12 of a 12 part series.
#12 REMOVE THE WEIGHTS ... Pleasure as a goal.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
Hebrews 12: 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT AND SIN WHICH DOTH SO EASILY BESET US, AND LET SO RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US...
1 TIMOTHY 5:6 BUT SHE THAT LIVETH IN PLEASURE IS DEAD WHILE SHE LIVETH.
Prov. 21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man.
Luke 8:14 ... choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, AND BRING NO FRUIT TO PERFECTION.
Let us ponder Laying aside weight to attain victory.
This is the 12th in series of Remove the weights, text, Heb. 12:1
I. Remove the weight: Introduction
II. REMOVE THE WEIGHT OF SIN.
III. Remove the weight of no evaluation.
IV. Remove the weight: Blame Game.
V. Remove the weight of GREED.
VI. Remove the weight of JEALOUSY.
VII. Remove the weight of Judgmentalism.
VIII. Remove the weight of LAZINESS.
IX. Remove the weight of Bitterness.
X. Remove the weight of the Tongue.
XI. Remove the weight of WORRY.
XII. Remove the weight of Pleasure as a goal.
I am wearing a backpack with 40 pounds of rock,
the first rock was labeled SIN. This rock is labeled Tongue: Pleasure.
I have a friend remove the one rock from my backpack,
I have painted the word Pleasure on the rock.
I have SIN the biggest rock, it is a little larger than three fist,
the rest are little bigger than soft ball size.
I note my load is getting lighter as I remove the weights.
Today the 12th rock is removed.
Today my load is gone, I must warn that you can pick your load back up.
XII. REMOVE THE WEIGHT OF PLEASURE SEEKING.
1 TIMOTHY 5:6 BUT SHE THAT LIVETH IN PLEASURE IS DEAD WHILE SHE LIVETH.
Prov. 21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man.
Today we say: IF IT FEELS GOOD... JUST DO IT.
We fail to see our daily choices can have eternal consequences.
A. WE SEARCH FOR WAYS TO ALTER ARE FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS.
1. We buy alcohol, wine, beer, whiskey ... and think we can drown our problems and find relief from our mental and emotional straights.
2. We try drugs, illegal or prescription, we put them up our noses, in the needles, trying to fill empty voids in the heart and brain.
3. Today, we see many reaching to pornography and illicit erotic behaviors, searching for new excitement to induce quick arousal of intense emotional reactions...
While the world seeks to ALTER life through externals, WE KNOW THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO ALTER LIFE AND IT IS ON THE ALTAR OF GOD. Real change comes by changing the inside out, not the out side in.
B. SEEKING PLEASURE IS MUCH LIKE CHASING POT OF GOLD AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW.
Garth Brooks was asked how wonderful it was to have made it in Nashville? His answer amazed me.
Garth said: "OZ IS ONLY OZ, IF YOU DON’T LIVE IN OZ."
If the grass is greener, they might have a higher water bill.
I find in my yard, the grass is always greener over the septic tank.
You can spend your life chasing butterflies, but they live much better free.
C. IT IS THEIR FAULT... I AM NOT HAPPY...
Many want to blame their wife, the children, the job, the church ... somebody’s else...
I could be happy, if it weren’t for you.
Happiness and joy are conscious decisions.
If you are unhappy, it is your choice.
Remeber us stating that: The same heat that melts butter, hardens eggs.
Life is focus and choices.
If you are not happy where you are ... you will not be happy any where.
D. NO ROOTS, THEN DON’T EXPECT PLEASING FRUITS.
We live in a day that unfaithfulness is an accepted way of living.
We have GRASSHOPPER PROPHETS that will be faithful to nothing,
jumping around, wanting to tell the faithful people what is wrong with them.
1 Cor. 4:2, says faithfulness is a requirement.
We can never receive lasting joy out of bounds of faithfulness.
Drop your anchor, stay put, commit, support the local pastor,
and wait on the Lord. ...
Luke 8:14 ... choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, AND BRING NO FRUIT TO PERFECTION.
