"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (IPet.1:3-5)
By the redemption through Christ,
we were rescued from the dominion of sin and satan (Col.1:13);
we became the very children of God (Gal3:26);
we became partakers of God's very life and nature (2Pet.1:4);
we became heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ (Rom.8:17);
God in His power and majesty dwells in us(1Cor.3:16);
in summary we have received ALL things! (1Cor.3:21) -this is the reason the believer must always maintain a heart of gratitude in all things.
I Cor.1-26-28 is most relevant here:
"(26)For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. (27) But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; (28) and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are.
Now, the weak is made strong, the sick is made whole, the sin-soiled children of Adam have become the righteous sons of the Holy God all by grace .
I admonish you therefore to give Him thanks ALWAYS with a GRATEFUL HEART!
Blessed?
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Assurance of Salvation (3)
"While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept..."(John 17:12)
The second coming of Christ which Bible tells believers to hold tightly to as means of comfort (IThes.4:17-18) has in our days become a prime cause of fear and terror. Many reasons could be given for this untoward scenario, but the one that seems to tower higher than others is the fact that the perversion Jesus prophesied concerning the end time is here staring us in the face (Mark 13:22 )
Fellow saints, I declare the words of comfort to you today...
"...He is able once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him...". (Heb.7:25, NLT)
Its comforting to know that he did not only die for us but He is also alive for us "...He lives forever to interceed on our behalf" (Heb.7:25, NLT paraphrased).
Those who are saved by God though Christ are also kept by God through Christ (Jude 1:24).
Do not allow extrabiblical prophecies and unfounded arguments to rub you of the consolation you have in Christ or have you forgotten that He said He will never leave you nor forsake you? (Heb.13:5)
Be of good comfort and remember those who are God's are kept safe and secured in His mighty arm.
Blessed?
The second coming of Christ which Bible tells believers to hold tightly to as means of comfort (IThes.4:17-18) has in our days become a prime cause of fear and terror. Many reasons could be given for this untoward scenario, but the one that seems to tower higher than others is the fact that the perversion Jesus prophesied concerning the end time is here staring us in the face (Mark 13:22 )
Fellow saints, I declare the words of comfort to you today...
"...He is able once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him...". (Heb.7:25, NLT)
Its comforting to know that he did not only die for us but He is also alive for us "...He lives forever to interceed on our behalf" (Heb.7:25, NLT paraphrased).
Those who are saved by God though Christ are also kept by God through Christ (Jude 1:24).
Do not allow extrabiblical prophecies and unfounded arguments to rub you of the consolation you have in Christ or have you forgotten that He said He will never leave you nor forsake you? (Heb.13:5)
Be of good comfort and remember those who are God's are kept safe and secured in His mighty arm.
Blessed?
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Assurance of Salvation (2)
"MOST ASSUREDLY, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall NOT come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." John 5:24
There's this current wave of divers kinds of prophecy about rapture, heaven and hell and other issues around the fringes of the second coming of Christ.
Such prophecies no doubt could be God's way of preapring His people for the second advent of Jesus; but Alas! MOST of those prophecies have instilled fear and uncertainties in the heart of many believers.
We have heard such things as "I saw one great man of God in Hell" By this and many others like it, a lot of christians are no more sure of their salvation, they cannot guarantee with absolute certainty that they will make it when Jesus comes back.
Hence many have resorted to begging God for mercy, which they have actually received at salvation (IPet.2:10)
If you hear such prophecies and you are terrified; its either you are not born again or the prophecy you heard is not according to the word of God.
The Bible is replete with infallible words of assurance about our salvation; such words should rather be held on to and be used also as basis for judging prophecies (IThes.5:20-21); consider the verses below:
John10:27-28
" My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."
2Timothy 1:12
"For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day."
Blessed?
There's this current wave of divers kinds of prophecy about rapture, heaven and hell and other issues around the fringes of the second coming of Christ.
