GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN
JEREMIAH 5:1
RUN YE TO AND FRO THROUGH THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM, AND SEEK NOW AND KNOW, AND SEEK IN THE BROAD PLACES THEREOF, IF YE CAN FIND A MAN. IF THERE BE ANY THAT EXECUTETH JUDGMENT, THAT SEEKETH THE TRUTH, AND I WILL PARDON IT.
I BRING YOU GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS THE CHRIST.
I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU FIRST OF ALL IF I STEP ON ANY TOES, BUT YOU ALL KNOW BY NOW THAT I DON’T PREACH FEEL GOOD SERMONS....SOOOOOO
PRAY WITH ME FOR THE NEXT LITTLE WHILE AS WE ATTEMPT TO SPEAK TO YOU ON THE SUBJECT, GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN.
I PREACHED THIS SERMON ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO DURING A REVIVAL IN LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS AND A YOUNG LADY SITTING ON THE FRONT ROW SAID AND HE AIN’T THE ONLY ONE REVEREND.
TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO THE MEN. NOT BECAUSE IT’S FATHERS DAY OR MEN’S DAY AND I’M CERTAINLY NOT TRYING TO OVERLOOK THE WOMEN BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE IT WOULD BE KIND OF SPARSE IN HERE WITHOUT THEM.
I WANT TO TALK TO THE MEN BECAUSE SOMEWHERE, SOMEWAY, SOMEHOW WE HAVE FORGOTTEN WHERE WE BELONG IN GOD’S SCHEME OF THINGS.
I AM ONE OF THOSE MEN WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT CHIVALRY IS DEAD.
YOU SEE, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT MEN OUGHT TO ACT LIKE MEN
THEY OUGHT TO TALK LIKE MEN
THEY OUGHT TO DRESS LIKE MEN
AND THEY OUGHT TO REPRESENT LIKE MEN. (PAUSE)
THERE ARE SOME MEN TODAY WHO HAVE ADOPTED WHAT WE HAVE REFERRED TO AS AN ALTERNATIVE LIFE-STYLE.
THEY SAY TO ME, I HEAR WHAT YOU’RE SAYING PREACHER BUT YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND. YOU SEE GOD HAS NOT BEEN FAIR WITH ME. HE MADE A MISTAKE WITH ME. I’M A WOMAN TRAPPED INSIDE A MAN’S BODY.
I SAY TO THEM I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE SAYING. YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES; YOU JUST NEED TO BE BORN AGAIN.
THE SCRIPTURE TELLS ME IN THE FIRST AND SECOND CHAPTERS OF GENESIS THAT GOD MADE MAN AND WOMAN AND PLACED THEM HERE IN A PARTICULAR ORDER, AND WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT THAT ORDER IS VERY IMPORTANT IN HIS OVERALL DESIGN AND PLAN FOR THIS WORLD.
IF YOU CAN’T SAY AMEN, SAY OUCH.
GENESIS ALSO TELLS ME THAT GOD HAS ENTRUSTED INTO MAN’S CARE, THE LEADERSHIP
THE GOVERNMENT
THE RESPONSIBILITY
AND THE CONCERNS OF THIS WORLD AS WE KNOW IT.
BUT WHEN WE TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES TO ALTER OR ERADICATE THAT WHICH GOD HAS ORDAINED AND COMMANDED IT ONLY LEADS TO CHAOS AND CONFUSION.
A FEW YEARS BACK THERE WAS SOMETHING CALLED THE MILLION MAN MARCH. I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THE REASON THIS MARCH WAS SO SUCCESSFUL WAS BECAUSE THE CHURCH FAILED.
WHEN I SAY CHURCH I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS BUILDING RATHER THE BODY OF CHRIST.
YOU SEE, WHEN I WAS A CHILD THIS BODY OF BELIEVERS WAS ALL SOME OF US KNEW, AND WHILE WE WERE IN OUR FORMIDABLE YEARS
OUR IMPRESSIONISTIC YEARS
THE WORD OF GOD WAS IMPLANTED IN US AND WE WERE MOLDED AND SHAPED INTO THE MEN WE ARE TODAY.
BUT IN THIS 2OTH CENTURY,
IN THIS ATOMIC AGE,
AS PARENTS AND LEADERS WE HAVE FAILED AS IN JEREMIAH’S TIME TO PRODUCE THE MEN THAT COULD TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WAS BESTOWED UPON US AS FATHERS, SONS, HUSBANDS AND PARENTS.
