URGENCY… WE HEAR BUT WE DON’T LISTEN?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
I BEG YOU TO CATCH THE SENSE OF URGENCY.
I GIVE EACH PERSON A SMALL LIST TO READ: URGENT with 1) MATTHEW 24, 2) MARK 13, 3) LUKE 21, 4) 2 TIMOTHY 3,
5) 2 PETER 3.
There is a Biblical blessing to those that read and hears God’s words… Part of my job is making uncomfortable people comfortable. But let’s be honest. Part of my job is to make comfortable people uncomfortable?
THERE ARE MANY SIGNS OF THE TIMES THAT MUST SPUR US TO A GREATER SENSE OF URGENCY. PLEASE READ THE 5 CHAPTERS LISTED ABOVE.
Let us focus on the two signs within the church. Visible, measurable signs we experience within the church.
ACTS 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
MATTHEW 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
BLESSED: WHEN TIME SHALL BE NO MORE…
*BLESSED: Old English: to be consecrated (covered with blood,) HOLY, consecrated, divine favor, relief, happy,
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
*Urgent, urgency: ASAP, quick, compelling, SITUATION THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OR ACTION, critical, pressing, demanding, very important.
DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY? THERE IS A DANGER IN THE CHURCH AND IN OUR FAMILIES: WE HEAR BUT WE DON’T LISTEN, WE HAVE OUR EYES OPEN BUT WE DON’T SEE… GOD’S SWEET HOLY SPIRIT BIDS US PLEASE LISTEN, LISTEN ACTIVELY… DO WE DAILY WALK BY FAITH…
Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice,
Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
Titus 3:14 (MSG) Our people have to learn to be diligent in their work so that all necessities are met (especially among the needy) and they don't end up with nothing to show for their lives.
LIVING WITH A SENSE OF SPIRITUAL URGENCY!
IT IS PURE STUPIDITY IF WE DO NOT GROW. THEN WE WILL STAY THE SAME…
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18 (MSG) Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!
ARE WE IN A TRAP BECAUSE WE AVOID CORRECTION? CORRECTION CAN SEEM PAINFUL AT THE PRESENT TIME.
Not correcting ourselves can bring more PAIN and BLAME down the road of life.
Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Hebrews 12:11 (MSG) At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
URGENCY: *DISCIPLINE: To correct, instruct, rebuke, the practice of training to obey the rules, code of behavior, correction, punishment, reward, instruction.
THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF DISCIPLINE. 1. DISCIPLINE BY OTHERS. 2. SELF DISCIPLINE… discipline by others is embarrassing.
ALBERT EISTEEN said: IT IS INSANE TO KEEP DOING THINGS THE SAME OLD WAY AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
IGNORANCE IS NOT KNOWING OR NOT UNDERSTANDING… STUPIDITY IS KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING BUT DOING THE WRONG THING ANYWAY…
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James 4:17 (MSG) In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil.
*STUPIDITY: no common sense, slow, TO KNOW TO DO GOOD AND NOT DO IT… Doing wrong anyway, slow, behavior that shows a lack of good sense or judgement.
URGENCY: PARADIGM SHIFT --- SHIFT THE GEARS? WE NEED A DIVINE SHIFT TO MOVE OR CHANGE FROM WHERE WE ARE TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE… AS A MAN THINKS? COME AND ACKNOWLEDGE WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR THINKING PATTERNS…
Proverbs 23:7(a) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:
Will we forever stay in kindergarten? Urgent: Joseph knew there was a time for 70 of his family to go to Egypt! Urgent: Moses knew there was a time for God’s people to leave Egypt! Urgent: Moses, it is time to quit going around this mountain! Urgent: Naomi and Ruth knew there was a time to leave Moab and head home! Urgent: John the Baptist knew it was time to prepare for the coming of Christ Jesus!
URGENT: ARE WE LIVING IN A RATS NEST? COULD WE BE STUCK LIVING WITH DISEASE CARRYING RATS?
