Sermons

Summary: We need to consider the root of the problems we face. From where does strife and trouble come? Anger and bitterness become self feeding skeletons that are so weak they waste opportunities. We must identify strive causers.

THE SKELETON AT THE FEAST…

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube Wade Hughes) I have an old SIFTER I use.

TEXT:

Proverbs 30:33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

When we are riled by emotions we will see tempers grow and things will get out of hand. They can turn into mean hard words that breed trouble and fights. STRIFE BECOMES A TRAP THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION.

Many find dandelions as a nuisance and ugly mark in their yards. I had a friend decide he would cut the dandelions’ head off and kill them. So he walked over his yard and cut the yellow flowers off. A few days later seems the dandelions had grown even more. He soon discovered cutting the yellow tops of the flowers never killed them. He read to rid the yard of the yellow flowers you had to attack the roots. His research revealed dandelion roots can grow to 10 feet deep.

It took several sprayings of powerful weed killer to destroy the dandelions.

**WASTE: uselessly, to misuse, trash, throw away, no purpose, to grow weaker, to discard, no longer useful, to expend carelessly, no return, squander, useless consumption, little to no value of return.

THE ROOT? THE UNDERCURRENT? THE RIP TIDE?

There is an unseen danger to boaters and swimmers… it is called a RIPTIDE! A RIPTIDE is a strong current caused by the tidal wave or tidal flow. This turbulent water can carry one into deep waters away from the shore into dangerous waters… The best thing to do in a riptide is stay calm, it does not pull you under the water it pulls you away from the shore. Never try to fight the riptide it will just tire you out. ALERT THE LIFE GUARD ON DUTY!

Hebrews 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

BEWARE STIRRING UP STRIFE CAN BE VERY COSTLY… WASTED TIME CAN BE DANGEROUS, SOME OPPORTUNITIES CAN NEVER BE RECALLED.

PERPETUAL BABYHOOD…I WAS AFRAID! I KNEW YOU WAS MEAN AND HARD … 5 TALENTS? 2 TALENTS? ONE TALENT?

We tend to BLAME OTHERS…. When I was little if I ran into the table, my mom would smack the table. Then she would say: Table why did you hurt my son? That made me feel good to know that the table was mean!

WHY DO THEY RECEIVE MORE THAN I DO? I knew you were hard! I knew my task was hard.

Matthew 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

STRIFE KILLS THE ANOINTING OF GOD. WE MUST IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSE OF DISAGREEMENT AND RIPTIDES IN OUR DAILY WALK. THE WORK OF GOD IS ACCOMPLISHED IN AGREEMENT AND UNITY. COMPLAINING, FUSSING, NAGGING WILL ALWAYS BRING A DIVIDED HOUSE… A DIVIDED HOUSE WILL EVENTUALLY FALL. WE MUST AVOID STRIFE IN OUR HOMES AND CHURCHES…

James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

We become what we feed? Instead of feeding strife we must identify it and starve it into weakness.

2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

God's servants must love and be kind. Never be argumentative, but let us be kind, gentle and be good listeners and a person that stays cool when in a RIPTIDE.

THERE IS A BATTLE, A WAR GOING ON … THE WAR IS IN YOUR HEART… THERE IS A TREASURE STORED IN YOUR HEART… WE MUST GUARD OUR HEARTS --- UNHEALTHY HEARTS CAN BRING HEART ATTACKS AND DEATH.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

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