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Let Us Return to Holiness; God is Holy

By
Ogba Victor
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0

Holiness is a subject many fear to preach and of which many believers never want to listen to because the Holiness of God testifies that man is guilty and needs to be saved. The Holiness of God eposes the evil in the hearts of many, even the strong is made weak in the light of His Holiness. Therefore, many people prefer not hear it as not to be exposed and their ego brought low. Nonetheless we cannot regard man over God. God is Holy; He is set apart. And His demand is that we be like Him in Holiness. 

“Leviticus 19–20: ‘Be Holy for I Am Holy’” 

Holiness is the quality of becoming separated, dedicated and consecrated unto God. It means to put on a white and spotless robe. It is an attribute of God. Therefore, when a man is holy, he is simply copying God. He talks like God, he lives like God, he relates like God, his appearance is like God, what delights God delights Him, he is conformed into the image of Christ and God. God is Holy! 

But now, we that are covenanted in the Holy Covenant of God has obtained the Spirit of grace which helps us overcome our weaknesses. Therefore, to holy unto God should be the lifestyle of all saved and heavenly minded Christians. As it is written; “without holiness no one will see God.“ Hebrews 12:14 

Therefore, we have to be holy and godlike in appearance, in speaking and conversation, in our relationships with friends, families, loved ones and enemies. We have to be holy in our works and deeds, in character and integrity, in our desires and preferences which includes our career pursuit/source of income. In all areas of our lives, we must show consecration and separation, and that we belong to God with all our hearts. 

All our religiousness, legalisms, our outward show of spirituality, great preaching and teaching, great singing, fervent tongues and extravagant giving cannot by any means substitute Holiness. One could have all these but would still be rejected by God. In God’s kingdom, holiness has no substitute. 

“For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” – Leviticus 19:2 
 

Areas of Holiness 

  1. Holiness of the mind: A holy Christian should not just be purged of sin in the flesh, but also in his thought and mind. There are thoughts that should not be in the mind of a holy believer. Thoughts of wickedness, lust and sinful imagination show unholiness and corruption of the mind.  
     
  1. Holiness of the Eyes: A true Godlike believer ought not to fix his eyes on what is unholy. The way God looks at evil must be how we see these things. The world may view it differently, but the judgements of God is the standard for us. Therefore, a Christian set apart to God cannot afford to cannot watch pornography and nude pictures, it is unholiness with the eyes. We cannot look in lust of either male or female as the world do.  
     
    For the eyes Is the window to the heart and mind. Whatever goes through it enters into the subconscious man and corrupts his thoughts. One is tempted to fall into sin whose thoughts are corrupted from what the eyes have seen.  
     
    A young man was caught in homosexuality, when interrogated, it turned out that it was his eyes that led him into the abomination of the Sodomites. He saw it on the internet and gradually he became part of the gay abomination. Similarly, a lady confessed that whenever she sees a dog, that she gets into lust for bestiality. It all started when she began to watch bestial pornography; then this unclean spirit entered into her. If she practiced holiness with the eyes, she would never have been destroyed by the weapon of Satan. Be ye holy; Yes! keep your eyes holy. 
     
  1. Holiness of the tongue: Lies and deceit, slander and backbiting, gossip and curses are not the ways of a holy Chistian. By the standard of God these things are unholy and sinful. No Holy Chistian does business with lies and deceit, for God hates a lying tongue.  
     
    Psalm 59:12 “By the sins of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride, in the curses and lies they utter.” 
     
    Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.” 
     
  1. Holiness of the Ear: Oh! Be careful little ears what you listen to, because the ear is a door to the soul as is the eyes. The questions are: The things I listen to, is it holy or unholy? How exactly does God see them? Does He approve of it? Since we are Christ-like (Christian), will Jesus listen to this? 
     
    A computer acronym says: “Garbage In; Garbage Out”. What we feed our soul and mind with is what will come out of us. Holy things produce a holy person, unholy things produce unholy person. 
     
    As a Christian who grew up in the Holiness Pentecostal movement, I learnt the teachings of men who put on holiness like a robe. These were men who had a living relationship with God, and by their teachings I also have found and seen Jesus. I have received many angelic visions and some visitations. Once, I was in my sitting room and an angel came and called me out, then he took me down and showed me the plan of God to cleanse His Church.

    The present corruption of our Christianity cannot allow us to know and experience the true power and grace of being a Christian. Those who do not yield to holiness cannot experience God because He is Holy, and he demands Holiness from all who will desire to walk with Him.  
     
    The teachings of Holy Men who mentored my relationship with God I give back to this generation. Worldly music and those that glorify sin, immorality and not God is not of God and not for those who desire an intimate relationship with Christ. Don’t play them, don’t listen to them, don’t have them on your phone. Apostle Paul says; “Do not copy the world.” Do not be like them, nor act like them, nor talk like them, nor follow their ways.” 
     
    Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” 
     
    If we must return to Holiness, we must also return to making a godly choice of what we listen to.  Total separation to God is what Holiness is about. For if we are for God, we must be for God alone. 
     
  1. Holiness of the Hands: Holiness is also found on hands of those who do not steal or covet their neighbour’s goods. Those who have traded fighting and violence for peace and godly living is holy with their hands.  
     
    We cannot pickup someone else’s money on the floor and keep it to ourselves as many do today, it is unholiness and evil. The owner could be in a painful search for it, it could be his only means of survival. Should we not do to others as we wish them to do to us? Is this not the Golden Law of Christ? A church goer who takes what is not his own is simply a thief, and one who does evil with his hands is still in death. None of them shall take part in the kingdom of God because they wilfully break the commandments of God. 
     
  1. Holiness of the feet: There are places a holy Christian cannot be found in. A set apart believer cannot be found where sinners dine and wine and live in sin. There are parties and events a Christian should attend and there are those he must run away from. A place where wickedness is done against God is not for a Holy Child of God. There you feed your soul with the lewdness and wickedness of men, and many have fallen from been yoked together with the wicked.  
     
    A Christian should never be found in a prostitute brothel relaxing, it does not speak godly of us. And one seeing us may misunderstand us and we may cause the weak to fail and fall. We also cannot visit shrines or traditional worship centres unless if it be to destroy the things of darkness.  
     
     
  1. Holiness in the Heart: Malice and hatred are sins of the heart. “He that hates his brother is in darkness” – 1 John 2:11. At all cost we must forgive and seek to be forgiven; for no one does not offend another at some point in time. Unforgiveness is a sign that the very nature of God is not yet formed in us; it is a sign of an unholy and stained heart.  
     
    I know a way that has helped me to forget and forgive others no matter what. When it looks unbearable then I cry to God to help me overcome a grudging heart. Heaven is far more precious for one to lose it over an insult or mistreatment. Let it go!  
     
    Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.“ 
     
  1. Holiness in Choice and preference: I do not aim to please men, if my aim was to please men, I would not be a follower of Christ. Therefore, I cannot shy from telling it all as I was taught by God’s spirit although it displeases many.  
     
    “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4 
     
    Holiness in choice and preference imply that before we decide, in whatever we want to do, we must set God before us. Our preferences should respect the person and nature of God; for ourselves are also like unto Him if we are Holy. Our Choice of words, relationships, marital affair, business, associations and career pursuit must showcase our allegiance to His Holiness. Thus, there are professions a holy Christian cannot do no matter how lucrative it is.  We cannot help immorality and evil to strive in our society and claim to be for God. No way! No one can serve two matters at same time, Jesus said. You cannot serve both God and money. Indeed, you serve money if for money you despise the Lord your God. You cannot promote the things of Satan Oh! Christian. We were established by God to declare His praises and show forth His glory and priests of Zion. Should we then glorify sin and the works of Satan for the sake of meeting ends? 
     
    1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 
     
    A Church goer can work anywhere, but a Holy Christian or believer cannot work in a brothel? For what has light to do with darkness? I have seen a self-acclaimed pastor producing worldly music. How can a believer produce music that defiles the soul of his and another? It shows gross unholiness.  
     

Holiness is the standard for those who desire to be in a contact relationship with God, there is nothing else that can guarantee that. Not even fervent prayers can bring man close to God, not his giving and sacrificial offerings. Indeed, God does not desire burnt offerings over obedience to Him as seen in 1 Samuel 15:22. Therefore show me a man whom God delights in and I’ll show you a Holy man. If we must return to God and experience Him like the worshippers of God in the Bible, we then must return to total Holiness; without which no man will see the face of God.

A Christian must not follow Christ from a distance because he will fall and fail

By
Ogba Victor
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0

Text: Matthew 26:58 “But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.”

One thing is clear, the nearer one approaches an object, the clearer it becomes in your sight. For instance, if one has a book but is at a distance, he can see the prints but cannot see the letters. Hence, he cannot know what is written it the book. He needs to come closer to the book to make meaning out of the prints.

Children can only produce the character of their parents when there is a close contact with them over a period of time. Closeness and proximity are strong agents of mentorship, discipleship, parenting and followership.

Distant parenting and mentorship will end in failure very often. Parenting and mentorship often requires more than just instructions and rebuke. For parenting to be successful, the child has to see for himself the life pattern of the parent. Words of instructions may not abound, but what people see with their own eyes stays for long. By living together, the child can tell whom his father is in truth.

We have the same proximity phenomenon in fellowshipping with Christ. The closer we are to Christ, the more it is possible to be like Him, know him, imitate him, fellowship with him, hear from Him, successfully represent Him, speak for Him, the more we understand his nature and judgments.

There are many Christians who don’t yet understand that if we truly desire to replicate the life of Jesus Christ characterized by dominion over forces of evil, absolute holiness, boldness, humility, steadfastness and loyalty to God even to the point of death, we cannot afford to follow Christ Jesus at a distance.

An adage says, “One whose feet are not in a river cannot be drowned by the river.” For water to drown a man he has to be close to, and in the water. For us to be drowned by the Spirit of God and the triumphant nature of Christ formed in us we cannot be at a distance from God, we cannot follow Christ at a distance.

Distance from God implies that we are far away from God, far from what he is doing, far from where he is and his things. And it is easier to backslide being far from God. It is also very easy to fall into many sins and temptations.

There are some who are neither here nor there. They are like a pendulum bob switch, they are often ‘on and off’ from God. Such switch cannot power anything. And nobody can use a switch that goes on and off on its own, be it man or God.

Jesus Christ lived with his disciples, He walked with them, He talked with them, they ate together, they slept together, they saw Him react to situations. By this contact relationship they had many divine experiences, saw many miracles, heard many sermons, and received many impartations that would be hard to let go even if Christ should be taken away from them.

You see my brethren, the truth with many backslidden Christians is that they could not get enough to keep them steadfast in faith. They probably had some religiosities here and there, but what they ought to know and have they couldn’t get. There is hardly anyone who is fully equipped in experience, grace, word and who continues to get more who will deny Christ. But for us to be equipped and continue to be equipped we must be in a close and contact relationship with the Spirit of Jesus Christ like the Apostles were with Christ.

The proof that Christ’s mentorship of the Apostles worked well was shown when Jesus was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Thomas said: “Let us go and die with Him.” John 11:16. By this we know that the faith budding in the Apostles had become stronger than the fear of death.

Again, Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, “I will never leave you, even though all the rest do!” He went ahead to declare that he could die for Jesus. Peter’s convictions were soon tested after the arrest of Jesus. The Scripture sates: “But Peter followed Him at a distance.”

From a distance Peter couldn’t look upon the strong face of His Master anymore. From a distance he couldn’t speak to, and hear from His Master who could have strengthened and kept him going. From a distance he began to see the strong arm of God upon his master and how Jesus was treated with contempt. Then his heart failed him.

He had always sat and dinned with his brothers and Christ, but on that day, because he was at a distance from his brethren and his Lord, he sat down with sinners. Suddenly he felt alone and defeated. His psychological muscles failed him and his convictions were overpowered with great fear. And then, thrice he denied and swore to never knowing Jesus.

There are many who have backslidden, and some have betrayed Christ just like Peter because they will rather be with unbelievers than fellowship with the Church and with Christ, such people are at a distance. So, when temptations come, they are swept off their feet.

Following Christ at a distance

To follow Christ at a distance is shown in:

  1. When our going to Church and fellowship is neither here nor there. That is, a lackluster attitude towards attending Church activities.
  2. When we do not pay attention to know the scriptures; to study it regularly and know its value.
  3. When our prayer life is on and off.
  4. When our devotion to God is not stable or consistent.
  5. When we don’t have a one on one relationship with God and His Spirit
  6. When we don’t serve God as He ought to be served. Himself will be far from such worshippers.
  7. When we don’t align to what God is doing in the present.

We only harm ourselves with this kind of lackluster Christian life. The only thing we will get with this style of following Christ is that we will hardly seek and find the face of a God at distance. We will hardly know the person and true nature of a God at distance. We will hardly replicate the nature of whom we don’t know. Many sins and temptations will conquer us. Darkness will overtake such worshippers. The victorious nature of God will be hard for distant followers to replicate. By this, many spiritual battles will overcome us, and many will eventually get tired and backslide.

“Those who are far from you will perish…” -Psalms 73

When you are asked why a Christian has backslidden from the faith, tell them that he/she followed Christ at a distance.

How to serve and find the face of the God of the Church and Bible – With all your heart

By
Ogba Victor
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1

TEXT: Hebrews 6:10 “For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.”

There is a food made for men; there is food for those who want to be separated from the crowd in God’s heart. There is meat prepared for those who desire to be unicorns among goats; there is a call to go extra-mile, this is the basics of this final article on how to serve and find God.

Having already known the way to serve God which is in fear of God, in truth and in faithfulness, let us also know this day that God also delights in those who serve Him with all their hearts, with all their souls, with all their minds, and with all their strength.

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” – Matthew 22:37

Above is a call to go extra mile; a call to do more than the normal. It is a call to diligent, persistent, generous and obedient service to God. Apostle Paul says in our text: “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and love.”

There are people who look at others in the worship and service of God. They seem to grade themselves based on other people’s lack of seriousness and un-hearty worship of God.

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12

I was talking to a youth about his commitment to Church activities. His response showed that he was comparing his careless service with those who were more careless than him. He thought he was doing well not knowing that in God’s standard he was a failure; for God delights in a serious and dedicated worship. That same day, I had a vision where he missed out and the door was shut against him.

Again, you can find people who serve God without any seriousness of heart. They are on and off with God and the Church. No dedication, no seriousness, no diligence, no commitment and no sacrifice.

God is seeking men who will put in time and labour, heart and soul, mind and skill, strength and resources in the service and worship of God. This attracts a special reward and grace. It can endear someone to God more than his mates.

Parents love their Children who please them more, and are naturally quick to respond to their needs. This is also the nature of God who Fathers all mankind.

Cain had a nonchalant attitude towards his worship and service of God. He never wanted to do his best for God, he wanted to be allowed to put in whatever is good to him. Hence, his sacrifice and worship were rejected.

“And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If you did well, would you not be accepted?” Genesis 4:7

Abel had a different spirit. He gave all his best, and his sacrificial service was accepted.

It is not all service that God delights in, the Great God will not accept all worship from us. Jesus said “Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.” And it is with a faithful and an obedient service that we can show that we love God.

It is with all willingness and every fiber of our souls that we serve God best. We can call it sacrificial worship; others may call it unreserved service. The delight of God is when we show total commitment and love, without holding back anything, just to please God in whatever He has chosen that we do for Him.

I know of a man of God, not the kind of today’s pastors who have no sacrificial service in God’s vineyard. In his days in the pastorate, he made sure that his church never lacked prayers on Friday nights. Whether the people showed up or not, he would keep the fire burning. For this he never lacked a growing Church.

Once, his helper was poisoned. He cried out to God and the Lord responded like the days of old when He showed His mighty strength among men. The evil woman who had poisoned the little boy died and rodents ate her corpse. For he was dearly loved by God because he put in all his strength on the service of His God.

Jesus Christ showed a hearty and soulful service to God when He said to His disciples: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). Food or no food, Jesus had one desire – the will of God. Unlike today when we find every slightest reason not to attend Church meetings, evangelism and prayers. We have every reason not to labour for Christ and do God’s will, although we know His delights.

Again, Jesus he gave up His life for the sake of God’s purpose and obtained a name greater than any other name. He was a selfless Lord, refusing to withhold anything, even His own life for sinners and His Church. Are we able to replicate this selfless and unreserved service, or shall we continue in carelessness and excuses?

Apostle Paul said of his labour in service for Christ: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. -1 Corinthians 15:10″.

No wonder he became greater than them all. He did not overlook the grace upon His life, but rather laboured more exceedingly. And when Agabus and the Church tried to stop him from going to Jerusalem, he said: ” I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 21:13

Brethren this is called unreserved worship and service unto God.

I have read about the prophets, there is none who showed devotion and resiliency in prayer like Daniel. He prayed for his people and Jerusalem three times every day. He prayed in the good and bad times. And when it was a taboo to pray, Daniel chose to die rather than stop interceding for Israel. All his heart, life and soul was invested in his service and worship of his God. He showed the kind of commitment many Church people lack towards cooperate prayer. When the Angel of God came to him, the Angel called out to Daniel saying “O Daniel, man greatly beloved.”

How I wish God would send His angel to tell me of His love for me. Daniel was greatly loved by His God.

Finally brethren, God is looking for sacrificial worshippers who will labour for him without looking at others. Youths who will give their youthfulness to be used to advance the Kingdom. Men who will give in their resources, time, mind and soul to see that the Church returns back to Glory Days and does not continue to die. These are the kind of people God is looking for, and He will show them greater love and favour. Apostle Paul said: “For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name.” Amen!!!

