HEAVENLY CONSCIOUS?

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Many will read this verse and talk about heaven.
However, this is not talking about heaven as a location as much as it's talking about a status to which our earthly conduct must align.

The Mystery of the Word “Abba Father”

Here's something about "Abba Father" we need to know.

 

It's twice mentioned by Paul.

 

(Romans 8:15 KJV)
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, ABBA, FATHER.

 

And

 (Galatians 4:6 KJV)
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

 

Abba Father…

 

Now in the mouth of TWO witnesses, every word shall be established (John 8:17, Deut 17:6, Deut 19:15, 2Cor 13:1)

 

So God is saying, take note, this concept is TRUE: ONLY SONS have the capacity to cry "Abba Father".

 

In other words, you cannot cry "Abba Father" except you are a Son.

 I simply call it, "the language of sons" which non-sons cannot speak or learn to speak. No one ever learns it: it's the SPIRIT that you simply receive.

 

So if you can cry "Abba Father" and it will be accepted by the Father (because anyone can mention it), you must be a son. Correct?
Good.

 

Isn't it amazing that before the Epistles/Acts, (that is, before Jesus' death and resurrection), only one occurrence of "Abba Father" is seen in the Bible?

 

And Guess who said it?

Jesus

 

And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said...
..ABBA, FATHER…

(Mark 14:35-36 KJV)

 

 

Only Jesus at this time was recorded to speak the language of sons. No other record.
It was "scarcely heard".

So is it ok to sing at this time, "Jesus na (is) the only Son of God o… eh o…"?

It is.

Jesus was the only one who could cry "Abba Father".

 

But in the post-Gospels, Paul says we (believers) ALL have now received the spirit of son and now we do cry "Abba Father"

 

We thus must be sons of God in the class of Jesus. We speak the language of sons just like Jesus speak. The Father listens and attends to us like He does to Jesus. We are sons with Jesus. We are God's family! We are nigh now! He's our Father now!

 

When next you pray, say "Abba Father..." And He'll answer "my son".
Oh what a glory! Will you cry now? Shout it loud! "Abba, Father"

 

What a honour we have today to call the God of the universe by a personal filial appellation, and we will be right! You can never be too thankful for the price Jesus paid. Will we ever comprehend to the fullest what we have in redemption?

 

How many times may I keep coming to be born again?

There are two common information sources the believer is exposed to: information from THE BOOK (Bible) or that from THE COOKS (those who cook up doctrines from their head). Mind your mind.

Commonly mentioned is this teaching of "you need to be born again again", "you have been born again but [for any reason], you need to be born again afresh and be filled again, and be washed again". Oh poor you!

Now this error is not just greatly misleading, it is an insult on the Godhead! If actually you understand what "born again" means…

To be born again is to be born OF GOD
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: (1 John 5:1 KJV)

Then you're saying God can have stillbirth (abiku, ogbanje)

To be born again is to be created in Christ Jesus. (2Co_5:17; Gal_6:15; Eph 2:10)

To be born again is to be born OF THE SPIRIT.
…Except a man be born of water and [of] THE SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5 KJV)

Then to be "born again again" means the Spirit had a failed child delivery. Holy Spirit had a miscarriage the first time and we hope this baby will survive this time and not need to be born again again. Hmm… Beware that you grieve not the Spirit.

Now, the survival/mortality rate of offspring born to a  parent is largely dependent on the type of specie. In fishes, they give birth to very many offspring, but maybe less than half of them will make it to adulthood. The number is less in fowls, and even lesser in humans – especially with advances in science today. But the New Creature we are at new birth is DEATH-PROOF: He has eternal life – life forever (Joh_3:15, Joh_3:16, Joh_3:36 1John 5:12-13). That is, if 20 people are born again, surviving is not a problem because they are already immune to death.

