SHAKE IT OFF
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed;
for the people spake of stoning him, because the
soul of all the people was grieved, every man
for his sons and for his daughters:
BUT DAVID ENECOURAGED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD.
Study the Cave of Adullam.
1 Samuel 22:1-3
vs.3 And every one that was in distress,
and every one that was in debt,
and every one that was discontented,
gathered themselves unto David;
and he became captain over them,
and there were with him about 400 men.
I have been pondering again.
It is time to get up, shake it off, and go again.
Some times we try and things do not go as we
expected.
Sometimes it may be our fault,
other times the idea didn’t work.
We must divorce oneself from failure.
Quit beating your head against brick walls.
Just rethink, refocus, and try again.
If at first you don’t succeed, fry, fry a hen?
I mean, TRY -- TRY AGAIN!
Not only do I learn how to do things, I also learn some things not to do?
There are times we must quit crying and try again.
One sermon I would like to preach to leaders is the "INSANITY OF SAMENESS."
WE NEED A PARADIGM SHIFT.
The wife nags and nags, and wonders why don’t
that stupid man hear me?
Honey, change.
How can we expect to do things the same old same
old, and see a different results?
You can’t preach and beat it into peoples’ spirits.
For it is not by might, it is not by power, ...
it is BY HIS SPIRIT.
THE GREAT LESSON OF ZIGLAG?
1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed;
for the people spake of stoning him, because the
soul of all the people was grieved, every man
for his sons and for his daughters:
BUT DAVID ENECOURAGED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD.
David and his men had been in a heated battle.
God gave David a mighty victory.
But while David was tasting victory on the front,
the enemy silently stepped into David and his men’s
homes and captured the families.
David’s men reacted, while David acted in faith.
David never dwelled that his own men wanted to
destroy him, he understood that their attack was
not personal, their hope was gone.
David had learned that you can not depend on others
for your encouragement. David also knew that
leadership had a price.
Sometimes those with you are not with you at all.
But if God is with you, that will be OK.
Will you do as David?
1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed;
for the people spake of stoning him, because the
soul of all the people was grieved, every man
for his sons and for his daughters:
BUT DAVID ENECOURAGED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD.
1 Samuel 3:8 David enquired of the Lord...
David developed a plan and refused to sit still
and cry with the others.
I am telling YOU, quit crying, get up, press on,
over-ride the emotions, quit seeing this as a
personal attack, LET GOD BUILD A BETTER PPERSON!
SOMETIMES WE BURY SOME VERY GOOD THINGS, RATHER THAN INVEST LOVE AND TIME AND PATIENCE TO REVAMP A GOOD THING.
We throw out viable, good life
with the dirty bath water.
You don’t have to have perfect people to do the work of God. Study the Cave of Adullam.
1 Samuel 22:1-3
VS 3 And every one that was in distress, and every
one that was in debt,, and every one that was
discontented, gathered themselvesunto David;
and he became captain over them,
and there were with him about 400 men.
Read where David took some outcast that nobody
wanted and accomplished the work of God.
YOU CAN TO -- IF YOU WANT TO! ?
Many are waiting for a perfect time with a perfect
people and we fail by waiting for a better season.
When I taught school some of the faster learners were quick to learn and as quick to forget.
Some of the slower learners ---
when the idea was grasped would never forget the
lesson.
Teach, then TEST, then RE-TEACH.
Never forget, you cannot take any group any faster
than they want to go.
I love this story about the farmer that wanted to bury the dumb old mule and persistence won.
SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP
A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule.
The mule fell into the farmer’s well.
The farmer heard the mule ’braying’ -- or --
whatever mules do when they fall into wells.
After carefully assessing the situation,
the farmer sympathized with the mule,
but decided that neither the mule nor
the well was worth the trouble of saving.
Instead, he called his neighbors together
and told them what had happened...
and enlisted them to help dig a new well and
haul dirt to bury the old mule in the old well
and put the mule out of his misery.
Initially, the old mule was hysterical as the dirt
fell on his back!
But as the farmer and his neighbors continued
shoveling and the dirt hit his back ...
a thought struck the old mule.
It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel
load of dirt landed on his back...
HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!
This he did, blow after blow.
"Shake it off and step up...
shake it off and step up...
shake it off and step up!"
The mule repeatedly encourage himself.
No matter how painful the blows, or
distressing the situation seemed the old mule
fought "panic" and just kept right on
SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!
You’re right!
It wasn’t long before the old mule,
battered and exhausted,
STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL!
What seemed like would bury him, actually blessed
him...
all because of the attitude and manner in which
he handled his adversity.
THAT’S LIFE!
If we face our problems and respond to them
positively, and refuse to give in to panic,
refuse bitterness, or refuse self-pity...
THEN GOD CAN TURN THINGS AROUND.
THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US!
Remember that FORGIVENESS -- FAITH -- PRAYER -- PRAISE and HOPE...
all are excellent ways to
"SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP"
out of the wells in which we find ourselves!
Whether it is a Stepping Stones or Stumbling Blocks, could be in the attitude of trying again and again and again or quitting?
The same heat that hardens an egg, will melt butter.
WHAT IS THE HEAT DOING TO YOU?
If you deal with people, don’t let people problems up set you.
That is ministry.
Quit just seeing problems and start focusing on
solutions.
One of the greatest mistakes of ministry is telling people they are the problem,
you will give wind to their sail,
tell them: --- me, you, and God are the solutions.
This will be a stumbling block, if that is what you make it.
WHY NOT MAKE IT A STEPPING STONE?? IT IS UP TO YOU MY FRIEND?
Oh, Lord: Grow me and stretch me, flog me, and flay me. BUT PLEASE, DON’T ASK ME TO DO THIS AGAIN --
IS NOT OUR PRAYER --
WHAT EVER HE ASK, WE WILL WILLFULLY DO!
His servant,
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
Could you pass this to others and enlarge my hands?
