A person who has not received Jesus by faith has a dead and non-functioning organ as part of his being.

Since he has never at any time used it, he does not even know that it is there...

This dead organ is non-material.

This dead organ is called "the spirit."

The spirit in humans died in the Garden of Eden. God said: "in the day you eat of it [the forbidden fruit] you shall die."

Adam and Eve did not die physically that day.

But their spirits died.

Many people think that faith is primarily emotional.

It is not.

Many people think that faith is essentially a mental phenomenon.

It is not.

Faith is primarily of the spirit. It is of the conscience and of the intuition and of communion with God.

Knowing.

This is why unbelievers laugh at believer's emotions.

They reject believer's reasoning, no matter how sound it may be.

When a person is graciously enabled by the Holy Spirit, his spirit comes alive, and he or she can "see" things that could not be known at all before.

If one lives in willful sin, this spiritual knowing, this sixth sense, will be lessened to the point where it is no longer useable.

A person will also lose his assurance of salvation. (But a believer never loses salvation itself.)

On the other hand, obedience to God sharpens this sense.

We were blind.

Now we can see!

Imagine if you were born without the sense of vision.

One day you had an operation that enabled you to see with your eyeballs for the very first time!

We walk with God and we go from light to greater light.

Praise God for His amazing grace!

Tonight, at my church, Woodmen Valley Chapel, Lee Strobel was the special speaker.

Lee is an energetic man of about fifty, who is very engaging.

He is a journalist with a law degree who worked for the Chicago Tribune for 14 years.

He is also a former Atheist.

Lee Strobel is a national figure on the Christian apologetics scene, and he is a major thorn in the side of guys like Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins, leading Atheist/Evolutionist scientists who are trying to turn Americans away from faith in God, Jesus, and the Bible.

I have read several of Strobel's books, and even bought "The Case for Faith" in bulk several years ago to give away to people who might be interested.

His presentation was excellent, putting forth some of the basic arguments of his new book "The Case for the Real Jesus."

My only disagreement with him came at the end of his presentation when he said that there is a difference between "believing" in Jesus and "receiving" Him.

Talking with Lee in person at the book signing did not seem to clear up this vital point, maybe because I put him on the spot and we didn't have enough time to fully discuss the issue.

The Bible connects these two things: those who believe in Jesus, believe that He is God and they believe that He died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and they believe that He rose again on the third day.

The Bible says that He who believes in Jesus believes these things. This person has "received" Jesus, and this person has been "born again."

Certainly, there are those who believe that Jesus was a good man who died on a cross--but they do not believe that Jesus is God and they do not believe that He was resurrected from the dead.

Clearly, these people are not saved.

But the Bible also boldly states that those who believe that Jesus is God, are "born of God."

The Bible simply says that those who believe that Jesus rose from the dead are "saved."

This second type of believer does not need to do anything further to "receive Jesus."

He already has Him.

Whether or not an individual is following Jesus and is experiencing a close relationship with Jesus or not is another, secondary question.

Let's not confuse the biblical doctrine of salvation by simple faith (justification), and the secondary matter of growth and spiritual fellowship with Jesus through God's grace, the Holy Spirit, and Bible truth, faith, prayer and obedience (sanctification).

They are not the same thing.

What keeps Christians sinning is the belief that they cannot stop sinning.

We are told that we are sinners, and there is nothing we can do to stop sinning.

If we believe the Bible's spiritual facts by faith, then we realize that we are dead to sin.

We died with Jesus on the cross and we have been raised to life.

IN Christ.

We were IN Christ on the cross.

We were IN Christ when He was raised to life.

Believe it and you will stop sinning--for as long as you believe it.

That's where the real battle is.

The good fight of faith.

You are dead to sin...

but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

You are a new creature--IN Christ.

This truth will set you free, for as long as you believe it.

Amen.

Every believer in Jesus can hear God's voice in his or her conscience, but there is a definite condition attached to receiving this gift of divine guidance and comfort.

The condition is obedience.

God will not tell you what to do if you are not living up to the light you have already.

Follow God.

PRAY.

Pray in the morning, maybe half an hour.

Pray in the evening, maybe a half hour.

Pray all the time, like thinking.

Tell Him all your troubles.

Confess your sins.

Give Him your doubts.

Give Him your fears.

Cast your cares upon Him.

Thank Him for Jesus.

Thank Him for answered prayers.

Love Him.

Obey Him.

Read His Word.

Obey Him.

Believe His Word.

Obey Him.

Question your motivations--are you following His Spirit right now?

Ask God to show you EVERYTHING you are doing wrong.

Ask God to give you more faith.

Ask God to fill you with His Spirit.

Ask God to fill you with His love.

Enjoy God's grace and calm and His Spirit of love over you.

Gradually go more and more in the right direction.

Obey God.

Gain strength in God and become a clean, calm, pure, and happy soul as you obey God and follow His calm, loving Spirit.

Be blessed.

One day, maybe in a few months, you will be so in sync with God that you will spontaneously hear Him begin to direct you.

But He doesn't direct you in your mind or in your emotions.

He directs you in your conscience, your intuition, your spirit.

You can commune with God.

The Bible says that God will reveal Himself to those who obey Him.

(This is a way better experience than Eastern meditation. This is the positive and full presence of God Himself.)

But you will never have this experience if you do not obey Him.

This experience is Heaven in the real world.

Wonderful--full of wonder.

Calm, peace, joy and love.

If you obey God more and more, eventually you will "hear" His voice very clearly in your attuned conscience.

(It's not an audible voice and it's not scary--God is love.)

God bless you, in Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Do you believe that it is true that Jesus is God and man, and that He died for YOUR sins on the cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day?

If your answer is a simple and sincere "Yes," then you have everlasting life, and you are saved forever. >>John 6:47; 1st Corinthians 15:1-4.

Ask the Holy Spirit, in prayer, to make you certain of this most blessed of assurances.

Keep asking Him, in prayer, until He gives it to you.

He promised that He will give you assurance.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.