How to serve and Find the face of the God of the Church and Bible – Faithfulness to God

By
Ogba Victor
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0

TEXT: Joshua 24:14 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in Faithfulness, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!

From the text we can find Joshua’s principles on ‘how to serve God’. Previously we have discussed on the fear of God and sincere worship. The third one is to serve God in faithfulness.

A faithful worshipper

Faithfulness is a virtue God cannot overlook when we posses it as people who serve and worship Him. He is a faithful God and demands faithfulness from us. “For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.” Psalms 37:28

What then is faithfulness? Take for instance that you had an agreement with someone on a matter. In that agreement, you have a role to play and the second party has his own role to play for the agreement to be established. Your ability to do, and keep doing your own part without wavering is termed your faithfulness.

Another explanation is the case of a promise made. Our ability to keep to our word and promise is faithfulness.

Therefore, faithfulness is a quality of being able to keep to agreement with great consistency, regardless of extenuating circumstances.

“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.” Isaiah 42:6

As Christians we are in a blood covenant with God. This covenant was established by Christ Jesus and sealed with His blood.

In this Holy covenant is an agreement; God has His own role to play and we as Christians, have our own role to play. God’s ability to keep His part is the faithfulness of God to His Covenant. Our ability to keep to terms of this holy covenant is our faithfulness to the God of covenant.

We entered into this covenant the day we decided to follow Jesus Christ- the covenant of God to man. And if we call Him a covenant keeping God as some sing and say, we therefore ought to be faithful in keeping our part, knowing that no broken covenant comes without a price.

The Covenant

“This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws (Spirit) in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Hebrews 8:10

God’s part in His covenant with all nations is to provide His Spirit to man. By this Spirit the law of God will be written in men’s heart. By this indwelling Spirit, men will be saved from sin and unrighteousness and the inability to know the judgements of God.

But the spirit does more than conviction and teaching us to live in righteousness. He will also help us to pray, He will help us to worship, help us to live in holiness, cause us to understand the things of God including His word. This generosity of God is revealed in His covenant with all nations.

As for man’s role in this agreement, I Ogba Victor – a bond servant of Jesus Christ heard from the Spirt saying: “Holiness, Righteousness and Obedience.” These three are man’s part to do. And if we are willing and able to do these things at all cost, despite the circumstance, at any time or place, we will be called Faithful before God.

We understand how agreements and covenant works. One has to be faithful to his part so the covenant can remain. Should we fail to keep this covenant and do our part, the repercussion is that God will also not be generous with his Spirit and Grace. The bible says:

“All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as faithful to keep his covenant and his testimonies.” -Psalms 25:10

Th passage above agrees that those who keep to God’s covenant, God will show them His mercy and truth. But God will do more than showing mercy and truth, He will keep to His covenant and make His Spirit and Grace abundant. A Christian who has an abundance of God’s Spirit can do so much through Christ Jesus. For the power of God that worketh in us is nothing but an expression of His Spirit.

Again, it is written:

“It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I disregarded them, declares the Lord.” Hebrews 8:9

The nature of God is spelt out in Hebrews 8:9 – He is a covenant keeping God. If we disregard our agreement and break his covenant, he is also liable to disregard and hide his face from us. For we already know that He is a covenant keeping God, He will keep to His word. Jesus Christ said:

 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15-18

From the above scripture, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to his followers. He promised to come to them even after he is through with His duty on Earth. The world was going to look for Him, but His followers were to continue to experience Him. Then He reminded them of the clause attached to this divine providence of an abiding Spirit; He said: “If you keep my commandments“.

It is very easy today to find Church goers who are not willing to obey the righteous laws of Christ. They still commit all sorts of sin, iniquity and evil not regarding the person of Christ.

How do we think we shall find the face of God living in sin and wickedness against God and against our fellow man? For willfully we break the covenant in utter unrighteousness, un-holiness and in gross disobedience to God. That which He says, “don’t do”, we do. That which He says, “do this”, we don’t do. If we were to be fathers, would we be generous to such children as have no regard for us?

Tell Christians who have the desire to experience and find God that we must repent and return back to being faithful to the covenant we have with God. For unless we repent and return, God’s face will be far from us, and many shall likewise perish.

Obedience to God

We obeyed God when we surrendered to Christ, by this we obtained forgiveness and the indwelling of God’s Spirit. If we want the Spirit of God to remain in us, and for us to grow and well-up to the heights of God, we must live in obedience to God.

By the Spirit we will hear from God, by Him we are regenerated, by Him we grow in grace and knowledge of God, by Him we find God, by Him we build a relationship with Christ. By Him we receive and manifest the spiritual gifts of God. Therefore, figuring out how to keep ourselves aligned for the supply of God’s Spirit should be our priority. And Jesus said “If you obey my commandments, I will send you the Holy Spirit.”

Obedience itself is part of faithfulness to God. To be obedient means that we shall do as we are told, and not do as we are told not to do.

Prayer or living a life of prayer is under obedience to God. Studying the word daily is part of it. Evangelism is part of obedience to the great commission. Running away from lies, deceit, covetousness, bribes, fighting, malice, hatred, slander, envy, wickedness and other iniquities because the bible condemns it, is part of obedience to God.

Sometimes God can use our pastors to tell us things we must do, we must show obedience. Other times God can give us a task to carry out, we must do it without hesitation.

Holiness

Holiness is a subject many fear to preach and of which many believers never want to listen to because the Holiness of God testifies that man is guilty and needs to be saved. The Holiness of God eposes the evil in the hearts of many, even the strong is made weak in the light of His Holiness. Therefore, many people prefer not hear it at all for them not to be exposed. But God is undeniably Holy; “Thy eyes are too pure to behold evil, and thou canst not look on iniquity.” –Habakkuk 1:13

The aim of this series has not changed, these are the ways you will serve God and you will find his face. It is series that searches the heart of men, should you doubt my gospel, ask for a sign from God and do not resist Him.

Holiness is the quality of becoming separated, dedicated and consecrated unto God. It means to put on a white and spotless robe. It is an attribute of God. Therefore, when a man is holy, he is simply copying God. He talks like God, he lives like God, he relates like God, his appearance is like God, what delights God delights Him, he is conformed into the image of Christ and God. God is Holy!

But now we that are covenanted in the Holy Covenant of God has obtained the Spirit of grace which helps us overcome our weaknesses. Therefore, holiness is the beauty of all saved and heavenly minded Christians. As it is written; “without holiness no one will see God.“

Therefore, we have to be holy and godlike in appearance, in speaking and conversation, in our relationships with friends, families, loved ones and enemies. We have to be holy in our works and deeds, in character and integrity, in our desires and preferences which includes our career pursuit/source of income. In all areas of our lives, we must show consecration and separation, and that we belong to God with all our hearts.

All our religiousness, legalisms, our outward show of spirituality, great preaching and teaching, great singing, fervent tongues and extravagant giving cannot by any means substitute Holiness. One could have all these but would still be rejected by God. In God’s kingdom, holiness has no substitute.

“For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” – Leviticus 19:2

Righteousness

“I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line.” -Isaiah 28:17

Righteousness is the plumbline of God, it is his measuring tool with which he measures those he will accept their worship, service or sacrifice. This is why it is written: “The prayers of the righteous avails much”. But for the wicked it is written: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD.”

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17

Let us consider that Paul first mentioned righteousness as what God’s kingdom is about. Righteousness is the quality of being right or justifiable by God’s standard in our works and deeds. It is the quality of aligning our works according to God’s judgements. The bible agrees that the judgements of God is righteous in Psalms 119:7.

I’ve seen believers who don’t want to hear about righteousness and producing works that align with God’s standards, but want to be part of God’s kingdom.

It is impossible for the unrighteous man to find God, his prayers are an abomination to God. It is impossible for the ungodly and immoral to ever have a relationship with Jesus who is called the King of Righteousness. If He is called the King of righteousness then let us acknowledge that He cannot Lord unrighteousness.

This is how we know that all our works that doesn’t align to the person and judgments of God on how we must live is evil no matter how men see it; and that by doing those works we shall not be acceptable by God. “For God is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.” -Psalm 145:17

The righteous judgments of God are put in two rules:

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, is also known as the “Golden Rule”.

 “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”, is called the “royal law”

Conclusion

In the exact words of Moses; “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19

I also have in three topical series given us what we need to find the face of God; In it is life and death. For we must choose to serve God how He desires to be served or we can’t serve Him at all. We must choose to live or to die.

For it pleased God to declare this when He told me to pray to be able to teach His people on how to serve Him. I have kept nothing back but one important part which shall be for the next article. Nonetheless, any man who serves God in the fear of God, in sincere worship and in faithfulness cannot be rejected by God. He will find the face of the God of the Church and of the Bible.

Amen!

