(The Spiritual Man) Clear Conversion — Denny Kenaston

Hello, this is Brother Denny. Welcome to Charity Ministries. Our desire is that your life would be blessed and changed by this message. This message is not copyrighted and is not to be bought or sold.

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The Love of God and the Spiritual Life

These messages are offered to all without charge by the free will offerings of God's people. A special thank you to all who support this ministry. Did you get that? God's Word says, keep yourselves in the love of God.

Keep yourselves in the love of God. Why? Why does God's Word say that? Because the love of God within the heart with kindliness and warmth imparts. That soul will grow like Jesus in tender mercy if the heart is made His dwelling place.

The love of God within the heart glows like a flame. That's what we want for you. The love of God within your heart glowing like a flame. Hundred flames. Endless years. Not just Bible school week. Endless years.

It is the same. The love of God will never fail nor lose its glory until we see Him face to face. Boy, that's a good description of my topic. That's what I want for you this morning. That's what I want for you, every one of you.

God bless you young people. What an inspiration you are to us, to me. I don't know if you know that, but you make me feel young again. God bless every one of you. Let's bow our heads for prayer. Our Father and our God, we bow down to you.

You are the King. You are the Lord. You sit among us. We are many more than two or three. We are here in your name for nothing else, Lord. We want your name to be glorified. We want your Son to be exalted.

We want your Son to dwell in our hearts, God. So you are here in our midst and we worship you. God, I come crying to you. Lord, this morning I come crying to you for help. I come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

It's my time of need, God. I come boldly to your throne, Lord. Please help us, oh my God. Please help these dear young people, Lord. I know you will change their lives. I know that's what they've come for.

The Spiritual Man as God's Purpose for Believers

I pray that you will do it. Please help me, Lord, in this topic. Spiritual man, I pray in Jesus Christ's name. What a joy is mine. What a privilege to behold your faces this morning. Look at you again and see how God has prospered you through the last year.

And for some of you, new faces. I understand 150 new faces. God bless you. May God give you the spiritual desires of your heart. I trust that's what you came with. Seeking God. Looking for answers. Direction in your life.

That's exactly what God wants to do for you and in you. May God richly bless each one of you. As I look out upon your faces this morning and I consider the subject that I have, my heart is thrilled. I think of the potential that is in this room.

If all of you dear young people will learn to walk with God in a steady and consistent way, I do believe you will pass your mom and dads up. And I believe that's what your mom and dad would want you to do.

When I think of some of the things that God will give you through this week, the messages that you will hear. Oh, I'm jealous. Oh, if I could have heard them. If I could have been you. When I was your age, may God help you to realize where you sit.

Where you tread this week. I was looking for Brother Phillip's little quote there. May God help you to realize where you tread even this week. Well, we want to begin with a bit of introduction. The Spiritual Man, that is the title of my subject.

I took the title from Watchman Nee's book, The Spiritual Man. I don't even know if you know that book. We won't be following his subject in there, but the title fits exactly what I would like to get across to you this week.

So, I took the title. The Spiritual Man. When I say spiritual man, I mean as opposed to a carnal man or a babe in Christ. You may be here this week, a babe in Christ. Or you may find yourself a babe in Christ before the week is out.

But the content of our subject this week is to take you on from there. To stir your hearts by the grace of God. To not stay where you are, but to move on. Forward, upward in your Christian life. And I know, I know that's why you came.

When I give the title, The Spiritual Man, I'm using that word man in a generic sense. Mankind. So, sisters, I have you in mind too. When I gave the title of the subject, The Spiritual Man, Paul in 1 Corinthians, if we can just turn there for a moment, in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, Paul says these words to the Corinthian church and, oh, it was a bit of a reproof to them.

And the burden of my heart this week is that five years from now, you will not be receiving this reproof that Paul gave to the Corinthian church. But he said to them, My brethren, I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

And what Paul was saying there is, you've been Christians for a good while now and I have many spiritual things that I would like to say to you, but I could not say them. I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but I had to speak to you as carnal, or natural, or like a babe in Christ.

