Rebuilding The Walls, Just What Will It Take?
Part 1 - Our Capture
INTRO.: Today I am going to start a series of message that deal with the captivity of the Children of Israel in Babylon. The Psalm that I read is an example of their plight while in the foreign land. We are often captive in this day and age. Just what can we do? Where can we go? Who can we look to? Maybe another important question is do we have to put up with the spiritual disarray that many of us may be presently experiencing?
It was because of SIN that the Children of Israel were carried away into captivity. Sin cost them a great deal. Sin cost us too! Things that cause us to be captured are our Sins & Attitudes.
Before I begin, I want to give you some things to think about - How can we tell if we have broken down walls?
If we have lost our Time of Prayer
If we are no longer Hungry for God's Word
If there is no Joy of Worship
If we have no great Desire for Fellowship with Believers
If we have quit Seeking His Guidance
If we have lost our Disdain for Sin
If we have Misplaced Priorities (when it comes to God's work)
As we look at our country we see they that so many individuals and our nation as a whole has allowed our nation to become captive to Satan and his ways. Many churches have allowed their "walls" to crumble and fall or be torn down. Many Christians have done the same. No longer does a "fire" burn in their heart. No longer do they care about God and His ways as they should. Yes the "walls" of East 38th Street Free Will Baptist have crumbled. Yes the "walls" of Brother and Sister So-and-So or What's-their-names have let Satan weaken their "walls" and help tear them down. The "gates" have been burnt. They are in trouble. They no longer serve God as they know they should. They no longer serve God with the vigor they did have. They no longer serve God with the vigor they show for other things - their priorities are very misplaced.
First, let us look at…
What gets or captures our lives?
Our greed - be honest it plays a part
Pleasure for us - we just do not want to limit ourselves - right?
Active imaginations (our plans)
We think of all kinds of things we can do for ourselves in our own way.
No plans for God in our lives - we shut Him out
Apathy in a don't care sort of way- We just accept things because we do not care
Next, let us look at…
What grabs us or holds us captured?
Lies we want to believe - If we try hard enough we can believe almost anything
Benefits we think are there
We tell ourselves it is worth it, is it? e.g. The benefits of promiscuity? Aids comes with that…is it?
Apathy in a hopeless sort of way - We so often just give up - why?
Our agreeableness to the situation
Let us be honest - people are in darkness because their deeds are evil. (ala John 3:19)
And last, let us look at…
What prevents our rebuilding the walls?
Pride to admit failure -We have too much pride
Selfishness of our time and heart
We must admit, we are very selfish with our time. Some of us, even the ones who claim salvation will only give God a very small portion of our time. If all we do is attend God's House for an hour or so we give Him less than 1% of our time.
No plan to try
Most of us have no plan to rebuild the walls that we have seen tumble in our lives
No try to plan
Are you going to try to rebuild the things He wants in your life today?
What has been torn down in your life?
What have you allowed to capture you?
What has hindered your service for God?
What do you need to do about this today?
What will you do right now?
Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist - 081201am