YOU MAY NEVER KNOW…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Two part lesson)
TEXT: Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
MAYBE WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED? WE MUST TRUST GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU IN THIS DAY, WEEK, MONTH AND YEAR. Maybe we will never see the results of our labor?
2 Chronicles 16:9 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. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
I read a lesson about this young preacher that just graduated Bible School and he took his first pastorate. It was a small country church, but the young man had great visions of changing the whole world. He soon met the deacons and they were all older men pretty set in their ways. But the young green horn pastor was so excited. His first real service at the church was an eye opener for the young dreamer. The pastor called the oldest deacon to open the service with prayer. The old man stood to his feet and then bowed at the altar and began praying in a loud, deep voice. The old man spoke just like he was talking to a friend. The prayer started something like this: NOW, SWEET HEAVENLY FATHER, I HATE BUTTERMILK! The young pastor thought I never heard anything like this in Bible School. But the pastor just listened. The old deacon continued his prayer: LORD, I HATE LARD! The young pastor opened his eyes to see the old deacon was very serious in his prayer. Let’s just hang and listen a little longer. The old man prayed: NOW, LORD YOU KNOW I AM NOT TO KEEN ABOUT DRY FLOUR! The deacon then said: LORD, AFTER YOU MIX THEM ALL TOGETHER AND BAKE THEM IN A HOT OVEN, I JUST LOVE BISCUITS WITH HONEY AND BUTTER. LORD, I WILL TRUST YOUR PLAN TODAY.
My friend we must have INSIGHT and UNDERSTANDING that today may not MAKE MUCH SENSE TO ME. Today the pain, suffering and trials may not be IN OUR PLANS, BUT GOD… We may not understand what we are doing today, but we TRUST THE PLAN, we trust the Creator knows what HE is doing. WE MIGHT JUST NEED PATIENCE and UNDERSTANDING to see God takes the parts and mixes them. The HOT OVEN does it part and WHEN GOD’S PLAN IS REVEALED, MY FRIEND, YOU WILL HAVE SOMETHING BETTER THAN BISCUITS. The hot oven reveals the plan.
SEEMS WE MAY NEVER KNOW: WHY? WHY WE FACE THE HOT OVEN. THE HOT OVEN MAY REVEAL GOD HAS A PURPOSE! WE MAY NEVER KNOW THE FIRE’S PLAN? MAKE THE FIRE 7 TIMES HOTTER? WHY BECAUSE THE KING IS ANGRY? NO! GOD WILL SHOW HIMSELF STRONG THROUGH THE FIRE.
Daniel 3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
DO YOU THINK THE 3 GOOD OLE BOYS UNDERSTOOD --- GOD WAS GOING TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG, NOT IN THE EASY DAY TO DAY ISSUES… THE BOYS MAY NEVER KNOWN AT THE TIME… THE 7X’S FIRE WOULD REVEAL GOD…
Daniel 3:22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
THEY DID NOT KNOW --- THE FOURTH MAN WAS GOING TO SHOW UP AND REVEAL HIMSELF…
Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
WHERE DID THE FOURTH MAN GO… THREE WENT IN. THREE CAME OUT. Where is the fourth man? HE IS STILL IN THE FIRE! THE FIRE REVEALED THE FOURTH MAN…
YOU MAY NEVER KNOW? A FRIEND NEVER KNEW THE MIRACLE OF HIS GIFT.
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Ephesians 3:20 (MSG) God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
35 years ago I was called to Hazard, Kentucky to do a funeral for a real poor mountain family. I was pastoring a small mountain mission work and my family live seeing red most of the time. As I was preparing to leave for the funeral my wife informed me there was no gas in the Pinto and we never had any money for gas. She suggested I call a deacon and borrow the money. I refused. We prayed and decided God could help me do His work? I left early just in case I had to hitchhike?
I was young and I used “STAR MINISTERS’ MANUAL.” So I went to my book shelf and got the ministers’ manual. As I was walking to the car, I opened to the committal service and there was a $20 bill. We discussed, from where did that come? I filled up old Pinto and drove the hour and a half to do the funeral. For years, Linda and I would discuss the appearance of that $20 bill at a desperate time?