Now, there's nothing wrong with being a babe in Christ, if you've just been born again. But if you're five years old, or six years old, or seven years old, or eight years old, there's something wrong if you still have to be fed milk, when you should be eating meat.

And that's what Paul was saying. What he was saying was, I would that you Corinthians were spiritual men and women. And the time has passed. You should be, by now, spiritual men and women. When I speak of the spiritual man, I mean what God's goal is for every one of us here.

It is the will of God, that you learn to walk with God, and you become a spiritual young man, a spiritual young lady, one who knows the grace of God, one who has the love of God dwelling in your heart, one who is strengthened by God's grace, one who has learned how to walk with God.

That's God's will for your lives. You can learn that. You don't have to wait until you're thirty years old. You don't have to wait until you're forty. You can learn to walk with God now, this week. And that's the burden of my subject this week.

When I think of the spiritual man, I think of the glorious purposes, one of the glorious purposes of the cross of Jesus Christ. It is one of the reasons why Jesus died on that cross, nearly two thousand years ago.

And I hope, by God's grace, to raise your eyes a bit higher here this week and help you to realize that Jesus died on the cross for more than just simply to get you out of hell and give you a ticket to heaven.

But He died on that cross that He might make you a spiritual young man, a spiritual young lady, who walks with God and knows the grace of God in truth, in your own heart, in your experience. God wants that for you.

When I think of the spiritual man, I think of the glorious inheritance that we have in Christ. It has already been bought and paid for, young people. This beautiful subject that we're talking about, Christ has already bought and paid for it for you.

He only wants you to go in and possess the land. Amen? Go in and possess it. It's already yours. It's the Canaanite. It's the abundant Christian life. It's a life of fruitfulness. It's a spiritual life.

Some of the things that we'll cover in these meditations, we're going to give some definition to what a spiritual man is. We will also, very naturally, give some definitions to what a spiritual man is not.

And we're going to give some time and attention on how to become a spiritual man or a woman. So let us begin. Let's begin this morning. This morning, if you are ever to apprehend a consistent spiritual life, we're going to have to begin right.

Jesus Christ as the Foundation of Spiritual Life

We must begin by laying a right foundation. A right foundation. And if we could turn again to 1 Corinthians 3. We were there already. I don't know, maybe you still have your Bible open there. But 1 Corinthians 3, Paul says these words.

In verse 9 and following, Paul said, We are laborers together with God. We are laborers together with God. What a glorious opportunity to labor with God. And then he said, Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

According to the grace of God which was given unto me as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation and another man buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he build thereupon. What Paul is saying is, I, as a wise master builder, I laid the foundation for a beautiful building.

And what Paul was saying was, I came to Corinth. I went to the synagogues. I stood in the houses. And I preached the gospel. And I laid the foundation in your life. Verse 11 clarifies that. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ.

And so this morning we want to begin by giving some clarity to the foundation. Because you see, you will not be able to have a proper spiritual life if you have not had a proper foundation which was laid.

That foundation which is laid, which is Jesus Christ, must be laid clearly in your life. If you are going to become a spiritual man or a spiritual woman. And thus the title of the message this morning, Clear Conversion.

Clear Conversion. Now I realize that we have a very group of young people here today. And truly I would have rather given this message on Friday rather than on Monday. But I don't see how I can take my topic all the way through if I don't start in the right place.

So please forgive me this morning. If you feel like I blow you away in the first session. But we need to look at the subject of a clear conversion. Of a right foundation being laid. If we are going to become spiritual men and spiritual women.

I realize there are a very group of young people here. Some of you may have prayed a prayer when you were five years old. And I am not criticizing all these things. Some of you may have stood in a meeting and sat down and that was it.

That was your decision. There are many places where they do that. A sermon is preached. The preacher says, now stand to your feet. If you want to accept Christ. And you stand to your feet. And you sit back down.

