MORE DESIRABLE than GOLD

 

Psalm 19:10

King James Version

10 More to be desired are they than gold, 

yea, 

than much fine gold: 

sweeter also than honey 

and the honeycomb.

As born again, life turns simple.

You know what matters most now.

And it's these:

Psalm 19:7

King James Version

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, 

converting the soul: 

the testimony of the Lord is sure, 

making wise the simple.

Psalm 19:8

King James Version

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, 

rejoicing the heart: 

the commandment of the Lord is pure, 

enlightening the eyes.

Psalm 19:9

King James Version

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, 

enduring for ever: 

the judgments of the Lord are true 

and righteous altogether.

Greater than gold, the believer loves GOD's WORD, for this purpose:

Psalm 19:11

King James Version

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: 

and in keeping of them there is great reward.

What greater joy is there, than knowing we live by the Bible, by God's WORD, guiding us each moment.

And that we become worthy of the Lord.

Related material:

WORD of GOD

SPIRIT of GOD

BORN AGAIN articles

(Image source: Wallpaper Access)

BEYOND food

 

The LORD JESUS said:

Matthew 4:4

King James Version

4 But he answered and said, 

It is written, 

Man shall not live by bread alone, 

but by every word that proceedeth 

out of the mouth of God.

The world drowns in food.

It's impossible for anyone to go hungry, if our hearts be in the right place, alongside Christ's.

Where many nations throw away food unthinkingly, other nations would be lucky if it's thrown their way.

Before becoming born again, I've always believed no one need go hungry.

Now that I'm born again, I'm being fed the Living Water, and the Bread of Life.

All the more I think all can be fed -- in body, and in spirit.

A true born again's needs are simple.

We live for God; not for food.

We eat to live; we don't live to eat.

We don't visit cable channels that show how to make the fluffiest scrambled eggs, or the nuttiest bars, or the most decadent chocolate cake.

We have subjected our appetites, to serve the Lord.

And I think how the people of Israel were fed manna.

Exodus 16:14-15

King James Version

14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, 

behold, 

upon the face of the wilderness 

there lay a small round thing, 

as small as the hoar frost on the ground.

15 And when the children of Israel saw it, 

they said one to another, 

It is manna: 

for they wist not what it was. 

And Moses said unto them, 

This is the bread 

which the Lord hath given you to eat.

What the Lord provides, it comes in great abundance.

Exodus 16:18

King James Version

18 And when they did mete it with an omer, 

he that gathered much had nothing over, 

and he that gathered little had no lack; 

they gathered every man according to his eating.

Imagine if we were to focus on JESUS, the Living Water, and the Bread of Life?

We shall never hunger.

We shall never thirst.

John 6:35

King James Version

35 And Jesus said unto them, 

I am the bread of life: 

he that cometh to me shall never hunger; 

and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

We will have eternal life.

John 6:27

King James Version

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, 

but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, 

which the Son of man shall give unto you: 

for him hath God the Father sealed.

If your heart is in God, you'd know food must not be a god.

GOD is the only one we must praise, adore, and focus on.

The Lord Jesus has showed us how.

Holy Spirit and I wrote a follow-up post that looks into manna -- the food God gave from heaven.

Related material:

FOOD for the SPIRIT

Updated 21 October 2022

Why hardship never seems to end

 

The LORD JESUS said:

Revelation 3:10

King James Version

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, 

I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, 

which shall come upon all the world, 

to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Why does hardship on earth never seem to end?

We all got on the wrong ship, that's what.

I don't know about you, but ever since God made me born again, and His Holy Spirit started teaching me, everything became crystal clear.

Even the source of all our hardships.

And why it continues so.

Consider the following:

Eve was tempted.

Genesis 3:6

King James Version

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, 

and that it was pleasant to the eyes, 

and a tree to be desired to make one wise, 

she took of the fruit thereof, 

and did eat, 

and gave also unto her husband with her; 

and he did eat.

God was mighty mad and put out the curse.

Genesis 3:16-19

King James Version

16 Unto the woman he said, 

I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; 

in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; 

and thy desire shall be to thy husband, 

and he shall rule over thee.

17 And unto Adam he said, 

Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, 

and hast eaten of the tree, 

of which I commanded thee, saying, 

Thou shalt not eat of it: 

cursed is the ground for thy sake; 

in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; 

and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, 

till thou return unto the ground; 

for out of it wast thou taken: 

for dust thou art, 

and unto dust shalt thou return.

