IS THIS FRUITLESSNESS AT IT’S BEST?
OR SHOULD WE TRY AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Here I use a Galileo thermometer.
A Galileo thermometer uses the lowest floating ball to determine what the temperature is. This is a fairly accurate system to measure temperatures.
I bought my Galileo thermometer at Walmart for about $9.00.
We often want to look at what we think is a fruitless, burned over field, and throw up our hands and quit. May be this is a great opportunity to try again! Let God arise!
I. LORD, I SEE THE NEED. EVERYBODY CAN SEE THE BARREN, DRYNESS. LORD I SEE THE FRUITLESSNESS, AND THIS IS BAD?
Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
A. HERE I AM LORD, USE ME, LORD, LET ME TRY AGAIN.
B. LORD, I NEED TO INVEST IN THIS TREE!
C. I VOLUNTEER TO PUT EFFORT, LOVE AND SWEAT EQUITY.
D. YOU MAY COUNT THE SEEDS IN THIS APPLE,
BUT ONLY GOD CAN SEE THE APPLES IN THE SEED!
E. WHAT IS IN THIS LESSON?
I AM ALWAYS AMAZED THAT WE DON’T KNOW THE REST OF THE
STORY?
Did the tree bear fruit?
Did the tree remain barren?
With no mention of the fruit, the lesson must be deeper than that?
THE LESSON MUST BE TRY AGAIN.
F. Thomas Palmer said:
Tis a lesson we must heed, Try and Try again.
If you don’t first succeed, try, try again.
G. I hear, THIS IS A BURNED OVER FIELD?
I have seen burned, dry, seemingly worthless ground, turn green and yield beautiful flowers and give much life after the rain and spring sun shines
again!
H. TRIUMPH?
It is just a big TRY with a little UMPH behind it!
II. WHOSE FAULT IS THIS?
LET ME BLAME YOU OR AT LEAST BLAME SOMEONE ELSE?
A. I love to listen to Doctor Laura C. Schlessinger.
Dr. Laura Schlessinger has an international syndicated radio program. Dr. Laura says she preaches, teaches, and nags about morals, values, ethics and principles.
B. Her format is what some call --- "shrink talk."
C. Dr. Laura was a devoted atheist many years and then converted to Judaism. I do not always agree with her and what she says, but she does offer a cry
to America to a call back to Biblical morals and values.
D. Dr. Laura has written many books:
The Ten Commandments: The Significance of God’s Laws in Everyday Life,
Ten Stupid Things Men Do to Mess up their Lives,
Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess up Their Lives, and
How Could You Do That?!
To mention a few.
I have read much of her works and find hidden nuggets of wisdom in them.
E. Dr. Laura has a basic teaching, that there is a prevailing notion that some one else is responsible for my problems, failures, unhappiness, and frustrations.
F. We tend to move in fears, weaknesses, impulsive behaviors, and undisciplined desires because we have little to no value systems.
III. We have grown in the USA a VICTIMIZED ATTITUDE.
A. We think we are victims and that we have no choice in where we are or the attitudes that we tend to keep?
B. We are not helpless victims pushed and shoved into this trap?
C. We are not just dead fish swimming down stream and letting every current dictate where we are and where we are going.
D. We desire to be popular and politically correct and to be non-offensive.
E. We walk in a church and a society that is HYPERSENSITIVE to man’s view point, and we forget about God and eternity!.
F. We are looking for a REASON TO QUIT and throw up our hands in disgust and say, See I told you!
G. We are raising a generation of QUITTERS!
1 Cor. 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
IV. IS THERE A STANDARD? IS EVERYBODY RIGHT? DO ALL ROADS LEAD TO GOD? ARE WE CHASING RAINBOWS AND TIGER’S TAILS IN OUR SEARCH?
A. Remember the old story where the tiger chased his tail? He chased and chased his tail until he turned into butter?
1 Tim. 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
B. Are we letting our emotions and feelings dictate our priorities?
We want schools with no home work?
We want to do our chores at home during commercials?
We want to be lean, mean fighting machines while sitting on the couch eating greasy foods and smacking our lips?
C. WE WANT TO HAVE SPECTATOR SPORTS AND SPECTAOR FAMILIES.
Are we training lazy, non-exertion, sluggish behavior of inactivity in our families?
We don’t want to be strict, that is mean?
D. We will set goals as long as we don’t have to expend effort and energy to accomplish them!
E. I MUST TELL YOU THAT THOSE THAT SAY IT CAN’T BE DONE ARE BEING PASSED BY THOSE DOING IT!
F. YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO...
G. GOD WILL PULL YOU THROUGH, IF YOU CAN STAND THE PULL.
V. THERE IS A HIDDEN AND LIFE THREATENING CANCER THRVING IN MANY CHRISTIAN HEARTS!
LET US CONSIDER THE ROLE OF APATHY IN THE CHURCH AND OUR FAMILIES?
A. WHAT IS APATHY?
***Apathy is the lack of commitment and feeling or emotions.
***Apathy is indifference and a lack of concern in important issues.
B. We are a lukewarm, bored society and church?
Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
C. WITH APATHY IN OUR HEARTS WE CAN NOT BRING ABOUT CHANGE, WE WILL NEVER TRANSFORM THE DARKNESS INTO LIGHT HIDING BEHIND APATHY.
We need emotion in our movement and actions.
D. THE DEATH OF A CHURCH AND LEADERSHIP CAN NEVER COME
FROM AN ASSASSINS BULLET OR FROM PERSECUTION.