Urgent: Are we lacking in our Bible study? Are we lacking with little effective prayer life? Are we not learning or stretching our faith? Are you tired all the time? Church has lost its excitement? DO YOU HAVE A RAT IN YOUR SPIRIT? RATS QUICKLY REPRODUCE…
Are rats hindering US TO NOT CHANGE? We could renew our minds to quit accepting the pain, hurt and wounds of yesterday and today. Urgent: QUIT ACCEPTING THE PAIN AS A NORM!
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We need to accept the URGENCY of the challenge to overcome all the obstacles and hindrances to healthy growth. GROWTH MUST ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE THAT WE ARE GOING TO PROMOTE THE OPPORTUNITIES INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE TRIALS AND PROBLEMS.
THE LACK OF URGENCY IS STUPIDITY: RUNNING AROUND LIKE A CHICKEN WITH ITS HEAD CUT OFF. FEAR, ANXIETY…
KING SAUL’S CHOICES DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY OF OBEDIENCE.
1 Samuel 13:7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
1 Samuel 13:11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; 12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
Urgent: Stupidity plays the ROLE OF A VICTIM SPIRIT. Everyone picks on me. No one understands what I am going through… HOW DRY I AM… WISDOM TEACHES I AM A WINNER EITHER WAY. I SHALL ATTAIN TO A VICTORY LEVEL. You must face your giant and quit running away… FEAR ALWAYS HINDERS GROWTH…
WHERE IS OUR SENSE OF URGENCY? STUPIDITY BELIEVES IN CHANCE/GOOD LUCK. IF THIS IS NOT MY LUCKY DAY I WILL QUIT… I feel lucky. This is my LOTTERY DAY. Where is my sense of urgency?
Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Hebrews 10:35 (MSG) So don't throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It's still a sure thing! 36 But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion.
Urgent: STUPIDITY QUITS: It may not be a true statement: WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THE TOUGH GET GOING… I have found the opposite to be true. When the problems get hard many quit…
John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
THERE IS NO SENSE OF URGENCY TO CHANGE MY HABITS… STUPIDITY REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH. (Physical, mental and emotional health)
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF SPIRITUAL URGENCY? We tend to play games and not see the urgency that our bodies are sacred. The Holy Spirit should reign. Life must be more than pleasure and entertainment. Have it your way is not Biblical. Do we live to please God? Do we invest all in the temporal instead of the eternal issues? Nothing is urgent? Urgent: Are you actively pursuing self-improvement? Acknowledge the choices you are making can have effect/affect on your life. Are we aware of our choices that produce our words, values, attitudes, habits, behavior, family and church? WHAT MUST WE CHANGE? URGENT?
WE HAVE NO PLANS OR PURPOSE, SO WHY PLUG AWAY AT URGENCY? STUPIDITY HAS NO GOALS.
URGENCY? NO PLANS… no one plans on failure. They fail because they have no plans. We need some dreamers… WHY ACCEPT THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE? WHY NOT DREAM OF HOW THINGS COULD BE? Change should be urgent.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Wisdom learns procrastination is a dangerous tool that injures many. Wisdom knows today is the best day TO TRY HARDER, TO REDEEM THE TIME… use your time better and intentional. This is urgent.
CONCLUSION: URGENCY? WHY? I GUESS I KNOW IT ALL…
No sense of urgency: Stupidity thinks I have attained and I need no further advancement. Stupidity says I KNOW IT ALL… SIT BACK AND TAKE IT EASY. Urgency knows YOU HAVE not achieved or ARRIVED…
Luke 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 8 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Stupidity cannot see the SENSE OF URGENCY. Swallow hook, line and sinker. No urgency will LURE US TO THE BAIT AND THE TRAP THAT HOOKS. Wisdom knows there are BAD HABITS then there are GOOD HABITS. Wisdom learns procrastination is a killer to URGENCY. We must stay focused on eternity’s values.
DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY TO CHANGE ME? IF I HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY I WILL CHANGE ME. THEN I CAN CHANGE THE WORLD… DEVELOP A SENSE OF URGENCY TO FIND A TEACHER, A MENTOR AND A MODEL TO MOTIVATE A SENSE OF URGENCY… WE MUST IMPROVE AND DO BETTER… WE SEEK WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE… IT IS URGENT.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
