John 3
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Only those who were bitten and therefore sentenced to death were saved.
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
There must be some encounter with the sting of sin and death before a savior is needed else why come to Him?
This is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. An exact verse of scripture? No, But at least a violation of the conscience which I believe is a common grace gift of the Holy Spirit to awaken us to the intrinsic sinfulness of our very nature.
When we participate as human instruments leading others to the Lord the individual who comes quickly to the Lord has IMO already had the revelation of self incriminating sin and death.
What we do (again IMO) is remind the individual of their desperate situation.
Reproval/conviction of sin comes ONLY through the Spirit. But will the Spirit respond if and when we preach the Law. Seems to have worked with Jonathan Edwards but an awakening is not the normal set of circumstances. It also seems that the Spirit had worked mightily before Edwards went on his mission.
Should we pray for a much needed awakening again? Why not? What could it hurt? I am/I do.
Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
HankD
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Only those who were bitten and therefore sentenced to death were saved.
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
There must be some encounter with the sting of sin and death before a savior is needed else why come to Him?
This is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. An exact verse of scripture? No, But at least a violation of the conscience which I believe is a common grace gift of the Holy Spirit to awaken us to the intrinsic sinfulness of our very nature.
When we participate as human instruments leading others to the Lord the individual who comes quickly to the Lord has IMO already had the revelation of self incriminating sin and death.
What we do (again IMO) is remind the individual of their desperate situation.
Reproval/conviction of sin comes ONLY through the Spirit. But will the Spirit respond if and when we preach the Law. Seems to have worked with Jonathan Edwards but an awakening is not the normal set of circumstances. It also seems that the Spirit had worked mightily before Edwards went on his mission.
Should we pray for a much needed awakening again? Why not? What could it hurt? I am/I do.
Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
HankD
