The Daughters Of The Horseleach

-That was the plight of the rich man, full of discipline but low on desire. What lack I yet, God? Answer: Desire that is coupled with discipline.

A. Desire -- A Key to Success

Aim at the sun, and you may not reach it; but your arrow will fly far higher than if aimed at an object on a level with yourself. (J. Hawes)

Dreams are not opiates to make men fall into the lethargy of imagination, but they are the steam to push their visions toward accomplishment. There are some men who have dreams that are lived out to their extent in the imagination. There are other men who are willing to put feet and legs on their dreams and accomplish great things. It takes blood and brawn to see the fulfillment of a dream.

Desire:

• Pressed a widow through the crowd to touch the hem of the garment of God (Matt. 9:20)

• Forced Zacchaeus up a tree (Luke 19:2-10)

• Drove a palsied man through the roof (Mark 2:4)

• Made Bartimaeus cry louder (Mark 10:46)

• Compelled the Syrophonecian woman to continue pleading (Matt. 15:27)

• Made Rahab risk her life to go with the Israelites (Joshua 2:8-22)

B. The Salmon

The Alaskan Steelhead (also Chinook) is a salmon that averages a size of about 20 lbs. This particular species of fish will be born in the cold rivers of Alaska and began a trek down the river until it feeds into the Pacific Ocean. This small fingerling is generally about 2-3 inches by the time it reaches the ocean where it will remain until it migrates back north to the spawning beds that it came from. The trip that these salmon make is often between 1000-2000 miles.

The migratory instinct of the members of the salmon family is remarkably specific, each generation returning to spawn in exactly the same breeding places as the generation before it. Once the salmon has reached the nesting area, it will leave as many as 20,000 eggs in October or November. It will then drift back downstream and die. Having fought the chilling waters, the bears who move in for sake of food, and resisting disease the entire way, a zoologist refers to this as instinct. Perhaps another word to use would be desire. (From article in Outdoor Life that I read in the barbershop.)

-There is an overwhelming desire in the salmon to continue the trend of its species. More concerned than just having a tree that is full of leaves yet no fruit. Spiritual desires should mark and put our lifestyles in a place beyond the reaches of the world.

lll. THE FOUR HEARTBEATS OF DESIRE

-The wisdom of Solomon captured the missing portion of the rich young ruler’s life.

Proverbs 30:15-16 -- "The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:" "The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough."

-Inside of every man are four separate entities of desire, the four heartbeats of desire. They have the capacity to make or break. There comes a time in the life of a man where he must face down these four forces.