TRADE ASHES FOR BEAUTY? WORRY LESS, PRAY MORE.!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (Several part lesson)
I HAVE A 1,000 PIECE PUZZLE. Before service I give each person a piece of the puzzle. I have a table up front and give the crowd 3 minutes to lay their pieces down on the table. They all seem to trust there are 1,000 pieces there. They trust the company. Well, seems they desire what is the puzzle about? I refuse to tell them. We cannot understand the piece of the puzzle in our hand? I don’t know? They all lay their pieces around the table. None of it makes sense. I just have the one piece and I don’t see the bigger picture? God’s system seems to work this same way. Do your little work and allow God to use it. I have never seen anyone shake hands with a clenched fist.
WE NEED GOD TO RAISE UP SOME DREAMERS… TO NOT SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE, BUT TO SEE THINGS AS THEY COULD BE… YOU CAN BE THE CHANGE THAT BRINGS PEACE…
Text: Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3 (MSG) People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don't quit.
We are all on a journey… Your choices and attitudes will show on your journey… Peace and rest must be a goal before us. Every thought, every word, every action and every reaction can be full of joy, peace and love.
Define: The DOVE is a symbol of DELIVERANCE and PEACE.
*SHALOM: peace, harmony, complete, prosperity, well being, wholeness, hello, goodbye.
*PEACE: harmony, freedom from disturbance, tranquility, not fighting, no war, free from persecution,
ABSENCE OF CHAOS, Peace with man and God, creative use of conflict, to settle disputes, power of agreement, inner vs outer peace,
*REST: Calm, To refresh, to recover strength, freedom from toil, ease,
There are 3 levels of peace: PEACE WITH GOD… PEACE WITH OTHERS (outer )… AND PEACE WITH SELF… (inner)
WHEN WE LIVE DEPRESSED WE ARE PROBABLY LIVING IN YESTERDAY?
WHEN WE ARE WORRIED AND ANXIOUS WE MIGHT BE LIVING IN TOMORROW?
IF WE ARE SEARCHING FOR PEACE AND REST WE NEED TO JUST LIVE IN TODAY!
THERE ARE MANY DIVINE GIFTS THAT JESUS FREELY GIVES… JESUS GIVES REST AND PEACE.
Rest and peace are spiritual gifts that the Father gives. You don’t have to earn or deserve these gifts. They are a BENEFIT of accepting Jesus as your Savior. We are challenged in difficult storms and trials to walk daily in peace and rest.
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
PEACE IS KNOWING GOD IN HIS FULLNESS. PEACE IS SITTING IN UNITY WITH GOD AND HIS WORD AND HIS PEOPLE. PEACE AND REST ARE A FRUIT GROWING IN THE DAILY LIFE OF A BELIEVER.
If we can honestly say we are treating others as we desire to be treated we are on track.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
WORRY IS HABITUAL. WORRY ALWAYS BUILDS UP TOLERANCE… WHAT IS THE SELLING PRICE OF PEACE AND REST? THE MORE YOU WORRY THE MORE YOU WILL WORRY. Only you can calm your mind. My opinion is that PEACE COMES WITH UNDERSTANDING. I hear some great discussions about peace, but I ponder does anyone believe in rest and peace? Probably peace is found by taking one baby step at a time, never in haste.
PEACE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF TRIALS AND TROUBLES. PEACE COMES BY TRUSTING GOD’S PLAN. THE WORD IS WORKING MIGHTILY IN ME, NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WHAT I FEEL OR SEE. THE WORD IS WORKING MIGHTILY IN ME… COME WITH ME AND FIND THE PEACE OF GOD IS ALL SUFFICIENT… ENOUGH? MORE THAN ENOUGH…
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG) Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 7 Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT2) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
THERE IS A SURE WAY TO EVALUATE MY SPIRITUAL CONDITION. WHEN I START WATCHING OTHER PEOPLE IN WHAT THEY ARE DOING, OR WHAT THEY ARE NOT DOING… I AM LUKE WARM… THERE WILL BE NO PEACE. WE FACE THE TRAP OF JUDGMENT THAT WILL KILL ALL PEACE. WORRY HAS A SNOW BALL EFFECT: IT GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER…
Often we allow people’s words and attitudes to define us. No one can destroy your joy, peace and love but you. WHEN WE WATCH WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING… THEN WE ASK GOD: PLEASE CHANGE THE OTHER PEOPLE. THE SIMPLE SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS IS IT IS NOT MY PROBLEM… THEY NEED TO CHANGE. CHANGE WILL NEVER COME … UNTIL WE COME IN PEACE.
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Matthew 7:1 (NLT2) “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. 3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?
5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. 6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
PEACE COMES NOT FROM FRIENDS AND PEOPLE… PEACE IS GOD… IS THE FLESH IS WILLING? THE SPIRIT IS WEAK. PEACE IS A DECISION --- A DAILY CHOICE.
