ONE MAN? ONE BULLET? ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (two part)
TEXT: Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
FROM BIBBED OVERALLS TO A UNIFORM?
There was a poor family in east Tennessee. This boy was the 3rd child of 11. He was born on December 13, 1887. For his family to survive, this young boy had to develop hunting skills. The family could not afford to buy meat. This young boy learned how to shoot a rifle at a young age. He learned so well that he won every shooting contest in the area. Life was mean and he became a terrible drunk. In 1915, he had a spiritual experience with his personal Savior Jesus Christ. The whole family became faithful to church. He became a very religious man.
The USA entered into the terrible World War I. During this time he was drafted into the US ARMY. Alvin went from bibbed overalls to the Army uniform. At first he entered the Army as a C.O. (Conscientious Objector) He refused to carry weapons. As the war grew worse and worse he changed his mind as he realized his nation needed him. After a brief training, Alvin C. York was placed in the Army’s 82th Infantry. HIS SHOOTING ABILITY SOON PLACED HIM INTO AN ELITE DIVISON. He was the best of the best. The Army then sent ALVIN to FRANCE.
The young soldier from Pall Mall, Tennessee was placed against a hill of German Machine Guns that had been invincible. The US soldiers were falling like flies and the situation seemed hopeless. York saw many of his comrades fall wounded and died. Many of the young soldiers froze in fear. York ran up the hill and emptied his rifle until he had no bullets. He grabbed his pistol and kept advancing on the embedded German machine guns. York killed 25 Germans as he advanced on the enemy. He emptied his rifle until he had no more ammunition. He circled around behind the enemy using his bayonet. York was jumped by 7 Germans intending to kill him. He grabbed his pistol out of the holster and started defending himself. York was running low on the bullets for his pistol. He shot the highest ranking German soldier in the back of the line, then the next in the back of the line. Immediately the other five Germans surrendered to him. They did not know he only had one more bullet left in the pistol. He advanced with his captives to the entrenched machine gunist that had been taking a toll on the US Troops. The German commander blew his whistle for the BATTALION to totally surrender. WHAT A SHOCK: ONE MAN WITH ONE PISTOL AND ONE BULLET captured 132 German soldiers.
It is estimated ALVIN C. YORK from Pall Mall, Tennessee saved several thousand US Soldiers’ lives that day. When WWI was over Alvin C. York return HIS Army Uniform for his BIBBED OVERALLS. He died at home a decorated hero to a forever grateful nation. ONE MAN, ONE GUN AND ONE BULLET MADE A DIFFERENCE.
MY FRIEND, WE ARE IN A TERRIBLE WAR THAT IS KILLING OUR PEOPLE. We need to fall at the altar and do what we can. Where we can. When we can.
GOD IS CALLING FOR HIS PEOPLE TO LISTEN. JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DAY --- ONE MAN GETS UP --- MOSES GETS UP AND EATS BREAKFAST, HIS WIFE HAS PACKED HIS BROWN BAG LUNCH AND HIS LIFE WILL FOREVER BE CHANGED… ONE MAN HAS A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH A HOLY GOD. AT THE BURNING BUSH ONE MAN WILL CHANGE THE HISTORY OF GOD’S PEOPLE.
Exodus 3:4 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.
Exodus 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
AT SOME POINT A FOREVER CHANGE WILL OCCUR FOR MOSES --- GOD CAN WORK MIRACLES WITH A ROD…
Exodus 4:2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
GOD IS CALLING YOU NOT WITH A ROD --- MOSES HAS TRADED HIS ROD FOR THE ROD OF GOD!
Exodus 4:20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
Will we be the person of God that stands in the gap for our generation? Will we be bold enough to lay down our personal rods and trust to trade the rod and the staff we have carried for the ROD OF GOD?
GOD CALLS: WHO ME? YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING? GOD IS LOOKING FOR A PERSON THAT WILL BOLDLY STAKE A STEP OF FAITH. THE ENEMY HAS SO OPPRESSED GOD’S PEOPLE THAT THEY DON’T TRUST GOD. THEIR FAITH HAS SURRENDERED TO DOUBT. FAITH GOD WANTS TO USE YOU ---BUT YOU ARE HIDING IN FEAR FROM THE ENEMY.
Judges 6:11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
LORD, ARE YOU KIDDING? GOD IF YOU ARE WITH US --- WHY IS ALL THIS BAD STUFF HAPPENING?
Sure we have heard of miracles but that was years ago!