And that's it. Some of you may have said, Lord. Sometime by your bedside you may have said, Lord. I accept you. And you felt good afterwards. Some of you may be your parents led you to ask Jesus into your heart.

You are a very group here today. It is not my desire to unsettle those of you who are soundly born again. I don't want to do that. But. The truth of the matter is. That many, many people are trying to be spiritual.

And they are failing at it. And their Christianity just doesn't work. How many times we hear those very words. I have tried this Christian thing. And it doesn't work. Maybe that's your experience. Now there could be many reasons why your Christianity is not working.

There could be many reasons why you have not been able to be spiritual. Even though you know that you are supposed to be. There could be many reasons. And they will be covered through the week. In many different messages.

But one of those reasons may be. That the foundation was not laid right. Or it was not laid at all. And I tell you that could be a great burden. A great burden. To try to be a spiritual person. Without having Jesus Christ in reality in your life.

That could be a great burden. My heart goes out to you this morning. Some of you may be here and that may be right where you are at. You have been trying to do this thing. And it doesn't work. And you hear another sermon and you get up and you are ready to try it all over again.

And it just doesn't work. Paul said these words to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians chapter 13. Toward the end of that letter he said. Examine yourselves. Examine yourselves. Whether ye be in the faith.

Your own selves. 2 Corinthians 13 verse 5. Paul said those words. And I don't believe it is wrong to say those words. And so I challenge you with those words this morning. Examine your own selves. Whether ye be in the faith.

Prove your own selves to see. If you have the proper fruit in your life. Prove your own selves to see. If in fact Christ liveth in me. Like Paul said. I am only asking you this morning to listen. To consider.

And to pray to God. And trust that God will reveal to you. Where you are at. Again I want to encourage you. It is not my desire to unsettle anyone. But. If. You are not born again. It is my duty. To unsettle you.

And I am sure you would agree. It is my duty. To unsettle you. So let's consider the subject this morning. Of a clear conversion. Clear conversion begins with a realization of my need. A realization of my need.

Conviction, Sin, and the Need for Deliverance

Like Paul said in the book of Romans. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is none righteous. No not one. There is none that worketh righteousness in his heart. Paul said. If we are going to look at the subject of clear conversion.

We have to begin. With a realization of my need. I. Am a sinner. And. I have sins. In my life. And I want you to notice young people. That that is two different things. I am a sinner. By nature. And I have sins.

That I have committed. In my life. Those two things. You need to clearly see. That man was all together. Born in sin. Because. He was all together. Born in sin. He sins. He commits sins. I don't see how anyone can be delivered into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Unless they first realize I need deliverance. There must be that cry that comes out of the heart. I need deliverance. Oh listen. Blessed is the young person. Who finally comes to that place in their heart.

Where they begin to cry out from the depths of their soul. Oh. Wretched man. Woman. That I am. Shall deliver me. Oh glory this morning young people. I thank God. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. But. There must be.

That realization. Of my need. Of my need. Oh. Wretched man. How can I get out of this? How can I get deliverance? Blessed is the young person. Who begins to see. What a wretch you are. Without Jesus Christ in reality.

Blessed are you. It begins with a realization of our need. And that that need can be met through the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to see those things. Oh. Can you see how it all works so beautifully together?

God begins to reveal the needs of your heart. Which the scriptures call conviction. Conviction settles down upon your heart. And you begin to see your need. And in that condition you begin to cry out.

Oh wretched man that I am. Who shall deliver me from my needs. From this body of death. And oh in that condition. You begin to see. Oh listen. You begin to hear the gospel. The joyful sound of the gospel.

In ways that you never did before. Because in the despair of your own need. Man very naturally begins to look for an answer. In the despair of his own need. He very naturally begins to look for an answer.

And this morning we thank God. That answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. And so. That need can be met through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Turn with me to Mark chapter 1. Reading just a few scriptures. In Mark chapter 1.

