#11--- DIVINE POSSIBILITIES: KILL THE SACRED COW?
LEAVING YOUR COMFORT ZONE?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
We are studying Divine Possibilities:
1. Climb into God’s Envelope; 2. Accept the Mantle;
3. Starving at a feast; 4. Let God!
5. When an unforgiving preacher preaches forgiveness;
6. Rising above the Minimum; 7. Rising above the scars; 8. Every miracle starts with a problem!
9. Walking in Divine blessings;
10. Importunity/Determination
11. KILL THE SACRED COW? Leaving your comfort zone
We are in part 11 of a 12 part series, Divine Possibilities.
God has a plan for you. You must not fall into the trap of sameness.
The older we get the more comfortable we tend to be with just staying the same, or gradual drifting. God’s plan requires effort and persistence to continue and to keep trying until we find the solution.
God has trusted into your hands Divine Possibilities, that is stepping into a new domain and releasing God’s greater plan for you and yours.
We are in the series of Divine Possibilities. God has a place near His heart for you.
We approach God’s throne humbly but boldly as His children.
The closer we walk to the Father the better we will know Him. It is a very important point for those that follow Jesus to come close to Him.
Today we seldom reach above our potential and accept there is more, there is the realm of Divine Possibilities!
We must speak to this spiritual realm and reach for God’s plan.
The closer we are to God and His son Jesus the better we can hear Him.
I. LEARN FROM THE ANTS! BE BUSY!
Proverbs 6: 6. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7. Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler.
8. Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9. How long will thou sleep, O sluggard? When will thou arise out of thy sleep?
10. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little of the folding of the hands to go to
sleep.
A. When I graduated from college, I asked Linda for an ANT FARM.
We bought Uncle Milton’s Ant Farm, and mailed in the certificate for our ants to come.
Several weeks later, Uncle Milton sent us two little bottles of ants.
We put them in the refrigerator for a few minutes, then when they were inactive,we poured the little ants into the ant farm.
B. We loved watching the ants as they were always busy doing something. They built tunnels through out the ant farm. They stored food in one tunnel, they had a room where they buried the dead.
C. We came in from church one night and we were watching the ants. They had a whole system of tunnels and rooms built. Linda flipped her finger and shook the whole ant farm, all the tunnels and rooms
were caving in, she continued until all caved in.
D. I asked her, WHY DID YOU DO THAT?
Linda replied, I WANTED TO SEE WHAT THEY WOULD DO?
The ants all ran to the top of the ant farm and stood there shaking.
When everything calmed down, they stood together in a ball of ants. They stood there for a while.
F. Then one lone ant walked away from the safety of the group.
The lonely ant picked up a grain of sand and carried it to the other side. He made another load, and another load, and all the other ants just stood
there watching.
G. After many loads another ant broke off the group and started helping him carry the sand. They started shaking with excitement.
They worked for awhile, and finally another ant and another ant joined in and before long all the ants were very busy carrying sand.
H. When we got up the next morning there were some new tunnels and rooms, the little ants worked all night. Their work was ever so small, but together
the small ants doing their small work accomplished their little town.
I. I later read, when one ant gets excited about working, he starts shaking, and he gives off a sweet smell that the other ants smell. They get excited,
and the whole ant farm unites behind one worker.
J. The worker is not a BOSS, the worker is an example, a path maker, and the others just follow with joy.
K. WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE CHURCH IF ONE WORKER GOT EXCITED?
I think others would to.
II. WE MUST HAVE CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S PLAN AND THAT GOD
REWARDS THOSE THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM!
A. Read this verse:
Philipians 4:18. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you AN ODOR OF A SWEET SMELL, A SACRIFICE ACCEPTABLE, WELLPLEASING TO GOD!
B. Hebrews 11:6. But without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that cometh to God must believe that God is a rewarder of them that DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM!
III. THERE IS GREAT DANGER IN DRIFTING.
SHALL WE LISTEN TO THE CAPTAIN OR THE PREACHER?
A. LIFE HAS A WAY OF DRIFTING IDLY AWAY FROM GOD’S PLAN.
Acts 27:10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the landing and ship, but also of our
lives.
