Have You Truly Seen God? - Santosh Poonen - February 2, 2014
http://rlcfchurch.org/have-you-truly-seen-god River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message is that true understanding and seeing God come from a pure heart, defined as having an unadulterated devotion to Jesus, rather than mere religious performance. The speaker contrasts this with the superficial piety of the Pharisees and uses Psalm 73 to illustrate that envy of others' prosperity and comparing oneself to others are signs that one has not yet truly seen God. Ultimately, seeing God requires a divine revelation that surpasses human effort or knowledge.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Have You Truly Seen God?The overarching message for the church and our lives must be that we are truly seeing God.
What does it mean to be pure in heart?Purity of the heart is completely different from physical purity; it is an unadulterated devotion to Jesus in our ambitions, goals, emotions, and affections.Matthew 5:8
The blindness of the PhariseesLike the Pharisees, Christians can easily assume they know and see God through mere religion while missing Him entirely.
Envy and complaining about sufferingComparing our prosperity and health with others or complaining about our own suffering are signs that we have not yet truly seen God.
Relying on our own righteousnessKeeping track of our good deeds and feeling that God owes us better treatment reveals an impure heart focused on self.
An embittered heartBitterness in difficult circumstances is the root of all grumbling against life and ultimately against God.
Entering the sanctuary of GodTrue revelation and a pure heart come when we get alone on our faces before God in secret.
The nearness of God is our goodWhen we see God, earthly desires fade, and the nearness of God becomes our greatest treasure and refuge.
What is true worship?Worship is the spontaneous response of an overwhelmed heart when it finally sees God.
Moses asks to see God's gloryDespite his close relationship with God, Moses pressed in to see God's glory and was placed in the cleft of the rock.
God proclaims His compassionate and holy characterGod reveals Himself to Moses as compassionate, gracious, and merciful, yet absolutely holy.
John's vision of Jesus in majestyWhen the Apostle John saw the glorified Jesus in Revelation, he fell at His feet as a dead man in worship.
We wish to see JesusWhen the Greeks approached Philip asking to see Jesus, Jesus pointed to the necessity of a grain of wheat falling into the earth and dying to bear fruit.John 12:20–24
A church of people seeking to dieA true fellowship is characterized by people who have given up their own agendas and ambitions to be dead men who worship God.
An invitation to come and seeJesus invites every believer to come into His presence, where seeing Him dissolves our fears and purifies our hearts.
