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Text: Romans 6:12

The grace of God is the unmerited favour and mercy of God towards mankind, and it is by His grace we are saved through our Lord Jesus Christ.

As Christians, we are not to take advantage of this grace by trying to abuse it. Romans 6:14-15.

A lot of Christians, having realized that their sins of past, present and future would be forgiven under the grace through the Blood of Jesus, have started getting lazy spiritually and as such do certain unpleasant things because they feel they can get away with it.

But alas! Grace is not a license for us to go back to our old sinning ways after we have been saved. It simply means that we have now died to sin and thus should no longer live and wallow in it. God's grace is not a basis for us to keep sinning.

God's grace has rather set us free from sin and the power it uses over us and can help pull us out from its death grip..."sin shall not have dominion over us".

God's power supernaturally delivers us and sets us completely free from sin - no matter what kind of heavy sin we might have fallen into because of His grace. There is nothing or nobody that the power and grace of God cannot set free if we are willing to work with Him on it.

Only the grace of God gives us the power and ability to be able to stay out of sin ( not in sin) after we have been saved, especially since we have the Holy Spirit and His power living in us and directing us from the inside.

There will be no excuse for you on the Judgement day, if you ignorantly die in sin, believing you are covered by the grace of God. The main purpose of God's grace is to help us stay "out of sin" through the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in us.

Therefore God's grace, Salvation, the Blood of Jesus, Mercy and the Holy Spirit work together all for our good. They are already available for us to live like Christ and enter the Kingdom of God. But there is one thing that can deny us of these: " staying in sin".

Peace!

Psalm 100.
As the works of God's Hands, we were created to carry out certain definite purposes and failure to do such may be dangerous.
God Has created us in His image and as living testimonies of His own Power through His Word.

What then do we testify?
God daily keeps us and sustains us because He has a purpose for us, and which solely is to testify about His Kingdom and His Son. Mathew 6:33

We need to Testify His Kingdom and His Son because:
1. He commanded us to do it ( Mathew 28:19).
2. We are God's own branches in the Vine to bear fruits (John 15:16).
3. To 'tell' it to unbelievers (Romans 10:14).
4. To exploit the Kingdom and destroy Satanic kingdoms. ( Acts 26:18; Collosians 1:13).

As Christians, we must testify to the Works of God as this is the purpose of our living (Psalm 118:17)
To testify, we need to:
1. Pray without ceasing
2. Be qualified to testify ( i.e. must have been saved)
3. Speak to others about our personal encounters with Christ.
4. Continuing in the witnessing of Christ to the World.
5. Sharing the Bibles, Christian Literatures, tracts, etc, with others to build and strengthen our spiritual lives.
6. Loving God and loving another ( 1 Corinthians 13)

If you are a Child of God, you have to be bold to testify His Words everywhere. God is not ashamed of you, so you shouldn't be ashamed to testify the Good News. For this our service and purpose to Him.

I pray that God will touch our lives and transform us for His good and perfect Will in Jesus name, amen.

Peace!

Text: Isaiah 58

Many of us wonder why our fasting is not effective.
The Word of God in Isaiah 58 pointed out some reasons and also describes to us what True Fasting is.

Some Actions That Make Fasting And Prayers False And Ineffective are:
1. Oppressing your workers.
2. Fighting and quarrelling.
3. Not saying the truth from the heart
4. Backbiting and mocking of friends
5. Unbelief
6. Talkativeness
7. And every form of sin pointed out in Galatians 5: 19.

The True Fasting.
This is the kind of fasting God wants from us. Isaiah 58: 6-10
1. Free those you have wrongly imprisoned or accused.
2. Let the oppressed go free and remove heavy yokes from your workers.
3. Remove all chains and evil acts that you have used to bind people.
4. Share your food with the hungry and give shelter to the homeless
5. Give clothes to those who need them.
6. Don't hide from relatives who need help.
7. Stop spreading vicious rumours and pointing accusing fingers.

God's Promises For Those Who Observe the True Fasting. Isaiah 58: 8
1. Your Salvation will come like the dawn and your wounds will quickly heal
2. Your godliness will lead you forward and the glory of God will protect you from behind.
3. When you call, the Lord will answer, " Yes I'm here", he will quickly answer.
4. Your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
5. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry.
6. You will be a well-watered garden, like an ever flowing spring.
7. You will rebuild the ruins of your cities and will be known as a restorer of homes.
Thus Saith the Lord of Host, amen.