WE HAVE FAILED TO BECOME THE EXAMPLES THAT GOD HAS COMMANDED US TO BE AND WE HAVE ALLOWED OURSELVES TO BECOME CAUGHT UP IN THE CARES OF THIS WORLD.
TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO HAS BECOME A RELIC OF THE PAST
SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD HAS BECOME A RAP SONG RATHER THAN A COMMAND.
WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT OUR WOMEN AND HOW THEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE OVER EVERYTHING, BUT IF WE WOULD STOP BEING WIMPS AND WUSSIES AND BECOME 100% U.S.GOVERNMENT GRADE A CHOICE, GOD FEARING M.E.N., THEN WE WOULDN’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT OUR WOMEN WERE DOING.
I HAVE DISCOVERED OVER THE YEARS THAT THERE IS NOT A WOMAN ALIVE WHO WILL NOT FOLLOW A M.A.N. WHO HAS CHRIST AS THE HEAD OF HIS LIFE BECAUSE SHE KNOWS THAT HE KNOWS WHO HE IS AND WHO’S HE IS.
I WAS TAKING A TOUR ON A BUS A LITTLE WHILE BACK AND THIS FELLOW ABOUT MY AGE GOT ON CARING A LITTLE BOY WHO LOOK TO BE ABOUT 3 YEARS OLD.
THIS FELLOW HAD ON A WARM-UP SUIT THAT WAS OPEN TO THE MIDDLE OF HIS CHEST WITH ALL HIS BLING, BLING SHOWING.
HE HAD ONE PANT LEG ROLLED UP TO HIS KNEE AND HIS PANTS WERE SAGGING AROUND HIS BUTT.
HE HAD ON A BASEBALL CAP THAT WAS TURNED TO ONE SIDE AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THE LITTLE BOY HE WAS CARRYING WAS DRESSED JUST LIKE HIM.
AS HE DREW CLOSER TO ME, HE SAID WHAT”S UP PLAYER AND I BEGAN TO LOOK AROUND TO SEE WHO HE WAS SPEAKING TO BECAUSE AS A RULE I DON’T GENERALLY ASSOCIATE WITH MEN WHO SPEAK TO ME IN THAT MANNER.
HE WENT ON TO SAY YO DOG, WHATS KICKIN!
AND THAT TELLS ME THAT AS MEN WE SHOULD STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND HOW THEY ACT UNTIL WE BECOME THE FATHERS AND THE EXAMPLES THAT GOD HAS COMMANDED US TO BE AND THEN OUR CHILDREN WILL RAISE UP AND CALL US BLESSED.
THE APOSTLE PAUL HAD A GOOD IDEA WHEN HE SAID.
WHEN I WAS A CHILD I ACTED AS A CHILD.
I THOUGHT AS A CHILD.
I UNDERSTOOD AS A CHILD.
BUT WHEN I BECAME A MAN I PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS.
AND THAT TELLS ME TODAY, WE CAN’T TEACH OUR CHILDREN ANYTHING IF WE ACT LIKE THEM
IF WE HANG OUT WITH THEM
IF WE DRESS LIKE THEM
IF WE WANT TO BE LIKE THEM
AND MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT. CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, YOU CAN’T BE YOUR CHILD’S FATHER AND BEST FRIEND AT THE SAME TIME.
WE NEED TO STOP SAYING MY CHILD IS MY BEST FRIEND BECAUSE THAT’S THE PROBLEM.
BUT IF YOU TRAIN THEM UP IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO,
IF THEY WALK IN ON YOU SOMETIME WHILE YOU’RE ON YOUR KNEES ASKING GOD TO HELP YOU TO BE THE FATHER AND PARENT YOU SHOULD BE THEY MAY GROW UP AND AS MY FATHER USE TO SAY, BEGAN TO SMELL THEMSELVES AND THINK THEY HAVE THE ANSWERS AND DON’T EVEN KNOW THE QUESTIONS.
THEY MAY CAUSE YOU TO SPEND MANY A RESTLESS NIGHT ON THE KNEEWAY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY’RE DOING, BUT I STAND BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING AFTER ALL MY HELL RAISING YEARS, AS LIVING PROOF THAT IF YOU HAVE DONE YOUR JOB THE BEST YOU CAN THEY WILL REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID WHILE THEY WERE IN THEIR IMPRESSIONISTIC YEARS, AND THEIR PLASTIC YEARS AND THEY WILL BECOME THE MEN THAT GOD IS CALLING FOR TODAY.
IN OUR LESSON TODAY WE FIND THAT EVEN IN JEREMIAH’S TIME THING WERE LIKE THEY ARE TODAY.
