I WANT AN APPLE… I DON’T WANT A SEED…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I LOVE TO PRAY. I lay my petitions down before the throne of God. I see many living far below our potential and privilege. 39 ½ years in the full time ministry has taught me many things. So I pray the Lord’s mercy grants me with some finished lumber to build His church. I need a lot of 2 by 8’s, some 4 by 4’s, and many 2 by 4’s. I ask boldly in Jesus’ name. After days of prayer, I have a dream of the visitation of God’s son. He told me he heard my prayer and was there to deliver my request. He opened his hand and gave me 10 acorns. What? ACORNS? Jesus informed me that I would learn and appreciate His plan. I am still working on that one because He is still working on me…
Luke 13:19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches."
All the mighty oak is? IS A NUT THAT STOOD HIS GROUND! NUT HURRY UP AND WAIT PATIENTLY. Patiently? Come on…
WHO SAYS I CAN’T?
On May 5, 1988 in Gilroy, California there was a baby born without arms or legs. (It is called Tetra-Amelis Syndrome.) The boy’s name was Rob Mendez. Seems everyone told Rod he could never achieve his dreams of being a football coach. (Look up on Google.)
His dad turned to alcohol after the boy’s birth. He learned to write and draw with his mouth. He learned to play goalie in hockey games. He later learned how to referee. Rob Mendez was the manager on his high school football team. Everyone told Rob he could never be a coach. He had several assistant coaching positions. He landed a position at Prospect High School in Saratoga, Calf . They gave him a probationary head coach job. His first year his record was 8-2.
Rob Mendez won one of the most famous coaching awards the JIMMY V 2019 AWARDS to his credit. Mendez said: “FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO INSTEAD OF WHAT YOU CAN’T.” WHO SAYS I CAN’T?
7 WORDS FROM JIMMY V.
Jimmy Valvano was a college basketball player, coach and broadcaster. Jimmy died at a young age of 46. Cancer was his enemy. Jimmy always said he had 7 words to leave behind: DON’T NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE UP!
PAUL HAD SOME WORDS TO SHARE WITH HIS FRIEND, ARCHIPPUS. WHO WAS ARCHIPPUS? WHAT WAS HIS MINISTRY?
We know very little about Archippus? Archippus is briefly mentioned two times in the Bible. Archippus was known as a “ fellow soldier.”
Philemon 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
There is more to the lesson than just the personality lesson to Archippus’ story…
Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
TAKE HEED! PAUL SAYS TELL ARCHPPUS TO TAKE HIS WORK SERIOUSLY AND DO THE BEST HE CAN, DO YOUR VERY BEST. God gave you a work to do: CARRY OUT GOD’S ORDERS. Paul is an old man very near death and he is warning his fellow soldier make every effort you can to complete the work God entrusted into your heart.
PAUL HAS LEARNED MANY LESSONS IN HIS MINISTRY. One lesson is that in the excitement of the moment we make BIG PLANS to move in GREAT PASSION and COMPASSION. Then with time our passion, compassion and commitment slowly fade into THE THROWING IN THE TOWEL MOOD.
THE HORSES ARE COMING: ARE WE READY OR HAVE WE FALLEN SPIRITUALLY ASLEEP?
Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
GOD ALMOST ALWAYS GIVES MINISTRY IN THE SEED FORM… VERY RARELY DOES GOD GIVE IN THE FINISHED PRODUCT…
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Let me tell you the story of a real dream I had. I will start by telling you I do eat bologna and or pizza some nights before I go to bed. I had this dream. I was a new pastor and I was so excited about God’s work. I was totally exhausted and wet with sweat. I had several shovels and a pick and I was digging a well for one of my church member’s family. I was working so hard digging the well to cool water, cool clear water. The family was sitting under a big oak tree laughing and taking naps. I dug several days. I was having trouble getting the dirt out of the well. I would fill up two buckets with dirt and climb out and dump the dirt. I was so tired and sweaty. I would look over at my members sitting in the shade and enjoying life. They would yell over to me good job pastor, keep it up.
One day I was so surprised when I crawled out of the well and pulled up the buckets of dirt: THERE WAS JESUS STANDING THERE. I was so happy, I thought Jesus would smile and brag on me. I looked Jesus in his eyes and he was not very happy. He took the shovel out of my hands. I thought he was going to dig for a while. He threw the shovel down and looked at the family sitting under the shade tree. He shook his head.
Jesus explained to me, it is not your job to dig “their well.” Jesus I am their pastor, I am responsible that they have living waters. Jesus stroked his beard and said: NO! IT IS THEIR JOB TO DIG THEIR OWN WELL. IF YOU DIG THEIR WELL THE WATER WILL NEVER BE SWEET TO THEM. Jesus sat down next to me and explained I could spell them (take turns) and help encourage them… but I was not to dig their well. I said: Jesus they will never dig their own well? Jesus said: YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT, THEY WILL STAY SITTING UNDER THE OAK TREE… THE DROUGHT IS COMING… YOU DIG YOUR WELL DEEP, I WILL SUSTAIN YOU!
HAVE YOU INVESTED IN THE ETERNAL? WE WILL FACE THE BEMA SEAT OF GOD! WHERE BELIEVERS WILL MEET FACE TO FACE FOR A PERSONAL EVALUATION OF YOUR STEWARDSHIP…
In ancient Olympics a judge would sit on the BEMA SEAT at the finish line. Someday we will take our last breath. You will be judged by the words, attitudes and deeds of your daily life. Have we lost the JOY in menial daily life? Are you living in the PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING?
Have you dug a deep spiritual well? Are you building with wood, hay and stubble? Have you invested in gold, silver and precious stones?
1 Corinthians 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
CONCLUSION : Can we hear Paul’s warning to ARCHIPPUS? Take heed, be warned… pay close attention, consider. ARE WE LISTENING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT TRYING TO PREPARE US? GET READY, STAY READY.THE BEMA SEAT IS BEFORE US: FINISH!
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Pass it on?
