Hundreds of thousands of sermons will be preached today. The Lord will communicate His heart and mind through anointed messengers. How many in the pews will really listen? How many will come with the desire to hear a fresh word from the Lord and adjust their lives accordingly? So many have itching ears to hear what is pleasant.
There is still a remnant who long to hear, "Thus says the Lord!" Jeremiah delivered such a message. Look at these phrases. "Lie down in your shame." "Let your humiliation cover you." "You have sinned against the Lord and not obeyed His voice." "Return to Me." Put away your disgusting abominations." "Break up your fallow ground." [Jer 3:25-4:3]
What if God chose to show up at your house of worship and have His way in your life and the lives of other worshipers this morning? What if God moved in such a powerful way, drawing you to brokenness and repentance, you lost track of time, forgot about football, lunch, and Sunday afternoon plans. What if God gripped your heart like a vice with His truth so firmly you could not shake it, ignore it, or flee from it. All you could do is to submit to Him and His truth.
It is past time to content ourselves on counting nickels collected in the offering and noses seated in the pews as a sign of success. God is interested in far more than that. He is interested in getting hearts right with Him.
How many will dress up the outside to go worship but inside they are filled with idolatry, immorality, hypocrisy, and injustice. How many will sing the songs with their lips while their hearts remain far from God. How many will give the appearance of listening to the sermon but be daydreaming in their minds. How many will pretend they are looking at their Bible app on their cell phone while they play a video game or look at social media right under God's nose.
Time is running short. I will not stand up and preach what people want to hear. I WILL STAND UP AND DECLARE WHAT GOD WANTS PEOPLE TO HEAR AND WHAT THE PEOPLE DESPERATELY NEED TO HEAR ME INCLUDED. May the voice of the Lord be heard resoundingly in His church today. May the altars be flooded with broken and repentant people. May the carpet and floors be soaked with tears as people come clean before a holy God. May the church of the living God inch a little closer to revival this morning.
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