Stumbling Block Vs Steppin Stone?

STUMBLING BLOCK VS STEPPING STONE ---

MORE THAN A CONQUEROR?

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

TEXT:

2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 1 :12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed; and am persuaded that HE is ABLE to KEEP that which I have committed unto Him against that day.

Romans 8:28 And WE KNOW that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His Purpose.

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US!

Jude 24 Now unto Him that is ABLE to KEEP you from falling, and present you faultless before the presence of HIS glory with exceeding joy.

I. ILLUSTRATION!

I use several things, to ponder visually. I have an egg (I use a plastic egg), and a carrot, and a tea bag. I discuss what will hot water will do to these? Boiling water will harden the egg, soften the carrot, and bring out the taste of the tea leaves.

If you walk on dirt, you will make a harden path?

Walk on a rose, and a sweet fragrance will be released?

II. A HARD LESSON TO LEARN?

A. DID YOU EVER FACE A LESSON SOMETHING LIKE THIS:

SOMETIMES THE WORSE THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU ---

MAY BE THE BEST THING THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN TO YOU!

B. You talk about a deep, hard lesson this is it.

WE THINK THIS IS AN ENEMY, THIS IS AN ATTACK?

But if our problems push us closer to God, then the problem has been our friend.

C. Many have great faith until they face a great problem?

Where grows our trust?

D. Was God with Moses at his Mother’s knee? Was God with Moses at Pharaoh’s palace?

Was God with Moses as he wandered seemingly endlessly across the hot burning desert?

When Miriam spoke against Moses’ wife, was God there?

Sure God was there through every phase of Moses’ life.

E. DO YOU KNOW? What do you know? Do you know what you know? Do others know that you know?

III. BASIC TRAINING?

A. 2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

B.Any good soldier knows basic training will be very important for the battles ahead.

A good soldier must be alert, ready, prepared, watchful, mature, and ever learning.

Yesterdays battle skills may not be adequate tomorrow?

IV. CROWNS WITHOUT CROSSES?

A. I guess it may take a crucified individual to take a crucified church to the feet of a crucified Savior. We need someone with vision out of this emotion

driven society into the realm of the EYES OF THE WORD!

B. The Word is easier to preach than to teach. The Bible is easier to teach than to live.

It seems easier to preach about the fiery furnace and the three Hebrew boys, than it is to feel the heat from flames seven times hotter than we expected?

We don’t expect any flames, do we?

C. I think of what the eyes of the crucified Savior saw as He was looking down from the cross?

What did Jesus’ eyes see? Can I see through crucified eyes?

I am not for sure what Jesus on the cross must have seen?

Sure, I know, Jesus saw a group of women, Jesus saw His Mother. Mary saw the worst vision any Mother could have seen.

I am sure Jesus looked into His Momma’s eyes? I am sure Jesus saw her pain?

I am sure, Jesus saw Mary’s view as her eyes focused on her HOPE, her son, her HOPE was hanging crucified between two thieves?

D. Maybe the crucified Jesus saw a hurt and lost, rejecting society?

Maybe Jesus looked down through the kaleidoscope of time and maybe Jesus saw what you would be facing today?

E. The crucified Savior exposes, I can never be good enough. I can never give enough.

We hear so much about THE CROWNS OF LIFE.

I fret not over the crowns, it is the suffering cross that we want to avoid.

F. TODAY the suffering of the cross is like leprosy?

Yet, suffering is THE HIGHEST GRADUATE SCHOOL OF LEARNING KNOWN TO MANKIND.

If I have any understanding of the CROWNS, there is a CROSS BEARING ERA BEFORE the crown.

To wear a crown, we need to BEAR THE CROSS.

We need to be calm and trusting, patient and submissive. These are all dirty words in the modern

church.

V. I have a PROMISE, IF I WILL CARRY THE CROSS, AS I BREATHE MY LAST BREATH, THE CROSS WILL CARRY ME!

A. We hear of many losing their cross? The cross has become an ornament of jewelry.