ROCK BOTTOM? BASKET CASES?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
There is an idiom we can talk about: BASKET CASE. The term BASKET CASE became widely used in WW 1, a Basket case referred to a soldier so wounded that he had no arms, no legs --- If he lived they did first aid to stop the bleeding and the other soldiers would transport the wounded soldier in a basket.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT BASKET CASES ARE?
Basket case means to be so distressed and in such a mental state that one cannot function properly. Basket cases need someone or something to help out of this situation. A basket case was made ineffective. They need extreme, external help --- Basket cases are not able to cope. They need to be bailed out. They face serious problems, crisis, real trouble --- they can’t handle. They require help.
THERE ARE SOME BASKET CASES IN THE BIBLE. REMEMBER JOCHEBED MAKING A BASKET.
PHARAOH PASSED A LAW TO KILL THE BABY BOYS OF ISRAEL/HEBREWS. PHARAOH'SH LAW WAS SURE. PHARAOH WAS DESPERATE TO KEEP CONTROL OF EGYPT. PHARAOH NEVER FEARED GOD. Every baby boy must die. Amram and Jochebed hid baby Moses 3 months. That is all they could do. THEN JOCHEBED MADE A BASKET OUT OF PAPYRUS AND SHE PITCHED IT WITH TAR TO WATER PROOF THE BASKET. Jochebed had her daughter, Miriam, place the basket in the Nile River by faith.
BABY MOSES was found by Pharaoh’s daughter. There was a divine plan for this basket case. MIRIAM placed Baby Moses in the river to watch over him. This basket could be likened unto Noah and the ark. God had a plan and a purpose for this boy.
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.
BY FAITH AMRAM, JOCEBED AND MIRIAM HAD TO TRUST THE BASKET. THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY COULD DO. BY FAITH THE BASKET (ARK) WAS LAUNCHED IN THE NILE RIVER.
Exodus 2:4 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. 6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.
YOUR PAST MUST NOT DEFINE THE FUTURE. GOD’S PLAN WAS FROM THE BASKET TO PHAROAH’S PALACE. JOCHEBED TAUGHT AND TRAINED MOSES AT HOME UNTIL HE WAS WEANED. PHAROAH THAT HAD ORDERED HEBREW BOYS DEATH, PAID TO EDUCATE, TRAIN AND PREPARE MOSES FOR GOD’S CALL.
Exodus 2:10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
EPHAH IS A WORD IN THE KJV…WE HAVE LEARNED THAT EPHAH IS THE KJV WORD FOR BASKET, A HEBREW DRY MEASUREMENT BASKET. ZECHARIAH HAD 8 NIGHT VISIONS FROM GOD. ZECHARIAH WAS CALLED OF GOD TO ENCOURAGE THE HEBREWS TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE. THERE IS A PROBLEM THE ILLUSTRATION OF A WOMAN IN THE BASKET.
In this vision Zechariah sees a flying basket. There were two woman in the basket…It is a measuring basket. GOD SAYS HE HAS HAD ENOUGH OF GOD’S PEOPLE PLAYING WITH SIN. ZECHARIAH is calling GOD’S PEOPLE TO RETURN AND REBUILD ISRAEL. God is tired of sin. GOD WILL MEASURE THE SIN, PUT IT IN A BASKET WITH A LEAD COVER AND SIN WILL RETURN TO THE PAGAN LANDS OF BABYLONIA.
Zechariah 5:5 (NIV) Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, "Look up and see what this is that is appearing." 6 I asked, "What is it?" He replied, "It is a measuring basket." And he added, "This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land." 7 Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! 8 He said, "This is wickedness," and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed the lead cover down over its mouth. 9 Then I looked up--and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth. 10 "Where are they taking the basket?" I asked the angel who was speaking to me. 11 He replied, "To the country of Babylonia to build a house for it. When it is ready, the basket will be set there in its place."
WE MUST REMEMBER SIN DESTROYS NATIONS, FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. We must place sin in a basket with a lead cover and flee from it. (IN THE KJV EPHAH IS A MEASURING BASKET)
CHRISTIAN WORKERS ARE NOT INFALLIBLE. WE NEED SOMEONE TO HOLD THE ROPES. GOD CHOSE A BASKET CASE TO BE A GREAT MINISTER. GOD ENLISTED A CHRISTIAN HATER TO BE THE WRITTER OF MUCH OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. IS THIS GOD’S PLAN? MY BEST EXPERIENCE IS MORE TROUBLE?
ANANIAS SAYS TO THE LORD, YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME --- YOU WANT ME TO GO TELL THIS MEAN HATER HE WILL SUFFER GREATLY AND BE A WITNESS FOR JESUS?
Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Saul worked hard against Christians and the church. When Saul became PAUL there were many extreme pressures and oppositions against him. Ministry was very heavy.
2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Paul’s life and ministry is in great danger. This ride in the basket was not my dream. It is more like a night mare.
Some fellow Christians learned of a plot to kill Paul and stop his ministry. It was because of some people that had the courage to deliver God’s man. Paul the mighty, man of God is rendered helpless to the point he can no longer function. Think about the suffering, the stress and anxiety to be in God’s will and dangling in the air?
PAUL KNEW WITH THE CONSTANT ATTACKS, THAT PRAYER WAS THE TOOL THAT WOULD HELP HIM. HE NEEDED SOME LIFTERS OF HIS ARMS TO ACCOMPLISH GOD’S PLANS.
Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
Acts 9:25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
Historical writers of Paul’s time period record that PAUL WAS A VERY HEAVY MAN.
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.
The enemies and religious leaders were out to destroy God’s man… HOLDING HIS BASKET WOULD NOT BE AN EASY TASK.
2 Corinthians 11:33 (MSG) I crawled through a window in the wall, was let down in a basket, and had to run for my life.
WHAT IS MY PURPOSE? WHAT IS MY MINISTRY? COULD THIS LITTLE WORK BE GOD’S WORK?
Do we realize this helping the preacher escape could endanger my life and my family? Well, WHY DIDN’T PAUL RECORD THE NAMES OF THE ROPE HOLDERS OF HIS BASKET CASE MENTALITY? CONTINUAL MINISTRY IS ONLY MADE POSSIBLE WHEN THERE IS A NUCLEUS OF ROPE HOLDERS WHEN THE CHRISTIAN WORKERS NEED A SUPPORT STRUCTURE TO PRAY AND TO BE FAITHFUL TO HOLD THE ROPES.
Seems not every person will listen for the CALL TO BE A BASKET CASE SUPPORTER. I will go down in the pit if you will hold the rope! To have an effective ministry we need other peoples’ prayers and support. Be an encourager!
Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
LISTEN TO THE MACEDONIAN CRY --- WE NEED HELP. GOERS? SENDERS? HELPERS?
Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
CONCLUSION: There is a special man that played classical piano. His name was never famous. He is practically unknown. HIS NAME IS GERALD MOORE. Moore claims the name “THE UNSHAMED ACCOMPANIST.” He wrote a book in 1943 about playing the piano for great artist. He knew his performance was a partnership with the stars. . Gerard Moore is famous for playing for famous people. As a whole his name was never on the marquee… He played around the world as an accompanist.
HE WAS AN UNASHAMED HELPER MUSICIAN TO THE STARS.
THE HOLY SPIRIT MAY CALL YOU TO BE A SUPPORTER OF SOUL WINNING. BEFORE LEAVING FOR INDIA ON A MISSION TRIP: WILLIAM CAREY TOLD HIS FRIENDS ANDREW FULLER AND SAMUEL PIERCE: I WILL GO DOWN IN THE PIT, IF YOU WILL HOLD THE ROPES.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
