The Six Blind Men

Six blind men visit the palace of the Rajah and encounter an elephant for the first time.  As each touches the animal with his hands, he announces his discoveries.

The first blind man put out his hand and touched the side of the elephant.  “How smooth!  An elephant is like a wall.” 

The second blind man put out his hand and touched the trunk of the elephant.  “How round!  An elephant is like a snake.” 

The third blind man put out his hand and touched the tusk of the elephant.  “How sharp!  An elephant is like a spear.” 

The fourth blind man put out his hand and touched the leg of the elephant.  “How tall!  An elephant is like a tree.” 

The fifth blind man reached out his hand and touched the ear of the elephant.  “How wide!  An elephant is like a fan.” 

The sixth blind man put out his hand and touched the tail of the elephant.  “How thin!  An elephant is like a rope.”

An argument ensued, each blind man thinking his own perception of the elephant was the correct one.  The Rajah, awakened by the commotion, called out from the balcony.  “The elephant is a big animal,” he said.  “Each man touched only one part.  You must put all the parts together to find out what an elephant is like.”

·         It is easy to judge people based upon only one part of their lives, the part which we see- I think it is important to realize that there are parts which we do not see.

·         It is easy to focus only upon the areas in which we disagree and in doing so we miss all the other areas in which we might agree.

·         It is easy to condemn others based upon what we think we see when the reality is that there are many things in that person’s life that we will never see.

May this not be true-

”The Christian Church is the only army that shoots its own wounded"

Instead let this be true-

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32 KJV

CHOOSE YOUR WORDS

While taking a tour of the USS Midway in San Diego a man that had been a Captain in the Marines during the Vietnam War stopped my son, Luke and said, "Thank you for your service."

Five simple words but imagine hearing them being spoken from a veteran almost seventy years old to a young Marine.

It was a moment I will never forget.

In honor of those that have served and are serving I have made it a point to say, "Thank you for your service."

Those words just did something to me-they encouraged me- they inspired me- maybe on some level they transformed me.

The Bible teaches that there is power in words

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Proverbs 18:21 NLT

The words we use can bring life to ourselves and others or our words can bring death.  

If we are going to tap into all the power and all the good things that God has for us then we need to learn the power of words.

Let me share with you five principles from God’s eternal Word about words

1. YOU WILL BE JUDGED FOR YOUR WORDS

And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. Matthew 12:36 NLT

The greek word translated idle means a word that produces nothing good

So when we say things that are purposely meant to hurt or to harm God says we will be judged for those words.

Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing.

2. YOUR WORDS CAN ANGER GOD

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him… a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV

God says He despises those that cause division by their words

Just because you know something-doesn’t mean you need to repeat it.

Have you ever thought something to be true and repeated it and then found out later it wasn’t true?

Did you ever think how many people repeated what you told them?

Aowyn found out what I got for Christmas and it was killing her to not tell me.

She was swelling up like a big toad!

Some people are just like that-if they know something-they just have to tell it.

A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. Proverbs 16:28 NLT

Have you ever gotten mad at a friend because of what somebody told you that your friend said?

Just because somebody tells you that is what was said-does that make it true?

Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. Proverbs 26:20 NLT

If there is a lot of quarrelling, fighting, bickering, complaining I can almost guarantee you that somebody is doing a lot of talking.

1. 3.  YOUR WORDS CAN CRUSH THE SPIRIT

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4 NIV

There is physical abuse and that is horrible

There is verbal abuse

There is also spirit abuse-which is crushing the spirits of others.

You can constantly criticize.

You can constantly mock.

You can continually insult

The result being people with no hope- they feel worthless- they feel like they deserve contempt.

People whose spirit has been crushed not only don’t believe praise they hate it because they think you are lying.

They have been brainwashed into believing anything bad that happens to them is what they deserve.

Their spirit has been crushed and they don’t deserve good things.

