It's Time to seek the Lord

[0:00] This is Hosea 10, verse 12. Hosea says, Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fall and ground, for it is time to seek the Lord till he come and reign righteousness upon you.

[0:17] And I was speaking to a man who was talking about coming to church today but he hasn't rocked up and this was a scripture that he shared with me. So he's missing out tonight but it's time. We can miss that time.

[0:31] But you're here to hear that it is time to seek the Lord. It's time. Surely these are the end times. Amen? Who doesn't believe we're getting closer? We are certainly getting closer to the time of his returning.

[0:45] These are the end times, the times of the end. We know our planet is hotting up and it's not climate change. It's the climate, the moral climate of our world is worsening, isn't it?

[1:02] Absolutely. And it's time to seek the Lord till he come and reign righteousness upon you. These are somewhat scattered, random thoughts but ideally along that same theme.

[1:13] To stir us to think what time it is and why we ought to take attention to that. Because it is a time to seek the Lord.

[1:25] It's a time for a people to be standing up and to be counted. It's a time to decide, to make a decision. It's a time to be sold out for God.

[1:36] I know our preacher was talking before and someone else in his company how we shouldn't be playing church.

[1:50] There's no time for that now. Really, let's stop playing, pretending, putting it on. Let's get real. Get real with God. There's no time for playing church.

[2:01] We don't know how long we've got. We hear stories in the media, in the news of a big large man in Asia who's got a big red button on his desk. And a big ugly man from another big country who's got the same red button on his desk.

[2:19] And they're kind of playing games, aren't they? With the destruction of our planet, of humankind. God help us.

[2:30] I'd like to think one of them has got some inclination towards something of, some kind of inclination towards God. But who knows?

[2:41] Who knows really? But it is a time to consider the days we live in. It's time to seek the Lord while he may be found. While he may be found. And we can put it off or we can take action.

[2:54] It's up to us. This is, I put to you, not a time to trifle. Not a time to toy with the truths and the realities of eternity. The truth of God. But it is time to take stock.

[3:06] You know, I like to think as we start a new year, as much as we're already way into it, but we, and I know our brother shared about the recollection of what has happened, of the blessings that have gone before us.

[3:19] But now as we look forward into a new year, a new time, a decision point, you know, as I've elsewhere talked about it, of a new year's resolution.

[3:32] Perhaps you've already broken yours. But it's time to make a resolution, isn't it? Every time, every day is a good time to make a resolution. And God calls this time a time to seek the Lord.

[3:47] It tells us here in this text to sow to yourselves in righteousness. There's a sense of what we plant, we will reap. What we will sow, we will reap.

[3:59] And the prophet, God speaking through him, says, sow to yourselves in righteousness. Plant something spiritual into your life. Invest in spiritual truth. Plant something spiritual in your life.

[4:11] And you will reap in mercy. God will have mercy. God will provide a reaping, a return, a gracious blessing. And it tells us there, break up your fallow ground.

[4:22] It speaks of getting the pickaxe out. I had to do that lately at my mother-in-law's place where we had some plant we wanted to plant. And it was rock hard, solid.

[4:35] And to get the pick out, and then it had this little electric post hole digger. Got that out and had to break up that ground to get that plant planted.

[4:50] And the picture here is, of course, how our hearts can be like fallow ground. Like rock hard, clay, rock, dense, infertile, unproductive, unfruitful.

[5:06] And the sense here is, it's time to break up that fallow ground, that hardness of heart, that shallowness, that lack of depth before God.

[5:18] So God can reign His righteousness upon you. So that reign of His righteousness, that fertilizing, fulfilling, abounding of God can flow upon us and soak into our hearts and lives.

[5:34] And the reign of His righteousness, it tells us there. So my message tonight is themes along this taking stock of taking sense of the times we're in.

[5:50] And I feel burdened by this. I feel burdened for us, for my family, my children, for this planet, for this nation, for this community.

[6:03] For these suburbs we live in, of Elizabeth, Salisbury, and surrounds, of this world that we live in. The burden that we ought to carry for our city of Adelaide, of this region, of South Australia, that God would burden us.

