AVOID THE CROWS! STRIFE KILLS!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (This is several part lesson.) (GO TO Youtube: Wade Hughes)
THE LEECH WHEN ATTACHED TO THE HOST SUCKS OUT THE LIFE STRENGTH OF THE BLOOD.
WE GO THROUGH THE VALLEY OF PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL ABUSE, SUFFERING AND TORMENT.
THIS SUFFERING CAN BE DRAINING AND THE STRESS CAN BE CRIPPLING AND CAUSE US TO STAY UNHAPPY TO THE POINT OF BITTERNESS, PAIN AND HURT.
2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2 Timothy 2:24 (MSG) God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool,
What do we do when life and division causes us to live daily in annoyance? THE TEST OF THE TORMENTOR? We can allow someone to inflict issues we have trouble bearing.
**DEFINE STRIFE: struggle, fight, to try, toil, to face difficulties, try to force something to happen, to find fault, to contend. WE CAN STRIVE WITH GOD? FELLOW MAN? WITH SELF?
**PLIABLE: easy to bend, flexible, not to break, yield.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN AROUND A HORSE IN THE SUMMER?
The flies swarm around the horse. The flies gather around the nose, eyes and mouth of the horse. The horse shakes the flies off. The flies return. Thank God the horse has a long tail. The horse uses the tail to swat at the flies. In seconds the flies return to TORMENT THE HORSE…
TRAPPED IN A TANK…
I read a research that placed 100 scorpions in a glass tank. The next day only 14 scorpions were still alive. I also read that one scorpion was alone and they shook the tank and fear came. The one scorpion took its poisonous stinker and poisoned itself to death?
TEXT: Proverbs 26:17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Proverbs 30:33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
THERE IS A BATTLE, A WAR GOING ON … THE WAR IS IN YOUR HEART… THERE IS A TREASURE STORED IN YOUR HEART… WE MUST GUARD OUR HEARTS --- UNHEALTHY HEARTS CAN BRING HEART ATTACKS AND DEATH.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
We are always vulnerable to depression and stress. We must watch our steps, be on guard… PROTECT: Keep vigilant watch over your heart: that is where life starts.
MY DEAR FRIENDS WE MUST HAVE A SIFTER TO OUR HEARTS. WE NEED TO SIFT AND FILTER OUR THOUGHTS, THINKING PATTERNS, WORDS, OUR DESIRES AND MOST OF ALL OUR EMOTIONS…
Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
***THE SKELETON AT THE FEAST IS YOU!
By F. Buechner
Of the seven deadly sins, ANGER is possibly the MOST FUN.
TO LICK YOUR WOUNDS THEN TO SMACK YOUR LIPS OVER GRIEVANCES LONG PAST
TO ROLL OVER YOUR TONGUE, THE PROSPECT OF BITTER CONFRONTATION STILL TO COME.
TO SAVER TO THE LAST TOOTHSOME MORSEL OF PAIN THAT YOU ARE GIVEN
AND THE PAIN YOU ARE GIVING BACK IS IN MANY WAYS A FEAST FIT FOR THE KING.
THE CHIEF DRAW BACK IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE WOLFING DOWN IS YOURSELF.
THE SKELETON AT THE FEAST IS YOU.
THERE ARE 3 IMPORTANT WORDS WE MUST KNOW TO ROOT DEEP: GUARD YOUR HEART! HEAR ME GUARD YOUR HEART! LET ME REPEAT: GUARD YOUR HEART!
WILL WE LEARN TO DEAL WITH THE REAL ROOTS OF OUR PROBLEMS? SIN IS THE ROOT OF PROBLEMS…
James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
James 1:23 (MSG) 23 Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror,
ROOTS: When we are riled by emotions we will see tempers grow and things will get out of hand. They can turn into mean hard words that breed trouble and fights. STRIFE BECOMES A TRAP THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION.
Many find dandelions as a nuisance and ugly mark in their yards. I had a friend decide he would cut the dandelions’ head off and kill them. So he walked over his yard and cut the yellow flowers off. A few days later seems the dandelions had grown even more. He soon discovered cutting the yellow tops of the flowers never killed them. He read to rid the yard of the yellow flowers you had to attack the roots. His research revealed dandelion roots can grow to 10 feet deep.
