAT YOU CAN---
TRUST GOD FOR THE REST.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or,
Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your
heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom
of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no
thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto
the day is the evil thereof.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
