LOOKS BAD? YOU MAY NEVER KNOW?
THIS OBSTACLE MAY BRING THE ANSWER!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
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.
Romans 8:28 (MSG) That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Psalm 68:1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
Psalm 68:1 (MSG) A David psalm Up with God! Down with his enemies! Adversaries, run for the hills!
SOMETIMES YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHY? SOMETIMES WE MAY LEARN WHY? SOMETIMES ONLY ETERNITY WILL TELL? THIS TEST CAN BRING A TESTIMONY? THIS MESS MIGHT BRING A MESSAGE?
You may touch a life and never know it? In 38 ½ years of full time ministry we have had many opportunities to touch others. 34 years ago a family moved to the mountains from Pennsylvania. We were their pastor maybe 5 years. A job transfer moved them away. They were dear friends. We stayed in contact through the years. Several times in my 30 years here they would come and visit for a few years. 3 times would travel to Pennsylvania and visit them a few days.
In the last few years the man had serious health issues and could not travel. We had not been there in at least 10 years. But we often talked on the phone, we cried together and laughed together. Often we would remember the “good ole days.” Two months ago, I had heard very from them. I knew Carl was getting near the end of his journey so I told my wife, pack my bags and guitars I am going to Pennsylvania. She packed my bags. Daily she would ask me are you going today? I would say no. 3 weeks later I was traveling to do a rest home music program and I felt: TODAY! I finished the program, ate lunch with my co-workers and called my wife and said today. I came home, unloaded the PA set, amps, etc. I loaded my suitcase. I felt so dumb, but away I go. I should have left early.
Near Louisville I got stuck in a traffic and developed a bad headache. Should I turn around? 700 mile drive one way? I felt an urge I had to go. I called friends seeking prayer. In Cincinnati there was a wreck, I sat in bumper to bumper traffic. My head was pounding. I always have some kind of pill in the car for headaches. I stopped north of Cincinnati at a gas station and a drink. I was too sick to eat.
I called my wife and told her I was going to stop and get a room. I felt an urgency to continue. I did not stop. I made it to Columbus, the Wheeling, West Virginia and on in Pennsylvania. My head still hurting. I pulled into their town and told them I would be at their home in 15 minutes. I had not called them. I pulled in their drive
And walked into their house, his wife, two daughters, their husbands, 5 grandkids and other family members were gather. Carl was in a hospital bed, he knew me. The whole family was crying hard. I found out they made a decision that morning no more medicine but comfort medicines. No more water or food, Carl was dying. I had no idea?
That morning they asked Carl did he have a dying wish that they could do for him. He said: I would like to see Pastor Hughes one more time, and LATER THAT EVENING, 10:30 PM, I walked in the doctor. We visited, I send and it was apparent Carl was dying. In 10 minutes we were playing the guitar and singing. Carl was grinning ear to ear. We would sing and then remember the past. We laughed and laughed, cried and cried. About 4:30 AM I went down the street and to a motel and slept several hours, ate my free breakfast and back. Carl was still alive. The daughter said: Dad wants some more singing and old stories. Carl said very little. He just smiled. There were all kinds of kisses and hugs. My fingers ached, but my headache was gone. The hospice nurse was in and out. Many friends, family and church people would gather. Each one had a precious memory.
I had enough money for another night in the motel. So I stayed Friday night. Early Saturday morning I went. We picked and grinned a little. My plans were to head home. I need to be at church in the morning. The hospice man was so kind. He stayed and said: IT WILL BE SOON! So I stayed with my friend of many years. Soon Carl crossed the Jordan. Tears were like a river, the tears turned into joy! Peace was running through the house. Each said goodbye, I had to leave… About 7 PM, I loaded up and headed home. About 2 AM, I pulled in at the house.
The family asked if I would do the funeral, what an honor. The wake was Tuesday, the funeral was Wednesday. Heave came down and kissed us. The funeral director told me it was the best funeral he had ever seen.