Matthew 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
Matthew 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew 26:43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
THE THIRD TIME, JESUS DOESN’T EVEN TRY TO WAKE THEM UP… THE OTHER TWO TIMES THEY SLEPT THROUGH THE HEAVIEST PRAYER TIME. THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE THE THIRD TIME IS JESUS HAD SPENT TIME IN PRAYER WITH THE FATHER… THIS CUP BEFORE US IS ESSENTIAL…
WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN WITH THE FATHER YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAKE UP THE OTHERS… YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO HEAR THE HEART OF JESUS…
JESUS HAD HEARD FROM THE FATHER… EVERYTHING IS OK. JESUS HAD BELESSED ASSURANCE.
Matthew 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
DO WE LIVE IN THE “PEACE OF GOD? THERE IS A SUPERNATURUAL PEACE: PEACE BE WITH YOU --- PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING… PEACE BEYOND THE STORMS AND TRIALS.
God can make this trial a great opportunity. We do not have to worry or be anxious,
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
ANGER AND FEAR ARE GREAT DANGERS TO PEACE. HATRED NEVER CURES HATRED… DARKNESS CAN NEVER DISPEL DARKNESS, WE MUST HAVE LIGHT TO SEE THE DIRT… PEACE IS A MOMENT BY MOMENT CHOICE. PEACE IS A PROCESS OF DAILY WORDS AND CHOICES.
Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8 (MSG) At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep, For you, GOD, have put my life back together.
TODAY WE SEE FEAR AND ANGER TAKING ROOT AND CAUSING A SPIRITUAL LONELINESS THAT KILLS PEACE AND REST. TODAY HATRED, ANGER, BITTERNESS AND UNFORGIVENESS ARE A TICKING TIME BOMB… THE PRESSURE COOKERS HAVE BUILT UP THE HEAT. THE PRESSURE AND THE STEAM HAVE GROWN UNTIL OUR SCHOOLS, MALLS, AND SOCIETY ARE APPROACHING GREAT DANGERS.
We live in a day when the computers, Facebook, YouTube and cell phones draw us closer and closer to strangers in distant places. The sad story begins that we are more and more distant from our families and neighbors. We must quit being passive spectators not realizing the enemy is sneaking in and destroying the peace of God. Peace comes when we lift up, edify and encourage others.
We live in a dog eat dog world. People can’t seem to get along with each other. Our jails and prisons are at capacity. Our mental institutions are so full, many patients live on the streets and under bridges.
If we can’t get along with others and then we can’t get along with God. Bitterness, anger, hatred, unforgiveness, stress and strife are breeding war and trouble. Where is the peace and rest?
1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? al institutions are so full that many patients are living under bridges. We can’t focus on God because we get along and help each other.
1 John 4:20 (MSG) If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see?
Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
Psalm 29:11 (MSG) GOD makes his people strong. GOD gives his people peace.
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:6 (MSG) Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life.
Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
DON’T QUIT NOW! (Unknown)
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you are trudging seems all uphill.
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
You want to smile, but you have to sigh,
REST IF YOU MUST, BUT DON’T YOU QUIT.
LIFE IS STRANGE WITH ITS TWISTS AND TURNS,
AS EVERY ONE OF US SOMETIMES LEARNS
AND MANY A FAILURE TURNS ABOUT,
WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE WON HAD WE JUST STUCK IT OUT.
DON’T GIVE UP WHEN THE PACE SEEMS SO SLOW.
YOU MAY SUCCEED WITH ONE MORE BLOW.
SUCCESS IS FAILURE TURNED INSIDE OUT.
THE SILVER TINT OF THE CLOUDS LEFT US WITH DOUBT.
YOU CAN NEVER TELL HOW CLOSE YOU ARE.
IT MAY BE NEAR WHEN IT SEEMS SO FAR.
SO STICK TO THE FIGHT WHEN YOU ARE HARDEST HIT.
IT’S WHEN THINGS SEEM THEIR WORSE,THAT YOU MUST NOT QUIT.
CONCLUSION: We have local judges and courts. We have state courts. We have federal courts. We have the SUPREME COURT… Listen my friend we have a Divine Higher Court that will trump and supersedes our opinions and thoughts…
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:6 (MSG) Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life.
Divine peace and rest come as a gift from God --- we must know INTERNAL PEACE before we can ever have EXTERNAL PEACE. BE A DREAMER… SEARCH FOR PEACE AND REST… Listening and talking negative will always destroy and undermine peace. Perhaps we all know the fear of rejection and abandonment. Hear the word of God… we can live daily in peace.
WILL WE DECLARE THE MESSAGES OF PEACE AND REST INSTEAD OF DOOM AND GLOOM? WILL WE COMPLAIN AND GRIPE OR WILL WE PRAISE GOD AND KNOW PEACE?
Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
NO GOD, NO PEACE! KNOW GOD --- KNOW PEACE. Allow Jesus to heal our wounds and bring DIIVINE PEACE.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
(Several part lesson)
