Don’t Despise the Word of God

“Despise not prophesying.” (I Thessalonians 5:20)

Prophesying was one of the ways the Word of God was spread in the first century. It was not always “foretelling.” Often it was “forth-telling,” telling forth the Word of God. The Word was preached and passed along verbally from one person to another. “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (II Peter 1:21)  Apparently there were people who despised prophesying, seeing that Paul found it necessary to address the issue.

Two pre-teen boys were at one of those country church gatherings where, following the noon meal, people sat and heard three or four sermons and some gospel singing. One of the boys went up the hill above the church for a breath of fresh air. On his way back down the hill he met the other boy. Asked the first boy, “Is the preaching done yet?” To which the other one replied, “The preaching is done but they ain’t done nothing about it yet.”

Neglecting the straight forward preaching and doing nothing about it is one of the many ways people despise prophesying. Missing church for a ball game on television, taking the family to the beach on Sunday, or a host of other entertaining things because we despise prophesying, counting it of no value are ways we show how we despise the word.

Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him

“…the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)

Before you load up your shopping buggy with Christmas gifts and max out your credit cards with debt be reminded of our text for today. I read somewhere years ago, “Don’t spend money you don’t have, for things you don’t need to impress people you don’t know.” God never intended for Christmas to be a spending spree, nor a deep hole of debt.

Once in a while debt or credit is necessary. However, Satan will encourage us to become debt ridden and to become slaves to the one who has loaned us money. If we make huge debts, spending up to “the hilt,” we will find it difficult to give money to the Lord for missions, or to buy goods for the needy or to bring our tithes into the storehouse. Our creditor, who has become our master, demands his first.

Christmas is about the Savior, the Son of God, who came into the world to save sinners from their sins and from hell. Don’t become a slave to credit or creditors thinking it will make you have a better Christmas. Have a wonderful season of worshiping and adoring Him during this Christmas.

Some Good Things to Do

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, Oh most High.” (Psalm 92:1)

There are many good things we can do such as feeding the poor, giving money to support missionaries, visiting the crippled, lame and sick in the nursing homes and giving comfort to them. It is a good thing to visit the unsaved in an attempt to introduce them to Jesus. Saying a kind and encouraging word to someone in our church is a good thing.

The psalmist tells us in our text that it a good thing to give thanks to the LORD. Have you thanked Him for a pillow on which to lay head at night? We need to thank Him for the clothes in our closets, a roof over our heads and food in the pantry and refrigerator. Thank Him for good health.

The psalmist says also that it is a good thing to sing praises unto His name. Everyone can make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Watching and listening silently while everyone else has the privilege of singing praises to Him isn't enough. It is a good thing for all of us to sing praises to His name.

Bearing Burdens

“For every man shall bear his own burden.” (Galatians 6:5)

My Dad was preaching a sermon on personal responsibility for the Christian. Somewhere in his sermon he was making reference to what we call, “Chimney Corner Scripture.” It is not the inspired word of God but many people have adopted it as inspired Bible truth. He mentioned five or six as illustrations. One of several dad’s illustrations for “Chimney Corner Scripture” was, “Every tub has to sit on its own bottom.” An old gentleman was visiting that Sunday and gave a good and loud, “Amen, brother.” That certainly is not in the Bible but our text is.

Every person must accept the responsibility for his own burdens. However, in the verses previous to our text we are admonished to help others who are bearing burdens too heavy to bear alone. We Christians are to express Christian love by helping the person with a heavy burden. That does not mean that we should shirk the responsibility of bearing our own burdens.

Only Luke

“Only Luke is with me.”  (II Timothy 4:11)

Have you ever been betrayed by someone or a group of people? Paul was one who knew the feeling. Demas had forsaken Paul in one of his darkest days. Paul was in the Roman jail waiting for the executioner to come and take his life. Demas’ leaving, no doubt caused great pain to the Apostle. “Only Luke is with me,” Paul said. Praise God for the person who will stay by your side when everyone else forsakes and betrays you. There was no notion of betrayal in Luke’s make up.

Our Lord also knew the pain of betrayal. Judas Iscariot had pretended to be Jesus’ friend but Judas delivered Him to the Jews for thirty pieces of silver and betrayed Him with a kiss. Our Lord understood the pain of betrayal

The Lord was another one who stood with Paul and never forsook him. “The Lord is with me.” (II Timothy 4:17)  He has given us a promise that, just as He stood with Paul when others turned their backs that “He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Turning Back to Give Thanks

“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.” (Luke 17:15-16)

Instead of ridiculing the nine for their thanklessness, let us look at the Samaritan for what he did. He was one of ten lepers. Jesus healed all ten of then. This man turned back and gave thanks for what Jesus had done for him.

