Stew, The Smell Will Tell

STEW: THE SMELL WILL TELL.

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

TEXT:

Matthew 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

HOW DOES DOUBT AND UNBELIEF EXPRESS ITSELF? TIME WILL TELL?

A skunk may claim to be a cat? But sooner or later the SMELL WILL TELL.

DOUBT AND UNBELIEF WILL ALWAYS BE REVEALED.

FEAR DEPRESSION ANXIETY STRESS INSOMNIA WORRY ULCERS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

HEADACHES COMPLAINING ANGER ETC.

My Dad, Wade M. Hughes was born in 1931 during the depression, up to 80% unemployment.

My Grandfather C.T. Hughes was born in 1878. C.T. was 53 when my Dad was born.

Grandfather Charles Tyler Hughes life experience was much on the darker side of negativism.

To be honest he was a REAL PESSIMIST.

He and my Dad and his twin brother worked 12 hour days to hoe corn and tobacco. The three of them received one dollar a day for working the day. ( less than $ 0.33 A DAY A PIECE)

My dad said they would be take the hoes and work and sweat.

GRANDFATHER HUGHES WOULD BE LOOKING DOWN AND HE WOULD SAY THERE IS GOING TO BE A DROUGHT THIS YEAR AND OUR CROPS WOULD FAIL AND WE WERE ALL GOING TO STARVE TO DEATH THIS YEAR. Charles Tyler would tell the cows are going to dry up, no milk and they would die.

Dad said he would tell his dad, look at the storm clouds rolling in? There would be thunder and lightning in the distance and Grandpa would continue what a slow and painful death was coming to the whole family.

Dad would say we better head to the house we are going to get wet? No, Grandpa would say we have to keep working and the drought would get them. Soon the rain would be pounding them as they were running to the house. When they got to the porch they were all dipping wet, Grandpa would sit in the rock and say NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE FLOODED OUT AND THE HAIL WILL DESTROY OUR CROPS.

C.T. would be 139 this year, my dad is 86 and somehow God has seen us through dry times and wet seasons.

ALL THE STEWING ABOUT LIFE WAS IN VAIN…

THE TEMPTAION TO STEW? WHAT IS STEW? FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE?

STEW: TO BE IN A CONTINUAL STATE OF SURPRESSED AGITATION, BITTERNESS, ANGER, RESENTMENT AND WORRY….

LIFE IS ABOUT DOING.

We get alone in a dark place, and stew. “ I CAN CRY IF I WANT TO…” Cry if I want to.

Jesus has a plan: THE GREATER YOUR EFFORT AND GIVING --- THE GREATER YOUR JOY AND PEACE WILL BE.

Matthew 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

Matthew 21:28-31 (MSG) 28 "Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, 'Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.' 29 "The son answered, 'I don't want to.' Later on he thought better of it and went. 30 "The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, 'Sure, glad to.' But he never went. 31 "Which of the two sons did what the father asked?" They said, "The first." Jesus said, "Yes, and I tell you that crooks and whores are going to precede you into God's kingdom.

THE GREAT PREACHER: MARTIN LUTHER HAD A WORKING THEORY IN LIFE. He used this illustration: WHEN I AM ASSAILED WITH HEAVY TRIBULATION, I RUSH OUT AMONG MY PIGS, RATHER THAN REMAIN ALONE BY MYSELF.

THE HUMAN HEART IS LIKE A MILLSTONE IN A MILL. WHEN YOU PUT WHEAT UNDER THE MILL STONE, THE STONE TURNS AND GRINDS AND BRUISES THE WHEAT INTO FLOUR.

IF YOU PUT NO WHEAT UNDER THE GRIND STONE, IT STILL TURNS ON, BUT THE GRIND STONE FINDS ITSELF GRINDING AWAY AND ERODING ITSELF.

MARTIN LUTHER WENT ON TO TEACH: SO IS THE HUMAN HEART, UNLESS IT IS OCCUPIED WITH SOME EMPLOYMENT THERE REMAINS A SPACE FOR THE DEVIL, THAT WRIGGLES HIMSELF INTO THE HEART AND BRINGS A WHOLE HOST OF EVIL THOUGHTS, TEMPTATIONS AND TRIBULATIONS, WHICH WILL SLOWLY GRIND AWAY AT YOUR HEART.