They don’t deserve blessings

They don’t deserve love.

1. 4.   WORDS CAN BUILD YOUR FAITH

From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him. Proverbs 12:14 NIV

Who is filled with good things? The man that speaks

Whatever you say goes out your mouth and into your ears.

We can say things like

·         I never do anything right

·         Everything I do turns out wrong

·         Nothing ever works out right for me

After a while we start believing whatever we say

The words you say help to program your mind.

It is important to not just believe the right things we also need to say the right things.

1. 5.   YOUR WORDS CAN ENCOURAGE

Don’t use foul or abusive language.

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29 NLT

What do we think of when we see “foul” words?

If I drop something on my foot and use a four letter word that is not the type of foul word mentioned here

Foul or abusive language are words that are directed at people

They are words used to abuse others.

Ask yourself-

·         How many cutting things have you said today?

·         How many helpful things have you said today?

·         Have you discouraged anyone today with criticism?

·         Have you encouraged anyone today with a kind word?

·         Did you complain about somebody today?

·         Did you compliment somebody today?

Who have you healed lately?

When is the last time you told your husband or wife you appreciate them?

When is the last time you thanked your husband or wife for something?

When is the last time you praised your kids?

When is the last time you told a friend how much you appreciate and love them?

When have you taken the time to encourage somebody?

NEVER STOP PRAYING

NEVER STOP PRAYING

Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT

Often when I have talked to people about praying they say- I pray in church. That means in an average week they prayed 1% of the time.

The Bible says to Pray all the time!

There are different activities we can be involved with as we pray that will help to keep our prayer life fresh and will also help us to pray all the time.

1. Walking

Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Genesis 5:24 NIV

The phrase walking with God means Enoch was in agreement with God and enjoyed deep fellowship with God.

It does not mean he physically walked with God but I use it as a reminder of the fact that I can pray as I walk.

I just want you to remember the phrase- he walked with God

I think we can talk to God as we walk through the woods.

We can talk to God as we drive to work (But don’t close your eyes- that would be more dangerous than texting while driving)

I think the point here is that Enoch brought God into every area of his life just like we can.

Some people cannot sit still and pray.

Can we talk to God as we walk?

2. Talking

The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.

Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Exodus 33:11 NIV

One of the greatest blessings of prayer is when I can talk to God like a friend.

Just talk to Him and say- this is a great day

Talk to Him as you watch TV

Talk to Him as you cut the grass

Talk to Him about your problems

Talk to Him about your frustration

im about your problems

Just talk to Him and say you love Him

Just talk to Him like you talk to your husband or wife

3. Working

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

²⁴since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

One day when I was working in construction I was shoveling sand to mix mortar. It was hot, it was miserable and I was not a happy camper.

Then the Lord reminded me- do it for me- I began to shovel sand into the mixer and I was doing it for God.

Work can be a form of prayer when I do it for God.

4. SILENCE

But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”

Habakkuk 2:20 NIV

We think of prayer as talking but do we ever just remain silent in His presence?

Ever know people that the only way you get a word in edge wise is when they pause for breath?

Do we ever pause for breath with God and let Him talk back to us?

5. Crying

Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:10 NLT

Sometimes there is nothing wrong with this weeping with God because He weeps with us.

Sometimes I come to God and I have nothing to give Him but tears.

Broken over my sin

Broken over the sin of others

Broken over rebellion and complacency in the church

If you have never wept before your God then maybe you need to spend some time over a period of years in His presence

1. 6.   Singing

Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.

1 Chronicles 16:9 NLT

Have you ever been by yourself and sung praises to your God?

When you sing in church are you singing to Jesus?

Are you singing in the Holy Spirit?

Are you praising God from your heart?

And can it be that I should gain

        An interest in the Savior’s blood!

        Died he for me? Who caused his pain!

        For me? Who him to death pursued?