Let us not wait to see what others are doing to do the right thing. God abundantly blesses all of us in a multitude of ways every day. We should continually, day by day, moment by moment give a prayer of thanks to our Savior, our Shepherd, our provider and protector for His blessings upon us.

Keep Giving Thanks

"Let your conversation (conduct) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: For He has said, 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5)

On the day after Thanksgiving Day it is O.K. to still be thankful.  You don't need a bundle of money to spend on so called "Black Friday Bargains" in order to be thankful. You can be thankful and content with the countless blessings that are already in your life.   

A prescription for misery is to "spend money you don't have to buy things you don't need to impress people you don't even know."

Our text says, "...be content with such things as you have."  And then it tells us the reason why we should be content, "For He has said, 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you.'"

It is a good thing to be content with what we have and to be thankful for it. The blessings we experienced yesterday are enough to continue our thanksgiving throughout the coming year.  Let's not wait until November, 2018 to be thankful again.

Be Thankful unto Him

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.” (Psalm 100:4)

Today is “Thanksgiving Day” in the United States. It is good that we have a day set aside for the purpose of giving thanks to Almighty God for all His benefits toward us. We should give thanks to Him every day, not just on one day per year.

The commercialization of Christmas is causing too many merchants and their customers to skip over Thanksgiving and ignore the meaning of Christmas for “Black Friday” thus leaving God out completely. I am thankful for the merchants who have chosen to be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

A favorite Norman Rockwell print shows a family, mother, father, and two small children, sitting around a table in a restaurant. The waitress has brought their food and placed it on the table. Their heads are bowed in prayer. In the background are working men looking on in awe.

Take time to pray a short prayer of thanksgiving every day. “Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.”

Available Strength

“Pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17)

A little boy was trying to remove a huge rock from his back yard play area. As he struggled his dad was watching from inside the house.

His dad came out and asked, “Have you used all your strength?” “Yes daddy,” replied the little boy. Dad said, “You haven’s asked me to help.” The little boy asked, “Daddy, will you help me?” when Daddy helped, the rock was removed without a problem.

We all have “rocks” and other hindrances in our pathways. We need the Father to help us. The verse for today is a command to pray always. If you haven’t prayed you haven’t used all the energy available to you. Other believers are struggling with their burdens. Pray for them that they would ask God to help them.

Don’t Put Out the Fire

“Quench not the Spirit.” ( I Thessalonians 5:19)

On my way to the hospital to make some visits I saw thick black smoke billowing up from a building on fire. Then I saw three fire trucks with their sirens blasting, calling for the right of way. I finished my visits in about thirty minutes and left the hospital. There was no sign of smoke anywhere. The firemen on the trucks had put out the fire: they quenched the flames.

Often the Holy Spirit will come to us like a roaring fire telling us He has a job for us. When Paul and Barnabas were ministering to the infant church of Antioch the Holy Spirit said, “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” They then left Antioch on their first missionary journey.

I can think of all kinds of excuses they could have given for not going. They would have put out the fire: they would have quenched the Holy Spirit.

Don’t put out the fire God has placed in you to do His work and to serve Him. If there is a fire in your heart for your unsaved neighbors go witness to them knowing that the One who built the fire will direct you in what to say.

Pray for your Preacher

“Brethren, pray for us.” (I Thessalonians 5:25)

There is a song that says, “I need the prayers of those I love.” Paul is making a request to his Christian brothers in the church of Thessalonica. “Pray for us,” is a simple request.

No preacher has gotten so big that he can be the “Lone Ranger” in his ministry, thinking he needs no help. That man will be cut down sooner or later. And no preacher is so small that the prayers of the saints will not help.

Preachers are weak human beings. We need the prayers of brothers and sisters in Christ. I receive words of assurance and encouragement frequently from someone who is praying for me, and it is greatly appreciated. My suggestion is that you make a prayer list of pastors, evangelists, missionaries and others in the Lord’s work and pray for them every day. Every preacher I know needs the prayers of fellow believers.

The devil would like nothing better than to see a preacher fall. Pray for the men who open the Word of God and share it with a congregation of people Sunday after Sunday.

God and Impossibilities

“Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)

This question is asked of Abraham when he and Sarah had three visitors announcing that Abraham and Sarah would have a son when he would be one hundred and she, ninety. It looked more like a laughable impossibility than a fact of life. She did give birth just as the visitors said.

Is there anything too hard for the Lord? He spoke the world and the universe into existence. God created the sun, moon and stars. He created the trees and all green grass. He spoke and man was created. He then made a woman for the man. He brought a world wide flood upon which covered even the mountains to punish sinful mankind. No. There is nothing too hard for the Lord.

Are you struggling with a teen-ager who has gotten tangled up in the world and its ways? Maybe you have a health problem. What is your “impossible” situation? Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there because nothing is too hard for the Lord.

Bring Mark

“Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” (II Timothy 4:11)

Paul, the great apostle, writer and evangelist was nearing the end of his life on earth. “The time of his departure was at hand.” He had instructed Timothy to come to Rome before winter when there would be no sailing possible. He had instructed Timothy about items he should bring with him. He mentioned his cloke, his books and the parchments. And bring Mark.

John Mark had forsaken his uncle Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey. When they were making plans for their second missionary journey Barnabas suggested taking John Mark. But Paul refused and took Silas with him and Barnabas chose Mark to go with him.

A number of years passed and during that time we find Mark mentioned favorably in some of Paul’s and Peter’s writings.  “Bring him,” Paul says, “for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”

Mark had been a disappointment. But Barnabas patiently worked with him and now this quitter was the man who Paul wanted to come to Rome where Paul was in Jail. If you have failed in a role in church or some other role, make yourself available and God can use you.

Christ Died for the Ungodly

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)

That man is a sinner by nature when he is born and a sinner by choice when he knows to do right and does it not is an undeniable fact. The psalmist said, “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.” (Psalm 58:3)

A man in deep mud was trying to get out by pulling on his own boot straps. He was turning flips, falling down only to try harder and become more stuck than from the beginning. That’s a good picture of the person without Christ trying to become free from sin.

Jesus died for the ungodly, the person for whom the rest of the world ignores as a lost cause. He died for the ungodly: the drunkard, the dope addict, the liar, the thief, the prostitute and all sinners of any kind. He died for you and me.

My Best Friend

“…There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)

There were three of us boys. I was in the middle. They not only were my brothers, they were my friends. I wanted to do everything my older brother did. My younger brother wanted to do everything I did. We were able to play a little music together and sometimes did some singing.

They are both gone now and I miss them tremendously. But my friend Jesus, the Son of God, has made me a promise that He will never leave me nor forsake me. My brothers could not be with me all the time, but Jesus has no such limitations.

I had two wonderful brothers and I have had some real good friends. But the dearest of all to me is my Savior who loved me and gave Himself for me at Calvary.

Planting and Watering

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” (I Corinthians 3:6)

Most of us who are saved would probably say that more than one person had part in bringing us to Christ. Paul expresses this truth in our text. It is God who saves but it takes a Paul and an Apollos to bring that person to saving faith.

I was saved in a fall revival many years ago. Wade House was the evangelist. But before the revival came my Sunday school teacher had been faithful to teach God’s word. The pastor of the church I attended with my parents presented the Gospel faithfully and regularly. On the day before I was saved I asked my mother, “How do you get saved?” She told me. My father had just recently answered the call to preach. I heard his testimony. I am sure there were others who had a part.

I have had the privilege of sharing the Gospel with many people and many of them were saved. I may have planted or I may have watered, but God gave the increase.

If you are a believer I encourage you to do some “planting” and “watering” then anticipate that God will give the increase.

The Presence of Jesus

“But He saith unto them, ‘It is I; be not afraid.’” (John 6:20)

It was night. The disciples of Jesus had gotten in a boat on the Sea of Galilee and were rowing toward Capernaum. When they were about three miles from shore a storm arose. They saw Jesus coming to them, walking on the sea. They were afraid when Jesus spoke the words of assurance found in our text.

Have you ever “launched out” away from the safe harbor and things started going from bad to worse? Perhaps you were stepping out by faith doing the will of God. Just when you think all is lost, Jesus makes His appearance. “I am here. Don’t be afraid.”

A little boy’s mother was in the hospital and so his dad was sleeping with the little fellow. It began to storm outside. The flashing lightning and the sound of thunder awakened the little guy. He reached over toward his dad and asked, “Daddy, are you there?” The dad responded, “Yes son. Daddy’s here. I will not leave you.”

Just as Jesus was with the disciples in the storm on the Sea of Galilee, we have the assurance that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Treasure in Earthen Vessels

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (II Corinthians 4:7)

In 1948 a young shepherd boy was watching his sheep. He threw a rock just to change the monotony. When it landed it sounded like something breaking. Upon investigating the sound he found a cave with clay pots. In the pots were pieces of writing material with something written on them. It was discovered that they were copies of portions of the prophetic book of Isaiah. It was one of the greatest finds in history.

God could have used angels to do His work on earth. After all, He chose the angel Gabriel to carry the news of Mary’s pregnancy. He could have set the standard for those  carrying the gospel to mankind that one had to be a graduate of a major seminary, with a degree in every book in the Bible.

Paul tells us that we have the treasure of the gospel in earthen vessels, clay pots that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. He chose fishermen, tax collectors and common ordinary every day people to do His work. Clay pots. Broken, plain, clay pots, just like the vessels carrying the Dead Sea Scrolls. God has chosen you and me and people like us to carry the gospel to a lost world.

Trophies of God’s Grace

“…That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7)

Most high schools and colleges have a trophy case in which are displayed the trophies they have won through sporting events. Golfers, weight lifters, tennis stars and others have trophies displayed prominently. They are proud of their trophies because they represent victories.

God won a victory over Satan when He went to the cross and died and arose the third day. He wins a victory when He reaches down His hand and lifts up a fallen sinner and saves him from hell. God wins a contest with the devil every time He saves a sinner.

In heaven we will be trophies of His grace. There will be the trophy of His grace when He saved the drug addict. Another trophy will be the alcoholic who lost everything, including his family. By the grace of God his life was changed. He redeemed prostitutes and homosexuals, more trophies. Repentant thieves whose lives were changed by the grace of God will be trophies of God’s grace. On and on there will be an endless line of trophies of God’s grace, people who were guilty of all types of sin who were changed as a result of the amazing grace of God.

Tune Your Life to Jesus

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

Vance Havner told the story of an old man who lived in the hills of North Carolina.  His old violin had gotten out of tune. At the same time there was an orchestra that had a weekly broadcast over the radio.

One evening the orchestra director said, “I have received a request from an old gentleman whose violin is out of tune. He requests that we give him a good strong “A” before we begin this evening so he can tune his violin. This is for that old gentleman.” The violinist in the first chair played a long, strong “A” and the old gentleman tuned his violin.

This world is out of tune. Homes and churches have gotten out of tune. There is one constant by which we must tune our lives. Just as the musical note “A” is always the same, so Jesus the Son of God, our Savior, Lord and master is always the same. Many people are trying to tune their lives by the fickle, changing philosophies of the world, by ignoring the Bible and the Savior. Your life will always be out of tune unless you turn your life over to Jesus Christ.

Jesus Wept

“Jesus Wept.” (John 11:35)

This is the shortest verse in the Bible. But it is one of the greatest verses. It introduces us to the human side of Jesus while He walked on earth. He had the same emotions that you and I have and the same physical pains. He not only wept, He also became tired. He slept. He experienced hunger and thirst. The book of Hebrews tells us that He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

On the cross, as He bore our sins in His body, He suffered pain and agony. Just a few hours before, He had prayed in the Garden, “Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.” He knew the pain and suffering would be tremendous.

But, He endured the pain and the shame because on the other side of Calvary there was joy waiting Him.

When you are going through bodily pain, suffering from some sickness or your heart is broken, remember, Jesus understands. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

The Cornerstone

“This is the stone which was set at naught of your builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11-12)

It was just an old rock that was the right size and weight to put on the floor next to the door making a good door prop. The old man’s wife had begged him to get rid of that old ugly rock by the door and get a prettier one.

One day a guest came and after lunch he spied the old rock by the door. He picked it up and examined it. Then He asked the old man, “May I take this rock with me and have an assayer examine it?” The assayer said the old abandoned rock was the largest gold nugget he had ever seen. It was worth a fortune.

Jesus, the neglected and discarded stone is the corner stone of faith, our salvation, the church and the kingdom. He is the cornerstone of the Christian life. He was rejected of men but chosen of God. Peter tells us that this rejected stone is the only way of salvation. To us who are saved He is precious and beautiful beyond description.

Will you receive Him by faith and be saved today?

Going the Way of all the Earth

“And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth…” (Joshua 13:14)

We may not know the day, the month or the year, but just as certainly as livestock die and as certainly as wild animals, fowls of the air and fish in the oceans and streams go the way of all the earth, so will you and I. We have that in common. It is the way of all the earth.

Joshua had done great things. He had been one of the twelve men to go as a spy into the Promised Land. He had assumed the reins of leadership over Israel after Moses died. Under Joshua’s leadership Israel had crossed the Jordan River when God stopped its flow. He had led them to defeat Jericho and Ai. He was an excellent leader because he followed the plan of God.

But like Moses before him, Joshua went the way of all the earth. Regardless of great things we may have done, our riches, our education or our positions with mankind, sometime we are going the way of all the earth.

Only if you have received Christ Jesus by faith for eternal life are you ready to go the way of all the earth.

When the South Wind Blows Softly

“And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.” (Acts 27:13-14)

Paul the Apostle, not a sailor, but a preacher who listened to God, had already told the centurion and sailors they should not sail. Ignoring his admonitions, when the south wind blew softly they left shore. It was a major mistake because shortly they were in a typhoon.

Too often we ignore the word from the Lord through God’s servant, failing to realize the soft blowing south wind is really the beginning of a storm. We leave the safe harbor and find ourselves being blown about, wishing we could get back to where we were before the storm came.

You are in the hands of God. Trust Him to see you through, even though the harbor you reach may not be what you wanted. But, it will be a good place to serve the Lord.

Leaving All to Follow Jesus

“And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed Him.” (Mark 1:18)

Too many times we want to deliberate the call of God. Consequently we miss the blessing He has for us.

Simon and Andrew made their living fishing. It was not a Saturday or Sunday morning sporting event with all the allurements fishing offers us today. It was hard work. These were hard working men. To leave their nets would mean there was no income. They would be totally dependent on the Lord to provide for them.

Immediately leaving their nets would mean they must now walk by faith and not by sight. Are you willing to leave all your visible means of support to follow Jesus?

Call and God will Answer

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

The nation of Judah was facing seventy years of captivity in Babylon as a result of their unwillingness to repent and follow the Lord. God spoke through His prophet, Jeremiah, giving them the promise contained in these words of our text.

Sometimes we have gotten so far out of the will of God we are surprised to discover that God still loves us. God invites us to call out to Him for restoration.

God is willing to accept the prayer of the truly repentant. Call out to Him as a misbehaving child might call out to his parents when he has been sent to his room for his misbehavior.

Many people have been convicted by the Holy Spirit for their lost condition. They called out to God and discovered the promise in Romans 10:13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” They called unto God and He answered, showing them great and mighty things, the likes of which they had never seen before.

Unfortunately, Judah never called on God and never repented. They were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. And many lost people have not called upon the Lord for salvation and they face a fate far worse than Judah faced at the hands of the Chaldeans.

Accept no Substitute

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (I John 5:21)

With today’s text John brings us to the end of his first epistle. There is his usual mark of tenderness toward his readers, calling them, “My little children.” Many of them, no doubt, had not been Christians very long. I am reminded as a pastor that we must teach and preach with tenderness the flock of Christians with whom God has entrusted us.

He has one closing statement: “Keep yourselves from idols.” We are not to let false Christs presented by false teachers come between us and the Son of God. Whatever comes between us and the Lord is an idol. The Lord is to occupy first place in our lives. “Keep yourselves from idols,” can be interpreted, “accept no substitute.”

The very last word is “amen” meaning, “So be it.” Nothing can be added or subtracted from John’s Biblical, Holy Spirit inspired instruction.

Safe in Jesus

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (I John 5: 20)

When Peter made his confession concerning Christ at Caesarea Philippi God had given him the revelation, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Peter knew that the Son of God had come into their midst. The Holy Spirit further inspires John to write, “We are in Him that is true even in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.”

John concludes this verse by saying, “This is the true God, and eternal life.” Hear what Peter said when Jesus asked the twelve, “Will ye also go away?”  Peter responded, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:67-69)

Who is Jesus too you? Have you trusted Him for eternal life? If not, why not? Do it now.

The Bill has been Paid

“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
 (I John 5:19)

We know that we are of God the same way you know you have paid a bill. You have the receipt marked, “Paid.” We have God’s Word as our receipt that the bill for our sin debt has been paid in full by the blood of the Lamb of God.

The whole world of unredeemed mankind lies in wickedness. That includes the people living in mud huts in third world countries as well as the rich folks in America sleeping on satin sheets, eating the finest food and having not a single financial worry.

The Bible says we, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
It says further, “Wherefore as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…” (Romans 5:12)

Jesus is sufficient to pay your sin debt if you will trust Him.

Praise God for His Grace

“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (I John 5:18)

Joining a church, being baptized, giving to the church and to charitable organizations are not the same as being born again. Being born again is a work of grace, done to the sinner by the Holy Spirit and brings changes inwardly that are manifested outwardly. He does not continue in the habit of sin, even though he is capable of sinning.

The late, Adrian Rogers said, “I sin all I want to. In fact, I sin more than I want to. I don’t want to sin at all but in this old body of clay I do sin. But the Lord keeps me and forgives me.” If we are not born again we cannot truthfully make such a claim. Praise God for His grace.