The following is a transcription of the “highest” message I have ever heard preached. It was delivered by Mike Bickle on Sunday, November 14, 1982, to a church named South County Christian Fellowship in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. It was his farewell message at his last service prior to leaving and starting a new church in Kansas City.
Be forewarned: Mike has a tendency to paraphrase and interject when he “reads” or “quotes” scripture. However, because this paraphrasing and these interjections contain valuable insight into the topic, they have been included unchanged. Consequently, for the sake of accuracy, each scriptural reference has a footnote in which the appropriate verse(s) is/are quoted verbatim.
The first several paragraphs supply a context (viz., background, mood, tone, etc.) for the message; the real “meat” of the message begins after that.
Turn to Colossians, chapter 2 and Ezekiel 36.
I’m not just real good at times like this. Basically, my personality does not like these kinds of occasions so I have very few profound words.
Thank you....
I love you....
That means more than just “thank you.” It is not my thing to get up and go on and on about stuff like this.
Just a few details about the church. Number one: We don’t have a building, but we still have 14 days so that’s no problem. Number two: The name of it will be: South Kansas City Fellowship [laughter]; that’s true. Some people say I get stuck in a rut.
We appreciate the financial support to start this new work. I really appreciate that. I know God’s our source but.... And I know God will meet the needs, but I really enjoy God using you to meet the needs. Not because the needs get met, because they’re going to get met no matter what—because nothing that is in the work of God can fall short. Nothing! But if I had my decision, I would have my need being met through this group, and that’s happening, and I’m glad for that.
We’re starting November 28th. We will have an address in the bulletin as soon as we get one; we will have a phone number. For those who want to come and visit, I have many friends, you can stay at their house [laughter].
I talked with the people in the tape ministry and we will be sending tapes regularly to the church here, and so you can get them through the church here if you’re interested in that. They came and asked me if I would do that—even some worship tapes, different speakers: myself, other brothers. We’ll be sending some of those, and so in the bulletin you will find announcements for that.
And we really do appreciate your support. Really, really we do.
Now, I have a message in my heart that is my “love message” to you. I’ve been saving this for three years—that’s a fact. I preached this at New Covenant Fellowship one time. It’s a word that the Lord put solidly in me. And for three years I’ve wanted to preach this message, because it’s my favorite message that I’ve ever preached. I’ve only preached it once or twice and.... It obviously won’t be exactly the same, but the concept is the same.
So, I went and dug out some of my old notes from way back when—and it’s fun to look at old notes—it really was a joy to do that this morning. But the message is so clear in my heart, I don’t need the notes that much, but uh....
For three years, I’ve—not every day, obviously, for three years, but a number of times—I’ve said, “Lord, I want to minister that sometime.” And then, when I knew that I was going to be sent out from here, I said, “That will be the day and the hour that I will share that."
And so I want to give my “love message” to you, because when I stand before God—which I will very soon—the Lord will ask me to give an account for three years of ministry to a group of people in this building (that sit in this building this morning) and I want to be able to say, “Lord, I said this” —this thing that I am going to say this morning. “I proclaimed it with all of my heart; I said it clearly.” And then, after that, with my heart—although I certainly will pray for you, certainly.... And certainly I’ll be back a number of times in ministry.... But for the most part, I have to commit you to the grace of God like it says in Acts 14:26 or 28 1 that Paul committed or commended that church to God’s grace. God’s grace is much, much more sufficient than a man. And so, I don’t care who’s preaching, who’s here, who goes in the next five years or ten years. God’s grace is much, much stronger than a human vessel. So if you’ve been committed to His grace, you will win exceeding victory.
Let’s pray. Father, I thank you. I truly thank you Father, for these human beings—for these people. I thank you that I have great joy in my remembrance of so many of these people, and so many things that we’ve done, and that in eternity many friendships will be re-established. Though in our hearts, God, we will not lose our friendship, but in that day, in that eternal city, those friendships shall be enriched and strengthened again. And I look forward to the day when precious hearts will be joined and reunited from this phase of our stay upon the earth. I thank you for the assurance of that, God, in Jesus name. Amen.
I’m not trying to make this sound so permanent, but.... Because I don’t know what the future’s going to hold. I don’t know who’s going where next, or in what city I’ll be living in ten years. I don’t know anything. All I know is that we love one another, and that there’s a real flow of affection that goes back and forth from the people in this group to the people in that group, and it’s kind of exciting isn’t it? I’m really excited; I really am.
I feel like we need to set our eyes on the future. Too much living in the past is, I believe, a destructive thing. Besides, there’s too much to do tomorrow to spend a whole lot of time thinking of yesterday. And I feel like there’s something legitimate about having fond remembrances, and having joy in the remembrance of people, but there’s so much to do...so much to do....
(I love people that sell houses to live in buses. Oh, I love that! I love that! It’s not just the bus; it’s the concept. I love that kind of thing.)
Well.... We were in Colossians, chapter 2, right? That’s where you should be right now: Colossians 2. And then Ezekiel 36 is the next place that we go.
The Word of God teaches us.... Now, please take out a paper and pen; you’ll never get all the verses that I’m going to share with you. The reason I’m giving you so many of them is because I want you to be instructed. Like I said, this is my love message to you. This is from every ounce that’s in my heart; I’m going to give to you the deepest things that are in my heart. I’m giving a lot of verses because they will all show up on the last day; if you miss them now, God will still remember them, and I will say that I said it, Lord, I said it clearly.
In John 4:24, Jesus said that the Father seeks people that would worship him in spirit and truth. 2 God is seeking men and women that would worship in truth. If we don’t worship in truth, there will be no way that we can enter into the depths of God’s being (1 Corinthians 2:10); 3 there’s no way that we can know Him, and there’s no way that we can know the power of the resurrection. If we don’t worship according to truth—and all truth must be evaluated and judged according to this Book [slamming his fist on his Bible], and not according to the traditions and the philosophies of our society. God is looking for people that don’t worship sincerely...not just sincerely, but those who worship according to the principles in this Book. And the principles in this Book are extremely high and noble. Those people—a group of people that worship in truth—are the people that will enter into the power and the presence of God. Sincerity is not enough; truth is the foundation stone of Christianity.
