#YOU MUST BE A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

Devotional Hours Within the Bible

by J.R. Miller

The Heavenly Inheritance (1 Peter 1:1-12)

“To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered. .. who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” It is a sweet pleasure to be chosen to be a friend even by a true and noble man, to have a pure and loving heart turn to us and choose us from among many for regard, affection and interest. But it is far more precious to know that God has chosen us to be His friends. His children. Jesus said of His disciples, “You did not choose me but I chose you.”

We are told also that we love God because He first loved us. Instead of puzzling our brains over the doctrine of “election,” let us accept the sweet thought which such words as these bring to our hearts. How sacred it makes our life seem to think of it in this way!

“Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood.” When God chooses us to be His children, He also provides for making us holy and fit to be partakers of the heavenly inheritance. The word “sanctification” has two senses. It means a setting apart. The Father chooses us and the Holy Spirit sets us apart as God’s. We belong to Him and are sacred to His uses. Then the word means also the actual cleansing of the nature making it holy. The Spirit enters into our heart and makes His home there, purifying the fountains of life and overcoming and driving out the evils of the flesh. The blood of Christ also has a part in the making holy of those whom the Father has chosen. We are redeemed by His blood. The blood cleanses from all sin. Thus the three persons of the Trinity are active in the saving of everyone who is saved: The Father chose, the Son made atonement, and the Holy Spirit purifies and sanctifies .

We enter God’s spiritual family by a new birth. “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope.” In our natural state we are not ready for life in God’s household. A wicked man, with an unholy heart, could never be happy in heaven. He cannot even be happy in a prayer meeting on earth. We must have holy feelings, desires and affections, before we are prepared for living in a holy atmosphere. The kingdom of heaven must come into our heart before we can enter into the kingdom. So God provides that when we receive Christ, the Holy Spirit renews and changes our nature, giving us the child - heart. We see here also that it is not for anything in ourselves that God has chosen us, changed our heart, and taken us into His family but “according to his great mercy.” Mercy always implies unworthiness. We are saved through the grace and love of God.

There is a glimpse here, too, of the blessedness of the Christian’s hope. It is a “living” hope. We are born again to an inheritance of life, eternal life. Our hope itself is living and eternal. Earth’s best things are uncertain, and at their best are only for a time. But the hope of the Christian is immortal. It is guaranteed by Christ’s resurrection. He conquered death, and all who rest upon Him live with Him for evermore.

“An incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance reserved in heaven for you.” Here we see what our living hope is. It is an inheritance, a free gift to us, something which comes to us from our Father. It is not like earthly inheritances, however, for they are liable to waste or to be lost. This inheritance is “incorruptible,” that is, it is not subject to decay but is eternal. It is “undefiled.” Some earthly inheritances pass down to children stained in the getting. An honest old man, dying, said to his sons, “I do not leave you very much but there is not a dirty shilling in it all.” He meant that every penny of it had been honestly earned. This is not always true of this world’s inheritances. Too often there is many a stained shilling in them. But the heavenly inheritance is absolutely without stain. It is purchased for us at the price of Christ’s blood, and comes to us from our Father’s hands, white with heaven’s own purity.

Another thing about it, is that it fades not away. Earthly inheritances often fade away, leaving the inheritor in poverty. This inheritance is beyond the reach of robber and money panic and all shrinking in values. It never can be taken from us. It is not in any banks or investments of earth but is laid up for us in heaven, reserved there in security until we get home.

“Who are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” Not only is the inheritance kept in secure reserve for us but we are guarded on the way to receive the inheritance. This is very important. The world is full of dangers through which we must pass to get to heaven. On every hand there are enemies. We could never get safely to the blessedness laid up for us if we had no protection along the way. But we are guarded by the divine power. God Himself is with us always, sheltering us with His wings of love, keeping us. Our part is faith resting in the divine keeping, simply going forward in the way of duty, leaving to God the guarding of our lives.

“You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials.” For a little while the Christian is to be tried. “Weeping may tarry for the night but joy comes in the morning.” We can surely bear trial a little while. Then, there is a “need be” in the trial. There is a blessing which God has to give us that we cannot get in any other way. The purifying of the gold never can be gotten without fire. Not to be cast into the hot furnace is to keep the dross. God never chastens unless there is a “need be.”

“These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Again, the grief is caused by “trials” which are testings of faith, so that it may shine at length in glory at the appearing of Christ. So we ought not to be troubled by our trials. There is a blessing in them. As the rough, unsightly ore, by passing through the fire, yields at last bright, shining gold so our weak faith, with its admixture of self-will and pride and evil is purified by the fires of trial, so that at last it appears before God to receive praise, honor and glory.

“Though you have not seen Him you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him.” The love of Christ will keep us in temptation and trial. The secret of a faithful, true and beautiful life is this love of the unseen Friend. Drummond tells of a young girl who became wondrously beautiful in her life and character, growing into a rare Christlikeness. Her friends wondered what the secret could be. She wore upon her breast a little locket, which she always kept closed, refusing to allow anyone to see within it. Once, however, when she was very ill, a friend was permitted to open it and found there only a little piece of paper, bearing the words, “Whom not having seen I love.” This told the whole story. Her love for the unseen Christ was the secret of that beautiful spiritual life which had so impressed itself upon her friends.

The secret of the life of Moses is given in one phrase, “He endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” Faith is better than sight. If we believe and love the unseen Friend, our life will be firm and steadfast in all trial, and will be transformed little by little into the beauty of Christ.

“Though you have not seen Him you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” We find here two blessings resulting from the love for the unseen Savior. One is unspeakable joy, even in a life of sore trial. The other is “salvation.” We need but to continue faithful unto the end, to receive the full and glorious inheritance.

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care.” Both earth and heaven are intensely interested in this great redeeming work of Christ. There are smart men who are so busy in their researches into little earthly matters that they cannot get time to study the things of the spiritual kingdom of God. Here, however, we see that in heaven’s sight, nothing in this world so merits the thought, study and research of the wisest beings in the universe, as Christ’s work of redemption.

The interest of the angels in Christ’s sufferings as the Redeemer is very beautiful. There is a picture by Domenichino which represents the scene on Calvary, on the evening after the Savior’s body had been taken down and laid in the grave. The cross is empty. An angel stands beside the crown of thorns which lies there, feeling with the point of his finger one of the sharp points. His face wears a look of mystery and wonder. He is trying to find out the meaning of suffering. Angels in heaven know nothing of pain by personal experience. The artist’s thought is that to this angel, the sufferings of Christ were a great mystery which he was trying to understand. The same thought is suggested in the words, “Which things angels desire to look into.” Surely it is worth while to give thought and attention to the great and wonderful things of Christ, since even the highest angels find in them mystery worthy of their deepest study. Nothing else in all the ranks of knowledge, is so worthy of our deepest study and most diligent research and investigation, as is the glorious gospel of the blessed God!

[yieldfruit]

At present, we must all be aware, the vast majority of professing Christians care nothing at all about it. They have no sense of sin. They have no love towards Christ. They know nothing of being born again. Repentance, faith, grace and holiness, are mere words and names to them. They are subjects which they either dislike, or about which they feel no concern.

J.C. Ryle

"Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter." If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. Matthew 7:16 & 20, 1 John 2:4-6

[childofchrist1983]

God has always been faithful and He is the Truth. He has always existed, and He has done amazing things which we can hardly comprehend. When is the last time you praised God simply because He is God, Creator of Heaven and Earth all all things inbetween? We often thank Him for what He does for us, but we forget to praise Him for being God. We must remember to praise Him, because all of creation praises Him, and we should join in the song.

As true Christians, we are in awe of God and His power and the fact that we get to seek, speak to and walk with Him daily. We praise Him for who He is. And we know He is good, true, and almighty, the Creator of all things good. He created the birds in the air, the fish in the sea. He shaped the mountains as though He were shaping clay. He spoke and the universe was. Stars shine because He told them to. He made humans and decided to walk with them. He wants a relationship with us. He has no beginning or end, but He created time and stepped into it. When lighting strikes, it asks for His permission. There is no one greater than Him. And we thank Father God Almighty for sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, so that we can be saved and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. May we all remain faithful to Him and to this duty and purpose He has called us to. Seek and put your faith and trust in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ and let Him do the rest. May He humble our hearts and help us focus on following and serving Him daily and helping others with joy and happiness. We lift our voices in praise to Him for His love, mercy, peace, faithfulness and grace. - For EVERYTHING!

