HAVE YOU EVER THOUGH ABOUT FLIPPING THE PANCAKE?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfinggers@aol.com (Two part lesson: GOD CAN)
WHATEVER THIS DAY HOLDS, THIS WEEK, OR THIS YEAR: REFUSE TO LIVE IN DOUBT AND FEAR, FLIP THE PANCAKE…
If the pancake is burning on one side, WHY NOT TURN IT OVER? TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT….
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG) I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
WE WALK BY FAITH, WE DO NOT LEAP INTO DARKNESS, WE STEP INTO THE LIGHT!!!
2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
FOR WHAT AM I SEARCHING? WE HAVE AN AGE OLD QUESTION: WHO AM I? WHY AM I HERE? THIS MESS IS A MESS?
There was a man that lived from 404-303 BC named DIOGENES OF SINOPE, he was a GREEK CYNIC. Diogenes IS BEST KNOWN FOR CARRYING A CANDLE OR LANTERN around Athens shining it into peoples’ faces, he was CLAIMING to be looking for a real person, an HONEST PERSON. Diogenes put a great importance on SELF-CONTROL and PERSONAL BEHAVIOR.
Diogenes considered there was too much focus on MATERIALISM instead of EXCELLENCE BEHAVIOR. So he rid himself of everything but an abandoned bathtub for his house and a cup that he used for a bowl for his food and to drink water. One day Diogenes saw a boy drinking out of his hands and he realized he did not even need a cup to sustain himself. So he gave the cup away.
DIOGENES felt like people were not FULLY AWARE of the impact of their words and deeds. He seemed to love to confront people to honest… Diogenes would carry a plucked chicken around and took it to people to declare what we were really like. He felt to be truly free we must HAVE INSIGHT and become aware of life’s meaning to find real peace.
WHAT MANNER OF PERSON ARE YOU? WHAT AM I REALLY LIKE…
Do we understand the difference in WHITE-WASHED and WASHED-WHITE? Do we have understanding and insight?
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. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
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. 26 Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air.
DOES OUR INSIGHT AND PERSPECTIVE KNOW THE WORD OF GOD? IT IS ONE THING TO THINK YOU KNOW THE WORD AND A DIFFERENT THING TO TRUST THE WORD… JUST DO IT!
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (MSG) The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. 14 And that's it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it's good or evil.
WE SEEM TO FACE MANY FAILURES AND LIMITATIONS BECAUSE WE ALWAYS SEE THINGS FROM OUR SUBJECTIVE PERSPECTIVE… THIS IS THE END… WE CAN NEVER MAKE IT?
Did you hear about the street man standing in the middle of the road? He had a sign and said the END IS NEAR!
The rich man in a brand new CORVETTE was speeding down the interstate and laughed and called the man a FOOL.
About that time the CORVETTE locked its brakes and launched into the river below, THE BRIDGE WAS OUT. THE END IS NEAR WAS RIGHT. The street person tried to warn the driver? Their perspectives were so different!
WHERE PEOPLE FOLLOW THEIR PERSPECTIVE BLINDLY WE ARE DOOMED… THIS STONE IS NOT A STUMBLING STONE TO FAILURE… THIS STONE IS A STEPPING STONE… GOD HAS A PLAN. THIS PROBLEM IS TRYING TO GET US TO QUIT SEEING OUR PERSPECTIVE AND KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS DRIVING US TO OUR KNEE AND TO THE HEART OF GOD.
Luke 6:39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Seems we have an honest built in BIAS. WE TEND TO SEE THINGS ONE SIDED?
Ever heard Dr. Phil say: No matter how flat we make a pancake there are always two sides…??? Sometimes we need to honest just flip the pancake.
LIFE CHANGES GREATLY IF WE WOULD HONEST TRY TO SEE THROUGH OTHER PEOPLES’ EYES.