THERE WAS CRIME IN THE STREETS
THERE WAS CHILD ABUSE
THERE WAS SEXUAL PROMISCUITY AND HOMOSEXUALITY
THERE WAS SPIRITUAL ADULTERY AND FORNICATION
IN OTHER WORDS THERE WAS A COMPLETE TURNING AWAY FROM GOD.
EVEN THE PROPHETS HAD BECOME PRIEST POLITICIANS AND WAS PROSTITUTING GOD WORD FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
FAMILIES WERE BEHAVING SHAMEFULLY AND GOD WAS HOLDING THE MEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR BECAUSE THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO SET THE STANDARDS AND BE THE EXAMPLE.
HE IS HOLDING US RESPOSIBLE TODAY BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ARE FOLLOWING OUR EXAMPLE, AND THAT’S IMPORTANT, FOR THE BIBLE TELL ME THAT IF YOU CAUSE ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONE TO STUMBLE WITH SOMETHING THAT YOU SAY OR DO, IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR YOU IF A MILLSTONE WAS TIED AROUND YOUR NECK AND YOU WERE CAST INTO THE SEA.
IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS CHAOS AND CONFUSION WAS THE PROPHET JEREMIAH WHO WAS KNOWN AS THE WEEPING PROPHET. HE CRIED ABOUT EVERYTHING.
NOW THIS IS NOT SCRIPTURAL SO DON’T AMBUSH ME ON THE WAY OUT, OK?
I BELIEVE GOD HAD, HAD ENOUGH, AND HE TAPPED JEREMIAH ON THE SHOULDER AND SAID JEREMIAH, JEREMIAH. I’VE SEEN ENOUGH TEARS.
WHAT I NEED YOU TO DO IS GET UP AND HAVE SOMEBODY TO RUN THROUGH THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM AND DETROIT AND LOS ANGELES, AND NEW YORK AND LAS VEGAS AND SEEK IN THE BROAD PLACES THEREOF AND SEE IF THEY CAN FIND ME A MAN THAT EXECUTETH JUDGMENT, AND SEEKS THE TRUTH TO DEAL WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS AND I’LL PARDON IT.
I’LL SPARE JERUSALEM IF YOU CAN FIND ONE UPRIGHT, HONEST AND TRUTHFUL PERSON, AND NOT ONE COULD BE FOUND.
AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT JESUS KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO GO LOOKING FOR A MAN.
ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT SCRIPTURAL, BUT IT’S THE WAY I THINK IT HAPPENED.
ONE DAY AFTER HE HAD FINISHED PREACHING OR PERFORMING A MIRACLE, A MOTHER WALKED UP TO HIM AND SAID JESUS, MY BOY HAS LOST HIS MIND.
DOESN’T THAT SOUND LIKE SOMETHING A MOTHER WOULD SAY?
SHE WENT ON TO SAY I’VE HEARD HE’S LIVING SOMEWHERE IN THE MOUNTAINS IN A GRAVEYARD.
I’VE BEEN TOLD THAT ALL DAY LONG HE’S RUNNING AROUND HOOPING AND HOLLERING AND CRYING AND CUSSING AND CUTTING ON HIMSELF AND I KNOW I RAISED HIM BETTER THAN THAT.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU WERE EVER IN THE VICINITY, WOULD YOU STOP BY AND SEE MY BOY.
DOESN’T THAT SOUND LIKE SOMETHING A MOTHER WOULD SAY?
JESUS ASKED WHERE IS HE, AND SHE SAID HE’S OVER IN THE LAND OF THE GADARENES, AND SO JESUS WENT LOOKING FOR A MAN.
THE BIBLE TELLS US IN THE FIFTH CHAPTER OF THE GOSPEL OF MARK THAT WHEN JESUS ARRIVED IN THE COUNTRY OF THE GADARENES HE WAS MET BY A MAN THAT HAD BEEN CHAINED AND BOUND BUT HAD BROKEN HIS BONDS.
JESUS ASKED HIM, WHAT IS YOUR NAME, AND HE SAID MY NAME IS LEGION FOR WE ARE MANY. I’VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THAT AND THE NAME CAME FROM THE ROMAN ARMY WHICH MEANS 3-6000 AND SOME OF YOU CAN’T STAND TO HAVE ONE DEVIL.
THEY SPOKE TO JESUS BECAUSE THEY KNEW WHO HE WAS. AND THEY SAID TO HIM AND I’M PARAPHRASING NOW, WE KNOW THAT WE’VE GOT TO GO BECAUSE YOU’RE HERE, BUT PLEASE DON’T SEND US TO HELL
THAT’S NOT TO STRONG A WORD FOR YOU IS IT?
