God Is Angry ...at You

God is Angry … at You

Introduction

About a month ago I woke up with this message very heavy on my heart. God was angry and not just at some anonymous stranger, but specifically at His church. God began to give me things and I worked at writing them down, not knowing at the time just how it all would fit together.

God has done this to me many times, but I have to tell you that I have never had so many obstacles and hindrances in preparing a message as I have this one. In fact, it got so ridiculously oblivious that I even tested it a few times. I would set down to write down some inspiration that God had given me and without fail I encountered a major interruption, usually in the form of a person sent just to try and distract me. Of course, it didn’t work, because here it is. I had to be determined that I was going to finish it no matter what, giving up sleep, lunch, whatever it took. So I guess the devil finally gave up.

As I was getting the message about God’s anger (wrath) I asked Him to tell me just what He is angry about and I was flooded with things, too many to record. So I had to go back and ask Him to narrow it down to just 4 or 5 manageable areas because any more than that would have to be a book and not a sermon. And who would want to buy a book entitled “God is Angry at you.”

Well God gave me two main categories within the church; the Undecided, and the Backslider at heart.

I know some people are tuning me out already. They are saying, “Well this doesn’t apply to me.” Well, don’t be too sure! You may think, “I’ve been attending this church for over 20 years now, this doesn’t apply to me.” Well, don’t be too sure! Or you may say, “I pay my tithes and sing in the choir, so this doesn’t apply to me.” Well, don’t be too sure! Or you may say, “I am a deacon, an elder, or even the Pastor, so this doesn’t apply to me.” Well, don’t be too sure!

For God then went on to give me four steps under the backslider at heart; the Charmed, the Entangled, the Lukewarm, and the Disobedient.

I understood the Undecided category, but the others just didn’t make sense at first. But then as I pondered on the list it became crystal clear. You see, a person normally does not backslide overnight, instead there are progressive steps, four to be exact.

I. Undecided – (Choosing the world) – Must choose

II. The Backslider in Heart

A. Charmed – (Mesmerized by the world/sin) – Awake, look to Jesus

B. Entangled – (Allured by the world/sin) – Separate yourself

C. Lukewarm – (Compromised with world/sin) – Stir up your heart, 1st love

D. Disobedient – (Justifying your sin) – Repent & Return

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It is time for a final Warning to His church.

Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” on July 8th 1741. That was 270 years ago. I think it is time to preach the main message of this sermon again. Especially since God has stored up even more wrath since then.

Jude 1:23 (NKJV) 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Let me also mention one last thing. As I got this message and realized the enormous load of responsibility, I asked only one thing of God. I told Him I would record it, personally deliver it (if He opens the door), and make it available to others (Internet, mail etc) on one condition; That He would once again draw sinners to his altar of mercy.

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Makeup of the Modern Church

Before I can address the two categories of people that God is directing this message to, let me clarify the definition of the modern church. I have been in church since birth and been around the world, I can tell you that most modern churches have several different types of people, and they are not all there for the right reasons.

Current polls say (From many sources). 93% of those who claim to be born again Christians live secular lives and have a secular world view. About 50% don’t believe in the Holy Spirit or that Satan is real. Nearly 40% have never given the first penny to Kingdom work.

From Barna surveys (www.barna.org) Less than 46% of self-identified Christians read the Bible at all. And the largest change in beliefs since 1991 was the ten-point decline in those who firmly believe that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches. Only 43% of self-identified Christians now have such a strong belief in the Bible.