WHY AM I HERE? OVER 50% OF THE SOLUTION TO ANY PROBLEM IS TO CLEARLY DEFINE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND REALIZE A PROBLEM WELL STATED IS PART OF THE SOLUTION. Once we have clearly recognize our problem and we define the problem … GOD CAN HELP US FIND THE BEST SOLUTION…
Why did God allow the RED SEA to be right in front of God’s people? Was THIS A BIG PROBLEM? Could not our God have made a better GPS DIRECTION? Let us add to that GIANT PROBLEM OF THE RED SEA…
Exodus 14:11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
We face a Bigger problem than the RED SEA? The best TRAINED and EQUIPPED ARMY of the world is RAISING DUST BEHIND US?
Wait, THERE ARE BIG MOUTH NEGATIVE PEOPLE SCREAMING, WHY? WHY? TO DIE IN THE DESERT?
Numbers 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
THE HUMAN PERSPECTIVE IS A MENTAL, PHYSICAL SPIRITUAL AND NEGATIVE MOUTH PROBLEM… GOD HAS A PLAN FOR THIS PROBLEM. God was not caught off guard. TRY FAITH’S INSIGHT!,
Exodus 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
WHY? WHY? WHY DID WE HAVE TO COME TO THE RED SEA? WHY THIS CRUEL ARMY? WHY THIS NEGATIVE SCREAMING MOUTH?
Exodus 14:18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
MY FRIEND GOD WAS IN CONTROL EVEN WHEN WE HAD TROUBLE DEFINING THE PROBLEM…
DO WE TRUST THE ALMIGHTY GOD OF THE AGES…
Abraham Lincoln? Oh, my nation is divided, the war is terrible, BUT GOD.
Well, The USA elected a Catholic as President, John Kennedy? Our nation is going to hell in a handbasket? But God turned the pancake!
Well Y2K was going to kill us all… Preachers scared the death out of people? BUT GOD FLIPPED THE PANCAKE….
CLINTON'S AND OBAMA'S are destroying this nation? BUT GOD…
The news media and TRUMP will kill us all…
The Moslem, Islam nations will destroy us… NEVER FORGET BUT GOD…
The rise of the interest rates--- COME ON, GOD IS IN CONTROL.
MOSES DID YOU FACE IMPOSSIBLE ODDS? MOSES COULD YOU SEE A SOLUTION? MOSES WILL YOU SING AGAIN?
Exodus 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
ROOSEVELT, TRUMAN, EISENHOWER, KENNEDY, CARTER, WE ALL FACE IMPOSSIBLE ODDS… FLIP THE PANCAKE AND TRUST GOD…
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.
WE NEED A GODLY INSIGHT TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR… LOOK WHAT MANNER OF PERSON ARE YOU? LOT HAD NO INSIGHT INTO THE COST OF HIS CHOICES?
Lot had no insight what so ever and he would never admit he was making all the wrong choices. Lot’s bad attitudes will be very costly. HE MAKES A TERRIBLE BARGAIN. Lot flipped his lid?
Genesis 13:9 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.
10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
I OFTEN TRY TO REASON: WHY IS THAT PERSON SO ANGRY? THEY LEAVE A TRAIL OF HURT, PAIN AND TEARS EVERYWHERE THEY GO? WE NEED INSIGHT! Are you a bitter, anger driven, problem driven person. Our words and behavior and the way we act will either make us better or lead us to angry bitterness. Your words and behavior bring success or failure to your daily lifestyle.
DO WE NEED TO FLIP THE PANCAKE? ARE WE BLINDLY JUMPING INTO DARKNESS, INSTEAD OF WALKING INTO THE LIGHT? WHAT DO WE REALLY NEED TO CHANGE? INSIGHT! WE NEED THE INSIGHT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE DO THE THINGS THAT WE DO… We need the ability to see why we do and why we don’t do to the things that we do… When we will admit this PATH is TOXIC? TRAUMA is ahead?
