PLEASE TAKE A NUMBER AND WAIT YOUR TURN…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (I do this in two parts)
Have you ever honestly tried to identity 5 spiritual issues that you have hidden from others and hidden from yourself?
Will we ask the Holy Spirit to expose and help us to identify the hidden traits that hinder our advancement?
You must pick your battles… IS THIS THE HILL I WANT TO DIE ON? We must address this one question: CAN THESE BONES LIVE AGAIN?
Ezekiel 37:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
HAVE WE LOST ALL HOPE?
Ezekiel 37:11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
DO WE REFUSE TO SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE? THE PICTURE IS CARNALITY AND FLESH VS. ETERNITY. Life is not about me?
The world hates people THE REFUSE TO WAIT THEIR TURN AND THEY JUMP LINE in front of those that have patiently waited.
There are a few exceptions to this, the doctor’s office. I had an appointment for 9:30 am at my heart doctor. I waited and waited. I read. I looked at face book. I wrote some notes. Looked at every magazine in the place. I grew a little frustrated, but I could tell something was not right in the office. So I just waited. I watched the people, very interesting to say the least. Several grew angry and talked hateful to the girls at the window. Then several got so angry they went stomping out of the office and said, we will never be back at this office again.
I started praying for my friends and family, I actually made a list of the people I prayed as I waited. I wrote a few thank you notes and about 3 1/2 hours later the nurse called my name. Back in the room the doctor came in to see me. He looked so tired and rattled. I knew something was wrong. He appeared to be a mess. A young man that had been his patient may years came in the office and collapsed. The doctor told me. I tried so hard to save my young patient. About the time I was ready to quit we would see a sign of hope and we would try something else. We lost him the doctor said as he put his face in his hands.
I thought of all the angry people that seemed to think the doctor was drinking coffee or something… I thought what if that had been their son. Would they have wanted the doctor to drop their son and go see someone in the office? She we can’t always understand the situation that we walk into….
CAN WE SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE OF LIFE? I REMEMBER THE STORY OF THIS PUPPY THAT FOUND A BIG NICE BONE. He was so proud of his new bone and he decided to take the bone home and bury it for later. As the puppy carried the bone, he had to cross a bridge that crossed the river. As he was crossing the river he noticed something moving, so he stopped and looked down. Wow, he saw another dog below. This dog had a bone in its mouth that was a bigger bone. He admired the bigger bone and he started growling at the dog. He was going to take that bigger bone away from the strange dog. He growled and growled at the dog. NOTHING! So the dog decided to bark and frighten the dog and take away his BIG BONE. When the dog barked, his bone fell in the river, a big splash… see what appeared better was no more than a reflection in the water. Our puppy learned something about the bigger picture of life is that the bigger bone is perception. He lost what he had for nothing? A distorted vision?
SEEMS THERE ARE FEW PEOPLE TODAY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IN THE USA, THE CHURCH AND THE FAMILY…
I have chased wisdom all my life. This chase is so elusive. It is kind of like trying to catch a butterfly. Just when you think you have the butterfly it rides the wind and takes a new direction, then the butterfly is out of your reach. Kind of sad isn’t it.
One of the lessons of real life wisdom and understanding could be LIFE NEVER GOES AS PLANNED. Much of the battle of life depends on your perspectives. How do I look at my daily life? Your life becomes the SUM TOTAL OF YOUR DAILY CHOICES. What will I do when problems are drowning me?
WE MUST UNDERSTAND WE ARE IN A RAGING BATTLE, AN ALL OUT WAR, NOT OF GUNS, BOMBS, AND GUIDED MISSILES… WE ARE IN A SPIRITUAL BATTLE ABOUT ETERNITY’S VALUES.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12 (MSG) This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
I HAVE HEARD A FOOLISH TEACHING, THAT WHEN WE PRAY IF WE HAVE FAITH, WE NEVER HAVE TO PRAY THAT PRAYER AGAIN. This teaching is contrary to the word of God. There are many times when we seek God and pray that we must pray more than once. We must never quit praying UNTIL WE GET THE ANSWER.