Mark chapter 1 verse 3 through 5. And then verse 14 and 15. We get a little glimpse of the gospel. That Jesus preached. First of all John the Baptist. Verse 3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness.

What does this voice of John the Baptist cry in the wilderness? Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. And the Bible says. John did baptize in the wilderness. And preached the baptism of repentance.

For the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judea. And they of Jerusalem. And were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan. Confessing their sins. Here they come. Confessing their sins.

They are getting. Receiving by the preaching of John the Baptist. They are receiving a revelation of their need. Then in verse 14. Now after that John was put in prison. Jesus came into Galilee. Preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.

And saying. The time is fulfilled. And the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent ye and believe the gospel. Repent ye and believe the gospel. Now as we look at this subject of. A clear conversion. We must look at the doctrine of repentance this morning.

Repentance as a Complete Turning to Christ

And I believe many times. This is where things go astray. And it grieves my heart. That it is so far astray. But so many places where you go today. And someone will tell you that Jesus Christ is the Savior.

And just come up to the front. And ask Jesus into your heart. And everything will be ok. And nobody says anything about repentance. But it is very interesting when we look. At the forerunner of Jesus Christ.

He preached repentance. And when Jesus came on the scene. After John was put into prison. He preached the gospel of the kingdom. And said repent ye and believe the gospel. Repentance. I don't believe you can have a clear conversion.

If you don't know what repentance is all about. Repentance. Repentance is a complete turn. It is 180 degrees. Change of direction. First I am going in this direction. I am going my own way. I am living my own life.

And I am living in sin. And I hear the gospel. I hear the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I turn around 180 degrees. And I leave behind me my sin. And I leave behind me my life. And I leave behind me my own ways.

And I begin to follow and believe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is what repentance is. Many people miss that. You know a little prayer that you pray at an altar somewhere. Sometimes it just doesn't reach.

Unless somebody takes that thing a little further and tells you. You need to repent. You need to repent. Look at this matter of clear conversion. We have to look at the subject of repentance. I like the words of Isaiah 53 and verse 6.

That should be the expression of our heart when we come to the Lord Jesus Christ. Now it is not always that way. But it should be. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way.

And the Lord has laid on him, Jesus, the iniquity of us all. What a beautiful way to come to the Savior. Realizing that I have been going my own way. Realizing I have been living my own life. Realizing I have been living in sin.

Realizing I have been hurting God by the way that I have been living. And then on top of all of that to realize that the Lord laid on him, Jesus, my iniquity. I tell you that will rot such a repentance in your heart.

Such a turning away from the way that you were going. When you realize that the Lord has laid on him, my iniquity. Repentance. And dear young people this morning as we look at the subject of repentance.

It is not just repentance over the fact that I have sinned. Maybe I was a thief. Maybe I was a robber. Maybe I was a rebel in my home. But I think we need to go a bit deeper than that. All we like sheep have gone astray.

Why? We have turned everyone to his own way. I believe there needs to be a repentance. Realizing that I am in the mess that I am in because I have been going my own way. Now it is the only way you can go without Christ.

But you need to realize I have been going my own way. And thus when repentance comes. It is not just turning away from those things that I was doing. But actually a turning of my very heart in another direction.

Jesus did not just say repent. He said believe the gospel. We look at this matter of clear conversion. That comes right along doesn't it? Believe the gospel. John 3 .16 so clearly. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.

That whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life. And dear friends, dear young people. That everlasting life is not a ticket to heaven. That everlasting life is not living for eternity.

That everlasting life is now! Now! You have everlasting life now! And it lasts! That is a lot different than the ticket in my back pocket. I am going to heaven. Now, let me ask you this morning. Are you living in everlasting life today?

The divine life of God in your soul? God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That whosoever would turn away from their sins and their own way. And believe on Him should not perish. Now, everlasting divine life within them.

That is a glorious gospel isn't it? This morning, beautiful news. You can receive everlasting life. Believe on Him. Whosoever believeth on Him. Put their faith in the finished work of Christ on Calvary.

