LESSONS I WOULD LIKE TO TEACH: LISTEN?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (This is a several part lesson)
I have a GENIE BOTTLE: ARABIAN STYLED BOTTLE IN WHICH A GENIE RESIDES? Rub it and make your wish COME TRUE? A GENIE ‘S BOTTLE IS CALLED EDEN’S BOTTLE.
LUCKY VS BLESSED: Did you hear about the man that won the FULLER BRUSH CONTEST? The bald headed man won a year supply of the best brushes, combs and hair spray on the market!
I READ A LESSON ABOUT RUNNING OUT, NOT ENOUGH… THERE WAS A PIZZA PARTY THAT DEMONSTATRTED TWO ATTITUDES…
1. GROUP ONE SAW THAT IT WAS OBVIOUS THEY WOULD RUN OUT OF PIZZA, SO THEY GRABBED 4 OR 5 PIECES OF THE PIZZA TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULD HAVE ENOUGH.
2. THE SECOND GROUP SAW THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH PIZZA FOR EVERYONE SO THEY TOOK ONE PIECE AND SOME CUT THEIR PIECE IN HALF SO ALL COULD HAVE SOME.
I READ A LESSON ABOUT A WISE MAN THAT PEOPLE TRAVELED HUNDREDS OF MILES TO SEEK HIS WISDOM…
The wise man stood up, he looked to his left side. Then to his right. He paused and looked at the crowd behind him. He quickly turned around and faced the crowd in front of him. He looked down. He looked up. HE SAT DOWN WITHOUT SAYING A WORD… The huge crowd was UTTERLY AMAZED AT THE WISE MAN’S WISDOM. They started crying and applauding his wisdom. I GUESS THE LESSON MIGHT BE SOMETIMES SILENCE IS WISDOM!
Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
A REAL LESSON TO LEARN: GOD IS SOVEREIGN! SUPREME, ULTIMATE POWER, IN CONTROL… GOD MADE ALL THINGS AND ALL THINGS ARE SUBJECT TO HIS POWER. GOD ANSWERS TO NO MAN. DON’T FEAR MAN AND WHAT HE CAN DO… FEAR GOD AND FACE ETERNITY. HUMAN REASONING CAN NOT ALWAYS UNDERSTAND GOD’S WAYS…
IS GOD LIKE A GENIE IN A BOTTLE? An Eden’s bottle? Many people place God in a BOX and only let him out when they want something? Is God kind of like a spare wheel? You get him out when you have a flat tire? FIX IT GOD! NOW!
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
THERE IS A GREAT LESSON THAT IS DIFFICULT TO LEARN: GOD IS SOVEREIGN, HE NEVER HAS TO EXPLAIN HIMSELF TO HUMANITY. THE BATTLE IS BETWEEN EMOTIONS AND FAITH… DO WE REALLY TRUST THE UNSEEN?
Psalm 135:6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
Psalm 135:6 (ESV) Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
God is sovereign he does not have to explain why he is allowing this fiery furnace to be heated up?
1. PAUL WAS IN JAIL, A DIVINE DELIVERANCE CAME WITH A SUDDEN VIOLENT EARTHQUAKE THAT SHOOK THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE JAIL AND PAUL WAS FREED…
2. PETER WAS ARRESTED AND PREPARED TO DIE AFTER THE HOLIDAYS… PETER WAS IN JAIL AND THE ANGELS SET HIM FREE… the chains were loosed…
3. JOHN THE BAPTIST HAD A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD… HEAD FIRST--- WHY JOHN? WHY? Let us call John to the witness stand: JOHN, WHY? WHY…?
4. Jesus becomes Lord of your life only when you allow him to be Lord! WHEN YOU ALLOW JESUS TO BE LORD OF YOUR LIFE HE AUTOMATICALLY BECOMES GREATER…
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30 (MSG) This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.
LEARN THE LESSON OF THE HORSES? CONSIDER THIS: GAS CRISIS?
THE GAS CRISIS MIGHT JUST BE THE REASON THE ARMIES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION ARE RIDING HORSES?
Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
Jeremiah 12:5 (ESV) “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?
THE WHITE HORSE…(crown, conqueror.) THE RED HORSE… (takes peace, war…)
THE BLACK HORSE… (famines, shortages, don’t hurt oil and wine) THE PALE HORSE… (DEATH, war, hunger)
LEARN THE LESSON: I AM NOT CRAZY… I KNOW HOW TO PRAY. LISTEN TO LESSON: THE GOOD NEWS IS THE BAD NEWS IS NOT TRUE. AGAIN THE SOVEIGIEN GOD REIGNS.
GOD DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK AS WE TELL HIM TOO:
King HEROD wanted to be popular and loved by the people. King HEROD saw how happy the people were from killing one preacher, JAMES… so the King had JAMES (John’s brother killed...) JAMES WAS THE FIRST APOSTLE TO BE MARTYRED.
KING HEROD LOVED THE POPULARITY OF KILLING PREACHERS SO HE HAD PETER ARRESTED AND PLACED IN JAIL, HE WAS THE NEXT PREACHER TO BE EXECUTED…
Rhonda is a woman only mentioned once it the Bible. She was at a prayer meeting. God answered and they were surprised.
Acts 12:13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. 15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
THE LESSON OF NOTHING IS AS BAD AS IT FIRST APPEARS. WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, WAIT PATIENTLY ANOTHER DOOR WILL OPEN… TROUBLE IS ONLY TEMPORARY.
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.
LEARN THE LESSON OF WHAT CONSUMES YOU? WHAT CONSUMES YOU WILL CONTROL YOUR LIFE… YOUR FOCUS… YOU WILL ALWAYS REAP WHAT YOU SOW… YOU WILL FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR---
I was with my neighbor when he bent over and pulled something green up. My neighbor found a 4 leaf clover… He opened his billfold and he had 10, maybe 15 four leaf clovers pressed in between the leather folds. He asked me: HOW MANY 4 LEAF CLOVERS HAVE YOU FOUND? My answer amazed him? I have never found a four leaf clover? Not one? See, I HAVE NEVER LOOKED FOR A FOUR LEAF CLOVER. MY THOUGHTS ARE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TWO, THREE OR FOUR LEAF CLOVER… Focus on God not your problems…
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13 (MSG) "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else,
THE LESSON OF BEING OFFENDED… IF YOU GO TO CHURCH LOOKING TO BE OFFENDED AND HURT BY ALL THOSE HYPOCRITES… GUARANTEED YOU WILL BE HURT AND HAVE AN EXCUSE NOT TO RETURN…
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Matthew 24:10 (MSG) And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating each other.
IF YOU GO TO CHURCH TO LOVE PEOPLE, TO PRAISE GOD AND WORSHIP JESUS… IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO SERVE… IF YOU GO TO CHURCH TO LOOK FOR JESUS AND TRUTH, YOU PROBABLY WILL FIND JESUS BEFORE YOU LEAVE… ESPECIALLY IF YOU TOOK HIM WITH YOU.
Sure there will be no perfect people at church. If there were all perfect people in the church you would probably mess them up?
THE LESSON OF THE STORM’S WINDS AND WAVES TEACH US NOT TO FOCUS ON THE BOISTEROUS PROBLEMS… IT TAKES MORE FAITH TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT THAN TO SIT IN THE BOAT AND TALK ABOUT OTHERS SINKING IN THE WATER…
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
THE LESSON OF POISON AND KEEPING ON KEEPING ON… ? WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU IS NOT NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT HAPPENS IN YOU… BE DEAF TO DOOM, GLOOM AND THE NEGATIVE CROWD… HAVE THE I CAN DO IT ATTITUDE.
WHEN THE POISONOUS SNAKE TRIES TO HARM YOU, JUST SHAKE IT OFF IN THE FIRE AND KEEP PICKING UP STICKS…
Acts 28:3And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
CONCLUSION: PLAY A GAME OF IMAGINATION WITH ME….
