Stop Doing Church by Gerald Hicks Jr.

Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 41 – 45 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Romans 5 – 8; Psalm 119; Proverbs 25)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – James 4:10

Read the “0825 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

What does being a christian mean to you?

Being a Christian means? According to google=a believer in Jesus Christ and his teachings.

To me it means a follower of Christ in every way. We follow Him in what He does, says, and acts. As a Baptist, we believe the Bible; as a follower of Christ, we obey and follow the Bible …?

Complacency means self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.

Complacency is a virus.

Complacency creates corruption.

Complacency can come through different avenues. Whether you grew up in church and you get used to the same old routine, or recently getting saved, but then a few months after, the fire runs out, or even after you may have fallen in an area.

Stale Christianity:

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)

God is strongly against stale Christianity. It makes Him want to vomit! He is not pleased with fence riders, with one leg in the world and the other in church.

Three areas in our lives where complacency corrupts

1. In our worship of God

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.” (Psalm 148:1-13)

Our worship is nothing to be ashamed about! We don’t mind letting the world around us know who our favorite sports team is when we are cheering for them, so why do we get tuned down when it comes to letting the world know we are followers of Christ? When it comes to praising the name above every name?

I heard a preacher say–” I don’t think we’re going to be whispering in heaven.”

Start praising the Lord today for everything He does for you!

Unfortunately, at times we get used to God, we get used to His blessings and His provisions.

We have to ask ourselves Are we singing the hymns that we sing without even thinking?

We ALWAYS have a reason to praise the Lord!

2. In our walk with God

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18)

A pastor preached a message entitled – stop doing your devotions, when I was in bible college and it was a challenge to wake us up to realize we aren’t doing God any favors by reading His Word just to check it off a to do list, and if we weren’t spending time with God for any other reason but besides “to help God out,” then to just stop. We need God a whole lot more than He needs us! Be thankful He preserved His Word for us! Now to think that the One and Only True God, whom spoke this universe into existence and by Him all things consist, (Col.1) desires a personal relationship with us, that ought to blow our minds! We ought to want to spend time with God more than anyone else!

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. … I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. … Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” (Psalm 119:9-11, 15, 18)

3. In our witness for God

Consider the life of Paul. Did he quit? Did he have reason to quit? I’d say so, humanly speaking and thinking of all he went through that we could understand his life was not the easiest. Paul, however was not consumed with his troubles or issues. He counted it all joy due to whom his life was lived for!

Never get over your salvation!

“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:10)

Sports teams winning championships or great athletes being honored does not create any excitement in Heaven, but the man or woman that walks the aisle and comes forward realizing that they’re a sinner in need of the Saviour brings about rejoicing in the realms of glory!

Contentment -To be free from care because of satisfaction with what is already one’s own.

Aren’t you tired of me being The status quo christian? Doing just enough to get by in your eyes?

Jesus Christ is the standard that we strive after. And I’m so thankful that He didn’t just die for some, but for all!

Compassion – Compassion literally means “to suffer together.” Among emotion researchers, it is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another’s suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering.

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference:” (Jude 1:21-22)

 How’s your heart tonight towards the lost?

“You know what would be real good for all of us, is if God would lift the lid off of hell for about 5 seconds… and we realize what you and I deserve is that place…”- C.T. TOWNSEND