For those not familiar with an Anglican Service; there are four Scripture Readings before the Sermon. The Scripture Readings for this day are: 1 Kings 8:1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43; Psalm 84 ; Ephesians 6:10-20 and John 6:56-69.
One day, ... a young disciple of Christ ... desirous of wanting to become all that God had for him ...visited the home ... of an elderly Christian.
He had heard ... that this old man ... had never lost his first love for JESUS ...... over all these years.
The elderly man ... was sitting on the porch with his dog ... taking in ... a beautiful sunset.
The young man ... posed this question:
"Why is it, sir, ... that most Christians ... zealously chase after God ... during the first year or two after their conversion;
But then ... fall into a complacent ritual ...of church once or twice a week ... And end up not looking any different .... than their neighbors ...who aren't even ...... Christians?
I have heard ....... you ... are not like that.
I've been told ... that you ... have fervently sought-after God ... throughout your years.
People see something in you .... that they do not see in most other people ... who call themselves ...Christians.
What makes you different?"
The old man smiled and replied, ... "Let me tell you a story:
One day ... I was sitting here quietly in the sun ...with my dog.
Suddenly ... a large white rabbit ... ran across the yard .... in front of us.
Well, ... my dog jumped up, ... and took off ... after that big rabbit.
He chased the rabbit over the hills ... with a passion.
Soon, ... other dogs joined him, ... attracted by his barking.
What a sight it was, ... as that pack of dogs ... ran barking across the creeks, ... up stony embankments .... and through thickets and thorns!
Gradually, however, ... one by one, ... the other dogs ... dropped out of ... the pursuit, discouraged by the course ...... and frustrated ... by the chase.
Only my dog ... continued to hotly pursue ... the white rabbit."
"In that story young man, ... lies the answer ...to your question."
The young man sat ... in confused silence.
Finally, he said, ...... "Sir, I don't understand.
What is the connection between the rabbit chase ... and the quest for God?"
"You fail to understand," ... answered the well-seasoned old man, ... "because you failed to ask ...the obvious question.
And that is ... Why didn't the other dogs ... continue on ... in the chase?
And the answer to that question is ...... (Slow) they had not seen ... the rabbit.
Unless you see the prize, ... the chase is just too difficult.
You will lack the passion and determination necessary ... to keep up the chase." (Pause)
Beloved ... Have you seen the Lord ... have you truly seen the Lord?
There is a hymn from the early 70's that speaks to my heart.
Have you seen Jesus my Lord;
He's here in plain view.
Take a look open your eyes;
He'll show life to you.
Beloved ... Have you seen the Lord ... have you truly seen the Lord?
Are you willing ... to count the cost ... to follow Him?
Are You willing ... to keep your eye ... on the prize?
Not on the prize of heaven, ... but on the prize of the one who will get you there.
Are you willing to keep your eyes ... your focus on Jesus?
Is your spirit yearning for a deep relationship ... an intimate relationship ... with Jesus? (Pause)
Beloved ... God desires to have a close ... intimate ... personal ... loving ... dynamic ... powerful relationship ...with you.
The deeper ... the more intimate ... the more genuine ... the more real... your relationship is with God ...the more ... the devil ... and his demons will fear even your presence.
Christianity ...is not about a weekly trip ...to church.
We must go ...beyond that.
How many times ...have we asked people...... Are you a Christian?
How many times ...have we received the answer ... ...Well ... I was baptized ... or I go to church.
Well that does not tell you... much.
The question is... are you in love ... with Jesus?
Beloved ... There is much darkness ...outside these walls.
And it is time for us ... It is time for us ... to turn... the lights on.
We are called ... to be the light of the world... but far too many ...have forgotten ... to turn ...their lights on.
We desperately need... to get serious about... what is going on in this world.
Here me on this ... one day ... we are going to stand before Almighty God ...and make an account ...of our life. (Pause)
It is time to submit ... it is time to obey ... it is time to be the real deal.
It is time to be mature in the faith ...and develop a close... personal ... intimate relationship ...with God.
Intimacy is Allowing God ... to look into our heart ... and God... allowing us ... to look into his!
Imagine ... imagine ... looking into the very heart of God, ...and seeing ... what he sees.
In intimacy ... we become one in the Spirit ... and our desires ... match the desires ... of our creator.
I am convinced ... there are two keys ... to a close intimate relationship ...with God.
(1 Finger) The first key is "Truth" ... being sincere ... being truthful with God ... to hold ...nothing ... to hold nothing back.
Do not hold on to ...certain areas of your life ... that are there ... just for you.
Jesus said everything ...that the father has ...is mine.
And everything ...that I have ... belongs... to the Father.
Are there areas of your life... that you are holding on to ... that you have not given... to God?
Beloved...Everything!
He must be first... He must be Lord of Everything. (Pause)
Prayer... For some ...seems a chore ... it becomes this duty, ... this obligation ...that they dread.
Beloved ... Prayer ... is just talking ... to God.
Authentic Prayer ...is talking to God ...honestly.
And Mature prayer is moving from not my will ... but thy will ... be done. (Pause)
(1 Finger) Truth ...is the first key ...to an intimate relationship with God.
(2 Fingers) And the second key... is Time.
Hear Gods word to the Followers of Christ ...gathered at Ephesus: BIBLE Look carefully then ... how you walk, ... not as unwise ... but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, ... because the days are evil. 17 Therefore ...do not be foolish ... but understand ... what the will of the Lord is. END (Ephesians 5:15-17)
If you desire ...to have close relationship with God ...you must put time... into it.
I am convinced ... If you do not put the time in ... you will be wishing for ... yet will never receive ... an intimate relationship ...with God.
