TUG OF WAR! BLESS ME, I WILL HANG ON UNTIL…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
WHO WILL BE FAITHFUL TO HOLD THE ROPE? WE ARE IN A TERRIBLE WAR… THE BATTLES WILL BE MORE AND MORE HEATED. WE MUST GET SERIOUS AND HAVE TO BE DEDICATED… WE ARE IN A TUG OF WAR!
The farm animals gathered around the barn. The discussion was about breakfast. The pig and chicken were in a heated discussion. What shall we eat? The chicken suggested EGGS and BACON. The eggs would take a DEDICATION...
BACON WOULD REQUIRE AN ABSOLUTE TOTAL COMMITMENT OF THE PIG. Many will give a little and do little. 80% of people do nothing at church. The church is built on the 20% that are dedicated.
Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Harassment, oppression, hostility, ill treatment, persistent annoyance and persecution are coming. WE ARE IN A TUG OF WAR FOR FAMILIES, OUR CHURCHES AND OUR SOULS.
THE ROPE, WE ARE IN A TERRIBLE TIME OF A TUG OF WAR…? CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT TIME IT IS? WHAT IS TIME TO GOD? IT IS ALWAYS TOO SOON TO QUIT… GRAB THE ROPE --- BE ONE TO STAND IN THE GAP… TUG OF WAR!
THIS SPIRITUAL TUG OF WAR IS ABOUT INTERCESSION AND STANDING IN THE GAP. Many homes have no fathers? Mothers are so consumed in the TV, the computer and the cell phones. Electronics have made friends of complete strangers. They have also made strangers of family members.
Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
KAIROS: the appointed time in the purpose of God. The time when God says it is enough and God begins to move.
Isaiah 60:22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
TIME IS A PRECIOUS GIFT THAT WE TEND TO PROCRASTINATE AND WASTE. Are you pulling the rope?
JACOB IS IN A TUG OF WAR FOR HIS FAMILY AND HIS LIFE. JACOB STARTS THE JOURNEY TO GO HOME: HE IS A HOPELESS MAN. BUT GOD HOLDS THE ROPE FOR A HOPELESS MAN --- IN A VERY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. ESAU PROMISES NEXT TIME I SEE YOU AFTER DAD’S DEATH, I PROMISE TO KILL YOU. GREAT FEAR, MUCH WORRY, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS… ANGER?
ANGER IS PUNISHMENT WHERE WE ALLOW OTHERS TO LIVE RENT FREE IN OUR BRAIN.
Jacob is so in a panic attack he divides his family into two groups. Surely Esau will not kill everyone. As Jacob divides the camp… HE TRAVELS A DISTANCE TO PRAY AND FIND GOD’S HEART.
Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM: YOUR BABY MAY HAVE A CALL, BUT THE ORDERS OF THE PHAROAH SAYS: KILL THE PROMISE. MOMMY AND DADDY HANG ON TO THE TUG OF WAR ROPE! MOMMA MADE A BASKET AS HER PART IN THE ETERNAL TUG OF WAR. PONDER --- WERE THERE ANY TEARS IN THE BASKET? AMRAM AND JOCEBED… HOLD THE ROPE --- THERE IS A WAR --- A TUG OF WAR.
Exodus 2:3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.
THERE WAS NO HOPE. Then Amram and Jocebed could do no more they had to TRUST THE PLAN, MIRIAM IS ASSIGNED TO HOLD THE ROPE. This TUG OF WAR HAS ETERNAL RAMIFICATIONS.
EXODUS 3:4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. The enemy will try to tell you HOLDING THE ROPE IS NOT IMPORTANT! Will you hold the TUG OF WAR rope for your family? Your nation!
