The Miracle of Belief

July 17th, 2012 by JDVaughn Leave a reply »

My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom . . . —1 Corinthians 2:4


Paul was a scholar and an orator of the highest degree; he was not speaking here out of a deep sense of humility, but was saying that when he preached the gospel, he would veil the power of God if he impressed people with the excellency of his speech. Belief in Jesus is a miracle produced only by the effectiveness of redemption, not by impressive speech, nor by wooing and persuading, but only by the sheer unaided power of God. The creative power of redemption comes through the preaching of the gospel, but never because of the personality of the preacher.

Real and effective fasting by a preacher is not fasting from food, but fasting from eloquence, from impressive diction, and from everything else that might hinder the gospel of God being presented. The preacher is there as the representative of God— “. . . as though God were pleading through us . . .” (2 Corinthians 5:20). He is there to present the gospel of God. If it is only because of my preaching that people desire to be better, they will never get close to Jesus Christ. Anything that flatters me in my preaching of the gospel will result in making me a traitor to Jesus, and I prevent the creative power of His redemption from doing its work.

And I, if I am lifted up. . . , will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32).

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June 17, 2012

 

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord it is a lesson that requires a daily reminder; that You are at the center of anything and everything that has value in my life. I can get caught up in my daily “mission” or activities and off I go in my own direction, and then I hit a bump in the road and I look around and wonder where  I left my awareness of You. Thank you for helping me live in a greater awareness of You in all that I say and do. Please help me see You at the center of my life and at the center of everything that crosses my life and way today.

And God says…”I have come so that you might have life and life more abundantly, and I hold out my gifts to and for you every day. However, you must receive these gifts from me, aware that I hold them out for you all day, every day long. Your ability to see my gifts, and take hold of the bounty I provide comes through My power. So look to Me inside every circumstance, opportunity, trial and uncertainty, and You will find Me and the abundant life I provide. Recall that all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.”  

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Journal DJR
Thank you Lord, for this message. It seems clear that our job is to just SHOW UP. And all that is included in those 2 words. Our expectation, our belief, our self assessment and our God assessment. All of it. Help us to just show up today. Then we can do what you did in John 5:19 … only did what he saw the father doing…

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