[6:22] And I know in the prayer time there was mention of that burden, of souls, that burden. And of course we know the Word tells us we should cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.

[6:35] Cast your cares on Him, for He careth for you. But there's a sense where I think God casts His burden on us. God gives us a burden. Like our Lord says, my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

[6:49] He gives us a burden. It's a light burden. It's not a yoke of bondage that He weighs us down with, that is heavy. And a yoke of things we cannot achieve.

[7:04] So we're constantly just weighed down, oh, I've failed again. But His burden is light. If you've got a burden that's heavy, it's not God's burden. But God will give you a burden that is light, He'll help you carry it.

[7:18] Not the burden of a yoking of some church structures where you're just loaded up with expectations that nobody can achieve. Nobody can realise that. And nobody's good enough.

[7:31] The pastor's not good enough. But the burden our Lord gives us is talked of in Malachi 1 verse 1, for example. Malachi 1 verse 1.

[7:41] And similarly, these words are recorded in Habakkuk and Zechariah, where the Lord gives the burden. He burdens our hearts in a good way, in a godly way, in a blessed way.

[7:56] And Malachi the prophet tells of the burden of the word of the Lord. The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. Malachi 1 verse 1.

[8:06] As I say, Habakkuk and Zechariah have like words. Isaiah has likewise a burden. It's a good time to get a burden.

[8:17] To get burdened. In a good godly way. To get a burden for souls. A burden for our own soul. A burden for our spiritual condition and state.

[8:28] A burden to seek after God while He may be found. To get right with God. To get things right. And right with others. God helping us to.

[8:39] People that hear the word and believe may live forever. That's something we ought to get a burden for. That's what the prophet Malachi had. A burden of the word of the Lord. A burden for souls.

[8:50] And I know there's folk here that have been witnessing. And we've got someone here who's come because of the witnessing outreach. And we've had some limitations put on that by the powers that be.

[9:02] But the word is getting out there. And amen. I'm glad you're here brother. That you're here to be with us tonight. As a result of people sowing the seed. And welcoming and introducing and inviting people to come and hear the word of God here.

[9:15] In this place. So it's a good time to get the burden. People that hear the word and believe may live forever. We should get a burden about that. We should get a burden as was prayed earlier and referred to this morning.

[9:29] The burden of hell bound sinners. The burden. It should break us. In that sense of it should move us and impel us.

[9:40] And compel us. And compel us to compel others. This burden that we carry for souls lost.

[9:51] And as a preacher my heart is how can I soundly and strongly impart the burden of the Lord. So that we all get this burden. There will be a common burden.

[10:01] That we'll carry this burden as a church. A burden for souls. So that we'll see souls as God sees them. And I think sometimes we miss that. Where we don't see human souls for what they are.

[10:15] And we see that work weight that gets under our skin. And he makes life hard for us. And doesn't pull his weight or her weight. And we get to resent people.

[10:26] And there's people that might... About us. Or you know you think oh they don't like me. Whatever it be. They're still souls. Amen. They're still souls. And you are his messenger.

[10:40] As was talked about this morning. We are messengers to these souls around us. Even the souls we don't like. And maybe more so. Because probably nobody likes them. But how can we get that burden off the Lord?

[10:53] It's time. Isn't it? It's time. It's time to get that burden off the Lord. To get that burden for souls. It's time to get right.

[11:05] It's time to get on fire. To get on fire. As it's been truly said. There's a saying. And people have adapted this and used it.

[11:16] There's a modern gospel song that kind of adapts it as well. Not that I'm necessarily endorsing that. But the truth is in these words nevertheless.

[11:28] If not us. Then who? If not now. Then when? I'll say it again. If not us. Then who? If not now.

[11:40] Then when? There's truth to that isn't there? Because we can all think. Well if not us. Then somebody else. If not now.

[11:51] Then later on. When I get time. You know I've seen this slogan. As you drive down Main North Road. I think for a time it was on one of these electronic LCD display boards.

[12:03] Alongside a gym. And it was inviting people. Offering an exercise program. And it said. Along these lines it said. If not now. Then when?

[12:15] Oh yeah. See that gym? Yeah. Maybe I can. Well. You know. Not that I need a bit of exercise. But some of you might think. Oh. I might need a bit of exercise. And you see that gym.

