Yesterday we looked at what the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ is. Today I want to share this from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. Remember that his way of speaking may take a little getting used to, but the message is well worth the extra effort!
But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him. — 1 Corinthians 2:14
The Gospel of God creates a sense of need of the Gospel. Paul says – "If our gospel be hid, it is hid" – to those who are blackguards? No, "to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not." The majority of people have their morality well within their own grasp, they have no sense of need of the Gospel. It is God Who creates the need of which no human being is conscious until God manifests Himself. Jesus said – "Ask, and it shall be given you," but God cannot give until a man asks. It is not that He withholds, but that that is the way He has constituted things on the basis of Redemption. By means of our asking, God gets processes into work whereby He creates the thing that is not in existence until we do ask. The inner reality of Redemption is that it creates all the time. As the Redemption creates the life of God in us, so it creates the things belonging to that life. Nothing can satisfy the need but that which created the need. This is the meaning of Redemption – it creates and it satisfies.
"I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me." We preach our own experiences and people are interested, but no sense of need is awakened by it. If once Jesus Christ is lifted up, the Spirit of God will create a conscious need of Him. Behind the preaching of the Gospel is the creative Redemption of God at work in the souls of men. It is never personal testimony that saves men. "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life."
Many times when Jesus healed people in the Bible who came to Him for healing, He said "Your faith has made you whole". Jesus paid the price for the salvation of every person, BUT, they can only RECEIVE this salvation by asking! (Romans 10:9-10) God's part is done except for confirming His Word that WE speak (Mark 16:20)! Find out what God has ALREADY done for you and begin to receive by ASKING! AMEN! Here is another Christmas song that I like called "O Holy Night" performed by Hillsong:
Shalom in Him!
