FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
August 26
CHRIST UPLIFTED: ‘BEHOLD THE SON OF MAN’ -NOT THE MAN OF SIN’! (Part 11)
“The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and wither it goeth: SO IS EVERYONE BORN OF THE SPIRIT.” John 3: 8, KJV.
In spite of Jesus’ initial clear explanation of the meaning the baptism of water and the Spirit, with emphasis on the latter, let’s resume quoting from the Desire of Ages :
“Nicodemus was still perplexed, and Jesus used the WIND to illustrate His meaning. [John 3:8 quoted]. The wind is HEARD among the branches of the trees, rustling the leaves and flowers; yet it is INVISIBLE, and NO MAN KNOWS from where it comes or where it goes. SO WITH THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON THE HEART. It can NO MORE BE EXPLAINED than the movements of the wind.
“A person may NOT be able to tell the EXACT time and place, or to TRACE all the circumstances in the PROCESS OF CONVERSION; but this does not prove him unconverted. By an AGENCY as UNSEEN as the wind, CHRIST is constantly working upon the heart.
Little by little, perhaps UNCONSCIOUSLY to the receiver, impressions are made that TEND TO DRAW THE SOUL TO CHRIST [the Son of God/Son of man, not the ‘man of sin’]. How?
“These may be received by MEDITATING upon Him [not on anyone or anything else] through READING the Scriptures, or through HEARING the word from the living preacher. [lend your ears, stay focused, shut out all worldly thoughts, preconceived ideas, unsanctified feelings and attitudes such as fault-finding, jealousy, self-justifying, etc.].
“Suddenly, as the Holy Spirit comes with more direct appeal [to the conscience], the soul GLADLY SURRENDERS TO JESUS [the Son of man!]. By many this is called SUDDEN CONVERSION: but it is the RESULT OF LONG WOOING by the Spirit of God—-a patient, protracted process.” E. G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 172, PPA, Apr, 1950.
In a genuine conversion, for there are more bogus and counterfeits, there is no “sudden conversions,” as those enforced by fear, persecution, and death as one of the ignominious modus operandi of the Romish church during the Dark Ages.
All true conversion is a sanctified result of a patient, protracted process of the work and power of the Holy Spirit—-and continues in spiritual growth of character perfection during a lifetime of the converted Christian, enabled by the empowering GRACE of God in Christ imparted by the Holy Spirit!
(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.