MIXED MESSAGES? ARE WE GIVING A CONFUSING SOUND?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I once heard mixed message define: A mixed message is watching your mother in law drive over a cliff in your brand new 200,000 dollar Mercedes?
1 Corinthians 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1 Corinthians 14:8 (MSG) If the trumpet call can't be distinguished, will anyone show up for the battle?
CONSIDER PERCEPTION?
*** Perception: using your five senses to come to a conclusion, the way you think about, the way you understand, the way you feel about the facts…
TALK ABOUT PERSPECTIVE?
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
An old farmer saved enough money to buy a donkey. The donkey would help do the work on the farm. So the farmer paid cash and left with the donkey tied to the rope. As they lead the donkey along, someone had a different perspective. They said old man you are not taking advantage of your new animal. You should let your grandson ride the donkey. The people were right. So the grandson rode the donkey and the old man lead with the rope harness.
A little ways down the road someone yelled out a different perspective. Young man you should honor your grandfather, he is old and has difficulty walking. They said: Get off that donkey and let the old man ride. They agreed with the people, and the grandson helped his grandfather climb on the donkey. The old man was enjoying his ride until they heard some yelling: They should both ride the donkey. Of course this was a valid conclusion. So the lad climbed up behind the old man. They were both enjoying riding the donkey.
All of a sudden the two passed by some people and they heard them complaining: LOOK AT THAT OLD MAN AND THAT YOUNG BOY BOTH RIDING THE DONKEY, THEY ARE GOING TO BREAK THAT DONKEY’S BACK! They reasoned, maybe they are right? So they both climbed off the donkey and pondered what to do?
So there was only one more option. The old man and the boy carried the donkey all the way to the house.
Life is about perspective… Why waste the donkey? Valid! Let the boy ride? Valid! Let the old man ride? Valid? Let both ride the donkey is a valid conclusion?
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
LIFE IS ABOUT PERSPECTIVE! EVERYONE IS RIGHT IN THEIR OWN EYES? Seems we are so focused on pleasing everyone we do not CONSIDER THE ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES? Proverbs discusses a man that says: THERE IS A LION OUT THERE… I CAN’T GO TO WORK…
Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Have you ever read there were wild lions roaming the streets of Jerusalem? Was his perspective valid? Or was he lazy and did not want to go to work? IN HIS MIND HE WAS RIGHT!
IN REALITY THERE ARE TWO ISSUES WE MUST FACE…
WHAT MESSAGE ARE YOU PREACHING AND TEACHING?
IF WE DO NOT SPEAK CLEARLY, IT MIGHT BE WE ARE LISTENING AND FOCUSING ON THE WRONG PRIORITIES?
We speak what is important to us? Our value system? Our priorities?
Matthew 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
I do not ask are you hearing your spouse. I ASK ARE WE HEARING WHAT THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS SAYING?
WHAT ARE WE LISTENING TO? WE HAVE A CHANCE TO HEAR THE VERY HEART OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD? ARE WE LISTENING TO GOD’S WORDS?
Matthew 13:16 (MSG) "But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear!
17 A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance.
CAN WE SEE HOW OUR VALUE SYSTEM EFFECTS/AFFECTS OUR HEARING? A mechanic hears? A mother hears?
You will seek what is important to you? Every person has a priority or value system?
YOU WILL FIND TIME TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE?
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
I HEAR MANY SAY TODAY THEY HAVE NO REGRETS? I seriously doubt when the Grim Reaper passes by us that we can honestly say: I HAVE NO REGRETS? We will regret some of the things we have said/done? We will regret some of the things we wish we would have done? I have spent many hours with dying people, one part of the discussion has always been clear: REGRETS.
We can do something about that today! Self-evaluation and honest self-discipline will bring about SOUL SEARCHING…
HOW DO I GET TO THE PLACE I VALUE?
WHAT IS THE MESSAGE ON YOUR TRUMPET? RUMINATE: THE MESSAGE YOU VALUE WILL BECOME WHAT YOU HEAR. IT WILL BECOME THE MESSAGE YOU VALUE AND THEN YOU WILL TELL… THE MESSAGE OF THE TRUMPET WILL REFLECT YOUR HEART…
There was a young girl that lived in Kansas. She never valued her home until a huge storm carried her away. She found herself in a different place longing to return to Kansas. This storm turned everything the girl loved into a distant impossibility. HOW DO I GET BACK TO WHERE I WANT TO BE?
SOMEONE TOLD THIS TROUBLED YOUNG LADY ABOUT A PLACE CALLED OZ. There was an answer when she got to OZ. There was a man that could helped her find her way back HOME. His name was THE WIZARD OF OZ. I don’t remember who first told DOROTHY ABOUT THE WIZARD, BUT THE PERSON HAD CONFIDENCE THAT IF SHE COULD GET TO THE WIZARD IN OZ, HE COULD HELP HER.
Dorothy heard the message very clearly, GO TO OZ… all you have to do is follow the YELLOW BRICK ROAD. Easy? Sure she first thought this will be easy… but there were all kinds of obstacles, pain, hurt and weariness this young lady would face. She could not stop, she had to press on… DOROTHY HEARD THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR… Dorothy spoke loud and clear: LET US FIND OZ?
