9-5-26 BBCSV Mens Prayer Testimony/Complatency

Testimony

Saved at 5 years old

Called to preach at 8 years old

Moved to BBCW at 9 years old

Studied Chemical Engineering

Spent the last 8 years serving at ABC (serving as assistant pastor while working at DuBois, RCS)

God Bringing Us To Savannah

Visiting Kenton

Preaching at the mens event

Wanting to come then but being told no, because of work situation and the impact it would have at ABC

God removing obsticals and putting people in place at ABC

God burdening me that the place my family could make the biggest impact for the Kingdom was here in Savannah

Apathy

Throughout my years of traveling and preaching across this country, I have observed one commonality among churches, and among the men who fill their pews: a spirit of complacency and apathy. Churches that once accomplished great things for the Lord, that built great buildings and saw great numbers saved, now find themselves resting in the success of years past rather than pressing forward. And in those same churches sit men who are content with where they stand spiritually, men who have, over time, grown apathetic toward the lost world around them. If we are honest, all of us are capable of falling into that mindset. We become consumed with the status quo: attending services, serving in our small area, going home, and repeating that cycle. Over time, that becomes an apathetic heart, one that no longer examines itself and no longer searches for opportunities to share the gospel. It reminds me of the state of Israel in the book of Amos.

Amos 6:1–8 KJV 1900

Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, And trust in the mountain of Samaria, Which are named chief of the nations, To whom the house of Israel came! Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; And from thence go ye to Hamath the great: Then go down to Gath of the Philistines: Be they better than these kingdoms? Or their border greater than your border? Ye that put far away the evil day, And cause the seat of violence to come near; That lie upon beds of ivory, And stretch themselves upon their couches, And eat the lambs out of the flock, And the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the viol, And invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; That drink wine in bowls, And anoint themselves with the chief ointments: But they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, And the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed. The Lord God hath sworn by himself, saith the Lord the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: Therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.

Amos was written during the reign of King Jeroboam II. This time period marked great prosperity for Israel not seen since the time of Solomon, both is geographical reach and wealth. Archeological digs confirm the account in Amos 6 with finds of furniture lined with ivory. Israel has developed the attitude that they deserve what they have, that they are too big to fail and they have become comfortable with their current state.

Amos tells them in verse 2 to look at past kingdoms that were equal in greatness and yet fell into destruction. He goes on to list the luxuries the people enjoyed: while they appeared to have it all together on the outside, they were spiritually depraved on the inside.

Many men in churches fall into that same category the longer they have been saved. They have a stable job (house car hobbies) , a family (raised in church, maybe all the children are saved) , and a role at church ( and they serve regularly), and in that stability came comfort. That comfort led them into a state of apathy and mediocrity. Men who while active no longer strive for the best, they maintain an attitude of “good enough”, not striving for excellence in their Christian life.

Apathy is defined as a profound lack of feeling, emotion, interest, or concern.

This is a dangerous place for any believer to fall into. The reality is that from the moment of conversion until we are glorified in heaven, we are on a journey called sanctification. Every day we should strive to grow in the Lord and emulate Christ more. This is accomplished through:

Discipleship, whether being discipled or discipling others,

Personal piety: putting off the old man, walking in the Spirit, dying daily to self, daily picking up your cross, bible study, prayer life.

And most importantly, sharing the gospel with a lost and dying world.

When we begin to get comfortable in our spirituality and those areas start to slack off because we are satisfied with mediocrity without our realization we develop a apathetic heart to the things of God.

First your bible reading becomes hit or miss, then its been a week, next thing you know you haven’t read or studied your Bible (on your own not just at church) in months and it doesn’t even bother you

Maybe you used to be a prayer warrior, praying for your family, your church (prayer list, pastors page) for the lost, How long has it been since you had a serious prayer time with the Lord (not just meals) and does it bother you? Prayer is the most powerful weapon in the arsenal of the believer and yet is so often un utilized, and churches are full of people, men, who are apathetic to prayer.

The most common aspect of the christian life that believers today have an apathetic heart to is sharing the gospel. Our lives are surrounded by people who are lost and headed to a Devils hell and churches are full of people who don’t care.

Preaching the gospel was not just a command to preachers, deacons, or sunday school teachers, it was a direct command to each and every believer ITS YOUR JOB. Which means that if you’re not sharing the gospel you are living in disobedience to God and you’re not as spiritual as you think you are (deceiving your own selves).

Lets think about the apostle Paul for a minute, if anyone in the history of the church had hit the mark, done all their was to do for the Lord it was Paul. He suffered torments and affliction, he planted churches, wrote much of the New Testament,, traveled the known world preaching the gospel and led countless souls Christ. Surely Paul had reached the goal, look what he said:

Philippians 3:12–14 KJV 1900

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

If Paul hadn’t made it, then you and I most certainly have not made it, we should strive for more. Each and everyone of us has an area in our life in which we have become comfortable, apathetic even and today we need to get it right.

Maybe its your personal piety (bible reading and prayer life)

Discipleship ( Do you need discipled? have you wrestled with a question about the Bible or doctrine and just given up? Are you discipling anyone right now?)

Preaching the Gospel (When is the last time you shared the gospel with someone? When is the last time you personally invited someone to church? Whens the last time you even prayed for the salvation of someone?)

The thing about preaching that often goes missed in todays culture is the action afterwards, the goal of preaching or teaching is to bring about change in someones life, the mark of a true disciple of Jesus is hearing His word and then doing it. My challenge to you this morning is if you find that you are apathic in a area of your spiritual life, what are you going to do about it? You need discipled ask me! you need to learn to witness? Ask to be taught! Are you struggling with your bible study and prayer life? Start today!

If the men of the church would decide that they would get serious with God and serious about the things of God this city would be turned upside down! My desire is to make an impact for the Kingdom of God, our desire is for our church thrive and grow and reach countless souls with the gospel of Jesus Christ, but it takes men who are willing to get serious, to cut out apathy from their hearts to to be intentional about the things of God.