NOW: ONE DAY! THE FIRE WILL TELL!!!
THE PENDULUM SWINGS: WE HAVE LOST THE FEAR OF GOD...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
HOW IMPORTANT IS NOW? ONE DAY THE FIRE WILL TELL?
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
NOW: The present time or moment.
WHERE ARE YOU NOW? WHERE IS YOUR FAMILY? ONE DAY THE FIRE WILL REVEAL?
The pendulum swings... a stick with a weigh at the bottom that swings back and forth.
Today our society believes "AN ANYTHING GOES" and "ALL ROADS LEAD TO GOD."
WE SEE A RE-DEFINING OF TRUTH AND THE NORM IS ACCEPTANCE AND SEEKER FRIENDLY.
We see God as ALL ACCEPTING and there is NO JUDGMENT OR CONSEQUENCES OF CHOICES.
Our theme song is quiet simple: IF THIS IS WRONG I DO NOT WANT TO BE RIGHT. Therefore we define sin as acceptable.
SEEMS WE DESIRE TO MAKE OUR OWN RULES OF RIGHT AND WE HAVE 50 SHADES OF GRAY. We find there is no more BLACK & WHITE... We have a rainbow of many colors.
WE HAVE LOST ALL SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY, CONSEQUENCES AND FEAR OF GOD...
GOD IS LOVE...
Once in college I had a professor that kept building on THE THEME GOD OF LOVE. He said: Does God love you? Does God love your family? Does God love the USA? Does God love us unconditionally? The class was cheering: YES! YES! He then concluded: IF GOD SO LOVES US --- HE WOULD NEVER SEND US TO HELL!!! The class agrees. I did not! He said: HUGHES, WHAT DO YOU SAY? I said: YES, SIR. NO WOMAN, MAN, GIRL OR BOY IN HELL CAN SAY GOD SENT THEM TO HELL. ALL IN HELL WILL HAVE TO SAY: THEY SENT THEMSELVES. GOD MADE A FIRE ESCAPE. IT IS PERSONAL CHOICES THAT LEAD TO HELL!
FEAR: A PROFOUND REVERENCE AND AWE TOWARD GOD.
A FEELING OF RESPECT AND WONDER FOR SOMETHING VERY POWERFUL.
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
THE WORD FOOL WAS NOT ALLOWED IN OUR HOUSE GROWING UP...
We were taught the word FOOL used improperly was a dangerous attitude.
But the Bible gives a good definition of what a real fool is:
Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
I never was afraid of my Dad, but I had a healthy respect and fear of the consequences of poor choices.
WE ALL HAVE TWO APPOINTMENTS SET --- ONE DAY THE FIRE IS COMING TO YOUR HOUSE. THERE IS AN ESTABLISHED END....
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Genesis 5 has a list of the Patriarchs of the human race...
There are FOUR WORDS PENNED AFTER EVERY NAME:
HE LIVED... and HE DIED...
Your appointment with death is coming...
BUT IT IS THE APPOINTMENT AT THE BEMA SEAT ... THE PLACE WHERE THE JUDGMENT IS GIVEN.
DO WE SEE WE ARE IN CONTROL OF OUR CHOICES?
THE FIRE WILL REVEAL OUR HEART AND OUR REINS.
REIN: The power to guide something. The ability to limit or control.
A strap that is attached to the bridle that is used to control the animal.
Psalm 7:9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
THE FIRE WILL TELL! GOD HAS THE PLAN AND THE BLUEPRINTS ... NOT YOUR PLANS, HIS. THERE COMES A GREAT INSPECTION DAY AND IT WILL BE THOROUGH AND RIGOROUS... THE NO EFFORT, NO WORKS, THE CHEAP INFERIOR MATERIAL WILL TELL IN THE WINDS AND STORMS OF TIME. BUILD VERY CAREFULLY, CHOOSE THE MATERIALS YOU BUILD WITH WISELY.
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
I ONCE READ A STORY OF A MULTI-MILLION LIVING IN THE TIME OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION. He had great financial insight beyond many. He had invested wisely and he had all his money in secure places. When others lost everything, he was still thriving and had all his money and material secure. He was blessed beyond measure.
This man had a dear friend that he loved that had lost everything. No home, no car and his family suffered. The multi millionaire was discussing the situation with his friend and was broken for this hard working man. The rich man made an offer to his friend. I will keep you employed until this depression is over. I will pay you very well and provide all you need. You have been my friend many years, I owe this to you.
The rich man said I own 20 acres and I want you to design and build for me the most beautiful mansion. He went on to say: SPARE NO EXPENSE! BUILD AND WORK FOR ME, I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. The rich man gave him a car, the tools and a open account for the materials. No questions asked. Just build me a mansion.
The man thanked his dear friend and started the work on the mansion. He designed a home that would bring the community to awe. They dug the footer and poured the foundation. The millionaire never came to see the plans or the foundation? Strange?
Because the millionaire never came to inspect the work the builder thought: I will use second grade materials and he will not know? So there man worked day after day and the money was placed weekly in his bank account.
