Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. It seems right to the natural
mind that a man can become a Christian as easily as he can join the
Lions Club. Such conversions are simply another
act of man's free will. It has been my observation that
those who are thus persuaded to follow Christ by the sophistry
and tactics of men are much like that seed which fell upon the
stony and thorny ground and sprang up quickly but soon withered
or was choked out by the cares of this world. No amount of instruction
or persuasion can give a man a love for the things of God.
No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me
draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day. Only the
Spirit of God moving upon men in sovereign mercy can awaken
a dead sinner and convince him of his lost condition. He does
this totally without the instrumentality of men, even as the Lord said,
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof,
but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth.
So is every one that is born of the Spirit. Only the Spirit
of God can persuade a man that Christ alone is the Savior of
sinners. Men cannot aid others with this revelation, nor can
they hasten their understanding. For God, who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. So what did Paul mean when he
said, knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men?
First of all, a man must be acquainted with the terror of the Lord in
order to have any grasp of that which the sons of God are called
to. Paul is saying we fear the Lord.
The fear of the Lord is a beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of
the holy is understanding. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom
which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve
God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is
a consuming fire. Those that fear the Lord wait
upon his precepts and do not assume that they can contrive
some methodology to accomplish something in a manner which he
has not prescribed. One only need to look at the
fate of Uzzah as he rode the new ox cart designed by David.
It was a brand new ox cart and no doubt very fitted to the task
at hand according to the thinking of men. But God said the Levites
should carry the ark. He did not ask nor need David's
input. The God with whom we have to
do will not share his glory with any. But God has chosen the foolish
things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen
the weak things of the world to confound the things which
are mighty. And base things of the world and things which are
despised have God chosen, yea, and things which are not to bring
to naught things that are, that no flesh should glory in his
presence. When men consider themselves
to be necessary for the Lord to accomplish his work in the
earth, then they are unacquainted with the terror of the Lord.
When Paul says we persuade men, he is merely saying we testify
the truth which he has taught us. He said, and I was with you
in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my speech
and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom,
but in demonstration of the spirit and of power, that your faith
should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
The psalmist said, let the redeemed of the Lord say so. Peter said,
but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always
to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the
hope that is in you with meekness and fear. None of the apostles
preached in a manner wherein they ask men to do something.
They simply proclaim the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The gospel is a declaration of his glory, his Godhead, his purpose,
his redemption, his resurrection and ascension, and his return
to claim his purchased possession. It is neither an offer nor a
proposition, nor a call for men to perform some activity, nor
an opportunity to exercise faith. He has accomplished the salvation
of his people, and God is pleased to send men into the earth to
proclaim that acceptable year of the Lord. Because we have
been given a reverence, respect, and love for the Lord, we are
compelled to testify of the gospel of the glory of the blessed God.
Yea, woe is unto us if we preach not that gospel. We are those
who declare the whole counsel of God to men by the grace of
God. We are convinced that he shall cause his word to prosper
in the thing whereto he is pleased to send it, by whatever means
or lack thereof which he is pleased to use. For our exaltation was
not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile, but as we were
allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel. Even so we speak,
not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For
neither at any time use we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak
of covetousness. God is witness. Nor of men sought
we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others. If you would like
a free transcript of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.