It is vital that we remain rooted in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit and that we live and walk as a beacon of His light and love and share and spread the Gospel Truth daily, so that the lost souls in this world can come to know Him and be saved. The more we focus on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, growing spiritually by building our relationship with Him, leaning on Him and His Holy Word and Spirit, the better off we will be. Thanks to this and our faith in Him, we know that everything will be alright. And we will forever be grateful to Him. As true and born-again Christians, we believe in Him and His Holy Word and we strive daily to walk in His Holy Spirit. We know though our mortal bodies should die, He will raise us up and into new and glorious bodies (The Rapture). We who are truly His and alive at His second coming will never die, and our bodies will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and so shall we ever be with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven forevermore (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is one of many promises given to us by God Himself. Thank God for His strength and guidance when we are faced with sin and temptation. Thank Him for His mercy and grace. Through Bible study and prayer, God reveals His wisdom and guides us to see opportunities to grow closer to Him and grow spiritually. He gives us direction to live our lives daily according to His will.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven (John 3:5, 14:6), the ONLY way to salvation (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9) and He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26). Jesus Christ the LORD of lords, KING of kings, the GOD of gods (Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16) - He is the Living, Almighty and Everlasting God (Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 1:8, John 3:16, John 3:36, Jeremiah 10:10). There is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:5). We MUST humble ourselves before Him, turning our backs on false teachers, false gods and idols and our sinful ways. We MUST repent and turn back to God and recognize who He is and love Him in return for His great love for us. We MUST make God top priority everyday! May we be motivated to spread God's Holy Word and Gospel Truth to all the Earth, knowing that it is the only hope of all those lost in their sins. Let us not hold out a false hope for men to be saved without the Gospel, but instead, strive to do our part to get the Gospel out to a lost and dying world.

Leaning on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit strengthens us and our knowledge and wisdom about God and His Gospel Truth, exposing these imposters. May God help us to seek and lean on Him daily to gain the strength, wisdom and spiritual discernment needed to expose Satan and his imposters who seek to destroy us and God's ultimate Truth. Everyday, we must remember to share Jesus Christ's Gospel Truth with the world and to thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace that He poured out for us on the cross at Calvary. He has freed us from the burdens of sin and from the eternal damnation of Hell. In all we say and do, may all praise, honor and glory always be given to Him and His Kingdom of Heaven.

With renewed minds, hearts and wills, let us serve Him humbly and faithfully out of pure love and grateful rejoicing. May He remind us of His presence and to remain at peace, fully knowing that all will be well because He is always with us. Let us seek Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ today and everyday with all our heart and being, looking for His love, light and will for our lives with each step we take. Let us seek to please Him with our thoughts, words, and deeds and seek to advance His Kingdom of Heaven and His glory with our lives. Let us seek Him from a pure and humble heart, and when we so seek, we believe Him and His promise that we will find. May He help us all to be more sensitive to the teaching ministry of His Holy Word and Spirit, relying on Him and allowing Him to speak to us and guide us every step of our Christian journey.

God gave us the Holy Bible - His living and Holy Word - to let us know of Him and His abiding love and care as well as guide and prepare us for all our lives. May He help us encourage one another as we continue our walk with Him and our duty to Him daily. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for being present for all our new beginnings and all our lives. May He redirect any anxiety we feel as He provides countless opportunities for growth and change. May we humble ourselves before God always, asking Him to forgive our sins and make our hearts and lives anew through His Holy Word and Spirit. May He help us make Him and His Holy Word top priority, so we can grow spiritually and grow in our relationship with Him as we apply it to our daily lives. Thank God that we can focus on Him and everything about Him, for that is what keeps us sane and at peace. May our words and actions always be a reflection of Him and His Holy Word and Spirit and will.

May He help us to always walk in His grace and Holy Spirit, not by our own measure. May He give us the humble humility to know that our freedom and eternal salvation is found only in Him, so that His grace may sustain us, and we may never lose sight of His love and light and mercy. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for calling us to Him and to serve Him. May He equip us to do all that He has called us to do so that as He works through us, He may use us to produce fruit, to reach others, and to encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ. May He work all of these things in us and through us for His Kingdom and His glory. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all His creation, for His miraculous ways and for everything He does and has done for us! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your walk with Jesus! He loves us and He knows what is best for us. Seek, follow and trust in Him - Always!

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Word and for sending His Holy Spirit so that we might have His grace, not only to awaken us and transform our hearts in our spiritual rebirth and guarantee our eternity with Him, but to also call upon Him whenever we are in need. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all the reminders of His love and mercy and faithfulness within His Holy Word. He is bigger than any challenge or circumstance in our lives. Knowing this within our minds and our hearts, nothing can deter our faith in Him and His Truth. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful LORD, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

[feedingtheflockministry]

How to Obtain Salvation and Access to the Kingdom of Heaven

Jesus Christ and Peter (His disciple) both explain how to obtain salvation. Let us look at both passages.

Jesus told Nicodemus a Pharisee in Israel this, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and The Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of The Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

Just before Jesus’s ascension He told His disciples this, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Peter, after giving his sermon on the day of Pentecost ten days after Jesus ascension, told this to the crowd, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

These two both taught that water baptism is a must for the forgiveness of sins, AND to receive The Spirit / Holy Spirit. If you only say you believe in Jesus but never get baptized and receive The Spirit / Holy Spirit, then you are not biblically speaking, “Born Again”or “Saved”.

Do you need a church pastor or church building to be water baptized? No you do not. For anyone in Christ can baptize another. For Jesus said this, “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

The Walk

After you are born again you must follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior. How do you do that? You learn from His teachings in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), then study (by reading or listening to) the rest of the Bible. To sum up the root teachings of Jesus is this, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” Forgive those that have wronged you or spoken badly to you or about you. Remember, He forgave you of your wrong doings first. So do not condemn or seek condemnation for someone else. Focus on love, be a peacemaker, seek what is right and good, showing compassion towards others by seeking to help (not harm) them.Grow in your understanding of what is righteous and wicked so you yourself will not fall into sinful behavior or call what is good, evil, and what is evil, good as many of todays Christians have become accustomed to doing so.

Do not allow your love to become cold due to the bad behaviors of others. For there is a lot of wicked behaviors in the world and in churches. Do not allow those in church leadership positions to take advantage of you financially or teach you another gospel by taking scriptures out of context (a very common practice in todays church world). Do not spend time listening to people in ministry that are wealthy, popular, boastful, slanderous of others, and make the ministry that they were given into a business. Do not put people on pedestals that are not The Lord your God. For no matter how “good” they sound in their teachings and actions, they will let you down at some point. For many believers have become jaded by such people, and have left the faith altogether.

Never let someone tell you the Bible is outdated, offensive, or is suggestive in what it says, and never let someone tell you it is not The Word of God. For the scriptures are for the man and woman of God to grow and mature in their faith development.

So believe in Jesus Christ, be baptized for the forgiveness of sins in His name, receive The Spirit / Holy Spirit, and follow The Way of The Lord.

#bible #jesus christ #christianity #scriptures #jesussaves #biblescripture #baptism #salvation #true facts #true gospel #good news #the gospel

[albertfinch]

ADVANCING INTO THE PROMISED LAND

"...Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us..." -  Hebrews 10:19-20

Jesus, our chief Apostle, broke through and opened a new and living way.  In order to truly be effective in the Great Commission, as a forerunner must do the same in our efforts to establish the Kingdom of God.  Being born again in Christ we have access to a great breaker anointing within us.

It is Jesus inside of you -- Jesus opened up a new and living way for us into the Kingdom of God through the finished work of the cross. Yet now, once we understand and start walking in our Christ identity, we can take His power into the earth and open up new roads of opportunities for His Kingdom to expand on the earth.  Get ready for new levels -- it's breakthrough time!

THE SPIES RELEASED A SPIRIT OF FEAR OF TAKING THE PROMISED LAND

"But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there" (Numbers 13:28).  A spirit of fear was released to a whole community of people even though there was visible fruit of what could be accomplished.

With Caleb, Joshua stood, believing they could take the land.  It was a "new way" for all of the Israelites, and they could not believe the message of Caleb and Joshua. There were other forerunners with Caleb and Joshua, yet it was only Caleb and Joshua who carried the BREAKER ANOINTING.

SEEING IN AN ETERNAL REALITY

There are many forerunners in this hour, yet there are few that carry a breaker anointing. There are many people that are walking in a new way and obeying directions to explore this new land, but there are few that see in an eternal reality. In fact, there are many that have had experiences and have seen life from many angles, but when it comes to taking the land and establishing the Kingdom they release doubt and fear and operate out of a natural reality.

