GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION
Text James 1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
A person must keep himself unspotted from the world.
Pure religion does not become corrupted with false beliefs or with false religion. It holds to the purity of the gospel and to the Word of God.
Pure religion does not focus upon form and ritual and ceremony. It focuses upon the power of God to change lives eternally and it reaches out to change people’s lives by visiting them.
Pure religion does not become morally corrupt; it does not become entangled with the affairs and pleasures of this world.
Pure religion stirs people to separate themselves from the things of this world that arouse their fleshly desires and cravings.
Turn to JEREMIAH 6:16-17
Jeremiah the prophet was called of God to carry forth the message to Israel and Judah of impending judgment. They had sinned against God in that they forsook God for idols. He urges them to repent and walk in the old paths to find rest for their souls, but they reject the message and the judgment of God is upon them.
When I was a kid growing up in church we would sing a song entitled “Give Me That Old Time Religion” It Said, it was good for our fathers, mothers and it was good enough for me. I don’t know where we lost the concept of that song but we need to get it back again.
We are living in an age in which the old-time principles of God’s word have been and are being continually eroded.
The world is changing so fast. And yet we in the church seem to be in a race with all the worldly methods and attitudes. What has happened to the “Old Time Religion.”
God’s word says to us that we are to ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein.
I know people say we have to change because of the times but I serve a savior who never changes and neither do His principles.
I. WE NEED SOME OLD TIME PREACHING & TEACHING!
A. We need get back to Preaching & Teaching the Word Of God!
Romans 10:14-18 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? [15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! [16] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? [17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. [18] But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”
There was a time when almost every preacher preached the Word, but now all we are doing is competing with the world. God never intended for us to do that. This society is so entertainment minded that we feel that is what we have to do also. So we don’t preach like we use to, we just create programs.
1 Cor. 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
Then Some use the excuse that the Bible is out of date. Where In the world did that come from? Satan has got some of you hock line and sinker! And I have heard others say well the Bible is just too difficult to understand. Not if you have the spirit!
1. We Don’t Need Another Bible.
There has never been anything wrong with the one we have.
I want you to know that It Is A Supernatural Book.
Why?
a. Because It Convicts. Hebrews 4:12 John 16:8;
b. Because It Converts. James 1:18 I Peter 1:23 Romans 10:17
c. Because It Corrects. II Timothy 3:16-17
d. Because It Cleanses. Psalm 119:9 John 15:3
e. Because It Conquers. Ephesians 6:17
f. Because It Comforts. I Thessalonians 4:18
2. We Don’t Need Another Book About The Book.
a. Commentaries are good. (Sunday School Books)
b. Commentaries cannot replace the word.
Commentaries are an interpretation.
Commentaries are subject to error.
Nothing can replace getting into the scriptures with the aid of the Holy Spirit.
We Just Need To Get In The Book If We Are Going To Preach.
B. We Need Get Back To Preaching and Teaching On Sin
There was a time, when almost every preacher preached hell hot and heaven real.
Now all that you hear about is...
“The power of positive thinking.”
"It is Within You"
"You Can Do It."
There was a time When almost every preacher preached against sin. .
Now what you hear is soft soaping, ear tickling words about sin.
Jesus did not beat around the bush He called sin what it was “sin.” Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
The Apostles named sin. Paul named sin. I know that’s not very popular.
People don’t mind a preacher talking about sin, as long as he doesn’t touch on theirs.
People don’t like to hear their sin named. There was a time when every preacher preached like that .
II. WE NEED SOME OLD TIME FASTING & PRAYING!
Mark 9:29 “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”
We tend to forget just how powerful Fasting and Prayer are. It is fascinating to read of the accounts of the prayers of the saints.
Moses cried out to God and god Spared Israel from judgment.
Joshua’s prayer made the sun stand still.
Hannah’s prayer was answered with a baby boy.
Solomon got wisdom in answer to his prayer.
Fire came down from Heaven when Elijah prayed and devoured the sacrifice on Mount Carmel.
