THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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A contract logger sold one of his used saws to a farmer, assuring the farmer that he could cut 10 trees a day with the old saw.
Next week, the farmer brought it back. He said he could only get one tree cut!
The logger took the saw, turned the button to "on," and pulled the cord. The saw started with a loud "Brrrraaaahhhhhuuuuummmmm!"
The startled farmer said, "Hey! What's that NOISE?"
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John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
KJV
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The power of the chain saw is expressed by the NOISE!
The power of the Christian is expressed in the born-again experience!
If a person has truly surrendered to Christ, believing that He is the One and only Savior and eternal Judge, then that person has been "born, ... of God!" He is not born again physically. And it is not a change of "mind-set." He is born again spiritually by the power of God Himself.
The one SURE "mark" of a redeemed soul is surrender to Christ as LORD of his/her life. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). The LIFE of the sheep is by the POWER of the Shepherd! He leads them to water, food and rest. He helps them when they are hurt, and searches them out when they stray. Without Him the "sheep" have no life, but with Him, life is SECURE!
With the Christian, it's not so much that we have life, but that He Who holds life has us in His power!
As the power of the saw makes it run, so the power of Christ makes Christians run:
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Phil 2:13)
Dear reader, are you certain you have the one SURE mark of the born-again experience? Is Christ's power indeed working IN you to do "His good pleasure?"
If not, then don't rest until you have surrendered to Him fully, and received the "power to become the sons of God!"
Love ya,
Bruce