The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"One Beggar Telling Another"
In His commission of the Apostle Paul, the Lord Jesus Christ called His servant to "turn them (sinners) from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins" (Acts 26:18).
Lostness involves more than human rejection and rebellion against God. Devilish influence also plays a significant role in unbelief. Certainly, we see this in the Biblical account of the first temptation and sin (Genesis 3). We also recognize that those who presently do not trust the Lord Jesus are subject to spiritual entities that exert great power in seeking to keep unbelievers bound in the darkness of unbelief. Yes, the issue is for more than human:
"We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12).
This challenging truth plays a significant role in our communication of the Gospel. The issue not only involves the deceived mind of the sinner, but also his spiritually bound heart. This places us in the position of complete dependence on the Holy Spirit to accomplish His liberating work, even as we seek to share the truth as well as possible in terms of Scripture. Our best arguments fall to the ground apart from the Spirit of God's working to penetrate deeply into the bound spirit of unbelievers. He alone can throw open the gates if a sinner responds to the Gospel. This places the communicator of salvation in the same position of heart we hope will occur in our hearer, namely, of faith in the Lord Jesus. Or, as the saying goes, "Salvation involves one beggar who found bread telling another where he found it."
The Apostle Paul well knew his utter need for the power of God in sharing the truth, no less than his hearers would utterly need the power of God in response. He requested prayer that "that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly (confidently) to make known the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19). Paul knew that his words could have no effect apart from the Holy Spirit's leading and enabling. He could only share the Gospel confidently if he remembered the power of God, and his need for it. Indeed, the witness of the Gospel is no less dependent on the Lord's grace for sharing than the hearer is for receiving. This truth changes much in our own communication of Christ to others as we realize that salvation - and our witness of it - requires the power of God to free the sinner's heart, and to free our tongue to effectively bear witness to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus. Yes, one beggar telling another…
"The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His Word was in my tongue."
(II Samuel 23:2)
Weekly Memory Verse
Great is our Lord, and of great power, His understanding is infinite.
(Psalm 147:5)
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