Self-evaluation: A OLD YEAR BECOMES HISTORY --- A NEW YEAR IS A MYSTERY
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Text:
Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Matthew 12:36 (MSG) Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. 37 Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."
When I taught school we gave a report card every 6 weeks. Today, to save time school systems grade every 12 weeks. Which cut two grading periods out a year. Could this be less accountability for the teacher and the students? DO WE HONESTLY EVALUATE OUR SPIRITUAL STANDING? You ever ask the Preacher, HOW COULD I IMPROVE MY SPIRITUAL LIFE? Of course not? We don’t want to know?
WHAT YOU LOVE YOU WILL FIND TIME FOR?
YOU HEART AND ACTIONS WILL TELL!
Yesterday is gone! Tomorrow may never be? SO WE NEED TO INVEST WISELY IN THE ETERNAL BENEFITS OF LIFE.
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:21 (MSG) It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Matthew 12:35 (MSG) A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard.
We tend to search for the easy, little effort roads to travel. God seeks the best roads that will stretch your faith to new heights.
WHAT PLANS AND GOALS HAVE YOU SET TO MAKE YOUR CHURCH AND FAMILY BETTER?
ARE WE TOO BUSY? TOO BUSY FOR FAITHFULNESS TO CHURCH? TO BUSY TO SEE WHAT CAN I DO?
What kind of church would my church be if every member were just like me?
Galatians 6:7 (MSG) Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!— 8 harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.
Can we see the relationship between our efforts and the harvest?
Going home from church, the Father complained and complained. The music was too loud and too fast? The singers sing the same words over and over? The Preacher is too judgmental and his sermon should be cut in half. The people are not friendly? On and on dad complained.
The little son in the back seat leaned forward and screamed: DAD, I SAW WHAT YOU PUT IN THE OFFERING PLATE. DAD, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FOR 2 CENTS?
WE FIND THE TENDANCY TO GIVE LIFE LITTLE EFFORT AND EXPECT GREAT REWARDS. LOVE GIVES THE BEST IT CAN. GOD IS LOVE AND GOD SO LOVED US --- GAVE THE BEST THING IN HEAVEN…
Many years ago I took my wife to Walmart Christmas shopping. I can’t keep up with her. It was a beautiful, warm day so I went outside and sat on a bench and waited. There was a large wooden box and it had TOYS for TOTS painted on the side. A brand new large Lincoln Continental pulled up and a boy and girl climbed out to place their gifts in the box. I saw the boy place a large TONKA TRUCK, and the girl placed a doll baby in the box and they jumped back in the car and they were so proud of themselves.
I got up and went over and looked, the TONKA TRUCH was rusted and missing a wheel? I pulled out the doll baby, the hair had been cut and she was bald in much of her hair. The baby doll had magic marker all over it. The toys they gave was a heartache for me. No one would have wanted them! No one!
I sat back down and prayed, I thought WHAT WOULD I DO IF I WAS SANTA CLAUS? I knew what I would do! I would wrap that rusty, 3 wheel truck and that dirty old doll and I would go down the chimney at their house and leave them under their tree.
Can you only imagine the surprise that Christmas morning? The kids and the mommy would be so pleased.
MANY TELL IT LIKE IT WAS! WHAT WILL WE GIVE AND DO TODAY? LOVE SHOWS JOY. THE VERY GIFTS THAT GOD GIVES --- REVEALS HIS LOVE!
BE HONEST, EVALUATE YOUR SELF, DO YOU GIVE JOY… GOD DOES!
A friend of mine wrote me yesterday, his wife had lost one of her karat diamond ear rings, she cried and cried. She knew it’s value and worth. He promised her, he would find it. He spent hours in the house, looking, searching. He searched in the yard? The car? Finally after hours of searching he found the diamond and gave it to her. They were so happy.
REMEMBER THE JOY OF FINDING THE LOST SHEEP, THE LOST COIN, THE LOST SON?
JOY:
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
BE HONEST? DO YOU SPREAD JOY WHERE EVER YOU GO?
WE LIVE IN A DAY WHERE DRAMA QUEENS AND DRAMA KINGS LOVE TO KEEP A HORNETS’ NEST STIRRED UP. WE EVEN PRIDE OURSELVES AS BEING THE BLACK SHEEP AND WE CAN’T SEEM TO GET ALONG WITH OTHERS.
DO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT A PEACEKEEPER WAS IN THE WEST? It was a gun, a rather large pistol.
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
DO WE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE IN A PEACEKEEPER AND A PEACEMAKER?
Be honest: Do people know you for complaining and drama, or peacekeeper or peace maker.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
DO YOU LOVE TO WORRY, FRET, ARGUE, AND PUT OTHERS DOWN?
