WHERE ARE YOU HEADING TO? church- The BRIDE of CHRIST; Meditation John 3:22-36

1. Jesus came to Judea and he stayed their for a while and baptised. John the Baptist was also baptizing people for repentance in the same place. (V22,23)
2. Again, the Jews questioned John about his witness about Christ and that many people go to Christ, than to himself. ( V24-26)
 3. John confirms again his witness that nobody receives anything unless it is given to them from heaven and that he himself is not CHRIST but the one sent before him. (V27,28)
4. He speaks about Christ being the bridegroom of the bride, the church, he himself being the friend of the bridegroom. He also rejoices for hearing the voice of CHRIST. (V29)
5. He further endorse the testimony of CHRIST, as something that he speaks of what he has seen and heard as they are the words of God and God has given his Spirit without measure in him. (V31-34)
6. He wanted Christ to increase and himself to decrease. (V30)
7. If we can receive his testimony we know that God is true. (V33)
8. The Father God Loveth Christ and has given him authority over all things. (V35)
9. Hence if we believe in Jesus CHRIST we will have everlasting life, but if not we shall not see life as the wrath of God will abide on us.

Life Application 1:
WHERE ARE WE HEADING TO IN LIFE - As the BRIDE OF CHRIST ?
Every born again Christian, washed and redeemed by the blood of Christ are a part of a heavenly church - The bride of CHRIST.

Let us go through a few scriptures:

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation:21:2

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Revelation:21:9

The great city, the new Jerusalem is going to be the bride.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Revelation:21:10

What is this new Jerusalem?
1. This is a place where the saved in Christ are going to be.
And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Revelation:21:24

2. This is the place where there is no need for sun or moon.
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Revelation:21:23

3. There will be no abomination or filth and only if our name is there in the lamb's book of life we can be there.

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation:21:27

The church is the bride of CHRIST.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Ephesians:5:23

Christ has bought the church by giving himself for it.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Ephesians:5:25

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Colossians:1:18

The church is the bride of CHRIST.  Christ being the bridegroom and you and me are going to be the part of this bride church

We are knit together to be a part of the bigger body of CHRIST.
And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
Colossians:2:19

How does CHRIST wants his bride to be?
1. God wants his church to be blameless.

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians:5:27

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Philippians:2:15

2. Washed by the blood of the LAMB.

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation:7:14

3. Subject to Christ:

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Ephesians:5:24

4. A Royal priesthood
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1 Peter:2:5

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
1 Peter:2:9

Life Application 2:
Witness of John the Baptist:
1. John never hesitated to lift up Christ, though he is decreased. (V30)

2. He did not hesitate to acknowledge that he is not CHRIST, but only the one who came before him (v27,28)

3. He testified that CHRIST is the one who came from heaven and he knows the things of heaven than any one else. (V31-33)

4. He acknowledged that CHRIST is full of Holy Spirit without measure.

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1 Corinthians:15:45

5. And moreover it was revealed to him that CHRIST is the bridegroom for the bride called CHURCH. (V29)

6. Christ is given all authority in heaven and earth. (V35)

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Matthew:28:18

7. If we believe in Christ we will have eternal life. But if we do not believe we are under eternal damnation.

And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
John:5:29

God wants us to look up to the heavenly Church than the one on Earth today. We might see a lot of disorders in the churches of the present age. But Christ wants us to adorn ourselves each day as brides waiting for our groom. Let us also along with the Spirit say 'come'

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Revelation:22:17

May the Spirit of God reveal you more.

Breaking strongholds of GUILT: part 2: Meditation john 3: 9- 21

Condemnation and guilt are major strongholds gripping the minds of people today...some people are pushed even to end their lives because  of GUILT.

Let me give you an  example from the Bible. Let us look into the series of events that happened in the life of Judas.

1. Judas gives place to Satan in his heart:
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
John:12:4

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
John:12:5

This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
John:12:6

2. Satan enters Judas to betray Jesus:

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Luke:22:3

3. Judas betrays Jesus:
And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
Luke:22:47

4. When he saw Jesus was condemned he repents and tries to help Jesus if he can release him.

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Matthew:27:3

5. Judas hangs himself out of GUILT.
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Matthew:27:5

Guilt is painful; guilt kills us;  It can be anything of our past, that is throwing a dark shadow of Guilt on our future.
 Today Is the day to break that stronghold from your life.

