Untitled Sermon (64)

THE SPIRIT OF TARDINESS

INTRODUCTION:

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN A CHRISTIAN LIFE IS TO LEARN HOW TO OPERATE IN ORDER. IT WILL TAKE DISCIPLINE AND THE WILL TO KNOW WHAT’S IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE.

PAUL SAID LET ALL THINGS BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER.

PAUL WAS SPEAKING ON THE GIFT OF TONGUES AND THE GIFT OF PROPHESY. PAUL WAS SAYING THAT IT IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR EACH OF THESE GIFTS TO BE IN OPERATION.

BUT WHEN THEY ARE MINISTER, EACH GIFT SHOULD BE DONE IN DECENTLY AND IN ORDER.

THE SAME WAY WITH TARDINESS, GOD EXPECT FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF US TO MANAGE OUR TIME IN DECENTLY AND IN ORDER.

IMAGE IF JESUS PUT OFF CALVARY BECAUSE HE DID NOT MAKE IT ON TIME.

HOW CAN WE BE DOING RIGHT BEFORE GOD OR DOING THINGS IN DECENTLY AND IN ORDER, IF THE ORDER OF SERVICE IS 10:30AM AND WE DO NOT SHOW UP UNTIL 11:00AM.

THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF TARDINESS.

TARDINESS IS THE QUALITY OR FACT OF BEING LATE.

I LIKE TO DISCUSS 3 THINGS CONCERNING TARDINESS.

1. BAD HABITS.

2. BEING PROMPT.

3. PRIORITIZE YOUR TIME.

A. BAD HABITS

THE ROOT OF BAD HABITS STEMS FROM NOT HAVING ANY STRUCTURE IN YOUR LIVES.

WE DO NOT REALIZE WHEN WE SHOW UP TO CHURCH LATE, THAT WE ARE NOT IN PLACE FOR GOD TO USE US TO BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE ELSE.

IT BECOMES A SENSE OF PRIDE WHERE IT’S OK TO BE LATE.

WHEN THIS HAPPEN THE ATTENTION GO TO YOU AND NOT TO GOD.

IT BECOMES A DISTRACTION BECAUSE OTHER’S SIGHTS ARE ON YOU INSTEAD OF THE ORDER OF SERVICE.

IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO OTHER’S THAT GOD’S TIME IS NOT IMPORTANT TO YOU.

SOME OF US MIGHT SAY I DON’T SEE A PROBLEM WITH BEING LATE.

BUT THE WORD OF GOD SAID LET ALL THINGS BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER.

IT AMAZE ME HOW WE CAN BE ON TIME FOR WORK, BUT DON’T HAVE THAT SAME URGENCY TO MEET THE LORD ON SUNDAY.

WHEN HAVE A JOB THAT GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR US HAVE PREFERENCE OVER HIM.

GOD IS NOT A GOD OF EXCUSES, BUT A GOD OF ORDER.

THE WAY YOU STOP THOSE BAD HABITS THAT YOU HAVE DEVELOP, DO THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING.

WHAT ARE THE BAD HABITS IN CHURCH.

COMING TO CHURCH ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH.

ATTENDING CHURCH LATE CONSISTENTLY.

LOOKING AT YOUR CELL PHONE CONSTANTLY , WHILE SERVICE IS IN PROGRESS.

I AM TALKING ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE TEXTING OR CHECKING OUT FACEBOOK.

NOT TAKING PART IN WORSHIP IN SONGS.

HAVING CONVERSATIONS WHILE SERVICE IS GOING ON, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE LORD.

WHAT EVER WE DO IT SHOULD BE DONE DECENTLY,MEANING IT SHOULD BE DONE PROPERLY AS OPPOSE TO IMPROPERLY.

THEN ORDER NEED TO FOLLOW IT. ORDER IS DOING IT IN A APPROPRIATE WAY, OR SOMETHING DONE ACCORDING TO ORDER.

HEBREWS 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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.”

B. WE NEED TO BE PROMPT WHEN WE ENTER THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.

MEANING WE NEED TO BE ON TIME.

HOW MANY OF US GIVES GOD OUR TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURE.

OR DO WE JUST GIVE HIM OUR TREASURE, BUT LEAVE OUT THE TIME AND TALENT.

YOU LEAVE THOSE OUT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT IN PLACE TO GIVE IT TO THE LORD.

IF YOU SAY YOU LOVE THE LORD, HE SHOULD HAVE ALL OF YOU YOUR TIME, YOUR TALENT AND YOUR TREASURE.

THE BOOK OF LUKE SAID THERE WAS A MAN NAME ZACCHAEUS WHO WAS A CHIEF TAX COLLECTOR AND WAS WEALTHY AND HE WANTED TO SEE WHO JESUS WAS, BUT BEING A SHORT MAN HE COULD NOT, BECAUSE OF THE CROWD. SO HE RAN AHEAD AND CLIMBED A SYCAMORE- FIG TREE TO SEE HIM, SINCE JESUS WAS COMING THAT WAY.

WHO DO YOU COME TO SEE ON SUNDAY, BECAUSE IF IT WAS JESUS YOU WOULD HURRY UP TO GET TO CHURCH TO GET YOUR BLESSING.

BUT IF YOU’RE NOT COMING FOR JESUS, THEIR IS NO EXPECTATIONS, SO IT’S EASY NOT TO BE ON TIME.

ZACCHAEUS RAN AHEAD OF THE CROWD BECAUSE HE WAS EXPECTING TO SEE JESUS.

EPHESIANS 5:15-16 IN THE ENGLISH VERSION SAYS LOOK CAREFULLY THEN HOW YOU WALK, NOT AS UNWISE BUT AS WISE,MAKING THE BEST USE OF THE TIME, BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL.

C. WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE OUR TIME WITH THE LORD.

MEANING WE NEED TO PUT THE LORD BEFORE EVERYTHING.

IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN YOUR WAY STOPPING YOU FROM MEETING THE LORD ON TIME, YOU NEED TO MOVE IT ASIDE .

THEN YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PREPARE YOURSELF BEFOREHAND.

MEANING GET WHAT YOU NEED TO GET TOGETHER AHEAD OF TIME, SO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO IT ON THAT SAME DAY.

HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO HAVE ORGANIZATION, IF THEIR IS NO ORDER TO IT.

THE DEVIL LIKES WHEN WE DO NOT HAVE ANY STRUCTURE TO OUR LIVES, BECAUSE HE KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT COMMIT OR BE DEDICATED TO GOD’S SERVICE.

MATTHEW 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”