Colossians 2:8. I’m going to give you a warning. It’s a very apropos warning to a church; let me describe the church. In verse 5 and verse 7.... So if Paul warned that church, certainly I can warn you...in good taste. Verse 4: “I say this in order that no one may delude you with persuasive arguments.” 4 There are many persuasive arguments going around our community. I don’t want you deceived by them; they’re powerful arguments. “For even though I am absent in my body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit. I am rejoicing to see your good discipline; the stability of your faith in Jesus Christ. As you received Him, so walk in Him. You have been firmly rooted; you’ve been built up in God. You’ve been established in your faith. You’ve been instructed in the Word. And you overflow with gratitude towards God.” 5
That is my concept of a healthy church. I’m not saying all of those things are descriptive of this church; I’m saying that is a very healthy church. Paul’s talking to a church that was highly disciplined; a church that was overflowing in gratitude in every walk of their life—depression had no place in that church. Men and women were in gratitude towards God. How would you like to be part of a church like that; where the whole lot of them were disciplined, established in the Word, established in Faith, stable in God—every one of them? How would you like to be a part of a church across a city that Paul described like that? Listen to the warning he gives that church. If he gave that church this warning, how much more should we heed the warning? Because this church, though we’re growing, we’re young; we aren’t what I would call “firmly established in discipline” and everybody in solid, mature faith. I wouldn’t say that is necessarily accurate, because our church is young and there’s a lot of young believers. Listen to what he told them. In verse 4 he said, “Don’t be deceived—even you mature church—with delusive, deluding arguments; persuasive ones. Because they will come from the pit of Hell with great force against our minds.”
Verse 8—here’s the warning: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophies. See to it—firmly established, disciplined church—no one takes you captive through human philosophy; through empty deception, according to the tradition of men; according to the elementary principles of the world, and not the Kingdom of God, rather than according to Jesus Christ.” 6
Imagine Paul telling a church that the possibility of them being deceived through human philosophy and empty deception and men’s tradition was very, very...a very prevalent thing that could come against them from Hell. If it could come against that church, is it possible these things could come against this church? That the tradition of men....
You don’t even know what I’m talking about yet; I’m not talking about types of worship. I’m talking about something far deeper than that when I’m talking about “empty deceptions,” “philosophies,” “traditions of this society” creeping into the mentality and the flow of heart in this church.
Turn to Ezekiel 36. I am going to begin to describe to you what these traditions that will slip into this church—possibly—will be. I’m going to tell you some of the traditions, and the empty, deceptive, delusive arguments—that are persuasive—which are already in this church and need to be pushed out. They are in this church in a measure—no question, no question. We would be lying against our own conscience to deny it. But we need to fight this with all of our force...of our heart and conscience.
Jesus gave the priority list. Jesus made the priority very clear. In Matthew—write this down—chapter 22, verses 37-40—everybody knows the verse. It says this: “This is the highest commandment: Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your strength and all that entertains your mind. Love the Lord your God with all of your energy.” 7 That’s the highest commandment that God ever gave men.
That is the principal on which the Church of Jesus Christ is built—absolute, wholehearted rendering of yourself in devotion and obedience to the purpose of God in the earth. Loving God with all of your heart, all of your mind; nothing else escapes—that isn’t put to death—that isn’t in love and devotion to God.
“The second command is like it—love your man as you love yourself.” The glory of God...living for God’s glory is presented by the Lord Jesus Christ as the highest motivation of life; the second motivation of life is the good of man.
Some people say—that verse says you love man as you love yourself—some people say, some circles say you will never, never love others ’til you love yourself. Other groups say you will never be able to love yourself until you’ve loved others. I’m not sure which way it goes; which one comes first, the chicken or the egg?
Some say, “If you give yourself to help others, then you’ll love yourself.” Others say, “If you love yourself, then you’ll have the ability and the emotional stability to go help others.” So it goes one way or the other. All I know: That’s the second priority of the Gospel, and it is a very important one. The highest priority: Jesus said, “Loving God with all of your mind, all of your heart, all of your strength.” The word “all” means all your strength.
Let me give you a few verses to write down very quickly describing the lifestyle of the Lord Jesus. I challenge you to take these verses literally. I challenge you not—through the tradition of men, through persuasive human philosophy, through deluding arguments, through the elementary principles of this world—to delude or to dilute the things that Jesus said. Here’s what he said. John 8:29: “I do always and only the things that are pleasing to my Father.” 8 I challenge you to interpret that passage...in light of your own life. Jesus said in John 12:27—these are passages I think of often— “My soul is troubled,” he’s praying. “What shall I say? Deliver me from this hour. Oh God! Glorify your name in this hour.” 9 That was his prayer. “My soul is troubled. The crucifixion is in front. Shall I cry out for deliverance? No! Glorify thy name, Oh God, in me in this hour, regardless of what it costs me.”
John 14:13: “I say unto you, all things that you ask in prayer, I will give them to you so that the Father would be glorified in the Son.” 10 John 15:8: “I tell you to go and bear much fruit, because if you bear much fruit, the Father is glorified in this.” 11
The Lord Jesus Christ had a passion for the good of man. But he had a greater passion for the glory of his Father. You don’t have to choose between the two; you never.... God never called us to choose between the good of man and the glory of God; we are to live in both of them. But the glory of God is the highest motivation that any man can live for in this world. It’s the one that we’re reaching for. It’s the one that we worship for. It’s the one that we build a church for. It’s for the glory of God that we sell our house to live in a bus. And secondly, it’s for the good of mankind—whether your own good or the good of others, I don’t know. You can put ’em in what order you want; I’m not sure what order they go in. You’ll have exceedingly great joy. And others will be delivered from Hell and oppression of the devil. I don’t know which one is more important to you.
