THIS LAND OF MILK AND HONEY LOOKS LIKE GRASS TO ME?
THIS IS NOT AN OBSTACLE --- THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is a two part lesson.
Let us ponder a few points before we start.
Is not this a land of milk and honey?
NO, TO MY EYES IT LOOKS JUST LIKE A LAND OF GRASS AND
FLOWERS? I don’t see the milk and honey?
WE TEND TO SEE THE GRASS, WITH GOD WE COULD CHANGE THE FOCUS BEYOND THE GRASS OF TODAY. THE GRASS OF TODAY WILL BECOME THE MILK OF TOMORROW. To achieve the milk will take work and effort.
See, God can take the grass of today and make it the milk we need for tomorrow.
WITH THE HELP OF THE BEES THE FLOWERS’ POLLEN CAN BECOME HONEY.
OBSTACLES ARE WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOSE SIGHT OF GOD AND THE GOAL.
DRY WELLS WILL PRODUCE EMPTY BUCKETS?
Don’t waste fresh tears over old wounds.
No problem or obstacle ever caught God by surprise.
OFTEN TIMES THE SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEMS LIE WITHIN OUR REACH --- IF WE WILL APPLY OUR HEART --- TIME --- ENERGY --- AND EFFORT.
TEXT:
Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
I. WE CAN NOT ALLOW THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM TO DICTATE TO US GOD’S OUTCOME!
WE WILL AFFECT THE SIZE OF OUR PROBLEM BY THE SIZE OF OUR FAITH’S RELEASE?
DO WE HAVE EYES OF FAITH?
EYES OF FAITH WILL DREAM OF THE PLACE BEYOND HERE INTO
THE REALM OF WHAT MIGHT BE!
A. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THAT IN SOME FISH THE SIZE OF THE BOWL WILL DETERMINE THE SIZE OF THE FISH?
If some fish are put into a small bowl they will stay small.
In a larger tank they will grow to a larger size?
Place the same fish in a pond and they will grow huge?
B. GREAT MEN OF GOD HAVE FACED GREAT OBSTACLES AND GREAT PROBLEMS.
THEY HAVE FACED PROBLEMS WITHIN AND WITHOUT.
GOD HAD A PLAN, THE OBSTACLES WERE NOT BY ACCIDENT, GOD HAD A PLAN AND PURPOSE.
Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
C. DRY WELLS WILL PRODUCE EMPTY BUCKETS?
D. OBSTACLE:
Something that impedes progress or achievement.
To stand in the way.
Roadblock, stumbling block.
E. Ask any good soldier, hard obstacle courses are good training places.
Can we be effective soldiers without overcoming obstacle courses?
F. It appears we are moving toward a Christmas without Christ.
A church without a purpose.
Prayers without power.
THE CHURCH MUST BE MORE THAN A SOCIAL CLUB.
II. BEING A GOOD CHRISTIAN WILL AFFECT OUR WORDS, OUR ATTITUDES, OUR ACTIONS, --- WE HAVE COME TO THIS POINT FOR A PURPOSE!
THIS OBSTACLE IS NOT TO KILL BUT TO BRING ABOUT GOD’S PLAN!
A. I went to a football game, I told my wife, let us not look at the score board, let us look at the teams and decide who is winning by looking at the coaches
and looking at the team.
After a few seconds we both agreed, this team was winning and this team was loosing, and we were 100% sure.
We looked at the score board, and we were right.
B. Guess how the winners were acting?
Guess how the losers were acting?
C. WE CAN TAKE ONE OF TWO APPROACHES TO LIFE...
1. I AM A VICTIM ...
I am no more than a sacrifice?
Everything that hits me will adversely affect me?
I will be hurt, injured, or destroyed?
Everything will bring me to hardship, oppression, and mistreatment?
2. I AM A VICTOR ...
I will defeat all enemies and opponents!
I am called to conquer.
I am a winner... I am a winner no matter what happens...
D. I am a winner either way...
E. HOW CAN WE BE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR?
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
YEARS AGO I WATCHED SUGAR RAY LEONARD, AFTER A FIGHT, HE WAS PARADING AROUND THE RING, HOLDING UP HIS CHECK.
