Verse 5:
A Time to Cast Away Stones - We need to cast away stony walls between us and others - Heb. 12:14-15, Prov. 14:17
- Walls get built up when we get hurt or wounded and this leads to bitterness
- We fix this by forgiving and also praying for God's help to forget it and for the other person
A Time to Gather Stones Together ( in Bible times, gathering stones meant to gather to build a wall) - Sometimes we need to build walls of protection around us
- We should keep sinners at a distance - Prov. 22:24-25
- 1 Cor. 5:11 - But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not eat.
A Time to Embrace - We need to show affection. Touch is so important. It has been proven through experiment that in the NICU babies that get touched and handled develop better and faster than those not touched. A colt that is handled as soon as it is born is gentler and easier to train than one that is not.
- Song of Sol. 2:6 (marriage) - His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
- Acts 20:1 (friendship) - And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
- Luke 15:20 (kids)
A Time to Refrain from Embracing - We need to be careful as women who we show affection to. Sometimes touching or hugging on a man that is not our husband sends the wrong signals.
- 1 Cor. 7:1-2 - Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
Verse 6:
A Time to Get - We need to allow others to help us or give to us (it takes as much grace to receive as it does to give)
- Be humble enough to ask for help and accept help
-Be humble enough to accept random acts of kindness or gifts
- Others will get a reward in heaven for their deeds of help
-Matt. 10:42 - And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
A Time to Lose - We all face losses in relationships.
- Death of a loved one - Rom. 5:12
- Friends who walk away
- Spouses who walk away
A Time to Keep - Make special memories with those we love and keep track of those memories with pictures, journals, scrapbooks, keepsake boxes with mementos of special occasions
- Luke 2:19 - But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
- Josh 4:6-8
A Time to Cast Away - We need to get rid of unhealthy relationships
- Sometimes we must walk away from people for our own good
- Sometimes we must walk away for their good (we allow them to depend on us too much)
- 1 Cor. 15:33 - Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
- Eph. 5:6-7 -
Verse 7:
A Time to Rend - We need to tear away our bad habits that harm our relationships - negativity, gossip, being too talkative, losing temper easily, impatient, lying, etc.
- Prov. 17:9 - He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
- 1 Peter 3:10 - For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. (deceit)
A Time to Sew - We need to sew into our relationships love, compassion, encouragement, kindness, patience (the fruits of the spirit)
A Time to Keep Silence - Sometimes it is just best left unsaid
- Momma always said, "if you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all".
- Eph. 4:31 - Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
A Time to Speak - Prov. 25:11 - for God, for what's right, to correct kids & others
- Witnessing - Mark 16:15
Verse 8:
A Time to Love - We need to love God and love others
- Luke 10:27 -
- Rom. 13:10 - Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
- Titus 2:3-4
A Time to Hate - We should hate evil.
- Prov. 8:13
- Ps. 101:3 - I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
- Ps. 119:163 - I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.
A Time of War - Fight for your relationship with God
- 1 Tim. 6:11-12
- 2 Tim. 4:7 - I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
A Time of Peace - Be a peacemaker in your relationship & in the relationships of others
- James 3:18
- Matt. 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
May 29, 2016
May 1, 2016
Why Are Church Altars Empty?
I just finished my devotions for the day and was pondering over some things and questioning things that go on in the local church these days. We have been in full time ministry since 2003. Since then I have watched the decline of America, the decline of local church attendance and decline of Christian attitude (the onset of apathy). The world thought process has leaked into the church slowly for so long that it appears to me that now there is a full blown crevice that allows that worldly thought process to gush right in. If you question the worldly thoughts, you are labeled anywhere from a legalist to a hateful, judgemental bigot and are told you need to loosen up and just show the love of Jesus to people. ----Let me say right here, that lovingly telling and showing people the truths of the Bible IS showing the love of Jesus! Scripture (the Bible) was written for reproof, rebuke, and exhortation, correction, and doctrine. (2 Timothy 3:16) You can't just tell people that Jesus loves them and that is all. You must tell them and teach them how to have a close and RIGHT walk with Him or you are not living up to your duty.
I do not know how far back in time the "altar call" or "invitation time" dates in a church service. I probably should have researched it before I started this post but I'm not taking time for that now. I do know that it has been practiced in most Baptist churches during my generation. I am 49. I know there are some who do not and state their reasons but the majority have practiced it. Thirty years ago invitation time brought floods of people to the altar to get saved or to get things right with the Lord (confess to Him), and to pray for help or for others. When my husband got saved and we got into church back in the late 90s it seemed that people still used the altar at invitation time. Over the years since then, I have watched it continually decline. Bob used to say it had to do with his preaching ability and blame himself for not being able to break through and reach people. I was quick to point out that if that were the case then when we had a guest preacher in, the altar would be used but it is not. I personally have never sat through hearing a sermon and not felt the Holy Spirit burdening me about something. (even if it was just to thank the Lord for my blessings or to pray for someone else) I do not understand not going forward and using the invitation time to bring your burdens to the Lord. As a pastor's wife, I also know it helps others feel "safe" to go forward if someone else is already going so that they are not the only ones (especially for first timers). A former pastor taught me that idea. There's something humbling about stepping out of the pew and going forward and kneeling at that altar. I am fully aware that some go forward at every service simply because they believe they are "supposed" to, while there has been no real conviction or heart change. They go for show. Well, that is between them and the Lord. However, I believe that using the altar gives special time between you and God and can have a very soothing and cleansing effect.
