"The conversion of the soul depends entirely upon the drawing of our Father in Heaven. So nobody should despair about it. If you have ministers among you, you will often find people who have heard the gospel sermon for a long time, but who have not changed like the sick who lived in the Bethesda pond. But do not be discouraged. The Holy Spirit will come to the water. The time will come when your sermons will have the ability to turn people's souls "(p. 102)
This is from John Flavel (1627-1691), "The Method of Grace in Gospel Redemption (2017)". Even if the evangelistic sermon is presented in the pastoral ministry, do not be discouraged even if the saints are not changed. It is the same as praying for the soul buried in the world, pouring out hearts for those who are in the church but do not come to Christ. When God touches with his hands and the time comes to lead them, anyone can not help but be converted.
In fact, this book is composed of 35 pages of his sermon on page 650. It tells us the ways in which sinners are saved in Christ, and what is the work of the Holy Spirit until we experience conversion, such as how God saves His beloved people and leads them into a glorious presence in the Holy Spirit. It is a pastoral dimension preaching that generals can grace rather than the doctrinal dimension.
Of course, we can not find John Plabel in his intellectual abilities in John Owen or the poetic rhetoric in John Bunyan or in the encyclopedic wisdom of Richard Baxter. . But his sermon contains insights into the true character of Christ and the ministry that reveals Him. That is why 41 years of sincere ministry in a barren pastor.
"Killing sin is a powerful testimony to the assurance of the Holy Spirit of God. Because sin is a thing that can never be done without the principles of the Holy Spirit. The slaughter of sin and the Holy Spirit can never be separated. The connection has such a connection that the unity of Christ and believers formed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can not be broken. Through the killing of sin, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can be verified and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can demonstrate its union with Christ "(p. 502)
We are talking about why we should try to 'kill sin' as a way of living in God's grace. Those who regenerate through the Blood of Jesus Christ say that conscience reacts to sin and that they are given the power to destroy the forces of sin from the Holy Spirit. So, unlike those who believe in God but have their own corruption and lusts, they can suppress and kill the remaining forces of sin that are indwelt in them. It is the sanctification of the saints who participated in Christ's new covenant and the fruit of true faith.
