JEREMIAH 14:1-15:3
DECEMBER 29, 2002
Parkersburg Baptist Church
THE LAND OF JUDAH IS IN A GREAT FAMINE. WE HAVE READ HERE A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE DURING THIS TERRIBLE TIME.
THE PROPHET JEREMIAH DESCRIBES THE CITY AND ITS INHABITANTS AS THOUGH THEY WERE IN MOURNING. THEY HAVE BEEN PUT TO SHAME AND HUMILIATED. THE COUNTRY IS LANGUISHING IN SORROW.
THINGS ARE SO BAD THAT EVEN THE ANIMALS ARE SUFFERING.
IN VERSES 7-8 WE ARE GIVEN THE REASON FOR THE SUFFERING. (READ)?THE SIN OF THE PEOPLE. THEIR SIN AS A COUNTRY IS SO GREAT THAT GOD HAS BECOME A STRANGER IN THE LAND. IT IS AS IF HE HAS TURNED HIS BACK ON THEM.
I AM HERE TO TELL YOU TODAY THAT GOD IS FAST BECOMING A STRANGER IN THE LAND OF AMERICA. WE HAVE YET TO EXPERIENCE A FAMINE ON THE SCALE THAT JUDAH WAS GOING THROUGH, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IF THINGS DO NOT CHANGE IN THIS COUNTRY IT IS COMING.
WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A SPIRITUAL FAMINE TODAY?AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE WELL ON THE WAY TO A PHYSICAL FAMINE IF THINGS DO NOT CHANGE AND CHANGE SOON.
IT IS A MATTER OF TIME FOR US?AS OUR COUNTRY HAS FALLEN TO LOATHSOME DEPTHS OF IMMORALITY. WE CANNOT CONTINUE DOWN THIS ROAD OF PERDITION AND NOT FACE A PHYSICAL FAMINE THAT WILL BE OFF THE CHARTS.
DESTRUCTION AND DEATH HAVE BECOME THE NORM FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. VERY FEW IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY ARE SPIRITUAL IN NATURE. AND WHEN I SAY SPIRITUAL I MEAN THE THINGS OF GOD.
THERE ARE COUNTLESS NUMBERS IN AMERICA TODAY WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES SPIRITUAL. BUT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE OCCULT, THE NEW AGE MOVEMENT, OR SCIENTOLOGY JUST TO NAME A FEW.
MANY THINK THEY ARE SPIRITUAL JUST BECAUSE THEIR NAME IS ON THE CHURCH ROLE. YET THEY NEVER SEEM TO BE IN THE CHURCH PEW.
MANY SAY THEY ARE SPIRITUAL BUT THEY ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SPIRITUALITY OF CHRIST.
I AM AWFUL AFRAID THAT GOD?S PATIENCE WITH AMERICA WILL SOON RUN OUT, AND WHEN IT RUNS OUT WITH AMERICA, IT WILL INCLUDE THE CHURCHES IN AMERICA TOO.
YOU SEE, WHEN GOD BECOMES A STRANGER IN THE LAND, FOUR THINGS BEGIN TO HAPPEN. FIRST, CHURCHES GROW COLD. SECOND, PREACHERS ARE SILENT, THIRDLY, HOMES ARE DIVIDED, AND FOURTHLY THE FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN.
LET?S TAKE A FEW MOMENTS AND THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS AND
SEE IF THEY ARE HAPPENING IN AMERICA TODAY?
FIRST, THE CHURCHES GROW COLD. LET ME GIVE YOU SOME RECENT FIGURES TO SEE IF THIS IS HAPPENING.
DO ANY OF THESE THINGS RING TRUE. THE CHURCH IN AMERICA IS GROWING COLD. AND IT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE DUE TO THE SCANDALS THAT PLAGUE THE CHURCHES OF TODAY.
SECONDLY, PREACHERS ARE SILENT. YOU SAY, NOW WAIT A MINUTE. THERE ARE PREACHERS ALL OVER THE PLACE THAT ARE RUNNING THEIR MOUTHS. THEY MAY BE RUNNING THEIR MOUTHS BUT THAT IS ALL THAT IS HAPPENING.
VERY FEW WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT PROCLAIMING GOD?S WORD, TELL IT LIKE IT IS. I MEAN IF THEY DID, MOST CONGREGATIONS IN AMERICA WOULD RUN THEM OFF. IF THEY DID SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS WOULD FILE LAWSUITS TO SILENCE THEM.
HOW MANY TV EVANGELISTS, ETC. PREACH HELL FIRE AND BRIMSTONE TODAY? VERY FEW.
ALL TO MANY ARE PREACHING A PROSPERITY GOSPEL, THAT ALL GOD?S CHILDREN SHOULD BE PROSPEROUS, AND NEVER IN NEED OF ANY KIND. THEY PREACH A FEEL GOOD GOSPEL OF WHAT THE PEOPLE IN THE PEW WANTS TO HEAR.
