#3 THE WET BLANKET OF DISCOURAGEMENT...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com THIS IS THE 3RD PART...
I. IS IT POSSIBLE TO DENY THE REALITY OF YOUR SITUATION?
I AM NOT HAPPY HERE?
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that
doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be
reproved.
A. I read a story about a MIDDLE EASTERN DESERT NOMAD.
He had been in the desert traveling by himself. He decide to set up camp and rest for
the night. By the time he had set up his tent and had his camel bedded down he was so
tired that he would just go straight to bed and resume activity the next morning.
THE NOMAD was awaken during the night by his growling stomach. So he rolled over
and lit a candle. He had a saddle bag of DATES. So he decided he would eat some DATES
then return to sleep. The candle was so bright in the dark desert.
As the NOMAD was eating the DATE, HE NOTICED THERE WAS A BIG, BLACK WORM
in the center of THE DATE. So the man was disgusted and he threw the WORM & the DATE
outside the tent. HE WAS SO HUNGRY. He picked another DATE out of the bag and took
a big bite out the DATE, just to find another BIG,FAT WORM. So he threw that date
outside the tent.
The Nomad reasoned in his heart, if he kept throwing the DATES out of his tent
he would soon have NO DATES and he might starve to death before he could get
home. So the man decided: BLOW OUT THE CANDLE AND FINISH EATING THE DATES.
He quickly ate the rest of the DATES and laid back down to rest until the sun came up
in the east.
B. THIS LESSON MIGHT BE: WE DO NOT DESIRE THE LIGHT OF GOD TO EXPOSE THE DIRT...
WE MIGHT JUST PREFER TO STAY IN THE DARKNESS AND DENY OUR PROBLEMS?
II. HOW DID WE GET HERE?
LUKE 15 IS AN INTERESTING CHAPTER DEALING WITH LOST ITEMS.
A LOST SHEEP? A LOST COIN? TWO LOST SONS?
THIS IS A REAL CRISIS MOMENT, BECAUSE OF CARELESSNESS, SOMEHOW THE LADY
IN OUR LESSON LOST 10% OF HER SAVINGS --- WHERE IS THAT SILVER?
A. HOW LONG HAS THE SILVER BEEN GONE?
Something happened to make the lady realize: I AM IN TROUBLE... MY SILVER IS GONE.
B. Where did I put that coin?
THERE SHADOWS AND DARKNESS ARE HIDING MY SILVER?
Luke 15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a
candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
C. THE LADY COMES TO ACKNOWLEDGE SHE NEEDS LIGHT TO FIND HER COIN.
When the light started shining THE LESSON GROWS:
WE HAVE ACCUMMULATED DUST BUNNIES? HOW DID WE GET ALL THIS DIRT?
E. THE LIGHT EXPOSES DIRT --- WHEN THE LADY NOCTICES THE DIRT ---
SHE MAKES A WILLFUL DECISION TO GRAB THE BROOM AND SWEEP THE HOUSE.
When she gets the house clean, she FINDS HER SILVER COIN.
F. Perhaps we need the HOLY SPIRIT to shine His light in the dark corners of our hearts
and convict us, correct us and guide us to the FACTS... Clean up this mess?
III. LIFE CAN THROW MANY WET BLANCKETS AT US... WHAT WILL WE DO WITH
THE OBSTACLES THAT WILL HINDER OUR VICTORY AND KEEP US TRAPPED---
A. DID YOU EVER HEAR ABOUT HOW THEY USED TO CATCH MONKEYS & CHIMPANZEES?
The chimpanzees were to smart to fall for the traps and snares that would be set.
The captures had big, thick, heavy glass bottles with a neck large enough the chimp
could reach inside the neck. THEY WOULD THROW 10 PEANUTS TO THE BOTTOM
OF THE HEAVY GLASS JAR. The chimps would place their hands in the neck of the bottle
and make a FIST AROUND THE PEANUTS.
