Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Come Home to God Clean


10 Create in me a clean heart, 
O God; 
and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10 
King James Version

That was King David's prayer to God, repenting for his sins, wishing to make things right with the LORD.

Jesus Himself told us how to be right with Him:

3 And said, 
Verily I say unto you, 
Except ye be converted, 
and become as little children, 
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3 (KJV)

There is no guile in a child; but there is gall in adults.

A child's heart, mind, body, and spirit have not been corrupted by the world.

May we preserve the innocence of these children from God, for Jesus was adamant:

6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones 
which believe in me, 
it were better for him 
that a millstone were hanged about his neck, 
and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Matthew 18:6 (KJV)

How are we to be converted?

Again, Jesus, the SON of God is very clear about that.

5 Jesus answered, 
Verily, verily, 
I say unto thee, 
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 
Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, 
and thou hearest the sound thereof, 
but canst not tell whence it cometh, 
and whither it goeth: 
so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 3:5-8 (KJV)

The BIBLE has ALL the instructions that we may live right, and thus be clean in the eyes of the LORD.

One thing for sure, we cannot be with the Lord, tainted, and all.

We also don't know when Christ will come for His people.

All the more we have to be ready -- at ANY time.

But we are not without the "tools" for preparation.

Jesus left us the tools.

We have the resources.

We have the Bible, the WORD of God.

We have the best TEACHER of all -- the Holy SPIRIT of God -- the One who teaches us about JESUS, and the way back to God.

And we have to start now.

Related article:
"It is Time to Live Right By the LORD"

(All Bible verses from biblegateway.com)

Updated 18 January 2022

Friday, May 22, 2020

It is Wonderful Being a Born Again Christian


There was a man of the Pharisees, 
named Nicodemus, 
a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, 
and said unto him, 
Rabbi, 
we know that thou art a teacher come from God: 
for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, 
except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, 
Verily, verily, 
I say unto thee, 
Except a man be born again, 
he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, 
How can a man be born when he is old? 
can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, 
and be born?
5 Jesus answered, 
Verily, verily, 
I say unto thee, 
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 
Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, 
and thou hearest the sound thereof, 
but canst not tell whence it cometh, 
and whither it goeth: 
so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 3:1-8 
King James Version

What are your thoughts about being born again?

How do you feel about born-again Christians?

Would you like to know how it feels to be an independent one?

Huh, is there such a thing? 

Yes, there is, for I chose to follow Jesus, at my own level of preparedness last year.

I cannot join the LORD, and claim to be His, unless I felt authentic within myself.

For the longest time, a few of my acquaintances, even in the late 80s were trying to convert me.

They almost succeeded, but when I saw how they conducted themselves, I began to be doubtful.

And God, knowing how I am, for He created me, knew that I was going to be His, at a time of both our own choosing.

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, 
choose you this day whom ye will serve; 
whether the gods which your fathers served 
that were on the other side of the flood, 
or the gods of the Amorites, 
in whose land ye dwell: 
but as for me and my house, 
we will serve the Lord."

Joshua 24:15 (KJV)

He let me carry on with life, the best and worst way I knew how, and then a day before my last birthday, He knew I was ready for His Son.

The only one who could convert me was God Himself.

He knew I wanted His TRUTH alone.

He knew I searched, long and hard, for His TRUTH alone.

He knew I didn't quite trust man, for we are all fallible, plus we all vacillate between seeming truths, and half-truths.

He knew I'd been praying for the longest time to be shown His TRUTH.

And then, one day, it happened.

He led me to two life-changing videos about America that's falling apart, and selling its soul to the devil.

He knew that would wake up my spirit, to receive His SPIRIT, the Holy Spirit.

He knew that on this latest birthday of mine, I dearly needed to be shown, and taught -- only by Him.

That was exactly what God was waiting for.

After receiving Christ quietly in my heart, no bells and whistles, no formal baptism and all that, I began to receive instruction, and my understanding and writing, blossomed.

It's been over eight months now, and the articles and books keep flowing.

Whenever I'm tired or unsure, I merely pray to Jesus, to please lead the way, and let it only be HIS way.

I set aside self, and let God:

"He must increase, 
but I must decrease."

John 3:30 (KJV)

Now, ALL instruction must come from the Holy Spirit alone, for I am a tainted human being.

"John answered and said, 
A man can receive nothing, 
except it be given him from heaven."

John 3:27 (KJV)

Even being a born-again Christian has its many challenges, maybe even more challenges, because your beliefs will be challenged by many.

You will be mocked, and reviled.

The lords of the earth will pounce upon you, for you have become God's Own.

Jesus did say:

18 If the world hate you, 
ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, 
the world would love his own: 
but because ye are not of the world, 
but I have chosen you out of the world, 
therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, 
The servant is not greater than his lord. 
If they have persecuted me, 
they will also persecute you; 
if they have kept my saying, 
they will keep yours also.

John 15:18-20 (KJV)

If you are ready to face all that, and to allow only the Holy Spirit of God to teach you, and self is completely set aside, then you are ready to follow Jesus as a true born-again Christian.

Humans love new things, trends, and they form organizations and cliques about it.

I've never really joined any club, now or ever -- what more with matters of God?

For myself, I became a born-again Christian in the simplest manner.

One day, I just knew.

One day, I wanted to follow Christ.

I became more of the child that I already am, but this time, I became even happier, as I hold Jesus' hand each day, and I skip, and hop, by His side, and He looks at me in great amusement.

He knows I dearly wish to know EVERYTHING about Him, and that only He can teach me best.

I am not elitist, but I am precise.

With matters of the soul, and actually most everything else, I wish to be precise.

One wrong thought, or move, and I endanger myself, and others.

I must know ALL about Jesus, before I can share my knowledge with you.

