AN OPEN HOUSE WITH A CLOSED MIND?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
THERE WAS AN INVITATION FROM A PHARISEE, HE WAS A VIP (VERY IMPORTANT PERSON), SEARCH YOUR HEART AND YOUR ATTITUDES… BAD ATTITUDES ARE CHOICES… WHY ALL THIS WASTE?
Luke 7:37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Luke 7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
HAVE WE OPENED OUR HOUSE TO JESUS? THE INVITATION IS WONDERFUL BUT YOU HAVE CLOSED YOUR HEART? This Pharisee had a great opportunity, Jesus came into his house... BUT HIS ATTIITUDE WAS ALL WRONG. He had the son of God in his front room, but HE GAVE NOTHING, NOT EVEN THE CUSTOMARY STUFF. He thought Jesus was to be honored into his home, his attitude should have been WHAT AN HONOR HE HAD TO HAVE JESUS COME VISIT.
He refused to give water to supply water to wash Jesus' feet? He gave Jesus no kisses? He did not anoint Jesus...
Wow, to have Jesus in your house and miss the opportunity... He could have built a memorial to his home... a little lady MADE an opportunity and she has a memorial known around the world.
If Jesus were at your house would you turn off the TV, computer, and FaceBook? Why open your house and CLOSE YOUR HEART? A dis-courteous host? WHY ALL THIS WASTE? TRY AGAIN...
This Pharisee’s attitudes and DO-NOTHINGNESS expose his bad attitudes. He was looking to impress Jesus and the crowd… HE MISSED IT… self-promotion? TALK ABOUT BAD ATTITUDES: WHY ALL THIS WASTE? We remember this man as rude and judgmental. WE REMEMBER THIS BAD LADY WAS SHE DID WHAT SHE COULD --- WHAT A MEMORIAL! There is not record this Pharisee’s house ever changed its bad attitudes?
I WILL CHANGE MY BAD ATTITUDES SOMEDAY? MAYBE A MORE CONVENIENT SEASONS? WAIT? ONE OF THE GREATEST SPIRITUAL SINS WE COMMIT IS PROCRASTINATION…
Convenient: allowing you to do something easily or without trouble… a place nearby or easy to get to…
Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Procrastination: to be slow or late, last minute living, to delay because you don’t want to do something, lazy…
TO PUT OFF INTENTIONALLLY OR HABITUALLY.
IT’S MY PARTY AND I WILL CRY IF I WANT TO… LET ME MAKE A LONG STORY LONGER… TODAY IS A GIFT… NOT EVERYONE THAT HAD THE GIFT OF TODAY YESTERDAY HAS THE SAME GIFT TODAY.
There are some people that tied their shoes yesterday that had an undertaker untie them last night. They never planned on dying yesterday.
What are you doing with TODAY? How are your attitudes affecting what you are doing with today? Is today a CURSE TO YOU? Have you murmured and grumbled all day. IF YOU ARE DOG TIRED, MAYBE YOU GROWLED ALL DAY?
*** Can you correct your bad attitudes? Do you recognize the bad attitudes you have? Do you have any desire to correct and discipline your bad attitudes? What was today designed to accomplish?
Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
THE PREACHER HAS SOME ADVICE, IT IS TIME TO CHANGE OUR ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR… NEHEMIAH HAS A MESSAGE STRAIGHT FROM THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD…
Often we mourn and fuss about situations instead of focus and correct the problem. YOU CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION IF YOU SO DESIRE?
The Levites and Priest had been teaching lessons to God’s people. Their sins and bad behavior and bad attitudes had been exposed by THE WORD OF GOD… The people were broken and cried and cried…
The Preachers began teaching THIS DAY IS HOLY UNTO THE LORD, it is time to CHANGE OUR WORDS AND ATTIITUDES… because everyone was weeping and crying… GET UP, GET OVER IT…
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.
AM I PRAYING GOD CHANGE THE WHOLE WORLD, BUT LEAVE ME ALONE? ARE YOU ENJOYING YOUR BAD ATTITUDES? YOUR MOODS NOT ONLY PUNISH YOURSELF YOU ARE TORTURING YOUR SELF.
Que sera sera? What will be will be? I am trapped in this mess because everyone is mean and bullies me? If I could but move?
I WANT A DIVORCE?--- Do we realize bad attitudes destroy good families? WHY?
**** BECAUSE ATTITUDES AND MOODS ARE NOT SET IN CONCRETE, ATTITUDES ARE ABOUT CHOICES…
A body at rest tends to stay at rest. A body in motion tends to stay in motion. What tends to drive you to motion? Edification should become a personal goal to keep us in motion. Who have you encouraged today? The person that needs encouragement the most probably deserves it the least. Invest for the long term, encourage others often.
WE TRAIN OUR ANIMALS? WE TRAIN OUR KIDNEYS? BUT WE NEVER TRAIN OUR BRAINS? LIFE IS ABOUT CHOICES…
YOU BECOME A SUM TOTAL OF YOUR MENIAL EVERYDAY CHOICES… YOU BUILD THIS HOUSE?
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 9:27 (MSG) I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
I BRING MY BODY, MIND AND ATTITUDES UNDER SUBJECTION… THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF DISCIPLINE…
DISCIPLINE BY OTHERS: This is a poor grade because we were to lazy to study? This is a police man giving you a ticket for speeding? This is getting fired because you were late at work because you did not go to bed until late and you just can’t get up in the morning? You stink, Take a bath?
SELF CORRECTION AND SELF DISCIPLINE: The goal of every parent and the goal of MATURITY is you correct yourself? You take baths on your own? You study and do what is expected of you? You control the car according to the laws? You are on time!
HOW TEACHABLE ARE YOU? CORRECTABLE?
Proverbs 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Train your brain. Is it not amazing that we can train are kidneys but we can't train our brain. Show me what ticks you off and I will show you what makes you tick. We blame everybody else for anger and are bad moods. When we cannot accept the responsibility that I have made decisions and choices and I have to live with the consequences. My friend we must train our brain to see good. How about starting the morning off with thinking of ten good things in your life? We can do it.
Philippians 4:8 (KJV) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
TRAIN THE BRAIN? THINK ON—truth, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue, praise… the best potential, not the worst; see the beautiful, not the ugly; focus on praise, not things to curse. TRAIN YOUR BRAIN! Train your attitudes! Train your moods… Never allow emotions and brain games to control you!
CONCLUSION: There were two soldiers injured in a terrible battle. The two soldiers were in the same room in the military hospital, they never had any company. The soldier in the bed toward the hallway would often asked his roommate to describe what was going on just outside of the window. The one soldier told about the huge oak trees and how the children were playing and running outside the window. He would tell the wounded man next to him how there were reunions of couples holding hands and walking and resting in the shade of the trees. One night the man next to the window died and the man with his legs blown off was moved to the window bed. He was so surprised, out the window were nothing but concrete, garbage cans, and ugly old generators. The surviving soldier enquired of the nurse about the man that died… what were his injuries. She told him the man had traumatic head injuries and he was totally blind. The soldier learned much about a JOYFUL HEART and ATTITUDES from HIS BUDDY? LIFE IS ABOUT MORE THAN YOUR EYES. LIFE IS ABOUT YOUR DAILY ATTITUDES.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Pass it on?
