A New Heart And Spirit

Champion of the Gospel with Jonathan Heng

The word "new" is used in the Bible over a 100 times. For example, new song, new covenant, new commandment, new creature, new heaven and new earth. In the natural, many of us like new things such as new clothes, new furniture, new car and new house. In a technologically-advanced nation like ours, some of us may even buy new mobile handphones and new computers so often that we don't remember how many of them we have had put together since we bought our first one. We spend so much of our energy, time and money to acquire them that if we're not careful, we begin to think that our self-worth and value to others depends on having these possessions. Slowly, subtly but surely, our soul becomes dry when we focus so much on the material that we neglect the spiritual. No, there is nothing wrong with physical blessings and prosperity but when they become our primary preoccupation, then we are missing out on the true treasure and wealth and that is, to be strong in the inner man.
As our hearts are open and sensitive to the Holy Spirit, God is seeking for vessels to manifest His glory to a suffering and sin-bound world. Throughout the church age, there have been a number of Holy Spirit revivals. However, the final great outpouring of the Holy Spirit is yet to be completely fulfilled. It will be fully realized during the Millennium reign of Christ.
In recent times, we see the rise of "famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes" (according to Matthew 24:7). Persecution is intense and terrorism is rampant in many places. All these events have caused fear to grip the hearts of many. These are just a few signs of what the Bible calls "the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8). However, as these troubles hit our world, the Church of Jesus Christ will arise with greater manifestations of God's glory that will bring in the great harvest of souls into His Kingdom.
As vessels of God's glory, we have a call and commitment to deliver a life-changing message of the gospel that will never lose its power. The only answer to the spiritual epidemic and social upheaval of the world today is the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ performed on the cross of Calvary.
When the Word of God, delivered under the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, men and women will be led to the fire of the altars and the cross of Calvary, "...I indeed baptize you with water; but one that is mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire" (Luke 3:16). As stewards of the Gospel, all we can do is, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine ... do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" (2 Timothy 4:2, 5).
Friend, the victory of the cross enables us to proclaim that "Jesus saves, heals, fills us with the Holy Spirit and is coming again!" This is a glorious gospel message! Hallelujah!