Welcome To Preach The Gospel 2 All Inc.

PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT

Praying in the Holy Spirit is the other side of the praying coin as mentioned earlier. This kind of prayer is transcended; it is a miracle. Ninety five percent of the time, the Christian praying in this way is not privileged to know the content and language being used.

The Bible calls this prayer language, ‘unknown tongue’ or simply, praying in tongue. Like Paul, a Christian can pray with the spirit, and sing with the spirit. This is only possible through the Holy Spirit or through the Spirit’s enablement; one cannot pray this kind of prayer on his or her own:

“For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful” (1 Corinthians 14:14)

When praying with the spirit, the mind is unfruitful, which means the words of the prayer are not the product of the mind understanding. The human mind takes a break.

In fact, this is one of the fundamental uniqueness of the transcended life. To be given the ability to pray in a language never learnt or unknown to you, is a phenomenon; this is a supernatural manifestation, it is a miracle. This may be the only time a man can communicate intelligently with his Maker outside his mind; without the use of his mental faculty. It is a mystery:

“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful” (1 Corinthians 14:2).

Praying with the spirit, the Spirit chooses the words and the language on behalf of the believer.

This is a perfect example of a believer’s oneness with the Spirit. Even though, in most cases, we are not privileged to understand what is being said, there is absolute peace within; our spirit is in perfect agreement with the Holy Spirit:

“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).

We cooperate with the Spirit by releasing our mouth for His use and for our profit. Our human spirit says amen to all that the Spirit prays on our behalf:

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27).

When a Christian prays with or in an unknown tongue, he is praying to God; it is the believer’s other private and direct line through the Holy Spirit (the first being through the mind).

This line never goes wrong, gets busy, tapped into or boggled by a third party. Except by permission, and enablement by the Spirit to understand and interpret, this line remains closed and a mystery. This is the uniqueness of the existing relationship between the Father and each of His sons or children. This particular gift is for the spiritual building up of oneself; it is for the establishment of the individual Christian:

“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself ” (1 Corinthians 14:4).

Because the mind is free when this gift is in use, Christians while praying can engage the mind in other things.

For an example, they can pray while cooking, driving (of course with eyes opened), doing the laundry or even studying and yet, be perfectly normal. Using this gift, the Christian can pray all day and not feel exhausted or short of words.

Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, told them he prays in tongues more than any of them. He made this statement while addressing the enthused church about their abuse of the gift of tongues:

“I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all” (1 Corinthians 14:18).

I guess this is one of the secrets of Paul’s fervency and dynamism in the work of the ministry.

Prayer changes things and people. Heaven pays attention when a believer is in prayer. Prayer is health to the soul; the perfect antidote for stress and worry.

Whenever we come together as a praying church, we must expect wonderful things to happen. I have been to meetings where it has been difficult even to go home or close the service because of the presence of the Lord. It is amazing and a joy to watch the display of the multiple gifts of the Spirit among believers. It is a blessing to be in a service where the Spirit is fully at work and where the gifts of each member are synchronized for the good of all. Again, I have been in services where believers have remained slain in the Spirit for hours, others literally unable to move from their seat or standing position. Some remained glued to the floor while singing and making melody in their heart.

Many new songs over the centuries have come out of Holy Ghost revivals (name given by some for services where the gifts are at work). Wherever the gifts are being manifested, there is definitely the presence of God:

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).

The freedom to choose which form to use in prayer is a great asset to Christians, especially for those who desire to spend more time in prayer.

Sometimes I wonder why we have so many songs recorded from our understanding and not one song from our spirit. I believe the world would be blessed if we could get some tongue speaking songs on tape. Who knows what a blessing that could bring to our homes as they are played over the airwaves? It might serve a better purpose than some of the mind destroying hard core music that has captivated most children.

Can tongue praying be taught? No. Can it be imitated? Yes, but to what avail? Tongue is not the language of men. Tongue is speaking to God and not to men, so it does not make sense to imitate. Like the smoke from a burning bush, imitated prayer rises into the sky and then falls back to the ground. Nothing is more damnable than to make mockery of the things of God. To flee from sin is understanding:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

It is not expedient for any local congregation to forbid speaking in tongues; rather, it must be encouraged. When individual Christians are established, the collective body is also established. After all, a church is made of individuals.

The leadership must teach and make room for the operations and manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit. By so doing, we would be building a healthy and a well balanced church. The body is better served when the diverse and dynamic spiritual gifts are encouraged for the course of Christ.

Further, it is expedient for those with the gift of tongue to pray for the gift of interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:13). Tongues’ speaking is a blessing whenever believers assemble for fellowship:

“Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:39)

Sometimes, in the church, the Spirit grants the leave for part of tongue communications to be understood. This normally falls under the gift of prophecy, or becomes gift of prophesy in manifestation.

Remember, the gifts have one source and one purpose; hence, in many ways linked. Therefore, changing from one gift to another is not a problem. The Spirit can do whatever He wants with His gifts at any given assembly of believers.

When the gift of tongue is in use in the assembly of the saints without accompanying interpretation, no man understands what is being said, and therefore becomes unfruitful. Tongue speaking is a sign for believers and as already mentioned, establishes the individual directly, but the body indirectly. However, it’s proper place and usefulness is in the personal prayer life of the believer and not in the assembly of the saints.

In the church, as our Brother Paul has taught us, the use must be limited and channeled for the benefit of all those assembled. For example, tongue is a prayer going up to God; prophesy is a word coming down from God. Hence, if there is proper order and knowledge of the gifts in the worship service of the church, both can be worked out decently. The leadership would know when to pause in the worship, which is going up to receive a message from God which is coming down.

On the other hand, if a message is communicated in tongue, there should be an interpreter; otherwise, the person must be quieted and the worship service continued:

“How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Corinthians 14:26).

“All things must be done orderly and decently in the assembly of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Beloved, these things I am writing to you are not my personal views or my own opinion about supernatural gifts, for no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation.

All I am doing is presenting to you and all who care to read this book, the truth as laid down in scripture. And if any still lack understanding, let him ask of God, if these things be true or not (James 1:5). Prayer is powerful; it is medicine for the soul.

God has gifted His church with many spiritual blessings for the believer’s establishment. What each of us needs in this life and for godliness are already provided by God and can be received through prayer. God has given us Jesus Christ, His only beloved Son. He has also given us His Holy Spirit to dwell with and in us. The Spirit has made available to the church all kinds of spiritual gifts; supernatural gifts to be used in the life of the saint and in service of our Lord. It is up to each of us to decide what to do with all that is freely and graciously given.

