LEARN THE THREE LESSONS FROM THOSE KNOCKED DOWN?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I. INTRODUCTION:
A. I have a piece of paper, 8 1/2 by 11.
I draw a real black spot about the size of a quarter right in the middle. I ask people that have seen this illustration to please not respond.
I pick out a person that I know this is a new illustration to answer me.
I say, Don’t think a lot, I am going to show you something, and I want you to answer very quickly what you see?
I hold up the piece of paper with the dark black spot and I ask them: --- WHAT DO YOU SEE?
100% OF THE TIME THE PERSON HAS ANSWERED --- A BLACK SPOT?
I am always amazed, in all my years of doing this, no one has ever said, I see a piece of paper?
They have always answered --- I SEE A BLACK SPOT.
B. THERE ARE 98 X’s MORE WHITE THERE THAN WHAT IS BLACK? BUT PEOPLE FOCUS ON THE BLACK SPOT.
Is that amazing, no one has ever said they see a big piece of paper?
C. I tear the black spot out and leave just the paper, but the hole is very apparent.
Though you remove the black spot, the scar or damage is left behind as a result.
You cannot remove the black spot or the damage it has caused.
D. WELL, THAT IS THE WAY LIFE GOES YOU CAN DO GOOD 98% OF THE TIME, BUT SOME PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER YOUR BLACK SPOT UNTIL YOU DIE?
E. Let me prove this point.
In 1982 I was visiting this old widow lady from the church I pastored.
She told me the story of a young girl that got pregnant and was not married. The young girl’s dad was mad and disappointed at her.
I understood that the Dad was going to kick the girl out of the house.
I felt so sorry for her?
As I was leaving, we had a prayer and I prayed for this young girl and her Dad.
I inquired where did she live? I would visit her and try to help?
The old lady told me, OH, THE BABY IS 28 YEARS OLD NOW.
The baby she was referring to was about my age.
The lady could not let go of the mistake this woman
II. WE OFTEN WANT TO JUDGE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN KNOCKED DOWN? OTHERS OF US LOVE TO JUDGE THOSE PEOPLE THAT FELL DOWN ON THEIR OWN? LET US STUDY THE BASIC THREE ATTITUDES OF I HAVE FALLEN ---
A. LORD HELP ME ---
Those who deserve love the least need it the most.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
B. LOVE MUST BE A LONG TERM INVESTMENT.
We must give today, and hope to have a return on our investment at a later date.
III. WHAT ATTITUDE WILL I TAKE WHEN I HAVE FALLEN?
WHAT ATTITUDE WILL I TAKE WHEN OTHERS FALL?
WILL I TREAT OTHERS LIKE I WANT TO BE TREATED?
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
IV. ATTITUDE NUMBER ONE WE LIKE TO WHITEWASH OUR BEHAVIOR. I HAVE FALLEN, I AM HUMAN, HUMANS FAIL.
MY MISTAKE? SO WHAT? I AM STILL PRETTY GOOD AND BETTER THAN MANY OTHERS.
Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
A. CAN WE NOT UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
WHITEWAHSED?
WASHED WHITE?
B. THERE IS AN IMPORTANT WORD WE DON’T WANT TO HEAR IN THE CHURCH
TODAY --- IT IS CALLED PALLIATE!
C. LET US LOOK AT WHAT PALLIATE MEANS:
To cover up with excuses and apologies.
To moderate the intensity of.
To cloak or conceal.
To cause to have a less harsh effect. To ease, to lighten.
To sugar coat, whitewash.
To hide with flattery or deceptive pleasantry.
D. MAN CAN LIE, EXCUSE HIS BEHAVIOR, AND MAKE FALSE CLAIMS OF OBEDIENCE and sell himself on a lie?
1 Samuel 15:10 Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying,
11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved
Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.
13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.
14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
E. SAUL KNOWS BETTER, HE PALLIATES HIS BEHAVIOR.
1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
F. SAUL DID NOT REPENT BUT HE EXCUSED HIS BEHAVIOR,
SAUL REFUSED TO WAIT FOR SAMUEL, AND TOOK WORSHIP IN HIS OWN HANDS.
He who excuses himself, accuses himself!
1 Samuel 13:12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
G. SAUL LOST HIS RESPECT FOR THE HOLY AND THE PROFANE.
SAUL IS RULED BY TEMPER FITS AND BAD BEHAVIOR.
THEN SAUL EXCUSES HIS BEHAVIOR.
1 Samuel 15:27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
28 And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
H. THE PEOPLE MADE ME DO IT? Who was the King?
I FEARED THE PEOPLE? Who heard the orders and was responsible to lead?
