Hi Beth,
I wish I could do what Jesus did when he opened up people's understanding. But I cannot. This is hard. And these were two of my closest friends. I can honestly say that My Bible makes SO much more sense now than it did before. I cannot go back to the old ways of thinking. But I can say that I was shaken today-I didn't like the feeling-at all. But God did it for a reason-I know.
You've answered your own question, you simply
CANNOT do what Jesus did, only He can do it,
- "Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures" (Lu 24:44, 45)
A few days after Paul was converted he went to the synagogue & reasoned with the Jews that Jesus is the Christ,
- "Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?" But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ" (Act 9:20-22)
How many of those to whom he 'proved' that Jesus is the Christ repented and converted? How many put their faith in Christ as a result of Paul's preaching?
- "Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him" (Ac 9:23)
Paul now makes his way to Jerusalem and starts disputing with the Greeks,
- "And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus" (Ac 9:29, 30)
Why was this all happening? After a supernatural conversion Paul's preaching work was amounting to nothing and now both the Jews and the Greeks wanted him dead. The problem - Paul was still using his own ability and knowledge to preach Christ, and he was even able to
prove that Jesus was the Christ but it made no difference. He had to 1) Lose all traces of religion from himself and 2) recognise that it is Christ, not Him, that is doing the work. So, the disciples sent him away for his own good and he remained away for a further 14 years,
- "Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain" (Gal 2:1, 2)
Paul learned very valuable lessons. He learned that he cannot do anything without Christ, and so recognised that it was a waste of time trying to convert people himself. He also learned patience, waiting on the Lord to do His work. Let's take a look at the 'new' Paul,
- "Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus" (Ac 13:1-4)
I'm sure you don't need me to remind you of the powerful work that Paul did in Christ's name from this point forward. There's nothing in scripture to show that he managed to convert even one person himself. But the Lord
IN HIM planted several congregations throughout the Roman empire. The Lord still had to work on Paul before he could become a useful vessel in His hands, and boy what a vessel he was when he could say,
- "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal 2:20)
Dearest Beth, we're all like Paul. We want to preach Christ from the rooftops, in the valleys and on the street corners, but any work that is of ourselves will amount to nothing. However, take courage as the Lord is working in each one of us to make us into vessels of honour, shaping and molding each one of us until we are ready for the work for which we were chosen, and
THEN, the Holy spirit will send us forth. Never underestimate the difference between going out ourselves and being sent forth. Those sent forth do the Lord's work, otherwise it's our own work.
Be patient and humble. Don't worry about whether you can argue with the theologians or prove that Jesus is the Christ, that all mankind will be saved and there is no hell, for those who are not the Lord's cannot hear such words, but the Lord's sheep know
HIS voice and will always follow Him. So, like Paul, live by the faith in the Son of God and He will bear fruitage to God in you in due season.
Don't worry about the work of the Lord, instead focus on the Lord of the work and
HE will complete that for which He was sent through you.
- "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them" (Ac 16:9, 10)
- "Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them" (Ac 18:9-11)
- "But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome" (Ac 23:11)
- "And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1 Cor 2:3, 4)
May the Lord give of His grace and truth to you to see His mighty hand at work in you, to His own magnificence and glory.
Grace and peace to you and yours
Nelson
Author
Topic: My first discussion... (Read 9077 times)