Prayer is a must for all Christians. If we want to pray only with our understanding, then fair and good, but if we also decide, in addition, to use the gift of tongues, it is best. Paul said, it is best to pray with both the spirit and with the understanding.

However, in the church or in the assembly of the saints, let us beware, and do that which is right and to the benefit of all. Speaking in an unknown tongue is one of the many supernatural gifts. Each of the gifts has their proper place, use or function. I bring out this point because very often Christians misuse the gifts.

Often you come across a Christian praying for the sick using the gift of tongue instead of the gifts of healing. It appears that unknown tongue is in many ways used as a substitute for all the other gifts, but this ought not to be. If it is about the healing of the sick, let us be humble enough to call in the brethren who have the appropriate gift to do the job. This will save time and energy and will produce better results.

In the local church, this counsel is very important. Often times, the pastor is looked upon as the person having all the gifts. He is the person to pray for sick, prophesy, and have the word of knowledge etc., while the rest of the congregations are only recipients or spectators.

Notwithstanding, those who evangelize and preach the Gospel to the unsaved seem to enjoy special privileges because of the promise attached: “Go ye into the entire world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. And these signs shall follow them that believe.” Any believer who engages in street evangelism is bound to see the Spirit at work. Jesus is glorified as the Spirit chooses the appropriate gift to meet the various needs of the hearers. It is really a joy to evangelize and to see souls saved and healed. Try it.

In conclusion, a Christian can pray with the understanding and also with the spirit. Both methods are effective and useful, especially when the Spirit is in control. A Christian is under no obligation to speak in unknown tongue. It is a matter of choice, but it does not hurt to taste (experience) this gift before rejection. The Spirit can give it to you, but the decision to use it is yours.

Remember, praying is not a choice: Christians don’t choose to pray, we are commanded to pray.

There are many kinds of prayer; intercession, thanksgiving, worship, petition, and many more.

Prayer is not just asking for things to consume on the flesh, it could be serious groaning for Spiritual insight or a deepening petition for a closer walk with God. It is the duty of every Christian to pray without ceasing (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:17).

From “Transcended Life” ISBN 978-1-60725-819-3.” Beloved, if this site is a blessing to you, then let your friends and family know about it. Million thanks!

Among the many preparations for prayer are the following six helps. The first four are already a possession by those in union with Christ (Christians, born of God). The last two are the product of the first four and must be put on – they must become part of our daily walk:

Righteousness - “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight” (Proverbs 15:8; cf. verse 29; Isaiah 1:15; 38:3; Jeremiah 7:16; 29:12; Mathew 6:5,7). “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Peter 3:12). “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). 

Established relationship with God: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Mathew 6:9). “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Mathew 6:6).

Delight in God and do those things that are pleasing to Him: “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22). 

We must exercise faith in Him: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). It does not make sense to come to God, lacking in faith, and expect Him to do what you are asking of Him.

Live in peace with all men, especially with your spouse: “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (1Peter 3:7). In the Bible, marriage is used as an example of the type of bond that must exist between man and God. Husbands are to their wives, “even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). Hence, he that cometh to God in prayer must be in perfect harmony with Jesus Christ, in order to approach God. Jesus is the only way to God; the only mediator between man and God.

Forgiven and merciful: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (6:12,14; 18:35). 

Again, there are various shades to prayer and different ways to communicate with God using diverse modes and postures. Just to give you a few examples from the Scriptures: 

Weeping: “Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore” (Ezra 10:1 Psalm 28:2).“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared” (Hebrews 5:7). 

Fasting:“And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments” (Nehemiah 1:4-6). 

Falling on your face: “And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?” (Numbers 16:22). 

Lifting both hands towards heaven: “And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart” (1 kings 8:22,23).

Mourning: “And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces” (1 Chronicles 21:16). 

Kneeling:  “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker” (Psalm 95:6; Luke 22:41). 

Night vigil:  “Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the LORD: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street” (Lamentations 2:19).

Sometimes, Christians learn the words of prayer from books including the Bible, and also from one another, especially as we hear other people pray.

Other times, we pray as moved by the Holy Spirit, expressing deep spiritual truths yet using our own language and words. 

As for the prayers itself, there are two main forms of praying to God. Prayer, like a coin, has two sides. It is extremely important that I spend some time on this because prayer is the life-wire of every human being.

The two forms are “praying with your mind or with your understanding, and the other is praying with your spirit or praying in the language provided by the Holy Spirit.”

Praying in the Spirit’s language is the only time the believer’s newly created spirit is said to be doing something, and even then, he is logged in with the Holy Spirit. 

Both forms of prayer are good and effective and the Christian has a choice as far as method. Every Christian has a choice when it comes to prayer to use the language and words of choice in communicating with God: 

“What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” (1 Corinthians 14:15).  

A Christian can pray, sing songs of praises and adore God using his own choice of language and words; likewise, he or she can do the same thing using the language and words given directly by the Holy Spirit (language and words unknown and never learned).

 

Praying with your understanding 

When praying with your understanding, you pray in a known language; a language you know, understand and probably have learned. You control the choice of words, phrases and sentences, and duration, though not in all cases.

The time spent in prayer differs with individual Christians. Some pray long and others short; some pray all the time, and others rarely pray. Sometimes, praying with understanding can become very hard because of distractions.

Mind wandering is one of the enemies of this form of praying. Sometimes it is hard to stay focused, especially when the body is tired or when the mind is under stress. Another enemy is sleep; the tendency to fall asleep during prayer.

To solve this problem, many Christians resort to liturgical methods or write down the whole prayer and read them to God.

There is no problem with that, but if you remember what prayer is: “A conversation with your heavenly Father,” then you want to avoid sounding liturgical; you want to be able to freely express your feelings, adorations, devotion, and needs to your own heavenly Father. But if this is what works best for you, then keep it up.

When prayer is spontaneous, it is beautiful and pleasurable, and I believe we must learn to pray this way. Then prayer becomes conversational and enjoyable.

It is possible even to lose the consciousness of time when prayers become part of you. God is not a language teacher watching over your words for grammar and spelling mistakes.

Feel free to communicate openly and confidently by faith with your Father. It doesn’t matter how you start, what language is used, and how you end. As long as you remember to start or approach the Father at all times and under all circumstances in the name of Jesus, and end in the same name, you are fine:

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). 

