Sunday
Nov162003
Compliment
Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 5:05PM
Ed paid me an interesting compliment today. He said that the guy who preached today (me) came across as the same guy that blogs here. I think he meant that as a good thing: maybe a bit more open, transparent. I hope so.
Reader Comments (14)
Knowing Ed it was a compliment I think.
It was a compliment! Some might disagree, but in terms of heart, openess, and really struggling with an issue before God and his people, I believe it was the best sermon you've better preached. No pressure buddy, just appreciate you and what you had to share.
Having just read the sermon, I'd have to agree with Ed. Would have liked to have heard it live. All this talk of shifting sounds rather "martoia-esc", but that's not a bad thing!
I'll have to come up with a new word. Morph? Nope, taken. Groove? Hey, that might work! Or Mullins? Is that a verb?
Hi Darryl: Just read your sermon, good stuff. I believe one of the huge things in spiritual growth is desiring to live a holy life for God. We have had this conversation before, you and I. I believe when God sees that we are making righteous choices that are in line with His will that is when real transformation comes about. When we resist compromise. When He sees that we are deeply offended when we view something that mocks Him or abuses His name. When we don't sit idly by and keep watching, but make the choice to turn it off or walk out. I believe so much hinges on our walk with Him. We can't say we are His followers and then accept so much of what the world has to offer without being deeply offended by how God is viewed by the world. I say this from experience. I was so far from God in my entertainment choices. When He opened my eyes that was one of the first things that really struck me. I realized I had to turn from that. I refuse to be entertained by an industry that could care less about my Saviour and His name. Satan is doing his best work through our modern day culture and I believe its the biggest area of compromise in many a Chrisian life. I believe if we persist in that kind of compromise we will never see spiritual growth in our lives. That's just one area. Your right its not about what we do, but for me when I think about what God has done in my life I am just so grateful and I don't want to do anything or be a part of anything that He would be offended by. When I go to face Him I want Him to be able to say to me "Well done thou good and faithful servant." I'd hate to have to explain to Him why I continued to let the world influence me in such a way that brought discredit to His name. You said "It's humbling for me to admit that I don't know how we grow. I know it starts with complete surrender, but beyond that, I can't explain the process of spiritual growth. " Is that really true? Have you not grown yourself in your walk with God. I would think you have and if so I don't think I understand how you can say that. What is it that draws you close to God? What is it that deepens and enriches your relationship with Him. I could go on for a long time about how I have grown in my walk with Him over these last few years. I think I do know what it takes. I think it takes a longing to know Him better, a pursuit of Him. When He sees that He responds. He has for me in so many ways. And how do I get to know Him better. Is it not through studying His Word and talking to Him about it and asking Him to guide me through it. That absolutely has worked in my life. I'll tell you it is because I have so incredibly experienced His presence in my life that I desire to live a holy life. You know why? Because I want to experience Him more and more. I want to be an open and pure vessel in which His Spirit can reside and do some of His work. Its nothing about me and all about Him. The world needs to hear about Him. He is so willing to guide us and strengthen us if only we would seek Him first in all we do. I could go on and on but I gotta go to work. Have a great day God is at work in our world and isn't it just so great to be a small little part of that? George
I guess I know a little bit about how I've grown, but it is still quite a divine mystery. How does God transform me into someone who is in the image of Christ and who loves the things that he loves? That is a mystery, but he does it. I guess I was trying to say that we can't reduce it to formulas and promise growth if you do certain things.
We can't reduce it to formulas, but there certainly are spiritual disciplines that will enhance it and allow us to grow.
The Pharisees were masters of the spiritual disciplines, but they completely missed the point. They didn't grow. I know lots of people who engage in the spiritual disciplines but don't seem to be changed. I'd put it this way: everyone I know who's growing spiritually engages in the spiritual disciplines, but not everyone who engages in the spiritual disciplines is growing. They're necessary, but not sufficient. That's where heart and mystery comes in. This isn't just academic. I can't tell people that if they do the spiritual disciplines, they'll grow. Something more is needed.
Darryl: I find it interesting how often you refer to the Pharisees in response to my posts, I don't know if that's intentional or not, if there is some suggestion there.
"I'd put it this way: everyone I know who's growing spiritually engages in the spiritual disciplines, but not everyone who engages in the spiritual disciplines is growing. They're necessary, but not sufficient. That's where heart and mystery comes in." "This isn't just academic. I can't tell people that if they do the spiritual disciplines, they'll grow. Something more is needed." What is the "more" ?
No suggestion at all as far as you're concerned, George. You're about as far from a Pharisee as you can get. What's the more? I'm not sure. On the divine side, it's obviously God. On our side, I'd say it's something like surrender. But my main point here is that you can't boil it down to a formula, which is what I've always picked up and sometimes even taught. Jordon posted on this today as well: http://tinyurl.com/vs3k" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/vs3k
I think that "more" might be a few things. It's God. It's faith. It's hope. It's discipline. But it's not about the discipline. Faith without works is dead. Discipline without faith is empty.
Thanks for the comment Darryl, I have to be honest, I was wondering about that. I was just listening to Charles Stanley, I think he is such a wise man. He always shares his life experiences and his own personal walk with God and I really appreciate that. Interestingly he was talking about what the "more" is. What it has been in his life. I believe we have all touched on it in our posts. He boiled it all down with such simplicity its a matter of "trust and obey". He talked about how trusting alone is not enough, the obedience part is just as huge. Obedience to His will. He talked about if we really are honest about seeking God's will in all of our life, than we can leave the results all up to him. Isn't that great. If we are truly honest about seeking His will he sees that complete honesty and desire and responds accordingly. Its all very simple really. We just make it difficult so often because we fall out of His will. When we are truly in His will we see answer to prayer. I love that verse in James "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" That's what I want, I want for my prayers to be powerful and effective. So ok now all I need to do is be a righteous man. Easier said than done for sure but that's what I'm striving for. I look at a guy like Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. How prayer became a cornerstone of the building of his church. His prayers no doubt were powerful and effective because of the righeous manner in which he presented himself to God. I think thats all about that surrender thing you mentioned Darryl. Full surrender Have a great day
George: Well said.