THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
LET US UNDERSTAND WHAT A FLY IN THE OINTMENT MEANS? WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR ANNOYANCE?
Once I heard a wise teacher say: SHOW ME WHAT TICKS YOU OFF AND I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT MAKES YOU TICK?
Ecclesiastes 10:1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
FLY IN THE OINTMENT: a fly in the ointment means a small defect that spoils something valuable or is a source of annoyance…
WHERE ARE YOU GOING? WE ARE ALL HEADED SOMEWHERE?
I have always heard old people read the OBITUARIES in the newspaper before the headlines? They want to see if they are still vertical. There are several important things listed in an OBITUARY. Who your parents were? The date of your of your birth? Date of death? Your age? Your surviving family members? What faith or church you were a member? Your DOB, your DOD are not what is important --- IT IS THE DASH BETWEEN your birth and death that really matters.
CAN WE SEE? THIS MIGHT BE SO PLAIN EVEN A BLIND PERSON CAN SEE? AND A DEAF PERSON CAN HEAR…
Have you ever known someone that has a way of making things BIGGER or LARGER or DISTORTED THE FACTS more than what the situation really is?
***Richard Nixon is given credit for saying:
***THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT WHAT YOU SAID I SAID TO YOU IS THE WAY THAT IN YOUR MIND. BUT WHAT ***YOU SAID YOU HEARD ME SAY IS NOT WHAT I SAID, OR AT LEAST NOT WHAT I MEANT TO SAY.
CAN WE SEE REALITY?
You are not a physical being having a spiritual encounter! You are a spiritual being having a physical encounter!
We say in a priority sense: BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT --- GOD SAYS: SPIRIT, SOUL, BODY…
Fear not them which can kill body --- One of the lines I hear today is: I JUST WANT TO BE HAPPY.
I also hear: I DESERVE or I AM ENTITTLED?
Text:
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Matthew 24:10 (NIV) At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,
Matthew 24:10 (MSG) And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating each other.
In 1428 the FOURTH EARL OF SALISBURY has been recorded as the first man in history to SHOOT A CANNON. It appears man has always had the need of bigger and better weapons. The cannon was a large gun that shoots large stone balls or heavy metal balls. Cannons then are large caliber guns that after some development had the ability to fire explosive shells.
History also records another FIRST FACT ABOUT THE FOURTH EARL OF SALISBURY: this Earl of Salisbury is known to be THE FIRST MAN TO BE KILLED BY A CANNON.
THISLTES, THORNS, THERE CAN SECRETLY GROW ROOT WEEDS, ROOTS ARE HIDDEN FROM VIEW, SEEING EYES CAN NOT SEE… HATRED DEFLIES MANY… WE FAIL?
Hebrews 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
BOOMERRANG: a curved, flat, wooden tool that can be thrown in such a way that it returns to the thrower.
This bent angular throwing club is typical flat on one side and rounded on the other side so that when it is thrown hard it soars in flight. A boomerang is designed to returner near the thrower.
AS A VERB BOOMERANG MEANS AN ACT OR UTTERANCE THAT BACKFIRES ON ITS ORIGINATOR.
MANY TRAPS OF LIFE THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT BY HATRED, BITTERNESS, STRIFE, AND HURT SEEM TO SET UP A BOOMERANG EFFECT… OR THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT?
SHOW OFF? I HAVE EVERY THING! JUST LOOK AT ME! SUCCESS CAN BE BITTER-SWEET.
COME ON, LET US SHOW HOW ANGRY AND HOW MUCH WE HATE OTHERS… Anger and bitterness are kissing cousins.
ANGER AND WRATH BUILD HATRED…WE ARE NOT ASHAME TO BE ANGRY AND HATE. HATRED STARTS WITH ONE FLY IN THE OINTMENT AND GROWS TO STINK TO HIGH HEAVENS.
LET US SHOW EVERYONE LET’S BUILD THIS THING 75 FEET TALL…
Haman was a successful business man and he had friends in high places. Haman had the fancy house, a beautiful wife, a good family, the best transportation, money, a friend of the King--- HAMAN HAD IT ALL --- BUT.
Not matter how much success Haman had he had ONE FLY IN THE OINTMENT
Esther 3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
I read a research that stated: 100% of Preschoolers loved all their classmates. By the 8th grade 50% of the students liked their classmates, they disliked 50% of them. By the senior year of high school the like factor was 15% of their school mates, that is 85% dislike? I ponder what is the adult what the like/dislike rate is? WHAT HAPPENS IN LIFE?
THE EXPENSE OF THE FLY IN OINTMENT CAN COST MORE THAN YOU PLANNED ON PAYING? THE FLY AT 75 FEET?
Esther 5:14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
O KING, YOU AIN’T GOING TO BELIEVE THIS, WE HAVE A FREE 75 FEET HIGH GALLOWS ALREADY BUILT.