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:20).  

Confession of known and unknown sins is always part of Christian prayer.We cannot underestimate or ignore the Father’s hatred for sin, but if we confess and forsake our sins; “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

The right and best way of praying with the understanding is to let the Spirit guide you. Even though you get to choose the language and the words, it is important to be in tune with the Spirit. Expect the Holy Spirit to take over somewhere along the time of praying.

This is not a rule, but you can, for example, start in the name of Jesus, follow through with confession of sins, even if you are not aware or convicted of any, and then, continue with praises. This could be the Psalms, hymns, your own words of adoration, songs of praise, etc., and believe it or not, the Spirit of God would take over the prayer.

To be a student of prayer, you must be a student of the bible. You must constantly read your bible. In this way, you build up a biblical vocabulary. The more your knowledge of the word, the more the Spirit feeds your mind with scriptures as you pray.

You will be able to effectively pray in accordance to God’s will, and to His pleasure; prayer becomes a sweet-smelling fragrance to the Lord.

Another way to learn how to pray, is to pray with other bible believing and praying Christians; remember the saying, iron sharpens iron: 

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).

 When we allow the Spirit to guide and lead our Christian life, He does not only teach us the word of God, but He also helps us with our prayers.

The Spirit is our teacher in everything. The Spirit guides us through the different stages of prayer; we cry, shout, jump, intercede, petition, give thanks, and meditate as the Spirit leads: 

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).  

Jesus taught us how to pray after the disciples had Him to. They had witnessed the prayer life of the master and then wanted to follow His example.

Jesus did not hesitate to give them the prayer model which we call the Lord’s Prayer:         

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Mathew 6:9-13).

 In this prayer model, we see the following progression: 

1. We see our relationship (with our heavenly father); and how to worship (hallowed be thy name). Prayer is a line of communication: It is private conversation between a Christian and his heavenly Father. Christians worship the Father for all of His grace and mercy; past, present and future.
2. Oneness in purpose (thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven). Thy will be done, if accepted, is the summary of all prayer requests. It is all that a believer needs and must ask for himself, his family and the world.
3. Dependence (give us this day our daily bread). Daily reminder of total dependence for all spiritual, physical, and material needs. Faith in the promises of God is a believer’s way of life. Tithes and offering is a Christian’s access into the treasury of heaven; His death for the salvation of his soul and stripes for the healing of his body.
4. Repentance, reciprocity, and gratitude (forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors). The same measure, we measure unto others, shall be measured unto us and this applies to all the actions of a man. This measure is a universal law and applies to all; Christians and non-Christians. 
5. Guidance and protection (lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil). The Lord is every Christian’s strong tower, fortress, and deliverer. Since the life of every Christian is hid in Christ in God, there is no need for fear. Each of us can confidently live each day knowing that we are protected by the Father and by a host of His angels.
6. Submission, acknowledgement and praise (for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen). Sanctification, which is the renewal of the Christian mind by the Holy Spirit, is in knowing that you are holy or dead to sin. It is also a daily progression of the true knowledge of God our Savior. This knowledge translates into joy, praises, and adorations in the life of a Christian; it is a fountain that rises each day in the soul in honor of all the works of God.

From Transcended Life. Beloved, if this site is a blessing to you then let your friends and family know about it. Million thanks!

Praying is one of the characteristics of a Christian. Prayer is a meaningful communication with God – it is having a conversation with God.

Praying is one of the greatest and solemn moments in the life of every Christian. It is one of those rare moments when heaven unites with earth and the believer appears before the throne of grace.

Before and after prayer can be as different as the night is from day for every Christian – anything can happen while a believer is in prayer.

Do you remember what happened to Jesus while He was praying? His whole countenance changed: 

“The appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening” (Luke 9:29). 

Sometimes the presence of God can be so strong people have come out from prayer completely changed.

No man can guess the results of prayer; prayer changes things, is all one can say. All things are possible for a praying believer:

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24). 

Prayer is the believer’s greatest weapon.

Prayer can stop the devils, move mountains, stop the sun from shinning, stop the rain from falling, silence the wind and the storm, cause a whole mountain to change places, move the sinner under contrition and repentance, and empty a full scale hospital of its sick patients by making them whole.

Prayer is the hinge on which the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit hangs. It is that which swings the door of heaven open; the means by which all requests are made to God and answers received.

If the devil can stop a Christian from praying, then defeat is inevitable. Christians are advised to: “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Read the following Scriptures: 

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). 

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). 

Prayer, the word and the Spirit, are the three inseparables in the life of every believer.

These three are intrinsically intertwined – you cannot have one without the other or two without the one. If a person desires to grow spiritually and be in favor with God, then, he or she must have all three in the spiritual daily diet (Luke 4:4).

The survival kits for every Christian are: The word which is spiritual food; prayer which is the line of communication and the Spirit who is our Lord, compass, companion and comforter. 

There are all kinds of prayer. Prayer could be asking, supplication, intercession, thanksgiving and petition. It is not that one has to set different times for each type of prayer; many times they happen simultaneously and unconsciously each time one is in prayer, and especially when praying in the Spirit:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18; cf. 1 Timothy 2:1; Philippians 4:6).

Some Christians prefer to write out their prayers, while others do not; however, the more you pray the more proficient and conventional prayer becomes. 

Because of what prayer is, and does before God, it is very important that those who exercise or pray do so with all diligence, holiness, reverence, and seriousness.

The prayer of each of us, regardless, can only be received and answered by grace; God in is own free will chooses to listen and answer prayer according to His own grace and mercy.

Despite, we have a part to play – there are some rules to be observed. Some may say if God receives and answers prayer by grace, why should there be rules?

Rules are needed because of who He is; His nature is so pure and terrifying that nothing can approach Him without His Grace ( Jesus).

Once in His Grace, you become exposed to who He really is, which affects your conception, and this is what I mean by rules – you become aware that approaching God, even though by grace, demands that His word be taken seriously. 

Does it mean non-believers or people of other faith or religion cannot pray or approach God? That is a question only God can answer; however, according to His revealed will (the Bible or the Scriptures), grace is available for every human being.

Grace for non-believers is to bring them into the Truth, whereas, grace for believers is to keep them in the truth and to keep them perpetually in His presence. 

Christians live by faith and faith always obeys. Hence, Christians know or are suppose to know what it takes to open up conversation with God. They know they must approach the Holy and terrible God in holy awe and with a deep seated reverence, which transcends mere respect.

