THE WAY TO HEAVEN; THE HOLY SPIRIT (DO YOU HAVE IT?); WHAT DOES BORN AGAIN MEAN? - WITH VIDEOS AND MORE! - INSPIRATIONAL WEEKEND

The above photograph is of one of my grandchildren when he was a baby. There is nothing more precious than a tiny new born baby!  But spiritually speaking, there is nothing more wonderful and precious and to be treasured than "the new birth; being born again."   That occurs at the moment when a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior -  believing in Him in all sincerity and with all of your very being that He alone is the Savior, the Redeemer, Who gave His life as a ransom so that we might have eternal life if we have faith in Him and the power of His shed blood to cleanse us from our sins, and the fact that He rose from the dead, proving that we may also have eternal life by faith in Him.  (Romans 10:9-13)

In other words, at the moment you are saved by faith, you are "reborn" in spiritual manner, and sealed with the Holy Spirit.  (Ephesians 1:13).

The excellent You Tube Christian Channel "Lion of Judah" has the following 15 minute video which helps to explain what happens to you when you are born again.  Please watch !  

In the above video it mentions that being born again is not really or exactly you "turning over a new leaf."  Watch the video in the beginning where it explains this.  It reminds me of many years ago when I worked in a small office environment, and one of the men there was a real character.  He truthfully said of himself -  with some humor and much truth :  " I need to turn over a whole new bush!"   Can anyone relate, or do you know someone like that ?

Actually, the above statement by my former co-worker is a good beginning!  A beginning of realizing that you are a mess (a sinner) and that you need help ! That can lead you to know Christ, if your heart is right and someone shares the Gospel with you.  Or even if you just read the Bible in earnest, the Holy Spirit can convict you of your need of a Savior, and lead you to repentance.  The Bible is, after all, "God-breathed", meaning God's Holy Spirit guided and inspired the men of old to write down the words of our Heavenly Father, which later became the Holy Bible.  

                                               [Seattle, Washington Botanical Gardens]

"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."     -  John 3:7

Charles Spurgeon has written a wonderful devotion on the above Scripture,  John 3:7, which follows:

"Regeneration is a subject which lies at the very basis of salvation, and we should be very diligent to take heed that we really are "born again",  for there are many who fancy they are, who are not.  Be assured that the name of a Christian is not the nature of a Christian; and that being born in a Christian land, and being recognized as professing the Christian religion is of no avail whatever, unless there be something more added to it - the being  "born again" is a matter so mysterious that human words cannot describe it.  "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 everyone that is born of the Spirit."  [John 3:8]    Nevertheless, it is a change which is known and felt; known by works of holiness, and felt by a gracious experience.  This great work is supernatural.  It is NOT an operation which a man performs for himself:  a new principle is infused which works in the heart, renews the soul, and affects the entire man.  It is NOT a change of my name, but a renewal of my nature, so that I am not the man I used to be, but a new man in Christ Jesus.  To wash and dress a corpse is a far different thing from making it alive: man can do the one, God alone can do the other.  If you have then been "born again", your acknowledgment will be:  "O LORD Jesus, the everlasting Father, Thou art my spiritual Parent; unless Thy Spirit had breathed into me the breath of a new, holy, and spiritual life, I had been to this day "dead in trespasses and sins.  My heavenly life is wholly derived from Thee -  to Thee I ascribe it."   -  "My life is hid with Christ in God."  [Colossians 3:3].    -      It is no longer I who live, but "Christ Who liveth in me."  [Galatians 2:20].      May the LORD enable us to be well assured on this vital point, for to be unregenerate is to be unsaved, unpardoned, without God, and without hope."   -  end of Spurgeon's quote.

(Charles Haddon Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892 in England.  He was a Baptist preacher who to this day remains very influential in many various Christian denominations.  He was and still is known as the Prince of Preachers.")

