 SPIRITUAL STALENESS. Q: Do you feel like you are going through a stale time in your life? “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work: So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day. My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.” Job 7:1-7 KJV The days of Job, are NOT much different then today. Just because we are Christians, does not mean we are never going to have stale times in our life. If you are honest, none of us are exempt, even big name sprouts figures go stale. You can have all the money, fames and fortune in this world and still feel stale. Q: Have you come to the end of your rope? Think about what happened to Job. Can't sleep, can't eat, life is running you over. Sounds like what people are going through today. We may not be in the same low spot as Job, but troubles happen to everyone. But realize that there is a God in heaven that can reach down into the mire and clay and pull you out. He made you to be more than you are. Living has its peaks and valleys. Q: Are you holding onto a handle of fear or a handle of faith? Q: When you watch the news does it give you hope? It's time for the church to raise above all the staleness that is in this world. Stand up for righteousness and the Word of God. We need to pray for a revival in America again. When you feel trapped and without hope, and that you don't have what it takes to make it through, trust that God can bring you through. All your goals might not be achieved, but in the end live your life pleasing to God and all the rest will be forgotten. Paul Walker tells of a young man who had all his plans ahead. He was bright, young and ambitious. But when he pressed the accelerator in life, he did not have the power. He felt disappointed and lost his drive, living in duty, his soul dries up and once vibrant young life now has gone stale. SPIRITUAL STALENESS HAS CAUSE AND EFFECT. Q: How can we expect the church to grow if we can't even get along with one another? When the church is divided it is not pleasing to God. There are times in our life when unknown or un-confessed sin in our life are causing us to grow stale. Q: When did we stop caring for lost souls? The church needs to realize who God is. He is able to not only save the lost, but give life to those who are stale. When you’re not stale, you want to win the lost. The carpet in church will not save you, the pew will not save you, the pulpit will not save you, ONLY THE BLOOD OF JESUS will save you. We have become so cool that we are oblivious to what's going on in the lives of the people who need Jesus. Are we spiritually numb? Or have we just grown stale? WHAT HAS CHANGED? 1- Our inability to work up any feeling to what going on between us and God. What's going on between you and God? 2- Our love relationship? Nobody ever cared for me like Jesus. In this era of materialism, the catch all religion teaches that whatever a man does, if he is sincere, then he will experience prosperity. And if you give money to them then you will be blessed too. There are hucksters, and con men everywhere. We need to line up with the Word of God and stop following the latest and greatest positive speakers out there. SIN.... YOU CAN'T EVEN HEAR THE WORD WITHOUT HEARING THE HISS OF THE SERPENT. Sin writes wrinkles on your brow. Sin clouds you eyes. Sin clouds the morning and darkens the skies. Sin brings depression and deception. Sin is a horrible thing, It brings destruction. The wages of sin are death. Sin causes spiritual staleness. Sin is not just a public thing that causes bad publicity. Sin is also a private thing, an inward rebellion towards God. Confess your sins to God. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7-9 5 SPIRITUAL BASICS. 1-Prayer: The church needs to pray. A church without prayer has no power to change lives. 2-Forgiveness of sin through Jesus: In the early church people believed in the forgiveness of sin. This brought growth; people still have sin, and still need salvation. If we are not bringing the lost then we are only concerned with us four and no more. 3- Anointing: Take a look at the church in this day, a church can't grow when the pastor is not controlled by the Holy Spirit, but he is controlled by the people. The people in the church with the money often control a church. Most of the churches today are controlled by people. When a pastor can't follow the leading of the Holy Ghost, then he should hit the road. 4- Repentance: When we repent, staleness goes. When we pray staleness goes. 5- Hearing the Word: When we get into the Word of God staleness goes. I hear people say, “I am staying at home and saying I get more from watching a preacher then I do by going to church.” ... Hogwash! Don't forsake the assembling of your selves together. If you are not growing, then you need to find a better church. Gather together to worship and learn about what God wants for your life. One Sunday night I said some of you people skipped service on Sunday night and I rode by your house when church was over, I looked in the window and you were sitting there watching Gun-smoke. You know where those people were next Sunday? We often whine when we should be singing in the rain. What are the words coming out of your mouth? “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34 KJV Q: What's in your heart? Stop whining, it is an admission to defeat. “Neither give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:27 KJV In closing: (I wish we did not have a clock in the church; some of you are sitting here thinking I wish he would hurry up and get done....) Walk every step you can in the spirit of God. Find forgiveness through Jesus. Be saved instead of stale. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9 KJV Faith does not stick it's head in the ground, but faith lives THREE THING TO PUT STALENESS OUT OF YOUR LIFE.
STALE by definition:
adjective: stale; comparative adjective: staler; superlative adjective: stalest 1. (of food) no longer fresh and pleasant to eat; hard, musty, or dry. "stale bread" synonyms: old, past its best, off, dry, hard, musty, rancid, overstored "stale food" #DONTBESTALE
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AuthorGraphic Art and Blog content by Matthew Law, inspired by Pastors and visiting speakers messages. Archives
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