Posted on 05/22/2007 1:46:29 AM PDT by Silly
If you are a Christian and somehow fail to appreciate the wonder of this message, or if you are not a believer, or a bit of a skeptic and would like it explained, I and others would be happy to.
That’s wonderful! Do you happen to know what sermon of Edwards that came from?
I’ll listen to the mp3 file again and see if Keller mentions it. It’s at the end of his talk.
saving
It was titled, “The Christian Happiness,” written when he was 17.
It was his first sermon.
For you. Hope it’s a blessing.
Is this like “God has a wonderful plan for your life”? Sometimes I think Christians make too much of all this. It is difficult enough to live this life of stresses day by day and sayings like this give false hopes for a type of heaven on earth, when the fact is man is born into trouble as sure as the sparks fly upward. This is why every one of us has trials and testings, and life is difficult because we understand how sinful we are and that we often fail to live up to our Christian duty. Yes, there is Romans 8:28; but can many of us reconcile our lives with this scripture?—”...to those who are the called according to His purpose”
The more you understand the Gospel, and its implications, the more you realize that these things are true.
Yes, we have suffering. But in Christ, our suffering will build us, and one day glorify us. Anything negative that comes into our live, God will use it, with everything else, to produce good (All things work together for good...).
You ask good questions.
Can many of us reconcile our lives with scripture? We should constantly be reconciling our lives to all scripture.
But the Gospel, the good news, is the way to start.
Once we know we are justified in Christ, and assured of living forever in bliss with him, our attitude towards suffering changes. I should rephrase that...
TO THE EXTENT we know we are justified.
You see, the Gospel is something that needs to be rubbed into our hearts every single day, many times, from many perspectives.
That is why it’s so fun to find the Gospel in the Old Testament. It’s everywhere. But everytime you encounter it, you discover new sides of the Gospel, new aspects, new implications, that — together — build into an extremely beautiful and hopeful message.
Pour the Gospel message, and its implications, into your heart. Think through them. Pound them in. Ask others to help you. Do it with friends, in community.
Someone once said that, in the beginning of our walk with the Lord, sometimes the Gospel is like a soda machine that always sticks. You put the money in, and you have to pound it and pound it to make the soda come out. And you have to pound it to get your change back.
But as you persist (especially in community), you will eventually experience a flood from God, a peace and a joy that grows bigger as you grow older.
Keep pounding. Call out to God to help you.
Thanks for your questions.
And, by the way, I cannot emphasize enough that one cannot merely cling to trite aphorisms or cliches. The three ‘truths’ I have outlined ONLY make sense in light of the Gospel, and do actually require some thinking through. Without thinking through them, pondering them, I’m sure they can come across as trite.
Again, good questions.
Thank you for that graphic.
The hour has come for you to completely wake up from your slumber, because your salvation is nearer now than when you first believed. Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, put on My armor, put on My light, put on My love, put on a garment of Praise. If you really want to see breakthrough in your life, take off the old man and deeds of darkness. Put on Christ! My soldiers – those who are the ambassadors of My love – are lining up. They are the ones who have been tried in My fire and have been tested in the wilderness. They have gone through many fastings and times of consecrated prayer. They know My voice and another they will not follow. These are the ones I trust to carry the fire of My love for the nations and to the nations. My love wins all battles. I Am calling you today to be part of that army. I Am asking you to get into formation. I Am beckoning you to war against hate with My love and forgiveness. Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. Each time you choose mercy over judgment you overthrow the powers of darkness. Judge not or you will be judged. Instead, send confusion into the camp of the enemy by forgiving offenses. When the enemy seeks to strike at you, turn and praise and worship your God! Confound him with your praises of victory as My people did when they were surrounded by the enemy at The Valley of Berachah. You are more than conquerors through Christ who loves you, so go into the battle knowing that you have already won.
Remember that the weapons that I have provided to My army are mighty in the pulling down of strongholds. These are not natural weapons but spiritual ones because you are in a spiritual battle. However, I issue this warning: Do not pick up the weapons of your enemy or you will become like your enemy. Satan’s weapons are jealousy, suspicion, gossip, envy, dissension, discord, slander, factions, contention, strife, unforgiveness, bitterness, wrath, anger, hatred and the like. These are rampant in the church and come from a spirit of pride. Satan wants you to emulate him and I have given you the choice as to whom you will serve. So choose wisely! Have I not warned you in My Word that those who practice such things will not enter into My kingdom? Do not emulate the devil. Satan prowls around and seeks to destroy you. He plans to use the death of his servants as an excuse to wage war against the saints. Use My weapons, not the weapons of this world to disarm him and his demons. Pick up the sword of My Word and use it to demolish the evil one’s plans to destroy you, your family, those you love and those to whom you are bound by My Spirit. I will give you wisdom and skill to use it. My Word is your sword. Wield it only against the enemy. Do not be found to be one that wounds a brother or sister in Christ when using My Word – your Bible. This is a form of self-mutilation as you are all one body. Instead, love one another deeply with the love (agape) that I give because love covers a multitude of sin. Strengthen, comfort and encourage each other with My Holy Scriptures. Rulers, authorities, principalities and powers of darkness do not have any defense against My love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control. When you walk in the fruit of My Spirit; when you love those who hate you and pray for those who persecute you; when you forgive grievances and bear with one another; when you refuse to allow a root of bitterness to take hold of you; when you take up your cross and follow Jesus – then you are demolishing the devil’s plans. Walk in victory, beloved! You are known in heaven as My chosen, as My elect, and as My children. Walk humbly before both your God and mankind; if you do, you will have great authority in and by My Spirit. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Recently, my family and I have been going through some real hard times. When I tell you, it was all I could do to get through the day. I turned to my bible and started reading. I believe for the first time instead of just reading the words I really started to feel what I was reading. It has brought me more comfort than I can ever express. Those words have completely changed my whole out look and have really changed my life. I always thought I understood but in hindsight I did not.
This sounds like something I’ve been trying to get my Christian friends to understand. If Christ is with us, then nothing can stop us, If Christ isn’t, then what we do will never work. The idea is to make a decision and act on it in faith. My God is strong enough to do the impossible, but is also strong enough to let a sinner like me know when I’m not doing His will.
Thank you for my great, new screen saver.
“sayings like this give false hopes for a type of heaven on earth”
But this is the only hope on earth that can be depended on to be true!
Even nicer message.
Can you give the source of your post? Was that the sermon from Edwards? Thanks
Nevermind my last post, I know where your post came from. Silly me.
Jeremiah 29:11 “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ‘”
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