JOHN’S JOURNEY
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is a lesson adapted from a sermon delivered by Larry Moore, Arkansas in 5/03. This is a two part series.
OVERALL VIEW:
JOHN’S JOURNEY LED HIM THROUGH VALLEYS OF WAITING:
1.DISAPPOINTMENT, HURT, OFFENSE
2. DOUBT, FEAR, WORRY
3. DESIRE, HOPES, WISHES
4. DESPAIR, AGONY, GLOOM
5. DARKNESS, RELIGIOUS DEBATE,
6. INDIFFERENCE, APATHY, COLDNESS, NUMBNESS,
7. DEATH, THE END
8. BELIEVEST THOU THIS?
WE ARE ALL ON A JOURNEY? WHAT ROLE DO YOUR DECISIONS MAKE?
We often accept the fact that we are headed toward heaven at 60 minutes an hour. To make this more urgent, let us
look at it this way, we head toward eternity at 1440 minutes per day.
Only one life, twill soon be passed, only what is done for Christ will last.
Many are so prepared for heaven they have little earthly value.
For example, of what value is the Bible or the church to you in your daily walk?
You can say one thing with your mouth, but your daily choices could prove you are not consistent.
We often loose the value of today? Value is the life giving power that we place as we establish priorities.
What is the value of a good teacher? Time will tell.
On your journey, time will tell what you value and what you deem less important.
The real value you place as you journey will be expressed in the amount of sacrifice you are prepared to make for what
you value on your journey.
It seems that what gives life real value --- you can find; --- you can lose; --- but you can never own it. For God’s greatest
truths must be valued and gone after. Somehow we place greater value on the hereafter than the present? The future can
be very deceitful, for all we really have is now. If we hate now, will we ever enjoy tomorrow? If I can stand it here, how will
I find joy there? If you can’t love those that you work with, are family to, and worship with, --- what makes you think you
can love those in Africa or over there?
Why is the grass greener? Maybe the water bill is much higher? Maybe the greener grows from a hidden septic tank?
Maybe the greener just means the grass needs to be mowed?
We are lonely, --- people are all around? It is my spouses fault I am lonely? It is other’s fault I am angry?
You know, sometimes I get worried about all the crazy people in the world.
Thank God, you and me are not crazy?
Well, to be honest, sometimes I am a little worried about you?
THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE?
We want God but we want what we want?
Recall the man standing in the great Forrest, pondering --- where are all the trees?
Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a TREASURE HID in a field; the which when a man hath FOUND,
he hideth, and FOR JOY thereof GOETH and SELLETH ALL, and BUYETH THAT FIELD.
46 Who, WHEN he had FOUND ONE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, WENT and SOLD ALL that he had; and BOUGHT IT.
On this journey, we must make daily decisions as to what is of value and what is not.
We in the USA spend more on dog food than on missions.
After a recent earthquake in a southern nation, we gave them $10 million in aid, we paid one basketball
signee $90 million for a shoe contract?
We spent 12 million to save three baby whales, when they reached freedom, one was swallowed and eaten by another
great fish? The kid at church that smells like urine we avoid?
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Or what shall a man give in EXCHANGE FOR his soul?
I returned from Haiti. I still had a lot of Haitian money on me. So while waiting for my flight out of Miami, I went to
the EXCHANGE BOOTH. I laid down the Haitian money, and the lady in the secure booth laughed at me.
The Haitian money was worthless.
Well, on this journey we walk through daily, we have purchased many worthless toys, and the eternal exchange rate
will be less than what we hoped to receive? Are you faithful in the little?
Can you imagine saying "God, I watched 40 hours of TV a week? God, I let the television babysit my kids?"
Seems, we are running so busy, we have omitted the weightier?
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, ---- YOU HAVE OMITTED THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS ---MERCY, FAITH ---
THESE OUGHT YE TO HAVE DONE, AND NOT TO LEAVE THE OTHER UNDONE.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING? TODAY? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TODAY? WHAT DIDN’T YOU DO TODAY?
Often, a wrongdoer is a man who has left something undone, not always one who has done something.
WE ARE WRITING OUR OWN TALES! WE ARE SPINNING OUR OWN WEBS? WE ARE BAITING OUR OWN TRAPS?
WE MUST LOOK TO OUR JOURNEY AS WELL AS OUR DESTINATION!
JOURNEY:
--- TO TRAVEL OR A PASSAGE FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.
--- Movement from where we are to where we should be.
--- Odyssey, a long wandering marked by many changes, an intellectual or spiritual wandering.
--- Life must have a specific purpose, we need to walk forth boldly.
DESTINATION:
--- The place where one is sent, the end product,
THOUGHTS ON JOURNEY
A journey of a thousand miles must first begin with a single step.
