#1 BASKETCASES HOLDERS, BE PART OF THE TEAM.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
Dear friends: Part#1 of 3 parts; Basketcases holders.
TEXT:
2 Corinthians 11:33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
Matthew 10:42And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of COLD wateronly in the name of a disciple, very I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Luke 9:41 And whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
I am again pondering? Perhaps, I should ponder to myself?
Yet, I love to launch people into thinking.
I do not intend on thinking for anyone else, you have a good mind.
DON’T WASTE YOUR MIND!
Waste is poor stewardship, ponder and use your mind, you might be surprised how God enlightens those He loves.
I am pondering today when the minister is right?
What about the times the preacher has needs and cannot express them?
What about if the minister has a poor attitude or he is wrong?
Can this be?
And how you handle the minister?
What do you do when the minister is a basket case?
When everyone is after his skin on the ironing board?
What do we do when the preacher is a basket case?
In the church today, we seem to have forgotten that we teach and believe in a God called ministry?
But this does not mean we have perfect men/women of God?
Pastors should be God ordained and God appointed.
We need men behind the pulpit that have had the coals of the altar to burn their lips, and allow the Word to be spoken uncompromised?
Some people use their giving to try and influence the message?
Some times we have a desire to hear applause and trophies have great appeal, and the message is influenced by popular opinion.
Real men and women of God have a desire for the word of God and seek more and deeper and wiser revelations of the Word, for the Word of God does the Work of God.
I only know of one church that claims that their leader is infallible, incapable of error, perfect ministers?
The Catholic church teaches that the Pope, while seated in his little throne in the Vatican City, is infallible.
We say hog wash to that.
Ministers, pastors, evangelists, and teachers are imperfect works of clay, and thus can make mistakes and use poor judgment.
When a pastor is tired and his hands hang down, he is very capable of saying somethings, not exactly what he meant?
I have put Jonah on the ark, I knew better, it just came out wrong.
Ministers will never reach perfection here on earth?
BUT MANY OF US EXPECT THE PREACHER TO BE PERFECT, ENTIRE AND WANTING NOTHING?
Why do we not allow room and prayer for God’s men/women?
You and your prayer life can make the preacher a better man and a better preacher.
Walk a mile in his shoes?
Ask God for a heart for God’s man.
Our text today comes from 2 Corinthians 11:33 ... And though a WINDOW IN A BASKET WAS LET DOWN BY THE WALL, AND ESCAPED HIS HANDS:
Jewish history records Paul was a little short man but very heavy, and those that became a support structure for Paul in the basket had a "BIG JOB."
Now some of you think holding the preachers basket is a little job.
Well, I don’t want you on my football team, that lineman must know, ...
if the quarterback advances the ball, he needs some blockers in front of him?
There were assembled a group of people that didn’t like the message of the messenger and decided to stop the message.
God had someone to hide this little fat preacher and stand for him, and become a team member and advance the cross.
What kind of basket was Paul going to ride?
Why are not the names of the basket holders listed?
That was not what the Holy Spirit thought was important, but rather the ministry of basket holding?
Have you ever held the rope for a minister that was facing hostility?
I, as the minister, am not important, it is my office, my office demands respect?
I think there is a "LOST MINISTRY" in the church today, that is "BASKET HOLDERS"
In Exodus 17, we see the office of basket holder at work.
A man named HUR, (why didn’t his mom name him HIM,) not HUR?
Hur was on top of a hill.
Praise God, I love hilltop experiences.
Victory was there, victory was all around.
But the "FALLIBLE MAN OF GOD" was tired and his arms fell down.
HUR saw the need, and never just expected Moses the man of God to feed him? HUR saw he had a part, he MUST hold the arms of the man of God or there would never be a total victory.
Often we in the pulpit like to wear masks and disguise the fact of our fallibleness, BUT AT BEST PREACHERS ARE BASKET CASES AND NEED A SUPPORT STRUCTURE TO LIFT TO TOTAL VICTORY.
If you are always saying "GIVE ME! GIVE ME!" ...
You will never see the need to minister to the minister?
Maybe God calls you to be a basket holder?
Maybe you ministers need to send out a request for a team of basket holders to hold us in our weaknesses.
See, Paul had more sermons to preach, more Bible to write, but Paul’s ministry would have been limited, and the Bible unfinished, had not someone responded to hold the basket, and turn the negative tide.
Paul had looked the devil and some of this crowd eye to eye, some of the anger came from "misdirected Christians" that had jealousy growing deep in their hearts.
Can the preacher find a HAVEN OF REST in your home, your heart?
What if he just preached a sermon that poured salt on your wounds?
Maybe the burning sensation was germs dying?
Will you see the need and help in prayer and a little extra money?
Recently, I was called to preach a funeral, I traveled hours, I had my eats and my wife’s, I had to get a motel room, and in the grief there was not even an offer to cover my expenses.
The last time I wore this suit, somebody gave me a white envelope, I hung the suit in the closet,... 2 weeks later,... as I left the house for the trip, I put on the suit. There was $100.00 in the envelope.
Somebody paid for the funeral?
I don’t know from where the envelope came, except a basket holder caused a way of ministry.
Those that help the preacher when he is a basket case make ministry possible.
Be a part of the solution, by being a silent supporter.
God will see, God keeps good records. God rewards those ...THAT STAND BY HIS MAN.
Matthew 10:42And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of COLD wateronly in the name of a disciple, very I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Luke 9:41 And whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
Today, we might develop, I WILL SELL YOU SOME WATER MINISTRIES?
Profit can become a ministry function?
