When God knew the changes of His people He planned to do something new to provide for them and keep them from evil. We cannot deny that His people are the Jews but we, Gentiles, have been adopted to be His people as well. But when does a person become God's own possession? Is it when he receives Christ into his heart or does God always consider him to be His because He knows that he will some day pray to receive Christ? I believe it to be the latter.
God knew me in my mother's womb. He knew my birthdate and the day I would finally give my heart to Him. He knew what a sinner I was but offered Himself to me anyway. I believe it is because He knew I was His long before I knew I was His.
This means that God has a plan for those who are His but have yet to receive Christ. He is working to create something which will bring them to Him. I have been sensing this lately. I have been in prayer.
It comes down to this: Many churches are dying because they continue to do what they have always done. It worked in the past but it doesn't work now. God, though, knows what it will take to bring those whom He has claimed because He knows that they will claim Him. He will do something new that I would never have considered without Him.
Will other Christians join me in prayer to see what this new thing will be? I am convinced that our message cannot change but our methods should always obey what God is telling us. Unfortunately, we have to clearly see what we are doing as failure before we are willing to come to God for new instructions. We should have been there earlier.
God can fundamentally change how we worship without changing the message. He can change the ways we interact with others without changing the message. I don't know what He will want to do but I do not believe He is content with leaving things as they are. He has plans for those who are His. These are plans for hope and a future.
Isaiah 43:19 (NASB)
19 "Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.
3 comments:
Prentis, I wonder what you mean by this, "But when does a person become God's own possession? Is it when he receives Christ into his heart or does God always consider him to be His because He knows that he will some day pray to receive Christ? I believe it to be the latter."
Are you believing in GENERAL predestination of PERSONAL salvation? Well, I do NOT. Many people think it is NOT good to consider this question, but I beg to differ. Only thing is, we should NOT quarrel over it, but it is important, for whether or NOT, you believe in it or NOT, it affects your lenses when it comes to interpreting the truths of God.
This may NOT be the best place to discuss this topic, if you do believe in GENERAL predestination of PERSONAL salvation, and if you like, drop me an email.
As to doing new things, there is no reason to believe God won't do that, but we do need to be receptive. It is of course, possible, at times, God could force it, but in general, God is looking for our response in love. We should NOT box God, we should NOT just brush off any ways or methods, so long as it does NOT contradict the truths of God and His nature, and we have made the effort to bring it before Him. While we do NOT box God, it is NOT the same as saying we can do what we want.
The Christian life, even for the local church, is NOT a boring life. Ultimately, it is godliness with contentment that is highly priced (1 Tim 6:6).
God, may you grant again and again, newness of life to Prentis, his family, and the church he leads. Amen. Anthony Chia, high.expressions
God's knowledge is not the same as irresistible grace. Do we believe that God is surprised by those who come to Him? Do we not know that He has been working to bring that person to Christ? Do we not understand that He has called and the person has answered? Understanding that God knows does not mean that He forces anyone to come to Him. But we have to come to the conclusion that He knows. He knows and considers the person His even though the person has yet to trust Him. He knows what it will take for a person to give his heart to Christ. He knows that there are some people who will never trust His Son.
Don't limit the knowledge of God because you don't want to believe in predestination. Our decisions are not predetermined for us. We sin on our own. We trust God as He leads us. We agree with Him on our salvation. Yet, God does not choose some to be saved and some to be lost forever. He simply knows.
I knew my wife would marry me before we got married. I considered her to be mine even though she had not gone through the wedding ceremony. I didn't force her to make that decision. She did it on her own. I, however, did everything I could to convince her to marry me. I don't think it was predestination but I am ever so grateful for her decision.
So, why wouldn't God do the same? Why wouldn't He do everything He knew that would bring someone to Christ? He initiated the cross didn't He? Yet, we find all of it in prophecy. Did those people who crucified Christ have responsibility for bringing Jesus to the cross or were they merely pawns of fate? I think they were completely responsible. Yet, the accomplished the will of God in giving His Son for our sins.
God's knowledge is not the same as irresistible grace. Do we believe that God is surprised by those who come to Him? Do we not know that He has been working to bring that person to Christ? Do we not understand that He has called and the person has answered? Understanding that God knows does not mean that He forces anyone to come to Him. But we have to come to the conclusion that He knows. He knows and considers the person His even though the person has yet to trust Him. He knows what it will take for a person to give his heart to Christ. He knows that there are some people who will never trust His Son.
Don't limit the knowledge of God because you don't want to believe in predestination. Our decisions are not predetermined for us. We sin on our own. We trust God as He leads us. We agree with Him on our salvation. Yet, God does not choose some to be saved and some to be lost forever. He simply knows.
I knew my wife would marry me before we got married. I considered her to be mine even though she had not gone through the wedding ceremony. I didn't force her to make that decision. She did it on her own. I, however, did everything I could to convince her to marry me. I don't think it was predestination but I am ever so grateful for her decision.
So, why wouldn't God do the same? Why wouldn't He do everything He knew that would bring someone to Christ? He initiated the cross didn't He? Yet, we find all of it in prophecy. Did those people who crucified Christ have responsibility for bringing Jesus to the cross or were they merely pawns of fate? I think they were completely responsible. Yet, they accomplished the will of God in giving His Son for our sins.
Post a Comment