2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

2 Corinthians 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

Are we changing like the day? Or like the seasons?

• We know that the Bible says that when someone gets saved they are a NEW creature 2 Corinthians 5:17 and because of that …change should be expected.
• But how quickly?
• You see while we give grace to people giving them time to change.. The Bible shows examples of sudden changes when Jesus touches their lives.
• So again, while we know that we are to change… are we changing as quick as the change of the day? Or as slow as the seasons turning?
• Do we really want to change? Do we want to be Holy?

1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1 Corinthians 9:13  Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the alter are partakers with the alter?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

How do I live of the Gospel?

  a. People can tell when you have spent time with Jesus

  b. Read your Bible, Pray, Serving… let people see God through your actions… Do people know when your car is not in the driveway on Sunday and Wednesday… that you’re at Church

James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

  a. If you are still desiring the things of the world, is that Holy?  Is that the change God was talking about?

  b. Do the people you knew before you were saved know you were saved?

3.  Are you exposing your mind to Godly things?

Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Conclusion:

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith;

Salvation

Maybe you’ve never been changed…

Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

So if we are to be wise tonight; let’s look at some interesting facts about ants:

• Ants can lift to 20 times their body weight.
• Comparison to their size ants run faster than a racehorse.
• The ant is an accomplished farmer, planting mushrooms and plants. The ant also brings in fertilizer to help the plants grow.
• Black ant super colonies have been known to reach up to 1,300 miles wide.
• Ant are very intelligent. They have 250,000 brain cells compared to the 100,000 in humans.

Some things I have noted about ants are:

• The ant works out of necessity… seeing the task as their very survival.
• The ant is not jealous or vain.. It simply looks to get the task at had done.
• The ant doesn’t give up easily.
• The ant works well with a team or group.
• The ant Shares his information

John 1:43  The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

It’s been said that sharing the gospel was just one hungry man, telling another hungry man where he found food.

Revelation 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

1. It’s hard to be thankful for what you did not work for…

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Matthew 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

2. Failure and trials are seen as a bad thing…

2 Corinthians 4:15-18 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

3. We don’t desire to live peaceably with all men…

Romans 12:9-18 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

3. Prayer is not important anymore…

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (the promise) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

4. We do not understand God’s will for our lives

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

You see when you look at thankfulness in the Bible it is rarely for a physical thing.. But rather thankfulness to God.

Having a country that is thankful depends on it’s people being thankful… to God.

The way we have told stories to our children for generations.

Society today though… has never left the story.

Reality is that not everything has a Happily ever after.

Let’s see a few examples.

Once upon a time… Adam and Eve were placed in Paradise.

Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

 (Monologue)

Genesis 3:23-24 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Where was the Happily ever after?

Let’s look at another

Once Upon a time… God Chose a man named Noah to help save the world…

Genesis 6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
[8] But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

(Monologue)  2 Peter 2:5b…but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness…

Genesis 9:20-21 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

Where was Noah’s Happily Ever After?

Once upon a time… there was a Servant of God named Jonah

Jonah 1:1-2 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

(Monologue)

Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Jonah.4:1-11 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry? So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

Where was Jonah’s happily ever after?

(IF TIME)

Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

(Monologue)

Luke 15:28-32 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Where was the Older Son’s Happily Ever After?

So HOW do I have a Happily Ever after?

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Christ Makes the difference.

But not that you can have what YOU want… but that you may be content with what you have.

The Happily ever after is when you stop being selfish and start being generous… Stop demanding what is fair to you… and simply being content or happy with what you have.

Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

The ending of this message is yours…

Because you get to write the ending.

Will YOUR story be one of hatred, betrayal and selfishness?

OR one of happiness, sharing and contentment?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Reading the word

1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Reading is not studying.. Keep a pad next to you when you read.

Studying the word

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Methods of Bible Study

Meditation – It’s not emptying your mind… it’s filling it.

Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Topical – Looking up a topic – Use Caution!

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Character Study

Hebrews 11 – By faith Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rehab

Word Study

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Expository

When you see therefore and wherefore .. Find out what they are there for.

2 Peter 3:16-18 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Why?

Learning from this Bible will help you be a better parent, a better husband/wife, better son/daughter, better student, better citizen.  But that is not what the Bible was primarily written for…

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1. The Testimony of the Church is the testimony of the people.

