MY HANDS, HIS HEART… TRANSITION?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
***TRANSITION: abrupt change, to make a difference, radical change, new direction, movement from one place to another, change, passage, go from one stage to another, To shift gears, to prepare for a new thing…
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU? WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO? WHY DON’T YOU DO WHAT YOU DON’T DO? HOW GOOD ARE WE AT MAKING EXCUSES? IS LIFE ABOUT YOUR OPINION OR IS IT ABOUT ETERNAL VALUES?
For many years I have sought a Biblical definition to WHAT IS SUCCESS? I have never found how to define spiritual success. Is success how many square feet in your home? Is success how much money is in your back account?
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
LIFE IS BUT A TEST. We can tend to always stay the same. Where would you like to be in a year from now? What you are doing? HOW WELL ARE YOU DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING? Your attitudes, you words, and your deeds will dictate THE JOY, PEACE AND HOPE that you will be daily exercising.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO HAVE A GOOD DAY? Maybe your ATTITUDES could make this a good day to have a GREAT DAY. MAYBE THE LACK OF A PLAN WILL LEAD YOU TO BEING FOREVER TRAPPED. People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan and thus THE SAME OLD SAME OLD…
Do we think we are FOREVER TRAPPED to doom and gloom, or can GOD CAUSE US TO SEE WE HAVE A GREATER POTENTIAL IF WE WOULD SUBMIT TO CHANGE? What would happen if we OFFERED OUR HANDS TO THE HEART OF GOD…???
LET US MAKE THE DECISION: IS IT I CAN’T OR IS IT I DON’T WANT TO…?
*POTENTIAL: possible, something that can happen, existing in possibility, capable of developing,
THERE ARE NO SADDER WORDS OF PEN OR TONGUE THAN THE WORDS: WHAT MIGHT HAVR BEEN.
Mary must have understood the differences between WHAT I WANT vs WHAT I NEED? Mary had compassion on this young couple. Mary simply states to Jesus … This wedding is in trouble, THE WINE IS GONE… Mary must have known in her heart it is TIME FOR JESUS TO START HIS MINISTRY.
Mary lovingly tells Jesus of the problem. WHATSOEVER JESUS TELLS YOU TO DO --- DO IT…
John 2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
SOME OF THE BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN WAS BY MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS. Mary was a good teacher and she SPOKE POWERFUL WORDS… not negative, hopelessness.
There are some disagreements of what a FIRKIN IS… but we do know there were SIX WATER POTS. So let us say there were 120 TO 150 GALLONS OF STONE WATER POTS…
There is water but it is in a well? Where are the hoses and running water? 120 to 150 gallons of water would be A LOT OF EFFORT. Jesus can’t you just fill it up with wine?
Wait, ponder this we don’t need water, we need FRUIT OF THE VINE. We have 150 gallons of water, we need 150 gallons of grape juice… WHAT ON EARTH IS WATER GOING TO HELP US? The Governor is here! We will be the talk of the town, WE DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH FOR OUR GUEST? WE HAVE OFFERED OUR HANDS… NOW WE NEED THE HEART OF JESUS TO BRING TRANSITION OF THE WATER TO WINE.
MY HANDS? WITH GOD’S HEART. THAT IS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD. MARY’S WORDS MAY HAVE STARTED THE MIRACLE, BUT NEVER FORGET IT REQUIRED 100 TRIPS TO THE WELL TO GET WATER? WHAT NOT ONLY WAS GREAT EFFORT REQUIRED, THOSE CARRYING THE 150 GALLONS OF WATER REQUIRED MUCH WORK. THESE USED THEIR HANDS WELL AND DID THEIR JOB RIGHT… THEY GAVE THEIR BEST EFFORT… THEY WERE NOT HALF-HEARTED …
** One gallon of water weighs 8.3 gallons. 8.3 times 150 equals: 1,245 pounds… 1,245 pounds lifted out of the well? 1,245 pounds carried to the pots. 1,245 pounds poured into the pots. NOW WHAT DO WE HAVE 1,245 POUNDS OF “WATER.” 150 GALLONS OF WATER. NO WINE!
