========================================================================
  COUNTER-BALANCED
  by Miles J. Stanford
========================================================================

Summary: Our personal knowledge of the Cross and fellowship with Jesus
must be balanced for us to truly experience God's presence and love.

Topics: "The Cross", "Fellowship With God"
Scripture References: John 1:39

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miles J. Stanford emphasizes the importance of balancing our personal
knowledge and fellowship with Jesus' resurrection with our fellowship in
His death on the Cross. He highlights the significance of approaching
God with boldness through the blood of Jesus, ensuring that we do not
neglect the Cross in our pursuit of His presence. Stanford underscores
the deep satisfaction Jesus finds when we abide in Him and the immense
love that welcomes us into His presence, transforming us to reflect His
glory and beauty.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus" (Hebrews 10:19).

Personal knowledge of and fellowship with our risen Lord Jesus is
counter-balanced by personal knowledge of and fellowship in the death of
the Cross. The principle of balance prevents our slipping past the Cross
and pushing into His presence.

"Where do you dwell? 'Come and see. They came. . . and abode with Him'
(John 1:39). The highest satisfaction He can have is that we should be
at home with Himself. He has removed the distance from His own side.

"If you believe that, you say, I will approach Him. That is one thing.
The next thing is, His love is so great He delights to have your
company. It is not that you will feel yourself out of place there-you
will be there in all the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ."

"Our Father delights in having us with Himself. Love yearns to satisfy
itself about me. It is not only that I can go in, but a much greater
thing--my Father, in all His majesty and glory, can come out, All is
equipoise. Not only have I entree, but I am shaped to the grandeur of
the scene, conformed to the glory of God. Not admitted like a stranger,
but changed into the same image; not to equality but similarity;
transformed into moral correspondence." -J.B.S.

"If we are not with Him where He is, we cannot be for Him where He is
not. We must be inside the veil to be outside the camp."

"Let us draw near with a true heart in fall assurance of faith "
(Hebrews 10:22).

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/miles-j-stanford/counter-balanced/
========================================================================