STEW: THE SMELL WILL TELL.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
Matthew 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
HOW DOES DOUBT AND UNBELIEF EXPRESS ITSELF? TIME WILL TELL?
A skunk may claim to be a cat? But sooner or later the SMELL WILL TELL.
DOUBT AND UNBELIEF WILL ALWAYS BE REVEALED.
FEAR DEPRESSION ANXIETY STRESS INSOMNIA WORRY ULCERS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
HEADACHES COMPLAINING ANGER ETC.
My Dad, Wade M. Hughes was born in 1931 during the depression, up to 80% unemployment.
My Grandfather C.T. Hughes was born in 1878. C.T. was 53 when my Dad was born.
Grandfather Charles Tyler Hughes life experience was much on the darker side of negativism.
To be honest he was a REAL PESSIMIST.
He and my Dad and his twin brother worked 12 hour days to hoe corn and tobacco. The three of them received one dollar a day for working the day. ( less than $ 0.33 A DAY A PIECE)
My dad said they would be take the hoes and work and sweat.
GRANDFATHER HUGHES WOULD BE LOOKING DOWN AND HE WOULD SAY THERE IS GOING TO BE A DROUGHT THIS YEAR AND OUR CROPS WOULD FAIL AND WE WERE ALL GOING TO STARVE TO DEATH THIS YEAR. Charles Tyler would tell the cows are going to dry up, no milk and they would die.
Dad said he would tell his dad, look at the storm clouds rolling in? There would be thunder and lightning in the distance and Grandpa would continue what a slow and painful death was coming to the whole family.
Dad would say we better head to the house we are going to get wet? No, Grandpa would say we have to keep working and the drought would get them. Soon the rain would be pounding them as they were running to the house. When they got to the porch they were all dipping wet, Grandpa would sit in the rock and say NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE FLOODED OUT AND THE HAIL WILL DESTROY OUR CROPS.
C.T. would be 139 this year, my dad is 86 and somehow God has seen us through dry times and wet seasons.
ALL THE STEWING ABOUT LIFE WAS IN VAIN…
THE TEMPTAION TO STEW? WHAT IS STEW? FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE?
STEW: TO BE IN A CONTINUAL STATE OF SURPRESSED AGITATION, BITTERNESS, ANGER, RESENTMENT AND WORRY….
LIFE IS ABOUT DOING.
We get alone in a dark place, and stew. “ I CAN CRY IF I WANT TO…” Cry if I want to.
Jesus has a plan: THE GREATER YOUR EFFORT AND GIVING --- THE GREATER YOUR JOY AND PEACE WILL BE.
Matthew 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
Matthew 21:28-31 (MSG) 28 "Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, 'Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.' 29 "The son answered, 'I don't want to.' Later on he thought better of it and went. 30 "The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, 'Sure, glad to.' But he never went. 31 "Which of the two sons did what the father asked?" They said, "The first." Jesus said, "Yes, and I tell you that crooks and whores are going to precede you into God's kingdom.
THE GREAT PREACHER: MARTIN LUTHER HAD A WORKING THEORY IN LIFE. He used this illustration: WHEN I AM ASSAILED WITH HEAVY TRIBULATION, I RUSH OUT AMONG MY PIGS, RATHER THAN REMAIN ALONE BY MYSELF.
THE HUMAN HEART IS LIKE A MILLSTONE IN A MILL. WHEN YOU PUT WHEAT UNDER THE MILL STONE, THE STONE TURNS AND GRINDS AND BRUISES THE WHEAT INTO FLOUR.
IF YOU PUT NO WHEAT UNDER THE GRIND STONE, IT STILL TURNS ON, BUT THE GRIND STONE FINDS ITSELF GRINDING AWAY AND ERODING ITSELF.
MARTIN LUTHER WENT ON TO TEACH: SO IS THE HUMAN HEART, UNLESS IT IS OCCUPIED WITH SOME EMPLOYMENT THERE REMAINS A SPACE FOR THE DEVIL, THAT WRIGGLES HIMSELF INTO THE HEART AND BRINGS A WHOLE HOST OF EVIL THOUGHTS, TEMPTATIONS AND TRIBULATIONS, WHICH WILL SLOWLY GRIND AWAY AT YOUR HEART.