[12:25] And you think. Oh. It's only. $19.95. Or whatever it be. Or a certain amount of money. And you think. Oh. It's pretty cheap. I could probably. Afford this or that.

[12:37] And maybe. Maybe I should. Oh. One day. Maybe next week. Maybe next year. You know. Maybe next month. If not now. Then when? It's.

[12:48] The time is now. Isn't it? It's time. Now. And we can put things off. We can put things off. About getting right with God. We can turn a deaf ear. When the challenge gets issued.

[13:00] It's human nature. Isn't it? But gradually time. Evaporates. Doesn't it? Yeah. Doesn't it go? You know. I remember a time. When I used to have black hair. I used to have hair.

[13:12] You know. And there was a time. When things were different. And I used to have. What I have now. Is not what I had then. More youthful energy.

[13:25] Gradually time. Evaporates. Doesn't it? And. One day. Where did that go? Where did that year go? Where did that decade go? And.

[13:36] We're out of time. Isn't it true? Where did it go? If not now. When? And gradually. Spiritual slackness.

[13:47] Creeps up on me. On us. Maybe some of you. Sure. Not many of you. But. A spiritual laxness. Isn't it? Spiritual.

[13:58] Spiritual. Easy goingness. And. When time.

[14:08] Passes. We miss opportunities. Don't we? With that lack of receptivity. To spiritual truth. To scripture. That deliberate deafness. To God's call.

[14:19] To action. Action. It can get easier. Just to plug the ears. To. Harden the heart. To. Block the feet.

[14:31] And. Do nothing. Amos 11. 8 verse 11. We see. It's time. Time is short.

[14:42] Amos the prophet says. Behold the days come. Saith the Lord God. That I will send a famine in the land. Not a famine of bread. Nor a thirst for water. But of hearing. The words of the Lord.

[14:59] It's a dry and thirsty land. Isn't it? Dryest. Continent. The driest state. You know. One of our chooks found out.

[15:10] It was pretty dry. She couldn't get to the water. And. In the morning. Well when we found her. She carped it. Dead.

[15:21] And I got hold of that chook. And I. I shook her. Foot. And I slapped her. And I. No. Not quite. I shouted at her.

[15:32] And I. I shook her. I. I. Almost prayed for a resurrection. But. No. It was too late. She was gone. She was gone. A thirst.

[15:43] For water. I'm not talking about that. She. She. The poor chook. Didn't have water. And. But. We've got a world. Crying out for the water of life. And.

[15:56] They're as dead as that chook. Without Christ. Without his. Grace. Time is short. And the Lord is saying. There's a famine in the land. Not a famine of.

[16:08] Bread or. Water. But. Of hearing the words of the Lord. There's a famine. Where. It's scarcely. Proclaimed anymore. The word of God.

[16:18] It's not taken. Seriously anymore. People. The integrity of it is. Undermined. In that. Sometimes it's some flip floppy paraphrase.

[16:31] There's some slippery. Who knows what it is. It's. The hearing of the words of the Lord is. There's a famine. Yeah. Going on.

[16:42] And. Preachers are not. Urging. And. Pressing. God's people. And. Time is short. People of God. And instead of.

[16:55] Of this obedience to God. That he calls us to. There's this replacement. Of the all consuming passions. Of our world. Of our time. And.

[17:08] We might think. Well it's just the modern generation. But. We're in it. I'm in it. It affects me. This. All consuming passion.

[17:21] For comfort. And convenience. We've got to have air conditioning. What would you come here. If it wasn't air conditioning. Some of you probably wouldn't.

[17:31] You think. Oh. Can't be bothered. It's too hot. I mean. I took my jacket off. I'm weak tonight. Now there's that. There's that. Overbearing. Wanting of comfort.

[17:42] Of convenience. Oh. If it's not convenient. I'll just. Give it. And. Yes. I mean. I'm talking of myself. Maybe sometimes too.

[17:53] There's times. I could do more. But. There's that. Fleshly. Inclination. Isn't there. To comfort. To snoozing. To convenience. And.

