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:

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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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Image: Unsplash