PARTNER WITH GOD: FAITH AND EFFORT!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
SUCCESS IS FOUND IN EFFORT AND DISCIPLINE. ZERO TIMES 100= 0. GOD DEMANDS EFFORT!
Today we see a new MINDSET. We live in a day of apathy, unwillingness to help, laziness, missed opportunities and dissatisfaction. Know a fact: the less effort we exert the less satisfaction we will have. Are we living in a way that at the end of the day we can feel good about what we accomplished? Each individual CONTROL HOW MUCH EFFORT THEY GIVE. FAITH IS IN GOD --- EFFORT IS OF MAN.
EFFORT: hard work, time invest, labor, vigorous determination, to attempt, try, endeavor, endurance, commitment, exerted power, serious attempt, not ½ hearted.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest
TOGETHER IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE… HOW MUCH DO WE VALUE UNITY… WHAT KIND OF EFFORT DO WE INVEST TO KEEP UNITY?
Mark 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
WE NEED GREAT EFFORT TO KEEP UNITY IN THE HOME, CHURCH AND OUR NATION. JUNE 16, 1858 ABRAHAM LINCOLN gave a great speech known as A DIVIDED HOUSE CANNOT STAND.
One bee can not make much honey. OPPORTUNITY’S last five letters consist of UNITY. Have we learned the lesson: THERE IS GREATER SATISFACTION WHEN WE GIVE OUR BEST EFFORT. You might be surprised “LITTLE EFFORT MEANS LITTLE SATISFACTION and GUARANTEED FAILURE.” I have learned the MORE PERSISTENCE, FAITHFULNESS and the MORE EFFORT I INVEST THE GREATER SUCCESS I FEEL. Seems our STRENGTH and GROWTH PROCESS increases the greater the STRUGGLE AND EFFORT WE GIVE. When we apply “TRY OUR BEST” we can “DO OUR BEST!”
NO EFFORT MEANS NO CHANGE! PROGRESS AND CHANGE WILL OCCUR WHEN WE PUT FORTH OUR BEST EFFORT.
TREASURE IS FOUND IN EFFORT. EFFORT? THERE IS A HIDDEN TREASURE. WE MUST SELL ALL TO GAIN?
IT IS NOT EASY TO FIND A FLAWLESS PEARL… WHAT DOES THE PEARL COST? WE MUST REALIZE THERE IS AN ETERNAL VALUE SYSTEM FAR ABOVE THE WORLD’S SYSTEM.
Today we have cultured pearls and we even have PEARL FARMS. We probably do not fully understand the value of a PEARL in Biblical times. Pearls were HIGHLY VALUED and VERY RARE. Divers risk their lives diving for pearls. Jesus teaches a lesson about EFFORT. This PEARL LESSON teaches us about VALUE SYSTEMS, COMMITMENT AND SACRIFICE.
Matthew 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE is about EFFORT! Are we seeking for truth and a personal experience with God. The Pearl of Great Price is about SEEKING THE PRESENCE OF GOD. To obtain the PEARL OF GREAT PRICE MEANS A TOTAL COMMITMENT.
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
DISCIPLESHIP CAN BE VERY COSTLY. Finding THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE IS A LESSON IN PPRIORITIES AND VALUING WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. Seek, find, and buy… WILL WE BE TOTALLY COMMITTED?
WE ARE GOING TO STARVE TO DEATH, ME AND MY SON… ELIJAH REQUIRES AN EFFORT: MAKE ME A CAKE FIRST!
1 Kings 17:13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
How hard would it be to make the first cake for the preacher and the second for your son?
WE UNDERSTAND FAITH IS IN GOD… BUT EFFORT IS DEMAND ON PEOPLE’S PART! THE ELISHA THE PREACHER HEARS THE STORY OF A MAN THAT SERVED GOD AND HE DIED… MOM CANNOT MAKE THE PAYMENTS AND THE DEBTORS ARE GOING TO SELL HER SONS INTO SLAVERY. ELISHA DOES NOT GIVE HER MONEY, HE DEMANDS OF HER WORK, EFFORT.
2 Kings 4:3Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
TALK ABOUT EFFORT? LET US RAMBLE, WRESTLE… HEY, I WILL NOT LET GO UNTIL YOU BLESS ME…
Genesis 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
WE UNDERSTAND FAITH IS GOD’S PART --- EFFORT IS MAN’S PART. MAN’S PART IS TO: 1. ASK; 2. SEEK; 3. KNOCK. EACH PART DEMANDS A GREATER EFFORT.
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
FAITH-EFFORT: WHAT GOOD IS GETTING 150 TO 180 GALLONS OF WATER GOING TO DO FOR THIS WEDDING? JUST DO IT!
John 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
John 2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
GO--- WASH! WHY COULDN’T SOMEONE BRING WATER TO THE BLIND MAN? THE EFFORT TO WALK A DISTANCE WHEN YOU ARE BLIND IS CRUEL? HE IS SENT ON A MISSION. FAITH TEAMED WITH EFFORT.
John 9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
HOW WILL GOING FISHING HELP PAY MY TAXES? ADD TO THAT JESUS’ TAXES? TO OBEY REQUIRED FAITH AND EFFORT!
Matthew 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
FAITH? EFFORT? DON’T YOU KNOW WE ARE FISHERMEN? FISHING IS BEST AT NIGHT? OUR EFFORT, GOD’S FAITH.
Luke 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
LET’S TALK ABOUT FAITH AND EFFORT… LORD, HE HAS BEEN DEAD 4 DAYS, HE STINKS. DO IT ANYWAY!
John 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
GET UP CRIPPLE MAN; REQUIRED EFFORT BASED ON FAITH. GET UP AND WALK --- HE STARTS LEAPING AND PRAISING.
Acts 3:1 Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer. There was a man crippled from birth --- He was expecting some money. By faith they said: GET UP! What? Can’t you see?
Acts 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Acts 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
CONCLUSION: There is a pay day at the end of the road WHERE FAITH MEETS EFFORT!
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