John 2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
WATER? WATER? WATER? WHAT DO WE WANT: WATER? NO, WE WANT WINE? FRUIT OF THE VINE?
JOHN 2:8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
THE TRANSITION, THE MIRACLE CHANGE OCCURS WHEN WE OFFER OUR HANDS CONNECTED WITH GOD’S HEART…
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN MARY’S WORDS AND PEOPLE’S HANDS --- AND THE GOVERNOR’S TABLE THE WATER WAS CHANGED… IMAGINE POURING WATER OUT AND SEEING A MIRACLE: MAN’S HANDS AND GOD’S HEART…
John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
GOD’S HEART, MARY’S WORDS, AND MEN AND WOMEN’S HANDS A MIRACLE WAS RELEASED… CHANGE, TRANSITION.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE? A WOMAN’S HANDS, TWO KIDS, 6 HANDS… AND GOD’S HEART AND BORROWED POTS…EMPTY POTS…
There was a Preacher’s widow and two sons. There was no social security. There was no safety net. Yet we know this lady was very faithful. We don’t have enough to change the facts: BUT GOD. WE HAVE A POT OF OIL, AND OUR HANDS.
2 Kings 4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
TWO SONS… OUR HANDS WERE TO BORROW POTS… TAKE WHAT I HAVE, A LITTLE OIL… BORROWED POTS --- A LITTLE OIL, A LOT OF POTS, EMPTY POTS. MY HANDS, GOD’S TENDER HEART OF MERCY… AND A MIRACLE… CHANGE.
2 Kings 4:7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
MY HANDS, MY SONS HANDS, AND GOD’S HEART SAVED MY SONS FROM CRUEL SLAVERY, I SOLD THE OIL, BOUGHT MY SONS BACK AND THERE WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH… MY HANDS, GOD’S HEART… WE HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH TO LIVE ON UNTIL THE DROUGHT WAS OVER…
If we would trust GOD’S HEART and USE OUR HANDS… we will make it… How does God do miracles? His Heart, our hands.
RUTH WAS A MOABITESS, IN A STRANGE LAND… WITH A DEAD HUSBAND! AND OF ALL THINGS A MOTHER-IN-LAW? NOTHING? DO YOU UNDERSTAND ZERO TIMES ZERO IS ZERO… HOW CAN WE CHANGE THIS SITUATION?
Naomi is bitter, life has been cruel. Hopeless? Never! God has THE HEART TO LOVE THESE TWO WIDOWS… WE NEED MORE THAN COMPASSION, GOD IS LOOKING FOR TWO HUMAN HANDS, WILLING… EVEN MAKING THE SUGGESTION: LET ME NOW, NOW…GOD HERE ARE MY HANDS, USE ME. I will submit to God’s heart.
Ruth 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
WAS IT BY CHANCE, RUTH’S HANDS ENDED UP IN ELIMELECH’S KINSMEN FIELD… Is it an accident that the hands of RUTH were working in the field of BOAZ…. GOD’S HEART WAS WITH RUTH IN THAT FIELD with RUTH’S WILLING HANDS?
Ruth 4:21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, 22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
OUR HANDS CAN FIND GOD IN SOME OF THE STRANGEST PLACES. RUTH’S HANDS TEAMED WITH GOD’S HEART RELEASES TENDER MERCIES. The hands of Ruth the stranger in Israel were lead to God’s heart. Ruth is mentioned in the book of Matthew as few Old Testament women are… BOAZ, OBED, JESSIE, DAVID… JESUS… JESUS GOD’S SON…BECAUSE SHE GIVE HER HANDS AS AN OFFERING…
Matthew 1:5 And Salmon begat Boaz of Rachab; and Boaz begat
DO WE EVER RELEASE OUR HANDS TO FIND THE HEART OF GOD? Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
FOCUS ON THE FINISH LINE?