Elijah had the great power of God upon his life. But when Elisha prayed for a double portion of the Spirit, God did not bat an eye when He gave it to him.
Church history books will stir up your soul, too, as you read how God answered the prayers of George Mueller of Bristol and David Brainerd of New England. J. Hudson Taylor and Charles Finney believed the Bible and got the power of God through answered prayer. They called upon God and He answered them and showed them great and mighty things which they knew not.
We tend to forget just how powerful prayer is.
A. We need to get prayer back to the altar once again.
Hardly ever do you see people coming down to pray any more.
Is there not a CAUSE?
Praying for the souls of lost family and friend.
Praying over conviction of sin that is in our life.
Praying for solutions to our problems.
Praying for the preacher
When you come down to this altar and get on your knees your telling God that you mean business
B. We need to get prayer back in the home once again.
II Chron. 7;14. Has the answer as to why we are in the condition we are in.
III. WE NEED SOME OLD TIME PRIORITIES!
A. When a man put God First in his life.
B. When a man’s word was binding.
C. When a man’s priority was to serve God.
The first priority of every man should be to take care of his life—eternally. Why should a man be concerned about a few short years when he has the opportunity to sustain life forever? Why seek the things that only sustain and adorn his physical body for a brief time and then fade away? Why would he not seek first that which can sustain and adorn his life forever? Seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness should be the first priority of every man.
IV. WE NEED SOME OLD TIME FAITH & PERSEVERANCE! (Hebrews 11)
A. We Need To Get Back To The Faith Of Abel. (vs 4)
Hebrews 9:22--"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
Leviticus 17:11--"For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."
1. He believed what God said regarding the blood.
2. His brother Cain tried to come to God in a bloodless way and was not accepted.
"What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."
We come to God on His terms, not our own.
We Need To Get Back To The Faith Of Abel.
B. We Need To Get Back To The Faith Of Enoch. (vs 5)
1. It Was A Faith That Affected His Walk.
Genesis 5:24--"Enoch walked with God."
a. The Church at Corinth.
b. The Church at Ephesus. (Ephesians 4:17ff)
2. It Was A Faith That Affected His Talk.
Jude 14-15--"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints. To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
We Need To Get Back To The Faith Of Enoch.
C. We Need To Get Back To The Faith Of Noah. (vs 7)
It Was A Faith That Moved Him To Action.
1. We Say We Believe In Hell, But Has It Moved Us To Action?
2. We Say We Believe Christ Is Coming Soon, But Has It Moved Us To Action?
3. We Say We Believe Judgment Is Coming, But Has It Moved Us To Action?
We Need To Get Back To The Faith Of Noah.
D. We Need To Get Back To The Faith Of Abraham. (vs 8)
1. A Faith Of Unquestioning Obedience.
2. A Faith Of Total Trust.
3. A Faith Of Believing God For The Impossible.
a. The birth of Issac.
b. The offering of Issac.
4. A Faith Backed Up By Works. (James 2:14-26)
Cf. Ephesians 2:8-10
Trust and Obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus.
Only Believe.
E. We Need To Get Back To The Faith Of Issac, Jacob, and Joseph. (vs 20-22)
A Faith That Looks Beyond The Present To The Promises Of God.
1. Some Are So Earthly Minded That They Are No Heavenly Good.
2. Some Are So Heavenly Minded That They Are No Earthly Good.
F. We Need To Get Back To The Faith Of Amram and Jochebed. (vs 23)
A Faith That Looks At Children As Potential Servants Of God.
1. A Faith Wrought Of Determination.
2. A Faith Wrought Of Discernment.
3. A Faith Wrought In Defiance.
G. We Need To Get Back To The Faith Of Moses. (vs 24)
A Faith Wrought In The Faithful Teaching From His Parents.
Why did Moses lead the life he did?
1) He Received Proper Training.
2) He Received Proper Testimony.
H. We Need To Get Back To The Faith Of Others Too Numerous To Mention. (30-40)
