Laodicean Supplications

    One of the things I do not care for in some denominations is a situation where the minister is constrained or coerced into

preaching on certain topics. In some instances this occurs on each Sunday of the year. Such practices obviously diminish the workings of the Holy Spirit in the preaching ministry. Having said that, I do admit to favoring topical sermons based on

important  observances as the Spirit gives direction or permission. Even the most informal of churches have pastors who will preach sermons on some special occasions throughout the year. In fact, many pastors feel they absolutely must be in their own pulpits for some special events.

    In the USA, some national observances spark the attention of the preacher. These include national holidays like Memorial Day, Mother’s Day, and Thanksgiving. In a sense they make holidays holydays as they should be. Overlooked by many are the opportunities to bring to life and show some of the Christian significances of the holy

days of the Old Testament. I have preached messages when those days fell on or near the Lord’s Day over the years and found they were often greatly used of the Lord. Such observances as Passover, Hanukah, Yom Kippur, and Purim particularly lend themselves to such preaching.

    As I recently promoted such preaching, a friend pointed out an obvious problem connected with observance preaching intended to encourage believers to pray about specific issues. That is some churches have moved so far away from God in this Laodicean Age that if any united

supplications are made they are likely to go unheard by the Almighty. In fact, many churches have moved away from the Lord so that Ichabod (the glory has departed) is written on their spiritual doorposts. We often mourn the decline of some institutions when we should rather mourn their abandonment of the Lord and Saviour.

    One thing we should remember in these Last Days is the condition of the possession of a Laodicean spirit, being neither cold nor hot. (Revelation 3:16) Thinking themselves rich can extend to the resources for

preaching sermons based on observances without the direction, guidance, and support of the Holy Spirit (3:17) Sufficiency resting in the process instead of the Person of deity! We are told to anoint our eyes with a

spiritual eyesalve so we might see. (3:18) It has always been important that both the preaching and the prayer it might draw forth be in the will of God. But I think as things

come to the end and the challenges grow the importance and urgency of divine inspiration is increased. It is certain that many go uninspired and are instead expiring!

Daily Smile:

The Checking Account
 
Jim's beautiful wife was having trouble mastering the fine points of balancing the checking account.

 
"The bank returned the check you wrote to the department store," he said.

 
"Good," she replied. "Now I can use it to buy something else."