The Restraining Work Of God

28 Sep The Restraining Work Of God

Posted at 10:44h in English Service by

Pastor Vincent - 3 October 2013

The Way Of Evangelism: Christ Convictions

Conviction means a believing heart, and it's the prayer of a convicted remnant that mobilizes angels to work. Convictions come from deep prayers as you confirm the truth and inscribe it unto your heart, so that it can be the strength in your heart and give you the ability to do the good in you. Convictions come from the the many unresolving problems in your life that drives you to have the continual need to turn to God and be comforted by His truth, again and again. Conviction comes when you train yourself to live before God, not man. And very importantly, conviction certainly comes through brethren living. After crossing the Jordan river, God made Joshua circumcised the people before the enemy, in a state which the Israelites were so vulnerable and could be easily attacked by the enemy. What does it tell us? Be afraid of not your enemy (problems); rather, be really afraid when your heart is stolen by the enemy. Even before the storm, before the big and challenging problems, God was more concerned with His people's circumcision than fighting the war. God has every ability to fight and win the war and give His people the promised land, but the reason why He wanted them circumcised is to set them apart and put His covenant in their hearts first - their identity, their purpose of living, and that they must not forget the works of the Lord in their lives. Live as one circumcised, be convicted by the truths.

Related Topics: Evangelism & Missions, Prayer | More Messages from Pastor Vincent

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God restrains us because of LOVE

 

We cannot have absolute freedom because of:

(1) Our fallenness ⟹ Self-destruct, and will never choose God.

(2) Our Weakness due to existing sinful nature ⟹ Helpless in doing good.

(Martin Luther – Christians are justified and yet a sinner at the same time).

 

Yet, do we embrace this “restrained freedom” in our lives?

 

Verses to Read:<Eph 4:26-27, 31-32>

 

God “gave them over” = The doctrine of Reprobation

 

The restraint by God in 4 ways

1) God restrains cosmic events

2) God restrains Satanic activity

3) God restrains sinners

4) God restrains His children (out of His eternal love for them)  

 

<1 Sam 25:38-39>. About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died. When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.”

 

Restrained, so as to be great instruments of God

1) Know that our greatest enemy is within us (i.e. our sinful nature).

 

2) Embraces God’s restraining work.

* <Ps 23:3>: He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

 

3) Through continual confirmation of God’s Word

* <Rn 12: 2>: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

How about deep wounds and grievances?

God restrains us so that HE will not have to keep restraining us indefinitely.

* “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” <Jn 15:15>.

* “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” <Jn 15:7>.

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Pastor Vincent Choo
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Vincent serves as the President of The Blessed Run Church. He is also the Senior Pastor of The Life Church and Missions (Singapore) and is an ardent missionary to the Chinese World. He currently lives in Singapore with his wife, Qiufen, and has three kids, Mary, David, and Caleb.

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