THERE IS AN ALL OUT ATTACK AGAINST THE CHURCH AND PASTORS. PASTORS ARE MEN OF GOD… MAKE A CLEAR NOTE: THEY ARE MEN BEFORE OF GOD…
Human leaders make mistakes… They have sweaty, stinky arm pits. They grow tired! They see people not giving their best. The rope of the tug of war gets slack. Moses was the man of God. As long as 2 men lifted his arms there was V-I-C-T-O-R-Y! No man can keep his arms high all the time. THERE WERE TWO MEN THAT TOOK A HEAVY STONE AND GRABBED THE ROPE… THEY PARTNERED TO HOLD THE ARMS HIGH… WERE AARON AND HUR IMPORTANT? HUR IS ONLY MENTIONED TWICE IN THE BIBLE.
Exodus 17:12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
THE SCARLET CORD? HOLD ON… RAHAB KNEW THERE IS A TERRIBLE WAR COMING UP --- WE HAVE HEARD THE TUG OF WAR… GOD’S PEOPLE CROSSED ON DRY LAND --- JERICHO YOU ARE NEXT! WE ARE DOOMED TO DEATH. WAIT A MINUTE: RAHAB KNEW THIS TUG OF WAR WAS ABOUT HER FAMILY AND HER LIFE.
Joshua 2:21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
Rahab asked for a TOKEN a sign that she was in a TUG OF WAR… The sign was a SCARLET --- RED CORD HANGING OUT HER WINDOW. All that stayed in her house would be saved! The spies promised that RAHAB and her family would be safe. The promise was sure. THE RED TUG OF WAR ROPE WAS A GREAT SIGN OF A FIRM FAITH. Her vision was forever changed.
RAHAB’S TUG OF WAR RELEASED A MIRACLE… RAHAB MARRIES SALMON, THEIR SON WAS BOAZ… BOAZ HAD A SON NAMED OBED. OBED HAD A SON NAMED JESSE. JESSE HAS A SON NAMED DAVID…. RAHAB WAS AN ANCESTOR OF JESUS. ALL BECAUSE SHE FOUGHT THE TUG OF WAR WITH THE RED ROPE!
THE SPIRITUAL TUG OF WAR IS MORE THAN A BATTLE ABOUT YOU! IT IS ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR CHURCH!
THE KING WANTED TO BE POPULAR… HE KILLED A PREACHER… THE PEOPLE WERE SO HAPPY! THE KING MAKES THE CHOICE: I THINK I WILL KILL ANOTHER THORN IN HIS FLESH… SOMEONE GRAB THE ROPE --- WE ARE IN A TUG OF WAR.
WHO WILL HOLD THE ROPE OF INTERCESSION? NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW?
Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
The TUG OF WAR was very important: INTERCESSION WORKS. An angel is dispatched to aid in the tug of war. The angel brings a light and tells PETER PUT ON YOUR SHOES… PRISON BREAK! The prayer meeting TUGGED THE HEART OF GOD… MANY WERE GATHERED TOGETHER PRAYING --- HOLD THE ROPE TIGHT.
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.
Your prayer can make a difference. Peter had more sermons to preach. Peter had some writing to do. We may not know the names of those in that prayer room… BUT WE KNOW THE RESULTS OF THE TUG OF WAR!
THERE WAS A TERRIBLE TUG OF WAR ABOUT SAUL/PAUL. SOMEONE HAD TO HOLD HIS ROPE… THE GREATEST WRITER OF THE NEW TESTAMENT HAD MORE WORK TO DO. WHO WILL FIGHT IN THIS TUG OF WAR?
Acts 9:28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
PAUL LATER MENTIONS THIS TUG OF WAR… WE HAVE NO NAMES OF THOSE THAT PULLED ON THE ROPES… WE JUST KNOW SOMEONE WAS HOLDING ON IN THE TUG OF WAR…
2 Corinthians 11:33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
CONCLUSION: We are in a terrible TUG OF WAR. What will you do? What you do not do can make a great difference. God keeps good records. Grab the rope and pull with all you have. WHAT YOU DO CAN HELP ADVANCE THE CROSS.
2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Catch Wade Hughes on YouTube.)
