MAKING LIGHT OF THE LITTLE FOXES: STRANGLE!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Watch: YouTube: Wade Hughes) This needs to be done in several different parts,
PALLIATE OR MAKE LIGHT OF THE KINGS INVITATION…
Matthew 22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise:
*PALLIATE: to make less of, to reduce the bad effect, to hide the seriousness, to cover up, to make less serious, to not correct but conceal, to smooth over, to wear a mask, to deny.
WHAT ARE SPIRITUAL FOXES? JESUS WARNED ABOUT FOXES, WE DESIRE COMFORTABLE OVER ROUGHING IT. WE TEND TO LIKE FREE STUFF, EASY STUFF AND NO EFFORT MINISTRY.
Luke 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
LET US UNDERSTAND WHAT FOX SYMBOLIZES IN THE BIBLE. THE FOX IS THAT DENYING THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD AND VIEWING SIN AS ACCEPTABLE.
PALLIATE? BARNEY FIFE WOULD SAY: NIP IT, NIP IT IN THE BUD… MANY SEE THE DANGER OF BIG FOXES, BUT “LITTLE FOXES ARE SO CUTE.”
Song of Songs 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
NOT ONLY DOES LITTLE FOXES EAT AND DESTROY THE FRUIT… THE LITTLE FOXES NIBBLE AWAY AT THE ROOTS: THE VINES WILL BE DESTROYED AT THE FOUNDATION LEVEL. NO ROOTS NO FRUITS. By destroying the vine will destroy the fruit.
We must not excuse, defend and palliate “little foxes.” IF WE DON’T DEAL WITH “THE LITTLE FOXES” IF WE DO NOT IDENTIFY THEM THEY WILL GROW UP AND BECOME “BIG FOXES.”
Little foxes are the daily words, habits, deeds and attitudes. Little foxes have the tendency to become “big foxes.”
THERE ARE SEVERAL LITTLE FOXES THAT NIBBLE AT THE ROOTS. MAYBE THE TWO GREATEST LITTLE FOXES ARE WORRY AND ANGER.
There are little foxes of FEAR, WORRY, deed sins, neglect of duty, heart sins, lip sins, pride, sin and comparison. It takes less strokes to drop oak seedlings than to allow the tree to become a mighty oak! HOW DO WE DEAL WITH LITTLE FOXES? We must do a round up and put the little foxes to death. THE WEIGHT YOU ARE CARRYING IS NOT YOURS TO CARRY!
MAY WE REFUSE TO PALLIATE OR MAKE LIGHT OF FEAR, WORRY AND THE LACK OF TRUSTING GOD?
22,000 TRAINED SOLDIERS ADMITTED THEY WERE AFRAID AND WENT HOME. Those that really trusted Gideon and God were 300.
Judges 7:3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
WHY WOULD GOD SEND HOME THE WORRIERS AND FEARFUL?
WILL WE PALLIATE OR MAKE LIGHT OF OUR FEARS AND WORRY? WILL YOU ACCEPT WORRY? WORRY MEANS I AM NOT TRUSTING GOD’S PLAN? WORRY COMES FROM A GERMAN WORD THAT MEANS TO STRANGLE.
*WORRY: is an emotion. A SENSE OF UNEASINESS, mental, emotional or physical distress or agitation, stress, give way to anxiety or uneasiness, uncertainty.
*WORRY IS A CHAIN OF THOUGHTS, IMAGES, AND NEGATIVITY. Worry is a first cousin to FEAR! Instead of one day at a time worry is often anticipation of obstacles and problems FOR TOMORROW. Worry will express itself as a lack of sleep, digestion problems.
*ANGER, IRRITABILITY, FATIGUE, pain. Worry thrives in the mind.
*FRET: constantly or visibly worried or anxious, to gradually wear away, grieved, troubled, nervous, to set aflame, to burn, get hot.
*ANXIETY: an intense feeling of worry, nervousness, uneasy, persistent, excessive worry.
*STRESS: worry, mental tension caused by difficult situations.
*PHOBIAS: intense irrational fears.
