WHY SIT HERE UNTIL WE DIE? HOW CAN I GET TO THE OTHER SIDE? IF WE STAY HERE, WE DIE?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
WE FACE TWO OPTIONS: SIT HERE AND DIE OR CHANGE...
FOUR MEN WITH MANY GOOD EXCUSES MAKE A DESCISION: WHY SIT HERE UNTIL WE DIE?
2 Kings 7:3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
DEEPER, DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS... LIFE IS NOT JUST ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS...
OUR PROBLEMS MIGHT BE ROOTED IN OUR ATTITUDES TOWARD OUR PROBLEMS...
THE PROBLEM OF THE HEART IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM...
CHANGE OR DIE?
OUR GOD HAS PROMISED US --- ON THE OTHER SIDE --- I HAVE A PLAN THAT FLOWS WITH MILK AND HONEY...
YOU CAN NOT STAY ON THIS SIDE... SOMETIMES GOD WILL FORCE US TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RED SEA.
In one day God gets the children of God out of Egypt --- BUT IT TOOK 40 YEARS TO GET EGYPT OUT OF GOD'S CHILDREN!
LET US SURVEY OUR PROBLEMS?
There is the RED SEA in front of us...
There is a mighty cloud of dust reaching the sky behind us...
That cloud of dust is RASIED BY THE MOST POWER ARMY IN THE WORLD...
THAT ARMY CAN NOT BE DEFEATED...
GOD HAS A PLAN TO GET US TO THE OTHER SIDE...
THE MIGHTY ARMY --- THE FEAR? THE NEGATIVE MOUTHS? --- LET US RETURN TO THE GARLIC, ONIONS, AND FISH?
Exodus 14:30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 31 And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.
GOD HAS A DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY THAT HE OPENS TO THE OTHER SIDE ---
THE FEAR AND WORRY ---
AS AN AIRPLANE ON THE RUN WAY --- THERE IS A POINT OF NO RETURN... FLY/CRASH?
LOOK ON THE OTHER SIDE? THERE IS A GIANT OVER THERE?
ON THIS SIDE THERE IS A LOT OF TEARS, WORRY AND CRYING... LOOK AT THAT GIANT! Look at us?
1 Samuel 17:2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. 4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
SOME HOW GOD'S PEOPLE HAVE A WAY OF STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE AND FOCUSING ON HOW BIG THE GIANT GROWS... For 40 days TWICE A DAY the giant --- CHAMPION --- TOLD THEM... YOU CAN NOT DEFEAT ME! 80 NEGATIVE MESSAGES TAKE DEEP ROOTS...
LET US STAY ON THIS SIDE OF THE VALLEY... We can make it here?
SOME ONE HAS TO GET UP AND SAY: GOD CAN HANDLE THIS... CALL ME A DOG...
THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME THIS IS ABOUT GOD...
CHANGE OR DIE...
JOSHUA KNEW THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HAD A CHOICE STAY HERE AND PAY DEARLY... OR CROSS OVER THE JORDAN... (JORDAN- TYPE OF DEATH TO SELF)
Joshua 24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. 3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
Joshua 24:8 And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you.
CHANGE OR DIE...
GOD HAD A PLAN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOD --- THEN THE FLOODED JORDAN,
THE PROMISE LAND IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JORDAN... THE RIVER OF SEPERATION...
You do not have to go to the other side: BUT GOD IS WAITING TO BLESS THOSE THAT CROSS THE JORDAN...
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES ON THE OTHER SIDE... THERE ARE HURTING PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE... MINISTRY OCCURS WHEN WE STEP BY FAITH.
Mark 5:1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
THERE IS A MAN LIVING IN THE GRAVE YARD... HE CAN NOT BE BOUND... BUT HE IS BOUND AND TRAPPED IN HOPELESSNESS.
LEGION--- TODAY JESUS HAS COME TO THE OTHER SIDE...
WE CROSSED TO THE OTHER SIDE, NOW WILL WE DIE?