How to serve and find the face of the God of the Bible – Sincere an Truthful worship

By
Ogba Victor
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From our previous article on this series, I made sure to let us understand that there is a way God has chosen to be served; and it is by it we shall be accepted and our voices heard in heaven. This is the truth. It is the secret of men who have been able to find the God of the Church and have experienced His glory and power. Previously we discussed on ‘the fear of God‘ as the number one in the list of how to serve and find God. In this article we shall move on to the second one.

TEXT: Joshua 24:14 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in Faithfulness, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!

From the above passage we can find the second in the list of how a Christian should serve God. It is to serve God in sincerity and truthful worship.

Truthful and Sincere worship

To serve God in sincerity means that there is no deceit or double standard in our worship of God. It means that we are exactly whom we claim to be, before God and before man, in open and in secret. It also means that the ‘Yes’ of our Christian message, we uphold them; as for the ‘Neys’ we say no without compromise and hypocrisy.

Deceitful worship aims to show the people a different side of what is real about us. It is a case of double standard Christianity where one is a Christian in a particular location, but in another he lives in a way that displeases God. For he mocks the message of Christ before those who are yet to be saved, for he does not live according to the faith he proclaims.

We are in a time when very many Church people are most godly in the Church and before their pastors and fellow membership. They are well dressed, when behaved, saintly, godly and with righteous appearance. However, at home, in secrete, without the public eyes, behind the curtains is another person who lives in negation to what he claims to be; it is called deceitful worship.

Some students are very churchy at home and before their parents. But as soon as they are without their parents and in a student environment, they become as wild beasts living without fear for God. Some don’t even associate with God’s people and the Church anymore. Away from home they show that they truly are for the world, but before their parents and pastors they are pretentious. They are deceivers and the truth is not in them.

We see Pastors who live a lie before the public eye. At home they are ravenous wolves who mistreat their spouse, in public they put on a holy appearance with a cheeky smile and gentle walk. They are manipulators and liars about what they truly are. My God cannot accept this evil.

Anyone who worships in deceit only deceives himself. “For God cannot be mocked: For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal 6:7. If we sow sin and deceit, we shall reap death. As it is written: “For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23

Christian, who are you in the secret and who are you in the open? In your work place, at home, in your school environment, before your friends, away from possible reprimand, do you represent Christ or are you just like those who don’t know God? This question will help you judge yourself on this matter. For God cannot be mocked.

Some will say: “Listen to what I preach but do not copy my ways.” Apostle Paul rather says: “Imitate me as I Imitate Christ.” If you are not the righteous man people think you are, if you are not the Holy man they think, if you are not the kind and godly man they see, if you are not what you preach and claim to stand for, then you are a liar.

John 4:23 “But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Jesus seemingly agrees with Joshua and the saints on how to serve and worship God. Jesus reminded his followers that the time has come for the true worshippers of God, that is, those who claim they belong to God and Christ to put away deceitful worship and serve God in Spirit and Truth. For He said: “This is the kind of worship God is looking for”.

Again, he continued: “God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth”. What great things He has revealed to us here.

Many people are whiling away their time. In all the years they have spent in the Church believing that they serve God, they have truly not been able to find God as proof that they serve God in truth.

For there is no one who can serve God in truth, following the sure ways of God who cannot find the face God. Our God has caused us to know His Judgements and how we shall be acceptable to Him.

My mom was in a Church service. As the service was going on, her eyes were opened in the spirit to a few worshippers left in that service. By this, God was showing this woman of God His true worshippers whose name are in the Lamb’s Book of life. Those where his accepted who will also be raptured.

The rest of them in that service are what we call Church goers. They had absolutely no idea that God has rejected their worship and that their names were not in the Lamb’s Book of life although they had a form of religion. Unless they shall repent and return back to the chosen ways of God, they shall be like the five foolish virgins who were part of the chosen of the groom, but were also rejected by Him; with the groom saying: “I do not know you!”

The five foolish virgins could have been part of the pastoral. Some could have been in the prayer department, while some could have been in the band or Choir. Many could have had tongues, while others had money and Tithes to give. Yet the groom who is Christ rejected them. Since they cared not for what is important to the groom, the groom also denied them marriage.

This is the mystery of the parable of the ten virgins. Not all of those who call Him Lord will enter into God’s kingdom, but those who do His will. What is the will of God? That all worshippers of God be truthful and honest with their worship of God.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matthew 7:21-23

“Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart.”- I Samuel 12:24

Jesus also pointed out the need to worship in the spirit. A short description of Christianity is a spiritual walk with God. From the first day He births us through His Spirit, a true worshipper should begin a living spiritual relationship with God. If there is nothing spiritual about our relationship with God, we must not think that we are walking with God who is a Spirit.

Jesus was inviting the people of God to a worship that is beyond lip service full of physical appearances but lacking spiritual transformation, impact, impartations and signs. Not as the Jews used to have. Their worship of God was in the surface without spiritual ties with God. Only the prophets enjoyed this spiritual walk with God. Jesus was then saying, ‘the time has now come for us to worship in the Spirit also.’

It is only by the Holy Spirit that one can walk with God in the Spirit. Our spirituality as Christians is not like that of the world. But from the womb of the Holy Ghost our spirituality is birthed in Christ Jesus.

A spiritual walk with God comes with spiritual benefits. We get to benefit from the generosities of God made possible by the Spirit of Grace that worketh in us. Part of that generosity is that His Sons and Daughters will be people of the light.

For this then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. 1 John 1:5

Let us understand what John is saying here. Those who dwell in darkness, and also claim to belong to God are liars and deceivers. They are likened to them who has no truth in their worship of God, because God is light and in him there is no darkness.

We must therefore arise and put on light to show that we serve God in truth. For those who serve Him belong to the light and not darkness.

Also, we cannot claim that we belong to God and secretly have idols and charms we use to protect ourselves as some public office holders do. In doing this we are made liars and the truth is not in us. God hates idolatry!

We cannot claim to be saved while we still live in iniquity and wickedness, we are insincere. “For whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John3:9

We cannot preach holiness and live in unholiness, it is insincerity.

We cannot preach that God is love, but live in unforgiveness, malice, strife, hatred, infightings and quarreling, and at the same time claim to serve God; the truth is not in us.

If we are for Christ, then let us be Christlike in deeds, in words, in relationship, in dealings, in secrete, in open and in the dark corners. This is far beyond praying and fasting, it is far beyond singing and dancing. Our tears, emotions and claims to love God cannot substitute that we must serve God in all sincerity; This is the kind of worship He seeks.

The consequence of serving God in hypocrisy of heart.

The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” Isaiah 33:14

Isaiah was a Prophet of mighty revelations and word. He saw and wrote on the Past, the Present and the Future things. He foresaw the end of sinners and wicked people who dwell among the righteous congregation. He foresaw the destruction awaiting those who have a double standard worship; preaching and not doing kind of service to God.

They are in Zion and they dwell with those who are destined for the Kingdom. But instead of the helmet of salvation, they have sin, iniquity, evil, malice, hatred, immorality, lewdness, sexual perversions and darkness.

Isaiah said: “Sinners in Zion are afraid; fear has gripped the hypocrites.” While on earth they had no fear for God and was not moved by the judgements of God. They imagined that they could deceive man but could not see that God who sees in the dark cannot be mocked. For the Lord Knows those who are his true Children-2 Timothy 2:19. But now fear has gripped the hypocrites. “Who among us shall dwell in the devouring fire?” “Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” They cry aloud.

This becomes the outcry of sinners in the church on the last day when their deceitful worship will be exposed. For God is not mocked. What a man sows, that he shall reap. If he sows sin and deception, he shall reap death. For the wages of sin is death!

Serve God in Truth and Sincerity!

How to serve and find the face of the God of the Bible – The Fear of God

By
Ogba Victor
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0

A young lady made a post sometime ago on how she had been in prayers seeking for God for about six months if I could recall exactly. When I saw the genuine concern in her writing I sent her a friend request and then messaged her. I had just one job to do, which is to make her understand that there is a way to serve and find the face of God. Such that when we seek Him, we shall find Him; and we shall be certain that we truly belong to Him.

In my years of service to God, I don’t think anyone should seek God for many months without any response unless the seeker is unaligned. No one who seeks God unaligned will find Him. Alignment means we are serving God the way we ought to serve Him. That we are aligned to the plumbline of God and is worshipping God how He desires to be worshipped. Not how we want to do it!

One could have being a Church goer for many years and could have become a deacon, deaconess, priest, church leader, chorister, department leader, but is unaligned. One could stay for many years as a church goer but would never know what it means to hear God speak. Many of them will continue to be defeated by sin and darkness because they do not know, neither do they have the Light from God. They also can never come into true spiritual growth neither will they know the power of God made available to a Christian living for God in truth.

