I CAN’T GO TO CHURCH!
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
IT IS A WONDER ANYONE WOULD GO TO CHURCH IF THEY WATCH THE PEOPLE? CHURCH IS NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE IT IS ABOUT THE GOD OF THE PEOPLE!
TEXT:
Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou
that judgest doest the same things.
I. I CAN’T GO TO CHURCH, THE PREACHER DOES NOT DO
AS I EXPECT!
A. Many Bible preachers had to do some bold and innovative things during their ministry. People have disagreed with the preacher, his message, and his method.
B. Miriam and Aaron judged their preacher brother and their sister- in -law.
They were right in their own eyes, thus they were right?
Numbers 12 God says, they were wrong! More than that, they will pay.
Numbers 12:14 And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the
camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. 15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
C. Whether they cooked over dung, or were known as a weeping preacher they had a hard road to walk. Some looked great danger in the face and the ENEMY OF THE MESSAGE tried to cause great fear for their life.
D. One king did not like the message or the messengers and had over half the known preachers killed in one day.
E. The preachers often looked at the powers to be and had to warn them.
F.The queen said the preacher will be dead before the sun goes down?
The preacher said, HONEY, THE DOGS ARE GOING TO LICK YOUR BLOOD OFF THE GROUND.
G. John the Baptist stood against adultery and angered the powers to be and they buried his body without a head.
II. WE DEMAND SMOOTH WORDS, AND EASY MESSAGES.
Isaiah 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
NAMAAN ALMOST MISSED HIS HEALING BECAUSE THE PREACHER
DID NOT DO AS HE EXPECTED!
A .If the message is not popular, often the messenger will not be. There seems a cry, PREACH IT EASY!
B. Preach smooth things, short and to the point --- make us feel good!
C. Preachers tend to want to please people.
We fear numbers and budget cuts, and our society demands tolerance.
D. I heard recently where a preacher made a promise to the people if they would come to the service --- the service would be no longer than 45 minutes from start to finish.
Come to find out the crowds never increased, the compromise and lack of attendance was not because of the time or it was not about the length of the service, that was an excuse.
E. The problem was unfaithfulness.
III. IF THE PEOPLE ARE UNFAITHFUL LET’S JUST CALL OFF CHURCH? TODAY MANY THINK THE LORD’S DAY IS FAMILY DAY OR RECREATIONAL DAY, A DAY OF REST.
Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
A. Have you ever heard the drug people’s call, let’s just legalize drugs, and we won’t have our prisons full of dope dealers?
Of course? How safe would our cities be then?
If this is wrong, let’s just make it right!
THIS ATTITUDE IS SPILLING INTO THE CHURCH?
B. In the USA we are having many churches dismiss services.
I have heard some churches dismiss all summer services, and mail the message and a tithe envelope to the house.
C. Some will not go this far, but they will dismiss for many other reasons.
No service Christmas, no night service Super Bowl Sunday, no service on Mother’s Day, it is a family day, no service on Memorial Day, none of the 4th of July, and many, many more.
D. ONCE WE START LOWERING THE STANDARD, COMPROMISE BECOMES EASIER!
E. Our priority systems are wrong.
F. A rock singer exposed herself on big screen TV’s set up in the middle of God’s sanctuary?
G. I can tell you of a church that dismisses service any time UK (Kentucky)is playing basket ball on Sunday or Wednesday’s. WHAT IS IMPORTANT?
The preacher claims the right to see the game if the men are not coming to service. I ponder what is backslidding?
IV. THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THE LORD’S DAY IS NOT REST NOR RECREATION. IT IS WORSHIP AND PRAISE!
Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
A. I am not saying you have to go to church! Legalism and dictation and force are not good reasons to go to church.
B. But I am saying you should want to go to church.
I would rather be a doorkeeper at God’s house.
C. GOD MAKES A WAY FOR HIS MAN!
The birds brought food to the preacher when the people were on strike.
The preacher’s girdle was prophesied over --- danger...
The preacher said come on let’s go.
D. Kid’s ball games are the priority, sports rule in the USA.
I remember when coaches of a team would not dare book a game on church service times.
E. I also know some good people that sell their church attendance, their work place knows paying the regular price will not get them away from church, so
they offer 3 times the daily rate for Sunday. Sold! The optional work is of great
benefit?
F. Now let me also add, some people have to work during church times.
Hospital workers, police, funeral directors etc., many others.
I am not discussing mandatory work to make a living.
I am not talking about working people that have to work, I am talking about misplaced values and optional --- elective work.