LOOK AT BIBLICAL BREAKTHROUGHS: WE MIGHT BE CALLED TO LOOK BEHIND THE VEIL… OCCASIONALY WE FIND OUR HANDS AND GOD’S HEART WITH RARE OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE GREAT TRANSITIONS. SOMETIMES CHANGE SCREAMS AT US? OTHER TIMES TRANSITION CAUSES US TO COME FACE TO FACE WITH OUR FEARS. THESE OPPORTUNITIES OFTEN CAUSE GREAT FEAR… THIS AT TIMES SEEMS TO FORCE OUR HANDS TO FIND THE HEART OF GOD…
Our hands might call us to TRUST GOD’S HEART by FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT… HOLY GROUND…
Exodus 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared untpo him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
MY HANDS AND GOD’S HEART CAN ACCOMPLISH GOD’S WORK IN SOME OF THE STRANGEST WAYS. PONDER MY STORY…
There was this wonderful King that loved his people so much. This King had prayed for a son for years. But all he and the queen ever had was a DAUGHTER. She was absolutely beautiful. To add to her beauty she was the smartest woman in the Kingdom. For years the King looked for a handsome, strong wise young fellow to marry his daughter and be the next King. The King sent advisers into the schools to find the right man? This seemed vanity? The King sent questionnaires to be filled out honestly. Still no potential husband for his daughter. The King would disguise himself and walk through the streets. He found not one young man qualified.
One day the King was so old and he feared he would die without a successor. So after talking to his advisors and they decided on the FINAL TEST. They called every single young man to meet at the west side of the castle. Each young man was to be there at 2 PM. The contest would be established. THE DRAW BRIDGE WAS RAISED AND CLOSED. The test would be simple. The MOTE… The MOTE HAD THOUSANDS OF PIRANHAS that could prey on a human and eat a person to the bone in minutes. The king’s men on the wall threw a piece of meat in the water, in seconds, the red meat was gone. There were 15 sharks that had not been fed in over a month. The king’s guards poured blood into the mote and a feeding frenzy revealed the sharks. There were so many alligators they could not be counted. On either side of the mote there were rattlesnakes, copperheads and cotton mouths soaking up the sun. Besides all of this there were scorpions… all these obstacles were drawn to the west side of the castle. The king’s guards were standing on the wall and pointed out there was little chance of survival.
The King had his beautiful daughter give a little speech from the top of the wall. She was more beautiful than any woman in the kingdom. So the KING ANNOUNCED HOW TO MARRY HIS DAUGHTER AND BECOME A BILLIONAIRE OVER NIGHT. The contest was easy. Whoever was the first contestant to SWIM ACROSS THE MOTE WOULD MARRY THE KING’S DAUGHTER AND BECOME THE NEXT KING to succeed the old man.
Thousands of men were gathered around the mote with all the deadly animals swimming in plain view. There was a great discussion how insane it would be to dive in the water and try crossing the mote. Several young men were standing at the edge of the mote. ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE YOUNG MAN HIT THE WATER, THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK. He swam with everything in him. He was screaming, splashing and was swimming at a world record pace. He stayed ahead of the piranhas, he swam around a gator. He made it to the shore. He was a mighty hero. Everyone was cheering for him on both sides of the mote. He made it past the snakes. Two soldiers pulled him up the wall… to meet the lovely princess. The King congratulated his new son in law and crowned him the bravest man in the kingdom. UNDER THE NEW KINGS BREATH HE WAS WHISPERING: I WISH I KNEW WHO PUSHED ME INTO THE MOTE AND CAUSED THE DIRT TO BREAK OFF AND LAUNCH ME INTO THE WATER?
CONCLUSION: GOD NEEDS YOUR HANDS! GOD WILL SUPPORT YOU AND MAKE A WAY WHERE THERE IS NO WAY. Will you give your hands and accept God’s heart? Abraham waited 25 years? Joseph’s hands waited 17 years. Job seemed to suffer endlessly… His hands, God’s heart. Maybe some times the ground beneath you will break off? Other times LIFE WILL SHOVE YOU… Is your excuse: “I CAN”T?” or is your excuse: “ I DON’T WANT TO? Or I WON’T.” TRANSITION AND CHANGE ARE COMING… OFFER GOD YOUR HANDS AND HE WILL GIVE YOU HIS HEART. What is your potential?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
