Sweeter Gets The Journey: Contrary Winds.

SWEETER GETS THE JOURNEY, CONTRARY WINDS

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

TEXT: Matthew 14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

ANY SHIP AND CAPTAIN CAN SAIL THE CALM, PEACEFUL WATERS OF LIFE. LIFE IS MORE THAN SAILING ON CALM WATERS. SOMETIMES LIFE THROWS CONTRARY WINDS THAT CAN DESTROY NOT ONLY THE SHIP BUT ALSO THE CARGO AND THE PASSENGERS.

We must learn CONTRARY WINDS can be great teachers of strengthening and teach us how to be better captains. These contrary winds can also be preparation for greater things ahead.

HISTORY HAS RECORDED SAMSON AS A STRONG BUT WEAK MAN THAT WAS AT BEST A SLOW LEARNER. GOD ALLOWED SOME STORMS, TRIALS AND PROBLEMS TO DEVELOP SAMSON. SAMSON FAILED IN THE JOURNEY OF APPLYING GOD’S LESSONS TO RELEASE THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S PLANS.

A few of these storms Samson learned and few he failed miserably. SAMSON LEARNED NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE WAS EASY. SAMSON WAS GOD CALLED FROM BIRTH, YET MANY WINDS BLEW CONTRARY TO WHAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT HIS JOURNEY.

Samson was raised in a bubble. God was trying to prepare Samson. God allowed the LION to ROAR, Samson faced his problem head on…

Judges 14:5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.

THE JOURNEY TAUGHT SAMSON A VALUABLE LESSON. TRUST GOD!

Judges 14:6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

BY FACING THE LION AND TASTING VICTORY, SAMSON NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE JOURNEY. THIS ENEMY SAMSON FACED AND DEFEATED BECAME A LIFE GIVING SOURCE NOT ONLY TO SAMSON BUT HIS MOM AND DAD.

THE TASTE OF VICTORY WAS SO SWEET, HONEY!

Judges 14:8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. 9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

WE LOVE THE SWEET TASTE OF VICTORY, BUT WHAT WAS SO SWEET IN SAMSON’S JOURNEY BECAUSE A COMPLETE PITFALL AND A TOTAL DIASTER.

CAN WE REALLY UNDERSTAND OUR JOURNEY AND NOT SEE THE PITFALLS AHEAD. This victory becomes a trap of a nagging woman and a BIG MOUTH releasing secrets to the enemy?

Judges 14:14 And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.

Judges 14:18 And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.

MY FRIEND COME TO THE FOOT OF THE CROSS WITH ME AND LET US UNDERSTAND A FEW THINGS ABOUT LIFE’S

JOURNEY. LIFE CAN BE SO SWEET…

Psalm 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

* Often we fail to understand each day is a journey. This journey will lead us to be better or to be bitter. A 1,000 mile journey starts with one step. To be honest the journey is defined by your daily choices. Life is a great journey, it is more than a destination… Life is about the journey. No matter how rough the roads may be, we must continue. Fear and worry will cause more pain in your journey than will faith. A healthy journey must be about growth and improvement. We walk like a horse that has blinders. Haste makes waste, sometimes healthy progress is made by making small baby steps. Giant steps can lead us into many traps and pitfalls.

* One of the most danger areas in our journey might just be LOSSING OUR PASSION AND ZEAL FOR OUR FAMILY AND WHAT WE DO. We are as frail as a spider’s web when we focus more on our destination than on our daily journey. Why can’t we find peace and joy in doing small activities instead of pursuing TROPHIES? Life should be seen

through a child’s eyes, KISS… Keep in Simple Stupid! Adults seem to make everything complicated and hard.