The Prophet Ezekiel made mention of God's Broken Heart over His people who were committing spiritual whoredoms through their idolatries:

Ezekiel 6:9 "And they that escape of you shall remember Me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from Me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations."

     The people were setting their affections on other things besides the Lord God. Their joys and excitement came from possessing or serving rivals or idols. Resultantly, their hearts departed from Him.

     Is this the way it is today with God's Church? Has she broken His Heart with all of her spiritual whoredoms? Has she gone after worldly entertainments and amusements, only to forget Him in the process?

     Walter Chantry said that all those, whose main pursuit is pleasure, will never attain to righteousness. Is this the main pursuit of the Church world today? Pleasure, entertainment, and fun?

What about the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew:

Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"

     It seems that the pursuits of pleasure and righteousness clash. We cannot seek both at the same time just as we cannot serve two masters. One will be sure to overshadow the other. And, in most cases, pleasure will win out.

     Tryon Edwards compared sinful and worldly pleasures to "poisoned bread." That is one way of looking at them. They seem right at the time, but in the end, they prove to be fatal.

     How many of God's people are settling for "poisoned bread" when they can freely and daily partake of the "Bread of Life" - manna from heaven - angel's food?

Could this be why so many "Christians":

• are having problems withstanding the first temptation that comes along to Sin?
• why so many are living in defeat when they should be walking in Calvary's Victory?
• why so many are weak in the faith and cannot take a stand for Christ on their jobs against ungodliness and unrighteousness?
• why so many do not have the boldness to:

  2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season"?

• Is it because all week long they have been partaking of the world's "poisoned bread" and, as a result, they are:

  Jude 12 "trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots"?

     H.J. Holtzmann said that no one is really living who follows after worldly pleasure. Oh, yes, we are all familiar with the saying - "We are really living it up now." But are they? How can anyone eat "poisoned bread" and be healthy, vigorous, and strong? Satan has fooled some people, wouldn't you agree?

     Thomas Manton warned us that "All Sins" are rooted in "the love of pleasure." Then why would any Real Christians who love God with all that is within them make the pleasures of this world their main pursuit? Shouldn't they be seeking after God and His Righteousness so that they can live holily, justly, and soberly in this present age?

     The main characteristic of the majority of this world is to live for pleasure. They have no serious pursuits. They reject any restraints that would curb their amusements in any measure. Should the Church be included in this number? Is she?

The Apostle Paul warned us that in the Last Days men would be:

2 Timothy 3:4 "...lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God."

     He informed us that these days would be "perilous" not so much because of the persecutions that would arise against righteous living, but because of the corruption that would infiltrate from within the ranks. Carnal pleasure would steal the people's affections from the Lord God. People would prefer pleasure, entertainment, fun, and excitement to fellowship with their Savior and Lord. Sad to say, as we look around at most churches, "we realize that we are in those very days at the present moment." At one time we were:

Titus 3:3 "...sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures..."

     We were slaves. We were entangled and ensnared; beguiled and blinded. We once:

1 Peter 4:3 "...walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries."

     Many walked in total defiance to all decency as they counted it:

2 Peter 2:13 "pleasure to riot in the day time..."

     Day or night - it made no difference - they abandoned themselves to all sorts of lusts and worldly pleasures. But now the Grace of God in our lives enables us to deny:

Titus 2:12 "ungodliness and worldly lusts"

     And to live in absolute freedom from its corruption and bondage. "Ungodliness" refers to all things that are contrary to God and His Holy attributes and character. "Worldly lusts" refer to all improper desires which can also include the desire for wealth, pleasure, and honor.

     The Grace of God was remarkably demonstrated in Moses' life when he chose:

Hebrews 11:25 "...to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."

     Rather than remain in Pharaoh's court amidst all of the revelry and sin; he faced trials, danger, and the sacrificing of all of his comforts and honors so that he could join in the sufferings of his oppressed, down-trodden, crushed, and despised people. He chose the lot of suffering rather than pleasure-loving.

Why would we choose worldly pleasures over a deeper walk with God?

     In the gospel of Luke our Lord tells us that the "pleasures of this life" choke the Word of God being implanted in our hearts, causing us to be totally fruitless - "bring no fruit to perfection."

Luke 8:14 "And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection."

     The "pleasures of this life" cause so many of us as Christians to be fruitless in our lives. Would we rather have worldly pleasure than to have an intimate relationship with our Creator? Are we going to let the "thorns" grow up to stifle and hinder our walk with our Lord?

     In Proverbs King Solomon admonished us with these words

Proverbs 21:17 "He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."

     Is this what we want? Do we want to be poor physically and spiritually? We will be if we "loveth pleasure."

     The Prophet Isaiah warned the pleasure-lovers of his day who continuously indulged in feasting, drinking, various entertainments, and fun.

Isaiah 5:11-13 "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of His hands. Therefore My people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst."

     In the midst of it all, they failed to regard the heavy hand of God that was lifted up in judgment over their heads. They were too busy having a "good time" to be disturbed by any "doom and gloom" prophet, announcing God's closure of their party. They did not want to hear any negative or serious words from God that would stifle their gaiety and laughter.

     Is this how we are today? Do we scorn, reject, and ridicule the messengers whom God sends to bring a warning of judgment? Are we so in love with our pleasures that we would rather mock the servant of the Lord than receive his admonition to lay down our fun, frolic, and gaiety lest we be ruined?

     What pleasures are choking the Word in our hearts? What worldly pleasures are keeping us from seeking a closer walk with God? What form of entertainment or fun is drawing us away from God?

     In the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon told us:

Ecclesiastes 7:4 "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth."

     Which house do we live in for the most part? Do we reject anything serious, sobering, or searching for the lighter things of life? "On a Friday night, would we rather be entertained by a comedian or hear a "doom and gloom" prophet which would call us to repentance from Sin?"

     To wrap things up, read the following story from the Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations, depicting the self-denial of Baron von Welz:

     "Baron von Welz, who renounced his title and estates and went as a missionary to Dutch Guiana, where he filled a lonely grave, said as he gave up his title, 'What to me is the title 'well-born' when I am born again in Christ? What to me is the title 'lord' when I desire to be a servant of Christ? What is it to me to be called 'Your Grace' when I have need of God's grace, help, and succor? All these vanities I will do away with, and all else I will lay at the feet of Jesus, my dearest Lord, that I may have no hindrance in serving Him aright. ' Just so all God's children, intent on serving their Lord, remove their hearts from the world, its honor and glories, and their own selfish satisfactions and set them on things above."

     Like Baron von Welz, have we removed our hearts from this world - its honors, pleasures, and glories - and from our own selfish satisfactions to seek after the Lord Jesus and Him alone as our greatest pleasure? Have we done away with the world's vanities so that we will have no hindrance in serving Him aright?

What is our main pursuit in life - more of God or more worldly pleasures?

What will we give in exchange for our never-dying soul? The Pleasures of this life?

Do we want to die a "poor man"?

Will we continue to eat of the "poisoned bread" that this world offers?

     Let's go ahead and live our lives to the fullest. But let's be sure to be lovers of God rather than lovers of pleasure.

---

Basic Training Systematic Theology Statement of Faith Our Mission Link To Us Heaven?

---

Send E-mail to Russ:
webslave for Christ
( russ@jesuswept.com )
with questions or comments about this web site and it's content.
Last modified: 12/11/2002