John 12:24-26
Observation: –
The breaking of the carnal man is the basic experience of all who serve God. This must be accomplished before He can use us in an effectual way. When one is working for God, two possibilities may arise. First, it is possible that with the carnal man unbroken, one\’s spirit may be inert and unable to function. If he is a clever person, his mind governs his work ; if he is a compassionate person, the emotions control his actions. Such work may appear successful but cannot bring people to God. Second, his spirit may come forth clad in his own thoughts or emotions. The result is mixed and impure. Such work will bring men into mixed and impure experience. These two conditions weaken our service to God. If we desire to work effectively, we must realize that basically \”it is the Spirit which quickens.\” Sooner or later—if not on the first day of our salvation, then perhaps ten years after—we must recognize this fact. Many have to be brought to their wits\’ end to see the emptiness of their labor before they know how useless are their many thoughts, their varied emotions. No matter how many people you can attract with your thoughts or emotions, the result comes to nothing. Eventually we must confess : \”It is the Spirit which quickens.\” The Spirit alone makes people live. Your best thought, your best emotion, cannot make people live.
Application
1.Man can be brought into life only by the Spirit. 2. Many serving the Lord come to see this fact only after passing through much sorrow and many failures. 3. Finally the Lord\’s Word becomes meaningful : THAT WHICH QUICKENS IS THE SPIRIT. 4. To let the spirit be released means that sinners may be born anew and saints may be established. 5. When life is communicated through the channel of the spirit, those who receive it are born anew.
6.When life is supplied through the, spirit to believers, it results in their being established. Without the Spirit, there can be no new birth and no establishment.
Prayer
Pray about each of the six points of application above.
- Faith is another mark of those who are “partakers of the heavenly calling.” Yeshua asked His disciples “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith?” It takes the belief in what is hoped for and unseen to partake of the heavenly things. Faith is a diminishing quality in the Ecclesia. Many operate to the level that their intellect or the circumstances will allow them. Pray for the gift of faith and that you will be found in faith no matter the circumstances. (1 Cur 4:2)
- Faith worketh by love Gal 5.6. Ask the LORD to reveal to you what is His love for you and pray that the Holy Spirit will teach you to respond to His expressions of love for you.