He preached from my heart...

Have you ever had something on your heart but were not able to articulate it? Well, this has been on my heart for many years and I have tried to write it out, but to no avail. A friend recently told us of this sermon by a Southern Baptist preacher (link at the bottom). I listened to it tonight and was in tears before it was over because it is what my heart desires to share with so many of you. I wish I would have heard this in my youth, though I don't know if I would have really "listened."

I said the "Sinners prayer" when I was 4, but I didn't understand the Bible, my belief did not go beyond my head, it did not transform my life. I lived nearly 20 years as an unregenerate sinner before God got ahold of my heart and showed me that I was living in sin and if I would die I would go to hell because of my rebellion against Him.

Matthew 7
21) Not everyone that sayeth unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven.

I have no doubt in my mind that if I had died these words would have been professed unto me.

23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Since Jesus transformed my life by His power through His word, it has been my greatest desire to be able to share what God has taught me to what I think of as "my people." My friends I grew up with, my family, and anyone brought up without the understanding of living by God's Word. God called me to a different denomination so He could teach me to live a life holy, acceptable unto God, which is my reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)

I have tried many times to write out my complete testimony and try to share what I believe from the Bible that makes my life different from what I was taught growing up. I am not a gifted writer - a gifted writer can get his point across without an abundance of words... I am a babbler (it has taken me 2 1/2 hours to write this post because I have too much to say and you don't want to hear me babble!) :)

When I listened to this preacher tonight, my heart overflowed. It is what I want to share from my heart with every one I love. Please listen to it for me; it may change your life.

You are likely to be offended. Be prepared to have a spirit willing to listen and then ask the Lord to teach you whether he is right or not. In the end, it is not about what he says or what I say, the question is are you truly a follower of Christ? Do you know your Bible? Do you know the voice of God? Are you daily walking a life holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service? (Romans 12:1)

It is not my goal to be judgemental, it is my goal to challenge you to draw near to God. The Bible says "by their fruits ye shall know them," Matthew 7:20 and the fruit I see in many lives is contrary to the word of God. Only you know whether you are truly walking with God or not, but actions speak louder than words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuabITeO4l8 - this is a youtube video. You can convert it to an MP3 so you can listen to it away from your computer but I have no clue how to do it.

I'm going to try to give a brief glimpse into the difference of what I used to believe and what I believe now.

I used to believe...
believe,
say the sinners prayer and be baptized,
try to do what's right but if you don't it's o.k. your going to heaven anyway - this lead to a freedom in my heart to sin because it didn't really matter, I was saved

What I believe now...
turn from your sin and walk with Christ moment by moment seeking His guidance, reading His word and striving to live a life pleasing to Him, that includes no longer listening to things, watching things, wearing things or participating in activities that would dishonour God or would be contrary to His word. In order to do this you must be reading God's word so you know what He expects of His children.

when I sin I must confess it and forsake it. The forgiveness through Jesus blood is not a license to sin. We are to strive against it and in our humanness we fail but when we are walking with God He chastises us and calls us to repentence.

The two greatest commandments are found in Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. 31 And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

I love you all, God has worked that in my heart. I want to be able to share how God is working in my life and hear what God is doing in your heart. That spiritual fellowship in Christ Jesus goes beyond any friendship I have ever had, that is why I want it with you.