Furthermore,
the new creature is a demonstration of GOD'S PERFECTION.
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of FIRSTFRUITS OF HIS CREATURES. (James 1:18 KJV)

Firstfruits means the best: the new creature is God's best!

He is complete in makeup
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (Colossians 2:10 KJV)

Therefore, stop celebrating sinfulness by answering altar calls to be "born again again", You are born once and to live for evermore. See how Paul illustrates what happened to you at new birth.
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead [Rebirth] DIETH NO MORE; death hath NO MORE dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin ONCE [not twice, not after many dying and raising from sin and dying and coming up]: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (Romans 6:9-10 KJV)
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:11 KJV)

Instead of taking pride in answering such calls, why not say to yourself, "God is able to make me stand! I have eternal life! I reckon to be dead indeed unto sin ONCE, and alive unto God FOR EVERMORE! Death has no more dominion over me! I am not born of a corruptible material but incorruptible! My nature is incorruptible because I am born of the word of God which abides for evermore" (1Peter 1:23).
Hallelujah!

3 kinds of people you should never call born again

1.
He has suddenly changed his characters recently. He is no longer that bad womanising, drunkard fellow. He has renounced cultism. He no longer does charms. Wow! He no longer does wicked as before. All those bad things he used to do, he does them no more. In fact, he now attends church. All those bad places he used to go, it's no more. Therefore he is born again? Hasty generalisation! He repented from his bad ways, but repentance from those things is NOT salvation.

Even Judas Iscariot repented for betraying Jesus and even restituted by returning the money he was paid. Feeling bad about sins is not the same as salvation.
The concept of New Year Resolution is of everybody in the world: it doesn't mean if you make and keep your resolution makes you born again.

If he has not believed the death and resurrection of Jesus for his sin, he is not born again. Such a person is only a REPENTANT DEVIL.

2.
He is called bro or sis. He has a big Bible. He has the sticker of his church or denomination that reads "I am a Christian". Anytime there will be a religious war or argument, he is quick to fight for Christianity. He speaks more about his church activities. He loves to run with fellow guys in his church. He's mastered several Christian recitations and puts the watchword sticker on many if his items. He believes in his church and their doctrines, rules and regulations and in fact keeps them well. He likes his pastor so much. He participates in Congregational injunctions such as Congregational fastings, prayers etc.

Ooh oh, he is born again? That's not what we are talking about. Don't conclude. He might just be a RELIGIOUS DEVIL.

3.
He doesn't believe in Jesus actually, but he believes there is God (which even demons do. James 2:19). He prays to Olorun Olodumare. He hopes for the best in life. He believes in hard work. He believes in the law of sowing and reaping. He loves diligence and he believes hard work pays. He hates unrighteousness. He hates corruption. If he has not heard and believe Jesus, He is only a MORAL DEVIL. Beware of him please.

How do you get saved?

Receive the gospel. What is the gospel?
how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [1Cor 15:3-4].

Receive this, and you are born again.

Salvation: How Did we Arrive Here?

Today, the most fundamental truths as revealed in the bible are also probably the least known! A platform like this will help us get things straight again in the Holy Ghost. Where are we? Who are we? Where have we arrived? And how did we arrive here? All as defined by the bible. Praise God!

So where are we?
We are in Christ Jesus. Secure and sealed!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.[[2Co 5:17]]

and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.[[1Jn 5:20]]

And be found in him... [Philippians 3:9]

We are in the Spirit, not in the flesh!

[[Rom 8:9]] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

In fact, In the Spirit is our home!

[[Gal 5:25]] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Now, How did we get here? Salvation/rebirth.

By my chats with Christians, I discovered this is the most clumsy path to trace for many. Lots only know they are saved but don't know they got saved. They begin to tell stories. One day, in 19something I was in one meeting, as I was... as I was... then... and then I... and then I... That was how I decided not to sin again and "I gave my life to Christ"

Because there were many things that happened that day, so many cannot pinpoint what or when exactly they got saved, especially if it was a long sermon or series of sermon with irrelevant words and even jokes. But the Bible will clarify things for us. Will you like to see it?

