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Repentance check #3- Is the power being supplied from the receptacle, or from a dead or weak battery pack?

If you are trying to work yourself to God by being "good" enough, or "holy" enough, you are trying to power your faith on a dead battery! It's like trying to push a rope!

Isa 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

Rom 7:18 "For I know that IN ME (THAT IS, IN MY FLESH,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not."

The Jews already proved that we can't earn our way into God's favor...

Rom 9:30 "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? BECAUSE THEY SOUGHT IT NOT BY FAITH, BUT AS IT WERE BY THE WORKS of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

Now stop and look right there- "Because they sought it not by faith, but AS IT WERE BY THE WORKS of the law..."

It wasn't that the works- the laws, weren't COMMANDED that they follow- it's that they attempted to obey by their OWN works. That is to say- apart from faith in God. How can that be?

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For THEY BEING IGNORANT OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, and GOING ABOUT TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."

And this is where others have been saying that- if you are hearing God call you, then why fret? Because- YOU ARE HEARING GOD CALL YOU!!!!

Notice that it wasn't the LAW that they were going about to establish- but THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS! It wasn't the word of God that the Jews were hearing and following- it was their OPINIONS and PHILOSOPHIES of that law that they were following! If they were following God's word, through FAITH, they would have followed God's word in truth and IN OBEDIENCE also!

Look again at Abraham...

Rom 4:18 "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith,... 20 HE STAGGERED NOT AT THE PROMISE OF GOD THROUGH UNBELIEF; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And BEING FULLY PERSUADED THAT, WHAT HE HAD PROMISED, HE WAS ABLE ALSO TO PERFORM. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness."

That is what YOU have to determine in YOUR heart- "And BEING FULLY PERSUADED THAT, WHAT HE HAD PROMISED, HE WAS ABLE ALSO TO PERFORM."

Did Abraham sit down and play with his faith as if it was assured to him no matter what he did? No.

Did Abraham consider that disobedience wouldn't cause him to lose his salvation? No.

Did Abraham go about establishing his own righteousness regardless of what God's voice had told him to do? Did he question God when he was called out? Did he refuse to obey God at any time? Did he count obedience to God a light thing? No, no, no, no!

It was that Abraham was fully persuaded that if God commanded it, God was able to perform it!

Heb 11:8 BY FAITH Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, OBEYED; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Phi 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

BY FAITH ABRAHAM OBEYED!

In other words- If you truly thirst and hunger after God's righteousness, don't try to lead the Spirit, but let Him, by His word, lead you, in OBEDIENCE to HIS word...

Rom 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

Gal 5:16 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."

And what are you told to do in order to receive this promise from God that you desire?

It's simply the very first message that was preached during this "church" age...

Act 2:37 "...Men and brethren, WHAT SHALL WE DO? 38 Then Peter said unto them, REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

Just don't settle for anything less! On the other hand, don't expect to see the view, if you're not willing to make the climb.

Any questions?