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WHY OUR CHURCHES ARE BARREN---Isaiah 37:1-3 Intro: In Chapter 36, we read of an invasion that took place. King Senacharib of Assyria invaded Judah and took the cities. In this chapter, 37 Hezekiah is told of the sad news.
I. COMPROMISED WORD 2 Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
A. Book—KJB and nothing else B. Blood—Not a watered down Gospel C. Beliefs - no preaching on Hell, Holiness, Happiness
II. COUNTERFEITED WORSHIP - 2 Chr 5:13 1 Kings 14:25 And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem: 26 And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 27 And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house. A. Our Services are Rehearsed instead of ReverencedB. Our Songs are nothing more than Entertainment instead of Exalting the Saviour (7-11…7 words sung 11 times) C. Our Worship has become nothing more than Tradition instead of Transformation.
III. CORRUPTED WALK - Genesis 5:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him You're known for who you walk with! A-Enoch walked w/God and WAS NOT for God took Him B- WALK AFTER THE IMAGINATION OF YOUR HEART--YOU ARE GOOD FOR NOTHING--Jeremiah 13:10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing. C-If you are always hanging with a Whore, Girls…You will end up being one.….If you are always running around with Druggies….Guys, you will end up being one.
IV. CONFORMED WORLD - James 4:4-8 Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
A. MUSIC—The Church’s music in many cases has begun to sound like the music of the WORLD. Some say: Well it’s the only way we will ever get our Young People in the Church……If we get them in to church with the wrong kind of Music…Then they won’t even get to Heaven. God uses preaching to reach all AGE GROUPS….Not teaching, not music, but PREACHING.
B. MEMBERS—You can’t tell the difference between the members of a Moose Lodge and the members of a church. Some even like the idea of the Masonic Lodge because of the secrecy. They keep their church membership secret from everyone.
C. MORALS---Sin is not really sin anymore…It is just a MISTAKE.
V. CHANGED WATER - John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. |