SUGAR RAY’S WIFE STEPPED IN THE RING AND TOOK THE CHECK.
NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL MORE THAN A CONQUEROR!
III. CAN WE STRETCH TO NEW HEIGHTS?
WILL WE LEARN A PARABLE ABOUT STAYING THE SAME IN THE MIDST OF OBSTACLES?
STAY THE SAME --- OR LEARN AND GROW?
Matthew 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
A. THIS PROBLEM NEVER CAUGHT GOD BY SURPRISE!
B. WE MUST SEE THAT THIS IN OUR HAND IS SEED.
If there is not enough --- then this is seed!
C. CAN GOD?
GOD CAN!
D. THE OLD SYSTEM OF RELIGIOUS LEGALISM CANNOT BE MIXED WITH THE FREEDOM OF THE NEW COVENANT.
E. There are no sadder words of tongue or pen than the words --- WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?
F. This snare or trap might have been an opportunity to see God’s plan released?
G. HAVE WE GROWN INTO A SYSTEM OF LEAKING AND EVAPORATION?
Old wineskins dry out and are unfit for new wine.
To even think about using an old wineskin one would have to soak it in water several days to soften them.
Then after softening them, you would have to grease the old wineskins with olive oil or butter to stop the leaking and evaporation.
H. There is only one way to be assured the new wine would stay good, use new wine skins.
I. WE NEED A COMPLETE RENEWAL OF THE HEART AND ATTITUDES.
THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE IN WHITE WASHED AND WASHED WHITE?
J. We need more than reformed sinners, we need a new touch of the Master’s Hand!
IV. DON’T LISTEN TO ANY VOICE THAT WOULD DECLARE TO YOU, YOU CAN’T.
YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO ----
WE HAVE AN INVITATION INTO A NEW REALM OF FAITH!
A. WHATEVER STORM OR OBSTACLE YOU FACE TODAY DID NOT CATCH GOD BY SURPRISE.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
B. THERE IS A WAY OF ESCAPE.
1 Cor. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye
are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
V. CAN WE HEAR THE INVITATION? WILL WE SEE THE WAVES OR WILL WE SEE THE DIVINE POTENTIAL?
A. WE OFTEN SEE --- IT TAKES FAITH TO WALK ON WATER ---
BUT WITHOUT SEEING AN IMPORTANT POINT WE ARE DOOMED.
IT TAKES GREAT FAITH TO STAND UP IN THE BOAT AND MAKE THE CHOICE, I AM GETTING OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE AND SAFETY OF THE BOAT.
B. DON’T TALK ABOUT PETER SINKING IN THE WATER WITHOUT CONSIDERING THERE ARE 11 OTHER BOYS JUST SITTING IN THE BOAT.
C. But let’s not loose the beauty of the moment, PETER WAS THE ONLY MAN IN THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD THAT HEARD THE INVITATION... COME---
Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Many of us modern day Christian love to discuss WHY PETER FAILED and began sinking in the stormy waters.
Wow, how Peter’s eyes were opened when he felt that wind blowing and the cold water running up his leg.
D. WHEN PETER’S FOCUS TURNED TO THE PROBLEMS HE STARTED DOWN A DANGEROUS PATHWAY.
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
E. PETER HAD TO AGAIN FOCUS ON THE DIVINE ---
HE HAD TO VISUALILIZE --- I AM NOT HERE TO DROWN!
VI. THE SAME ROCK IS EITHER A STEPPING STONE OR A STUMBLING BLOCK.
YOU DECIDE TO GROW OR DIE?
A. The obstacle of the Red Sea was an obstacle to the children of Israel, they learned to trust God.
Hebrews 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
B. The same Red Sea became the death point of Egypt!
C. WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE?
VII. THERE IS A POWERFUL LESSON, THERE IS A SONG, WE MUST SING THE SONG --- NO MATTER HOW WE FEEL OR WHAT THE SITUATION MAY APPEAR TO BE.
Psalm 137:3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the
songs of Zion.