Even the holy angels recognize His sway and cover their face when approaching God (Revelation 7:11):

“For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward” (Deuteronomy 10:17).

From Transcended Life ISBN: 978-1-60725-819-3. Thanks for reading and please tell everybody you know about this site.  To be continued..

 

His Temptation

The Bible presents Jesus Christ temptation in the wilderness as a fact, and not as a victory over His own thoughts as some unwittingly allege. This was a literal experience for the man who is publicly introduced as the Messiah.

That, the new representative man and last Adam Jesus Christ be tested and tried is no wonder. The Holy Spirit Himself who descended upon Jesus at His baptism led Him into the wilderness where the devil (Satan) ambushed Him when He was weak with fasting (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:45-47).

Jesus was tempted as one of us. He was tempted as a man and not God. As God He could not be tempted (James 1:13). Honestly, the whole temptation would be deemed fraudulent and unnecessary if Satan who is only a creature is to tempt or stand in battle with His Creator and not to talk of winning. Our Lord was there as a man.

The temptations were threefold and they were all directed against His human nature – body, soul and spirit. As much as testing’s of the righteous may come from God, every temptation originate from the devil and is always directed against the human nature:

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. 

The first temptation was directed at the body and the Lord gave to Satan a befitting answer by quoting the word of God:

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

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” (Mathew 4:1-4; cf. Deuteronomy 8:3; John 4:32). 

Obedience to the giver of bread is more important than the bread itself. Jesus Christ unlike His counter-part first Adam and his wife Eve would not satisfy His natural need by disobeying God (cf. Genesis 3).

The second temptation took place in Jerusalem on the pinnacle of the temple. This was directed toward the soul and again the Lord gave Satan a very good response by quoting the word of God:

“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Mathew 4:5-8; cf. Psalm 91:11-12).

In the third temptation, Satan’ real motive in the whole temptation event was shown.

He took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. Satan promised to give all to Him if only He would fall down and worship him. This temptation was aimed at His human spirit (cf. John 4: 23-24):

“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Mathew 4:8-10). 

As his custom, Satan always quotes out of context. All who worship Satan are not wise for there is no truth in him. The purpose of Satan is to steal, kill and destroy the human soul (cf. John 10:10).

All who follow Satan eventually become like him:

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). 

Satan desires to be worshipped as God. Unfortunately, Satan is not alone in this quest. There are many heads of nations, institutions and religions of the world that desires and commands similar attention. We still have a few statuses of those whom we have idolized standing in our town squares.

 To worship Satan is to reject the one and only true God. Further, to worship or bow down to graven images, idols is a rejection of the divine. Further still, the use of religious figures and symbols, incantations, shapes, numbers, and relics can all be forms of Satan worship. Obedience to the word of God is the key to victory over the devils temptation.

Three times Jesus welded the sharp sword of God’s word against Satan saying: “It is written.” Three times we see truth overpower lies and deception. The secret of success is total submission to God’s will:

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8).

Jesus overcame the power of evil by submitting to the strength and power of God’s word through the Holy Spirit.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” is true for all who would believe by following Christ’s example (cf. James 4:7).

Jesus was tempted in every way, yet without sin. He was tempted as a man and He overcame as a man:

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Now, because He Himself suffered through His trials and temptations we are guaranteed of His help if we seek His help when tempted:

“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18).

Jesus passed the test and Satan’s temptations with distinction. So complete was His victory that Satan left him. Jesus Christ returned from this test full of the power of the Holy Spirit and His fame went out through the entire region round about.

Heresy is a denial of the truth; therefore, I call upon you and every man to examine his or her conscience. I do not think there is an excuse for the failure of both Jews and Gentiles to see Jesus Christ as the promised Savior and Messiah. Take a moment to ponder over this quotation:

“Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh  or God is become a man is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

The birth of Jesus Christ was predicted almost four thousand years before he was born, yet every prediction came to pass exactly as it was foretold.

Now, considering all the facts so far presented; should not this facts and events of the news of such stupendous birth arrest the attention of the then world? What about ours?

The prophet Job, like Mary confessed his faith in God by saying: “I know that thou canst do everything” (Job 42:2). What about you and me? Do we believe in the virgin birth?

Admittedly, when was the last time we read or heard of someone whose birth commanded such an enormous activity from both heaven and earth or even matched that of Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ is the only baby the world has ever known who did not have a human father. He was born of a woman.

The Man Nobody Can Ignore: ISBN 978-1-60725-819-3. Please, tell friends about this site. Million thanks.

His Place of Birth

The prophet Micah prophesied of His place of birth centuries before Jesus was born as Bethlehem of Judea which is also called Ephratah. This Judean city was the birth place of David and also the original city of Joseph’s ancestors:

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).

The “ruler in Israel” who would come from Bethlehem is none other than the child-ruler predicted by the prophet Isaiah. According to Scripture, this “ruler” is also the “mighty God:”

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6).

According to the Biblical account, around the time of His birth, Joseph had to travel with Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census and Jesus was born in a stable during their time in Bethlehem in fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy. Here is the Biblical narration: 

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David).To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:3-7; cf. Mathew 2:1).

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the prophecies of both Isaiah and Micah.

Time of His Birth 

As to the time of Jesus birth, Luke tells us that John the Baptist began his public ministry in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar. Jesus was baptized by John the same year.

According to some historians the reign of Tiberius began 19^th August, A.D. 14, so the fifteenth year when Jesus Christ commenced His public ministry was A.D. 29:

“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene” (Luke 3:1).

The first Passover of our Lord’s ministry took place the same year; three Passovers after A. D. 32, He was crucified.

There seems to be no consensus among historians and theologians as to the exact date of our Lord’s birth but the majority put His date of birth between 4 B.C. and 7 A. D.

I guess the issue here is not the exactness of His date of birth, but the fact that He was born to this earth.

We should be able to separate the essential from the important. Here the essential is that, Jesus Christ the Son of God was indeed a natural citizen of this earth.

You can also calculate to a greater degree of accuracy from the prophet Daniel’s “Seventy Weeks” (cf. Daniel 9:20ff).

His Growing Up 

There is no mention of His size, color of hair, eyes and no age classification and even education. Suffice to say, the Bible is profoundly disinterested in Jesus Christ physical appearance. Man looks on the outward but God looks inward.