[18:04] Time is short. If we can only grasp that. Really. It's. Famine. It's destruction. On a global scale. Though subtle. And it creeps up on us.

[18:17] Think of the. In fact. A biblical. Literacy. Hosea. In his. Later. Words. In Hosea. 4. Verse 6. In part. It says. My people. Are destroyed.

[18:27] For lack of knowledge. The Lord is saying. How. There's a lack of knowledge. A lack of. The scriptures. There's a biblical. Illiteracy. Illiteracy. Someone. Someone.

[18:37] Has reckoned. As one example. 82% of Americans. Now. We know. Americans. Are not. Quite. As. As. Intelligent. As Australians. But. 82% of Americans.

[18:49] Believe. God. Helps. Those. Who. Help. Themselves. Is. A bible. Verse. God. Helps. Those. Who. Help. Themselves. They think. It's in the bible. Some of you might think.

[19:00] Oh. I thought it was. But you know. Biblical illiteracy. Is just one example. And this is. There's many examples. We can cite. Of such a thing. A thing. A thing. Something's in the bible.

[19:11] But it's. Not at all. And we've got this new breed. Of. People today. Where. People don't. Search the word.

[19:21] They. They're being destroyed. For lack of knowledge. And. It's a destruction. That creeps up. On people. A destruction. Of backsliding. A destruction.

[19:32] Where Christians. Are ashamed. They're weak. And wishy washy. And unfruitful. And a lukewarmness. Prevails. It creeps up. On. Me.

[19:45] Creeps up. On me. I'm not saying. I've got it all. Hunky dory. It's easy. Isn't it? To get in that. Frame. To get in that. That groove.

[19:56] Of. I'll just go. I'll just go. The easy way. And we can become. Unfruitful. And the truth. Can be sidelined. Where it's not important. We don't consider it important enough.

[20:07] To open our Bibles. And our. Our Bibles. Are covered in dust. And decay. Creeps up on churches. Where things decay. You know.

[20:18] Talking to. Our preacher friend. From this morning. He's saying. How this. It's almost like. We've. Kind of stuck. You know. The. The churches are.

[20:30] Are not. Moving forward. They're. They're. Held. Back. Somehow. It's like. The spider webs. Encroach. And.

[20:40] The deadness. Spreads. And. It's decay. Isn't it? People grow. Careless. We grow. Careless. As churches. As Christians. I'm speaking for myself.

[20:53] And. The devil. Loves it. So. Really. It's a slow. Invasion. We're slowly. Being invaded. It's not an invasion.

[21:03] Of the body snatchers. It's the invasion. Of the soul snatchers. Souls. Are lost. Souls. Are getting snatched. And the enemy. Is sowing tears. Amongst the wheat. The enemy.

[21:14] Is out there. Sowing his. Seeds. Of. Destruction. And many. Are succumbing. To the enemy's plan. You see. The. The sowing. Of Satan.

[21:25] As we see. False doctrine. False churches. We see. That. The Mormons. How can anyone. Believe that. Yet. Many do. Don't they?

[21:36] And they. Lovely people. I'm sure. I'm sure. They are. Very lovely people. As are Jehovah's witnesses. And how sad it is.

[21:47] To see them in the grip of the enemy. Christadelphians. The form. Without the power. What?

[21:58] The letter. Without. The spirit. Yeah. No life. No salvation. And many. Succumb to the enemy's plan. And it's happening in our churches.

[22:09] Where. Discord. And. Tearing apart. Is the enemy's. Modus operandi. Isn't it? And. Then we see.

[22:20] Destruction. Left in the path. People hurt. Wounded. Stupid things. Pastors have said to them. Dumb things. Churches have told them.

[22:31] That then. Wounds them. And we see a generation lost. In all the wake of all that. And what can we do? Can we change it?

[22:44] Can. We say it's time. To seek the Lord. It's time. Meantime a generation is lost. We see. Many are asleep in a time of harvest.

[22:56] Proverbs 10 verse 5. Makes me think. At times of. How you see. That mindset. Of. Sleeping. In time of harvest.

[23:09] He that gathereth in summer. Is a wise son. But he that sleepeth in harvest. Is a son. That causeth shame. What reproach. What shame. When there's a work to be done.

