Sir/Lady...Are you Jesus?

By Pastor 'Deji Adewale

“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins” Mark 2:22

 We are seeing a dangerous trend of people just having lively emotional expe-riences (‘affections’), religiosity, attendance at churches, love for believers, etc. but these are not proofs of regeneration.

Many have had deep reli-gious experiences but their of faith later proved emp-ty. They were never true believers in the first place, but had simply copied the actions of those who were. I have no doubt that the Holy Spirit has regenerated many thousands of men and women. Equally,

I be-lieve many have come into the churches without tru-ly understanding what Christ has done for sinners. Spiritual ‘experiences’ do not necessarily signify regeneration. Not church membership, doing good deeds, or "trying" to be a Christian. We must change this 2016.

In spite of our confession of being born-again, many are not. We come to church every week to listen to His word, God has ordained that the preaching (telling, reading etc.) of His Word is the means by which a person is regener-ated. Man’s first birth is natural; his second birth is spiritual and supernatural. His first birth makes him a member of a fallen race; his second birth makes him a member of a redeemed race.

His first birth gives him a depraved nature; his second birth makes him partaker of the divine nature. The moment a person is born again he receives a new life and a new position as a child of God. In short, he is a new creature in Christ, the old has been done away with, behold the new. New way of life, new habits, new thoughts, speech, deeds…new wine in a new wineskin. You will have good success this 2016.

Remain blessed.
Shalom.

RCCG Dominion Mercy Seat
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Jersey City
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The F's of Fruitfulness

Nehemiah 4:6—”So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height; for the people had a mind to work”.

Fortitude means Strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage. It is determination, perseverance, patience, and resolve. It refers to stick-to-it-iveness, hanging tough, keeping the focus and staying the course. When you stick to a course, no matter what, obstacles are bound to give way.

When we are determined and in God’s will/purpose, then 1st John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”  Maybe you used to be more faithful. Maybe you used to be more involved. Maybe you used to give more of your time. Maybe you used to tithe. Maybe you used to teach.

Then you got discouraged. Then you slowly but surely bailed out. It’s time to look up. It’s time to serve with determination. Where discouragement abounds, determination is the answer. Hang in there! Don’t give up! Don’t give in! There is no per-fect life. There are no perfect churches.

The question is not will we face discouragement but how will we face discour-agement!  Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of fortitude. Remember that old adage used by the Marine Corps?

 It says, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." That’s a quality we need for increase & fruitfulness.

You will have good success this 2016.

Remain blessed. Shalom.