All will have no effect!

From Grace Gems.  The necessity of the Holy Spirit is too easily forgotten.  Samuel Davies here reminds us that all the best works that men can do can not accomplish anything in the Kingdom of God unless performed in, through, and by the Holy Spirit.  This is a helpful corrective for Christians who rest their faith on their works, theology, leadership skills, programs, etc.  If anything of value is to happen in the Church it will only happen by the Holy Spirit.

“When He comes–He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment!” John 16:8

The Holy Spirit is the only effectual reformer of the world! If He is absent–

legislators may make laws against crime;

philosophers may reason against vice;

ministers may preach against sin;

conscience may remonstrate against evil;

the divine law may prescribe, and threaten hell;

the gospel may invite and allure to heaven;

but all will be in vain!

The strongest arguments, the most melting entreaties, the most alarming denunciations from God and man, enforced with the highest authority, or the most compassionate tears–all will have no effect–all will not effectually reclaim one sinner, nor gain one sincere convert to righteousness!

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Sunday May 23rd, Happy Pentecost!

Happy Pentecost!

Today we celebrate one of the most important events in the entire Christian calendar.  The feast of Pentecost is just as important as Christmas and Easter.  Every year around Christmas, you see articles ‘dis-proving’ the virgin birth.  Every Easter, someone writes about how the crucifixion was cosmic child abuse and the resurrection is a myth.  Do you know what horrendous thing the unbelievers think about Pentecost?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!  Do you know why?  Because they don’t care.  In fact, if you are visiting today, you only really know what’s going on if you grew up in church.

If Pentecost is as important to the Christian faith as we say, why does our culture not think to even give Pentecost enough credit to try and discredit it?  Because it’s weird, and they don’t understand it.  We can understand the birth of a savior.  We can understand the death of a martyr.  We can understand resurrection as a principle.  For some reason, we cannot understand what it is we celebrate on Pentecost.

Why can’t our culture understand what happens on Pentecost?  For the simple reason that when we think of the term “The Holy Spirit” we tend to think of it in a way that is absolutely alien to that of the world of the First Century Church.

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The Free Gift of the Holy Spirit

We must always remember that the blessing of the Gospel is God Himself.  He is the free gift given to us.  The danger is to focus on the many blessings that come from His hands instead of Him.  In this exposition of Luke Chapter 3, J.C. Ryle shows what a precious promise it is that God gives the Spirit freely to those who ask of him!

“There is something deeply instructive, and deeply comforting in this revelation of the blessed Trinity, at this particular season of our Lord’s earthly ministry. It shows us how mighty and powerful is the agency that is employed in the great business of our redemption. It is the common work of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. All Three Persons in the Godhead are equally concerned in the deliverance of our souls from hell. The thought should cheer us, when disturbed and cast down. The thought should hearten and encourage us, when weary of the conflict with the world, the flesh, and the devil. The enemies of our souls are mighty, but the Friends of our souls are mightier still. The whole power of the triune Jehovah is engaged upon our side. “A three-fold cord is not easily broken.”

From J.C. Ryle

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