Months went by, the owner never came once to check on the work and the progress? The man found a source of giveaway cardboard. He could get all the cardboard he desired for free. So as the walls were going up the man build the frame and the house out of cardboard. He painted the cardboard so pretty, one could never tell my sight that the mansion was a cardboard mansion. Only the builder knew. Several years the builder worked on the cardboard mansion and the rich friend was paying him for the expensive wood and better than market value for his pay every week. The builder felt so guilty that he never went to visit his friend.
One day the DEPRESSION was over and the builder could find work. He went to his friends house and said: THE MANSION IS FINISHED AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR KINDNESS TO ME AND MY FAMILY. The rich man said: I HAVE MISSED SEEING YOU. The builder said: OH, I AM SORRY AS I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY BUILDING THIS MANSION FOR YOU! The rich man said: I understand.
The rich man started crying and said: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BUILDING THIS FOR ME. I LOVE YOU AND YOU HAVE BEEN A REAL FRIEND TO ME!!! So the builder turned the key over to the millionaire. With great tears running down his face the millionaire RETURNED THE KEY TO HIS FRIEND AND SAID: OH, THE HOUSE IS YOURS. I DON'T NEED IT. YOU HAVE BEEN SO FAITHFUL WORKING FOR ME. MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO GIVE THIS LAND AND HOUSE TO YOU!!!
SEE THE CARDBOARD HOUSE WAS A RESULTS OF A LAZY MAN THAT WAS NEVER HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS THE OWNER TRUSTED HIM AND HIS WORK. HOW MANY TODAY HAVE BUILT CARDBOARD HOUSES AS THEY THINK THEY WILL GET BY ---
THE PENDULUM SWINGS --- THE FIRE WILL TELL!
THE FIRE WILL REVEAL? THE NIGHT IS SPENT --- ONE DAY I WILL CHANGE!
CAN I TELL TIME? WHAT TIME IS IT? IT IS HIGH TIME!!!
IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP FOR NOW IS THE TIME...
I promise God when things get better I will be more faithful to church!
I promise God when I make more money I will tithes? Give more?
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
NOW FAITH, NOW IS THE DAY WHEN WE ARE NEARER --- NOW IS THE TIME TO GROW!
THE FIRE WILL REVEAL?
How much have you frown spiritual in the last 5 years?
GOD IS NOT INTEREST AS MUCH IN CHANGING YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AS HE IS IN CHANGING OUR ATTITUDES, WORDS AND DEEDS.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.
One day I will be happy!
ONE DAY I WILL FORGIVE THAT MEAN OLD GOOD FOR NOTHING, BUT NOT TODAY.
One day, I will turn my TV off and clean the house!
It is true the computer has brought us closer to those that live far away, but the consequences is clear:
THE COMPUTER HAS BROUGHT THE DISTANCE FRIENDS CLOSER. BUT FROM THOSE CLOSE BY HAS DISTANCED THEM FRO, US..
TODAY, AM I DOING MORE THAN I EVER HAD?
TODAY, I AM HAPPIER THAN BEFORE?
TODAY, I DO MORE AT CHURCH THAN I EVER HAD?
TODAY, I READ MY BIBLE AND PRAY MORE THAN EVER BEFORE?
TODAY, I AM QUICKER TO FORGIVE THOSE THAT HURT ME?
ONE DAY THE FIRE WILL TELL IF IT IS HAY, WOOD OR STUBBLE?
THE FIRE WILL REVEAL... THE REFINER FIRE HAS A PURPOSE...
THE FIRES' PURPOSE REVEALS HAY, WOOD, STUBBLE WILL BURN AWAY...
THE PRECIOUS STONES, THE SILVER AND THE GOLD WILL COME THROUGH THE FIRE PURER THAN BEFORE.
REFINER: To remove impurities, to remove the unwanted, to change to make better, to free from moral imperfections, to improve by pruning and or polishing.
Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
In Biblical times a MASTER would refine silver... HOW WOULD HE KNOW WHEN THE SILVER WAS PURE?
It was easy... WHEN THE MASTER SAW A PERFECT REFECTION OOF HIMSELF IN THE MOLTEN SILVER, HE KNEW THE SILVER WOULD PASS THE TEST!
Conclusion: They will be coming around the mountain when they come? They will be coming around the mountain, around and around? Around and around? Around and around? How many times shall we go around the mountain? 40 years? Each trip around the mountain revealed the SAME OLD SAME OLD?
ARE WE ALLOWING OUR FRUSTRATIONS TO DICTATE THE SAME STUFF? DAY AFTER DAY? Sometimes we have to go through the fire to find out who we really are and what we need to improve? God desires us to have PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE... GOD IS NOT AS INTEREST IN CHANGING YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AS MUCH AS YOU ARE! GOD DESIRES TO CHANGE WHO WE ARE! OUR ATTITUDES, OUR WORDS, OUR BEHAVIOR AND OUR FAITH DEEDS... NOW FAITH...
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
