A PLEA FOR PRAYER

I want to start this message by pleading with you to get serious about the business of praying for others.  Each of us who have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ has someone to thank, don’t we?  It may have been praying grandparents or a mother or father.  Possibly it could have been a friend or distant relative, perhaps even an entire church all having lifted us up to God above for the salvation of our soul or even the healing of our body, mind and spirit.  Welcome everyone to your week long, online church service.  Everyone is welcome in this place. 

This past Thursday I received a call from a friend who had submitted a prayer request for a lady in Michigan.  The lady’s name is Nancy Stewart.  I hope that is a familiar name to you because she has been posted on the right side of every message we have presented for the last year.  Nancy has been battling cancer.  Over a year ago she was given approximately six months to live, but I believe because of prayer (the prayer of ours and others) she is still with us.   However, the doctors have now given her as little as three weeks to live. 

My friends, whether a person lives or dies is the soul decision between them and God.  I’m going to tell you something that most preachers who believe and pray for physical healings will not tell you.  I have prayed for people and I have seen instant healings take place.  I am talking about serious and small types of physical problems.  I have also prayed for and believed for physical healings where people recovered in time.  But now, here is the hard part.  I have also prayed for people and they have passed on.   So what should I do?  Stop praying for the sick because of those who did not recover?  The answer to that is No, my friends, a thousand times no.  The Bible teaches us to pray for each other.  Ephesians 6:18 states:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

I have been told that Nancy Stewart is a believer.  As believers we are all made saints of God.  So let’s apply this scripture to Nancy.  It may change your perspective on things.  The apostle Paul is telling us here to not give up, but to always, under all conditions keep the prayers coming no matter what it looks like, or what the doctors say.  He tells us to watch with all perseverance.  In other words be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit desires and do not stop praying.  The end result of our prayer is that God’s will in the situation be done.

Now I realize many preachers teach it is always God’s will to heal.  But, if that were so, no one would ever die, would they?  I believe God has provided us with the power to pray for healings and our prayers will be answered.  But, one thing God will not do is go against the will of the person who is being prayed for.  The truth is folks, there are times where people want to let go and go home to be with the Lord.  We must always be sensitive to that fact. 

My inclination at this time is to pray for a miracle healing for Nancy Stewart.  I ask you to join with me in that prayer.  God is a miracle working God.  But let us not stop there.  You will notice that many of our prayer requests involve cancer.   It is time to come against that spirit of cancer with determination and faith.  I say we join together and in the name of Jesus pray and bind up that deadly spirit.  Proclaim the name of Jesus against it.  Be persistent, church.  Let’s become a wall of protection, in Jesus name.  I believe I John 5:14 will help us to understand the power of prayer and how to apply it in our lives.  I John 5:14 says:

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.”

So with that in mind, clear your hearts and minds and pray, church, pray.  First for Nancy Stewart and her family.  Also, please pray for all the prayer requests that have been sent to the Spirit of Wisdom ministries.  After all, we are an online church family, and families look out for each other, don’t they?   This message has focused on cancer, hasn’t it?  Cancer is just one tool the devil uses to try and destroy us.  However, when God is in the picture that cannot happen.

I am going to read a poem to you titled  “What cancer cannot do.”  Listen and consider carefully to what this poem declares.  If you know anyone with cancer, this would be worth sharing with them.  “What cancer cannot do:  Cancer is so limited…it cannot cripple love.  It cannot shatter hope.  It cannot corrode faith.  It cannot destroy peace.  It cannot kill friendship.  It cannot suppress memories.  It cannot silence courage.  It cannot invade the soul.  It cannot steal eternal life and it cannot conquer the spirit.”

The author of this poem is unknown, so I do not know to whom to give credit.  That being the case, I will give credit and glory to God for putting it into my hands to share with you.  Please notice what Satan through cancer cannot touch or defeat – Love, hope, faith, peace, friendship, memories, courage, the soul, eternal life or the spirit of life that lives in you.  Please note that above are attributes of God and his son Jesus. 