I was near St. Louis and a man that had visited us in the mountains came up and was talking to me. He said: 15 years ago I put a $20 bill in your New Testament, did you ever find it? Wow, was I amazed. I told him that was not my New Testament that was my ministers’ manual. We found out that that $20 lay in that book at least 5 years before I used it. That day I was desperate for gas money there was that $20. It took us 15 years to find out from where the money came? God knew the day that he placed the $20 bill in that book. God knew about the day of the Hazard funeral. God MADE PROVISION for the ministry that day and kept it hide from me until the day I needed it… I NEVER KNEW? THE MAN NEVER KNEW HE WOULD PARTNER WITH ME TO DO THAT FUNERAL. WOW! I WILL SAY THAT BACKWARDS: woW!
DO YOU KNOW OSCAR? Are you OSCAR THE GROUCH?
Sesame Street had several unique characters? Animal the drummer, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, etc. But there was one that was always disagreeable and hateful and hard to get along with… The lesson of Oscar? Habitual complainer/griper lives in a garbage can. Let us compare OSCAR to ELMO?
IS PACKING A LUNCH A MIRACLE? MOMMA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? PACKING A LUNCH, YOU SAY? WHAT CAN JESUS DO WITH 5 BISCUITS AND 2 SMALL FISHES?
ONLY A LITTLE BOY WOULD OFFER THAT SMALL OFFERING, DO YOU THINK THAT MOMMA THAT PACKED 5 BARELY LOAVES EVER THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT JESUS COULD DO WITH HER SON’S OFFERING HIS LUNCH BOX?
John 6:9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
5,000 MEN NOT COUNTING WOMEN AND CHILDREN…. GOD CAN TAKE YOUR LITTLE AND DO GREAT THINGS…
YOU MAY NEVER KNOW--- BUT WE FEEL, I AM SO WORTHLESS AND UN-IMPORTANT…. WE MUST ALL FACE THE RUN AWAY SPIRIT IN TODAY’S SOCIETY.
We refuse to see the importance STICK-ABILITY! Jesus stops his lesson on the second coming to make the announcement YOU MAY NEVER KNOW, KEEP PLUGGING AWAY…
Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Matthew 24:13 (MSG) "Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved.
Finish this line? WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH …. (Be honest, the reality: The tough quit!)
HOW OFTEN DO WE HEAR SOMEONE SAY I AM A NOBODY? I am not worth anything? Look at the envelope you received today in the mail. CONSIDER THE LESSON OF THE POSTAGE STAMP. The value of the stamp comes from STICK-ABILITY. The stamp must stick on the paper until it gets to where it is going. Do we understand the stamp must get LICKED to release the stickiness?
THE ELBOW? MISSING THE POINT? OFTEN TIMES WHILE PREACHING I SEE ONE PERSON ELBOW ANOTHER PERSON… THUS SIGNALING TO EVERYONE AROUND, LISTEN CLOSELY WHAT THE PREACHER IS SAYING IS DIRECTLY FOR YOU!
When I was teaching school I had a wise pastor named RALPH TENNYSON. One night after service an angry lady was nailing Ralph’s hide to the wall. She screamed, Did you say that one point directed at me? Ralph’s wisdom was amazing, he answered: GOD DID NOT CALL ME TO PREACH TO THE WALLS, THE PEWS OR THE PIANO, CALLED ME TO PREACH TO PEOPLE! Good answer Pastor T.
Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Matthew 7:3 (NLT) And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
We live in a day where it seems every person seems to feel a call of God to fix what is wrong in everyone else rather than trying to fix their own issues. One lady told me I DON’T NEED TO BE FIXED, THEY DO!
My dad taught me: HE WOULD DESIRES TO CORRECT OTHERS OFTEN NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED THEMSELVES. WHY PICK ON MY SPLINTER? Never be to free with your advice. A wise person already knows it, and a fool will never listen.
YOU HAVE THE KEY… WE MUST UNDERSTAND WE SET THE ATTITUDE TO RELEASE MIRACLES… WE CAN ALSO BIND AND HINDER THE RELEASE OF THE MIRACLE… YOUR GIFT CAN RETURN…
Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
NEVER FORGET YOU HAVE THE KEYS
Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. WOW! MY JOB IS
CAN GOD BE IN THIS MENIAL TASK? CHASING DONKEYS? TALK ABOUT A NOBODY DOING A NOBODY JOB? HOW CAN I FIND GOD CHASING DONKEYS…
1 Samuel 9:3 And the (DONKEYS) of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the DONKEYS.
SAUL SAYS: LET’S QUIT AND GO HOME?