*[[Act 16:30]] KJV* And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

That was the conversation between Paul and Silas and the jailer. The question was "what must I do to be saved?"

But to you who is saved now, we can rewrite it as "Sirs, what did I do to be saved?" or better still "how did I get saved?"

*[[Act 16:31]] KJV* And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

"I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and I am saved!" Alleluia!

What about Romans 10:9?

*[[Rom 10:9]] KJV* 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.

I confessed with my mouth because that's what I believe, God raised Jesus from the dead! That is how I got saved! Alleluia!"

Henceforth, don't be of the group that if asked cannot pinpoint the exact thing that got them saved!

It's not the altar call, it's your believing that God raised Jesus from the dead! Not everybody got saved in church! Not all church calls for altar call all the time!

It's not of your believing in God (because even demons believe in one God), but belief in Jesus!

It's not of your works (Eph 2:9), so speak less of your works when asked how you got saved.

It's not your change of behavior! Salvation produces a change of character, but a change of character is not salvation. Everyone of us here didn't get here because of our change of character. It's when we arrived here that we started to drop every bad character, so we cannot boast of our change of character to get saved. Any person in the can make new year resolutions but no resolution cannot get them here whether successful or not!

First, there was or must be a hearing. [Rom 10:17] KJV So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

And then you simply rest on what you heard. This is what is called believing. That is how you got here, part of us, a member of the body of Christ! That is how you got saved! That is what is common to ALL who are saved EVERYWHERE in all nations and kingdoms.

Now you can take the same message to someone's hearing today. He also may rest on the message that God raised Jesus from the dead and believe. Stamped! He also gets here with us in Christ. Glory to Jesus!

God's Spirit does not leave the Believer

One of our Praise Song goes…
create in me a clean heart oh Lord
And renew right spirit within me
Cast me not away from thy presence oh Lord
Take not thy holy spirit from me
Restore unto....

Haba! But Let's see the Bible

See David didn't want to lose the Holy Spirit..
Hmm... But we don't dwell in the same dispensation. The Holy Spirit comes into the believer at salvation and He has come TO STAY!

He DWELLS in the believer FOR BETTER, FOR BETTER!
FOREVER!

[Joh 14:16] KJV And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you FOR EVER;

You remember the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman?

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. [Joh 4:13-14]

Water here is symbolic of the Spirit (John 7:39)

He says to her, if you can have this water; normally when you take of water, the quantity reduces, but this will increase and become a well. Well is symbolic for STABILITY, UNSHAKABILITY, ASSURANCE, FIXED STRUCTURE, PERMANENCE source. A source that is fixed, immovable.

Now, to thirst means to be in short of water, right? To thirst for this Jesus' kind of water will therefore mean to lack the Spirit.

But Jesus says that man "shall NEVER THIRST AGAIN". Hmmm...

Now, at salvation, a Christian takes of this water.

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been ALL MADE TO DRINK INTO ONE SPIRIT. (1Corinthians 12:13)

Only ignorance therefore could have made Christians who have taken this water (at salvation) keep reciting David: "my soul pants like a deer", "I thirst for you…", "fill my cup…"

I am not saying don't be hungry anymore, but please be definite about what you're hungry or thirsty for. It cannot be for the Holy Spirit as we just see. It cannot be for "more of the Spirit" as some people often hide under. God doesn't give the Spirit in quantity (John 3:34). There's no 5kg Holy Spirit, 60% Holy Spirit, etc.

So Jesus says to the drinker of His water he will NEVER lack that Spirit anymore. He will never have to come back for another bucket of Holy Spirit, or another "filling of the Spirit", because he will have a well of water springing up unto everlasting life.

So unlike David, Unlike Saul, unlike Samson… God will NEVER leave the believer

[Psalm 37:25] I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken...