WHEN THE CHIMP CLOSED HIS FIST HE COULD NOT GET HIS HAND OUT. The glass jar
was so heavy the chimp could not escape. THE CHIMP WILL END UP IN A ZOO
AND LOSE HIS FREEDOM --- WHEN ALL HE WOULD HAVE TO DO IS OPEN HIS HAND, LET
GO OF THE PEANUTS and pull his hand out the neck of the JAR.
B. My friend, seems many people love to smother the zeal, enthusiasm and love out of
your family... THERE IS A BATTLE --- THE BATTLE OF THE WET BLANKET... IT IS REAL BATTLE.
WET BLANKET: grinch, kill joy, one that quenches or dampens pleasure/enthusiasm
A person who makes it difficulty for other people to enjoy themselves by
complaining and showing no respect or enthusiasm.
The wet blanket becomes a symbol of QUENCHING, DAMPENING ZEAL.
IV. WANT TO EVALUATE WET BLANKETS?
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO THROW STONES AT OTHERS...
IF THE MOON LISTENED TO EVERY HOWLING DOG IT WOULD QUIT COMING UP ---
THE MOON WOULD NEVER SHINE AGAIN...
A. SOME PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE GOD CALLED HEAD SHRINKERS ---
B. Many never see the SACRIFICES others are making... and they FUSS...
It is too loud. The songs are old fashioned? The songs are too fast? The preacher is long
winded? It is too hot? Too cold? You didn't sing happy birthday to me?
John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them,
He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
B. There was only ONE PERFECT PERSON and they killed him...
V. DISCOURAGEMENT AND DEPRESSION IS FOUND IN COMPARING MYSELF...
I DREAM OF BEING SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME...
A. Did you hear about the grandson that was staying with his Grandfather on his
farm? The boy was kicking the football around. He got pretty good and could really
kick that football a long way.
One day the boy accidentally kicked the football into the CHICKEN LOT.
The boy was afraid of the chickens so he just left the ball in there. The rooster
came strutting by and saw that... IMMEDIATELY THE ROOSTER CALLED A
MEETING OF HIS HENS. The hens gathered around and the ROOSTER MADE A
DEMAND. HENRY ETTA AND ALL YOU OTHER HENS BETTER STARTED LAYING EGGS
THIS SIZE TOMORROW. YOU HENS HAVE BEEN HOLDING BACK ON ME. LISTEN, AND
LISTEN WELL, TOMORROW THE EGGS WILL BE THIS SIZE...
The hens almost passed out, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
B. Rooster you bullheaded demander, THOSE HENS ARE NOT CAPABLE OF LAYING
FOOTBALL SIZE EGGS...
2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with
some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing
themselves among themselves, are not wise.
C. Have you ever heard a COACH demand the kids play like a professional?
Do you know that homework might be hard?
KEEP THE JOY ALIVE AND WELL...
SELF DOUBT AND FEAR CAN BECOME THE WET BLANKET THAT WILL SMOTHER
YOUR VICTORY IN DOOM AND DEFEAT.
A. THE HEAVINESS OF THE STRESS AND TRIALS WILL BREAK US...
DAVID HAS FAILED GOD --- AND PENS THE GREATEST CHAPTER ON REPENTANCE.
Psalm 51:12 (KJV) Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy
free spirit.
Psalm 51:12 (NIV) Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit,
to sustain me.
B. FATHER, Bring US back from DARK exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!
QUIT CRYING, LAUGH --- RESTORE THE JOY...
Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV) he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the
sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is
holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of
rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing
prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the
joy of the Lord is your strength!”
C. YOU CAN GET UP AND REACH BEYOND THIS TRAP.
I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD MOSES NEVER MADE IT TO THE PROMISE LAND BECAUSE
OF HIS ANGER FIT? Think about it...
REMEMBERTHE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION?
Matthew 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
B. We must stand ON THE PROMISES, never FORFEIT GOD'S JOY AND PEACE...
Come with me to the TOP OF MOUNT NEBO...
God will confirm His word to us...
CONCLUSION: ARISE MY BELOVED, HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE AND USE
THE NEGATIVE TO SEE THE GOOD... GOD FORGIVES LET HIM.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall
he also reap.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
