You May Never Know

YOU MAY NEVER KNOW…

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Two part lesson)

TEXT: Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

MAYBE WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED? WE MUST TRUST GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU IN THIS DAY, WEEK, MONTH AND YEAR. Maybe we will never see the results of our labor?

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

I read a lesson about this young preacher that just graduated Bible School and he took his first pastorate. It was a small country church, but the young man had great visions of changing the whole world. He soon met the deacons and they were all older men pretty set in their ways. But the young green horn pastor was so excited. His first real service at the church was an eye opener for the young dreamer. The pastor called the oldest deacon to open the service with prayer. The old man stood to his feet and then bowed at the altar and began praying in a loud, deep voice. The old man spoke just like he was talking to a friend. The prayer started something like this: NOW, SWEET HEAVENLY FATHER, I HATE BUTTERMILK! The young pastor thought I never heard anything like this in Bible School. But the pastor just listened. The old deacon continued his prayer: LORD, I HATE LARD! The young pastor opened his eyes to see the old deacon was very serious in his prayer. Let’s just hang and listen a little longer. The old man prayed: NOW, LORD YOU KNOW I AM NOT TO KEEN ABOUT DRY FLOUR! The deacon then said: LORD, AFTER YOU MIX THEM ALL TOGETHER AND BAKE THEM IN A HOT OVEN, I JUST LOVE BISCUITS WITH HONEY AND BUTTER. LORD, I WILL TRUST YOUR PLAN TODAY.

My friend we must have INSIGHT and UNDERSTANDING that today may not MAKE MUCH SENSE TO ME. Today the pain, suffering and trials may not be IN OUR PLANS, BUT GOD… We may not understand what we are doing today, but we TRUST THE PLAN, we trust the Creator knows what HE is doing. WE MIGHT JUST NEED PATIENCE and UNDERSTANDING to see God takes the parts and mixes them. The HOT OVEN does it part and WHEN GOD’S PLAN IS REVEALED, MY FRIEND, YOU WILL HAVE SOMETHING BETTER THAN BISCUITS. The hot oven reveals the plan.

SEEMS WE MAY NEVER KNOW: WHY? WHY WE FACE THE HOT OVEN. THE HOT OVEN MAY REVEAL GOD HAS A PURPOSE! WE MAY NEVER KNOW THE FIRE’S PLAN? MAKE THE FIRE 7 TIMES HOTTER? WHY BECAUSE THE KING IS ANGRY? NO! GOD WILL SHOW HIMSELF STRONG THROUGH THE FIRE.

Daniel 3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

DO YOU THINK THE 3 GOOD OLE BOYS UNDERSTOOD --- GOD WAS GOING TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG, NOT IN THE EASY DAY TO DAY ISSUES… THE BOYS MAY NEVER KNOWN AT THE TIME… THE 7X’S FIRE WOULD REVEAL GOD…

Daniel 3:22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

THEY DID NOT KNOW --- THE FOURTH MAN WAS GOING TO SHOW UP AND REVEAL HIMSELF…

Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

WHERE DID THE FOURTH MAN GO… THREE WENT IN. THREE CAME OUT. Where is the fourth man? HE IS STILL IN THE FIRE! THE FIRE REVEALED THE FOURTH MAN…

YOU MAY NEVER KNOW? A FRIEND NEVER KNEW THE MIRACLE OF HIS GIFT.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Ephesians 3:20 (MSG) God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

35 years ago I was called to Hazard, Kentucky to do a funeral for a real poor mountain family. I was pastoring a small mountain mission work and my family live seeing red most of the time. As I was preparing to leave for the funeral my wife informed me there was no gas in the Pinto and we never had any money for gas. She suggested I call a deacon and borrow the money. I refused. We prayed and decided God could help me do His work? I left early just in case I had to hitchhike?