SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Proverbs 6:6-8) (6) " Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:" (7) "Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler," (8) "Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."
(Proverbs 30:24-25) (24) "There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:" (25) "The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;"
(Philippians 3:13-14) (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."
PREFACE SUMMARY
Good day, everyone. I humbly come before you today to express my gratitude for the opportunity to speak before such a large gathering of pastors. I appreciate you for taking the time to listen to me.
Before I proceed, I would like to thank the Lord for inspiring me to share this message with you all. I believe the message I have to share will challenge us as men of God to prioritize unity and reciprocity in our fellowship. It will also inspire us to become all we can be for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we have been entrusted with the best news on earth, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This news is a testament to God's love for humanity and willingness to save sinners. I hope this message will inspire us to become more passionate about spreading the gospel to the world.
The message I have to share with you is an encouragement to us all. It is a call to open our eyes to the incredible opportunities that come our way when we accept the call upon our lives and make every effort to run the Christian race before us. It is a race that requires endurance, perseverance, and faith. It is not a race for the swift or the strong but for those willing to put in the effort and keep their eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
In Hebrews chapter 11, we are reminded of the great cloud of witnesses before us. These witnesses are the heroes of faith who have demonstrated great endurance in their walk with God.
The great cloud of witnesses are the ones who inspire us to keep pushing forward, even in the face of adversity. Paul also demonstrated endurance by refusing to give up, turn back, or slow down. He encouraged us to press toward the mark of the prize of God's high calling in Christ Jesus.
To be overcomers in facing life's challenges, we must develop a spirit of endurance. Endurance requires us to keep moving forward, even when it seems we are making no progress. It requires us to trust God's ability to make us strong when we feel weak. It also requires us to believe in God's plan for our lives, even when we don't have all the answers.
The bottom line of this message is to stay on our assignment. We must trust in God's divine protection and develop patience. Patience gives us maturity and strength within our spirit and gives us hope that never disappoints. As we continue running the race before us, remember that we are not alone. God is with us every step of the way and will help us finish the race strong.
"THE WISDOM OF THE ANT."
Beloved, I believe the Lord has inspired me to turn to the book of (Proverbs 6:6-8) and attempt to bring an inspiring message through the study of little creatures we call an Ant, which Solomon called a people that have so much wisdom that the lazy person is challenged to study their ways and be wise.
Ants are tiny insects living in colonies known for their resourcefulness, determination, and cooperation. They have a highly organized social structure, each assigned a specific task, such as foraging for food, caring for the young, or defending the colony.
Did you know ants are tiny creatures but exhibit remarkable intelligence and cooperation in everyday activities? These insects are known for their tireless work ethic, ability to work together towards a common goal, and capacity to adapt to their environment.
Ants are also known for their remarkable communication skills, which allow them to convey complex information to one another through various means. Additionally, ants demonstrate remarkable selflessness and sacrifice for the good of their colony, often putting the group's needs over their own.
One of the most remarkable things about ants is their ability to communicate with each other. They use various methods, including chemical signals and physical touch, to pass on information about food sources, potential dangers, and the colony's location. Ants are also incredibly resourceful, able to chew through concrete and build complex underground structures, including trap doors, roads, and chambers for storing food.
Ants are also known for their incredible work ethic. They work tirelessly to gather food, care for their young, and defend their colony from predators. They don't give up in the face of adversity but instead, find creative solutions to overcome obstacles.
Despite being undersized and seemingly insignificant, ants are essential to many ecosystems. They help to aerate the soil, pollinate plants, and control pest populations. Some species of ants even cultivate and protect other insects, like aphids.
The Bible speaks of them gathering food to prepare for more challenging times, and did you know that they herd and protect little aphid bugs like we do our cattle and will fight to the death to protect them?
Beloved, these ants herd those bugs out to feed on nearby plants and then milk those aphid bugs by rubbing against them to get the sweet juice, which drives them crazy.
We can learn a lot from the ants, which are little insects that sometimes become bothersome, especially when they find a way inside our homes and no matter what we do or what we try, they seem to have a determination that will overcome anything that gets in their way.
We see people today give up on their goals, ambitions, and dreams when the slightest bit of opposition comes their way, but beloved, these little ants seem to find a way to overcome anything in their way.
The ants work together in harmony, and we are told in God's word to consider the work ethics of these creatures, for you will never find one working alone. Each ant in the colony has a job, and they do their job well.
If one of the ants finds a food source, they do not keep it to themselves but will pass the information off to other ants, who will work together in harmony to bring the food into their colony to feed others.
Have you ever observed a long line of ants coming and going on a long trail, and have you noticed that each one touches the others, going in the opposite direction as if passing off information to one another?
