TOO PAINFUL FOR ME, UNTIL…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
SEEMS WE ALLOW OURSELF TO BE ROBBED OF THE BLESSINGS THAT COULD RELEASE THE GROWTH OF GOD’S PLANS FOR OUR LIFE? HAVE YOU EVER WALKED THROUGH PAINFUL SEASONS THAT SEEM TO LAST FOREVER?
Today in our churches and society there seems to grow an unhealthy attitude of running away from our problems and throwing up our hands in defeat… There follows hot on the heels the spirit of QUITTING. We must learn persistence and perseverance. WE NEED TO FIND A SPIRITUAL SANCTUARY?
FOR WHAT ARE WE LOOKING?
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
I have a friend that has a great collection of four leaf clovers. He has many storied in a notebook. At any given time he has 8 to 10 in his billfold. Then he transfers the four leave clovers into his note book. While we were standing together, he picked a four leave clover and put it in his billfold and asked me: HOW MANY HAVE YOU FOUND? I lowered my head and said, I don’t remember ever finding one? I don’t ever remember looking for one? (I see no greater value in a four leave clover than a three leave clover?)
I guess I love to look at clouds. I love to look up much more than looking down? I watched a helicopter crash years ago. I was the first one to help the pilot? I saw a plane crash and hit a cow once while I was in Johnson County, Kentucky? But I have never found a four leave clover?
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO FIND? I REALLY THINK WE ARE LIVING IN PAINFUL TIMES AND WE NEED TO FIND A PERSONAL PLACE OF REFUGE? A SANCTUARY OF REST AND PEACE.
ARE WE STUPID? OR IS THERE A PLACE OF SAFETY AND REFUGE?
I LOVE THE LESSON THAT ALBERT EINSTEIN WARNED US ABOUT.
ALBERT SAID: MOST HUMANS HAVE A DANGEROUS HABIT AND TEND TO DO THIS.
HE SAID “EVERYONE IS A GENIUS, BUT IF YOU JUDGE A FISH BY ITS ABILITY TO CLIMB A TREE, IT WILL SPEND IT’S WHOLE LIFE BELIEVING THAT IT IS STUPID!”
Job said: HONEY, YOU TALK LIKE A FOOLISH WOMAN!” Job never said: DEAR, YOU ARE STUPID AND VERY FOOLISH.
I continually warn people: If you SCREAM to people how stupid they are, they will ROLE PLAY and will be STUPID AS STUPID DOES.
GOD HAS A REFUGE WHERE WE CAN RUN… THERE IS A HAVEN OF REST… WHEN LIFE GETS PAINFUL THERE IS A GOD DESIGNED PLACE FOR YOU!
TEXT:
Psalm 73:16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
TODAY WE HEAR MUCH ABOUT SANCTUARY CITIES?
A place where the local authority provides limited cooperation to federal officials in the enforcement of immigration laws or policies. God designed spiritual sanctuaries for hurting people.
Often in history we find churches have been places where certain fugitives could seek temporary protection from the law. God’s sanctuary cities were part of his plans. GOD CALLED HIS PLAN CITIES OF REFUGE. There were 6 in the original plan with room for more as the population grew.
TODAY WE OFTEN FIND WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES THAT WILL PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR SOME SPECIES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES. This protection protects from harm as long as you are in the limits. These areas will stop hunting, abuse, starvation or death within the protected area. A refuge for wildlife where predators are controlled and hunting is illegal.
SANCTUARY: THE IMMUNITY FROM THE LAW ATTACHED TO A SANCTURARY, a consecrated place, Hebrew temple --- Holy of Holies, the most sacred part of a religious building, the place where the altar is placed, the place where worship is offered, THE PLACE OF REFUGE AND PROTECTION.
WE ALSO FIND THAT AFTER MANY NATURUAL DISASTERS CHURCHES OPEN THE DOORS FOR USE OF THEIR PROPERTY TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE DISASTER.
COME WITH ME AND LET ME INTRODUCE A FRIEND OF MINE. I MET THIS FRIEND A VERY HOT DAY IN JULY. I WAS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND I HAD A BROKEN 3 WHEEL LAWN MOWER.