Death and sorrow will be companions of our journey; hardships our garment; constancy and valor our shield.
We must stand united, we must be undaunted --- for we walk on a journey. Churchill.
Our longest journey maybe inward to find God’s will. We journey through time, hopefully from youth to maturity.
THOUGHTS ON CHOICE:
YOU ARE A PRODUCT OF YOUR DAILY, MENIAL CHOICES.
Our journeys and paths will not always be fair. Our journeys may lead us far from where we had planned?
Paul wanted to go one way, his journey led him another. The strange twist in life’s road may well be God.
Seeing pain does not move God --- FAITH MOVES GOD!
WE CRY OUT IN FRUSTRATION AND DEMAND GOD, GOD IS LOOKING FOR FAITHFULNESS AND FAITH!
AS THE BLOSSOM BEFORE THE FRUIT, SO MUST FAITH BEFORE THE VICTORY.
On this journey, there is a plan and a purpose.
May I remind you MANNA WAS NOT GOD’S PLAN FOR HIS CHILDREN...
GOD HAD A PROMISE --- THERE WAS MILK, HONEY, THERE WAS HUGE GRAPES, BUT THE LACK OF ACTION
FAITH KEPT A DIET OF MANNA FOR THE JOURNEY OF 40 YEARS!
We should move in action by faith beyond where we are today! GET UP! Press on!
SUMMARY OF JOHN’S JOURNEY LED HIM THROUGH VALLEYS OF WAITING:
1.DISAPPOINTMENT, HURT, OFFENSE
2. DOUBT, FEAR, WORRY
3. DESIRE, HOPES, WISHES
4. DESPAIR, AGONY, GLOOM
5. DARKNESS, RELIGIOUS DEBATE,
6. INDIFFERENCE, APATHY, COLDNESS, NUMBNESS,
7. DEATH, THE END, THE NEW BEGINNING
8. BELIEVEST THOU THIS?
1. JOHN’S JOURNEY LED HIM THROUGH DISAPPOINTMENTS, HURTS, AND OFFENSES.
We have to beware that the TV mentality of prosperity, ease, blessings, and all good things is not taken out
of balance.
There was a WEDDING PARTY going and the whole community was excited. It was very disappointing and a great
embarrassment when the "WINE RAN OUT." No wine better whine?
This marriage is starting out on a bad foot. The Governor was there, this bad news would run wild.
John 2:2 And both Jesus and His disciples were called to the marriage...
In the midst of disappointments make sure you have invited Jesus to be WITH you.
John 2:4 Mary noticed they had NO WINE, and Mary told Jesus. Jesus declared it is not my time.
John 2:5 Mary said --- WHATEVER JESUS SAYS UNTO YOU DO IT!
Well, there were 6 empty water pots. This would be around 150 to 180 gallons of water.
In the disappointments of life get water, living water.
Jesus did not fill the water pots, Jesus told them to fill the pots. This was great effort, and the effort made little sense.
Water? We want wine? When life gives you disappointments don’t sit idle, develop a plan.
When they drew the water of the vat, it was still water. But somewhere along the way, the water was changed to
the sweetest wine.
We need a change ... to reach new altitudes we must develop new attitudes!
Matthew 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runs out, and the
bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
John’s journey taught him well, disappointments? --- NEW EFFORT!
2. ON JOHN’S JOURNEY HE HAD TO LEARN TO OVERCOME DOUBT! Doubt takes expressions like fear,
worry, self pity, and depression.
John 4:47 When they heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto Him, and besought Jesus that
He would come down and HEAL his son: for he was at the point of death.
The man with a sick son invited Jesus home with him. The man NEEDED JESUS TO VISIBLY TOUCH HIS SON.
48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.
Jesus had detected doubt, we must touch Jesus beyond the emotional level. Our journey can cause us to seek
out warm fuzzy feelings that have little to do with faith.
The problem was still there.
49 The Nobleman, Jesus COME or my son is going to die.
Doubt will have to survive the TEST ... beyond the SHOW!
50 Jesus saith GO your way, your son lives.
AND THE NOBLEMAN BELIEVED THE WORD --- (NOT THE FEELINGS THE WORD) that Jesus spoke.
THE RESULTS of the journey? The man went home by himself, at first disappointed, but he never went home
by himself, he went home with a miracle, and the miracle beat him home.
The man could have grown a VICTIM SPIRIT and received a dead son?
51 And as the man was going home, his servants met him, and told him, YOUR SON LIVES.
My friend, you must learn to overcome doubt. Self doubt, the doubt of others, and overcome.