I. SAUL DOES NOT REPENT BUT HE WANTS TO LOOK GOOD IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE?
1 Samuel 15:30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that
I may worship the Lord thy God.
31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the Lord.
V. ATTITUDE NUMBER TWO WHEN DEALING WITH FAILURE!
THERE IS ANOTHER TYPE IN DEALING WITH WRONG ---
HOW WILL I HANDLE PEOPLE THAT FELL?
WILL MY DISAPPOINTMENT DRIVE ME?
A. THERE IS A SECOND TYPE IN THE BATTLE OF FALLING.
IT IS A PEOPLE WATCHER AND FAULT FINDER!
B. THERE IS A SUPER SMART MAN NAMED AHITHOPHEL, HIS LESSON IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
C. JEWISH HISTORY TEACHES THAT AHITHOPEL WAS BATHSHEBA’S GRANDFATHER.
D. AHITHOPHEL WAS A MIGHTY MAN OF WISDOM AND HE WAS A COUNSELLOR TO THREE GREAT LEADERS.
SAUL
DAVID
ABSALOM
2 Samuel 16:23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel
of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
E. WHEN AHITHOPHEL SPOKE HIS WISDOM WAS SURE.
F. AHITHOPHEL SIDED WITH THE REBELLIOUS ABSALOM.
ABSALOM MADE MANY GREAT PROMISES AND BRIBERY.
G. BUT THE REAL REASON AHITHOPHEL SIDED WITH THE REBELLION AGAINST KING DAVID, IS AHITHOPHEL COULD REMEBER DAVID’S SEXUAL SIN WITH HIS GRANDDATHER.
H. AHITHOPHEL THOUGHT THAT GOD COULD NOT USE DAVID, DAVID WAS A HYPOCRITE AND A BAD SINNER.
I. AHITHOPHEL LET THE PAST DRIVE HIS FUTURE.
IN GREAT DISAPPOIUNTMENT...
SAUL LET HIM DOWN ---
DAVID LET HIM DOWN ---
NOW HIS HOPE IN ABSALOM WAS DASHED ---
2 Samuel 17:23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and
put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
J. THE ATTITUDE OF THE OLDER BROTHER --- BUT YOU NEVER KILLED A FATTED CALF FOR ME --- WHERE DID HE EAT EVERY DAY?
Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
K. WHY DID THE SON GO TO THE SERVANT FOR SECOND HAND INFORMATION? WHY DIDN’T THE SON GO STRAIGHT TO THE FATHER?
Luke 15:26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
L. THIS SON WAS NOT PERFECT, HE HAD MADE MISTAKES.
HE WAS COMPARING HOW GOOD HE WAS NEXT TO HIS BROTHER.
HE WAS REFUSING TO CHANGE!
Luke 15:28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
VI. TYPE NUMBER THREE ... I MADE STUPID MISTAKES,
HOW COULD I HAVE DONE THAT... PLEASE GOD FORGIVE ME!
A. THE PREACHER SPEAKS A CLEAR MESSAGE:
THOU ART THE MAN...
2 Samuel 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
B. DAVID COMES CLEAN, NO EXCUSES --- GUILTY AS CHARGED ---
2 Samuel 12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin;
thou shalt not die.
C. GUESS WHO WROTE THE GREATEST CHAPTER IN THE BIBLE ON REMISSION OF SINS AND FOR SANCTIFICATION AND JUSTIFICATION?
Psalm 51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
D. HOW DOES GOD LOOK AT DAVID? DOES GOD REMEBER DAVID LIKE AHITHOPHEL REMEMBERED HIM?
LOOK IN THE NEW TESTAMNET?
GOD SAW BEYOND THE FAILURE, AND LOOKED TO A MAN’S HEART!
Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
E. WHILE THOSE THAT KNEW DAVID AND KNEW HIS STUPID SIN MAY HAVE REMEMBERED THE BLACK, AND THE SWORD OF JUDGMENT WAS IN DAVID’S HOME ...
F. THE HALLWAYS OF THE PALACE GREW QUIET ... DAVID HAD A PARIDIGM SHIFT.
2 Samuel 12:23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
H. CONCLUSION:
WHICH OF THESE THREE ATTITUDES WILL YOU TAKE WHEN YOU OR A FRIEND FALLS?
WIL YOU BE LIKE SAUL, AHITHOPHEL OR DAVID?
DISCIPLINE YOUR HEART, SEEK GOD, IF YOU FALL GET UP,
YOU HAVE AN ADVOCATE.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
LET US COME CLEAN, BE WASHED WHITE AND ALLOW GOD TO
KEEP US...
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
