WHAT KEEPS YOU FROM ATTENDING CHURCH?

            Unless there are people who are responding to the love of God as revealed in Christ and who are worshipping Him, the Church is not very important. –Blake

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16

            One of the barometers of your love of the Lord is your attendance to the House of God. I realize some people cannot be at the services due to health issues, occupations requiring them to work, or a missed day here or there for vacations or family events but when you make excuses missing Wednesday or Sunday services week after week… there is a heart problem.

            Heart problems must be taken care of Biblically. If there is an issue with the way you get to church—ask for a ride. Don’t let pride keep you from worshipping the Saviour. If you’re sick, be responsible and let the pastor or someone know so they can pray for you during the service. If there is a problem between you and another church member or the Pastor, go to them and work it out like Christians should. If Satan has robbed you of your joy of attending church—GO ANYWAY! God will bless you and give you something to keep on keeping on!

IN CHURCH BUT NOT IN THE CHURCH

            There have been many professions of faith but not many possessions of the faith.

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:23

            Some people have never been saved so it shouldn’t surprise those of us who are when they don’t live Godly. Lost people will do, what lost people do. They will not be faithful to church. They will not handle sin properly; confession and repentance. They will not forgive those whom have done them wrong. They will not give what God asks. What it all boils down to is— they will not be obedient to the Word. I am reminded this morning of another scripture… If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15

            What are you trusting in your salvation for? If it’s anything other than the finished work of Jesus Christ—you’re still lost! You’re not part of the church… you’re just in a church!

CONFUSED

When men surrender themselves to the Spirit of God, they will learn more concerning God and Christ and the Atonement and Immortality in a week, than they would learn in a lifetime, apart from the Spirit. –Brown

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9

Many sit in a pew each week not understanding what the Sunday School teacher or Preacher is talking about. They sit there nodding their heads not in agreement but with a “whatever” attitude trying to make people think they are okay. All the while they are empty on the inside.

You see they will never truly understand the Word of God until they, by faith, have received Jesus as Saviour. It is only by the Spirit of God that they will have ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to do.

Have you asked Jesus to save you? If not, that’s why you sit on a pew confused! 1 John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

WHEN DOING GOOD ISN’T ENOUGH

What can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus…

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

We need more people doing good in the neighborhoods across America. From picking up trash along the roads to helping our elderly neighbor cut some bushes we need more people thinking less of themselves and more about others. Investing a little time in your community will go a long way.

While doing good will go a long way, it will not get anyone to Heaven. We can never do or be good enough to make our way to Heaven. Scripture says, “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”. There is only one way to Heaven and Jesus said He was the way. Not a way or one of the ways but The Way. So if you are living life doing good just remember doing good isn’t enough to get you to Heaven! You must repent and “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

EVEN YOU CAN GET SAVED!

Trust Christ and you shall live.  The bloody sacrifice of Calvary is the only hope of sinners. -Spurgeon

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1 Peter 1:18-19

I didn’t grow up in church. I didn’t have the privilege of learning the children’s songs many people did. I didn’t go to a Christian Summer Camp. I didn’t have a father or mother led me to the Lord. I didn’t even get drug to church. But let me share with you this simple truth; the same blood that saved the church going sinner saved me! The same grace that was extended to the deacons kids was extended to this old sinner!

Friend, I’ve got one other truth to share with you as well; The same blood that saved me can save you! The same grace extended to me is extended to you! Won’t you trust Him today!

WILL YOU NOT BELIEVE?

           Whoso draws nigh to God one step through doubtings dim, God will advance a mile in blazing light to him. –Unknown

           If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:5-6

           I recently read a short story of a young boy who had lost faith. His father had died and he had stepped up to be the man of the house. His mother was a faithful woman who kept pointing her son The Lord. One winter’s night, when it looked as if there wouldn’t be enough wood for the rest of the winter, Mom and her children set down to pray for the Lord to provide. The boy got up from praying and with doubt in his voice said, “I’ll head out tomorrow to go find some wood.”

            That night there was an unusual boisterous wind. At day light the young boy went outside to find the wind had blown drift wood up onto their side of the river bank, plenty for the winter’s bitter cold. The young boy ran and told Mom the news. Mom said, “See son, your God is real and He cares for His children.”

            Are you having a hard time taking God at His Word? Why not trust Him through the doubt one step at a time. Before you know it you might just be walking with Him every day!

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, I’M GONNA LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE!

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. –Wharton

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Some years ago a friend of mine started a new business, head light cleaning. He got on me about having my head light lenses cleaned worse than a hound dog on a hunt. Every time I saw him, “Jay, when you going to let me clean those lights? Jay, when you going let me hook you up?” Finally, I gave in. He did my wife’s car. I was like, WOW! What a difference! I didn’t realize how dirty those head lights had gotten over the years!

Many of us get dirty in this old world we live in. We go to work having to hear dirty jokes, foul language, and a host of other unholy comments throughout our day. After a while, we too get a coating of filth on our eyes and ears. We become calloused to the filth. Where once our light was clearly seen now it is just a flicker in a corner.

Child of God, what has dimmed the light God lit many years ago? Rekindle the Fire of your life sharing it to a lost, dying, and hurting world! Clean the mirror reflecting the Light of God. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

I’m full!

