"Fancy giving a preacher just 40 minutes"

This quote came from Keith Daniel in a message on the Holy Spirit. The message is more than twice that length. Bathed in prayer God can use a man in any time period but wouldnt it be better if God was given the freedom to have what time He desires as He directs the vessel He is using. Would to God that His children and worshippers that rely on Him for our everything would be thirsty for all that we can get from God?

Isnt it amazing how it is considered more exciting and valuable if a sporting event goes to overtime? They are temporal, they do not edify, challenge, give glory to God (general rule - pro/college sports) and are little more than fleshly entertainment. I am not saying that there is no room for them but what value should they be in comparison to the Word of God that we are to meditate in day and night that we may observe to do according to all that is written therein?

Let us not frown upon a man of God, filled with the Spirit of God, proclaiming the Word of God, for the glory of God who takes some extra time and care in this work of eternal value.

The greatest times with God are times of waiting upon Him and spending time in His presence which is why we read so much in scripture about being still, meditating and focusing on Him all the day long. Christ spent all night in prayer more than once, fasted and prayed forty days and lest we forget, the multitudes followed Him often for days on end without food. Perhaps some did that for the wrong motives but not all - some felt that this was clearly a worthwhile use of their time.

Should preachers apologize for proclaiming God's glory, eternal word, will and gospel because for some it is too long and inconvenient? Should they have to cut out vast portions of what God has shown them, much of which God may have given them for the express benefit of one or more of the people that will hear that message?
I was blesssed to be challenged last night in mens prayer meeting. The messenger had great consideration for the time of night and those in the audience. That is considerate and appreciated but my prayer is that someday God will take those concerns away from us and meet with us in such a way that the prayer, worship and preaching would be offered up to God with no consideration of time and that hours could be consumed if God so wills it and it would be as but a moment in His presence. Would you pray with me for that kind of revival?

4+ hours - round of golf
Time in front of the TV for an average person per day?
Baseball, football, hockey or soccer game - 3 hrs?
Other hobbies - hours a week - photography, scrapbooking, biking, running, hiking, boating, swimming, reading, huinting, skiing, fellowshipping, eating (sort of repetitive I suppose).

The length of a message? Challenges given? Time to respond? Altar calls? Is not the purpose of preaching for God to speak through His Word and messenger to glorify His name and to accomplish things in peoples lives and hearts that mandate a response of some sort?

Here is a Bible example of a people in the midst of a revival who valued the importance of the Word of God and preaching.

Neh 8:2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
Neh 8:3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
Neh 8:4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood...
Neh 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Neh 8:18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God.

It is the progression of the modern day. We are so time sensitive in this culture. God is not in all our thoughts, I will be the first that admits to being guilty of this. Time will be made for what satisfies us most and what is most important to us. As pilgrims passing through this world, may we look to eternity, change our perspectives and priorities and not limit God's time in exchange for "our time."

May I recommend this message. It is a major challenge, you have been warned...

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=7207213143