Reality in Spiritual Experience

September 26, 1993

2 Corinthians 5:15-17

" ... He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.

Therefore from now on we recognize no man (by what he is in the flesh;) even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

Therefore if any (person) is in Christ he/she is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."

Introductory Illustration

Mrs. "K___" called me at radio station (WFME) after a very popular prayer time. I met her at a street corner she designated, and took her to my home in Edison, New Jersey. She was "being shadowed by the F.B.I." She did have $5,000 she wanted me to take and keep for her.

My wife can verify what I am telling you. She was CERTAIN! But she was certainly WRONG!"

How do we KNOW we are Christians? How do we KNOW that we KNOW GOD? Ask ten different people— you may just get ten different answers!

One will say: "God said it. I believe it. He said I should do certain things. I did them. I trust Him. And that is how I know I'm saved!" This is a covenant based on Scripture primarily.

Another will say, "The Bible became food and drink to me." Here appetites, in their changing, indicated a change of nature.

Another will say, "I don't put down these other ways, but Christ warmed my heart! I felt something!"

Another way we know— high up on MY list— is the testimony of a changed way of living. Show me someone who was lying and abusing substances and living selfishly and maybe sleeping around, but who has an encounter with the living, risen Christ and all of a sudden there is a 180 degree turn around, and he or she is honest and thoughtful and Christlike and begins to love the things of God, I don't know of a more convincing witness to the fact of Christian faith.

However it is that we KNOW, that KNOWING is important!

AND EVERY ONE OF US CAN KNOW GOD, AND WE CAN KNOW THAT WE KNOW HIM!

I. IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF SALVATION

A personal "experience with God" is the birthright privilege of every Christian believer! It was one of the great contributions of John Wesley that he taught the privilege of knowing that we are saved.
1. PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE UNSUPPORTED BY OTHER WITNESSES IS SUBJECT TO DELUSION
  Illustration: Remember "Mrs. "K___" who called me at radio station... She was CERTAIN! But she was certainly WRONG!"
2. "Experiences" widely vary. They can not be used all by themselves, standing alone, as the "norm" for measuring either the quality or the validity of Christian life and faith.
THERE ARE AFFIRMATIONS THAT SUPPORT OUR KNOWLEDGE
1. A clear experience of salvation is always in harmony with the Christ of salvation! A clear experience of salvation will not contradict the clear teaching of the scriptures. We believe in the authority of the scriptures.
  Illustration: A woman called her pastor and asked him to pray for her. She had "lost all the JOY out of her experience with God."
  Her pastor asked her, wisely, if she wanted to talk about her concern. She replied that she did not want to discuss it, she just wanted him to pray for her. But as he gently probed he found she was "living in" with her boyfriend in clear violation to what she knew God's Word would have her do.
  She wanted to have a good, clear experience of salvation with no regard for what the Bible said, and no regard for what the clear scriptural teaching of her church might be. What she would not admit to understanding was that A CLEAR EXPERIENCE OF SALVATION IS ALWAYS IN HARMONY WITH THE CHRIST OF SALVATION!
2. The classical teaching about "witnesses" to faith is that there are three:
  1. the witness of the Word;
  2. the witness of my spirit (God said it, and I believe it):
  3. the witness of the Spirit.
3. But there are other witnesses, too. There is the witness of life's changed directions and goals. (text "Old things passed away") There is the witness of life crying for nourishment. ("as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the Word" 1 Peter 2:2) The Bible becomes an opening Book! There is the witness of life that simply cannot be contained, seeking to share its joy!
THE SECRET IS WHAT IS AT THE CENTER!
[Our text has the 'secret'] " There has been A GENUINE REPENTANCE: A TURNING FROM, A TURNING TO— AND NOW WE AGREE WITH GOD! (verse 15 He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves!") Christian faith is always Christ-centered. (Isn't THAT profound!)
EVEN IN THE MATTER OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, self must not be the center and the focus. This is a 'given.' Christians do not any longer live for themselves! (And that certainly goes against "Grab for the Gusto!" doesn't it!!)
It is possible to be self-centered in every phase of our faith. (There is a kind of false Christian faith that is human centered. It says: How can this benefit ME? How may I be served?)
It is possible to seek to BELIEVE THE TRUTH UNTO OUR SELVES! To "control" what we believe, rather than putting our lives under the scrutiny and the authority of the Living Word.
It is even possible to OBEY THE TRUTH UNTO OURSELVES! To "control" how we serve the Lord. ("Though I give all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned ... and have not LOVE ... it profits me nothing!")
And it certainly is possible to SEEK RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE UNTO OURSELVES! When we put even the experience of salvation at the center (INSTEAD OF GOD HIMSELF) we get pulled 'off target.' "Get all excited! Tell everybody!" That is good, even necessary- - so long as Jesus is what we are excited about— as long as HE IS AT THE CENTER OF LIFE, and not 'feeling good' or even 'feeling we are doing important work' or 'feeling ANYTHING!'

