FOLLOWER’S EXCITEMENT IS SELDOM CONVERT’S JOY.
Of the 2,800 different Church denominations (Barratt 1977)) most of their followers will enjoy in varying measures the excitement of following Him. Judas Iscariot followed Jesus and while he was with Him he saw and did great things. He was a member of one of the six couples Jesus sent to evangelize. Peter also saw and did great things while with Jesus. When Peter was away from Him he soon denied Him. Judas, like Peter, betrayed his Lord and then repented. The Lord told Peter that only when he became converted would he strengthen his brethren. Jesus said that on the day of the harvest when the angels shall gather all to face God, many followers will declare that they have done great things in His name, but he will declare that he never knew them.
GOD’S PRESENCE WITH THE MERE DISCIPLE IS OFTEN TEMPORARY, UNLIKE HIS PERMANENT INDWELLING SPIRIT.
It is no wonder that for the most part the churches are filled with goats taught to wear a fleece. Some have become pilgrims in their devotion, and a small number have been awakened by the preaching of the Word, but vainly think their sudden awareness of God’s presence is eternal life. Yet the temporary sensitivity to God’s omnipresence is a temporal state, not an eternal one. Jesus said that they need His indwelling Spirit. Only regeneration converts disciples, not by affirming biblical knowledge. Thus after Judas Iscariot’s betrayal, He told the remaining eleven disciples they needed conversion by that Holy Spirit, which he gave them after he rose from the dead.
SCRIPTURE.
“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, RECEIVE YE THE HOLY GHOST:”
John 20:19-22
SCRIPTURE.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
“With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early.” Isaiah 26:9
• It is very easy to seek God with an ulterior motive. E.g. you want to avoid the suffering of hellfire by taking out an eternal assurance policy. This is self-preservation. So you are persuaded to make a decision and join the church. Compare John 6:26.
SCRIPTURE: “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Psalm 14:2-3/ Psalm 53:2.
• You say you were made in the image of God so you naturally seek God and naturally have enough faith and can understand the plan of salvation the preacher showed you. That’s Christian humanism’s great lie of free-will. Yet the Bible says in Romans chapters 5 and 7, that the human will is neither free nor has any propensity towards God. It does not want God except in the case of self-advantage. God’s image in Adam’s race was marred beyond repair as St. Paul and David the Psalmist pointed out. Until a man is in utter need of grace and ceases to depend on the falsity of his own natural faith he can only become a follower, but never a true convert. Only Christ can open his eyes; only Christ’s Spirit can give true sorrow for sin; only Christ can give hope and accompanying faith; only Jesus can give transforming grace which exceeds anything free-will efforts could accomplish. This alone is conversion and only occurs when you wholeheartedly seek Him. Only the risen Saviour can give you the gift of His Spirit when you truly seek him. Do not trust in the deception of signs so popular today. His inner witness to your heart, mind and spirit is unmistakable but indescribable.
SCRIPTURE “He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself”…”And their eyes were opened, and they knew him”… “And they said one to another, Did not our HEART BURN WITHIN US, while he talked with us by the way, and while HE OPENED TO US the scriptures?”… “And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together”…”Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.”.[ Luke 24:27-33;45]
• SCRIPTURE. “… break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” [Hosea 10:12]
• SCRIPTURE. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22-24.
Quotations from King James Version of the Holy Bible: Public Domain.
Article by Brother John of bonitabiblemission@gmail.com
