CHECKMATE: CAN GOD HANDLE OUR PROBLEMS? CHECKMATE!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
You know what a rut is? A RUT IS AN OPEN ENDED GRAVE… Seems negatively is a trap that tired believers fall into and have trouble getting out. Have you ever got yourself in such a mess that there seems to be no solution? Do you ever ponder: Can God handle my problems?
Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jude 1:24 (MSG) And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—
AM I A NATURAL LOSER? IS THERE ANY HOPE? GOOD FRIDAY? Trapped? CHESS?
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13 (MSG) Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
Let us look at a 64 checker board square. There are 16 pieces. One KING, one Queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops and eight pawns. Each group of the pieces can move differently. THE KING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE. The object is to trap the KING. Then the whole army has lost. When the KING can move no more it is declared CHECKMATE.
Come let us take a closer look IN THE LOUVRE IN PARIS, FRANCE. There is AN ART MUSEUM WHERE THERE IS A PICTURE CALLED CHECKMATE… painted by Moritz August Retzsch.
The devil is sitting on the right with an arrogant confidence on his face. The man sitting on the left has a defeated look on his face. The story goes when Satan wins the man lost his soul. The man has his head buried in his hand and it appears that the devil has beat him in the game of chess. The man is cornered… No hope.
One day there was a group on the tour through the museum. There is an angel in the middle. Satan is laughing as he has defeated the man. The game is over when the KING CAN MOVE NO MORE… Once the King is trapped the chess game is called “CHECKMATE,” the game is over.
This tour had a GRAND CHESS MASTER in the group. The group moves to the next picture and the next picture. The GRAND CHESS MASTER stays behind and studies the chess board. In the picture. As the master studied the “CHECKMATE” where the man lost to the devil, he started yelling: WAIT, WAIT A MINUTE SAYS THE CHESS MASTER, THE GAME IS NOT OVER… THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE… The depressed man’s KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE… the man defeats the enemy.
THERE IS A SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEMS. GOD HAS A VICTORY PLAN… GOD ALWAYS HAS ONE MORE MOVE… NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER QUIT! THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE…
CHECKMATE: IT’S BEGINNING TO RAIN, RAIN, RAIN… THE KING HAS ANOTHER MOVE… THE WORLD IS EVIL. The people are EATING, DRINKING AND GIVEN IN MARRIAGE. IT APPEARS THE PROBLEMS ARE BEYOND REPAIR. BUT GOD HAS A PLAN… THERE ARE EIGHT PEOPLE ON BOARD THE ARK… GOD SHUTS THE DOOR… Sin looks hopeless.
Genesis 8:12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.
THE KING HAS ANOTHER MOVE… CAN GOD HANDLE MY PROBLEM? If God handled Noah and his family, HE CAN HANDLE YOUR FAMILY.
Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
CHECKMATE: THERE ARE MILLIONS OF HUNGRY PEOPLE… IT IS ESTIMATED IT WOULD REQUIRE 2,000 TONS OF FOOD A DAY TO FEED ALL GOD’S PEOPLE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD AND NO MCDONALDS…? THE PICTURE APPEARS HOPELESS… THE KING IS TRAPPED?
Exodus 16:12 have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.
There was a question: WHAT IS IT? MANNA … Like a white coriander seed. There was an OMER RULE for DIRECTION… no more, no less… MANNA WAS SUPERNATURAL FOOD THAT WAS PROVIDED 40 YEARS… Checkmate? MANNA CONTAINED ALL THE NUTRIENTS AND VITAMINS NEEDED. The King has one more move… It would have taken several train loads of food… THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN 3 FREIGHT TRAINS A MILE LONG PER DAY… The KING CAN!
IF GOD CAN HANDLE THEIR PROBLEMS, RECKON HE CAN HANDLE YOUR PROBLEMS?
CHECKMATE THE ENEMY LAUGHS: WE HAVE NO WATER… WATER IS ESSENTIAL… IT WOULD REQUIRE 11 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER A DAY. TO TRANSPORT THAT MUCH WATER WOULD REQUIRE A TRAIN 1,800 MILES LONG.
Exodus 17:1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.
To camp out would require 750 square miles… THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE… If God handled their water problem? CAN HE HANDLE YOUR PROBLEM?
CHECKMATE: CHECKMATE IS NOT ABOUT THE FINAL DESTINATION… LIFE IS ABOUT THE JOURNEY… A YOUNG MAN IS
LAYING IN A PIT? IS THIS GOD? CAN GOD MAKE GOOD COME OUT OF THIS DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY?
Joseph was rescued from the pit? Sold to a slave train? Put on the auction block? Checkmate? Potiphar’s house? CHECKMATE?
