Revival Conference 2007 - Don Currin - Part 5

Make it insensible to God's truth. In other words, friend, to which part of my being is the music most ministering to? Romans chapter 13, verse 14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof. Yes, Martin Lord Jones warns, we can become drunk on music. There is no question about that. Music can have the effect of creating an emotional state in which the mind is no longer functioning as it should be, and no longer discriminating. He said, I have known people to sing themselves into a state of intoxication without realizing what they were doing. Music. But there's a fourth thing I want you to see, and that is in verse number six. You find here there's a growing insensitivity to the needs of those around them. Look at the little phrase there in the latter part of verse six. They are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Now, it's very important to note, friend, who Joseph is here. It's representing, it's a title for the common people. And during this day, these common people were poverty stricken. They were struggling to make ends meet physically while these people were living high on the hog on the Mount of Samaria. And those that were so victimized by their affluence, their prosperity, were insensitive to the needs of these people that were struggling just to survive. Can I tell you something once again? It seems like sometimes we're so inundated with our creature comforts in the church that we're insensitive to the needs of those around us. Perhaps those in our neighborhood. Perhaps those around the world. Perhaps those in our own congregations. The story is told of a fishing village that was just inside a cove off the ocean. And ships would come and they would try to deliver their cargo. There was no problem as long as there was no turbulence. But if there was any measure of storm, the ships were in peril. The story goes how many times the ships would crash on the rocks during the storm. And the people in the village, the fishing village, could hear the cries of the perishing. One day someone got the idea. You know, perhaps we need to do something. There are many men losing their lives. It would be good if we built a very sturdy platform there just inside the cove. So if the ships are dashed on the rocks, we can reach out and we can rescue the perishing. And wouldn't you know it, it seemed to work for a while. And then someone said, you know, at times our lives are in peril because the wind is so brisk. It would be good to put a wall around that platform, and so they did. And then somebody suggested a roof over that thing because, after all, at times the rain comes down in torrents and the disability is non-existent. And so it would be good if we had a roof over it where we could still reach out and rescue the perishing. Someone suggested a door because, after all, it got cold and damp at times. So they put a door on the structure. And then somebody said, well, we've got some carpets. And they laid down this beautiful carpet on the floor. And then someone said, it would be nice to have a TV because, after all, while we're waiting for the next ship, it would be good to stay abreast of current happenings. And so they bought a television. And then it wasn't long before somebody supplied it with a refrigerator and then a bed and other creature comforts. And wouldn't you know it, friend, it was a sad story. The ships continued to come. They entered that cove. And when the storms would brew, the ships were dashed from the rocks. The sailors were cast into the sea. But the people in that little room could no longer hear the cries of the perishing. And that's where we are in the church today. We're way too pleased in our local churches. We're too consumed with pleasure. You see, they had become insensitive to the common people. They were not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Well, let me move on. I want to give you a third thing just in passing here quickly. The judgment that awaits those who are at ease. You'll notice here in Amos chapter 6, verses 7 through 14, and I'm just going to highlight this for you for the sake of time, but follow with me in your Bibles. Notice it says here in verse 7, God says, Therefore now shall they go captive. The Scripture says toward the end of verse 7 that they shall be removed. Then you look at verse 8. God said, I applaud the excellency of Jacob, and I hate his palaces. Therefore will I deliver up the city. You move on to verse 9. It says that they shall die. And then down in verse number 11, it says, The Lord, for behold, the Lord commanded, and he will smite the great house with breaches and the little house with clamps. Look down in verse 14. Once again, God manifesting his judgment. But behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel. And then at the latter part of verse number 14, he says, They shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness. Have you ever noticed this? How many parables in our Lord's Gospels are devoted to warnings against laziness, complacency? Have you ever considered what is given to us in Matthew chapter number 25? You recall the parable there of the talents. How one man was given five and another two, and one man was given one talent. And the first two, they invested them well. They used them well. And they earned that commendation, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. But the one man did not invest his talent wisely, but rather he went and hid it. And I want you to listen to these words. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not stroved. And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth. Lo, there thou hast that is thine. Now watch what he says in verse number 26. His Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sow not, and gather where I not strove. Now, what was the result of this? What did this master do to his servants? You read on. And you see these very alarming words down in verse number 29. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance, but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. What's the destiny of the servant now? Shall she, the unprofitable servant, into outer gardens, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Brethren, this man did not lose his eternal reward. He lost his soul. Faith without works is still dead. Still dead. And if you do not invest your resources in the kingdom of God, if your faith is not alive, if it's not evident in your life, then perhaps you are a stranger to the grace of God. You see, it's interesting, this very text, as you move on. You find there also in Matthew chapter 25, verses 1 through 13, the ten virgins, what was the problem? They were not prepared. They did not have oil in the lamp. They were not readying themselves for the bridegroom's return. And they were shut out. And then you find the words of our Savior there in Matthew chapter 25, verses 31 through 46. Look at that with me for just a moment before we close. Matthew chapter number 25, verse 31. Once again, what is the judgment upon these people? Why has it come? It is because of their slothfulness. The Scripture tells us that they, in verse number 33,