Well, I began reading the Bible -- especially Genesis, the four Gospels, and the Book of Revelation -- in September of last year.

With that reading, came greater understanding.

I allowed the Holy Spirit to teach me, for every man has a different understanding or version of what he may read.

Only by the GRACE of God, and through His Holy Spirit, can we be taught accurately.

I only wanted DIRECT instruction from God.

I think, if you really want to learn about God, you must declare that -- to learn ONLY from God -- directly.

You have to be precise, and particular, because He is.

And I think God likes that.

After all, it is His TRUTH we are talking about.

When you begin to know God's TRUTH, nothing else matters anymore.

More importantly, you begin to see truth, like who God Really Is, Who Jesus Really Is, who the Holy Spirit Is, who we really are, and why the world is the way it is, since God first created us in the Book of Genesis.

Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to teach us everything:

"But the Comforter, 
which is the Holy Ghost, 
whom the Father will send in my name, 
he shall teach you all things, 
and bring all things to your remembrance, 
whatsoever I have said unto you."

John 14:26 (KJV)

I am not here to convince you to become a born-again Christian.

Quite a few tried doing that to me.

Only the Holy Spirit of God can "convert" you, when you're good and ready, and perhaps, it may be at the lowest moment in your life, when your heart really seeks THE answers to EVERYTHING.

I am only here to write my own testimony, of how the Spirit of God touched my heart, clarified things through SCRIPTURE, how he had Joseph, a dear friend of mine, coach me about Scripture, and of how Jesus took pity upon my fallen soul, and started instructing me, in EXACTLY the way I desired to be instructed -- by HIM alone.

I am not elitist like the other Christians who tried to convert me.

I have no clique, no club, never had.

I belong to God alone.

P.S. Perhaps, you're wondering why I used an endearing Asian baby -- maybe even a Chinese baby -- as an image for my post? My belief is that we are all children of God, Chinese, Filipino, American, or any race you may be. May the Chinese see that we are also their brothers, and sisters, desiring the freedom God gave all of us, and subject to no man, religion, or race's domination. We forget that, thus, problems ensue. Look beyond race. Of course, when you become God's Own, you will begin to see. I dearly invite you to allow God to help you see, as He has helped me see, until all I could see was GOD.

(All Bible verses from biblegateway.com)

Updated 18 January 2022

Sunday, January 5, 2020

John MacArthur's "Blueprint for Being Born Again"


3 Jesus answered and said unto him, 
Verily, verily, 
I say unto thee, 
Except a man be born again, 
he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, 
How can a man be born when he is old? 
can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, 
and be born?
5 Jesus answered, 
Verily, verily, 
I say unto thee, 
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 
Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, 
and thou hearest the sound thereof, 
but canst not tell whence it cometh, 
and whither it goeth: 
so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 3:3-8 
King James Version

Those are Jesus' very own words about what we need to see the kingdom of God.

Spirit also led me to the wonderful John MacArthur video above, on what it means to be a born again Christian.

Finally, you get to know what it means to be one, how you are transformed from thereon, and the points of focus if you are to really love and worship God.

All of Jesus' ministry has always focused on our loving His Father.

I created this blog purposely to document my own findings and path, and the many treasures I discovered along the way. 

As John MacArthur says:

"Profession, without possession."

Listen to the video as pastor MacArthur explains things in his usual, clear, and unapologetic manner.

When you live by Scripture, you will be happily transformed, sitting at Jesus' feet, listening to Him with all your heart and being, absorbing all of His teachings, and eager to do His Will alone.

No other path can be more beautiful.

I don't know about you but it was my time to become born again on 6 September 2019. All my life had been preparation for that moment.

After which, I ended one blog, and created the one you're reading now.

God also led me to read the Bible -- His Book.

From which, I took down notes, and have many notebooks and index cards of my findings, which eventually led to my writing short fiction books on 24 November 2019.

It became my foundation for my books and all my thoughts and work now.

My 22 books on spiritual warfare -- written in a remarkable, intensive period of 36 days -- can all be now found on Amazon.

I don't know how I did it, I merely did it -- as prompted by the Holy Spirit each day.

That's what being born again did to me. 

If you choose to serve God, He will work with you in a way He had originally designed. 

May you seek God with all your heart, too, and let Him shower you with His Grace.

In this season of the end times, it is time to re-connect with God in a way He had always wanted to.

By ourselves we know nothing.

Only God makes us something.


Updated 18 January 2022

Friday, October 11, 2019

"Saved By Grace, Not By Good Works"


How the Bible corrects us so!

Many Roman Catholics think that by doing good works they can be saved.

But that's how their church has led them to believe, based on their catechism.

Biblical Christians, those who are faithful to God's Word, learn differently.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—
and this is not from yourselves, 
it is the gift of God— 
9 not by works, 
so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

That verse (and the title of this post) is constantly used by Mike Gendron in correcting Roman Catholics, of which I once was, as Mike Gendron was once, too.

How humbling to be corrected by the Bible, the Word of God!

20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight 
by the works of the law; 
rather, 
through the law we become conscious of our sin.


Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God 
has been made known, 
to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 
22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ 
to all who believe
There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 
24 and all are justified freely by his grace 
through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:20-24 NIV

Another verse, proof of God's Grace, to enlighten us:

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 
We have seen his glory, 
the glory of the one and only Son, 
who came from the Father, 
full of grace and truth.

John 1:4  NIV

This is also how we can strengthen our hearts in God:

9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. 
It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace
not by eating ceremonial foods, 
which is of no benefit to those who do so.

Hebrews 13:9 NIV

Scripture really has much to teach us.

Please open your heart to God's True Teachings from the Bible.

(NIV verses obtained from biblestudytools.com)

Updated 18 January 2022