Following a Christian life requires mindful thinking and dedication to the Lord

The Christian way of living is simple and hardly involves making any complicated decisions in life. The most important principles of Christianity involve peace, love, understanding, forgiveness, compassion and faith. To be a good Christian, one must think and do good to others which is why anyone who is willing to accept the Holy Spirit and follow the Holy Scriptures can become a Christian and follow a healthy Christian life. Christianity is one of the biggest organized religions in the world and its popularity should be owed to its simple yet meaningful doctrines. Most devout Christians visit a christian church on every Sabbath day or Sunday to learn more about the holy teachings of the Lord. Besides, many people following the christian life have found their way out of alcohol or drug addiction and those left without families have found their place in many religious Christian homes. Although Christianity has been divided by religious denominations, all of the denominations are held firmly together by faith. To live a proper Christian life, one can follow these four simple steps: 1.Pray every morning thanking the Lord. It's always better you pray based on your own thoughts and not others as a prayer is a spiritual conversation between you and God. Be consciously present while praying and mean what you say to the Lord. You may thank God for the day, for your breath and for your consciousness. 2.Mindful meditation in the morning and evening will also help you spiritually. Your style of meditation need not be based on a specific style. Perform it in whichever way you feel comfortable. You could also sit down quietly somewhere for 5 minutes to an hour if you wish to and just be mindful during this time. 3.It's also very important to mindfully study the Bible at least once a day as this will teach you more about the writings in the Holy Scriptures, which in this case, is the Bible. If there are any doubts in your mind, you can ask your church pastor to clarify your doubts or visit a church in your area. While reading and studying the Bible, pay attention to how the words and truth relate to your life. 4.Communicate in a manner that is befitting of a mindful Christian because if you are mindful, you will not easily get carried away by your own reactions to what others say. A mindful Christian consciously acts as God's witness each day in every communication with other life forms.

Lessons for the Christian Life

We always learn something new in life; this is an important factor in our personal growth, the most important thing about it. This is to become a better person learning the lessons that life puts in our way. Psalms 119:71 it is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statues. Many times, our plans don't get the results we expect, so we can get frustrated, or angry or became sad, or we can feel l lonely, etc. Belive it or not you can get something good from all this, and it you are asking what, well, this are lessons of life, and because of this lessons we can grow spiritualy, many times you will feel humiliated inside of you, but the word of God says that in this circumstances we can learn something good, Nobody likes to go through trails and tribulations, but we are like Gold. In order for the gold to be purified needs to go through a process of pressure and heat. The process uses fire to separate the gold from the stones. You are like gold, you can go through a process of heat and stress in your life, hard times always bring the opportunity of purified the soul. In these circumstances the best thing to do is ask God for an answer, the answer can take time and here is when patience faith and wisdom pray a part in a lesson of life. Isaiah: 1:16-17 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor, Defend the fatherless, and Plead for window. The will of God for us is to leave the bad things beyond, not only that, but to do the good thing from now on, How to apply this lesson to your life? Living the old life behind not necessarily has to do with crime, or lust, or drugs, or extremely dangerous things, but we can take a look at our way of life and see if there is something where we can improve. Let's take a look inside our mind and heart, you can take an inventory of your emotions, jealousy, anger, envy, hate,fear,pride,lowself stem, etc. We can improve in all these areas, Remember Jesus loves you and He wants to help you, if these bible study is of help, there is more, visit http://theonlyway10.blogspot.com

Church Wedding in Christian Matrimony

Everyone thinks of memorable wedding, and always looks for a place that can make the wedding day unforgettable. In the Christian matrimony, churches keep a very important place, which makes the person feel divine and meaningful. With a church wedding, the wedding gets a spiritual dimension, which reflects in the mood of the attendees and the couple. The blessing of god and elders is the main thing, which the couple seek while starting a new life. A church is the place where you can make vows to your partner in front of god and elders. A church wedding is the marriage in the God's eyes, making the relationship and commitment stronger. The weddings in Christians have their roots in their religion, thus the wedding is conducted in a church in the presence of a priest and close relatives. The Christian Matrimony is considered to be a sacred union of two souls, and is believed to be blessed by Christ. The wedding date is fixed with the mutual consent of the families of the bride and groom. The wedding function is formalized after the groom puts a ring into bride's finger, which is sign of affirmation of the marriage, which the groom makes to his bride. A sacred Christian sign is made on the hand of the groom thrice, to keep away the bad omen. The bride is then given bridal showers, where the female relatives and friends gift presents to the bride and they wish a very happy and blissful married life for the bride. At the time of bridal shower in Christian matrimony, the females play games, and make the atmosphere fun filled. The bride then offers a pink cake to other girls. Similarly, a bachelor's party is arranged by the groom for his friends, which is full of enjoyment and fun. On the wedding day, the bride and groom need to fill some legal documents to avoid further complications in paperwork. The basic documents that are required at the time of church wedding in Christian matrimony are: 1. Photocopy of identity card 2. Proof of baptism 3. Birth certificate 4. Certificate of faith and state (requested at the local registry office) The applicants should bear in mind that the documents are valid for 6 months since the issuing date. The churches also conduct pre-marital courses to educate the bride and groom about the intricacies of the Christianity, and teach the couple the importance of family life. However, such workshops need permission from the pastor, and prior booking to avoid any type of chaos. On the day of the wedding the priest who is conducting the wedding gives the couple a certificate of the celebration of marriage. This certificate must be served in the civil registry of the place where they were married and the authority will give them the family book. Witnesses Godparents and witnesses play an important role in the Christian matrimony. The witnesses are the people who are not the part of the families of bride or groom, and officially confirm the alliance of the couple with their signature. Although the importance of a witness has lost importance over time, but it is indispensable at the time of church wedding. The church wedding involves a number of rituals and demand commitment from both sides. The priest chants hymns and recites reading from the Bible and asks both bride and groom separately, that if they accept each other as their life partner. After acceptance of the Christian matrimony proposal, the couple exchanges wedding rings, sign on a register as husband and wife, and leave the church holding each other's arms.

Christian Marriage Supremacy, Words Of Love

In Christianity, the best course of action to take sometimes is not clear until you can list and consider your alternatives. The following paragraphs should help clue you in to what the experts think is significant in Christian love and ethics. Supremacy in Christian marriage - this does not mean what it hints toward. Rather, the gist of Christian marriage supremacy leans toward the lack of bitterness. In the books of Ephesians and Colossians mankind faces these same obstacles, as the apostle Paul sheds his loving enlightenment upon them. Even today, we can benefit from such wisdom, as per Paul's guidance, which advises us to put on the sash of perfection. Yet, no human being is, or can be perfect. So, what is the true meaning of this text? Put simply, we are to walk in love at all times possible. And, ironically still, God gives us the freedom to decide exactly how often or how much love we wish to spread. Although the advice of Paul in these particular scriptures does not directly mention Christian marriage supremacy, part of God's awesome design seems to always bear us more fruit than we intend, expect, or sometimes even search for. By example, what happens when a man or woman attempts to wear a girdle of perfection in the context of Christian love? The surprisingly delightful answer is that he or she not only pleases the spouse, but also satisfies God's plan for human beings on this earth, fellow brethren included. In other words, via old teachings, but still in a new context, we have the guidance from God to come together in peace - like the well-knit fabric; we put our social lives in proper order. Thus, Christian marriage supremacy receives that positive push toward righteousness which it so deftly needs in today's troubled world. If men and women can walk in love... when family members do the same... when total strangers engage this principle... then the supreme order of Christian marriage receives a refreshing restoration. One previous article by today's author starts out by saying that... True Christians Never Lie, Cheat, or Steal. This statement actually appears in question format. And, the answer, sad to say, is that human beings of nearly any race, creed, or spiritual denomination must indeed forego the temptation to lie, cheat, or steal. The information on Christian marriage supremacy presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about Christian marriage ethics [http://christian-marriage-advice.health.officelive.com/SavingYourChristianMarriage.aspx] or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes. Part of man's being comprises compellingly mixed nature. And, surely, when encouraged or nurtured enough, non spiritual deeds do occur. And just think of how deeply this can affect Christian marriage supremacy, as husbands and wives so easily encounter myriads of trouble spots during the course of marital union. Nevertheless, we are NOT here without help and guidance in these matters.

