GOD I WANT TO BE A COWBOY ---I AM SO SORRY, BUT I MUST TO BE A COWBOY...
LOOK AT TWO STRATEGIES OF DAILY LIVING...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
O, GOD, I WANT TO BE A COWBOY... I start out singing, HOME, HOME ON THE RANGE
STRATEGY: game plan, a careful plan, approach, method to achieve goals to accomplish.
STRATAGEM: a trick on plan to deceive and enemy to hinder his goal.
NO PLAN IS A PLAN...No one plans to fail, they fail to plan and thus become doomed for failure!
WE FIND THE COWBOY SPIRIT ALL THROUGH THE BIBLE...
Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE OF A REAL COWBOY! (I am dressed like a cowboy in western gear)
I have each of the items listed below...)
1. COWBOY BOOTS: pointed toe, to kick and step on roaches in the corner.
2. COWBOY HAT: Keeps dust away, protects eyes, can be used to hold water to give horse drink.
3. HORSE: HE RIDES.
4. SPURS: POKE THE HORSE INTO OBEDIENCE.
5. BRIDLE: GEE, HAW, WOE, GIDDY-UP, MILD WHIP.
6. COWS: HE DRIVES THE CATTLE FROM THE BACK AND SIDES.
7. PRODDER -STICK: TO HIT THEM WITH
8. HE HAS A PISTOL (short distance) AND A RIFLE (long distance), knife...
9. NOSE RING: TO CONTROL
10. BEANS: common quick food.
11. WHIP: a long piece leather, to make gun like sound, or hit the cow.
12. BRAND: burn his mark in the side of the cow. (Mine)
13. DECK OF CARDS: gamble at night.
14. COWBELL: on lead cow to hear where the cows are.
15. NOOSE: JUSTICE: 13 rings and hang horse/cow thief.
16. CHUCK WAGON: cook
JESUS BRINGS TO US A NEW ATTITUDE! A NEW STATEGY LIKE THE WORLD HAS NEVER KNOWN.
Blessed are the poor in spirit...
Blessed are those that mourn...
Blessed are the meek...
Blessed are the hungry...
Blessed are the merciful...
Blessed are the pure in heart...
Blessed are the PEACE MAKERS... ( not peace keepers)
Blessed are the PERSECUTED...
NO TEACHER HAD EVER TAUGHT LIKE JESUS TAUGHT...
WHILE WE DESIRE TO BE COWBOYS --- GOD DESIRES US TO OPERATE WITH A DIFFERENT STRATEDGY.
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matthew 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
GOD NEVER CALLS COWBOYS --- GOD CALLS SHEPHERDS ---
MORE THAN A HIRELING FOR MONEY, PROFIT, CAREER...
John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
COME LET US SEE THE CALL AND STRATEGY OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD....
1. A GOOD SHEPHERD LEADS to green pastures
BESIDE THE STILL WATER: He scouts ahead and knows where still waters are... SHEEP DROWN IN FAST CURRENTS WATERS...
2. SHEPHERDS CLOTHES: (Two pieces material, sack-cloth, one over shoulders, one over neck)
A BLUE AND WHITE ROPE TIES AROUND TO HOLD IN PLACE.
3. SHEPHERD'S BAG: ( Over shoulder, holds baby lamb) If runs away hurts leg and carries it)
4. SHEPHERD'S ROD & STAFF (Same thing varies how it is used) Rod correct, staff draw closer.
5. SANDALS: never kick the sheep.
6. CROWN: a rope with 7 pieces on knotted rope hanging down, uses when he prays.
7. WATER PROOF BAG and rope to throw down in the well to draw water.
8. SLING: ( I have 5 smooth stones.)
9. DAGGER:
10: WATER BAG (leather, canteen)
11. OIL, to cook with and medicine... oil and wine.
12. RAGS/BAND-AIDES...
13. FOOD: His wife helps prepare food for his stay.
A. Pita Bread, FALAFEL ---
B. LENTIL: red lentil Esau sold his birthright.
C. FISH
D. MUSHROOMS (I have all these, and introduce them one by one)
E. MANGO (fresh, dried)
F. POMEGRANATE (FRUIT, JUICE)
G. HUMMUS
H. DATES/RAISINS
I. JERKY (dried meat)
CONCLUSION: MOST PASTORS AND SPOUSES THINK THEY ARE GOD CALLED COWBOYS.
Drive them cows until they drop. Ride the horse, crack the whip. Make them, I am the boss. My way or the highway. We want to ride, rope, round up, corral, lasso and brand with hot burning irons so we can never lose
what is ours.
A GOOD SHEPHERD WILL GIVE HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP. Sheep know the voice of the shepherd.
A good shepherd is a STEWARD --- He is faithful to his post of duty.
DAVID KILLED A BEAR AND LION TO PROTECT HIS FATHER'S FLOCK.
WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY MY FRIEND... DO YOU DRIVE THE KIDS OR LEAD THE KIDS? DO YOU LEAD TO WORSHIP AND GREEN PASTURES?
WHEN THE PRODIGAL RAN AWAY HE SAID: GIVE ME!!!
WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE FATHER HE SAID: MAKE ME...
IS LIFE A HAVE TO---
VS:
A WANT TO---
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This illustrated sermon means working and gathering all the materials and this visual lesson will never be forgotten. I HAVE DONE THIS SERMON FOR MANY YEARS and traveled to many areas to teach this lesson. The preparation is a good investment.