Such prophecies no doubt could be God's way of preapring His people for the second advent of Jesus; but Alas! MOST of those prophecies have instilled fear and uncertainties in the heart of many believers.
We have heard such things as "I saw one great man of God in Hell" By this and many others like it, a lot of christians are no more sure of their salvation, they cannot guarantee with absolute certainty that they will make it when Jesus comes back.
Hence many have resorted to begging God for mercy, which they have actually received at salvation (IPet.2:10)
If you hear such prophecies and you are terrified; its either you are not born again or the prophecy you heard is not according to the word of God.
The Bible is replete with infallible words of assurance about our salvation; such words should rather be held on to and be used also as basis for judging prophecies (IThes.5:20-21); consider the verses below:
John10:27-28
" My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."
2Timothy 1:12
"For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day."
Blessed?
Monday, March 19, 2012
Assurance of Salvation
"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Rom.8:16)
How can I be sure am saved? How can I know for sure that am a child of God? No external thing, inspite of its token of sacredness can furnish a man with the absolute and infallible proof of salvation. Activities and status such as pastoring, deaconship, and stewardship in a local assembly could at best be secoundary proof of a man's salvation.
Primarily, only two can really know if a man is saved - God and the man that's saved. God knows because He is the one that saved (ITim.2:3, IITim.4:10 ) ; the man that's saved knows he is saved because he has the witness of the Spirit in him, IJohn5:10 "He who beleives in the son of God has the witness in himself..."
Hence, he that's waiting for the rapture to be sure whether he is saved or not might end up missing the rapture, because he might not be saved afterall.
If you are born again, Bible says the witness is in you (IJohn5:10, Rom.8:16). Do you have the witness?
How can I be sure am saved? How can I know for sure that am a child of God? No external thing, inspite of its token of sacredness can furnish a man with the absolute and infallible proof of salvation. Activities and status such as pastoring, deaconship, and stewardship in a local assembly could at best be secoundary proof of a man's salvation.
Primarily, only two can really know if a man is saved - God and the man that's saved. God knows because He is the one that saved (ITim.2:3, IITim.4:10 ) ; the man that's saved knows he is saved because he has the witness of the Spirit in him, IJohn5:10 "He who beleives in the son of God has the witness in himself..."
Hence, he that's waiting for the rapture to be sure whether he is saved or not might end up missing the rapture, because he might not be saved afterall.
If you are born again, Bible says the witness is in you (IJohn5:10, Rom.8:16). Do you have the witness?
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Burning Passion For God (4)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every Spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Eph.1:3)
In Christ we are blessed with all the spiritual blessings in Heavenly Places. Better put, having received Christ, we have received all the blessings of God, for Jesus is the blessing of God personified: he who is indwelt by Christ has got all that God has to offer, for in Him all the fullness of God dwell (Col. 2:9 )
The Greek word "Makarizo", sheds light on it; and it means a state of FULL SATISFACTION because one is indwelt by God. Full satisfaction, not just in quantitative measure, but more importantly, its a state of completeness in which you don't need any other thing. A little wonder Bible speaks of the man born again as a complete man (Col.2:10); because that man has Got all he will ever need in time and eternity having had Christ.
Jesus lifted the veil when He said "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)
Why on earth will you break down and cry in hopelessness; how on earth could you shift your gaze and attention from the treasure that's resident in your very heart; why will you make ephemeral things the object of your most passionate pursuit; its either you don't know the magnitude of what you have or you have forgotten the great implication of God's indwelling presence.
From the day you received Christ through eternity, you have got all you will ever need. Blessed?
In Christ we are blessed with all the spiritual blessings in Heavenly Places. Better put, having received Christ, we have received all the blessings of God, for Jesus is the blessing of God personified: he who is indwelt by Christ has got all that God has to offer, for in Him all the fullness of God dwell (Col. 2:9 )
The Greek word "Makarizo", sheds light on it; and it means a state of FULL SATISFACTION because one is indwelt by God. Full satisfaction, not just in quantitative measure, but more importantly, its a state of completeness in which you don't need any other thing. A little wonder Bible speaks of the man born again as a complete man (Col.2:10); because that man has Got all he will ever need in time and eternity having had Christ.
