THE SOVEREIGN, IRRESISTIBLE GRACE OF GOD (PART 2 OF 2)

18^th JANUARY 2020

“The wind blows where it wishes [that is the free will of the wind], and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:8

Yesterday, we commenced a discuss on the free will of the Holy Spirit. Today we continue our discussion on how the sovereign power of the Spirit takes control of our life and begins to make us to do His will only. Even though it’s the will of the Spirit to enter into our life and give us the desired spiritual birth, this does not mean that we don’t attempt to resist Him. We do resist Him to a reasonable extent, but in the end, He is able to overpower us! Furthermore, when we experience the new birth, we become powerful sons of God. At that point, God chooses to overcome the rebellion and resistance of our wills. He can make Christ look so compelling that our resistance is broken, and we freely come to him and receive him and believe him. The Spirit of God is gracious and sovereign. The scripture describes this sovereign power of the Spirit of God as follows:

1.       Jesus says in John 6:44 and 65, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. . .. No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

1. In Romans 9:15–16, Paul quotes God, “‘I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” So, then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” In other words, the wind blows where it wills in the work of regeneration.
2. In Philippians 2:12–13, Paul says, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” In other words, our willingness to be good is made perfect by the power of the Holy Spirit working through us.

Today’s word is saying that being born again by the Spirit is decisively, ultimately, the Holy Spirit’s will, and secondarily and dependently the acting of our will. This means when we are ready to receive the Holy Spirit, our job is to simply prepare ourselves to receive Him, but ONLY THE SPIRIT WILL DECIDE WHETHER HE WANTS TO COME INTO US OR NOT. Beloved, it is time to present yourself to the Spirit and become born of the Spirit of God. Nicodemus in John 8: 9 could not understand this mystery, and so he questioned, saying, “How can these things be?” He could not grasp it. It was mystifying to him. Beloved, do not feel threatened by today’s word. Rather, become thrilled by it. The fact remains that, “the decisive act of will in the new birth is not ours. The Spirit’s will is decisive.” Once you are genuinely ready, the spirit comes into your life”!

God and His Spirit have their sovereign will to move as they wish. Therefore, your inherent weaknesses might not be a hindrance to the Spirit, when He chooses to work through you. Only the Spirit would decide the parameters for coming into your life. Not even you can decide that. Your job is to present yourself as a worthy soul, seeking the baptism of the Spirit. Your genuineness and readiness will be considered by the Holy Spirit before He enters into you. He blows where he wills, not by your will or power! Meditate seriously about this discuss. Becoming a son of God in the new birth is thrilling, and full of experience.  Beloved, it is time to move with the Spirit, and become like the Holy Spirit!

PRAYER

Father in the name of Jesus Christ, I open myself today to receive the Holy Spirit. I desire the new birth by the Spirit. Holy Spirit come take total control of my life. Make me yours now. AMEN

FURTHER READING: John 6:44 and verse 65