April 18, 1999 4-D Religion Psalm 116

By Ronald E. George Jr.

Sand Fork Baptist Church

 

A four dimensional religion is a personal relationship with the only living God. 4-d religion goes beyond the 2-D or 3-D religions that many have experienced. 4 dimensional religion begins when we make the discovery of God.

Scripture Text: Psalm 116:1 (KJS) I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice [and] my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon [him] as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 12 What shall I render unto the LORD [for] all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. 14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD [is] the death of his saints. 16 O LORD, truly I [am] thy servant; I [am] thy servant, [and] the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. 18 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, 19 In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

 

  1. What I have Discovered.
  1. He is Real
  2. He is the only living God
  3. He hears me and pays attention to my prayers. He inclines his ear to hear me.
  4. He is gracious, righteous, and merciful.
  5. He is full of compassion even in death.
  6. He preserves me and deals bountifully with me. God is an Awesome God!
  7. He helped me and is good to me.

 

A real Christian is an odd number, anyway. He feels supreme love for One who he has never seen; talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see; expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another; empties himself in order to be full; admits he is wrong so he can be declared right; goes down in order to get up; is strongest when he is weakest; richest when he is poorest and happiest when he feels the worst. He dies so he can live; forsakes in order to have; gives away so he can keep; sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passeth knowledge. -- A.W. Tozer

 

  1. What I have Decided.
  1. I will call on the name of the Lord.
  2. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
  3. All men are liars but I can trust in God who will never let me down.
  4. I will drink the cup of Salvation
  5. I will take God into my life as God.
  6.  
  1. What I have Dedicated to God.

(How can I repay him? What shall I render to him for all his benefits to me?)

  1. I will pay my vows to him in the presence of his people. I will be unashamed of him.
  2. I will serve him because he has set me free. What is the number one reason for serving the Lord? "Because I can!"
  3. I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. I will give to him of my time, talents(abilities), and treasurers.
  4. I will praise him in the public place of worship.

 

A pastor sat down for a heart-to-heart talk with one of the men in his church. He asked the man, "Are you going to become a member of this church?" The man piously reminded the pastor, "The thief on the cross never became a member of a church."

The pastor asked, "Are you ever going to attend a communion service at our church?" The man, true to form, responded, "The thief on the cross never went to a communion service and he still went to heaven."

The pastor asked, "Have you ever been baptized as a believer?" You'll never guess what the man said, "The thief on the cross didn't get baptized, and he was a true believer."

The pastor, trying to achieve some kind of break-through in this grid-lock, asked, "Do you give any money to the church? How about to missions?" The man noted, "The thief on the cross didn't give any money to church or missions, and he came through O.K."

Finally, the pastor, in disgust, concluded. "There is one important difference between you and the thief on the cross." The man, taking the bait, asked, "What's that?"

The pastor fired back, "THE THIEF ON THE CROSS WAS A DYING THIEF. YOU'RE A LIVING THIEF!"

 

  1. What I have Declared.
  1. I have declared to all that " I love the Lord. "
  2. I will be what you want me to be.
  3. I will say what you want me to say.
  4. I will go where you want me to go.

4-dimensional religion takes ordinary Sunday morning Christianity to the next level. This is the real to life level of living with God on a daily basis. Have you discovered the reality of the only living God? Is he real to you? Have you tried to construct a God that is who you want him to be and not accepted him as he is? Have you decided to call on his name and drink from his cup of salvation? Have you dedicated yourself to him by giving to him all that you have and all that you are? Have you praised him in the worship or is your worship hollow and meaningless? Have you declared to all that you Love the Lord?! Take your religion to the next level and become a 4-D. Christian. Discover God. Decide to trust in Him. Dedicate yourself to Him including your time, talent, and treasurers. Declare today that you love the Lord.

"I was almost your person today, Lord.

Then I thought what it would have been like if Jesus had done the same thing. What if God had almost revealed himself in Jesus Christ? What if Christ were almost born and almost lived and almost died? What if he would have said, "Ask and it will almost be given you; seek and you will almost find; knock and it will almost be opened to you"? What if he would have said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavyladen, and I will almost give you rest"? And what if Jesus had told his disciples, "For whosoever would save his life will lose it, and whosoever loses his life for my sake will almost find it"?

My Almost Christianity took on a much different light. I realized how many times I had played the game of being one of Jesus' "almost disciples." I recalled how many times I had prayed almost believing and walked through my days as if he were almost risen.

It was not a question of theology. It was a question of lifestyle. Whether or not I had a lifestyle that could match what I said I believed, whether or not, as some have said, I could walk my talk. " -- Tim Hansel, When I Relax I Feel Guilty, p. 51

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