Jesus lifted the veil when He said "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)
Why on earth will you break down and cry in hopelessness; how on earth could you shift your gaze and attention from the treasure that's resident in your very heart; why will you make ephemeral things the object of your most passionate pursuit; its either you don't know the magnitude of what you have or you have forgotten the great implication of God's indwelling presence.
From the day you received Christ through eternity, you have got all you will ever need. Blessed?
Friday, March 2, 2012
Burning Passion For God (3)
" But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Heb.11:6)
Emphasy is 'here' placed on diligently seeking God.
Seeking, not as of searching for what you don't have, but in context, cultivating fellowship with Him who has found you.
To love God is to seek Him, and is to do it diligently - in ceaseless prayer and constant meditation in His word.
At the very foundation of our love for God lies communion with Him. Whoever you don't have time for or spend time with, you don't really love. Whatever you are preoccupied with that's making you too busy to spend time with God is what you love more than God.
You couldn't come near the saints of yester years and not feel the heat of their desire after God - they tarried with God in solitude, day and night, in and out of season; their hearts were filled with torrent of burning desire after God. What an example!
I recommend the cultivation of this mighty longing after God, for the believer's soul is originally designed by God to be ablaze for Him ...to love and serve Him!
Emphasy is 'here' placed on diligently seeking God.
Seeking, not as of searching for what you don't have, but in context, cultivating fellowship with Him who has found you.
To love God is to seek Him, and is to do it diligently - in ceaseless prayer and constant meditation in His word.
At the very foundation of our love for God lies communion with Him. Whoever you don't have time for or spend time with, you don't really love. Whatever you are preoccupied with that's making you too busy to spend time with God is what you love more than God.
You couldn't come near the saints of yester years and not feel the heat of their desire after God - they tarried with God in solitude, day and night, in and out of season; their hearts were filled with torrent of burning desire after God. What an example!
I recommend the cultivation of this mighty longing after God, for the believer's soul is originally designed by God to be ablaze for Him ...to love and serve Him!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Burning Passion For God (2)
"You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." (Rev. 4:11)
We who re saved, are saved unto fellowship with God (1Cor.1:9, 1John1:3); so that God and His son, Jesus can take the most important place in our lives and affairs (Col.1:18 )
Alas, the ransomed souls have been preoccupied with the affairs of this world and the ephemeral things have become the object of their most passionate pursuit; hence, peace, joy, rest of mind and other excellent virtues of salvation is evading their hearts because GOD is not given His rightful place.
Anything whatsoever, whether work/career, material things or relationship, that is taking preeminence in your life is an idol, and our God is jealous over His own (Ex. 34:14) .
If you are born again, you have the spiritual capacity to love God whole-heartedly and to make Him 'the number one' in your life; anything different from that is perversion of God's original design for His children.
The saying of Augustine, a saint of blessed memory, comes in handy "Thou hast formed us for thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee"
Drop your idols and enthrone God in your heart, ok?
We who re saved, are saved unto fellowship with God (1Cor.1:9, 1John1:3); so that God and His son, Jesus can take the most important place in our lives and affairs (Col.1:18 )
Alas, the ransomed souls have been preoccupied with the affairs of this world and the ephemeral things have become the object of their most passionate pursuit; hence, peace, joy, rest of mind and other excellent virtues of salvation is evading their hearts because GOD is not given His rightful place.
Anything whatsoever, whether work/career, material things or relationship, that is taking preeminence in your life is an idol, and our God is jealous over His own (Ex. 34:14) .
If you are born again, you have the spiritual capacity to love God whole-heartedly and to make Him 'the number one' in your life; anything different from that is perversion of God's original design for His children.
The saying of Augustine, a saint of blessed memory, comes in handy "Thou hast formed us for thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee"
Drop your idols and enthrone God in your heart, ok?
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