MIGHTY MEN OF GOD - PART V

MIGHTY MEN OF GOD: PART V
FROM FRUSTRATION TO CHRIST


I. GOD ALLOWS FRUSTRATIONS SO I ASK: "IS THIS ALL THERE IS?"

Ecc. 5:16-17 ... As a man comes, so he departs, and what does
he gain, since he toils for the wind? All his days he eats in
darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

PETER COULD HAVE BEEN THINKING, "IS THIS ALL THERE IS?"

-ONCE AGAIN, HE AND HIS BROTHER ANDREW, AND HIS VOLATILE
PARTNERS, THE "SON'S OF THUNDER," JAMES AND JOHN, HAD FISHED
THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH NO PRODUCTIVITY.

-HE FELT FRUSTRATION AS HE CLEANED HIS NETS.

IT WAS AN UNREWARDING TASK CLEANING THE WEEDS FROM HIS NETS
AFTER WASTED EFFORT.

BUT IF HE DID NOT WASH THE NETS THEY WOULD SOON ROT AND HE WOULD
BE IN WORSE SHAPE.

SO HE FAITHFULLY AND METICULOUSLY CLEANED EVERY SQUARE OF TWINE
WITH HIS CALLOUSED HANDS.

HE WOULD FISH AGAIN.

*DID HE KNOW GOD WAS USING ALL OF THIS TO TEACH HIM SOMETHING?

*THE FUTILITY WE ALL FEEL IN OUR LIVES IS THE CALL OF GOD TO
SOMETHING GREATER.

-IF A MAN IS SUCCESSFUL OR NOT, AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME A
FEELING OF FUTILITY SETS IN.

-ALL MEN ASK, WHETHER THEY ADMIT IT OR NOT, "IS THIS ALL THERE
IS?"
YES, EVEN IF YOU'VE CLIMBED TO THE TOP AND SEEM TO HAVE IT ALL,
THERE IS A FEELING LIKE YOU'VE STRUCK OUT WITH THE BASES LOADED.

AT SOME POINT IN A PERSON'S LIFE, THEY STAND ON TOP OF THE
MOUNTAIN THEY HAVE CLIMBED, FEEL THE WEIGHT OF RESPONSIBILITY,
AND LOOK BACK SURVEYING ALL THEIR EFFORT, AND ASK, "IS THIS ALL
THERE IS?"



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