Sy Rogers Clips On Progressive Sanctification

[Meg]

This man has been through it and overcome. What he describes is the same thing Matt talks about.

[Meg]

This is BRILLIANT!!!

[Meg]

This one's good too...

[Meg]

Anybody been struggling lately?

[Meg]

This is BRILLIANT!!!

Of the messages I found by Sy Rogers, it was this one that moved me the most deeply. The first thing he says is that we must learn these things the hard way. I wonder if the Lord intended for each person to wander in worry and frustration until we figured these things out, or if the church at large somehow found this level of truth so unappetizing that they simply don't bother to try to get these points across. Now am I being to harsh? I don't think so. Why? Because every time I find myself talking to people at church, I mean on Sunday morning in the church building, the one thing no one seems to want to talk about is the Lord. They will talk about absolutely anything else BUT the Lord. I find that both endlessly disturbing, and also indicative of something badly wrong with Christianity in practice. Somehow or other, the genuine facts about Jesus Christ, how He thinks, how He operates, and why are so poorly understood that the church is limping along, it would seem largely defeated, because somehow the people who would serve and worship the Lord don't seem to understand Him very well. I strongly suspect the culprit is prosperity preaching, and I have reason to believe that any mature Christian would agree with that opinion. God bless me seems to be the only thing many people desire from God, therefore the only thing they will accept. People in this very comfortable high tech age have become so enticed by comforts that they soundly reject any discomfort. That, in my opinion, is why these days, when in the free world we have more resources of preaching, teaching and Scripture than any people who ever lived have had access to, also seem to have less faith than almost any people in history since Jesus Christ came into the world.

Four things I learned that church culture didn't really prepare me for

Sy Rogers said that on the video. The first time I heard him speak, he said that when he became a Christian, he discovered that "God is very different" from the god portrayed by the church. Until I heard him say that, I thought I was the only person who had ever reached that conclusion. In fact, Mr Rogers is the only person I have ever seen receive a standing ovation (thats when an audience not only claps for a speaker, but everyone stands up and claps as hard as they can), after he gave his full testimony. That says a lot about how badly many people crave an honest testimony about God, and how much it means for Him to repair shattered lives.

The next thing Mr Rogers says is that God is deliberately mysterious and that it can make him crazy sometimes that the Great Communicator doesn't seem to communicate more clearly. I've noticed that too, its driven me crazy too, and I've wondered about that for years. I have listened to this video several times, and pondered Mr Rogers point on this matter. He is right to an extent, God is definitely deliberately mysterious, that is actually an excellent point, and it is backed by Scripture:

Matthew 7:7
[ Ask, Seek, Knock ]

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

The Lord never made any conditions on how long this might take nor on how hard this might turn out to be. I have discovered that He permits old wounds to be revisited so that I can see that the parts of me He healed are really healed, not just covered up. So when something goes wrong, taking us by surprise, it is very important to draw on the strongest faith you have and seek how God fits into the hurtful problem, rather than get discouraged and think He suddenly let something get at you that shouldn't have. In other words, He wasn't neglecting you, He was showing you that you are stronger now, and what used to have the power to destroy you no longer does, because He really did heal you and now thats obvious, OK.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Prosperity preaching is going to have to take a walk. Saying something like "God can't wait to bless you, and if He isn't blessing you with joy beyond imagining, it must be your fault" is patently untrue, that attitude is rebuked by Scripture, because as Mr Rogers states, we must seek Him with all of our heart, which, unfortunately, is usually something we only really do when we're under pressure. This is why comfortable people usually have very weak faith.

Pursuit is the proof of your desire

How true.

God's ways are not mine says Isaiah 55, but because His ways are higher than mine, I sometimes find His ways unpredictable on the ground level, and yet He dares to say "you can trust Me, I'm good" I guess thats called faith. Faith is confidence in a person's character.

"Faith is confidence in a Person's character"...

