I have just left the 1hr 45min church service where Dr Steve shares an impactful sermon on the "The Noahic covenant "Genesis 9:8-17"
Anyway why do black people think or believe they need 4/5 hours for a church service? That's just by the way.
Pastor Steve has been a chaplain with the US Army for 30 years and he recalls his time in Iraq when their soldiers were being killed by the hundreds. He expected that people would throng his tent seeking the Lord. They saw their friends and colleagues dying, knew they might also die any day but still didn't care. He concluded that unless you feel you need him, you would not seek him. God never forces himself on you. He himself is a gift that you must accept/receive.
We must always come to God empty handed because we have nothing to bring him - this is how we get blessed by God. All good gifts come from him . Always come to God empty handed. You have nothing to bring God. Forget about what you have or think you have achieved as you approach him . The sermon on the mount refers to 'blessed are the poor in spirit' because they come to God with an empty hand . You have nothing to bring him . That is the message and that is humbling . God gifts us himself. God gifts us his very spirit to help us.