Be honest are you a PEACEMAKER? Do you leave the fragrance of peace when you leave?
LOVE IS QUICK TO FORGIVE. REAL LOVE GIVES A GIFT THAT WILL CONQUER HURT AND DISAPPOINTMENTS. TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT…THERE IS A DAILY ON-GOING BATTLE OF ANGER, STRIVE AND BITTERNESS. WE MUST LEARN TO OVERCOME AND CONQUER THE HURT.
My opinion is very clear on one subject, THERE WILL BE MORE PEOPLE IN HELL FOR ANGER, BITTERNESS, RESENTMMENT AND UN-FORGIVENESS THAN ANY OTHER SINGLE ISSUE.
You will make the choice of what you honor and the GIFT THAT YOU WILL GIVE.
Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Matthew 6:14 (MSG) "In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others.
BETTER IDEA? WE HAVE MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT TIME. WILL WE TRUST GOD’S PLAN TODAY? DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A BETTER PLAN THAN GOD’S?
I am afraid if I FORGIVE, I will be letting someone off the HOOK?
Romans 12:19 (MSG) Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
DO WE LIVE LIFE IN THE “HAVE TO MODE…” HOW MANY TIMES DO “I HAVE” TO FORGIVE? THE JEWISH TRADITION WAS YOU HAD TO FORGIVE 7 TIMES?
Matthew 18:21 (MSG) At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?" 22 Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
What is the big difference? 7 times a day? Or 7 x 70 = 490 x’s daily.
WHEN YOU FORGIVE ANOTHER, IT IS NOT JUST YOU SITTING THEM FREE. YOU ARE SITTING YOURSELF FREE.
THE DIFFERENCE IS DO YOU TRUST GOD? GOD CAN HANDLE THIS!
Freedom comes when we forgive. Then our forgiveness will RELEASE OUR FAITH.
The word is clear. You will cut your own throat.
Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
I HEARD THAT INDIANS WOULD PUT THEIR EAR TO THE GROUND TO LISTEN FOR APPROACHING HORSES? ARE YOU LISTENING? LOVE LISTENS: ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS YOU CAN GIVE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IS TO LISTEN TO THEM.
David was LISTENING GOD SHOULD WE GO TO BATTLE? YES, WHEN YOU HEAR THE WIND IN THE MULBERRY
Remember the Preacher wanted to hear from God. There was an earthquake shaking the foundations: That was not God. DON’T MISS IT?
2 Samuel 5:24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORDgo out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.
WE SEEM TO BE SEARCHING FOR SIGNS AND A THREE RING CIRCUS ATMOSPHERE?
Remember the Preacher wanted to hear from God. There was an earthquake shaking the foundations: That was not God. DON’T MISS IT?
There was a BIG FIRE coming burning through: That was not God!
The Preacher keeps LISTENING for God’s voice, there was a STRONG WING blowing over the mountain: That was NOT GOD!
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
God’s design was for one mouth and two ears?
WHAT A SAD SONG: THE GREATEST MAN I NEVER KNEW: GUESS WHO? My DAD, we were just always too busy to listen.
You can listen with your 5 senses. The louder the volume the less you will be heard and the higher your blood pressure?
Watch the eyes and the body language?
Jesus wants us to give EAR.
Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
The gift of listening to others has great rewards. LOVE IS ALL EARS, WE LISTEN AND WE LEARN. Many can never hear because the mouth stays in gear, even when the brain is in neutral.
WE NEED ENCOURAGERS AND HOPE GIVERS IN THE CHURCH AND THE FAMILY. WE CAN HANDLE THIS! LOVE UNDERSTANDS AND GIVES HOPE. LET US GIFT THE GIFT OF PLEASING GOD! GOD GAVE SOLOMON A CHOICE: WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUNG MAN?
THE LAST GREAT GIFT WE SHALL DISCUSS IS UNDERSTANDING AND HOPE.
1 Kings 3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
1 Kings 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
DO WE UNDERSTAND WE CAN BE HOPE GIVERS? We can hold on to hope. Understand this: WHEN WE ARE STRUGGLING IN THE STORMS OF LIFE, WE MUST NEVER QUIT, REST IF YOU MUST, BUT DON’T QUIT.
Romans 15:13 Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!
Conclusion: Will we hold the flesh and the spirit person to self-evaluation? Will we seek wisdom and realize we will stand in JUDGMENT BEFORE THE BEAMMA SEAT OF GOD?
Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Matthew 12:36 (MSG) Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. 37 Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."
Love gives: Understanding and hope; Listens; has Joy; gives the best; love will show.
WILL WE SHOW OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
12/27/2017
