Whose Line Is It Anyway
WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY
AMOS 7:7-7:9 (NIV, NIRV, TNIV, KJV)
WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?
THERE ARE MANY TIMES IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS AND CHOICES.
WE CHOOSE WHAT KIND OF FRIENDS WE'RE GOING TO HANG AROUND WITH.
WE CHOOSE THE TYPE OF FOOD WE ARE GOING TO EAT.
WE MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT DAYCARE AND SCHOOLS
AND JOBS.
WE CHOOSE WHAT TO WEAR WHEN WE GET UP IN THE MORNING
AND WE CHOOSE
WHAT OUR ATTITUDE IS AT ANY MOMENT IN OUR LIVES.
WE CHOOSE WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO DO DRUGS,
STAY UP LATE,
HURT OTHER PEOPLE,
OR EVEN HURT OURSELVES.
WE CHOOSE WHETHER TO MAKE A MESS
OR MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WE CHOOSE WHETHER TO BE A FOLLOWER
OR A LEADER.
WE CHOOSE TO BE ONE WHO TEARS DOWN WITH GOSSIP
OR THE ONE WHO BUILDS UP WITH ENCOURAGEMENT.
WE CHOOSE TO BE A HINDRANCE
OR TO BE A HELP.
EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES,
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE HOW WE'RE GOING TO RESPOND.
AT WORK, AT HOME AND EVEN AT CHURCH.
BUT AS BELIEVERS IN CHRIST; WE HAVE HELP!!!
WE HAVE GOD'S GUIDANCE
TO HELP US CHOOSE.
THE QUESTION IS...
ARE WE GOING TO CHOOSE GOD'S WISDOM OR NOT
THE MAN OF TODAY IS AMOS.
AMOS WAS A SHEPHERD FROM TEKOA.
(HOW MANY KNOW WHERE TEKOA IS?)
TEKOA WAS A HARSH WILDERNESS AREA SOUTH OF JUDAH.
AMOS WAS CALLED BY GOD TO SPEAK GOD’S PROPHETIC WORD TO THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN ISRAEL.
(NORTHERN ISRAEL AND SOUTHERN JUDAH WERE A LONG WAY FROM EACH OTHER)
(AND AMOS WAS A LONG WAY FROM THE SOCIAL POSITION OF THE PEOPLE HE WAS SENT TO PROPHESY TO.)
SHEPHERDS WERE VERY LOW ON THE SOCIAL LADDER.
THEY WERE LOOKED ON WITH DISDANE.
AMOS WAS A LOWER CLASS BLUE-COLLAR WORKER
BEING SENT TO A WHITE-COLLAR SOCIETY.
HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO HAVE DIRT UNDER HIS FINGERNAILS.
HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO BE SWEATY AND DIRTY,
AND SMELLY.
(YOU DO KNOW THAT SHEEP DON'T SMELL VERY GOOD. DON'T YOU)
AND AMOS LIVED WITH THE SHEEP.
AND HE KNEW THAT GOING INTO NORTHERN ISRAEL WAS GOING TO BE A BIG CHALLENGE.
THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL HAD STRAYED
A LONG WAY FROM GOD.
THE PEOPLE WERE LIVING UNDER THE RULE OF KING JEROBOAM.
THE BIBLE TELLS US IN 2 KINGS 14:24 THAT JEROBOAM
“DID WHAT WAS EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD…”
TALK ABOUT JEROBOAM AND REHOBOAM AND SOLOMON.
JEROBOAM WAS OUT TO BUILD HIS KINGDOM
AND HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AT IT.
UNDER HIS 41-YEAR REIGN, NORTHERN ISRAEL EXPANDED
AND BROUGHT MAJOR PROSPERITY TO ISRAEL,
ESPECIALLY TO THE MAJOR CITIES.
A NEW CLASS OF WEALTHY PEOPLE
CAME INTO BEING
THERE WAS A BOOM IN AGRICULTURE
AND TRADE THAT TOOK PLACE.
BUT, AS IS OFTEN THE CASE,
AS THE RICH GOT RICHER, THE POOR GOT POORER.
THERE WERE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ABUSES,
THERE WAS BAAL WORSHIP,
AND THIS PROVOKED GOD
TO BRING SHARP JUDGMENT ON HIS PEOPLE IN ISRAEL.