A believer with a true breaker anointing is one who understands their authority and dominion in Christ and stands even in the midst of everyone affected by disbelief. For them, there is a "brand new way", yet it is a possible one. Their authority is many times challenged; but their faith and declaration coupled with action is weighty and can demonstrate fruit bearing that remains (John 15:16) for God’s Kingdom that shifts societies, cultures, and nations.

FAILURE TO SPIRITUALLY BUILD-UP AND EQUIP NEW BELIEVERS

Discipling new believers into their  Christ identity, their right standing with God, and teaching them to walk in the Spirit is essential to building God's Kingdom.

If we take DISCIPLING BABY CHRISTIANS into these important areas out of the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHURCH BODY, we impede Kingdom living and Kingdom growth.

The Kingdom of God is 24/7. It is continually in season and out (see Mark 11:13,14).  We have available for us an eternal reality...Heaven on earth.

"After this, I looked and, beheld a door was opened in heaven......And immediately I was in the Spirit.."  -  Revelation 4:1,2

God has made available for the Body of Christ open Heavens that will not shut, and we can dwell in these places. A living way is a breathing path that has limitless fruitful encounters.

TAKING THE INITIATIVE ONTO UNFAMILIAR PATHS

We must not wait for others; we must not see like others, we must be like lions, stepping into AND CARRYING OUT  God's CALLING on our life!

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." -  Isaiah 42:16

God is not just raising up forerunners. God is asking the forerunners: What type of report will you give? What type of reality will you see? What type of kingdom will you release? God is calling the forerunner to carry a breaker anointing and be led on unfamiliar paths  –  birthing an equipped community! NEW AND LIVING.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[godsmanforeverhis]

(via "IDENTITY OR ACTION? OR BOTH?" 4/16/2024 Posted by Pastor Randy Burbank for “Kingdom Pastor”)

“IDENTITY OR ACTION? OR BOTH?” 4/16/2024 Posted by Pastor Randy Burbank for “Kingdom Pastor”

 So you're very active in your church... You go to church every week... You might give a lot of money to help the poor and needy... But are you a redeemed, "born again" child of God ??

 You see, doing all these things for the Lord, isn't what God wants from you, to be brought into His heavenly Kingdom... Jesus tells us this very clearly in the following scripture...

 Matthew 7:21-23...  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (NKJV)

 WOW !! Jesus is telling these deceased people thinking they were going to enter heaven, because of all the money and good works they did to help those in need...that He never knew them as a redeemed, "born again" child of God !!! "Depart from Me", is Jesus turning people away to spend an eternity in a horrible place !! :-(

 The will of God is for you to understand and obey the Gospel of Christ... [See P.S. below] You must make the prayer seeking Jesus to come into your heart and life to guide and direct you, with ALL of your heart... Since God knows what is in your heart and mind...when you are truly sincere in your prayers, God WILL bring you into His Kingdom of heaven !! You will be already a citizen of heaven while living here on earth !!

 Philippians 3:20... For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,  (NKJV)

 And you will immediately know that just at that moment...you are a redeemed child of God !! I personally experienced this God-changing moment in my life at the age of almost 52 !! PTL !!

 Romand 8:16...  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (NKJV)

 Read this post by Pastor Randy, "IDENTITY OR ACTION? OR BOTH?" for more about good works for the Lord coming AFTER one is a "Born again" believer...or these good works are dead faith :-(

 Blessings in Christ, bruce

 Click below to open Pastor Randy's post-

https://godsmanforever.com/2024/04/16/identity-or-action-or-both-4-16-2024-posted-by-pastor-randy-burbank-for-kingdom-pastor/

 P.S.  When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…  https://godsmanforever.com

 To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

 You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ?? If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/

 Posted by Pastor Randy Burbank for “Kingdom Pastor” @  https://kingdompastor.wordpress.com

[scribeforchrist-blog]

From Darkness to Light

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

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+ Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God

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VERSE OF THE DAY

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+ 1 Peter 3:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 

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SUBJECT: From Darkness to Light

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** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **

I AM BORN AGAIN

I AM POWERFUL

I AM A WARRIOR

I AM FULL OF FAITH

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THOUGHTS:

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  It's impossible to start life over as a baby and live through years we messed up ,or to live through years we let go to waste and when we view it like this, sometimes it might feel we have no chance of recovering and fixing what we messed up and to be honest we can't fix what we messed up or what we didn't accomplish, or even what we said nothing in our past we can change , we can’t change what we did and what we said ,its there, but when we give our lives to Jesus we learned that we do get this sort of new birth.

This chance to make everything right by being who God wants and says we should be in his word being compassionate ,kind ,loving ,filled with joy, that person ,but we can't do it alone we must, and have to do it through God and we only experienced this new birth by faith, we have to believe the moment we give him our lives that we are theses new creation, born again spiritually,

   John 3:4 How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

  It was a man once named Nicodemus; one night, he came to Jesus to ask him some questions about being born again; he said no one could go back into their mother and come out again, and Jesus said no, you only do this by water and the spirit, Jesus even told him that he shouldn't be surprised at hearing this, but Nicodemus was.

Jesus even asked him aren't you a teacher, Nicodemus just didn’t understand ; this shows here that someone can teach us anything and dont believe it themselves or don't comprehend it; he couldn’t comprehend that he couldn't enter into his mother's belly to be born again, we have to have faith and Nicodemus didn't understand at all about heavenly things.

    Verse 5-6 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 

   See, the thing is, new birth requires us to do something; it requires us to live in truth, to live in the light, not in this false understanding, not this idea that we can dabble in the light and darkness, when we entirely give ourselves to the spirit of God we will grow in the spirit and it takes us choosing what we will pick, it takes us knowing that to go to heaven, we can't play in both sides, and a lot of us do.

It is a VERY normal thing to hear someone say I smoke, get drunk ,cuss and fuss. AND I go to church and live holy on Sunday and do what I want Monday through Saturday; it is typical for people to go to church on Sunday to act accordingly, and that's not living in the truth of God; that's us picking.

When we order at certain restaurants we usually only get to pick one side, and that's it, but now as of lately I noticed , we can pay for an extra side if we want more or can't decide on one, but we can’t choose both when we are living for Jesus we only pick the light , yes we have a choose but we can’t pick living in darkness and confess the name of Jesus .

  The Christian lifestyle isn't in that way at all; we can’t possibly live like this and go to heaven; the bible clearly states what will and what won't enter into heaven. We do get to choose , but we can have JUST one ,we must have one or the other . CHOOSE LIFE OR DEATH. HEAVEN OR HELL.

  •Revelation 20:27  Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

•John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

•John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”

In this verses, you can see that no one is getting into heaven UNLESS we have been through the father, and UNLESS we are sure we won't be able to go in just because we have money or just because we know this person or just because of who we think we are ,no my friend to make it into heaven we must be born of the spirit and walking in the light when we are new in God we must and have to put away the things of darkness.

That's why the Bible says to pick up your cross and carry it, we can't carry it a little bit and stop no my friend we will need Jesus to carry ours we can't do it alone, but when we dedicated our actions to the Christian living we must render to change, and we have to allow the Holy Spirit to change us as we learn more and we grow more, but until we let go of this ideal we can have both we won't be grow.

***Today the Holy Spirit wants us to know that we have to walk in the light and we have to be born of SPIRIT , WATER and we have to have faith to enter into heaven we must BELIEVE that Jesus died for our sins and rose again and not walk in the darkness , we have to be able to allow the Holy Spirit to change us and to help us grow in knowledge we want to learn more every day , Nicodemus was a teacher and taught others but didn’t understand, we want to be able to learn and grow in Jesus everyday. ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

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PRAYER

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Heavenly Father we thank you for everything, forgive us of everything we done . Lord please show us which way we should go with our life help us to walk in our calling everyday . Lord some days feel like we can’t get it right but we know in your strength we can. Lord please protect us from the things we can see and the things we can’t . Lord if we don’t understand your ways please show us how . Lord we give you everything and ask you to deliver us from our wrong desires and temptations . Lord we pray for more mercy and more grace in Jesus Name Amen

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REFERENCES

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+ John 3:10-11 You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.