He sealed the garden of Eden from us.

Genesis 3:22-24

King James Version

22 And the Lord God said, 

Behold, 

the man is become as one of us, 

to know good and evil: 

and now, 

lest he put forth his hand, 

and take also of the tree of life, 

and eat, 

and live for ever:

23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth 

from the garden of Eden, 

to till the ground from whence he was taken.

24 So he drove out the man; 

and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden 

Cherubims, 

and a flaming sword which turned every way, 

to keep the way of the tree of life.

Man kept sinning, thus, the curse was never lifted.

Exodus 34:7

King James Version

7 Keeping mercy for thousands, 

forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, 

and that will by no means clear the guilty; 

visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, 

and upon the children's children, 

unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Worse, man kept adoring other gods, and never God.

Deuteronomy 5:9

King James Version

9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, 

nor serve them: 

for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, 

visiting the iniquity of the fathers 

upon the children unto the third and fourth generation 

of them that hate me,

Now, really think about it.

You don't have to be a master of logic, or mathematics, or even be a theologian to analyze things.

If God visited the "iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation", and we kept sinning in the midst of those generations, how can suffering ever end?

Hello.

Let's say the first generation sinned.

Fine.

Then the second generation got right with God.

Awesome.

Thing is, the third generation forgot, and rebelled.

Oh boy.

Won't that third generation pass on the same curse to its own next generations?

No wonder, JESUS was sent.

We could have been beyond redemption.

All right, the Lord probably said, "I'll take on human form."

"I'll take on your sins."

"I'll show you how to adore the Father."

"I'll show you how to love each other."

"I'll defeat death, and the devil, for you."

"I'll show you how last can be first."

"I'll show you that only God matters."

"I'll minister, but after I die, God will raise me up again."

"I'll show you God's power over life, and death."

"But I won't leave you comfortless. I'll send you the Holy Spirit, to teach you all things about Me."

"And yes, I shall come quickly, so start paying attention."

Still, despite the blood of the Lamb shed on the cross, and the Word of God given through Scripture, man continues to defy the Lord.

Man can probably try defying gravity.

But defying the ONE who CREATED gravity?

Really?

No wonder, the gravity of our sins.

It all weighs heavily upon us.

Sure, we are hounded by the enemy non-stop.

Ganging up on the few faithful, hoping they'll trip.

If there's but a few, steady faithful, can you imagine the implication of it all?

Romans 3:23

King James Version

23 For all have sinned, 

and come short of the glory of God;

And the never ending extension of that curse?

How can we stop all these?

Only JESUS can save us.

We must seek Him with all our heart.

Matthew 6:33

King James Version

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, 

and his righteousness; 

and all these things shall be added unto you.

And you'll see what happens.

God will send His Holy Spirit to those who really care to know His Son.

And your personal hardship might just end.

For you will now know what matters most.

Updated 26 January 2022

What MAKES everything WORK?

 

John 4:24

King James Version

24 God is a Spirit: 

and they that worship him 

must worship him in spirit and in truth.

What do you think, makes everything work in this world?

Is it us?

Is it our combined energies?

Is it our intellect?

Is it our creativity?

Is it one man?

Or is it a greater power?

If you are born again, you'd know the answer.

GOD makes EVERYTHING work.

God is the Alpha and Omega.

Revelation 1:8

King James Version

8 I am Alpha and Omega, 

the beginning and the ending, 

saith the Lord, 

which is, 

and which was, 

and which is to come, 

the Almighty.

But why does man keep doubting God's power?

Why do we deprive God the LOVE and GLORY long past due Him?

We have been diabolical in our neglect.

We have been subject to the prince of the world.

The spirit that drives the world, is definitely NOT the same spirit as GOD.

For had it been the same, we would not forget God.

We would not make everything mechanical, when it ought to be SPIRITUAL.

We would not treat each other as robots.

We would be kind to each other.

We would follow God's commandments.

We would learn to love, as Jesus taught us.

We would believe in His resurrection.

We would obey God's will, at every moment.

We would pray to know His will.

We would eagerly wait for Jesus' return.

But no, we follow a different god.

Actually, many gods.

Too many gods.