4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?
A. GOD’S SONG WILL WORK WHILE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE DOORS OF THE FIERY FURNANCE.
B. They did not know what God was going to do ---
THEY JUST KNEW AND TRUSTED THEIR GOD TO DO WHAT WAS RIGHT.
VIII. DON’T LISTEN TO ANY VOICE THAT WOULD DECLARE TO YOU, YOU CAN’T.
YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO ----
WE HAVE AN INVITATION INTO A NEW REALM OF FAITH!
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
A. DON’T LISTEN TO ANY VOICE THAT WOULD DECLARE TO YOU,
YOU CAN’T.
B. We must walk by FAITH.
FAITH MUST SEE THIS OBSTACLE IS BUT AN OPPORTUNITY.
C. Is not this a land of milk and honey?
NO, IT IS A LAND OF GRASS AND FLOWERS?
WE TEND TO SEE THE GRASS, WITH GOD WE COULD CHANGE THE FOCUS BEYOND THE GRASS OF TODAY INTO THE MILK OF TOMORROW.
See, God can take the grass of today and make it the milk we need for tomorrow, we must invest effort, time, talent and energy to the grass of
today to see the milk and honey in the future.
D. We can do very little consistently for God without JOY, HOPE, PEACE, and ENTHUSIASM.
E. GOD’S WORK CAN NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT FAITH, HOPE, AND OPTIMISM!
IX. BEYOND TALENT LIES DISCIPLINE, LOVE, LUCK, AND ENDURANCE.
WHAT WILL WE DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM?
I MIGHT BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.
A. Sometime back, I was at a ministers’ meeting.
A young man stood to ask a serious question.
It appears his church was having trouble in the music department, they had no musicians to play and the worship service was limited.
B. There were several suggestions.
One minister suggested running an advertisement in the local news paper of the need for some good musicians?
One minister suggested start paying the musician a fee?
The church’s budget was already in the red?
C. I MADE A FOOLISH SUGGESTION, I STOOD AND LOOKED AT THE YOUNG MAN AND SUGGESTED THAT HE START TAKING MUSIC LESSONS ON THE INSTRUMENT OF HIS CHOICE. The young man could learn to play very well within three months
of that day with applying himself and hard daily practice.
I also suggested the minister have his children apply their hearts to learning music and they could help. This works good until they go away to school and get
married.
D. The need for good musicians will forever follow this young minister in any church ministry he may be called to go?
Musicians and people may not always follow you forever?
A good musician today might move away? Or leave for another church?
IF MINISTERS WOULD DEVELOP THEIR MUSICIAL SKILLS, GOD COULD USE THEM WHERE EVER HE LEADS.
Even in places where no one but the minister would be there.
E. I had a 67 year old student that had never touched a guitar --- become one of the best students I ever had. He saw the need! He was a serious student, and he was willing to invest his time, talent, and energy for this cause.
He was a huge help to me in the rest homes and music department.
He quit offering excuses, and invested major time and effort into this work.
F. Well, to make a long story short, while I had the solution, it was not appreciated.
I later talked to the brilliant young pastor and he told me several excuses why he could not undertake this activity?
G. OFTEN TIMES THE SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEMS LIE WITHIN OUR REACH --- IF WE WILL APPLY OUR HEART --- TIME --- ENERGY --- AND EFFORT.
H. MANY TIMES GOD WILL GET THINGS TO YOU ---
IF HE CAN GET THEM THROUGH YOU!
X. YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO --- DO YOU WANT TO?
IF YOU CAN --- GOD CAN --- WITHOUT FAITH WE CAN ACCOMPLISH LITTLE!
A. LITTLE STROKES FELL MIGHTY OAKS!
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
B. SICKLY OAKS FROM SICKLY ACORNS GROW.
C. It does not matter how much you say, if you don’t get up and do something when you are done talking!
D. All progress hinges on prayer, but then we must launch into action.
E. Feed your faith and starve your doubts.
We must let faith do the fighting.
Faith fights facts, learn to let the FAITH fight.
F. What happens to you is not nearly as important as what happens in you!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
