I JUST DON’T KNOW!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (Several part lesson)
I had been pastoring several months. I was crushed beyond crushing. I prayed and prayed. I prayed at home. I prayed at church. I asked people to pray for me. I came home and put the phone in my lap. I asked God to please let someone call and encourage me. The phone never rang. I was crushed. I did not think I could go another step. I did not want my wife to know my deep hurt. I went outside and started walking. I was weeping uncontrollably. I walked down the middle of the street. The enemy told me what a failure I was. I could not understand why no one could see the sacrifices I had made? To top it all off as I was walking it started pouring down the rain. It was late at night. The rain hid my tears. God, I don’t know! I just don’t know? After several miles of walking I decided to turn around. I asked Linda did anyone call? No, was the answer. This dark valley was a severe test. I DON’T KNOW GOD! I don’t know if I can make it? I don’t know what is going on? God could you explain it to me? The silence was deafening. Finally the sun came up. A little bird peered in the window. I said tell me bird. The bird just sat there. I said: BIRD, I DON’T KNOW? Then I heard the small still voice in my heart say: YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW, JUST TRUST ME! Well, my friends that was not the answer I was looking to hear. 45 years later: I STILL DON’T KNOW? The LESSON I HAVE LEARNED IS SIMPLE: YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW, JUST BY FAIITH TRUST GOD’S PLAN.
I STILL DON’T KNOW? TODAY I OPENED THE MAIL BOX AND THERE WAS A CARD FROM A NAME I NEVER RECOGNIZED.
The card was from ANDRA POFFENBARGER. Someone that knew me from my school teaching days at Rose Hill, Lee County, Virginia. This was 50+ years ago. She had heard about my battle with cancer and how I am doing better. To be honest, I STILL DON’T KNOW, BUT I AM LEARNING TO TRUST GOD’S PLAN. This verse was in the card.
Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
Psalm 73:28 (MSG) But I'm in the very presence of God— oh, how refreshing it is! I've made Lord GOD my home. God, I'm telling the world what you do!
THE CARD SAID: THE LORD IS WITH YOU. HE WALKED WITH YOU BEFORE: HE CARRIES YOU NOW.
Wow, I have not heard from Andra in 50 years. Today I was preparing for this lesson: I DON’T KNOW, and this card is in my mail box. God walked with me before: He carries me now! I still don’t know, but by faith I trust him. I have never been able to put the puzzle together, but I know in whom I have believed.
2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
I DON’T KNOW? I JUST DON’T KNOW? HOW CAN YOU HIDE A BABY?
Exodus 1:22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.
I DON’T KNOW? I DON’T KNOW HOW A BABY CAN LIVE IN A BASKET FLOATINNG IN THE NILE RIVER?
I DON’T KNOW HOW WE CAN EDUCATE, TRAIN AND DISCIPLINE THIS FUTURE LEADER?
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.
I DON’T KNOW? I DON’T KNOW HOW WE CAN GET THIS MAN TO RECOGNIZE GOD’S CALL AND TAKE HIS SHOES OFF? HERE MOSES IS LIVING IN THE DESERT --- HOW WILL WE GET HIM TO LISTEN?
Exodus 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
I CAN’T! WE CAN’T! GO FIGURE IT OUT? NO WAY!
• WHERE ARE WE GOING? I DON’T KNOW. LET’S TRUST THE LORD.
• HOW WILL WE GET THROUGH THE RED SEA? I DON’T KNOW? I GUESS WE WILL TRUST THE LORD.
• DO YOU SEE THAT CLOUD OF DUST? THAT IS FROM THE BEST TRAINED ARMY IN THE WORLD. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? TRUST THE LORD!
• HEAR THE PEOPLE BELLY ACHING AND COMPLAINING? I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? TRUST THE LORD.
• IS THAT THE RED SEA IN FRONT OF US? WHAT WILL WE DO? I DON’T KNOW. TRUST THE LORD.
• IN GREAT EXCITEMENT WE LEFT EGYPT. NOW THERE IS A CRY LET US RETURN FOR FISH, CUCUMBERS AND LEEKS. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? TRUST THE LORD.
• HOW WILL WE FEED OVER A MILLION PEOPLE? THAT WOULD TAKE A TRAIN LOAD OF FOOD A DAY. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? I DON’T KNOW?
• LISTEN TO THE LOUD COMPLAINTS: WATER IS ESSENTIAL. HOW CAN WE FIND WATER FOR SEVERAL MILLION PEOPLE AND THEIR ANIMALS? I DON’T KNOW… TRUST THE LORD.
WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE HAVE A LEADER THAT DOESN’T KNOW AND THOUGHT THIS OUT AHEAD OF TIME? WHAT KIND OF LEADER DOESN’T KNOW? ONE THAT REALIZES WE MUST TRUST GOD. THIS IS TOO DEEP FOR MEN TO KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS. MOSES LEARNED…
Psalm 68:1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
I DON’T KNOW? I DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO? THE 3 HEBREWS BOYS DID NOT KNOW WHAT GOD WAS GOING TO DO --- BUT THEY KNEW WHO GOD WAS. SHADRACH, MESHACH AND ABEDNEGO WERE LIIVING IN A STRANGE LAND. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
Nebuchadnezzar gave the orders: EVERYONE MUST BOW DOWN TO HIM WHEN THE MUSIC PLAYED. They refused to bow. The old king says: I WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER CHANCE TO BOW. I don’t know WHO YOUR GOD IS.
Daniel 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
I DON’T KNOW? I AM 75 YEARS OLD AND I DON’T KNOW. CAN YOU IMAGINE ABRAM (ABRAHAM) GOING IN TO TELL SARAI (SARAH)
PACK UP THE FURNITURE WE ARE LEAVING UR? SARAH SAYS: WHERE ARE WE GOING? ABRAHAM SAYS: I DON’T KNOW?
