"TIME TO SEEK THE LORD"
Intro: The nation of Israel is facing a severe crisis. They have forsaken
God. They forgot that it was God who had made them great. God's
remedy for the sick nation.
I. "SOW TO YOURSELVES IN RIGHTEOUSNESS."
A. The actions and deeds of our lives are like seeds scattered
abroad.
1. They have a negative or positive effect on those around
us.
2. Some plant rotten seed wherever they go.
a. Their lives have a polluting influence.
b. You feel like you need a bath when they go.
c. You wished you could purge your mind from the
filth of their conversation.
3. Others who, by their lives, bring blessing wherever
they go.
a. The sweet influence lingers after they go.
b. They leave each place better than they found
it.
B. Here we are exhorted to sow to ourselves.
1. My life is determined by the type of seed I am sowing
into my mind.
a. The brain is much like a computer that can only
feed out that which is programmed in.
b. If I feed my mind on Playboy and X-rated
movies, I will reap overpowering sexual urges.
c. If I feed on the soaps, I will reap doubts and
suspicion about the fidelity of my spouse.
d. If I feed on the Word of God, I will reap
godliness.
2. "Sow to yourselves in righteousness."
a. Sow in the right things and the right things
will come out.
b. What kind of music do you listen to?
c. What kind of material do you read?
C. If we sow in righteousness, we will reap in mercy.
1. Rather than being vengeful, critical and harsh, we
will be kind and forgiving.
2. Much strife could cease at our doorstep.
a. That desire to get even only fans the flame.
b. Better to douse it with mercy.
II. "BREAK UP THE FALLOW GROUND."
A. Ground that has compacted and hardened for lack of use.
1. All it produces is weeds, nettles and thorns.
B. Some of your hearts have become hardened to God.
1. His Word has no chance to root.
2. It washes away in the next storm.
3. As a result, you become hardened to others.
a. You become blind to the distress signals.
b. You become deaf to the cries for help.
c. Till one day, you are devastated and shocked
when the divorce papers are served, or your
child has run away.
C. How do you break up the fallow ground?
1. Begins with recognition.
2. Followed by repentance.
a. A true desire for change.
b. Not just change long enough to get things back
together.
3. Start to pay attention to God's Word and obey it, put
it into practice.
III. "TIME TO SEEK THE LORD."
A. For our nation.
1. Horrible moral decline.
a. Gone from a permissive attitude to an indulgent
attitude.
b. When I was a boy, pornography was all under the
counter.
2. Economic woes.
3. Crime epidemic.
B. For our children and grandchildren.
1. Purpose of government is the preservation of good.
a. Laws are seeming to repress the good and
liberate the evil.
2. The children growing up today have a much wider
exposure to evil.
C. How long shall we seek the Lord? "Till He comes."
Be the first to react on this!
Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013)
Pastor Chuck was used in the Jesus People revival where he was used along with others to minister to the hippy young people. They saw a work of the Spirit where many were added to the church and discipled. He has raised up many pastors who are a part of the Calvary Chapel movement now and where he pastors the large Costa Mesa church in California.The Calvary Chapel movement is based of simple principles that Chuck Smith taught over the years such as: The priority of agape love, Simple fellowship amongst the saints, the breaking of bread, the teaching of God's word chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And lastly and most importantly the principle not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord.