September 25, 2010 Sermon

September 26, 2010 Sermon by Pastor JR. Fields

Isaiah 58:6-8 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee: the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.

As I have said before, we cannot continue to go through the motions of having church. Sometimes we think that just being a part of the church is the only answer. I feel that some of our churches have become a place for not so much serving the Lord, but a place to ease our consciences. It's as if by going to church there is nothing more people have to do. However, God is not content with just a small part. He wants ALL. In Isaiah 58 God tells His children, "You are going through your religious motions but you do not impress Me." He said, "You call for a fast but your heart is not in it." He told the children, "If you really want to please Me, do this -- Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

If you want to deny yourself something, deny your own carnal craving. Live a faith that people can see Christ in you. There are hypocrites everywhere. Live your faith. But more than living our faith He says, "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" In other words, it is more than living it internally; it is showing it externally. If you have the goods, show it. If you have Christ, live it and give it. Show the world that you are involved in the work of the Lord. That is the fasting which honors God.

Have you ever thought about what would happen if the church does those things? What if a revival should break loose outside the church house -- one that started inside but erupted outside? I feel there is a reason why we should be involved in community service and who knows what would happen. People need to see the love of Christ. You can preach it, preach it, preach it, but if you never show it, show it, show it they will never get the message. We must show Christ in a loving and considerate way and -- guess what! You don't have to look very hard to find something to do. Go to the hospital and volunteer your services. Go to the radio station and say, "Mildred, I am here to volunteer my services; do you have something for me to do?" As I stand here the son of Earnest and Mary Fields, I guarantee you that she will find something for you to do. Those people who are looking for Christ will probably not come inside the church, so we must take Christ to them. Show your faith. If we are living our faith and giving our faith, what do you think will happen?

Don't you want to enjoy the journey on your way to heaven? I see many people who say they are a Christian, but seem to be stuck in a rut. They do not have the joy of the Lord; they gripe and complain about everything. But if we will do our part, God will do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ever ask for. God has a whole lot in store for His children. Verse 8 says, "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee: the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward."

What is going to happen when we get serious with God? The first thing that is going to happen is the Light of Jesus Christ will start showing in His children again. We are called to be a light in the world that is filled with darkness. A person who is not living under the principle of His word is not light. They are darkness, but once we get our mind right and our feet in the right direction again He said, "Our light will shine in the morning. He goes on to say our health will be restored. He is trying to get our attention. Maybe we just need to ask, "God, what are you trying to teach me through this?" Maybe if we stop asking, "Why?", our righteousness would be restored and our testimony would be our witness. The glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.

If we get thing right with the Lord, Verse 9 says, Then shall thy call and the Lord shall answer; thou shall cry and he shall say, "Here I am, IF thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, and putting forth as the finger, and speaking vanity."

That tells me when I pray to God, He will answer my prayers, not because of who I am, but because I am willing to serve Him. When the people of God pray, Heaven pays attention. The doctors told Jeff Sparks he would never leave the hospital alive. But guess what! This was one of those moments when the righteous man said, "I don't care what man says. I am going to pray to the "Great Physician" until I get an answer." God heard and God answered.

Those who live a life of sin may get into trouble and pray their prayers to God expecting the same miracle and God may say, "Are you serious? You live like you do and expect Me to perform a miracle for you? It just ain't gonna' happen that way. If you don't lead you life as God commands, He will not hear your prayer.

But, when I call, He shall say, "Here I am." Well, glory! I don't know about you but if I had to wait to meet with God on Sunday morning, I would be a sad case. If I waited to call upon the Lord one time a week when the brethren are present, I would be in a world of hurt. But, I am thankful that I can call upon Him tonight at midnight, in the early part of the morning, or at noon. He said if I would cry out to Him, He will say, "I am here." When I am with God, I don't regret tomorrow. Sometimes the Devil may try to tell us, "God is not listening." As Brother Byron Jessup used to say, "The Devil is busted, disgusted, and cannot be trusted."

Jesus broke the yoke of sin and then we turn around and put the yoke back on. Sin will dominate your life. It is time we stop pointing our finger at other people and point it back at ourselves. Stop grumbling at the trash in your neighbor's yard when you have a dump in your own. If we spent as much time spreading the gospel as we do spreading gossip -- you talk about a revival! If we draw out our souls to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise to obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday.

There is a saying among fishermen, "A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work." My worse day as a Christian is better than my best day as a sinner. Standing at the graveside burying my only child was better than any day I had as a sinner. Because, Verse 11 -- And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought and make fat thy bones, and thou shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fall not. The word of God is the fountain of the spirit of God. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shall rise up the foundation of many generations; and thou shall be called "the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the paths to dwell in -- if we will give the Lord His day back and make it a Holy day, then shall we ride upon high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.