(Jer
6:15-17
INTRODUCTION:
We are living in a day of new inventions and innovations. Religion today shouts
of tolerance. Religion today is geared more for entertainment. Religion today
seeks to deal with individuals more on a social level than a spiritual one.
However,
we need to take inventory and ask ourselves, what's wrong with the old proven
way of doing thing? What's wrong with something that works? We do not need a
new message, but rather a new emphasis on the old message.
• His virgin birth - “A virgin shall
conceive and bear a son” (Matthew 1:23).
• His virtuous life - “He was at all
points tempted, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
• His vicarious death - “Christ died for
our sins”(I Cor. 15:3).
• His victorious resurrection - “He is
not here, he is risen”(Luke 24:6).
1.
Preach the Word
2.
Preach whole counsel of Word. (Acts 20:27)
B. Fiery Preaching (Jeremiah 19:9)
1.
Preacher with unction in pulpit
2.
Produces action in pews
C. Fearless Preaching (Act 4:8-13)
1.
Right down the line
2.
Regardless of the outcome
1.
Should be full of joy. (John 15:11)
2.
Should he full of zeal
B. Essential to Cause (Nehemiah 8:10)
1.
Absence leads to depression.
2.
Most always ends in defeat
C. Extreme Cases (Beware)
1.
Zeal without knowledge. (11 Samuel 18:22)
2.
Action without unction
1.
Removal of burden of sin.
2.
Realization of blessing of salvation.
B. Because of Promises to Saviour.
(Ecciesiates 5:4)
1.
Serve Him because you love Him.
2.
Surrender to Him now.
C. Because of perishing sinners. (Luke
14:23)
The Apostle Paul warns us of this in II Timothy 4:3
when he states, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears.
Dads were at
work. Brothers went into the army.
And sisters
got married BEFORE having children!
Crime did
not pay; Hard work did;
And people
knew the difference.
Moms could
cook; Dads would work;
Children
would behave.
Husbands
were loving;
Wives were
supportive;
And children
were polite.
Women wore
the jewelry;
And Men wore
the pants.
Women looked
like ladies;
Men looked
like gentlemen;
And children
looked decent.
People loved
the truth,
And hated a
lie;
They came to
church to get IN,
Not to get
OUT!
Hymns
sounded Godly;
Sermons
sounded helpful;
Rejoicing
sounded normal;
And crying
sounded sincere.
Cursing was
wicked;
Drinking was
evil;
and divorce
was unthinkable.
The flag was
honored;
And God was
welcome!
We read the
Bible in public; Prayed in school;
And preached
from house to house
To be called
an American was worth dying for;
To be called
a Christian was worth living for;
To be called
a traitor was a shame!
Sex was a
personal word.
Homosexual
was an unheard of word,
And abortion
was an illegal word.
Preachers
preached because they had a message;
And
Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY!
Preachers
preached from the Bible;
Singers sang
from the heart;
And sinners
turned to the Lord to be SAVED!
A new birth
meant a new life; Salvation meant a changed life; Following Christ led to
eternal life.
Being a
preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God;
Being a
deacon meant you would serve the Lord;
Being a
Christian meant you would live for Jesus;
And being a
sinner meant someone was praying for you!
Laws were
based on the Bible; Homes read the Bible;
And churches
taught the Bible.
Preachers
were more interested in new converts,
Than new
clothes and new cars.
God was
worshiped; Christ was exalted;
and the Holy
Spirit was respected.
Church was
where you found Christians on the Lord's Day, Rather than in the garden, on the
creek bank, on the golf course,
Or being entertained somewhere else.
I still like
the old paths the best.