Understanding Potential

UNDERSTANDING OUR POTENTIAL

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

NO SADDER WORDS OF PEN OR TONGUE THAN THE WORDS:

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN...

Sooner or later we are going to have to rely on the PROMISES AND WORD OF GOD...

I. WE HAVE THE TENDANCY TO BASE POTENTIAL ON EXTERNAL FEATURES...

LOOK AT RAW POTENTIAL, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? ELIAB.

A. SAMUEL THE PREACHER KNEW ABOUT SUCCESS... AND POTENTIAL...

B. I can see success...

1 Samuel 16:6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely

the Lord's anointed is before him.

C. GOD MEASURES SUCCESS ON A DIFFERNT SCALE...

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his

stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the

outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

II. THERE WAS A HANDSOME YOUNG MAN, HE WAS SMART AND BEAUTIFUL...

HE HAD A SUPER FAMILY... HE HAD GREAT POTENTIAL...

HE WANTED TO BE REMEMBERED....

A. ABSALOM MEANS PEACE...

B. he was the son of David and Maacah.

C. He was known for his personal fleshly beauty...

D. Absalom was know for his long hair...

EVER FIND SOMETIMES YOUR GOOD TRAITS CAN BE YOUR DOWNFALL?

2 Samuel 14:25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from

the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

[26] And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was

heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the

king's weight.

E. Absalom notices Tamar quits wearing her brightly colored dresses and he added 2 +2...

AMMON, the oldest brother HAD WRONGED TAMAR... ABSALOM'S SISTER...

F. Absalom has a HUGE PARTY...

His first known public act was the BLOOD-REVENGE... He had AMMON his oldest brother killed.

G. ABSALOM GOES 3 YEARS WITHOUT SEEING THE KING...

He burns his neighbor's fields, 5 years later Absalom returns to Jerusalem.

H. ABSALOM DESIRES TO BE RICH AND FAMOUS...

EVER HEARD OF ABSALOM'S PILLAR?

2 Samuel 18:18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in

the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar

after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.

III. ABSALOM IS IMPATIENT, UNDERMINDING, AND CRUEL... NO PATIENCE

A. HE TALKS BAD ABOUT HIS FATHER AND THE KING'S RULES...

B. HE SITS AS JUDGE IN THE GATES OF THE CITY...

C. HE PERSUADES THE GREATEST LEADERS UNDER HIS FATHER TO DEFECT TO HIS

SIDE...

D. Ahithophel had been a counselor to Saul and to David, Absalom flatters the authories and bribes them

to COME TO HIS SIDE...

E. ABSALOM COMMANDS MORE THAN 20,000 MEN AGAINNST HIS FATHER...

HIS INTENTION WAS DEATH

IV. DAVID KNOWS THE POTENTIAL OF HIS SON AND PLEADS FOR MERCY...

A. David knew his son and desired the best for him...

B. David didn't care about himmself...

2 Samuel 18:5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with

the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge

concerning Absalom.

V. THOUGH ASALOM HAD GREAT POTENTIAL THERE WAS ONLY ONE POSSIBILITY FOR THE

KING'S SON. POOR ABSALOM YOU HAD GREAT POTENTIAL.

A. ABSALOM'S PRIDE AND JOY... HIS HAIR BECAME HIS TRAP...

2 Samuel 18:14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and

thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

B. They throw Absalom's body in the woods, they cover him with stones, and every runs home...

VI. CAN YOU HEAR SOMETHING IN DAVID'S VOICE?

A. WHAT REGRETS ARE HIDDEN IN THAT VOICE...

B. DAVID KNEW THE PROPHECY OF NATHAN...

2 Samuel 18:33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as

he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee,

O Absalom, my son, my son!

C. THERE WERE MANY TEARS---

I CALL DAVID'S LIFE A TRAIL OF TEARS...

2 Samuel 19:4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom,

O Absalom, my son, my son!

D. Time you have to gget up and go on...