I listened to this sermon today on my way home. I have been critisised for saying less than this man does. I take courage from what God spoke to me through this man. But I want to add something to what the learned gentleman had to say. And may all pastors preachers and teachers in this forum take note. At one point Mr Ravenhill states that most people come to church to hear "about" God and not "from" God.Well, I am going to add to what he says for I find myself partly to agree and partly to disagree. I am fed up to the back teeth with going to the "Sunday Show" that we call church. I want to worship God in song and spirit and truth on Sunday. I don't want to be entertained. If I need entertainment I will watch my 3 year old daughter for half an our.You preacher, what message has God given you to give to me? Are you going to preach a sermon or are you going to tell me what God wants me to hear?Listen to the prayer of Alan Redpath: "Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth. Speak some word, Lord, some message just between Thee and Me. For thy glory alone dear Lord and for Thy sake and in Thy name, Amen.Be on notice preachers and teachers. There are some of us out here listening and watching and waiting. How long will you make us wait?
_________________Stanley Mitchell
I think that this is the challenge for many ministers in our times, "Who do I preach to?" The answer seems obvious to me, but it is not so obvious to many. For whatever reason they seek to please those that have no real desire for God. I don't know why, but that is what they often do. The percentage of folk who have God as the #1 priority in the US (for example) is said to be merely 15% for regular church attendees (according to George Barna). That means that up to 85% of the people don't want to hear it. If they left the church the attendance numbers would drop to roughly 20% of what it is today. So this is the challenge they face. Do they offend the non-committed or do the offend the saints? Do they entertain and try to move along towards God the 85% or do they feed the sheep?
_________________Robert Wurtz II
Jesus told Peter to feed the sheep.In the time we are living in, the sheep are starving for the true Word, while the Pastors are after numbers and money.I don't mean all Pastors, I am sure that their are some Holy Ghost filled Pastors that bring the true Word of God, but in our area,all I see is building bigger Churches. Programs that will get the people in. Very little repentance of sin.I know that we have to answer to God for ourselves, but the sheep need to be fed.They are wandering around ,getting caught up in Prosperity Doctrine, and then when they don't receive a 100 fold per cent for their money, they get discouraged, and instead of blaming the people who lied to them, they blame God.I have received from God on web-sites like this.I mean no disrespect to the Pastors or Preachers on this Forum, for I've read and listened to some of your Sermons, but I say feed the sheep, and then the sheep can bring in other sheep, through the Power of God.It is all about the Cross of Jesus.When Preachers quit preaching the Cross, and Salvation by the Blood of Jesus, they may as well close their doors.Just my thoughts on this subject.