Holy Ghost University: born again

Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Supernatural Pattern for Becoming Born Again

by Baruch Okpulor

www.lulu.com/spotlight/barock

Only those who have experienced God’s power of salvation have the power to grow and become like Jesus.

Therefore, to experience the birth of the Spirit, one needs to surrender to the steps of salvation including the process of baptism.

Jesus Christ re-emphasized this demand in the book of Mark 16:15-16 and Matthew 28:18-20.

“He that believeth and is BAPTIZED shall be saved” Mark 16:16

The apostles who took after Jesus Christ in making disciples of God were commanded to baptize those who surrender for discipleship in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost Matthew 28:18-20.

This baptism which is immersion or burial in water symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ which the penitent sinner participates in. That why it is burial where there much water.

As the individual is buried inside the water, he takes part in the death of Christ (Romans 6:1-4). The first set of Christians fulfilled this condition as seen in Acts 2:36-47.

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the REMISSION OF YOUR SINS, and ye shall receive the GIFT of the HOLY SPIRIT. Then they that gladly received the Word of God were baptized…..”

The individual who has resolved to be enlisted as a disciple of the Lord receives two great gifts at the time of baptism.

One of them is the cleansing and forgiveness of all the sins he has committed in his life and the second is receiving the indwelling Spirit of God as a seal and Witness that such a fellow has become a child of God. At this level, the Spirit begins to empower you to overcome those bad habits and behaviour you were unable to overcome.

In summary, an intending disciple becomes one by hearing the Word of God, believing it and in Jesus Christ, repenting of his past sins, confessing his faith in Christ and yielding to the water of baptism.

Now, you have known the first step to take for the acquisition of supernatural privileges and power to break the power of sin over your life and enthrone freedom. You cannot do it by yourself. You need Jesus today as he says, “I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” Revelation 3:20

As you accept this divine invitation of salvation today, you’re accepting the life of Jesus Himself and His nature into you.

Seek for the Church of Christ near you and declare for God today for eternity is just a step away.

Kindly leave a comment if this article made an impression on you.

Baruch Okpulor, Author of The Irony of Love, Premarital And Extramarital Relationships

Reach him on baruchmails@gmail.com

Visit his spotlight his blogs at:

http://www.divinehealthandvitality.blogspot.com

http://www.powerprosperity.blogspot.com

http://www.singlesandmarried.blogspot.com

http://www.holyghostschool.blog.com

http://talentpotentials.blogspot.com

Recommended Reading:

The Secret of Supernatural Power, Deliverance and Prosperity

Breaking the Hold of Self-Slavery

When Trusting God Makes No Sense

Stop Existing! Start Living!

The Supernatural Demands of Becoming a Fellow Heir with Jesus

by Baruch Okpulor

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/barock

“You cannot be the Custodian of God’s power and blessings until you become the evidence of his discipleship” Baruch Okpulor, Author of Breaking the Hold of Self-Slavery.

To become a fellow heir with Jesus, without any conflict of principle and contradiction, and for God not to be accused of favouritism, it is required that the individual who desires this divine honour fulfill some fundamental divine requirements.

Until these requirements are met, he cannot be known and addressed by heaven as a Christian or born again.

He would be denied the power to grow from childishness to that of spirituality, from the shore of carnality to that of spirituality. He cannot become like Jesus Christ, the Master Trainer.

Discipleship is a process whereby a Christian who has voluntarily surrendered himself or herself to the Lord Jesus Christ is being made to become like his Master, Jesus, by various exposures, activities, and discipline, administered by the leadership and determination of the Lord Himself.

Therefore, the first step in becoming a disciple is to become a Christian or born again.

Take a deep breath on this:

“Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily I say unto you, except a man be born again, he CANNOT see the kingdom of God……

Except a man be born of WATER and the SPIRIT, he CANNOT enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of the SPIRIT is spirit” (John 3:3-6)

Jesus Christ in this passage revealed the two aspects of birth-natural and spiritual. The pattern of creation and the divine purpose of redemption is that every individual should undergo both aspects of birth. One is temporal as it terminates on this earth while the spiritual birth is eternal as it secures eternity with God for the individual. That’s why the apostles reminded us that flesh and blood (through parental conception and birth) cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50)

Basically, the natural man doesn’t receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually distinguished (1 Corinthians 2:14)

These passages confirm the reality that except a person is born a new by the Spirit of the Most High God, he has no potential and power to become like Jesus and share in the blessings in the heavenly places.

A baby dog cannot grow to become a tiger no matter the training, type of food given to her or exposure except she is born by a tiger.

Even if all the principles of a Christian or discipleship are applied, a sinner who has not repented cannot grow to become a saint by training. He has to be born anew to receive the Holy Spirit of God who empowers him and his spiritual eyes to perceive, see, understand and apply the supernatural attributes of discipleship.

It is at this level that he would possess the ability to submit to God’s Word and please Him.

Discover yourself today by discovering your Creator. Get into His presence today by becoming a member of the body of Christ. Fellowship with the Church of Christ around you.