Rolland Baker

We always have free will, but why can't God change your will so that you delight to do his will? That's called sanctification, being born again, his workmanship!

No one is convicted of sin by their own choice. Conviction is something that happens to you when the Holy Spirit convicts. In a real revival that conviction can be extreme, overwhelming, and emotionally devastating... And then after utter repentance the peace is unspeakably rich.

God doesn't *make* us love him. His sovereignty doesn't *force* us to do what we don't want to do. No, by his power we are born again, sanctified, and made into new creatures. He changes our hearts so that we *delight* to do his will in perfect freedom.

Relationship is the greatest achievement of God’s total, 100% sovereignty… It’s been said many times that only God can love God. When he loves himself through us, we experience perfect freedom as we satisfy God’s desire for companionship.

The Christian life is not contending with God. It's having no will of our own, in union with God...

2 Cor. 7:4 NIV I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds. Is this possible in normal, real life? Or in a war zone like ours here in Pemba?

The prize of Christianity is not the transformation of the world. It is Jesus himself. Our job on earth is to prove that he is our prize above everything and everybody in this world (1 Pet. 1:7). Then, at the right time, God will give us, along with him, all things (Rom. 8:32).

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It's not that easy to get things done in the Kingdom without God's sovereignty. Or maybe we only need it once in awhile...?

If God is not in control, how is he supposed to answer our prayers? And if he is not in control of our free will, how can he sanctify us, make us new creatures in Christ, and be his workmanship?

I was told that God is not in control of accidents. That's a great comfort as I drive around in Pemba's traffic and fly in the bush...

Open theology is a great system. It keeps God flexible and out of our hair so we can actually achieve our own dreams...

God has sovereign power. Of course, he can't actually use it unless we cooperate, invite him in, pray correctly, and give him effective motivation through targeted intercession. Powerful prophecy gives him great guidelines and helpful direction. Together we maker a stellar team.

Which is worse? A God who wants to save everybody but can’t, or a God who can save everybody but won’t?

Many are searching for their destiny, their calling, their purpose, their giftings... Once a teenage mystic wrote to me, "The sole purpose of my existence is to make Jesus feel more loved than anybody or anything in this world." Exactly.

God did not give us the job of building heaven on earth ourselves… We have a Kingdom not made with hands…not of this world…

The idea of focusing on making heaven out of earth does not fill me with joy. My heart is set on my Perfect Savior and what He is preparing for us…

Heaven is not the point of life on earth. We get down payments on heaven, but they are temporary. We are God's workmanship, being made into the kind of people God wants as his companions and lovers forever. That often involves experiencing the hard things of life...