Ezekiel 36. By the Spirit of God, Ezekiel prophesies the New Covenant. He prophesies what would happen in Jesus Christ some 600 years later than this prophesy. It is the prophesy of the New Covenant. Listen to the spirit of this thing. Verse 22:
“Therefore, say to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord your God. It is not for your sake, O Israel, that I am about to act, but it’s for my Holy Name that I’m going to do this thing. It’s my name, which you have profaned amongst the nations where you went. In the new covenant, I’m going to send my Son. I will vindicate the Holiness of my great name when I send Jesus to the earth. My name has been profaned among the nations. It’s been profaned in their midst. The nations will know that I am the Lord thy God after I send the Lord Jesus. He will leave heaven. He will descend unto the earth. And He will bring glory and honor to my name across the earth. My only begotten son will do what mankind has failed to do. Then, I will prove myself Holy in the midst of the world through Him. For I will take you from this wicked nation. I will gather you from all lands. I will bring you into your own land,”
...speaking mostly of the church of Jesus Christ; the Holy nation; the land of God.
“I will sprinkle clean water on you. You will be clean,”
...talking about the new birth and the power of God dwelling in you.
“I will cleanse you from filthiness. I will forgive you from all your sin. Moreover, I will put a new heart inside you. I will put a new spirit in you,”
—all talking about the New Covenant in Jesus.
“I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you. I will cause you—by the power that dwells in your spirit—I will cause you to walk in my statutes. You will be careful to observe everything then, because the power will well up within your soul from the spirit that dwells in you. And you will live in the land that I gave you. You will be my people. I will be your God. I will save you from uncleanness. I will cull the grain and multiply it. I will not bring a famine upon you. I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field. You will not receive disgrace of famine again amongst the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good. You will hate yourselves in your own sight because of your sin. I am not doing this for your sake, says the Lord. Let it be known to you, it’s to vindicate the Holiness of my name in the earth.” 12
That’s pretty heavy. Those are the words of God! Those are the words of a balanced faith teacher!
I submit to you that the glory and the pleasure of God is the highest priority of a human being in this world. I submit to you that living for His pleasure is man’s greatest obligation and greatest debt before God...to live so God’s glory spreads across the earth, number one; and to live with a passion that man might be delivered and live in happiness.
In Revelation 4:11—just write it down— “And for my pleasure....” No! “And for Thy pleasure” —the angels were singing— “All of creation was created for thy pleasure, Oh God! For thy pleasure man was made. For thy pleasure the earth was created,” 13 is what the angels declared before His Holy throne.
The world was not created foremost for the pleasure of man, but for the pleasure of the God who created it. You were given breath on this earth for His pleasure; not for your own, number one. Oh, God wants you to have pleasure, because God has called you and he is a God of love and he wants you to live in pleasure. But never forget the highest motivation: You were created for His pleasure, supremely.
Revelation 5:9—all of these passages, they’re great devotional passages. You carry them in your heart when you worship God in your devotional life. The angels—I think it was the 24 elders—they said, “Worthy”—listen to this—“is the Lamb. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. And he shed His blood to purchase for God...men from all the nations of the world.” 14
Jesus Christ left heaven, to purchase, for God’s sake and for God’s pleasure, humanity from sin. God the Father...for the holiness...it says, “I’m about to act for My name’s sake. For My holy name...I will vindicate my name amongst the nations of the world. Then I will show the nations who I am.” The Lord Jesus looked at God the Father. He saw the offspring of His hand and he said, “Father. Father, you created these people. You gave them life. You gave them breath. They are living unholy. They are defiling your purpose. I will leave heaven. I will descend unto the earth and I will redeem men; for you, Oh God, I will do it because I love your great name, Father.” And he left the Eternal City and became a man and offered himself so that he could offer you to the one that he loved with all of His heart—the Father of Glory.
That was the reason that he came.
The scripture says that the Father sent him because he loved the world, but Jesus came so that he could purchase back, to the Father who loves you, your own hearts.
Jesus loves you too of course. I’m talking about highest motivation.
Let me give you three more verses; I will just quote them to you real quick. 2 Corinthians 5:9—I challenge you to interpret these passages. Paul said, “It is my ambition in life to please the Father.” 15
That’s 2 Corinthians 5:9. In 1 Corinthians 10:31 he told the church, and he said it soberly and honestly, “I charge you in everything that you do—whether you eat, or you drink, or you speak, or you don’t speak—do everything for God’s glory. Everything you do in this world, do it for the glory of God.” 16
I challenge you to interpret that passage any other way than that. All means all.
1 Corinthians 6:20: “You’ve been purchased with a price. You’ve been redeemed by His blood. Glorify God in your bodies on the earth.” 17 That’s what God said through Paul the apostle.
Well.... I believe the issue is the motivation of your heart. I’m not talking about God’s desire. God the Father’s desire is to bless you. He desires to bless you. I’m talking about your highest motivation. I’m talking about the future of this church moving in truth, so that then, and only then, can you worship in truth. Because there’s no such thing as worshipping the Father in truth if you’re not worshipping according to this motivation—there is no spirit of truth. If you’re going to know Him, if you’re going to enter into the depths of His presence, if you’re going to know His power, we’ve got to worship according to truth.
And I submit to you that the Lord Jesus came to this earth to vindicate the name of His Father, and that’s truth. And our highest—not our only—but our highest motivation must be the Lord Jesus’s motivation—to purchase for God men. For Him! That’s truth and God the Father seeks churches that will worship according to truth.
I’m not saying to forget yourself. I’m not saying to forget others. I’m saying to cause the consuming passion of your heart to be God’s glory.
