BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE? OBSTACLE VS OPPORTUNITY?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
Philippians 3:14 (MSG) I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. 15 So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! 16 Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it. 17 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. 18 There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. 19 But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
COULD THIS OBSTACLE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD TO DO HIS STUFF?
AMRAM AND JOCEBED, WHY ARE YOU CRYING MAKING THAT BASKET. MIRAM DID NOT UNDERSTAND. THE DESIGN IS TO KILL LITTLE BROTHER MOSES… LOOKS BAD?
Exodus 2:3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. 5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER PAYS MOSES’ MOTHER TO BREAST FEED HER OWN SON. The King that out lawed Jewish sons, paid for the education of God’s Deliver. MOSES DRAWN OUT OF THE WATER… WHAT WAS BAD WAS GOOD… Things that may look good, could be dangerous? Things that may look bad today might be a blessing in disguise? Good can come out of bad?
WE STAND ON THE SURE PROMISES THAT THIS WILL OBSTACLE IS A DISGUISED BLESSING. WE WILL BE OK.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (MSG) That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Psalm 68:1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
Psalm 68:1 (MSG) A David psalm Up with God! Down with his enemies! Adversaries, run for the hills!
WE WANT TO LIVE BY EMOTIONS, MOODS AND FEELINGS. SOMETIMES YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHY? SOMETIMES WE MAY LEARN WHY AND SOMETIMES WE MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND?
OFTEN ONLY ETERNITY WILL TELL? THIS TEST CAN BRING A TESTIMONY? THIS MESS MIGHT BRING A MESSAGE?
You may touch a life and never know it? In 46 years of full time ministry we have had many opportunities to touch others. Years ago a family moved to the mountains from Pennsylvania. We were their pastor maybe 5 years. A job transfer moved them away. They were dear friends. We stayed in contact through the years. Several times in my 36 years here they would come and visit for a few years. 5 times would travel to Pennsylvania and visit them a few days.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1 (MSG) A song of the sons of Korah God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him.
In the last few years the man had serious health issues and could not travel. We often talked on the phone, we cried together and laughed together. Often we would remember the “good ole days.” Two months ago, I had heard very from them. The man was getting near the end of his journey so I told my wife, pack my bags and guitars I am going to Pennsylvania. She packed my bags. Daily she would ask me are you going today? I would say no. 3 weeks later I was traveling to do a rest home music program and I felt: TODAY! I finished the program, ate lunch with my co-workers and called my wife and said today. I came home, unloaded the PA set, amps, etc. I loaded my suitcase. I felt so dumb, but away I go. I should have left early. Near Louisville I got stuck in a traffic and developed a bad headache. Should I turn around? 700 mile drive one way? I felt an urge I had to go. I called friends seeking prayer. In Cincinnati there was a wreck, I sat in bumper to bumper traffic. My head was pounding. I always have some kind of pill in the car for headaches. I stopped north of Cincinnati at a gas station and a drink. I was too sick to eat.
I called my wife and told her I was going to stop and get a room. I felt an urgency to continue. I did not stop. I made it to Columbus, then Wheeling, West Virginia and on in Pennsylvania. My head still hurting. I pulled into their town and called them to tell them I would be at their home in 15 minutes. I had not called them. I pulled in their driveway.
I walked into their house, his wife, two daughters, their husbands, 5 grandkids and other family members were gather. He had been in the hospital. This day he came home and was in a hospital bed, he knew me. The whole family was crying hard. I found out they made a decision that morning no more medicine but comfort medicines (HOSPICE). No more water or food, He was dying. I had no idea when I left home?
That morning they asked him did he have a dying wish that they could do for him. He said: I would like to see Pastor Hughes one more time, and LATER THAT EVENING, 10:30 PM, I walked in the door not knowing. We visited, I could see he was dying. In a few minutes we started playing the guitar and singing. He was grinning ear to ear. We would sing and then talk and remember the past. We laughed and laughed, cried and cried. About 4:30 AM I went down the street and to a motel and slept several hours. I ate my free breakfast and back. He was still alive. The daughter said: Dad wants some more singing and old stories. He said very little. He just smiled. There were all kinds of kisses and hugs. My fingers ached, but my headache was gone. The hospice nurse was in and out. Many friends, family and church people would gather. Each one had a precious memory.
I had enough money for another night in the motel. So I stayed Friday night. Early Saturday morning I went. We picked and grinned a little. My plans were to head home. I need to be at church in the morning. The hospice man was so kind. He stayed and said: IT WILL BE SOON! So I stayed with my friend of many years. Soon my friend crossed the Jordan. Tears were like a river, the tears turned into joy! Peace was running through the house. Each said goodbye, I had to leave… About 7 PM, I loaded up and headed home. About 2 AM, I pulled in at the house north of Nashville.
The family called and asked if I return and do the funeral, what an honor. The wake was Tuesday, the funeral was Wednesday. Heaven came down and kissed us. The funeral director told me it was the best funeral he had ever seen.