Matthew 17:20

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Luke 18:8

...However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Anybody else ever wonder how the Lord could say such a thing and be right? Jesus Christ isn't capable of being mistaken and Scripture cannot be broken, so Luke 18:8 should be very alarming to us all. Sy Rogers has shed the proper light on the impact of Jesus concern about our response to the increasing pressures as we stand in the final hours leading up to the Rapture of the church. Will we have enough confidence in God's character to endure what we don't understand long enough to discover God's underlying intent? This can be difficult in the extreme, trust me. I endure an ongoing situation which challenges my trust in God's character and His concern for my own suffering on a daily basis. I have first, no doubt that God can stop the problem at will. I have no doubt that God does not approve of the situation, nor does He approve of the person behind the problem. Yet I have no doubt that nothing has changed -- yet. I also have no idea why. So I have two choices, I can stop trusting in the Lord in this matter, or I can endure, against my will let alone my own better judgement, and wait for the whole matter to play out, and see where its leading, no matter how long that takes. Its been 10 years so far, seven of them a Christian... You really have to be very sure of God's character to stand in some matters. Sometimes all you can do is deliberately decide that Scripture is true, its always true, and Scripture is incapable of being anything less. And then you give thanks that Heaven has such a great reputation, and you've been blessed with a ticket. *ahem*

Thats what I want to be, is someone loyal unto God

Me too. I owe Him...

Loyalty says I believe my confidence in that Person will one day be vindicated

That is the heart of faith in a state of affliction. THAT is why we are NOT crazy to stand in faith like the sneering unbelievers like to claim we are.

These are my thoughts so far on the concepts Mr Rogers brings to discussion in that video. This is the kind of teaching God has for those who are willing to stand firm enough to really deal with the difficult parts of the Christian journey.

[king'sbloomingrose]

This is BRILLIANT!!!

I watched the first two videos and they were excellent! I'll have to watch the others tomorrow. This one though was my favoritest one. God is an awesome God!

[Elijah's Mantle]

this is real stuff
yep
meg
bless your soul

[Meg]

this is real stuff
yep
meg
bless your soul

I'm glad to hear that stuff helped someone else. I like Rogers, did the first time I saw him. What I wouldn't give to be able to talk to someone like that for a few hours... *sigh*

[Elijah's Mantle]

so it is the devil that wants me to believe that I am bad and God is mad and that is why? I am marked in some places with that big B word and cant be saved

when in truth
Jesus never told nobody that I was a throw back throw away nonreedemable because Im not social sophisticated in language or knowing lots

maybe
I remember
Jesus Loves me
Ill sing that the way I first learned
get back that faith I had when I was 7 and 8
how did I get so lost I let thoughts like I think get to me

when bad circumstances happen to good Christians Im sure satan uses it
to say
see
not even those who believe believe your worth a plug nickle
thats why you wear a big ole B in life

were all in a war whether we like it or not
Jesus never seen me as a total reject
just satan wants that to be real in my thoughts in me
I guess if he can feed it into me he can snares me some how


to the lying slew footed devil going barefooted now
Jesus smaacks you

cant give the enemy no standing place not in the mind the soul or the heart
nope

[Meg]

so it is the devil that wants me to believe that I am bad and God is mad and that is why? I am marked in some places with that big B word and cant be saved

when in truth
Jesus never told nobody that I was a throw back throw away nonreedemable because Im not social sophisticated in language or knowing lots

maybe
I remember
Jesus Loves me
Ill sing that the way I first learned
get back that faith I had when I was 7 and 8
how did I get so lost I let thoughts like I think get to me

when bad circumstances happen to good Christians Im sure satan uses it
to say
see
not even those who believe believe your worth a plug nickle
thats why you wear a big ole B in life

were all in a war whether we like it or not
Jesus never seen me as a total reject
just satan wants that to be real in my thoughts in me
I guess if he can feed it into me he can snares me some how


to the lying slew footed devil going barefooted now
Jesus smaacks you

cant give the enemy no standing place not in the mind the soul or the heart
nope

so it is the devil that wants me to believe that I am bad and God is mad and that is why? I am marked in some places with that big B word and cant be saved

Right, Elijah's Mantle, absolutely right! The devil's a liar (accusing you) a thief (trying to steal your faith) and a murderer (trying to get you thrown in hell)! He's also a cheap punk, don't listen to a word he says! Feeling like you're "not good enough" to be saved is pretty normal for Christians, but thats not what the Bible says. What the Bible does say is this:

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Who do you really believe???

