| Author | Message | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 1242 Registered: 11-2007  |
God is so amazing how He teaches things.. Last week we watched a documentary on a HUGE Hindu festival.. 70 million people gather (yes million) for this certain pilgrimage every 12 years. I was amazed at how well many Hindu holy men articulated the high ideals of righteousness and love. God seems to have implanted into mankind the realization of what we are not, (even without the law of Moses!hmmm.) and what we should be... then comes the problem. How to get there? World religions have so many ways to try and beat the flesh into submission, the thing they see is hindering them from being truly spiritual and "one" with the Divine. This Hindu festival had countless different holy men and gurus with their own special method, some rather revolting, trying to achieve this end. As a disciple, it would be difficult to choose which path would work best! As I heard them explain what they wanted to achieve, and seeing their deep hunger for God.. but finding Him so hard to reach, I suddenly realized how badly I take for granted the privilege of being a daughter of God - one of His family. I even added into a blog post a day or two later, a comment about the privilege we have to come before God's throne boldly - direct link to the Creator of the Universe! I said most of us have not begun to grasp the enormity of this privilege - and that includes me! Come Wednesday night same week .. church.. the pastor apologizes for not being able to start the Daniel series he had been promising. God had impressed a message on his heart that he was compelled to give. It was called.. "How to Enter the Throne Room." Ever have one of those moments when you feel like it's just you and God in the room, even though there are 100 other people? This was one of those times. He hit on things that I had been thinking, and things I needed to hear.... ESPECIALLY as a former sda. By the end of the sermon, I was so weak in the knees I could barely stand up. I have never experienced anything quite like this. I know.. that sermon was not just for me, but God definitely prepared my heart to receive it and it did seem like He was speaking directly to me through this pastor. I realized this one thing, out of many. The privilege we have as fully JUSTIFIED believers is not something I had yet taken hold of. I felt that my ability to be heard of God depended still largely on my day to day experience rather than my POSITION in Christ. I was retaining the attitude that I still have to "measure up" in some way to be heard.. even though I'm saved. Daddy won't listen to me if I've had a bad day... that kind of thing.. The picture this pastor was presenting from the Word is something not possible in Adventism. He described Jesus, sitting at the right hand of the Father, eagerly desiring to help and communicate with his children - 24/7. My Adventist Jesus wasn't doing that... He had his nose in a really big book, trying to figure out if I was worthy to receive His blood on my life and let me into the kingdom. I have not believed that for a long time, but it's amazing how deep the original imprint goes into our thoughts and attitudes. If you would like to hear this encouraging message, I uploaded it here. I really can't do it justice! It's by Pastor Bill Quinn, Calvary Chapel Fort Worth http://sermon.net/8thday | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 5554 Registered: 9-2006  |
I will listen when I have time, however I can already tell you how to enter. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Enter boldly, It ain't what you have for fare in many churches, but I learned a long time ago that God don't want us creeping in on our belly and whupping ourselves across the back till it bleeds on the way. 70 million you say? That must be one big sad sack bunch. I can't even count that high. When I go to Gods table, I eat like a pig trying to make a hog out of himself. River | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 352 Registered: 12-2007 |
Is there a way to save this to mp3 so I can put it on a disc to listen to and to share ? | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 1243 Registered: 11-2007 |
I'm not sure if you can download on that site or not.. I'll check. River, that's one of the verses he used, and I knew them well, just had not applied them yet fully.. but in the car today I heard the "other" sermon.. (the list of things you have to be/do for God to let you in) I realize if we are not walking in love, it can harm our relationship with God.. BUT we are still allowed entrance.. It's just when you go there, you are going to be convicted I think.. you won't be hanging on to any sin or unforgiveness very long in His presence.. But Pastor Bill's sermon made it so clear.. our right to enter is based solely on His Grace and entered by Faith. Beautiful message. We don't have to have all our ducks in a row to come before Him. I so needed to really HEAR that.. Sondra | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 1244 Registered: 11-2007 |
Skeeter... when the sermon is in the main box playing.. below there is a smaller box, and in small print it says "Download: Audio" If you click on the word "Audio" it will ask you if you want to open or save.. .click save and it should download. You will probably have to change the name later.. looks like it has a string of numbers for a name. Hope that helps. Sondra | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 5556 Registered: 9-2006 |
Quote: you won't be hanging on to any sin or unforgiveness very long in His presence.. How so very true. Boldly does not mean that we approach in a haughty spirit. But to enter in faith and be prepared to accept at his hand in a humble spirit before almighty God. There is a sect of people who once a year, take lashes, it appears to be long lashes made of strips of leather, and they beat themselves until the blood runs. But even if we beat the flesh till the blood runs, the flesh will still seek to avoid coming to God in faith. River |