V. I CAN’T GO TO CHURCH, THERE ARE HYPOCRITES THERE!
John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
A. I know many that refuse to go to church because there are hypocrites there.
I visited a home and asked them to attend church.
They said is that where so in so goes?
I said yes, they slammed the door in my face, saying I will never go there.
B. Some families know some negative gossip and sin that some person did.
And they can not attend church with bad people.
C. Do we forget about forgiveness?
D. WELL --- GO FIND YOU A PERFECT CHURCH FOR PERFECT PEOPLE?
E. Don’t they work with people that have done wrong? Why can they go to work with hypocrites but they can’t go to church?
F. It is high time we grow up, and quit throwing up a person’s past.
YOUR JUDGMENTALIST WILL BRING JUDGMENT UPON YOUR HOUSE.
VI. I HAVE THE RIGHT TO JUDGE OTHER PEOPLE AND NOT SERVE GOD BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY ARE!
A. It is high time we grow up, and quit throwing up a person’s past.
YOUR JUDGMENTALIST WILL BRING JUDGMENT UPON YOUR HOUSE.
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
B. Criticism will always bring divison.
C. Your excuse to avoid church and God is the death gargle of a dying person.
D. WANT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO EXPOSE WHAT IS IN YOUR HEART TO OTHERS?
E. Are you perfect? Throw the stone!
F. Bury the past or it will bury you. This is just an excuse.
VII. GOD CHOSES LESS THAN PERFECT PEOPLE.
A. David had a sexual affair and fathered an illegitimate son, he then was guilty of murder or at least manslaughter. You want to kick David out of the church?
B. You don’t want to go to church with bad people?
Would you judge David and not go to church?
C. The people you are judging have done less than David did?
Them hypocrites may be forgiven.
D. What did God say:
Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil
all my will.
VIII. THANK GOD YOU ARE NOT LIKE THE OTHERS?
ARE YOU PERFECT? IS YOUR FAMILY PERFECT?
Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
A. Those that avoid hypocrites have some in their own family, but more than that they have been hypocritical. But they will eat turkey with them?
B. Why expect more of others than you do of your self?
IX. IT IS NOT WHAT WE THINK, IT IS WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD SAY? DO WE KNOW GOD’S WORD? DO WE DO GOD’S WORD?
A. What does the Bible say?
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as
ye see the day approaching.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
B. HAVE YOU BEEN FOUND FAITHFUL?
Some things in life are optional, other things are a requirement and no one is exempt?
C. Are you more faithful to work than to church?
Can the preacher count on you? Why not?
Is faithfulness required? What do you think about faithfulness?
D. What does God think about faithfulness?
1 Cor. 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
X. WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? JESUS ATTENDED CHURCH WITH
HYPOCRITES!
A. Did Jesus avoid church to avoid hypocrites?
Then why do you think this is a valid conclusion to exempt you.
B. Did they get mad at Jesus because he was a friend of sinners?
Did Jesus go to sinners, asked a little short man sitting in a shade tree?
C. Do we build a church with perfect people? Absolutely not!
We serve with people far from perfect, but they are forgiven.
D. God can not remember the things you are throwing up against other people!
They have been removed as far as the east is from the west.
E. If Jesus forgives you --- you think you don’t have to forgive?
F. This attitude has many people sitting at home going to hell faster than the people they judge?
G.. Who made you judge?
The perfect person can throw the first stone, go ahead and throw it if you are perfect?
But seems we can go to the ball park with hypocrites? We can go to the same gas station
with them? And do the hypocrites go to Walmart and you go with them?
XI. YES GOD WILL HOLD THE OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE,
BUT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE EXEPT?
GOD WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE!
A. Your excuse is nothing but an excuse.
Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou
that judgest doest the same things.
B. You talk about two faced people facing an angry God during JUDGMENT.
I CAN’T GO TO CHURCH!
C. When I was a young man a man at our church was getting ready for church on Wednesday night.
His soft ball team called and they had a make up game.
His boss called and asked him to come back to work to help with a problem?
D. Which did he decided? Church? Work? or Ball Game?
You are right if you said BALL GAME!
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
E. IT IS A WONDER ANYONE WOULD GO TO CHURCH IF THEY SEE THE PEOPLE? CHURCH IS NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE IT IS ABOUT THE GOD OF THE PEOPLE!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
It is much easier to swim, <*(((((>< when you know a shark is swimming behind
you!
Dare to help me? Pass this on to others?
