From: B S TURNER Owner
What Being Awakened Really Is Part 3
When the Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus, sinners are awakened so much so the heart feels it more than any other part of the body. It does not come naturally to recognize that we are dead wrong or to admit it openly. It certainly does not come naturally to confess that we've offended God himself. Instead, we keep telling ourselves we are okay. No matter how many gifts God heaps on us, we take them for granted and go on ignoring God. No matter how many warnings he sends out, we shrug them off and refuse to repent and seek God. It seems no amount of blessings or burdens can really change us. But when the Holy Spirit comes in power, we are awakened.
A poet who repented of his sins and became a Christian put it this way. He said the God of love shot all his golden arrows at him, but none of those arrows ever pierced the heart. Finally, God put himself in the bow and fired, and the arrow of God's own self shot straight into the heart. What a picture of how God works! God makes himself the arrow and hits the target, which no other arrow could reach.
The Lord has done many things in his creation and care for his world to show his majesty and his goodness. He has sent many prophets and messengers to speak his truth. However, none of these things, no matter how good and important, could save the world. Only when God fired himself into his world in the person of Jesus Christ could the world be saved.
While the prophets and other messengers could not save the world, they were and are being sent to awaken us to our state. I also believe that we are being nudged again…for many the election did not go the way that they wanted; why didn’t it? For some the weird weather across the lower half of the U.S. has caused many to ponder. Could this be the Lord nudging us again to make us aware of how unprepared that we are both spiritually and physically?
Likewise, in applying salvation in Christ to an individual, God can send signals, circumstances, and sermons, calling you to him. However, these things, no matter how good, cannot reach a hard heart. Only when God fires himself into your heart in the person of the Holy Spirit will you change. Only then will you hate your sin, fear God's wrath, plead for mercy, trust in Jesus as your Savior and Ruler, and experience the eternal life of God.
At that point, we need to be prepared to receive all that he will pour out to us…both physically and spiritually.
2 Timothy 2:
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Noah listened to the words of God…even though the persecution had to be unbearable at times. He sacrificed his all too hopefully save humanity only to find out that there were not many to save, as the others were content in their circumstances.
Hebrews 11:7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
As we read the history of Lehi’s family as they moved out into the wilderness, from a life of comfort to a life that would be filled with hardships and trial. We see that is was the faith of a few that were truly listening to the Holy Spirit and also petitioning God in those circumstances when they thought they were lost, hungry and forgotten.
However, while going through all of that, wisdom and understanding of God’s purpose became clear…very clear as a matter of fact.
1 Nephi 5: 58,59,63
58 And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled.
59 And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God, he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them;
63 And all these things were prepared of the Lord, that we might not perish.
Do we have the faith to be awakened? To see what needs to be seen and to do what needs to be done?
Arthur Oakman once said, “Faith is that power created in the soul of man by God to enable God to make himself known and in making himself known, make us his”
More to come
Brian Turner
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