Beloved, did you know that they will not allow trash to accumulate in their colony, and did you know that they have trap doors, including roads, that they make in their underground colonies?
We can learn a lot from these creatures who work together without being asked to, and they do it without trying to outdo the others, for if they need to build a bridge to get across an obstacle, others will sacrifice their life, becoming the bridge to get the others across.
There are thousands of species of ants, some of which enslave another colony of ants and make them do slave labor. Still, one thing they all have in common is that they care for their young and will fight to the death to protect their young, and you do not want to kill one of these ants for in their death; they send out a signal alerting all the others that they have been killed.
These little creatures are so intelligent that there is a species we call fire ants, which are known for their painful bites, but there is something about these creatures that they wait until enough of them gets on you, then give a signal which causes all of them to bite at the same time.
Beloved, the bottom line to this message is these industrialized creatures work without being asked to help the colony survive, and they will travel great distances following water pipes to get into your home, and all you need do is leave something sweet lying on your kitchen counter. You will soon have more guests than you could ever imagine.
As we navigate the complexities of our changing world, I believe we can learn a lot from ants. Like them, we can learn to work together in harmony, to communicate effectively, and to never give up in the face of adversity. May we be as resourceful, determined, and devoted as the ants Solomon praised so long ago.
"STAY ON THE CAMEL."
As I reflected on this message, I couldn't help but think about the reliability and dependability of camels, especially in hot desert climates. This led me to consider what it must have been like for Abraham's servant to cross the hot Arabian desert searching for a wife for Isaac.
In the Scriptures, we are reminded that the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, as they are spiritually discerned. As pastors, we must understand the importance of love, unity, and harmony, especially as we face changing world challenges.
When the Lord placed this message upon my heart, I wanted to title it "Stay on the Camel" because they are dependable animals suited to endure unbearable conditions in a hot desert climate.
Beloved, I thought of how it must have been crossing the hot Arabian desert, especially in bible days concerning the assignment of Abraham's servant to get his son Isaac a wife. (Genesis 24)
(1 Corinthians 2: 14) that the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Notice in my opening statement that this message can be better explained by using our imagination of what it must have been like when Abraham’s servant was sent to find his son, Isaac, a wife. Use your imagination with me as they are crossing the Arabian desert in the hot sun, and off on the horizon, they see a desert oasis amid that hot desert.
Beloved, can you imagine what a welcoming site that could be with the cool water sheltered by palm trees and even some dates on some trees? However, in this setting, there is just one problem: the guide over the party does not want to stop and enjoy the blessing.
Beloved, the guide urges them to continue until they get past the oasis. Then he stops and asks them to look back at where they thought would be an excellent place to stop, telling them, “I guess you thought I was uncaring and that I have no heart when, in reality, if you look closely at the trees surrounding the water, you will see the outlines of men that are thieves that would have robbed us leaving us stranded in this hot desert.”
Beloved, we have a guide, and that guide is called the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Jesus, better understood as the Spirit that was in Jesus. He knows where the enemy will try and rob you, and He is armed with the plans God has for our life to help us become overcomers to fulfill those plans; therefore, may we sit in his classroom as we place our complete trust in Him, who not only showed us the way but became the way to led us to eternal life.
Please understand that my little illustration emphasizing the need to stay on the assignment will open our eyes to where we are today and why we desperately need love and unity, including harmony among our ranks, especially as we fulfill the call and challenges that are now upon us today in a changing world.
I want to share an interesting fact few people know about. Did you know that unity and harmony are two different things? Unity is when people come together for a common cause or goal, whereas harmony is the state of being in agreement or having a peaceful coexistence.
To help illustrate this, let me give you an example. It's possible to tie the tails of two cats to each other, and they will come together, but as we know, there will be no harmony between them. Similarly, in some churches worldwide, some groups stick together and exclude others, leaving them to fend for themselves. This lack of harmony creates a division that can harm the community.
I believe striving for unity and harmony in all areas of our lives is essential. Whether talking about our relationships, churches, or larger communities, we must work together to create a sense of togetherness and shared purpose.
As Christians, we have a unique responsibility to lead by example, and only by working together as one collective body can we achieve true harmony and make the world a better place for everyone. This means putting aside our differences and focusing instead on what unites us as believers in Christ.
Beloved, achieving this kind of unity is not always easy. It requires patience, understanding, and a willingness to listen to others. If we remain committed to this goal, I believe we can create a world where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their background or beliefs.
Let us strive for unity and harmony in all aspects of our lives, working together to build a better world, one that is guided by love, compassion, and a deep sense of shared purpose.
As fellow believers in Christ, we were not created to navigate this life alone, and we all need a guide who can help us navigate through the twists and turns of life. Thankfully, we have a divine guide who is always with us, and that guide is known as the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Jesus.
