Dr. C. S. Lovett’s
MARANATHA FAMILY NEWSLETTER
September 2022
THE CHURCH’S BEST-KEPT SECRET
When someone mentions secret information, we visualize one person privately passing the information to the other. But when someone speaks of secrets and the church, a verse should pop into your mind. I hope you’re thinking of Psalm 91:1:
“He that dwelleth in the SECRET Place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (KJV).
SECRET?
When did you ever hear a sermon on the “SECRET PLACE” and how God longs to meet you there? When were you ever instructed as to how to enter it? It’s just not taught, nor talked about. Sometimes I think Christians are afraid to get that close to Jesus. Or maybe it’s like a brother in New York who said:
“Please remember, Dr. Lovett, that we must keep our distance from God. If we don’t, we’re in danger of humanizing Him to the place where there is no difference between Him and us. His place as Creator and Master of everything demands we think of Him only in the most reverential terms. It’s unthinkable to suggest that we become intimate with Him, as you advocate.”
FORMALITY
This dear brother was being protective of the Lord’s glory and the reverence due Him. I can’t fault him for that, but there’s a danger in going too far in that direction. You see, the opposite of intimacy is FORMALITY. When a person fears becoming intimate with the Lord, he is very apt to go the other way and become FORMAL with Him. I don’t think the brother realized it, but he was arguing for formality.
Formality is NOT what God wants. We all know what formality does to people—IT SEPARATES THEM. Try getting formal with your husband or wife and see what happens to your relationship.
IS THAT WHAT GOD WANTS?
Did Jesus die for that kind of a formality? Hardly. He died for friends, fellowship, and family. Christianity IS a fellowship (1 John 1:3). That’s what God seeks more than anything else, fellowship with His own. He wants a relationship. In His own words . . .
“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh unto you . . .” (James 4:8 KJV).
The Lord is desperately in love with us. His soul CRAVES intimacy. He would love to reach out in the flesh and crush us to Himself. But that would violate the faith method. So He will not do that. He just has to wait until we get good and ready to come to Him. And if we never come, He has to go without—or wait until the day we meet Him in the air.
Are you a grandparent? Then you know what I am talking about. You know what it is to have those little ones come running to throw their arms about your neck and squeeze saying, “Grandpa (or Grandma), I love you!” That sends shivers of joy through your being, doesn’t it? Why then would we deny God the very same pleasure in which we indulge ourselves? He yearns for that same thrill.
A PLACE TO MEET
When we are saved, the Lord Jesus literally enters our lives and indwells us. You know that. But where exactly does He reside? In our SPIRIT. This is why we can’t see Him or feel Him. Yet it is as close as He can get without violating the FAITH METHOD. As Emerson says, “Closer is He than breathing, nearer than hands or feet.” This is also why the Bible tells us to worship Him IN SPIRIT (John 4:24).
The body, as you know, is the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19). But inside that temple, God has provided a SANCTUARY where we can meet Him, enjoy Him, and worship Him. In this sanctuary, we can fellowship with Him IN THE SPIRIT. That sanctuary is the ‘SECRET PLACE’ which David wrote. He said, “I foresaw the Lord always before my face” (Acts 2:25). Where did he do this? In his imagination.
When you close your eyes to pray, you find yourself in a room in your imagination. This is the “secret place.” The imagination is the sanctuary of the soul. You may use it for lots of other things, but its highest purpose is to give reality to the unseen Lord. He wants us to use our imaginations to VISUALIZE HIM. We are to PICTURE HIM and enjoy Him spirit to spirit. Since the imagination IS SPIRIT, it is the only place we can worship God IN SPIRIT
NOW FOR THE BIGGER SECRET
Even if what I have said so far is new to you, we now come to the “bigger secret.” Here it is: When we go into the “secret place,” we see Jesus, approach Him, and tell Him we love Him. We do this BY FAITH. FAITH FOR US IS REAL TO HIM! In your imagination, you are lavishing yourself on the Lord. The visualization is entirely by faith. But that is not true of Him. HE FEELS THOSE ARMS, HE THRILLS TO THOSE WORDS. It is NOT faith for Him, but an actual experience! How come? Because you are doing this IN THE SPIRIT, and that is where He lives! Don’t miss it: Your imagination IS Spirit, and all that you are visualizing is taking place in the spirit. So, what is faith for you is reality for Him. Let this truth seize you, and your fellowship with God will never be the same again!
