Amen Not Amenities

Psalm 26:4–8 “I do not sit with deceitful people, Nor will I go with pretenders. I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked. I will wash my hands in innocence, And I will go around Your altar, Lord, That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving And declare all Your wonders. Lord, I love the dwelling of Your house, And the place where Your glory remains.”

PRAY

When you are making plans for a trip, vacation, or something else, what drives you? What do you base your choices on? Adventure? Experiences? Comfort? Convenience?

Is your main thought always, “What do I get out of it?”

Do you approach Church with this same attitude?

Our focus should be focused on the AMEN, not the Amenities

Culture of Consumption

Isaiah 55:2 ““Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance.”

In the Bible, bread is always accociated with something that is good.

Why do we waste our money and time on things that are not good and do not satisfy rather than bread?

Where are you truly investing your time and motives?

We need to truly seek His presence and experience. He is the only one who can satify us fully.

Ask yourself what the REAL reason and motive for you coming to church.

Is it fellowship? Reputation? Amenities? Food? Gossip? OR is it God?

Shift your focus from You to Yahweh!

The Purpose of our Church

Exodus 25:8 “Have them construct a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.”

From the beginning, The Temple was meant to be a house of prayer and worship.

God designed it with the purpose of people encountering Him and worshipping Him.

This church building is great. The Church name has gone through changes over the years.

All this for the pupose to: Worship God and Change Lives

In this building, we can come face to face with God. We can talk to Him one on one. We can cry out to Him.

The singing, Sunday School, instruments, preaching, etc. all points to our Lord, Jesus.

Come here expecting to encounter God, not get catered to. Prepare your Heart!

Behold and Meditate

Psalm 27:4 “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple.”

Notice he mentioned seeking the Lord first. If we don’t look for Him, we won’t find Him!

Out of all the things he could ask of the Lord, money, wisdom, answers, comfort, healing aren’t one of them.

He simply asked the Lord to allow him to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in the Temple

WOW! If we all had this attitude and reverence of the Lord, it would be a much better world.

Lord, I just want to soak in your creation and all the things you created. While I do that, I just want to read Your Word, meditate on it, and apply it to my life.

When we are having Sunday School, hearing the sermon, and singing, what do you hear being said of God?

Focus on them deeply.

Dedicate your time fully on God and the service. Not your phone, other people, etc.

Falling Into Place

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.”

When we focus on God and not the world, it may seem like everything tumbles and falls apart.

What is really happening is that evreything of God is falling into place for you for the first time

Embrace the chaos, knowing that only the things God has put in your life will be left.

Then you can truly dedicate your life to Him, and forget the amenities of life.

Lying Lips

Isaiah 29:13 “Then the Lord said, “Because this people approaches Me with their words And honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of the commandment of men that is taught;”

Stop playing Church!!!!

When we just come to Church for the amenities, we are missing out on experiencing God

When Jesus tossed the Temple tables, he said this is a house of prayer, but you made it a den of theives.

Stop playing Church just so people think that you are a great person. Stop coming once or twice a year just to say you showed up. Stop coming to take advantage of the church using it to your benefit. Come for God and His Word!

Worship with Gladness

Psalm 100:2 “Serve the Lord with jubilation; Come before Him with rejoicing.”

So, let us come to this building to rejoice and be glad in His presence! Let us be be glad to have the ability to come here and experience God first hand!

Come to give an Amen, not for the Amenities!

INVITATION