Marks of a Born Again Believer (2/2)

Marks of a Born Again Believer (2/2)

(Acts 10/Acts 15)

5 Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)

When a baby is in the mother's womb, the baby cannot see what is outside..no see his parents. But when the baby comes into the world, he finally sees what's beyond the comforts of the mother's womb. So when we want to live in God's kingdom and walk in it and benefit from being a son and daughter of God...we need to be born again not in the flesh but in the Spirit.

Being borned of water is to be born thru repentance. Turning away from the world's rebellious nature of not acknowledging God (Rom 1:28) to Him as God and King. We begin respond to His word as not just refuge but our pillars to go forward from. How ? grace?..Yes..Grace is God's attitude towards us..Love is God's passion for us..However its not just that. 

Ezekiel 36..tells us that God will give us a new heart and put His spirit in us that we will walk in His ways. John 7:38-39 tells us that the promise of the Father to us is the gift of the Holy Spirit. When we receive Christ, the Holy Spirit is deposited in us as a mark of ownership..that we belong to God. But when we are baptised in the Holy Spirit when we ASK JESUS FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT...we submit to the Lordship of the King.

But more than just ownership. How do we know the Holy SPirit is in us ?..Don't you want to have assuarance that you belong to God and that God accepts you ? Faith yes..but faith is always proven and materialises in matter that we can (Heb 11:1) see, hear, feel, smell, hold, taste etc.

How ? 

Lets look at what happened at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15.

7 And after there had been a long debate, Peter got up and said to them, Brethren, you know that quite a while ago God made a choice or selection from among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the message of the Gospel [concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] and believe (credit and place their confidence in it).

8 And God, Who is acquainted with and understands the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit as He also did to us;

The Jewish believers were debating about the authencity of the faith of the gentiles here. Peter got up to defend the gentiles who have to turn to Christ. What did he use to justify his argument ? See in vs 8 of Acts 15..."God, who is acquainted with and understands the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit as He also did to us;" What was Peter referring to ?

Peter was referring to Cornelius household in Acts 10:44-47

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.

45 And the believers from among the circumcised [the Jews] who came with Peter were surprised and amazed, because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed and poured out largely even on the Gentiles.

46 For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and extolling and magnifying God. Then Peter asked,

47 Can anyone forbid or refuse water for baptizing these people, seeing that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?

Peter based his reasoning to accept Gentile believers on 2 occasions when the Holy Spirit "baptised" or fell on the people. He used what happened to the 120 in Acts 1:8, and Acts 2:4 and right here in Cornelius household in Acts 10:44-47..On both occasions when the Holy Spirit fell on the people what happened ? 

In  Acts 10:46 "For they heard them talking in tongues and extolling and magnifying God".   It was Tongues and gloryfying God that convinced the Jewish believers that the gentiles have been accepted by God !

So when I pray in Tongues...I know the Holy Spirit is in me. and I know that God accepts me as a genuine believer for Jesus Christ..Isn't that so comforting and empowering !!!

Its a powerful truth that sets believers secure in their faith and hopefully moving on to discover their purpose ! ...

But not many people speak in Tongues..but are they genuine believers...YES ! but don't you want to have the guarantee like above ?

Luv Edwin Koh

30/9/13

 

MARKS OF A BORN AGAIN BELIEVER (PART 1/2)

MARKS OF A BORN AGAIN BELIEVER (PART 1/2)

MARK 16:15-18

by. Edwin Koh Boon Leng (30/9/13)

Mark 16:15-18, Amplified Bible (AMP)

15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole [human race].

16 He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned.

17 And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;

18 They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.

• Remember in John 3, Nicodemus reacted by asking how can one be born again ? Is it possible for a grown person to go back into his mother's womb to be born again? Jesus did say, what is born of flesh will flesh..What is born of the Spirit will be spirit. Why was Jesus so adamant at being born again ? Because being born again is to reboot an entire human being into a new life into a new way...GOD'S LIFE...GOD'S way..in God's Kingdom. God is spirit. Those that worship / fear Him/ serve Him, must do so in the Spirit. 

• What's God's Kingdom ?...God 's kingdom is wherever God is ..which is everywhere as He is omnipresent. Where Jesus is King. How does the King rule ? A King rule His subjects by His decrees (His Word) and His Subjects enjoy the life and benefits of being His subjects. So miracles and His providence is not a "miracle" per say but an everyday occurance. Finally in God's kingdom, we His subjects serve His purpose alone..So God's Church which is the Ekklesia have been called out for such a purpose as this.

• You see many Christians do not have the right purpose in life. They receive Christ..but like the 9 Lepers, they go back to their old ways. Only 1 that was cleansed, so no need to go back to the priest. Instead he turn around and headed straight to Jesus ! To a new life..a Covenant set forth by His blood...The law could not save. Only Jesus could and still can.

• Many Christians are lost in this world because they are not sure if they are saved or not. How does one know He is saved ? ...well he is BORNED AGAIN ! ..What are the marks of being born again ?

In accordance to Mark 16:15-18..here they are :

  

a.Preach Jesus = Praising and Sharing Jesus. 

Just like the Samaritan woman in John 4, when Jesus touched her, the first thing she did was to go back to her village to tell everyone about Jesus. When we tell people about Jesus, when we come to Church to praise Him in song...why because of the joy of Jesus in us !

b.Believes unto a new life 
(Transformed to Walk in His Way) 

The leper turned back to Jesus without going to the priest because we will always follow the one that changed our lives for good. The one that makes a difference in our lives. Not only Jesus is God..He is King !

c.Drive out demons = a New Authority /New Victory 

No longer do we live defeated but the enemy everything that can be named is placed under our feet. 

d.New Tongues = New heart (Eze 36) 

Why a new tongue?..Out of the abundance of our heart we speak. The values of our lives is in our heart ...our soul. The first thing the Holy SPirit did on pentecost was to influence the tongue (language) why ?...Because God wants to change our hearts..Remove the rebellion and disobedience to a heart maliable in His hands. 

e.Favour and protection = Is Life (Ps 30:5-6) 

God's anger on us may last for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning. And His favour is for life ! .Nothing more to say.

f.Healing of others (miracles)

Begin to love others. Begin to serve others...out of our hearts will flow rivers of living water..We begin to serve others and love others.

So this are the marks of a Born again believer 

• luv Edwin Koh

30/9/13