GOD HAS A PLAN, IT IS VERY CLEAR: DOING BEATS STEWING! DOING SURE DOES BEAT STEWING!!!
WHO ARE WE FOOLING? DO NOT BE DECEIVED?
I have a friend that says: DOING BEATS STEWING!
WE MUST REALIZE THAT THE TEMPTATION TO STEW IS EVER BEFORE US…
To stew means a state of congestion and heat. WORRY AND CONFUSION. It means to SLOWLY AND CONTINUALLY BE HOT, TO BE UPSET AND WORRIED.
STEW: TO BE IN A CONTINUAL STATE OF SURPRESSED AGITATION, BITTERNESS, ANGER, RESENNTMENT AND WORRY….
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
GOD HAS A DESIGN FOR THIS DAY: REJOICE AND BE GLAD, GET UP AND DO SOMETHING.
Psalm 118:24 (KJV) This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.!
WE HAVE TO QUIT STEWING AND START DOING, GOD WILL HONOR OUR HONEST EFFORTS.
James 1:22 (MSG) Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! 23 Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, 24 walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.
25 But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.
STEW? WE NOW COME TO HIGH TIME, IT IS HIGH TIME --- QUIT CRYING AND GET UP AND DO SOMETHING…
IT IS TIME TO CELEBRATE LIFE AND QUIT MOURNING PAYING STUPID TAXES AND LIVING A LIFE IN REGRET…
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.
OLD PEOPLE HAVE TO SLOW DOWN, THEY SEEM TO TURN OFF THE TV, TURN THE MUSIC OFF, FIND A QUIET PLACE AND REMEMBER THE PAST. When we are younger we are RUNNING AWAY, chasing rainbows and never still.
Then THE DAYS OF REGRET COME… SIT AND DO NOTHING BUT REMEMBER AND STEW.
EZRA AND NEHEMIAH STEW LONG ENOUCH… THEY DEMAND OF THE PEOPLE…
Nehemiah 8:9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
QUIT MOURNING AND CRYING, CELBRATE, BE FESTIVE--- REJOICE FOR THE ENEMY KNOWS THE DESIGN, THE JOY IS OUR STRENGTH, THEREFORE GET UP, COOK AND GIVE… DO SOMETHING MY FRIEND RATHER THAN SIT IN A DARK ROOM WATCHING CNN. THIS WILL KILL YOU IF YOU KEEP STEWING.
Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV)
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.
A skunk may claim to be a cat? But sooner or later the SMELL WILL TELL.
HAVE YOU EVER MADE A RESOLUTION THAT YOU NEVER KEPT? God needs you to be a DOER!
There are several kinds of people there are BLOWERS, THAT ARE TALKERS that are usually very negative and produce nothing but leaves. They will normally profess a great deal, but complain and fuss about everything. JOY is far from them and their house.
I have a friend that says: DOING BEATS STEWING AND I AGREE.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 1:22 (MSG) Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! 23 Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, 24 walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.
25 But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.
EVER JUST GET WEARY FROM TRIALS, STORMS AND PROBLEMS?
Galatians 6:7 (KJV) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
WHAT ARE LIFE’S LESSONS TEACHING US? DO WE KEEP BLAMING OTHERS FOR OUR MOODS, WORDS AND ACTIONS?
Galatians 6:7 (MSG) 7 Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!— 8 harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. 9 So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. 10 Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
SEEMS OUR RESOLUTIONS ARE STRONGER AT THEIR BIRTH THAN AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME.
BE IT RESOLVED WE WILL CELEBRATE LIFE AND QUIT MOURNING DEATH? DO WE REALLY BELIEVE IN HEAVEN?
DO WE BELIEVE WHAT WE PREACH?
CONCLUSION: Let us get a CADILLAC OR CONTINENCAL, WITH THE BIGGEST ENGINE AND BEST LEATHER INTERIOR, GET ALL THE GINGER BREAD STUFF ADDED, BUT WITHOUT GAS OR OIL YOU ARE NOT GOING VERY FAR? Maybe you are not doing everything you want to do, BUT ARE YOU DOING THE THINGS GOD DESIRES OF YOU? What are you doing with your Bible? Do you use it to argue and debate? You are responsible not just what you have? But God holds you responsible for what YOU COULD BE! YOUR WORDS AND DEEDS ARE A SELF PORTRAIT YOU ARE PAINTING!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