ALTHOUGH THE COUNTRY WAS FINANCIALLY PROSPEROUS,
THE COUNTRY WAS SPIRITUALLY BANKRUPT.
SOUND FAMILIAR?
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE BOOK OF AMOS,
GOD SHOWS AMOS ALL THE ILLS OF HIS PEOPLE.
GOD REVEALS THE JUDGMENT THAT'S GOING TO COME
ON THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT TURN FROM THEIR SIN.
IN CHAPTER 5, GOD SAYS TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL,
“SEEK ME AND LIVE; DO NOT SEEK BETHEL…FOR BETHEL WILL BE REDUCED TO NOTHING”.
NOW IN THE PAST BETHEL HAD BEEN A PLACE TO WORSHIP GOD.
ABRAHAM BUILT AN ALTER TO WORSHIP GOD AT BETHEL.
JACOB HAD BUILT AN ALTER TO WORSHIP GOD AT BETHEL.
BUT NOW...
BAAL WORSHIP WAS PROMINENT IN BETHEL
THIS WAS WHERE JEROBOAM
HAD PLACED ONE OF THE GOLDEN CALFS.
THUS CAUSING ISRAEL TO SIN.
YOU SEE, JEROBOAM DIDN'T WANT THE PEOPLE GOING DOWN TO JUDAH TO WORSHIP,
SO HE PUT A GOLDEN CALF IN DAN,
THE NORTHERN MOST TOWN IN ISRAEL.
AND HE PUT ANOTHER GOLDEN CALF IN THE SOUTHERN MOST TOWN OF BETHEL.
BY DOING THIS JEROBOAM ESTABLISHED A RELIGION
THAT WOULD APPEASE HIS PEOPLE
AND EFFECTIVELY KEEP ISRAEL FROM REUNITING WITH JUDAH.
AND SO BAAL WORSHIP BECAME POPULAR THROUGHOUT ALL OF ISRAEL.
IT ALLOWED FOR PERVERSE ACTS TO BE PERFORMED.
IT DIDN'T CALL FOR THE PEOPLE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE
TO ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES.
IT WAS ACCEPTING OF EVERYTHING,
AND IT LACKED CONVICTION;
SO, IT WAS A POPULAR CHOICE WITH THE PEOPLE.
KIND OF SOUNDS A LOT LIKE US TODAY DOESN'T IT.
THE ISRAELITES HAD CHOSEN TO FORGET ABOUT GOD
AND TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN STANDARDS FOR LIVING.
THEY CHOSE THEIR OWN MEASURE OF WHAT SUCCESS WAS
AND HOW TO ATTAIN IT.
GOD CALLED AMOS TO GO TO THIS PROSPEROUS NATION AND PREACH A CONVICTING MESSAGE.
GOD CALLED AMOS TO PROPHESY
TO A PEOPLE WHO WERE COMFORTABLE,
CONCEITED AND POMPOUS.
GOD CALLED AMOS TO PROPHESY
TO A PEOPLE WHO WERE SETTING THEIR OWN MEASURE
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
THE ISRAELITES WERE SETTING THEIR OWN PLUMB LINE.
__________________________________________________________
BY WHOSE LINE DO YOU MEASURE YOURSELF TODAY?
IS IT THE WORLD’S PLUMB LINE OR GOD’S PLUMB LINE?
A PLUMB LINE IS A CORD TIED ONTO A WEIGHT
ANCIENT CONSTRUCTION WORKERS USED IT AS A TOOL TO BUILD A VERTICAL WALL.
THEY USED THE PLUMB LINE TO:
1. CHECK AND SEE IF THE WALL WAS BUILT STRAIGHT,
2. TO SEE IF IT WAS BUILT CORRECTLY,
3. TO SEE IF IT WAS BUILT WITHOUT ANY FLAW.
IN AMOS 7, WE SEE GOD HOLDING HIS PLUMB LINE NEXT TO THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF ISRAEL.
WELL THIS HAS BEEN THE INTRODUCTION THIS MORNING.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS; I HAVE ONLY 2 POINTS IN MY SERMON TODAY.