THE JUDGMENT AND GALLOWS OF FOR MORDECAI WILL SOON TESTIFY OF THE RESULTS OF THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT… HAMAN WILL GET TO LOOK OVER THE CITY.
Esther 7:9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
THE ETERNAL ENEMY HAD A PLOT TO NOT ONLY DESTROY PREACHER MORDECAI AND ESTHER, BUT ALL THE JEWS…
THIS PLAN WOULD HAVE ANNILATED THE JEWS BUT THE SEED OF DAVID AND THE COMING MESSIAH.
MY FRIEND JUST HANG ON, HAMAN WILL USE THE GALLOWS.
Esther 8:2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
75 FEET HIGH? WHAT IS THE COST OF A 75 FEET HIGH STRUCTURE? THERE IS ANOTHER SAD STORY ABOUT THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT… THE DAD’S HATRED AND PREJUDICES WAS PASSED ON TO 10 SONS… HOW CAN THE GALLOWS TRAP AND BOOMERANG YOU AND THEN YOURS?
Esther 9:14 And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
How sad for a man to die in his own gallows? How much sadder is it when the Dad’s anger, bitterness and prejudices find a trap for the family.
Man is the only varmint that designs and builds and baits a trap that BOOMERANGS.
LIFE AND HISTORY RECORDS MANY LESSONS.
Why should we study history? As we look at people through time there are many lessons of real life that we might learn. There are lessons that we might desire to pattern that lesson and apply to become better. Then there are real life lessons that we need to make note of and avoid that behavior at all cost.
ALFRED NOBEL WAS KNOWN AS THE MERCHANT OF DEATH…
Alfred Nobel was born October 21, 1833 the fourth child of eight in Sweden. Alfred studied chemistry in France, Russia and the USA. Alfred invent dynamite and NITROGLYCERIN.
Nitroglycerin is very unstable and dangerous. When Alfred was 29 there was an explosion in one of his family’s factories and it killed 5 people. One of which was his young brother: EMIL. Alfred keep on studying and developing deadly chemicals. In 1867 Nobel developed a more stable explosive and named it DYNAMITE: which means power…
Let us met a famous man that everyone listening today will know the name, NOBEL. Nobel was issued 350 patents. In 1857 Nobel invented the GAS METTER. Of the 350 patients AFRED NOBEL BECAME KNOW AS THE INVENTOR OF DYNOMITE. He made the first blasting caps, and many explosives. NOBEL OWNED OVER 90 ARMAMENT FACTORIES. He is recorded to be the FATHER OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS. His inventions have introduced mass death to thousands.
In 1888, Alfred Nobel’s brother LUDVIG NOBEL died while visiting in France. A French newspaper published the OBITUARY of Alfred instead of his brother LUDVIG. The OBITUARY was titled “THE MERCHANT OF DEATH.” The obit read something like this: ALFRED NOBEL, WHO BECAME RICH BY FINDING WAYS TO KILL MORE PEOPLE FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE, DIED YESTERDAY.
Alfred Nobel’s nickname changed after this experience. HE WAS CALLED THE MERCHANT OF DEATH BECAUSE HE MADE A FORTUNE THROUGH DESIGNING AND PRODUCING EXPLOSIVES WHICH WERE USED IN WARFARE TO KILL MEN.
AFTER READING HIS OWN OBITUARY, ALFRED NOBEL BECAME VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW HE WOULD BE REMEMBERED? He did not like the title: THE MERCHANT OF DEATH. So November 27, 1895 Alfred decided to do something to change his history.
Alfred Nobel signed his LAST WILL and testament to bequeath 94% of his total assets --- today would be about $350,000,000 to establish 5 NOBEL PEACE PRIZES. 1. Physics, 2. Chemistry, 3. Medicine, 4. Literature, 5. PEACE.
Because ALFRED NOBEL READ HIS OBITUARY IN 1888, HE CHANGED.
ALFRED LIVED ANOTHER 8 YEARS. He died Decemeber 10, 1896 a CHANGED MAN… HE CONSIDERED HIS LIFE’S HISTORY AND IS NOW KNOWN FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.
NEVER BUILD SPITE FENCES, WALLS OF SEPERATION, OR GALLOWS… GOD NEVER CALLS HIS PEOPLE TO HATE, TO BE PREJUDICE AND TO BE BITTER.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
FREEDOM COMES BY RELEASING THE ANGER, PAIN, HURT, BITTERNESS…
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
1 Corinthians 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
Conclusion: I once read in an old fallen preacher’s Bible: BURY THE PAST, OR IT WILL BURY YOU. I have weighed these words many times. One of the greatest gifts we can give others and ourselves is to PRACTICE FORGIVENESS and avoid hatred and anger. You might die on your own judgment gallows.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