THE SECRET SHOULD BE OUT
To be honest, have you ever heard this before? Not likely unless you read it in the Psalms or the Song of Solomon. For some reason, the church hasn’t picked it up and taught it to the people. Perhaps the Holy Spirit has reserved this truth for our time. The “perilous times” of which Paul spoke are at hand (2 Tim. 3:1).
These days are terrifying and full of pressure. Suicides are zooming. Families are crumbling. People are filled with fear. There’s only ONE SAFE PLACE in days such as these. That place is snuggled safely in the “everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:27). To be able to crawl up in God’s lap and thrill to the assurance of His love and power can set you free from the terror and fear descending on this evil world.
SKEPTICAL?
If you read this article and feel inclined to doubt what I have said, it is simple enough to TEST my words. Make one visit to the “secret place.” Crawl up in God’s lap and tell Him you love Him and see if He is offended. He will let you know. “Taste and see,” is His own formula for testing (Psa. 34:8). I think you will find He yearns for you to come as a little child and enjoy Him. Once you do this and thrill in the joy it brings, you should share it with other Christians. Many are going to be caught in the press of the times and won’t know where to turn unless you tell them. Then you may want to join me in sharing with others the . . .
CHURCH’S BEST-KEPT SECRET!
C. S. LOVETT
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Announcing Dr. Lovett’s Newly Revised and Expanded Book:
LOVETT’S LIGHTS ON SERMON ON THE MOUNT
This new edition contains Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7 and highlights Christ’s life from the four Gospels in chronological order. This unique expanded edition makes it easy to understand Christ’s life. Each event combines the four Gospels, then the rephrased verses and commentary are placed in chronological order with headings containing dates and locations. This gives you new insights into what is really happening at that time. You will be enabled to understand the extreme obstacles Jesus had to overcome to save us from our sins. The highlights contain ten sections of Christ’s life from birth to the resurrection and also portions of Acts to the Day of Pentecost to make it complete. You will learn something new and have a greater knowledge and love of our wonderful Savior.
TESTIMONIES
HELPED UNDERSTANDING: “Dr. Lovett, your LOVETT'S LIGHTS (BOOKS) mean so much to me. They have helped in my understanding of the Bible in a way no other source has ever done. Thank you so much for the hours and hours you have devoted to them. Lovingly in Christ.” (Mrs. C.S.—NY)
GREAT STUDY: “I have been studying your book LOVETT’S LIGHTS ON JOHN and it is the greatest interpretation I have ever read and studied. Thank you, John and Dr. Lovett, men of God.” (J.G.—MS)
RESOURCES
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LOVETT’S LIGHTS ON JOHN (2021 edition): 381 pages. The "Lights" in this book reveal the hidden meanings and show how they relate to other great truths of the Bible. Available on Amazon.com sells for $15.99 HERE.
WITNESSING MADE EASY (2019 edition) helps motivate you to get out of your comfort zone in small easy steps. Purchase on Amazon.com for $14.99 HERE.
DEALING WITH THE DEVIL has been updated and revised (2018 edition) for today’s readers. Are you tired of having Satan put dreadful things into your mind? Available on Amazon.com and sells for $14.99 HERE.
THE PREPARED LIFE book is a valuable resource for you and your family that can help you be prepared to deal with today’s problems and end-times events. This book is available on Amazon.com and sells for $13.99 and is also available in Kindle form for $7.99 HERE.
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