ON THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD DOROTHY FOUND OTHER HURTING INDIVIDUALS. There was a TIN MAN, a LION, and a SCARECROW. EACH PERSON HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAT DOROTHY COULD NOT FIX, BUT SHE HEARD A CLEAR MESSAGE AND SHE SHARED THE CLEAR MESSAGE, COME AND GO WITH ME, THERE IS A SOLUTION… IF WE CAN JUST GET TO OZ, THE WIZARD CAN HELP… BECAUSE DOROTHY HEARD A CLEAR MESSAGE, SHE SHARED THE TRUMPET SOUND CLEARLY --- THE WIZARD CAN GET US OUR SOLUTION… THERE IS COURAGE AHEAD, THERE IS A BRAIN AHEAD,
THERE IS A HEART AHEAD, AND THERE WILL A TRIP HOME TO KANSAS…
The Tinman’s heart, the Lion’s courage, and the Scarecrow’s brain was accomplished on the journey. All because Dorothy heard the message of the YELLOW BRICK ROAD AND SHE SHARED THE MESSAGE. It was clear… While sounding a clear trumpet’s sound SHE WAS PREPARED TO RECEIVE HER OWN MIRACLE… The OZ was a little ordinary man but the message was not just the MESSENGER.
Dorothy lesson was in her problem she found her answer could help others. SHE HAD A CLEAR MESSAGE AND SHE SHARED HER MESSAGE CLEARLY… CLICK YOU HEALS TOGETHER THREE TIMES, YOU ARE ALREADY HOME… Are we looking for answers? Is there a Yellow Brick Road? WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE? ARE YOU CLEARLY SHARING THE MESSAGE? Or are we confused? Confused people confuse people.
A SPEAR IN THE MUD? THERE IS A LESSON ABOUT HAVING A CLEAR MESSAGE OF A MIXED MESSAGE, AT HACHILAH AND AT ENGEDI. KING SAUL HAD SENT MIXED MESSAGES?
***ENGEDI--- foundation of life, fruit grew in the desert, wild life…
***HACHILAH --- means dark place, in a waste land…
AT ENGEDI SAUL LOSES SOMETHING… HE LOSES HIS SKIRT…
I had the great privilege of standing at the oasis at EnGedi. EnGedi belonged to the tribe of Judah. Right in the middle of the desert there is a small river and water fall coming out of the desert sand. This is not too far from THE DEAD SEA. While I was there a fallow deer came up and rubbed my shoulder. There is green trees and plants and life at EnGedi.
If you look over to the right above this amazing area of life in the middle of the hostile desert you can still see today several caves… DAVID WOULD OFTEN RUN TO ENGEDI when KING SAUL was searching to kill him. These caves on the hill side of this pool of water became a safe haven for R&R. (Rest and relaxation) David and his men would be safe here.
PERSPECTIVE? DAVID THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE YOU? DAVID REFUSES TO HARM SAUL, BUT HE TAKES SAUL’S SKIRT…
1 Samuel 24:4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
At Hachilah Saul camped out with his men. He was in hot pursuit to kill his loyal servant David.
1 Samuel 26:7 So David and Abishai (David’s friend) came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.
David could this be you opportunity for VICTORY?
1 Samuel 26:8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.
IN ONE BLOW OF SAUL’S OWN SPEAR WE CAN KILL SAUL AND GET THIS OVER WITH…???
LET US TAKE SAUL’S SKIRT, HIS SPEAR (SWORD) AND HIS CRUISE OF WATER…
1 Samuel 26:11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
IT IS NOT OVER, SAUL LOST HIS SKIRT, SPEAR AND CRUISE OF WATER… THERE IS MORE…
I LOST IT…
SKIRT: COVERING, MANTLE OVER ME IS LOVE… PROTECTION… JOSEPH’S COAT OF MANY COLORS…
CRUISE OF WATER: ESSENTIALS, THINGS NEEDED, WATER OF LIFE.
SWORD: POWER,
SAUL TEARS THE SKIRT, MANTLE OFF THE PREACHER… WHY DID ENGEDI AND HACHILAH CAUSE SAUL’S PERSPECTIVE TO CHANGE? WHAT CAN A CONFUSED MESSAGE COST ONE TEMPER FIT COST? SAUL’S MIXED MESSAGES RETURN TO A DAY WHEN IN DISRESPECT AAND REJECTION OF GOD CAN TO A HEAD WHEN HE REJECTED THE MESSAGE AND THE MESSENGER. THE FOUNDATION HAD BEEN LAID IN ATTITUDES LONG BEFORE SAUL LOST HIS GARMENT, HIS CRUISE OF WATER, AND HIS SWORD…
1 Samuel 15:26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. 27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. 28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
CONCLUSION: DOES YOUR PERSPECTIVE ALIGN WITH GOD’S WORD? Do you refuse the Preacher’s message and steal the MANTLE? HAVE WE LOST THE WATER? THE SWORD? AND THE COVERING?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I ask you to help me… Help me, tell others of my work?