+ John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

+ John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

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FURTHER READINGS

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PROVERBS 19

NUMBERS 8

JUDE 1

ACTS 19 

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#bible #bible quotes #christian quote #daily devotion #daily devotional #inspiration #scripture #bible verse #christian life #christan life #jesusitrustinyou #devotional #bible devotions

[wolint]

FRESH MANNA

ARE YOU BORN AGAIN?

John 3:1-7

Are you born again?

This is a very potent and life-changing question.

Are you born again? Or are you one of the many who call themselves “Christians” just to identify themselves with a group or religion? The year is at an end, would you dare to walk into the new year without the Lord Jesus as your Saviour?

The biblical worldview is that Christianity is another fanatical religious group. But why must we be born again?

We were born dead in and into sin, a spiritual death, that separates us from God in our natural birth. The need for the new birth grows out of the incapacity and ability of the natural man to see or enter the kingdom of God without a mediator, prescribed in John 14:5.

However good, gifted, moral, or refined, the natural man is, he is blind to spiritual truth and powerless to enter God’s kingdom on his merit because he can’t understand, obey or please God without the Holy Spirit.

Born again! If you tell the average person on the street that they must be born again, they think you mean they must mend their ways to turn over a new leaf. It gives man the idea that they can work on the outer man to become a better person, but that’s not the problem, the problem is within the spiritual person.

There is only one avenue into heaven and that is to be born again, be born of the Spirit.

Water baptism, church membership, religious duties, arms or charity, living a moral life, taking the Lord’s supper, and being a member of a denomination cannot save us.

You must be born again! And that new birth comes only from above.

Like Nicodemus, we all need spiritual rebirth; simply being religious is not enough.

To enter God’s kingdom, heaven, we must not only be born physically of water and the flesh but also supernaturally of the Spirit. Although Nicodemus had asked no question, Jesus knew what he wished to ask, the Lord answered that new birth, i.e., a new heart and a new nature, are necessary, according to Jeremiah 31:31: He will put His Law in our inward parts and write it on our hearts.

Jesus uses the image of a second birth to explain what happens to believers at conversion. The Holy Spirit cleanses us from sin and makes us new in Christ.

This question and answer still apply to all of humanity today. Are you genuinely born again? Or just playing religion?

Being born again simply means leaving the security of one, known existence for another, unknown one. That can be a frightening prospect, but it is the best and most important thing a person can ever do to secure eternity. The new birth, being born again should be seen and accepted as a new beginning, overthrowing the old and making you a brand-new creation. It should be a desire for the new year!

Anyone yet to be born again is in spiritual darkness.

As a new creation, you do not have to allow the old things that happened to you to affect your new life.

You become a new creature according to 2 Corinthians 5:17, with a new life in Christ.

You simply need to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour to be born again. Why not give your heart to Him today? Just ask Him to come into your heart and life. He’s right now at the door knocking, would you open and let him in says Revelation 3:20. He’s waiting for you to invite him in. Would you afford to go into the new year without allowing Christ to take his place in your heart and life? He is the only one with

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Now, help me to live for you the rest of this life. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Shalom

WOMEN OF LIGHT INT PRAYER MIN.

#spotify #devotional #christianpost #women's ministry #biblestudy #biblestudy christianpost women's ministry #biblestudy christianpost 'women's ministry #conference #family #prayer meeting

[lindajenni]

nov 20

pressure and time make diamonds (a repeat daily)

"we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed — always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." 2 cor 4:8-10

no, Jesus never promised us a rose garden; at least not in this lifetime. He bids us come and die. "if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." matt 16:24 one is required to give up that which they can never have for that which they can never lose.

God is doing a work. it's not a trivial thing to become "partakers of the divine nature," (2 pet 1:4) but that's just what God has in mind for all those that love Him. there must be great pressure for diamonds to form; after that, it's just a matter of time. there must be a firey furnace to purification, a sifting to sort the chaff from the wheat. after all, the prize is not just a few more years added. He's offering us the crown of life.

i look at myself and wonder if my endurance will allow me to win that prize. can i withstand the pressure? will the anguish of the fires cause me to draw back or maybe the sifting reveal me as chaff?

satan desires us, great and small, as wheat to sift us, and we all are tempted; not one, however rich or great, is by his station or estate exempted.

even now multitudes of christians around the world are enduring torture and death. "it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake." phil 1:29 which of us would plead to be excluded from such a grace? i do not say this to scare but to prepare. prepare for whatever the Lord has appointed for us in this life. i think of when the disciples asked Jesus about the man born blind, "who sinned, this man or his parents?" Jesus said, "neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him." john 9:3

what are we willing to endure so the work of God may be revealed in us? are we willing to endure much if it was to glorify God? are we going to set a time limit on it? it takes pressure and time to form those diamonds but it is only so He may gather us up as His jewels. it is for Him alone we deem the sacrifice worth it.

"we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." acts 14:22 are we up to it? are any of us up to it? only by grace. "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it." phil 1:6 my mind always goes back to the story about corrie ten boom and how she worried about what was coming, even as many of us today are worried.

let me repeat this quote for you. "father sat down on the edge of the narrow bed. 'Corrie,' he began gently, 'when you and i go to amsterdam - when do i give you your ticket?' i sniffed a few times, considering this. 'why, just before we get on the train.' exactly. and our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. don't run out ahead of Him, corrie. when the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need - just in time." worrying about what might happen is running out ahead of Him.

i'm not what i ought to be not what i should be and that's easy to see not what i wanna be not what i'm gonna be when Jesus gets through with me

no, He's not through with us. the train hasn't left the station yet. i fail everyday of my life. i stumble in many things. we all have stumbled and will again. be not afraid. "the Lord will perfect that which concerns me." psa 138:8 He will perfect that which concerns you as well. maranatha!

#prayer #faith #rapture #jesus #jesus is coming

[miajolensdevotion]

Experience The Power Of God’s Spirit

WELCOME

Have you experienced God's power at work in your life lately, or has your BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN WALK been powerless or boring these days? 

WORD

Acts 19:1-10 New International Version (NIV) says

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when[a] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues[b] and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

continue to read the rest of Acts 19.There seems to be a common story in the lives of casual 'Sunday Christians'-they live of constant defeat,unable to taste & see victory & is always bugged down by various struggles which they are not able to overcome. If you are like this, then you have not truly experienced the power of the Lord. As followers of Jesus Christ, we must be able to live out the truth that we share to others. THE ONLY WAY WE COULD DO IT IS IF WE ARE EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. This is the power that 

Acts 1:8 New International Version (NIV) says

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

talks about & the power that prophets the ministries that began from Jerusam (Acts 1) & now in Acts 19 has reached other nations. When you are empowered by God's Spirit, you have power to do these three things: 

1.) POWER TO LIVE LIKE JESUS CHRIST

Ephesus was an amazing city, the capital of the Roman empire in that area. But it was rich in witchcraft & superstitious beliefs, the center of worship for the goddess Artemis. Paul was able to find 'disciples' here & he asked them if they have already received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:2 New International Version (NIV) says 

2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

You see, if they really understood Jesus Christ, they were supposed to have the Holy Spirit. But these people are like BORN AGAINS CHRISTIAN today who go to church & love the Lord, but they live as if there is no greater power that is in control of their lives. Now these were the disciples of John the Baptist & Paul found had an opening for a discussion of the of the Gospel. They understood the need to repent of their sins, but the full picture of repentance is the TURNING AWAY FROM SIN & TURNING TOWARDS JESUS CHRIST. This is exactly what it means to 'live like Jesus Christ' 

Philippians 1:21 New International Version (NIV) says

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

our live must be transformed to be like Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:8-9 New International Version (NIV) says

8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

tells us that we are either living in the flesh or in the Spirit. Do you have God's Spirit in your heart? If you cannot answer yes, do not rest until you find out why. You cannot live the BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN LIFE on your own; you need God's Spirit to transform you in order to give you power.

2.) POWER TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S WORD

In Acts 19:8-10 New International Version (NIV) says

8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

we see Paul & his passion for the TRUTH. The BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN LIFE is not just experiential, you also need God's Truth. How do you develop a hard heart? It is when you allow compromises in your life & not act upon the truth that you hear from God's word. You eventually become calloused! To combat this, we must choose to be empowered by God to continually depend on His Word for our 'renewed' way of living.When God empowers you with His Spirit, you are able to have a continuous thirst for God's Word-not just for knowledge, but for practice. 1 Peter 2 reminds us to 'long for the pure milk' of the Word. 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4New International Version (NIV) says

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

shows us that it is possible to be veiled from seeing the truth. This explains why the Bible seems dry for those who read it but cannot appreciate it or learn from it. The Holy Spirit will be one to remind you of God's Truth & enable you to understand what you read from it.