You say, “I don’t have that. How do I get it?” It’s very simple. I’m going to give you two simple things. It’s real simple; you don’t necessarily even have to write it down it’s so simple. Set your mind on it and ask God to change your heart until the passion for His glory fills it. That’s it!
Begin to pray. Say, “Father, the power of God dwells in my spirit. Cause that wisdom and that godly desire and that power to rise in my heart so that I would have a passion for God’s glory like the Lord Jesus and Paul did.” God will form it in you. God will form it in you if you cry out for it. It’s that simple.
You might spend some time in prayer; you might even spend some time in fasting. You may go before God and say: “God, I’ve got a real serious problem. It’s this Father. I’m not living for your glory. I’m glad that you get glorified, but that’s not the passion of my life and that’s not right. I want to change it.”
Say, “God my heart doesn’t even consider your glory in what I’m doing. I’m not motivated with a passion to glorify you on the earth. I’m interested in happiness. And I’m interested in the happiness of others.”
And God says, “You know, I’m not offended by that.”
But you say, “But God, I want to be like the Lord Jesus. I want to be like Paul. I want to serve, and I want to vindicate your name. But God that feeling isn’t in my heart—do something, Oh God!” And something will begin to rise in you, if that becomes the supreme cry of your heart. And you will find new emotions and desires for God’s glory on the earth. And you will become a man like Paul the apostle. And you will become a soul like the Lord Jesus. And when your soul is troubled you will say: “What shall I say in this hour? Deliver me? No! Glorify Thy Holy Name on the earth, Oh my God!”
God will form those passions in you because the power for those passions dwells in your spirit and it will rise in you if you cry for it. If you will cry for it—this is my “love message” to you—it will happen and you will worship in spirit and in truth, and you will be men and women that enter into the depths of God’s presence in a way unprecedented in this nation today. But you’ve got to worship according to truth. Paul said this: “There’s going to be tradition of men. There are going to be philosophies, deluding arguments that will seek to bring you from the principles of Jesus Christ.”
Can you see those arguments in our society? Can you see them in our church? Can you see them in your heart? I certainly see them in my heart. I’m not driven with a passion for God, but I’ll tell you one thing.... Oh, I desire God’s glory in a measure, but not very much. I want to be happy. And I want other people to be happy. And that’s where I am right now. And God has to take me where I am. But I said one thing before His presence...I said, “Father, God, I’m not settling for an immature soul like I have now. It’s going to be developed according to your word. I am immature, but I’m not settling for it. I’m going to cry, and I’m going to cry night and day before your throne. I’m going to lift my voice upon high until the things that fill your soul fill mine.” God will form them in me. He will form them in me and he’ll form them in you if you’re determined to have them. And I said, “God, I want to be one of those people that worship in truth. I want to offer unto you worship according to Matthew 22 that says the First Commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and the second is to deal with mankind.” I’ve said, “God, I want that desperately.”
Well, the reward of Jesus’s suffering—listen to this. The reward of His sufferings was that He could present to God men and women whose hearts were consumed with zeal for the Father. Let me say that again. The reward of His suffering is that you would have all your affections wholly God’s. Anything less than this—namely where I am right now, I am living less than this—I am robbing the Lord Jesus of His just reward for His sufferings.
God the Father sent Him because He loved the world. Jesus came to purchase you for God. Oh, He loved the world too, don’t get me wrong. But He came for the Father’s pleasure—to vindicate His name. I’ve said, “Father, your Son suffered reproach in the earth. He suffered great suffering and he deserves the just reward of my heart. Oh God, it’s not there yet! But God, by your spirit that dwells in me, it will be! God, give me time; it will be there!” And God sees the cryings and the movements of a heart that says those things and he will be faithful. The Lord Jesus will delight to descend upon you in His spirit and form your heart in a way that would reward His sufferings so that you would be a human being consumed with zeal for God.
Why do the angels rejoice? What was the joy set before Jesus? That the Father would receive the just praise from the heart of man. That’s why the angels rejoice; that’s one reason. I think that’s the highest reason—because they see creatures living rightly before the creator.
Well, I want to test your hearts in something. When you pray for people, what do you pray? Do you pray for peoples’ salvation so that God would be glorified in it? I’m not out to condemn you. I’m just testing your heart to see where you’re at. I certainly...that’s not my highest reason. Do you pray because you want the people to miss Hell? Do you pray for peoples’ souls because you want them to be happy? Or do you pray for their souls because you want to be happy? (If they’re saved, they get off your back.)
There’s four motivations for praying for people. Number one: God deserves the affections of their heart because they’ve been created by him and for him and they’re not worshipping him, and God deserves the worship of the souls of every human being in this earth. Is that the reason that you’re praying that they’d be delivered? “Because God you deserve it, you created it. Jesus, you came and died, you deserve by the sufferings of your own flesh and blood body, you deserve that reward—to see the Father glorified.”
Or do you want them to miss Hell? Oh, I want people to miss Hell with a passion! Do you want them to be happy? Oh, I want my mother to be saved; I want her to be happy on the earth. Do I want to be happy? Of course! I want all four of them.
Which is the most important? I don’t know which is the most important. Number one isn’t, not yet. But it’s going to be. I want people to be happy. I think that’s what I want. I don’t want them in Hell. I think those are the two; I want them happy and I want them out of Hell.
I read the word of God and Jesus says, “I appreciate that, but that’s not the highest thing that God would work in your heart.”
I say, “God, I want more!”
He says, “Cry out for it.”
I say, “I will! I will!”
He says, “I’ll form it in you.”
Well, what do we call this empty philosophy and this delusive argument that sprang up from the traditions of men? How does it apply to the church? Let me give you just a real brief history. A hundred years ago, the revivals of Charles Finney on the earth—across Europe and America—mighty revivals. There was Jonathan Edwards in the middle of the 1700s; one of the mightiest men of God on the earth. Then, right after him, came George Whitefield, and on his heels was the young John Wesley, and in the day that Wesley died, that year Finney was born—four of the great men of God of the 1700s and 1800s.
