I CAN CRY IF I WANT TO…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
There was a song when I was a teenager that went something like this: “ITS MY PARTY AND I’LL CRY IF I WANT TO…” CRY IF I WANT TO… YOU WOULD CRY TOO IF IT HAPPENED TO YOU… IT APPEARS THAT THE BOYFRIEND JOHNNY HAS DISAPPEARED, A STRANGE EVENT HAPPENED ALSO --- IT APPEARS JUDY IS ALSO GONE? LET US CRY…
CRY IF I WANT TO? MOSES PICKS OUT 12 SPIES, ONE FROM EACH OF THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL… MEN OF FAITH! ?
Numbers 13:31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
FEAR AND TEARS ARE KISSING COUSINS… WHERE IS YOUR FAITH? SURE, YOU CAN CRY IF YOU WANT TO.
Numbers 14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
Numbers 14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
SEE WHAT IS GOING ON? LET US ALL CRY. WHY SHOULD GOD’S ARMY HIDE AT NIGHT IN THEIR TENTS AND CRY? FEAR THE CHAMPION THAT DEFIED GOD AND ISRAEL… DAVID WOULD NOT TOLERATE THE UNCIRCUMCISED ENEMY. THE 40 DAYS 2 TIMES A DAY MESSAGE GREW FEAR IN GODS PEOPLE.
1 Samuel 17:11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
FEAR BREEDS A RUN AWAY SPIRIT… A RUN AWAY SPIRIT BREEDS FEAR.
1 Samuel 17:24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
FEAR, WORRY AND DISCOURAGEMENT MAKES US WANT TO CRY.
1 Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
TRUST AND FAITH KNOWS THIS STORM, THIS TRIAL, THIS SUFFERING WILL SHOW GOD’S POWER.
1 Samuel 17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.
I CAN CRY IF I WANT TO…? THE VALLEY OF BACA… OR I CAN TRUST THE UNSEEN HAND OF A MIGHTY GOD… I guess, we call this the Valley of Baca, the valley of tears, the seasons of testing, and we see little purpose and the darkness of the lonely night smother the hope within, outward battles, inner wars, and why am I here? How long O, God?
Sure, I can see Joseph crying in the pit. Joseph’s trip to Egypt was God, but I am sure Joseph cried.
Sure I can see the young servant girl that was captured by the enemy probably cried, then she could see… of Naaman was placed there by God for his healing, but I can’t see where I am today as God’s plan.
Saul probably cried when his dad made him go looking for the donkeys… As Saul was chasing Kish’s (his Father’s) donkey, one day, two days, three days and no hope of finding those dumb donkeys, yet the trail ended or maybe started over at Samuel’s house. Can this donkey chase be God? What made those donkey’s want to run away, it was not a donkey chase it was a trail leading to God’s plan. How frustrated was this young man on a wild goose chase? He could not see or feel God in this? Why cry?
I CAN CRY IF I WANT TO… THE LESSON OF ZIKLAG? Crying until you can’t cry no more...
1 Samuel 30:4 Then David and the people that were WITH HIM lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more tears.
1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people talked of stoning Him... How did David feel? Is crying enough?
David had been in battle, and even a good battle is bad ... and when David gets home, the enemy had quietly came into their home and did much damage and David lost all hope. Would his men help him?
Naw, they are talking we shall kill David for this? Kill your God leader? Yes, the vision was lost? The hope was gone? The pain was fresh? I can imagine how David felt? Yet, I know, been there and done that... CRY, CRY?
LET US CRY… Where are you God? Couldn’t You protect mine, while I was fighting for You? Sure, God could have! God could have whipped the enemy and let David lay under a shade tree laughing, but God was growing a man... growing a man takes more than emotional highs and lows, ups and downs...
David had already whipped a bear, a lion and Goliath, that was easy, now comes the hard battle...
While everyone else was talking negative about everyone else, David had to spend time with God. David learned a RARE SKILL that few ever learn. QUIT CRYING… David had to learn --- how to encourage yourself ... HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOURSELF? Well, that is everyone else’s job, if I am lonely God must send someone right NOW to correct my problem. NAW, God didn’t want to grow another jellyfish, God was growing His man with His plan. QUIT CRYING?
1 Samuel 30:6... David encouraged himself in the Lord his God... How did David do it? ... How can you get ahold of your boot straps and grow?
1 Samuel 30:7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. 8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
David prayed and inquired of the Lord... There arose in David an "ARISING SPIRIT" --- a "GET UP AND DO SOMETHING ATTITUDE" --- QUIT CRYING… I have a problem in real menial life, I often let my emotions react to what I feel or see, --- well, we must know reacting to problems can be testimony killers. Where do great testimonies arise from... ? Great test? We need an arising spirit from the Fire of the altar... GET UP, GET UP AND LET GOD... GOD IS LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE RELEASED...