                                                       [Kailua Beach -  Oahu, Hawaii]

In todays topsy-turvy world, nothing is certain anymore, or so it seems!  BUT GOD!  We can be certain that God and His Word and His Promises will always remain certain and true and stable!

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."  -  Hebrews 13:8

Hang on to that, folks!  The way things are going now, (current world events that prove spiritually and also  according to Bible Prophecy), that our precious Savior will return very soon and take us to be with Him in heaven.  It doesn't get any better than that!  

The above video quotes John 14:1-3, where Jesus tells us that He is in heaven preparing a place for us (mansions, KJV) and that He will return for us!  We all need that good news today!  Hope! Something to hang on to.  And of course, our hope is in the blessed Lord!

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."  -   Titus 2:13-14

Recently, I have re-read a 29 page booklet by Andrew Murray that I have had in my possession for a few years.  It's title is "Lord, teach us to pray" and it concerns the "Lord's Prayer" which Jesus taught His disciples. Most of its contents is rather elementary, or would be to pastors or to faithful Christians of many, many years of faith in the Lord.  It is good to go over material from time to time that you are familiar with, because often you glean new insights you missed previously;  this is especially true of the Bible itself, as you no doubt have observed for yourself.  You know, how you may have read the Bible through many times, but one day a particular verse just "hits" you for the first time -  really speaks to you as if you had never seen it before!  

Anyway,  here is a short quote from Murray's booklet:  "Yes, to pray. This is what we need to be taught.  Though in its beginnings prayer is so simple that the feeble child can pray, yet it is at the same time the highest and holiest work to which man can rise.  It is fellowship with the Unseen and Most Holy One.  The powers of the eternal world have been placed at its disposal..  It is the very essence of true religion, the channel of all blessings, the secret of power and life. Not only for ourselves, but for others, for the Church, for the world, it is to prayer that God has given the right to take hold of Him and His strength.  It is on prayer that the promises wait for their fulfilment, the kingdom for its coming, the glory of God for its full revelation.  And for this blessed work, how slothful and unfit we are.  It is only the Spirit of God that can enable us to do it aright.  How speedily we are deceived into a resting in the form, while the power is wanting."   -  end of Andrew Murray's quote.

There are many professing Christians today that do not pray - or, if they do, very seldom. And sometimes it is painfully obvious that they probably are not influenced by the Holy Spirit.  None of us are perfect, and neither are there any perfect Christians!  But it is essential that we believers be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  Following is an informative and helpful 10 minute video titled " Undeniable Proof that the Holy Spirit is In Your Life"  (by You Tube Channel "Grace for Purpose."

There are many gems in the above video!  One of which is that the Holy Spirit will help pray for and with you!

If Jesus were to return to take His Bride (the Church; true believers) to heaven in the Rapture  -  if it occurred tonight, or next week, or next month,   would you be ready?  Or would you be "left behind"?

  To go to heaven, either when you die naturally or you are "caught up" to meet Jesus in the air at the Rapture,  you first need to be born again.  That is discussed above in this article.  You need to recognize that you are a sinner and in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ.  You cannot save yourself or earn your way to heaven by any "good works" or whatever else you may have been taught. God does not grade on a "curve"; like if your good deeds outdo or outweigh your bad deeds, you're okay and good to go!  (Good enough to enter heaven, many people think). 

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.  Not of works, lest any man should boast."     Ephesians 2:8-9

If you repent, feel a deep remorse for your sins against God and heaven, and you turn to Jesus/God in heartfelt sincerity and pray for forgiveness, you will be forgiven!  No matter how terrible you have sinned.  It has been said by a pastor, that even if Hitler had repented and asked for forgiveness, God would have granted his request.

Following are salvation Scriptures for a guide for those who have not yet surrendered their lives to the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."  -  John 3:36

"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" -  2 Corinthians 6:2

"Jesus saith unto him,  I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me."  -   John 14:6

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.  Believest thou this?"    -   John 11:25-26

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."    -   John 3:16

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !!