POINT 1: CROOKED WALLS
THERE USED TO BE A SHOW ON TELEVISION CALLED
WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY, HOSTED BY DREW CAREY.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS WE'RE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE,
AND THE ACTORS WOULD ADLIB BASED ON THE SCENARIOS
AND THE ACTIONS OF THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS.
THE SHOW MADE IT EASY TO SEE,
JUST HOW QUICKLY PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO CONFORM
TO ANY GIVEN SITUATION.
*** EVERY DAY YOU AND I ARE ACTORS ***
RESPONDING TO THE SITUATIONS THAT ARE AROUND US.
WE MAY BE A MOTHER, A SISTER, OR A DAUGHTER;
WE MIGHT BE THE SON, THE BROTHER, THE UNCLE
OR THE FATHER…
MAYBE WE'RE THE PASTOR, OR THE PASTOR'S WIFE,
MAYBE WE'RE
THE TEENAGER STRUGGLING TO BE AN INDIVIDUAL;
OR THE STEWARD, THE CAREGIVER,
THE EMPLOYEE, THE TEACHER, THE TRUSTEE; THE STUDENT…THE HOUSEKEEPER, THE COOK, THE CHAUFFEUR.
THERE ARE SO MANY ASPECTS TO OUR LIVES.
WE MAY DO SUCH A GOOD JOB THAT WE LOOK LIKE WONDER WOMAN OR SUPERMAN TO THOSE WHO SEE US FROM THE OUTSIDE.
BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU TODAY IS, ARE YOU “PLUMB” WITH GOD ON THE INSIDE.
_________________________________________________________
THERE'S A POPULAR SLOGAN
THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR SOME TIME NOW.
IT'S W W J D, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
IT REMINDS US TO ASK OURSELVES EVERY DAY
“WHAT WOULD JESUS DO”
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO
IN EVERY SITUATION OF OUR LIVES.
WE WANT TO BE THE MEN AND WOMEN
THAT GOD CALLS US TO BE.
_________________________________________________
SO HOW DO WE LINE UP AGAINST GOD’S PLUMB LINE?
THE BIBLE SAYS 1 PETER 1:15-16 (NIV)
15 BUT JUST AS HE WHO CALLED YOU IS HOLY, SO BE HOLY IN ALL YOU DO;
16 FOR IT IS WRITTEN: “BE HOLY, BECAUSE I AM HOLY.”
HOLINESS IS GOD'S PLUMB LINE.
HOLINESS ISN'T JUST A NEW TESTAMENT THING.
IT SAYS WAY BACK IN LEVITICUS 11:44-45 (NIV)
44 I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD; CONSECRATE YOURSELVES AND BE HOLY, BECAUSE I AM HOLY.
AND IN THE NEXT VERSE IT SAYS:
45 I AM THE LORD WHO BROUGHT YOU UP OUT OF EGYPT TO BE YOUR GOD; THEREFORE BE HOLY, BECAUSE I AM HOLY.
WHEN ISAIAH SAW THE LORD SITTING ON A THRONE, HIGH AND LIFTED UP, HE REALIZED JUST HOW UNHOLY HE WAS.
ISAIAH SAID IT LIKE THIS
5 THEN SAID I, WOE IS ME! FOR I AM UNDONE; BECAUSE I AM A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS, AND I DWELL IN THE MIDST OF A PEOPLE OF UNCLEAN LIPS: FOR MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE KING,
THE LORD OF HOSTS.
WHEN ISAIAH CAME INTO CONTACT WITH GOD,
HE WAS ABLE TO SEE ALL HIS WEAKNESSES,
ALL HIS SINS,
ALL THE BROKEN PLACES
ALL THE CROOKED PLACES IN HIS LIFE.
___________________________________________________
ISAIAH EXPERIENCED SOMETHING THAT FEW PEOPLE HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED DURING THEIR TIME ON EARTH;
HE WAS USHERED INTO THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD.
WHAT HE SAW WAS SOMETHING SO AWESOME THAT IT COULD NEVER BE ADEQUATELY DESCRIBED IN WORDS.
HE SAW THE HOLINESS OF GOD,
HE SAW HIMSELF MEASURED AGAINST THAT HOLINESS.
