HEAVINESS AS A CHOICE… FACING THE STRONG MEN…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
We must acknowledge there is a clinical medical reason for extreme heaviness. Our discussion here will not address this problem.
Matthew 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Matthew 12:29 (MSG) How in the world do you think it's possible in broad daylight to enter the house of an awake, able-bodied man and walk off with his possessions unless you tie him up first? Tie him up, though, and you can clean him out.
Matthew 12:29 (NLT2) For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.
*STRONG MAN: control by force, performance by remarkable strength, enemy, using fraud and deceit… desire for riches and power, one that performs remarkable feats,
*A SPIRITUAL STRONGHOLD COMES OUT OF A HABITUAL PATTERN OF THINKING ACCEPTED AS A NORM. WHEN THE ENEMY TAKES CONTROL OF THE MIND. By allowing the enemy to live rent free he is controlling your mind. Give the enemy an inch and he becomes the ruler.
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:5 (MSG) Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! 6 Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life.
NOT ONLY SHOULD WE KNOW OUR STRENGTHENS BUT WE MUST KNOW OUR WEAKNESS… SURE YOUR STRENTGHS CAN CHALLENGE US… BUT OUR GREATEST CHALLENGES ARE OUR WEAKNESS…
SAMSON was the strongest man in the Bible. While he was so strong he displayed several weaknesses…1. Cut his hair; 2.
Lack of self-control of his appetites and desires; 3. Out of control temper, anger and wrath; 4. He could not keep a secret; 5. Forgot God’s judgment and that sin has consequences; 6. The is no record of Samson seeking forgiveness; 7. Samson took God’s gifts forgranted.
Are we growing and developing a mindset to be daily improving… WE MUST HARNESS OUR WEAKENNESSES.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
WHAT ARE SOME SPIRITUAL WEAKNESSES THAT CAN BECOME OUR ENEMIES?
BAD MOODS--- IRRITABILITY--- WITHDRAWAL--- SAD--- DOUBT--- FEAR--- WORRY--- EMPTY--- WOUNDED SPIRITS--- UNFAITHFULNESS--- ANGER--- TIREDNESS--- LYING--- JEALOUSY--- JUDGMENTAL-ISM--- LITTLE INTEREST--- FATIGUE---
ANXIETY--- PAIN---
ONE OF THE MUST POWERFUL STRONGMEN FACED BY THE CHURCH TODAY IS THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS.
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 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.
LET US UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE VISIBLE SIGNS OF THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS…
Agitation--- Depression--- Broken hearted--- Self-pity--- Crying--- HOPELESSNESS--- Helplessness--- Mourning--- Despair--- Loneliness--- Suicide--- Insomia- Selfishness--- Inter hurt--- Self-pity--- Gloom---
WILL WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OTHERS CAN SEE. THEY CAN FEEL YOUR HEAVINESS… HEAVINESS CAN BE CONTAGIOUS.
Cain, you can’t hide your spirit of heaviness.
Genesis 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Nehemiah was the preacher and he was discouraged. He came before the King and the King sensed the heaviness.
Nehemiah 2:2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
People don’t read their Bible. They are unfaithful to God and his house. Their private prayer life is short. Seems we walk in un-forgiveness and broken relationships. It is easier to start a new church than to correct bad attitudes. We tend to PLAY THE BLAME GAME.
DOUBT, FEAR AND THE GAME OF DISOBEDIENCE.
Numbers 14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
CHOICES: HEAVINESS AS A CHOICE… MARTHA WALKS IN A SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS… NOT MARY…
Luke 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
HEAVINESS AND PRAISE CAN NOT CO-EXIST… PRAISE FACILITATES ACSESS TO THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD. PERPETUAL PRAISE BRINGS AN OPEN DOOR TO THE HEART OF GOD. WE NEED TO BRING GLORY AND HONOER TO GOD. WE WILL FIND GOD’S WILL IN PRAISE. LET US EXPRESS WARM APPROVAL TO GOD.,
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.
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Psalm 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
CONCLUSION: There is a spiritual trap of heaviness and depression. We must avoid this trap. We must find an escape and avoid the SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS and no JOY. This set-back could be a set up for a miracle. We often find that between the ages of 45 and 70 a tendency to see ourselves as pessimist and a failure. We must quit re-enforcing the negative… by faith.
Deuteronomy 1:21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Spiritual Heaviness, discouragement can come because we have lost our focus on the priorities of God.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes.)
DON’T STRESS OVER THE CLOSED DOORS BEHIND YOU. FOCUS ON THE NEW DOORS OPENING BEFORE YOU!
GLIMMERS? OF HOPE?
