LEARNING TO FACE SOLEMN DAYS...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
SOME THINGS IN LIFE COME BY INSTINCTS?
BUT MOST OF LIFE IS LEARNED BEHAVIOR?
Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
Jeremiah 12:5 (MSG)
Jer 12:5 "So, Jeremiah, if you're worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can't keep your wits during times of calm, what's going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in flood?
Hosea 9:5 What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?
EVERY LIVING PERSON WILL FACE SOLEMN DAYS...
Contrary to what some TV preachers teach ---
LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS A BOWL OF CHERRIES... I promise sometimes LIFE IS THE PITS...
Just ask JOSEPH ABOUT THE PITS OF LIFE.
Joseph had a dysfunctional family? He was hated by his brothers? He was stripped of his COAT OF FAVOR?
He was thrown in a pit (well)? He was sold by his brothers? He was sold in Egypt? He was accused falsely? He lay in a prison cell many nights? He was forgotten after the dreams?
LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS FAIR?
IN BIBLICAL TIMES A MAN WAS PAID HIS WAGES AS SOON AS THE WORK WAS OVER.
There is no seniority in SPIRITUAL ISSUES.
Fair?
Matthew 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Why did the Master pay them backwards?
DID YOU AGREE FOR THE PAY SCALE? Why murmur?
The Master has every legal right to do with his own as he pleases?
1. WHAT YOU GOING TO DO IN THE SOLEMN DAY OF SICKNESS...
EVERY PERSON THAT LIVES LONG ENOUGH IS GOING TO FACE THE SOLEMN DAY OF SICKNESS... REGARDLESS OF YOUR SPIRITUAL STATUS... WE SHALL ALL FACE THE SOLEMN DAY OF SICKNESS?
We once knew a man that had been blessed with SUPER DIVINE HEALTH. He never had a headache, he never had pain. He would stand up in church and tell everyone WHAT A SIN TO GO TO THE DOCTOR and take medicine. This was easy for him to say? He never took one pill for his life time.
Note: He did wear glasses?
One day he woke up with absolute pain. He was doubled up and crying. He had his family call the ambulance and rushed him to the hospital. He spent days under medical treatment and medicine. See, the reality of life hits.
OK, LET'S APPROACH THE THOUGHT? If you are in the hospital, what terrible sin have you committed?
John 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
THE RAIN FALLS! When the rain falls it is not selective on good or bad? It is life!
Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
I heard a TV preacher say he and his wife had picked the day of their death and how they would die. They would be 100 years old, sitting on the porch rocking in rocking chairs and both die at the same time?
Maybe a car ran off the road? WE WILL SEE?
WE APPROACH THE SOLEMN DAY OF SICKNESS!
2. WE SHALL ALL FACE THE SOLEMN DAY OF DEATH... DEATH HAS HIS APPOINTMENT WITH ALL.... DEATH IS SURE...
READ THE ROLL CALL OF LIFE IN GENESIS 5... And they lived --- AND THEY DIED...
Death happens to the worse of us... Death visits the best of us...
Ecclesiastes 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3. THERE IS A THIRD SOLEMN DAY THAT ALL WILL FACE THE BEAMA SEAT... WE WILL ALL FACE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF GOD
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
THE FIRE IS COMING...
1 Corinthians 3:13 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.
HAY, WOOD STUBBLE VS PRECIOUS STONE, SILVER AND DIAMONDS...
WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING...
SOLEMN DAY DON'TS
*1. DO SAY YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT IS GOING THROUGH THESE TROUBLES...
I CAN'T HANDLE THIS?
Elijah said " GOD I AM THE ONLY ONE SERVING YOU"
God said: I have 7,000 serving me...
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
*2. WHEN YOU ARE FACING A SOLEMN DAY DO NOT COMPLAIN AND MURMUR CONSTANTLY.
Complaining is a good habit.
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
*3. NEVER HAVE A GET EVEN OR A HEART BENT ON REVENGE.
Revenge belongs to God.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
*4. NEVER THROW IN THE TOWEL...
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
*5. REFUSE TO BE EXCESSIVE, STAY BALANCED. THE GOLDEN MEAN...
Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
*6. NEVER COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS... BE YOU...
There was a rooster that was walking around the hen house. The young boy had kicked his football into the chicken yard. The rooster called all the hens around the ball and demanded his hens to lay eggs that size?
2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
NOW COME AND LET US REASON ABOUT SOME SOLEMN DAYS DOES...
*1. BE WILLING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE...
Matthew 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
*2. HAVE AN HONEST SELF-EVALUATION SYSTEM. (words, deeds, attitudes)
1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
*3. BE PATIENT WITH YOUR SELF AND WITH OTHERS... Rome was not build in a day.
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
*4. ALWAYS BE THANKFUL AND APPRECIATIVE...
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
*5. TRUST THE LORD AND LEAN NOT TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
*6. GET'-ER DONE.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
*7. QUIT CRYING & FIND JOY IN LITTLE THINGS...
Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
CONCLUSION: We cannot avoid solemn days but we can be prepared for them.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