Therefore if you're among "the righteous", you will NEVER be forsaken.

Every man that has received the gospel has been made righteous by faith. "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." (Gal 3:6)  And this is not produced, maintained, altered, made or marred by (good or bad) works: he is righteous as long as God his righteousness is. So he can never fall out of the covenant of "never forsaken"

Sorry for being so sharp (if I have been) but I must say it because this is what promotes holy living everywhere. When you are always conscious that the Spirit of God dwells in you, that alone means fleeing every appearance of evil.

You needed to see how Paul corrected fornication amongst brethren in Corinth.

[1Corinthians 6:18-20] Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Wow! He did it by reminding them of how the Holy Ghost is in them. He reminds them of how that they are redeemed: "ye are bought with a price".

I thought he would be telling them that that partner they had fornication with had 21 demons that are so powerful to kill their own Holy Ghost. And Paul should tell them to come out and be "born again again" and receive the Holy Spirit afresh.

Tell a Christian who still watches pornography that he is bought with a price! Tell the Christian who still tell lies that he is bought with a price!

Let's do a simple arithmetic. What percentage of Christians today know, believe and preach that all of them have the Holy Spirit in them?

OK how many of those who even know this also know, believe and preach that this Holy Spirit dwells in them FOREVER?

Few of the fewest, right?
Does this not explain why there's so much sins in today's church?

Look at it, if a woman wants to dress or live indecently, she's got to say "I'm the owner of my body. I can live my life the way I want it". Have you ever encountered people who say "well, me I've given up on making heaven, since the Holy Spirit has left me because I can't retain Him by living holy"? Now, why do they say this? Because you didn't teach them the truth that the Holy Spirit will NEVER leave them.

Whether taught or disregarded, truth is unchanged! The Holy Spirit is here to stay! You are enslaved to live in righteousness and produce good works. God won't let go of you. The Holy Spirit will stay at His duty post and won't run because of sins. Why? He was sent to help fight sin and so won't retreat for sin's sake! Praise God!

It’s your right to live!

In church gatherings, there is a common saying which I often hear. It goes like this…

"Lord I thank You for sparing my life till today. It's not by my might. It's not by my power. It's just by Your grace and mercy. There are many who would have loved to see today, but they are no more. It's not that I am better than them. It's not that I am more righteous than them. It's not that I am more faithful and obedient than them. It's not that I can pray and study the word than them. It's not that I love God more than them. It's just by Your sovereign act of kindness toward me.


Hmm… what a confession! But don't get carried away with that…

How did we get saved? GSP 16

 see previous Part 15

Jesus said anyone who believes the gospel shall be saved.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16 KJV)

We got saved when we heard the news that we have been set free. We heard the gospel and we believed, so we got saved.
This is the sequence according to Romans 10

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall (1) call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they (1) call on him in whom they have not (2) believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not (3) heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they (4) preach, except they be (5) sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:12-15 KJV)

How to know the will of God for you in any situation

About to make a decision?
About to take a very crucial step in your life?
Care about knowing what the will of God for you is?
Standing at a crossroad?
Today's edition is for you. Welcome!

We have learnt in a previous study how that you are compulsorily led by the Spirit of God if you are born again; and how that that is an act of grace, giving you the options of receiving the leading or rejecting it. Whether you have always been rejecting the will of God up till now or not, you will testify if you are a child of God how that God has been faithful in ensuring He has continued to lead you in spite of your seldom disobedience. Thank God for that testimony. If you do not have such testimony, ah! You're not born again! Because:

Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God's children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all]. (Hebrews 12:8 AMP)

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself... (1 John 5:10 KJV)

So don't you think it's high time you received Jesus? Come on!

 

What is this salvation? GSP 15

Salvation means a state of being saved; being salvaged; being rescued; being made free from an impending disaster.

