By E L Thornton
(Heb. 12: 1-2) WHEREFORE SEEING WE ALSO ARE COMPASSED ABOUT WITH
SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, AND THE SIN WHICH DOETH SO EASILY BESET US, AND LET US RUN WITH
PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US. LOOKING UNTO JESUS THE
AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH; WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET
BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, AND IS SET DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.”
The story is about a friend that’s not to bright, he is a slow learner, maybe a little introverted. It’s not expect of him to accomplish much by way of academics. Neither is
he expected to receive the attention of the opposite sex. In short, he doesn’t have much going for him academically, physically, or socially.
So Bubba and his friend visit a local fun spot on a Saturday night. Now Bubba, secretly,
had been taking dancing lessons and to his friends surprise, Bubba goes out on the dance
floor and begins to dance and completely amazes his friend , which couldn’t dance. But
not to be outdone by Bubba, you’ve heard it too, the song, Stand back and give me
some room, IF BUBBA CAN DANCE , I CAN TOO.
I feel the same way that this person feels, If it can be done and if someone else can do
it, I can too. Especially when it comes to serving God, living righteous, being free from
sin, and being faithful in my works for God. If someone else can I can too.
Today, the church of the living God finds itself caught in a crippling identity crisis, There’s so many groups that call themselves Pentecostals, that does not pay the price of
separation, until the real child of God becomes confused and frustrated if he doesn’t
stay on his knees in prayer and consecration.
In society, a coarse, moral civil war is shredding Godly values, goodness and rightous-
ness. As a result, dysfunction, violence and alienation have denigrated our homes and
the American families. Our schools, communities and governments are suffering from
this same contamination of moral decay. We cannot minimize the depth of this hellish,
moral decay, nor the difficulty of transforming it to something better. But reformation
and revival have to come to the church, and God promises to help us.
Contemporary sin and moral break down are not too big for God’s power. He can
redeem a society as easily as He created the earth. Although murder, rape, violence,
white-collar crime, abortions, divorce and unwed births sadden the heart of God, He
is not paralyzed by them. If He can find a few faithful servants, He will work miracles.
What the work of God needs is a few honest souls that will say, “look, I don’t know
how, but other churches and individuals are doing it, and I can too.”
We have, for too long, been in a relaxed position, in neutral if you please, waiting for
someone else to pray, someone else to fast, someone else to witness, until the enemy
has almost destroyed our child like faith in an unfailing God. And when the devil is
through taking all of our aspirations away it will yield us as powerless as the ungodly
and the hypocrite. It’s time someone said “IF BUBBA CAN DANCE I CAN TOO.”
PG 1
“BUBBA”
I. WHO ARE THESE WITNESSES THAT WE ARE COMPASSED BY:
If I understand this scripture, they are souls that have served and pleased God
under similar circumstances as we have in our lives.
A. Similar circumstances:
“The thing that hath been, it is which shall be; and that which is done is that
which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecc. 1:9)
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened to you: But rejoice, inasmuch as
ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings: that, when His glory shall be revealed
ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Pet. 4:12)
“—-though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by
day. For our light afflictions, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Cor. 4:16, 17)
B. God will bring us through:
1. God led the children of Israel in the wilderness, and would have lead them
out if they had been obedient and trusted God.
2. God has and will lead us through today if we will trust Him.
a. Some have work their way through financial problems to eventually
make it with God.
b. Some have held on through sickness to be a strong personality of
of faith and have overcome.
c. Some have scratched their way up through mental anguish and depres-
sion to live a victorious life with God.
d. Some have climbed up through the hurt, disappointments and heartache,
of marital breakup to shine like a diamond in the kingdom of God.
e. Some have actually fought the kingdom of hell trying to break the bonds
of addiction to alcohol and drugs, and have gone on to lead others out of
the same bondage.
f. Some have gone against family traditions to be a part of this great truth.
HEBREWS 11:32, “Heroes of faith”
II. THERE WILL BE NO EXCUSES:
A. Man at the wedding feast:
“When the King came in to see the guest, he saw there a man which had not
on a wedding garment. And He saith unto him, friend how camest thou in
hither not having a wedding garment? and he was speechless.” (Matte. 22:11)
He knew the rules, he knew what was expected of him. And he was speechless.
B. “Who knowing the judgment of God,—–. Therefore thou art inexcusable,
O man,——.” (Ro. 2:1)
Pg. 2
“BUBBA”
C. Achan had no excuse for doing what he did except his own lust, which could
have been controlled. And what makes it even worst is that his family suffered
because of his sin.
III. IF OTHERS CAN SERVE GOD IN THIS PRESENT WORLD I CAN TOO:
A. The early Church served God under very adverse circumstances.
Fox’s Book of Martyrs, and other church histories.
B. My parents and others, from 1915 until now, have been faithful to Gods call
on their lives.
C. Before you say you can’t make it, you better think again.
1. “The men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgment and condemn this
generation—–.” (Matt. 12:41)
Ab—I’M GOING THROUGH, YES I’M GOING THROUGH,
I’LL PAY THE PRICE NO MATTER WHAT OTHERS DO,
I’LL TAKE THE WAY WITH THE LORDS CHOSEN FEW,
CAUSE I’VE STARTED IN JESUS AND I’M GOING THROUGH.
