IF I ONLY KNEW?
By WADE MARTIN HUGHES, SR. KYFINGERS@AOL.COM
TEXT:
John 6:60
John 6:66 From that time many of HIS DISCIPLES went back, and WALKED NO MORE WITH HIM.
Gen. 5:22 --- and Enoch walked WITH GOD.
Gen. 5:24 --- And Enoch walked WITH GOD, and he was not for God took him.
Heb. 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for before his translation he had a testimony, HE PLEASED GOD.
Today I ponder, WHY DO I SERVE GOD? Do I think God is like Santa Claus? Are my prayers, God give me? God give me? God give mine?
Am I a giver or a taker? Am I a feeder or just an eater? My way or the highway?
Am I just serving God for the presents and gifts He gives me? Or Do I love HIS PRESENCE?
Do I want to KNOW GOD? GOD, WHAT IS MY MOTIVE FOR SERVING YOU? May God be more than a fire escape from Hell?
GOD, I MUST KNOW YOU! GOD, I DIE WITHOUT YOUR PRESENCE! Come closer to me, Father, I must touch the hem of your presence!
1. WHEN TIME GETS HARD FOR HIS DISCIPLES?
My heart breaks when I read John 6. Many have been following Jesus. There has been miracles and healings, that show has been neat! The food has been free. The crowds have grown. This Jesus thing is the best thing that we have ever seen. The people have become known as HIS DISCIPLES. Wow, HIS disciples. HIS, I belong to Jesus!
John 6:60 Many of HIS disciples when they heard this, (there is more than free loaves and fishes). His disciples said: THIS IS HARD. This isn’t easy? There are pressures and stresses? We don’t like harsh and strong things? We like gospel entertainment and gospel comedians? Bring on the singers to make us happy?
We want to be happy and carefree?
John records more to the realizing THIS IS HARD... John 6:66 From that time many of HIS DISCIPLES went back, and WALKED NO MORE WITH HIM.
How sad? His would be no more WITH HIM.
I believe with many tears running down the face of the Son of God, Jesus turns to HIS DISCIPLES and says: ARE YOU GOING TOO? What is my motive for serving the Most High?
2 I JUST WANT TO KNOW HIM!
This story is about Cindy Morgan, today Cindy is a famous Contemorary Gospel Artist.
Many years ago, I was playing music at a friends house. His name was Cova Morgan. As we were picking, Cova’s oldest son, Mike, came in and want the keys to the car and some money, he was going out. We stopped, Cova gave his son the keys and a few dollars and away he went.
Cova’s daughter, Sam, came in and listened a while. When we stopped, Sam asked her dad for some money, she was going skating with her friends. Cova pulled out his billfold and gave Sam some money. she hugged her Dad and away she went.
Later, Cindy, many of you know her, Cindy Morgan the Gospel recording artist, came in the room. We were playing some neat music. Cindy was real little and had curly hair. She just laid her head on her Daddy’s shoulder, and her eyes sparkled at him. When we finished the song, Cova asked Cindy, "What do you want?"
Cindy answered her Dad so tenderly, "Dad, all I want is to be close to you!"
We returned to picking and grinning and that little girl just lay her head near the heart beat of her Father.
With tears in my eyes, I know how many times I have approached the Father with all my needs and wants, and forgot about those special times, with my head on my Father’s chest! Thank God for all His presents, but I must lay my head on His chest and hear the Divine Heart Beat!
Only one was recorded as laying his head on Jesus’ chest, John. The others may have, but we know John knew the heart beat of God. May our hearts be broken by what breaks Jesus’ heart!
I just want to know Him. I must be near, Father can I serve You? I take so much, teach me how to return Your Love.
3 WE HAVE AN INVITATION TO WALK WITH JESUS.
Genesis 3, tells how God would come down and walk with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening. I ponder, what did they talk about? I ponder, How beautiful the Creator enjoying his creation? I ponder, Does God ever want to come walk with us? God help me to walk with You. Teach me TO PRAY, and talk with You.
I want to know You in holy communion! Not just for the presents, I need His presences with me, and I with Him.
4. PLEASING GOD, WITH GOD.
Gen. 5:22 --- and Enoch walked WITH GOD.
Gen. 5:24 --- And Enoch walked WITH GOD, and he was not for God took him.
Do we have an opportunity to walk WITH GOD?
Heb. 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for before his translation he had a testimony, HE PLEASED GOD.
God would walk and talk with Enoch. Enoch loved God. Enoch loved the presence of God. One day it appears God just enjoyed Enoch company so much, that God said, "Enoch come on over!"
