INSTANT GRADIFICATION
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Let us LISTEN TO THE CRY FOR INSTANT GRATIFICATION:
THE SEX/DRUG MARKET REVEALS THIS CRY.
Heroin is injected straight into the veins. The drug is so fast in your veins that the hit or high will come before you remove the needle. Drugs can take the fear of needles into an OBSESSION.
Meth, heroin, speed, energy drinks, pot… will ruin your life, or IT MAY KILL YOU BEFORE your ruin.
Have you ever heard of a smoker switching to E-CIGARETTES?
How about a person desiring to lose weight getting addicted to diet pills? Quit the pills and the fat RETURNS.
We need a NEW ATTITUDE and A CHANGE OF THINKING?
WE HAVE GROWN A CULTURE OF I DESERVE THIS. I AM ENTITLED TO THIS.
The desire to experience pleasure or fulfillment without delay or deferment.
Basically, give me what I want, when I want it. We tend quick pleasure and happiness, now.
We tend to live on IMPULSES… We see the total EROSION OF PATIENCE…
SERIOUS PROBLEMS OF COST/ REPAYMENT?
Commercials, everybody has it, live like the Jones.
THEY JUST COULD NOT FINISH --- DO WE EVER COUNT THE COST?
INSTANT GRADIFICATION, I DESERVE THIS NOW!
Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Luke 14:28 (MSG) "Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it? 29 If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: 30 'He started something he couldn't finish.'
20 years ago, I had a friend that lived in Cleveland, Ohio. She would often call me. I knew her as a child. Then she was a grown woman with 3 children, two were teenagers. On one call she told me all of her friends had computers and she wanted one now, but could not afford one. The next call she was describing her state of the art computer. I asked her:
“ I though you could not afford a computer?
Her friend told her about this store where credit did not matter. All she had to do was sign a contract. She would make weekly payments, four payments a month. She had not read the fine print. She found out later the $800 computer would be paid off in 7 years. She just had to HAVE THE COMPUTER NOW! She took the computer back in a few months, she could not cancel the purchase. In 8 years her $800 computer would cost her over $8,000?
Want to talk about THE COST OF IMMEDIATE GRADIFICATION? Her electricity was cut off? BUT SHE HAD A NEW COMPUTER. Trouble was the computer would not work without electricity? Not to worry, a neighbor in her apartment building would allow her to run an extension cord to her new computer. AFTER 84 PAYMENTS she owned an old out dated computer.
WOW, COUNT THE COST? DO WE TEND TO BE LIKE POPEYE’S FRIEND, WIMPEE. I will gladly repay you Tuesday for a hamburger today? Living beyond our means can be a root of many problems?
LET US GET REAL AND FOCUS ON THE ANATOMY OF INSTANT GRADIFACATION--- THE HOOK.
Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat..
INSTANT GRADIFACATION IS LIKE GOING FISHING. The fish is safe as long as he keeps his mouth shut?
Once the hook is set, the fish is in big trouble and great danger of going to the iron skillet?
*THE SATANIC GOAL IS TO GET:
*1. GET YOU ISOLATED, ALONE: To get alone, separate apart from others, remove, unhappy, feeling of loneliness.
The enemy caught EVE by herself, away from Adam. I personally think this was brilliant of the enemy. Eve would have never swallowed the hook if Adam had BEEN BY HER SIDE?
This like my BANANA THEORY, the banana is in danger of getting skinned when it is broken off the bunch.
My opinion is clear: OUR EEEEEEENEMY WANTS YOU OUT OF CHURCH.
*2. HUNGRY: suffering lack, uncomfortable, strong feeling of need, empty, --- Have you ever heard, don’t go to the grocery store when you are hungry? Ponder why?
*3. TIRED: needs rest, in need of sleep, bored, drained of strength, fatigued, exhausted, worn from use.
*4. LOOKS GOOD, FOCUS: to look at, to get attention, to adjust.
*5. MISINTERPPRET GOD’S LOVE AND RULES: God says: DON’T EAT OF THE TREE, EVE SAYS GOD SAID: DO NOT TOUCH OR EAT, this makes God sound mean, these rules are so stupid.
*6. PRIDE, GREED, LOVE OF POWER… Eve, you will become like God!!!
EVE becomes easy prey for God’s enemy BECAUSE SHE IS LOOKING FOR INSTANT GRADIFICATIONS.
BE HONEST: DID EVER COUNT THE COST? Did she even understand NAKE? Did she think about the death of the animal to make her clothes? The first sacrifice of life? Did Eve think about her kids? Did Eve think about THE FIRST GRAVE? Did she think about THE JUDGMENT ON CAIN?
PLAN AND THE INTEREST IT WILL COST?
WILL WE CONSIDER SINS PAYMENT SYSTEM AND CONSIDER THE COST OF INSTANT GRADIFACATION?
