SHAKE IT OFF, AGAIN…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Watch: YouTube Wade Hughes)
HAVE WE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT OUR LAST MEAL WILL BE?
I was in Potosi, Missouri to witness an execution: My friend’s last meal was: 2 REUBEN SANDWICHES AND CURLY FF.
Timothy McVeigh asked for: 2 pints of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
In 1963, Victor Feguer ask for his last meal, ONE OLIVE WITH THE PIT STILL IN IT. As they were preparing his body they found the pit in his pocket. His hidden lesson was a new life to come.
Ronnie Lee Garner ordered steak, lobster tail, apple pie and to watch Lord of the Rings.
WILL WE SHAKE IT OFF? WILL WE CHOKE ON IT? THERE IS A LESSON TO LEARN WHILE OTHERS THROW STONES? SHIMEI!, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND NOT JUST WHAT IS SAID, BUT WHO SAID IT? WHY DID THEY SAY IT? LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO A CHARACTER IN THE BIBLE THAT BEST ILLUSTRATES RESENTMENT. THERE IS A MAN IN THE BOOK OF 2 SAMUEL THAT IS CONSUMED WITH HATRED, ANGER AND RESENTMENT. LET US STUDY A MAN FULL OF JEALOUSY, ANGER AND RESENTMENT, HIS NAME IS SHIMEI. HE IS ABSOLUTELY FULL OF DISAPPOINTMENT, BITTERNESS, ANGER AND RESENTMENT…
WHY IS SHIMEI SO RESENTFUL? LET US LOOK AT A MAN WITH SELFISH MOTIVES. HE WAS SAUL’S FAMILY. WHEN SAUL AND HIS SONS DIED, SHIMEI WAS THE SELF-APPOINTED NEW KING. HE KNEW HE SHOULD TAKE THE THRONE AND BE THE NEXT KING OF ISRAEL. Shimei was full of resentment for David. Shimei ran along the river and THREW STONES AT DAVID. Shimei was so busy cursing and throwing stones and calling David names. Shimei had tunnel vision, he could not see clearly pass his own nose. Bitterness distorts God’s call.
2 Samuel 16:5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. 6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
DAVID REFUSES TO STOOP TO REVENGE AND RESENTMENT… DAVID REFUSES TO ALLOW HIS MEN TO RETALIATE OR EVEN TELL SHIMEI OFF.
2 Samuel 16:9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
2 Samuel 16:12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
SHIMEI just kept himself in the DISTORTION OF RESENTMENT. He was selfish, immature and unforgiving.
2 Samuel 16:13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
SHIMEI’S BITTERNESS, ANGER AND RESENTMENT WERE VERY COMPLEX EMOTIONS THAT DISTORTED GOD’S PLANS. THE ANGRIER SHIMEI BREWED, HE GREW DEEPER AND DEEPER ROOTS… RESENTMENT IS BIRTHED IN IMMATURITY. With resentment we often wallow in our feelings of anger, bitterness. RESENTMENT IS USUALLY A WEAK PASSIVE FEELING OF BITTERNESS DUE TO INSULT OR HURT. RESENTMENT IS A FORM OF ANGER. Resentment comes as the result of unfair treatment or a misunderstanding. Resentment hinders the work of the Holy Spirit.
DAVID LEARNED MANY LESSONS IN HIS LIFE. DAVID LEARNED: DON’T FIGHT BACK. DON’T SCREAM AND YELL. TRUST GOD’S PLAN. DAVID ON HIS DEATH BED WARNS HIS SON SOLOMON OF THE RESENTFULNESS OF SHIMEI. WATCH HIM SON. SHIMEI’S ATTITUDES OF RESENTMENT CAN HURT YOU.
MY FRIEND DON’T THROW STONES, JUST SHAKE IT OFF. PAUL HAD BEEN IN A TERRIBLE STORM. THE SHIP WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PAUL WAS GUARANTEED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT GOD HAS A PLAN. PAUL BUILT A FIRE TO WARM UP. THE SNAKE IN HIBERNATION AWAKES AND BITES THE PREACHER. PAUL DOES NOT TRY TO KILL THE SNAKE OR CURSE THE SNAKE. HE THROWS IT IN THE FIRE.
Acts 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
40 YEARS AGO I WAS GOING THROUGH A CRUSHING SEASON IN MY LIFE. ONE NIGHT I WAS NOT SURE IF I COULD MAKE IT. I HAD A VERY REAL DREAM.
There were 6 little snakes biting my right hand. I was concerned will I live? I asked a nurse will I live? She said I don’t know. One of those snakes will not bother you, but I don’t know about 6? I started feeling like I was going to pass out. My chest hurt. I opened my shirt. There was a big snake with its fangs buried in my chest. She looked at me and said: YOU ARE DEAD MEAT.
When I woke up I was crying so hard. I got up and went and sat in front of the fire place. My wife’s Bible was sitting there. I opened the Bible and it turned to the book of JOB.
Job 5:19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
I FOUND GREAT ASSURANCE: SHAKE IT OFF! God assured me he was going to deliver me from this death trap. Today is at least 40 years later. I am still at the foot of the cross. I shook off the snakes.
CONCLUSION: THROWING STONES OF RESENTTMENT CAUSES TOTAL BLINDNESS AND TUNNEL VISION. RESENTMENT CAN TAKE ROOT IN OUR HEARTS. RESENTMENT DOES NOT JUST HAPPEN WITH ONE EVENT. RESENTMENT IS NORMALLY A BUILD UP OF SEVERAL EVENTS. RESENTMENT ALMOST ALWAYS HOLDS ON TO HARM FROM THE PAST OF PAINFUL EXPERIENCES. THEN WE HOLD ON TO THAT PAIN DAY AFTER DAY. WE MUST SHAKE IT OFF!
***WOLFING DOWN THE PAIN
By F. Buechner
OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS RESENTMENT AND ANGER ARE POSSIBLY THE MOST FUN.
TO LICK YOUR WOUNDS, TO SMACK YOUR LIPS OVER GRIEVANCES LONG PAST,
TO ROLL OVER YOUR TONGUE THE PROSPECT OF BITTER CONFRONTATION STILL TO COME.
TO SAVOR TO THE LAST TOOTHSOME MORSEL THE PAIN YOU ARE GIVEN
AND THE PAIN YOU ARE GIVING BACK.
IN MANY WAYS IT IS A FEAST FIT FOR A KING.
THE CHIEF DRAW BACK IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE WOLFING DOWN IS YOURSELF.
THE SKELETON AT THE FEAST IS YOU.
Shake it off! Please open your heart to the word of God.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Luke 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
1 Corinthians 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Please watch: YouTube: Wade Hughes)