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Sarah might have had trouble moving: I DON’T KNOW WHERE? Are you serious? While Abraham goes to the local U-Haul Store to get boxes to pack. He wants to rent a U-Haul truck? As they filled out the paper work the lady said: WHERE ARE YOU GOING? The answer is clear: I DON’T KNOW. GOD DIDN’T TELL ME WHERE TO GO? GOD JUST SAID: GO, GET OUT OF UR.
I DON’T KNOW, BUT I DO KNOW GOD’S VOICE AND GOD CLEARLY SPOKE TO ME TO LEAVE UR. It is our home. We are known here. My mom and dad live here. Our families live here? Do you have the nerve to tell me we are moving, and WE DON’T KNOW WHERE WE ARE MOVING? ABRAHAM HAD TO TRUST BY FAITH, I MAY NOT KNOW BUT GOD DOES.
Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
DO I HAVE “NOW” FAITH? BY FAITH, I MIGHT NOT KNOW --- BUT I KNOW FAITH MOVES THE HANDS OF A MIGHTY GOD.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
DO YOU KNOW HOW BAD IT IS? A 7 YEAR DROUGHT? I DON’T KNOW HOW GOD IS GOING TO DO IT --- BUT I KNOW GOD WILL DO IT…
The drought is so bad the special at the restaurant is DONKEY’S HEAD SOUP for several hundred dollars, Dove’s dung was going for $30. We are desperate. WHAT WILL ME DO?
2 Kings 6:25 And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
PREACHER ELISHA SAYS: I DON’T KNOW HOW GOD IS GOING TO DO IT --- BUT I KNOW GOD IS GOING TO DO IT --- I TRUST GOD!
2 Kings 7:1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
I DON’T KNOW HOW? I DON’T BELIEVE THE PREACHER. --- YOU SHALL SEE IT --- I DON’T KNOW HOW GOD IS GOING TO DO IT? SERVANT YOU WILL SEE IT BUT YOU WILL NEVER TASTE IT. I DON’T KNOW? BUT I KNOW GOD WILL PROVIDE.
I DON’T KNOW HOW THIS CAN BE DONE. There is no way! Don’t expect me to believe that old preacher. Even if there were “WINDOWS IN HEAVEN!”
2 Kings 7:19 And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
20 And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.
SOMETIMES YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO --- SO DIG DITCHES. WE MUST HAVE ACTIVE, DOING FAITH.
The King of Israel was in a terrible pickle. He did not know what to do. Jehoshaphat had enemies that far outnumbered him? He did not know what to do. No matter what, defeat was ahead. There were three nations gathered against one. Jehoshaphat had no answers. So the King called for the preacher Elisha. I don’t know what to do? The preacher called for some music to be played. The hand of the Lord answered the question, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? GET YOUR SHOVELS AND DIG… WE NEED WATER! WE NEED THE ENEMY DEFEATED… WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? DIG DIITCHES AND TRUST THE LORD! You will not see or feel anything, BUT GOD WILL PROVIDE THE WATER AND DEFEAT THE ENEMY.
2 Kings 3:16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. 17 For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.
Somehow over night the ditches were filled with water. The Moabites saw BLOOD, THE VALLEY WAS FILLED WITH WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS BLOOD… THE MOABITES WERE DEFEATED AND THE WATER WAS PROVIDED. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? DIG DITCHES AND DEPEND ON GOD!
CONCLUSION: I DON’T KNOW? Recognize this is a test? Think about the cost? Do we ever think about cost? I have been teaching about JOY. I HAVE ASKED THE CHURCH TO STUDY JOY.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
I don’t know what to do? It appears John had learned a lesson. It is a battle to keep your joy increasing. John also knew that to keep your joy to remain we need a full JOY TANK. The battle is twofold. 1. Depression and discouragement; 2. Worry, anxiety will always kill JOY! I just don’t know what to do?
I thought that was the bottom of a jet liner flying over, --- come to find out it was the belly of a cock roach running me down. What am I going to do? Millions of Christians are fighting depression and anxiety. Many that will read this are treading water trying to keep your head from going under. Think it not strange when life is crushing. We must discipline our attitudes. We are weaken when depression and anxiety crush our spirits.
By popular demand, the King killed James. It so pleased the kingdom that they locked up Paul and Silas planning on killing them and destroying their testimony. While in the inner most prison shackled in bondage something happened. They quit crying and started praising. Joy arose not fear. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
Please my friends the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy our JOY. You are not alone. I am aching for many I know are in a heavy battle. The enemy has stolen the JOY out of our homes. I find churches are often void of JOY. (Read Psalm 30:5, Isiah 43:19, Nehemiah 8:10. Did you read them?)
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? Nehemiah has listened to weeping and crying for days. The Preacher stands before the people and declares: CELEBRATE, QUIT THE ANXIETY, QUIT THE DEPRESSION. It is high time to realize: LIFE IS NOT: DO I HAVE TO --- LIFE IS: WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? LIFE IS: I LOVE TO -- THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH. How can I do it: BY FAITH -- BY TRUSTING IN FAITH.
My spirit is broken today as we allow circumstances to dictate -- My friend God knew about this crushing event before you did. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? God knew those who would leave you in the desert, when you needed them most. IT IS OK! GOD CAN HANDLE THIS! TRUST HIM. Let us fly the flag of JOY and see what the Lord can do. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? I WILL BOLDLY TRUST GOD’S PLAN. THIS IS A TEST!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) Lesson several parts.