5. GOD GIVE ME MORE GIFTS/PRESENTS!
Proverbs 19:6 ... and every man is a friend to him that gives gifts.
God is above bribery and He is above being purchased favors. We need to love God, love His Word, and love His Church. We need to love His presence.
Amos 3:3, How can two walk together unless they agree?
6. DEFINE FRIEND?
Amos 3:3, How can two walk together unless they agree?
The older I get the more two words have come to by heart. HOME and FRIEND. My friends are the flowers of my life. Friend is to be attached by affection or esteem. For friendship to continue there must be a sense of harmony, unity, a kindred spirit. Friendship is not easily defined.
1 Sam. 18:1 Tells how Jonathan and David were knit together.
Ruth 1:6 Tells how in-laws were so together. Ruth told Naomi, don’t tell me to leave, where ever you go, I will go, your people shall be my people and your God, my God. Because of Ruth’s desire and love, she becomes a grandmother of David.
2 Kings 2:2 The old quirky preacher nears the end of his life. Elisha says, no matter where you go, I am going with you. The DOUBLE PORTION went to Elisha because he knew Elijah. The question is not: Where is the God of Elijah? The question is, WHERE ARE THE ELIJAH’S OF GOD?
7 ABRAHAM KNEW GOD’S PRESENCE AND IS RECORDED AS GOD’S FRIEND!
Read 2 Chron. 20:7 Abraham thy friend forever.
Isa. 41:8 ... I have chose the seed of Abraham, MY FRIEND!
James 2:23 It was imputed because Abraham believed that he was CALLED A FRIEND OF GOD.
Yes, Abraham received much from God. But he knew how to give. Melchizedek accepted 10% from Abraham, this was more than a requirement, Abraham gave out of love.
But love and obedience is as important as giving to be God’s friend.
8 FRIENDSHIP COST!
Proverbs 18:24 A man that has friends, must show himself friendly...
Friendship requires effort.
9 BEWARE OF UNEQUALLY YOKED.
Pick your friends but not to pieces. You will never be any better than the friends you keep.
2 Cor. 6:14 warns us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
10. A FRIEND STICKS AROUND.
Exodus 33:11 tells, And the Lord spake with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Moses turned again to the camp, but HIS SERVANT JOSHUA, a young man, DEPARTED NOT OUT OF THE TABERNACLE.
Will we linger back to spend some extra time in the House of the Most High? Are we in a hurry to get home to the television to watch a rerun?
11. IF I ONLY KNEW? Author unknown.
If I knew it would be the last time That I’d see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time I’d hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.
If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, well I’m sure you’ll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there’s always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we always get a second chance to make everything just right. There will always be another day to say "I love you," And certainly there’s another chance to say our "Anything I can do?" But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I’d like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike, And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you’re waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes, you’ll surely regret the day, That you didn’t take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss and you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear, Tell them how much you love them and that you’ll always hold them dear.
Take time to say "I’m sorry," "Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It’s okay." And if tomorrow never comes, you’ll have no regrets about today.
Please consider spending more time in prayer and Bible study, may we KNOW GOD! If you love the Lord, He will speak! You will know dry seasons. Even sons of the promise know lean times! Don’t look for Jesus at some far distance. He wants to be close to you. If you keep the lamp of God burning, you will see Him all around you. If your ears are clean and attitudes proper, you will hear Him. Your lamp can never go out if you keep refilling with the sweet drops of giving and love.
I don’t have the answers? God never gave me the key? We just point in the direction of the cross, you can easily find your way, if you want too! God make us! As we learn to totally surrender, we die daily, abandoning self into the Divine leadership, yield to loving and forgiving, and learn to please God first, others second, then God’s voice will be very clear and easy to follow!
The sheep that belong to Jesus learn how to recognize His voice. Bob Crabtree, AG Superintendent of Ohio, tells while in the USSR, he saw two shepherds come together in the middle of the road, they had 300 sheep all become one group. He had to wait as the shepherds talked. Finally, Bob wondered how will they ever separate all those sheep. As the one shepherd was leaving, in a low voice he bade his sheep come, the two groups separated instantly and went their ways.
The sheep knew the voice!
Bob also told he saw one shepherd being very mean to his sheep. The shepherd was not in front of the sheep leading them. As the shepherd drove the sheep, he kicked them and hit them with a stick. Come to find out, it was not a shepherd, but rather, he was a butcher from the local slaughter house.
Beware of the attitudes of those you choose to listen. God was not in the earthquake. He was not in the fire.
He was not in the storm, He was in the still small voice.
Teach me Lord to hear you.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Pass it on?