Christ and the Gospel in Ezekiel

Christ and the Gospel in Ezekiel "On the fifth day of the month, in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was upon me. I looked, and behold, a sweeping wind came from the north, and a great cloud was in it, with a surrounding brightness and fire flashing forth from it. In its midst was something like the appearance of amber in the middle of the fire, and a brightness in it." (Ezekiel 1:2-4) St. Gregory writes that Ezekiel recognized the Incarnation of the Only Begotten when he saw the hand of the Lord. The amber signifies Christ, who "tempered" His divinity by taking on humanity, that humanity by grace might take on divinity. "Like amber in the fire, God is made man in persecution." "In the midst, there was as it were the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance, and the likeness of a man upon them. Each had four faces, and each had four wings. Their legs were straight, and their feet were winged. There were sparks like gleaming brass, and their wings were light. The hand of a man was underneath their wings on their four sides." (Ezekiel 1:5-9) The early and historic church understands here that Ezekiel identifies the four living creatures as cherubim (see Ezekiel 10:9-16), the guardians of the throne of God (Ex 25:10-22; 3KG 6:23-28). Like those of St. John's vision (see Rev 4:6-9), they are seen by the Fathers to typify the Four Evangelists, while their unity in the spirit (vv. 12, 20) illustrates the spread of the gospel. "This was the likeness of their faces: the face of a man, the face of a lion on the right side of the foursome, the face of an ox on the left, and the face of an eagle." (Ezekiel 1:10) St. Gregory the Great comments that the man is Matthew, because he begins his Gospel with Christ's genealogy (Mt 1:1). The lion is Mark, "because of the crying in the wilderness" (Mk 1:1). The ox is Luke, "because he started with a sacrifice" (Lk 1:8). The eagle is John, who "stretched toward the very substance of divinity" (Jn 1:1). Gregory also see in them types of Christ, who became a man in the Incarnation, an ox on the Cross, a lion in the Resurrection, and an eagle in the Ascension. Finally, says Gregory, they symbolize "every one of the elect, who are perfect in the way of God," whose virtues are reason, self sacrifice, fortitude, and contemplation of heavenly things. "In the midst of the living creatures there was an appearance as of burning coals of fire, as an appearance of lamps turning among the living creatures. There was the brightness of fire, and out of the fire lightning came forth." (Ezekiel 1:13) The burning coals, writes St. Gregory, are "holy men" (see Is 6:6). The lamps signify the light of the gospel (see Jdg 7:16). "I looked and behold, there was one wheel on the earth next to each living creature with its four faces. The appearance of the wheels was like the appearance of beryl, and each of the four had one likeness; and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel. They went on their four sides, and did not turn when they went. Neither did their backs turn, and they were high. I saw them, and the backs of all four were full of eyes all around. When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Wherever the cloud happened to be, there was the spirit ready to go. The living creatures went, and the wheels went with them, for the spirit of life was in the wheels. When the living creatures went, the wheels went; when the living creatures came to a stop, the wheels stopped; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up with them, for the spirit of life was in the wheels." (Ezekiel 1:14-20) The wheels signify Holy Scripture, and the wheel within a wheel illustrates that "the New Testament lay hidden by allegory in the letter of the Old Testament". "Then I looked, and behold, there was a hand reaching out to me, and the roll of a book was in it. He unrolled it before me, and there written on the inside and the outside were words of lamentation and mourning and woe. (Ezekiel 2:9-10) The roll of a book signifies Holy Scripture, which Christ unrolled (Mk 4:34; Lk 24:25). Scripture "is written within by allegory, and without by history; within through spiritual understanding, but without through the plain sense of the letter still befitting the weak". Lamentation and mourning indicate repentance, while woe points to the Final Judgment. *** These verses above are some great verses from this past week of reading. As you can see, these verses are of great value to your understanding of Scripture! So please never forget the purpose behind the COCG mission to increase daily scripture reading amongst the body: "We cannot know Jesus personally or his plan for our lives without reading the Bible." (St. Jerome 347-420 AD) And also, that only a return to the Scriptures of the early and historic Church will produce the kind of results of which St. Jerome speaks. Modern Bibles with their notes based on silly fables simply won't cut it! Indeed, with our Spiritual Fitness Program, you will engage yourself in reading Scripture as it was read for 1900 years, simply and easily through our unique New Testament compilation which contains over 1,250 notes based on the teaching of the early and historic church. As you consider participating in the Spiritual Fitness Program, remember that you are not a sinner by nature, but are created good (Genesis 1:31) and choose, of your own free will, to humble yourself and faithfully accept the one and only way into Heaven, Jesus Christ; or choose, of your own free will, to blaspheme the heavenly order and force your own blotting out of the Book of Life. To choose the first way of those "poor in spirit" saints who through their example have provided a good report, sign up here to engage yourself in this most noble task of building your relationship with Jesus Christ.

How the Spirit Forms the Real Christ in Us

If we want to give the real Christ and not what we think is the Christ to others, especially to our young people, we need to be (not just have the) real Christ for them. To be real Christ for others cannot be done by our own effort. This is done by the action of the Spirit of God. We discuss now how the Spirit of God forms the real Christ in us. In this way we can grow in our knowledge of spiritual development, how the spirit develops in us so that we, as real Christ, can give him to others. Knowing how the Spirit works in us is like knowing how the wind operates. Knowing how the wind operates or functions gave the Wright Brothers the principles and techniques with which to fly the first man-made, power driven, and continuous heavier than air flight on December 17, 1903. Knowing how the Spirit works in us will enable us to understand how he forms Christ in us, and we will be able to use this knowledge so that indeed the real Christ can be quickly and effectively formed in us so that he (Christ) can give himself to others. There have been many periods in our history when it was clearly seen that the Spirit of God worked in an extraordinary manner. From these periods we can learn how he still works in us. We can name some of these periods: the Pentecost experience of the disciples of Jesus after he left this earth, the Protestant reformation in the 16th century, the Great Awakening in America during the 17th century and the Religious Revivals in England during the 18th century. During these periods the real Christ was known by the people and passed on to others. This in turn changed individual lives and entire societies. Equality of races was established, abuses by church leaders were controlled, slavery was abolished, and the workers were given the enjoyment of their rights. Intense Praying Expecting God to Do Something New The first phenomenon in these periods was that the Spirit led individuals and groups to prayer. He convinced these individuals and groups of the necessity of praying. Now praying during these times was not just a matter of asking God for something. It was a matter of waiting upon God, listening to him, with an eager expectation that he was going to give these individuals and groups instruction what to do. There was an attitude of receptivity of what God would do with them. The people were like a lump of clay eagerly waiting to be formed into a pot. Loving and Reverential Study of God's Word Secondly, during these periods of great revivals there was a return to the written word of God. Individuals and groups pondered on the written word of God. There was this movement to return to the written word of God amidst the incursions of a multiplicity of traditions and man-made regulations. Urgent, Vigorous Preaching of God's Word Thirdly, as a result of the first two factors above, during these periods of extraordinary manifestation of the Spirit's work, there was vigorous preaching of the word of God. People were convicted of their sinfulness during this preaching. It was not a preaching to make their lives better. It was a preaching to completely change their lives. These three, 1) prayer with a sense of fellowship with God and eager expectancy for his instructions, 2) serious, loving study on the written word of God, 3) and preaching with a sense of urgency and deep conviction to change radically, are simple things and yet they are the means that the Spirit of God uses to form the real Christ in us. To sum up then our discussion, the Spirit of God forms the real Christ in us by leading us to a deeper experience of prayer, to a personal, profound understanding of the written word of God, and to listen to vigorous, urgent, life-changing preaching. These three factors are essential to a genuine spiritual development.

