Why Do Some Christians Not Respond To The Word Of God?

WHY DO SOME CHRISTIANS NOT RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD?

PROPOSITION: WE NEED TO RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD!

INTRODUCTION: No doubt that we are in the last days. One cannot look into this old world and not see the rise of sinful conditions. This rise should concern us as believers. Yet Scripture clearly tells us that things were going to get worse as time spins down. It will even be possible for the very elect to be deceived! A direct result of that kind of deception is a lack of spiritual concern. When our eyes are turned away, drawn away from the Lord, is their really any other result possible. No greater evidence of the lack of spiritual concern sweeping the church than in the involvement in her ministry, the attendance at her services, the lack of giving, the coldness of evangelism, and the diminishing of mutual encouragement. In a day when the Word of God is heard more frequently than ever before, When the avenues to hear God’s Word are plentiful we have a crisis of response to God’s word, evidenced in its application to our daily lives. We have become “lukewarm” to the Scripture, and as such do not respond to God’s Word. The crisis come from the fact that God’s Word is more than mere opinion. We must respond to it. Failure to do so effects us individually, and the church corporately.

TRANSITION: So why do we not respond to God’s Word. I believe there are four reasons.

REASON #1 – DISOBEDIENCE

Probably the most obvious of the bunch to identify

God instructs us to study, practice, meditate, and apply His Word on a regular basis.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Results of not meditating and dwelling n God’s Word

No Blessing

No Fruit

No Effectiveness

No Spiritual Growth

No Lasting Joy in the Lord

We need to understand that disobedience to the Word of God is SIN

REASON #2 – INDIFFERENCE

Don’t care what the Word of God says – seen as little more than opinion

Don’t care what God expects – care only for what we expect

We need to consider all that God has done for us.

Some of you don’t care enough to think about what is being taught right now. You will set your thoughts to home and forget this message. “Set It And Forget It”

Illustration: Preacher who preached the same message weeks in a row

Some do not care what God thinks about a certain subject

Proverbs 1:24-33 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

What God thinks does matter

Better be aware about what God thinks concerning your soul.

In the here-after, it is only what God thinks that matters!

REASON #3 – LACK OF MEEKNESS

James 1:19-21 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

James is addressing believers

Salvation is not the “saving of the soul” but for a “lifestyle that would mar ones testimony.

ENJOYMENT OF SIN

1 John 3:4 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Biblical progression

Sin in life

Violation of God’s Law

Robbed desire to be in God’s Word

Ears close to God’s Teaching