Can you now see, church, why we must always persevere and pray for each other?  God loves you very much.  His will is for you to be healed in every area of your life.  You pray and God will do the rest.





God Bless You,

Bro. Bob

BEHOLD GOD IS MY SALVATION

As I was reading from the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament, my thoughts turned to you.  Welcome everyone to your 24/7, week long, online church service.   Everyone is welcome in this place.  I was reading Chapter 12 – a chapter that is calculated to have been written seven-hundred and thirteen years before the birth of Jesus Christ.  It talks about the singing of praises and worship to our Heavenly Father, the God above all gods.  Let me start with Isaiah 12:2.  I believe this Chapter 12 and the verses we are going to explore relates to you and me today just as it did to the people over seven- hundred years ago.  Isaiah 12:2 states:

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid:  For the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song;  he also is become my salvation.”

You know, church, Moses sang this song as recorded in Exodus 15:2.  He sang this praise on the shores of the Red Sea after Israel’s great deliverance from Pharaoh and the Egyptian Empire.  But, just as Moses could mouth these praises and just as Isaiah did, we can also.  Why do I say that?  Because the very same God Jehovah that set the Israelites free has set us free from the bondage of sin.  He did that by sending his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, seven-hundred years after Isaiah spoke those words to pay the price for our sin.  A price that we could never in our own selves pay.  Yet, through the acceptance of Jesus Christ in our hearts, we can plainly and loudly proclaim, as did Moses and Isaiah -  Behold God is my salvation.   This promise of salvation is not only available to us but to our children and grandchildren as well.  What a great God we serve.  Isaiah 12:3 goes on to say:

“Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation.”

That is my desire for you, my friends.  When Isaiah speaks of the wells of salvation here, he is speaking of a constant, flowing, never ending source.  An unending source of unfailing assurance that you are saved and will have eternal life with God and his son Jesus.  An unending source of consolation, hope and victory – all in this life and the hereafter.  Can you now see why I was thinking of you?

The salvation message we have been preaching to you since the beginning of the year was no mistake.  God loves you and the same desire he has for you, we do also.  If you are a nonbeliever and think this message is for believers only, you would be mistaken.  My friends, God created you and he wants the best for you.  I am talking to everyone reading or listening to this message – God Loves You!!  Once you have received Jesus into your heart there is much to proclaim about the goodness of God, isn’t there?  So let’s continue on to verse 4.  Isaiah 12:4 states:

“And in that day shall you say, praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.”

This scripture starts out “In that day,”  Well, what day is he referring to?  God has shown me that day for us is the day we got saved.  No wonder from that day forward we can and should say Praise the Lord.  Listen church, God did not save you from sin and give you eternal life just to shut you up.  No – he is telling us here to tell others to call upon the Lord.  It is very important to tell others what God has done for you.  So many people are just waiting to hear your testimony.  The reason is because it will spark something in them.  That if God has done such great things in your life, maybe, just maybe, he will do the same for them.

In other words, we will be planting seeds of hope into them.  Am I making any sense at all to you, church?  Let people know that the name of Jesus is the name above all names.  Jesus is the name above all sickness and disease.  His name is above poverty and above every other evil thing that Satan and this world can throw at you.  This is a clarion call to believers to stir yourselves up and begin to share the love of Jesus with others.

The time to sit quietly in your closet and keep the goodness of God to yourselves, never was.  So, what do you say, church?  Are you hearing me?  Time is shorter than you think.   We are not promised a long length of time on this earth, are we?  Just this past week the noted songstress, Whitney Houston, passed on at only forty-eight-years of age.  Please pray for her family, church.  Yet, know this.  She is an example of how death can come upon you in an instant.  Proclaim the Word of God loudly, church.  It is the only message on earth that must be heard by all.  Isaiah 12:5-6 sums up what I have been saying to you pretty clearly.  So let’s read them together.