Isaiah Proclaims the Christ

Isaiah Proclaims the Christ as told by Eusebius "Lord, who hath believed our report? And the arm of the Lord to whom hath it been revealed? We proclaimed him before as a child, as a root in a thirsty soil." (Isaiah 53:1-2a) Eusebius (263 -339 AD) wrote the following in his book The Proof of the Gospel, in explanation of these passages from Isaiah: This miracle of our Lord's birth Isaiah teaches sometimes mysteriously, and sometimes more plainly. The verses above are "mysteriously". Aquila interpreted these verses thus: "And he shall be proclaimed as a suckling before his face, and as a root from an untrodden ground." And Theodotion: "And he shall go up as a suckling before him, and as a root in a thirsty land." For in this passage, the prophet having mentioned "the Arm of the Lord," which was the Word of God, says: "In his sight we have proclaimed (him) as a sucking child, and one nurtured at the breast, and as a root from untrodden ground." The child that is "a suckling and nurtured at the breast" exactly therefore shews forth the birth of Christ, and "the thirsty and untrodden land" the Virgin that bare Him, whom no man had known, from whom albeit untrodden sprang up "the blessed root," and "the sucking child that was nurtured by the breast." But this prophecy was darkly and obscurely given: the same prophet explains his meaning more plainly, when he says: "Behold a Virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name God with us," (Isaiah 7:14) for Emmanuel signifies this. Such were the thoughts of the Hebrews long ago about the birth of Christ among men. Do they, then, describe in their prophecy some famous prince or tyrant, or some one in any other class of those who have great power in earthly things? One cannot say so, for no such man appeared. But as He was in His life, so they prophesied that He would be, in no way failing in truth. For Isaiah said: "We proclaimed him before, as a child, as a root in thirsty soil." We hope you enjoyed understanding the biblical proclamations of Isaiah through the eyes of the early church. The more you study the history of the early and historic church the more you'll see their depth of understanding regarding the Christ. Here's one more tidbit for today (and notice how it was understood that all had been accomplished, and how, generation after generation, they understood that we live in the enduring fulfillment of Christ's great victory): The Prophets foretold the coming of a prophet and the religion of a lawgiver like Moses, his race, his tribe, and the place he should come from, and they prophesied the time of his appearance, his birth, and death, and resurrection, as well as his rule over all the Gentiles, and all those things have been accomplished, and will continue to be accomplished in the sequence of events, since they find their completion in our Lord and Savior alone. Eusebius (263 - 339 AD) from The Proof of the Gospel And now my usual reminder to never forget the purpose behind the COCG mission to increase daily scripture reading amongst the body: "We cannot know Jesus personally or his plan for our lives without reading the Bible." (St. Jerome 347-420 AD) And also, that only a return to the Scriptures of the early and historic Church will produce the kind of results of which St. Jerome speaks. Modern Bibles with their notes based on silly fables simply won't cut it! Indeed, with our Spiritual Fitness Program, you will engage yourself in reading Scripture as it was read for 1900 years, simply and easily through our unique New Testament compilation which contains over 1,250 notes based on the teaching of the early and historic church. As you consider participating in the Spiritual Fitness Program, remember that you are not a sinner by nature, but are created good (Genesis 1:31) and choose, of your own free will, to humble yourself and faithfully accept the one and only way into Heaven, Jesus Christ; or choose, of your own free will, to blaspheme the heavenly order and force your own blotting out of the Book of Life. To choose the first way of those "poor in spirit" saints who through their example have provided a good report, sign up here to engage yourself in this most noble task of building your relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of the Kingdom

God purposed before the foundation of the Earth to bring forth many sons to glory. So, God created Adam in His image as His sonis (Luke 3:38) and into the likenessis of His divine nature. He was the embodiment of divine dignity and royal nobility manifested in the graciousness of His love and magnificence of His divine humility. When the Serpent breathed his venomous pride - the desire to be like God, "knowing good from evil" (Genesis 3:5) - into the hearts of our first parents, they fell from their high estate of sonship into the pit of pride and self-exaltation of the Serpent, the hell of separation from God. Though our first parents fell from their glory in Christ, their Creator, as sons of God into the likeness of sinful flesh, God never deviated from His original purpose, to bring forth a harvest of sons, but perpetuated His vision in Christ. Christ's vision to see His seed (Isaiah 53:10) was fulfilled on the cross. The blood of the Lamb is the seal of the New Covenant, which is the guarantee that men will, one day, walk as fully manifested sons of God on the face of the earth. By one offering He has perfected those who are being sanctified. We who were once far off were brought nigh by the blood of Christ. As many as receiving Christ, God places in the body of His Son, they become one Spirit with Him because they are joined to Christ and they have been empowered in Christ to grow up from infants (Greek: paidion) to children (Greek: teknon) and eventually into the sons (Greek: huios) of God, to the measure of the fullness of Christ. The vision of God and of Christ is our vision, which is to know God as Father and to fully mature in Christ as His sons. Christ's life is the truth about and the way to follow toward our adoption as sons, which is His glorious image. The life of Jesus the pattern Son is the vision and prophecy about the road that you must travel to mature into a son of God. To study the life of Jesus is to interpret the prophecy concerning your life because He is the first among many brothers and you will have to follow along the same way if you wish to mature into sonship and to be glorified in your body with the glory which Jesus had before the world was made. At the tender age of six weeks Simeon prophesied over Jesus. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising for many in Israel, and a sign which will be spoken against (Luke 2:34, emphasis added). Just as Jonah was a sign pointing to the resurrection of Christ, so, is Jesus' life for a sign given to this generation. And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, "This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation" (Luke 11:29-30). Jesus is a sign that points to many sons of God that will come into His same glory. He is a sign which will be spoken against. For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist (2 John 1:7). Today, many, even heathens, acknowledge Jesus' coming in the flesh as a historical fact and they also believe He will physically come again. However, not many believe He is coming again in the flesh of His body of believers. Just as God fashioned Adam in His image likewise He is bringing forth a new man into the image of His son. To deny that Jesus is coming forth in the flesh of His Church is deception and the manifestation of an antichrist spirit. Even the spirit of antichrist has subtly infiltrated the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Satan do not mind the Church to place much emphasis on the physical coming of our Lord; even the secular world broadcast many end-time messages on TV programs based on the pre-tribulation rapture theory. The Church is neglecting the message of the Lord coming in the flesh of His believers, which is the undiluted message of the cross. That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me (Philippians 3:10-12, emphasis added). This is the message of the cross, to conform to His suffering, death and resurrection by laying hold of Christ with the same intensity that He he laid hold of us; the message that needs to be restored to the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Satan hates this message because it spells out his defeat. When Christ appears bodily in His saints Satan will be bounded for a thousand years. Off cause Christ will also appear physically. In the mean while let us live our lives, like Paul did, as if we have attained to resurrection life and perfection, knowing that it will be ours at the Last trumpet. That is called faith. Not only must the message of the Church be restored but also the fivefold ministry gifts. Till we all come to the unity of the faith of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13). The great commissioning that Christ gave to the Church was not only to make converts but disciples and to bring forth the Church of our Lord to the measure of the fullness of Christ. It is to invest more into people than in structures of buildings and organizations. Both are necessary but the emphasis should be much more on equipping the saints. The gospel of the Kingdom of God will be easier to understand if you grasp the three major events that drew public attention in the life of a Hebrew hhhhewboy, which applied also to Jesus' life as a Hebrew, which also have spiritual significance in your life. The first major event in Jesus' life wasHis birth and circumcision on the eighth day after His birth. Jesus was born a ebrew boyboy Hebrew hhhhewboy. On the basis of His nationality He was included under the Covenant of the Law, God made with His people Israel. Thus, by virtue of His Hebrew heredity He belonged to God's covenant people. To be part of God's family, under the New Covenant, you need to be born from the Spirit of God. Who is born of the flesh belongs to earthy families and who is born of the Spirit belongs to God's family. Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:5-6). Those outside of Christ have no part in the New Covenant that was made in the sacrificial blood of the Lambis bloodb. They cannot see the kingdom of God nor enter in. Traditionally Jesus' circumcision ceremony composed of three main parts which was performed by a priest at the temple: Firstly, The priest would recite a blessing over Jesus that probably goes like this, "Praised are you, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us in the ritual of circumcision." Then Jesus' physical circumcision was performed and Joseph most probably recites the following blessing thanking God for bringing the child into the covenant of Abraham: "Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with your commandments to make him (Jesus) enter into the covenant of Abraham our father." And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus [the Lord is salvation], the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb (Luke 2:21). Jesus' a Jesus' circumcision was the surety that He would fulfill the covenant between God and Abraham and also fulfill the Old Covenant and make it honorable. And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you (Genesis 17:11). For the believer in Christ circumcision takes place in the heart. and the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendents, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live (Deuteronomy 30:76, emphasis added). To live according to the flesh is death but according to the Spirit life and peace. Circumcision symbolizes the cutting away of the fleshly nature. Those who live according to the dictates of the flesh are enmity against God and cannot please Him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world (1 John 2:21). The uncircumcised of heart always resist the Holy Spirit. If you want the blessing of Abraham to come upon you do the works of Abraham. Through faith Abraham was circumcised; do you like wise and be circumcised in the flesh of your heart. The knife of circumcision is the word. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Our uncircumcised hearts are manifested in error. Jesus answered and said unto them, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God (Matthew 22:29). Secondly, the blessing over the wine (Kiddush) is said and a drop of wine is put into the baby's mouth. A prayer for his well-being is recited, followed by a longer prayer that gives him his name. The prayer probably was the following, "Creator of the Universe. May it be your will to regard and accept this performance of circumcision, as if I had brought this baby before Your throne. And in Your abundant mercy, through Your holy angels, give a pure heart to Jesus son of the Most High (perhaps son of Joseph [John 1:45 and John 6:42]) who was just circumcised in honor of Your great Name. May his heart be wide open to comprehend Your holy Law, that he may learn and teach, keep and fulfill Your Law." From that day forward they called Him Jesus the name that was given to Joseph by the angel (Matthew 1:20-21). The name (Hebrew: sign, mark with which one is marked) Jesus and all other names by which He is known signifies His glory - the purpose for His existence. Circumcision of heart includes the discovery of the purposes for your life on earth that you may run your race and completes your course, not being disobedient to the heavenly vision which God placed in your heart. You shall be known by God's anointing in your life. Thirdly, there is the Seudat Mitvah, which is a celebration meal that is required by Jewish Law. In this way the joy of a new life in this world is connected with the joy of sharing food with family and friends. Jesus' meat was to do the will of Him that sent Him and to finish His work. For the joy (celebration) that was set before Him, He endured the cross. His flesh is meat indeed and His blood is drink indeed. To partake (celebrate) of the table of the Lord with an uncircumcised heart is to partake of it in an unworthy manner. Breaking of bread also refers to return to New Testament Church living but the glory of the Church of the kingdom of God will come in greater glory than that of the Early Church. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness [as in a celebration] and simplicity of heart (Acts 2:46). Breaking of bread with circumcised hearts also refers to divide the word of God rightly. Be diligent to present yourself approved [circumcised of heart] to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed [uncircumcised of heart], rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Typical the circumcision ceremony was held in the morning because Jewish tradition says one should be eager to perform the circumcision ceremony. As a child Jesus grew up and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him (Luke 2:40). We should be eager to perform the circumcision of heart. Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord (Romans 12:11, emphasis added). We also need to become strong in spirit, filled with wisdom. Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principals of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment (Hebrews 6:1-2). Not growing spiritually is a symptom of an uncircumcised heart. The second major event in Jesus' life was His Bar Mitzvah. Bar Mitzvah means "son of obligation," in other words the person is now obligated to keep the commandments of God (mitzvoth of the Torah). Bar Mitzvah is a status. A Hebrew boy automatically becomes Bar Mitzvah when he turns thirteen years old whether there is a Bar Mitzvah celebration or not. Jesus' Bar Mitzvah also signified the time when He became an apprentice under His father in the family business. Joseph was a carpenter (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3), thus, his family business was carpentry. So, Jesus at his Bar Mitzvah must have entered with him into an apprenticeship to become a carpenter in view for Him, as oldest son in the family, to inherit it at His adoption ceremony.