John 14:26 New International Version (NIV) says

26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

God's Word coupled with God's Spirit leads to REAL TRANSFORMATION.

3.) POWER TO OVERCOME EVIL

This continuous transformative work that Paul's ministry had in Ephesus led to some Jews like the sons of Sceva to oppose Paul's ministry.

Acts 19:13-15 New International Version (NIV) says

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”

This was an act of the enemy who would like to stop the spread of the Gospel. Many times, we experience the same opposition & evil influences that derail our walk with the Lord. Remember that our enemies in the BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN LIFE involves the world, 

Romans 12:2 New International Version (NIV) says

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

the flesh

Galatians 5:16-17 New International Version (NIV) says

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want.

& Satan

Ephesians 6:12 New International Version (NIV) says

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Paul was able to overcome evil & the work continued to flourish & the effect was that many were compelled & convicted of sin, they confessed & eventually surrendered their lives to God. This is telling us simply that we must surrender anything to God that stands in the way of us fully experiencing the power of God's Spirit in our lives.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE ANYMORE YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE WE ARE NOW AT THE PRESENT TIME)

1. How confident are you right now that you are filled (directed & empowered) by the Holy Spirit? Explain your answer briefly.

answer: I am somewhat confident right now that I am filled by the Holy Spirit; because sometimes some of the situation is in my own will

2. What truth from God's word, the Bible do you need to live out or obey right away? This may be something that you already got convicted of but have not obeyed. Is there a sin you need to confess & repent from? 

answer: The truth of understanding God's word, I need to live out right away; this maybe something that I already got convicted of but have not yet obeyed; there is a sin that I need to confess & repent from is not letting God's Spirit lead me

3. In what area of your life do need the Holy Spirit's help right now? Is it to live like Jesus Christ, to understand God's word, or to overcome evil? 

answer: In the area of disciplining myself I need the Holy Spirit's help right now;  for me it is

[god-whispers]

jul 24

on the edge of eternity

"Jesus answered, 'most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.'" john 3:5

yes, that's where all of us are living, on the edge of eternity, and i am just worried many feel "secure" when they really are not.  you see, salvation is more than just head knowledge of Jesus Christ.  it has to be heart knowledge.

true salvation is not just some "mantra" that you repeat after.  there has to be a true recognition of one's unworthiness and need for a Savior.  and yes, an honest effort to turn and seek the "right" way, God's way.  we all, already, stand under condemnation as a result of adam's original sin and the Spirit of God departing.  "he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." john 3:18

yes, there needs to be a confession of faith, but it is not simply repeating a few words after somebody.  it is not walking down the aisle to join a church.  i have  heard these called "churchians," not christians, and in a sense it is true.  they are counting on their church or denomination to save them, not the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

i have just heard so many people tell of how they went to church for years and later knew they were never really saved.  they didn't know Jesus.  i myself went to church in the beginning just to form friends and fit in.  there was no real recognition of my complete unworthiness and Jesus as a needed savior.  "but we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags." isa 64:6

our Lord gave this warning: "not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'  and then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" matt 7:21-23

ah, but they did the "works" of God.  our proper response should not be "haven't i" but "haven't You?"  many people today are doing those same works and believing those same things, when all the while their heart still remains far from the one who loves them most.  they have never taken the time to cultivate a relationship with Him.  that's what our Lord seeks and that is what is required.

it is "His" works that we must trust in.  does that mean we are free to do whatever?  God forbid.  true repentance means a change of heart; a turning from our former ways.  that's not to say we will never sin again.  indeed i have stumbled many times and will again.  Yes, i sin and yes, i even have pleasure while doing it.

the enemy is deceptively enticing, but our hearts should quickly turn to the fact this is not pleasing to our Lord, feeling the unease of conviction and distance from the One we love.  if that is not the case with someone, surely them must reexamine their confession of faith.  i view my repeated sin as one of the barbs fastened to the whip digging deeply into His holy flesh.  worthy?  no, none of us are worthy; only Jesus.

the other day i hard the story about a preacher giving a sermon.  the preacher asked everyone who was righteous to stand up.  a couple of people stood up while the others looked on disapprovingly, thinking they thought themselves more superior to others.  the preacher hesitated for awhile and then asked, "why aren't the rest of you standing up?"  "for He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 cor 5:21

either we believe that or we don't.  and if we don't it means that we are clinging onto our own righteousness in some sense.  we will never be "good enough."  we certainly don't want to "assume" anything... not on His mercy, not on His grace, not on His love.  Yes, all these effuse from Him but none of them must be taken lightly.

i in no way want to dispense confusion or doubt on His saving grace.  if you have truly believed and confessed, you are saved and will be saved.  i just want everyone to check their hearts and be very, very sure.  and yes, i confess i still have troubled with "once saved, always saved."  and yet, i believe in His saving grace and ability to "keep," regardless of whatever sinful states we fall into.

i know that is true of those who "really" believed, but there exists too many warnings in scripture to be "cavalier" about our salvation.  "but i discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when i have preached to others, i myself should become disqualified." 1 cor 9:27  "for it is impossible... if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God." heb 6:4,6  "I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life." rev 3:5  "so then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." rev 3:16  all these and more are scriptures that warn us to "stay."

"then He said to them all, 'if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.'" luke 9:23  "the man who took up his cross was going to the place of death.  he was saying 'good-bye' to this world.  he would never see his loved ones here again.  his old plans and pursuits would be finished.  he was reaching the end of his life.  what a frightful thing it was to take up the cross!  yet in Jesus, this is the first step to freedom: 'for whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it' (Matt. 16:25).  have we lost our own lives for Him?...  how we love the resurrection glory!  we love the Spirit’s power and His gifts.  but first we have to die.  first we have to be buried.  it is only dead men God can raise up. - dr. michael brown

it's way too late in the game to leave anything that important to chance.  it's not religion.  it's not denominations. it's not country or any other name than Jesus Christ who can assure your eternal habitation with God.  "nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." acts 4:12

remember lot's wife.  she was at the edge of deliverance when she looked back with longing.  she has formed too many ties to the world.  we must always be looking forward to Jesus!  is He the love and desire of your life?

i admit, i know so little of all God's plans, but i just don't think we will all be His "bride."  i see a number being just guests at His wedding.  i honestly don't know what determines the bride - love, devotion, watching and longing, hearing and obeying His teachings?  who would you accept into your inner chambers?  would it not be the one who loved and sought you above all else?  whether i am the bride or a guest at the wedding, my joy will be full at His joy.  and yet, as scripture says, "but earnestly desire the best gifts." 1 cor 12:31  i desire to know Him in His fullness and that's how He wants to know us.

i just want to add a warning here.  many of us consider this week to be an extremely high rapture watch time.  we see the day approaching.  if it doesn't happen we will continue to look at other possible rapture times, but honestly, this time next year appears to be most likely, and nobody wants that.  just look at the world and it's shape.  but until or unless more revelation is unsealed, this time of the year will remain the preeminent rapture watch time.  if our Lord's whole life was to fulfill scripture, can we really believe His second advent would not also fulfill scripture?

this is just further warning that we all need to get ready and be ready.  all i'm really trying to say is, be sure.  be very sure.  make sure NOW!  repent again and pour your heart out to Him.

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

Devotional Hours Within the Bible

by J.R. Miller

Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3:1-15)

Nicodemus is well-known. His story has often been told. We study here, the beginning of his Christian life. It is the fashion to speak slightingly of his coming to Jesus by night. It is sometimes said that it was cowardly. But this may not be a fair criticism. Night may have been the best time for him to make his visit. It may have been the only time when he could hope to find Jesus free for an undisturbed hour's talk with him. We must read the story through to the close, and see if the subsequent mentions of Nicodemus, confirm the charge of timidity or cowardice in him. We shall find that just the reverse is true. It is said that he desired to be a secret disciple. If that was his thought, we know that he did not persist in this kind of discipleship - but that the time came when his secret friendship for his Master grew into majestic strength. We may be glad, therefore, that he came to Christ, even though he came first under cover of darkness. The end of the story, justifies its beginning .

"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:3. The heart of the lesson which our Lord taught Nicodemus, is the necessity of the new birth. The natural human birth is not sufficient. We must be born of the Spirit, or we cannot even see the kingdom of God, much less enter into it.

