A message to my brother preachers in the ministry and to all believers in Christ Jesus.

We keep trying to change people on the outside when it is the inside that needs changing. Only God can do that!

Hebrews 6 tells us about people who once loved God, tasted of His blessings (such as a good home that honored God) they heard the Word of God preached Sunday after Sunday, went to SS, youth camp, etc. but when they got out on their own, they forsook they God and all the teachings they had known.

Their lives are so far removed from the God they served that it is almost impossible for them to repent and come back to the place from which they had fallen.

These things begin in the mind and change the heart through several years of dwelling on them. Outright sinfulness does not begin with a single sinful act. It is developed over a period of time, some shorter than others, yet people become calloused to the warnings of Scripture.

Many of these folk have never been truly saved or born again. They tasted of the goodness of God through their parents or spouse, but ended up rejecting God. Their profession of faith and baptism was not from the heart, but it was a try at doing things right, but all the while holding onto the reins of their heart. You do not get saved by trying. It involves surrender and a defined turning away from self.

To these people God was never Who they wanted. They tried Jesus, but did not accept Him by surrendering to Him. In the end, they will go down into the pit and suffer eternal punishment instead of entering into the joy of the Lord Jesus.

To proceed to my main point, we try to change people on the outside. We think, if we can get them to go to church, or if we speak judgmentally to them, we can shake them up enough to change them.

That does not work. God must change them on the inside and that calls for them to surrender and seek Him, believing that they missed the mark but are ready to receive instruction.

Now, that works with all kinds of issues that are spiritual in nature.

Preachers, like myself, have preached the judgment of God to people hoping that our words will somehow afflict them and they will repent. That is not the right approach. When will we wake up and know that only God can change the heart and the person must have a desire to follow Him. And it is not by our scolding.

Now, this principle of trying to change people from the outside is wrong and knowing that it must come from the heart that a person must voluntarily give up their old sinful ways and come to following Christ needs to be practiced by all believers and especially preachers.

It applies to many areas. Youths living in sin or adults lusting after sinful ways, or greediness, racism, pride, arrogance, drunkenness, adultery, fornication, selfishness, etc. You name it as it is listed in Scripture and it all applies. It is a spiritual problem and only God can correct spiritual problems.

So, what can or should we do? Hebrews 4:12 says: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

What can we do? Remember that the Word of God is alive and powerful. Utilize prayer that asks Gods to intervene in their heart for only God can change the heart. Love people without judging, though that seems to be a difficult task it must be our pathway to helping others.

You cannot change anyone’s heart. That is a truth that is not taught much. Changing a heart spiritually must be and is always God’s work. Our preaching must be edifying and with the intent of building up one another in the faith. Getting mad at sin is fine. Getting mad at people for sinning, though disheartening, is not how we help them. We all need to spend some time on our knees praying, calling on God to work in peoples lives because that is His Spirits’ work.

May God help us to do our work and to allow Him to do His work.

Humbly offered,

Ken Lewis Th.D.