Monday, October 8, 2018

The miracle of being born again.


Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The apostle Paul was on the road to Damascus as he was enroute to find and capture those who professed the doctrine of Jesus as the Christ.

Acts 9:3-9    And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?


And he said, Who art thou, Lord? 

And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? 

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.


***


Paul is changed instantly!   turned completely around instantly!

7-9    And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.


*** 


10-18    And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. 

And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name (The Word) before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.


(God gives Holy Spirit for following purpose.)

John 14:26    But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 

John 16:13    Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Holy Spirit:
  - Teaches us all things  (John 14:26)
  - Reminds us of everything Jesus has said so we can know what to do in issues of this life (John 14:26)
  - Guides us into all truth  (John 16:13)
  - Shows us things to come  (John 16:13)


And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.


***

9-23
  And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.


And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 


But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?


But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

24-25   But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.


Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.


***

26-30 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.


***

When THE WORD comes to us and God reveals HIMSELF to us, we are changed instantly ... and often those who once delighted in us no longer enjoy us and even want to avoid us for now we want to speak THE WORD to them.

II Corinthians 5:17    If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

After this, through the years, we are changed over and over into the image of Christ as we see portions of scripture and conform ourselves to The Word.

But there is an immediate change when we are born again, though we grow into the image of Christ day by day as we do the Word of God by hearing from the Holy Spirit of God.


*****