“Sing unto the Lord, for he has done excellent things:  This is known in all the earth.  Cry out and shout, you inhabitants of Zion:  For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of you.”

My friends, there will be a day when Jesus returns to this earth to rule and reign.  Israel will have fully repented of their rejection of their one true Messiah, and they will be forgiven and take their rightful place in the Kingdom of God.  The thing I take away from this scripture is this:  God is always in our midst.  He is always available to us.  The above scripture says “The Lord is known in all the earth.”  Well, guess what folks?  That means he is known in Palestine as well as Israel.  He is known in Europe and Asia as well as the United States of America.  All he wants is for us as true believers to declare his doings and do not discriminate.  Tell everyone of the Lord and Savior of your life – Jesus Christ the true Messiah and God of us all.

God Bless You,

Bro. Bob

SEEK THE LORD

For the past two and a half years the Spirit of Wisdom Ministries mission has been to bring each of you closer to God and his son, Jesus Christ.  My daily prayer is that everyone who reads or listens to our weekly messages would be drawn to the Son of God In a saving way.   Along with salvation, would come healing of your body and mind and deliverance from evil spirits sent to destroy you and yours.  Welcome everyone to your 24/7, week long, online church service.  No one is excluded from this place.

One thing I can tell you for sure, ladies and gentlemen, God is not now nor will he ever force himself upon you.  The choice to know God in a personal way is by your own free will.  God wants and desires you to have eternal life with him.  However, he leaves it strictly up to you.  Even believers once saved have a choice in how close they want to become with God.  That being said, we can conclude this message is for believers and nonbelievers alike.  Let’s take a look at choice and what God desires for us.  In the Book of Deuteronomy God lays it all out for us.  Please turn with me to Deuteronomy 30:19.  This is what God is saying to us all.

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing:  Therefore, choose life that thou and thy seed may live.”

Well, there you go, folks.  Notice God did not say “I force you to choose life.”  The very suggestion is if you choose life and blessing it would be very good, not only for you but for your children and grandchildren as well.  God is saying here that he in all his goodness, mercy and love sets before you options.   The important thing is he leaves it up to you to freely make your choice. 

The first option or choice is this:   You may choose eternal life with him by receiving his son, Jesus Christ into your heart, or you may choose eternal death and separation from God by rejecting his son and the gift of salvation he acquired for you by his death, burial and resurrection.  Yes, church, Jesus did all of that just for you and for me.  This scripture goes on to tell us our choice of life brings blessings.  But, our choice of death brings  cursing.  Now, how much does God love us?  He loves us so much he gives us the correct answers to these options.  He says clearly here – choose life so that you and your children will have eternal life with him.

The point I am making here is this:  All through the Word of God, which is the Bible, there are instructions for our benefit, but we will only benefit from these instructions if we choose to follow them.  I have titled this message “Seek The Lord” for a reason, church.  Our often stated desire is for you to draw closer to God this day.

I have often told you that God is a present time God, yet so many church goers do not seem to know or understand this fact (an understandable position for nonbelievers to have.)  But certainly not from believers who have been redeemed from sin.  I have to admit part of the blame goes to churches who preach and teach that God and Jesus are just historical figures that we could imitate.  I am here to tell you this, church, that teaching is false doctrine.  My advice to you as a man of God is this:  Seek God in every area of your life and you will find he is just as available to you today as he was with the saints in the Old Testament.   Let’s turn to the Word of God for confirmation of this statement. Deuteronomy 4:29 states:

“But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”

The very clear message here is this:  If you sincerely seek God he will show himself to you.  That does not sound like history to me, my friends.  No, it sounds more like God saying “Seek me and you will find me.”  When?  When you seek him, even if that is today.  Your Heavenly Father is clearly available to you this very day.  I would suggest you go on and read Verse 30 also.  God tells us there, no matter what you are going through, no matter what the situation, if you seek him he is here to help you.  Go ahead, read if for yourself. 