That is, we are not fitted for heaven or the heavenly life - while we have only our old sinful nature. We would not enjoy heaven even if we could be taken up and set down in the midst of it - unless our hearts have been changed. A wicked man would not enjoy a prayer meeting in one of our churches, where the exercises consist of prayer, hymns, singing, preaching and conversation on spiritual subjects. He finds no pleasure in reading the Bible. Think of this ungodly man, his heart full of worldliness, without love for God, without the spirit of prayer - finding joy in heaven!

To one who was speaking of heaven being so far away and asking how one could ever find the way there, the answer was given: "Heaven must come down to you. Heaven must begin in your heart." Nothing could be truer than this. Heaven must come into our heart before we can enter into the heavenly life. Our nature must be so changed that we shall love holiness, purity, and the things that God loves. This change can be made only by the Holy Spirit.

A second natural birth, even if it were possible, would not effect the change. We would be the same being still, with the same carnal desires, the same evil nature, and the same hatred of God and of holiness. "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." The new birth is more than education - the drawing out of the powers that are in the nature. There would be no improvement in this process. The new birth is more than the refinement produced by good society, by familiarity with beautiful things, by association with gentle and refined people. It is a new life which must come down from heaven into the heart of him who believes. Without this we cannot be made into the likeness of God.

This new life is like its Author. "That which is born of the Spirit - is spirit." John 3:6. Like produces like. Everyone who is born of God - will bear the features of God's likeness. He will begin to love the things that God loves - and hate the things that God hates. He will be like God in holiness, in forgiveness, and in love.

If we would know what God is like - we need only to look at Jesus Christ, for He is the image of God; and if we are born again, we will have the same features in us. At first they may be very dim - but they will come out clearer and clearer - as we grow in spiritual life. We can tell whether or not we are born again - by looking closely at our lives, to see if they bear the marks of the Holy Spirit. Do we put away sin and strive to live holy lives? Do we love the Bible and prayer? Do we love the pure worship of God? Do we love to be with Christ in Christian fellowship and in personal communion? Is it our deepest desire to have the divine features stamped on our lives?

It would put strong confidence into our hearts if we would learn to think of Christ's words as eternal verities. They are not like any other words. A dying woman cried to the minister who entered her room, to try to comfort her, "Oh, give me a word that I can lay hold of!" She felt herself drifting out upon the sea with nothing to which she could hold. We will all need words of this kind - as we come into life's crisis places. Nothing but the words of Christ will then meet our needs.

Jesus said to Nicodemus, "I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen - but still you people do not accept our testimony." Very much of human science is only guessing and speculation ; we cannot be sure of it. Every now and then some new discovery is made which overturns and sweeps away whole volumes of boasted theories. We have to be all the time buying new books - just to keep up with the times; and we are afraid to quote from any but the newest editions, lest there may have been some recent discovery which contradicts the older.

But Christ's teachings are eternal certainties. He came down from heaven, where from all eternity He had dwelt, and He knew what He taught. We may accept His words without the slightest doubt - and may build our soul's hopes upon them. We need never fear that there will be a revision of these teachings - or that anything yet to be made known to us will contradict or set aside what we have already been taught. What Jesus said about God, about God's love, about the way of salvation, about Christian duty, about the judgment day, about the future life - is all eternal certainty. We may infallibly believe and unfalteringly trust every word of Christ - and be sure of these eternal verities.

There is no other infallible teacher but Christ. "No man has ascended up to heaven." There are some people these days who take it upon themselves to question what Christ revealed about the heavenly life. They talk as if they knew more about these matters, than did He who lived from all eternity in heaven, and then coming to earth, told men of the invisible things of God. Christ's words to Nicodemus mean that there is no other one, that there never has been any other one so qualified to speak of heavenly things - as was God's own Son, who came to reveal Him. He was an infallible teacher and a true witness. There is no guesswork about the statements which He makes concerning God and God's love for men, God's will and the provision made in the heavenly kingdom for God's children. All manner of books have been written, telling us of "gates ajar" and "gates wide open," and we find whole volumes of guesses and theories about the eternal world. But these are of no value whatever when they go beyond what the Son of God has made known to us. We must turn to Christ's words for any real knowledge of the land beyond.

The shadow of the cross lay upon the heart of Christ from the beginning. He knew in what way He was to make salvation for men. He says here, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness; even so must the Son of man be lifted up." The reference to the incident of the brazen serpent is instructive - so must Christ be lifted up. He referred to the cross - He knew He must die on it. It was at the beginning of His ministry, that Jesus spent the evening with Nicodemus. Even then He knew what was before Him. Why the "must"? Not merely because it had been foretold by the prophets. The prophets foretold it because of the necessity that He must suffer. Only by dying for sinners - could He save them.

The way in which bitten ones in the Hebrew camp could be saved by the uplifted serpent, illustrates the way lost men can be saved by Christ on His cross. Those who looked lived; those who behold the Lamb of God shall live. Anyone who looked, whatever his condition, was healed; "whoever" believes on Christ, no matter who he may be, of what nation or color or condition, shall have everlasting life!

#James Russell Miller #Devotional Hours Within the Bible #Jesus and Nicodemus #John 3:1-15 #August 22 #2022

[childofchrist1983]

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. - Matthew 25:1-4 KJV

Today's Bible passage concerns a group of bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom to come and whether or not they will be prepared. Five are pretty sure that the bridegroom will show up when expected and so do the least they need to do and the other five decide that something may come up and want to be prepared just in case.

What about ourselves? Whether you are sick or healthy today, you don't know what tomorrow brings. I remember when my father was ill. He would enter the hospital, then somehow rally and be sent home. When this happens more than once, it is easy to be lulled into a sense of false security and believe that he would always rally. That kind of thinking can make it harder when the final day comes. It has always been my hope that both were wise and had lived their lives prepared to meet the bridegroom (Jesus Christ) when He comes. Old or young, healthy or sick, we all need to live as if each day were our last. We can't wait to turn our lives towards God, to be compassionate toward others, to pray, to forgive, to let people know that we care. We must be like the wise virgins who kept their lamps full, because they did not know the hour in which they would be invited to join the celebration. God has given us all we need in order to be with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven. God has also given us the example of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Word and Spirit to guide us. May we be like the wise virgins in today's Gospel and live each day prepared to meet Him.

May He help us to find time to pray and read and study the Holy Bible daily and to find power in prayer, praying according to His Holy Word and will. May He help us to come to Him in true repentance and with faith in Him and His grace and merciful nature. We must never cease in worship. We praise Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the mercy He bestows upon us and we are grateful for His grace and mercy and infinite blessings. May He forgive those times when we complain that His way is too hard, and may He give us the grace, courage and strength we need to walk with Him and do His will daily. May He teach us to watch our words when we pray to Him and to speak reverently and rightly. And may He teach us also to speak only kindness and truth with our neighbors that we may be men and women of our word. We must always respect God and His power and remain hopeful in His plans for our lives. May we continually ask God to transform our hearts and make us faithful and humble as we walk with Him daily. By surrendering our hearts and our lives to His will, we see all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. God our refuge and our salvation and our constant provider. We lift our voices to Him in praise for His steadfast love, mercy and understanding. Let us seek Him and a better understanding of His Holy Word daily, not for the sake of entertainment or mere accumulation of knowledge, but that we may love and serve Him more and more with each day that passes. We must come to Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ with honest, humble and repentant hearts. We must seek Him and His will and choose to follow Him all the days of our lives. May He help transform our hearts, help us to seek and live for Him above all else and to grow spiritually and build our faith and relationship with Him with each passing day. May He forgive our sinful nature and help us always make Him and our relationship with Him top priority.

As true and born-again Christians, we choose to walk in His righteous path and lead a life that is pleasing to Him. We desire Him and His will above anything else. We desire to walk in accordance with the love and light He has shown to us through His Holy Word and Spirit. We long for a deeper relationship with Him and a deeper fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well. When we fall into temptation and sin, we must turn to Him for forgiveness, strength and guidance. When believers learn to walk in accordance with God's Holy Word and Spirit, they have deeper fellowship with both God and one another. And the sin that could threaten to destroy that fellowship, if confessed (1 John 1:9), is covered in the blood of Jesus Christ and no longer a barrier between us and God. May we ask Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ to forgive us for any sins we have sinned this day or in days past. May we be faithful to Him and His Holy Word always. May He help us to walk more consistently in the light and to not neglect long to confess and forsake any sins that hinder our walk with Him. May He lead us in the direction He wants us to go so that we may seek and serve Him faithfully. God is holy and almighty and deserving of all praise honor and glory. We rejoice in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, knowing He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). May our hearts always be filled with thanksgiving and rejoicing. May He help us to praise Him freely and honestly like all believers who came before us. May we live a life that showcases our love and trust in Him and His Holy Word and Spirit as He uses us draw others to Him and His soul-saving Gospel Truth daily. May He continue guide, correct and protect us, so that we continue to grow in Him and not weaken and stray. May we all remain faithful to Him and to this duty and purpose He has called us to. Seek and put your faith and trust in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ and let Him do the rest. May He humble our hearts and help us focus on following and serving Him daily and helping others with joy and happiness. We lift our voices in praise to Him for His love, mercy, peace, faithfulness and grace - For EVERYTHING!

