DON’T WANT NO ROCKS CRYING OUT FOR ME…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I give each person a small rock. We think about what lesson we can learn from a rock.
Psalm 107:8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
WE ALL HAVE A COMMON ENEMY… THIS ENEMY HATES GOD AND GOOD.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
FOR MANY YEARS THE ENEMY OF GOD MOCKED AND MADE FUN OF THE CHURCH. SEEMS THE CHURCH WAS ALWAYS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS. ALL THE DEMONS AND THE DEVIL HAD A STRATEGY MEETING AND THEY SAW THIS OUTWARD ATTACK WAS PULLING THE CHURCH TOGETHER IN UNITY. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION THE EVIL SIDE DECIDED TO CHANGE THEIR STRATEGY --- THE DEMONS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, LET’S JUST ALL JOIN THE CHURCH AND SLOWLY COMPROMISE THE BIBLICAL TEACHINGS TO ENTERTAIN AND SEEK PLEASURE FROM WITHIN…
SEEMS WE ARE WALKING AND LIVING IN THE DARK DAYS OF TIME WHERE SATAN DOES NOT HIDE SIN AND CORRUPTION ANY MORE. HE IS BOLD AND STUPID AND BLATANT AND THE WORLD STILL DOES NOT RECOGNIZE HIS EVIL PLOT TO STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY. WE HAVE SIN THAT PARADES AROUND BOASTING OF EVIL. WHY CAN’T WE SEE WHAT THE ENEMY IS DOING?
THERE ARE TWO PLANS OR PURPOSES FOR YOU… A DEMONIC PLAN AND A GOD PLAN… YOU CHOOSE WHICH PLAN YOU FOLLOW BY THE WORDS YOU SPEAK, THE ATTITUDES YOU CARRY AND THE ACTIONS YOU TAKE…
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
LIFE IS ABOUT THE DAILY MENIAL CHOICES YOU MAKE.
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE YOUNG GIRL CUTTING THROUGH THE WOODS TO TAKE HER GRANDMOTHER SOME FOOD?
The weather had turned very cold. The snow was coming down. The cold north wind was blowing so hard. The young girl was walking through the field returning home. She heard someone calling to her. She stopped to listen. The voice was coming from the ground. A beautiful voice asked her to stop and listen to him. She looked down and at huge rattle snake. The rattler grinned real big. The girl could see what big fangs he had. The snake said: I AM DYING. I WILL BE DEAD IN A FEW MINUTES IF YOU DON’T HELP ME. The snake also explained to the girl: US SNAKES GET A BAD RAP. WE ARE NICE AND LOVING…The girl said: MOM AND DAD TAUGHT ME TO STAY FAR AWAY FROM ANY SNAKE. The girl said maybe you could crawl in the basket.
The snake said I will still freeze to death in the basket. If you come close and reach down I will crawl up your sleeve. I am really a nice snake, don’t believe all the garbage about me. So with some gentle persuasion the girl allowed the snake to crawl up the sleeve and wrap around her warm body.
When they got to the house the mom and dad had left a large fire in the stove and the house was so toasty. The rattle snake said see I am a good snake, let me go in the house and stay near the stove. The girl said: Yes, you are a good snake and she allowed the snake to lay in the coal bucket. The snake curled up, got warm and took a nap.
Later the girl had forgotten about the rattle snake and she reached in the coal bucket to throw some more coal on the fire. As she reached down she startled the snake and he sank his fangs into her hand. As she lay in the floor she knew she was dying. She looked at the rattle snake and said: I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO MY MOM AND DAD. I should have never allowed you in my coat. I have wasted my future for a slick trick of my enemy.
SHUT UP! BE QUIET! WE HAVE THE KEY THAT BRINGS GOD TO ATTENTION… PRAISE…THERE IS A HIDDEN SECRET THE WE ALL KNOW BUT IN THE HEAT OF THE BATTLE WE TEND TO FORGET WHAT WE KNOW.
