What Are We Going To Do?

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

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

INTRODUCTION:

What do you see when you are looking out your window?

Can you see all the negative doom and gloom?

One glimpse beyond the problem might release a new hope and a new peace. Can you see the UNSEEN HANDS?

SOME SEE THINGS HOW THEY ARE AND WONDER --- WHY?

SOME SEE THINGS HOW THEY COULD BE AND WONDER --- WHY NOT?

MATERIALISM:

A PROCCUUPATION WITH OR STRESS UPON MATERIAL RATHER THAN SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL OR INTELLECTUAL THINGS.

The theory that physical matter is the only or fundamental reality and that all being and processes and phenomena can be explained as manifestations

or results of matter.

A doctrine that the only or highest values or objectives lie in material well being

TEXT:

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

KJV

2 Kings 6:15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

NIV

2 Kings 6:15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.

LB

2 Kings 6:15 When the prophet’s servant got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. "Alas, my master, what shall we do now?" he cried out to Elisha.

I. LET US PONDER: WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WHAT IS GROWTH?

A. FROM: "LIVING WITH JESUS TODAY" by Juan Carlos Ortiz

We have a phenomenon in the church today which I call the "ETERNAL BABYHOOD OF THE BELIEVER."

We have members of our churches who, after years of hearing messages are just the same. They continually need a minister to keep after them, changing their diapers, putting talcum on them, and checking their milk isn’t to hot.

The church specializes as a hospital more than an ARMY. SOME TIMES WE FOOL OURSELVES BECAUSE WE GROW NUMERICALLY. WE TEND TO THINK THAT THIS IS GROWTH.

BUT TO GROW JUST IN NUMBER ALONE IS NOT NECESSARILY SPIRITUAL GROWTH. IF THIS IS TRUE THEN CEMENTERIES ALSO GROW. TO HAVE 100 PEOPLE WITHOUT LOVE, THEN 200 PEOPLE WITHOUT LOVE IS NO MORE THAN JUST GETTING FAT.

II. LET US CONSIDER: WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

WE SERVE A TRIED AND TRUE GOD. GOD’S PROMISES ARE AS REAL TODAY AS WHEN HE FIRST SPOKE THEM.

I DO NOT WANT TO BE AN ALARMIST? BUT I DO WANT US TO OPEN OUR EYES AND SEE THAT GOD CAN HANDLE ANY THING THAT WILL HAPPEN TO US.

A. By an honest look we can evaluate where we have been, where we are and where we are going?

B. One of the beauties of being a pastor is getting to listen to old people’s stories.

There was a sweet old man named Estill Gearhart that I often visited at his home and in the hospital. I often had to give Estill his bath. Estill was raised in one of the poorest areas of eastern Kentucky.

He once told me as a boy, he dropped out of school and wanted to see the world. He went to New York. When he got there he saw the first television. They hadn’t

even heard of televisions in Kentucky. After a brief visit Estill returned to his Father’s house. Estill told his Dad about the television and explained there

were people in this little wooden box and you could watch them box and fight.

His Dad could not accept there were grown men in a little box fighting. Estill said his dad told him, Estill you were a little bit strange before you left

here, and I don’t know about them little people in the box in New York. But son, I am really worried about you now?

C. My Great Grandfather Ned (E.D.) Hughes was born in 1850. I have stood at his grave and pondered what was different in his life than in mine? What things are

similar? God took care of us.

My Grandfather: Charles Tyler Hughes was born in 1878, he would be 130 if he was alive today. Grandfather was 53 when my Dad and his twin brother were born in 1931.

Dad said they worked, the three of them for $1.00 a day. 33 cents a piece for

10 hours hard labor, plowing, hoeing, chopping wood ---a day.

My Dad said his dad and his brother would be working the corn and Grandfather would say: WE ARE GOING TO STARVE TO DEATH THIS WINTER. THERE IS GOING