To enjoy this grace, need to be in connection with Jesus, the giver of grace.
1. Surrender your life to Jesus.
2. Confess and forsake all your known sins.
3. Ask a for His mercy and sufficient grace.
4. Ask and be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
5. Forsake the conformation to the world, submit yourself totally to God and always ask Him to take control of your life in totality.
6. Trust God completely and undoubtedly.
7. Always ask God for True Fasting and True Worship.

Congratulations on giving your life to Christ.

God bless you.
Peace!

Text:
Leviticus 18: 6-29

Most of us are not aware of the type of sexual relationship God does not approve and this ignorance has caused harm and danger to many. Do not be ignorant of the devil's devices seeking for whom to devour.
Some of these are pointed out by God as sexual sins that defile a man/woman.
1. Sex with close relatives.
2. Sex with your mother
3. Sex with your father's wife.
4. Sex with your half sister, whether she is your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, born into your household or not.
5. Sex with your granddaughter, whether from your son or from his wife(born to another man other than your own son).
6. Sex with your step sisters, born by other wives to your father.
7. Sex with your aunt or uncle whether from your father's or mother's household.
8. Sex with your uncle's wife or aunt's husband.
9. Sex with daughter-in-law or son-in-law.
10. Sex with your brother's wife or your sister's husband.
11. Sex with both daughter and mother and granddaughter.
12. Marrying your sister's husband and having sex with him while your sister is still alive.
13. Sex with a woman during her menstral impurity.
14. Sex with your neighbour's wife or husband.
15. Homosexuality- having sex with another man as with a woman, or lesbianism- having sex with another woman as with a man.
16. Sex with animals.

God calls the an act of wickedness and are detestable to Him.
Don't conform with the world by believing the lie of the devil that nothing is new under the Sun. It will only lead you eternal fire where there is unending gnashing of teeth.
May we not be candidates of eternal fire in Jesus name.
Confession:
Lord Jesus, I come before you, I surrender my life to you, forgive me all my sins, I declare you as my Lord and personal Saviour, I say bye bye to the devil and I enter into the Kingdom of God's Light. Thank you Jesus for accepting me in your name I pray, amen.

Prayer Point:
1. Blood of Jesus, cleanse me of all my filthiness and fill me with your holiness in the name of Jesus.
2. My Father, my Father, my Father, remove all my unrighteousness and clothe me with Your righteousness in the name of Jesus.
3. Sufficient Grace that is great than all sins, overshadow my life now in the name of Jesus.

Peace!

Text: Mathew 6:33
1. Prayer- Pray without ceasing 1 Thessolian 5:17
2. Bible Reading- Psalm 119: 9,105.
3. Worship- by reading of Psalms, singing of hymns and other worship songs, offering our bodies as living sacrifices are ways we can have intimacy with God and honour Him for who He is. Ephesians 5:19.
4. Repentance- Search daily if your heart is right with God. John 3:16.
5. Memorising Bible Verses- These are our spiritual weapons against Satan and enemies that do not want us to enter the Kingdom of God. Ephesians 6; Psalm 119:11.
6. Praise- We must daily express our admiration for God by reverencing Him. Psalm 100.
7. Thanksgiving- We must daily be grateful to God by acknowledgment of His benefits, favour, kindness, grace, compassion, mercy He has shown us.

Beloved, let's seek God above all things. He is good and trustworthy. With Him, all the struggles with our unrighteousness will become things of the past and He will do new things for us.

Prayer Point: Oh Lord, help me to always be on Your side in Jesus name.

Shalom.

Text: Hebrew 13:5

1. After this, the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your Shield, a very great reward."- Gen 15:1
2. The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Don't be afraid, do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31: 8.
3. Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear, your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution, He will come to save you". Isaiah 35:4
4. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 35:10
5. For I Am the Lord, your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 35: 13.

Brethren, we ought not to fear but strong in Faith. Whenever the fear of the devil come, resist it in the name Jesus. Increase your faith by hearing, and hearing the Word of God which gives divine assurance in times of trouble.

The only fear allowed in our lives is the Fear of God. Having God's Wisdom to do things right according to His good and perfect Will is the Fear of God. Shunning evil deeds is what is called divine Understanding. Digging into God's Words gives us divine Knowledge, a knowledge of Him that reveals to us His deep secrets.

