DECISION MAKING: ALMOST?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
DO WE UNDERSTAND FAITHFULNESS? Have you heard RHONDA VINCENT’S STORY OF FAITHFULNESS? Rhonda and her family were under contract at SILVER DOLLAR CITY TO DO 5—ONE HOUR MUSIC PROGRAMS A DAY. One day it was raining real hard. No one was in the crowd. No one, but the contract was for 5 shows. Rhonda and her family stepped to the stage and did their show as promised. A few days later Rhonda got an important phone call from a man named HOUSER. Houser was the GENERAL MANGER of the GRAND OLE OPRY in Nashville, Tennessee. He invited Rhonda and her band to come to Nashville to perform. She said: SIR, HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT US? He said: Last week we were on vacation at Silver Dollar City. It was raining real hard. We sat around the corner in the dry and we heard you and we liked what we heard. WHAT IF RHONDA VINCENT AND HER BAND HAD NOT PREFORMED THAT DAY BECAUSE NO ONE WAS IN THE CROWD? THEY ALMOST MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY?
ALMOST? There was a famous TV preacher named: PAUL CROUCH that was with a NETWORK KNOWN AS TBN (TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK.) Often Paul would travel with his duties. Paul was in West Virginia raising funds. He had to stay in a cheap motel. He could not sleep. He got up and turned the TV on. All he could watch was a local cable channel. There was a poor black preacher teaching. The preacher was faithful to his little church. The poor preacher lived on food stamps. Paul Crouch was amazed with the black man’s preaching. Paul could not sleep so he watched this black preacher. When Paul got back to the TBN headquarters he had the West Virginia preacher contacted. The rest of the story is history. We all know the struggling preacher today. T.D. JAKES was almost trapped? WAS THIS AN ACCIDENT? IF PAUL CROUCH COULD HAVE SLEPT, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN PASTOR T.D. JAKES? ALMOST?
Almost is found at least 6 times in the Bible. We all make decisions. Seldom do we consider the consequences of our choices. What will we make a commitment to do? ALMOST becomes a problem when we refuse to make a total
commitment and not realize the consequences of ALMOST.
Almost: a little short, not quite, very nearly, not entire, MISSED OPPORTUNITIES. CAN WE SEE THE TRAPS SET AROUND US… THERE IS A GREAT TRAP OF NOT TOTALLY MAKING A DEEP COMMITMENT TO GOD’S PLAN.
ALMOST? TIMING? THERE WAS A SONG: DON’T GIVE UP ON THE BRINK OF YOUR MIRACLE! ARE WE ON THE VERGE? YOU ALMOST PERSUADED ME.
Just by chance Paul was imprisoned for the Gospel’s sake. There are 3 leaders gathered FESTUS, HEROD AND AGRIPPA in Jerusalem. Paul appealed to the Roman court. Festus tells AGRIPPA about PAUL. Agrippa was a Jew and had heard about Jesus and Paul. Paul asked Agrippa to PATIENTLY HEAR.
Acts 25:22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
So in a party like atmosphere, Agrippa and Bernice have a meeting to hear Paul. Paul boldly proclaims Jesus. Paul asked Agrippa to patiently hear the message.
Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
AGRIPPA LISTENS INTENSELY. The great leader says: ALMOST THOU PERSUADEST ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN. Agrippa wants to remain popular and stay in power. THERE IS NO RECORD IN THE PAGES OF HISTORY AGRIPPA EVER CONSIDERED ETERNITY AND CHOICES AGAIN. WE HEAR THE WORDS FROM HELL: ALMOST, ALMOST YOU PERSUADED ME?
WE ALMOST MISSED IT? THIS LOOKS HOPELESS TO US? WE CAN FIX THIS? CAN WE ABSOLUTELY TRUST GOD’S PLAN? WE ALMOST MISSED IT….WE CAN’T AFFORD TO GIVE UP ON THE BRINK OF OUR MIRACLE! PONDER THIS: WE CAN’T AFFORD TO ALMOST GIVE UP? CARNAL VS. SPIRITUAL? STAND STRONG!
Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
Romans 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
ABRAHAM and SARAH ALMOST MISSED THEIR MIRACLE WITH HUMAN REASONING.
ALMOST? KNOW THIS OUR FAITH WILL BE TESTED. WILL WE OBEY? OR WILL WE DIE ON THE VINE OF THE PROMISE? WILL WE OBEY? OR WILL WE REBELL?
WHEN FEAR HINDERS THE PROMISE.WE TESTIFY: WE SAW THE PROMISE LAND. WE WALKED IN THE PROMISE LAND. THE PROMISE LAND IS FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY.
ALMOST?
Numbers 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
ALMOST? GOING AWAY SORROWFULLY. HE WANTS ETERNAL LIFE, BUT HE LOVES MATERIALISM ---THE RICH YOUNG MAN MEETS JESUS FACE TO FACE. HE LIKES WHAT HE HAS HEARD. WE OFTEN WILL NOT OVERCOME THE WALLS THAT HINDER ---
Mark 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life
ALMOST? JESUS LOVED HIM? HE WALKS AWAY? ALMOST?
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
ALMOST: REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE? LOT’S WIFE LEFT SODOM-GOMMARAH, BUT HER HEART LOVED SOMETHING BACK THERE.ALMOST?
Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.
ALMOST? Did you know Lot’s grandchildren called him Daddy? Almost? Zoar means LITTLE.
ARE WE REALLY PREPARED? THE STORY OF THE TEN VIRGINS. DO WE CHOOSE TO CARRY EXTRA OIL? ALMOST? WE WERE VIRGINS --- JUST EMPTY?
Matthew 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
ELISHA BECOMES GOD’S MAN --- HE BURNS THE BRIDGES AND WILL NOT RETURN…
1 Kings 19:19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
GEHAZI ALMOST BECAME THE MAN OF GOD? GEHAZI THOUGHT HE DESERVED MORE… GREED. HOW SAD WHEN LEPROSY CLEAVES TO THE ALMOST THE MAN OF GOD?
2 Kings 5:20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. 21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? 22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. 23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
ALMOST? HOW SAD? THE FAMILY PAYS DEARLY FOR ALMOST?
2 Kings 5:25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. 26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? 27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
WE FISHED ALL NIGHT?