The Love Of God In Jesus Christ

First, I want to remind you that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the truth and do every evil thing they desire. This will be their argument; Jesus promised to come back, did he? Then where is he? Why, as far back as anyone can remember, everything has remained exactly the same since the world was first created. They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth up from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the world with a mighty flood. And God as also commanded that the heavens and the earth will be consumed by fire on the day of judgment, when ungodly people will perish. But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is given more time for everyone to repent. 2Pet 3:3-9 Since the fall of man (First Adam) everyone born of woman is a sinner. Gen 3. Rom 3:23. Moses law was made for sinners. De10:4. The Law of Moses was given to us so that we will know and understand that we are all sinners. Josh 8:31. God do not condemn anyone to death but the Law does. Rom 8:1, De 28:1 Therefore, individual that knows he/she has sinned is condemned to death in his/her heart according to the law Rom 6:23, Ex 20:1 You will be judge according to your deeds, that is, the law will condemn you in your heart (you can't hide from yourself) according to what you have done whether in the open or secret. Mal 3:5 But you can escape the condemnation through the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus (the second Adam) Jn 3:16. This opportunity is open to all; every individual who will first acknowledge, repent and then forsake their sins will be saved. There is no alternative to this rule. 1Jn 4:9 in this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. The love of God in you will facilitate your love towards others, it will enable you place importance on others, to love your neighbor as yourself, it is the love of God that makes you give time, money, gift, property and possession without ulterior motives, it gives courage, boldness to speak to others that walk in the path of death for their souls to be converted, it separate you from greed, anger, selfishness, unrighteousness (Gal 5:19-23) makes you wake up in the middle of the night to intercede or pray for others facing various problems, nations going through civil war and the expansion or growth in the body of Christ. It makes you go beyond obligation or sacrifice for others; it makes you see the importance of God in the life of individual that comes into your life, the willingness to give without holding back and the ability to go to God whenever needs arise. So you see, that it is only the love of God that can make us live above sin, obedience to the words of God is embedded in the love of God in you. Friends you have to be educated to know this, read books especially the bible to enable you understand what we preached, so that you can also stand and teach others. Perhaps you are reading this and you are yet to give your life to Jesus, there is no better moment than this; God is patiently waiting for your invitation; seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near, let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon Isa 55:6-7. If you do not invite him, he will not come, He will not intrude into your privacy until He is invited, I am sure his is waiting for you now, His desire is to bless you, not to punish you, why not call him now, right here, right now, and he will answer and accept your invitation. God blessed you as you respond to this call in Jesus name; Amen.

The Gospel Of Christ - The Gospel Of The Love And Grace Of God

What is the gospel of Christ? What is Jesus known for? You will understand and appreciate the Lord more when you know the platform of His teachings. Jesus was sent by God with a message for the liberation of mankind. And this article tells you what the gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ is all about. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life - John 3:16 (NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ - John 1:14-15, 17 (NKJV) The gospel of Christ is the gospel of the Love and Grace of God. Jesus came with a message of love and grace, and these two ingredients change the way of life of anyone who receives them. They make it easy for you to live a victorious life on earth. Man was struggling to obey God, defeat the devices of the enemy and enjoy life until Jesus came. Christ came and brought hope and victory to man. Gospel of the love of God The heart of man is deceitful and desperate wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) and so incapable of loving people without an atom of selfishness. This made it difficult for man to relate well with themselves. This was not the original nature of man. Man was created in the image of God and had the nature of God until sin came in through Adam and corrupted him. So, God for the love He had for man sent Jesus to help man out of his predicament (John 3:16). Jesus died and rose again for the redemption of man (Matthew 20:28). And while on earth He preached and showed the love of God to humanity. Now we can love God and man because God first loved us - 1 John 4:19. God for the love He had for man gave His son Jesus first that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life - John 3:16 Before Jesus came it was an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but now it is turn the other cheek for another slap; before it was love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but now it is love your enemies too and bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you - Matthew 5:38-48 Is this not weakness? Not at all, rather it is great strength! It takes a lot of strength and boldness to be able to love with the love of God. He who loves like this is highly superior to him that is receiving the love. Christ showed an example for us to follow in that while we were yet sinners, He who knew no sin, died for us - Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:21. Imagine what the world would be like if humanity loves like God! It will be peace, peace and abundant peace! The good news is that you can increase the effect of this love of God thus far by you also loving like Jesus loves. There is tremendous power emitted when you love with the love of Christ. Many of the miracles that took place in the life of Jesus occurred after He was moved with compassion towards the recipients. For example in Matthew 14:14: when Jesus came out from where He was, He saw a great multitude; He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. Also, it was the love of God at work in Christ that made Him ask the Father to forgive His crucifiers while on the cross - Luke 23:34. And today this love that drove Him to the cross has redeemed many back to God and has reproduced itself in multitudes too. God is saying through the gospel of Christ that you can achieve more by loving people with God's kind of love; you will live longer and prosper more by loving like Jesus. In addition, victory over sin will become a reality when you love with the love of the Lord (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) and the world would be a better place to live in. The gospel of the grace of God God knowing that man would also struggle with "loving like Christ" also sent Jesus with the message of grace. While the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ - John 1:17. Jesus came full of grace and of His fullness have we all received grace - John 1:14-15 Grace of God is the unearned, undeserved favour and spiritual blessing of God - John 1:17 (AMP). Also, it is God working in you, through you and with you to achieve a task. The grace of God enables you to enjoy all that redemption has to offer you, and it helps you to do or achieve what could have been impossible with your ability. Jesus operated by the grace of God; the grace of God was upon Him at birth (Luke 2:40) and by the grace of God He went to the cross and died the most shameful death for us to be saved from our sins - Hebrews 2:9. By the grace of God, Christ started and completed His assignment on earth successfully. God's grace makes available to you the power and the ability of God. The grace of God puts you ahead of negative situations. You are saved by grace and you overcome by grace. A life of holiness and righteous is easy by the grace of God, because God will be working in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). It will no more be by your power or might but by the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6) who lives in you. Therefore God will work in you to love people with the love of God. Paul, a great apostle of Christ, attributed his success to the grace of God that was at work in him - 1 Corinthians 15:10. The grace enabled him to work harder than any of the other apostles. And when he asked the Lord to remove a thorn in his flesh, He told him that His grace was all he needed, for His strength and power are made perfect and are most effective in his weakness - 2 Corinthians 12:9. God said that if He didn't spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, that He will with Him freely give us all things - Romans 8:32. These blessings come to us by the grace of God because we can't earn them and we don't deserve them; they are purely spiritual blessings of God which He delivers to us through Christ. In conclusion, the gospel of Christ is loaded with great blessings enveloped by the love of God and delivered to you by the grace of God. Ngozi Nwoke is a teacher, speaker and a counselor. She has a passion to teach people how to enjoy peace, God's love and christian living for more fulfilling life. Want more fulfilling life? Subscribe for free email updates today. http://stepswithgod.com

Key to the Abundant Life

Luke 6:27 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.
28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.
29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.
30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back.
31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
32 "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!
33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!
34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
37 "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back"
39 Then Jesus gave the following illustration: "Can one blind person lead another? Won't they both fall into a ditch?
40 Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.