THE ISSUE OF THE HEART IS THE HEART OF THE ISSUE… WHERE WILL WE PITCH OUR TENT? WILL WE REMEMBER THE COST OF THE EASY, WELL WATERED PLAINS? WANT TO DISCUSS INSTANT GRADIFACATION? CHOICES? CONSEQUENCES?
Lot was Abraham’s nephew. There are records Lot visited Abraham’s altars, but there is NO RECORD of Lot building one altar. ABRAHAM was having trouble with Lot. LOT SHOULD HAVE PREFERRED HIS ELDER AND YIELDED THE CHOICE TO UNCLE ABRAHAM? Lot’s greed and attitudes show?
Genesis 13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
LOT AND HIS FAMILY HAD A CLEAR ORDER… DO NOT LOOK BACK…
Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
LOT GO TO THE MOUNTAIN, NOW… I CAN’T, GOD KNOWS I CAN’T… LET ME SETTLE FOR ZOAR, THE LITTLE
Genesis 19:20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
LOT’S WIFE HAD SOMETHING BACK THERE, THERE WAS SOME KIND OF LOVE THAT ATTACHED HER HEART, INSTANT GRADIFACATION.
Genesis 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
INSTANT GRADIFACATION: I HAVE TO HAVE WHAT I WANT RIGHT NOW! I HAVE TO LOOK BACK. THAT IS A STUPID RULE, I WILL NOT SUBMIT. THE WAS A LOVE OF PLEASURE AND HAPPINESS BACK THERE?
Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.
REMEMBER WHAT? LIVING FOR THE MOMENT… FOR PLEASURE, HAPPINESS AND LIVING ON SPIIRITUAL CREDIT WILL REQUIRE A SACRIFICE OF THE SEPERATION FROM PEOPLE AND FROM GOD.
1 Timothy 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
LIVING FOR THE MOMENT? NEVER CONSIDERING THE COST?
HAVE WE EVER CONSIDERED OUR REGRETS THAT WE WILL FACE?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE LONELY? TIRED? SEPERATED? FULL OF PRIDE? NOT KNOWING?
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
THERE ARE NO SADDER WORDS OF PEN OR TONGUE, THAN THE WORDS WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN!!!
CONSIDER INSTANT GRADIFACATION? CAN WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE PPROMISES OF GOD? HOW MUCH IS A BOWL OF SOUP WORTH?
Did you know with the attitude of instant gratification our HEAD, OUR FAITH, AND OUR EMOTIONS CAN PLAY GAMES WITH OUR HEART?
ESAU WAS PLAYING GAMES WITH HIS EMOTIONS?
The enemy caught ESAU: TIRED, HUNGRY, ALONE,
Genesis 25:30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
LET US MAKE A DEAL? I WILL TRADE YOU THE BIRTHRIGHT FOR A BOWL OF RED LENTIL SOUP?
INSTANT GRADIFACATION, DEPRESSED, UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE…
ELIJAH IS RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE AND THEN PRAYS: GOD KILL ME! KILL ME NOW!
JEZEBEL HAS VOWED TO KILL THE PREACHER --- BUT GOD --- BUT GOD HAD A PLAN…DIVINE PROVISIONS…
ELIJAD WAS TIED, HUNGRY, ALONE… HE HAD LOST HIS FOCUS…
AHAB AND JEZEBEL WERE WICKED AND MEAN AND HATED THE PREACHER BECAUSE THEY HATED HIS MESSAGE.
1 Kings 19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. 3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
ELIJAH REST, EATS AND HAS ANGEL COMPANY… TIRED, HUNGRY, ALONE?
1 Kings 19:5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
OUR EMOTIONS CAN PLAY GAMES AND SELF DOUBT… AND WE HAVE LOST SIGHT AND FOCUS OF THE GOALS AND PROMISES OF GOD.
1 Kings 19:6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
SAMSON GETS IN TROUBLE WITH INSTANT GRADIFACATION!
DAVID LOST SIGHT OF THE GOAL,
2 Samuel 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
CONCLUSION: WE MUST DEVELOP LONG TERM PLANS, AND WAIT ON THE LORD’S PLAN AND PURPOSE…
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
***1. WE SHOULD HAVE A GOAL OF DELAYED GRADIFICATION. 2. REMEMBER THE LONG TERM BENEFITS… FORGET NOT THE BENEFITS… 3. THE MORE YOU GIVE THE MORE WILL BE DEMANDED… 4. GIVE A FISH VS TEACH ONE TO FISH…
5. BREAK FREE FRO WHAT YOU DESIRE… 6. COUNT THE COST… 7. SET CLEAR BOUNDARIES… 8. FOCUS ON THE BIGGER PICTURE… 9. REMEMBER THE COST ?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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