We are what we are in the mind and heart and not the color of our skin. However, I can tell you this; He is nothing like what we have in our homes and church buildings. All the works of sculptors and painters about him are mere works of fantasy.

True, He was a Palestinian Jew and definitely looked and dressed like one. True, He probably spoke both Aramaic and Greek and maybe Latin. But, the closest description anyone can get is that which is provided by the prophet Isaiah given centuries before He was born:

“Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:1-2).

Jesus grew up a normal human being. He passed through all the stages of psychological development, for example; infancy, childhood, adolescence, and manhood.

There was nothing grotesque or abnormal about His growth from adult to manhood. He grew and developed healthy and normal:

“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40).

Jesus Christ could read and write (Luke 4:17; John 8:6-8), probably leaving school around the age of fifteen as it may be the case of any Jewish boy.

At the age of twelve He was thought to be missing only to be found three days after in the temple having discussions with the doctors (Luke 2:42-49).

He followed the trade of His legal father Joseph and became a carpenter (Mark 6:3). He had siblings (Mark 3:31).

Again, here is another admonition – beware of all the fanciful and fictitious legends about the silent years. We can always detect the source of a particular religion whether it is of God or Satan by what they say about Jesus Christ.

For example, if someone knocks on your door to tell you about God, first ask what the he or she thinks of Jesus Christ. If the answer does not subscribe to that of the Bible then you should be the one doing all the talking.

Jesus Christ is not a mystical figure or the spiritual man that many claim Him to be. Here is a strong warning from the Scriptures:

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 4:2-3).

All heresies major in denial of Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture:

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist” (2 John 1:7). 

As a man Jesus lived, worked, and was subject to all the weaknesses, trials, and temptation peculiar to all men. He depended on God for His sustenance, protection and help.

He was obedient to the will of God only through the power of the Holy Spirit (Mathew 26:39; John 4:34; 18). Though he was the Son of God, he learned obedience by the things which he suffered as a man.

He felt every human emotion, asked questions to elicit information and made prayer a lifestyle. He prayed earnestly, sometimes with tears. He expressed surprises and probably suffered more physical pain than any human being:

“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:7-9).

The Manner of man 

The angel Gabriel, the messenger from heaven gave the information on the manner of man the son of Mary would be saying:

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the highest: and the Lord shall give unto him the throne of his father David.

He shall reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:32-33). 

And truly this is exactly how we know Jesus Christ on earth. He is indeed a great man but His present greatness as we know Him to be now cannot and will not in any way be compared to His glory when He returns to earth.

Jesus Christ was a man of impeccable character; He was not violent, never cursed back or paid evil with evil. In fact, let me save you the trouble of an endless list of His holiness in life and service by quoting from the Bible: 

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:21-24).

Jesus Christ is our example. He left for all men an example of what God expects from each and everyone of us.

His Baptism 

The forerunner of Jesus Christ is John the Baptist. John was chosen and called to prepare the way for the coming ruler of God’s people. He was the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, and a cousin of Jesus (Luke 1:36).

John called the nation unto repentance saying to them: “Repent for the Kingdom of God (heaven) is at hand.”

John is “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight . . . And all flesh shall see the salvation of the Lord (Luke 3:4-6). He challenged his hearers to show forth fruits of their repentance by coming to him to be baptized by emersion.

John the Baptist was called and commissioned to baptize for the purpose of introducing the Savior-Messiah to the world:

“And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water” (John 1:31; cf. Luke 2:10; 29-32). 

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:6-9; cf. verse 23). 

Unlike the New Testament Christian baptism, John’s baptism was similar to that of the Old Testament washings which were external, and insufficient to purify the heart.

Despite, Jesus Christ also came to be baptized. John felt unworthy and was reluctant demanding that he rather needed to be baptized by Jesus.

In truth, Jesus Christ unlike us had no sin to repent and therefore needed no baptism, yet as the representative of the people whom He had come to save, He submitted Himself to be baptized: 

“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” (Mathew 3:13-14). 

Jesus said to John: “Allow it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him” (Mathew 3:15; Mark 1:15; Luke 4:21).

Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament prophesies; or, to be precise, Jesus Christ is the fulfillment. By submitting to the act of water baptism, Jesus demonstrated His oneness with John’s commission of calling the nation unto repentance.  

As Jesus was being baptized and praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Ghost (Spirit) descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him and God the Father spoke from heaven: 

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mathew 3:16-17; cf. Luke 1:21-22). 

John was given the sign that, the man upon whom he shall see the Holy Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, He is the true Messiah. Truly, God does not leave loose ends. Read for yourself what John had to sat about Jesus the Christ:

“And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost

And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God” (John 1:32-33). 

The day after Jesus baptism, John was with two of his disciples when Jesus walked by and John said to them: “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:36). Immediately, the two disciples left to him to follow Jesus.

As God, Jesus Christ did not need this endorsement from the Father, but as a man it was necessary that He be officially introduced, and God chose the time of His baptism to publicly announce His candidacy for the redemption of mankind: 

“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (cf. John 12:28-30).  

The Father’s attesting voice from heaven authenticated the righteous and sinless incarnate Son. God did set a seal to Jesus silent thirty years preceding His baptism.

This public witness of the Father indicated that He was fully satisfied with the Son and He would continue to do so. Jesus Christ was about the age of thirty.

The audible voice from heaven being that of the Father and the dove the Holy Spirit, objectively exhibited the “Trinity of the Godhead” (cf. Mathew 17:5). At His baptism: The Father spoke, the Spirit descended, and the Son stood in the water baptized.

Further, this proves that the persons of the trinity are distinct in the Godhead. As the representative new man and last Adam,” Jesus Christ commissioned His church in the name of trinity saying: 

 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Mathew 28:19-20). 

 John baptizes with water, but Jesus the Christ as Lord from heaven baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire (cf. Mathew 3:11).

The Man Nobody Can Ignore: ISBN 978-1-60725-819-3. Please, tell friends about this site. Million thanks.

Whatever took place in Mary’s womb was a divine conception. It was against the natural order of things. Jesus was born a full human being without the handed down sinful nature from Adam through Mary.

But, how could this be? Since the Bible says, no man can bring a clean thing out of the unclean (cf. Job 14:4; 15:14). Again, the Scripture says “what is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous? (Job 15:14).

The answer to these questions and Jesus’ mysterious and unique pregnancy is God. Here is the process: 

“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).  