Judges 6:13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
YOU THINK GOD WANTS TO USE ME? YOU DON’T KNOW THE FACTS: MY FAMILY IS POOR --- DON’T YOU KNOW: I AM THE LOWEST ON THE TOTEM POLE? I HAVE EXCUSES TO OFFER.
Judges 6:15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
Gideon has 30,000 troops? God says that’s too many. WHAT? YOU’RE KIDDING AGAIN? No, God can take 300, a trumpet, a pitcher and a torch --- GOD NEEDS YOUR HANDS!
GOD IS LOOKING FOR WILLING WORKERS. KING JABIN HAS A GENERAL NAMED SISERA. SISERA WAS CRUEL AND UNDEFEATED IN BATTLE. WANT TO TALK ABOUT IMPOSSIBLE ODDS? ISRAEL IS IN GREAT TROUBLE AGAIN, JABIN HAS BEEN CRUEL TO GOD’S PEOPLE. GOD NEEDS SOMEONE TO ARISE AND OBEY GOD’S PLAN. LET US MEET A LADY NAMED DEBORAH. GOD TAPS DEBORAH ON THE SHOULDER AND SAYS: I NEED YOU AS A LEADER, A JUDGE AND A PROPHETRESS.
Deborah has a leader named BARAK. Barak was supposed to have been Israel’s military leader. Deborah was the prophetess and she BOLDLY SAID: BARAK, GOD HAS THIS PROBLEM. Barak is moved by fear and doubt. He doubts’ himself and thus he doubts GOD’S PLAN. Barak refuses to obey… SO DEBORAH STEPS UP AND COMPLETELY TRUSTS GOD’S PLAN.
THAT IS NOT THE END --- DEBORAH LEADS TO A GREAT VICTORY OVER JABIN’S 900 CHARIOTS. BUT GOD IS GOING TO SHOW BARAK GOD USES WOMEN. SISERA WAS UN-DEFEATABLE. SISERA WAS THE MIGHTY GENERAL. BARAK COULD NOT DEFEAT SISERA. BUT GOD --- BUT GOD USED A LITTLE LADY NAMED JAEL. GOD USES THOSE THAT HE CHOOSES.
Judges 4:15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
GOD IS SEARCHING FOR THOSE THAT WILL TRUST HIS PLAN AND OBEY HIS COMMAND.
Judges 4:17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
WHO DEFEATED SISERA? LITTLE, OLD TENT KEEPER JAEL. GOD DOES NOT NEED MIGHTY MEN. GOD‘S PLAN WILL USE THOSE AVAILABLE.
Judges 4:21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote he nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
HOW WILL THIS PAGAN SICK MAN KNOW THAT GOD CAN HEAL? WHY DOES THIS BEAUTIFUL YOUNG GIRL HAVE TO BE A CAPTIVE IN A STRANGE LAND? GOD CAN USE NEGATIVE SITUATIONS TO BRING ABOUT THE MIRACLES THAT TESTIFY TO THE WORLD. TRUST GOD’S PLAN EVEN WHEN IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. NAAMAN IS NOT A CANDIDATE FOR GOD’S MERCY? BUT HE TRUST THE PLAN.
2 Kings 5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. 2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife. 3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. 4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.
THE SEARCH IS ON! WHO WILL STAND IN THE GAP FOR YOUR FAMILY? YOUR CHURCH? YOUR NATION? WILL YOU GO, MY FRIEND? CAN THE HEAVENLY FATHER DEPEND ON YOU?
Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
DON’T EAT THE SEED CORN. WE MUST DIE TO SELF DESIRES. WILL WE BE CRUCIFIED FOR GOD’S PEOPLE, TO BEAR FRUIT. WILL BE FOREVER BARREN? HEAR THIS TRUTH --- GOD NEEDS SOME TO PLOW, SOME TO WATER… SOME TO REAP.
My dad was a pastor and we lived in the country. A large part of our food chain was the garden. We had a huge garden and mom would can our food for the winter. Part of gardening was reaping and preparing the food.
My dad had a line he would always say: DON’T EAT THE SEED CORN. Sure part of the harvest was for food. There was a larger part. WE HAD TO SAVE SOME SEED FOR NEXT YEAR. If we ate the seed there would be no garden next year. Dad would always save an abundance of seed in a dry place… this would be our future.
John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
CONCLUSION: Someone needs you! Someone is watching you? Someone will follow in your footsteps? Where are you leading others? Let us trade “A ROD” for “THE ROD OF GOD!”
Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
God needs you to stand in the gap for others. Can the pastor count on you? Ask yourself: What kind of church would your church be if all the members were just like me?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
I would love to hear from you!