 

"Don't Forget The Armor" - Inspirational Weekend

The above flower and fruit (the ball) are on the Cannonball Tree; a tree with its own weapon !   When the cannonballs fall to the ground (or on your head!)  they burst open and emit a foul odor.  You might say this is a tree with its own armor.  

Christians have armor for their use as well.  The armor of God, that is.  In last weekend's post  I dealt with the subject of strength: how to be strong.  This weekend we will discuss how the armor of God can make you strong and can protect you in this spiritual battle we find ourselves in every day.  Following are verses from Ephesians 6 that describe this armor of God, which verses most Christians are familiar with but I quote it here for unbelievers or those who are not aware of this passage in the Bible.

"(10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.  (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against  powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  (17)  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: "  -  Ephesians 6:10-17

We cannot win this spiritual battle by our own human effort; we need the Lord's help and His Spirit, and these verses above inform us how to do just that.   It is good to take note that, in verse 12, it tells us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood....in other words, we should not lash out at humans that give us a hard time as though they were the real culprits or enemy.  The devil is the real enemy and is able to use people to tear us down and persecute us and to make us lose heart.

Also in verse 12, satan and his fallen angels (demons) are referred to as "spiritual wickedness" and "the rulers of the darkness of this world."  Though powerful, they are not as powerful as God and the Lord can protect us and help us by means of the armor of God.

Please note also that verses 11 and 13 admonish us to "put on the whole armor of God."  Not just a part of it, but all of it.  That is the only way we can stand firm and be strong.  Ancient soldiers equipped themselves with all of their armor when in battle, and we should do the same with our spiritual armor.  

"Having your loins girt about with truth"  (verse 14) ;  The girdle or sash was always an important part of their dress in war as well as in peace.  It was designed to keep every part of the armor in its place, and to gird the soldier on every side. Likewise, believers need the truth of God's Word to keep things in perspective and to help them endure the battle we face with the darkness of evil.  In other words, to hold everything else together as only God's Word is able to do.

"Having on the breastplate of righteousness" (verse 14) ;  Here Paul is showing that true believers are to put on righteousness to protect their hearts as a soldier puts on a breastplate to protect himself.  This righteousness includes integrity, holiness, purity of life, and sincere piety.  

"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" (verse 15);  A peaceful and benevolent attitude which is an essential part of the Christian character.  This, like the boots worn by soldiers, will keep you from being harmed by the many difficulties and trials which, like sharp-pointed thorns, may lie in your way and thereby obstruct your progress.

"The shield of faith"   (verse 16)  The apostle alludes to the great oblong shield which covers the whole body.  As faith is the grace by which all others are preserved and rendered active, so faith is properly represented here by a shield by which the whole body is covered and protected.   True faith can quench any dart of the devil.

"The helmet of salvation"  (verse 17).   This protects one's understanding from being darkened and confused by any temptations of the evil one.  It also protects from any subtle views of the ungodly.

"The sword of the Spirit."  The Word of God; the Holy Scriptures.  It comes from the Holy Spirit, and receives its fulfillment in the soul through the workings of the Holy Spirit.  The ability to quote God's Holy Word, especially in times of temptation and trials, can cut in pieces (like a sword) the snares of the adversary and his demons.  

Ephesians 1:19 tells us:  "And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power."

In other words, God gives us the strength to help us to resist the devil.  As stated previously, we are in a war; a spiritual warfare against the wicked forces of darkness.   This is particularly true of Christians who are living godly lives and sharing the Gospel.  The devil strikes at them especially hard, to bring them down, because he already has the ungodly...the world in general...in his grasp.

So put on the armor that God provides.  The Lord will protect you and help you to endure.

"Do not strive in your own strength; cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you.  Strive in prayer; let faith fill your heart - so will you be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."  -  Andrew Murray

We should not overlook what Ephesians 6:18 tells us,  "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

Prayer gives you strength from the Lord.  It just simply makes all things better to pray.   When you pray and read your Bible daily, you draw ever closer to the Lord, and that alone gives you victory over temptation and discouragement.  When you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, you will live more and more in His presence and grow stronger every day.


