The Christian worker has to be a sacred “go-between.” He must be so closely identified with his Lord and the reality of His redemption that Christ can continually bring His creating life through him. I am not referring to the strength of one individual’s personality being superimposed on another, but the real presence of Christ coming through every aspect of the worker’s life. When we preach the historical facts of the life and death of our Lord as they are conveyed in the New Testament, our words are made sacred. God uses these words, on the basis of His redemption, to create something in those who listen which otherwise could never have been created. If we simply preach the effects of redemption in the human life instead of the revealed, divine truth regarding Jesus Himself, the result is not new birth in those who listen. The result is a refined religious lifestyle, and the Spirit of God cannot witness to it because such preaching is in a realm other than His. We must make sure that we are living in such harmony with God that as we proclaim His truth He can create in others those things which He alone can do.

When we say, “What a wonderful personality, what a fascinating person, and what wonderful insight!” then what opportunity does the gospel of God have through all of that? It cannot get through, because the attraction is to the messenger and not the message. If a person attracts through his personality, that becomes his appeal. If, however, he is identified with the Lord Himself, then the appeal becomes what Jesus Christ can do. The danger is to glory in men, yet Jesus says we are to lift up only Him (see John 12:32).

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November 9, 2010

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Just about the time I begin to feel  holy and righteous, because I have come so far as a believer, I do something that painfully reminds me of how far I have not come; I decide to do something outside of God’s will…..and I  remind myself of of Adam and Eve and their blatant disobedience.

And God says…”Those things you do not wish to do, you will do. And those things that you wish to do you will not do. Who will save you from this never-ending predicament? Jesus has already provided the salvation and as you look to Him He will keep saving you, (sanctifying you) day by day by day. When you slip and fall get right back up, acknowledge your disobedience, truly repent and I will forgive you over and over and over and over and over toward an eternal definition of grace.”

“And all the while, as you focus on Jesus and the cross, by the power of the Holy Spirit within you, you will be changing from the inside out. Your disobedience slowly becomes a fading memory as you become more and more like Christ, until it is no longer you that lives, but Christ in you.”