FAILURE --- THE ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL
OR THE THEORY OF THE WEAKEST LINK?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I HAVE A METAL CHAIN AND IN A HIDDEN PART OF THE CHAIN I HAVE A LINK MADE OF YARN, WE HAVE A PULLING CONTEST?
What happens? I expose the weakest link?
I take a guitar in tune.
There are 6 strings on the guitar. Each one has an assigned value, with C being 440 vibrations a second.
The strings values are --- 1. E, 2. B, 3. G, 4. D, 5. A, 6. E...
Let us know this is the standard, but now let us take the fourth string and tune in one step higher, so we will make it E, instead of D.
Now make your chords, how pretty will the chords sound?
Just one string’s value changed the whole value system?
TEXT:
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I
found none.
I. WHAT ARE YOU OFFERING THE KING? AS INDIVIDUALS AND COLLECTIVELY.
A. THE KING AND HIS LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE.
Years ago I heard one of the best illustrations to demonstrate the importance of an individual to the collective body and I have used it ten thousand times. This lesson is very important.
There was a King that really loved his people. He had been a fair and faithful King to his little nation. The people really loved the King and were thankful for a God given leader.
B. One day the King thought I would like to honor the people of this nation. So he decided to have the largest feast ever known. The King sent out invitations far and wide, ALL COME TO THE GREAT FEAST AS I THE KING DESIRE TO HONOR MY PEOPLE. I WILL PROVIDE EVERY THING, THE MEAT, THE VEGETABLES, THE BREADS, AND THE DESERTS, I WILL PROVIDE EVERYTHING AND HAVE ALL THINGS READY. ALL I ASK IS FOR THE PEOPLE TO BRING THEIR BEST BOTTLE OF WINE AND WE WILL POUR THE BOTTLE IN THE KING’S ROYAL VAT, AND WE WILL HAVE A TIME OF GATHERING TOGETHER AS I THE KING WILL HONOR MY PEOPLE.
C. The year had been bountiful, the grape harvest was the best ever. The people had a great surplus of wine. One of the King’s citizens thought about which bottle he might bring to the great feast. This little citizen thought about the great Royal Wine vat. He had seen it. The vat held over 5,000 gallons of wine.
D. The little citizen and his wife bought new clothes and shoes and prepared several days for the great feast. Everyone was so happy and full of joy for their King and the honor he would bestow on his people.
E. The little citizen finally decided on his bottle of wine, he had the most beautiful green glass bottle. The citizen polished the bottle and cleaned it, and he decided to pour water in his bottle. No one would notice, no one would know, he would save his wine for himself, and take a bottle of water in it’s place.
F. The little servant got in line and waited to climb the steps to the huge wine vat. He looked around and very carefully poured his bottle of water into the wine vat. No one would ever know, in 5,000 gallons of wine his bottle of water would not matter, so he quietly poured his green bottle of water into the huge vat. The little citizen stepped down and he and his wife were seated near the King.
G. The King and Queen came out and greeted the people. The King stepped to the little citizen and thanked him for the years of loyal service he had given the nation.
The man felt so humbled. He thought about his donation of the bottle of water, but the King will never know, no one will know.
H. The food was served --- the best prime beef, roast pork, lamb, goat, --- the King had spared nothing. The King called on his little citizen to ask God’s blessings on the people, the nation and the King. The little man arose and stepped forward to pray. He knew in his heart that he had not given his best, he had given water in his pretty green bottle. But the little man prayed a very sincere prayer before God and
His King. He felt bad, but no one would ever know he brought water.
I. A servant took the King and Queen’s Golden Chalices and stepped to the vat to draw wine for the King. The tap was opened and out of the vat poured crystal clear water.
Nothing but water! WATER!
J. The King pondered how could this be?
SEEMS EVERY ONE IN THE KING THOUGHT THAT THEIR BOTTLE OF WINE WOULD NOT MATTER SO THEY ALL SUBSTITUTED WATER FOR THE WINE.
Not one of the King’s people that what they did mattered, so they offered the King water.
K. The joy and the happiness of the great feast was spoiled, no one had honored the King with their best. The King had given his best, but his people thought their gift did not matter so they all offered the King water.
L. WHAT ARE YOU OFFERING THE KING?
II. HE WHO EXCUSES HIMSELF --- ACCUSES HIMSELF...
NO MAN WOULD EVER DO ANYTHING WRONG UNLESS HE CAN FIRST JUSTIFY HIS WRONG IN HIS OWN EYES.
A. SELF JUSTIFICATION COMES BY EXCUSES AND PALLIATION.
Luke 14:18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
B. THREE CLASSIFICATIONS OF EXCUSES ARE OFFERED TO AVOID PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
1. MATERIALISM PRIORITIES---
a. A theory that physical matter is the only or fundamental reality and that all being and
processes and phenomena can be explained as manifestations or results of matter.
b. A doctrine that only the highest values or things lie in well being and progress.
A preoccupation with or stress upon material rather than spiritual or intellectual things.
c. You know this man had already seen the ground else he is a big fool to buy land without seeing it.
d.He was not going to work the land, he was going to see it, and no doubt he had his wagon full of people, taking them away form the King’s biding to see his new
acquisition.
2. BUSINESS/ PLEASURE PRIORITIES ---
a. The oxen was used two fold.
First to pull plows and do labor in the fields.
Then to pull the family wagon to outings and pleasure trips.
b. Again this man is a fool if he purchased oxen without first proving them.
Would we buy a used car without starting it or driving it? NEVER!