"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."   -  1 Corinthians 16:13

"Wait....Be Still And Be Quiet" - Inspirational Weekend

One time when I was very upset and agitated (with good reason), I plopped myself down on the sofa and repeated the verse above over and over to try to calm myself down.  The Lord blessed my efforts by causing me to fall into a deep sleep almost immediately, and when I awoke I felt a strong sense of peace.   Now I still repeat Psalm 46:10 by saying, "Be still and know that You are God."  It has a calming peace about it to say it out loud.  The Holy Word of God has power !  It can transform anyone from the clutches of the wicked world and the power of satan and mold them into a mild and humble child of God; a life from wickedness to a godly life; a life from loud and unruly actions and brazen speech into a gentle and meek and quiet spirit.

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

In Psalm 46:10, to "be still" means to stop, to cease striving.  In today's hustle and bustle world, people are constantly on the go and busy, busy, all the time.  Even many Christians do not take time to pray or study the Bible because of their hectic schedules.  This should not be so.  Sadly, even some who call themselves Christians put their careers first and foremost, always striving and they seldom call upon the Lord. Before I was born-again, I was guilty of putting my career first before anyone or anything.  Now I am more happy doing the Lord's work than I ever was previously. There is also a considerable amount of peace within your soul when you know you are in right standing with God and Jesus.

Tied in with being still and quiet, is the willingness to wait upon the Lord.  Andrew Murray says that, "quietness is an element of true waiting on God.  ......But when it is seen that the waiting on God is itself an unspeakable blessedness, one of the highest forms of fellowship with the Holy One, the adoration of Him in His glory will of necessity humble the soul into a holy stillness, making way for God to speak and reveal Himself."

The quote above by Andrew Murray is from his book/devotional "Waiting on God"  .  It is an excellent rendition on the subject of waiting on God and you may still find it here .

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord."  -   Psalm 27:14

Sometime ago I wrote about how waiting can be good and I quoted Charles Spurgeon who said, "If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him. He is worth waiting for.  The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes.  The Lord's people have always been a waiting people."

Following is a sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon titled "Waiting Only Upon God".  It seems to fit including it here because waiting on God involves stillness and a quiet hope.

So, to wait for the Lord is to be done in quietness and stillness. That shows faith.  Don't jump blindly into something or say something you may regret later.....wait on God to show the way.

"Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly."  -  Acts 19:36

Following is a 49 minute sermon by Charles R. Swindoll on being still and being quiet:

You must be still in order to sense God's presence - whether in prayer or in Bible reading  It is hard sometimes because even then our minds tend to wander, but we need to focus as much as we possibly can on the Lord and in reverent fear and with a sense of His sovereignty and majesty. Be still in your humble heart and realize God is your Creator, your Lord and Master, as is Jesus, and give Him honor and respect as you pray and as you wait for Him in all matters.     

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him."  -  Psalm 62:5

God responds to a meek and quiet spirit. It is pleasing to Him to see us as being meek and quiet.  No one likes a loud and brash person; God is no different, except He is more patient than we are.  God is love, and in His great love He does not wish any to perish, but to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to believe in the heart that He is the Savior who can wash away all of our sins....and that includes even the brash person, the person we may give up on. God is forgiving.

"But (let it be) the hidden man of the heart, in which is not corruptible, (even the ornament) of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."  -  1 Peter 3:4

We have seen that to be still (as in Psalm 46:10), involves to "cease striving"; to let God be God and let Him be in control of our lives.  Not frantically pursuing endeavors contrary to God's will.  Just to simply rest in the Lord and to wait for Him.

Be still.
Be quiet.

"It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."  -  Lamentations 3:26

"For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy one of Israel, In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength......"    -  Isaiah 30:15   

"And say unto him, take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted..."  Isaiah 7:4a