It is vital that we remain rooted in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit and that we live and walk as a beacon of His light and love and share and spread the Gospel Truth daily, so that the lost souls in this world can come to know Him and be saved. The more we focus on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, growing spiritually by building our relationship with Him, leaning on Him and His Holy Word and Spirit, the better off we will be. Thanks to this and our faith in Him, we know that everything will be alright. And we will forever be grateful to Him. As true and born-again Christians, we believe in Him and His Holy Word and we strive daily to walk in His Holy Spirit. We know though our mortal bodies should die, He will raise us up and into new and glorious bodies (The Rapture). We who are truly His and alive at His second coming will never die, and our bodies will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and so shall we ever be with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven forevermore (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is one of many promises given to us by God Himself. Thank God for His strength and guidance when we are faced with sin and temptation. Thank Him for His mercy and grace. Through Bible study and prayer, God reveals His wisdom and guides us to see opportunities to grow closer to Him and grow spiritually. He gives us direction to live our lives daily according to His will.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven (John 3:5, 14:6), the ONLY way to salvation (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9) and He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26). Jesus Christ the LORD of lords, the KING of kings, the GOD of gods (Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16) - He is the Living, Almighty and Everlasting God (Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 1:8, John 3:16, John 3:36, Jeremiah 10:10). There is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:5). We MUST humble ourselves before Him, turning our backs on false teachers, false gods and idols and our sinful ways. We MUST repent and turn back to God and recognize who He is and love Him in return for His great love for us. We MUST make God top priority everyday! May we be motivated to spread God's Holy Word and Gospel Truth to all the Earth, knowing that it is the only hope of all those lost in their sins. Let us not hold out a false hope for men to be saved without the Gospel, but instead, strive to do our part to get the Gospel out to a lost and dying world.

Leaning on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit strengthens us and our knowledge and wisdom about God and His Gospel Truth, exposing these imposters. May God help us to seek and lean on Him daily to gain the strength, wisdom and spiritual discernment needed to expose Satan and his imposters who seek to destroy us and God's ultimate Truth. Everyday, we must remember to share Jesus Christ's Gospel Truth with the world and to thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace that He poured out for us on the cross at Calvary. He has freed us from the burdens of sin and from the eternal damnation of Hell. In all we say and do, may all praise, honor and glory always be given to Him and His Kingdom of Heaven.

With renewed minds, hearts and wills, let us serve Him humbly and faithfully out of pure love and grateful rejoicing. May He remind us of His presence and to remain at peace, fully knowing that all will be well because He is always with us. Let us seek Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ today and everyday with all our heart and being, looking for His love, light and will for our lives with each step we take. Let us seek to please Him with our thoughts, words, and deeds and seek to advance His Kingdom of Heaven and His glory with our lives. Let us seek Him from a pure and humble heart, and when we so seek, we believe Him and His promise that we will find. May He help us all to be more sensitive to the teaching ministry of His Holy Word and Spirit, relying on Him and allowing Him to speak to us and guide us every step of our Christian journey.

God gave us the Holy Bible - His living and Holy Word - to let us know of Him and His abiding love and care as well as guide and prepare us for all our lives. May He help us encourage one another as we continue our walk with Him and our duty to Him daily. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for being present for all our new beginnings and all our lives. May He redirect any anxiety we feel as He provides countless opportunities for growth and change. May we humble ourselves before God always, asking Him to forgive our sins and make our hearts and lives anew through His Holy Word and Spirit. May He help us make Him and His Holy Word top priority, so we can grow spiritually and grow in our relationship with Him as we apply it to our daily lives. Thank God that we can focus on Him and everything about Him, for that is what keeps us sane and at peace. May our words and actions always be a reflection of Him and His Holy Word and Spirit and will.

May He help us to always walk in His grace and Holy Spirit, not by our own measure. May He give us the humble humility to know that our freedom and eternal salvation is found only in Him, so that His grace may sustain us, and we may never lose sight of His love and light and mercy. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for calling us to Him and to serve Him. May He equip us to do all that He has called us to do so that as He works through us, He may use us to produce fruit, to reach others, and to encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ. May He work all of these things in us and through us for His Kingdom and His glory. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all His creation, for His miraculous ways and for everything He does and has done for us! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your walk with Jesus! He loves us and He knows what is best for us. Seek, follow and trust in Him - Always!

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Word and for sending His Holy Spirit so that we might have His grace, not only to awaken us and transform our hearts in our spiritual rebirth and guarantee our eternity with Him, but to also call upon Him whenever we are in need. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all the reminders of His love and mercy and faithfulness within His Holy Word. He is bigger than any challenge or circumstance in our lives. Knowing this within our minds and our hearts, nothing can deter our faith in Him and His Truth. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful LORD, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

[feedingtheflockministry]

Baptism According to the Biblical Teachings

There is a popular practice among some Christian denominations and groups. That practice is to teach new believers in Christ their beliefs and teachings first, then baptize them afterwards. Those who practice this normally require new believers to become members of their church by attending a new members course that can take several weeks or months before they will baptize the new believer. Below I will give three examples from the scriptures that show this is an unbiblical teaching.

The Great Commission of Jesus Christ

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

On the day of Pentecost at the end of Peter’s sermon.

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on urging them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Apostle Paul’s conversation to The Way in Acts chapter 9.

“So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like fish scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; and he took food and was strengthened.”

In these three passages alone we can see that baptism is an immediate event that is to take place when someone makes their declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. It is not supposed to take place after one is taught all that Jesus taught us, or after they have gone through church membership classes. For the very purpose of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ according to Peter is for the forgiveness of your sins so you can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit can not dwell in a person who’s sins remain.

For Jesus Himself said this to Nicodemus in John chapter 3, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

No one should ever hold baptism hostage so they can indoctrinate someone into their version of Christianity (a.k.a. Denomination). Telling someone they can not be baptized until a certain time or place is just as wrong as telling someone they can not confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God and their Savior the moment they believe.

The reality of this practice is when someone holds back baptism from a believer they are hindering the process of spiritual cleansing, and receiving of the Holy Spirit as well. Meaning they are keeping someone from being born of the Spirit, and thereby left in their sin and spiritual death.

If a church practices the holding back of baptism from new believers for any reason or period of time, flee from that church and find one that does baptize new believers upon their confession of faith. For if they practice the holding back of baptism from new believers until they decide it is the right time according to their teachings, then what other teachings do they have that are in conflict with the biblical teachings?

One last thing to mention here. Churches are not the only places that one can be baptized at. For anyone who has been baptized and follows Christ can baptize someone else. For if Ananias baptized Paul at someone’s house, or Phillip (one of Jesus’s twelve disciples) baptized an Ethiopian eunuch (a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians) in some water on the side of the road the moment he believed, then anyone can be baptized (or baptize) at anytime or at any place. All that is required is repentance and confession of Christ your Savior.

#bible #jesus christ #christianity #scriptures #jesussaves #biblescripture #baptized #baptism

[albertfinch]

ADVANCING INTO THE PROMISED LAND

"...Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us..." -  Hebrews 10:19-20

Jesus, our chief Apostle, broke through and opened a new and living way.  In order to truly be effective in the Great Commission, as a forerunner must do the same in our efforts to establish the Kingdom of God.  Being born again in Christ we have access to a great breaker anointing within us.

It is Jesus inside of you -- Jesus opened up a new and living way for us into the Kingdom of God through the finished work of the cross. Yet now, once we understand and start walking in our Christ identity, we can take His power into the earth and open up new roads of opportunities for His Kingdom to expand on the earth.  Get ready for new levels -- it's breakthrough time!

THE SPIES RELEASED A SPIRIT OF FEAR OF TAKING THE PROMISED LAND

"But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there" (Numbers 13:28).  A spirit of fear was released to a whole community of people even though there was visible fruit of what could be accomplished.