GOD WAS JUST ON TIME. A JUST ON TIME GOD. 2600 MILES IN 5 DAYS. I BELIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT DIRECTS OUR PATHS. THANK YOU GOD. YOU NEVER KNOW…
LOOKS BAD? A LOVING SAVIOR, A WONDERFUL GOD, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT A EVER PRESENT HELP IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE. SOMETIMES THE REALITY OF LIFE BRINGS, HURT, GLOOM DESPAIR. THE QUESTAION MIGHT BE, CAN GOD? BUT THE REALITY IS: GOD CAN!
GOD CAN USE DYSFUNCTION FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. Esau and Jacob seemed to be at war. Jacob runs for his life. BUT JACOB HAD A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH GOD ONE NIGHT. The journey seems so twisted? There was a plan. JACOB worked 14 years for RACHEL. Life has not been easy for beautiful Rachel. Her sister Leah seemed so high favored. Leah had 10 sons.
RACHEL IS FINALLY BLESSED. WHAT SEEMED TERRIBLE WAS CHANGED TO GOOD WHEN RACHEL HELD JOSEPH. JOSEPH WAS A MIRACLE IN A TIME OF TROUBLE. Then came along LITTLE BEN. RACHEL SAW THIS AS BAD? JACOB --- NOW ISRAEL SEE LIFE FROM ANOTHER ANGLE. RACHEL WAS OVERWHELMED IN PAIN, BITTERNESS, HURT… RACHEL SAW LIFE AS TRAVAIL. JACOB SEES GOOD COMING OUT OF BAD. JACOB REFUSE TO SEE THE NEGATION… LOOK TO FAITH BY FAITH… TO FAITH.
Genesis 35:18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
*** BENONI: The son of great pain and disappointment. Rachel’s hurts, pains and disappointments are speaking. Rachel sees dark clouds over her head. BENONI MEANS THIS TRIAL IS HEAVY!
*** BENJAMIN: Jacob refuses to allow doom and gloom on the shoulders of his son. We are not dying with BENONI, WE ARE LIVING WITH BENJAMIN! Benjamin means THE SON OF MY RIGHT HAND! BEJAMIN MEANS GOD IS WITH US, WE WILL MAKE IT. THIS NAME IS A NAME OF HOPE, THE HOPE OF ISRAEL.
Jacob is speaking LIFE, HOPE, PEACE, GOD HAS A PLAN. Maybe things don’t look good right now, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.
IT MAY LOOK BAD TODAY… SAMSON… THE DESIGN OF THIS PROBLEM WAS INTENDED TO DESTROY YOU…
SAMSON WAS GOD CALLED ANND MANY PROBLEMS AND BAD CHOICES WAS IN THE WAY…
LION’S CAN BRING GOD’S GLORY…
Judges 14:5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. 6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
CAN GOD? VS GOD CAN… THIS LIFE THREATING BATTLE WILL BRING GOOD NEWS. WHAT WAS INTENDED TO HARM YOU AND HINDER GOD’S WORK --- CAN FEED YOU AND MAKE YOU STRONGER.
Judges 14:8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. 9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.
LOOKS BAD FOR THE PREACHER? TEAMWORK CAN HELP US OVERCOME. LOOKS LIKE THE MIGHTY PEN OF PAUL WILL STOP WRITING. PAUL YOUR MINISTRY WILL DYING BY SUNDOWN!
PAUL HAD TO LEARN GOD’S LESSON. THE POWERS TO BE SAY IT IS OVER!
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
IT IS OVER PAUL, LOSER… THERE IS A WINDOW OF ESCAPE. GOD HAD A WINDOW AND SOMEONE JUST ACCIDENTLY HAD A ROPE!
2 Corinthians 11:32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
AMRAM AND JOCEBED, WHY ARE YOU CRYING MAKING THAT BASKET. MIRAM DID NOT UNDERSTAND. THE DESIGN IS TO KILL LITTLE BROTHER MOSES… LOOKS BAD?
Exodus 2:3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.
4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. 5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER PAYS MOSES’ MOTHER TO BREAST FEED HER OWN SON.
The King that out lawed Jewish sons, paid for the education of God’s Deliver.
MOSES DRAWN OUT OF THE WATER…
WHAT WAS BAD WAS GOOD…
CONCLUSION:
Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
WHAT MAY LOOK BAD MIIGHT BE THE BEST? Sometimes the worst thing that can happen to you, can be the best thing that ever happened to you!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
