PARALYZED --- ON THE SHELF:
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
Part #1.
The little boy spent the night at his grandparents’ house. Grandpa and grandson were sitting on the porch and looking to the sky. The grandson said: PA, LOOK HOW SMALL THAT JET IS? HOW CAN PEOPLE FIT IN THAT? They watched the jet fly over and discussed the size of the jet. PA said: That jet is not small. Grandson said: YES, IT IS. So Pa and grandson loaded up in the pickup truck and drove to the big airport. There Pa taught YOU CAN’T JUDGE BY WHAT YOUR EYES SEE. THAT JET THAT WAS TINY IN THE SKY. IT WAS HUGE SITTING PULLING INTO THE TERMINAL. FOCUS?
“ON THE SHELF.”
I was so excited to hear about an information book that had much wisdom. I took the book home with me and I spent hours reading the book and making personal notes. The book was powerful. I finished the book and I PLACED THE BOOK ON A SHELF. Every now and then I ponder some of the points from the book, but the BOOK STAYS ON THE SHELF. I might look up something in the book, but it always goes back on the SHELF. I have loaned so many books to others instead of sitting on the shelf. With my limited income I have often went in the book store and read one chapter. I would go back later and read another chapter. The book always goes back on the shelf. I feel so sorry for books that are gathering dust on the shelf. I ponder HOW DOES THAT BOOK FEEL SITTING IDLY covered by dust? The book could help someone’s marriage? Not while on the shelf! How many people have purchased a book to read a few pages, maybe a chapter or two, then put the unfinished book on the shelf… WHAT A WASTE? How sad is it WHEN A PERSON LEARNS FROM A BOOK AND NEVER APPLIES THE KNOWLEDGE HIDDEN IN THE PAGES?
PREPARATION? READY? INFLATION? SPIRITUAL LIFE IS MUCH LIKE DAILY LIFE… LIFE BOILS DOWN TO FOCUS… GUESS YOU WILL FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR… PEOPLE SEEM TO LOSE FOCUS AND EXAGGERATE THEIR CASE SO TO DISTORT AND EVOKE EMOTIONS TO AMPLIFY THE OBSTACLES BEFORE US…
Some have the “GIFT OF EXAGGERATION…” Exaggeration, we can make MOUNTAINS OUT OF MOLEHILLS. Spiritually, we seem to have the ability to make things larger or more important --- better or worse than it really is. We can ENLARGE OUR PROBLEMS BY IMPROPER FOCUS.
How about I am so hungry I could eat a horse? My dad is going to kill me?
There was a hit song from the 1940’s I would hear my dad sing: I OVER LOOKED AN ORCHID WHILE SEARCHING FOR A ROSE…
Numbers 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
If history is correct there was less than 1% of the population were giants. WHY DO WE TEND TO LOOK FOR THE GIANTS --- WHY NOT SEE THE ALL MIGHTY GOD…
OUR MENTAL PROCESSES CAN PERCEIVE REALITY IN TOTALLY INACCURATE WAYS. WE HAVE A GREAT ABILITY TO HAVE DISTORTED THINKING PATTERNS… THIS IS CALLED COGNITIVE DISTORTION. THIS PROBLEM IS THE SOURCE OF ANXIETY, WORRY AND FEAR.
In the courtroom we are admonished: TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. When we distort reality, we become a PAWN OF INTIMIDATION, MANIPULATION AND CONTROLLING . There are people that will try and control you and exploit you by distorting the facts… MY FRIENDS WE HAVE TO “GET REAL.” We become vulnerable to satanic traps by seeing: THIS PROBLEM, THIS OBSTACLE IS TOO BIG FOR ME TO HANDLE… “I CAN’T.”
Could exaggeration be LYING TO YOURSELF to hinder God’s plan and purpose? Could you be OVERSTATING THE FACTS?
IF --- THERE IS A SMALL WORD THAT CAN GREATLY HINDER GOD’S WORK… IF, THE SEED OF DOUBT.
1 Samuel 17:9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
THE DOUBT SOWN BY THE SEED OF IF… BREEDS FEAR AND NEGATIVE DISCUSSION AND TALK.
1 Samuel 17:11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
2 XS 40=80…THE FLESH AND THE ENEMY WILL REINFORCE BY HABITUAL, REOCCURRING ACCEPTING OF THE NEGATIVE IN AN ATTITUDE OF DO NOTHING BUT CRY AND BE DEPRESSED.
1 Samuel 17:16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
DAVID HAS 3 BROTHERS ON THIS BATTLE FIELD, ELIAB, ABINADAB AND SHAMMAH THAT PERMITTED 40 NIGHTS OF WORRY, FEAR AND CRYING IN THE TENTS. GOD NEEDS A FRESH SET OF EARS THAT HAS NOT REHEARSED THE NEGATIVE MESSAGE.
1 Samuel 17:23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
God can’t use the trained soldiers because they EXAGGERATED THE PROBLEM IN THEIR OWN EYES. THE WHOLE ISRAELI ARMY WAS PARALYZED… BY ONE GIANT… ANY ISRAELI SOLDIER COULD HAVE FACED THE GIANT. GOD COULD HAVE USED SAUL? GOD COULD HAVE USED ELIAB…
EXAGGERATION, MANIPULATION, ANGER AND WRATH ARE TOOLS THAT LEAD TO THE SHELF OF USELESSNESS THAT PARALYZES GOD’S PLAN… LOOK AT ELIAB’S MEANNESS.
1 Samuel 17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
WHERE WILL WE INVEST OUR TRUST? GOD WOULD LIKE US TO KNOW THE FACTS OF OUR SITUATIONS.
1 Samuel 17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.
MY GOD IS BIGGER THAN THIS REOCCURRING PROBLEM. DAVID BOLDLY SPOKE, QUIT LISTENING TO THE GIANT ATTACKING US AND ATTACKING OUR GOD… GOD HAS PREPARED ME FOR TODAY… I WILL ALLOW GOD TO USE ME… MY GOD IS BIGGER THAN THAT GIANT… NOT BY SIGHT, BUT BY FAITH… QUIT LISTENING TO THE NEGATIVE…
1 Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
DAVID’S MOTIVATION WAS NOT FOR SAUL, HIS BROTHERS… DAVID WAS MOTIVATED BECAUSE HE LEARNED TO TRUST GOD. THE ENEMY HAD BIRTHED FEAR THAT PARALYZED GOD’S ARMY… THE GIANT SAY TO DAVID AM I A DOG… THAT THEY ARE SENDING OUT A KID? IT WAS NOT DAVID THAT WAS FIGHTING… IT WAS GOD USING DAVID’S SLING AND FIVE STONES…
1 Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
1 Samuel 17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.
CONCLUSION: GOD CAN. READY? PREPARED? WHY FIVE STONES… GOLIATH HAD 4 BROTHERS… DAVID WAS READY TO TAKE ON GOLIATH AND HIS WHOLE FAMILY. Faith takes God off the shelf and trust his plan and purpose. Quit speaking NEGATIVE, “IF”, I CAN’T. WE MUST QUIT LISTENING TO THE GIANTS THAT DESIRE TO HINDER AND LIMIT GOD’S ORDAINED VICTORIES. What does God need? Your availability, your hands, your trust… DECLARE GOD CAN! GOD CAN HANDLE ALL MY PROBLEMS AND ALL THE GIANTS.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
