Sermons

Summary: Sometimes our doubt and unfaithfulness can reduce the effectiveness of God.

WELL, HONEY I JUST SHRUNK GOD! HONEY, I SHRUNK HIS WORD!

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

TEXT:

Romans 4:13 ... faith has been made void, and the promise made of none effect.

James 5:15 The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much.

Psalms 107:20 God sent His Word, and healed them and delivered them from their destructions.

Did you hear about the Pastor that was so discouraged and depressed, he could not see what God was doing in the church and in his life?

He would go preach an anointed sermon and return home and sit in a dark office and cry day after day.

One day his wife dressed in black and served him his lunch.

The Pastor asked his wife, WHY ARE YOU ALL DRESSED UP IN BLACK, DEAR?

She said, I think your God must be dead? How could God be alive and His word real, and you stay depressed all the time?

Life! This is just a test, this is only a test...This is part of a spiritual walk....

We go through times that everything seems like great a blessing and God is so near He is right there.

Then we go through times of leanness and dryness.

Elijah had great victories, then seasons of testing, it seemed to Elijah like he would never make it, then God ---

I love to study Elijah, he was not tested because he was bad, his test, was part of his walk.

The fiery furnace seems as naught to us, we know the out come, but it was a terrible test to those three young men.

Testing and storms and doubt are part of growth.

Fear of what is ahead, self doubt for what is behind, disappointments in others, bitterness from scars of the past, loneliness and where is that hand when I so needed it.

I guess, we call this the Valley of Baca, the valley of tears, the seasons of testing, and we see little purpose and the darkness of the lonely night

smother the hope within, outward battles, inner wars, and why am I here?

How long O, God?

Sure, I can see Joseph’s trip to Egypt was God, sure I can see the young servant girl of Naaman was placed there by God for his healing, but I can’t see where I am today as God’s plan.

As Saul was chasing Kish’s (his Father) donkey, one day, two days, three days and no hope of finding those dumb donkeys, yet the trail ended or maybe started over at Samuel’s house.

Can this donkey chase be God?

What made those donkey’s want to run away, it was not a donkey chase it was a trail leading to God’s plan. How frustrated was this young man on a wild goose chase? He could not see or feel God in this?

Yet, Samuel’s heart had been touched there comes one this way, he isto be the anointed. After this encounter, Saul would never be the same, he could stand

under the anointing with the Preacher’s of his day.

God knew what was going on --- but why didn’t God tell Saul?

Well, I can’t answer that question? I don’t know?

But part of the test is learning to trust the leadership of the strange twist of life.

THE LESSON OF ZIGLAG? Crying until you can’t cry no more...

1 Samuel 30:4 Then David and the people that were WITH HIM lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more tears.

1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people talked of stoning Him... How did David feel? Is crying enough?

David had been in battle, and even a good battle is bad ... and when David gets home, the enemy had quietly came into their home and did much damage and

David looses all hope. Would his men help him?

Naw, they are talking we shall kill David for this? Kill your God leader?

Yes, the vision was lost? The hope was gone? The pain was fresh?

I can imagine how David felt? Yet, I know, been there and done that...

Where are you God? Couldn’t You protect mine, while I was fighting for You?

Sure, God could have! God could have whipped the enemy and let David lay under a shade tree laughing, but God was growing a man...

growing a man takes more than emotional highs and lows, ups and downs...

David had already whipped Goliath, that was easy, now comes the hard battle ...

While everyone else was talking negative about everyone else, David had to

spend time with God.

David learned a RARE SKILL that few ever learn. David had to learn --- how to encourage yourself ... HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOURSELF?

Well, that is everyone else’s job, if I am lonely God must send someone right

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