PLEASE DON’T SEND US TO HELL. THERE’S ABOUT 2000 PIGS OVER THERE, SEND US INTO THE SWINE
AND JESUS SAID IN ESSENCE, GO AHEAD, PIG OUT.
THE BIBLE SAYS WHEN THEY ENTERED THE PIGS, THE PIGS BECAME FRANTIC AND RAN AND JUMPED INTO THE SEA COMMITTING SUICIDE RATHER THAN HAVING TO DEAL WITH ALL THAT DRAMA IN THEIR LIVES.
YOU DID NOTICE THAT, THEY HAD TO GET JESUS’ PERMISSION TO MOVE FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER; YOU DID GET THAT DIDN’T YOU?
WHAT HAPPEN NEXT WAS MOST REMARKABLE BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELLS ME THE NEXT TIME THE PEOPLE SAW LEGION HE WAS SITTING AND HE WAS CLOTHED AND IN HIS RIGHT MIND.
AND THEY BEGGED JESUS TO LEAVE THEM AND LEGION BEGGED JESUS TO TAKE HIM WITH HIM WHEN HE LEFT.
I’M PARAPHRASING AGAIN, HE SAID TAKE ME WITH YOU. DON’T LEAVE ME HERE WITH THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY’RE THE ONES WHO DROVE ME CRAZY IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BUT JESUS SAID TO HIM, NO, NO, I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE YOU WITH ME. I’VE GOT SOMETHING IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DO.
I DIDN’T SAVE YOU FOR YOU TO KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. THERE MIGHT BE SOME BODY BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM THAT FEELS THE SAME WAY YOU DID AND THINK THAT ALL HOPE IS GONE
WHAT I NEED FOR YOU TO DO BROTHER LEGION IS GO BACK HOME TO YOUR MAMA AND YOUR DADDY AND TO YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS WHO THOUGHT YOU WERE ON YOUR WAY OUT AND THEY STOPPED ASSOCIATING WITH YOU AND SHOW THEM WHAT A CHANGE I EFFECTUATED IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU MET ME.
TELL THEM HOW YOU WERE ON YOUR WAY TO HELL AND I STOPPED BY AND HAD COMPASSION ON YOU.
TELL THEM HOW YOU WERE NAKED AND I STOPPED BY AND PUT CLOTHES ON YOUR BACK
HOW YOU WERE HUNGRY AND I FED YOU
TELL THEM HOW YOU WAS BEATEN AND BRUISED AND I ATTENDED TO YOUR WOUNDS
TELL THEM HOW YOUR FRIENDS HAD TURNED THEIR BACKS ON YOU AND I BECAME A FRIEND THAT STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.
AND HE WENT OUT, AND TOLD EVERYBODY HE MET, WHAT A CHANGE HAS BEEN WROUGHT SINCE JESUS CAME INTO MY LIFE. (PAUSE)
THAT TELLS ME THAT YOU CAN’T HAVE A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS AND REMAIN THE SAME.
BECAUSE WHEN HE SAVES YOU, HE EMPOWERS YOU AND GIVES YOU THE STRENGTH AND THE COURAGE TO BECOME AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS FOR HIM AND YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO JOIN IN WITH THE HYMNOLOGIST AND SING AMAZING GRACE, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME. I ONCE WAS LOST, BUT NOW I’M FOUND, WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE.
THERE MAY BE SOME OLD MEN OR YOUNG MEN SITTING HERE TODAY WHO MAY HAVE BEEN WANTING TO GIVE THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST BUT THINK THAT SOMEHOW THEY’RE JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THEY’VE DONE IN THEIR LIFE.
BUT I STOP BY HERE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU’RE JUST THE PERSON THAT GOD IS LOOKING FOR BECAUSE HE LOOKS OVER YOUR PROBLEMS AND SEE YOUR POTENTIAL
HE LOOKS OVER YOUR FAULTS AND SEES YOUR NEEDS
WE’RE NOT UP HERE THIS MORNING BECAUSE WE’VE BEEN SO RIGHTEOUS OR BECAUSE WE’VE BEEN SO PERFECT.
WE USE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
YOU REMEMBER PETER DON’T YOU, OLD FUSSING CUSSING PETER.
