(Clip) We Need to Experience God
Lee Dodd emphasizes the vital need for Christians to personally experience and relish the love of God beyond mere intellectual understanding to sustain spiritual vitality.
This sermon emphasizes the danger Christians face in losing sight of God amidst the wonders of His Word, urging believers to cultivate a personal relationship with God. It highlights the Apostle Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3 for the church to have the strength to comprehend the surpassing love of Christ, emphasizing the experiential aspect of this love. The sermon warns against seeking emotional fulfillment from earthly things rather than from the presence and love of God, stressing the importance of regularly experiencing the love of Christ to avoid spiritual danger.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Warning from A.W. Tozer about losing God in knowledge
- God as a relational person to be cultivated
- Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3 for knowing Christ's love
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II
- John Flavel's teaching on spiritual ecstasy and delight
- Necessity of spiritual exhilaration for sanctification
- Danger of seeking earthly satisfaction over spiritual
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III
- The soul's craving for fulfillment beyond itself
- Spiritual danger of prolonged absence of God's love experience
- Call to meditate on Christ's love personally and emotionally
Key Quotes
“We have almost forgotten that God is a person and as such can be relationally cultivated as any person can be.” — Lee Dodd
“Ecstasy and delight are essential to the believer's soul and they promote the believer's sanctification.” — Lee Dodd
“The believer then is in spiritual danger if he allows himself to go for any length of time without tasting of the love of Christ and savoring the felt comforts of a Savior's presence.” — Lee Dodd
Application Points
- Make time regularly to meditate deeply on the love of Jesus Christ to nurture your spiritual life.
- Guard against prolonged spiritual dryness by seeking the felt presence and comfort of God.
- Recognize that knowing about God is not enough; cultivate a personal and emotional relationship with Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to experience God's love and not just know about it?
Experiencing God's love brings spiritual exhilaration that sustains and sanctifies the believer, preventing reliance on earthly things for satisfaction.
What does A.W. Tozer warn about regarding Christians and God's Word?
He warns that Christians risk losing a personal relationship with God by focusing too much on knowledge rather than relational experience.
How does John Flavel describe the believer's need for spiritual delight?
He states that ecstasy and delight are essential to the believer's soul and promote sanctification.
What spiritual danger does the sermon highlight?
The danger of going for long periods without experiencing the love of Christ, which can lead to seeking fulfillment in earthly things.
How can believers cultivate a deeper experience of God's love?
By meditating on Christ's love personally, allowing themselves to be emotionally stirred and delighting in His presence regularly.