[23:20] And we know. Well and truly. It needs to be done. And we know. That we are well and truly. Called to be doing it. Yeah. But it is left undone. Because we are like a son. Sleeping in time of harvest.

[23:33] And it causes shame. What reproach. What. Shame. The work undone. The saints are mainly slumbering. While the enemy is hard at work.

[23:45] Hard at the work of harvest. He's busy sowing his seeds. But what are we doing. Largely. Many Christians are superficial. Indifferent. Prayerless.

[23:58] Their interest in spiritual things. Is passing. It's token. It's. When it fits. In.

[24:09] To my schedule. And there is no care for souls. Do we care. Isn't it time. If not us.

[24:21] Who. If not. Now. When. We've lost the burden of the Lord. As a church.

[24:31] As a. As a. Church. And I'm saying. As a church. Globally. That. There's this. Slip sliding. This.

[24:43] Slackness. That encroaches. And we're not even. Conscious of it. The cares of the world. Have taken priority for us. We need a paradigm shift. If you like. To use a new age term.

[24:55] A paradigm shift. Don't we. We need to have a. A rocket. We need. We need a shaking. And. A.

[25:07] God getting a hold of us. And shaking us. It's been said that. The whole purpose. Of the whole church. Is to take the whole gospel. To the whole world. The whole purpose of the church.

[25:19] Is to take the whole gospel. To the whole world. The great commission. Still stands. And our call. Our mission. Is unchanged. As our Lord. Delivered it.

[25:29] To his people. In Matthew 28. As he left his disciples. Ascending it to heaven. His last words. Is our call.

[25:40] Our mission. It's unchanged still. And Jesus came. And spake unto them. Saying. All power is given unto me. In heaven. And in earth. Go ye.

[25:52] Ye. Therefore. And teach all nations. Baptizing them. In the name. Of the Father. And of the Son. And of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them.

[26:04] To observe. All things. Whatsoever. I have. Commanded you. And lo. I am with you. Always. Even to. The end of the world. Amen. His.

[26:16] Commission. Is still. Great. And it's still. Present tense. Isn't it? It's still. Present day. Some might try to say. Oh that wasn't. To us. It is for us.

[26:27] The commission. Is for us. It's for us. To take action. The call. Resounds. As loudly.

[26:38] As. When he said. These words. Will we hear. His gentle. Voice. If not us. Then who. If not now.

[26:49] Then when. His still. Small voice. It speaks to you. It speaks still. It will only. Heard. His words. Will we be.

[26:59] Small enough. For God. To use us. I. Saw. Lately. How. Saul. I believe. The word. Saul. Means.

[27:10] Great one. Paul. And when he got saved. His name. Was changed to Paul. Little one. Paul. Means little. Paul.

[27:20] Had to be made little. For God. To use him. Paul. And. His name. Formerly. I'm told. The word. Saul. Means. Great one. He's.

[27:31] Had an elevated. Meaning to his name. But God. Made him poor. Little enough. Small enough. For God to use. Sometimes we've got to be small enough.

[27:42] Don't we? To be small enough. To be humble enough. To be lowly enough. To. Simply. Act. Will we care. About.

[27:54] Spiritual growth. In. Paul's words. In 1 Corinthians 15. He says. Therefore my beloved brethren. Be ye steadfast. Unmovable. Always abounding.

[28:04] In the work of the Lord. For as much as you know that. Your labour. Is not in vain. In the Lord. I love these words. This. This has. Got to be one of my.

[28:15] Favorite Bible verses really. Simple. Yet profound. Isn't it? Yeah. Beloved brethren. God loves you. People of God.

[28:26] Sister. Brother. In Christ. My beloved. Brothers and sisters. Be ye steadfast. Now. I like to say. When I know.

[28:37] A brother. A sister. Is not. Maybe. Doing that well. Might need a lift. Trust in the Lord.

[28:52] Stand for the Lord. Stand fast. He says.

[29:04] Be steadfast. Unmovable. We live in a world where. Everything's. How would you put it? It's the opposite of unmovable.

[29:15] Isn't it? Everything's changing. Change. Change. Like I've heard it said. Change is the only inevitable thing. Or something. Like. Change is the only constant.

