Thin Places – Really Experience an Amazing Sense of the Divine

Introduction (5m)

Samuel Logan Brengle’s Thin Place

On January 9, 1885, at about nine o'clock in the morning, God sanctified my soul. I was in my own room at the time, but in a few minutes I went out and met a man and told him what God had done for me. The next morning, I met another friend on the street and told him the blessed story. He shouted and praised God and urged me to preach full salvation and confess it everywhere. God used him to encourage and help me. So the following day I preached on the subject as clearly and forcibly as I could, and ended with my testimony.

God blessed the word mightily to others, but I think He blessed it most to myself. That confession put me on record. It cut the bridges down behind me. Three worlds were now looking at me as one who professed that God had given him a clean heart. I could not go back now. I had to go forward. God saw that I meant to be true till death. So two mornings after that, just as I got out of bed and was reading some of the words of Jesus, He gave me such a blessing as I never had dreamed a man could have this side of Heaven. It was a heaven of love that came into my heart. I walked out over Boston Common before breakfast weeping for joy and praising God. Oh, how I loved! In that hour I knew Jesus and I loved Him till it seemed my heart would break with love. I loved the sparrows, I loved the dogs, I loved the horses, I loved the little urchins on the streets, I loved the strangers who hurried past me, I loved the heathen -- I loved the whole world.

Definition of Thin Places

Locations or moments where the boundary between the earthly and divine blurs, offering us a heightened sense of God's presence.

My Thin Places

Beach, empty hall, cathedral, etc.

Where might your thin places be? Where might you experience an amazing sense of the Divine?

Explanation (5m)

Moses was a man of Thin Places

The burning bush.

The plagues that brought the Egyptians to their knees.

The parting of the Red Sea as the Israelites escaped their captors.

Now, all seems lost

Moses on Mount Sinai, receiving the terms of the covenant between God and his people, his brother Aaron and the Israelites made an idol of a golden calf and worshipped it.

In response, God sends a plague on the people, and keeps his covenant by saying he is sending them on to the Promised Land, but he is fed up with them, he will not go with them!

But Moses continues talking with God, pleading that God will go with them into the Promised Land

vv.12-14 - single to plural

And then he asks God for a demonstration of the promise he makes - in other words a thin place

v.18 - “Show me your glorious presence” - bring me to a thin place.

Have you ever asked God that? “Show me your glorious presence”?

Norwich Citadel - I’ll Not Turn Back

Music School - All That I Am

Coventry City Songsters - Christ in Me

Summer School - The Potter’s Hand

Covenant Day - Retreats - Brengle, etc.

Application (5m)

In the busyness, find your thin place and spend time with God there

The real problem with the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists of shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, take that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. (C.S. Lewis)

Finding a thin place is a necessary discipline for the busy believers for today.

Quiet corner of coffee shop, a quiet room in your home, a quiet drive to work in the morning, noise cancelling headphones on a public transport commute, a walk around the neighbourhood, etc.

With God, there is always more to see

We can see more of his glory. We can know him even more intimately. We can have more and more personal encounters with God.

This week, be willing to say to God: Show me your glorious presence.

Next Steps

SB 595 - In this quiet moment, still, before your throne

In this quiet moment, still, before your throne, Conscious of your presence, knowing I am known.  In this quiet moment set my spirit free; In this quiet moment, make a better me! John Gowans (1934-2012) © The General of The Salvation Army. Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 135015 Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Number 595