We must not be deceived, the five (5) Foolish virgins of the parable of the Ten (10) Virgins were equally members of the Church. They continued with the Church until the end and they were left behind. This is how many Church people who play religion and serve God in their own way, ignoring the chosen ways of God will not share in the eternal glory, but shall be perish in everlasting burnings. Him who has promised eternal life has chosen a sure way and it was written: “The standard of God remains sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his…” 2Timothy 2:19

A preacher was demanded by God to preach to a Church old timer. The Spirit had told the preacher that the Church goer was not saved. This preacher was hesitant to a preach salvation to this church old timer because he couldn’t imagine that the well known Church goer had no relationship with God. He thought about how the Church goer would take it, and so he left without attending to the demand of the soul searching Spirit.

The preacher was at his home the next morning when he was told that the man God had demanded him to preach to was dead; He cried.

The preacher was looking at the fact that this other man was an established church goer, but God was seeing an unaligned man whose worship was yet to be accepted in heaven. He knew not God all the years of his plight in the Christian Church. He probably had his religious ways, but God had a way He chose and so he wasn’t saved. He must have thought he was serving God, but the service of God was far from Him.

This is how many Church goers are still unknown in heaven despite all their religiousities; because there is a way God has chosen to be worshipped and served. And until we truly serve, we shall also be likened to this established church goer who died without salvation experience.

There is a way to serve God so that your worship will be accepted, and your voice heard in heaven when you call. And it is not by rigorous praying or fastings. Praise and dance with emotional tears cannot substitute it. The longeitivity of years as a believer means nothing here. Our theology and pulpit expertise means nothing here. Our popularity in the church means nothing. Our positions, titles and religious regalia means absolutely nothing. Our giving means nothing until we begin to serve in the way God has chosen to be served.

How to serve and find God

“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in Faithfulness, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15

Time came for Joshua to bow to the ways of his fathers. He then gathered God’s people together and began to reminisce on the journey which began from Egypt. As he was concluding his final speech, he enquired of the people of Israel if they were willing to serve God. The people of God replied and said: “Yes! We will serve our God”.

But to Joshua, he knew that it wasn’t just about saying it. He knew that there was a way God accepts and that not all forms of worship and service are able to please God. Then in Chapter 24:14 Joshua like Moses (The man of God) began to state how Israel must serve God if they wanted to be accepted by God. For He said: “Now therefore Fear the Lord…”

Fear the Lord

The fear of the Lord is the first thing that God requires from all who claim to serve God. It is number one in the ‘how to serve God.’ And until we can show that we fear God we cannot be established as people who serve God in heaven.

Abraham the Father of Faith, when he obeyed God to sacrifice his only son according to Genesis 22:12, it was written that God had said to Abraham “Now I know that you fear me“. Thus, God tried Abraham to know if he had the fear of God. He passed and this made God to establish his journey with God. The Faith of Abraham did not go without the Fear of God.

Job 1:18 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

Again, here is a man who served God- Job. God had noted to Satan that Job was a servant of His; this is to say that Job was actively serving God, not as a Prophet but as a follower of the ways of God. Job was blameless and upright. Then God recounted that he was a man who had the FEAR OF GOD in him.

What then does it mean to fear God?

“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.”- Proverbs 16:6

According to the scripture above, we can conclude that the fear of God is to depart from iniquity. The fear of God is for men to run from what offends the Spirit of God. It is for men to say: “No! How can I commit this wickedness against God?” Until then we are yet in the true service and worship of God.

Joseph could have had fun with Potiphar’s wife and nobody would have known. But when his fear for God was tested he said: “How can I do this great wickedness against God?” This is what it means to fear God. When we shun sin and evil in obedience to God no matter the cost, whether we lose or gain, whether we die or live, whether we are loved or despised, no matter the situation, no matter the condition and no matter the place. This is the demand of God; It is how He desires to be worshipped and served. For He said;

A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? Malachi 1:6

Today’s Church is full of many who claim to serve God but very few men who have the fear of God in them. And for this reason, the Spirit is far from many, for God having called himself a Holy God has rejected the worship of many and the scripture having also said, “Them that despise my command, I will likely esteem.”

So we pray, but God does not answer. We fast, but it looks like God has deaf ears. We cry and he doesn’t respond. We suffer and he is silent. Our voices are unheard in Heaven because God has seen our hearts that we have no fear for Him.

For freely we tell lies to meet ends ignoring that the Bible says: “The Lord hates a lying tongue.”- Proverbs 6:16. Without fear we slander and curse. We fight and do wickedness to one another. We beat and mistreat our wives and husbands. Even the children of other people, we treat with contempt. A time when Church people engage in deceit and fraud; When we fornicate and commit adultery; When Pastors steal church fund’s and engage in politics. When we are full of divorce of which the Lord has said: “I hate divorce!” A time when there are thieves amongst us, and those who mistreat widows and take from the fatherless.

A time when our church people are willing to do anything to make money and gain employment. Ladies sleep with their bosses, men sleep with job seekers. A generation of bribe seeking Church goers. I worked with a man who tried to encourage me to steal from my boss. He was a prominent member of the Church. You can hardly find a faithful stewardship these days even in the Church, both clergy and laity. The sin and wickedness we do are not hidden from the eyes of God.

I was in a bible school where pastors cheat and steal in exams. Some would even write exams for others. These are men who lack the fear of God. They don’t care about how God looks at them, but you’ll see them praying for anointing and power. Of course nothing will be given them. Just like Saul they have shown untrustworthiness in little matters, who shall then give them true riches? For this many cannot be established as Men of God, and some have lost the oil of ministry.

We have shown nothing but contempt to the righteous judgements of God and we have despised His law. Is it not written;

“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Psalm 24:3

If only the pure can stand in the Holy place of God, what do we think, that we will despise God and he will receive our service and be pleased with us? That we will do wickedness and he will smile on our prayers?

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect towards Him.”- 2 Chronicles 16:9

Again it is written:

“With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.” 2Samuel 22:26-27

Are there not deacons and deaconesses who steal Church money? Pastors who misuse Church funds. When Christian politicians steal public funds and Christian lawyers tell lies. When we cheat and do not pay back what we borrow. “The wicked borrow and do not pay back.” Psalms 37:21

Show me a Christian who fears God and I’ll show you a man who serves God in truth. Do we not know that David whom God attested to be a man after God’s own heart had one secret- He feared God! For He said, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed.”

Again, after David was fully established, he said of his journey with God: “He delivered me because He delighted in me. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, And have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me; And as for His statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also blameless before Him, And I kept myself from iniquity. Therefore the Lord has recompensed me for my righteousness.” 2 Samuel 22. There is no doubt David had the fear of God.

The fear of God, to run away from evil, is one of the ways to serve God. That is how to endear your worship to God and cause your voice to be heard in heaven when you call, even in the days of trouble.

We can never be established as true Christians and we shall never find God in our days in the church until we serve God in fear and tremble. His voice we will hardly hear, spiritual gifts we will hardly receive, the manifestations and power of God we will hardly know, until we have been proven to have the fear of God in us.

This is why I and many others have been able to find the God of the Church, talked with God, and have experienced the power of old and of the kingdom to come; having seen angels and Jesus Christ. I had and still have the fear of God in me. It is not about being afraid to talk about things of God or having fear of pastors, but it is about departing from iniquity and evil. Also knowing that if anyone does not serve God in fear, he will not find God all his days on Earth, and he shall not be with God in eternity to come. For while he was on Earth he had no relationship with God.

Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tends to life: and he that has it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Psalm 33:18-19 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on them that fear him, on them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

Revelations 14:6-7: Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. And he said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

Fear God!

The principles of all round Christian spiritual growth and advancement plus why you are not growing as a Christian

By
Ogba Victor
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0

Someone asked a question in a group I belong saying; “How do I grow?” This is a very important question one must ask, else one will never come into his true potential as a follower of Christ.

Christianity is a Spiritual walk with God; for God is a Spirit. Spiritual growth is not growing in faith but the all-round growth of our spiritual relationship with God. It involves the development of our Christian spiritualties such that even as our mortal bodies are growing, our eternal bodies/spirit are also growing into the likeness of God.

To understand Christian Spiritual growth we must understand the physical growth process which starts from when a child is born into the world.

A babe at first is born into the world without sight, strength and abilities. It lacks understanding and much intelligence. It lacks developed immune system that can help it fight alien bodies and so needs to be shielded. It needs to be carried and petted. It hardly knows it’s mother or father and cannot speak to them. It doesn’t have teeth and lacks strong bones which shows fragility. It also cannot defend itself.

After birth the babe begins to grow in size, weight, knowledge, strength, intelligence, abilities etc. As the child is growing he learns to speak and converse better. He could start to defend himself, develops new skills and discover his gifts and talents. And the human growth process doesn’t end until death. Even at old age one can increase in knowledge and wisdom.

If we liken this new born babe to a Christian newly birthed or converted, then we will understand Christian Spiritual growth.