Fear of God gives health to our bodies and nourishing to our bones. The fear of the devil brings discouragement and leads to depression.Proverbs 3:5-8

We need to daily acknowledge God in all our ways as a way of total submission to His will. We also need to express our Fear for Him by daily seeking His Kingdom and His Righteousness, every other thing will be added to us by Him. Mathew 6: 33.

Prayer Point:
Jesus Christ, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, make me as bold as a lion, in the name of Jesus.
Peace!

Texts: 2 Corinthians 10: 3-6
2 Kings 5:1-14
We need to challenge everything that will wipe away all our fantastic positive qualities.
1. Moses was a mighty prophet 'but' was anger and did not allow him to enter into the Promise Land
2. Gehazi could have inherited his mater Elisha's double annointing ' but' was covetous and loved money, and he became leprous.
3. David was an excellent psalmist and a man after God's own heart 'but' fell into the sin of sexual immorality which denied him some things.
4. Everything that will deny you of the Kingdom of God in Galatians 5: 19 is a 'but'.
5. The care and of this world and the love of the things in it is a 'but'.
6. Even if you are very righteous and you have not accepted Jesus your Lord and personal Saviour, there is a'but' in your life.

What is that thing in your life that want to deny you of God's Kingdom and His glories? There is still a chance for you to drop them at the feet of Jesus today for him to bear it all for you.
Submit yourself to God today, tell Him:
1. God, I'm sorry, forgive me all my sins and cleanse me with the Blood of Your Son, Jesus.
2. Lord I'm here with all that I am, perfect my life with Your mercy in Jesus mighty name.
Peace!

Text: John 15: 24
1. Jesus is the True Vine. This depicts that there are untrue, deceitful and fake vines.
2. Jesus' Father (God is the Gardener) in his vine.
3. There is a divine standard that all branches in the True Vine must bear only good fruits.
Any branch that does not bear good fruit is cut off from the Vine and thrown out as an outcast.
God, the Gardener in the Vine prunes the branch that bear good fruit so that it will be even more fruitful.
4. A branch in the True Vine must remain in it and never go out of it. For no branch can bear fruits in itself.
Any branch that does not remain in the Vine is thrown away and withers, picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Beloved, Jesus expects us not only to submit our lives totally to him but also to remain in him. If we give our lives to Jesus, God the Father will take control. He will nuture us and prune us to bear more fruits. He will make sure that whatever He has not planted in our lives is cut off and thrown out to wither and burn.

Because of these words that Jesus has spoken to us, we are already cleansed. If we remain in him and his words in us, he has promised us that he will give to us WHATEVER we ask from him.

Ask yourself today if you are a branch in the Lord's vineyard or if you are wrongly located. Observe the kind of fruit, lifestyle and attitude you are bearing, if it's the Lord's standard. If you are still in sin, that means you are wrongly located and you need to make a U-turn today. Ask God for His help and mercy. It is to the Father's glory that we bear good fruit (Galatians 5: 22-23) and even more fruits, showing ourselves to be Jesus' disciples.
Prayer Point:
1.Oh God my Father, keep me in the True Vine to bear good fruits all the days of my life in Jesus mighty name.
2. I shall not be a castaway in the Kingdom of God in the name of Jesus, amen.

Peace!

Text: Mathew 6:33
Hymn Chorus:
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it Jesus is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be dear Lord let it be.

Many times, some people wonder why despite their prayers they have not seen changes or experience true success. The fact is that God surely shows mercy, grace and compassion to whom He wants and blesses him or her. If you are finding success not easy, sit back and reflect if your heart is right with God.
There are different kinds of success but I assure you, that the key to the true success is found in today's text.
Follow these ten(10) divine instructions if you have tried other things without seeing any change:
1. Give to the needy which is should be done in secret in order to get a full reward. Mathew 6:2-4.
2. Praise God in your closet until you sweat. Also, pray right. Mathew 6: 5-13.
3. Forgive everyone that offends you. Don't let grudge stop you. Vs 14
4. Fast, not as hypocrite though. Mathew 6:16-18.
5. Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth but in heaven. How? Focus on good deeds and use your time and money towards God's Will so as to build up your mansion in heaven. Let your heart be in the number of souls you've won for Jesus Christ and how many mansions you have stored up in God's Kingdom. Mathew 6: 19-22.
6. Stop being a slave to money. God has given us dominion over it. Mathew 6: 24.
7. Don't worry about: what to eat, what to drink, how your body should look perfect, what to wear and all. Worry cannot add to your life span on earth. God has already blessed us with these. Vs 25-32
8. Pray to God to open your eyes to these opportunities around you so as to key into them.Open your eyes, your inner and spiritual eyes. Let it be a light for you. Stop being myopic. Ask God and He will do it. Vs 22-23
9. Don't worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself. God Has given us this blessed assurance and secures our future.vs 34
10. The most important and first to do everyday is to seek ye FIRST, the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all that you need will be ADDED to you. God already have provided for your needs even before you were formed in your mother's womb. Vs 33.

