FINDING TRUE WORSHIP VS INFATUATED WITH INFATUATION… MORE THAN MEETS THE EYES!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Watch YouTube: Wade Hughes) (2 Part)
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 (MSG) There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.
INFATUATION: HAVE WE EVER CHASED THE POT OF GOLD AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW?
Go to a store that sells LOTTERY TICKETS and watch the LOTTERY MENTALITY. Watch people put good cash in the machine. The machine spits out a little piece of paper. They scratch it off and throw the paper in the garbage can? WOW! NOTHING?
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
*VALUE: cash, the importance, regard, WORTH, VALUE, PRICE, your standard.
*INFATUATION: an intense but short lived passion or admiration, carried away, often a fantasy, addicted to love.
*ACCUMULATE: to gather together, increase, build up little by little, hoard.
A millionaire was asked: HOW MUCH MONEY IS ENOUGH? He replied: ONE MORE DOLLAR!
INFATUATION:
I was teaching the sixth grade at a small rural elementary school. I was young. I was the only male teacher in the school that went from kindergarten to the sixth grade. I loved teaching school. I had several girls that really liked me. One day a girl named LISA asked to speak to me while the class went to P.E. She was very nervous as she approached my desk. I asked her if there was something wrong. She gathered herself and batted her eyes a few times. She leaned over my desk and spoke very kindly to me. Lisa said: MR. HUGHES, IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENS TO YOUR WIFE, LINDA. I WOULD LIKE TO MARRY YOU! I was flattered and I told her: we will see.
40 years later LISA reconnected with me on Facebook. She told me she was happily married and had children and life had been kind to her. I told her she was the only woman that proposed marriage to me. She went on to say she remembered that. She also said: I HOPED YOU FORGOT ABOUT THAT. Lisa was a good student. I was the only male teacher that she had and she was INFATUATED WITH HER TEACHER.
INFATUATION IS OFTEN IMMATURITY. I WILL SELL ETERNITY TO ATTAIN THE UNREALISTIC GOALS OF NOTHINGNESS.
Years ago we knew a woman that was married and had adult children. Every day at a certain time “HER SHOW” came on TV. When her “SOAP OPERA” came on she would drop everything to watch her show. She refused to miss one program. She fell in love with one of the stars. In the show the man’s wife had an affair. He got so mad. A few days later her “man” had a car wreck and was not expected to live. At church she requested prayer that this man would live and be OK. She boldly proclaimed she would gladly leave her husband today. She became addicted to this continued show. She told everyone that would listen she would gladly run away with this good looking rich man.
This really broke her husband’s heart. Her adult child would come for a visit and all she wanted to talk about was “HER LOVE FOR THIS MAN.” She had never met the man. She had never talked to this man. She was ready to dump her grandkids, children and husband. Her husband was a talented musician, super singer and well-loved in the community. She was willing to sell all to marry this pretender and actor. INFATUATION?
WHERE WILL I INVEST MY TRUST? WHERE ARE THE TREASURES OF MY HEART? YOUR INNER VALUE SYSTEM?
Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:19 (MSG) "Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. 20 Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. 21 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.
INFATUATION? CAN WE RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT?
*ABUSE: to misuse, bad purpose, cruel, violent, pattern of behavior verbal, physical, mental or spirit to hurt, weaken.
* NEGLECT: to ignore, not giving due care, the lack of attention, enough care, failure to help, does not provide.
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
ETERNAL VISION VS EARTHLY VISION: DO WE HAVE MICROSCOPIC OR TELESCOPIC VISION?
Microscopic vision: 10 spies. Telescopic vision: Moses leaving the palace.
COME LET’S US PONDER INFATUATION THAT TRIES TO BYPASS GOD.
God sees it is necessary to punish His people for all their complaining, undermining and disobedience. So God sent poisonous snakes to bite the people and death was all around. God has a salvation plan… A BRONZE SNAKE ON A ROD TO BE LIFTED UP. When some was biten all they had to do was look toward the bronze serpent on the rod.
Numbers 21:5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
THE PEOPLE BECAME INFATUATED WITH THE BROZE SNAKE AND THEY WORSHIPPED THE SNAKE NOT THE GOD OF THE SNAKE.
2 Kings 18:4 Hezekiah removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT? LOOKING THROUGH THE LENS OF ETERNITY? START SMALL TO LAY UP TREASURES. WE MUST COMMIT EVERY ASPECT AND MOTIVE TO GIVE EVERYTHING TO GOD AND FELLOW MAN. GIVING DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A TREASURE TO BE TREASURED…
Matthew 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
NOTE: EFFORT IS REQUIRED, WE MUST GIVE FRESH WATER, COLD OR COOL. YOU NEVER KNOW THE VALUE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING. Sometimes the smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a student to learn to be a true apprentice.