As if in mockery of the ONE, TRUE GOD.

And yet, listen to what Scripture says about the Lord:

Isaiah 40:21-26

King James Version

21 Have ye not known? 

have ye not heard? 

hath it not been told you from the beginning? 

have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, 

and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; 

that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, 

and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; 

he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.

24 Yea, they shall not be planted; 

yea, they shall not be sown: 

yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: 

and he shall also blow upon them, 

and they shall wither, 

and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.

25 To whom then will ye liken me, 

or shall I be equal? 

saith the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high, 

and behold who hath created these things, 

that bringeth out their host by number: 

he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, 

for that he is strong in power; 

not one faileth.

Isaiah 40:28-31

King James Version

28 Hast thou not known? 

hast thou not heard, 

that the everlasting God, 

the Lord, 

the Creator of the ends of the earth, 

fainteth not, 

neither is weary? 

there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; 

and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, 

and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; 

they shall mount up with wings as eagles; 

they shall run, 

and not be weary; 

and they shall walk, 

and not faint.

God makes everything work.

Why do we even think we humans have power to control anything?

God is the ONLY true power.

We can keep mocking God, rejecting Him, hiding from Him, but all power, and glory, belong to Him.

When the day of the Lord comes, where would we be?

Would we be ready for judgment?

Isaiah 2:12

King James Version

12 For the day of the Lord of hosts 

shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, 

and upon every one that is lifted up; 

and he shall be brought low:

I've made my stand -- behind Jesus -- nearly 21 months ago.

Through His HOLY SPIRIT, He made everything simple, and clear for me to understand.

Scripture is His WORD.

It will be all that remains in the end.

Updated 26 January 2022

EXPECT no love from the world

 

Mark 16:15-16

King James Version

15 And he said unto them, 

Go ye into all the world, 

and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; 

but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Are you a true born again?

How have people received you, so far?

Are you welcomed into people's hearts?

Or are you shunned from society?

Are you mocked?

Reviled?

Avoided?

Do people listen to the gospel of Jesus that you share?

Or even to a few verses from Scripture you share?

Or are they still so much in themselves, not desiring to comprehend the Word of God?

Do people look at you blankly, or wish you'd go away?

Do people look at you strangely, thinking you're nuts?

Or perhaps thinking you're obsessed with Jesus?

Are they scared you might convert them?

Are they scared of changing?

Well, expect all that when you start sharing the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST.

Expect no love from the world.

If you can stand alone, shunned, and yet your heart is full of love for Jesus, living on His Word, then you're a true born again.

The thing about the gospel of Christ is that it's too beautiful, sacred, and precious not to share.

When you've come to know the Word of God, the promises, the prophecies, the mysteries of the Lord, how can you keep it to yourself?

You'd want everyone to meet Jesus in the air on that day God appoints.

You would not want them to suffer the tribulation.

But people are of the flesh.

They waver, and prefer the world.

They're sorely addicted.

James 4:4

King James Version

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, 

know ye not that the friendship of the world 

is enmity with God? 

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world 

is the enemy of God.

That's why, as born again, don't take rejection personally.

If Jesus suffered rejection, He being the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, for whom everything was created, who are we to think we are more special than the Lord?

We are servants of the Lord.

We take up that cross, too.

Luke 9:23

King James Version

23 And he said to them all, 

If any man will come after me, 

let him deny himself, 

and take up his cross daily, 

and follow me.

Expect hardship.

Expect rejection.

Expect hatred.

For this world belongs to a different god.

1 John 5:19

King James Version

19 And we know that we are of God, 

and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Only the Holy Spirit of God can change men's hearts.

Follow the path led you by Jesus, as a born again.

Deliver the message you are meant to.

Obey the will of the Lord.

Share the gospel as much as you can.

If people want to listen, the Lord has opened their heart.

Matthew 10:13

King James Version

13 And if the house be worthy, 

let your peace come upon it: 

but if it be not worthy, 

let your peace return to you.

If you are rejected, Jesus told us what to do.

Matthew 10:14

King James Version

14 And whosoever shall not receive you, 

nor hear your words, 

when ye depart out of that house or city, 

shake off the dust of your feet.

He also said what would happen to such people, or city.

Matthew 10:15

King James Version

15 Verily I say unto you, 

It shall be more tolerable for the land 

of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, 

than for that city.

