WHAT IS DRIVING YOU?
DO WE HAVE HEART PROBLEMS IN THE CHURCH?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
Joshua 14:7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again
as it was in mine heart.
8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.
I. WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND US?
A. I have heard it takes two good women to make one good man.
It takes a praying Mom and a wife that has an understanding heart to grow a good man. There may be some truth to this?
B. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF MOTIVE?
Emotion or desire to operate
Something as a need or desire that causes action.
Incentive
C. If you have a good man and NO MOTIVATION, what do you have?
Is there something that compels and impels us to service?
D. WHAT YOU LOVE YOU WILL FIND TIME FOR ----?
What excites you? Show me what excites you, and I will show you what drives you?
E. Are the fruits of our actions the motive of our actions?
F. SIR ISSAC NEWTON HAD A LAW:
THE CHANGE WE BRING ABOUT IS PROPORTIONAL TO THE MOTIVATIONAL FORCE BEHIND US.
G. WHAT HAPPENS IN A NON MOTIVATED FAMILY OR CHURCH?
MOTIVELESSNESS IS A MALIGNITY.
II. WE OFTEN PRAY FOR SMOOTH SAILING BUT IT IS IN LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH CONTRARY WINDS THAT A GREAT CAPTAIN SPRINGS FORTH.
Acts 27:4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
A. I am told that the current and winds were blowing a huge sailing ship straight toward the coast line where many cannibalistic tribes were known the live.
The captain of the vessel sounded the alarm that the ship was caught in the currents of the water and the situation seemed hopeless.
One of the crew members spoke to the captain,
SIR, WE HAVE A FAMOUS PRAYING MISSIONARY AND MAN OF GOD ON BOARD.
The man ran below deck and found the Preacher reading the Bible.
He summoned the Preacher to the Captain’s quarters and the captain explained the ship was drifting toward the dangerous shore of cannibalistic tribes, and they
would all die.
The Captain asked the Preacher to pray for favorable winds to take the ship away from the danger it faced.
The Preacher looked the Captain in the eye, and said,
WHY SHOULD I PRAY UNTIL YOU SET THE SAIL? SET THE SAIL, PREPARE, MAKE READY AND THE LORD SHALL SEND THE WIND.
The captain alerted the men, the sails were set, and as the Preacher prayed, the winds came and blew the vessel to safety.
B. HOW MANY OF US KNOW TO PRAY, BUT WE NEVER SET OUR SAILS?
III. OFTEN TIMES WE WANT TO DEAL WITH OUR PROBLEMS ON THE SURFACE LEVEL AND NOT DOWN TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE HEART OF OUR PROBLEM? COULD IT BE THE PROBLEM OF THE HEART?
A. Have you ever had a dandelion growing in your yard, and decided I do not want that rubbery plant to bend under my lawn mower then spring back and make my yard look bad.
So go grab the hoe and chop those yellow suckers down?
Wait a few days and go out and look and dandelions will still be all over your yard.
I am told that a dandelion can have roots ten feet deep.
B. To chop the problem off at the surface will not necessarily remove the problem.
C. Often times in life we will deal with our spiritual problems on the surface.
Hebrews 12:15 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;
E. ROOT:
The underground part that functions in absorption, aeration, food storage, and anchorage and support.
F. Seems we spend a life time hacking away at the branches of evil, when success comes by striking at the root.
1 Tim. 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
IV. WHAT WAS STILL DRIVING CALEB TO VICTORY, WHEN ALL BUT ONE OF HIS GENERATION WAS SLEEPING IN THEIR GRAVE?
WHAT WAS THE MOTIVATION BEHIND AN EIGHTY FIVE YEAR OLD MAN TO CLAIM HIS MOUTAIN?
Joshua 14:12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will
be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.
13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
A. CALEB WAS A MAN OF FAITH. 40 YEARS PRIOR TO THIS DATE CALEB MADE A DECLARATION OF FAITH.
Numbers 13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
B. 45 YEARS AFTER THE PROMISE --- CALEB STILL BELIEVED THE PROMISE.
HIS HEART NEVER MELTED AT GOD’S ABILITY.
CALEB KNEW HIS ABILITY WAS FOUND IN GOD’S ABILITY.
CALEB WAS DRIVEN BY GOD’S WORD!
Joshua 14:7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again
as it was in mine heart.
8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.
9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because
thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God.
V. NOW, GIVE ME THIS MOUTAIN! I SHALL BE ABLE TO DRIVE!
CALEB KNEW GOD WAS NOT FINISHED WITH HIM, THE PROMISE WAS STILL REAL IN HIS FAITH HEART! AT 85 THE PROMISE IS STILL MINE.
DON’T LET PREVIOUS FAILURES DICTATE THE POWER OF THE PROMISE.
Joshua 14:10 And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities
were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.
A. CALEB KNEW THIS MOUNTAIN WOULD BE AN INHERITANCE TO HIS CHILDREN, AND HIS CHILDREN’S CHILDREN. HE HAD TO CALIM THIS FOR THEM.
B. CAN YOU SEE THE FIRST PICNIC THAT CALEB’S FAMILY HAD UP ON TOP OF THAT MOUNTAIN?
The family all gathered around Caleb and Caleb looked out and saw the past, 40 years in the desert, but I think Caleb looked forward from HIS MOUNTAIN.
C. GOD --- YOU DID IT AGAIN... BECAUSE A MAN KEPT HIS HEART RIGHT.
VI. WE MUST LEARN TO CATCH THE PROBLEM AS A SEED, BEFORE IT IS PLANTED.
A. THERE IS A GREAT PHILOSOPHER AND MANY KNOW HIS WORK. YOU PROBABLY KNOW HIM --- BARNEY FIFE...
Barney spoke some enlightened words of wisdom ---
NIP IT, NIP IT IN THE BUD!
B. You can not stop birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building nest in your hair.
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
C. WE MUST TAKE GREAT CARE TO NOT FOCUS ON THE THINGS IN OTHER PEOPLES LIFES THAT IRRITATE US THE MOST.
We can spend a life time counting what is wrong, we should rather count our blessing and focus on the good, and become an encourager to claim our mountains!
D. IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO FOCUS ON THE IRRITATION AND MAKE IT THE CENTRAL POINT AND HUB OF YOUR CONCLUSIONS.
WE CAN EASILY FOCUS ON THE SYMPTON RATHER THAN THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.
E. Say a person came to the doctor with a runny nose.
If all the doctor focuses on is the runny nose, he might think this person has a sinus infection. The doctor could send the person home treating the
symptom not the cause.
F. Maybe the patient has pneumonia, which is much deeper than the symptom of a sinus problem.
We must look for the root to ever get a healing.
G. The root of a discouraged heart motivating the individual is great danger.
We saw giants, yes we saw the promise, MILK and HONEY, but we focused on the problem.
H. If you ever claim your mountain, you must see beyond the Contrary winds.
You must drive your vessel under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
We have power, power can be used positively or you can use you power negatively.
I. YOU CAN BUILD WITH A HAMMER?
YOU CAN TEAR DOWN WITH A HAMMER?
YOUR CHOICE WILL DECIDE?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Be a team member? Pass this on to another?