They preached the glory of God with a passion. They exalted righteousness and holiness in the earth. They told men that God deserved the affections of their heart. And that was the message of the gospel—that they owed a debt to God and until they paid it, they were still under obligation. They owed God the affection of their heart and nothing less.
I’m not saying that was a balanced message; that was their message though.
Then there was an open attack from Hell on Christianity by the Higher Critics in Europe. Right about...a little over 100...maybe in the 1870s, the 1880s; the European intellectuals called the Higher Critics—men like Darwin, men like Voltaire (the French philosopher)—those kinds of men came on the scene. And they began to preach a totally different philosophy. And the official, accepted philosophy of the world—of the European or western world of that day—became Humanism. It got into the church and it killed the spirit of revival that Edwards and Whitefield and Wesley and Finney were bringing forth.
Let me define to you their message. This was the message—it went straight across and cut with such sharp contrast against the message of those men. This was the message; this is the definition of humanism: “That your reason for being, your purpose for existence, is the happiness of man.” Everything is relative to man being happy. Everything has its value according to its ability to make man happy. According to humanism, and according to those men—Nietzsche, Voltaire, Darwin was a philosopher of sorts—all those men in those days, they said salvation was getting all the happiness out of life that was possible. That is salvation defined. If you’re happy, you’re saved, and if you’re not.... It had no relationship to God or eternity. Salvation was getting as happy as humanly possible on the earth.
Now several of these men had different philosophies; different ways to become happy. Nietzsche came up with a theory that goes like this: “The more power you exercise over people, the more happy you are. Therefore, that’s salvation.” Hitler believed it with all of his heart. Hitler’s entire operation was built on the philosophies of Nietzsche, a European philosopher. And Hitler studied it and he said, “I want happiness—I will achieve power.” Others came along and said, “No way. No way! You will never, never attain salvation in this world—you will never be happy—by gaining power over people. That’s not the way. But it’s sensual experience,” and with air was given birth the Existentialist philosophy. Existentialism says that if it feels good, do it. If it feels good, it’s good for you; then it’s right. There are no absolutes. And if nothing is absolute, everything is relative. And if everything is relative, it’s relative to how you feel. So if you feel good, it’s good for you because there’s no God and no absolutes. That’s the existentialist philosophy. Sensual gratification is the way to happiness. Nietzsche said, “No way.” These men said, “Oh, yes, that’s it.”
There are no absolutes? But there are absolutes! It’s in the Book. But even in the Church of Jesus Christ, the Book has been watered down to where the absolutes don’t mean what they used to mean. Living with an eye to the glory of God...in all that you do, living to His glory, doesn’t mean all anymore. It means if you’re happy and God gets glorified, it’s good. That isn’t what Jesus said, though.
There are absolutes that cut against our mentality, even as spirit filled believers, because we are raised in an existentialist, humanistic philosophy. And it’s invaded the Church of Jesus Christ, and it killed the spirit of revival then, and it will keep the spirit of revival from flowing now.
Well, John Dewey came along. He said, “No. It’s not sensual experience. The only way to be happy is to be ‘who you really are’”—you’ve heard that one—‘the total expression of yourself.’ And so John Dewey persuaded parents across the European mentality to never discipline their kids. To let their kids “be”; “let them ‘express themselves’ and they will be happy. You don’t want to hold back ‘who they are,’ do you? Because if they can’t be ‘who they are,’ they’ll never be happy, and then they’ll never have salvation. And that’s what life is all about, is being happy. So take your stinking little hands off your kids and let them be ‘who they are’ and let them ‘express themselves’ and they will be happy.”
We’ve got a generation of miserably undisciplined, spoiled kids that are slaves to their own passions and their own unbridled desires; enslaving them and pulling them down into Hell. And that’s the product of John Dewey. That isn’t the way to be happy: to be “who you are.”
Well, before long the preachers bought this whole thing. Oh, they disagreed on the way it was expressed, but they bought this whole package that the purpose for man in the world was happiness. They bought it—hook, line and sinker—because it had a great appeal. That’s appealing, isn’t it? Happiness. Jesus came to the earth to make men happy! Oh, I’m sure that’s the offspring, and that’s the result of what He came for. But that’s not the highest reason for which he came on the earth. The whole church— W-H-O-L-E —the whole church has it’s roots in humanism. Of course we’d never call it by that name; how disgusting. But I think Paul had a little idea of what might sneak up when he said, “delusive arguments, persuasive ones; traditions of men; human philosophies not according to the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” I think Paul had a little insight when he was warning that highly disciplined church, that was solid in God. He said, “I warn you. It will happen to you if you don’t watch out.”
Then the church began to disagree on their expression of humanism, and it split. We have the liberalists and we have the fundamentalists. Both of them humanistic, but they disagree on what humanism is all about. The liberalists say this...let me explain the liberalists to you. They give no promise of heaven. They give no promise of Hell. They have no conviction of whether there’s a life after death; they’re not concerned with that; not the liberalists. They say that, through poetry and higher thoughts and appreciation of life, you will find happiness. They assure all of mankind that God is loving. And they have silenced that awful, noisy conscience in the heart of man. “God is loving. Don’t worry. Through poetry, and high thinking and appreciation, life will have its fullest.” They silenced that noisy conscience that was crying in the spirit of every man—that was created by the hand of a Holy God to deliver man from death. It is called a conscience. They silenced it. All they did was put a little bit of sugar in bitter coffee; that’s all it boiled down to.
Well, the fundamentalists said, “No. We don’t agree with that.” They disagreed on the expression of what the church was about—it’s all humanistic. The fundamentalist said this: “We believe in the resurrection. We believe in the crucifixion. We believe in the new birth. We believe in heaven. We believe in Hell. We believe in the Holy Spirit. And man can be saved.” That sounds good doesn’t it? Before long, it was reduced to giving mental assent to a few doctrinal points—that’s what it came to in the end. If you can answer yes to four or five questions, then you’re saved.