A beautiful young girl never knew her grandparents, they died of cancer. She was afraid she would die of cancer. She had 2 uncles die of cancer. She really worried she carried the gene for cancer. Later both of her parents died of cancer. Now she was really terrified and worried she would die young of cancer. This became a battle ground in her mind. She couldn’t sleep for worry about cancer. Her brother called one day. He had cancer and soon died. She worried and worried about cancer. She couldn’t sleep for worrying. Her blood pressure was high. She knew she was going to die from cancer. You know the story, she died younger than all them. She had a massive heart attack from all the stress and worry.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO REMOVE WORRY AND ANGER? GOD’S SON HAD TO DISMISS THE DOUBTERS AND THE WORRIERS THAT WOULD HINDER MIRACLES.
Matthew 9:24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
All worry is linked direct or indirectly to the lack of trust in God and his purposes. FRET NOT…
Psalm 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
OFTEN WHEN I HAVE TROUBLE GOING TO SLEEP, I SAY, GOD I NEED REST. YOU ARE GOING TO BE UP ALL NIGHT, I WILL TRUST MY PROBLEMS INTO YOUR CARE! YOU ARE GOING TO BE UP ALL NIGHT ANYWAY!
WORRY AND ANXIETY DISORDERS AFFECT AT LEAST 500 MILLION PEOPLE. The facts record women are affected by worry/anxiety disorders more than men. There is much debate that WORRY/ANXIETY PROBLEMS are learned behaviors started in childhood. It is estimated 1 in 4 people have worry/anxiety conditions. WORRY ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING BUT TO MAKE PEOPLE MISERABLE.
WORRY IS FOCUSING ON THINGS BEYOND YOUR CONTROL. God says trust me! Worry destroys peace and victory. Worry is one of our enemy’s greatest tools to keep us in doubt and fear.
LET US ASK IS GOD IN CONTROL? CONSIDER WHAT WE TEND TO WORRY ABOUT?
Money, health, family, job, problems. WHAT DOES WORRY REVEAL ABOUT OUR SPIIRITUAL HEALTH?
Matthew 6:25 (MSG) "If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. 26 Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. 27 "Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? 28 All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, 29 but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. 30 "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
MANY REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT ALL WORRY IS LINKED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO A LACK OF TRUSTING GOD AND HIS DIVINE PURPOSE.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Philippians 4:6 (MSG) Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
Isaiah 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
WORRY IS FAITH IN REVERSE. WORRY IS FAITH IN THE NEGATIVE.
I READ OF A FAMILY THAT TAPED A LARGE PAPER BAG TO THE DOOR OF THEIR HOUSE. THEY TOOK A LARGE MAGIC MARKER AND WROTE GOD ON THE BAG. When they prayed and asked God to intervene, later worry would try to destroy their hope and peace. They would write the worry and doubt on a piece of paper and carry the burden to the GOD BAG. THIS NIPPED IT IN THE BUD. WHEN THEY PLACED THEIR WORRY IN THE GOD BAG THEY WERE ADMITTING WE CAN’T, BUT GOD CAN!
REAL TRUST AND REAL COURAGE DOES NOT ALWAYS LOUDLY ROAR. SOMETIMES REAL TRUST IS THE VOICE THAT SAYS I WILL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW!
Isaiah 41:10 (MSG) Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
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.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Worry never solves anything. WORRY is not love! Worry is heavy!
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
CONCLUSION: I READ: (unknown)
40% OF WORRY ARE THINGS THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.
30% OF WORRY IS ABOUT THE PAST AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.
12% OF WORRY IS ABOUT WHAT SOMEONE’S CRITICISM AND FAULT FINDING HAS SAID.
10% OF ALL WORRY IS ABOUT HEALTH ISSUES OUT OF OUR CONTROL.
MAYBE 8% OF WORRY IS ABOUT REAL PROBLEMS THAT YOU CANNOT CORRECT.
My friend if you prayed as much as you worried you would probably have less to worry about. It is a fact that faith ends where worry begins. Worry ends where faith begins.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Watch YouTube: Wade Hughes)
This is a several part lesson on worry.
