Fear and a sense of sincere remorse cause one to repent. Creeds and decrees given by many sincere Christians as a means of “consecration” if you will, do not cause repentance. Repentance cannot be ‘created’ by consecration but are often a result of true repentance which will always involve a separation from evil.
The problem arises when our consecration becomes ambition and our faith greed. Consecration being the cause of our repentance, which was the result of fear and a sincere sense of remorse, can easily become the object of our faith if we so allow. The greedy heart of religious pride and self righteousness is leavened when we begin looking to our consecration as the means by which we receive from God.
Yes, the Lord will bless our consecration if our consecration came from a repentant heart; a humble heart and contrite spirit. If our consecration is caused by or legislated through a set of religious rules in order to gain righteousness it is rooted from a self righteous, religious spirit.
It is the OBJECT of our faith that allows the Holy Spirit latitude to work in our heart. It is His ministry which divides asunder the soul and spirit of man and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart through the Word of God. The Holy Spirit convicts the Believer which results in repentance in the heart who is perfect toward the Lord. They may not be perfect but it is their will to please God. To be sure, if it is not of faith, faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified, it (whatever it may be) cannot please God.
Too often, our decrees become the object of our faith. Even the “determined” decree, if not mixed with the actual faith required of such, can become leaven. Declaring and decreeing one is a “Cross Preacher” does not make one a “Cross Preacher”. It is the preaching of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, Who He is and what He has done for whosoever will believe to pay the penalty of sin for the believing sinner and break the power of sin for the Saint, that makes one a “Cross Preacher”.
The Cross of Christ is the power of God to us who are Saved, not our consecration. Our consecration is the result of His keeping power. We know in Whom we have believed and yes, we are determined to know nothing else among you. We have seen the leaven leaven whole lumps and we fear the same. Leaven is powerful. It is of the devil. But leaven is expelled by the power of the Holy Spirit as we look unto Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
This fight of faith is a fight…not a walk in the tulips. The world, the flesh and the devil are enemies are our soul and they play for keeps. Jesus Christ came to die on Calvary’s Cross to Save us from their power but we are not afforded such power if we place our faith in anything else other than His finished work.
Fight the good fight of faith…be determined to know nothing else among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
“9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance: for you were made sorry after a godly manner, that you might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow works repentance to Salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that you sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things you have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” 2 Corinthians 7:9-11
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 