Make a wise decision today and submit the entirety of your life to God to take control and empower you.

Prayer Point: My Father, open my eyes to see and not miss divine opportunities around me in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Peace!.

Text: Luke 11: 24-54

1.vs 42: Woes to the Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all kinds of garden herbs but you neglect justice and the love of God.
We are expected to tithe, do justice and have the love of God in us.
2.vs 43: Because you love the most important seats in the synagogue and greetings in the market place.
This is eyes service, praise singing and taking glory for oneself.
3.vs 44:Because you are like and unmarked grave which men walk over without knowing it.
You are pretentious, dangerous, wicked and deadly. Yet you appear like a Saint.
4.vs 46: Because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry and you yourself will not lift a finger to help them.
All you do is create problems, criticize people and contributing to other's burdens without rendering help.
5.vs 47: Because you build tombs for the prophets and it was your forefathers who killed them.
You cover your filthy deeds and appear holy. You haven't forsaken the wicked deeds and idols of your father's house though you claim to be Christ like.
6.vsvs 52. Wow to the experts in law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourself have not entered, and you have hindered those who are entering.
You believe you know it all. You distort the Word of Truth with your ignorance and prevent others from knowing the Truth about the Word of God. All you do is criticize those who the Lord has sent. You need help but you have not realized because of your ignorance.
What do you need to do?
1. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and you need he as His directions.
2.See to it that the light in you is not darkness.
3. Give your life to Jesus.
4.Ask for God's Wisdom and knowledge and remain as the light of God.

Prayer Point: Spirit of hypocrisy, let me go in the name of Jesus.

Peace!

Text: Mark 9:42-49

Imagine you burning yourself with a candle light. How do you feel? Also, image a driver who drove a full bus trapped in an inferno from a petrol tanker. What a feiry, tormenting and painful death we pray not to experience.
But the Word of God according to today's text makes us understand that sinners would be trapped in a place worse than this.
A place where your brain is tormented forever due to unending pain. A place of frustration and anger.. it is the sure destination of sinners along with their already condemned master, Satan. The place is Hell fire.
In Hell, the worms shall not die, neither the fire be quenched; and there shall be an everlasting gnashing of teeth.
If you find yourself trapped in Hell fire, you can't claim that God is unfair to you for it is your own vehicle of the flesh that drives you there.
Turn away from your sins today and avoid being trapped in Hell fire.

Prayer Point:
1. Oh God my Father, help me not to fall to the lust of the flesh in the name of Jesus.
2. Anything in my life that will trap me in Hell fire be uprooted and die in the name of Jesus.
3. Do not let me be wise in my own eyes, Oh Lord, give me your Wisdom in Jesus mighty name, amen.

Peace!

We can do all things through Christ that Strengthens us. We are the rod of His strength by His grace. It's by God's gracewe can obey His commands, not by our own power

quote author=Kobojunkie post=90992583]Good write up!
God already gave us the command to become passionate(with all our hearts, mind, body, and soul) about loving/serving Him, why pray for grace, when He already blessed all mankind with the grace necessary to accomplish that. It is a COMMAND, not a suggestion

JUST DO IT![/quote]

Mercy! That's the word. Joshua was a sinner and that was why he was clothed in filth but received mercy from God. That's the exact message.

Also please read James 4:7 to ascertain that God Has commanded us to submit to Him and resist the Devil.
Thanks and God bless you



.quote author=Kobojunkie post=92218919]@Topshore, Joshua was not a good man. As High priest, the reason he was accused by Satan was because he was indeed guilty, and his guilt revealed by his filthy gown. That said, God chose to have mercy on Him, but that does not mean the accuser was wrong in accusing him there.

