From My Heart to Your Heart

I did not have an understanding of God’s Ways when it came to bringing people into a right relationship with Jesus Christ until God demonstrated His Ways to me and through me in a very pronounced way. In these first two letters, I have attempted to share details with you about the first four steps of God’s process.

Step 1.  God must call out your name.
I don’t believe He usually does this audibly. But, I do know that you can only come into a right relationship with Jesus Christ when God calls to you and draws you to Jesus Christ.

“No one can come to me (Jesus Christ) unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.”  John 6:44

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.  Acts 2:38-39
           
Other references to explore: Romans 1:5-7, 8:28-30, I Corinthians 1:24-26, Galatians 1:6, 15, 1 Peter 1:15, 2:9, 5:10,
 2 Peter 1:3, Hebrews 9:15 Jude verse 1 and many more.

Does God call out to everyone?  How many times will God call out to you?  I cannot answer these questions. What I do know is God looks into and knows the hearts of all of humankind, each and every person.
     
“For the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” I Chronicles 28:9-10

Step 2.  The Holy Spirit convicts you of your need for Jesus Christ.
Jesus is speaking to His disciples before His death and resurrection:
“But I tell you the truth; it is for your own good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor (Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the ”  John 16:7-9

This conviction of guilt applies to each and every person. The Holy Spirit brings an acute awareness that indeed you are a sinner in need of forgiveness. When seeking forgiveness it must be done with a repentant heart. A person needs to be willing to turn from personal sin and from participating in the evil ways of this world.

Jesus knows the difference between a true believer and a make believer. 

There is no such thing as self-righteousness in the eyes of God. No one can be good enough or do enough good things to be looked upon as righteous in the sight of our Holy God. Righteousness only comes through Jesus Christ, accepting Him as both your Lord and Savior.  When you accept Jesus and repent, God no longer sees your sin. You become cleansed through the blood of Jesus and made white as snow in the eyes of God.  You have become righteous and justified (just as if you have never sinned) through Jesus in the sight of God.

  Until you surrender to Jesus, you are like Satan; not freed from the judgment of God. Continuing in John 16:11 with Jesus speaking of the results of His sacrifice-His suffering, death and resurrection-
           “and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world (Satan) now stands condemned.”
Everyone who is not in a right relationship with Jesus Christ belongs to Satan and stands condemned with him. You may chose to deny this, but it does not matter what a person thinks. What matters is the truth our Holy God clearly provides us through His Word.  We must believe God’s Word not man’s words.

  Step 3. You must call out to God and be “born again” - Reread letters 1 and 2.

  Step 4.  The Holy Spirit works to sanctify you (synonyms-purify, make holy, cleanse, anoint, bless) God’s desire is that His adopted sons and daughters become like Jesus.  The gift of the Holy Spirit is given to true believers to bring this about.  The Holy Spirit is our counselor.  He leads, guides and directs our path.  The mightiness of the power of the Holy Spirit working in one’s life directly correlates with a willingness to crucify things of self and turn from what God views as the evil ways of this world.  Allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us is an absolute requirement.  The less willing a person is, the slower and bumpier the process.  The more willing a person is, the faster and smoother the process.

It is God through the Holy Spirit who determines what level you are at in your walk with Him.  A person cannot move forward in their relationship with Jesus until God determines he or she is ready to be moved forward.  It is so important to gain an understanding of what holds Christians at the level they are at.  Each person must crucify self, turn from the ways of this world, seek God wholeheartedly and allow the mighty power of Holy Spirit to sanctify him or her.                          

Let all that you do glorify God!