A new convert in Christ would be lacking many things as a new babe would. He lacks knowledge of spiritual things. He lacks spiritual wisdom. His Christian immune system could still be questioned. He hardly knows his Father although he believes in Him. He is fragile and could be easily led astray. At this stage his prayer life could be weak. In the area of spiritual gifts he could have none, but if he has an, it would be very much undeveloped and without maturity. In the area of spiritual strength he may have just little. For Spiritual sight, he may have none.

At a stage he will be expected to begin to crawl. At another time stand; at another time walk; and then He should run and help others to run. This is possible only if He is able to grow all the things he lacked at re-birth, and develop the ones that he had at re-birth.

One day this Christian should be able to look back at coming to Christ like a babe and becoming a threshing instrument, a vessel of honour in God’s hands fit for every good work. This is Christian Spiritual growth process.

Therefore, Spiritual growth is a Christian growth process whereby someone who comes to Christ is more established in spiritual faith(Faith that comes from abundance of God’s spirit and not just a mind faith), in the spiritual knowledge of God and his dealings, in spiritual understanding, in spiritual wisdom(Wisdom that comes from the abundance of God’s Spirit), in response to spiritual things, in Christian spiritual warfare, in spiritual gifts, and in manifesting the power of God.

Yes! A Christian was made to be able to wield some levels of God’s power. If we cannot yet produce anything, the problem is with our spirit. It is too undeveloped and has not put on reasonable glory.

Few things we have must note:

  1. As in physical dwarfism, so in spiritual dwarfism.
  2. The length of years one has being in the Church does not relate to his spiritual growth. He could have stayed 50years in Church but still a babe in the spirit.
  3. When one truly grows in the spirit, He is also being drawn closer to God.
  4. Spiritual growth increases our chances of producing spiritual power and manifestations.

What is not Christian Growth

  1. Going from Church membership to the Pastoral is not spiritual growth.
  2. Becoming a Bishop or Church leader is not spiritual growth. This is just mere increase in fellowship ranking/title.
  3. Appointed or selected for a role in the church is not spiritual growth.
  4. Being part of the Church for many years is not spiritual growth.
  5. Belonging to a group or association in the Church is not spiritual growth.
  6. Becoming used to the Church system and you are able to relate with the other membership is not a spiritual growth.
  7. Learning to give huge chums of your money to God’s work is not spiritual growth.

Spiritual growth implies that the things that concerns our spiritual walk with God are being strengthened, sharpened and established. Our spiritual receptacles and discernment has grown. Our understanding of signs are strongly positioned. Our spiritual deposits and gifts become more elaborate and effective. Our spiritual power and sight are developed. Such a Christian gain more power of utterance.

I don’t want Christians to be ignorant that the name of Jesus is more powerful in the tongue of those who are better grown and developed in the Spirit. Principalities pay no respect to titles or position; but men of sizable heights in the Spirit they listen to.

There was a time God used a woman to deliver me from spiritual attack. I prayed and prayed but the forces sustained their attack. Immediately this woman started to pray, they were overpowered. For, she had invested spiritually for many years and had become grown such that her utterance carried more weight than mine at that time. For sometime I wondered why a Prophet with mighty visions couldn’t prevail some dark forces, meanwhile thi woman could. I later learnt that my calling does not diminish that legalism of spiritual growth and spiritual power; they work together.

Therefore was the need to grow as fast as possible so that I can take my rightful place in the spirit.

If a Christian is having dreams or realities of calling on Jesus and the devil or evil one is hard to go, it shows how timid your spiritual life and growth is. If you grow the forces will listen. Below are principles of Christian Spiritual growth.

  1. Be thoroughly saved.
    Let no one imagine that somehow he can begin to grow spiritually until he is truly saved by Christ’s redeeming power. Becoming genuinely born again is the first step towards spiritual growth.

    Many at times preachers and Church people miss this important part. It doesn’t matter how long you fast, it doesn’t matter how long you do religious activities. If you are not truly saved, it is just like you are studying A-level courses without passing primary school. So God could ignore your prayers and fast, especially the ones that are aimed at seeking for greater glory, grace and power. God’s glory is not the right of sinners in the Church or outside the Church. Therefore, instead of fasting and praying to hear from God or to manifest power, let believers who are still been defeated by sin seek God that the yoke of sin may be broken.

    Sacrifice he has not desired, but a pure heart does He seek from us. For He said: Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you- Matthew 6:33.
  2. Growth through Prayer.
    If a Christian has any gift or spiritual deposit or if he can hear from God, his fervent prayer life can help strengthen and sharpen his gifts. His commitment to prayer will cause his receptacles to be stronger such that the voice of God will come more often. Even visions will increase for a praying Christian.

    I do not say that prayer is how to hear from God, but if your ears are already open, a fervent prayer life will cause the voice of God to come more often. Also if you lack spiritual gifts, a fervent prayer life can be used to purchase gifts. I cannot begin to mention how many gifts God gave me in 2021. As I would be praying, He’ll open my eyes in the Spirit to a new gift from Home.

    The promise of God to prune those who bare fruits is not elusive of praying Christians. The desire of God is for the Church and Christians to be in their best shape to enable them prevail. For God told me in 2021 that those whom He shall make use of in this generation are those who are willing to labour for Him. These are the candidates of His mighty power and mighty gifts.

  3. Growth through Evangelism.
    The most overlooked Spiritual growth mechanism is Evangelism. God has used this tool to teach me great lessons as a preacher, that no Church or Christian can grow effectively neglecting evangelism.

    I used to go out to preach by obedience to God. It continued a long time until God brought me to a point that I can foresee where to go. As I pen this, where I’m to begin my next evangelism campaign has been shown to me already. It wasn’t this way until God saw my faithfulness to obey the call to evangelize then he gave me the gift of vision. I soon learnt that all ministries to God and man needs spiritual gifts and graces. We cannot attain those hidden treasures until we show faithfulness in doing them. For to he who has more will be given- Matthew 13:12.

  4. Growth through daily and regular bible study.
    The growth that comes through regular bible study is tremendous. I once read the bible so much that a Spirit entered into me strongly. By that Spirit my mind was set on fire. I started to think my brain was topnotch, but I later learnt that the Spirit came to help me understand the message of my calling. But it didn’t come until God saw my zeal in bible study. For to Him who has more will be given.

    The Angel Gabriel said to Daniel; “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard; and I have come for thy words. Daniel 10:12″

    Let us understand that Daniel first set his heart to understand. He probably set himself apart for this. A decision that prompted God to send the Angel to answer his prayers. He was laboring his heart to understand.

    Can we still find Christians who read the bible zealously, seeking for understanding, knowledge and wisdom of the God of all Ages? Or has our Cellphone, PlayStation and fun times taking robbed us of Angelic assistance?

    Joshua 1:8 says: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

    It is simply impossible for any Christian to have good successful growth without God’s word. The word of God does so much for us, including sanctifying us from impurities that hamper spiritual growth.

    Also, the more a Christian studies the bible, the more He learns and knows more about His God. The bible says: “Those who know their God shall be strong, and do great exploits. Daniel 11:32 ”

    Lastly, there are things and gifts we cannot receive until we can handle them. There are dimensions God will keep from us until we possess knowledge. If not we shall become fools and God’s generousities shall ensnare us. Christian, read your bible like your life depends on it, or you will never grow.
  5. Growth through going to Church and Church activities.

    “And let us not forsake the fellowship that we have among ourselves.” Hebrews 10:25

    We are in a generation where many Christians don’t go to bible classes, night vigils and Sunday service. Many will prefer to play gospel music on Sunday morning. Others will go jogging, family outings, recreations etc. Jesus Christ in His time stepped into the Synagogue to teach the people.

    In attending Church and other activities one has to partake in worship, giving and ministrations. We listen to testimonies, sermons and songs. In the presence of the Spirit and the power of God these things edify God’s people. And where God’s presence is, that place is a potential breeding ground for his generousities. For it is the Spirit that illuminates our hearts on God’s Word; He feeds the spirit man; He helps us to grow. Sitting under the ministration of a genuine servant of God can illuminate anyone, it can increase our faith, it can increase our understanding and sharpen our spiritual gifts. No island Christian can grow much.
  6. Growth through Faithfulness & Obedience
    In the year 2021 God opened my eyes to an unpopular truth. All that God expects us to do, if we are faithful in them, He will grow us to new heights.

    We cannot expect God to increase us in negligence to what is demanded from us. Reading the bible daily, praying without ceasing, preaching the gospel of Christ, attending Church and activities are basic things we ought not to overlook. Other things may include obedience to specific/special assignments or tasks God has assigned to us. Spiritual growth and maturity is only possible by faithfulness and obedience to God.

My advice is for Christians to be attentive to their spiritual walk with God. At the end of the year, let us look back at how we started the year and how we are ending it.

If there were no new gifts, if there were no sharpened spiritual gifts, if our receptacles to God’s voice didn’t improve, if our strength in prayer didn’t grow, if there were no new anointing and graces, if our wisdom and prudency didn’t grow, if our visions didn’t come more often, if our faith was not able to move more mountains, if the spiritualties of our walk with God didn’t grow and produce visible effect on our Christian living, then we have had no spiritual growth that entire year.

