The Holy Spirit DON'T TRADE JESUS FOR VICTORY
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 15:57.
The person who is preoccupied with his performance, who is looking for victory, looking for a changed life, above all else, is wide open for the charismatic movement of today. Charismatics offer a changed life quickly and easily. You don't have to sweat it out with an angel by the brook Jabbok. You can go and get someone to place his hands on your head, have nice "vibes" go through you, and get victory now. In the Seventh-day Adventist Church, with our concern over right living, there could be a wide cross section open for that. Why? Because for many, while they have learned that a changed life is important, they have not learned that relationship and communion and dependence on Jesus is the only way that a real change in the life can happen.
If I were the devil, I think I would be happy to ease off on my temptations for someone to commit a certain sin for a while, if in so doing I could get that person under my control. That would be a good trade, wouldn't it? And the person could be very easily led into such a trap.
But for the person who is locked in on the relationship of faith with Christ, for the person who realizes that the entire basis of the Christian life is fellowship and communion and dependence upon Jesus, for that person spiritual life is not dependent upon sudden, spectacular changes.
It is true that the Holy Spirit does work to change our lives. The Holy Spirit does bring victories. The Holy Spirit does accomplish many wonderful things, and the visible work of the Spirit will continue to increase until the end of time. But our basis for judging whether a work is of God or from another power must always be based solidly on Scripture, interpreted in the context of an ongoing, vital relationship with God. A changed life doesn't prove anything. What counts is who changed it, and for what reason, and what motive. What we see as changed lives is always only external. We don't know hearts. And we must never become more interested in victory over our sins than in Jesus. When we focus our attention on Him the changed life that we need will be the inevitable result.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 15:57.
The person who is preoccupied with his performance, who is looking for victory, looking for a changed life, above all else, is wide open for the charismatic movement of today. Charismatics offer a changed life quickly and easily. You don't have to sweat it out with an angel by the brook Jabbok. You can go and get someone to place his hands on your head, have nice "vibes" go through you, and get victory now. In the Seventh-day Adventist Church, with our concern over right living, there could be a wide cross section open for that. Why? Because for many, while they have learned that a changed life is important, they have not learned that relationship and communion and dependence on Jesus is the only way that a real change in the life can happen.
If I were the devil, I think I would be happy to ease off on my temptations for someone to commit a certain sin for a while, if in so doing I could get that person under my control. That would be a good trade, wouldn't it? And the person could be very easily led into such a trap.
But for the person who is locked in on the relationship of faith with Christ, for the person who realizes that the entire basis of the Christian life is fellowship and communion and dependence upon Jesus, for that person spiritual life is not dependent upon sudden, spectacular changes.
It is true that the Holy Spirit does work to change our lives. The Holy Spirit does bring victories. The Holy Spirit does accomplish many wonderful things, and the visible work of the Spirit will continue to increase until the end of time. But our basis for judging whether a work is of God or from another power must always be based solidly on Scripture, interpreted in the context of an ongoing, vital relationship with God. A changed life doesn't prove anything. What counts is who changed it, and for what reason, and what motive. What we see as changed lives is always only external. We don't know hearts. And we must never become more interested in victory over our sins than in Jesus. When we focus our attention on Him the changed life that we need will be the inevitable result.
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