With: The Draw Bridge

WITH--- THE DRAW BRIDGE

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

The pastor was teaching the youth group on Friday night. The pastor said I have a question and I want you to think about the answer. WHAT IS GOD’S NAME? One of the youngest boys in the class immediately raised his hand, I know, I know. So the preacher said: Jimmy, what is God’s name? The boy says that is so easy. GOD’S NAME IS ANDY. The pastor was puzzled and enquired where did he learn God’s name was ANDY? The lad started singing: ANDY HE WALKS WITH ME. ANDY HE TALKS WITH ME. ANDY HE TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN.

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A MERE RELIGION. CHRISTIANITY IN REALITY IS A RELATIONSHIP… One of my life goals is to share, to hear, to feel the pain, to cry, to laugh together, to be WITH. I love to play music with others. Have you ever fished with a friend? Shared a meal with a friend?

Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

*LET US LOOK AT WITH…

With is a preposition. Prepositions describe position, time and almost always preceded by a noun or pronoun.

Together, to support, alongside, among, beside, by, for, included, near, to accompany, possession, like minded, associate, UNITY, harmony.

I SEARCH “TO BE WITH GOD AND HIS SON.” I desire more than ceremonial and formal traditions. I must know Christ as my personal friend and Savior. I desire to personally be with Jesus and to experience the mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead. I know that part of Jesus’ walk was to suffer, I want TO SUFFER with him, share in his victory.

Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

*REBA McENTIRE HAS A SONG WELL WORTH LISTENING TO… THE GREATEST MAN I NEVER KNEW…

You can play it on YOU tube. by Layng Martine, Jr.

The greatest man I never knew lived just down the hall. And every day we said hello, but never touched at all.

He was in his paper, I was in my room. How was I to know he thought I hung the moon.

The greatest man I never knew, came home late every night, he never had too much to say.

Too much was on his mind, I never really knew him and now it seems so sad,

Everything he gave to us, took all he had.

Then the days turned into years and the memories to black and white.

He grew cold like the old winter wind, blowing across my life.

The greatest words I never heard, I guess I’ll never hear.

The man I thought could never die, he has been dead almost a year.

He was good at business, but there was business left to do.

He never said he loved me, guess he thought I knew…

TOO BUSY TO UNDERSTAND? TO BLIND TO SEE? TO DEAD TO HEAR? I AM SORRY, I JUST DON’T KNOW? MY PRIORITIES

WERE SO TWISTED… I KNEW ABOUT JESUS, I JUST DIDN’T TAKE THE TIME TO KNOW HIM…

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

You can have a friend or you can refuse and isolate from a friend that sticks closer than a brother. We can have a friend which is the Spirit of Truth. The friends of this world refuse to accept him and take him in because they don't have eyes to see him. They don't know what they are looking to receive. But we can KNOW JESUS, JESUS WILL BE WITH US. Jesus will be “WITH US.” He will stay with us forever.

I HAVE HAD A LONGING ALL MY LIFE. I LOVE TO BE WITH PEOPLE. I LOVE THE CHURCH AS IT IS WHERE I HAVE FOUND THE TOGETHERNESS… Sure, I have been hurt. I have cried all night, but I have found JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.

Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning

I HAVE FOUND A TRUTH IN LIFE: PAIN AND BAD NEWS ARE PART OF REAL DAILY LIFE.

PAIN, BITTERNESS, ANGER AND CRUSHING ARE PART OF LIFE. We get angry once in a while, but we find across our life span that love is the greatest gift. Sure we have nights of crying our eyes out, but hang in there the sad nights will give way to seasons of joy, peace, love and laughter. We must learn WITH… helps us make it through the night. Some of the saddest words in English is ALONE, WORRIED, FEAR, NO HOPE AND NO PEACE.