With Caleb, Joshua stood, believing they could take the land.  It was a "new way" for all of the Israelites, and they could not believe the message of Caleb and Joshua. There were other forerunners with Caleb and Joshua, yet it was only Caleb and Joshua who carried the BREAKER ANOINTING.

SEEING IN AN ETERNAL REALITY

There are many forerunners in this hour, yet there are few that carry a breaker anointing. There are many people that are walking in a new way and obeying directions to explore this new land, but there are few that see in an eternal reality. In fact, there are many that have had experiences and have seen life from many angles, but when it comes to taking the land and establishing the Kingdom they release doubt and fear and operate out of a natural reality.

A believer with a true breaker anointing is one who understands their authority and dominion in Christ and stands even in the midst of everyone affected by disbelief. For them, there is a "brand new way", yet it is a possible one. Their authority is many times challenged; but their faith and declaration coupled with action is weighty and can demonstrate fruit bearing that remains (John 15:16) for God’s Kingdom that shifts societies, cultures, and nations.

FAILURE TO SPIRITUALLY BUILD-UP AND EQUIP NEW BELIEVERS

Discipling new believers into their inheritance in Christ, their right standing with God, and teaching them to walk in the Spirit is essential to building God's Kingdom.

If we take DISCIPLING BABY CHRISTIANS into these important areas out of the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHURCH BODY, we impede Kingdom living and Kingdom growth.

The Kingdom of God is 24/7. It is continually in season and out (see Mark 11:13,14).  We have available for us an eternal reality...Heaven on earth.

"After this, I looked and, beheld a door was opened in heaven......And immediately I was in the Spirit.."  -  Revelation 4:1,2

God has made available for the Body of Christ open Heavens that will not shut, and we can dwell in these places. A living way is a breathing path that has limitless fruitful encounters.

TAKING THE INITIATIVE ONTO UNFAMILIAR PATHS

We must not wait for others; we must not see like others, we must be like lions, stepping into AND CARRYING OUT  God's CALLING on our life!

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." -  Isaiah 42:16

God is not just raising up forerunners. God is asking the forerunners: What type of report will you give? What type of reality will you see? What type of kingdom will you release? God is calling the forerunner to carry a breaker anointing and be led on unfamiliar paths  –  birthing a supernatural community! NEW AND LIVING.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

http://afministry.ning.com

[princeofgod-2021]

LIGHT OF LIFE 331

John 1:4

WHERE WE MUST DRAW LINES 13 – LOVE OF THE WORLD 6

Mat 7:13-14 “Come to God through the narrow gate, because the wide gate and broad path is the way that leads to destruction—NEARLY EVERYONE CHOOSES THAT CROWDED ROAD! The narrow gate and the difficult way leads to eternal life—SO FEW EVEN FIND IT!” TPT

Whether one is Born-again or not, there are only two Paths set before all men: Road to Heaven and Road to Hell. Do you know why nearly everyone chooses that crowded road?

Because apart from all unbelievers – who are all going to hell already – there are [sadly] also Christians who seek worldly pleasures and emulate them in the pursuit of the things of this life.

Luk 13:24 “EXERT EVERY EFFORT TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. NET

We don’t have to segregate here: your passions in life as believer, already determines what direction you are taking – Heaven or Hell.

We may be in church for many years together, but the end will determine which path we have all been travelling all along.

Jesus will surprise many.

Luk 13:25 AFTER the HOMEOWNER GETS UP AND CLOSES THE DOOR, IT'S TOO LATE. YOU CAN STAND OUTSIDE, KNOCK AT THE DOOR, and say, 'Sir, open the door for us!' BUT HE WILL ANSWER YOU, 'I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE.' GW

This scripture tells me that some of us will think we are smart: we want to go and enjoy like the Prodigal Son, then come back to the Daddy, “blinded by love”, and plead that He opens to us.

It means we may have travelled the wide, easy road to hell for long but want to quickly return later to join the right path. Well, it can be too late because there is a time frame for each and everyone.

Luk 13:26 Then you will say, 'WE ATE AND DRANK WITH YOU. YOU TAUGHT IN THE STREETS OF OUR TOWN.' ERV

Then those “types” of Christians will try to bargain their way in by “advocating” through their lifeless religious activities.

Many think just coming to church, singing, giving offerings and a few church roles will be enough to establish, for them, a testimonial of “faithfulness” before God.

Luk 13:27 And he will reply, ‘DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND? I DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, FOR YOU ARE NOT A PART OF MY FAMILY. YOU CANNOT ENTER IN. NOW, GO AWAY FROM ME! FOR YOU ARE ALL DISLOYAL TO ME AND DO EVIL.’ TPT

Every time I read that: “I don’t know you”, from Jesus, I really wonder what he means.

The word tell us that He knows every man (Jn 2:24-25) and He knows our works (Rev 2:2), so why this?

Well, the Spirit explained to me that He means He knows us by the Marks we have borne for Him.

Luk 22:28-30 "YOU HAVE STAYED WITH ME ALL THROUGH MY TRIALS; and just as my Father has given me the right to rule, so I will give you the same right. You will eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and YOU WILL SIT ON THRONES TO RULE OVER THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. GNB

If you are the Pleasure-Loving Believer, always seeking the “prosperity” and ease, without denying self & embracing the Cross, there will be no marks to identify you as a soldier of Jesus.

Period!

Gal 6:17 ON MY OWN BODY ARE SCARS THAT PROVE I BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS. So I don't want anyone to bother me anymore. CEV

These men got their [real] marks on their journeys with Jesus on missions for their God [and ours].

2Co 11:23-25 Are they Christ's servants? It's insane to say it, but I'm a far better one. I've done much more work, BEEN IN PRISON MANY MORE TIMES, BEEN BEATEN MORE SEVERELY, AND HAVE FACED DEATH MORE OFTEN. FIVE TIMES THE JEWISH LEADERS HAD ME BEATEN WITH 39 LASHES; THREE TIMES ROMAN OFFICIALS HAD ME BEATEN WITH CLUBS. ONCE PEOPLE TRIED TO STONE ME TO DEATH; three times I was shipwrecked, and I drifted on the sea for a night and a day.GW

The ones who got no marks didn’t feel fulfilled or completed. It was a serious matter then, folks!

Act 5:40-41 And he seemed to them to be right: and they sent for the Apostles, and, AFTER HAVING THEM WHIPPED and giving them orders to give no teaching in the name of Jesus, they let them go. So they went away from the Sanhedrin, HAPPY TO UNDERGO SHAME FOR THE NAME. BBE

I’m not saying that we all must receive physical marks in suffering for Him, but basically, there is no believer, who has truly denied self, carried the cross and followed Jesus, that will not be marked.

I hear you say: “I reject suffering; it is not my portion!”.

You are not serious!

The only suffering you should never embrace is as follows:

1Pe 4:15-16 BUT LET NONE OF YOU SUFFER AS A MURDERER, OR AS A THIEF, OR AS AN EVILDOER, OR AS A BUSYBODY IN OTHER MEN'S MATTERS. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. KJV

You don’t have to initiate or attract suffering; they just come to you.

Trust me; I get that a lot. You just get hated for no reason, everything you do is irritating to someone and if they can block or silence you for good, they will attempt it.

Many can’t even hide their hatred, yet without cause.

1Pe 3:14,17,18 BUT YOU MAY SUFFER FOR DOING RIGHT. IF THAT HAPPENS, YOU HAVE GOD'S BLESSING. "Don't be afraid of the people who make you suffer; don't be worried”… IT IS BETTER TO SUFFER FOR DOING GOOD THAN FOR DOING WRONG. YES, IT IS BETTER IF THAT IS WHAT GOD WANTS. CHRIST HIMSELF SUFFERED WHEN HE DIED FOR YOU, and with that one death he paid for your sins. HE WAS NOT GUILTY, BUT HE DIED FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GUILTY. He did this to bring all of you to God. In his physical form he was killed, but he was made alive by the Spirit. ERV

Sometimes, the circumstances are not such as can make you rejoice; it can be very hurting. God understands that and provides succour (II Cor 1:3-10).

But the main point is: Jesus know His own by their following in His “suffering” footsteps, and automatically, your Path determines your destination.

I pray for you, that you will choose right, in Jesus name.

Join us on Monday for more digging into scriptures and peruse of this intriguing subtopic.

Keep Shinning!

Brother Prince

Friday, March 24, 2023

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