THEY CROSSED TO THE OTHER SIDE BUT SOMEONE FORGOT THE BREAD? WILL WE STARVE ON THE OTHER SIDE?
Matthew 16:5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
CAN YOU REMEMBER? 5 LOAVES AND THE 5,000?
REMEBER THE 7 LOAVES AND 4,000?
GOD'S PLAN FOR THE OTHER SIDE WILL HAVE PROBLEMS, BUT THERE WILL BE DIVINE PROVISIONS...
HERE WE ARE? WILL WE STAY HERE? OR WILL WE GO TO THE OTHER SIDE?
Philippians 4:13 (KJV) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13 (MOFF) In him who strengthens me I am able for anything.
Philippians 4:13 (NIV) I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 (MSG) Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
A thousand mile journey starts with one step? We can plan and plan. We can dream? Make preparations?
But we must arise and start putting one foot in front of the other foot.
LIFE IS MUCH LIKE APPROACHING A LADDER OR STAIRWAY ?
We can stand at the bottom and look how high the stairway appears at we stand looking upwards.
HOW CAN I MAKE IT TO THE TOP? I CAN NOT DO THIS? You can focus on the top and establish committees to study how high and how hard it is to climb this distance? You can develop a good strategy on how to get to that goal so far up there?
COME LET US REASON TOGETHER, LET US MAKE CAREFUL PLANS OF HOW TO GET TO THE GOAL? How long will this take? What will we do if we fall? Let us analyze what are we going to do if we fall?
MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK AT ONE STEP AT A TIME? I CAN HANDLE THIS ONE STEP! TO REACH THE TOP, WE MUST REALIZE THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED CLIMBING ONE STEP. EACH STEP MOVES US CLOSER TO THE GOAL...
Rest if you must but step up. Why worry or focus on 150th run? Each step, one by one will keep advancing us higher and closer to our goal. I can easily reach the next step "above this step." We grow and develop on the experience of the accumulation of the NEXT STEP! As I put forth the effort to advance higher this will within itself enable me to step another step up...
OPPORTUNITY, OBSTACLES, HINDERANCES, GROWTH, RELATIONSHIPS, PURPOSE: LIE BEFORE US. IF WE WILL CROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE.
JESUS, HOW DID YOU GET HERE ON THE OTHER SIDE? YOU WERE NOT IN THE BOAT WHEN THEY SET SAIL?
WELL, GOD CAN MAKE DIVINE PROVISIONS THAT CAN NOT BE UNDERSTOOD BY HUMAN REASONING THAT HELPS US GET NFROM WHERE WE ARE TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE...
IT IS CALLED THE STEP OF FAITH...
John 6:25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
CONCLUSION: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO GROW? TO DEVELOP?
80% OF PEOPLE NEVER READ A BOOK AFTER THEY GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.
A great percentage of people never read their Bible daily?
Seems we are trapped behind our cell phones, computers and gaming devices and there is little focus about developing our physical, emotional and spiritual beings into something greater.
May you recall Jesus cursed the unfruitful fig tree?
May we remember there is an axe at the foot of each tree...
Matthew 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
WE MUST SET NEW GOALS. (short term, long term) What are you going to do this summer? This winter?
Our society is addicted to drugs, pleasure, sin, SUGAR...
Few have exercise goals. Even fewer hold themselves accountable. You are teaching somebody something? What poor habits do you have that you need to break? What bad attitudes are you passing to others? Do you honestly ever evaluate yourself.
Recently I asked a group of people what on the course adjustments do they need to make. I asked one individual and their answer amazed me... The person said: NOTHING, I AM A PRETTY GOOD PERSON AND I DO NOT NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING? I saw others around the person shaking their heads...
M y friend, you are speeding toward eternity at 1,440 minutes a day. We must be looking for opportunities to learn and teach. We need to build stronger Jesus reflecting attitudes. Do you have a plan to overcome hinderances and obstacles and come to the other side?
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
If you do not have a plan for improvement you probably will never be better.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
