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April 2004
“HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT”
“Not by MIGHT, nor by power, but
by My Spirit, says the Lord!”(Zec 4:6)
Part 7
When does the Holy Spirit begin ministering to sinful creation? Is it at the moment a man repents and asks Jesus Christ into his heart? Is it immediately after his salvation experience? The answer is neither! Let us hear these Words of our Lord and be enlightened by His Truths:
“THE SPIRIT QUICKENS TO LIFE;
THE FLESH PROFITS NOTHING...
THUS, NO MAN CAN (IS ABLE, HAS
POWER TO) COME TO ME UNLESS
IT (THE ABILITY, POWER) IS GIVEN
TO HIM BY MY FATHER!” (Jn 6:63-65)
“SO NO ONE CAN (IS ABLE, HAS THE
POWER TO) COME TO ME, UNLESS
THE FATHER WHO SENT ME FIRST
ATTRACTS, DRAWS AND GIVES HIM
THE DESIRE TO COME TO ME!” (Jn 6:44)
Despite the Lord’s clear statements on how and when we can come to Him, where this issue is concerned, many believers are locked in unbelief (Ro 11:32) - that prison in which God confines all men until His Mercy is ready to release them. In Jn 6:61, when another hard truth needed to be said, “Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples were murmuring at His Words, so He asked them, DOES THIS OFFEND YOU? And from that time, many of His disciples turned back and walked no more with Him (in this lifetime)!” (Jn 6:61, 65)
Whoever spurns Kingdom Truths and returns to the “comfort zone” of manmade religions, may be consoled that the day will come when the Spirit draws them back. Temporal lapses in faith serve a holy purpose; and in God’s time, these fearful ones will enjoy the same glorious, Kingdom homecoming the prodigal son received. (Lk 15:11) Part of the Good News Jesus was sent to bring was, “All things work together for good for those who love God and are called to His Purpose!” (Ro 8:28) This does not mean we dare to call evil good; or call good evil; as Isa 5:20 warns against, but things are not always what they seem. Our finite imagination cannot peer into the heavenlies to see what divine purpose is being served by the horrendous evil spawned by man’s heart of unbelief.
Ro 3:3-4 says, “What if some do not believe? Can their unbelief foil God’s Faith- or Faithfulness? God forbid! For indeed, as it is written, let God be true, but every man a liar!” There you have it! Only GOD- and all that He knows, thinks and says, is TRUE; whereas every EARTH MAN- and all that he knows, thinks and says, is a LIE! For indeed, mortal man is “dead in sin”, and therefore, cannot possibly- by thought or word or deed- bear any responsibility for his own salvation! Do you hear this, beloveds?
SALVATION DOES NOT ORIGINATE IN MAN’S PROFITLESS FLESH!
Think on the miracle of Lazarus. Did Jesus merely “offer” resurrection to His dead friend? Did He give Lazarus the “choice” to “receive or refuse” Resurrection Life? Ridiculous, you say? No more ridiculous than to say that God “offers” Salvation to a world “dead in sin”, then expects that dead world to “receive or refuse” His gift of salvation! Surely God knows that the dead cannot receive or refuse anything! Besides that, God is not a liar! He would not distinguish His Son as the Savior of the world, if, all the while, His Omniscience knew that only a miniscule part of the world could be saved!
The manmade doctrines of today’s religions are a glaring testimony to their own unbelief as they insist that God’s salvation depends on the whims and “good deeds” of man’s flesh! Scripture clearly demonstrates otherwise- as in the account of Saul’s transformation on the road to Damascus where he planned to capture, condemn and possibly kill all “radicals” called “Christian”. As the Light of Truth fell on Saul, it rendered him blind and helpless, so his companions had to lead him by the hand into the city. There he remained a prisoner of darkness for three days- the way his soul had been a prisoner of a darkened understanding! He was likely terrified as the Lord dealt with him; and then, to consummate his humbling experience, God sent Ananias, a would-be target of Saul’s persecution, to complete his conversion to Christ! Understandably that disciple was daunted at the prospect of facing this renowned terrorist of Christians [much as a believer today might feel if God sent him to Osama Bin Laden). But God told Ananias, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and there, at the house of Judas, ask for a man called Saul of Tarsus who is praying there. For in a vision, he has seen a man, called Ananias, coming in and laying his hand on him, and thereby he would once again receive his sight.” (Ac 9:11-12)
“So the Lord told Ananias, Go on your way to Saul, for he is My chosen vessel.
He will carry My name to Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. But also,
*I will show him what great things he must SUFFER for My name's sake!
Ananias went on his way and entered into the house where the blind man lay.
Putting his hands on him, he said, Brother Saul, it was the Lord Jesus Christ
Who appeared to you on your way here, and now He has sent me to you that
you might once again receive your eyesight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
At once something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and his sight was restored;
then he arose and was baptized.” (Ac 9:17-18)
[*Did you realize that GOD SHOWED PAUL ALL HE WOULD SUFFER?!
This means that none of Paul’s trials and tribulation came as a surprise to him!
Just as Jesus foreknew everything that He would have to suffer for our sakes,
so also Saul (soon after called Paul) was given to foreknow everything that he
would have to suffer for the Lord’s sake! But what had this man ever done that
he should deserve such intimacy with his Creator?! Was he a paragon of virtue
when he spearheaded the violent persecution of Christ’s Church, including the
first act of martyrdom perpetrated upon Stephen?! So let us ask ourselves this:
JUST WHAT PART DID PAUL PLAY IN HIS OWN SALVATION?!!]
[TO BE CONTINUED]
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