Keep going, in service to the Lord.

Do what God appoints you to do.

Please no man.

Only please God.

Watch, pray, and wait for the day the Lord descends from heaven, with a shout.

Don't even focus on your reward.

Focus only on serving God.

Keep your heart pure.

Follow the Lord's commandments.

It's really wonderful being born again.

Our lives have real meaning.

Our work has real value.

Our Master is the REAL Master.

Only by becoming a true born again, can we see clearly.

The true born again only focuses on JESUS.

Welcome to the real world of those born again in Christ!

Updated 26 January 2022

GOD rewards the CURIOUS child

 

Proverbs 8:17

King James Version

17 I love them that love me; 

and those that seek me early shall find me.

God can't be found in books.

He can be found in a BOOK.

Just one book.

The Holy Bible.

It's His book, after all.

Took me a while to appreciate that.

GOD allowed me to do research.

He knew my heart was set on truth.

He knew I'd find His truth.

He knew it would take a while.

For He also knew I'd be thorough.

And tenacious.

Wanting to find things out for myself.

Wherever my instincts led me.

Night and day, I searched.

God just looked on amusedly.

He knew I'd find Him some day.

One day.

Surely, it will be on a day He chooses.

So, He just let me search, exhaustively.

He watched as my head was drowning in books, literally, and figuratively.

He watched as I naturally gravitated to bookshops, every chance I could get.

He watched as I'd skip lunch, and dinner, just so I can scour second hand bookshops, for some find.

He didn't cringe as I bought, and read, books that didn't come from Him.

He knew, I'd know.

Eventually.

That something was left out.

That something wasn't right.

So, back to the bookshops I'd go.

I became a TRUTH sleuth.

Until I ran out of money.

I'd sell my old books, so I can buy new books.

I'd often come home with BAGS of books.

And yet, an essential piece was always missing.

Either the authors didn't know.

Couldn't know.

Or didn't want me to know.

Maybe, I was also in the wrong section.

God wasn't about to disturb my "exhaustive" search.

He looked patiently on.

He had all the time in the world.

I didn't.

This exhaustive exercise took a large chunk of my life.

But it was so worth it.

GOD knew my methods.

He knew I wouldn't stop, till I got to the bottom of things.

Of course, to do that, I'd have to hit rock bottom first.

I ran out of money.

I found myself stumped, dumbfounded, and exhausted.

There was always an elusive part missing.

The LORD took mercy, five months after I wanted real change.

He watched as I cringed at my sins, and all.

Took so long, but I finally came around.

A true 180-degree turn.

On the day of my surrender in 2019, GOD rewarded me:

1. He made me born again.

2. He led me to Scripture.

3. He led me to Bible prophecy.

4.He sent His Holy Spirit to teach me about Jesus.

5. He made Scripture easy to understand.

I felt like I hit a jackpot!

I didn't realize how thirsty I was for truth.

Sure, it will take many years for me to study the Bible.

But I'm on it.

Every day studies led to blogs, books, and posts.

As my Bible teacher recently remarked, I "manufacture", and God "distributes".

The Holy Spirit teaches, and I listen.

Until I'm sure I got His instructions right, I don't write.

When in doubt as to my own comprehension, I pray.

Jesus answers really fast.

I'm led to all the verses I can handle.

Spirit helps me organize my thoughts, and bingo!

An article, or blog, is born.

If you were to check my DNA, it would just say "Scripture".

They'd look for blood, but there's only JESUS' blood.

Or God, Jesus, Word of God, Holy Spirit, Bible, Rapture.

Now, all I do is live, and breathe, God.

Amos 5:4

King James Version

4 For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, 

Seek ye me, 

and ye shall live:

If you're tired of self, of the world's lies, or are not going anywhere, make that declaration.

Admit you're stumped.

Admit you know nothing.

And open your heart to TRUTH.

GOD will give you His.

Your life will never be the same after that.

Related material:

BORN AGAIN articles

Image: Unsplash

Updated 26 November 2022

There's NO shortcut to understanding SCRIPTURE

 

The LORD JESUS said:

John 14:6

King James Version

6 Jesus saith unto him, 

I am the way, the truth, and the life: 

no man cometh unto the Father, 

but by me.

All attempts to understand Scripture will fall short, unless, and until you become born again.

