Power of Re-creation
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February 01, 2015 |
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"Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light" (Genesis 1:3)
Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee
The Bible says, "Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light." This is the operation of the power of the 'original voice.' The work of re-creation is not the work to create things that don't exist. It is the work of regeneration or the renewing of things that already exist.
Only the re-creation or regeneration is possible within the boundaries of the original order of creation that God set. Let's now look into the power of re-creation.
1. What is the power of re-creation?
Metaphorically, the power of re-creation is not the work of creating a flower that doesn't exist, but the work of reviving the flower that is dead. When things that were created by God are destroyed or damaged, by the power of re-creation they can be recovered. Even the dead can be revived, and the earth, the sky, and everything in them can be renewed.
Now, what is it that is of the first priority to be renewed by the power of re-creation? It is 'men'. Men were created in the image of God. After Adam committed sin however, he lost the image of God. In this end time as sin and evil are becoming increasingly prevalent, it is not easy for men to have even the faith sufficient to receive salvation. Unrighteousness and lawlessness are rampant in the world. However, God isn't giving up on people who are living in this end time. This is the original love of God from which He desires to give another chance to those for whom receiving salvation seems impossible.
The power of re-creation started from this original love. According to justice, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). To save a soul from death, someone must make a sacrifice for him by paying the price of justice.
On our behalf Jesus was hung on the wooden cross to become a curse according to the law that says 'the wages of sin is death'. To redeem sinners from their sin, sinless Jesus shed His precious blood. As a result, a new justice was made: 'Whoever believes in Jesus Christ is forgiven of sin, and becomes a child of God.'
In the same manner, to meet the justice that can lead souls to salvation who are unable to receive salvation, the proper sacrifice had to be made. For the last 4 years, I've suffered from extreme pain both in body and heart. When the power of re-creation is manifested, people who coercively believe in God out of fear will be able to feel the love of God. Their hearts will melt and they will believe in God in their free will.
Chapter 36 of Ezekiel depicts how the power of re-creation can change the hearts of people. It is the prophecy regarding the recovery of Israel, and also the prophecy regarding the works of the power of re-creation that will take place in the end time. Ezekiel 36:26 says, "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." Even the hearts that are hardened with evil can be changed by the power of re-creation. Once people have this 'renewed heart' they can walk by the Word of God.
In the following chapter is the vision that Ezekiel saw of the dry bones that came alive and became an army. As Ezekiel prophesied as commanded by God, the bones came together and became a great army. This is the work of re-creation. The 'dry bones' here refer to those with no possibility of restoration. There are so many souls who have no possibility of life being renewed, like the dry bones. Their hearts are evil, deteriorated, and deformed. Even the souls in this state can be recovered and changed by the power of re-creation.
2. The power of re-creation can renew this immoral generation
First, it can renew those who stand against the man of God as Korah and his people
Korah was of the tribe of Levi, and had a duty serving in the Tent of Meeting. But he had a desire to go further to become a priest. Dathan, Abiram, and their followers also rose up against Moses, and they said that it was Moses who had caused them to suffer in the wilderness. The acts were very evil in the sight of God. Hence, they eventually met with miserable deaths; the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up (Numbers 16:32-33).
The sin of 'standing against God' in the Old Testament can also be found in the New Testament. That is 'blaspheming, standing against, and speaking against the Holy Spirit.' Jesus said in Mark 3:29, "But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin."
Today there are many who commit this sin even among those who say they believe God. In the future, the Christian community will be divided into two when the servant of the power that God set shows up. They are those who are with the servant with their hearts, and those who stand against him out of their jealousy. There are also unbelieving people who slander, judge and condemn the man of God with evil words though they see the evidences that God is with him. It is the same as slandering God, and it cannot be forgiven. However, God wishes that even such people may repent and get a chance of salvation.
Secondly, it can renew such people as Ananias and Sapphira, and Judas Iscariot who deceived the Holy Spirit and betrayed the Lord
Judas Iscariot followed Jesus to seek his benefit and selfish greed. He intended to receive benefits by standing beside Jesus when Jesus would come into a worldly position of power. He was in charge of the money box, and he used to pilfer what was in that money box. But Jesus went in a direction that was different from what he expected. Eventually Judas Iscariot sold Jesus for 30 silver coins. Regarding Judas Iscariot's death, Acts 1:18 says, "…and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out."
In the early church, Ananias and Sapphira experienced grace by the fiery works of the Holy Spirit. They said they would sell their property and give God all that they received. Once they got the money in their hands, however, they kept some of it for themselves. Then, in the clear work of the Holy Spirit, Apostle Peter knew it and rebuked them, and they died immediately.
The fact is, however, that there are so many in the Christian community of today who commit acts more evil than Ananias and Sapphira or even Judas Iscariot. But God doesn't want to forsake even those people and wants to show them His love. When the power of re-creation is manifested with love, even such people can repent and receive a chance of salvation.
Thirdly, it can renew those who stand against the work of the Holy Spirit due to their frameworks of knowledge like Pharisees and the scribes in Jesus' time
The Pharisees and the scribes in the days of Jesus were those who could even recite the laws in the Old Testaments. But they didn't understand the true will of God who gave the Law. They understood it as mere knowledge. If the Pharisees and the scribes had studied the Law in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they could have realized that Jesus is the Messiah who was prophesied in the Old Testament. But most of them read the Bible while locked in the frame of their knowledge, they couldn't recognize Jesus and even played the leading role in crucifying Him.
There are people who are much like them in today's Christian community who think and say, "I studied Theology for long years." or "I have a Ph. D in Theology, and I am more learned in the Bible than any of the others." They are proud of themselves, but there are few who actually receive the work of the Holy Spirit. Their knowledge becomes their pride and they commit the sin of judging and condemning as they please. God wants me to break their hard frames by the power of re-creation. And, He wants them to receive the work of the Holy Spirit and get a chance of salvation.
One should interpret the Bible in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and to do so, a person needs to toil with countless fastings and prayers to penetrate and enter into the spiritual realm. The most important thing to do is to communicate with God, read His heart, and understand His will. But most of those who proudly say they know the Bible do not make such efforts to penetrate through and into the spiritual realm. Since I took care of the portion that they are supposed to do, it is now true that many can now break such hardened frameworks of knowledge and receive the work of the Holy Spirit.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as the time comes, this power of re-creation, the wind of purification and reformation will blow into Christian community. And we will be strong enough to lead the duty of leading all the peoples of the world to understanding and salvation. I pray in the name of the Lord all of you quickly change into spiritual warriors as the new year of glory unfolds.
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