Underdog? I Can't!

LET US TALK ABOUT UNDER DOGS... WE CAN'T DO THIS...

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

When I was a boy we had a super hero: incognito he was a shoe shine boy...

He had a secret compartment in his ring... it had a "SUPER ENERGY PILL" in his ring.

He would say: THERE IS NO FEAR --- UNDERDOG IS HERE...

NO BIRD, NOR PLANE, NOR EVEN A FROG

JUST LITTLE OLD ME --- UNDERDOG...

Then Underdog would crash in...

UNDERDOG VS TOP DOG...

Underdog: In any competition the UNDERDOG by popular opinion and odds are suppose to

be the loser...

Top dog: by odds setters are suppose to win...

I. THERE ARISES A CRY FROM WITHIN THE CHURCH...

WE CAN NOT DO THIS...

I CAN'T, I QUIT...

KJV

Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the

streets.

MESSAGE...

Proverbs 22:13 The loafer says, "There's a lion on the loose!If I go out I'll be eaten alive!"

A. BEN FRANLIN SAID:

A MAN THAT IS GOOD AT MAKING EXCUSES IS GOOD FOR NOTHING ELSE...

B. THOMAS EDISON SAID:

GENIUS IS ONE PER CENT INSPIRATION, NINETY NINE PER CENT PERSPIRATION...

II. I CAN'T HAS SEVERAL PARTNERS...

A. LAZINESS

B. I QUIT... I CAN NOT DO THIS...

Luke 14:18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him,

I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused

C. ONE MAKES AN EXCUSE... MANY OTHERS WILL FOLLOW...

1. BOUGHT LAND... he already looked at the land or he was a fool... materialism

2. BOUGHT OXEN... he already proved the oxen or he was a fool... relationship

3. MARRIED A WIFE... he could have changed the schedule... relationships

III. I CAN'T DOES NOT CONSIDER THE PRECEDENCE IT SETS FOR OTHERS...

A. PRECEDENCE: setting a priority of importance.

B. Adam set precedent for his son... That woman you gave me---

Cain says: I AM I MY BROTHERS KEEPER...

C. Older brother Moses excuses: I can't talk good...

Younger brother Aaron excuses: We broke gold and put it in the fire... CALF walks out.

D. THE PRODIGAL SON set a precedence...

Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that

falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

[13] And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a

far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

[14] And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

[15] And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to

feed swine.

IV. PAUL HAS A SPECIAL MESSAGE ABOUT QUITTING... A PRECEDENT FOR A FRIEND...

PAUL WROTE 14 OF THE 27 NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS...

PAUL IS NOW AN OLD MAN AND WE SEE HIS BOOKS TAKE ON A NEW FEVOR...

PAUL WRITES A BOOK TO THE CHURCH AT COLOSSIA...

NEAR THE END OF THE BOOK PAUL WRITES A PERSONAL NOTE TO ONE MAN...

WE ARE THAT ONE MAN...

A. PAUL HAD A FRIEND NAMED ARCHIPPUS...

Archippus is twice mentioned in Paul's writings...

B. Paul must have seen something developing in his friend, Archippus...

KJV

Col. 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it.

NIV

Col. 4:17 Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."

LB

Col. 4:17 And say to Archippus, "Be sure that you do all the Lord has told you to."

MESSAGE

Col. 4:17 And, oh, yes, tell Archippus, "Do your best in the job you received from the Master.

Do your very best."

C. WHAT IS PAUL'S LESSON TO ARCHIPPUS?

We don't know who Archippus was?

We don't know what Archippus work was?

D. SOME SCHOOLS HAVE SOCIAL PROMOTION...

THE LESSON OF ARCHIPPUS IS CLEAR: FINISH THE WORK BEFORE YOU...

V. WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE LEAVE UNFINISHED WORKS?

I HAVE HEARD ALL MY LIFE A COW GIVES MILK...

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A COW GIVE A GALLON OF MILK...

A. WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

1. An art gallery to display talent?

2. An ABOTION CLINIC where we kill new life?

3. A nursery where we baby sit and keep the eternal babyhood of believers?

4. The church is not a TREADMILL?

5. The church is not a kitchen for gluttony?

6. The church is not an ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, or Convention center?

B. DID PAUL PRACTICED WHAT HE PREACHED?

2 Tim. 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: