Holiness, Godliness, Usefulness
07/01/2014, by John Kincaid
Lesson 284: The Spirit's Work of Changing Us
The Spirit’s work of changing us is a supernatural process. The means of grace (prayer, Bible study, etc.) are important for our growth in the faith. But they don’t automatically result in a changed heart.
We can’t force the Spirit to change us, by attending church or any good works.
We can’t force the Holy Spirit to make us holy twice as fast, by praying twice as often.
Then how do we grow deeper in our love for God, and deeper in hatred for our sin? The Spirit seems to change our heart when we respond to God with humble repentance and we depend on God alone.
Then our changed heart has new desires. The Spirit uses the new desires to create new pursuits and godly passions.
Instead of trusting in our own strength to “do better next time”, we must begin with a repentant heart, trusting that only God can heal us.
From that position, the Spirit causes us to desire what God desires.
About This Series
The goal of this series is to become more useful in serving the Lord Jesus Christ, as an instrument in the Redeemer's hand. The theme verses for the series are Ephesians 4:22-24, Philemon 11, 2 Timothy 2:21
- to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
- and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.
- Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
