God’s Wish List Pt-8 ~ Message 121

  This message of this series examines the differences between how we expect God to work in our lives and how he actually does.  It examines why faithful church members can spend years believing they are saved because they did what they were told, then later on have God bring real conviction and an undeniable personal knowledge that they were not really saved.

  There have been many who have the personal testimony of God’s dealing with them about their need of salvation following years of church service; some had even been the pastors.  This subject is usually approached with skepticism by those who hear of it but the individual is certainly convinced in their own mind and heart and more than likely they were bothered by how people may judge them after it became public knowledge.

  How is it possible that God allows people to believe they are saved without his Spirit convicting of sin, righteousness and judgment to come.  It’s clear in 2-Peter 3:9 that the Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  To understand this verse consideration must be given to the meaning of “the will”.  In this case God’s will is a reference to desire or choice.  From Adam and Eve until the upcoming Battle of Armageddon God does not enforce his will on his creation, it is a matter of each individual’s free choice.

 That choice involves Hebrews 11:6; “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”.  The “faith” part is about learning enough from the “Word of God” to be able to make the choice by coming to the knowledge that it is a serious matter of life or death.  The “seek him” is about the desire to know God personally, about the desire for his pleasure above our own, about his benefit without self consideration.

  Unfortunately few know in their heart the difference between serving God because it is right and service that is compelled by love.  This is because the focus is put on serving God because of need and what we can gain at the judgment, instead of the emphasis being on God’s greatness and his glory.  When God’s attributes are focused on we grow to appreciate who made us and how wonderful it is to be alive and experience his world.  When this happens humility becomes automatic as we grow to love and appreciate the opportunity our Creator has provided us.

  In Luke 10:38-41 Jesus scolds Martha and commends Mary which seems wrong because Martha was working but Mary was just watching and listening.  We automatically think it should have been reversed because Martha was serving intently.  However Mary wasn’t being lazy she was deeply in love with Jesus and he knew it.   Luke 7:47: “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”  Mary had been forgiven a great many sins and had fallen deeply in love with Jesus; so much so that Jesus could feel it!

Salient Points:  Knowledge by experience,  Why no conviction, Expecting God to do it your way.

Scripture: Jer. 9:24, Eph. 5:9-10

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