Recently I have been mulling over what vs. 38 truly means. If you are like me, and have grown up in pentecostal or charismatic circles, then you have heard this verse over and over again. It seems to be the mantra of any televangelist out there. But is their interpretation right? I highly doubt it given the context of the verse. As I was praying, I remembered the verse as it was written in the King James version. You got to love how sometimes that much loved version brings certain things to light.

38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. KJV

What leapt out at me was the word bosom! The bosom is the place where our soul and spirit reside! Now that makes a whole lot more sense considering the passage than some type of financial reward! If we give, then our soul shall prosper! It will overflow! And others will give back to keep it full! Now to me, that sounds like the type of deal no one can pass up!

So, what is it that we need to give in order to have this abundant life, this life filled to overflowing in our bosom?

There are a lot of little things in this passage that we could list exhaustively in our attempt to strain every little piece of meat out of this passage, but I don't think that is the intent of Jesus. I am convinced that we as believers many times in an effort to make sure we are walking right, make our lists of do's and don'ts and miss the real intent of what our Master is saying. Remember our relationship with Jesus and with one another is a matter of the intents of the heart, not the correct application of some teaching. We can do everything right, and still totally miss it because in our sacrifice of trying to be right, we end up being wrong in our heart attitude in doing right. I hope that makes sense.

So let me try to point out some big picture issues in this passage that will help us to both remember what to do when the time comes, and also give us the ability to discern what is the right thing to do when it is not obvious.

As I see it this passage boils down to 3 things. Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness.

Jesus said to Love your enemies 3 times. Yikes! At times it is hard enough to love your friends, especially those that are trying to your soul, let alone your enemies. I know in my own life, loving those that I call "God's problem children" is a real stretching issue for me. It is easy to love the upbeat, the positive people, and the ones that seem to have all of their marbles still left. But the whiners, complainers, mentally unstable, and those that are chronic users, those are the tough ones, let alone those that set out to hurt me or try to cause evil to happen to me!

Again 3 times Jesus talks of doing good or being compassionate to those who are not our most favorite people. I believe this talks of acceptance. Accepting that they are not the type of people we click with, accepting them and their human frailties, and may I say it, accepting them as people that Jesus loves, even if we disagree with their sin or lifestyle no matter what it is. Notice that Jesus said that when we do this, we are being like children of the Most High by being kind even though they are unthankful and wicked. That is acceptance. Accepting that is the way they are at this point and not allowing their actions to change how you treat someone.

Finally Jesus talks 3 times of either people taking something from you, or you lending to them without wanting repaid. The definition of unforgiveness is a debt that is owed. When people hurt us, take from us, demand things from us or steal from us, they incur a debt in our hearts. Jesus is saying to not allow debts to be built up. Forgiveness is writing off the debt and calling it unable to be paid. Read the parable of the unforgiving steward to further understand this concept.

Now if you stop reading here and try to start living this principle, you will fall into bondage. Because this is not all of the picture. Right now we have just seen what it is that we are supposed to give. If you stop now you will try to do it in your own strength and out of your own resources. You will fail miserably! So keep with me here and let me show you how you can do this and not get drained.

Matt 10:5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.

Now I do not want to get into the specifics of this passage but just a principle. What were the disciples supposed to give? What they received! Get a hold of that! Jesus told them to give what they received. And I believe that what we are supposed to give in the Luke passage falls under this context as well. As you receive the Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness of the Father, then you are to give it back out!

Now I know, I know, you are saying in your head, I know that God loves me, accepts me, and has forgiven me because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. THIS IS NOT ABOUT HEAD KNOWLEDGE!!!!!!

Do you really know it, I mean deep down know it in your heart? Instead of singing the song, Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, do you have not just an outside source for that knowledge but an inner witness?

I was saved over 20 years before I really realized that God loved me personally. I had been a pastor, led many people to Jesus, did many good things and was doing my best to live the life, yet I did not really believe in my heart that He loved me personally. How could He? I knew I was not perfect, and in fact a sinner. A saved sinner but still a sinner. I went through divorce, was having big difficulties with my kids, and had gone through some bad relationships where I had suffered rejection from women. I got to the point I felt I was not worth being loved. It was at that time that while I was driving in my truck that Jesus spoke to me in that still small voice and said "Duke, how much do I love you?" And I responded with head knowledge and said "Unconditionally Lord". Then He asked "Then why don't you love yourself if I think you are worth being loved?" That question stunned me! For someone who was trying to be like Jesus, I was sure missing it on that point! Then He asked me "How much do I accept you?" I again responded with head knowledge, "Well Lord I am accepted in the beloved". Can you guess what His next question was? You know it! "Why do you not accept yourself if I have accepted you?" These two things led me to the point where I could love, accept and forgive myself for all the things I had and will fail in. I received what I could then give!

I find today with many people, that they really do not believe in their heart of hearts that they are loveable, that they can be accepted for who they really are, including those areas where they have clay feet, and forgive themselves for not being the perfect model of a believer that they would want to be. And since they cannot receive this into their life, they have nothing to give to others.

I urge you to deal with yourself. Deal with coming to an understanding of how great the love of God is for you. How He has beautifully and wonderfully made you for His purposes, and that your human frailties do not ruffle His feathers or plans for you. That He knew every sin you would commit, past, present, and future and still chose to love you unconditionally and forgive you by the blood of Jesus. And that He would do it again even today, even though you have failed, or messed up or been a big donkey like me!

I am now a recipient of that abundant life because of giving what has been given to me. Shortly after this experience I had, an epiphany if you will, I was given the opportunity to give love. Off and on over an 9 year period the Lord would ask me to give to someone who did not give back, who did things that hurt me deeply, and who time and time again would do things that would force me to forgive emotional debt. It was one of the most challenging times I have ever went through. But God's word is true and I can tell you today, that I am receiving back, that I am being loved and that my bosom is truly running over. It is such a joy! And I know that if I had not done the loving without being loved in return, I would never have experienced what I am now experiencing today. My cup runs over!

So I implore you, by the mercies of God, deal with yourself, receive those things you need to receive from the Father, trust Him that He knows what He is doing, and that you no longer need to hide, protect, or run from the life He wants to give you.

Pastor Duke Taber is the pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Pine Haven Wyoming and is the author of the weekly column in the Moorcroft Leader called Taber's Truths and now can be found online at [http://www.taberstruths.com]

