THINGS THAT SHOULD

PUT US ON OUR KNEES

 AND KEEP US THERE

1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing."

I.  THE LUKEWARM CONDITION OF THE CHURCHES SHOULD PUT US ON OUR KNEES AND KEEP US THERE..

 We are living in a day of Manufactured Religion and doctrines of men.

 There is about anything you are looking for in religion.  God said in His Word this would happen in the last days.  Notice the condition of the Church Age just before the Lord Jesus comes for His saints.

 Revelation 3:15-16, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."

 Amos 6:1, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion,…."

 Matthew 24:12, "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."

 II. THE DECEPTION OF FALSE RELIGIONS IN THE LAND SHOULD PUT US ON OUR KNEES AND KEEP US THERE.

 Matthew 24:4-5, "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."

 Matthew 24:11, "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many."

 Matthew 24:24, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

 2 Timothy 3:13, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."

 Acts 20:29, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock."

 III. THE LACK OF SOUND DOCTRINE IN OUR PULPITS AND PEWS SHOULD PUT US ON OUR KNEES AND KEEP US THERE.

 Bible doctrine is the Church’s stability and durability. 

Many don’t preach doctrine—just the love of God.

 There are false doctrines:

Ephesians 4:14, "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"

 2 Timothy 4:3, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"

 Hebrews 13:9, "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace;….."

 2 John 1:10, "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:"

 Sound doctrine

Acts 2:42, "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

 Titus 1:9, "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers."

 2 Timothy 4:2, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."

 IV. THE DEPARTING OF THE FAITH AND FORSAKING OF THE OLD PATHS SHOULD PUT US ON OUR KNEES AND KEEP US THERE.

 2 Timothy 4:3-4, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

 1 Timothy 4:1, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

 Preachers falling by the wayside:

We hear all the time where preachers are getting out of the ministry and quitting, many times because of sin in their own lives.

 V.  THE WICKEDNESS OF SIN AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY SHOULD PUT US ON OUR KNEES AND KEEP US THERE.

 · Society full of rebels who only know a life of alcohol, drugs, stealing, rape and perversions.

· Selfish people fill our land who do anything to get what they want regardless of who it hurts.

· We have Rebels who cannot be controlled or told what to do.

· We have Thugs that are set on violence and destruction.

 Genesis 6:5, "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

 Genesis 6:11, "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence."

 Luke 17:26, "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man."

 VI.  THE ETERNAL PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED, OR A LOST WORLD GOING TO HELL SHOULD PUT US ON OUR KNEES AND KEEP US THERE.

 Revelation 20:11-15, "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." 

Luke 16:19-23, "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."

 VII.  THE LACK OF CONCERN FOR THE SALVATION OF THOSE GOING TO HELL SHOULD PUT US ON OUR KNEES AND KEEP US THERE.

 We are living in a day when the lost and their eternal destiny is not given much consideration.  We are too busy doing this and doing that, going here and going there until we don’t have much time left to consider those on their way to hell.

 We as God’s people are the only ones that can point them in the right direction and when we do not have time to pray for them, their hope is lost forever.

 Look at what God said,

Psalms 126:5-6, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

 Proverbs 11:30, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."

 Isaiah 58:1, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."

 VIII.  AS A SINNER, YOUR LOST CONDITION SHOULD PUT YOU ON YOUR KNEES AND KEEP YOU THERE UNTIL THE LORD JESUS SAVES YOU.

 John 3:3, "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

 Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

 Luke 13:3, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."