The Man Who Came To The Altar Too Late

THE MAN WHO CAME TO THE ALTAR TOO LATE

Text: I Kings 2: 28-34

HERE WE FIND A REAL SAD PICTURE: JOAB LAYING ON A BLOOD SOAKED ALTAR, DEAD! --- Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.. (V.28) which he had yet very seldom ever done before. As far as we can tell, he was a man of war and had shown little respect to God, or the Tabernacle, or the Priests, or the Altar during his lifetime.

But when he was in danger, he fled to that which he had avoided, and sought to make a refuge of that which he had neglected. Yes, Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord, and even went to the altar…. BUT HE CAME TOO LATE!

LET US NOTICE THREE THINGS FROM THIS MESSAGE:

1. THERE IS A FALSE REPENTANCE

A. Pharoah’s repentance was false: Exodus 10: 16,17 - I have sinned… this was only to get some of the pressure off. It was from the lips and not the heart!

B. Judas’s repentance was false: Matthew 27:4 - I have sinned… I have betrayed the innocent blood. He repented to man and not to God! (Story of man at Arcadia Church, who came to the altar, weeping and crying and really acted like he got right with God…. after the service, he asked a woman to date him and she said, I’ll have to see if you mean business…and she said No. The man cussed her out… She said what about today at the altar? He said Oh I just did all that, so you would date me. God help!)

C. Simon (Acts 8: 13 & 21,22) Simon believed and was baptized (V.13) --- But V.21, says thy

heart is not right in the sight of God. V.22 - Repent therefore….

D. It is dangerous to repent and not mean it, 7 more demons possess you (Mt. 12:45)

2. THERE IS A TRUE REPENTANCE

A. Zacchaeus - Luke 19:6 - "And he made hast and came down, and received him joyfully. He was

willing to make amends: Give half of all he had to the poor --- Restore 4 fold to every one!

Some of us need to make some amends: (Oil Drum) (Alton Hawkins taking the table vise all the

way to Hollywood Flordia) (He went all the way to Fla. And some of you want go to the next pew

or next door…etc…)

B. The Maniac of Gadara - Mark 5:6 - "But when he saw Jesus afar off he ran and worshipped him.

Mark 4:15 - And they came to Jesus and see him that was possessed with the devil and had the

legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind.

3. THERE IS A REPENTANCE THAT COMES TOO LATE

A. The Flood in Noah’s Day… The people came too late!

B. Esau - Heb. 12: 16,17 - "Though he sought it with tears, found no place of repentance.

C. Saul - I Sam. 28:15 - "God is departed from me and answereth me no more.

Friend, there is a possibility you will seek after God and not find Him. When you seek under pressure instead of Holy Ghost Conviction! --- Man should not depend on his own convenience to be saved, man ought to repent when the Spirit of God is Drawing Him! (Jn. 6:44) --- Note Prov. 1: 25-28!!!