How to Know God's Plan for Your Life

How many of us have hit a midlife crisis? We ponder, and we say to ourselves, where have these years gone? You have been running on the treadmill of life and now you're in your forties and you hit a wall, you look back at your life and you have gotten married, got yourself a job or career, a mortgage, in the mean time you have had a couple of children, you find now your life is divided by two loves, your spouse and children all wanting a piece of you, in the meantime your weighted down sinking towards the bottom of the ocean, blowing bubbles, with a caption that says help me, a quiet desperation? Or, you have had all the above but are now divorced, looking back on your life you wonder what went wrong, everything seems like it is an illusion, a part of you that was happy, content, but is now a blur, a bubble. Or you have been ground to dust you have spent too long in the ring with the devil, ducking and diving, but here comes the sucker punch and as you go down, you here the count 1,2,3,4,5,6..10 and now the bell, except it is the death null DING DONG ong,ong,ong,. You have lost everything, your spouse, your children, your house, your job, and now your dependent on social and you believe you're losing your mind. I hope you never experience the last one. Even if none of the above applies to you, you may be fresh out of College or just living a single life, but you ask yourself one of Life's questions what do I do? What is my calling in life? What has God got in store for me? What is my future? All very good questions and all are valid ones. What are we called to do in life? The scriptures say 'But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isa 40:31). Yes Brethren we are to do just that, to wait upon the Lord. How many of us rush into things without taking time out to pray about it. You see as Christians, we are to stop and pray about all matters concerning us, and to take it to the Lord, and yes wait. We live in a society whereby life's challenges go by and some of these challenges may result in a quick decision, you see an opportunity and you say to yourself if you don't get in, your going to miss out on the next Gold Rush, but at times like this we should see the warning signs and backup before leaping into what could be your biggest regret. Okay, you may say, but I'm an impulsive person and I like to take risk and or my job requires me to take risk or a gamble if you don't try it, you'll never know what you missed. We'll let me tell you after making mistakes all my life, and at my age I have learnt that wisdom is the best medicine. Like Gideon in the bible I will put my fleece out and wait upon the Lord. 'And Gideon said to God, if you will deliver Israel by my hand as you have said, behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will deliver Israel by my hand, as you have said. And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the dew out of the fleece, he wrung from it a bowlful of water. And Gideon said to God, let not your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once. Let me make trial only this once with the fleece, I pray you; let it now be dry only upon the fleece and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night, for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground' (Judges 6:36-40). Well there you have it, Gideon a Soldier for Israel and defender of the faith, a man of military might just like our modern day David Ben-Gurion. Brethren if it is good enough for Gideon to wait on the Lord, then how much must we wait on the great I Am. Often it is said we lay and make our own bed, meaning as a result of our decisions we own them and take responsibility for those decisions, be it good or bad. But we don't have to go through the rest of our life in anxiety, perplexity and uncertainty. I don't know about you, but I have thrown in the towel, and have given up on self, making the decisions as it only results in failure. I am learning to wait on the Lord, as it takes out all the uncertainty. Also many of us are impatient and want an answer now from God, or we say a 5 min pray and that is it. It requires much pray, maybe even fasting. How do we know it is from God? Well this is a good question and a valid one. I remember hearing a sermon from Dr Charles Stanley and he simply said 'Clear a Pathway', a direction, the heart must be in synchronicity with the heart of God, we can't have known sin in our lives, and we can't be living in sin. Our attitude and actions need to be in line or in tune with God. Ask God to clear the pathway, a line of direction, remove those things that do not fit into my life, get rid of those things that are not Godly and remove them from your life. Just like cleaning out your garage, a spring clean, get rid of the junk that has been clogging up our lives, unhealthy relationships, living in sin, going to clubs, drinking, drugs, gambling and all vices that we as Christians know to be a curse, and as a result, blocks our relationship with the great I Am. Come to a point of neutrality, this means that when you petition God with your request you are to leave your desire with him to a point of being impartial and non- allied to a particular bias. Along with this, your strong desire, as it is now in God's will and not yours. It is now a trust, a submitting of our will and to trust that God will give you an answer, maybe not immediately, but in Gods time and by clearing the pathway you will hear from God and it will be crystal. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause (psalm 25:3). Yes brethren, patience, no quick decisions, be willing to submit to God's timing and wait upon the Lord. Don't let people pressure you, wait, wait, wait and fill your mind with the thoughts of God and ask for clarity and ask the Lord to speak to you. Read from the bible and meditate on it as it is the meditation of his word that will reveal the presence of God talking to you and it will be obvious, so learn to tune your mind to be in line with his scriptures. The devil will prompt you to act now immediately,' you don't want to miss out on this opportunity' he says, 'once it closes that's it and you will surely miss out'. But those of us who no God will remember how he has led us from the Red Sea and in his time has provided divine intervention in all our dealings from the time we started our first job, marriage, children, buying our first home and other blessings accordingly. You see Jonah was commissioned to go to Nineveh and what happened, Jonah decided to go to Tarshish, somewhere that is far away from Nineveh, away from the people he detested, these Assyrians were the worst, they were pure evil to the point of absolute detestability, he just could not tolerate them and to cut to the chase a giant fish spits him out on the foreshores near to Nineveh. You see even when we make our own decisions leaving God out of the equation; he will kind of bring you back from where you went off course, providing you are willing and not in opposition. Finally, if we are to keep our sanity in this world we live in, we will certainly need to come to that place, that place where our soul bleeds out and yearns for reconciliation with Jehovah Rapha the great healer and restorer that will effect that perfect peace that surpasses all understanding see (Phl 4:7). Let peace and Christ reside in the heart, take the perplexity of sin, shame, confusion, doubts and unrest and cast them to the uttermost depths of the sea, never to return. [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Rom 8:1).

Principles Of Church Growth In The Early Church

This article presents the concept of 'church growth' alongside evangelism mainly in the book of Acts. Whereas the Old Testament depicts evangelism as people coming to God, the Lucan perspective demonstrates that God's servants will go to His people. Blauw's thesis is that "a centripetal missionary consciousness becomes in Acts a centrifugal missionary activity..." (1974, 34). In George Orwell's Animal Farm, the pigs looked from pig to man and vice versa but could not differentiate them in the very last page of the text which by extension shows what could happen if the church wants to imitate the world. One cannot replace the methods or the principles that brought church growth in the New Testament in our own era. TYPES OF CHURCH GROWTH 1. Internal : This is the spiritual growth of Christians. Right relationship is established with God and man. Many Christians quote John 3:16 which demonstrates God's love for man without taking into consideration I John 3:16 which focuses on man's love for his fellow man. 2. Expansion: This is accomplished by the evangelization of non-Christians within the area of the operation of the church or ministry. 3. Extension: This is the growth of the church by the establishment of daughter churches within the same general homogeneous group and geographical area. 4. Bridging: This focuses on the establishment of churches in different cultural and geographical areas. CHURCH GROWTH : WAYS TO INCREASE 1. Biological growth- children of existing members who come into the church. 2. Transfer growth- members of one church who unite with another church. 3. Conversion growth- the coming into the church of people of the world who are converted by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. DEFINITION OF TERMS Evangelism: Evangelism in Acts is the communication of the good news of Jesus Christ through verbal proclamation and lifestyle witness, with the intent of leading a person or group to salvation in Christ. Church Growth: This is the quantitative and qualitative development of the church. It is different from 'swelling' which is common and dangerous in the contemporary church. The African Church is dismissed as a mile wide and an inch deep which implies that other parameters other than numbers account for church growth. Church growth could also be seen as an application of Biblical, anthropological, and sociological principles to congregations, denominations and their communities in an effort to disciple the greatest number of people for Jesus Christ. Believing that it is God's will that His Church should grow and His lost children be found, church growth endeavors to devise strategies, develop objectives and apply tested principles of growth to individual congregations, denominations and the worldwide body of Christ. Church Growth Eyes: This is a characteristic of Christians who have achieved an ability to see the possibilities for growth and to apply appropriate strategies to gain maximum results for Christ and His church. Church Growth Principle: According to McGavran and Ann, this is "a universal truth which, when properly interpreted and applied, contributes significantly to the growth of churches and denominations. It is a truth of God which leads his church to spread his Good News, plant church after church, and increase his body"(1977, p.15). PRINCIPLES 1. Prayer or Spiritual Warfare Prayer is indispensable to church growth. John Stott comments that following Jesus' ascension, the prayers of the disciples had two characteristics which "are two essentials of true prayer, namely that they persevered, and were of one mind" (1990, 10). The principle of unified prayer, or prayer with one mind and purpose, is a thread that runs throughout Acts. Luke's initial description of the 120 (1:5) shows that they followed Christ's command to wait for the Holy Spirit by obediently praying as a group WITH ONE MIND. See also Acts 4:18 (Sanhedrin); Acts 12:5 (Herod); Acts 11:11 (Peter's rescue). 2. A clear and unique vision In the King James Version, Proverbs 29:18 is rendered, "Where there is no vision, the people perish". Vision is God's dream of what he wants to accomplish in and through our lives and the lives of our churches. Several churches have vision statements they never use. What God blesses with success in one place is not necessarily His plan for any other. Every growing church has a sense of unique vision and purpose - a clear sense of direction. The church planter and the laity share a common vision for what God wants that church to accomplish. In most cases, the church planter and the people can clearly describe and articulate their vision. This gives the people a sense of direction. They are moving toward an objective. They are not merely existing. 3. Leadership A vigorous growing church is catalyzed by dynamic leadership that draws the entire church into action. For the church planter to function as a good leader, s/he must have certain specific character qualities and carry out certain specific leadership responsibilities. The church planter must truly desire growth for the church and must be willing to pay the price in hard work. The leadership must lead the work to organize the mission, set goals, develop plans, and mobilize the people to accomplishment. S/he must be creative, innovative, and assertive with regard to the vision and mission God has for His work. 4. The recognition and importance of the laity The people of the work must be equipped to discover and use their gifts. They must be ready to assume new responsibilities and willingly hand over various leadership positions to other new people as the church continues to grow or expand. 5. Strategic Planning The idea is to develop ongoing strategies that will help achieve the mission of the church. These should move the church toward realizing the accomplishment of its vision. With specific instructions from the Saviour, the apostles established a strategy to reach Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Nehemiah positioned his people in areas of interests. Paul went to the synagogue and then the agora which was both a market place and centre of public life (Acts 7:17). A good church website can help your church to grow. Unfortunately there is an on-going war in this technological age: Technophilia vs. Technophobia. Many Rip Van Wrinkles exist in contemporary times. Several church leaders are yet to realize potential of a website for church growth. Yet a church website, specifically designed to reach outsiders, integrated with other appropriate outreach strategies, could be a major key to drawing non-Christians to your church. 6. Life Development Groups This could be stated as the principle of assimilation. Perhaps the most important aspect of this principle is that the church must be structured in a way that develops an organizational base for growth. The larger the base, the greater the possibilities for growth. Life development groups provide a critical function that facilitates a church's growth e.g. Sunday School groups, Youth Fellowship, Ministries (Men, Women, Youth, Children) etc. 7. Indigenization Paul and Barnabas left the indigenous churches with leadership that would provide the direction after the apostles departed. Though the forms of church government vary in the New Testament, they appointed elders to continue their leadership roles. The elders were within the church ("in each church" Acts 14:23) completing the indigenization process. 8. Open Gospel In the early church, some regarded Christians as Jews who have received Jesus as the promised Saviour. Consequently, any Gentile desiring to become a Christian must first become a Jew. This 'closed' gospel was a major concern for Christians like Paul. The Jerusalem Council became a pivotal point in the history of the early church. Neither circumcision nor adaptation to the Jewish community would be a requisite. Christians today should discover the same attitude to the unbelieving world. Is the gospel open today, or does it carry the baggage of cultural expectations, idolatry of tradition etc? One should not necessarily become a member of your tribe before he is a Christian. 9. Follow-Up The mission of the church is to win souls. Therefore, evangelism is not treated as a single principle since that is the primary mission of the church. The related concept of 'follow" is crucial for young Christians. According to Acts 15:36, "some days after, Paul said unto Barnabbas, let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do." Follow-up could be regarded as a motherly instinct. It is a deliberate focus on young and new believers for the purpose of spiritual guidance and counseling. 10. Discipleship According to John Wesley, leading souls to Christ without a discipleship programme is to beget sons for the devil. Church growth is enhanced when each member becomes a part of the body (Eph. 4:16; Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor.12:12-22 etc.) and is endangered when they do not identify with the body. What we have learned must be committed to the faithful to teach others also. The importance of Bible Study, Sunday School Classes etc. cannot be overemphasized. 11. Sovereignty (Supreme Authority of God) Despite the abundance of conflicts and setbacks in the early church, Luke communicates clearly that God is the final victor. Acts, in one perspective, is a narrative of the sovereign work of God in the midst of external and internal forces that would thwart any 'normal' movement. Though we are the vehicles to communicate the Gospel, our strength and power come from God. He gives the increase after the 'planting' and 'watering', He makes every thing beautiful, not in our, but in His time. One sows, another waters but God gives the increase. The clay does not question the Potter's intent.