Again he is not going into the fields to work, he is going to see...
3. RELATIONAL/ SCHEDULING PRIORITIES ---
a. Many have great sympathy for the one getting married, he has the right to marry and enjoy a honey moon.
b. Even in the Jewish Army when a man married and a one year deferment from \military duty.
c. WE MISS THE POINT!THE POINT HERE IS THE RELATIONSHIP IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE KING’S DUTY?
d. The point is the wedding could have been scheduled before or after the King’s duty was performed.
e. The individual’s placed a great responsibility on their duties than on the corporate
duties.
WHAT EXCUSE TO WE OFFER TODAY?
III. HE WHO STANDS FOR NOTHING WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING!
WHAT IS YOUR POST OF DUTY?
A. I HAVE A DUTY TO THE WHOLE, NOT JUST WHAT I THINK --
HAVING DONE ALL STAND!
Ephes. 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
B. There was a terrible war going on --- the whole world was drawn into the battle, they called the conflict WORLD WAR I.
The conflict was hard and bad.
A new group of soldiers were preparing to load on the ship, and they had a PARADE OF HEROES. The soldiers marched in perfect formation down the street.
One old, old lady was sweeping her porch as the band of soldiers marched past. She cried and prayed for them.
After several groups had marched by, the old lady put her broom on her soldier and fell into formation and marched with the soldiers.
Several people laughed and called her a "fool."
The old lady kept marching, she said, Maybe I can’t fight with them, but I can show my support and love and appreciation. So she marched with her soldiers.
IV. WE CAN NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF UNITY AND AGREEMENT AS WELL
AS THE POWER OF STRIFE AND DISCORD.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
A. The was a great world leader named Winston Churchill.
As a young British soldier he was assigned guard duty.
The German bombers were destroying whole neighborhoods of London, many soldiers were running for cover.
Someone yelled at Winston, COME ON, LET US RUN AND HIDE.
Winston Churchill replied, I WILL NOT TAKE THE COWARDLY POSITION, I WILL STAND AT MY POST OF DUTY.
B. WE USED TO SING...
I am on the battlefield for my Lord,
I am on the battlefield for my Lord,
I promised Him that I would serve Him UNTIL I DIE ...
C. There was only one way to defeat the south! DIVIDE IT!
General Grant and General Sherman fought for the north.
They saw General Lee as a mighty foe, what could they do to defeat the south and bring this nation back together as one?
THEY DEVELOPED THE ANACONDA PLAN --- the plan was to divide and conquer.
The anaconda is a large constricting snake of the boa family.
The General’s knew they could not defeat the south as a whole, they had to divide and separate to conquer the whole.
Sherman marched through the south, and forces were divided, then the south was divided again down the Mississippi River.
V. PEOPLE DON’T PLAN TO FAIL, THEY FAIL TO PLAN, AND THUS FAILURE LOOMS
AHEAD.
A. OUR ENEMY HAS A PLAN, A THREE FOLD PLAN:
1. STEAL
2. KILL
3. DESTROY
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
B. Every good coach has a game plan?
Every good General has a battle plan?
C. WHAT IS OUR PLAN?
D. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN?
E. EVEN DEAD FISH SWIM DOWN STREAM!
VI. THERE ARE SEVERAL SAD DAYS IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH --- WHEN MORE IS LESS?
A. INDIVIDUALS MAY HIDE THEIR SIN, WEIGHT AND WEAKNESSES, BUT TIME WILL TELL.
Joshua 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the
children of Israel.
B. JERICHO WAS GOD’S PLAN, the people had sought after God. Sometimes after a great victory we learn to depend on the flesh.
C. AI WAS THE PLAN OF THE FLESH, no one sought God’s plan. The role of the individual intensifies when we move in the arm of the flesh.
Joshua 7:3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not
all the people to lab our thither; for they are but few.
Joshua 7:20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
VII. WE TEACH AND BELIEVE IN A GOD CALLED LEADERSHIP.
WE ARE DOOMED AS INDIVIDUALS IF WE DO NOT SUBMIT.
A. I am not independent, NO MAN IS AN ISLAND TO HIMSELF!
B. IF A BANANA IS PULLED FROM THE BUNCH, IT IS GETTING READY TO BE SKINNED.
Ezekiel 34:5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or
seek after them.
7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord;
8 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd,
neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
C. I NEED THE SAFETY OF A GROUP!
YOU NEED THE SAFETY OF THE POWER AND WISDOM OF A GROUP!
D. Yes, where there is man there are imperfections, but there is great danger where Christians do not hold themselves accountable.
E. I gladly submit to the leadership over me --- wisdom and experience can team with understanding and do God’s work.
Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
F. TEAM --- T-ogehter E-ach A-ccomplishes M-ore.
VIII. THERE ARE SEVERAL HAPPY DAYS IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH --- WHEN LESS IS MORE?
A. IT IS NOT THE SIZE OF THE DOG IN THE FIGHT,
IT IS THE SIZE OF THE FIGHT IN THE DOG.
Judges 7:12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.
Judges 7:21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
B. Gideon went from 30,000 to 300 and did God’s work.
C. ARE YOU STANDING IN YOUR PLACE?
D. CAN THE PASTOR COUNT ON YOU?
E. DO YOU VOLUNTEER FOR ACTIVE DUTY?
F. Some want to be WEEKEND WARRIORS?
G. DISCUSS THE THEORY OF THE WEAKEST LINK?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I need you to help this weak link? Join my team and pass this on to others?
