INTIMACY- SERMON #7. PART 1 Pastor Bernardo Stamateas
INTIMACY: IT´S THE SECRET
3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 1st CORINTHIANS 4:3-4, NIV.
God moves Himself BY commands, not by tasks, needs, or problems. NO! He is moved by HIS DESIRE, that is, a COMMISSION. He didn't go to see Lazarus when he was sick.HE doesn't move to put out a fire or a problem, but by a COMMISSION. In the pool of Bethesda, he heals only one, who was the God's commission. This commission is a portion of CHRIST that GOD PUTS IN ME SO THAT HE MAY GROW IN THAT PORTION AND I MAY IMPART IT TO ANOTHER. The COMMISION ends when Christ is formed in another person. It starts in me, but it always ends IN THE OTHER ONE. Paul said, "I suffer as if I'm going through labour pains until Christ is fully developed in your lives." The other one starts to love, to seek, and to enjoy Him more: THAT'S WHERE THE COMMISSION OR ASSIGNMENT ENDS.
Our goal is that Christ grows in another person after me.
THE COMMISSION JUST HAPPENS, IT COMES OUT SPONTANEOUSLY, EFFORTLESSLY BECAUSE IT IS A FLOW. I share Christ with my neighbour, and something remains in him that develops Christ's character. IT HAPPENS BECAUSE I STOP LOOKING AT ME. I stop at my previous SELF-OBSERVING ATTITUDE. We analyse and evaluate ourselves. My greater enemy is my own self; it cuts off the flow. Paul states this truth very clearly.
Throughout the week, the same person who blessed you will discredit you. I self-analyse, too; stop doing it! Because the only One who evaluates me is the Lord! Culture or our parents, look at us, but I let only the Lord look at me. This self-observation must die so that the flow is not cut.
I TURN FROM ME TO YOU, LORD.
Examples: Instead of saying "Lord, you have given me everything", you talk about yourself as the main subject.
If someone helps us, we first prioritise giving thanks to the Lord, then we thank the person, and we say, "Jesus has shown up through your life."
GOD IS AN ETERNAL PRESENT
A year ago, the Lord gave me something, AND I STILL HAVE IT, AND TODAY HE IS STILL MY DELIVERER, BECAUSE HE IS THE SAME TODAY, YESTERDAY AND FOREVER.
Bernardo Stamates, senior pastor at Presence of God Ministries, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Translation and transcription: Liliana Ester Long, coordinator in the same ministry. https://presenciadedios.com/
NEXT: PART 2, THE TALENT PARABLE.
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