How To Live A Victorious Christian Life

Many people are somewhat confused concerning the Christian Life. And there are so many believers in Christ Jesus who are struggling and frustrated because the understanding of what it means to live a successful and victorious Christian life evades them. I believe that it is very possible to live for God and to enjoy the sweetness of His Presence, once we comprehend the principles which govern successful Christian living. First of all, permit me to go on record and state that I am a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus and Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I am not ashamed of Him and of my relationship with Him. He changed my life when I was thirteen years old and now at the age of forty-three, I love Him more now than I did back then, because He is so, so wonderful. If your Christian life is dull and boring, then maybe the principles I share concerning living victoriously in Christ Jesus will prove to be just what you needed to hear. Read on. I would like to give you ten things to understand which will enable you to live closer to Christ and enjoy being a Christian. After all, Jesus said that He came that we may have and enjoy life. (John 10:10, Amplified Bible). These ten spiritual principles are true and based upon the Knowledge of God's Word. I have also proven them through my own experiences through the years. They are universal, meaning they apply to all of us as believers in Jesus Christ. And if you will be a doer of God's Word, and not just an inactive hearer, these gems of Truth will change your life. Here they are: 1. Make sure that you are saved, not just religious. This is the starting place of a successful Christian life. You must know that you are saved. To be saved is to be born again, born from above, made a Christian, redeemed, and made a child of Almighty God. All of these terms mean the same thing. Now, how can we be sure that we are saved? In order to become a Christian, we must believe that, "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 King James Bible) We must believe that Jesus Christ the Son of God came to the earth in the flesh, through the womb of a virgin as a baby, grew up and went to the cross as the spotless Son of God, to die for our sins which we had committed before Almighty God. We must believe that He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisment of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5 King James Bible) We must believe that God raised Jesus Christ, His Son from the dead, and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9) If you have therefore received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, asking Him to come into your heart, then you are saved, born again, a Christian. The Scripture which confirms this is 1 John 5:13, that states, "These things have I written unto you which believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." So if you gave Christ your life, you are saved. If you have not yet given Jesus Christ your life, then ask Him in right now. Just say, Jesus Christ, Son of God. I believe You died for me and shed Your precious blood to wash away my sins. I believe God raised You from the dead and right now I receive You as my Lord and personal Savior. I give You my life. Now help me to live for You. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen. 2. Understand that the new birth, or becoming a Christian is not a physical experience, nor a mental experience, but a spiritual experience. This is where I became confused early in my walk with the Lord Jesus and where I believe many people are still somewhat puzzled. I went to a church where they sing a song which said, "I looked at my hands and they looked new, I looked at my feet and they were too. It was portrayed as if the new birth was a physical thing. So when I gave my life to Christ I was expecting to have this 'feeling', this super-duper, out of the world feeling, by which I would know that I was really saved. I did not have that kind of feeling. As a matter of fact, I did not feel saved. I felt confused. I spent an entire year or more wondering if I was really a Christian, because I did not understand that the new birth is not a physical thing and it is not based upon physical feelings. Our feelings are like the wave of the sea, in and out, up and down. Never, ever judge your relationship with Christ based upon how you feel at any given moment. Your walk with God is to be lived by the BIBLE, the Written Word of God, which is stable, concrete and sure. The Word of God is dependable, not our feelings. So look to the Word. If the BIBLE says, if I receive Jesus as Lord, I would be saved, and I received Him as Lord, then I am saved. It does not matter how I feel. 3. Understand the three-fold make-up of man. According to the BIBLE, we are not just flesh and blood. And we are not just body and soul. We are spirit, soul and body. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 tells us, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." So we are spirit, soul and body. Now, where the confusion for many Christians comes in is a lack of understanding as to which part of us got saved. When we gave our lives to Jesus, it was not our bodies which got saved. Our bodies have not been changed as yet. Thank God, one day, when Jesus comes again, we shall receive a new body, a beautiful, glorious, saved, immortal body, just like Jesus own, when He arose from the dead. But, that is to come. It was not our souls which got saved either. I know that this is a bold statement, but please hear me out. Jesus said being born again is a spiritual experience. He said, "That which is born of the spirit, is spirit." (John 3:1-6) So, when we give our lives to Christ, the part of us which gets saved is our spirits. We receive a new spirit. Our souls however are saved, as our minds are renewed to God's Word. This point will be discussed more in our next point. 4. Our Minds Must Be Renewed. When we give our lives to Christ, our spirits become a new creation in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:17) We become a child of God in our spirits, our inward man. But nothing happens to our souls (minds) or bodies. Now that we are children of God, we must participate in the salvation of our minds, our soulish area, through a process called the renewing of our minds. You may read more about this in Romans 12:2 and James 1:21. In other words, we must now change our thinking from negative, ungodly and unwholesome thoughts to thinking based upon God's Holy Word, the BIBLE. Our souls include our minds, wills, emotions, and imaginations. We must daily, feed upon God's Word and bring our thinking, reasoning and imaginations in line with the BIBLE, rather than what we formerly thought, or what ungodly people try to tell us. The BIBLE is the standard by which we are called to live as Christians. 5. What About the Body? This issue in itself can fill this entire article. The body, also called the flesh in Scripture, is what gives us most of the problems we encounter in our walk with Christ. The enemy of man's souls came at man from the Garden of Eden through this avenue of the flesh and the mind, and he has not changed his mode of operation. Our bodies are not saved as yet, and if they have been exposed to or experienced in evil, much of the time, they will want to continue pursuing that way, even though we make the decision to live for Christ. Our flesh will want things which oppose the Will of God until it is subdued and made to obey God. The Apostle Paul himself, who was a great apostle of the Lord Jesus, had seen Jesus on numerous occasions, has been caught up to the third Heaven and heard things which were unlawful to utter, said that he had to keep his body under, and bring it into subjection to God's Will. (1 Corinthians 9:23) My friends, if Paul had to keep his body under subjection and make it obey God, so do you and I. And you will never develop spiritually in Christ Jesus if you do not learn how to submit the members of your body to God as a living sacrifice. (Romans 12:1) 6.Understand that the BIBLE is SPIRITUAL FOOD. The Psalmist David wrote: "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word. Oh let me not wander from Thy Commandments. Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." (Psalms 119: 9-11) God's Word is the spiritual food of the Christian. Just as our bodies need physical food to live and be strong, and as our minds need knowledge and information in order to develop mentally, our spirits need the BIBLE, God's Holy Written Word in order to grow and develop spiritually. His Word is spirit and life. (John 6:63) Jesus said that, "Man shall not live by bread (physical food) alone, but by every Word which proceeds out of the Mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4) If you think that you will become a strong Christian without daily feeding upon God's Word, then you are mistaken. You will only become spiritual by reading the Spiritual food of the Word of God, the BIBLE and doing what it says. 7. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. Learn to develop the habit of prayer. Just as the Word of God, the BIBLE, is God Almighty speaking to us and revealing His plan and purpose to us, even so, prayer is how we communicate with God. Through prayer we invite God into our affairs and seek His wisdom, guidance, protection, strength and help. Prayer is humbling ourselves before the Father God, realizing that we cannot live successfully without Him. Really, no one can be a true success without having God in their lives. If your success is only limited to this life alone, with no real hope in the next, then your success is not real success. Here is one of my favorite Scriptures on Prayer; (Proverbs 3: 5-6) "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." 8. If you fail as a Christian, don't give up. All of us, at some point or another, fall short of the mark while we are on this Christian journey. I am the first to raise my hand and say that I am not perfect. I am growing into spiritual perfection, which will not be complete until Christ comes again. So, if you miss the mark and fall into sin, do not give up. Do not allow the enemy to tell you, "See, you have sinned. You cannot be saved. You might as well backslide." Note the lie of the adversary. Why backslide if you were never saved? You are saved. You just missed it. We all have at some point or another and most likely will again. I am not condoning sin, or the practice thereof. What I am saying is that none of us are perfect. We have missed it and we will miss it, because we are still growing. If you do miss it, ask God to forgive you, wash you and cleanse you from that sin and wrong doing, and then quit the sin with His help. He promises in His Word, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) So ask Him to forgive you. Wipe your tears, get up and move on in Christ with the bold determination that you are in this to stay. 9. Stay in Christian Fellowship. We all need each other. And to grow and develop spiritually we need to fellowship with the people of God and hear the Word of God taught and preached through His anointed servants and hand-maidens. You need a pastor. So find a good church, where the Word of God is proclaimed and join up. Stay in fellowship with the saints and learn all you can. By the way, make sure that the church proclaims Jesus Christ as Lord and adheres to the principles of the BIBLE. Ephesians 4: 11-12, Hebrews 10:25) 10. Do the Bible. Remember always that we must be doers of God's Word, and not just hearers, if we are going to grow, develop and progress in the things of God. So, when you read His Word and see how the BIBLE says we should conduct the affairs of our lives, make it your aim, with His help to do what you read. Doing the Word produces the fruit of the Spirit in your life. (James 1:22) Finally, practice being consistent in your walk with God. Read His Word daily. Pray daily. Go to church regularly. Share your faith and hope constantly. And may our Lord, when He comes, find you right in the center of His Will.