1 Samuel 9:5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
SAUL’S SERVANT SAID: THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A “GO NOWHERE JOB?” BUT GOD… Let us not leave God or the man of God out of this problem….
1 Samuel 9:6 ( And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
SAUL NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT HOW CHASING DONKEYS WOULD END IN BECOMING ISRAEL’S FIRST KING!
1 Samuel 9:15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
DON’T WORRY? BE HAPPY? THIS PROBLEM LEAD YOU TO THE MAN OF GOD AND THE WILL OF GOD… YOU DID NOT KNOW BUT GOD HAD A PLAN… TRUST THE PLAN EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO INSIGHT OR UNDERSTANDING…
1 Samuel 9:20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?
SAUL NEVER KNEW CHASING DONKEYS WOULD RELEASE A MIRACLE…
YOU NEVER KNOW HOW YOUR GIFT MAY RETURN IN A DAY OF DESPERATION AND GREAT NEED…
Desperation IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD TO SHOW HIS STUFF…
DAVID HAS BEEN IN A TERRIBLE BATTLE AND SEEMS EVERYTHING HAS GONE WRONG… DAVID DOES NOT HAVE A SWORD. DAVID HAS TO HAVE A SWORD OR DIE…
David returns to church and prays and talks to the Preacher, I am desperate. I been doing the King’s business. The Preacher reminds DAVID THE BEST SWORD IN THE NATION IS HIDDEN UNDER THE ALTAR.
1 Samuel 21:8 And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
WHAT DAVID HAD GIVEN AS A GIFT TO GOD WAS AVAILABLE? DAVID CUT GOLIATH’S HEAD OFF WITH A BORROWED SWORD AND THEN DAVID GAVE THE GIFT TO GOD’S HOUSE.
1 Samuel 21:9 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.
DAVID NEVER KNEW THIS GIFT WOULD SAVE HIS LIFE AND HIS KINGDOM… YOU NEVER KNOW.
COMMON SENSE MAY NOT BE REAL COMMON?
May I state a simple lesson that few ever learn? YOU CANNOT UN-RING A BELL! That lesson is greater than a story about a bell? What am I really saying? Why can’t some people learn that lesson?
We have a Kentucky expression that we use: YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE DAY IS GOING TO HOLD… The alarm clock sounds, we get out of bed. We have plans for the day. We may even have plans for the week. But one phone call can change our whole world.
WE NEED GOD INSIGHT AND GODLY UNDERSTANDING!
WE DEMAND FAST FOOD, NOW! WE SEEM TO LIVE IN A WORLD OF INSTANT GRATIFICATION… I DESERVE THIS NOW…
GOD MAY BE IN THE WAIT?
INSTANT: EASILY, quickly, no delay, very short period of time, rapid, no wait.
We search for a SANTA CLAUS GOD! But we can’t wait until Christmas day, NOW! GIVE IT TO ME NOW!
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 27:14 (MSG) Stay with GOD! Take heart. Don't quit. I'll say it again: Stay with GOD.
Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
CONCLUSION:
***ALEKKSANDR SOLZHENITSYN asked a question in 1978 that is worthy to ponder. HOW DID THE WEST DECLINE FROM ITS TRIUMPHAL MARCH TO ITS PRESENT SICKNESS? He answered ANTHROPOCENTRICITY- The elevation of man over God.
OBSTACLES ARE WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOSE SIGHT OF THE GOAL! Stay focused on the eternal. This problem is an opportunity. Reach high, dream big. Shoot for the moon, it is better than landing in a mud puddle every time.
HAPPINESS AND JOY ARE CHOICES… NOT JUST A SIDE EFFECT OF SOMETHING OR SOMEONE ELSE. NOTHING CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY UNTIL YOU ARE GRATEFUL AND MAKE THE CHOICE TO WALK IN JOY. I hear often where is the GOD OF ELIJAH? Wrong question, the real question is WHERE ARE THE ELISHA’S OF GOD. WILL WE SEE THIS PROBLEM AS A GOD OPPORTUNITY?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Please share with others? (I do this in TWO PARTS)