E. WHAT YOU LOVE, YOU WILL GO AFTER.
Isa. 47:8 Therefore hear this now, THOU ART GIVEN TO PLEASURES, that you live carelessly... What you love you will find time to do.
One’s brain will focus easier: when there is enjoyment.
If you love fishing, you will time to go fishing.
We often do things out of obligation and duty, not out of love and desire, because you "HAVE TO" is poor motivation.
F. WE CAN EASILY PRESUME,
WHAT FEELS GOOD AND LOOKS PLEASING IS ACCEPTABLE.
Man would never be caught doing wrong unless he can somehow justify. Just because you assume you know what God desires, does not mean this is what God really desires.
Many let their actions proceed on emotions and opinions.
God is sovereign, and He does not rule by popular opinion or majority voice.
G. I HAVE IT MADE? EAT AND BE MERRY.
Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods LAID UP for many years, take your ease, eat drink, and be merry.
This poor rich man had invested in the THINGS that did not matter.
He laid up things for many years, when he could not see ...
he did not have many years.
His wife’s new husband would have a life of ease.
The party spirit grows wild, we pass this way but once, at best life is only temporary. What would this man tell you today about seeking pleasure?
H. LOVERS OF PLEASURE MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD AND HIS WORD.
2 Tim. 3:4... you can never find eternal lasting pleasure out of complete trust of God.
Isa. 26:3,
Psa. 119:165.
Where is the fear of God in today’s society?
I. EVE SAW THE FRUIT WAS PLEASANT AND TO BE DESIRED.
(Gen. 3:6)
Beauty and pleasing to the 5 senses, will not make it right.
The issue can fall into CONTROL.
Do we control our eyes and appetites?
Do our eyes and appetites control us?
J. YOU LEARN REAL CONTENTMENT.
Phil. 4: 11 Paul said he learned to be content in whatever state he was in, he knew how to be exalted and abased, but God was the answer.
K. WISE WORDS:
It is a rare thing to find a happy, content man...
/// No man is happy who does not think himself so.
/// As a well spent day brings happiness, a life well used brings happy death.
/// find no pleasure in finding faults.
/// Let us all be happy and live within our means; even if we have to borrow the money to do it with...
/// Many learn the cost, few know the value and worth.///
L. NOTHING CREATES MORE DEEP SEATED ANXIETIES THAN A FALSE ASSUMPTION THAT A CHRISTIAN LIFE SHOULD BE FREE FROM ALL ANXIETIES.
We have many TV/radio preachers that almost suggest that if you send them offerings, you will be debt free and worry free.
This PIE IN THE SKY gospel is not true.
If we are in the flesh, there will be times that name it and claim it will not work. We need good balanced messages.
Tribulations, trials, and persecution come to all. If God exempted His from these things, many would serve not because of love but life of ease.
M. THERE ARE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTEREST AND COMMITMENT.
If your motivation is interest will do something when the circumstances are ideal and your emotions permit.
If you are committed you can accept no excuses, only results.
This is like a chicken suggesting to the pig: Let’s eat eggs and bacon?...?
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE YOU HAPPY?
Happiness is not in the eye, but the focus of the mind.
The choice of a point of view is the initial act of religion.
We must link pleasure with the word of God.
We must learn pleasure comes from the choice of being mad at no one.
If you can’t find pleasure at home in little things, you have many dark days ahead.
Phil. 2:13 highly suggest that real pleasure is found in doing God’s pleasure, not yours.
For pleasure to continue you must find variety, and know that Joy is a free gift of God, and your joy tank needs to be full.
John 15:11 ... joy may remain, that joy may be full.
John 16:24... that joy may be full.
1 John 1:4 that your joy may be full.
IS YOUR JOY FULL, MAKE THE DECISION NOW TO FILL YOUR LIFE DAILY WITH THE JOY OF THE LORD?
Neh. 8:10... His joy is our strength... ARE YOU WEAK?
His servant,
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
Part 12 of 12.
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