II. LIVING LIFE FROM THE TRUE CENTER (TEXT)

Real, lasting, satisfying EXPERIENCE springs from KEEPING GOD AT THE CENTER OF ALL WE ARE AND DO. It is THIS LIFE CENTERED IN CHRIST that is what the "new creation" is all about!
Illustration: Let me tell you another story: Some time ago I received a letter from a lady with a "delayed testimony" that stretches back now several years.
After spending her entire life in the church during some special meetings or studies she came to realize she didn't really know that she knew God! She talked with her pastor. She began to seek to be honest and open with God, herself, and her husband (with whom she had what I believe was and is a good marriage.)
She is writing to say that after spending all her (more than 40 years) in the church she has broken through into a new and glorious experience of spiritual reality.
She writes: "I had thought for years that I couldn't really be saved — and I had never really wanted to get away from God, but had never really let go of myself and really let God take control of my life.
"I have thought so many times since then as I look around me at others, "what are they really hanging on to? What was I hanging on to?" But God really and gloriously saved me and I gave Him my heart and life and He sanctified me wholly and I am really living and learning daily as I give myself to Him day by day.
"It took some fearful groping for the first few months and I went through a depressing period when I really didn't know where I was going. But I wanted to KNOW I was saved and although at the time I wondered if I'd ever be able to look back on this period and say 'Thank You, Lord,' I know I needed this test of faith.
"Richard (her husband) was so understanding— we both began to talk about things and fears that had haunted us since childhood. You know, we both grew up in Christian homes and are so very glad that we didn't taste of deep sin— but there was a very harsh and bitter attitude in the church during our impressionable years that had scarred us, and may I say, many other young people.
" ... God is blessing our home not in a big overwhelming way, but a quiet steady sureness that He is ours and we are His children. I think so many times of the song, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Lord Unto Me!"
" ... Not a service goes by without the blessedness of His Presence. ... We have many people with problems ... but we are really fasting and praying for them and I believe God will be faithful. ... I want you to know that I'm one of the fruits of your labor."
The letter is signed (Lenora Hinkle)
Do you think that the Hinkle family was an isolated case? Do you believe that there are other good, solid, even saved and believing Christians who aren't satisfied with the level of their ASSURANCE?
It is my deep conviction that EVERYONE can know spiritual reality!
THOSE BROUGHT UP IN THE CHURCH, familiar with holy things, practically inoculated by a "mild form of spiritual life" against ever getting the real thing, like [Lenora Hinkle] in this letter I just read can have a satisfying personal walk with God.
THOSE WHO HAVE LOVED JESUS SINCE THEY WERE LITTLE CHILDREN, but have been under the impression that He is far off, and not to be bothered with walking and talking with each one of us— these people can come to know Jesus and love Him.
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SELFISH AND LIVING UNTO THEMSELVES in every part of their lives— they can have spiritual reality!
HOW?
1. Mystery! Salvation is the work of an instant. And yet sometimes people go for years before it seems to dawn: I CAN really KNOW God!
2. INVITING God into your heart and life! This is NOT a 'week end project'! It is the surrender of the center of life— for time and for eternity! Seeking! Asking! Knocking!...as a way of life!
3. But if you want reality you may HAVE reality!

Conclusion

Begin just now, where you are. Walk in all the light that you have.

Romans 10: 9,10 says if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus; and, if we believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead— we shall be saved.

This not a cut-and-dried formula. But it is the simple truth!

Prayer - Hymn of Invitation #343 Just As I Am