God opens a person's heart to the Gospel through the Holy Spirit, using human instruments like ministers and teachers.
Les Feldick teaches that God uses human instruments, such as the apostle Paul, to present the Gospel, but it is ultimately the Holy Spirit who opens the heart. He emphasizes that no amount of human effort can force belief; it requires a divine act of God. This is illustrated in Acts 16 with Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened.
Acts 16:14 — This verse directly states that the Lord opened Lydia's heart, showing that God is the one who opens hearts to the Gospel.
The Bible teaches that God is sovereign in opening hearts to receive the Gospel. In Acts 16:14, we read of Lydia, a seller of purple, 'whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.' This verse shows that divine initiative is essential for a person to respond to the Gospel. Furthermore, the Gospel message itself is a divine revelation. In Romans 10:17, 'faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.' This underscores that hearing the Word is the means, but it is God who makes it effective. The Bible also speaks of human responsibility in proclaiming the Gospel. Romans 10:15 states, 'And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!' Thus, God uses human instruments to deliver His message.
Les Feldick emphasizes that God has consistently used human instruments, not angels, to bring others to salvation. He points to the apostle Paul as an example of a human instrument, but clarifies that even Paul could not open hearts; that is the work of the Holy Spirit. In the case of Lydia, God opened her heart, and then Paul's words took root. Les also stresses the importance of prayer for these instruments, as they are vital in presenting the Gospel, yet utterly dependent on God's working. He notes that unless God strips away the blindness caused by Satan, people cannot believe, and we cannot force them. There must be a time of preparation for the Holy Spirit's work, and sometimes it takes years for a person to come to the point of faith. Ultimately, Les teaches that God's foreknowledge plays a role; He knows who will respond, and in His timing, He opens hearts. Our role is to be faithful in sharing the Word, trusting God to do the opening.
Les Feldick teaches that God has almost always used human instruments to lead others to salvation. He points to the Apostle Paul as an example, who was used by God to preach the Gospel in 'regions beyond.' However, even the great apostle could not open hearts; that is the work of the Holy Spirit. Believers are to do their part by sharing the Word, but they cannot force belief.
Les Feldick emphasizes that unless the Holy Spirit opens the heart and spiritual eyes, no one can understand or accept the Gospel. He uses the example of Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened, and then she attended to Paul's words. He also notes that people are blinded by the god of this world (Satan), and only God can strip away that blindness.
Les Feldick explains that God has a perfect time for opening hearts, and He knows, through foreknowledge, who will respond. He shares that some people may attend his classes for years before they are ready to make a step of faith. The Holy Spirit needs time to prepare a person, and we should not be in a hurry to 'twist their arm.'
God's Use of Human Instruments
Les shows that God used Paul as an instrument to preach in new regions, but it is God who uses the man, not the man alone.
Human Instruments Lead Others
Les emphasizes that God uses people to lead others to salvation, and we must be skilled in Scripture to share it effectively, as with Lydia.
Blindness Removed by God
Les explains that people are blinded by Satan and need an act of God to open their hearts, making our efforts dependent on God.
The Lord Opens Hearts
Les highlights that even Paul couldn't open hearts; it took the Holy Spirit to open Lydia's heart for the words to take root.
Foreknowledge and Heart Opening
Les connects God's foreknowledge with Him opening hearts, knowing who will respond, and thus He opens the heart.
Preparation by the Holy Spirit
Les teaches that there must be a time of preparation and that the Holy Spirit must work, sometimes over years, before a person is ready to believe.
Why Did Israel Reject God? Romans 10:18-21 Explained
Did he jump the gun? No, he did not start until God says, build an ark. And so then Hebrews 11 says that by faith Noah responded to what God told him to do, and he built an ark. Abraham, by faith, what did he do? He left Ur of the Chaldees. When? When God said to.
God's Time and Opening Hearts
Les reiterates that his words are powerless unless God opens hearts, and that it may not be God's time for a person until a later point.
Acts 16:14: And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
This verse is central to the question, showing that God opens hearts in response to the Gospel proclamation.
Romans 10:17: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
This verse explains the human means by which faith comes, but it is God who opens the heart to receive it.
Romans 10:15: And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
This verse underscores the necessity of human messengers, though they are dependent on God's work in the heart.
No, according to Les Feldick, unless God opens the heart and spiritual eyes, people cannot understand or accept the Gospel. They are blinded by the god of this world, and only God can remove that blindness.
God uses human instruments like ministers and teachers to present the Gospel message, but it is God who opens the heart. For example, Paul preached to Lydia, but the Lord opened her heart to attend to his words.
Yes, Les Feldick teaches that God has a perfect time, and He knows through foreknowledge who will respond. Some people may take years before they are ready to believe, as the Holy Spirit works in preparation.
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