That said, please read the book of Jude to understand that the only one who has the right to rebuke Satan is God Himself(Jesus Christ).. not even in the angels, as you can see from the example of the book of Zechariah there, and then later on in the gospels, has the authority to rebuke Satan.[/quote]

Word: Zephaniah 3:1-10
-Joshua, the High Priest was accused by the Devil as a sinner.
-He was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angels.
-The Lord rebuked Satan and command the angels of God to remove his ( Joshua's)filthy clothes.
_ The Lord commanded that a clean turban be put on his head and clothed him with honour.
-Joshua was given a new mandate by the Lord Almighty through His angels, to fulfill his destiny Satan wanted to steal away:
1. To walk in the Lord's Ways and
2. To keep His Requirements.

- The Blessings awarded to the mandate was to:
i.Govern His house and have charge in His courts and
ii.He would have a chance to stand among the saints.

Are you being accused by the Devil? These are what to do:
1. Accept and confess your sins to the Lord
2. Forsake your sinful ways by adopting genuine repentance
3. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal saviour.
4. Ask for God's mercy to erase the punishment of your sins.
4. Rebuke and resist the Devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
5. Present and submit your body and all that you are and have as living sacrifice to God, holy and acceptable.
5. Do not care for the things of this world. (Romans 12:2)
6. Ask God to transform you and renew your mind every moment.
6. Ask God to fill and intoxcate you with His Spirit, to control and empower you.
7. Let God, His Kingdom and Righteousness be your first and priority everyday. God Has already provided all what we need. We only need Him to open our spiritual eyes.
8. We overcome the Devil by the blood of the Lamb and by the words of our testimonies (Rev. 12:11)
9. Love not yourself and will but God's Will until death or rapture.
9. Love God and love your neighbours. It is God's commands.
10. God's Grace is sufficient for us all in Jesus mighty name.

Prayer Point:
1.Devil, hear the Word of the Lord. I have power and authority to defeat you. Therefore I bruise and crush your head in the name of Jesus.

2. Accuser of Brethren, I am not your candidate, lose me and receive the judgement of God in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Peace!.

Sometime ago i came across these descriptions of the kind of love God wants from and and thought i could share with you.

Most of us have read about Loving God with our strength, soul, mind and heart and Loving our Neigbours as the greatest commandments from God to man - Mathew 12:29-31.
Below are four(4) ways and types of love to show God that we love Him and obey His commandments.

1. Exclusive Love: Read Scriptures -Mathew 6: 24; Exodus 34:14.

2. Surpassing Love: Read Scriptures -Mathew 10: 37-39; 1 John 2:15.

3. Obedient Love: Read Scriptures -John 14:21, 23-24.

4. Persevering Love: Read Scriptures -James 1: 1-12; 1 Peter 1: 6-9.

"If we love God exclusively with a surpassing love, then obedience naturally follows as we persevere". - Crosswalk Daily Update.

The delightful reward Jesus gives us for obedience is that God Himself will abide with us, in the indwelling Spirit who makes us His abode in our innerself.

When We Are Assured We Love God[i][/i]

1. When we love God with our heart exclusively and Him alone.

2. When we love God with our soul and find satisfaction in Him more than any other person or thing.

3. When we love God with all our mind and make decisions to obey His every command.

4. When we love God with all our strength and persevere in the face of every trial.

Prayer Point:
1. Oh God my Father, give me the grace to love You more in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

Peace!

[It doesn't matter the surgery area, when God heals He heals completely and this shall always be our testimonies. God bless you ma.quote author=giftfromGod post=86638332]

Oh thanks ma. Mine was down and up cut , guess it due to the amount ( 11 pieces).[/quote]

It was on the bikini line
Congratulation . May God be praise. Please was it vertical cut they did? Mine was vertical and I still find it difficult to stand up Right. It over a week I did mine.[/quote]

I thank the Lord for granting me mercy and a successful fibroid surgery, to Him alone I return all the glory. I am a living proof of the manifestation of God's power and I believe Him that my health is perfected in. Jesus mighty name.

Howyeh:
You shall come out really strong...
The Doctor Jesus of Heaven (Himself) be your Surgeon, and it shall be a PERFECT session IJN.

Amen in Jesus mighty name. Thank you. I believe in Dr. Jesus and He will give me the grace to come back alive healthy and fruitful to share the good news with you in Jesus name. Thank you very much.