You know, church, one of the greatest things that God has shown me is that he is available to me at all times.  He has saved me from my sins, and even today he is available to save me out of every situation or obstacle I find myself bogged down in.  But, one thing I have found out – very rarely does God intrude himself into my life.  However, I can’t even count the number of times I have called on him and know that he has heard me and answered my prayers.  Psalms 55:16-17 sums up the way I feel about it.  It states:

“As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.  Evening and morning, and at noon will I pray and cry aloud: And he shall hear my voice.”

I told you last week God loves the sound of your voice.  Even when I pray and cry aloud to God on your behalf he hears me.  I do that, you know.   I pray for your salvation.  I pray for God to heal your bodies, and I pray that you be delivered of every attack against you.  In other words, church, I follow the same advice I am giving you:  I seek the Lord.  That is the way you will find out for yourself that God is a present time God.

Listen to me, church, I know there are times when we look at our lives in the natural and just cannot believe God is there to help us.  But, that is a lie straight from the lips of Satan to your natural ear.  That is when we can choose to believe and exercise our faith in God’s goodness to us.  We have talked about making choices in this very message, haven’t we?  Let’s make the right choice.   Let’s show God we have faith in him and desire to please him.  Hebrews 11:6 gives us some interesting information in this regard.  So let’s read it together

“But without faith, it is impossible to please him:  For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

So the question is this:  Do you want to know for sure that God is a present time God or not?  If you choose to find out, have faith.  Believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.  He will reward you by clearly revealing himself to you.  Now what better reward is there than that?  So once again my advice to you is this:  Seek the Lord, my friends and then claim your reward.


God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

THE QUESTION IS, ONCE A BELIEVER, WHAT THEN?

I believe it’s time to present a message designed just for believers.  We have talked a lot recently about salvation.  The question is, once a believer, what then?  So many different people and preachers who mean well, give you direction and advice, don’t they?  The problem is, oftentimes their counsel is exactly opposite from each other.  I know this has happened to many of you.  This week we will address life after your salvation decision.  Welcome everyone to your 24/7, week long, online church service.   Everyone is welcome in this place.  My friends, I am not going to give you a seven step message on living life as a believer.   In fact, no preacher has the right to dictate your steps or life as a believer.  My mission is to help you become the best, most joyful, effective witness for Jesus you can be.

The first thing I will say to you is this:  God loves you and he desires that you return his love back to him with your own love and will.  Psalms 31:23-24 explains why I say this to you.  Let’s read it together.

“O love the Lord, all ye his saints:   For the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.   Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”

There is much to talk about in just these two verses of scripture, aren’t there?  The Word of God here is giving you Godly instruction.   First it says to you the saved, born again believer – Love the Lord.  There are many rules and regulations laid down by many churches that really are just man made laws.  But in this scripture the instruction is pure.  Love the Lord with all your heart and soul.  Why?  So that no matter what obstacle or problem you face in the present or future – God says he will preserve you.  Yes folks, God is always with you and will bring you through to victory in him.

The scripture went on the say – Be of good courage.  In other words, stay strong in faith.  Face life fully knowing that God is with you.  This scripture tells us if you do that, He will strengthen your heart.  Now, let me ask you, friends, does your heart need strengthening?  I know there are times when mine does.  We live in a time of trouble and with affliction all around us.  Heartaches, relationship problems, sickness and even the death of our loved ones.  The weak of heart can be taken advantage of, can’t they?  Love the Lord, be strengthened and continue your blessed day by day journey with the Lord.  If you start out and continue this way Psalms 27:7 will apply to you.  It says:

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped:  Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”