It took several sprayings of powerful weed killer to destroy the dandelions.
**WASTE: uselessly, to misuse, trash, throw away, no purpose, to grow weaker, to discard, no longer useful, to expend carelessly, no return, squander, useless consumption, little to no value of return.
THE ROOT? THE UNDERCURRENT? THE RIP TIDE?
There is an unseen danger to boaters and swimmers… it is called a RIPTIDE! A RIPTIDE is a strong current caused by the tidal wave or tidal flow. This turbulent water can carry one into deep waters away from the shore into dangerous waters… The best thing to do in a riptide is stay calm, it does not pull you under the water it pulls you away from the shore. Never try to fight the riptide it will just tire you out. ALERT THE LIFE GUARD ON DUTY!
Hebrews 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
BEWARE STIRRING UP STRIFE CAN BE VERY COSTLY… WASTED TIME CAN BE DANGEROUS, SOME OPPORTUNITIES CAN NEVER BE RECALLED.
PERPETUAL BABYHOOD…I WAS AFRAID! I KNEW YOU WERE MEAN AND HARD … 5 TALENTS? 2 TALENTS? ONE TALENT?
We tend to BLAME OTHERS…. When I was little if I ran into the table, my mom would smack the table. Then she would say: Table why did you hurt my son? That made me feel good to know that the table was mean!
WHY DO THEY RECEIVE MORE THAN I DO? I knew you were hard! I knew my task was hard.
Matthew 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
STRIFE KILLS THE ANOINTING OF GOD. WE MUST IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSE OF DISAGREEMENT AND RIPTIDES IN OUR DAILY WALK. THE WORK OF GOD IS ACCOMPLISHED IN AGREEMENT AND UNITY. COMPLAINING, FUSSING AND NAGGING WILL ALWAYS BRING A DIVIDED HOUSE… A DIVIDED HOUSE WILL EVENTUALLY FALL. WE MUST AVOID STRIFE IN OUR HOMES AND CHURCHES…
James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
We become what we feed? Instead of feeding strife we must identify it and starve it into weakness.
2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
God's servants must love and be kind. Never be argumentative, but let us be kind, gentle and be good listeners and a person that stays cool when in a RIPTIDE.
THERE IS A BATTLE, A WAR GOING ON … THE WAR IS IN YOUR HEART… THERE IS A TREASURE STORED IN YOUR HEART… WE MUST GUARD OUR HEARTS --- UNHEALTHY HEARTS CAN BRING HEART ATTACKS AND DEATH.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
THE CHALLENGE OF THE MINDSET: THE CROWS OF LIFE… CROWS TORMENT AND AGGRAVATE… IMPROVE YOUR LIFE… WE MUST RISE ABOVE THE NEGATIVITY OF OTHERS AND NOT ALLOW THEM TO DRAG US TO THEIR LEVEL. THE LESSON OF THE CROW AND THE EAGLE… WE MUST AVOID THE COMFORT ZONE…
DO WE ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO FLY? The parent eagles will withhold food from the eaglets to coax them to test their wings. When the eagle pushes the baby out of the nest they fly beneath and if necessary will fly under them to return them to the nest. THE EAGLET’S CHOICE WOULD BE TO FOREVER STAY IN THE NEST… THE PARENTS PUSH THE NEST OUT FROM UNDER THEM.
Deuteronomy 32:11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
Deuteronomy 32:11 (MSG) He was like an eagle hovering over its nest, overshadowing its young, Then spreading its wings, lifting them into the air, teaching them to fly.
HOW DO WE HANDLE ADVERSITY? ADVERSITY IS USED TO STRETCH OUR FAITH BUT ALSO TO BENEFIT OTHERS…
2 Corinthians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2 Corinthians 1:4 (MSG) He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.
