I FIND THE ROOM SO DARK… MY PASSION IS TO BE CONSUMED WITH JESUS…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
ALL I CAN SEE IS A LITTLE SEED? WE SEE HOW SMALL MUSTARD SEEDS ARE… WE NEED TO QUIT SEEING SMALL AND START SEEING THE POTENTIAL OF GROWTH.
Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED PASTORING, I HAD BEEN PRAYING GOD SEND ME GREAT HELPERS TO BUILD A STRONG CHURCH. I had prayed several hours and went to bed. I had a dream. In my dream Jesus stood before me and said: WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING? I said: JESUS, I WANT FINISHED LUMBER TO BUILD THE CHURCH and GOOD BUILDING MATERIAL! There was a long pause and Jesus stepped to me and gave me a hand full of seeds. What seeds? I need lumber. I could not see beyond today. I need lumber! JESUS SAID: I GIVE YOU SEEDS… Time, effort, patience, time, effort, sweat, patience… GROW YOUR OWN.
THE MOODS THAT YOU CHOOSE WILL DETERMINE WHAT YOU SEE AND HOW YOU SEE IT… THE PERSON YOU WILL BE WITH THE MOST IS YOURSELF… SEEMS MANY HAVE A GREAT SELF DISLIKE? DO WE SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE? OR DO WE SEE THINGS AS WE ARE? OFTEN HOW WE PERCEIVE THE WORLD COMES FROM OUR PRECONCEPTIONS…
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
LIFE IS ABOUT FOCUS AND PRIORITIES, I NEAR THE END OF THE ROAD. I HAVE A CLEARER FOCUS THAN EVER BEFORE… THAT I MAY KNOW HIM --- I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK OF THE HIGH CALLING…
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
I DON’T WANT THE FAKE STUFF… I HAVE MY EYES ON THE GOAL… I AM RUNNING AND NOT LOOKING BACK. OUR CHOICES ARE NEGATIVE-FEAR, NEUTRAL-NO STAND, OR PRESS TO REACH FOR THE GOAL.
Philippians 3:9 (MSG) and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God's righteousness. 10 I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. 11 If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it. 12 I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. 13 Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. 14 I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. 15 So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! 16 Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
MY PASSION IS TO BE CONSUMED TO REACH GOD’S PURPOSE. I ACCECT THE INVITATION.
Philippians 3:9 (Passion) My passion is to be consumed with Jesus and not cling to my own “righteousness” based in keeping the written law. My only righteousness will be his based on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. 10. I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus and to experience the overflowing power of the resurrection working in me. I will be one with him in his sufferings and become like him in his death. 12. I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I am pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ laid hold of me to make me his own. 13. I don’t depend on my own stretch to accomplish this, however I do have one compelling focus: I forget the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus…
I HAVE A COMPELLING FOCUS TO REACH MY GOD POTENTIAL…
MY CANDLE? I FIND THE ROOM SO DARK… WILL MY LITTLE LIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? WILL I CONSIDER MY SEEDS, MY LITTLE CANDLE, THE LIGHT…
James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
I sit and watch the little flame flicker back and forth on the wick of the candle. The flame seems so small… What a great fire this little flame could kindle. One match could light the pilot on a furnace that could warm a house for many years. THERE IS POWER NOT IN THE CANDLE BUT IN THE FLAME.
LET US CONSIDER HOW THE CANDLE MUST FEEL… THE FLAME CONSUMES THE CANDLE… The candle gives itself for the light. Does the heat hurt? Does the candle feel good as the light gradually consumes?
Amy Carmichael lived from 1897 to 1951. Amy penned these words: GOD DELIGHTS TO MEET THE FAITH OF ONE WHO LOOKS UP TO HIM AND SAYS: “LORD, YOU KNOW I CANNOT DO THIS --- BUT I BELIEVE YOU CAN.”
** CONCLUSION: HIS CANDLE AM I! HIS CANDLE AM I TO SHINE WHERE HE SHALL SAY. CANDLES ARE NOT FOR SUNNY ROOMS, NOR FOR THE BRIGHT OF DAY. CANDLES ARE FOR THE DARK PLACES OF THE EARTH WHERE SHAME AND WRONG AND CRIME GIVE BIRTH OR THE MULKY TWILIGHT GRAY. WHERE WANDERING SHEEP HAVE GONE ASTRAY OR WHERE THE CANDLE OF FAITH GROWS SO VERY DIM AND THE SOULS ARE GROPING AFTER HIM. SOMETIMES A FLAME WE FIND, CLEAR SHINING THROUGH THE LIGHT… SO DARK WE CANNOT SEE THE CANDLE, BUT ALL WE CAN SEE IS THE LIGHT.
SO MAY I SHINE HIS LOVE AND HS FLAME, THAT MEN MAY GLORIFY HIS NAME… (unknown)
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Please help me, share this with another preacher? Check out my YouTube?