Now you know why we say to you – Love the Lord.  My believing brothers and sisters, never stop loving God.  Certainly and for sure he never stops loving you.  The next thing I would say to you is this:  Be and remain confident in the love and faithfulness of God and his son, your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   Sometimes with all the whirlwinds of life attempting to toss us to and fro, we must keep our confidence in our heavenly Father.  The apostle Paul told the believers at the church of Phillipi this very thing.  But let me stress to you what is truth for the believers in Phllipi is the very same truth for us today.  Please turn with me to Phillipians 1:6, which states:

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Now listen to me, believer.  Is there even one of you who received Jesus Christ in your heart that doesn’t believe a good work was started in you?  That would be a good check for you, my friend.  You may have uttered the sinners prayer or went to the altar due to pressure from well meaning friends or relatives.  But the truth is, that is not receiving salvation, that is just uttering words to no effect. 

A person who comes to God in true brokenness and asks Jesus into his heart will definitely know a good work has been started in themselves.  Do you understand what I am saying to you church?  Man’s rules and regulations mean nothing unless based only on the Word of God, adding or subtracting nothing.  Let me put it to you this way:  Trust God to lead and direct you.  If someone tells you something is the gospel and you have doubt in your spirit, feel free to go to God with your doubt.  You know what?   God loves to hear your voice.  Also, check the scripture for yourself.

I have often told you to even check out my words.  My friends, God desires you to walk with him in peace and comfort.  My desire is for you to walk in faith and love.  I do not want you to be torn regarding different opinions or doctrines.  The divide between denominations is not of God.  No my friends, God desires we follow him as he leads us by his Spirit and by the Word of God.

I suggest you find a good local Bible believing church.  Truth be known, you may or may not attend that church for a long period of time.  The Lord will direct your steps in that regard.  That is the reason that I say, stay in tune with God.  Take any doubts or questions to your pastor.  He may be correct in what he is teaching you.  If not, I guarantee you will get a check in your spirit.  Truth be known, I would like more of you to comment or email me with your doubts and questions.  Believe me folks, I can answer your questions regarding any message I put forth.   The reason is because I back everything with scripture.

Let me sum this message up this way:  Relax believer, relax.  Just walk in God’s mercy and grace.  You may fall, but keep your trust in God and you will be back up.  There is so much more we could  get into, but let me conclude this way:   Please turn with me to the Book of Jude and follow these instructions.  Jude 20:21 states.

“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

I pray this message helps somebody.  The above scripture tells us to build ourselves up by our holy faith in our creator.  It also says to keep yourselves in the love of God.  That will guarantee you mercy and grace.

God Bless You,

Bro. Bob

SALVATION IS THE FOUNDATION OF ETERNAL LIFE

As I was reviewing last week’s message, one thing really stood out to me.  Actually, it was just one sentence.  It said salvation is the foundation of eternal life.  You know what, folks?  I have never seen or heard salvation presented in exactly that way.  I believe God dropped that nugget of truth into my spirit and said “Share this with everyone.”  That would be just for you, my friends.

Welcome everyone to your 24/7, week long, online church service.  Everyone is welcome in this place.  The message of salvation is a very simple message that has been complicated by manmade religion and false and inaccurate teaching.  The book of John tells us what salvation really is.  Let’s turn to probably the most read, but also the most underestimated scripture in the Bible, John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

And that, church, is what we have been talking about for the last two weeks -  God’s love for us and the gift of his only begotten son to a lost and dying world.  Jesus had one mission, that being to reconcile us to God.  Jesus took on himself all the sin of this world so we could be set free from that very sin that had us in bondage and separated from God.  Jesus paid the price for our sin by being beaten, spit upon, publicly humiliated and finally nailed to a cross.  He had a spear pierce his side and was given vinegar to drink when he said he was thirsty. 

Little did the Roman soldiers and the unbelieving Jews at that time know that God was using their ignorance and evil actions to set the stage for the greatest miracle of all time -  the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Resurrection meaning, dying for us and three days later arising from the dead.  Returning to heaven to sprinkle his shed blood on the mercy seat of God.  This was received by God as the accepted and perfect substitute for us.