They taught the world.... They taught the world this—the church: “Jesus Christ died to save poor sinners from Hell.” And that is a half truth. That is not why Jesus Christ died, just to save sinners from Hell. But that’s what the fundamentalists were teaching—they were the on-fire radicals in the earth. That is only a half truth and that’s why it is so deceptive. Oh, certainly he did, but that wasn’t the highest reason he died. Ezekiel 36; read it. To vindicate God’s name in the earth, so that all of mankind would know who he was and what he was like. The fundamentalists taught—they didn’t believe what the liberalists believed—they said, “No, the cross was a means to improving the happiness of man in eternity. You get out of Hell; you’ll be happy forever. Come to Jesus; you’ll be happy forever and ever and ever.”
They made God out to be reigning in heaven for the happiness of man. Humanism.
The main question of that day: What could man get out of God?
Well, let’s contrast the two. The liberalists say the end of religion is to make man happy on the earth, and the fundamentalists say that the end or the goal of religion is to make man happy when he gets to heaven. One says now, one says later; both of them are to make man happy. The liberalists say that, by social change and political order, we can escape Hell on the earth. The fundamentalists say that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we can escape Hell in heaven...in eternity...after we leave the earth. The major thrust was getting something for nothing. Selfishness. That’s the major thrust of the whole thing. It’s the same motivation that motivates a man to rob a bank—to get something for nothing.
That is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. Certainly you don’t deserve it. But Jesus came and proclaimed that only through a radical change of two attitudes could a man be rightly related to God, the Father. And then, and only then, could he offer to God what was justly due to the Creator of all mankind through faith and obedience. A radical change of our heart—a radical, violent change so that then, and only then, could man offer unto God what was due to the Father. And the result is that man would be happy; that was the message of Jesus.
Ah, the fundamentalists didn’t like that. The liberals didn’t like that. The fundamentalists had a poor, beggarly Jesus, with a lantern, knocking on the door. “Would you give me one more chance, please? I won’t demand as much this time, please? Come on. Please, give me just one more chance; you can hang onto those three sins.” That became the message of the church. The King of Glory—mighty in battle—the one whose majesty is awesome and glorious, begging man for one more chance to make it with him.
Humanism in the church; it’s at every angle. It’s the most deadly philosophy ever to invade the church because it’s a half truth. Half of it is true. God does want men happy. But the way to it is radically wrong. It’s in total contrast to Christianity—the spirit of it is—the message of it is half right, but the spirit of it is totally in contrast to Christianity. Man’s good without God—or man’s good—if you have to put God as an appendage at the end—well then put Him there. But man’s good is the purpose of it. That’s the humanistic philosophy. And that’s the message of most of the pulpits across this nation. Man’s good with very little reference to God’s glory.
Oh, we take humanism and cover it with biblical language and we call it Christianity! I repeat: We take humanism, we cover it with biblical language and we call it Christianity. We’ll let’s contrast Christianity with humanism. Christianity says the highest end or the highest goal of our being is to glorify and honor He that made us with His own hands. Humanism says the highest goal of your being is to give glory and honor to man. Christianity teaches that the love and the good of man is only valid if you have first regard to God’s glory. Humanism says that the love and the good of man is the only thing important in life. Christianity was born in heaven and it glorifies God; humanism was born in Hell and it glorifies man—radically different.
Now today, the ruling philosophy is pragmatism. Pragmatism basically says, “if it works and if it wins—if it’s successful—it’s good—and it doesn’t matter what it cost you to get there.” If you win, that is the American philosophy. If you win, if you can do it, then you’re successful, and it’s right. The test of all truth, the test of all principles, the test of all practice is, “does it work?” If it works, let’s do it. If it doesn’t work, forget it.
I heard a man that told me this one time.... When I was kind of messed up in some of my doctrine and theology.... He said, “Brother.” He said, “With a personality like yours....” (I couldn’t believe this, I was offended.) He said, “If you’d start teaching the faith message, you’d pack your church out.”
I put my hand on my head. I didn’t know whether to slap him in the mouth—I mean seriously—cuss at him, leave, say nothing. I was numb inside when he said that to me. Good man. I said...basically all that came out of me was “ughhhh.” And I just said, “I’ve gotta go.” I was so offended by that statement.
He said, “If you preach the faith message, with your personality, you’d pack the place out. It’d be great!”
I said, “I don’t believe it.”
He said, “I tell you, you’d pack it out.”
I went, “Oh God!” I couldn’t believe it!
Well here’s the philosophy. Can it get the crowds? Can it sell? Does it make people happy? If it does, preach it. Because it’s valid if it works and makes men happy. It doesn’t matter if it’s true. If it makes ’em high, preach it! They’ll pack out. You’ll sell tapes; you’ll sell books. I mean, you’ll be famous, you’ll be on TV, GO DO IT, because it works. That’s pragmatism; that’s American philosophy. You put the two philosophies together, use it in the church—put humanism and pragmatism together in one church—and here’s how you determine the value of an activity or of a meeting. “What’s the offering? What’s the crowd? Did they get high? Did they get blessed? Did they feel good?” And everything is evaluated on those things. If you put pragmatism and humanism in one church, you’ve got those kinds of questions evaluating everything.
“They’re good,” without any regard to whether God is happy or glorified in them. I tell you, that is.... I’ve got to claim “guilty” to those kind of things; there’s no way out for me. The only way out is for me to bow my knee, to admit it, to cry before God and admit that it’s still in my heart. “But God, I don’t want it there. Please move it and I can’t move it myself because those kinds of motivations only flow from the power that dwells in my spirit.” That’s a supernatural thing.
