Westminster Larger Catechism Study

Are You Being Filled With the Spirit or Something Else?

Ron Francis

Mike makes an interesting point here and applies it to some practices in today’s churches. He weaves several of Paul’s letters together with a look at the Greek to make the point. I personally was following the contemplative tide for a few years or so back in the early 80’s even teaching these practices in… Continue reading Are You Being Filled With the Spirit or Something Else?

Westminster Larger Catechism Study

Let Down Your Nets For A Catch

Ron Francis

Along the same line, I like the way the KJV translates the Great Commission.

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I find more comfort in our role to “teach”. The modern translations will say “make disciples”, and although the Greek can be represented that way, I prefer to read from the Bible that God calls and makes his disciples. Thankfully, like you say above he does use us to preach and teach, which gets to the essence of our roles. But I will leave the actual work of disciple making to God himself.

Mike Ratliff's avatarPossessing the Treasure

by Mike Ratliff

4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4 (NASB) 

The builder and sustainer of the Church, the Body of Christ, is the Lord Jesus not any man (Matthew 16:18). The building of the true Church is accomplished as God works through the foolishness of preaching to draw people from the darkness into the light and life that is found in Christ alone. It is built up in Christ through the means of grace, which are ordained by God not men. While we see that it is God who actually is doing the building, He has chosen to work through His servants to accomplish that which will bring Him glory. These servants that He uses as fishers of men are symbolically like the fishermen in their boats on the Sea…

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Westminster Larger Catechism Study

The Effectual Call

Ron Francis

It’s a wonderful message. Many years ago I listened to S. Lewis Johnson often preach on the subject. One instance has…

“ “Internal calling” is the effectual work of the Holy Spirit by which men are savingly influenced to salvation. Grace is the initiation of the work. “Calling” is the result of the action of grace. Grace is the general description of what God does in our hearts through the preaching of the Gospel. And then the “calling” — that is, the work of the Holy Spirit calling us to relationship to God, is the product of the work of the Holy Spirit in grace. The “calling” comes from the Holy Spirit, as distinguished from the word of God, but the “internal calling” is the combination of the preaching of the word and then the word applied by the Holy Spirit.”

And let’s remember:

John 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Mike Ratliff's avatarPossessing the Treasure

By Mike Ratliff

1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great.”
2 Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.” 4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” 5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 Then…

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