REMEMBER THE STORY ABOUT THE DOG AND HIS BONE?
There was a real smart dog that had searched and searched for just the right bone. After several hours the dog found a real big wonderful bone. He picked the good bone up and started home with his prized bone. On the way home the dog had to pass over a bridge across the pond. The dog looked down in the water and saw a dog had a much larger bone than he had. He growled at the dog, MY BONE IS MUCH SMALLER THAN YOURS, I WANT YOUR BIG BONE NOW! The dog on the bridge decided to scare the other dog and take his bone. The growl didn’t work. The dog on the bridge barked real loud to intimidate the dog with the bigger bone. When the dog barked at the other dog his bone fell out of his mouth and hit the water. His bone made a ripple effect and now his bone was gone. The dog then realized what he saw as a bigger bone was no more than a reflection now his bone was forever gone. He was not satisfied with what he had… His infatuation was soon gone.
THE EPHOD WAS A GARMENT THAT WAS PART OF THE OFFICIAL DRESS OF THE HIGH PRIEST.
The ephod was blue, purple and scarlet. Embroidered with gold. The ephod represented the UNITY OF GOD’S PEOPLE. On the front of the ephod were 12 very precious stones. These 12 stones symbolized the 12 tribes of Israel. When the High Priest wore the EPHOD WHEN HE WAS INTERCEDING AND SEEKING GOD’S PLAN.
Exodus 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
David probably wore the ephod when he dance before the Lord. David is heart broken, when he saw he had lost everything at Ziglag. David puts on the EPHOD and earnest prayed seeking God’s plan.
THE INFATUATION WITH THE EPHOD WAS A MEMORIAL OF SALVATION. BECAME A TERRIBLE TRAP TO GIDEON. THE EPHOD BECAME, INSTEAD OF WORSHIPPING GOD THE PEOPLE WORSHIPPED THE EPHOD. THE INFATUTUATION WITH THE EPHOD BECAME BAIT, A LURE TO SIN.
THE SPOILS OF VICTORY BECOMES GIDEON’S DOWN FALL. INFATUATION BECOMES A SNARE. WHAT WAS TO LEAD TO WORSHIP BECOMES THE ITEM THEY WORSHIPPED. We must guard our spiritual hearts.
Judges 8:24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
Israel makes the ephod and item to worship. They refused to worship God. They worshipped Baal, Baal-berith and the ephod. THE EPHOD HAD TO BE DESTROYED.
WE ARE PASSING THROUGH ONCE… DO WE INVEST IN THE TEMPORAL ISSUES AND NEGLECT THE ETERNAL VALUES?
Life at best is temporary. David said TEACH ME LORD TO NUMBER MY DAYS…
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
We develop the tendencies to consider materialism and physical comfort more important than SPIRITUAL VALUES of the word of God. We listen to the humanistic teachings that nothing is really important more than our happiness and we seek entertainment.
We are infatuated with infatuation. We are infatuated with the accumulation of things, trophies and achievements.
Our motivation is to feel good, entertained and being happy. IF IT FEELS GOOD DO IT. IF IT DOESN’T FEEL GOOD FORGET IT. We focus on what we can see and feel.
The tendency develops to focus on the temporal not the eternal. We are headed toward eternity at 1440 minutes a day. Have you ever seen a funeral coach pulling a U-Haul trailer?
THINK WHEN YOU ENTER THAT BEAUTIFUL CITY AND THE SAVED ALL AROUND YOU APPEAR, JUST IMAGINE WHEN SOMEONE COMES UP TO YOU TO SAY: IT WAS YOU WHO INVITED ME HERE…
CONCLUSION: WE FACE GREAT DANGER WE DEMAND THE GIFTS, WE SHOULD SEARCH FOR THE GIVER. JOY AND FOCUSING ON ETERNITY IS A CHOICE NOT A HAPPENSTANCE. NOTHING CAN BRING REAL HAPPINESS AND JOY UNTIL YOU MAKE THE CHOICE TO PREPARE FOR ETERNITY. JOY AND HAPPINESS ARE INTERNAL CHOICES AND CAN NEVER BE ACHIEVED BY MATERIALISM … GOD OPEN OUR EYES!
2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
ARE WE LOOKING FOR A FIRE ESCAPE OR THE LORD OF ALL?
Please never allow infatuation to lead us away. Don’t worship worship. Never praise praise. THE FOCUS OF OUR HEARTS SHOULD BE TO KNOW HIM, IN A PERSONAL WAY. A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE!
Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Watch: YouTube: Wade Hughes)
Loving God, loving each other!
