Hundreds of times have I seen the alchemy of God make men who steal to
do God's service; feet that have been in the way of the transgressor to
walk in the paths of righteousness, and tongues accustomed to blaspheme
to sing God's praises.
Professor James defines conversion thus: “To be converted, to be
regenerated, to receive grace, to experience religion, to gain
assurance, are so many phrases which denote the process, gradual or
sudden, by which a self hitherto divided and consciously wrong, inferior
and unhappy, becomes unified and consciously right, superior and happy,
in consequence of its firmer hold on religious realities.”
[Illustration: “REMEMBER ME”: HANDS UP FOR PRAYER]
_The first element in conversion is first an influence from the Holy
Spirit brought about by prayer._ Now, that prayer may have been sent up
years ago by a mother now dead, but is usually the result of a prayer
atmosphere in the meeting.
The Holy Spirit acts like a searchlight on the human soul, and the
sinner for an instant sees himself as God sees him. I have seen men rush
through the door, and, without taking a seat, come straight to the
altar, because God's Spirit had met them. That is not the usual way, and
it is usually some immediate message of His word, rendered in song or
spoken word to the sinner's heart, by which he catches a glimpse of his
lost condition.
Let no parent be discouraged concerning a wandering child. Delayed
answer to prayer is not a denial. I know a minister whom God greatly
uses who was a wild youth when his mother died, but God answered her
prayer. He will answer yours.
It is important who presents the sinner to God. A perfunctory church
member who plays cards, dances, tipples or smells of tobacco, cannot
acceptably bring a soul to God. God often accepts a soul without an
intermediary, but the wrong person keeps a soul from God. It makes a
difference. You remember Ezekiel 14:20, “Though Noah, Daniel and Job
were in it, they shall but deliver their own souls by their
righteousness,” showing that as we abide in Him, God answers prayers
accordingly. Then the word of God comes in. The helper tries to make the
seeker lay hold of the promises. I have seen many conversions on Romans
10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved.” It comes like a wireless message from on high. It becomes
personal as the praying sinner cries to God, he believes he is heard, he
believes he is forgiven, he accepts the pardon and rises to his feet a
redeemed man. A supernatural power has come into his soul. Another verse
which brings men through is 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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