Being an example of God's message is the challenge for every heaven bound child. For through we live in and among those of the world we are purposed to be a messenger of the gospel. We are to speak it, sing it, live it unashamed. Believers do this through the power and teaching of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus told his disciples: "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life," (John 6:63). The Lord was proclaiming the Holy Spirit would be at work through the Word of God. Through the Spirit's work, eternal life would be produced in the spirit of those called to Christ. Therefore those who accepted the teachings of Jesus were those who believed in the power of the Spirit to produce eternal life in them.
Believing in the transforming power of the Spirit is essential to being a messenger of the gospel. For only through belief will the process of sanctification occur in our lives, to produce a testimony. Our life--the way we choose to live moment by moment--becomes the message we will share with others.
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of Jerusalem because they preached a message they did not live. They claimed to be children of God and yet their actions proved them to be otherwise. Since they were absolutely convinced their "preconceived notions" were truth, they closed their minds and rejected the teachings of Jesus. Though generations had passed, the Israelites still covered their ears--as they did at Sinai--to the voice of God. Therefore, Jesus proclaimed them lovers of lies.
"If God were you Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own: but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies," (John 8:42-44).
There were many who turned from following Jesus because of his teachings. They were unable to believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to produce in them the good work of the LORD. They could not believe the truth because they favored the life attached to the devil and his lies. They were not interested in teachings that spoke of submission, surrender, and sacrifice. Their hearts were hard and filled with pride, therefore, resistant to conviction and repentance.
The Lord knows the hearts that are hard and those which are tender. Those inclined to choose to believe and receive the Truth of Christ, God calls into relationship. Once a relationship is established the journey of transformation begins. Oswald points out; "Before God's message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in you." So we are indeed called to be messengers of transformation, renewal and restoration. Unless believers "allow God to have complete liberty" in their lives, they will have little or no message to share.
Claiming to believe in the power of God is a weak message. Proclaiming the power of Christ, which has transformed your life, is compelling. Let us be mighty believers in the Truth so our message will have an impact on those inclined to believe as well. For just as Jesus was sent to be a witness to the glory of God in the flesh...we too are called to be living testimonies.
No comments:
Post a Comment