You were born in 1900… When you were 14 World War 1 broke out… When you were 18 WW1 ended with 22 million people dead.
Later in 1918 the world faced a PANDEMIC of the SPANISH FLU… This flu lasted around 2 years, 50 million people died of the flu in 2 years.
Then 1929 rolls around… THE GREAT DEPRESSION BEGINS… Unemployment hits 25%. The GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) drops 27%. THE WORLD IS IN A GREAT DEPRESSION… THE DEPRESSION was very close to A COLLAPSE OF THE WORLD ECONOMY.
In 1941 ADOLPH HITLER PULLS THE WORLD INTO WORLD WAR 2… 75 MILLION DIE IN THIS WAR.
HITLER LEADS IN THE HOLOCAUST AND KILLS 6 MILLION JEWS…
IN 1952 THE KOREAN WAR BEGINS AND 5 MILLION PEOPLE DIE…
IN 1962 THE CUBA MISSILE CRISIS WHERE RUSSIA PLACES NUCLEAR MISSILES IN CUBA 90 MILES FROM THE US SOIL.
IN 1964 VIETNAM WAR BEGINS AND LASTS FOR DECADES… 4 MILLION DIE.
HOW DID OUR GRANDPARENTS SURVIVE ALL THESE DARK TIMES? Today we watch all the negative news and think how hard life really is. We tend to forget GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL and the ANCHOR HAS ALWAYS HELD through the STORMS OF TIME. (SOURCE UNKNOWN)
CONCLUSION: WE CAN BE ONE BREATH AWAY FROM HEAVEN OR HELL? How many in hell planned on going there? My opinion: NOT ONE! --- WE CAN MAKE IT… THE MINDSET OF PEOPLE TODAY DEMAND I DESERVE THIS… I HAVE THE RIGHTS --- A HEALTHY MINDSET IS I HAVE DUTIES --- I HAVE OBLIGATIONS --- TO THE PAST, TO THE PRESENT AND TO THE FUTURE. YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO… THOSE THAT SAY IT CAN’T BE DONE ARE BEING PASSED BY THOSE DOING IT… The universe is not headed toward annihilation… BUT RENOVATION… we are not looking for the sunset, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE SON RISE… ECHOES? RIPPLES?
AN OLD LADY IN THE RESTHOME 40 YEARS AGO: DEANNA LAFFERTY READ THIS POEM TO ME WEEKLY. Deanna had brain cancer and had half of her head cut off. Her right part of her head was gone, so she could not move the left side of her body. She would hold her Bible or song book in her right hand. She could see with her right eye. She would read poems and sing songs. She was always happy. Deanna taught me many lessons in 8 ½ years.
LOOKING FOR THE SONRISE
I AM NOT LOOKING FOR THE SUNSET, AS THE SWIFT YEARS COME AND GO;
I AM LOOKING FOR THE SONRISE, AND THE GOLDEN MORNING’S GLOW,
WHERE THE LIGHT OF HEAVEN’S GLORY WILL BREAK FORTH UPON MY SIGHT,
IN THE LAND THAT KNOWS NOT SUNSET, NOR THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT.
I AM NOT GOING DOWN THE PATHWAY TOWARD THE SETTING SUN,
WHERE THE SHADOWS EVER DEEPEN WHEN THE DAY IS DONE;
I AM WALKING UPWARD WHERE THE SONSHINE LIGHTS THE WAY,
TO THE GLORY OF THE SONRISE OF GOD’S NEVER ENDING DAY.
I’M NOT GOING DOWN, BUT UPWARD, THE PATH IS NEVER DIM,
FOR THE DAY GROWS BRIGHTER AS I JOURNEY ON WITH HIM.
SO MY EYES ARE ON THE HILLTOPS, WAITING FOR THE SON TO RISE,
WAITING FOR HIS INVITATION TO MY HOME BEYOND THE SKIES.
By Albert Simpson Reitz
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Please watch my YouTube.
Will we volunteer to BECOME SERIOUS STUDENTS OF LIFE? (This is a several part lesson.)
