Israel in the 8th century B.C. was self-satisfied; her churches were full; her people were religious; there was a great deal of activity in her midst; and she believed her material prosperity was evidence of God's favor. But God and His Word had been forgotten, His law forsaken, and His loving grace taken for granted. Instead of the name of the Lord, Israel ran into two towers – their homes and their temples – prosperity and religion – and God promised to destroy both. They went on their way, climbing the heights of prosperity, never imagining that the end of all that they had attained was just around the corner, as they would be hopelessly dragged off to serve as slaves of Assyria.
Once any people begin to amass expensive homes, power over other people, and large incomes, it is easy for them to find their identity in these things. There is a natural tendency for people to consider their security to be in their stuff. They will go to great extremes to protect that which they imagine themselves to have gained by right – and anything that would threaten their power or their status or their revenue – they will act even in immoral ways to maintain what they presume to be rightfully their own.
The obvious dilemma in Israel 28 centuries ago was the sin of materialism. Do we not face this same problem today? The Israelites compromised God's Word in order to achieve what they deemed to be success. Are we not falling into the same trap? Why should God not sweep away our western materialistic churches? Why should our pseudo-Christian culture with its mindless worship and endless obsession with sensuality, be any more durable than ancient Israel was?
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Ditto ..just wanted to echo the previous comments.This sermon is like a fresh, cold drink of water from the water fountain. So many churches are parched and could greatly benefit from hearing this.One is hard pressed to find a local church that isn't offering up the latest counterfeit nonsense that passes off as worship.
Patricia - FL (9/17/2008)
Wow! This is one of the best sermons I have ever heard. Thank you, Pastor LoSardo.
S from USA (7/11/2008)
from USA
I was glad to hear 'Ivory Houses and Fat Cows' I am told that to question the doctrinal integrity of any TV ministry is a sin, but I'm also told to be in the Word, and I can't seem to avoid seeing the difference between the faith of the writers of the New Testament, and the orientation, doctrine, and the exclusive concern with the things of this world that seem more important than fixing our hope completely on the grace to be revealed at His coming.
How many sermons have I listened to in the past few years where if Jesus is even mentioned, He just gets the altar call at the end of the message? He used to be the way, the truth, the life, and no one could come to the Father but through Him, but now the teaching is all about the latest kingdom techniques, finding your purpose, getting behind a secular peace plan, or concentrating on sowing
for our best life now, and of course ignoring the signs of the times, …
What do you think it will take here in America for us to get to the point where Jesus, and our relationship to God and to each other in Him is enough to get us excited and motivated to live for the treasure in heaven, rather than the things of this world?
"The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine"
Rita Beckett (6/29/2008)
from New Jersey
Great Sermon! If you are hooked on the world and what it can give to you, listen to this sermon. Are you just "religious" without being willing to take up your cross? Please open your ears to hear what this Pastor has to say. Come back to Christ.
P Hogan (6/29/2008)
from Missouri
Timely and profound message. Timely and profound message. Thanks for proclaiming the truth. My prayer is that this will fall on hearts open to the message.
Butch Boruff (6/27/2008)
from Urbana, Illinois
OUTSTANDING----OUTSTANDING This message is so incredibly relevant to America and to believers today---Amos read our mail.
One hour of your time, will give you an amazing understanding of God's mercy, as well as his judgment.
Dorothy (6/25/2008)
from USA
Great Sermon! Thank you for your instructive teaching. What a blessing to listen to such Biblical preaching.
A native of New York, Pastor LoSardo was saved by the grace of God in 1986 after hearing the Gospel from his brother, while pursuing a career in scientific research. He was ordained into the ministry in 1995 and served as the Associate Pastor of a large messianic congregation...