Please house join me in prayer as I've been slated for fibroid surgery

Opeyemiebun:
Thanks alot, I believe you know how these extended families behave ..
I will let her have hers but I also desperately need one.
There is this feelings that come with my job when a client sees you dropping from a bike or Uber. A job they should offer you for 1m,they will look down on you and negotiate you for 400k.
Aside the economy side of it, Families will believe we are so much in money and the responsibilities will increase

So you want to deny your wife her comfort because of extended family. Are you working for others comfort alone? When they ask you for what you don't have, politely them you don't. My opinion anyway

unstoppable51:
From FeedMeJesus.com

what does it really mean to be born again?
I am sure you are going to be finding this refreshing as you will get a clearer understanding of what it truly means to be born again.

To understand this subject of being “born again” as used among Christians today, we will have to look at the only book that talked so much about it i.e the Bible, and find out what Jesus meant when He used those terms.

Let’s take a quick look at John chapter 3 from verse 1:

[b]Joh 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

Joh 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. [/b]

The popular belief people have when they read this part of the Scripture, is that being born again has to do with being baptised in water either as an adult or an infant.

This is mostly because in verse 5, Jesus said “…Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

So they assume being born again has to do with water immersion. Once a man has been dipped in water, he has access to enter the kingdom of God. That is far from what Jesus meant here and we shall see this clearly as we proceed.

The other popular belief out there is that being born again has to do with getting your acts right and “looking serious” all the time. Once you don’t wear some type of clothes, take some type of food and drinks, don’t talk too much, don’t laugh too much and talk softly, most people would conclude you are born again.

If that is what it means to be born again, then it would mean that almost all who practice Judaism, Islam and other strict religions are born again since majority of them carry themselves around with so much piety.

But being born again is far bigger than mere physical appearance and habits. If it were about wearing a long face and appearing “serious” all the time, then God wouldn’t have given to us the Spirit of Joy in the first place.

This is because “Joy” according to the Bible, is not just what you feel in your heart. It is very very expressive. It shows in your smiles, laughter, dancing, running around, twirling and so on.

When Jesus said “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” He used the Greek words “gennao anothen” translated as “born again” in English, to describe that experience.

Let’s look at those two words closely for a moment so we can get His point there.

The Greek word “Gennao” which is translated as “born” in English, actually means “to procreate,” “to father,” and also to “regenerate.”The Greeks also use the word to not only talk about conception but also the process of delivery.

The other word “Anothen” translated as “again” in English actually means “from above” or “Anew.”

If you put the words together now, it would mean that what Jesus said to Nicodemus was “except a man is procreated or fathered anew from above, he cannot see or enter the kingdom of God.”

(I guess it’s beginning to make sense. Please pay special attention from here)

This was what confused Nicodemus that made him ask if it would take a man’s mum to conceive and give birth to him again for that to happen.

Jesus then had to explain further by saying in verse 5[b] “…except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”[/b]

The major reason we don’t always get the real meaning of this verse and assume it is talking about water baptism, is because we don’t know the word “and” in that verse is not a conjunction but an explanation.

In the Greek, the word translated as “and” in our Bibles is the word “kai.”

“Kai” in Greek do not always mean “and” like the Bible translators put it in that verse. It also mean “that is,” “which is,” “even” etc. It used for explaining a statement.

To get the explanation Jesus was trying to pass across to Nicodemus in that verse 5, we would need to substitute “and” there with “which is” or “that is” since they are the same in the Greek. If we do that, the verse will look like this:

“.….except a man be born of water which is [/b]the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

(I hope you get this.)

He merely used water to describe the character of the Spirit of God there. He wasn’t talking about water baptism there at all.

That is why all through the remaining verses in that chapter, He never mentioned “water” again as regarding being born again but kept on repeating “the Spirit.”

This is not the only time He even used water to describe the activity of the Holy Spirit in the entire Bible. For instance in John 7:37-39

[b]“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

“(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

Look at that. You know it would sound ridiculous today if you carry a physical cup and go around expecting Jesus to give you real water to drink because you read “if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink”?

Why will it sound ridiculous? It is because the writer of that verse being John the apostle, has already helped you in verse 39 by telling you that the water Jesus was talking about in those verses was merely a reference to the Spirit of God.

So when you hear or read about being born again, do not assume that it is about being immersed in any physical water or quitting any habit. It is not just that.

To be born again simply means to be supernaturally procreated or birthed by the Spirit of God. And by the reason of that birth (not your piety or self righteousness), you have direct access to heaven.

So, a born again man is that fellow that have been supernaturally procreated by the Spirit of God. His citizenship is in heaven.