It is not for man to appoint the day when you should be born again.

Only God could.

Only God must.

Only God knows your totality.

When man appoints you, then you fall short.

Maybe you won't even be ready.

Man has a different timetable.

And agenda.

Ah, but when God appoints you, all fall into place.

When God knows you're ready to become born again, the lessons stick.

On the same day you come to know God, automatically, you will want to become born again.

The desire in your heart to know God's TRUTH causes God to come into your life, and start teaching you -- through His Holy Spirit.

John 14:26

King James Version

26 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.

To understand God, you will have to go through life.

There are no shortcuts to learning that lasts.

Especially spiritual lessons.

And studying Scripture.

You will have a combination of hits, and misses.

Success, and failure.

And you do it all over again, until one day, you raise your hands up to God, signifying complete surrender.

Gone are ego, self, vanity, greed, covetousness.

For you've been humbled to the core.

You surrender everything to His altar.

God likes that.

Perhaps, now, you're ready to listen.

Unless you surrender completely, you can be sure God won't show up.

It's ALL or nothing for God.

He doesn't like lukewarm folks.

Revelation 3:16

King James Version

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, 

and neither cold nor hot, 

I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Neither does the Lord like cold hearts.

Ephesians 4:18

King James Version

18 Having the understanding darkened, 

being alienated from the life of God 

through the ignorance that is in them,

 because of the blindness of their heart:

But God likes children's hearts.

Matthew 18:3

King James Version

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.

When you approach God as a child, completely honest, sincere, teachable, even excited, knowing nothing, prepare to start understanding Scripture easily.

Yes, easily.

For there's complete space in your heart for God.

Only God lives there.

BEFORE becoming born again, only YOU live there.

Sure, you receive visitors occasionally, but your heart's full of you.

As born again, your home is given to JESUS.

You give Him the keys to your heart.

Rightfully so, for we forgot we are but tenants.

God owns EVERYTHING.

When you're born again, you surrender house, home, heart.

You eagerly receive the Lord's Word, and presence.

You eagerly listen to His teachings.

You make sure He's head of the table.

You obey every commandment.

You delight in obedience.

When that happens, the Holy Spirit takes up residence, too.

And Scripture is easily, and happily understood.

You become one, true, happy family.

God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and you.

And yes, you're always fed nourishing food.

SCRIPTURE.

The Word of God.

JESUS.

The Bible.

You eagerly drink up the Word of God.

If that's at all possible, for you have not seen wealth as the wealth of the Word of God.

For any questions, or clarification, a prayer to Jesus is all it takes.

Then, the answers come.

His Spirit leads you to Scripture.

All questions about life, love, work, people, the universe, the past, present, and future, can be searched in Scripture.

Then your heart will be at peace.

For the Word of God becomes your ONLY source for GOD's TRUTH.

Related material:

PEACE through JESUS

SPIRIT of GOD

PEACE

Image: Unsplash

BORN AGAIN perspective

 

Proverbs 14:26

King James Version

26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: 

and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Welcome to BORN AGAIN perspective!

SPIRIT and SCRIPTURE will help us see clearly.

Especially when we question the ways of the world.

As born again, entirely devoted to Jesus, I only rely on Scripture.

God transformed my unknowing ways into His knowing ways.

Life, then, became a real adventure.

Studying Scripture becomes an adventure, for the following reasons:

-- You marvel at God's mysteries.

-- You begin to embark on the GREATEST journey ever.

-- You become "Berean".

Acts 17:10-11

King James Version

10 And the brethren immediately sent away 

Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: 

who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, 

in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, 

and searched the scriptures daily, 

whether those things were so.

Only by knowing the Word of God do things make sense.

There is only a desire to get things right about GOD in your heart, and to know His will.

You are relieved, and grateful, to "grow" a new heart.

Ezekiel 36:26

King James Version

26 A new heart also will I give you, 

and a new spirit will I put within you: 

and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, 

and I will give you an heart of flesh.

With that new heart, you begin to understand the ways of God, Jesus, and Spirit -- the TRIUNE GOD.

Consider this 27th blog a sharing of all those awesome findings, and adventures, as we walk back to God.

When you're genuinely born again, you become aligned with the Spirit of God.

You begin to know what matters most.

JESUS.

He's all that ever really did.

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