#2 TAKING THE THINGS OF GOD TOO CASUALLY
Missing the presence of God
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part two of a two part series.
TEXT:
Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and courageous, that thou mayest observe to DO according
to ALL My law, which Moses my servant commanded thee. Turn not from it to the right or to the
left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
I have a concern today about some attitudes that exist within the heart of many believers.
We so teach the God of love, that often we get an unhealthy acceptance of sin and wrong.
Sure, I believe that God is love. But I also know a balanced view is better. God is love, but
God’s word is serious and to be obeyed at all times.
Today we palliate wrong. Palliate means to cover up by excuse, to take lightly, to make apologies.
We desire to be so accepting that we tolerate sin as a norm.
We need to turn away. We need to be broken and contrite. Many are contrary, but godly sorrow
is a real fundamental truth we should teach.
There is a big difference between being sorry you got caught, over being genuinely sorry
for you action.
There are two kinds of sin. Sins of commission, that is what you do.
But there is another class of sin, sins of omission, or things we should do that we don’t do.
To know to do right and to do it not is a sin.
I guess we might consider the difference in abuse and neglect?
In this study we have been considering how Jesus can be in our midst and we miss Him.
We can overlook orchids while searching for roses?
We can have a visitation from God and not even realize He has been here.
There is a story of a man that lived in the mountains. There had been a lot of rain. The rain was causing flooding. The man prayed and asked Jesus to help him.
The man felt assured that Jesus would come and help him in his situation.
The flood waters started ascending.
The neighbor came and said, Come on, lets go to safety before the water raises over the road.
The man said, No, Jesus is going to help me.
Later, the rains poured down and a boat came right up the street. The boat stopped and the rescuer
invited the man to go in the boat to safety.
The man refused to leave. He stated that God assured him help was on it’s way.
The flood waters raised so much that the man had to climb on top of the house.
A national guard helicopter flew over and offered to take him to safety.
The man again refused aid, because God was going to help him.
Late in the night, the man was angry at God for leaving him out there on top of his house.
The man said, God, you forget me up hear.
God said, NO! NO, I DIDN’T --- I SENT HELP TO YOU THREE TIMES TODAY AND YOU REFUSED TO
ACCEPT MY HELP.
God was in the car, in the boat, and in the helicopter.
V. THOMAS WAS TOO BUSY FOR PRAYER MEETING AND THOMAS MISSED JESUS.
John 20:19 -- 23 records a very interesting story of missing the presence of Jesus.
John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, WAS NOT WITH THEM WHEN JESUS CAME.
1. WHAT DID THOMAS MISS BY SKIPPING ONE LITTLE SERVICE?
A. Thomas missed seeing Jesus with his eyes.
B. Jesus gave those gathered a measure of PEACE. (John 20:19)
C. Thomas is going to miss out on JOY and GLADNESS. (John 20:20)
D. Thomas is going to miss out on a commissioning, Jesus given authority. (John 20:23)
E. Thomas will miss out on a special touch of the Holy Spirit. (John 20:22)
F. Thomas had missed some really good fellowship with the brethren.
2. WHAT DID THOMAS GET?
A. Thomas gets a second hand story, hearsay. Hearsay is not admissible in court.
B. Thomas gets a big dose of doubt.
C. Thomas will forever have a new last name, Thomas THE DOUBTER.
D. Thomas faces embarrassment when he finally sees Jesus.
E. Thomas will be rebuked by the Master for his doubt, fear, and missing the opportunity.
Thomas, yes, you see and believe! But blessed are those that believe without seeing.
Don’t miss the prayer meeting!
VI. RECALL THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS?
A. The Master distributed talents, to one he gave five, to another two, and to another one.
I have an opinion, I think the guy with one talent planned on doing something, until he heard
the other guy got five talents, then he was jealous and took the attitude,
SO WHAT TO THE MASTER’S OPPORTUNITY.
Maybe the one talent man just didn’t realize his importance to the Master?
Matthew 25:18 But he that had received one talent went and digged in the earth, and hid His Lord’s
money.
B. Some of you today are sitting on hidden talents. You don’t value the Master’s visit.
You don’t value the opportunity to advance the work of the Kingdom of God.
Some pastor is crying and alone. Some child is counting on you! Some missionary needs your gift.
Please, please, don’t waste the visitation of the Divine Presence of Jesus.
Get up and do something! The presence of the Master will be worth it all.
VII. WHEN THE CHURCH WORSHIPS LIKE THE HEATHEN? LACK OF REVERENCE AND RESPECT.
DO ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD? DAVID ALLOWED AN EASY COME--- EASY GO SPIRIT
TO DEVELOP IN THE CAMP.
The Philistines capture the ARK OF THE COVENANT.
The Philistine place the ARK in the temple with their God, Dagon.
Dagon falls over during the night.
The second night Dagon falls over and breaks off the head and the palms of the hands.
The Philistines decide to get id of the ARK.
The Philistines make a NEW CART, and hitch two cows to the wagon.
The cows leave their calves and head toward Israel.
ISRAEL WAS BLESSED PHYSICALLY, FINANCIALLY, AND THE NATION WAS THRIVING.
BUT DAVID WANTED A SPIRITUAL REVIVAL, AND THE REVIVAL CAN NEVER BE COMPLETE WITHOUT
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT.
So David and several thousand people head out to the ARK. They take a NEW CART.
They are singing and worshipping and very excited for the Ark representing God’s Covenant
is coming home.
UZZAH, David’s friend walks and worships, the OXEN pulling the cart, tilts, and UZZAH
rush to stay the ARK.
UZZAH dies on the spot.
II Samuel 6:8 And David was displeased, because the Lord ...
9. David was afraid...
THERE IS A QUICK WAY TO LOSE YOUR JOY AND PRAISE, THERE IS A QUICK WAY TO
ANGER AND FEAR --- It is ignorance of God’s word and disobedience and SIN!
GOD HAS VERY CLEAR DIRECTIONS, BUT DAVID TAKES GOD’S WORD LIGHTLY.
Only a Levite, a priest may carry the Ark.
Exodus 25:14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the Ark,
that the Ark may be borne with them.
DAVID FINDS REVERENCE AND RESPECT IN THE WORD OF GOD.
OBEDIENCE IS ESSENTIAL...
1 Chronicles 15:15 And the children of the Levites bare the Ark of God on their shoulders,
with staves thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the WORD OF THE LORD.
16. Now, things are going to be different, the singers sing, the musicians play, they dance before
the Lord, WITH GREAT JOY.
Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and courageous, that thou mayest observe to DO according
to ALL My law, which Moses my servant commanded thee. Turn not from it to the right or to the
left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
We need a return to the HOLY and the PROFANE. We need RESPECT AND REVERENCE BACK IN
THE HOUSE OF GOD. We need a HUNGER FOR TRUTH and the WORD of GOD!
We need OBEDIENCE and INTEGRITY and SUBMISSION back in the hearts of God’s people.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr., Kyfingers@aol.com
Please help enlarge my hands, pass this on to others.
