Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Would You Dare Usurp the Holy Spirit?

Before you lead a person in the ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ to be saved, stop and ask yourself “Is what I am about to do biblically correct?” Then go and read the entire New Testament and search for the answer to that question. See if you can find one example of the apostles or disciples doing such a thing.

You may be very shocked to find the answer is...NO! No where in scripture will you find the apostles or disciples leading a person in a ‘Sinner’s Prayer.’ Search for it, you will not find it. The ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ is a man made evangelizing technique which is unbiblical and actually usurps the authority and work of God the Holy Spirit.

Furthermore, this technique can give a person a false sense of security. He is led in a prayer by someone else, given the very words to pray. Afterwards he is told something like “Congratulation, you’ve been born again.” or “Welcome to the family, you’re now a Christian.” He believes he has done what was necessary to become a Christian. He is assured that all is well with his soul. But, in fact, it is not. He has been converted by men but not the Spirit of God.

Certainly it is true that all who call upon the Lord shall be saved. But, calling upon the Lord goes way beyond simply repeating by rote some words given to you by another person to pray. It is not some quick “Repeat after me” prayer man has invented. Rather, it is the work of God! Consider Jacob of old who wrestled with the Lord through the night until he received the blessing and Saul (later named Paul) who was blinded and in agony of soul for three days.

For a person to be born again, he must be born by the power of God, not the crafty persuasions of man! The Bible says:

"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” and “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing" (John 6:63, John 1:13)

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" (Romans 8:14-16)

When the Spirit of God converts a man, that man does not need someone else to tell him how or what to pray. The Holy Spirit will do that. Neither does he need man to assure him that he has been born again. The Spirit will do that also. Truly, salvation is the work of God!

Consider this before you lead another person in the “Sinner’s Prayer” and remember that only God has the right to tell someone he is His child. We have no right to usurp His sovereign authority and will in this matter. Salvation is of the Lord!

As Paris Reidhead said: “No one in the universe has the right to tell a person they’re born of God except the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of adoption. He has never ceded that right to anyone. He reserves that as His sovereign prerogative. The only one that has the right to tell a person they’re born of God is God the Holy Ghost.”

Would you dare usurp the Holy Spirit?


*

1 comment:

Dave said...

Indeed you are correct!
Acts 2:38 States we must be baptized in Jesus name, and then in Acts 10: 44 - 48 further conformation of being "born again" is where Peter asks the question:" Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"

You are correct it takes way more then just repeating some meager pray.

Great post!
Dave