Satan tempts us to sin- sins condemns under the light of the Law- condemnation breeds guilt - guilt brings shame-
Shame brings destruction.

All of these work in darkness. Shame does not allow us to address this issue in the  light of the gospel.

We are unable to talk out the real problem and cry within ourselves, making issues worse.

Now let us see a godly example from the word, how Peter overcame guilt as compared to Judas.

1. Jesus prophesies about Peter denying him.

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
Matthew:26:35

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Matthew:26:34

2. Peter denies Jesus thrice.
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
Matthew:26:74

3. Peter cries and repented.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Matthew:26:75

4. But when Christ rose up on the third day he was the first to run to the sepulchre.

Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
John:20:3

5. God restores the relationship again.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John:21:17

Do you love Jesus? Come back to him as Peter did.

Christ did not come to condemn us but to save us. V17.

If we can believe this we are  no longer condemned as it is written,
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans:8:1

Praise be to God... we are no longer under the ministry of Condemnation, ie, the Law. But we are set free from its bonds.

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
2 Corinthians:3:9

Sin and guilt have been already condemned by what CHRIST did on the cross in the flesh. Now we are free to worship him.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Romans:8:3

Let guilt not keep keep you away from the presence of God. Today is the day to reconcile with God and bring it to light.

1. JESUS LOVES YOU NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE.
2. JESUS LOVES YOU THE WAY YOU ARE.
3. JESUS LOVES YOU HOW MUCH EVER DIRTY YOU ARE.
4. JESUS LOVES YOU EVEN IF YOU ARE UNDER DEEP ADDICTIONS.
5. JESUS LOVES YOU WHATEVER BE YOUR PAST; HE WANTS TO GIVE YOU A BRAND NEW  FUTURE.
6. YOU DO NOT NEED TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING TO WIN THE LOVE OF GOD

 Simply to put,
YOU HAVE HOPE IN Jesus.
Also, you do not need to read 20 chapters of the Bible or walk a 1000 miles to win God's heart.

He loves you and he is willing to free you today.

STEPS TO FOLLOW FOR FREEDOM FROM GUILT, SHAME AND CONDEMNATION:
1. Honestly Name it: address and acknowledge your hidden emotions, feelings and problems before God. So that it is brought into light.
2. Deny the Lies the Devil puts in your heart, that you are not accepted.
3. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that you can come back to Jesus and he will break these strongholds.
4. Now, pray this prayer with me,

Dear Father,
I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus has carried my guilt and shame at the cross in the flesh and I have PEACE with you through JESUS CHRIST.  I give you my life and I invite you into my heart to break every strongholds ( name it if you would want to) of GUILT and shame in my life. Thank you for loving me. In Jesus mighty name.  Amen.

Please send prayer requests to: christloveinus@gmail.com and we will pray for you. God bless you all.

The blood covenant : part 1; meditation John 3:9-21

1. Nicodemus asks Christ how all these things can happen as he had not experienced them personally.  V9
2. Jesus was amazed as being a teacher of the Jews how he could not comprehend it. V10
3. Jesus said that he spoke of the things what he know and testified on what he had seen v11
4. Jesus asks if things of Earth itself we are unable to believe,  then how can we believe things of heaven. V12
5. No man has ascended up to heaven and came back, except Christ, as he is the one who came down from heaven. V13
6. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so Christ had to be lifted up V14
7. If we believe in Christ we do not perish but have eternal life. V15
8. Christ goes on to explain further that God gave his only son Jesus Christ that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  V16
9. God did not send his son to condemn us but to save us. V17
10. If we believe in Christ we are not condemned. But if we do not believe in Christ we are already condemned, because we did not believe in God's only son. ( God's plan of redemption) (V18)

1. We are condemned because the light of Christ came into the world, but men loved evil deeds more that they hated their secret sins (darkness)  being brought to the light and are dealt with ( V19,20)
12. But if we do the truth then we come to the light that it will be manifest that we are made of God.