I thought I could have leaped from earth to heaven at one spring when I first saw my sins drowned in the Redeemer's blood. –Spurgeon

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4

            When somebody realizes Jesus died for THEM and they ask the Lord to save THEM, a peace that passes all understanding comes over them they have never felt before. It’s as if a huge burden is pulled out of their heart and joy fills the emptiness that sin has weighed them down with. Tears of joy start trickling down the cheeks of the repentant sinner. Chuckles of joy start to leap out of the heart. A settled joy of knowing everything is going to be just fine. Why does this joy fill our life, because Jesus fills our heart with the joy no one else can give—a lasting joy. What a reminder of this everlasting joy in Isaiah 51:11, “Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.”

Self Exam Needed

I think the moments we are nearest to heaven are those we spend at the Lord's table. –Spurgeon

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28

Before one takes communion there ought to be a self examination of a few things:

1.         Examine whether you are in the faith- Are you saved? Have you received Him as Lord and Saviour?        “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9

2.         Examine whether you have been faithful- How’s your faith? ”…Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Mark 9:24

3.         Examine whether you have been fruitful- Have you been serving; in what ways? “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

SAVED OR UNSAVED!

I believe a man may be as vile as hell itself one moment and be saved the next. - D.L. Moody

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:11-14

Salvation is offered to all but all will not receive the free gift of salvation offered. No matter how wicked, vile, or corrupt a person is they can be and will be saved if they ask the Lord to do so. Hitler, Stalin, Stephen Paddock, and many others that were and/or are wicked beyond our comparison can be/could’ve been saved from the eternal wrath of Hell if they come/came to the Lord with child like faith and ask for it.

Friend, you may not be wicked in comparison to these but let me share with you this truth; we are not compared to these or any other on Earth. Our standard for righteousness is the Lord Jesus Himself and we fall short time and time again. Scripture says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:4” It is by grace through faith a man or woman is saved, nothing more and nothing less. If you think you’re going to Heaven but have not trusted Him as your Saviour, you better start thinking again! Are you saved or unsaved?

LORD WILLING!

There is but one question, and that is the will of God. That settles all other questions.—William E. Gladstone

For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. James 4:15

Many people think they will live forever. They have the mentality of well I’m just going to spread my wild oats and then I will start serving God. The problem with that is they rarely do. Many become drunkards, not caring about God’s Word, Will, or Ways. Some become business men, not having enough time to serve God. Others die, to spend eternity in Hell because they never trusted the Lord for salvation.

Friend, don’t put off tomorrow what you can have today! Trust in the Lord for salvation! Get busy serving Him! Why? You’re not guaranteed tomorrow! Consider with me: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD

A man's feet should be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world. –Santayana

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

Many cannot see the needs of others because they are too busy building a kingdom of their own. They are so wrapped up with keeping up with the Jones that they can’t see the Smith’s are drowning in their sin! Sin has so impacted our country that in order to get our eyes off of us, I believe the Lord is allowing disaster after disaster to rock our country. Hurricanes, mass shootings, racial divides, and much more are shaking us at our foundations.

What will it take to get your eyes off of you and back in the Lord’s Word, back in the Lord’s Way, and back on the Lord’s Work? Don’t wait too long to decide, every minute you wait 105 people have died. They either went to Heaven or hell….there are no other options.

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!

I thought I could have leaped from earth to heaven at one spring when I first saw my sins drowned in the Redeemer's blood. –Spurgeon

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

I believe many would remove the blood right out of the Gospel message if they could. They do not like a bloody Christianity. It doesn’t fit in with their God is Love, Prosperity, More than one way to Heaven Gospel. But friend that couldn’t be any more from the truth!

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin! Without the shed blood there would be no forgiveness! Without the shedding of blood we would still be dead in sin and trespasses! On this Monday I am thankful for the blood of my Lord and Saviour!

YOU HAVE HIS WORD ON IT!

A deal signed with a pen is no better than the man signing his name on it. If he doesn’t value his name then the contract isn’t worth the paper it was written on.—Jay O’Dell

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:11

On the day Jesus transcended into heaven a decree went out to the Galileans giving them hope and it still gives us hope today! The angels declared, “He’s coming back!” This has been preached for over two-thousand years and let me tell you friend, He’s coming back! How do I know? Not because of the millions of Bibles written and printed, not because of the millions of sermons preached, not because my Mom or Dad told me, it is because He values His name! For that reason friend, “YOU HAVE HIS WORD ON IT!”

IF YOU SLEEP ON WATCH, SOMEONE MAY END UP GOING TO HELL!

For Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do. –Watts

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8

That word vigilant has the meaning of being watchful or keeping an eye toward. It is to keep a look out for. It is to be on watch!

When I was in the Navy, we had 6 different watches over the course of 24 hrs. The one I most dreaded was the mid-watch. It was from 11:45pm until 3:45am. Boy, talk about ruining a night’s sleep—that would do it! But even so, we had to be on alert. Everyone had to do their part and keep the ship moving. If one person slept on watch, it put the whole ship’s company at risk.

Friend, who are you putting at risk by you sleeping on your watch? Is it your spouse? How about one of your children? What about a co-worker? While you’re asleep, someone may die and go to hell! Is it really worth the rest?