Today we honor and applaud anyone who succeeds in the church. The ones that can get us blessed, who can get us high, who can make us feel good.... We don’t care how they do it. We don’t care if they compromise. We don’t care if God is pleased. We’ll push ’em over in the prayer lines. We’ll tell ’em how great the presence of God is. We’ll psyche ’em up. We’ll do anything; it doesn’t matter if it violates truth. It doesn’t matter if we’re projecting something that we aren’t. It doesn’t matter if we’re projecting something that’s not true. If it gets people psyched up, packs ’em out, who cares if God’s glorified or honored in it. “Let’s do it! It’s working! Man, these books are selling like this. Keep producing them. Ah, let’s keep repentance out of them. Let’s keep holiness out of ’em; it offends people. The books are selling so good; God’s blessing it. It’s working.” Pragmatism in the church.
Well, two questions arise. Here are the two major questions of this day that I’m challenging you for in the future of this church. (We’re coming right down to the end here.) “What is your standard of success that you will judge your life and ministry by?”
“I am happy—my life is successful.”
According to whom?
“Well I’m happy, aren’t I?”
So!? It depends on how you evaluate success. I got one question. Is God getting glory in the earth because of your presence on it?
“Well, I’m happy!”
First question: By what standard of success do you judge your life by? Paul said, “See to it that no one takes you captive through empty deceptions and philosophies; the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of this world rather than according to the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
Second question. “Is God an end or is God a means in your life?” Is God the goal or is he the way to get to the goal? Well, to be real honest, God is the way to get to most of my goals, but by His grace I’m changing that filthiness inside me. That’s where I’m at right now. Honestly, before God, he is the easiest way for me to express my abilities to get the most good out of this life. But I hate that inward corruption—but it’s in me right now. It’s leaving little by little; not very rapidly and sometimes I lose ground on it. Sometimes I start making progress and I fall back three steps and I can’t stand it when I come into the realization of it.
First question: “What is the standard of success that you judge your life by?” God’s glory, or you being happy? Secondly: “Is God an end—is he the goal or is he a way to your goal?” I strongly encourage you to be honest before God because we want to worship in spirit and in truth. Because God seeks worshippers in truth and those are the ones who know His power; those are the ones who enter into the presence of His being. And those are the ones who serve the purpose for which they were created on the earth—to give glory to God.
I tell you, I’ve taught devotional life so many times. You know why I teach devotional life? I teach devotional life because the people that I love—I want them happy. I want you people happy worse than anything that I know of right now. I think, “God, I’ll pray, I will fast, I’ll wait on God. I’ll do anything to get those people happy. I’ll teach them how they can touch God; then they’ll be happy.”
And just in my own preparation of this, the Lord spoke that to my heart. He says, “You know what? You haven’t taught them to have prayer time and devotional life because then they’ll be equipped to bring glory to me on the earth. You taught ’em because you want ’em happy.”
And I said, “God, you are right.” I said, “That’s not wrong, is it God?”
God says, “That’s not wrong. But there’s a higher way, if you’re interested.”
I said, “Oh God!”
I want to teach people to pray because then they can give glory to God; because Jesus purchased you for God on the earth.
It’s not an issue of man’s good being wrong; that’s not the issue. It’s an issue of being more right by seeking God’s glory. I’m not against people getting blessed. God wants to bless people and don’t anyone walk out of this room saying, “Oh, he’s really down on people getting blessed.” No, I’m talking about the motivation that drives you being like Paul the Apostle—according to the spirit of truth.
I’ll tell you, I’m more interested.... I have a new interest in my heart over this last year or two, compared to my whole Christian life. And sometimes I get these noble aspirations and thoughts and they stay with me for a couple days or a week or two, and so I’ve been trying to cultivate this the last couple of years. I’ve not been doing just real good at it, but.... I want to get people out of Hell and I want to get them blessed. But there’s more to it. You’ll never have the Book of Acts if that’s the only motivation you’re living by. Of course, that’s humanism right there. You’ll get blessed if you do it the right way.
Let me make this strong statement. The Bible teaches us that happiness is never to be sought for. Happiness is never to be worshipped. Happiness is the by-product of worshipping and seeking God—always! Happiness is the inevitable by-product. “Lord, fill us with gladness by thy presence,” Acts 2:28. 8 Gladness comes from His presence.
Happiness is never to be sought after. Happiness is never to be worshipped. Happiness is the inevitable outcome of seeking God and His Kingdom first. It is inevitable. You will always be happy if you seek God—always, always, always, always. It’s never, ever taught in the Bible to seek it. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches that the man who seeks happiness will be destroyed, because he’ll never find it; you can’t find it until you seek God. There is no happiness in anything outside God because you were created by him. Besides, that’s not the point. You were created for him.
John Wesley.... I’m going to tell you two or three stories. You’ll love the stories and I’ll end with that.
John Wesley, Finney. They used to exalt the holiness of God when they were preaching. Listen to this—they used to exalt the enormity of the guilt of a sinner. They said, “You are guilty.” They called sin a crime. They called people rebels against a righteous law in heaven. “You are criminals, damned to Hell” is what he told the sinners. Those are true statements. “You’re an enemy of righteousness. You deserve Hell and Hell you will get if you don’t make your peace with God.” That’s true. It’s true! I’m not saying that’s our highest message but those things are true.
Wesley and Finney and Jonathan Edwards: they taught the wisdom and justice of Hell against men that were criminals against God. They said, “Hell is wise and it’s just.” They said, “You’re monsters of sin” —that’s what they called their congregations. “You deserve Hell due to your open rebellion and your high treason against the authority of heaven.” Those are true statements. Men do deserve Hell because of high treason and open rebellion against God.
One time he preached that message and 1800 people—the power of God went whoooosh and they were all flat on their face. Every single one of them was pressed down by a torrent that came from heaven, his book describes. I’m not convinced that’s the most balanced message, but I’m certainly convinced of one thing: It’s got truth in it.