I DON?T KNOW OF ANY ONE WHO GOT SAVED AFTER LISTENING TO WHAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR. YOU GET SAVED, BY HEARING THE COMPLETE AND UNALTERED WORD OF GOD. YOU GET SAVED BY REALIZING THAT YOU ARE LOST AND ON YOUR WAY TO HELL.
YOU DON?T GET SAVED BY LISTENING TO SOMEONE TELL YOU THAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS PEACHY KING, AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO FALL INTO PLACE, AND YOU WILL NEVER WANT FOR ANYTHING AGAIN.
THAT KIND OF GOSPEL MESSAGE IS CAFFEINE FREE. THE GOSPEL MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE DOES SPEAK OF GOD?S LOVE, BUT IT ALSO AT THE SAME TIME SPEAKS OF HIS CONDEMNATION AND JUDGEMENT FOR THOSE WHO DON?T KNOW JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR.
YOU CAN?T LEAVE THAT PART OUT. IF YOU DO, THEN YOU ARE GUILTY OF TAKING AWAY FROM GOD?S WORD.
LET ME TELL YOU THIS MORNING, A CAFFEINE FREE GOSPEL WON?T WAKE YOU UP, IT WON?T SHAKE YOU UP, AND IT DEFINITELY WON?T TAKE YOU UP EITHER.
THIRDLY, WHEN GOD IS A STRANGER IN THE LAND, ITS HOMES ARE DIVIDED. FIFTY PERCENT OF ALL MARRIAGES IN THE USA CHRISTIAN AND NON-CHRISTIAN END IN DIVORCE.
TOO MANY CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN SINGLE PARENT HOMES. IT IS ALL A RESULT OF SIN AND SATAN?S ATTACK ON GOD?S INSTITUTION OF THE FAMILY AND MARRIAGE SOME 6,000 YEARS AGO IN THE Garden of Eden.
TEENAGE CRIME AND PREGNANCY RATES HAVE SKYROCKETED AS A RESULT OF SO MANY HOMES BEING DIVIDED. CHILDREN NEED A MOTHER AND A FATHER IN THE HOME IF THEY ARE TO RECEIVE THE UPBRINGING THAT THEY NEED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL ADULTS IN TODAY?S SOCIETY.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES IN PEOPLES LIVES ARE UNAVOIDABLE, BUT THAT IS THE TIME THAT THE CHURCH IS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND HELP THOSE PARENTS IN NEED OF SUPPORT, TO HELP RAISE THOSE CHILDREN. THE SAYING IS TRUE THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.
AND THE CHURCH CAN HELP IN MANY WAYS, AND THROUGH THIS TYPE OF MINISTRY, REACH MANY PEOPLE FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST.
FOURTHLY, WHEN GOD IS A STRANGER IN THE LAND, THE FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN. WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR AMERICA. NO ONE. AND SINCE 9/11 THE FUTURE IS EVEN MORE UNCERTAIN.
THE POSSIBILITY OF WAR LOOMS OVER OUR HEADS MORE AND MORE EACH AND EVERY DAY. OUR FUTURE AS A NATION IS UNCERTAIN.
I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY VERY CLOSELY: THE ONLY WAY TO BE CERTAIN OF ANYTHING, IS TO KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW FOR SURE THAT YOU WILL MAKE IT, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.
FOLKS WE ARE IN A SPIRITUAL FAMINE IN THIS COUNTRY. IF CHRISTIANS DO NOT TAKE A STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT?IF WE DO NOT GET DOWN ON OUR KNEES AND PRAY FOR REVIVAL IN AMERICA?AND I MEAN REALLY PRAY.
I DON?T MEAN TO GO HOME TODAY AND MENTION IT ONCE IN PRAYER AND SAY I HAVE DONE MY PART. I MEAN PRAY ABOUT IT EARNESTLY AND CONTINUALLY.
I AM AFRAID THAT THE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE TO GREAT FOR US TO IMAGINE. WE THINK THAT THINGS ARE BAD NOW.
FOLKS, GOD?S PATIENCE WAS EXHAUSTED WITH THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH AND I AM AFRAID THAT AMERICA IS CLOSE TO THE POINT OF NO RETURN AS WELL.
LET?S READ VV. 10-12.
GOD WAS THROUGH WITH THEM. HE EVEN REFUSED TO HEAR THEIR PRAYERS, THEIR CRIES, HE REFUSED TO ACCEPT THEIR OFFERINGS. THESE WERE HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE, AND HIS PATIENCE HAD RUN OUT.
FOLKS THESE ARE PEOPLE ACCORDING TO VERSE 9 THAT WERE CALLED BY HIS NAME. WHAT ARE WE AS PEOPLE OF HIS CHURCH CALLED? CHRISTIANS, WE TOO ARE CALLED BY HIS NAME. YOU SEE THERE ARE MANY THINGS HERE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.
