HOW EASY IS IT TO THROW IN THE TOWEL? MATURITY--- SHAKE IT OFF
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
The farmer had an old mule named TOM. TOM was like a family member. Tom pulled the wagon to town. They plowed with TOM. With age TOM went blind. He was still a good mule and obedient. The family loved Tom for many years of service. Tom depended on smell to get him around the farm. Tom was looking for water and accidently fell down the well. Grandpa decided there is no way to get Tom out of the well? So they all got shovels and threw dirt in the well to bury Tom and they would dig a new well. As they threw dirt on Tom he could not believe this was his end? They threw the dirt in the well, TOM WOULD SHAKE THE DIRT OFF AND STEP UP. Soon TOM could hear his family talking. The dirt would hit his back, he would shake it off and step up until he felt the sunshine and all the family hugged him. TOM FELT GREAT LOVE UNTIL HE PASSED AWAY. He would SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!
FROM: “LIVING WITH JESUS TODAY”
By Juan Carlos Ortiz
We have a phenomenon in the church today which I call the “ETERNAL BABYHOOD OF THE BELIEVER.”
We have members of our churches who after years of hearing messages are just the same.
They continually need a minister to keep after them, changing their diapers, put talcum on them
And checking that their milk isn’t too hot. The church seems more like a hospital than an army.
Sometimes we fool ourselves because we grow numerically, we think that is growth?
But to grow in numbers alone is not necessarily spiritual growth. Cemeteries also grow numerically.
To have 100 people without love then 200 people without love is JUST TO GET FAT.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH? I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THE TOUGH GETS GOING? THIS IS NOT TRUE… WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THE TOUGH TEND TO THROW THEIR TOWELS IN THE RING AND QUIT.
We can disagree on this point, but I have the Bible to support what I say. There are very few 666’s of the Bible, but John has a sad 666. There had been free food, large crowds, healings, and miracles not a few. But Jesus’ teaching starts to get very deep and hard to appreciate and understand. When the free food stopped and the teaching became difficult the crowd dwindled to a small group.
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
It is with tears we have to report at this point many of his students and disciples walked away and deserted him. The tough threw in the towel and quit.
HEAR THE WARNING? DOG EAT DOG? A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE CROSS, JESUS AND THE BOYS WALKED UP THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. LOOKING DOWN ACROSS THE VALLEY YOU CAN SEE THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE TEMPLE.
Today the eastern gates of the temple are closed awaiting the MESSIAH’S VISIT. We know the eastern gates will welcome the SECOND ADVENT of the return of the MESSIAH. The size of the crowd was reduced and a handful of people gathered around Jesus. Someone asked a question: TELL US WHEN SHALL THESE THINGS BE? WHAT SHALL BE THE SIGNS OF YOUR RETURNING?
Jesus taught a discourse on the WHAT THE SIGNS WOULD BE. Jesus told of earthquakes, disobedient to parents, wars and rumors of wars, famines and PESTILENCES, false doctrines, and because iniquity would abound the love of many would wax cold.
LET US TAKE NOTE OF THE LESSON IN MATTHEW THAT WARNS OF IMMATURITY OF BELIEVERS.
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
THERE IS A SURE SIGN THAT WILL MARK THE IMMATURIITY OF MANY OF THE LAST DAYS. Things will tend to turn from going from bad to worse in the church. Seems drama queens (kings) will release a dog-eat-dog attitude within the walls of the church. The small cliques will rule and we will see the attack on the other's throat, everyone hating each other.
There are two measuring sticks of real Christianity: 1. If we keep the commandments, 2. If we have love one for another. So this attitude will breed that many will turn away from Jesus and they will betray and hate each other. This is so sad.
DO WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES IN MATURITY AND IMMATURITY? IS GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT OUR GOAL? WILL WE CHANGE? WILL WE STAY THE SAME? THE LACK OF GROWTH AND SPIRITUAL MATURITY CAN BE FATAL.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
*MATURITY: slow, careful consideration, complete growth and development, to achieve, to be ripe, progress, to fulfill obligations,
*IMMATURITY: to do less than expected, lack growth, have undeveloped potential, never finish, not progressing,
In Paul’s writing he address the subject of SPIRITUAL PROGRESS. He says: YOU SHOULD BE MATURE ENOUGH TO BE TEACHERS, but he is sorry they have hindered their progress to the point they still are in elementary stages and still need to BE TAUGHT? How sad this is? I ponder did they get mad at Paul for saying this?
Another time Paul says because you have not matured you can’t eat meat and solid food, you still need milk? These are signs of unfaithfulness and a lacking of being prepared. (MATURITY)
IT TAKES THREE TO HURT YOU --- THERE IS A LAW OF TRIANGLE-IZATION… TRIANGULATION…
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
You can trace or measure and deduce observations, for example by using the PINGS from a cell tower they could find your location.
It takes 3 people to hurt you bad… 1. A FRIEND THAT SAYS SOMETHING BAD ABOUT YOU. 2. A SECOND FRIEND TO LISTEN TO THE GARBAGE, THEN CARRIES THE STORY AND TELLS YOU. 3. THEN YOUR FRIEND CARRIES THE STORY BACK TO YOU AND TELLS ALL… YOU CAN STOP THE TRIANGLE AT ANY ONE POINT? It takes your “friend” to carry the story to you to hurt you.
PAUL LEARNED MATURITY AND PRACTICED PLANNED GROWTH. HE CONTROLED HIS EMOTIONS, HE LEARNED TO QUIT REACTING TO PROBLEMS AND THIRD PARTIES, HE JUST WOULD SHAKE OFF THE PROBLEMS INTO THE FIRE.
Acts 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
CONCLUSION: MATURITY DOES NOT DEPEND ON “THE CORRECTION OF OTHERS”, MATURITY KNOWS HOW SELF CORRECTION IS BEST!
TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES? MY FRIEND PAY ATTENTION! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHAT ARE YOU NOT DOING… WE MUST PREVENT DECEPTION BY PRACTICING LOVE AND THE TRUTH.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Mark 4:24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Help me? Pass it on?