B. Drifting would usually suggest, you are driving, but that you are going along with the flow and the current. Drifting also suggests an aimless course.
We as Christian don’t need to drift, we we a purpose and a plan.
IV. WE MUST DO MORE THAN LET THE SHIP DRIVE HERSELF!
Acts 27:15. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
A. Do you let habits dictate to you?
B. Do you not realize you decide what mood you will walk in today?
C. You are a product of your daily choices.
V. WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE LOVE THE COMFORT ZONE TOO MUCH
ANGER AND TROUBLE LIES AHEAD.
A.ANGER IS ONE LETTER SHORT OF danger!
Jonah 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceeding, and he was very angry.
B. WE TEND TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO WANT THINGS DIFFERENT, BUT WE WANT TO STAY THE SAME?
C. It is nothing but insanity to think you can keep doing something the same old way and get a different results.
D. What is your sacred cow?
VI. WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE ARE TOO ANGRY AND STUBBORN TO COME IN OUT OF THE SUN, OPPORTUNITY SHALL BE WASTED!
A. To release Divine Possibilities we can sit by and wish for the day?
Jonah 4:6. And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. SO JONAH WAS EXCEEDING GLAD OF THE GOURD.
B. God’s plan is for people, not toys to play games.
Let God help you change, the world will change when you change!
VII. GOD PREPARES A WORM TO DESTROY JONAH’S COMFORT ZONE.
GOD PREPARES A HOT EAST WIND: TO LAZY TOO CHANGE?
Jonah 4:8. And it came to pass, when the sun did rise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun did beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, IT IS BETTER FOR ME TO DIE THAN TO LIVE.
A. When we elevate anything before God’s plan we will hinder God’s plan.
B. Do we desire God more than applause and popularity?
VIII. WILL WE GET OUT OF THE BOAT, OR WILL WE TALK ABOUT THOSE THAT TRY? ONLY TWO RECORDED IN HISTORY?
Matthew 14: 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, WALKING ON THE SEA!
26. AND WHEN THE DISCIPLES SAW JESUS WALKING ON
THE SEA, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying,
BE OF GOOD CHEER, IT IS I; BE NOT AFRAID!
28. AND PETER ANSWERED HIM AND SAID, LORD, IF IT BE THOU, BID ME TO COME UNTO THEE ON THE WATER.
29. And Jesus said, COME! And Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30. BUT PETER SAW THE WIND boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, LORD SAVE ME!
A. THE SHIP WAS AT A POINT OF NO RETURN.
The boys were too far from either shore to swim back.
B. The wind was contrary.
Opposite of what they had expected? Is this God?
C. FEAR is in the boat.
It is not how much water the boat is in, it is how much water is in the boat!
D. Peter asked: LORD IF IT IS YOU --- starting your walk in doubt is not wise.
E. DON’T EVER GET OUT OF THE BOAT WITHOUT THE INVITATION CLEARED THROUGH JESUS.
Many down through the years have got out of the boat on their own or by presumption!
F. Peter saw the waves not the Master. Don’t lose focus
of the important.
G. After focusing on the waves: FEAR HAS FREE REIGNS?
H. After fear rules, sinking is automatic.
I. At least Peter had enough sense to seek the solution: SAVE ME!
J. BOAT SITTERS ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WATER WALKERS.
Ponder why?
IX. CONCLUSION:
A. ARE WE RECALLING IN OUR SPIRIT THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US A PROMISE? How soon can people forget that God has a plan out of this world?
B. Jesus will be with us! Learn to recognize His voice.
C. Don’t be too slow, don’t get in a hurry! Follow the Divine Leading!
D. Are you allowing the storms to take your eyes off the Divine Solution?
E. Don’t worry about the people back in the boat talking about you!
They will not have this testimony of Divine Possibilities!
F. We must leave our comfort zones and laziness behind and reach higher and higher.
Psalms 68:1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered.
G. ARE WE GOING TO STAY HERE?
WILL WE BELIEVE AND ACCEPT THAT GOD HAS A BIG PLAN FOR US AND THIS CHURCH?
WILL WE SACRIFICE OUR SACRED COWS?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part 11 of 12.
Help me, pass this on to another.