Again because of the volume of the study I am breaking Today's portion into two parts.
1. Part 1- God's plan of redemption as portrayed in old testament.
2. Part 2- Freedom from Guilt and Condemnation

Life Application 1:
1. Jesus was amazed how Nicodemus could not comprehend the things of God because he was a master of the Jews and it is written throughout the old testament about being born again, yet his understanding was not opened up to it. (V9,10)

How was God's plan of redemption portrayed in old testament?
1. When the first man sinned God coated them skin... meaning blood was shed to cover the nakedness of sin.


Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Genesis:3:21

In the New testament God calls us to be clothed with his righteousness.

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Revelation:3:18


2. The blood of Abel spoke against sin, similarly the blood of CHRIST speaks on our behalf.

And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Genesis:4:10

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel.
Hebrews:12:24

3. Blood was offered as an atonement of sins in the old testament.
And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD.
Exodus:30:10

Christ shed his own blood as redemption for our sins.
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Hebrews:9:12


4. It is written that there is no remission of sins without blood.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Leviticus:17:11

Christ gave himself as an atonement for our sins.
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Hebrews:9:25

5. Boaz married Ruth a gentile as a symbol of redemption. ( again a symbol of how CHRIST has redeemed us.

Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
Ruth:4:5

As Boaz redeemed everything of Ruth, Jesus has redeemed us.
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans:3:24

The plan of God's redemption through CHRIST is scattered throughout the old testament... May the Spirit of God reveal more.

Life Application 2:
1. All of these Christ has seen and he has known, though Nicodemus was unable to accept the witness of Christ.  V11

2. All these things that were written and practiced in the old testament were of Earthly things given as a shadow of heavenly things. This is Why, Christ was perplexed when Nicodemus could not correlate them. (V12)

3. Christ is the one who came down from heaven and only he can explain the things of heaven to us. (V13)

Life Application 3:
1. Jesus moves on to explain that, as Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness so Christ has to be lifted up. (V14)

Here Jesus again explains God's plan of salvation through him.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Numbers:21:8

The fiery serpent denotes the curse of every man. Whoever beheld the serpent that was lifted up on the pole got healed.

So it will be that whoever looks up Christ who hung on the cross as curse, will be saved.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Galatians:3:13

This is what CHRIST explains in (v15,16) that God gave his only son Jesus Christ, to be hung on the cross taking up the curse of the world, that when we look up at this cross, believing him as our saviour from sin and curse, we shall not perish or die in our sins but live a life everlasting.

1. If you are born again  but still under the bondage of curse, look up to Christ as he became a curse for you. Because, our curse has been nailed on the cross we shall not perish but have everlasting life.

2. If you are not sure if your sins are forgiven, you can look up to the cross believing that jesus died and shed his blood as a ransom for your sins and you shall be saved.

May the Spirit of God lead you into more truth from his word. God bless you.

If you want to accept Christ as your personal savior and Lord, you can repeat this prayer with me,believing with all your heart that CHRIST was made a  curse on the cross.

Dear Father,
I come Into your presence in the name of Jesus Christ.  I believe in my heart and confess now with my mouth that Jesus, you died for me on the cross for my sins and nailed every of my curse on it. Wash me and cleanse me by your blood that I shall not perish but have everlasting life, through CHRIST.  I invite you to come into my heart and be the Lord of my life. Thank you for answering me. In Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen.

Parts of a Man : part 3; meditation 3: 1-8

Today I would like to meditate on the parts of a man- as a part of today's meditation.
Man is made of three parts according to the Holy Scriptures.
1. The body
2. The soul
3. The spirit.

1. Body:
Our body or the outer man is the outer covering that serves as a shell for the inner man, that comprise of soul and spirit.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans:6:12
This body and its lusts will die one day. It is mortal. It is not eternal.

2. Soul:
Soul is your mind. Soul is the place where we feel emotions, like happiness or sorrow. You can see this example below.