HE WAS CLOSE TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD,
AND SO HE WAS CLOSE TO GOD'S PLUMB LINE AS WELL!
THERE IS NOTHING COMFORTABLE ABOUT GOD’S PLUMB LINE.
IT'S EASIER TO AVOID IT THAN TO FACE IT.
WHEN WE CHOOSE TO STAND NEXT TO GOD'S PLUMB LINE,
WE COME FACE TO FACE WITH OUR SINFULNESS.
THAT'S WHY SOME PEOPLE DON’T TAKE TIME FOR CHURCH.
THAT'S WHY SOME PEOPLE DON’T TAKE TIME FOR BIBLE STUDY.
THAT'S WHY SOME PEOPLE DON’T TAKE TIME FOR PERSONAL DEVOTIONS
IT'S JUST TO RISKY TO SPEND TIME IN GOD'S PRESENCE.
MAYBE WE DON'T WANT TO FORGIVE OUR PARENTS
FOR THE PAIN THEY CAUSED US WHEN WE WERE LITTLE.
MAYBE WE DON’T WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO SOMEONE
FOR WHAT WE DID TO THEM.
MAYBE WE DON’T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS
AS LORD OF OUR LIVES BECAUSE IT CONFLICTS WITH THE
SINFUL, IDOLATROUS, BETHEL KIND OF LIFE
THAT WE WANT TO KEEP LIVING.
SO WE CHOOSE TO NOT GET ON OUR KNEES
AND PRAY TO GOD
WE CHOOSE TO NOT FACE OUR PREJUDICES.
WE CHOOSE TO NOT, LOOK AT THE MAN OR WOMAN IN THE MIRROR …BECAUSE IT’S JUST NOT COMFORTABLE.
STANDING NEXT TO GOD'S PLUMB LINE
REQUIRES STEPPING OUT INTO THE LIGHT,
AND MANY PEOPLE PREFER TO LIVE IN THE SHADOWS.
WHEN ISAIAH STOOD NEXT TO GOD'S PLUMB LINE, HE REALIZED HIS SIN AND CONFESSED IT.
GOD MET ISAIAH WHERE HE WAS.
GOD KNOWS THAT WE HAVE CROOKED WALLS.
GOD KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU
AND HE WANTS TO HELP YOU TO BE HOLY
THAT'S WHY HE OFFERS US HIS HOLY SPIRIT.
IF WE GIVE OUR EVERYTHING, TO GOD, THEN HE'LL GIVE HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO US.
HIS HOLY SPIRIT IS THERE TO HELP US LIVE HOLY BEFORE HIM.
_______________________________________________________
IF YOU DRINK, LIE, STEAL, AND COVET,
IF SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE YOU CAN’T SEE
HOW YOU'LL GET THROUGH TONIGHT,
LET ALONE TOMORROW.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WITH YOU.
GOD KNOWS THAT THE ROAD IS TOUGH
AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU WANT JUST TO GIVE UP.
YOU'RE TIRED.
YOU'RE BREAKING YOUR BACK TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY.
ON THE OUTSIDE YOU ARE TRYING TO KEEP IT ALL TOGETHER,
ON THE INSIDE YOU'RE NOT ONLY CROOKED,
BUT YOU'RE CRUMBLING AND CRACKING
AND READY TO FALL OVER.
STANDING NEXT TO GOD'S PLUMB LINE
IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU ARE STANDING AT ALL.
BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY.
IT CAN BE THAT THE WORLD IS CRUMBLING AND FALLING APART ALL AROUND YOU,
BUT GOD INSIDE YOU WILL HOLD YOU STRAIGHT AND TALL IN THE MIDDLE OF A WORLD THAT IS BREAKING UP ALL AROUND YOU.
LOOK AT VERSE 7,
AMOS 7:7 (NIV)
7THE LORD WAS STANDING BY A WALL THAT HAD BEEN BUILT TRUE TO PLUMB, WITH A PLUMB LINE IN HIS HAND.
VERSE 7 SHOWS US THAT EVEN WHILE GOD IS HOLDING THE PLUMB LINE HE'S “STANDING NEXT TO US”.
THE SONGWRITER CHARLES TINDLEY WROTE…
WHEN THE STORMS OF LIFE ARE RAGING,
STAND BY ME.
