God Demands Faithfulness

I) Introduction

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Worship

After attending church with his father one Sunday morning, before getting into bed that evening a little boy kneeled at his bedside and prayed, “Dear God, we had a good time at church today, but I wish you had been there.”1505

Many years ago, Thomas K. Beecher once substituted for his famous brother, Henry Ward Beecher, at the Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, New York. Many curiosity seekers had come to hear the renowned Henry Beecher speak. Therefore, when Thomas Beecher appeared in the pulpit instead, some people got up and started for the doors. Sensing that they were disappointed because he was substituting for his brother, Thomas raised his hand for silence and announced, “All those who came here this morning to worship Henry Ward Beecher may withdraw from the church; all who came to worship God may remain.”

The example of godly leaders is helpful, but only the Savior is worthy of our worship and devotion.1506

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Worship

After attending church with his father one Sunday morning, before getting into bed that evening a little boy kneeled at his bedside and prayed, “Dear God, we had a good time at church today, but I wish you had been there.”1505

Many years ago, Thomas K. Beecher once substituted for his famous brother, Henry Ward Beecher, at the Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, New York. Many curiosity seekers had come to hear the renowned Henry Beecher speak. Therefore, when Thomas Beecher appeared in the pulpit instead, some people got up and started for the doors. Sensing that they were disappointed because he was substituting for his brother, Thomas raised his hand for silence and announced, “All those who came here this morning to worship Henry Ward Beecher may withdraw from the church; all who came to worship God may remain.”

The example of godly leaders is helpful, but only the Savior is worthy of our worship and devotion.1506

II) The people need to draw near to God

draw near to God

ready to listen

ready to obey

ready to obey

ready to give FULL attention to God

ready to be humble

ready to obey

put the phone away

put the tablet away

Be ready to HEAR God

Don’t come into church making foolish “sacrifices”

God will only be happy with your whole heart!

(NKJV)

9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

(NKJV)

19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

(NKJV)

15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

III) The people need to take care in their speech

When approaching God in public or private

we need to be careful of our words

never speak hastily or without care

BECAUSE GOD IS HOLY IN HEAVEN, WE ARE NOT ON EARTH!

If you were to stand before a king or president, you would choose your words carefully

BECAUSE YOUR WORDS ARE TO BE FEW

(NKJV)

7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

3. Many words show you are a fool

peoples hearts show through their words

(NKJV)

45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

III) The people need to be careful about promises

(NKJV)

21 “When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you.

22 But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you.

23 That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.

Hesitating to pay a promise is a sin

displeases God when a person hesitates to fulfill a promise

its better not to say anything than to avoid a vow

g

(HCSB)

25 It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows.

b. Example : Jephthah - promised the first one out of his house if he could win a battle (His daughter was the first one out)

Judges 11:30–40 HCSB

Jephthah made this vow to the Lord: “If You will hand over the Ammonites to me, whatever comes out of the doors of my house to greet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites will belong to the Lord, and I will offer it as a burnt offering.” Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the Lord handed them over to him. He defeated 20 of their cities with a great slaughter from Aroer all the way to the entrance of Minnith and to Abel-keramim. So the Ammonites were subdued before the Israelites. When Jephthah went to his home in Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing! She was his only child; he had no other son or daughter besides her. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “No! Not my daughter! You have devastated me! You have brought great misery on me. I have given my word to the Lord and cannot take it back.” Then she said to him, “My father, you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me as you have said, for the Lord brought vengeance on your enemies, the Ammonites.” She also said to her father, “Let me do this one thing: Let me wander two months through the mountains with my friends and mourn my virginity.” “Go,” he said. And he sent her away two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity as she wandered through the mountains. At the end of two months, she returned to her father, and he kept the vow he had made about her. And she had never been intimate with a man. Now it became a custom in Israel that four days each year the young women of Israel would commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

: 30-40

found in

c. Ananias and Sapphira

IV) The people need to fear God

This should be first in our worship.

Fearing the Lord makes our worship sincere

The Lord and Satan

Who do you fear?