Beloved, the Holy Spirit is not an abstract concept or an impersonal force. Instead, He is the same Spirit in Jesus, who walked this earth as a man and showed us what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning. The Holy Spirit has been given God's plans for our lives, and He is here to help us become overcomers who can fulfill those plans.
To receive guidance from the Holy Spirit, we need to be willing to attend His classes and learn from Him. This means trusting Him completely, knowing He always has our best interests. By learning from the Holy Spirit, we will gain wisdom and insights to help us navigate life's challenges and make better decisions that can positively impact ourselves and others.
Beloved, the Holy Spirit, also known as the Spirit of Jesus or the same Spirit in Jesus, is not just a guide who shows us the way; instead, He is the way to eternal life, and when we follow His guidance, we can overcome the obstacles that stand in our way and fulfill God's purpose for our lives. Therefore, let us embrace the guidance of the Holy Spirit and trust Him to lead us on the journey of life to be all we can be for the kingdom of God.
In conclusion, our success requires discipline and focus; therefore, may we remain steadfast and committed to our task. May we stay on the assignment with unwavering faith, avoiding distractions, and we will complete our assignment to hear him say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of the Lord.” (Matthew 25:21)
MY CONCLUSION
I want to personally thank the lead Pastor in charge of this gathering for allowing me to exercise and fulfill the call of God upon my life, for being invited, and to address this assembly of such great, mighty, anointed men and women of God.
Beloved, all things eventually end, and in closing this message from Heaven, I want to close with some essential scripture verses that can be found in God’s Holy word.
(1 Corinthians 3: 21-23) (21) "Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours." (22) "Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours." (23) "And ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's."
It has been a blessing to stand before you today and share from my heart, especially God's word. These scriptures challenge and give us hope that “God’s work done his way, shall never lack for resources.”
The scriptures emphasize that it's crucial not to rely solely on people but to have faith in God. The way to do this is to approach God with thanksgiving and praise, and by doing so, we can enter His presence and receive everything we need to fulfill our unique calling to spread the gospel to all nations.
As Christians, we are called to spread the good news that Jesus Christ can save sinners from their sins. Therefore, we must trust God's ability to equip us with everything necessary to complete this task. This includes not only physical resources but also spiritual guidance and wisdom.
Beloved, we have a mandate from the Lord to share the gospel of the kingdom with all nations. This includes baptizing new believers and conducting follow-up ministry by disciplining those who receive Christ. By doing so, we can train them to disciple others and spread the message of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Beloved, to effectively share the gospel, we must first experience it by spending time at the feet of Jesus. We cannot give what we do not have. As Christians, we need others who share our common goals. These goals help us develop creativity, innovation, and new methods to unite people.
We are encouraged to communicate more effectively and look for solutions to problems when we have common goals. Instead of complaining and walking away from difficulties, we are motivated to find ways to overcome them. Our ultimate goal should be to glorify God and spread the message of the Lord Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.
The message I just received in my spirit just now speaks volumes on how we are to pursue the call of God upon our lives, and those words are, "Bloom where you are planted." This phrase means that I should focus on my unique path rather than trying to mimic others who have already achieved what I desire.
We must remember that experiences, challenges, and skills have shaped us into who we are today. Therefore, it is essential to stay true to ourselves and our journey and let the words from this message remind us that our current position in life is not by accident.
Beloved, there is a reason for everything that happens in our lives, and we are precisely where we are meant to be now. If we try to emulate others and stray from our path, we risk missing out on the valuable experiences and lessons intended for us.
Looking back at my life, I can see how every trial and disappointment has shaped me into the person I am today. If I had been placed in my current position several years ago, I might not have had the maturity and resilience to handle the challenges and obstacles I may face today. Therefore, I am grateful for every experience that has brought me to this point in my life, and I will continue to focus on my unique journey.
Beloved Christians should strive to be empty when our time comes, having nothing left to pour out. This means that we have given our all-in service to the Lord. I believe this message encouraging us to stay on our assignment, listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will be used by God to understand and realize that not only where we are on God's timetable, but we stand in a world that is changing every day.
The statement "People who labor to bring some sunshine (happiness) into the life of others cannot keep it from themselves" implies that when we try to bring joy and happiness to others, we cannot help but experience those same feelings within ourselves.
Spreading positivity to others creates a positive feedback loop that benefits both the giver and the receiver. This principle is rooted in reciprocity - when we give freely of ourselves, we are more likely to receive in return.
Beloved, if we want to experience more happiness and joy in our lives, one way to achieve this is by dedicating ourselves to making others happy. Whether through acts of kindness, volunteering, or simply offering a listening ear, the act of giving can be immensely rewarding and fulfilling.
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse, Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