WHEN THE WORLD IS TOSSING ME,
LIKE A SHIP UPON THE SEA,
THOU WHO RULEST WIND AND WATER
STAND BY ME.
HE GOES ON TO SAY:
IN THE MIDST OF TRIBULATIONS,
STAND BY ME.
WHEN THE HOSTS OF HELL ASSAILS,
AND MY STRENGTH BEGINS TO FAIL
THOU WHO NEVER LOST A BATTLE
STAND BY ME.
IN THE MIDST OF FAULTS AND FAILURES
STAND BY ME.
WHEN I DO THE BEST I CAN
AND MY FRIENDS MISUNDERSTAND,
THOU WHO KNOWEST ALL ABOUT ME,
STAND BY ME.
..WHEN I’M GROWING OLD AND FEEBLE,
STAND BY ME.
WHEN MY LIFE BECOMES A BURDEN,
AND I’M NEARING CHILLY JORDAN,
O THOU LILY OF THE VALLEY,
STAND BY ME.
POINT 2: WE'RE BUILT GOD TOUGH
ONE OF THE GREATEST AND MOST COMPLEX STRUCTURES OF IT'S DAY WAS COMPLETED IN 1350.
IT STANDS 179 FEET HIGH BUT IT LEANS SOME 16 ½ FEET
OR MORE OUT OF THE PERPENDICULAR.
IT'S CALLED THE TOWER OF PISA
KNOWN AS THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA
IT WAS BUILT USING A PLUMB LINE.
THE TOWER OF PISA IS ONE OF THE MOST INTRIGUING ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES EVER BUILT.
AS I SAID EARLIER, IT WAS BUILT PLUMB AND STRAIGHT.
IT SEEMS HOWEVER, THAT THE BUILDERS
DID NOT BUILD THE FOUNDATION OF THE TOWER DEEP ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING.
SO AS THEY BUILT THE TOWER HIGHER AND HIGHER,
IT BEGAN TO LEAN MORE AND MORE.
THEY'VE WORKED HARD TO SHORE UP THE FOUNDATION
AND, AFTER 659 YEARS,
IT'S STILL STANDING
AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TRAVEL HUNDREDS OF MILES TO SEE IT YEAR AFTER YEAR.
MY PEOPLE, YOUR LIFE AND MY LIFE ARE TOWERS THAT WE ARE BUILDING.
EVERYDAY, BRICK BY BRICK
OUR TOWER GETS HIGHER AND HIGHER.
HOW TRUE TO THE PLUMB LINE ARE YOU LAYING YOUR BRICKS.
HOW GOOD IS THE FOUNDATION
YOU'RE BUILDING YOUR TOWER ON.
IF YOU'RE BUILDING YOUR TOWER ON THE ROCK JESUS CHRIST,
THEN YOU HAVE A FIRM FOUNDATION
AND YOUR TOWER SHOULDN'T LEAN.
BUT WHAT ABOUT YOUR BRICKS. ARE THEY GOOD BRICKS.
ARE THEY MADE OUT OF GOOD BRICK MATERIAL.
ARE YOUR DAYS FILLED WITH GOOD GODLY MATERIAL?
POOR BRICK MATERIAL WILL CAUSE YOUR TOWER TO FALL JUST AS MUCH AS A WEAK FOUNDATION.
AND ARE YOU SETTING YOUR BRICKS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER LINED UP WITH THE PLUMB LINE OF GOD?
YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD FOUNDATION,
WITH WELL MADE BRICKS,
AND IF YOU'RE CARELESS IN THE WAY YOU SET THEM, YOUR TOWER WALL WILL BE CROOKED.
EVERY DAY WE GO HIGHER AND HIGHER!!!
IN 1904 IN A CHURCH SERVICE IN WALES, THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN NAMED EVAN ROBERTS.
EVAN CRIED OUT TO GOD, “BEND ME! BEND ME! BEND US!”
HE DIDN’T JUST DESIRE FOR GOD TO CHANGE HIM,
HE WAS DESPERATE FOR GOD TO CHANGE HIM!
HE WAS ON HIS KNEES, TEARS WERE FLOWING,
HE WAS DESPERATELY CRYING OUT FOR GOD
TO CHANGE HIS HEART.