If you will not give him the time ... then God ...really does not have... first place ...in your life.
The son of God ... did not hide the truth from the world.
A loving God would never hide the truth.
Jesus is clear ... crystal clear.
"I am the way ... the truth and the life ... no one ... no one ... can come to the Father ... except ... through me." (John 14:6) (Pause)
We must get serious ...in our relationship ...with the one we call Savior and Lord.
Intimacy ... brings us to that place ... where God's desires ... become our desires!
Beloved ... When Jesus came to town ...the demons would be full of fear.
And ... If we have an intimate relationship with God ... wherever we go ... the spiritual forces of wickedness ... will be fearful.
Do you want that ...in your life?
When you go to work, ... when you go to the store ... all the devil's ......should hide.
When you put your feet on the floor in the morning ...the demons should shudder.
They should say to one another... O' my ...he is out of bed again... Oh no ... she is up again.
When you search out Jesus life in the Scriptures ...One thing is clear ...He spent much time ... much time alone... with the Father.
He always spent time ...with him.
He always made time... for him.
We are strengthened......in our relationship ...when we spend time ......with God.
Now if I asked ... and we were all ...truthful.
How many of you... have difficultly spending regular ...... quality fellowship time ...with God?
Probably ...almost every hand... would go up.
Beloved... Our Flesh ... and the devil ... fights us ...that hard.
The devil ...does not want us to be in conversation ...with our Heavenly Father.
Now do not begin to think ......because you or I ... watch a Christian Movie ... listen to a CD , ... go to a bible study... or watch a preacher ... on TV that ... that is your... personal time with God.
The Scriptures are not confusing ... on what we are commanded ... to do.
Go into your room close the door and pray.
Go into your room close the door and talk to him ... be honest with him ... spend time with the one you call Lord.
Beloved ... The command is not that complicated.
You need to come to Him... one on one ... so he can give you... revelation. (Pause)
I am convinced... that one of our biggest problems ...is that we hear ...or see so much ...and yet none or very little ... of it... gets deep.
We do not allow it to ... impact ... our very being.
We need to meditate on our conversations with God... and we need to read ...and inwardly digest ...the Scriptures.
We need to receive ... the Rhema of God.
Faith comes by hearing ... and hearing by the Word ... The Rhema of God. (Romans 10:17)
God's Word ... his Rhema must get down ...into our very soul ... and ...become revelation.
Beloved ... God has a great plan ...for your life.
Yet ... You must make an effort ... you must persevere ... you must be steadfast ...... and refuse to give up.
You must give him your time.
No discipline ...in the beginning ...seems joyous.
At least ... it has not been in my life.
God wants to be involved ...in every detail ...of your life.
I remember when God touched my life back in 1975 and filled me with his Spirit ... He touched me in such an awesome way.
Everything about God ...became so real to me.
Beloved ... God does... speak to us.
How can you read the Scriptures... and not know that God... speaks... to us?
Jesus is clear... Hear God's Word: BIBLE "My sheep will know my voice ... and the voice of a stranger ... they will not follow" END. (John 10:27)
A mature relationship with God ...is refreshing... and full ...of excitement.
If you will just open up ... and fully realize ... that he is interested... in every aspect of your life ... every detail.
Remember Christ's words to us:
BIBLE "You shall love the Lord your God ...with all your heart ...with all your soul ...and with all your mind... and all your strength." END (Matthew 22:38-39)
Passionately you shall love God... With everything ... that encompasses who you are.
God wants to be involved... in every area... of your life.
Stop trying ...to shut him out.
Everything ... Everything ... becomes sacred ......when God is in it. REPEAT
Beloved ... when you are intimate with God ... Going to work ...... even shopping ... can be ... just as holy as going to church ... if you go with God.
Everywhere you go... you will desire to give someone a word of encouragement ... you will desire ...to put a smile ......on someone's face ...
You will want ...to make someone feel better ... you will earnestly...... watch for needs ...and be ready to ...... meet those needs.
It will become ...such a part of your DNA ... that the excitement that bubbles up within you .... cannot help but burst forth.
You have a purpose ... to let your light shine.
Beloved ... Live in love... and love to live. REPEAT
For Our battle ... is not against ...other human beings:
Here God's Word: BIBLE "For our struggle... is not against enemies of blood and flesh, ...but against the rulers, ...against the authorities ... against the cosmic powers... of this present darkness, ...against the spiritual forces of evil... in the heavenly places". END (Ephesians 6:12-13)
Beloved ... If Someone hurts you ... If someone speaks poorly of you ... spend time with God, ...work it out in the spiritual realm ... do not gossip... about him or her.
Do not go to the phone ...and call ...20 friends.
Now... I am not saying ...... that it is wrong to talk to other people, ...God uses people... To impact our lives.
Thank God ... he uses us with ... and for ...each other.
But at times we can go overboard.
There is a saying ... that holds truth for us today ... ... "Go to the throne... don't turn to the phone". REPEAT
When you feel like you're getting discouraged ......go to the throne.
When you are mad ... when you lose your temper ... when feel ... that you just cannot handle it any longer, ... go to throne.
(Slow Down) Beloved ... We are called ...to Deny self ...and follow to Jesus.
We are to make Jesus ......our life song.
Be filled to the brim ... Be filled to overflowing ...with life.
It is time ... To be mature in the Faith ... to have a dynamic ...powerful and intimate relationship with your Lord.
It is time to Keep your eyes up on Jesus.
And if you do ... you will hear the music of the Holy Spirit ...... and dance a life of grace.
And Beloved ... if you do ... You will dance ... You will Dance.... like you have never danced .... before.
Amen and Amen!
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