SLOW EXTINCTION COMES AS A RESULT OF APATHY, INDIFFERENCE,UNDERNOURNISHMENT, AND HALF-HEARTEDNESS.
E. THE TRAGEDY OF THE CHURCH AND LOVE IS APATHY AND
INDIFFERENCE!
1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
VI. THE TRUE BEGINNING OF CHANGE IS CARING IN LOVE.
THERE IS GREAT WISDOM IN CARING PEOPLE.
A. MISDIRECTED CARE?
Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
B. TO REALLY CARE COSTS!
God delivers care into your hands!
Luke 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou
spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
C. REAL CARE IS CAST AT JESUS’ FEET.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
VII. OFTEN TIMES THE TRAPS ARE SET WHEN WE PLACE MORE
IMPORTANCE AND CARE MORE FOR FLEEING PLEASURES THAN
WHAT HAS ETERNAL VALUES?
Is what breaks my heart what breaks God’s heart?
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
A. LOVE IS A CHOICE AND A COMMITMENT.
PART A: 1 Cor. 13:8 Charity (LOVE) never fails:
B. What is the difference in giving and commitment?
That is easy, The pig said to the chicken, What shall we have for breakfast?
The chicken said, EGGS and BACON.
That is the difference in dedication and commitment.
C. WHAT IS MY PURPOSE IN LIFE?
HOW SHALL I GO ABOUT ACCOMPLISHING MY PURPOSE?
SHALL WE DUNG AGAIN?
CAN WE HELP EACH OTHER BEAR MORE FRUIT?
DO WE KNOW THEIR PAST AND SAY WE KNOW WHAT IS THE USE?
D. WHY IS ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS A LITTLE PRACTICED DEED?
VIII. WE FALL INTO THE TRAPS OF HABITUAL BEHAVIOR AND FALLEN COUNTENANCES.
A. WE GROW A FIX-IT MENTALITY BECAUSE WE WANT TO HELP?
SO IF I CAN FIX-IT I AM GOOD?
If I can’t fix it I must be lacking in my walk with God? This is not true.
B. HOW CAN I CHANGE MY COUNTENANCE?
AM I FOREVER TRAPPED HERE?
C. GENETICS AND ENVIRONMENT PLAY BIG ROLES IN WHO WE ARE? BUT WHY PLAY DOWN THE ROLE OF CHOICES AND SELF DISCIPLINE?
D. HUMANS ARE THE ONLY VARMENTS THAT BUILD AND SET A TRAP, AND THEN FALL INTO THE SAME?
E. WE BUILD AND RE-INFORCE REPEATED BEHAVIOR AND WORDS
THAT GROW INTO HABIT TRAPS. WE FALL TWICE INTO THE SAME TRAP?
E. COUNTENANCE:
***The indications of the mood, emotion, or character of a person.
***Bearing demeanor. *** Look, expression.
***Mental or emotional composure.
Proverbs 15:13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
F. WE ARE HABITUAL PEOPLE. WILL YOU LOOK AT YOUR HABITUAL BEHAVIORS?
HABIT:
***A behavior pattern acquired by repetition or physiologic exposure that shows
itself regularly.
***A MANNER OR WAY OF CONDUCTING YOURSELF.
***The prevailing disposition or character of a person’s thoughts and feelings.
***Mental make up.
***A settle tendency or usual manner of behavior.
G. You can so establish habitual behaviors that your actions can become nearly involuntary.
H. Habits become self feeding and self sustaining and can literally hide from the notice of the doer.
I. HABITS ARE SHACKLES FOR FREE PEOPLE!
J. How do we breed habits?
TO FALL INTO HABITS CAN BEGIN GREAT PROBLEMS
AND CEASATION OF JOY AND THANKFULNESS.
K. HOW CAN I CHANGE MY COUNTENANCE? MY HABITUAL BEHAVIOR?
L. WE DON’T NEED ANY MORE THERMOTERS IN THE CHURCH?
Here I use a Galileo thermometer.
A Galileo thermometer uses the lowest floating ball to determine what the temperature is. This is a fairly accurate system to measure temperatures.
But we need THERMOSTATS TO ARISE WITHIN THE CHURCH,
TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE CAN CONTROL THE TEMPERATURES.
1. IDENTIFY IT.
2. TURN TO THE WORD OF GOD.
THE WORD OF GOD DOES THE WORK OF GOD.
THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT BIRTHDAY CAKE, IT IS DAILY BREAD!
DUSTY BIBLES BUILD DIRTY LIVES!
The preacher was over visiting at an old lady’s house.
The preacher asked the old woman for her Bible, he wanted to read some scriptures to comfort her.
She sent her grandson to find the Bible.
The preacher opened the Bible and there was the old woman’s glasses.
The preacher handed her the glasses, and the old woman said, Praise the Lord, I was getting to where I could not thread my needles,
I lost my glasses three years ago.
3. GETHSEMANE COMES BEFORE THE UPPER ROOM!
M. REMARKABLE CHANGES IN LIFE, FAMILIES, CHURCHES, AND
INDIVIDUALS COME ABOUT BY REMARKABLE CHANGES IN DAILY
PRAYER LIFE.
Let us invite the Holy Spirit to do His office work and convict us, and help us come to the POINT OF CHANGE AND GROWTH where our focus is producing more fruit to lay at Jesus’ feet.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