HE WASN’T AN UNBELIEVER, HE WAS A CHRISTIAN!
IT'S US CHRISTIANS WHO NEED TO GET DESPERATE
FOR GOD TO CHANGE US,
BEFORE REVIVAL CAN HAPPEN!
IT ISN’T ENOUGH FOR US CHRISTIANS TO MERELY DESIRE GOD TO CHANGE OUR LIVES.
WE CAN DESIRE A LOT OF THINGS...
BUT, IF REVIVAL IS GOING TO HAPPEN,
WE HAVE GOT TO GET DESPERATE!
DO YOU WANT REVIVAL IN YOUR LIFE, ...
IN YOUR CHURCH?
HOW DESPERATE ARE YOU?
GOD HEARD EVAN ROBERTS’ PRAYER.
GOD USED EVAN ROBERTS TO SEND A HUGE SWEEPING REVIVAL ACROSS WALES.
GOD EVENTUALLY SENT EVAN ROBERTS BACK TO HIS HOME CHURCH WHERE HE STARTED A SERVICE FOR THE YOUTH.
THESE YOUTH MEETINGS... THAT STARTED AROUND SEVEN WOULD LAST UNTIL MIDNIGHT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE CRYING OUT FOR THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
MEETINGS BEGAN TO GO ON UNTIL 3 A.M.
WITH PEOPLE CRYING OUT FOR REVIVAL.
PEOPLE STARTED FLOODING INTO THE PRAYER MEETINGS.
REVIVAL BROKE OUT ALL OVER WALES.
IT WAS SUCH AN AWESOME REVIVAL THAT THERE WAS A WORK SLOWDOWN AT THE MINES.
WHEN SO MANY OF THE MINERS GOT SAVED
THAT THE DONKEYS AND MULES NO LONGER UNDERSTOOD WHAT THESE NEWLY SAVED MINERS WERE TELLING THEM TO DO.
THE ANIMALS WERE SO USED TO BEING ORDERED AROUND BY CURSING AND SWEARING
THAT THEY DID'NT UNDERSTAND THE ORDERS
THEY WERE NOW HEARING.
THE REVIVAL EVEN SPREAD TO MANY CHURCHES IN ENGLAND.
THAT GREAT WELSH REVIVAL STARTED WITH THE CRY OF EVAN ROBERTS. "BEND ME":
“BEND ME!” ROBERTS SAID,
“BEND THE CHURCH AND SAVE THE WORLD”.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF CHRISTIANS GOT DESPERATE
TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES—
REVIVAL IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN!
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT BEING DESPERATE THAT GETS GOD'S EAR.
PEOPLE WHO ARE DESPERATE GIVE PRIORITY
TO THAT WHICH THEY'RE DESPERATE ABOUT.
SO TELL ME,
WHOSE PLUMB LINE ARE YOU DESPERATE TO LIVE UP TO…
THE WORLDS PLUMB LINE
OR GODS PLUMB LINE?
HOW WILLING ARE YOU TO TAKE YOUR CRACKED, CRUMBLING, AND CROOKED WALLS TO GOD
AND ASK GOD TO FIX THEM.
HOW HIGH DO YOU WANT TO GO?
HOW STRAIGHT DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE?
WE CAN BE BUILT GOD TOUGH.
WE CAN BE BUILT ON A FIRM FOUNDATION
BUT WE NEED TO LINE OURSELVES UP
WITH THAT PLUMB LINE EVERY DAY.
AND EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY TOO.
JESUS
IS OUR FOUNDATION.
THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES
IS THE MATERIAL OF OUR BRICKS.
AND GOD
IS THE PLUMB LINE, WE MEASURE OUR WALL AGAINST.
HOW DESPERATE ARE YOU TO HAVE A STRAIGHT WALL?
HOW DESPERATE ARE YOU TO HAVE REVIVAL IN YOUR LIFE?
HOW DESPERATE ARE YOU FOR REVIVAL IN OUR LAND?
WE'VE GOT TO GET DESPERATE FOR GOD!!!
I WANT TO ASK EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO SEE REVIVAL HAPPEN, COME AND STAND HERE IN THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH AND LET'S PRAY FOR REVIVAL.