Evangeliving – from Membership to Conversion

I am reading a book A Miracle of Conversion by late Morris Venden.  It is an editorial with chapters by different authors adding to the original 4 chapters.  I needed this reminder that we must be converted daily, we must die daily (1^st Corinthians 15:31) and be born again by the Holy Spirit.  This is possible not by our work, but only by the Holy Spirit. 

There is a difference between proselytism and conversion, there is a difference between converting people from the outside to join the membership of an organization we call church, and the spiritual conversion within membership.  Only Holy Spirit can produce the spiritual conversion.  Even those born within the church need their personal conversion experience.  The test question for me is “are you in love with Jesus?”  If there is anything in the world that you want more than Jesus you are not fully converted.

In 2009 I preached a series of sermons on conversion.  That year we baptized 24 people.  When some one talks about “converting’ a vehicle, they have in mind major changes – a “monster truck” or a low-rider, changing even type of fuel, etc. In 2009 I preached about all aspects of our daily lives and our spiritual journey that need to be changed – our work habits need to be changed, our families need to be renewed, our church programming needs to be converted, health, money, even the way we pray need to be changed.  Have you been converted since?  Have there been changes in your life, in your thinking, in your attitude, in your conduct?  Is Holy Spirit working on you daily?

The very next year after we preached on Revival & Conversion, newly elected leadership of the General Conference had confronted our church with this need:  ““A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit.  Revival and reformation are two different things.  Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend” (Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, p. 128).

Notice that the true change is the result of the Holy Spirit work, a revival of godliness, which produces the  change.  I cannot manufacture change in you.  There is only one way it will happen – if you make Jesus the focus of your life, by looking unto Jesus everyday, every moment, you will be both confronted with your need of the Savior and His Loving Grace, and that is enough to let the Holy Spirit in!  Remember this promise “When I (Jesus) am lifted up I will draw all to myself (John 12:32)

We can be the Evangeliving Church only when every ministry and every minister (that’s you, every individual believer! J) will be converted daily!