Our penalty for sin was paid fully by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  Now, when you read John 3:16 again, you will see it in a much different light.  John 3:16 tells us clearly that if we believe in him, we will not perish due to sin, but will have eternal life with God and his son, Jesus Christ, forever. 

Let’s return to the thought I started with.  Salvation is the foundation of eternal life.  So what does that mean?  Let me put it to you this way:  Every doctrine of the Bible we hold dear to us, don’t we?  The doctrines of healing, deliverance, love, mercy and grace are not even possible or available to us without our receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  It makes no difference how good we are.  We could go to church seven days a week, confess our sins to the most sincere of priests.  Even live the Golden rule, treating others as we would like to be treated.  We could be the best of parents or spouses, the most reliable of employee or the fairest of employers, yet be lost and separated from God forever.

You see, folks, salvation is not based on our actions or intentions.  It is true, to be all of the above is a good thing, but it is not a saving thing.  Didn’t you ever wonder, folks, no matter how hard you try to be good, something always feels not quite right?  Well, what is missing?  The answer:  Salvation that comes only by receiving Jesus Christ into your heart – the true belief that God raised Jesus from the dead and confessing him as the Lord and Savior of your life.  Remember John 3:16  said in effect that whosoever believeth on the son of God, which is Jesus Christ, shall not perish but  have everlasting life.  You know folks, in the book of Titus 3:3 we are told something about ourselves.  This scripture states:

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.”

Now, does not that describe each of us in some fashion or other?  No matter how hard we try to not feel or do these things.  But, guess what happens when we turn to Jesus for forgiveness?   Let’s read on.  Titus 3:4-7 states:

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Is this all becoming more clear to you now?  My friends, we have all made mistakes in our lives, haven’t we?  Some by accident, some on purpose.  I have to tell you, church, as the above Bible scriptures have stated, no matter what spiritual, mental or physical state you are in, you may at this time turn to Jesus Christ.  His mercy and grace are available for you today. 

You see, God wants you to become an heir to all that he has.  The above scripture says that is possible according to the hope of eternal life.  That hope of eternal life is built on only one thing, church – the foundation of eternal life is salvation.  Salvation comes by only one way: Your acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life.  Now look, I know I am repeating myself here.  Do not think for one moment that it is not on purpose.  I want you to get this.  Your eternal life with God and his son, Jesus Christ, depends on it.   Let’s look at Ephesians 2:8-9 and we will begin to wrap this message up.  This scripture states:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  It is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Now, does that not sum up all that we have preached these last three weeks?  Salvation is the gift of God just for you and for me.  A gift however, is only of value to you if you receive it.  Listen to me, just stop whatever you are doing or thinking at this time.  Clear your hearts and minds folks and repeat after me:  Jesus, I believe God raised you from the dead and I am coming to you a lost sinner.  Please cleanse me from all sin.  I receive you Jesus into my heart and I confess you as Lord and Savior of my life.  I believe at this moment I am saved.

This is important, folks.  If you said these words and meant them in your heart, you are saved and a child of the living God.  I told you last week this message would be the conclusion to the message on salvation.  But to be truthful with you, there is no conclusion to the message or God’s gift to you.  God loves you and he desires you to be reconciled to him.  This includes you, believer who have walked away from God.  Come on back home this day.  God has been available to you all from your first breath and will be available to you until your last breath.  Salvation is the foundation of eternal life.  Jump on that foundation, folks, and don’t let go.

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

JESUS SAID: YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN (Part II)

We ended the message last week with a scripture that detailed a very important truth.  That truth being this:  There are two different types of birth available to each person on this earth.  The first birth is not by our choice but the second birth is only by our free will choice.  Let’s look at John 3:6-7 again for confirmation of the above statement.  Jesus is speaking here.  John 3:6-7 states:

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.”