Whosoever believeth on Him. Putting their faith in the finished work of Christ on Calvary. Realizing that the sacrifice of the Son of God was made for my sins. And I put my faith in the Christ on Calvary.

That is the gospel. That Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture. And was buried. And rose again the third day. In this matter of a true conversion, I would like to remind you this morning that Christ is calling us unto Himself.

Christ's Call to Discipleship and the Lordship of Jesus

He is calling us unto Himself. He is calling us to come and be rightly related to God. He is calling us to come into a relationship with a living God. He is calling us to come and walk with God. Many times, people have this thing all mixed up.

And I'm afraid it's because so many sermons are given on heaven or hell. And in fear, we don't want to go to hell. And so we come, so we can get our ticket. But I tell you, dear young people, Christ is calling you to more than just an escape from hell.

And a ticket into heaven. He is calling you unto Himself. Unto Himself. Come unto me, Jesus said. Come unto me, O ye that labor the heavy laden. And I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. That's still the same come, dear young people.

Come unto me, Jesus said, and take my yoke upon you. See, Jesus was calling the multitudes unto Himself. Come unto me, He said. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. For I am meek and lowly in heart.

And ye shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy. And my burden is light. Dear young people, that is the gospel that Jesus preached. That is the gospel that He preached. He said, follow me. He said, if you're going to follow me, you're going to have to deny yourself.

He said, if you're going to be my disciple, you're going to have to take up the cross and follow me. And somehow, that gets missed today. And so we talk about heaven and we talk about hell. And we talk about Jesus.

And we say, come. Come. Ask Jesus into your heart. And so they come. Who wouldn't? Who wouldn't? Out of hell and into heaven. And all I have to do is say, Jesus, come into my heart. Who wouldn't? But that's not the gospel that Jesus preached.

He said, come unto me. Come unto me. Come unto God. I want to clearly say it here this morning. I do not believe that you can make Jesus your Savior today. And live your own life the way you want for the next ten years.

And then just all of a sudden one day decide to settle down and make him your Lord. I don't believe that. Jesus said, come unto me. Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden. Your life upon me and I will save you.

Oh, I like the way the Apostle Paul did it at his conversion. There on the road to Damascus. That great light that shone round about him. And he said, who art thou Lord? First he had to find out who he was.

I'm Jesus whom thou have persecuted. Oh Lord, what will you have me to do? What will you have me to do? Salvation is God and man getting back together again through the precious blood and the sacrifice of his Son.

Salvation is God and man getting back together again. Being reconciled to God through the death of his Son. That's what salvation is. Oh dear young people, don't settle for anything less than that. Than being reconciled to God.

Than being rightly related to God. And all of a sudden God and man getting back together again. Then God becomes a living reality to you. That you have been delivered from your idols to serve the living God.

Don't settle for anything less than that. If you have, I can tell you why your Christian life does not go very well. And it's just a big burden to you. Maybe you even came this week. It was a burden to you, but mom and dad said you must come.

So you came. Oh, God has something better for you than that. When you do this. When you see your deeds so clearly. You come crying out to God in repentance. Turning from your own way. And you look and you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Receiving his very life and his person. A power comes into you. A power comes into you. Which is God. God comes into you. I like the way Peter said it. In Acts chapter 2. Let's turn there. Acts chapter 2.

Pentecost, Conversion, and the Fruit of New Life

Peter preaching that sermon there on the day of Pentecost. All these people around listening to him. Jews from every corner of the earth. Known corner of the world. And he preaches the sermon to them.

He gives them the gospel. He tells them who Jesus is. He is very bold. And he said in verse 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly. That God hath made that same Jesus. Whom ye have crucified.

Both Lord and Christ. And it seems that the revelation of their need. And what they had done. Hit them like a thunderbolt. And they said. Now when they heard this. They were pricked in their heart. And said unto Peter.

