SPIRITUAL POLICEMEN VS. PASSION FOR PRAYER
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
NEVER FORGET THAT REMARKABLE PRAYER WILL BRING REMARKABLE RESULTS!
TEXT:
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
REMARKABLE PRAYER WILL BRING REMARKABLE RESULTS!
I. THERE GROW DANGEROUS PITFALL AREAS WHEN CHRISTIANS
DESIRE TO BUILD GREAT WORKS AND SLEEP THROUGH PRAYER MEETINGS.
A. CAN YOU BUILD CHURCHES WITH SLEEPING SAINTS?
Luke 9:32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with Him.
B. PETER HAD GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT YOU CANNOT BUILD LASTING WORKS TALKING AND BLOWING IN THE AIR!
C. There is a good lesson:
The way to Hell is paved with good intentions.
Hell is full of good intentions.
Luke 9:33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles;
one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
D. Don’t talk if you don’t know what you are saying?
II. Many today feel like they are GOD CALLED SPIRITUAL POLICEMEN.
Think about what a police officer is?
A. Years ago I was traveling on an interstate in Illinois, we were using the CB and
had a convoy traveling down the road. There was a car several miles ahead.
I was the tag vehicle in my Volkswagen beetle.
Those in front of me were traveling well above the speed limit.
One car was flying low, he was moving past me like I was sitting still.
There was another car right behind him.
I could see it was an unmarked Illinois State Trooper.
I reached for my CB mike to warn those in front of me.
The Trooper looked me right in the eye and said on the CB, Virginia Bug, you better not, you will be back here in one month to sit in court and pay a big fine.
I looked back at him, --- Linda, my wife, took the mike away from me, she unplugged it and placed my mike in the glove compartment.
A few miles up the road the State Trooper pulled over the fancy Cadillac and he smiled and waved at us as we went by his prey.
B. Another time more recently I was traveling I-65 south, the speed limit is 65 mph.
I was traveling a safe 70 mph.
A Kentucky State Trooper went by me flying, he had to be going over 100.
He did not have his blue lights on, and I thought how unfair it was for him
to be driving at a speed he would arrest me for doing?
I blinked my head lights, I blinked them again and again.
Linda said what are you doing?
I said I was going to pull that trooper over and give him a speeding ticket!
Linda made me quit! Mean Linda!
I was going to give him a ticket and enjoy it!
Most know that I have two sons that are policemen, I just wanted to serve justice?
C. Some times I would love to be a policeman instead of a preacher!
D. Sometimes at church or in my family I would love to be a policeman and write
a ticket.
III. DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YOU WOULD MAKE A GOOD POLICEMAN AND A GOOD JUDGE?
A. Many today feel like they are GOD CALLED SPIRITUAL POLICEMEN.
Think about what a police officer is?
B. POLICE:
To control and regulate, or to keep in order by authority.
To carry out operations to execute orders and prevent and prosecute violations of rules and regulations.
C. We have many controlling manipulative personalities in the world, in the work place, and in the church.
D. BESIDES THAT THERE ARE TIMES I WOULD LOVE TO BE A POLICEMAN!
E. Others feel that God has given them a black judge’s robe and they need to judge other people.
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
IV.BE AN AGENT OF GRACE AND MERCY!
A. Do we know that we have religious duties to do justice, to love mercy, and endeavor to give others joy?
B. WOULD IT BE NICE TO DEVELOP TWO DAYS A MONTH, ONE DAY AT THE FIRST OF THE MONTH AND ONE DAY IN THE MIDDLE OF MONTH AND ASSIGN THOSE TWO DAYS AS GRACE DAYS.
C. How about Communion Sunday as GRACE DAY?
D. Let us give grace, unmerited favor to those that are around us.
V. CHRISTIANITY OPERATES VERY POORLY AS A DUTY, RESPONSIBILITY,
DO I HAVE TO?
A. I often hear people say, Do I have to attend church?
Do I have to pay tithes and give?
Do I have to minister to other people?
B. FROM WHERE DOES THIS HAVE TO SPIRIT GROW?
C. CHRISTIANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS SHOULD WANT TO ---
D. WE SHOULD LOVE TO --- YOU MEAN I AM SO BLESSED I GET TO DO THIS?
VI. WE SHOULD PERFORM OUR CHRISTIAN DUTIES WITH GREAT PASSION AND GREAT ZEAL!
A. Labor, Duty, responsibility of LOVE and JOY!
Ecclesiastes. 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
B. They say to be married is to double your duties and half your rights?
C. Often the path of duty lies in what is near,
and a man often seeks for the remote.
D. We have a duty to love those that wrong us.
E. Duty cannot exist without faith and hope.
Love is your duty!
F. To teach children a sense of duty and responsibility is more important than
great volumes of poetry and classics.
G. Does the pastor have the right to expect every member to do his/her duty?
H. DUTY:
Conduct due to superiors; respect.
Obligatory tasks that arise from position.
Assigned service.
A moral or legal obligation.
The service required.
Done as a duty, task, job, chore.
I. ON DUTY:
Engaged in or responsible for an assigned task or duty.
J. CHORE:
The regular daily work of a household.
A routine task or job.
A difficult or disagreeable task
Work that is delegated or assigned.
VII. DO WE FIND EXCITEMENT AND PASSION IN OUR MENIAL DAILY CHORES?
A. DO I HAVE TO VS I LOVE TO ---?
YOU TALK ABOUT THE LOSE OF ZEAL, PASSION AND DUTY?
B. HOW SAD ARE THE WORDS SLEEP ON ---?
Matthew 26:43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then cometh he to his disciples,
and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
VIII. WE SEE GREAT REMARKABLE CHANGES BETWEEN GETHESEME AND THE UPPER ROOM, FROM SLEEP TO PASSION!
Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus,
and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
A. THEY WENT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE PRAYING AND SEEKING
GOD. LOVE AND NEED MOTIVED PRAYER!
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
B. PRAYER WORKED UNASHAMELEY IN PUBLIC AND IN JAIL!
Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
1 Thessalonians. 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
C. PASSION! GOD GIVE US THE PASSION FOR PRAYER MEEETINGS AND MISSIONS!
D. The more you give the more you have.
E. My oldest son often says:
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXISTING AND THRIVING IS EFFORT.
F. May we enlarge the corners and expand our boundaries by finding great JOY and LOVE in performing our daily menial chores!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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