Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. In his promise to send
his spirit, the Lord said his spirit would reprove the world
of sin, righteousness, and judgment. This English word reprove is
translated from a Greek word which means tell him his fault.
He said he would reprove the world of sin because they believe
not on me. The Spirit of God bears testimony
against the sin of this world as he shows the work of the law
written in the hearts of men. All men are without excuse before
God, for even those who are not given the law of God written
in tablets of stone, nonetheless know right from wrong and despise
the rule of God over them, delighting in the lusts of their flesh and
finding fault with those who would treat them in the same
fashion which they would treat others. Even thieves grow angry
when someone steals from them. The rebuke of the Spirit tells
them their faults, but they will not listen, content to go on
in their way in a complete disregard of Him who demands their obedience.
They bear their iniquity. He said His Spirit would reprove
the world of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see
me no more. Though the righteousness of Christ
is not hidden from the world, they cannot see it because of
the willing darkness which envelops their mind. His children, on
the other hand, rejoice in the revelation of His perfect righteousness,
both as a sinless man and as a substitute for sinners, paying
the debt of sin which His people owe. He imputes His righteousness
to them, and they are convicted by His Spirit of their own sinful
condition, and convinced of His completely satisfactory solution
to their dilemma of being enemies of God, which is manifested by
their own wicked works. They are ashamed of their record,
but rejoice in being reconciled unto God, throwing down their
arms of rebellion and falling at his feet in worship. He said
his spirit would reprove the world of judgment, because the
prince of this world is judged. We are not waiting to see his
judgment, because the Lord has already manifested it in his
triumph at Calvary and the garden tomb. And having spoiled principalities
and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over
them in it. He did this as he blotted out
the handwriting of those ordinances which were against us, that through
death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that
is, the devil, and deliver him through fear of death were all
their lifetime subject to bondage. Christ's absolute victory in
securing the redemption of that elect people for which he came
to save has forever destroyed the capability of Satan to harm
even one hair of their heads. Satan is now only able to breathe
out empty threats as he awaits the end to which he is assigned.
He cannot devour even one of the weakest of those lambs for
whom Christ has shed his precious blood. Thus we see the Spirit's
work is given primarily for the benefit of those sons of God,
the called according to his purpose, as he works all things together
for their good. They are reproved daily as he
applies the word of God to their hearts and minds. All scripture
is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works. He teaches them of Christ, who is their performer
and righteousness. His work is seen in his gentle
rebukes as their flesh wars against him in the form of pride. He
delivers them from self-righteousness, teaching them of their own weakness
and, in contrast, the source of their strength. The goodness
of God leadeth thee to repentance. When His Spirit is present, the
Lord's people will be convicted of their sin and their unworthiness
of the least of His mercies. When the Spirit convicts those
whom He has given life, they are as Job after the whirlwind
and Saul on the road to Damascus. They know themselves to be sinners
in dire need. Yet the work of the Spirit is
not done by merely bringing the sons of God to see themselves
as sinners. For he will convince them of
the righteousness of that one in whom he gives them faith to
believe and to confess with Paul. I am not ashamed, for I know
whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to
keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. He will bring many sons unto
glory with this same confession, and it is by His continual work
in the sons of God that they are made to rejoice in Him. Now
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing
that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Are you taught by the Spirit of Christ or by the religion
of men? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.