The message was brought by Rev. Eddie Foster on September 3, 2023.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
There was a day when things were different than now. If people were honest they’d say they don’t enjoy reading the Bible. They admit they don’t want to come to church, saying there are other things I’d rather do. If they were honest they’d say prayer doesn’t seem to go anywhere. If you’re to this point, it’s a moment that “separates the men from the boys.”
I’m not a reader. Debbie is. I have to plan my Bible reading. Has the day come that you no longer want to come to church? The devil battles every time we come to church, that we read our Bible, that we pray. We know it’s the right thing to do. When we do it anyway, we become a more mature Christian. People act on a whim. We diet on a whim. We go to the gym on a whim. We do these in spurts, start and stop. Many do their Christian life the same way. We start reading more, start praying more, and attend church more faithfully. Revival brings a fire but it dies out. We need to pace ourselves and run this race with patience. There are things that are our duty. Let’s look at them.
Duty to attend church faithfully. This is not just an activity. You’re here to worship the living God. Many only come when there is nothing else to do. As the pastor, I try to make the services meaningful, something to enjoy and that you choose to do instead of something else. I am not in competition with other churches. I am in competition with rest and relaxation. Come worship then go home and nap. I’m in competition with family reunions and decorations, something popular in this area. I understand it to a point. I’m in competition with travel sports. I love sports. There was a day when games weren’t held on Wednesday nights so as not to interfere with church. Not now. I’m in competition with television. There are some good preachers on TV, but nothing fulfills like assembling together. I’m in competition with Facebook. Services on Facebook are good if a person is unable to come to church, BUT if you’re able you should be in church. Flea markets. Festivals. Fairs and more. The list goes on and on. Things clamor for our attention. You’ll choose what to do. If I listened to the devil, there would be times I wouldn’t come to church. The devil doesn’t want us here. Why? Coming fulfills a commandment of God. We grow in our fellowship with each other as we worship together. I don’t see how people can miss as much as they do.
Duty to prepare. If you’re a teacher or preacher you have a duty to be prepared to teach and preach. This is the most important calling in my life. I need to spend time preparing. Teachers. Singers. Prepare.
Duty to remain pure. Sex is intended for marriage. Society promotes premarital sex, but God condones it.
Duty to be faithful to aspects of being a Christian. Read the Bible regularly. Study, as Paul told Timothy, to show ourselves approved to God and able to rightly divide the Word. Have a regular prayer time. Fit it into your schedule or you won’t do it.
Duty to tithe income. It all belongs to God anyway.
Duty to share our faith with others. In Matthew 4:19 Jesus said Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. What do we become when we faithfully follow Jesus? Fishers of men. The conclusion is if we’re not fishing for men, we’re not following God as we should.
A lot of people have taken the wrong road. They have quit doing things that are our duty. Little by little the devil pulled them away from God. The Prodigal Son never dreamed he’d end up in a hog pen, but he did. We have a duty. Let’s do it!
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 