In This Issue:
Why Don’t They Understand?
Too Late
The Power of the Holy Spirit
Amazing Grace
Volume: 1066 October 4, 2026
Theme: The Holy Spirit
Why Don’t They Understand?
Bill Brinkworth
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” II Cor. 4:4
After more than 40 years of telling others what the Bible says one must do to have the promise of Heaven, I still wish there were something I could say or do that would instantly get someone saved and on the way to eternity. Unfortunately, there is no such way!
One can give the clearest Bible verses one knows to show another the way to Heaven, but the unsaved listener often politely stares back at the soul-winner and does not appear to be stirred. Even the best stories of how the Lord has changed the soul-winner’s life often end in empty stares also.
Sharing the Bible’s scariest verses about the eternal home for the lost in a tormenting Hell often does not even raise an eyebrow. Scripture about standing before the final judgment for the lost at the Great White Throne Judgment does not even seem to concern them. They just do not seem to understand.
Soul winners may have to deal with hardened hearts, not-ready-yet souls, and those ignorant of God’s truths. Often, without knowing why, it seems the Holy Spirit is not involved, and He is the only One who wins a soul to Christ.
Another very serious obstacle keeps many from being saved. That reason may be the root cause of previously mentioned excuses for one’s not getting saved. They are spiritually blinded. Often the blindness is caused by Satanic intervention. All other excuses may just have been the device that Satan used to keep a soul from being born again.
Spiritual blindness has always been a stumbling block for one to get saved, and it is especially a barrier in these days. Perhaps a person has heard so much negativity about being saved that they have not sought it out honestly for themselves. They heard that “salvation is forced down one’s throat” without experiencing someone aggressively showing them the way to Heaven.
Others are turned off to being born-again as they fear they will not have a mind or will of their own and will have to do things they do not like or believe in. Some fear their freedoms will be stripped from them. Many have been so entrenched and addicted to sin that they have no interest or concern for anything that would change their lifestyle.
Talking to so many spiritually blinded people can be frustrating to one concerned about the souls of others. The Holy Spirit and we seem to do everything we can to alter their eternal destination from Hell with seemingly no results. Then, when we least expect it, we have the honor to lead one “easily” to salvation. What is the difference?
When somebody readily accepts Christ as Savior, we do not know all the work, trials, and tribulations the Holy Spirit has done in their lives. It is His work that prepares them for when a soul-winner can talk to them. When their heart is ready, only the Holy Spirit can remove their spiritual blinders.
With this in mind, we should see the importance of “sowing the seeds” of the Gospel. One day those thoughts, verses, and biblical principles Christians planted may grow.
On that day, the Holy Spirit may open the eyes of the sinner, and he will no longer be blind to the things of God. It may be the day when one gets saved. It may be the beginning when one understands more of the things of God. That is why we must keep on sowing God’s truth, because one day the “seeds” may sprout.
“Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.” Isa. 6:10
“Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” John 12:39-40
“When men surrender themselves to the Spirit of God, they will learn more concerning God and Christ and the atonement and immortality in a week, than they would learn in a lifetime, apart from the Spirit.” — Brown
Too Late
R. A. Torrey
One evening when Mr. Alexander and I were in Brighton, England, one of the workers went out from the afternoon meeting to a restaurant for his evening meal. His attention was drawn toward the man who waited upon him. A strong impression came to his heart that he should speak to the waiter about his soul, but it seemed so unusual that he kept putting it off.
When the meal was ended and the bill paid, he stepped out of the restaurant, but felt so strongly that he should speak to that waiter that he decided to wait outside until the waiter came out.
A little while later, the proprietor came out and asked why he was waiting. He replied that he was waiting to speak with the man who had waited on him at the table.
The proprietor replied, “You will never speak to that man again. After waiting on you, he went to his room and shot himself.”
Oh, men and women, there are opportunities open to us that will be gone, and gone forever. When the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart, do as he urges you; as there may never be another opportunity. His timing is always perfect!
The Power of the Holy Spirit
John Bate, 1871
The same wind that tosses the Atlantic into restless mountains of water can gently fan it into a tranquil calm. Similarly does the Holy Spirit. His influence agitates and tosses the conscience of the guilty sinner into a thousand fears and concerns. He can also soothe one into blessed peace.
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:29-30
Amazing Grace
A Hymn by John Newton, 1779
- Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see. - ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed. - Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home. - The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures. - Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace. - The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine. - When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
“Unless there is within us that which is above us, we shall soon yield to that which is about us.” — Upper Room