A. Soul can be bitter:
And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
1 Samuel:1:10

B. We have desires in our soul:
Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.
1 Samuel:20:4

C. We can develop soul ties with others.
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
1 Samuel:18:3

D. Soul can be vexed.
And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
Judges:16:16

E. Soul delights in comfort of God.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
Psalm:94:19

F. Our soul can praise God.
Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
Psalm:119:175

G. We seek God with our soul
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
Lamentations:3:25

H. We meditate the word of God and diligently keep it with our soul.
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;
Deuteronomy:4:9

I. Soul, when we die goes either to heaven or to hell. Yes, he is our inner man.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mark:8:36

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Ezekiel:18:20

Dear brothers and sisters,
Your soul is a precious entity. Both God and demons need it. There is war that is raged against our soul.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
1 Peter:2:11
This is why we need to fear God more as he can destroy both our body and soul to hell.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew:10:28

3. Now let me give you a glimpse of your Spirit man.
A. the spirit of man searches our inward parts.
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Proverbs:20:27

B. The spirit of man is created to be with God and one day it will go back to him.
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Ecclesiastes:3:21

C. The spirit of man knows everything about him.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians:2:11

D. the spirit of man goes to God that made him.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes:12:7

E. We seek God early with our Spirit.

With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Isaiah:26:9

F. The spirit is willing when it comes to things of God. But the flesh is weak.

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew:26:41

 The experience of being born again happens completely in the spirit.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John:4:24

We were dead in our sins but we are quickened in the spirit, when we are born again.
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Ephesians:2:5

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Ephesians:5:14

THE FLESH AND SPIRIT CONTRARY to one another:

No flesh ( body and soul) can remain without sin before God's eyes..

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans:3:20

This is the reason why Christ calls us to be born again, that we will not fulfil the desires of the flesh.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Galatians:5:16

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Galatians:5:17

Flesh and blood can never inherit the kingdom of God.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1 Corinthians:15:50

Flesh profits nothing. It is the spirit that quicken us.
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
John:6:63

 Jesus insists on being born again (v7) as it is a true occurrence though it may not be comprehended by many.
People born of the spirit are also led by the Spirit of God...and hence their ways May not be understood by many.( V8)it is written,
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1 Corinthians:2:15

God invites for a closer walk with him. We become the SONS of God as we walk with him everyday and choose to being led by him.
Today is the day! Receive Christ in your heart and believe in him. You will be BORN AGAIN... God bless you. 

Born Again : Meditation John chapter 3:1-8 ; Part 2

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.
John:3:3

What does it mean to be born again?
The WORD born again is meant as ' born from above.'
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John:1:12
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John:1:13

The WORD of GOD says, if we believe in the name of CHRIST and receive him, God gives us the power to become the SONS of God.
We are not born because of the will of man, or of blood, nor by the will of man but by God himself.

If we are in Christ we are a new creature.  Old things have passed away. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are made new.

As I am being led in the spirit I would like to explain the whole plan of God's redemption.
After Adam sinned against God, we as humans have fallen short of God's glory as it is written,

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis:6:5

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans:3:23

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans:3:10

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Romans:3:11

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Romans:3:12

We have fallen short of the GLORY of GOD.  If we say that we do not have sin, we are liars.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John:1:10

This explains us our need to be cleansed and forgiven of all our sins as we cannot even see the kingdom of God with our Adamic nature in us. (V3)

To take victory over this nature of Adam was Christ born as a man, to die on the cross for our sins, that through this gospel of CHRIST we can be born again in our  Spirit man.

So how are we to be born again?
We are born again by the word of God being the seed
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1 Peter:1:23,
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
1 Peter:1:25

What happens when we are born again?
1. Stage 1: the seed of the Gospel enters our heart. 1peter 1:23

2. Stage 2: we receive Christ by believing that he paid the price for our sins on the cross and we are redeemed from our sins by his BLOOD.  John 1:12

3. Stage 3:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians:2:8
This stage is purely God's work. He creates that new birth in our spirit.

 How do we know that we are born again?
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Romans:8:16
The Holy Spirit of God speaks in our hearts and confirms that we are children of God. ( Born again)

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans:15:13

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Romans:5:11
The joy and peace that God gives in our heart is the confirmation that we are born again.