THAT SAME PETER WHO DECLARED THOU ART THE CHRIST SON OF THE LIVING GOD
THAT SAME PETER WHOSE FAITH GOT HIM OUT OF THE BOAT AND HE WALKED ON THE WATER
PETER WHO SAID LORD I’M NOT LIKE THESE OTHERS HERE…I’LL DIE FOR YOU
AND THAT SAME EVENING WHEN HE WAS ASKED THE THIRD TIME IF HE KNEW JESUS, HE GOT SO ANGRY WITH THEM THAT THE BIBLE SAYS HE CUSSED.
IF JESUS HAD LOOKED AT PETER AND THE WAY HE WAS ACTING HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF HIM BUT HE LOOKED PAST PETER’S PROBLEM AND SAW HIM ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST WHEN HE STOOD UP AND PREACHED AND 3000 SOULS WERE ADDED TO THE CHURCH.
THAT SAME PETER GOT SO GOOD THAT HE DIDN’T HAVE TO TOUCH YOU TO HEAL YOU ANYMORE, HE COULD JUST WALK BY YOU AND LET HIS SHADOW FALL ON YOU.
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING PREACHER I’M SAYING THERE IS NOTHING YOU HAVE DONE IN YOUR LIFE THAT IF YOU GO TO THE MASTER THAT HE CAN’T FIX.
SOME OF YOU HAVE MAGNETIC HANDS. YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT. WHEN YOU GO PLACES THINGS LIKE TO ATTACH THEMSELVES TO YOU.
SOME OF YOU HAVE EYE PROBLEMS. YOU CAN’T SEEM TO TELL YOUR WIFE FROM SOMEONE ELSE WIFE. YOUR HOUSE FROM SOMEBODY ELSES HOUSE.
BUT I STOPPED BY HERE TO TELL YOU TODAY THAT HELP IS JUST A PRAY AWAY...
GOD CAN DEMAGNETIZE YOUR HANDS SO THINGS WON’T STICK TO THEM ANYMORE.
HE CAN CORRECT YOUR VISION SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TELL YOUR WIFE FROM SOMEBODY ELSES WIFE. AND YOUR HOUSE FROM SOMEBODY ELSES HOUSE.
AND IF HE’S DONE IT FOR YOU IN THE PAST AND IT HASN’T WORKED YOU NEED TO SAY LORD TOUCH ME AGAIN, I NEED A LITTLE MORE POWER BECAUSE I KEEP ON REPEATING MY MISTAKE OF THE PAST. (PAUSE)
WE’RE NOT PERFECT ALTHOUGH SOME OF YOU MAY THINK YOU ARE. AND IF YOU’RE PERFECT I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR YOU. YOU’RE IN THE WRONG PLACE BECAUSE EVERYBODY HERE IS AN EX SOMETHING.
BUT BY THEY GRACE OF GOD WE CAN NOW LOOK BACK OVER OUR LIFE AND WONDER HOW WE GOT OVER. (PAUSE)
WE’RE GOING HOME NOW
WE AS FATHERS AND HUSBANDS NEED TO TELL OUR SONS THAT
WE NEED TO TELL OUR YOUNG MEN THAT GOD IS STILL IN THE MERCY BUSINESS.
THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT ONE DAY BEFORE ETERNITY EVER BEGAN THAT GOD STEPPED OUT ON THE PORTALS OF TIME AND LOOK DOWN THROUGH THE AGES AND SAW THEM IN A BAD SITUATION ON THEIR WAY TO HELL
WE NEED TO TELL THEM THAT GOD SO LOVE THEM THAT HE GOT UP FROM HIS THRONE OF GRACE
TOOK OFF HIS OMNIPRESCENCE AND LAID IT ACROSS THE MERCY SEAT
TOOK OFF HIS OMNISCIENCE AND LAID IT ACROSS THE THRONE OF GRACE
TOOK OF HIS OMNIPOTENCE AND HUNG IT IN THE CLOSET OF TIME
REACHED UNDER THE ALTAR AND FOUND THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD
HE TOOK THE SPOKEN WORD AND THE WRITTEN WORD, WRAPPED SOME FLESH AROUND THEM AND THEY BECAME THE LIVING WORD
HE WALKED DOWN TO THE DEPOT OF TIME
BROUGHT A ONE WAY TICKET ON THE HALLELUJAH EXPRESS
CAME DOWN THROUGH FORTY AND TWO GENERATIONS
GOT OFF IN A LITTLE TOWN CALLED BETHLEHEM ON A COLD WINTERS NIGHT THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A RIGHT TO EVERLASTING LIFE
WE NEED TO TELL OUR YOUNG MEN THAT GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN US....