PERSISTENT PROBLEMS, TRIALS AND OBSTACLE WILL NOT FADE AWAY EASILY. THEY REQUIRE PERSISTENT DAILY PRAYER LIFE…. KEEP ON KEEPING ON. YOUR EMOTIONS WILL PLAY GAMES WITH YOUR HEART AND MIND….
*Persistent: to continue to do something even under difficulty, even against popular opinion, to continue longer than expected, refuse to allow opposition to hinder.
*Importunate: to make request so repeatedly that you become annoying, troublesome, your request becomes urgent.
Luke 11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
DANIEL LIVED IN A DESPERATE TIME, THE ENEMIES OF GOD’S ETERNAL VALUES WERE FIGHTING HOT AND HEAVY… IT ALMOST APPEARED HOPELESS--- BUT GOD INTERVENED…
IN HIS TIME.
Daniel 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
THE PRAYER DANIEL PRAYED INTERCEDING FOR THE TERRIBLE PROBLEMS WERE HEARD WHEN DANIEL PRAYED THEM! THE WAS A BATTLE, A TERRIBLE BATTLE… THE ENEMY COULD NOT STOP GOD’S WORK… BUT THE ENEMY DELAYED THE ANSWER 21 DAYS…
Daniel 21:18 (MSG) "Then this humanlike figure touched me again and gave me strength.
19 He said, 'Don't be afraid, friend. Peace. Everything is going to be all right. Take courage. Be strong.' "Even as he spoke, courage surged up within me. I said, 'Go ahead, let my master speak. You've given me courage.'
20 "He said, 'Do you know why I've come here to you? I now have to go back to fight against the angel-prince of Persia, and when I get him out of the way, the angel-prince of Greece will arrive.
21 DAYS BECOMES A TYPE WHEN IT APPEARS GOD NEVER HEARD US… OUR ENEMY OPPOSES UNSELFISH PRAYERS.
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luke 18:1 (NLT) One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
Luke 18:1 (MSG) Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit.
THE BATTLE HAS TWO SIDES: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ… pessimism vs optimism… HOW DO I SEE LIFE?
**WHAT DIFFERENCE CAN A FEW LETTERS MAKE? WHAT KIND OF WORDS DO WE USE?
MAKE THE LETTERS COUNT…
8 LETTERS: NEGATIVE VS POSITIVE.
8 LETTERS: BONDAGE VS RELEASE.
7 LETTERS: FAILURE VS SUCCESS.
7 LETTERS: ENEMIES VS FRIENDS.
5 LETTERS: SATAN VS JESUS
5 LETTERS: ANGER VS HAPPY
5 LETTERS: UNDER VS ABOVE.
4 LETTERS: HURT VS HEAL.
4 LETTERS: HATE VS LOVE.
3 LETTERS CRY VS JOY.
MY PROBLEMS ARE SO VERY REAL, I AM HOPELESS UNLESS I CAN GET THE ATTENTION OF THE SON OF GOD…
GOD’S THRONE IS MOVED WHEN OUR FAITH IS PERSISTENT. REMEMBER THE OUTSIDE THAT CAME TO JESUS. WE KNOW HER AS THE SYRO-PHOENICIAN WOMAN… THERE WAS A HUGE PROBLEM AND THERE APPEARED TO BE NO SOLUTION… THIS MOTHER WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL GOD INTERVENED…
Matthew 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
FAITH WORKS… WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD.
Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
WE WALK BY FAITH… WE DO NOT JUMP INTO DARKNESS, WE STEP INTO FAITH…
***I have a class I teach is that I call PHILOSOPHY 101, HERE ARE A FEW THINGS I HAVE LEARNED:
1. Nothing is as bad as it first appears.
2. Trouble is only temporary.
3. Good comes out of bad.
4. Life is a mirror.
5. What happens to you is not nearly as important as what happens IN you!
6. The circumstances of daily life are not good or bad… they are neutral … Circumstances will reveal the real you. How you handle the circumstances will define good or bad.
VERY RARELY DOES REAL DAILY LIFE TAKE A NUMBER AND WAIT PATIENTLY IN LINE!
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luke 21:19 (MSG) Staying with it—that's what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry; you'll be saved.
Have you ever watched a TV show? KA-POW, there is a little bear carrying toilet tissue?