Now to the why. I have a theory. I came to this belief and conclusion a few years ago as I watched and observed people. ---their reactions during the preaching.
One reason the altar is empty is because I don't think most are actually listening. That's right! You read right. I think most or at least many are at church and they have filled their christian obligation. Attendance is all that is necessary in their minds and the heart and mind are closed off to what is being said. If you don't hear the Holy Spirit cannot reveal or tug at your mind and heart to make changes. This is also why some insist on talking through the service too! They want to be distracted and not focus on what is said.
Another reason the altar is empty and the one I think is most likely is that most believe in their heart they are already living out what is being preached. Which is absurd because even if you are doing it, there is always, always room for improvement! Many believe they are correctly disciplining their children just because they spank. Many believe that because they are not doing as bad of things as someone else they know, that means they are ok. Many believe because they tithe then they are right with the Lord even though the Holy Spirit may be burdening them to give a special offering or give to missions more regularly. You see, if they are already living what is being preached in their minds, then there is no need for change. You can't get someone to change who sees nothing wrong with their thoughts and actions!
We had Bro. Mike Stanley from Highland AR come preach a Family Conference last year. I remember him saying that people are not nearly as spiritual as they think they are. Getting them to see that is a hard task! He was so right.
In Revelation chapter 3 Jesus tells the church at Laodicea that they THINK they are rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing but they are really wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I think this describes the average local church member today and that is ultimately why altars are empty. Hard hearts and stiff necks that believe they are already living everything the preacher is saying so the altar isn't necessary.
I do not know how far back in time the "altar call" or "invitation time" dates in a church service. I probably should have researched it before I started this post but I'm not taking time for that now. I do know that it has been practiced in most Baptist churches during my generation. I am 49. I know there are some who do not and state their reasons but the majority have practiced it. Thirty years ago invitation time brought floods of people to the altar to get saved or to get things right with the Lord (confess to Him), and to pray for help or for others. When my husband got saved and we got into church back in the late 90s it seemed that people still used the altar at invitation time. Over the years since then, I have watched it continually decline. Bob used to say it had to do with his preaching ability and blame himself for not being able to break through and reach people. I was quick to point out that if that were the case then when we had a guest preacher in, the altar would be used but it is not. I personally have never sat through hearing a sermon and not felt the Holy Spirit burdening me about something. (even if it was just to thank the Lord for my blessings or to pray for someone else) I do not understand not going forward and using the invitation time to bring your burdens to the Lord. As a pastor's wife, I also know it helps others feel "safe" to go forward if someone else is already going so that they are not the only ones (especially for first timers). A former pastor taught me that idea. There's something humbling about stepping out of the pew and going forward and kneeling at that altar. I am fully aware that some go forward at every service simply because they believe they are "supposed" to, while there has been no real conviction or heart change. They go for show. Well, that is between them and the Lord. However, I believe that using the altar gives special time between you and God and can have a very soothing and cleansing effect.
Now to the why. I have a theory. I came to this belief and conclusion a few years ago as I watched and observed people. ---their reactions during the preaching.
One reason the altar is empty is because I don't think most are actually listening. That's right! You read right. I think most or at least many are at church and they have filled their christian obligation. Attendance is all that is necessary in their minds and the heart and mind are closed off to what is being said. If you don't hear the Holy Spirit cannot reveal or tug at your mind and heart to make changes. This is also why some insist on talking through the service too! They want to be distracted and not focus on what is said.
Another reason the altar is empty and the one I think is most likely is that most believe in their heart they are already living out what is being preached. Which is absurd because even if you are doing it, there is always, always room for improvement! Many believe they are correctly disciplining their children just because they spank. Many believe that because they are not doing as bad of things as someone else they know, that means they are ok. Many believe because they tithe then they are right with the Lord even though the Holy Spirit may be burdening them to give a special offering or give to missions more regularly. You see, if they are already living what is being preached in their minds, then there is no need for change. You can't get someone to change who sees nothing wrong with their thoughts and actions!
We had Bro. Mike Stanley from Highland AR come preach a Family Conference last year. I remember him saying that people are not nearly as spiritual as they think they are. Getting them to see that is a hard task! He was so right.
In Revelation chapter 3 Jesus tells the church at Laodicea that they THINK they are rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing but they are really wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I think this describes the average local church member today and that is ultimately why altars are empty. Hard hearts and stiff necks that believe they are already living everything the preacher is saying so the altar isn't necessary.
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