Thank you very much for your kindness toward me, brother Jason! Praise God for His Spirit alive in you.
I followed your lead and just read through Matthew 13 regarding the parable of the sower. It's interesting that Jesus says that the seed sowed among the way side, stony ground & among thorns never took root. I would think if these were children of God the Word would have taken root, am I correct?
And afterwards while Jesus is interpreting the story of the sower to His disciples, he tells several more parables about sowing. In the wheat & the tares, Jesus explains that they are the saved and unsaved; those who will enter heaven and those who are cast away. In the parable of the mustard seed, Jesus said even if the tiniest seed like that takes root, it's grows to be the greatest among herbs. Lastly Jesus explains how leaven (like yeast) causes flour to rise and grow. I understand that to mean that once Jesus has entered us, we are going to increase by His Spirit.
One of the reasons I hold the belief of "eternal security" is that I know Jesus is the Shepherd and that nobody is the shepherd of themselves. Psalm 100:3 reads:
Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Once the Holy Spirit takes residence in a person, that man/woman is God's holy vessel and the flesh has been crucified. That person now belongs to the Great Shepherd and is being conformed into the image of Jesus more and more. It is not we ourselves doing the work, but the Shepherd.
Jason, having read through these things this morning, it concerns me that perhaps there are many who call themselves Christians but have not genuinely been converted. Romans 10:14 reads:
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? There is so much watered down, off-based, new age preaching today that it's possible there are many who have not really heard the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Like what you said above, something on the surface but nothing really deep and lasting. "Itching ears" as the Bible calls it. Something that temporarily relieves guilt and condemnation, but nothing that takes root and drives out the carnality.
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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." [Proverbs 9:10] I confess, fear drove me to God. My corrupted mind and black heart liked to destroy the life in me! I ran to Jesus in fear for forgiveness and salvation. It has been a loooooong road since then, mostly because I was conditioned to extreme abuse and was afraid of my own emotions and doubting mind. I was one hot mess!
But the Lord broke through every one of the strongholds binding me. It is breathtakingly astonishing to me how Jesus makes me obey Him just like He does the wind and the sea. So it just makes me wonder how someone could be invaded by the Most Powerful Holy Spirit and then have the notion to evict Almighty God from their being at will. It doesn't seem possible. With a word, God created the heavens and the earth. How can mere man have power over the Holy Spirit in him?
Which brings me back to wondering how many who call themselves Christians really are saved. Isn't it rather odd that there are so many who attend church services but who don't have any desire to follow after Jesus Christ on a day to day basis? Either they haven't heard the Word preached in power and anointing of the Holy Spirit or as Jesus said, the Word never took root. That's cause for extreme concern, isn't it brother? We are in serious need of anointed pastors who will preach the Truth of Jesus Christ in Holy Ghost power. God be praised!
Again Jason, thank you for your understanding and the beautiful blessing you extend to me and my family. May the Lord also bless you and yours in grace and peace.