[29:26] Isn't it? It's like. You know. What's going to happen next? You see the news. You think. What are they going to invent next? Some crazy. Robot. Or whatever. Some stupid thing. And what's the next gadget.

[29:37] We're going to have to carry around. Or the next app. We're going to have to play with. And the next technology. We're going to have to struggle with. And stress with. And you see. That everything's changing.

[29:47] But it's such a world that is changing. We're meant to be unmovable. Aren't we? Rock solid. Steadfast. Unmovable. And then it says. Always abounding. In the work of the Lord.

[29:58] God wants us to be abounding. Always. Not stop and start. Hit and miss. But constant. Constant. Always abounding. And it's not you.

[30:09] It's not me. It's going to make it happen. It's Christ in you. It's God in you. Isn't it? Sometimes we think. Oh. I've got to make it happen. I've got to. I've got to.

[30:19] Push out this spiritual fruit. Out of my life. But no. It's God who makes it happen. It's just let him have his way. With you. The work remains. The task is unfinished.

[30:33] If not you. Then who? If not now. Then when? Beloved brethren. Beloved brother. Sister. Beloved. Be steadfast.

[30:46] Don't let things move you. We're all going to get tossed to and throw in this wacko world. Where we're blown here and there by what is going to come around the corner next.

[30:57] But we can be steadfast. And we can be unmovable. Always abounding in the work of the Lord. The work remains. And the task is unfinished. And it's for us to see it through.

[31:09] Don't be deterred. For the meantime. The Lord is looking for a set apart people. Psalm 4 verse 3. The psalmist says. But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself.

[31:21] The Lord will hear when I call unto him. God has set you apart. You might not feel like it half the time. But God has set you apart. He has especially made you a separated people.

[31:38] Some of you are more separated than others. It's like you're really out there. And God bless you. I'd like to be more like you. And some of you people that are radical for God.

[31:50] You speak to me. I want to be more like you. God has set apart him that is godly for himself. Make a stand. And don't be ashamed. Don't hold back.

[32:02] It's time. We need the power of God. For the work of God. God's will is that we finish strong. And I think. Could this be the last message I preach?

[32:12] Could I get run over by a bus tomorrow? Could I leave you with something that will carry you? That will stir you further? To go further with God? To go ahead.

[32:23] To keep on going. So that when the pastor gets hit with a truck. It doesn't matter that he's not here. It's not about me. It's about us. It's about the work of God.

[32:35] And the work of God needs the power of God. As we exercise faith. As all of us have that combined faith. That faith that is united to believe God.

[32:47] Faith that is real faith. Energised faith. And as the battle rages on. We'll just press deeper. And harder. And stronger. And firmer. Be more steadfast.

[32:58] Be more unmovable. Be more abounding. The battle rages meantime. And when we enrol in God's training program. I know some of you have talked about training for ministry.

[33:08] And I'm not sure that I could recommend any particular training. But there is God's training program. And I urge you to complete that course with flying colours.

[33:25] God's training program. And you must. What is that training program? It is the school of hard knocks. It's the school of hard knocks. That's why some of you are in better shape.

[33:36] Than me. Because you've been through. Some harder things than I have. And that's why you're more of a saint than I am. Because God's had to put you through some harder things.

[33:47] Than he has me. As yet. But the school of hard knocks. Is God's training program. Isn't it? It's where we can get stronger. By his grace.

[33:58] That he'll see us through. And will shine brighter still. For all the struggles. And it's where we learn sound doctrine. Because it's where we put what we believe into action.

[34:12] Doesn't it? So. It's where we apply our biblical truth. It's where the rubber hits the road. That's sound doctrine. Sound doctrine is. Biblical truth lived out in the real world.

[34:25] That's sound doctrine. Where we apply biblical truth in everyday life. That's God's training program. Isn't it? So. We confess the scripture.

[34:36] And we make that scripture. Live in our everyday world. We cannot see it in two camps. It's time. We have to decide between two alternatives really.

[34:50] Either we play around. Or we get serious. And it's time to choose. Like Joshua said. Choose ye this day. Whom ye will serve.

