Everyone is Given to Covetousness
Scripture: Jeremiah 6:13Devotional Series: Conflict with the Whore
Teaching: Conflict With The Whore pt. 3 (SUN_AM 2021-02-07) by Pastor Star R Scott
Mark 4:3-8 is the parable of the Sower. The summary is this, provide good ground for perfect seed and God will be glorified. Amen? And the seed is the Word of God. As we break up the fallow ground, as we destroy and put down this old man, as we seek to be crucified on a daily basis, as our hearts desire to live and keep His commandments, as we eat the same meat that Jesus eats of, praise God: to do the will of He that sent me, to finish the work, we’ll continue to be conformed to His image, praise God! Provide good ground. The Seed is perfect; it will not return void. Each produces after its own kind; it’s the law of Genesis. You put the Word in; you get the Word out. But you have to be a doer. It was the same seed, but some was on the wayside. It was the same seed, but some fell on stony ground. It was the same seed, but some fell among thorns. “Where did these wild grapes come from?” What are these wild grapes that are growing up in our families and in our lives?
In Jeremiah 6:13, he says, “For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness….” Covetousness is in every one of us. But we think we’re not covetous. Have you ever just frankly gone up and told somebody, “You know, I’m having a problem here; I’m covetous”? It expresses itself in many different ways. “I’m covetous. I’m bound by lust—lust of stuff, man.” The root is pride. We could go on and on, but the reality is most of us don’t want to face our hearts and what we really are. So, we try to make it look as though it’s something more acceptable. Covetousness is idolatry.
We have to be in prayer and make sure that we’re not overtaken by surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this life. We’ve talked many times about that spirit, the party spirit. So many of us don’t realize, it doesn’t have to be an orgy. We were discussing the church just recently and it meeting on a daily basis. You know, most of our people on any given Saturday are over at somebody else’s house. They’re helping them with some project; they’re meeting for dinner. It isn’t something that’s designated or being overseen. The gathering of the church doesn’t require those things.
But when we get together, it should be in His name. The sixth birthday party that you have at your house this month isn’t necessarily “gathering in His name.” Amen? Let’s make sure that whether it’s a birthday party, or whatever it is, that when we, the church, come together, Jesus is preeminent and glorified before we leave. Amen? If not, it’s party time. It doesn’t have to be lasciviousness; it just has to be, “We forgot about Jesus.” You think we can do better? I do. I think it not only fulfills the church meeting, I think it opposes the spirit that we’re talking about, this party spirit. Now, one other problem with the party spirit is this. Most people want to go to parties because they can’t stand being quiet with Jesus. Too much stuff gets revealed, too many requirements are passed down. He keeps reminding us, “Where’s the compassion that you prayed for the other day? You came and you got before Me on your face. You wept bitterly and cried out, ‘Here am I, Lord. Send me! Give me compassion for the lost!’ You prayed the Lord of the harvest to send workers into the harvest, and here you sit.” So, as we look at this age, that’s part of that party spirit that I’m talking about. We’re to be out preaching the gospel, and the end will come, praise God! We’re to be moved with compassion. How can we look on the fields that are white unto harvest? This age that we’re in is one of self‑indulgence!
In Jeremiah 6:13, he says, “For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness….” Covetousness is in every one of us. But we think we’re not covetous. Have you ever just frankly gone up and told somebody, “You know, I’m having a problem here; I’m covetous”? It expresses itself in many different ways. “I’m covetous. I’m bound by lust—lust of stuff, man.” The root is pride. We could go on and on, but the reality is most of us don’t want to face our hearts and what we really are. So, we try to make it look as though it’s something more acceptable. Covetousness is idolatry.
We have to be in prayer and make sure that we’re not overtaken by surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this life. We’ve talked many times about that spirit, the party spirit. So many of us don’t realize, it doesn’t have to be an orgy. We were discussing the church just recently and it meeting on a daily basis. You know, most of our people on any given Saturday are over at somebody else’s house. They’re helping them with some project; they’re meeting for dinner. It isn’t something that’s designated or being overseen. The gathering of the church doesn’t require those things.
But when we get together, it should be in His name. The sixth birthday party that you have at your house this month isn’t necessarily “gathering in His name.” Amen? Let’s make sure that whether it’s a birthday party, or whatever it is, that when we, the church, come together, Jesus is preeminent and glorified before we leave. Amen? If not, it’s party time. It doesn’t have to be lasciviousness; it just has to be, “We forgot about Jesus.” You think we can do better? I do. I think it not only fulfills the church meeting, I think it opposes the spirit that we’re talking about, this party spirit. Now, one other problem with the party spirit is this. Most people want to go to parties because they can’t stand being quiet with Jesus. Too much stuff gets revealed, too many requirements are passed down. He keeps reminding us, “Where’s the compassion that you prayed for the other day? You came and you got before Me on your face. You wept bitterly and cried out, ‘Here am I, Lord. Send me! Give me compassion for the lost!’ You prayed the Lord of the harvest to send workers into the harvest, and here you sit.” So, as we look at this age, that’s part of that party spirit that I’m talking about. We’re to be out preaching the gospel, and the end will come, praise God! We’re to be moved with compassion. How can we look on the fields that are white unto harvest? This age that we’re in is one of self‑indulgence!