This is something happening deep in the spirit that a natural man with a human mind cannot comprehend unless being experienced individually.
This is why Nicodemus was not able to completely comprehend what Christ was speaking about being born again. (V4)

And this is what Jesus refers to be born of water and of the spirit.
Water being the word of God.
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Ephesians:5:26
Spirit being the work of the Holy Spirit in the Human Spirit.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians:1:13

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Ephesians:1:14
In other words we are born and sealed as children of God by the Holy Spirit.

So, what are we to do once we are saved?

1. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1 Peter:2:2
So we are to desire the word of God as new born babes to grow to be mature sons and daughters of God..

2. We have to work out our salvation with fear each day.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians:2:12

3. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans:12:2

We have to be transformed according to working of the holy spirit in us... each day as he renews our mind  according to the word.

You can know more about the redemption of mankind and the prize of salvation in the links attached....

Isn't it a glorious experience to be born again? May God reveal you more . GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

An encounter with God - a Meditation on John 3: 1-8

Hi all, I thought of making three parts of this meditation on John 3:1-8, due to the volume of the study. Kindly follow up.

1. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He was a man of a very high order and a teacher of the scriptures.  (V1)
2. One night Nicodemus comes to meet Jesus with his own enquiries.  He had inferred Jesus to be a Teacher came from God and he was moved by the miracles Christ performed. (V2)
3. Jesus replied to him that if a man is not born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ( v3)
4. Nicodemus asked Christ how it is possible for a man when he is old to go back into his mother's womb to be born again. (V4)
5. Then Jesus goes a step further and explains that if a person is not born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ( v5)
6. He said what is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is of the spirit. ( v6)
7. He told him not to marvel on what he told about being born again. ( v7)
8. Jesus also said, those who are born of the spirit are like wind that blows, of which we can hear it's sound but do not know where it came from and where it goes. ( v8)

Life Application:
Who was Nicodemus?
1. Nicodemus was a teacher of the Jews. (V1)
2. He was also a ruler of the Jews and was a man of a very honourable position (v1)
3. This is his first encounter with the Lord the night when he met him.
4. He has seen Christ from far... and created his own impressions of him as a great teacher who came from God and as a  Miracle worker( v2)

Few thoughts to ponder... what do you think who Christ is?
It depends on how personal you get to know him. God calls us for a closer walk with him. The more closer we get....  The more we come to know about him.

This is what David says,
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Psalm:34:8

What are your personal impressions about Christ?
 Do you create impressions of what other people tell about Christ or have you ever had a personal encounter with him?

We will see below some live examples of people who had a personal encounter with God from the scriptures.

1. Moses' encounter with Christ:
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
Exodus:3:3
And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
Exodus:3:4

2. Encounter of Gideon with God:
And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
Judges:6:11
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.
Judges:6:12

3. Encounter of Nathaniel with Christ:
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
John:1:48

4. Encounter of zaccheus with Christ:
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
Luke:19:5

Encounter of Saul with Christ:
And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts:22:7

This bible is full of people who had encounters with God. I am sure of one thing, if you are person who had an encounter with the most high God, you can never be the same again.

1. Are you like Moses coming closer to God out of curiosity to know what is there the other side?
2. Are you like Gideon waiting for God to interfere in your hopelessness?
3. Are you like Nathanael waiting for a God to look right through into your heart?
4. Are you like zacchaeus  lost in sin, but trying to see if Christ can help You?
5. Are you like saul, who have persecuted the church?

Whoever you may be,
Christ calls you to have a personal encounter with him. After that, I can assure from personal experience and from the Holy Scriptures that you will never be the same.

Now, let me also explain to you how the life of Nicodemus changed after his encounter with Christ.
Nicodemus speaks in public defending Christ after his personal encounter with Christ.

Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
John:7:50
Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
John:7:51

He doesn't stop there. He had a very important role in the burial of CHRIST.

And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
John:19:39

Questions to ponder for the day:
Have you ever had a personal encounter with Christ?
How much your life has changed after that incident?

Please feel free to share with me that we can glorify God together.