And to the rest of the apostles. Men and brethren. What shall we do? What shall we do now? Then Peter said unto them. Repent and be baptized every one of you. In the name of Jesus Christ. For the remission of sins.

And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you. And to your children. And to all that are afar off. Even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

The same promise. What a thrill it is. To just drop down to verse 44. And see the fruit. Of those clear conversions. Which took place that day. And they continued steadfastly. In the apostles doctrine and fellowship.

And in breaking of bread. And in prayers. And fear came upon every soul. And many wonders and signs. Were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together. And had all things common. And sold their possessions and goods.

And parted them to all men. As every man had need. And they continued daily. With one accord in the temple. And breaking bread from house to house. They did eat their meat with gladness. And singleness of heart.

Praising God and having favor. With all the people. And daily such as should be saved. Well that's some pretty good fruit isn't it? One day old fruit. Not bad. No. Just clear conversion friends. Clear conversion.

That's the way it's supposed to be. A clear conversion. As I said before. I don't want to unsettle anyone here this morning. Who has been born again. That is not my desire. But. I do want you to have the real thing.

I want that for you. And also. Looking at our subject. The spiritual man. I'm sure you can see by now. That if the foundation is not clearly laid. How can the building be right? How can you be a spiritual man?

If the foundation has not been laid. Or it has not been laid right. You can't. Without a spiritual beginning. You cannot do it. You know the bible teaches. That the old testament law. Was given as a school master.

To bring us to Christ. A school master. To press us to Christ. You know how the old testament law does that? Somebody hears the law. And they try to change. And they can't. And they try. And they try.

And they try. And they fail. And they get up and try again. And they fail. And they get up and they try again. And they fail. Until finally. They cast themselves upon Christ. Completely. Totally. And all of a sudden.

They can succeed. But you know something young people. The new testament law can do the same thing to you. The standards of the new testament are higher than the standards of the old testament. What a burden it is to try to live out a new testament Christian life.

Not being born again. What a burden. What a grief. What a heavy load to carry every day. Gotta get up. Gotta get up. Gotta read my bible. Gotta go to church. Gotta do this. Gotta do that. Nothing within.

Nothing within. What a burden that can be. I want to give you an illustration this morning. That I think will make things very clear to you. What God wants you to do. I want to tell you about a sincere couple.

A Clear Conversion in the Experience of a Married Couple

Who came to some meetings some time ago. And they were Christians. In their minds. We're Christians. We go to church. We have a bible. We want our children to do right. They came to some meetings. Hoping that they could learn a few things and straighten out their children.

That's why they came. But their whole Christian life was not working. No one knew that. But they knew it. They knew. Because they had tried and tried and tried. And failed and failed and failed. Well, they heard a good, clear gospel message one evening.

And as soon as the message was over. This dear lady. She hit the altar. I mean she was the first one down to the front. And the husband. He saw his wife go to the front. And he went along beside her out of concern.

And so there they were. Both of them at the altar. In the prayer group. We got them in a circle you know. In the prayer group. And we asked this question. Is there anybody in here. In this little tent.

Who's not born again. You're not sure. You're a child of God. And she raised her hand. And he raised his eyebrow. Her husband. Whoa. What's this? And so we took her out. He went right along with her. And I saw this may be a little touchy.

So I took them. And we went off into a room. We began to talk to her. And oh. She just unburdened her heart. She said, I'm not born again. I'm not born again. It's not working. I prayed a prayer back there somewhere.

But there's nothing inside of me. The Bible doesn't mean anything to me. And I just live in defeat all the time. And it's not working for me. I don't think I'm born again. Her dear husband. God bless him.

He was next to her. You know. Putting his hand on her arm. Now honey. Don't you remember when you. You prayed that prayer. You know. At that seminar. And you prayed that prayer. You're okay. And he tried to calm her back down.

When he finished talking. Then she opened up her heart again. And her heart was so burdened. She was. I could tell she was under conviction. Big time. He said, I'm not born again. It doesn't work. This thing went back and forth.