Day 7/6 – The Peril of Self-reformation

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Thoughts from the Diary of a Desperate Man by Walter A Henrichsen (“Walt”)
The Peril of Self-reformation
Day One Hundred Eighty-seven

‘When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, but he finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and brings with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil generation.” Matthew 12:43-45

As a follower of Christ you know that self-reformation is futile. Having declared spiritual bankruptcy, you came to God asking Him to live His life through you. He is your life; you live day-by-day in dependence upon His strength and presence.

The worst thing that can happen to the non-Christian is for him to be able to solve his own problems. Nothing is more deadly than self-reformation. The Great Physician heals those who cannot heal themselves. If people conclude that they can solve their own problems, or at least learn to accommodate them in their lives, they lose their incentive to turn to Christ for help, and that is a short path to hell.

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”260 Jesus says that this dependence of a child is a pre-requisite for entrance into His kingdom. God can use many ways to force the unbeliever to express the dependence of a child in turning to Christ. As you pray for those outside the pale of His grace, plead with God that they will not resist the Holy Spirit through acts of self-reformation.

260 Matthew 18:3

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Job 32-33 Acts 14 (New King James Version)

Job 32-33
Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends
32 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited [a]to speak to Job. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
7
I said, [b]‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8
But there is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9
Great[c] men are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.
10
“Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
11
Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12
I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—
13
Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
14
Now he has not [d]directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.
15
“They are dismayed and answer no more;
Words escape them.
16
And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.
17
I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.
18
For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19
Indeed my [e]belly is like wine that has no [f]vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20
I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21
Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me flatter any man.
22
For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me away.
Elihu Contradicts Job
33
“But please, Job, hear my speech,
And listen to all my words.
2
Now, I open my mouth;
My tongue speaks in my mouth.
3
My words come from my upright heart;
My lips utter pure knowledge.
4
The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5
If you can answer me,
Set your words in order before me;
Take your stand.
6
Truly I am [g]as your spokesman before God;
I also have been formed out of clay.
7
Surely no fear of me will terrify you,
Nor will my hand be heavy on you.
8
“Surely you have spoken [h]in my hearing,
And I have heard the sound of your words, saying,
9
‘I am pure, without transgression;
I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.
10
Yet He finds occasions against me,
He counts me as His enemy;
11
He puts my feet in the stocks,
He watches all my paths.’
12
“Look, in this you are not righteous.
I will answer you,
For God is greater than man.
13
Why do you contend with Him?
For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
14
For God may speak in one way, or in another,
Yet man does not perceive it.
15
In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls upon men,
While slumbering on their beds,
16
Then He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction.
17
In order to turn man from his deed,
And conceal pride from man,
18
He keeps back his soul from the Pit,
And his life from [i]perishing by the sword.
19
“Man is also chastened with pain on his bed,
And with strong pain in many of his bones,
20
So that his life abhors bread,
And his soul [j]succulent food.
21
His flesh wastes away from sight,
And his bones stick out which once were not seen.
22
Yes, his soul draws near the Pit,
And his life to the executioners.
23
“If there is a messenger for him,
A mediator, one among a thousand,
To show man His uprightness,
24
Then He is gracious to him, and says,
‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit;
I have found [k]a ransom’;
25
His flesh shall be young like a child’s,
He shall return to the days of his youth.
26
He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,
He shall see His face with joy,
For He restores to man His righteousness.
27
Then he looks at men and says,
‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right,
And it did not profit me.’
28
He will redeem [l]his soul from going down to the Pit,
And his life shall see the light.
29
“Behold, God works all these things,
Twice, in fact, three times with a man,
30
To bring back his soul from the Pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31
“Give ear, Job, listen to me;
Hold your peace, and I will speak.
32
If you have anything to say, answer me;
Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33
If not, listen to me;
[m]Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Footnotes:
• Job 32:4 Vg. till Job had spoken
• Job 32:7 Lit. Days, i.e., years
• Job 32:9 Or Men of many years
• Job 32:14 ordered
• Job 32:19 bosom
• Job 32:19 opening
• Job 33:6 Lit. as your mouth
• Job 33:8 Lit. in my ears
• Job 33:18 Lit. passing
• Job 33:20 desirable
• Job 33:24 an atonement
• Job 33:28 Kt. my
• Job 33:33 Keep silent

Acts 14
At Iconium
14 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and [a]poisoned their [b]minds against the brethren. 3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there.
Idolatry at Lystra
8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. [c]Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called [d]Zeus, and Paul, [e]Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
Stoning, Escape to Derbe
19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
Strengthening the Converts
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
Footnotes:
• Acts 14:2 embittered
• Acts 14:2 Lit. souls
• Acts 14:9 Lit. Who
• Acts 14:12 Jupiter
• Acts 14:12 Mercury