LIVING LIKE AN ANIMAL. DO I NEED TO CHANGE?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
*Define change: to make a difference, to transform habits, to make different, to alter, to modify, to replace, to make new, to make better,
Change? A lesson seldom learned: YOU DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT, BUT FEW LEARN HOW TO KEEP THEIR MOUTH SHUT.
TEXT: Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19 (NLT2) For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19 (NLT2) For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19 (MSG) Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.
I RATHER CHOSE INSANITY THAN CHANGE? I REFUSE TO CHANGE. I EXPECT THE WHOLE WORLD TO CHANGE! WHY SHOULD I CHANGE? CHANGE? THERE IS A WARNING OF TERRIBLE COST TO THOSE THAT REFUSE TO CHANGE.
There was a huge oil tanker that carried over a million barrels of oil across the ocean. One dark, foggy night a call came over the VHF (Very High Frequency) marine radio warning the huge tanker: CHANGE YOUR COURSE. The captain of the vessel replied: NO, YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE. WE ARE A HUGE MILLION BARREL TANKER. Another warning came: SHIP CHANGE YOUR COURSE. The captain answered: NO, YOU MUST CHANGE YOUR COURSE. The voice warns: TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AND CHANGE YOUR COURSE, NOW! The captain refused the warning. IMMEDIATELY A MARINE RADIO CARRIED THE WARNING AGAIN. IMMEDIATELY YOU MUST SHAKE YOUR COURSE OF ACTION, THIS IS THE LIGHTHOUSE. YOU ARE HEADED INTO DANGEROUS, ROCKY WATERS. MANY SHIPS HAVE CRASHED HERE. The captain understood the warning. He immediately called all hands: WE MUST CHANGE OUR COURSE. WE ARE IN GREAT DANGER.
LET US LOOK IN THE BIBLE LESSON THAT YOU REFUSE TO LEARN WILL BE REPEATED OVER AND OVER UNTIL YOU LEARN IT OR UNTIL YOU DIE UNCHANGED. THERE IS A PAYDAY SOMEWHERE ALONG OUR LIFE JOURNEY. REFUSING TO CHANGE CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE IN HEARTACHES AND PAIN. WE MUST LEARN THAT CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENES.
I rather have it my way and be a mean, proud villain. Nebuchadnezzar was cruel to Judah and Israel. He took many captives as slaves. No one spoke back this cruel king. He was spoiled rotten: MY WAY OR THE HIGH WAY.
Daniel 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
DANIEL RELAYS A SAD STORY OF A KING NAMED NEBUDHADNEZZAR. NEBUCHADNEZZAR HAD BAD ATTITUDES AND WAS CRUEL AND HAD A MEAN LIFESTYLE. GOD MADE A STRONG SUGGESTION THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR CHANGE HIS WORDS AND ATTITUDES. FEAR GROWS WHERE ONE REFUSES TO GROW.
Daniel 4:4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
Nebuchadnezzar bad attitudes were a results of choices of selfish motives, vanity, sin and pride. This King would rather face insanity and incapacitation than change. God’s man, Daniel warned this KING you better change.
Daniel 4:16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
No one dare approach the king suggesting he needed an attitude adjustment.
Daniel 4:22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
THE PREACHER SUGGESTED AND WARNED NEBUCHADNEZZAR IN GOD BOLDNESS: YOU NEED TO CHANGE.
Daniel 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.
CHANGE? WHO ME? THERE ARE 3 THINGS IN LIFE: ME? MYSELF? I?
Daniel 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?
I REFUSE TO LISTEN: I AM THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON A LIVE. THERE HAS BEEN FOUND 1,000 OF DOCUMENTS RECORDING MY GREATNESS. Many of the things in museums today record his greatness!
Nebuchadnezzar made the choice to refuse to change. He would rather face mental illness than to change.
Daniel 4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
THE RECORDS REPORT THERE WAS 7 YEARS OF INSANITY? INSANITY OF STAYING THE SAME?
Nebuchadnezzar faced punishment. He was driven from his kingdom and people to live like an animal. His diet was vegetation and he spent 7 years living like a wild animal. 7 years of madness and a nervous breakdown. He refused to submit he needed to change. You can never correct what you refuse to acknowledge. GOD HAS MERCY AND GRACE TO RESTORE AND MAKE NEW A BETTER ATTITUDE
Daniel 4:34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
WHY COULDN”T NEBUCHADNEZZAR HAVE LISTENED AND CHANGE BEFORE THE TERRIBLE PRICE HAD TO BE PAID?
Daniel 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Seven years passed and Nebuchadnezzar regained his sanity because he acknowledge God’s power. He was restored to rule the kingdom. Can do we refuse to listen to the call of God and his preacher to change? What do we need to change? Negativism? Words? Attitudes? Behavior?
GOD HAS A PLAN OF CHANGE --- A COURSE OF ACTION: (COA) VERSES DEAD ON ARRIVAL (DOA) COME BOLDLY BEFORE THE THRONE.
The spirit of timidly kills change and faith. WE MUST LEARN A TRUTH. We are not entitled to anything. Therefore we should be thankful for every day and every friend.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
WE HAVE A COMMAND. WE SHOULD NEVER AFRAID OF CHANGE: BE STRONG
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.
CHANGE? A BAD MOOD PUNISHES YOUR SELF. HAVING IT YOU WAY CAN COST DEARLY. ARE WE LIVING WITH HEARTS OF STONE? WE MUST REFUSE TO HAVE A HARD HEART. QUIT RESISTING GOD’S PLAN OF CHANGE.
It becomes easier and easier to SEER ONE’S HEART because of un-forgiveness, hurt, pain, depression, anxiety and pride. Was Samson blind before his eyes were burned out. We must quit resisting change. Come let us be willing to submit. Trust god! Repent! Acknowledge the problem! CHANGE!
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8 (MSG) GOD is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you. Don't be intimidated. Don't worry."
CONCLUSION: WHEN DO WE REFLECT JESUS THE MOST: We reflect Jesus the most by loving the hard to love people, small acts of kindness, being faithful, giving respect, being honest, and action by doing loving deeds. We show the strength and power by forgiving those that hurt us even when they are not sorry.
Change? If you are planning for one year, plant tomatoes and corn. If you are planning for 10 years plant apple /pare trees. If you are planning for a life time change, be adaptable study and dig deep wells. GOD WILL BRING AN END TO OUR SECRET PAINS AND TEARS. IT IS HIGH TIME FOR US TO ACCEPT GOD’S BLESSINGS AND DIVINE PEACE.
We must quit crying over our scars, especially spiritual scars. SCARS are testimonies that we have survived.
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.
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.
CHANGE? LET US ASK THE QUESTION: WHY CAN’T I STAY THE SAME? WHY DO WE FACE CHALLENGES? WHY DO I FEEL CRUSHED UNDER PRESSURE? Seeds must go in the cold, damp ground to bear fruit. Grapes must be crushed to make juice. Diamonds must undergo many years of heat and pressure to be formed.
WE MUST DISCIPLINE OUR EMOTIONS TO STAY POSITIVE AND ADAPT AND CHANGE. A positive attitude does not mean we never feel hurt, depression, anger or sad. SOMETIMES IT JUST MEANS YOU HAVE TO GET UP AND PRESS FORWARD NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE FACE.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
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