GOD WAS JUST ON TIME. A JUST ON TIME GOD. 2600 MILES IN 5 DAYS. I BELIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT DIRECTS OUR PATHS. THANK YOU GOD. YOU NEVER KNOW…THIS MAYBE A BLESSINGIN DISGUISE,
WHAT SEEMS TO LOOK SO BAD? MAYBE A LOVING SAVIOR, A WONDERFUL GOD, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS EVER PRESENT HELP IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE. SOMETIMES THE REALITY OF LIFE BRINGS, HURT, GLOOM DESPAIR. THE QUESTION MIGHT BE, CAN GOD? BUT THE REALITY IS: GOD CAN!
GOD CAN USE DYSFUNCTION FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.
Esau and Jacob seemed to be at war. Jacob runs for his life. BUT JACOB HAD A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH GOD ONE NIGHT. The journey seems so twisted? There was a plan.
Genesis 28:11 (MSG) He came to a certain place and camped for the night since the sun had set. He took one of the stones there, set it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground and it reached all the way to the sky; angels of God were going up and going down on it. 13 Then GOD was right before him, saying, "I am GOD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. I'm giving the ground on which you are sleeping to you and to your descendants. 14. Your descendants will be as the dust of the Earth; they'll stretch from west to east and from north to south. All the families of the Earth will bless themselves in you and your descendants.
JACOB worked 14 years for RACHEL. Life has not been easy for beautiful Rachel. Her sister Leah seemed so high favored. Leah had 10 sons. RACHEL IS FINALLY BLESSED. WHAT SEEMED TERRIBLE WAS CHANGED TO GOOD WHEN RACHEL HELD JOSEPH. JOSEPH WAS A MIRACLE IN A TIME OF TROUBLE. Then came along LITTLE BEN. RACHEL SAW THIS AS BAD? JACOB --- NOW ISRAEL SEE LIFE FROM ANOTHER ANGLE. RACHEL WAS OVERWHELMED IN PAIN, BITTERNESS and HURT… RACHEL SAW LIFE AS TRAVAIL. JACOB SEES GOOD COMING OUT OF BAD. JACOB REFUSE TO SEE THE NEGATION… LOOK TO FAITH BY FAITH… TO FAITH.
DEATH AND BITTERNESS AND PAIN DICTATES? OR IS THIS A BLESSING?
Genesis 35:18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
*** BENONI: The son of great pain and disappointment. Rachel’s hurts, pains and disappointments are speaking. Rachel sees dark clouds over her head. BENONI MEANS THIS TRIAL IS HEAVY
JACOB REFUSES TO PLACE THIS BITTERNESS ON THE BABY
*** BENJAMIN: Jacob refuses to allow doom and gloom on the shoulders of his son. We are not dying with BENONI, WE ARE LIVING WITH BENJAMIN! Benjamin means THE SON OF MY RIGHT HAND! BEJAMIN MEANS GOD IS WITH US, WE WILL MAKE IT. THIS NAME IS A NAME OF HOPE, THE HOPE OF ISRAEL.
WHAT APPEARS BAD WAS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE. Jacob is speaking LIFE, HOPE, PEACE, GOD HAS A PLAN. Maybe things don’t look good right now, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.
THIS MAY LOOK BAD? IT MAY LOOK BAD TODAY… SAMSON… THE DESIGN OF THIS PROBLEM WAS INTENDED TO DESTROY YOU…
SAMSON WAS GOD CALLED AND MANY PROBLEMS AND BAD CHOICES WAS IN THE WAY…LION’S CAN BRING GOD’S GLORY…
Judges 14:5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. 6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
THIS LION CAN KILL US?THIS IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE. CAN GOD? VS GOD CAN… THIS LIFE THREATING BATTLE WILL BRING GOOD NEWS. WHAT WAS INTENDED TO HARM YOU AND HINDER GOD’S WORK --- CAN FEED YOU AND MAKE YOU STRONGER.
Judges 14:8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. 9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.
DAVID’S LION WILL BRING A BLESSING. DAVID faced a lion and a bear in preparation of a blessing and a promotion.
THERE IS A MIRACLE THAT CHANGE SAUL TO PAUL… IT LOOKS HOPELESS FOR THE PREACHER? TEAMWORK CAN HELP US OVERCOME. LOOKS LIKE THE MIGHTY PEN OF PAUL WILL STOP WRITING. PAUL YOUR MINISTRY WILL DYING BY SUNDOWN! THIS BLESSING SEEMS TO BE A GREAT OBSTACLE. PAUL HAD TO LEARN GOD’S LESSON. THE POWERS TO BE SAY IT IS OVER!
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
IS THIS AN OBSTACLE OR AN OPPORTUNITY?
IT APPEARS TO BE OVER PAUL IS A LOSER? LOSER… THERE IS A WINDOW OF ESCAPE. GOD HAD A WINDOW AND SOMEONE JUST ACCIDENTLY HAD A ROPE!
2 Corinthians 11:32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
CONCLUSION: Many good blessings come out of negative situations. In all honesty what appeared as bad was good. We must trust the mighty hand of God. Never quit, press forward. Forget what is behind and press forward.
Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
WHAT MAY LOOK BAD MIGHT BE THE BEST? Sometimes the worst thing that can happen to you, can be the best thing that ever happened to you! This might God directing your path.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
