There are times and difficulties that we go through in our lives. These are temporary things and are not meant to stay. If we look at a single frame from a movie, we will see a single still photograph. It is part of the movie, but it is not the entire movie. To fully understand the movie, we must see the entire thing, not just the single frame. Bro. Hughes tells us that we must view our live in it’s entirety not, just a single frame. We must not judge our entire life by a single event or frame. Many people get caught up in the moment and they lose perspective of what is to come. That moment will pass, and another will take its place. Bro. Hughes reminds us not to make decisions about life based upon the moment. Our texts remind us that there is glory yet to be revealed. The bible tells us that a good man will fail seven times, but he gets back up. The failure does not define his life. God has a plan and a glory in each of our lives, and we need to let that plan work out.

“I can’t get over…” something that happened years ago. Bro. Hughes asks why will we continue to judge life based upon a single thing in the past. Stand in the moment no matter how miserable it is and know that this too shall pass. Storms do not last forever, and the night does not last forever. Do not give up and quit because things look bad right now. It is just a moment; this too shall pass.

Our scripture text is David reflecting upon the accomplishments of his life. The text references three mighty men. Most of us when we hear the term Mighty Men, feel that we are not included in that group. Most of us feel like we are just getting through. David was a man of great courage and confidence. Then as now, men were attracted to this type of man. Many of these people were outcasts from other situations and were searching for a place. They knew that if they could be around, or get connected with the right people, that they would become better. The old saying that birds of a feather flock together is true. Like-minded people will gather together.

When these men came to David, he planted a seed in them that grew, and in turn, they planted seeds in others and reap harvest themselves. Eleazar was such a man. He had come be known as one of these Mighty Men. Even though all the others had run off, Eleazar stood to fight against the Philistines with only his sword and his will. Elaezar knew that the fight was worth fighting and would not allow the Philistines to take what belonged to Israel.

Eleazar knew that he had to stand and fight. Bro. Hughes notes that we too need to stand and fight, even if we are the only ones standing. If it is depression, if it is fear, if it is temptation, we must stand and fight even if we fight alone. He fought because it was important. He fought because he couldn’t lose another thing to the enemy. We cannot lose another thing. We cannot lose another night to this enemy. Through God, Eleazar won a victory. Through God, we can win a victory too.

Our scripture text is David reflecting upon the accomplishments of his life. The text references three mighty men. Most of us when we hear the term Mighty Men, feel that we are not included in that group. Most of us feel like we are just getting through. David was a man of great courage and confidence. Then as now, men were attracted to this type of man. Many of these people were outcasts from other situations and were searching for a place. They knew that if they could be around, or get connected with the right people, that they would become better. The old saying that birds of a feather flock together is true. Like-minded people will gather together.

When these men came to David, he planted a seed in them that grew, and in turn, they planted seeds in others and reap harvest themselves. Eleazar was such a man. He had come be known as one of these Mighty Men. Even though all the others had run off, Eleazar stood to fight against the Philistines with only his sword and his will. Elaezar knew that the fight was worth fighting and would not allow the Philistines to take what belonged to Israel.

Eleazar knew that he had to stand and fight. Bro. Hughes notes that we too need to stand and fight, even if we are the only ones standing. If it is depression, if it is fear, if it is temptation, we must stand and fight even if we fight alone. He fought because it was important. He fought because he couldn’t lose another thing to the enemy. We cannot lose another thing. We cannot lose another night to this enemy. Through God, Eleazar won a victory. Through God, we can win a victory too.

The bible is more than just a book. It is the word of God. Bro. Hughes says that the bible should be the most important book in our life. The devil will do whatever he can to distract us and keep us from studying, hearing and reading the word of God. In warfare, it is a good tactic to attack targets that will have the largest effect on the enemy.

Our scripture text reveals a fact about the devil and demonstrates the power of the word of God. It illustrates something that the devil knows that all of us should know. Something about when the word of God is planted that causes him to come to try to undermine it. The devil is smart enough to know what the word of God will produce in a person’s life and what it can result in. Because of this, as soon as the word of God is deposited, the devil will do his best to distract and take away from it. The power of the word of God in our life is the most powerful force and source of strength that we can ever have in our life. The devil knows this and will do everything he can and as quickly as he can to keep it from taking root.

The bible is more than just a book. It is the word of God. Bro. Hughes says that the bible should be the most important book in our life. The devil will do whatever he can to distract us and keep us from studying, hearing and reading the word of God. In warfare, it is a good tactic to attack targets that will have the largest effect on the enemy.

Our scripture text reveals a fact about the devil and demonstrates the power of the word of God. It illustrates something that the devil knows that all of us should know. Something about when the word of God is planted that causes him to come to try to undermine it. The devil is smart enough to know what the word of God will produce in a person’s life and what it can result in. Because of this, as soon as the word of God is deposited, the devil will do his best to distract and take away from it. The power of the word of God in our life is the most powerful force and source of strength that we can ever have in our life. The devil knows this and will do everything he can and as quickly as he can to keep it from taking root.