Jesus was made like us in every way but without sin or any diminishing in His human nature. God brought a clean baby out of that which was tainted with sin (Luke 1:47; cf. Philippians 3:21). Remember, with God all things are possible.

Mary herself admitted that it was by the grace of God that she has been chosen. She recognized her own sinfulness in her humility (Luke 1:48; cf. Philippians 3:21; James 1:10). 

“In sin did my mother conceive me,” is true for every human including Mary; so, for her to give birth to a baby without sin was a stupendous act of God (Psalm 51:5; cf. Job 14:4).

When Mary asked the messenger from heaven “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? The angel answered, the Holy Ghost shall do it. He shall brood over you and that “holy thing” shall be born. The Holy Spirit shall overshadow you and He shall cause the holy thing, meaning Jesus, to be born.

Notice that the angel or the messenger from heaven refrained from using the word baby:  

“Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35b). 

Jesus was not only born without sin, but He lived His entire life in this sin-filled and sin-plagued world without sin. So far He is the only man ever to come out of the lineage of Adam to live and die without sin. He did no sin, neither was any guile ever found in His mouth:

“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:22-23).

Perhaps another question you may want to ask at this stage is, does not Jesus Christ sinlessness alone apart from anything else extol Him above all men and qualify Him to be the Savior of sinners as indicated by the Bible? Certainly it does. Otherwise, how can a sinner save his fellow sinner?

 Only He that is free from sin can free those who are held hostage by it (Romans 5:12)? Jesus Christ is a man, but separate from sinners: 

“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26). 

Further, someone may also say, Jesus Christ is a god or God and that is why He was able to live without sin and wrought such stupendous miracles. Again, this is far from the truth. Mary’s baby was a human baby.

Remember, Jesus Christ did not enter the world as God. He came as a man and was born as man and lived His entire life as a man and died as a man. Jesus Christ came into this world as the “Representative man” – to represent all men. There was no obscurity in His deity and neither was there any obtruding in His manhood: 

“Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the sins of the people (Hebrews 2:17; cf. verse 14).  

The Redeemer and Savior of the human race had a body that was made of the same material as the people He had come to save. Jesus was born subject to the ordinary laws of human development. His body and mental life were both represented as having undergone a natural development (cf. Mathew 2:2; 4:2; Luke 1; 2; John 4:6; 11:35; 12:27; Hebrews 2:10,18; 5:7,8).

Every one professing to be under the influence of the Spirit of God cannot deny that Jesus Christ was a man. He cannot deny that there was real incarnation. He did not come in appearance only and neither did He merely seem to be a man, and to suffer and die. Jesus the Christ was 100% man.

Unfortunately, there are many who carry such erroneous view about His manhood, being deceived themselves and deceiving others: 

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist” (2 John 1:7). 

To say that “Jesus Christ is not come in the flesh” is dangerous, because it is a denial of the reality of the work of redemption accomplished through Him for all mankind. Further, it renders the whole plan of Salvation a lie. 

Furthermore, Jesus Christ pre-resurrection body was not a spiritual body. It was of the same material you, I and everybody alive are made of. Not withstanding, be aware His post-resurrection body was of a different quality: 

“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 4:3). 

We have Jesus pre-natal and post natal records wit us today. He was breast fed, carried in the arms of His mother just like any baby, protected by His parents, circumcised, dedicated in the temple, baptized at the age of thirty, and had siblings.

For example, when the witnessing soldier at the cross of His crucifixion pierced Jesus side with his spear, what came out from the wound was blood and water: 

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:34). 

Please, do not buy into all the myths concerning His person. Again, here is my warning, “if it is not in the Bible, it is not worth knowing.” “God never leaves lose ends.”

Lest I forget and conclude this important chapter, I would like to pay my respect to “Mary,” the mother of Jesus Christ. Truly, we must applaud the fact that the church of Jesus Christ is grateful to this young lady who at such tender age accepted the message from the angel even though it was beyond her wildest imagination by confessing, “Be it unto me according to thy Word.” Her faith is highly recommendable.

In the same vein, let me also take a moment to plead with my beloved brethren of the faith to be careful not to fall into the trap of being rendered “blasphemy and idolaters” for calling and worshiping Mary as the “mother of God.” To place Mary between the sinner and the eternal Son of God is a deviation from Scripture.

Mary is the mother of the incarnate Son of God (the promised seed of David) – she is the honored mother of the most powerful and influential man in the universe and I do not think we or any being can in any way confer a greater honor to her than that which is already accorded to her by God.

Further, ask yourself, how Mary can call God, “My Savior, if God was her Son? (cf. Luke 1:47). Mary is dead, but Jesus Christ who after His resurrection was made “Lord” lives on. He is alive and well.

God crowned Jesus Christ with great honor and glory as Lord and Christ by the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead to save all men including Mary:

 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36; 10:36; Romans 1:4; Hebrew 1; Revelation 4 and 5).  

Again, be aware that, Jesus Christ coming into the earth as a man and being born as a man (His humiliation) was not honored as “Lord’ until His victory over sin, Satan and death (His exaltation):  

“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (Hebrews 1:9; cf. Daniel 7:13-14; Philippians 2:7). 

From Transcended Life ISBN: 978-1-60725-819-3. Thanks for reading and tell friends for we have more to share with you all.

Spiritual growth is guaranteed, if we let the Spirit be our boss, teacher and instructor. We shall bear fruits consistent with our new (divine) nature.

We can all take a practical lesson from Paul in his struggle with indwelling sin in the book of Romans. In chapter 7, Paul is found moaning under the weight of sin which dwells in his flesh: “oh, wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death” (Romans 7:24).

But, in chapter 8, Paul has found an answer to his dare problem. We find him shouting for joy: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Romans 8:37).

The reasons for this turn around and ecstasy is the fact that through Him (Jesus Christ), he has found the much needed strength and power to overcome sin in the flesh through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Hallelujah! Now, he rejoices in God who had not only saved him, but, continues to guarantee his mastery over his enemy (sin) on a daily basis. The Spirit of Christ gives him abundant power to overcome the power of sin in the flesh, the world, and Satan who is the prince of this world.

It is interesting to note, how many times Paul mentions the Holy Spirit in chapter 8 alone; 19 times. Beloved, the only advantage we have as Christians over the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and pride of life (1 John 2:16), is the presence of the indwelling Spirit. God forbid, that any of us should use His grace as a license for sin, so that more grace may abound.