Those that give a glass of cool water, (notice it does not just say water, but cool water.) Cool water must be fresh and requires more effort than just a glass of water.
If you cannot make the team, be a water boy and stay excited.
God loves excited water boys?
Maybe your effort can encourage and edify God’s man to show the real hero .... Lord, Jesus, Christ?
My sons played high school football, there was a retarded boy unable to play, but what a water boy he was. It didn’t matter if we won or lost, he just loved helping his team.
At the football banquet he received an 110% award.
Don’t cry that you can’t be a quarterback, do what you can.
I am pondering how can I make a difference?
I know compassion makes a difference.
I know that faithfully standing at my post of duty in love, joy, and compassion that someday I will be able to have fruit that will remain, and I will lay His fruit at His feet.
We are goal oriented and this is good. Every sport seriously played has some sort of goal, but there must be some sort of obstacle to overcome, this is part of the game!
We plan to get football over the goal line, they say I won’t let you. This causes people to pay money to see, who will --- who won’t. The best team doesn’t always win?
I always loved a man named ’’HOWARD MAYS,JR.’’
We call him Willie Mays.
His travel started at Fairfield, Ala. and lead him to New York and later to San Francisco.
Willie hit 660 homeruns. He lead the National League 4 years in runs. He was voted twice the Most Valuable Player, 1954 and 1965.
In 1973, this old man sparked the New York Mets to the pennant. Willie played with his heart he was not always the star but he was always helping.
Sure, in his 19 year career, there were many obstacles Willie had to overcome, but Willie had to learn how to overcome.
How about my son Joshua’s hero. Chicago Bear, # 34, Walter (Jerry) Payton. As a whole Walter Payton played with a loosing record.
The Bears were not very successful. Walter was told he was too little and came from a little place, Columbia, Miss. Many people told Walter what he could not do.
Walter decided he was not going to listen to the critics and the armchair fatbacks.
Payton played 13 seasons under many adverse conditions, yet he made history.
Payton set the career rushing yardage at 15,726 yards, total yardage record was 21,803, and scored 110 rushing touchdowns, he had 10 one thousand yard plus seasons.
In 1977, Payton set the single game record of 275 yards. This was not easy.
Payton played when the crowd would boo him.
He finally went to a Super Bowl before he retired. Many games were played in pain. But Payton’s greatest record was HE LOVED the game. He tried each game. Yard by yard Payton made history and set records.
This required great effort and turning a deaf ear to screaming critics that knew how to tell--- ?
It is overcoming hardness that put Payton in the record book.
How would you like to play football 15 long seasons and never make a touchdown? Would this be a trait of failure? The heroes we follow are not always in the forefront with great showmanship and polish. We know the whole purpose of football is touchdowns!
There are two focal points on the 100 yard field: GOAL POST and the FOOTBALL.
What if I told you there was a player that played 15 years on an NFL team and he never once scored a touchdown or made an extra point?
Would we call this player a failure?
WHY 15 YEARS AND NO TOUCHDOWNS? Was he a failure? YOU DECIDE?
He played 15 years, he made 1,032 tackles, he blocked 86 passes, he had 3 interceptions, 19 fumble recoveries, he played in 245 games ---
YET HE MADE NO TOUCHDOWNS?
WHY NO TOUCHDOWNS? WAS IT A LACK OF EFFORT?
NO, NO, NO, --- IT WAS POSITION --- THE POSITION HE PLAYED WAS ALL-PRO DEFENSIVE END FOR THE CHAMPION DALLAS COWBOYS.
HIS NAME IS FAMOUS, WITHOUT ANY TD’S ...
ED "TOO TALL" JONES influenced many.
He learned to overcome obstacles and critics.
Wisdom knows all cannot be a quarterback of a Super Bowl team.
We need coaches. We need waterboys. We need cheerleaders. We need fans.
Maybe, he never made a touchdown will be recorded after my name. While the QB, running backs, hear the roar of the crowd, it is the blockers in the trenches that open holes and defenders are as important as offense.
Because we are a team.
Watch the side line, you will see who is winning without ever a glimpse of the score board. I saw a book in the Christian Bookstore, God wants you to win.
Sometimes loosing will show what is inside of you, more than winning.
We are like tea bags, hot water will bring what is inside out?
What happens when the going gets tough, ==> MOST PEOPLE QUIT!
Great revival can be birthed in the crucible. Crucibles are for great test and high degrees of heat.
We know Daniel, not just because he prayed --- but because he faced the lions’ den.
We know the three Hebrew boys, because of the fiery furnace.
We have Revelations because John was an outcast on the Isle of Patmos.
Noah’s name means rest, yet God called him to 100 years of hard labor.
Abraham, laid his only son, the son of promise on the altar --- that is why we call him the Father of the Faithful.
Now, we are asking God to accomplish His Plan and purpose in us, with no problems and no troubles. Can we see the need of basketcase holders?
God is more than a Santa Claus taking gift orders. God give us TOOLS and a willingness to overcome.
Remove the TOYS from off the altar. May the coals of the altar purge our lips, as we guard our hearts and words. If I can’t win, let me push the winner into the record book.
So, maybe we will never make a touchdown, but there is something for you to do.
Search the mind of Christ, find your place.
Take pride in being an unashamed accompaniment.
May we find joy in supporting and complementary positions. May we find joy in making others complete. PLEASE,FATHER, MAKE ME!
IF GOD DOES NOT CALM THE STORM, HE WILL CALM YOU!
His servant,
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr
Kyfingers@aol.com
Pass this on to another? Be a basket holder for me?
Part 1 of 4