[35:02] Come. Have your foot in both camps. You have to decide. It's time. Choose you this day. When? Now.

[35:15] Who? Me. You. Us. It's time. We cannot sit in two camps. Either you're a friend of the world. Which means you're an enemy of God.

[35:27] Or you're a friend of God. Who would you rather have as your friend? Your BFF. Your best friend forever. Jesus. Wouldn't you rather have him than to be a friend of the world?

[35:40] If you're a friend of the world, you're an enemy of God. Don't kid yourself. Don't kid yourself. We can't have it both ways.

[35:51] We cannot be part of a false system. This is no time to trifle. We have to break with that. Sometimes we have to say, I'm going to make a break with that.

[36:01] And these are the days we live in. This is the time. The now. Times that call for the true men and women of God to rise up.

[36:17] Men and women of God who will know God's burden. He'll put a burden on your heart. It'll be his burden. It won't be some religious burden. Some denominational burden.

[36:27] Some burden that the pastor puts you on some guilt trip to make you think that's God. But it's God's burden. God's burden. He'll burden you with his burden. And he'll call you to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding.

[36:42] Men and women of consistency. Of faithfulness. Men and women who'll mean business with God. It's time. Because judgment looms. Judgment looms.

[36:53] When will one of these big fat men press the red button? Bang. And everything goes nuts. What then? Judgment looms.

[37:06] Who knows how long we have. Amen. These are times where there's some heightening threat.

[37:21] And even the worldly governments are saying this. That, you know, the police forces, the governments, the intelligence agencies are saying there's a heightened threat.

[37:37] That's what the world says. And for the meantime, spiritually, what does it mean? It means for the many, damnation. When someone presses the big red button, many will die.

[37:54] Whether they press the button or not, many will die. And many are perishing. Perishing, perishing. Multitudes perishing. My God's most.

[38:05] Multitudes in the valley of decision. And in our own neighbourhood, you hear stories of people paralytic from last night's endeavours.

[38:19] Or their brain twisted and torn. And their thoughts shredded and tormented with ice.

[38:33] And you see people scratching themselves with the drugs and the despair and the disillusion.

[38:46] And the demonic hold that they're in. Perishing, perishing. Multitudes are perishing. Multitudes in the valley of decision.

[38:59] Who will tell then? Do we really believe that judgment looms? Do we really believe that? Do we truly know the heartbeat of the Saviour?

[39:13] And of His call, of His commission, that echoes still go ye. If not us, then who? If not now?

[39:27] When? Now, more than ever, we need the church to take up arms. And to take our stand on the front line.

[39:39] It's time. And if we fail, there's still time. Amen. Thank God for that. There's still time to rebound. There's time to recommen.

[39:51] There's time to refresh. There's time to repent. There's time to get back to God. It's time to get it sorted again. As a people, we've offended a holy God.

[40:05] As a nation. As the church. God help us. We're a sound church. I hope so. I trust so.

[40:17] That's what we've wanted it to be. As we've planted it. Yet, what is it? Is it what God wants it to be?

[40:27] It's time to return to our first love. To repent. To get right. And our world that we live in is...

[40:39] Many are blinded. It's been said that eyes are useless if the mind is blind. There's people that have got minds blinded. And how sad it is.

[40:49] I see people I work with. People I know. Loved ones of mine. And I grieve for them.

[41:01] Where they are at. Where they are at. And... Is it my fault? Maybe it is. Maybe I have not done enough.

[41:12] To reach my loved ones for Christ. Maybe I have not done enough. But we can only leave it with God, can't we? And pray for them.

[41:25] Keep trusting the Lord for them. Ask the Lord to open our hearts. To his open word. To rely upon him. It's time.

[41:36] It's time for a mind shift. It's time to say, now is the time. And... It's not, if not us. It's, I'm it.

[41:47] I'm it. I'm the one he's talking to. What God is talking to. I am the one. And... No, I'm not going to put it off. It's not...

[41:59] I'm not going to say, nah, next month, next year. No, now. Today. Now. Now. I'm going to decide now.

[42:11] It's time. It's time to trust him. It's time to praise. It's time to have an attitude of gratitude, even when I don't want to. It's time to praise God, even when I don't feel like it.

