Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple. NKJV
No More To The Dance
A friend of mine quoted a champion athlete who had reached the top of his game, the pinnacle of his career, the desire of his dreams, saying that when questioned regarding his success, he replied, “Well frankly it’s a little disappointing, I really expected more.” In the church, many people would like to say the same about their experience of Christianity and I have observed many people are leaving the church because of this same reason. They expected more! The fact is that many people entering the world of church rarely become solid in Christ, no, so very soon, many come to the conclusion that they have been 'sold a pup' and they leave.
This disappointment in Christianity, in Christ, is very noticeable even in long-term members of our churches and usually comes out sideways in these people. In other words, this disappointment in Christ eventually makes itself manifest in depression, manifest in sickness and manifest most usually, in sin. They are disappointed because they expected more!The answer this disappointment, the answer to this dis-ease in Zion, has to be an active relationship between desire and satisfaction. A person in Christ must desire Christ, and must must find satisfaction in Christ, which will in turn kindle desire, which when burning in Jesus, will lead to satisfaction, which will fuel desire, which will burn in satisfaction, which will fuel desire, which will burn in satisfaction, which will, well, you get my point. We need to begin this upward spiral of satisfaction in Jesus and we need to begin it right now!
Like it or not, this means feelings. Like it or not, feelings are important. The absolute facts of the Gospel are what we hang our hats on, are what we hang our all upon, but these absolute facts will not fuel us with energy to continue and win the race. No, only the very felt presence and the manifest footsteps of God walking along with us, will keep us warm through the lonely valleys in the darkened dale of this old world. We need to feel our Christ, we need to feel our Christianity. Our experience of Jesus must become a felt reality. Spurgeon begins his opening volley of 'Daily Devotions' today with this stunning statement “He who affirms that Christianity makes men miserable, is himself an utter stranger to it.” If that is the case, then let us acknowledge but one thing tonight dear friends, and then let us make sure of but one more.
Firstly then, let us acknowledge that the vast amount of what we see in the present days of the church are indicative that most people do not truly experience Christ. Secondly, let us make sure that we do truly experience Christ.
There is a need here folks for some active pursuance of God. There is a need here for stout hearts in winning this fair prize of the felt presence of God. Maybe tonight you need to throw some rocks at the windows of the Father and demand that He get up and give you some bread. Maybe tonight you need to get out of bed and run around the city looking for your lover, weeping in desperation until you find Him. You may brush with the religious Police as they find you out of your pew so late this very night, they may even give you a right royal beating, but He shall hear about it! A report shall be made in heaven concerning the mad pursuing love which has come upon you, and who knows, tonight, when you hear the turning of your door knob, your lover may slip in and slide between your waiting sheets.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Listen: - My beloved put his hand By the latch of the door, And my heart yearned for him. I arose to open for my beloved, And my hands dripped with myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock. NKJV
Pray: No more to the dance O Lord, but bring me to Your house and to Your banqueting table dear Jesus. Let me be familiar with the language of love and ask You then to fed me on Carmel and Bashan; Oh come and satisfy my soul in the mountains of Ephraim and Gilead. Amen. (Jer 50:19)
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