Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The perverters of the gospel
often misquote the scriptures while appealing to man's natural
reason, purporting that they say something which they do not.
We have often heard the worshippers of free will tell us that the
scripture says, whosoever will may come. While we do not necessarily
completely oppose some of the point they are trying to make,
we are quite sure that this statement can nowhere be found in the scriptures.
And we are also certain that we cannot discover anywhere in
the Scriptures that would describe the ability of men to approach
unto God in the power of their own free will. The state of natural
man is described quite plainly as being dead in trespasses and
sins. But the natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness
unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned. having the understanding darkened,
being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance
that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Yet
these perverters of truth tell us that a man can come to Christ
for salvation as easily as he can pick up a box of cereal off
the shelf in the supermarket, But the scriptures tell us, there
is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
This is exactly why the Lord told Nicodemus, except a man
be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. And why John
writes of those who believe, which were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of
God. The only way that a man will
seek the Lord is if the Lord himself, through the operation
of his Holy Spirit, does make him both able and willing. As
the Lord said, no man can come to me except the Father which
has sent me draw him. This is a privilege bestowed
upon some according to the good pleasure of God. And it is quite
presumptuous on the part of man for him to think that he either
would or could approach unto the Lord apart from the grace
of God, being visited upon him and giving him a mind and heart
to desire the things of God. The desire of the sons of God
is to see the appearing of Jesus Christ, looking for that blessed
hope and the glorious appearing of the great God in our Savior
Jesus Christ. Therefore, the Spirit of God,
who leads the sons of God into all truth, says, Come, Lord Jesus. The bride is led to say, Even
so, come, Lord Jesus. This bride has been chosen and
purchased by Christ, and he will return to the earth at his appointed
time to take possession of that which is his. Since the delight
of the sons of God is found in Christ, it is fitting that they
would desire to see him in his glory. And let him that heareth
say, Come. Those who are purchased are one
in the same with those that hear his word. They are made to hear
by the operation of the Spirit of God. So then faith cometh
by hearing, hearing by the word of God. So it is fitting that
they be exhorted to say, Come, for he is the center of their
attention. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon
earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Let him that is athirst come. The Lord Jesus Christ is a fountain
of living water. He said, If any man thirst, let
him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the
scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living
water. This one to whom the Spirit and
the Bride say, Come, is the source of life itself. He declared himself
to be so, and those that preach the everlasting gospel proclaim
it as well. The Spirit compels those to come,
whose hearts he prepares to desire this water. They are those who
thirst after it. and He has promised to supply
their every need. Blessed are they which do hunger
and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. If
a man thirsts for life, he will have it according to the purpose
of God. This cannot fail, for both he that calleth and he that
giveth life is one and the same. Faithful is he that calleth you
who will also do it. And whosoever will, let him take
the water of life freely. It matters not what background
or nationality a man may come from. If he is made willing in
the day of the Lord's power, he may freely take of that which
the Lord has provided for him. The Lord calls His own sheep
by name, causing them to hunger and thirst for His righteousness.
They know themselves to have no righteousness of their own.
He does freely provide the water of life to all who are the called
according to His purpose, those who call upon His name and come
unto God by Him. Are you dying of thirst and know
that you have nothing to bring unto him? Ho, every one that
thirsteth, come ye to the waters. And he that hath no money, come
ye, buy and eat. Yea, come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.