Although I'm not a connoisseur of classical music, I find a strange parallel between the unfinished symphony of Franz Schubert and the salvation process that has taken place in the lives of many of God's children.

Many believe that Schubert stopped after writing only two movements in his symphony because he felt the first two movements were "good enough" and adding additional movements would add nothing to it. This then precluded the symphony from being played by a full orchestra in the way that it was meant to be played. The very definition of a symphony is 'an extended harmony of musical sounds in several movements for a full orchestra'. You can only wonder how great the symphony could have been had it been finished.

So then what does all this have to do with salvation you might ask? "I thought when I got saved the job was finished." "What more can I add to what God has already done?" "I certainly can't improve on His works!"

On that day when you asked Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior a lot more took place than what many of God's children are aware of. We know that our sins were forgiven. And we look forward to spending an eternity with God, after this life is over. But have you ever considered why God through Jesus Christ has given you such a precious gift as salvation?

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:. Ephesians 2:8

If the only purpose for receiving salvation is to have eternal life, then what is the purpose of sticking around on this earth after you have received the best thing that will ever happen to you. Why didn't God just take you home to be with him? Part of the answer lies in the prayer that Jesus made concerning his disciples. This prayer also applies to all of God's children that will believe God's Word.

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them in to the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; John 17:15-20

Salvation had not really happened at the time that Jesus prayed this prayer. He had not yet died on the cross and rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. Nevertheless He was telling his disciples and all those that would follow Him that they "Have Work To Do". To finish the process that Jesus was about to start in them. The main purpose of being Born Again and then being as it were "left behind" is this.

That by the Holy Spirit which now resides in you, Jesus Christ will live his life through you. Through you, He will continue to reach out to a lost and dying world just as he did when he was physically walking this earth. You will do the things that Christ did by his presence in you!

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12

The reference to "greater works" in the scripture above does not mean better in quality, but more of the same works. In other words, if Jesus is living his life through all born again believers then he will be able to do "greater" or more of the same works He did when physically on this earth. That is what this is all about. That is what the Apostle Paul was talking about when he said:

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Glory to God! That's what it means to be born again. Born from above, not of this world. Your old person is dead and buried with Christ, and a new creature has been raised with Christ. A new birth has taken place. You now live by the faith of the Son of God, who loves you, and gave himself for you!

The beginning movements of the "symphony" have been accomplished. It's time with the help of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit to finish the "symphony" that God has started in you. You can't spend the rest of your life thinking it is "good enough". It isn't. God intends to create a full symphony of your life. One that is in complete harmony with Him.

Many of God's children are moved by what they "see" and not by faith in God's Word. They look at what is happening in the world, or to other born again christians, and then come to the conlusion that it is not possible. If you think that what God has said in His Word is not possible, then for "you", it is not possible (Prov. 23:7) (Mark 10:27). There is no way God will ever complete His work in you, until your thinking has been changed to line-up with His Word. So what I'm really saying is that your thinking must line-up with Jesus Christ (who is the Word: John 1:14, 1 John 5:7). You must think the way He thinks. You must have the mind of Christ!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.1 Corinthians 2:16

There is a mad rush among churches, preachers, and evangelist to get as many people saved as possible. This is a good thing and certainly the work of God. But in the rush to the cross many of those who are born again are never told what is expected of them as they move into this exciting time of their lives. Many become disillusioned as the years go by. They wonder why their lives are not matching up to what the Word says it should be. They ask themselves "where is the peace, the love, the joy, and the sound mind that God has promised?" "Why do I still have a problem with my temper?" "Why can't I be free of this habitual sin in my life?" "Why do I continue to treat my spouse, my children, and other people in a manner that is not in accordance with God's Word?" Many have tried to make changes in their lives, but continue to fail. All of this leads to confusion and discouragement. Paul had the same problem until he understood how to transform his mind to serve God and His Word and not give in to his flesh.

For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. . Romans 7:15 ( NASB )

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.Romans 7:25

Paul is saying here that you can either transform your mind and serve God, or you will end up serving the god of this world (the devil), and your flesh. God makes it very clear that the process He started in you must continue by the transformation of your mind. This is a day by day process and should never stop as long as you're on this earth.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

The process of transforming your mind is critical. Your mind is constantly receiving the world's point of view on just about any subject you can think of. Everbody has their opinions on what is and isn't possible. If you don't believe me then just ask somebody. The only opinion that will make a difference in your life is God's point of view. Your mind has had many years of receiving a lot of bad news, and if not changed your mind will be more tuned into the world than it is to the image that is inside you which is Jesus Christ.

Don't give into the thinking of the world that says "do the best that you can and that will be good enough." This type of thinking is faulty. When born again children of God say "they are doing the best that they can." What they are really saying is that "they are doing the best that they want to do." There is a big difference!

When you realize that there is no way 'you' will ever be able to walk the christian walk, or walk by faith, or walk in the Spirit, then you will learn that it is Christ that will do these things through you by the Holy Spirit. That is what Paul found out. It is Christ that will finish the work that was started in you!