        Amazing love! How can it be

        That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

       

Long my imprisoned spirit lay, 

        Fast bound in sin and nature’s night; 

        Thine eye diffused a quickening ray; 

        I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; 

        My chains fell off, my heart was free, 

        I rose, went forth, and followed thee. 

No condemnation now I dread; 

        Jesus, and all in him, is mine; 

        Alive in him, my living Head, 

        And clothed in righteousness divine, 

        Bold I approach th’ eternal throne, 

        And claim the crown, through Christ my own. 

Sing a song but sing it to Him

“You cannot please everyone-

Jesus didn’t and you and I won’t either

You cannot please anyone all the time-

Anyone who has been married more than five minutes knows this to be true.

You can please God-

He is much easier to please than people.

Play to an Audience of One”

Pastor Mike Chaney

Faith Fellowship Baptist Church

5783 Mary Ingles Hwy

Melbourne, KY 41059

PRAYING WHEN GOD SEEMS FAR AWAY

 

One of the greatest hindrances to real prayer is found on a lot of Christian Programming.

·         On TV they paint a picture of always getting your prayers answered immediately

·         Always getting healed

·         Always getting the promotion at work

·         Always having the victory

While this may be good programming it is poor theology

Most of us experience something a little different

·         We see people that sometimes struggle with sin

·         We see people struggling financially or they are battling a devastating disease,

·         We see people agonize over a rocky marriage,

·         We see people with concerns for the decisions their children are making.

While people on TV never seem to have doubts that God will answer their prayers the people that I meet have a different experience.

·         They doubt God will answer their prayers

·         They might even doubt whether or not God really does care.

·         They doubt if they are worthy enough for God to listen to them

·         They may even doubt the Bible

This prayer of Habakkuk is one to which I think we can all relate

How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Habakkuk 1:2a NIV

The book of Habakkuk is all about a guy that doubted God.

·         He asked God,  “Why is it God would not hear his prayer?”

·         He asked,  “Why there was there so much violence in the world and God did nothing?”

·         he asked, “Why does God bless the wicked?”

Then when God would answer Habakkuk would doubt and question some more.

Will you let them get away with this forever? Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests? Habakkuk 1:17 NLT

There are times when we can pray with little or no belief or hope

In the Bible we read of prayers where the pray-er basically says I keep praying and asking and God does nothing.

O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I need you the most? Psalm 10:1 NLT

O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? ²How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Psalm 13:1-2 NLT

My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me? Why do you remain so distant? Why do you ignore my cries for help? ²Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief. Psalm 22:1-2 NLT

Then we watch TV and we hear testimonies from famous preachers of how whenever they go to the mall they pray for God to give them a spot up front near the mall entrance and every time God gives them a spot up front near the door.

In the Bible we read of prayers where the pray-er says God why have you forsaken me when I needed you the most?

Then we watch TV and hear testimonies of how I was late for work and I prayed and God turned every light green.

I think we need to hear the testimonies of God answering prayer but that is not always the whole story and we need to have the courage to tell the whole story and we need to learn why God sometimes seems so far away.

Join us at Faith Fellowship this Sunday at 11:00 AM

Message this Sunday- THE POWER OF PERSISTENT PRAYER

THE POWER OF PERSISTENT PRAYER

"Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees."  

William Cowper

"If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has."

"Seven days without prayer makes one weak."  

Allen E. Vartlett

Don’t pray when you feel like it.

Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it.

A man is powerful on his knees."

Corrie ten Boom

"God does nothing except in response to believing prayer."  

John Wesley

"Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers."

Sidlow Baxter

Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread.

You say to him, ⁶‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’

⁷And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’

⁸But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

⁹“And so I tell you,

keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.

Keep on seeking, and you will find.

Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

¹⁰For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds.

And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Luke 11:5-10 NLT

"The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity.

If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God's standing challenge,

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not!'"

J. Hudson Taylor

Join us at Faith Fellowship this Sunday at 11:00 AM