[42:24] More so. I think praising God keeps the same, doesn't it? When we feel like going nuts, just praise him anyway.

[42:37] Praise him anyway. Things could be worse. Praise him anyway. Thank him anyway. Whatever happens, he's gone. And he's in control of the future. He's already there.

[42:48] He holds tomorrow. He is the one. Already there. And he's holding me. He's holding you. For the meantime, just determine to make a stand, to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding.

[43:03] Decide. I will uphold a holy standard. A high standard. Not my standard. But he will help me. Because he has set apart him that is godly for himself. He's set me apart.

[43:15] He has so blessed me that I would trust him. That I would know him. That he would call me his. That I am, he says of me, you are mine.

[43:26] My child. My son. My daughter. He has set me apart for himself. What a treasure. I am to him.

[43:38] How could he love me so? And so, my standard is his standard. Not that it becomes an effort of flesh.

[43:51] Of striving of myself. But his striving within me. His spirit strives within me. So that I can be always abounding in the work of the Lord.

[44:02] I have a dream. I have a dream. I see by faith a healthy church. A healthy church.

[44:15] A people sold out for God. A people who grow in holiness. A body of people saved by the almighty God. Of grace.

[44:26] A people who love the Lord. A people who defend the truth. And who hold fast the truth. A people who say, Me.

[44:39] God, use me now. And it begins as we say, It's time to seek the Lord. While he may be found.

[44:50] Call upon him while he is near. It's a time to seek the Lord. Till he come. And rain righteousness upon you. As we seek after God. As we seek to regain the foundation.

[45:03] Restore that which was lost. What has been taken. Sometimes we can be blasé about the things of God. And so that we see, For example, with Samson.

[45:16] He got a bit kind of cocky and prideful About all his muscular endeavours. And his feats of strength.

[45:27] When he lay in the lamp of Delilah. And he was. She probably stroked his. Head.

[45:39] Maybe gave him a kiss or two. Whispered sweet airy nothings in his ear. And he said what was the source of his power.

[45:51] And chop, chop, chop. It was God. And Samson didn't know. That the Lord had departed from him. He shook himself like a full time.

[46:02] As he was. Used to. Ah, I'll slay these Philistines. But he was a weakly man. Because God had left him. He'd lost the power. But thank God.

[46:14] As Samson regained the power. God moved again. And you might think. Well. Maybe I'm a bit like Samson. I've been shorn of my strength.

[46:25] You know. I'm losing it. That God can restore it. I'd like to pray for that to happen. That God will restore the hair. That God will restore the power.

[46:35] That God will restore it again. Amen. That we can regain that power with God again. Because nothing. Nothing is beyond the power of God. Nothing. In your circumstance.

[46:46] Nothing is beyond his power. That which is in his will. Nothing is beyond his power. Right. And war has been declared.

[46:57] For the meantime. War has been declared. And it's time. Sow to yourselves in righteousness. Reap in mercy. Break up.

[47:08] Your fallow ground. It's time. And I don't know. Whether this has struck a chord with you. But. These. Scattered thoughts.

[47:20] Have that same theme. That. Let's not put it off. To get right with God. Whatever it be. That God's putting on us. Not what this preacher is saying.

[47:31] But what his spirit is saying. What his spirit is. Prodding us. And pressing us. And convicting us. To be. To do. To not say.

[47:44] Somebody else. If not us. Then. Who? We are the church. Church. You are. The most godly people. Really.

[47:56] Gathered in this community. At this time. Out of this whole neighborhood. Out of this whole region. And beyond. You've come together tonight. You are the physical representation.

[48:08] Of who are the holy people of God. The people set apart. For himself. If not you. Then who? Who? There is nobody else. We are in. Amen.

[48:20] And if not now. Then. When? It will never happen. If we keep putting it off. And thinking. I've got to get better trained. Better qualified. More holy. More right with God.

[48:32] Of course. There is always room for improvement. But if not now. Then. When? So. Rather. Let's be. Ready now. Sometimes we can just.

[48:43] Put it off. And it never happens. Doesn't it? The burden. Of the Lord. Let us pray.