Hear me well. We are tolerating fear, worry, stress, bad news, compromise, peer pressure and panic attacks as the NORM. We seem to desire the applause and the approval of the world more than GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN. We must be on the lookout, ATTENTION NOT AT EASE… We have a terrible enemy that hates us and hates God. The enemy is pacing back and forth to destroy you and your family. DON’T GET ALL WORKED UP. DON’T BE SURPRISED. Trust the unseen hands of a mighty God. Don’t release the demonic powers of hell.
While we live in a day when our enemy doesn’t even hide any more… SEEMS NO ONE CAN SEE HIS TACTICS AND STRATEGIES. HE DESIRES TO STOP THE PRAISE… STOP GOD’S PEOPLE FROM PRAISING GOD.
CAN’T YOU MAKE THE CROWD QUIT PRAISING? SURE JESUS COULD BUT JESUS KNEW THE TRUTH… OUR ENEMY DESIRES YOU TO FUSS, ARGUE, GRUMBLE, COMPLAIN AND FIND-FAULT… BUT JESUS KNEW THE POWER AND PRESENCE THAT PRAISE BRINGS.
Luke 19:35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
I WANT NO ROCKS CRYING OUT FOR ME… THERE IS A SECRET WE FORGET IN THE MIDST OF PANIC ATTACKS, STRESS, SICKNESS, WORRY AND FEAR… THE SECRET IS GOD INHABITS THE PRAISE OF HIS PEOPLE.
Psalm 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Over and over the Bible demonstrates what God can do when his people PRAISE HIM. We believe PRAISE releases the plan of God to do the work of God when we see GOD ON HIS THRONE. God is HOLY.
HE INHABITS, DWELLS, ENTHRONES, IS PRESENT WHEN WE PRAISE HIM.
THE ENEMY SAYS: PRAISE GOD WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT? PRAISE CAN BE A SACRIFICE… PRAISE IS THE WILL OF GOD… PRAISE IS A PARADIGM SHIFT… WE SHIFT OUR ATTENTION OFF THE FLESH AND WE FOCUS ON GOD.
Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
PRAISE GOD --- PRAISE RENEWS OUR STRENGTH…PRAISE IS AN INVITATION THAT WELCOMES GOD… DO WE KNOW THAT PRAISE KILLS DEPRESSION? PRAISE BRINGS FREEDOM… PRAISE KEEPS US FOCUSED… I DO NOT WANT SOME ROCK TO CRY OUT FOR ME!!!
Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
I DON’T WANT NO ROCKS CRYING OUT FOR ME… PRAISE, YOU DETERMINE HOW CLOSE YOU ARE WITH GOD… PRAISE WILL ENCOURAGE. TAKE HEART, PRAISE WILL ALWAYS BRING US CLOSER.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
THEY WALKED ONE TIME AROUND FOR 6 DAYS, THAT DID NOT DO IT. 7 TIMES AROUND THE 7TH DAY, THAT DID NOT DO IT… WHEN THE PEOPLE PRAISED THE WALLS CAME DOWN.
Joshua 6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.
SEND JUDAH FIRST… THE TRIBE OF JUDAH WAS KNOWN BECAUSE THEY KNEW HOW TO PRAISE GOD… WE ARE MARCHING AGAINST THE ENEMY… PUT THE WARRIORS FIRST? NO, SEND THE PRAISERS FIRST…
Judges 20:18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.
PRAISE GOD, WE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY… BE STILL AND KNOW
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
CONCLUSION: Are we making special efforts to appreciate and remember what God has done? Do we remember the benefits of serving God? Focus beyond the regrets of yesterday and the problems of today. What are you going to do with today? The more you praise God and others the more likely you will have greater gratitude. Could we spend a week of praise? How about a month of praise? Are you lucky? How about I am blessed? Are you negative? Are you positive? Will you acknowledge with me that every day is a blessing and we should praise God?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
