WITH--- THE DRAW BRIDGE
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
The pastor was teaching the youth group on Friday night. The pastor said I have a question and I want you to think about the answer. WHAT IS GOD’S NAME? One of the youngest boys in the class immediately raised his hand, I know, I know. So the preacher said: Jimmy, what is God’s name? The boy says that is so easy. GOD’S NAME IS ANDY. The pastor was puzzled and enquired where did he learn God’s name was ANDY? The lad started singing: ANDY HE WALKS WITH ME. ANDY HE TALKS WITH ME. ANDY HE TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN.
CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A MERE RELIGION. CHRISTIANITY IN REALITY IS A RELATIONSHIP… One of my life goals is to share, to hear, to feel the pain, to cry, to laugh together, to be WITH. I love to play music with others. Have you ever fished with a friend? Shared a meal with a friend?
Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
*LET US LOOK AT WITH…
With is a preposition. Prepositions describe position, time and almost always preceded by a noun or pronoun.
Together, to support, alongside, among, beside, by, for, included, near, to accompany, possession, like minded, associate, UNITY, harmony.
I SEARCH “TO BE WITH GOD AND HIS SON.” I desire more than ceremonial and formal traditions. I must know Christ as my personal friend and Savior. I desire to personally be with Jesus and to experience the mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead. I know that part of Jesus’ walk was to suffer, I want TO SUFFER with him, share in his victory.
Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
*REBA McENTIRE HAS A SONG WELL WORTH LISTENING TO… THE GREATEST MAN I NEVER KNEW…
You can play it on YOU tube. by Layng Martine, Jr.
The greatest man I never knew lived just down the hall. And every day we said hello, but never touched at all.
He was in his paper, I was in my room. How was I to know he thought I hung the moon.
The greatest man I never knew, came home late every night, he never had too much to say.
Too much was on his mind, I never really knew him and now it seems so sad,
Everything he gave to us, took all he had.
Then the days turned into years and the memories to black and white.
He grew cold like the old winter wind, blowing across my life.
The greatest words I never heard, I guess I’ll never hear.
The man I thought could never die, he has been dead almost a year.
He was good at business, but there was business left to do.
He never said he loved me, guess he thought I knew…
TOO BUSY TO UNDERSTAND? TO BLIND TO SEE? TO DEAD TO HEAR? I AM SORRY, I JUST DON’T KNOW? MY PRIORITIES
WERE SO TWISTED… I KNEW ABOUT JESUS, I JUST DIDN’T TAKE THE TIME TO KNOW HIM…
John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
You can have a friend or you can refuse and isolate from a friend that sticks closer than a brother. We can have a friend which is the Spirit of Truth. The friends of this world refuse to accept him and take him in because they don't have eyes to see him. They don't know what they are looking to receive. But we can KNOW JESUS, JESUS WILL BE WITH US. Jesus will be “WITH US.” He will stay with us forever.
I HAVE HAD A LONGING ALL MY LIFE. I LOVE TO BE WITH PEOPLE. I LOVE THE CHURCH AS IT IS WHERE I HAVE FOUND THE TOGETHERNESS… Sure, I have been hurt. I have cried all night, but I have found JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.
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
I HAVE FOUND A TRUTH IN LIFE: PAIN AND BAD NEWS ARE PART OF REAL DAILY LIFE.
PAIN, BITTERNESS, ANGER AND CRUSHING ARE PART OF LIFE. We get angry once in a while, but we find across our life span that love is the greatest gift. Sure we have nights of crying our eyes out, but hang in there the sad nights will give way to seasons of joy, peace, love and laughter. We must learn WITH… helps us make it through the night. Some of the saddest words in English is ALONE, WORRIED, FEAR, NO HOPE AND NO PEACE.
WITH?? WITH? I fell in PUPPY LOVE WHEN I WAS 15. Wow, love is like a red rose. With all the beauty I was so infatuated with my love. I would walk miles to spend time with her. ALL I DESIRED WAS SOMEONE TO LOVE ME FOREVER. How I was in love with being in love. You know I learned something about “BEING IN LOVE.” The red rose of love has thorns. One Friday night I was supposed to be out of town with my family. Our plans were changed. I walked 3 miles to the little community restaurant to find my love sitting in “our booth” with my friend. I remember the song playing on the jukebox was Bobby Vinton’s “PLEASE LOVE ME FOREVER, JUST LISTEN TO MY PLEA, PLEASE DON’T STOP LOVING ME.” I slowly backed my self out the door without being seen. I started back my long 3 mile walk and I cried all the way home. My heart was crushed. I WANTED A FOREVER LOVE OF SOMEONE TO BE WITH ME. I LOVE THOSE WORDS WITH ME… I JUST DESIRED SOMEONE TO BE WITH ME… HOW I LOVE TO BE “WITH SOMEONE.”
I guess I could only see one piece of the puzzle at a time. Later we moved to Springfield, Illinois and I met Linda. I was not interested in a girlfriend. My hurt was still there. A million times I played Bobby Vinton’s record: PLEASE LOVE ME FOREVER, JUST LISTEN TO MY PLEA, PLEASE DON’T STOP LOVING ME, YOU’RE IN MY DREAMS NIGHTLY, DON’T TAKE MY LOVE LIGHTLY, BEGGING ON BENDED KNEES, PLEASE DON’T STOP LOVING ME. I searched for someone TO BE WITH ME.
With me forever!
Recently Linda and I have been married 50 years. I could not believe how shocked I was to think Linda has been with me 50 years, 50 years? We made a promise we will be with each other for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or health, until death do us part. I have loved being with Linda 50 years. No one in my immediate family has made the 50 year mile marker. Death? Divorce? Half a century? WOW! I HOPE WE WALK THE LAST MILE TOGETHER. 2 sons, 6 grandchildren, one great granddaughter on the way. 50 years WITH LINDA, TOGETHER 50 YEARS.
I DESIRE MUCH MORE THAN JUST GOD BE WITH ME, I DESIRE TO BE WITH GOD… GOD DESIRES FRIENDSHIP WITH US…
GOD LOVED IN THE COOL OF THE EVENING TO BE WITH ADAM AND EVE. ABRAHAM AND GOD GOT TOGETHER WITH EACH OTHER. JACOB WAS WITH, PRINCE WITH GOD AND MAN.
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
CONCLUSION: Will you build a BRIDGE TO BE WITH HARD TO LOVE PEOPLE? Hear me? Some people are very hard to love. Hurt people hurt people. The person that is causing you problems is probably having problems. Be a person that is easy to BE WITH. God desires to be with us. He also desires us to be with him. Could you be “WITH”, on the same page with your spouse and family. Someone really needs you to “GET WITH THEM.” Have you ever seen a draw bridge, where you have to let down the bridge to be with someone?
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Reach out to others.