AN INNOCENT MAN LAYING IN A PRISON CELL… JOSEPH WAS FORGOTTEN… CHECKMATE…
Genesis 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
Checkmate: GOD PRESERVES HIS PEOPLE AND GOD PROVIDES THE WAY… THE KING HAS ANOTHER MOVE… GOD CAN… GOD USES JOSEPH TO SAVE A NATION. ONE MORE MOVE.
Genesis 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
CHECKMATE: THERE IS A MAN LAYING AT THE SHEEP GATE… 38 LONG YEARS AT THE POOL OF BETHESDA… A MAN HAS LAID 38 YEARS AND WAS NO BETTER? I HAVE NO SOLUTION… CHECKMATE!
John 5:7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
THE KING HAS ANOTHER MOVE… GOD CAN HANDLE LONG TERM, CHRONIC PROBLEMS…
John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
CHECKMATE: A WIDOW WOMAN PREPARES FOR HER TWO SONS TO BE SOLD INTO SLAVERY… THERE WAS A PREACHER… HE DIED AND LEFT HIS WIDOW AND TWO SONS… CHECKMATE: MY SONS WILL BE SLAVES… AND WE SERVED GOD FAITHFULLY.
2 Kings 4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE… I HAVE A POT OF OIL… GO BORROW EMPTY POTS? How will that help… THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE… If God handled this problem … He can handle your problem.
CHECKMATE… THERE IS DEATH IN THE POT? THERE SEEMS TO BE A STUPID COOK… HE MEANT WELL… SEEMS THERE IS A FOOD POISONING OF IGNORANCE…
2 Kings 4:39 And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.
THE KING HAS ANOTHER MOVE… EVEN THE PREACHERS THAT ALREADY HAD ATE THE STEW WERE HEALED OF THE FOOD POISONING.
2 Kings 4:41 But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.
The KING HAS ANOTHER MOVE… IF GOD CAN HANDLE POISON GOURDS… GOD CAN HANDLE YOUR PROBLEMS.
CHECKMATE: EASTER WEEK--- JUDAS GIVES JESUS A KISS… THIS MUST HAVE BROKE JESUS’ HEART. JESUS ACCEPTED JUDAS AND ATE THE LAST MEAL WITH HIM… The KING had one more move… it was not checkmate.
CHECKMATE: JESUS WE HAVE TOILED ALL NIGHT… WE HAVE CAUGHT NOTHING… THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE…
John 21:3 Simon Peter announced, "I'm going fishing." The rest of them replied, "We're going with you." They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night.
Luke 5:5 (MSG) Simon said, "Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out the nets."
THIS WAS NOT CHECKMATE FOR THE FISHERMEN. THE KING HAD ANOTHER MOVE.
CHECKMATE: THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY AND GOING TO FAINT… WHERE CAN WE BUY ENOUGH FOOD? HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE EVEN WHERE THERE IS DOUBT…
John 6:8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
THERE WAS 12 BASKETS OF LEFTOVERS… MORE THAN ENOUGH… ONE MORE MOVE.
John 6:13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
CHECKMATE: TOASTED? ROASTED? THE THREE HEBREW BOYS… WE ARE NOT WORRIED… KING… OUR KING HAS ANOTHER MOVE… THE MEN THAT THREW THEM IN THE FIRE BURNED TO DEATH… NOT THEM.
Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
CHECKMATE: DANIEL’S JEALOUS FRIENDS PLOT TO DESTROY HIM? DANIEL’S ENEMY'S WIN… THE KING HAS ANOTHER MOVE…THE LIONS’ DEN?
Daniel 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE AND LOOK WHO LAUGHS LAST? THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE.
Daniel 6:24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
CHECKMATE: THE WOMAN WAS CAUGHT IN THE VERY ACT OF ADULTERY? WHERE IS THE MAN? STONE HER TO DEATH.
John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Wait a minute: the King has another move… FORGIVENESS… The woman is conditionally forgiven, GO and SIN NO MORE. There was another move…
CHECKMATE: A CRIMINAL IS DYING ON THE CROSS… HE HAS NO HOPE… REMEMBER ME JESUS? PLEASE? THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE… JESUS SAYS TODAY I WILL REMEMBER YOU… THE KING HAD ANOTHER MOVE.
Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
CONCLUSION: CHECK MATE: OUR KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE: THE QUESTION IS NOT HAS GOD PROVEN HIS WORD OVER AND OVER. THE QUESTION IS WILL WE TRUST THAT OUR KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE? WILL I ACCEPT THAT GOD CAN HANDLE MY PROBLEM?
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Check us out on YouTube.