Finney and Wesley, they were not out to convince good men that they were in trouble with a bad God. But they told bad and evil men how to make peace with a good God.
David Brainard.... I’ll tell you the second story. David Brainard.... Oh God! Twenty-six years old. 1744. On the east coast.... The two biggest churches in the nation—the nation wasn’t very big at that time, but it was big enough to count. The two biggest churches, both of them over 5,000 people. The pastor’s committee.... They had an argument, these two churches. Both of them unanimously wanted Brainard to be the pastor of their church. They were having a strong, heated disagreement—the two churches. Both of them unanimously said, “Brainard, you’re twenty-six. You are one of the most anointed men of God on the earth. We will do anything to get you in our church.” 5,000 people churches—both of them self-made churches. Brainard was twenty-six; a young man—young in grace. He’s only been saved since he’s twenty-one. He is five years old in the Lord. That’s a lot of pressure on a five-year-old Christian.
Brainard said, “I can’t.”
“What do you mean you can’t?”
He says, “The heathen, the savages, the Indians” —that’s what he always called them, the heathen and the savages—he said, “They were created by God and God’s not getting glory from them. I’m going to bring glory to the Father through their conversion. God deserves the affections of their hearts.”
They said, “What!?”
He said, “Listen, they’re dying.” He said, “They’re going to Hell, and that grieves me, but worse than that—he that sits upon the throne—he created them and they are not worshipping him. I’ve got to produce it for God the Father.”
One of the churches said, “Tell you what, we’ll double the salary if you’ll come.”
Brainard writes in his diary, “Spent a time and a season before God in prayer. I wept before God today. What did those men see in my character that would lend them to believe I could be bought with money away from God?” He goes, “God, what am I doing? What am I projecting everywhere that I go, that I can be bought with a price?” And he wept before God and began to examine the inward corruption of his heart that would lead a group to take him for that kind of person.
It grieves my heart. He believed a lie. He didn’t seek God for his healing. I tell you, I love that man with all my heart, but when I get into eternity, I’m going to rebuke him, I mean it [laughter]. No, I mean it. I mean it. It just grieves my heart. He died when he was twenty-nine years old. It was a tragedy because he was foolish and he didn’t have wisdom. And he thanked God for what the devil was putting on him—a terrible thing to do.
Last story. Ohhhh!
Count Zinzendorf—how many of you have ever heard of him? Count Zinzendorf; a very, very godly man who had his origin in Russia. At the end of the 1800s, he got a group of people together called the Moravians. How many of you have ever heard of that group? The Moravians—yeah—Count Zinzendorf is the one who started that group. All throughout Russia under persecution, he was their great and noble leader. And he had one vow that he put before all of them, and they all made it. Hundreds of them; hundreds of small groups everywhere. They would live only for God’s glory on the earth.
He had a following of quite a few hundred; it wasn’t thousands and thousands. But they all made this vow to be part of his group. They would live and they would die for His glory without any regard to their happiness or anybody else’s happiness.
Whew!
Two young men—one was twenty-seven, one was twenty-eight. They gave news to the fellowship and one to...and both of them to their family and one of them to his fiancée that God had spoken to them to go a different direction in life. While they were praying, the Lord showed them—they saw it—there was an island...(they didn’t see it in a vision—they knew of it, but God told them about it, but they were aware of it).... There was an island on which there were three thousand criminals on the island (off the coast of England somewhere. Or off the coast of Europe somewhere—I’m not sure where the island was). Three thousand criminals condemned to death on the island. They wouldn’t be killed—they’d live their life at hard labor on the island. There was no way to get to them.
These two men said, “We will become prisoners for life for the souls of those three thousand men.” They announced it to their families. Like I said, one even to his fiancée.
As they were pulling off, the ship was leaving the harbor full of prisoners—a couple hundred prisoners they were bringing to add to it. Their friends and their families and their church were weeping. And one of the mothers ran to the edge of the harbor and she cried, “Why do you have to go? Why do you have to go?”
And he cried out as the ship was pulling from the harbor. He said, “Worthy is the Lamb...who was slain.... And he offered up His blood...to purchase...FOR God...men...from all tribes of the earth...for He deserves...the affection of their heart. For this purpose, we must go.” And they pulled away and out of sight.
Let’s Pray. Father.... Ohhh God.
Oh Father! Father, we offer our lives unto you. God, I’ve shared my heart to a people that I love with all my heart. I gave my message of Love to them and I commit them to your grace, God, to live in the highest cause and purpose for a man on the earth. Lord, by your spirit cause those passions to rise up mighty in them as they seek them. That they would be like those Moravians.
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, and shed blood to purchase, for you, Father, men.
In this message, Mike used the term “love” quite a bit, and with varying meanings. Sometimes he was referring to “Biblical love” while at others his meaning was “affection.” I suspect, at times, he even meant both. If you’re interested on more on this distinction, see the treatise titled Love Defined.
This message is reproduced here with Mike’s permission.
1 ...and from there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. (Acts 14:26, New American Standard [NAS]). Back
2 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24, NAS). Back
3 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10, NAS). Back
4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with persuasive argument. (Colossians 2:4, NAS). Back
5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. ¶As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. (Colossians 2:5-7, NAS). Back
6 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8, NAS). Back
7 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. And a second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40, NAS). Back
8 And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him. (John 8:29, NAS). Back
9 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Thy name.” There came therefore a voice out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” (John 12:27-28, NAS). Back
10 And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13, NAS). Back
11 By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. (John 15:8, NAS). Back
12 “Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. And I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. And you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, that you may not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations. I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!” (Ezekiel 36:22-32, NAS). Back
13 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11, King James Version). Back
14 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9, NAS). Back
15 Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:9, NAS). Back
16 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31, NAS). Back
17 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:20, NAS). Back
18 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of gladness with Thy presence. (Acts 2:28, NAS). Back