You are watching the SUPER BOWL? There comes a bunny beating a drum? Seems it will not die?
Any Mom knows her daily will never be take a number and wait your turn?
GET REAL, PROBLEMS, TRIALS, STORMS, TROUBLE ARE PART OF DAILY LIFE…. SEEMS THE ATTACKS ARE ENDLESS AND CONTINUAL.
Any school teacher learns very quickly you may have your weekly plans, but you must be FLEXIBLE and bend when necessary.
I read a study years ago about how the PRINCIPAL of any school life is all about problems and learning to stop and deal with the problem, THEN RETURN TO THE ROUTINE... It is foolish to think the problems we will face will take a number and wait their turn.
The average day for the average principal is AT LEAST 1/3 OF THEIR TIME IS DEALING WITH UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS.
In the average day the principal will face 25 to 30 problems. GET UPSET IF YOU SO DESIRE, BUT PROBLEMS AND INTERRUPTIONS ARE PART OF MENIAL DAILY LIFE.
Job 14:1 (KJV) Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Job 14:1 (NLT) “How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble!
Job 14:1 (MSG) "We're all adrift in the same boat: too few days, too many troubles.
GET REAL? CAN WE SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE: THIS UNEXPECTED OR UNPLANNED PROBLEM IS PART OF LIFE.
One survey recorded leadership must accept problems and interruptions are part of leadership. We never know what the next call or the next problem will be. WE CAN NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE BIGGER PICTURE. EVERY HINDRANCE, EVERY OBSTACLE, EVERY PROBLEM BECOMES PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE’S SUCCESS.
One survey revealed the average leader faces 4 issues an hour, 32 problems or interruptions in an 8 hour shift. This survey also showed a 2 ½ minute distraction, that 55% of the time the leader returned to normal activity.
*INTERRUPTION: something that is annoying, to do something not expected, not wanted, not expected, something that forces one to stop, not continuous, to say something when another person is speaking,
IS THIS GOD?
MARK 5:22 JAIRUS finally finds Jesus. Jairus needs Jesus RIGHT NOW… his daughter is dying… NOW!
AN OLD SICK LADY GETS IN THE WAY AND HER PROBLEM IS NOT AS BIG AS MY PROBLEM…
She has been sick 12 years? BUT MY GIRL IS DYING.
Old woman get out of the way? She sets a precedence she touches Jesus garment?
Delay? Who touched me? Now stop the parade again?
MORE DELAY? Negative news travels fast. JAIRUS YOUR DAUGHTER IS DEAD, LEAVE THE MASTER ALONE?
MARY AND MARTHA: IS THIS GOD? HOPE DEFERRED… MARY AND MARTHA KNEW THAT JESUS COULD HEAL THEIR BROTHER? JESUS PUSHED THE ENVELOPE.
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
LARUZUS WAS SICK? HE WAS REALLY SICK? NW HE IS REALLY DEAD? Now he is really in a grave?
YOU NEED TO AKE A DECLARATION: I AM NOT THE PROBLEM, GOD CAN HANDLE MY PROBLEMS AND TRIALS… YOU CAN THE SOLUTION….
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.
You are not the problem, you and God are the solution. God promises good comes out of bad. Jesus knows your potential and God has bigger plans for you. This problem is a great opportunity.
Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
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.
CONCLUSION: We must never expect all of our trials and burdens to get in line and wait their turn. Sometimes life comes in WADS, seems everything hits us at once. See the BIGGER PICTURE: NEVER LOSE YOUR FOCUS! We must never allow these problems and trials to knock us down and keeps us down. Defeat is a word we refuse to accept. Discouragement can total destroy our potential. We must come in hope and patience and TRUST GOD’S PLAN. We must come with the faith that declares: THESE BONES CAN LIVE AGAIN… I refuse to allow my frustrations and irritation to get me down. This trial may bring me to my knees and I shall find the miracle designed for me. WHILE WAITING IN LINE I CAN FIND GOD. Life is but a test. Give no ground to worry, stress, doubt or fear. Never forget the benefits of faithfulness.
God is a rewarder. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
FIND JOY WAITING IN LINE!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com ( I do this in two parts)