3. JOHN’S JOURNEY TAUGHT HIM SOMETHING ABOUT DESIRE, LONGING, WISHES, AND HOPES.
God does not spiritually clone and make spiritual midgets.
John’s journey led him to hungry people, John and those around him want to help, but how?
There were no McDonald’s or White Castles?
There came a test? --- WHAT IS THIS LITTLE BOYS LUNCH AMONG SO MANY?
John 6:13 There they gather them TOGETHER, (we need to get people in unity) and filled up 12 baskets with the
fragments of the 5 barley loaves, which remained over...
Job 31:35 My desire is that the Almighty would answer me...
Ask Job how many questions God answered? NONE!!! Job had to learn the journey of FAITH!
Read Ecc. 12: 5-7 part --- AND DESIRES SHALL FAIL ---
4. JOHN’S JOURNEY HAD TO LEAD BEYOND DESPAIR, HOPELESSNESS, TO LOSE ALL HOPE,
TO LOSE ALL CONFIDENCE AND THEN TRUST JESUS’ PLAN!
There is a lesson on our journey, when it is over our head, IT IS UNDER JESUS’ FEET!
John 6:16-21 And when even was now come, His disciples went down unto the sea,
17: And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus
was not come to them.
18: And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
19: So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking and they
were afraid.
20: But he saith unto them, it is I: Be not afraid.
21: Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land,
whither they went.
5. DURING JOHN’S JOURNEY THERE WERE TIMES OF DARKNESS.
I had a blind friend named Willie Cook. Willie played the guitar and sang very well. Often I would drive
him to singings. I was describing the view one day. I explained the blue, the red, and the green around
us. He said, Don’t you realize those words are mealiness to me, I have never seen anything but darkness?
Wow, my heart broke for Willie.
Many in the world only know darkness, we must take them to the light!
On the trip to the light there was religious debate? Who sinned? Who cares? Forgive us and heal us, and make
us whole.
John 9:1-2 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2: And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he
was born blind?
The dark journey will take a few more steps in darkness. Jesus spit in the mud, rubbed it in the dark eyes,
and said walk several miles to the pool of Siloam.
Can you image how dumb this blind man looked? Wait the journey will end in light!
6. JOHN’S JOURNEY WILL HAVE TO OVERCOME INDIFFERENCE, APATHY, IDLENESS, LAZINESS.
We often measure life by the speed of the law, Jesus measures by the speed of grace.
The man that refuses to dig and study the Bible is no dumber than the man that cannot read?
Indifference and apathy are two of the great limiters of the church’s growth.
WE OFTEN BRAG OF OUR TRIVIAL PURSUITS,
From "THE MESSAGE" page 1652, by Eugene H. Peterson
I can’t stand your religious meetings. I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religious projects, your pretentious slogans and goals.
I’m sick of your fund raising schemes, your public relations and image making.
I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice --- oceans of it. I want fairness --- rivers of it.
That is what I want. That is all I want!
John 9:27-29 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would
ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples?
28: Then they reviled him, and said, thou art his disciple: but we are Moses’ disciples.
29: We know that God spake unto Moses; as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
7. JOHN’S JOURNEY HAS A BIG ENEMY --- THE ENEMY WE MUST FACE IS DEATH!
Can you feel the sadness that Jesus, Mary and Martha were expressing?
John 11:32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at this feet,
saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
It is easy to see the physical realm and why we should do nothing.
Someone had to exercise FAITH AND ROLL THE STONE AWAY!
The people that say it can’t be done, are being passed by those that are doing it!!!!
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.
Can dead ears hear? Yes, if we have the PRESENCE OF THE MOST HIGH WITH US ON OUR JOURNEY!
John 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
8. THE LAST STEP IN OUR JOURNEY IS UP TO US, CAN YOU ACCEPT ---
... Believeth thou this...
John 11:25 ,26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me
though he were dead, yet shall he live.
26: And who shall ever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
THEY HAD TO WAIT THROUGH HARD SAD HOURS, WHERE ARE YOU JESUS? WHY DO YOU TARRY?
We must learn to BELIEVE AS WE WALK ON OUR JOURNEY.
SUMMARY OF JOHN’S JOURNEY LED HIM THROUGH VALLEYS OF WAITING:
1.DISAPPOINTMENT, HURT, OFFENSE
2. DOUBT, FEAR, WORRY
3. DESIRE, HOPES, WISHES
4. DESPAIR, AGONY, GLOOM
5. DARKNESS, RELIGIOUS DEBATE,
6. INDIFFERENCE, APATHY, COLDNESS, NUMBNESS,
7. DEATH, THE END, THE NEW BEGINNING
8. BELIEVEST THOU THIS?
WHERE IS YOUR JOURNEY LEADING?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Please help me, share my work with others.