Don't Preach Religion To Me!

* I could understand "bad" people going to hell, but what kind of a god would condemn the rest of us to such punishment? * I have been very disappointed by some "religious" people; is it possible to be a Christian without being religious? The answer to these two critical questions, I discovered, lie together in recorded history. It is only when we muster our courage to take the challenge that God presents us that we are able to clearly see what He is really offering to the people of the earth. What is that challenge? It is to seriously read the pages of the Bible for yourself, to see what it actually says. "Taste and see that the Lord is good," because "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness." As we read the book of Genesis in the front of the Bible, we find God enjoying a walk in the garden with His newly created people, Adam and Eve. Notice that God walked freely with His people on the earth in those days, enjoying their company and the beauty of creation. You and I may never know how precious those days were for God's first people as they walked with Him, because... They were originally created with a pure mind and moral soul like their Creator. Today, we are still made in the image and likeness of God, but our Creator no longer walks in person on the earth with us. What went wrong? At this point, we must also understand that God is not human. He is a powerful being that did not originate from this planet. His very nature, soul fiber and intelligence are so highly developed that He is in fact, absolutely pure. At this point, we must also understand that God is not human. He is a powerful being that did not originate from this planet. His very nature, soul fiber and intelligence are so highly developed that He is in fact, absolutely pure. As we read further in Genesis we discover that God had an enemy that imposed imperfection and impurity upon His beloved creation. He did this by successfully enticing Adam and Eve to disobey their Creator. It seems that Satan wanted to gain control of God's creation for himself and separate them from Him. Satan knew that once the purity of God's creation was spoiled, the Creator would no longer walk with his people on the earth in person. Today, far in the future, we use the word "sin" to describe that separation as the disparity between our present human nature and that of our Designer. Originally, the word "sinner" was used to describe a person who had missed the mark, such as an archer who had missed with his arrow.Originally, the word "sinner" was used to describe a person who had missed the mark, such as an archer who had missed with his arrow.So what is it that we modern humans have missed? Clearly, we have lost the purity, or that moral part of us that God designed to be like Himself. In other words, God's highest goal for us is that we could still have His pure character within us; He calls this purity "Holiness or Christ likeness." Consider for a moment, a child who is born to a mother with AIDS. The child has no power over the fact that he is born with a disease that will cause his death. This child, like us, is born under the judgment of death, a result of the disease passed down from his mother. Sin is the same, in that it is passed down from Adam and Eve, our original parents, to all humankind so that we are also born under a judgment (curse) of death. God's own law teaches that we cannot be free of sin without the cleansing of a blood atonement, (a compensation or kind of purchase). Sadly, "Men loved the darkness of sin rather than the light of doing right." We have all rebelled against our Creator in this way, which again keeps us from our loving God, our blessing, and our inheritance in Him. Now, because of the sin we are born with along with the sin we consciously choose to do, people are barred from heaven and separated from God. In reality, we are quite simply being quarantined here upon the earth until a time when the world is finally destroyed by fire! This is not God's fault and it is not our choice. What do we do? Can we then earn our salvation? Or have we no hope at all? The Scriptures tell us that when we believe in Christ Jesus and invite Him into our lives, the original curse of sin and spiritual death is now broken! The Scriptures say, "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has now made us free from the law of sin and death." By taking our sins upon Himself when He was crucified on the cross, Christ has made our cleansing possible by removing the curse that separated us from Him. Do you remember God saying, "While you and I were yet sinners, Christ died for us?" "Christ died for our sins, once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you and me to God." Then, because Jesus was resurrected (raised to life) and now sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven, His children can also be assured of life after death.Now, if you have become aware that you are in need of God's saving grace and have believed that Jesus paid for your sin, pray and ask Him for forgiveness and invite Him to be your own personal Lord and Saviour (He wants to be personal). Once you have made that commitment, you are then a Christian. Congratulations, you are one of the sons or daughters of God, part of the family of God and of the glorious inheritance that we are promised from our Heavenly Father! Read your Bible every day, find a good Bible teaching church and join your church family for worship on Sunday. Study to please the Lord; He paid a great and terrible price for you. It is the least we all can do for Him.May the Lord bless you in your journey as you walk with the King of kings

The Power Of Love In Christian Life

Christian living is synonymous with love. Every Christian must possess and exercise the power of love. It is most crucial in your Christian life because it determines both your earthly and eternal benefits. He who does not love does not and never did know God. Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]- 1 Peter 4:8 (AMP) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another - John 13:34-35 (KJV) God exercised the power of love when He gave Jesus, His only son (who knew no sin) for humanity. He freely gives us all things since He was able to deliver His only son for us all. That means He will never withhold any good thing from us since He didn't withhold sacrificing Jesus for us. Jesus Himself also manifested the power of love by accepting to die the most shameful death on the cross for mankind. And He left a commandment that we should love even as He had shown us. Jesus would never ask us to do the impossible if it was so. Therefore, in our Christian life, Jesus expects us to walk in love towards one another. Love endures long and is patient and kind; never is envious, is not boastful or vainglorious, it is not rude. It does not insist on its own rights, it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. It bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances. It never fails. The above describes the power of love. Your Christian living is summed up in one commandment: "love your neighbour as yourself." Love demands that you do good to your neighbour and never do anything to hurt him/her. Yes, some people are "unlovable" but this is where love exercises its magnificent power. Love is not based on how you feel but on what is right. It is a decision coupled with action. You decide to love and you take steps to carry it out no matter the circumstances surrounding the issue. Love transforms and saves lives. A person at the verge of giving up can make a comeback when shown love. It wipes off tears and puts smiles on faces. It gives people reason and strength to face tomorrow. Also, it snatches people from the jaws of the enemy. When you show love to people you show them Jesus. The best way to preach Jesus is to show love. When people encounter love they are convicted of their sins and they want a change, leading to the salvation of their souls. How can people know you are a disciple of Jesus if you do not exercise the power of love in your Christian life? Unconditional love is the symbol of Christianity. Christian living entails walking in love. There is a call from God to humanity: to love one another, to cease from self gratifications and embrace selfless love. And to reach out to the hurting, insecure and confused and show them the right way forward. Love when shown to another has the power to set things right in the person's life. In conclusion, we ought to love people with the love of God, no matter who they may be, even as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us all. Ngozi Nwoke is a teacher and a counselor. She has a passion to teach people how to enjoy peace, God's love and christian living for more fulfilling life. Want more fulfilling life? Subscribe for free email updates today. http://stepswithgod.com