Are You truly Born Again?

READ: John 3:1-8
MORE LESSONS: Acts 8:26-39
Bible Reading in One Year: Mark 14-16

It is interesting to know how much the Gospel of Jesus Christ has prevailed in our time. Some years back, it was a sacrilege in many homes to be born again. You automatically became an outcast, an object of ridicule, one that missed his way in life. Today, it is fashionable to be born again. Even those who are yet to be saved hate to be called unbelievers. While this development in our time is glorious, it is necessary to review what it means to be born again so that no one lives on a false assumption that he or she is saved.

It is possible to be very devout, God-fearing, pray regularly, show kindness to fellow human beings, go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and read/study the Bible, yet you are not born again. From our text, Cornelius the Centurion was a devout man. Many Church leaders of our time cannot earn the commendation accorded Cornelius. Now consider the commendation: Cornelius (was) 1) A devout man. 2) Feared God with his entire household. 3) Gave much alms to the people, 4) Prayed to God always. 5) Had a vision in which an angel told him his works were noticed by God. Yet he needed to send to Peter at Joppa who had to tell him the way of salvation.

Another personality that God had to intervene in his matter to get him truly saved was the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-39). This man went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He was even reading the Bible (the book of Isaiah) on his way back to Ethiopia. The Holy Spirit had to prompt Philip the evangelist along Gaza strip to explain the way of salvation to the eunuch. Are you truly born again? The two examples demonstrate the fact that you are not born again because of your good works or religious activities.

What then does it take to be truly born again? One must:
1. Admit and confess Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and put one’s total trust in His name: Rom.10:9-10; 10:13.
2. Turn from following satan and his agents to God: Acts 26: 17-18; 1Thess.1:9.
3. Be made a new person in character and affection by the power of the Holy Spirit: Titus 3:5; 2Cor.5:17.
4. Live a life that is solely dependent on God's Word and His Spirit: John 3:3-8; 1Pet. 1:23; Matt.4:4. You live by the Bible and are led by the Holy Spirit (this is what it is to be born of water and Spirit).

Think about these facts: Are you truly born again? Does your life manifest the issues raised above? You can surrender your life to Jesus today.

Prayer/Action
* Jesus, I confess You as the Son of God. I believe You died to take away my sins. I surrender my life to You. I renounce every connection with satan and his agents. I surrender my body, soul and spirit to Jesus Christ the Son of God. Jesus, welcome into my heart.

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Lord, We owe You more Thanks

READ: Psalm 26:7
MORE LESSONS: 1 chronicles 16:34
Bible Reading in One Year: Mark 11-13

If you find it difficult to give thanks, then you will find it more difficult to give praise. There is a difference between thanksgiving and praise. Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude to whoever has done you good while praise is an expression of warm approval of who a person is. Here we can see that thanksgiving is easier because you say thanks to the person who gives you a gift or who favours you. Now if you cannot say thanks to someone who favours you, how can you praise somebody for doing nothing. It is important to note here that God is qualified to receive both thanks and praise from us; it is even an act of wickedness to fail to give thanks to Gods.

God did not only give you His Son Jesus Christ, He gives you the breath to sustain your life. Your very life is God's property; let's leave poverty and other problems out of it. God has kept your sanity, you are able to think well, you are not mad; you are not bedridden, you are able to walk, blink your eyes at will. You think it’s because you are beautiful or handsome that you are enjoying these benefits? It's the graciousness and faithfulness of God that make you a perpetual debtor to Him. Therefore you must give God thanks as our text affirms, That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Thanksgiving to God must not be done only in the secret but also in the public and must cost you something. You should be able to tell people what God has done, which is a way of evangelising, because when people see how great your God is they will believe Him faster. Tell it far and near what God has done.

You have no right to deny God thanks for a second; in fact thanksgiving to God should be a hobby for every human being. We owe God our lives no matter what condition we find ourselves. Your problems and deficiencies do not reduce God. He remains the King of kings and Lord of lords forever; no matter what happens in Heaven or on the earth or to any man, God is still God. He is not answerable to anybody.

Your constant gratitude to Him is actually for your benefit because it encourages Him to give you even the things you do not ask for plus the ones you ask for. Lord, I give you all the thanks; for life, for the salvation of my soul, and for all You have given me. Jesus, thanks a million.

Prayer/Action
* Lord, give me the grace to give You thanks in all situations.
* Lord, let reasons for thanking You never cease in my life.
* Begin to thank the Lord for all the parts of your body, mention them one by one.

Ministers by Fire

READ: Heb.1:5-9
MORE LESSONS: Exo.3:4
Bible Reading in One Year: Mark 7-10

As we approach the end of age and iniquity and wickedness increase on a daily basis, God is raising an army of ministers and leaders who are clothed with the fire of the Holy Ghost, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Matt.3:11. These are men of fire that will deal with the devil. They are men that are in touch with fire by which they will make strangers to defeat destruction and failure.

The sole assignment of the men of fire is, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me: Acts 26:18. It is my earnest supplication that JAWOM ministers and leaders will be part of these ministers of fire, in Jesus' name.

An encounter with fire should be your uttermost desire in 2014 (Exd.3:1-3, 1Kgs.18:24, Isa.6:6-7, Acts 2:2-3). Fire is dependable and you can count on it wherever there is need for its intervention. It is an instrument, a demonstration of God's power and the evidence of God's appearance. So shall you be in 2014. Your life will reflect the glory and power of God.

However, you must prepare yourself for the fire encounter, like Elijah did, And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench: I kgs.18:36-38. In 2014, you must learn to raise an altar and prepare the sacrifice to be offered on the altar. Water is the Word of God which you apply always and the spirit of prayer and intercession must be cultivated. See you at the top (Acts 17:6, Josh.10:12).

Prayer/Action
* Lord, clothe me with Your fire in this end time, in Jesus’ name.

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Let Your Glory Answer

READ: Matt.15:30-31
MORE LESSONS: Num.16:19-33
Bible Reading in One Year: Mark 4-6

The glory of God represents the excellence of God. It is the beauty of God which reflects His presence and His power. In the Bible, each time God shows forth His glory, divinity manifests and the miraculous beyond the realm of the ordinary take place. When the glory of God answers a man, it swallows up shame and terminates all forms of limitation (Exo.24:17, 31:24, Acts 4:21, Matt.9:8).

In 1Kgs.8:11, the glory of God answered Solomon. God hallowed the temple and perpetually put His name, His heart and His eyes upon the temple for His people. In this year of the Lord, 2014, the name of the Lord, the heart of the Lord and the eyes of the Lord will be upon you, in Jesus' name.

The glory of the Lord appeared and answered for Moses and defended him against opposition and rebellious spirits. Consequently there was instant judgment on the enemies of God (Num.12:10, 16:19-33). The people had a new song when the glory answered for them in Matt.15:30-31 and Matt.9:8. The Bible says, But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. Position yourself to receive the glory this season. All it takes is obedience to the instructions of Jesus, ...if you would believe you would see the glory of God: Jn. 11:40(NKJV).

Prayer/Action
* Father, in every situation of my life this year, let Your glory answer for me.

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