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:1-6

The first thing that we must come to terms with is this. Just as in writing a symphony we must continue to "write". If we stop, the symphony stops. If we decide to "work on" the symphony when we have time to do so, then we will never have time, and the symphony will never be finished. We must continue to abide in the work of finishing the symphony.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12

The Word tells us that unless we abide or stay connected to the Word, which is Jesus Christ we will not be able to do anything spiritual.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:4-5

This has everything to do with what the Lord was trying to tell Jeremiah in the scripture above. The potter has an image in his mind that he will transfer to the clay vessel. The vessel will begin to "take shape". It will begin to transform into the image that was in the potters mind. The clay vessel and the image that is in the potters mind will become one, and look the same. Of course this process could never happen if the clay vessel does not "stay on the potters table!"

If we continue to abide and stay put on the potters table we too will begin to take shape. We will begin to conform to the image that is in God's mind. This is the same image that was put inside you the moment you were born again. That image is Jesus Christ who is also the express image of God!

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:Hebrews 1:3

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Colossians 1:27

So the image that God wants you to conform to is the image of His Son Jesus Christ who is the image of God. This is only possible because of "Christ in you" by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

So if you are born again then the very image of Jesus Christ is in you. Now the process of finishing the symphony is simply changing you mind (your soul) to match that image. This is done by abiding in the Word of God. To abide means to stay put. Stay on the potters table. Your mind will be renewed with each turn on the potters table. Every time you abide in the Word of God you are going from turn to turn on the potters table. You are going from glory to glory. The Word of God is Jesus Christ, Gods glory!

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

The Spirit of God which is in you ( 1 Corinthians 6:19 ), will cause your mind to conform to the Word of God ( which is Jesus Christ ) and also to the image that is in you ( which is also Jesus Christ ). When those two images match then the full harmonic symphony that God has started in you will begin to flow out of your inner person (your new born again spirit). This flow will come through your renewed mind, then into your flesh, then to the world around you. The world will then see Christ in you, the hope of glory!

This will be Jesus Christ himself reaching out through you to a lost and dying world. This will be Jesus Christ doing the same things that He did when he was physically walking this earth.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12

As you gaze into the word of God you will see the reflection of Jesus Christ. If you continue to abide in the Word, you will conform to that relection or image. If you do not abide in the Word, then you will begin to forget who you are in Christ Jesus. The world and its ways will begin to replace your time in the Word and you will begin to take on the image of this world and not of Jesus Christ.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James 1: 22-25

If you stay out of the Word of God to long, you will become "double minded". Your mind will have a mixture of both the Word and the world. If you choose to go down this road as a born again christian, then do not expect to receive anything from the Lord because God considers you "unstable". Unless you abide in the Word there is no way you can walk in faith.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1: 6-8

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:38

There should be no confusion here. It should be perfectly clear what God wants to do in your life. God does not create confusion but peace ( 1 Corinthians 14:33 ). The intent of God is simple. He wants Jesus Christ to flow out of you and into this world. It is Jesus Christ that will do the work, not you and me. We cannot allow our thinking and our ways of doing things to get in the way of this process ( Isaiah 55:8 ).

The rivers of living water that Jesus was referring to is simply the fruit of the Spirit. When your mind has been transformed by the Word of God and your mind has matched the image that is in you, then these fruits will come flowing out of your spirit as rivers of living water.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22,23

These fruits are the very essence of God and Jesus Christ.

As the verse above tells us, there is no law on this earth that can stop the power of these fruits. This then ties directly into John 15.

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:3-5

When the fruit of the Spirit is being produced in your life then there is no limit to what can happen. People will be saved. Sickness and disease will be removed. Peace and Joy will replace turmoil and sadness in your life. And it will be Jesus Christ who will be doing these things through you. You will be able to do all things through Christ (the anointed one) Phil. 4:13. It was God that did the works through Jesus during His ministry and now that Christ is in you "nothing has changed".

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 14:10

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Just as God did the works through Jesus Christ, it is still God that will do the works through Christ and through you. Christ dwells in you by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Renew your mind and allow the presence of Jesus Christ and all of the fruit of the Spirit to flow from you as "Rivers of Living Water".

Peter and John were going to the temple during the hour of prayer. They encountered a lame man who when seeing Peter and John asked money of them. What happened next is the same thing that should be happening in the lives of all born again christians. Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit that was in Peter, manifested Himself through Peter to restore that lame man. Rivers of living water came flowing out of Peter and completely set that man free. Again it was God doing the works through Jesus Christ.

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Acts 3 1-16

I hope you have taken the time to carefully read the above Word of God. Allow every word to saturate your mind. Begin the process of renewing your mind. When you do this, the faith of God will begin to take control of your mind. There will be no doubt. Just as there was no doubt in Peters mind about what was going to happen when he pulled that lame man up to his feet.

Read and reread the above scripture and you will understand:

1. That by being around Jesus through His word you will begin to think like Him.

2. You will know that the very presence of Jesus Christ resides in you.

3. That God through Jesus Christ will do the works, not you. All you have to do is have faith in that name. Faith comes by hearing and reading the word ( Romans 10:17 ).

4. What Peter actually gave the lame man was Jesus Christ. Jesus as rivers of living water came flowing out of Peters spirit, through Peters mind and his flesh and into the lame man.

5. That the whole purpose of your existence as a born again believer is to renew your mind and allow Jesus Christ to live through you.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Mark 10:27