THE BIG DISPUTE over FEELING "CLEAN"
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
-Andrew Strom and others.
Last week we published my most "controversial" sermon (in case
you missed it, it is linked at the end of this email). To me, the big
dispute is about whether it is possible to feel really, truly "clean"
in Jesus. An actual consciousness of real "cleanness" before God.
That is what the whole controversy with my sermon was about.
A lot of people cannot believe they can ever feel clean like that.
It caused quite a stir. Here is what some who listened to the
sermon wrote about the controversy-
Missy wrote:
"I think the controversy is that from what I have encountered with
myself and other believers that it is very hard for some of us to not
beat ourselves up and strive over sin. I have experienced what
you talked about and it's an amazing thing, to feel clean before
God!! I loved the video and I hope that many people get to see it...
I have encountered so many believers that sadly do not like to
accept the fullness of being clean in Christ because it seems
that they have a hard time accepting that they can be, or a hard
time accepting that there isn't something, just something that
they have to "do" to keep themselves in check with God. Now
I'm not talking about having no responsibility as believers, but
I'm talking about 'sin consciousness' as you said."
Frank wrote:
"Hey brother Andrew. Here is your problem with that sermon, you
took on the sacred cow of revivalists. I have been around, and part
of the "revival conferences" for a number of years, and this is the
message that is not embraced. That is why I asked the question
at the conference via the internet about "cursing the darkness."
It's what the revivalists do, they only ever curse the darkness.
Romans 8 is a very dangerous chapter to be quoting to a people
who almost always dwell in the realms of Romans 7 and the only
acceptable proclamation is `Oh wretched man that I am." Or- "oh
what a vile worm I am."
To be a vile worm in many of the circles of revivalism is to be a
virtuous man. To walk in the glory of the knowledge of God in the
face of Jesus Christ is quite another thing. The last thing the
enemy wants is for an army of sleeping saints to arise from their
slumbers or from the dust of the earth and say "Behold the Lamb
of God that taketh away the sins of the world." You see, the death
to self movement (and I think death to self is vital) only ever look
at themselves and their sin, they are rooted in the OT and their
eyes are on their sin and they look to the 10 Commandments as
they look in a mirror and they see nothing but their own sinfullness
looking back.
The time is far past when the saints lift up their eyes unto the hill
and see where their help comes from, when they lift up their eyes
and see the Lord Jesus Christ high and lifted up. When Jesus
begins to be proclaimed, when the glorious resurrected Lord Jesus
Christ is lifted and we say to men and woman everywhere "Look
to Jesus, look to Jesus," see the glorious Lamb of God, see the
glorious Lion of Judah."
ANDREW AGAIN: Yes - sadly, that is what the controversy seemed
to be about. "What can WASH AWAY my sin? -Nothing but the
blood of Jesus"... "Are your garments spotless, are they white as
snow, are you WASHED in the blood of the Lamb?" So many of
the old hymns are about this - being washed clean - having the
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS living in us. Actually knowing and
experiencing "cleanness" through Him.
Personally, although I believe in laying a foundation of deep
repentance and brokenness, etc, I don't believe in "leaving" people
there in a state of condemnation and endless striving. We have
to see people brought through into a sense of deep "cleanness"
through Christ. They must actually EXPERIENCE this cleanness.
That is the end of all true Revival preaching, in my view.
If you missed it, the link to this 'controversial' message is below.
ANDREW's Most "CONTROVERSIAL" Sermon-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yptmr9FO4Sw&t=423s
God bless you all.