Ive been known to have a FEW of them myself over the years ( that is - top ten lists ) my latest offering and project being...
Tests of authentic faith!?
However it might NOT necessarily make it into the hall-of-fame top ten sermon lists. That is (if and when) it is released. God willing!
I remember well as a wide-eyed gung-ho new convert TO CHRIST back in the early eighties ... the then Snr pastors of the small church in which i attended. Would both play and replay leonard ravenhill's tapes ON (jugment seat of Christ AND GREAT WHITE JUDGEMENT ) And Often before the commencement of the "prayer meeting"
And being a small group of people at the time - being primarily made up of young people...fresh out of boozzy nights, the nite club scene, frenzied rock-n-roll extavaganzas, and other lascivious activities. There we found ourselves NOW sitting in this (prayer meeting) listening to these tapes and feeling SOMEWHAT awed and PETRIFIED ... feeling crushed by God - and impelled into service, servitude. With pretty much a no questions asked implicit obedience attitude!! ( sounds good doesn't it)
Ensuingly: We would then front-up to friday night outreach and coffee lounge - to the back-drop of music in the background by keith green singing " here am i send me "
I remember well on one of these nights: I haply decided i would stay in the lounge (where free coffee was served) as i personally felt in need of some fellowship and "christian company" (at the minute) Incidently the church Now calls this "connecting. As I felt i needed some CONNECTING - and not necessarily the call to sacrifice. Sounds selfish i know, but if im truly led by the spirit and not man's influence. I should respond accordingly!
However this did not seem to Go down to well with one of the pastors ( that is my decision to Not to hit the streets, and to decide to stay inside and "chat" )
But i determined i would stand my ground on this one - and NOT be influenced by his obvious dis-pleasure and "felt" pressure ...but anyway after some considerable time of fellowshipping - and enjoying the moment of edification, and of caring and sharing ... i relented to this pastor and gave in.
Meaning this: I got up and arose from my chair and deceased from "connecting" this felt pressure was overwhelming and so i submitted to it ( and gave in ) And to prove i had percieved and read the situation clearly ...when I got up from the chair and said to this pastor " i am going out Now to witness - and to hand-out-tracts...
His response was this: He began to shout and proclaim rather audibly "glory-to-God" and "halleljuh Lord" As a big smile broke across his face - that is upon my announcement of hitting the streets - both to sacrifice and to serve.
I must admit: I felt relieved also: as i had seemingly got this monkey of (works and sacrifice) off my back - and this also brought a sense of relief and release to a pastor clearly unhappy and displeased by my apperent lack of inactivity on the night!
The motto of the story is: Ive since long ( looonnngggg ) long, long ... learned ... that we are to be servants of God (first) and not the servants of men. Did not Saul obey the voice of the people... and Not the Lord???
Did not paul say: For if i yet please men, i should NOT be the servant of Christ??
Does not scripture say: To obey: is better than sacrifice??
You say: What does any of this have to do with the top ten
In one sense not a lot ...however in saying that the mention of "the judgment seat of christ" took me down spiritual memory lane -and of the experiences we often associate with these things ... that often come hurtling back to ones memory.
The motto of the story is this: many hundreds if not thousands of saints and christians world-wide BOTH on the web and in books and literature have expressed and have told of "BURN out and melt downs" from works imposed upon them - or from the feeling of pressure to GO OUT And WORK!
Forgive me brethren: If it appears that im slightly off topic - being this good friday and easter day!!!
I would guess: having been the recipient myself many times of posts somewhat de-railed or meandering SLIGHTLY "off topic" then does it really hurt or matter that much, IN THE OVER-ALL-SCHEME of things - if the shoe is somewhat on the other foot??
So again brethren forgive me for the VERY obvious dis-traction today... if peradventure you might find it in your heartS BOTH TO DO and act accordingly?