He is not aspiring to go to heaven. Heaven is where he is seated already according to Ephesians 2:5-6.

Calling him a “candidate” of heaven will be to talk down or talk less of who he really is. He is a “citizen” of heaven, not a candidate that is still aspiring and may likely not get there.

Should he live right and reflect the character of the Spirit in his conducts? YES

Can he miss it atimes? Yes he can, and that is because we still move about in this fallen world.

But can his missing to conduct himself properly cause him to be un-born again? There is no such a thing as being un-born again in the Bible. It is either a man is born again or he is not. That is what the Bible teaches.

So from John 3, we see clearly that to be born again is a supernatural thing done by the Spirit of God.

Man’s only part in that process is to believe the Gospel. Once he is born again, the Spirit of God begins to work on his inside helping him to live and do the will of God on this earth as he is supposed.

I hope this blesses you.

Glory to God!

Source: https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/02/answered-what-does-it-really-mean-to-be_2.html

My own understanding of the Bible is that you have to be baptized first by water immersion and thereafter with the Holy Spirit.
It was immediately after Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the water that the Spirit of God fell upon him and God declared His Sonship.
Conclusion : water baptism first then baptism of the Holy Spirit follows.

Noted! may God help us.

That's good. Please share the link

This is the Mountain Top Life message for today. Why didn't op reference it.

Hmm.....deep words.

[color=#990000][/color]you lie. Most men cannot stand the success of their wives. It brushes their ego and suffocate them. Don't be surprised that her husband started picking her up on things he used to overlook before fame.

desmond2pk:
The truth is, poverty humbles people and money brings out the real personality.
I once dated a girl who was damn poor and very humble. I was happy because i was a kind of light to her life, a girl of date status, dating s guy with 2 cars and living in a flat. At a time, her sister pushed her out and i told her to stay with me.
Then, one day she told me she won american visa lottery someone played for her. We were all happy together. Her father was poor and nobody from her family to pay the visa fee and ticket and other fees. I took it as my responsibility.
I paid for the visa. Ticket. BTA and clothes and plenty of weavon to sell there. Everything was going on well until she started work in america and started saving money. In all her money, she didn't remember to buy sicks, or boxers and shirts for me who made sure she came to America. Within a year, she started telling me she had a boy friend and that i should deal with it. That her father said that she shouldn't marry me because i am a Christian. My dear humble ajokeade became an arrogant lady in America.
And that became the end of that Relationship. Its been about 11 Years no calls or message from her, to even know how i am doing. This is a girl i thought we were in love and i was doing my best to assist.
Olajumoke was not a good person. Money just revealed how true personality.

How much more Jesus suffered.

As a little girl and last born (b4 our real last born came 7 years after) my eldest sis loved making my hair. One day I allowed her do puff puff style for me after all the sweet and biscuit. I remembered she spent almost the whole day on my hair. After the hairdo she asked if I was cool with it and not painful and I told her no, with smile. But the hair dey pain! When popsy came back from work that day I started stretching my neck (norun) in Yoruba, my eyes were sore red and you could see the pains all over me. My father shouted "Talo se iru irun yi fomo, sefe pa ni? Oya e lo gbon tu Kia!" My sis replied "sebi ko dun e"? But I no fit suffer in silence again. I just burst out crying "o tin dun mi lataaro, ori nfo mi". Na so my sis pour water for my head that day and lossened the hair o. I can still remember that kain bad eye shot and beating I received from her dat day.

End time packing

OK thank you.

efepro:
Experience, they say is, the best test of truth and falsity. If you haven't experienced whitlow u wudnt know how excruciating the pain can be.

It started with a slight pain and blister close to my index finger nail few days ago. I didn't need anybody to tell me it was symptom of whitlow. Immediately, I went to see a pharmacist. He gave me some drugs (dontyhocin,Ebu400,blood caps) Now, I'm through with the drugs, but symptom still persists. I tried some home remedies( as recommended by friends) like steaming the affected part with hot water and inserting my finger inside lime and hot water. still, no solution. I didn't sleep well last night because of the pains

If you ever experienced this pls share with me on how u dealt with it...Doctors in this section, pls I need ur advise.

Get a raw garlic and crush it, abi two to three cloves. Spread it over the affected finger and wrap it up with a very clean white bandage. Repeat the treatment every 12 hours and it will completely heal in days. The Lord is your strength o.