My heart had been bothering me and I felt like I was going to pass out. I had trouble starting the lawn mower so once I had the mower running I would not turn it off. So here I was sitting on a steep bank sitting behind a blue smoking mower. I pulled my small Bible out of my back pocket and started reading. I turned to PSALMS 73.
Psalms 73 was not written by DAVID. It was written by a man named ASAPH. Asaph was a dear friend to David. David was an expert musician. Often time musicians’ friends will be musicians. APASH WAS PPROBABLY THE MOST TALLENTED AND GIFTED MUSICIAN AND SONG WRITER OF HIS DAY.
One day the blessed musician was DISCOURAGED and DEPRESSED.
ASAPH WHAT YOU GOING TO DO WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU? WHAT YOU GOING TO DO? ARE WE STUPID FISH TRYING TO CLIMB A TREE? WHERE DO WE RUN TO? WHERE DO WE HIDE DURING SEASONS OF TESTING? WE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES IN NEED OF A SPIRITUAL SAFE PLACE, A SACRED PLACE TO MEET WITH A MIGHTY GOD ONE ON ONE, IN A PERSONAL WAY.
Asaph is so discouraged. HE STARTS OUT SAYING: GOD IS SO GOOD… Seems each individual faces strengths, weaknesses and tendancies in their daily spiritual walks.
Psalm 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
After making the declaration God is good, ASPAH DEFINES HIS PERSPECTIVE. I AM READY TO QUIT! I am going through a rough time. My only choice is I WILL QUIT!
Psalm 73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
Why Asaph? WHY? WHY YOU GOING TO QUIT GOD? Well at least ASAPH was honest:
HE HAD BEEN WATCHING PEOPLE. One of the dumbest things a person can do is to WATCH PEOPLE.
Psalms 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
ASAPH’S EVALUATION WAS OTHER PEOPLE ARE BLESSED MORE THAN I AM!
PAIN? PAIN! ASAPH THE GREATLY TALENTED WORSHIP LEAD OF THE WHOLE NATION GETS DISCOURAGED WHEN HE WATCHES PEOPLE.
PAIN IS A SIGNAL OR RED FLAG THAT SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT! WE MUST CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR DIE.
When you let down on your faithfulness, Bible reading and daily prayer life there follows a bitter trail of watching people. When you are close to God, He is close to you. The closer you are to God the less you watch other people. I CAN’T STOP THE BIRDS FROM FLYING OVER MY HEAD, BUT I CAN STOP THEM FROM BUILDING A NEST IN MY HAIR!!!
Psalm 73:16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE PAIN GETS GREAT?
I had a friend go to the doctor. The woman was in pain all over. The doctor said: WHERE ARE YOU HURTING? She said: ALL OVER DOCTOR. He said: SHOW ME! She touched her foot. She screamed in pain. The doctor said OK! Then she touched her knee and screamed in pain. Well? She touched her stomach and screamed in pain. She touch her neck and screamed. Her nose? Scream? Her forehead and screamed? The doctor told her: HONEY, YOUR FINGER IS BROKE AND EVERY WHERE YOU TOUCH HURTS YOUR FINGER. He set her finger and she was healed! WOW!
When ASAPH FOUND GOD’S SANCTUARY HE LEARNED A POWERFUL LESSON. They may look good now, but the judgment is coming. I UNDERSTOOD THEIR END… Some of us to correct our vision now.
Psalms 73: 7 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
LET US COME TO THE CONCLUSION: We can find rest, peace, hope and joy when we draw near God. Come in His sanctuary.
Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
It is up to you? RUN TO THE SANCTUARY OF GOD! There is safety at God’s altar! The enemy is trying his best to KEEP YOU AWAY and RUN AWAY from the sanctuary of God. There is a wonderful promise, quit watching people and SSTAY IN GOD’S SANCTUARY.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Could you help me? I have never asked for money for my work. I do ask you: pray one prayer for me? I also ask will you tell another of my work?
Grab the horns of altar.