Vs 3

2. The comparison

Vs. 5 … as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

3. Christians have troubles…

Vs 6 … having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

4. Setting the standard

Vs 7 … So that ye were ensamples

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

5. Jesus is coming again

Vs … 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

• In America, 3500 — 4000 churches close their doors each year. (from the Barna Study — www.barna.org) 2012 statistic
• That has moved up to 4,000-7,000 estimated in 2014 (Huffington post quoting same survey)
• Reported periods of 2010-2012 only half of American Churches report ANY new church memberships.
• Churches lose an estimated 2,765,000 people each year to nominalism and secularism. (from the Barna Study — www.barna.org)
• Usual Sunday church attendance has from dropped from 1,606,000 in 1968 to 881,000 in 2005.  (www.churchsociety.org)
• Only 21% of Americans now attend religious services every week.
  (www.religioustolerence.org)
• There are People out there still looking for a Church. Though something may have influenced them to leave, their problem is still there. We must be prepared to help fill the needs of those lost and forgotten souls…

Why Do People come to Church?

• The Church is not a building. The décor should not be a factor in whether people come to church, a Church needs to grow, but the right ways. We should not use the methods of the world to grow the church.

Let’s look at some reasons Why People come to church

1. Some come to Church for Community.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 Some people just need someone to talk to

Some may lost a spouse, kids are grown, husband is always away at work.

2. Some come to Church because of Calamity.

Sometimes Church is like a spiritual Hospital

September 11th.. Temporary increase in Attendance

3. Some come because of their Children.

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Many parents are seeing the effects of a derogated society and seeking a better way.

Others Simply are looking for a safe haven for their kids.

4. Some come because they are Confused.

2 Timothy 2:15

Some may have sat under doctrine that over time showed itself false.

Others are seeking for a “True” faith… not a generic doctrine…

There is a reason we put the name on the sign….

5. Some come because of a Connection.

There are here because someone invited them to come.

They are here because they saw something in you… that they wanted too.

All good Reasons… But they are all wrong.

Psalm 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Maybe those who are no longer going to church, are not going there because they went for the wrong reasons.

Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Ezekiel 22:23 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
24 Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 
30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD. 

When I read these verses the comparison to our state as a society is glaring…

• Conspiracy of her prophets… they have devoured souls (religious associations)
• Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. (Scandels, Adultery, Fornication, tax fraud)
• Her princes (leadership) destroy souls, to get dishonest gain
• And her prophets… Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. (TV Evangelists)
• Vexed the poor and needy – Social programs do not build up, educate and empower lives.. Rather they keep them sustained at the status quo.

We indeed live in a time that is seeing the end result of a generation that has tried to build a society without God… and like then God is still looking for a man to stand in the gap.

• The typical U.S. Congregation draws an adult crowd that’s 61% female, 39% male. This gender gap shows up in all age categories.
• On any given Sunday there are 13 million more adult women than men in America’s churches.
• For Sunday Morning Service almost 25 percent of married, churchgoing women will worship without their husbands.
• Midweek activities often draw 70 to 80 percent female participants
• There are a little more than 2.5 million men in prison today. Compared to under 500,000 in 1980. So roughly were looking at 1 in 20 men are now in jail.

I BELIEVE THAT THE ONE IS RELATED TO THE OTHER.

Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

• Langkawi Sky Bridge, Malaysia that’s a 410 ft long bridge that wraps around mountains for safe passage
• Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge, Japan – which is the longest suspension bridge in the world
• Siduhe Bridge, China – the worlds highest bridge at over 1,600 feet above the rocks below
• Hoover Dam – took more than 582 miles of 1-inch steel pipe in the concrete circulating ice water through it from a refrigeration plant could produce 1,000 tons of ice in 24 hours. Otherwise the amount of concrete used would generate so much heat it would have taken 125 years to cure 
• Glen Canyon Dam – endured the great flood of 1983
• Grand Coulee Dam – 550ft high and nearly a mile long

Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

God is searching for a man that will span the gap, to make a way for the lost to get to him. This man must have his foundations deep and back strong for the load he would carry… He must be able to be the hedge for his family and others.. Knowing for certain that if he ever let go… destruction is certain for those he would protect…

God is looking for a man to stand in the gap. But it takes work.

Presenter Note: Walk to the back of the church and show the gap between the world and the Cross

Take all the men and start at the back door, have them hold hands to span the gap between the world and the cross… there’s a gap

You look across the churches today… and you see men, we are coming just short.

We don’t have enough men that will span the dangerous canyon. To hold back the raging waters.

Remember a dam redistributes the load. As we have men standing here together it good to know that you are not alone… as Christians we build each other up… the Bible says we are to bear on another’s burdens..

So you say this morning.. How do I stand in the Gap..

First are you saved? 

Next, are your foundations planted deep, can you bear the load?  Are you ready to get to work for the Glory of God?