The Challenge Before Us
Rex Yancey
Exodus 8:25, 10:10, 10:24
We recently celebrated 125 years as a church. Can you imagine this church sharing the light since 1877? Men like Senator Trent Lott, and INS Director, Jim Ziegler often talk about their roots in this church. We have had seven career missionaries from this church. There is no doubt but what this church has had a great history. But the challenge lies ahead.
Moses was called by God at the burning bush to lead Israel out of Egyptian bondage. For 400 years Israel had been enslaved. The Bible says "A generation arose that did not know Joseph."
God sent ten plagues to convince the leader of Egypt to let his people go. However, the Pharaoh was obstinate and had to be convinced that this was the expedient thing for him to do. He was unwilling to fully cooperate with God so he tried to make some concessions. These concessions are still with us today.
1. GO, BUT STAY IN THE LAND.
He wanted it both ways. It reminds me of a story of a man who fell in love with Kate. She was the apple of his eye. However, he soon met a woman by the name of Edith and divorced Kate and married Edith. But after a while he realized he had made a mistake and tried to get Kate back. The moral of this little story is that you cannot have your Kate and Edith too!
Pharaoh said, "Go, but don’t go far." This sounds like worldliness to me. As Christians, we are to be in the world but not of it. If we are not careful, the world will be in us.
The church is too much like the world today. I can’t help but believe that some of our worship time today is modeled after secular concerts. Time will tell if it is a fad or not. Worship is more than a "fuzzy warm feeling." There are times when preachers need to arouse the comfortable instead of comforting the aroused.
Go, but view pornography. Go, but frequent the casinos. Go, but drink socially. Go, but commit adultery. Cultural legalities ...
Rex Yancey
Exodus 8:25, 10:10, 10:24
We recently celebrated 125 years as a church. Can you imagine this church sharing the light since 1877? Men like Senator Trent Lott, and INS Director, Jim Ziegler often talk about their roots in this church. We have had seven career missionaries from this church. There is no doubt but what this church has had a great history. But the challenge lies ahead.
Moses was called by God at the burning bush to lead Israel out of Egyptian bondage. For 400 years Israel had been enslaved. The Bible says "A generation arose that did not know Joseph."
God sent ten plagues to convince the leader of Egypt to let his people go. However, the Pharaoh was obstinate and had to be convinced that this was the expedient thing for him to do. He was unwilling to fully cooperate with God so he tried to make some concessions. These concessions are still with us today.
1. GO, BUT STAY IN THE LAND.
He wanted it both ways. It reminds me of a story of a man who fell in love with Kate. She was the apple of his eye. However, he soon met a woman by the name of Edith and divorced Kate and married Edith. But after a while he realized he had made a mistake and tried to get Kate back. The moral of this little story is that you cannot have your Kate and Edith too!
Pharaoh said, "Go, but don’t go far." This sounds like worldliness to me. As Christians, we are to be in the world but not of it. If we are not careful, the world will be in us.
The church is too much like the world today. I can’t help but believe that some of our worship time today is modeled after secular concerts. Time will tell if it is a fad or not. Worship is more than a "fuzzy warm feeling." There are times when preachers need to arouse the comfortable instead of comforting the aroused.
Go, but view pornography. Go, but frequent the casinos. Go, but drink socially. Go, but commit adultery. Cultural legalities ...
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