New Creature

"2Co 5:17 KJV Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

That Word was the saving grace that cleaved to my heart and glued to my tongue when I finally committed my life to Jesus' able hands.

I'd heard about him before, I'd given my life to him several times, but I just kept going back to the old habits. I found myself going back to the wrong company, living like the one who had never known Christ at all! I had segregated myself unto the path of destruction. Even though I had become a princess to my God but was busy begging to be accepted by the world. My words wouldn't count, I had no positive impact on anyone, I had only lived to please people. My life was shattered. I had dated and double dated. It was that terrible. I just knew something was wrong deep down within.

Then I lost someone dear to me and was told by some spiritists that I was the next to die but God saved me by this Word, "If any man be in Christ , he's a new creature, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become NEW!!!!!!!".

"If any man be in Christ......", was the word that changed my life and my perception of self. It has changed me truly! It changed the choices that I began to make like, the kind of music I listen or dance to, the kind of people I allow to influence me. It changed my outlook and my demeanor. I've grown and I'm still growing.

This word could just be what you need right now, dear reader, if you have any issues staring at you in the eyes as a Christian, cry out  to God!!!,  Say it out loud to yourself, "I'm a new creature in Christ Jesus!!!!!" Believe it, don't doubt, say it consistently, meditate on it and reject every contrary thought with all boldness in Jesus name! But if you are yet to give your life to Jesus Christ, say the Word of prayer written below with all your heart. 

Don't stay bowed to that situation staring at you, look into it's eye and call God your God. God will order your steps into the right company and sort things out for your good. Nothing will hurt you, the Lord will bring rescuers your way in Jesus name. So, say 'Yes' to God willingly from your heart today! You have to be deliberate with Him.

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, you cannot take advantage of what God has prepared for you. We urge you, don’t wait another moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up for my justification, I confess that He is Lord over my life, now and forever. I accept the ministry of the Holy Spirit into my life in Jesus name, Amen!” 

Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a Bible believing Church to attend that you might know what God has provided for you. (For more Christian articles, kindly visit www.lothshine.blogspot.com, thank you)

The Christian Heritage

And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." Exodus 17:9

The enemies were around and Moses been the leader of the nation of Israel gave Joshua an instruction to choose men to go and fight the enemies. Moses did not join in the physical battle, he went up a hill with Aaron and Hur, but he was much also into the battle though not physically. Moses went up the hill to pray for the battle going down. He stood in the gap and the position he took that day was a determinant factor for the victory that day.

As I read the account of this battle, the whole event portrayed the Christian life to me. I see a lot of Christians who simply take life from a physical standpoint. They are all about strategy, planning, career etc, and it all ends there. They see their progress in life largely as a product of their own human effort. They just believe if you put in the required efforts alone, all will be fine. This has worked for them and they also preach the same to others.

Some even go to the extent of talking down on other Christians who might not appear to be as successful as they are but more religious. They see other’s religiosity as the reason they are at that present position in life. They forget there are people more successful than they are who are very spiritual too. They have separated their faith from every other area of their life. Sometimes, it so happens that someone has built a successful career without any serious spiritual commitment and then see no reason to now bring their faith into it.

This kind of Christians remind me of how Joshua must have fought in the battle with all his might, skill and expertise. However we can see that victory didn’t come to them solely because they fought well or outnumbered their enemies. Victory was theirs because there was a man of prayer up the hill interceding for them. Joshua would have made a great mistake that day if he assumed his might alone brought the victory. Our Christian heritage will always be useful at whatever stage we find ourselves in life.

As Christians in a changing world, we mustn’t lose touch with our spiritual heritage as we sojourn this world. While it is good to have all the necessary qualifications on the job, it is better when we are also armed spiritually on the job. Our spiritual heritage is our cutting edge as we navigate this world. When all the known human strategies fail us, we can withdraw spiritual resources from heaven’s bank. We shouldn’t wait till all our plans go south before we realize that there is a God in heaven who is always with us. Never talk down on others spirituality today because it might just be what will save you tomorrow.

Steps Of Faith

And look, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment. Matthew 9:20

One thing that caught my attention about this woman is the audacity she had to go in the crowd towards Jesus. According to the custom of her day, she was regarded as unclean and should not mix in the crowd lest she makes others too unclean by touching her.

She had been in this condition for 12 years, yet she didn't change her mindset to accept this condition as her new way of life. She did all she could to get out of it, even when it cost her her material possessions. She saw Jesus and knew that if she could simply touch his garment, not him praying for her after a fast, she would be whole.

Although getting in the crowd was against the law, she nonetheless went in, knowing fully well it held the key to her healing. She knew how to receive her healing and what she needed to do to receive it. Touching Jesus garment would give her her healing, while getting close to Jesus was what she had to do.

Knowing that God can heal, deliver or set free from whatever bondage or situation as never been the hindrance for many, but taking a step in that direction. If this woman only knew about how she would get her healing from Jesus but did nothing about it, then we probably would have not heard of her story.

The singular most important reason we heard about this woman is because she chose to become the actor in her own story by going against the odds. How many times the Holy Spirit has prompted us to give our money for a project in church, devote more time for him in service, pray for a sick one or reach out to an unsaved fellow. Even when we know very well that those actions would open us up to receive more from the father, but we explain them away or find a thousand and one more reason not to do them.

Having a strong faith is important as well as taking steps in line with our faith. The only way someone will know you are in faith is not merely by you confessing it, but when they see you take bold steps that will bring those confessions to life. The only way to see what you believe in come to pass is to take those steps of faith.