Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
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Just like the wind which is invisible yet the effects are seen so is the working of the Holy Spirit in us.
Jesus, talking to Nicodemus tells him: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8. We might not necessarily remember the exact time, date, and even the events following our conversion but that does not mean that we are not converted.
I was baptized in the Seventh Day Adventist church when I was 12 years old. I’ve grown up in the church and yes at some point I walked from the doctrines of the church. I didn’t keep the Sabbath, I willfully indulged in sin but over time God brought me back into His fold. I was like the Prodigal son the lost coin and the lost sheep. (Luke 15)
I started feeling the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I needed to amend my ways. Teachings from my parents, the church, and personal Bible studies that I did help me have a deeper relationship with God and drew me closer to Him. The Holy Spirit was slowly but steadily working in me. Nobody could see Him work but the difference in my life was very evident for all to see.
If the heart has been renewed by the Spirit of God, the life will bear witness to the fact.
Steps to Christ
We cannot ourselves atone for our past sins or change our hearts. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?
Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil” (Jeremiah 13:23)? But through the working of the Holy Spirit in us, a change will be seen in our character, our habits, and our pursuits.
The character is revealed, not by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts.
Steps to Christ
It is true that there can be an outward correctness of character without the renewing power of Christ. One can be a law-abiding citizen even when they are not Christians, self-respect may lead us to avoid the appearance of evil and even a selfish heart can perform a generous act. So how do we know whose side we’re on?
Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we are Christ’s, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of Him. All we have and are is consecrated to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe His spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things
Steps to Christ
The Hymn writer tells us that;
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word
Trust and Obey
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey
Trust and obey the workings of the spirit of God in us and we will bear His fruits including love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When we walk with the Lord our lives will change; our passions will change, our motives & thoughts will be those that glorify God.
The love of God will fill our hearts and we will willfully follow His commandments. (John 14:15). It is important to know that we do not earn our salvation by our obedience. Salvation is a free gift from God and obedience is the fruit of faith in Him.
Here is the true test. If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in us, our feelings, our thoughts, our purposes, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God as expressed in the precepts of His holy law. “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.” 1 John 3:7. Righteousness is defined by the standard of God’s holy law, as expressed in the ten precepts given on Sinai.
Steps to Christ
Genuine repentance needs to work out in us true revival and reformation.
Being born again, justified, converted—this is the beginning. But what about growing up into Christ? What about that lifetime experience we sometimes call sanctification? Truly born-again Christians not only talk about Christ but live lives that testify that they are, in fact, followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Revival is being born again; reformation is living a life of obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit that “Heaven is waiting to bestow.”
True Revival – E.G White
Revival is the work of God through His Spirit bringing the Spiritually dead to life. When we are revived we see the presence of God in our lives. We become aware of sins and our sinfulness and we repent. The word of God is life and if that word lives in us we will have a true transformation of Character. ” It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)
When this word dwells in us we will reflect the character of God.
- We will be humble, confessing and repenting our sin
- We will spend more time in prayer.
- We will ask for the Holy Spirit and allow to lead by Him
- We will work for the lost souls
- We will have a new joy in Christ and show it in our personal lives and even during worship.
The closer you come to Jesus the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes; your vision will be clearer, and your imperfections will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature. This is the evidence that Satan’s delusions have lost their power; that the vivifying influence of the spirit of God is arousing you..
May it always be your earnest prayer to always have a closer walk with Christ. And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in love.