Dr. Phil has a line: NO MATTER HOW FLAT YOU MAKE A PANCAKE, IT STILL HAS TWO SIDES… DOCTOR PHIL DISCUSSES A BEHAVIOR HE CALLS OUTRAGEOUS OVERSHADOW and how this affects our COMMUNICATION SKILLS. With this Dr. Phil tells how “noisy, outrageous, and over the top this OUTRAGEOUS OVERSHADOW grows until one develops an acceptable norm for dysfunctional behavior.” We refuse to flip the pancake and the norm becomes an acceptable dysfunctional norm. We must learn to flip the pancake.
JOSEPH, WHAT IS LIFE? WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES SPIRITUAL INSIGHT HAVE? FLIP THE PANCAKE, FEED YOUR BROTHERS.
JOSEPH, WHAT IS GOD DOING? THE PIT, THE SLAVE TRAIN, THE AUCTION BLOCK, THE FALSE ACCUSATION, PRISON?
JOSEPH’S JOURNEY MAY SEEM TWISTED AND SUFFERING AND HURT… BUT GOD WAS IN COMPLETE CONTROL…
TRUST THE PLAN…
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
JOB, WHAT IS LIFE? AGAIN, NO MATTER HOW FLAT THE PANCAKE THERE ARE TWO SIDES… WHAT MAY SEEM TO BE SO BAD AND BRING DOOM AND GLOOM MIGHT ACTUALLY BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THE HEART OF GOD… WHY DO WE KNOW A MAN NAMED JOB? JOB HAD INSIGHT FEW EVER ATTAIN.
Job was a good man. Job loved God. He was the head of his family. He performed his SPIRITUAL DUTIES as an individual, husband and a father. Job was a giver and made regular sacrifices. THE GREAT LESSON JOB TEACHES IS SUFFERING… Suffering is God’s highest graduate school of learning.
JOB TEACHES US GOD IS MORE THAN SANTA CLAUS GIVING PRESENTS AND BLESSINGS. GOD IS ABOUT A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AND THE PRESENCE OF A HOLY GOD. Job learned the TWO SIDES TO A PANCAKE… While God’s blessings are sweet, THE PROBLEMS OF DAILY LIFE CAN BE CRUSHING or these same problems WILL LEAD US TO THE HEART OF GOD.
We HATE SEASONS OF TESTING. In one day Job lost 7,000 sheep and goats. He lost 3,000 camels, 1,000 oxen… THEN THE REAL TRAGEDY, JOB’S 7 SONS AND 3 DAUGHTERS DIE IN TERRIBLE STORM… Flip the pancake? Would you like to tell me how bad you have it? ADD ON TO THE TROUBLES: 3 MEAN, CRUEL TONGUE FRIENDS…
WHAT IS LIFE JOB? JOB GET REAL? Job’s lesson on LIFE IS FLIP THE PANCAKE
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
JOB LEARNED AND TAUGHT US, PROBLEMS, TROUBLES, TRIALS AND SUFFERING ARE BUT TOOLS IN THE HAND OF A MIGHTY GOD.
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
By faith JOB TRUSTED THE PLAN OF GOD… GOOD THIS DAY, THIS WEEK, THIS YEAR WILL BE OK… God just be with me….
Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
JOB LEARNED A VALUE LESSON ABOUT THE TWO SIDES OF A PANCAKE… JUST FLIP IT AND PRESS ON…
Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
GOD IS A GOOD GOD… HE CAN HANDLE THIS, TRUST HIM… HAVE FAITH IN GOD… WHAT EVER HAPPENS TRUST GOD….
Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG) I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
2 Chronicles 16:9a For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
2 Chronicles 16:9a (MSG) GOD is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God's help.
TODAY WE HAVE LOST THE SENSE OF REMORSE,
WE ARE NOT CONTRITE WE ARE CONTRARY
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
CONCLUSION: SURE, WE HAVE BAD DAYS, BUT GOD IS IN CONTROL... Quit jumping into the darkness, FAITH WALKS INTO THE LIGHT. God has plans for your life, trust HIM. This obstacle leads us closer to the heart of God.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I DO THIS IN TWO PARTS.