OUT OF ALL THE HISTORY OF GOD?S CHOSEN PEOPLE, HE HAD ALWAYS HEARD THE PRAYERS OF AT LEAST THE PROPHET OF THE TIMES.
HE HEARD ABRAHAM?S PRAYER FOR LOT, BEFORE DESTROYING SODOM AND GOMORRAH; HE KEPT JOSEPH?S FAMILY ALIVE DURING THE FAMINE IN EGYPT.
HE KEPT EIGHT PEOPLE AS A REMNANT DURING THE FLOOD.
NO WHERE ELSE IN THE BIBLE, DID GOD REFUSE TO LISTEN TO THE PRAYERS OF HIS PROPHET, OR EVEN INSTRUCT HIM NOT TO PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE.
LISTEN AGAIN TO VV. 11-12
HE IS NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO THEIR PRAYERS, OR ACCEPT THEIR OFFERINGS ANY MORE.
FOLKS, WE COULD BE ON THE VERGE OF A SITUATION JUST LIKE THIS IN OUR COUNTRY. WE CHRISTIANS NEED TO COME OUT OF THE PEWS AND STAND FIRM AND PRAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE?AND WE NEED TO DO SO BEFORE GOD BECOMES A COMPLETE STRANGER IN THE LAND.
THINGS WERE SO BAD THAT GOD TOLD JEREMIAH THAT IT WOULD NOT MATTER IF SAMUEL AND MOSES STOOD BEFORE HIM, HE WOULD NOT CHANGE HIS MIND. READ 15:1
THINGS ARE GETTING WORSE IN OUR COUNTRY EVERY DAY.
OUR COUNTRY NEEDS TO REPENT AND REPENT QUICKLY. IT IS UP TO US CHRISTIANS TO PRAY FOR REVIVAL OF THE CHURCH AND FOR THE REPENTANCE OF THE NATION.
IT IS UP TO US TO GET THIS MESSAGE OUT TO THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST?BECAUSE THE COST OF NOT DELIVERING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IS EVEN HIGHER.
THERE IS A PUNISHMENT WORSE THAN THE GREAT FLOOD, EXILE, and CAPTIVITY. THERE IS A PUNISHMENT WORSE THAN WHAT WAS DEALT TO SODOM AND GOMORRAH.
THE WORSE PUNISHMENT IS WHEN GOD?S PATIENCE RUNS OUT AND HE BECOMES A STRANGER IN THE LAND. THAT EVEN EFFECTS US, BECAUSE HE WILL NO LONGER HEAR OUR CRIES OR ACCEPT OUR OFFERINGS.
IF THAT HAPPENS TO AMERICA, IT WILL BE THE CLOSEST THING TO HELL ON EARTH THAT WE COULD EVER EXPERIENCE.
LET?S READ WHAT GOD TOLD JEREMIAH WOULD HAPPEN TO THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH. 15:2-4
CHRISTIANS WE NEED TO BE ABOUT GOD?S BUSINESS INSTEAD OF OUR OWN. WE NEED TO BE WATCHMEN FOR OUR COUNTRY AND NOT FALL ASLEEP OR BE A STUMBLING BLOCK.
WE NEED TO PRAY WITHOUT CEASING THAT GOD WILL SEND REVIVAL INSTEAD OF BECOMING A COMPLETE STRANGER TO US.
WE NEED TO PRAY THAT PROGRESS TOWARDS HIM BEING A STRANGER IN AMERICA WILL STOP WHERE IT IS AND TURN AROUND.
FOLKS, WE NEED TO GET ON FIRE FOR JESUS, RIGHT HERE IN Parkersburg Baptist Church. WE NEED TO START TRULY LIVING WHAT WE BELIEVE. THE WORD MISSIONARY IS ON THE SIGN IN FRONT OF THIS BUILDING?BE NEED TO SPREAD THE WORD WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
THIS COUNTRY NEEDS TO STOP PUBLISHING THE SLOGAN ?GOD BLESS AMERICA? AND START LIVING UP TO THE PHRASE AMERICA BLESS GOD. WE NEED TO MAKE GOOD ON THAT.
HE GAVE US OUR FREEDOM AND CAN TAKE IT AWAY.
HE GAVE US OUR PROSPERITY AND CAN TAKE IT AWAY.
HE GAVE US OUR POWER AND CAN TAKE IT AWAY.
HE GAVE US HIS PRESENCE AND CAN TAKE IT AWAY.
IF YOU ARE HERE TODAY WITHOUT CHRIST?DON?T WAIT TILL HE TURNS HIS BACK AND BECOMES A STRANGER IN THE LAND TO START CRYING OUT, BECAUSE THEN HE WILL REFUSE TO LISTEN. BECAUSE HE SAYS, I WILL NOT HEAR THEIR CRY, I WILL NOT ACCEPT THEM.