I find it utterly shameful for a Christian who is always at church and yet lives like the devil; in Church on Sundays, but in the service of the devil from Monday to Saturday. No man can faithfully serve two masters (Mathew 6:24).

Sin is a principle which is hidden in the flesh of every human being, believer or unbeliever. And for this reason, Paul made the statement: “For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18). This statement is not to say flesh is bad, but simply, one cannot put any confidence in the flesh since it is a host to sin.

Saved by grace through faith, no Christian can make light of the grace of God. God’s grace is the more reason each of us must live a holy life. To make practice of sin or occasional excursion into sin is not wise; it means we have not yet learned the cruel and harsh lessons sin taught us while we were held as his prisoners prior to salvation. Only a fool would make mockery of sin.

God does not compromise with our sins, He hates them; sin is abhorrent and loathsome. The only wages sin pays to any man is death. While we are caged in this mortal frame and in the presence of sin, no Christian is and would be entirely free from sinning despite being led by the Spirit.

Not withstanding, living a life without sin as our Lord lived is possible for every Christian; it is possible not to sin through the Holy Spirit.

To make practice of sin is to make light of the second birth; why bath the pig and array it with white linen just for it to return to the filthy mud? Knowing that it was for our sins Jesus died, it is sheer wickedness to continue in sin after rebirth. Having died once, Jesus lives to die no more.

Likewise, we too must reckon ourselves dead once and for all to sin and alive unto God and to righteousness forever. Never should we return to the old lifestyle which killed and made mockery of us.

Born again, we are servants of God and not servants of unrighteousness. We live to serve only one master and to Him we yield our desires, wishes, will. We must exercise to perpetually put our will under the Spirit’s control, for God will not over-ride our will.

New life in the Spirit makes no room for the human spirit. Our spirit is one with the Spirit and need no training to submit or listen to Him (Ephesians 4:24). Instead, our will is that which needs training and to be subjected to the will of the Spirit: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” is true for every Christian (Mathew 26:41; Mark 14:38).

There is no problem with our newly created spirit; he does not need any improvement or development. However, we all must submit our will and incline our ears to the voice of the Spirit:

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).

Jesus Christ our Lord calls on every man who have ears to hear (cf. Mark 4:23). Let us incline our hearts to wisdom and understanding, for they are better than platinum and gold. Our spirit has no problem hearing the voice of God, it is a question of whether our will would follow the lead of the Spirit of God; our ears may hear alright, but are we willing?

We are saved by believing and confessing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, which means from the moment of salvation to infinity Jesus, is our Lord. And as Lord, His will is that which must govern our life. He is our Lord in life and in death.

It is rather unfortunate that today, many Christians rely more on their leaders instead of the Holy Spirit. Many preachers are even more popular and better known than the Lord who saves them. Again, many are more inclined to follow the dictates of their denominational leaders instead of the Holy Spirit who dwells in them.

Please, do not get me wrong, I am not saying we should not listen to our leaders; that we should. But, that is only if they themselves are walking in faith; walking and talking in truth. That is, if their lifestyle is consistent to the Word of truth:

“Remember them who have rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation” (Hebrews 13:7).

We must all accept the fact that all men including Christians are fallible and that no man knows it all. We shall all remain students of the bible and servants of God all the days of our life; ever learning and growing in the Lord. Each individual Christian must learn from our brethren in Thessalonica:  

“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” (Acts 17:11).

They searched the scriptures daily to see whether those things taught by their leaders were inconformity with the written word.

Christians today must do the same; we must study the scriptures for ourselves. After every church service, crusade, convention or teaching seminar, we must take the time to do our own research to see if those things taught are true.

Even the times and season in which we live calls urgently that we do so, especially, with so many quack preachers behind the pulpits and others knocking on our doors from day to day. The saying that I have no time is over. Our salvation and future reward are too important to be entrusted to gainsaying and the hypotheses of ignorant men.

Pertaining to matters of seeming controversy and uncertainty, we must be willing to set aside our own plagiarisms, biases and polarizations, and individually seek the wisdom of God:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

When we walk in the Spirit, we need no man to guide and teach us, for the Spirit Himself teaches us all things. It is His duty to teach us what is right and wrong; His responsibility is to guide us into all truth (John 14:26).

Each and every Christian must know we are called to be sons. Sonship can be equated to maturity or coming of age; a point in growth where we are ready to assume family responsibilities as delegated to us. Even though true sonship is in the future, we have already received the Spirit of adoption so that we are able to call God our Father.

By the Spirit, we can enter in and take full possession of our spiritual inheritance. We can enjoy our inheritance to the fullest in Christ Jesus.

All that Christ achieved belong to us: “Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours” (Deuteronomy 11:24) is also true for every Christian who is led by the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Every Christian lives in a state of ‘already and not yet.’ Already, we are in our possession; not yet, because we are still waiting for the full and complete possession at the appearing of the Saviour. The greater portion of our inheritance is in the future; yet, through the Spirit, we can begin enjoying them from the moment of salvation.

The work of the Spirit is to reveal to the believer all that is ours in Christ, and to make them available for use (John 16:15; 1 Corinthians 2:12). Born again as spiritual babies by grace through faith, we grow from being children to mature sons as we are led daily by the Spirit of God.

A mind change is necessary for growth; the baby mind set must develop into adult mind set. When the mind is allowed to roam freely feasting on anything it can find or allowed to feed on carnal and fleshly things, the result is impeded growth and premature death: “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

Our old man must be put off, and the new man put on and all has to do with our will and mind. Our will must be handed over, and our mind replaced with the mind of Christ:

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

When we feed the mind daily with the word of God, we will be enabled by the Spirit to do those things which are pleasing to God; those things which are expected of the sons of God. We can assume the responsibilities as expected of the sons of God.

The world to me is made up of two types of people; those who have their minds controlled by their sinful nature (their mind set on natural things and care less about the things of God), and those who have their mind controlled by the Spirit (sets their mind after spiritual things or God).

These two sets of people have two different world views, have different outcomes in life, and different destinations after this life. One ends in death (1 John 2:17), the other in life everlasting. One produces deadness and emptiness, the other peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Galatians 6:8).

It is sad, if not tragic, for a Christian to enjoy sinning or wantonly make practice of sin. The effect of sin is like the presence of leprosy or cancer in the body, slowly, it breaks down spiritual immunity and sucks out spiritual energy. Sinful behavior raises the question of genuineness on the part of the Christian (Romans 8:5-17). The strength of sin should not be underestimated:

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:13-15).

