IS YOUR SEAT EMPTY?

Once upon a time the king of evil spirits gathered his followers together to hear reports of their work.

“Now, my good spirit”, began their master, “what have you done today to weaken the kingdom of God?  We have been busy today making empty seats in churches” began one.  “Nothing could please me better” Answered their king.

“I persuaded one man that he had headache.  I kept him from hearing a sermon that might have changed his whole life” said one.

I induced one good man to slip to his store and fix his books, said another”

“Good” said the king.  “He’ll soon give up the church attendance altogether”.

I worried a good sister about her old head tie and she decided to stay home until she got a new one, “spoke up the spirit called Pride” “And made several poor women stay home even though they were hungry for God’s Word.  I just told them they were too poor to wear fine clothes so why go where rich people will look down on them”.

That is one of the best ways to cheat poor people out of the blessing of God, “answered the king with approval”

“I induced a good many men and women to think they were too sickly to go out, “said one spirit call indifference.  “Of course all these men will be at their business tomorrow, even if they feel worse.

“Very good” said the king with a grin. “I’m the weather spirit, said one gloomy fellow.  “I go around telling people it is going to rain, or it is too cold, too damp, or too hot to venture out to church.  It is enough to make you laugh when you see these same people out the next day in wind and weather”.

“That is what we want, “Said the king.  “I make people travel at weekends said another spirit”.  “Then they miss the Sunday morning service and lose its blessing.”  I also arrange important family meetings or emergency social gatherings which they are duty bound to attend”.

“I have a better plan,” Said a spirit named Procastination.

“When people begin to prepare for the services, I just tell them they can go another day.  “What does it matter if they rest at home? So, day after day, they continue to postpone their attendance and thus keep their seats regularly vacant.

“I think my own is the best, “said another spirit”  “I usually arrange special visitors for stubborn church goers just when they are about to leave home for the services”.

And so, whether they like it or not they sit down at home to entertain visitors and miss the day’s sermon and blessing.  But it may please the devil to know that no visitor can prevent these people from going to work on other days.

“You are doing fine my boys” continued the king of evil spirit” Preachers may work and pray over their sermons all week, but there will be no results in preaching to empty seats.  Your plans are excellent, but I want to suggest some other good points.  All preachers have human imperfections, some fault of manner of speech. Get Christian to criticize their pastors, especially before their children.  If you stir up quarrels and a spirit of fault-finding among the members they will help to keep the seats empty.

“Has Satan been working his plan on you? “Is your seat in church usually empty? Has he kept you away from services where you can hear God loves you and that Christ died for You?

Attending Church services cannot save you from sin.  But the preacher can show you how to trust the Lord Jesus Christ and let Him into your life.  We all need to come together and fellowship with other Christian (Hebrews 10:25).  We need to worship, study God’s word and pray together to help one another.

Don’t let your SEAT BE EMPTY!  Be a committed Christian in Christ Jesus.

GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU DO

SHALLOM!!!.