May God help us in 2022. Happy New Year!!!

Pre-requisite for God’s deliverance, His restoration power, His help and His returning back to our lives

By
Ogba Victor
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Would you want to be made whole? Do you want to be set free from Satan’s bondage? Do you desire to return back to God? Whatever be the response of these questions, if positive, then there is a way to it. There are steps we cannot overlook or boycott if we genuinely desire to be completely liberated from the enemy’s bondage and then return back to God.

Apostle Arome testified of a barren woman who came to him for prayers in order to be conceived of a child. But as they had started to pray, the Spirit of God opened the eyes of men to a balloon pierced with broomsticks; and then the Lord said; Abortion! Abortion!

An evangelist who messaged us on a certain Sunday testified of a man who invited her for prayers. As she was preparing to meet the man, God stopped her from praying for Him. God revealed that the man had been engaged in idolatry, seeking help from traditional altars. Therefore God forbade the Evangelist.

Someone approached me a certain time desiring to be set free from unknown spiritual occurrences. This fellow does not desire the ways of God, but only desire the providence that was promised the Children of the kingdom. I prayed but God did not answer a word.

I was also approached by a certain woman for prayers concerning an issue. I did pray, but God did not answer. In her own case, I knew why God did not answer. Disobedience is as the sin of witchcraft says the Prophet, Samuel. Shall we ignore God’s dire needs and then bring ours to Him for solution? Brethren it does not work this way. For He said to the Jews, “I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer.“

Therefore, I have learnt that God keeps to His word of giving honour to those who honour Him. I have found out that there are principles and pre-requisite for help to come from above. I Ogba Victor, have seen that spirituality is governed by legalities placed by God. And although grace is a master to legalities, yet it is God who has set this legalities and has proven time after time that if we truly desire his deliverance and power we must produce certain fruits.

God is not weak to deliver, and there is no bondage too strong for Him. His hands are not too short to save, and there is no depth of darkness for which His light cannot shine through and quench it; but our sins have separated us from His power says the Lord.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2

I do not buy the sentiment of many when they say God will answer prayers. My bible says that the prayers or sacrifices of the wicked is an abomination to God (Proverbs 15:8).

What God needs from the sinner and wicked is repentance and to serve God in fear and sincerity of heart; and then the light of His countenance shall shine on us. And then we shall ask of Him that our joy may be full.

If He shall honour us in our dishonour of him, we will pride in our evil ways. Men will believe he has approved the wickedness of our hearts.

We must not look light of the scripture that shows how God allowed his people to be defeated in battle. How He refused them his help and how He stopped Prophets from praying, saying to them: “I will not answer, I will not hear thee. For this people have done evil in my sight“. We cannot overlook that we serve the same God of Israel who is Holy and righteous.

If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 7:3

In the Bible passage above, Israel was in same scenario of a people needing deliverance from their enemies but who needed to do the needful for salvation to come.

The Philistines had come up against Israel as they are used to. This time the Israelites where without the ark of covenant because it had been captured. Then they approached Samuel to solicit to God for help. Samuel was a Spiritual man. He knew that deliverance from God had a prerequisite. He was spiritually matured, probably more matured that many of us who would delve into prayers despite the spiritual condition of our flock.

Preachers must learn from Samuel. I’ve seen those who care little about the spiritual condition of the sheep of God. They would try to force God’s hands on the wicked. Nonetheless, the scripture says that the wicked shall not know peace. We must ensure that people have not placed themselves far away from God’s reach. And if we are fully aware of this, we must follow the pre-requisite for deliverance and finding help from God.

Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee. Jeremiah 7:16

It is deceit when the wicked and sinner tries to pray to God for deliverance and help but himself does not care to serve and honour God. Hoping that somehow God would answer and then he shall go back to wickedness. Many at times, those prayers don’t come with answer.

And men of God who try to deliver someone who is not ready and willing to quit wickedness most likely will be hitting a stone against a wall.

I remember praying someone out of a dark place. That same day I had a vision of this very person, she was afraid to come out. Hence it is not my prayer alone that will work. There needs to be a full cooperation of the other party for the prayer to be effective.

Prophet Samuel knew that it was futile trying to get God to help those who are not willing to come under his Power. He then told them plainly- if you want deliverance, if you want help against your adversaries, if you want to overcome, you must:

1. Return back to your God with all your heart.

One must to come to a place of repentance for what has led him away from God, and he must be sorry and show penitence. He has to re-consecrate back to God. The Heart must be involved here because God searches the heart. A broken heart and contrite spirit God will not overlook (Psalm 51:17).

One must not think to himself to deceive the Pastor and Church with lip confession while harboring great evil in his heart. For if I regard iniquity in my heart God will not answer – Psalm 66:18

2. Put away all foreign God’s which we possess

This instruction calls for self-cleansing. Surely we know why we have been separated from God. We must not assume to ourselves that somehow, God can bend his law to us.

I have seen a transgender who claimed to have surrendered to Christ, but never wanted to quite ‘transgending‘.

I’ve also read about a lesbian who repented and wanted to continue in her sin, desiring that God would bend to her. But it didn’t take long for her to figure out that the change was not coming forth, and that God was not yet in her ship. Then she started to seek God, asking for deliverance from the spirit of lesbianism.

It was through this prayer of cleansing that God delivered her. She had dreamt one night that a man pulled her out of a hole. Christ liberated her because she was willing to let go the stuff which had separated she and her heavenly Father. She prayed earnestly with brokenness for about a month until Help came from above.

There can never be full restoration and deliverance until we let go the hatred in our hearts. We must set free those we have held captive. We must forgive others and made peace with those we have wronged. We must confess our sins and do our best to return what we have taken in wickedness. We must purge ourselves of all that offends.

3. Prepare the Heart and Serve God only

After getting rid of all that offends in character, works, possession, and passion, the next step is to decide for sincere service and never to turn back.

It is not always a rosy path to follow God whether as a returnee or newly birth to Christ Jesus. The past may come hunting, the devil may try to give us one last run to see if we truly have divorced him. Times of opposition may come, men will throw punches.

Preparing the heart with the view that nothing will take us back is the third step. The assurance of God is not that the righteous will not pass through tribulations, His assurance is that we will overcome if we exercise patience and trust. Therefore the man that prepares his heart must decide to serve at all cost, and to serve Him alone.

Papering the heart involves prayers and studying God’s word. God’s word is like a mirror to our past, our present and our future. Consulting spiritual mentors and interacting with faithful Christians can help one cross this line.

In conclusion, ‘serving God only’ implies a continuous exercise. There are certain breakthroughs that may not happen immediately. There are certain bridges that does not close instantly. Example include depression and some other troubles of the spirit man.

As soon as we have come to God, He begins the formation stage. It takes fellowshipping with God, studying of God’s word, praying earnestly, listening to God’s preachers and not drawing back from God to fully accomplish them. We must be steadfast, the healing is in His hands. He will be faithful to them whose hearts are perfect towards Him.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

May God grant us wisdom and light in Jesus’ name; Amen!

‘My church didn’t know what to do with me’ – Libby’s BackToGod transgender story

By
Ogba Victor
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During her teenage years Libby Littlewood pleaded with God to make her ‘feel like a girl’. With her prayers seemingly unanswered, she transitioned to live as a man aged 17, before being convicted by God to de-transition in her early twenties. Here’s her story in full

Having been brought up in a Christian family, the Lord was no stranger to me. When I was four, we moved to a small Baptist church. At six, I had my first tangible encounter with the Holy Spirit. 

When I was 11, our church broke down. My brother became an atheist shortly after. That wasn’t an option for me: I couldn’t deny the existence of the God I knew, so instead I gave up on organised church, pursuing my relationship with God almost entirely through personal prayer.

From the youngest age, I assumed I would grow up to be a man. As I entered puberty, my struggles identifying with other girls became more distressing. After an evening of frantic googling, aged 12, I came across the word ‘transgender’. I readily adopted the philosophy that ‘female’ was, in fact,an internal feeling, a personality trait – something I didn’t have. I was affirmed in my belief that I wasn’t enough of a girl and resigned to the understanding that I would never be fulfilled without transitioning to live as a transman and injecting synthetic hormones for the foreseeable future.

I would pray for God to either make me ‘feel like a girl’, or transform me physically into a boy. He would respond, “Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us and not ourselves” (Psalm 100:3). I spent the following five years trying to find a solution to my problems that didn’t involve transition, hormones and surgeries.

At 17, I relented and started living as a man. I started taking testosterone at 18, received a diagnosis for gender dysphoria and agreed to a ‘treatment plan’ full of surgeries.

HOLDING ON

Throughout this time, I never lost my faith in God. I would still hear his voice and pray to him. Whenever I was suicidal, he would whisper in my ear, “Have hope – I have a plan for you yet.”

