Hearing: Never Changing

I've discussed this with the pastor. I empathize with him! It's an almost thankless profession and preachers must preach because they love others. There is no other explanation. On a much smaller scale I have experienced this as a Sunday School Teacher and lay preacher for years. I say "lay preacher" because I fill in in the absence of the regular preacher. However, it's enough to get a small taste of his angst. People hear, even listen, but the fail to apply! They are without excuse!

Romans 1:20 "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"

Although, even without teaching and preaching, people have no excuse for not "getting it", they are entirely callous if they "don't get it" when it's preached. Get what? A saved ("safed") person is a new creation!

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Let me paraphrase this in two ways so that you can "get it": "New creatures become different persons." and "Christians are to CHANGE!"  I can say without qualification that most Christians never change to a large extent in their daily living. They want "fire insurance" (to be saved from hell), but they don't want the "life assurance", which is reward for their service! I'm not sure the fire insurance is all that God had in mind. His desire is that we mimic him. When we become a "new person" the new is to be "printed" on the perfect "pattern". Because it's a mere "print" and not the original work, it will never be as good, but it can be an imperfect replication. Of course that perfect pattern is Jesus and the "print" is sanctification.

Ephesians 5:25b "...as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." 

 1 Thessalonians 5:23 "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

What does "sanctify" mean? It means that Christ sets Christians "apart as holy". That's the process of becoming "a new creation" or a "different person". Paul even defined what "sanctification" is: "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish". Jesus said "be ye holy for I am holy"  (1 Peter 1:16 from Leviticus 20:7).

A person strives toward holiness by endeavoring to be like Jesus. However, since God is always with us, he still ministers to us through the Holy Spirit. Striving toward holiness is being attentive to the direction of the Holy Spirit (our Comforter) who leads and guides us, or at least he does if we are sensitive to his presence!

What is it that Christians do? How is it that we are sanctified? It's by obedience. Baptism presents to the world a new person cleansed by the blood of Jesus. It's a mockery if we ascend from the water a new person and put our old "clothes" (flesh) right back on!

Mark 2:22 "And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."

In effect as a Christian we need to change! That old flesh must truly be replaced with new! That's not what most "Christians" do! Why? Because it doesn't please "the flesh", the "self". Even Christians still fight change. They claim Christ as savior, but still live for the devil. If they're "new persons" sanctified by the blood of Jesus, then they sure fool me! We are called to make a sacrifice:

 Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

As a Christian, we are to be like Jesus. He came to serve, and to be like Jesus, we are to serve. How do we serve Jesus? We become the sacrifice! We sacrifice our will and replace it with God's will. Jesus even tells us that we pray in that manner; that "God's will be done". We become the epitome of what Jesus taught!

It's easy to quit cursing, attend church, and give up bad habits; but the things of the heart are strongholds! People just won't give up anger, selfishness, being inconsiderate, gossip, bad-mouthing, nor pride! Without doing those things "Christians" are little more than wet hypocrites!

This is the attitude which the preacher faces on a weekly basis! Sure they hear and may even listen, but they seem to never change. Is the preacher preaching in futility? It appears so. It's only for the few who desire to be to sacrifice themselves to Jesus that keeps the preacher motivated. His desire to see souls saved and people living for Jesus is why he teaches the word of God each Sunday. If there is no change, that people never live holy, is his job and effort in futility? We are getting to the point where the services of a preacher may no longer be needed because people seem to never heed the message. Pray for the preacher!

As I write my Daily Thought my goal is to tell others about Jesus and holy living. It's not merely for others that I write, but for myself! I want to live a more sanctified (holy) life and studying the very words of God allows me to be sensitive to his Spirit who is still here. By reading and studying the Most Holy God it makes this hypocrite (sic) want to change. Indeed "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak". Make that flesh as strong as the spirit. Seek God, be holy and the devil will flee!