The Bible has a lot of warning for believers who fall into the pathetic state of willful sinning. Basically, it means two things, it is either the old man in control or one is a professing Christian. No true child of God enjoys sinning. He cannot sin habitually because the Spirit of God lives in him; he cannot sin because, he is born of God (1 John 3:9-10).

God expects all His children to be holy because He is holy (1 Peter 1:18). A disciple of Jesus must show forth evidence of discipleship. We must be prepared to pay any price to avoid sinning against God. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6):

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (1 Peter 2:21-25).

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:1-10). 

A Christian is not a sinner but, a saint. When he sins, communication can be disrupted but, union remains intact. Through the grace of God, the blood of Jesus is available to cleanse us from all sins and to provide immediate restoration to joy and peace with the Father when we admit and confess even when we sin (1 John 1:6-9; 2:15-17).

Let me give you an example of your earthly father. Your dad may not speak to you because of your disobedience, but He can never disinherit you. Even if the law of the state or country permits such, it is only on paper, the individual biological family connections remains intact; that no man can ever erase. Such is our union with Christ, we are His blood children; we carry His gene – the Holy Spirit. If you can take it, a Christian may fall on grace but can never fall from grace.

Christians share the same holy family traits with Jesus Christ because they are born of God; they have His Spirit. If we live right, one should be able to say, show me a Christian and I will show you what Jesus is like. God is the Light; we are the reflectors or the little lights. God is Life, we have His life. God is Holy, we have His kind of holiness and the list of similarities goes on. “Both He that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: For which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Hebrews 2:11).

 It should not be that because of our character, others won’t come to Christ or witness for Christ. The Christian calling is a high calling; a calling that has great responsibility attached. It is a divine calling; it is a transcendent calling. We can enjoy a deeper fellowship with the Spirit, if we take the time to learn from Him, He is more than willing to teach us His ways.

We must take the time to sit and learn at His feet; He has more to teach us in a day than all the teachings of men in a life time. He is not a teacher, but the teacher. He is the teacher of men. God is not a god; He is ‘The God,’ the only one true God.

Among the many blessings the Spirit showers upon us, just to name a few are; teaching (John 14:26), bringing to remembrance (John 16:13), bearing witness (John15:26), declaring things to come (John 16:26), glorifying Christ (John 16:14), taking the things that are His and declaring them to the disciple (John 16:14).

Other benefits include the following:

1. No condemnation
2. Freedom from the law of sin and death
3. Absence of an attitude of defeat
4. Possibility of life without sin
5. The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us
6. Are not in the flesh but in the Spirit
7. The body is dead because of union with Christ Jesus
8. Joy and peace with God
9. The sons of God
10. Dead to former lifestyle
11. Sin has no power or control over us
12. Alive in Christ Jesus
13. Shall never perish
14. Transcended lifestyle 

Led by the Holy Spirit means having the triune God; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit on your side and what an invincible team and not to mention the additional help from the ministering spirits (the holy angels) and fellow saints (Hebrews 1:14).

In conclusion, if we live after the flesh, we shall die: but if we through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live. This is how the disciples of Jesus lived from the very beginning of the Christian era and the same is true for each of us today.

Led by the Spirit, Jesus Christ our Lord, enjoyed victory throughout His earthly life; He breathed, lived, talked, ate, drank, slept, worked, suffered, died, rose again, and ascended into heaven by the Spirit and left us an example to follow (1 Peter 2:21, cf. verse 22). And if this is the way of the master, why should not His servants be in pursuit of the same? After all, Jesus Christ is the believer’s life, mind, strength and goal.

Victory is inevitable if we follow the way of the Spirit. If we let Him, He shall change every ‘I can’t’ into ‘I can’: “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Beloved, let us study the scriptures daily, praying in the Spirit at all times and not neglecting to fellowship with likeminded brethren. Finally, be conscious of His abiding presence. God richly bless your walk with Him. Amen

Extract from Transcended Life ISBN: 978-1-60643-527-4. Can you also bless me by directing friends and family to this site? Thanks.

 Biblically, Jesus the Christ is described as the last man Adam or the second man Adam. Read this quotation slowly and carefully: 

“And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption” (1 Corinthians 15:45-50).

Below is how Jesus Christ, the last Adam compares with first man Adam:

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the fi gure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift.

For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ). Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:12-21).

The effect of the sacrifice of the last man Jesus Christ is far greater than the damage done through the sin from first man Adam.

For example, it was not the lifetime sins of Adam that brought death to the whole of mankind, but the one time original sin. On the contrary, the one time sacrifice of the sinless and obedient Son of God provides total cleansing from all sins past, present and future. Amen!

All men must come to Jesus Christ for salvation if all men are to be saved. The two men, Adam and Jesus Christ, determine the final destination of every man.

I have a few contrasts here to help clarify where these two men stand as far as the salvation of the human race is concerned: First man Adam (old humanity) Last man Jesus Christ (new humanity)  

 1. First man is of  the Earth – last man is Lord of heaven

2. First man is a living soul – last man is life giving Spirit

3. First man was disobedient – last man was obedient

4. First man brought sin – last man brought righteousness 

5. First man brought condemnation – last man brought Justification

6. First man offence brought death – last man obedience brought life

7. First man sin brought in the law – last man righteousness brought in grace

8. By one man (first man) sin, many are dead – by one man (last man) righteousness, many are made righteous.

9. In first man sinners get what they deserve – in the last man sinners get what they do not deserve

10. By first man sin is imputed to all men – by the last man righteousness is imputed to all who believe

11. All die in first man – all are made alive in the last man

12. First man is head of the human race – last man is head of the new man (the new society)

13. First man is the representative of created humanity – last man is the representative of new spiritual humanity (those born of God)

14. First man reigns in death – last man reigns in life

15. First man brought curse – last man brought blessing

16. First man brought separation from God – last man brought reconciliation to God

17. First man race ends in Judgment – last man race ends in Justification

18. First man sinned for every man – last man died for every man

19. First man brought strife  – last man brought peace

You can also read these references for additional blessing (cf. Romans 5:12-21; 2 Corinthians 5:11ff ).

Now, you see why Jesus Christ is irreplaceable. Because of sin in the nature of every man, we must all be born again to enter the kingdom of God.

In Adam we all die, but in Jesus Christ we all can live.

From The Man Nobody Can Ignore ISBN 978-1-60725-821-6