BTW, the devils lies can SEEM very convincing, he's pulled that on me a couple of times. He only SEEMS convincing, because a liar never admits he's lying, especially the devil himself, the "father of lies". The Bible is true, its always true, so stand on the Word and stand firm. A lot of people (including me) have sinned a lot worse than you ever did or ever will. Jesus Christ settled that issue on the Cross.

[mattfivefour]

Right on, Meg!

[Elijah's Mantle]

I believe God his sovereign word


1 Corinthians 1:4-9
4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.




Im surely glad for God's people Brother MATT
satan was about to kill me today with his deluded convincing lies
hes attacking me cause he knows God Blessed me again with word Gods word
satan dont want me to know it or learn it he would love to destroy it
but he cant do it

He has NO LEGAL RIGHT TO TRY IT neither

pray ya'll
cause satan attacks to acuse and say were all nonredeemable
Jesus Jesus Jesus breathing his name and saying it loud drives back the accuser trying to kill me

[Meg]

I believe God his sovereign word


1 Corinthians 1:4-9
4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.




Im surely glad for God's people Brother MATT
satan was about to kill me today with his deluded convincing lies
hes attacking me cause he knows God Blessed me again with word Gods word
satan dont want me to know it or learn it he would love to destroy it
but he cant do it

He has NO LEGAL RIGHT TO TRY IT neither

pray ya'll
cause satan attacks to acuse and say were all nonredeemable
Jesus Jesus Jesus breathing his name and saying it loud drives back the accuser trying to kill me

SHUT UP satan!!! Elijahs Mantle's sins are FORGIVEN!!! He's tried that on me too, EM, don't buy it!!!

[myinnuendo999]

Really awesome Meg!! Thank you for blessing me sis

[Robert]

I just watched these, and all I can say is WOW!!!

Instead of judging people by appearances or their pasts, we really need to listen to what they preach and whether it lines up with scripture or not. And what I heard here tonight definitely DOES!!!

[Meg]

[Robert]

"God is not an American"


This is very true, and God is not any other nationality either. But in saying this, Sy's point is that we tend to impose our desires upon the Lord rather than humbly wait upon His desires. We get frightened because the Lord asks the difficult, uncomfortable tasks of us that come with serving Him, and we have our eyes set upon the desires we have in this world and how to obtain them.

It's an issue of perspective.

If we are asked to give up what we have and what we have known for the Lord, do we have that trust in Him? Do we trust Him enough to go when He says, regardless of the cost? Do we have the courage to leave what we have known, to go to "the Promised Land"? I do not mean a literal "land" as in a place on Earth, per se, but to leave the "Egypt" of comfort, conformity and security to walk with the Lord on a road that is not wide and smooth. A road that very much goes through the "Valley of the Shadow of Death", where the only safety is clinging as closely to the Lord as we can, and the only light we can see by is the light that comes from Him alone.

We need to ask ourselves: "What am I clinging to?" If it isn't the Lord, then it is something that is perishable and temporary. The Lord reminds us in Matthew:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27, NASB, emphasis mine)


This world can take just about anything that we have from us: money, health, careers, dreams, you name it. Anything material and temporal is subject to damage, destruction, removal, theft and loss. Jesus tells us:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21, NASB, emphasis mine)

All we can do then, seeing as all we have in this world will perish, is to not just trust in the Lord but to kneel humbly before him and go where he will send us, with whatever He sees fit to give us. Isaiah gives us the attitude a servant should have:

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8, NASB, emphasis mine)

[mattfivefour]

Absolutely the Rock of Scripture, bro! As is often missed in the parable you quote from Matthew 7, both men heard the Word. The only difference between them is that one acted on the Word, and one did not.

To the words of Jesus in His instruction in Matthew 6, we can add the words of the Holy Spirit as given to Paul in Colossians: "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4)

As always, Robert, you have broken the Bread of the Word well, for the building up of the believers. May we all have servant attitudes.