"Save yourselves from the punishment coming on this wicked people!" (Acts 2:40 GNB)

I love to use this example. Salvation is like unto a man who can't swim but had his boat unfortunately capsized in the sea. Drowned until he could no longer cry out for help and was already staring death in the face; some men came to "rescue" him, treat him till he is okay. And at the end, he says, "thank you for saving my life". You remember a similar story in the bible? That man going from Jerusalem to Jericho… a man who was neither a Levite nor a priest (Law nor prophet), came to his rescue. We understand that wounded man to be humanity. He was half-dead; thank God! That is, his situation (death) was not irredeemable. The Samaritan showed up and paid his bill for treatment. Hmm! That story was more than teaching us who our neighbour is. It is saying, we (law and prophets and all carnal offices) cannot love our neighbour (fellow wounded men) as ourselves, but Jesus is that good neighbour who will pay our bills with His blood. Jesus is the One of "whom of Moses in the law did write" (John 1:45) when He said "love your neighbour as yourself". Do I mean men should forget about loving one another? Certainly not! But that we should lean upon Jesus so we can know to love. Recall about that disciple that leaned upon Jesus' breast (John 21:20): see how he became an apostle who taught love best. Anyway, love isn't the topic for today: but actually it is the topic for everyday.
Humanity was in crisis owing to "the fall of man" in Adam. There was an impending disaster indeed. But God did not react, because He cannot be caught unaware. He is not shocked Adam ate the fruit. But why then did He not stop Adam, you may want to ask? Wait till the next session where we explain Predestination and God's Supremacy. One thing must have been clear if you have been following this series, God could not have had a part in the fall of man. Instead, He is the brain behind The Restoration – the Redemption.

Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is His name. He will surely and thoroughly plead their case and defend their cause, that He may give rest to [the land of Israel and to the Babylonian-enslaved nations of] the earth… (Jeremiah 50:34 AMP)

Today, God's salvation Plan has been unveiled and carried out; such that Jesus sits today at the right hand of the Father, expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. He has done all required to redeem all flesh. A saved man is therefore not in anticipation of any disaster to come. He has been rescued. Alleluia!

“I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” Explained (II) – salvation for All 14

We ended the last section [Salvation for All Part 13] with questions:
Isn't this "whom I will have mercy" again pointing to a hidden agenda and bigoted plan of God? Who are the ones whom God has chosen to have mercy on? Who are the ones God has concluded to have compassion on? We also concluded that we cannot buy God's mercy by prayer and fasting and vigils. Yes, we cannot pray that God should have mercy on us because God has concluded on whom He will have mercy on; and that "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy" is only an information to be heard; not to be reacted to, not to be questioned. No man's opinion is being sought. We heard it just to know what is to come. This is unlike many other prophecies, where you begin to "forbid bad thing" and bind the devil.
Then, with Moses, it was a prophecy. Today I can tell you it's fulfilled already! Mercy is at work already. On whom did God finally had mercy as promised? On "All Flesh"; every creature; all men. And He did this in Christ Jesus! Jesus Christ is the mercy of God on the perishing humanity

Common Misconceptions about the New Birth or “born again” experience

Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)
 

The most common misconceptions people have about born again are the ones that have to do with works. I will highlight some here:

1. You should DO born again. You must DO a new man. You have a WORK of letting “old things” pass away. It is your WORK to make all things to be new.

This belief seems very innocent and neutral, but it is not the truth of the gospel. It denies the grace of God. Let us re-examine the scripture that talked about being born again.

Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)

If you have a correct KJV, you will notice the words “be” after “any man” and the word “he is” before “new creature” are both in italics. What does that mean? Those words are not in the original Greek; the translators of the bible added them. Thus we could read: “if any man in Christ, a new creature”. It could sound better like this: “any man in Christ = a new creature” or “any man in Christ is a new creature”. Is there any element of “DO” here? Is there anything to “DO NOT” here? Let’s read it again.