1 Samuel 30:10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor. David had to leave behind 200 men, WHY? They were so faint they could not arise ... their emotions dictated to their spirit. Now, you can be one of the two hundred and faint, but God knows if you will adjust your outlook and release your faith to GET UP, God will move and bring a release.
CRY IF I WANT TO… Well, spiritual maturity must arise and say problems, trials, storms, more problems--- I am not going to react and cry all night, for crying all night is not trust nor is it faith... I am not going to enlarge the problems and TAKE LIGHTLY the word of God... I refuse to hit back, I refuse to be pushed any farther. it is time to ARISE AND GO TO THE FATHER. Psalm 68:1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
GOD IS LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE RELEASED...
2 Chron. 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. God wants to show how strong He is, not how weak you are! Also notice, God is not looking for perfect people, but people with perfect hearts... Zech. 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven, they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole world.
CAN I STOP A MINUTE, I AM SCREAMING, ARISE WITHIN ME O, LORD AND SHOW YOURSELF STRONG RIGHT HERE! God is more than the God of Abraham and Isaac. God is my God, and I must learn to depend upon Him. Not my emotions and the cry to kill the messenger and the message of God of His great hope! Can you afford to faint? Can your family afford for you to rest by the way side?
I DON’T WANT TO BE ONE OF THE TWO HUNDRED FAINTING BY THE BROOK!
GOD I MUST ARISE AND BE ONE OF THE 400 THAT GETS A GRIP ON MY EMOTIONS AND ARISE TO THE PLAN OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD! I am not a victim, the devil is not beating God’s camp. I have read the book. 2 Tim 1:12 I know in whom I believe and I am persuaded that God is ABLE TO KEEP WHAT I COMMIT TO HIM...
Is the question God is able? Naw, the real question is: WILL I MAKE A COMMITMENT AND TRUST GOD? BACK TO ZIKLAG AND DAVID... The word of God was clear:
1 Samuel 30: 8 God told David --- pursue them, and you shall surely OVERTAKE THEM, AND WITHOUT FAIL YOU SHALL RECOVER ALL...
Might I ask you how much is ALL? 1 Samuel 30:18 AND DAVID RECOVERED ALL THAT THE AMALEK HAD CARRIED AWAY... 19 AND THERE WAS NOTHING LACKING IN THEM, --- DAVID RECOVERED ALL!
THERE IS ANOTHER TEST? HOW SHALL WE TREAT THOSE THAT FAINTED BY THE BROOK? WE WON DIDN’T WE? They didn’t did they? 1 Samuel 30:22 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart. Seems some of David’s men did not want to share the spoils and rewards of the victory with those that fainted. It is clear that those that fainted, don’t deserve any reward?
DAVID LEARNED A GREAT TRUTH AND HAD TO TEACH HIS MEN... US 400 DIDN’T WIN AND THEM 200 WERE BORN LOSERS?
1 Samuel 30:22 --- David declares it was not us, IT WAS GOD WHO PRESERVED US...
We must teach we can cry if we want to, we change our want to… Don’t you ever forget you have a duty to the weaker to share the spoils of serving God with them... Just because you can get up --- ARISE --- and win, you owe God to be liberal with the gifts God has allowed to come your way.
QUIT CRYING… See if you can’t share and GIVE you didn’t learn the lesson --- GOD IS THE PROVIDER. I CAN CRY, EVERYONE ELSE IS?
God while you are looking to and fro for a place or a person to show yourself strong, please don’t forget me... O, GOD MAGNIFY YOURSELF IN ME EACH DAY!
Life must become more than a game of emotional highs and lows. We must grow greater self- discipline on ourselves, and we need to grow steadily and progressively to BE LIKE JESUS, by acting in faith and not reacting in emotional trips. QUIT CRYING.
Are you a King’s Kid? Do you act like a King’s Kid?
Psalms 107:20 God sent His Word, and healed them and delivered them from their destructions.
Is your faith getting the job done? Are you wasting many opportunities? Do we have an effectual prayer life? What are you producing? What fruits are you bearing? Is your spiritual life producing God’s desires in you?
WHAT COULD GOD DO IF WE WOULD ARISE, OVERCOME THE EMOTIONAL RIDE, AND TRUST THE UNSEEN HANDS? Don’t CRY.
The prodigal son said, I WILL ARISE AND GO TO THE FATHER... After making this powerful decision, the young man washed the pig pen and depression off him, got up and headed home. The prodigal son never allowed the if’s and the but’s to hinder him.
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
CONCLUSION: I CAN CRY IF I WANT TO… OR I CAN ARISE AND GO TO THE FATHER. I ask you to GET UP, TRY AGAIN, AND THEN TRY AGAIN... Quit crying. LET GOD ARISE AND HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com PREACHER NEHEMIAH WARNS THE PEOPLE, QUIT LIVING IN FEAR AND CRYING… GET UP AND PRAISE GOD and CELEBRATE. Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