Our scripture text tells us that with God there is no variableness. He is the same then, now and tomorrow. He is always the same. The God that sustained Moses as he fled from the Egyptians, the God that was with Daniel in the Lion’s den is the same God that is here for us. God desires a relationship with his creation. When He created the garden, he made it perfect for his creation. He created man in order to have a relationship. Even after sin entered the world, God still desires a relationship with His creation. He has not had a change of heart.

The bible is full of stories where God was a healer, where God was a deliverer, where God was a comforter, where God provider. He has not changed. He is still all those things. His plans have not changed.

Our world has changed the principles that many of us grew up believing. We used to be considerate of and look out for our neighbors. Because of our offenses and hurts, we are no longer connected to our neighbors. The human reaction is to retreat when we are hurt. When we become hurt, we begin to build walls and turn inward to protect us from further hurt. Bro. James Hughes tells us that problem with that is that when we do that, we are beginning the process of creating a prison for ourselves. Our world encourages us to be self centered and judgmental. This behavior is contradictory to the will of God and can be very damaging in our relationships.

In our scripture text, Jesus is telling the disciples how to respond to those that offend them. The world and human nature tells us that the response to an offense is revenge and retribution. Bro. Hughes says that the problem with that theory is that no matter what you do, or how much revenge we get, it cannot change the original hurt. It only visits hurt onto someone else. We live in the present. We cannot change one thing about the past and we cannot determine the future. The only time we can influence is the present. The decisions we make in the present are the only way that we can affect our life.

The bible tells us that offenses will come. Not might come, will come. How we choose to deal with these offenses will determine our quality of life. We cannot allow life to determine our choices. We have to choose to live life the way Jesus tells the disciples. The choice is ours. We can forgive our offenses or we can choose to carry the burden with us and have it weigh us down.

Our scripture text tells us that with God there is no variableness. He is the same then, now and tomorrow. He is always the same. The God that sustained Moses as he fled from the Egyptians, the God that was with Daniel in the Lion’s den is the same God that is here for us. God desires a relationship with his creation. When He created the garden, he made it perfect for his creation. He created man in order to have a relationship. Even after sin entered the world, God still desires a relationship with His creation. He has not had a change of heart.

The bible is full of stories where God was a healer, where God was a deliverer, where God was a comforter, where God provider. He has not changed. He is still all those things. His plans have not changed.

Our world has changed the principles that many of us grew up believing. We used to be considerate of and look out for our neighbors. Because of our offenses and hurts, we are no longer connected to our neighbors. The human reaction is to retreat when we are hurt. When we become hurt, we begin to build walls and turn inward to protect us from further hurt. Bro. James Hughes tells us that problem with that is that when we do that, we are beginning the process of creating a prison for ourselves. Our world encourages us to be self centered and judgmental. This behavior is contradictory to the will of God and can be very damaging in our relationships.

In our scripture text, Jesus is telling the disciples how to respond to those that offend them. The world and human nature tells us that the response to an offense is revenge and retribution. Bro. Hughes says that the problem with that theory is that no matter what you do, or how much revenge we get, it cannot change the original hurt. It only visits hurt onto someone else. We live in the present. We cannot change one thing about the past and we cannot determine the future. The only time we can influence is the present. The decisions we make in the present are the only way that we can affect our life.

The bible tells us that offenses will come. Not might come, will come. How we choose to deal with these offenses will determine our quality of life. We cannot allow life to determine our choices. We have to choose to live life the way Jesus tells the disciples. The choice is ours. We can forgive our offenses or we can choose to carry the burden with us and have it weigh us down.

According to John Maxwell, People change when they hurt enough that they have to. He concludes that another way that people change is that they learn enough that they want to change because they see the benefit. The ability to change is one of the benefits of humanity. We can change location, change directions, change vocations, and to adapt and learn. We can change our attitude. The question that troubles Bro. Hughes is “Why is it so difficult for some to change.” Or, ask another way, why is it easier to change some things than others. Our text highlights a man who made a monumental mistake. Esau was the first-born, and was entitled to at least 2/3 of his father’s possessions. He sold that birthright for a bowl of pottage. Afterword’s, he realized his mistake, but he was never able to recover though he tried. Bro. Hughes observes that Esau is not so different from any of us. He struck a deal in the heat of a moment that at the time he must have thought was a good decision. The bible tells us that at some point in his life, Esau changed his feeling about the situation, but was never able to find a place of repentance. He was able to change his feelings and his desire, but he was never able to change his situation.

We can all look back over our lives and identify decisions we made, or paths that we took from which we should not have been able to recover, but we have. What was different about Esau that he was not able to recover from his mistake even though he sought it carefully with tears? Bro. Hughes notes that Esau was seeking the wrong thing with his tears. He sold his birthright but he sought to recover the blessing. He wanted to recover the fruit of the blessing, but did not want the responsibility and the hand that came with the blessing. He wanted the blessing but not the bless-er. Some people only want God to make things better, they do not want the relationship with God.

The key to real change is in the mind. If we can change the mind, we can change the destiny. If there is no change in the way of thinking, there can be no real change. The key to change is not tears. Desire is not strong enough to change.

The reason Esau could not turn around was not because he could not find a place to turn around, he could not change the way he thought about turning around.