The crow loves to aggravate and torment THE EAGLE. It is stupid for the smaller bird to pick on the mighty eagle but the crows seem to love to pick on the eagle. Many times it has been recorded the CROW PICKING ON THE EAGLE… There are many pictures of the CROW landing on the eagles back and taking a free ride. The crow sits on the eagles back. The crow pecks, prods and bites the neck of the eagle. THE EAGLE IGNORES THE CROW. The eagle spreads its wings and flies higher. The eagle soars higher and higher. The only bird that dares to annoy the eagle is the crow… LET US WATCH WHAT THE EAGLE DOES. The eagle goes higher, higher and higher until the crow can’t breathe at THE EAGLES LEVEL. The crow passes out and falls back to the earth. The eagle does not RESPOND…
STOP WASTING YOUR ENERGY AND TIME FIGHTING THE CROWS… CHALLENGE YOURSELF… WORK HARDER… LIVE SMARTER… MAY WE SEE WHAT THE CROW IS TRYING TO DO… BE CHALLENGED JUST FLY HIGHER AND FREE ABOVE THE ATTACKS. Critics? Opinions? Arguments? Distractions, emotional--- mental--- spiritual battles… THERE IS A SOLUTION BY REFUSING TO ALLOW THE PECKING TO GET YOU TO BE DISTRACTED AND LOSE SIGHT OF THE GOAL. THE CHALLENGE WORK ON YOURSELF… BE AN EAGLE GO HIGHER…
WE CAN HAVE A NEW BIRTH AND RENEW OUR STRENGTH… WE MUST NOT REACH DOWN AND TALK AND WALK LIKE OTHERS. NEVER ALLOW OTHERS TO CAUSE YOU TO STOOP TO THEIR LEVEL…
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 (MSG) But those who wait upon GOD get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.
There is another bird the parrot… SEEMS PARROTS LOVE TO TALK… THE EAGLE HAS A DIFFERENT MINDSET… STAY AWAY FROM STRIFE. THE EAGLE HAS A CLEAR VISION… EAGLES HUNT LIVE FOOD NOT DEAD FOOD… EAGLES LOVE STORMS--- THE WIND CAUSES THEM TO FLY ABOVE THE STORM… THIS STORM IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
THE RENEWAL OF THE 5 MONTHS OF HARD WORK… REGENERATION…
The eagle will get old and near death… THE EAGLE CAN CHANGE, A NEW BIRTH… THE EAGLE FLYS TO A HIGH CLIFF, ALONE… THE EAGLE PLUCKS OUT ITS OLD FEATHERS… IT LOOKS SO UGLY! THE EAGLE RUBS ITS OLD BEAK UNTIL BLOOD IS DRAWN… The eagle rubs its talons against the rock to be like sand paper… Over the 5 months of isolation… the eagle grows a new beak that is razor sharp… the new talons are so strong and can pierce through flesh. The old feathers are gone and beautiful new feathers replaced… WE MUST LEARN HOW TO RENEW OUR ATTITUDES WHEN OTHERS TRY TO DRAG US DOWN.
GOOD ROOTS? GOOD FRUITS! LET US GET REAL --- THE PROBLEMS OF THE ROOTS ARE THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.
Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
THE ROOT? THE UNDERCURRENT? THE RIP TIDE?
BEWARE STIRRING UP STRIFE CAN BE VERY COSTLY… WASTED TIME CAN BE DANGEROUS, SOME OPPORTUNITIES CAN NEVER BE RECALLED. God's servants must love and be kind. Never be argumentative, but let us be kind, gentle and be good listeners and a person that stays cool when in a RIPTIDE.
We are always vulnerable to depression and stress. We must watch our steps, be on guard… PROTECT: Keep vigilant watch over your heart: that is where life starts.
Conclusion: OFTEN WE MISIDENTIFY THE REAL PROBLEM? IDENTIFY THE ROOT OF THE SITUATION…THE SIN OF WASTE?
NEVER WASTE…GUARD YOUR HEART! Abraham refused strife with Lot. So must we! MANY CROWS WILL BRING MUCH STRIFE INTO YOUR DAILY LIFE… JUST FLY HIGHER. NEVER LOSE YOUR FOCUS ON ETERNAL VALUES.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (Several part lesson)