Having never heard that LGBT lifestyles were sinful, I never thought to ask God what he thought of my transition. It wasn’t until I was 21, and in my first year of university, that God started to make drastic changes in my life. My testosterone stopped working and I was thrown into emotional turmoil. It took months for the doctors to solve the issue, during which time I called out to God, saying, “If you have some plan for me, it best be better than anything I could imagine!” His gentle response came, “Go find a church.”

Within a few months, I found myself at a large, Pentecostal church, attending two services a day and even playing in the worship band. At the time, I didn’t think anybody there knew I was transgender and that was ideal for me. I just wanted to live as a normal man and wasn’t interested in the LGBT community or activism. Unbeknown to me though, gossip spread throughout the church and people started to discover I was born female.

COMING BACK

In September 2019, when I confided in a friend that I felt God was calling me to ministry, he responded, “I’d love to see you behind a pulpit one day, but we need to sort out this transgender thing first.”

To my surprise, he encouraged me to ask God what he thought of my transition. This prompted months of intense Bible study. I asked God, “Why am I transgender?” In response, I had two visions, one of which showed a demonic attack on my life. I didn’t understand, so I asked for a scripture to help. I opened my Bible and landed instantly on Matthew 13:24-30, the parable of the weeds. It was a month before I understood what it all meant.

IT’S AN UPHILL JOURNEY OF UNLEARNING WHAT THE WORLD TEACHES IN FAVOUR OF HOW GOD DEFINES ME

In November 2019, I was watching a documentary on YouTube, called Tranzformed. After hearing testimonies from ex-transgender Christians, I realised that I could make the decision to leave transgenderism for Christ, regardless of the gender dysphoria I felt. I asked God what this meant for me and he referred me again to Matthew 13. The visions suddenly made sense: I was transgender due to evil deception and I needed to trust God’s blueprint for my life and surrender my body to him. That’s why Psalm 100:3 says, “It is He who made us and not ourselves”!

PROOFS

Wanting further assurance, I asked God for three proofs that it was actually him I was speaking to, like Gideon did in Judges 6.

First, I asked that I would have a bad dream from God if I was meant to live as a girl. At 10am I was due to visit a church to hear from a foreign guest preacher whom I’d never met, so I asked, at 1am, “Lord, please change his sermon this moment, to something that speaks directly into this.” Finally, I asked that God would have the guest preacher do an alter call and speak into one of the visions I’d had.

Each proof came true in turn. When I sat down in church, the preacher approached the pulpit and said, “I had a sermon prepared but the Holy Spirit came to me at 1am and said, ‘you’re not doing that anymore; you’re doing this instead.’” He proceeded to preach on Isaiah 45:1-3 about, “a season of double-doors, where you can fit everything through”. This spoke into my gender issues: I could be a woman and still be myself, rather than just one or the other. Afterwards, he did an alter call and when he came to me, he raised my arms above my head and said, “This means submission. You need to submit yourself to God’s will.” Convicted, I made a vow to God that night to submit my body to his will. I would no longer take testosterone or pursue any surgeries.

LIVING AS A WOMAN AGAIN

It wasn’t until a week later, on the 1st of December 2019, that God asked me to start living as a woman again. The eldership in my church were not enthusiastic about this, discouraging me from turning up at church dressed as a woman, in case people thought I was a man transitioning to become a woman! But God was convicting me not to bring deceit into his house, so I ended up without a church for the entirety of December.

In this time, I started living as a woman again. Although I was never really involved in the LGBT community, I lost lots of friends for taking a more conservative stance on sexual issues. I returned to church, briefly, in January to give my testimony. My church had no clue what to do and seemed afraid that my testimony was too controversial.

I wasn’t getting any support, so I sought help from the Changed movement, through which I joined X-Out-Loud Europe. I was given an opportunity to share my testimony online and attend a support group with other ex-LGBT Christians.

I’ve been living as a woman again for a year and 8 months and God has miraculously restored my mind and body. I’m blessed to no longer suffer from the effects of the testosterone I took for almost five years in total. It’s been an uphill journey of unlearning what the world teaches in favour of how God defines me, but regardless of how I feel, I know he’s always here for me.

How to go from repentance to a born again Christian full of the Spirit

By
Ogba Victor
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My gospel is not my own. I learnt and heard from the Spirit of God. If it was my own’ it would be powerless; only the Spirit gives life.

The Spirit and His theology are unsearchable. Deep and wide are His thoughts. Neither man nor spirit can tell of His wholeness; but that which he has revealed, I preach to the Churches. For just like the Apostle, Paul, I know in part and prophesy in part (1 Corinthians 13:9).

Now, how does a believer go from repentance to a born again? How do men come up to a height of God and His Spirit? How can we well-up to becoming Spirit filled Christians? Why have many believers become customers of altar call, but remain unchanged?

I was preaching to a relative of mine and he asked me a question. He said, “Brother, why is it hard for me to shed my old self?” He continued, “I have given my heart to Jesus many times, expecting an instant transformation that never comes.”

After my dad’s radio program, a man called him and asked, “How does one become born again?” Now this kind of question is from someone who is truly looking to shed his old skin, but cannot fathom how exactly this old skin is shed. If it were only possible, he would tear his heart apart and put the Spirit in it, once and for all.

Of course, the regular reply of many would be, “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in His death and resurrection and you will be saved“.

I do not dispute this answer, but here is the problem: There are many who believe that Jesus is Lord, but they are not saved. Many already have faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus, but are still without the Holy Spirit in them!

OR, Why do you think there are many fornicators and adulterers in the Church? Why do you think darkness covers many in the Church? Why do you think the Spirit continues to tell us that there are many who are perishing in the Christian Church? Are they without belief in whom Jesus is? Do not these sinning church goers also profess their belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus?

Of course they have faith, and this faith should lead salvation. But then, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and they are still not saved.” Why is it so?

I thought about this, and it seemed it had no answer. Or, maybe some were predestined to find life while others were not. Maybe some have received grace, while others have received mmhh…, ‘no grace’ I think.

a born again
The Spirit guided my understanding through His word

But, it wasn’t until the Spirit guided my understanding through His word that I had learnt of the hope available for all who desire to shed the old self and be filled with the Spirit of God, to have what they desire.

So, it is not a mystery after all, it is there in the Holy Bible. And what does the Bible say?

If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:15-18

And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. Acts 5:32

If you have not understood it yet, ask God for understanding and re-read the scriptures above.

When you have understood it, preach it aloud to the man who shall ask you how ‘to receive God’s Spirit’. It should be your reply to any man who inquiries on how to become born again and transformed form the old self to a new man.

Preach that Jesus said, “if you love me, if you truly mean that you belong to me, if you are sure of your repentance, if you have truly surrendered all, first thing: keep my commandments. And then I will pray to my God and He shall give you the Holy Spirit to fill your hearts”.

A song goes like this:

As I looked on the cross and I behold my saviour there
And I heard a voice saying it is finished
And I cried and shouted Oh! Lord forgive me my sins
Behold, I heard a voice saying it is finished
Go Home and sin no more.

Go and sin no more is the command of the King on a tree to a man who has come to wash in Blood. And Jesus said, if you do this, then I will send into your hearts, the Holy Spirit.

If such a man is provoked to sin, let him resist and say no. If He is provoked to fight, let him resist, even also. If he is tempted by evil, let resist evil by doing good. If He is tempted by sexual sins, let him flee as Joseph. Let this man also love his neighbor and live a worthy Christian life.

By resisting evil and sin, by persistent obedience unto God, the heart of stone shall be gradually disseminated. He shall soon experience unforced victory over sin and his joy shall know no bound. And before he shall know it, he shall start to hear from God- The Spirit. This is exactly how I was born again.

I was not changed at birth, I was not changed at baptism, I was not completely changed at repentance. I grew into a life of the Spirit by living a righteous life in obedience to God and his word, and by faith. And the day came when I felt absolute Joy and I knew that something has filled my soul. It was in a Church service, I knelt down before a great number of souls, lifted my hands and cried in worship. Oh! The day I became a new man.

And the Apostle, Peter agrees with this when he said, “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” Mark the last phrase there, ‘obey him‘.

Therefore, the reason we have become accustomed to altar call and remained unchanged, the reason God has not filled our heart with the Spirit and Light despite our frequent repentance, it is because we are not ready to give everything into obeying God and doing His commands. If many had taken this route, they would have been endued and changed a long time ago.

Brethren this is the way, this is the life, this is truth on how to become a born again Christian after repentance. This is how the great change comes in, this is how the Spirit fills our heart; it is when we obey Him.

But if we shall surrender to Jesus in Church or private, and shall go back to fighting, malice, slander, backbiting, gossiping, quarrelling, immorality, hatred, dark works, sexual sins, deceitfulness, worldliness, and shall not resist sin when it calls, then our hearts shall be uninhabitable to the Spirit of God.

Finally brethren;

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will TRUST AND OBEY.
– John H. Sammis

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