PROTECT YOUR HEART?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (This is a two part lesson)
TEXT: Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
I had a dear pastor friend that pastored in the same city which I pastored. We became dear friends and mentored and shared our hearts. He had great success. I really enjoyed our time together. We served together on the CHAPLAIN ON CALL PROGRAM at the local hospital. We and other pastors served the hospital a week at a time. His church grew and grew. With his depth in the word and his personality the church grew. He was well respected and honored in the community.
I woke up one night and had this pastor in my heart. I was burdened and I cried and prayed for him. The next morning I called him and asked to take him to lunch. We agreed and we met at the hospital dining hall. I could tell he was very heavy about something. We got our food and sat by ourselves in the corner. He started crying and he was so angry. I just listened as he shared his heart. He had been at the church 4 years. He had great success. The church doubled and doubled again. I could not imagine what was making him so angry.
I said: SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE NEAR BURN OUT? In anger he replied, I am not about BURNED OUT, I AM BURNED UP.
He said: Sunday School teachers do not prepare the lessons. The teachers often do not show up for Sunday School and they never call me to tell me. He explained Sunday a teacher never showed up and the class just sat in the room and caused trouble. He said: MY DEACONS NEVER DEACON. They make no visits, they attend church sporadically. They never help around the church and there is so much negative gossip. He said: MY WIFE AND I ARGUE ALL THE TIME. He went on to say: I AM NOT BURNED OUT --- I AM BURNED UP.
One day I was driving by the parsonage and saw a U-HAUL truck back to the door. I stopped, he was very busy but he took a moment and we talked. HE SAID: I HAVE HAD ENOUGH! I CAN’T TAKE ANYMORE. I asked what church was he accepting. He in anger and frustration told me he was done with pastoring and he was moving to another state. He had great potential but he allowed his anger, frustration, and burn out, depression and BURNED UP to distort his vision. He could not see the love, growth and community respect he had developed. He was focusing on people not the cross.
I kept pastoring the little church and I had little success compared to him. I often wondered about my brother and how was he doing? I was in a large Kentucky city and after my hospital visit I went to a large restaurant to eat. I was sitting by a window and saw a large 18 wheeler pull up in the lot. I saw my pastor friend climb out of the rig and come in to eat. I ran to the door and we hugged, I invited him to my table. We ate and talked. We sat there several hours and talked. We remembered our pastoring days. We started crying. He told me he had great success trucking and made a lot of money. He owned three big rigs and had several contracts to haul all over the nation. I asked about his wife and kids. He explained they had been divorced many years. He seldom saw his adult children. The family was bitter about the divorce. He had married again and was having trouble with his step children.
Through many tears I asked him: WHO MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE? WAS YOU RIGHT LEAVING THE MINISTRY OR WAS I RIGHT STAYING? I explained financially we have struggled and we have never had numerical success. Look you have made it… with great tears he patted my hand… He said: Without hesitation YOU MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO GO BACK AND HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE. He said: I should have went on a vacation. I should have helped people to learn and grow. I should have had patience with myself, with people and with God. He said I HAVE DREAMED MANY TIMES OF THE WORDS I TOLD YOU: I AM NOT NEAR BURN OUT, I AM JUST BURNED UP.
I have prayed many times for my little pastor friend… and I consider the mercy and grace of God. GOD LEAD US…
And will restore… WHEN THE CLAY IS MARRED, THE MASTER CAN MAKE IT AGAIN.
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
THIS IS JUST A SEASON… IT TOO SHALL PASS. UNDERSTAND LIFE IS ABOUT CHANGE AND SEASONS… YOUR EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS WILL PLAY GAMES IN YOUR HEAD. THEY ARE LIKE A YO-YO, UP AND DOWN…
Your struggles, your sickness, your frustration, your suffering is but for a season… summer, fall, winter and spring. Sow/reap.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
BE ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE AND BE QUICK TO FORGIVE… DON’T OVERTHINK PEOPLE PROBLEMS.
If love is rooted and grounded it will determine the words you speak (or don’t speak), the thoughts that you think, and the actions that you take.
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
BE A STRONG STUDENT OF THE WORD. THE WORD OF GOD DOES THE WORK OF GOD.
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
DIG DEEP WELLS. There is cool water in deep wells. Shallow puddles dry up in dry times. We need to be so deep in Bible study and Bible reading that we meditate day and night on God’s word. Don’t be lazy and live in apathy.
KEEP OPEN THE COMMUNICATION LINES OF PRAYER AND LOVE OPEN TO GOD AND TO PEOPLE.
Psalm 109:4 For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
COME WITH ME, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP A FRESH DAILY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. JESUS IS MY FRIEND. MAY I BE BROKEN AND POURED OUT BEFORE THE ALTAR BUT STRONG IN FAITH BEFORE THE PEOPLE.
Can we hear the cry of the world? We live in a LOTTERY MENTALITY AGE. I watch people at the gas stations and stores spending mega bucks for lottery tickets that they throw in the garbage can. Then I see a person win three dollars. Then they take the three dollar ticket and buy more lottery tickets. Then the person brags they won three dollars. No they didn’t, they lost all. We want FREE STUFF NOW. Be honest, there is no free stuff. If there is free stuff someone has to pay.
GUARD YOUR HEART: LOVE PEOPLE! LOVE YOUR FAMILY…
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
HOW DO WE VALUE THINGS AND PEOPLE IN LIFE? ARE WE INVINCIBLE?
THE RMS TITANIC… WE DON’T NEED LIFE BOATS WE ARE UNSINKABLE?
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
THE RMS TITANIC… WHAT? I DON’T NEED LIFE BOATS --- WE ARE UNSINKABLE…
The UNSINKABLE RMS TITANIC was a British luxury steam passenger ship operated by the WHITE STAR LINE. The media of the day deemed the Titanic as “UNSINKABLE.” The Titanic was first launched May 31, 1911 for a test ride. There were over 3 million rivets holding the steel plates in place. The Titanic could carry 2,435 passengers with a crew of about 900 for a total of around 3,300 people.
The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912 after hitting an iceberg while on its maiden voyage in the North Atlantic Ocean. The ship was sailing from Southampton, England to New York City.
The Titanic had a double bottom with 15 watertight bulkheads that could be closed individually or by the captain by a switch on the bridge. There was no alarm even after the ship hit the iceberg. The TITANIC CANNOT SINK. The parties and the music continued … the dancing and the fun continued. The ship carried dignitaries, celebrities, high ranking officials, wealthy industrialist a who’s who list of the day.
What do you need lifeboats for if the ship was “UNSINKABLE?” There were ONLY 16 lifeboats for about 1/3 of those on board. In the early hours of April 15, 1912 the ship ran into difficulties and sank. More than 1,500 people died that day.
Conclusion: WHAT FEAR, FRUSTRATION OR WORRY CAN CAUSE BURN OUT OR BURN UP? BEWARE!
Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Two part lesson)
I place hours of work and research in my lessons… Could you help me and pass it on to another.
