I Believe

 

I Believe

John 12:37-43

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” 41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. 42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Thank you, Jesus for increasing my faith to believe. There were times when all I could see was the darkness. My soul was bound by the fear that lives in the shadow of darkness. My life was heading nowhere and there I was lost and afraid in my mind. But the day that I cried out and called Your name my entire life changed. You spoke to me, “I will create in you a new spirit.” You opened my eyes to see and my ears to hear and receive and believe in the good news of the gospel.

Many of us have been called to come out of the world. The Spirit of the Lord is upon us to teach, preach, love, encourage and to bless others. The love that we show to others through our walk is the fruit of the Spirit. We must not quench the Spirit by turning back to the way we were before answering the call on our lives. God is calling us to reach the lost that are abandoned, broken, confused, downtrodden whose hearts are ready to believe in Him.

We are created to do good works for our Father above. When the power of the Holy Spirit falls upon us our spirits will become as one in the Lord. Our minds and hearts will shift to hunger and thirst for His righteousness. This is the living Word the true living water of God. The rivers of life will flow out of our hearts and mouths to compel the hungry and thirsty souls to come drink from the well that never runs dry. This will be all God doing His work through us that He predestined.

There is no time for doubting it is written in the Word of the Lord. John 7:37-38 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” When our minds are made up to follow Christ, we will experience many supernatural things. He is calling us to come and surrender our old beliefs and trust in His Word. Our spiritual eyes and ears will become open to receiving the truth and we will eat from the living Bread of Life. During these times the Lord will draw us closer to Him and we will know that He called us. There will be many nights and days and seasons that we don’t understand what the Lord is doing, still we must lean on Him. He’s forming a relationship with each believer and transforming our lives spiritually to become the new man in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

While the new birth is happening many of us will experience a spiritual purging, seasons of long-suffering, a wilderness experience, the process is different for everyone. This is the work of the Holy Spirit purging our sins, strongholds, anger, and removing other dark things that are buried inside our hearts. He is preparing our vessels to be a dwelling temple where He resides within us to seal us to Him for the day of redemption. We must pray and draw close to the Word of the Lord. Pray to the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us to submit to the Father’s will. 

The process is not comfortable nor is it a pleasant journey all the time. Because the Holy Spirit will not turn us loose because this is a supernatural work and we’ve been chosen to live for Christ and to experience many things that are a part of being transformed into the new man. The old life and bad habits we had will no longer have a stronghold on us nor will we be entertained by the foolish things we were involved with. The people in our past that are not a part of the journey will be removed in the Lord’s time. Remember, we are God’s workmanship and have confessed our belief in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The Holy Spirit will teach us and train us in the Spirit with the Word. He is the Spirit of truth and is our helper. We must grow to love and depend on Him. Because He is within us doing the work that God created for us to do. He is washing us and making us clean according to the Word of the Lord. This is the regenerative process the new birth happening, so that we will be sheep that listen and follow Christ only. John 3:5-8 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

We must continue to worship, pray, and praise the living God. Many of the religious leaders in Jesus’s day believed in Him, but were too afraid to confess it, because the Pharisee’s would have excommunicated them. Instead, they allowed their prestige and praise to silence them. This kind of religion is idol worship. Because man loves to be worshipped and praised and to create idols to worship that they can control that gives them pride and self-gratification.

Jesus came to save the world and not to condemn it. Yet, this religious spirit was His greatest battle because the religious leaders were in union to enslave the people to follow the law and keep them blind from knowing the truth of believing that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus even revealed miracles and signs in front of them and they still refused to believe because of their pride.

Those of us who have been born again, we must not repeat history by following the traditions of men and religion. Galatians 3:1-2 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? We must follow the Messiah, Christ Jesus’ teachings and obey the Holy Spirit and the Word of the Lord. We must study the scriptures, pray, and have fellowship with the Holy Spirit. He is our teacher. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

Lastly, our love for Christ should inspire us to fellowship together, but if there is no fruit of love in a place, we must seek the Lord and ask Him to send us where His love abides. We must not allow the acts of men to put fear in us and guide our beliefs, but to trust and be guided by the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

Born Again

 

I was lost and dead without a clue

Jesus paid the price for my sins

Through the blood that was shed

He rose from the grave that I believe

I proclaim to spend my freedom in eternity

Wings to fly away on that special day

As I live and believe that my mind is free

I don’t think, talk, or walk like I use to

For I am blessed and bought with a price

As I accept Christ to guide my life

Through the Word, water, and Spirit

I am renewed and born again

 ã2004 “Naima’s Inspirational Melodies”