Is it not clear that Jesus is saying that he knows we all had a natural birth, but to be reconciled to God we must be born again by the Spirit of God?  Welcome everyone to your 24/7, week long, online church service.  Everyone, let me repeat myself, everyone is welcome in this place.
  
Now listen to me folks, Jesus did not say you possibly should be born again.  He did not say it would be just a good idea to be born again.  No.  He said you must be born again.  Just as you received life by your natural birth, you can receive eternal life from our heavenly father.  By the way, eternal life means forever.  Do you get that?  To receive eternal life with God and his son, Jesus Christ, you must be born again.  You see, folks, Jesus came to this earth to give you the gift of eternal life.  Notice I said the gift of eternal life.

Salvation is not something we can earn or deserve.  It is given to us as a gift from God as the holiest expression of love that we could ever think or dream of.   You know, folks, in the church world we talk about physical and mental healings, the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.  We talk about spiritual warfare and how we depend upon God for guidance and deliverance and so many other things.  But the truth is, without the born again experience that we know as salvation, God is not in it and all of the above would be as Solomon said in the book of Ecclesiastes – vanity of vanities or better translated as just empty nothings.  Now you know why I am presenting this message of salvation to you.

Let me say this to you – salvation is the foundation of eternal life.  It does not come by or through any denomination.   You can be born into a Catholic, Jewish or Protestant family.  Your parents, grandparents and other family members may attend one of the above or other types of churches, but none of that will save you from your sins or give you eternal life.

Salvation comes by only one way.  By receiving Jesus Christ into your heart and confessing him as Lord of your life.  Many years ago when the apostle Paul and Silas were in a jail for preaching about Jesus, a Roman jailer asked them the most important question a person can ask.  The question was this “What must I do to be saved?”  Tell you what, let’s read about this in the book of Acts.  The jailer fell down before Paul and Silas and helped lead them out of the jail they were confined in.  This is explained in Acts 16:30-31 which says:

“And (he) brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Notice Paul did not say believe on a particular church or preacher.  No, my friends, to be born again we must believe only on the son of God, Jesus Christ.  So, who am I talking to here?  Each one of you.  That is why no one is excluded from this online church.  I want you to know that what Jesus did by dying on that cross was just for you.  He paid the price for your and my sins.  Why?  Because of the love God has just for you and for me. 

You might ask “If I live a good life, work hard and provide for my family.  And if I treat others right, why must I be saved?”  A good question.  The book of Romans tells us why you should.   When our first natural parents and representatives of the human race fell into sin, the curse covered all future mankind.  From that time to now each person is born into sin and a sinful world.  So you can now see why we are in desperate need of the one and only Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 3:23 states clearly:

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Paul also said in Romans 6:23:

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”

There’s that word ‘gift’ again.  Ladies and gentlemen, this scripture shows us clearly the goodness and love of God toward us, doesn’t it?  Although we were born in sin and deserved the sentence of death and separation from the Holy God – he said no!!  He would make a way for us to be reconciled to himself.  That my friends, is when Jesus comes into the picture.  He is the gift of salvation to each of us.  God loves us so much, he sent his only begotten son as a special gift and by him we may obtain eternal life.

You know folks, I have often told you the extreme ends of the Bible is not heaven or hell, but rather eternal life with God or eternal death by being separated from God forever.  That is why I said earlier the second birth is a birth of choice.  We can either accept the gift of salvation through Jesus, or we can reject it.  My choice is to be born again.  How about you?

You see, church, it is God’s desire that we come to repentance and walk with him.  Repentance means letting go of the things of this world and turning from sin to walk in the righteousness of God.  II Peter 3:9 will show you how much God desires us to be with him.  Let’s read it together.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise.  As some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Do you understand this, church?  God has promised salvation to all who would receive his son Jesus as Lord and Savior of his life.  This scripture is telling us that the promises of God are not like the promises of men.  The difference, God does not break his promises.   One thing I especially like about this scripture is this:  God is patient with us.  That’s what long suffering means.  God is the God of second and sometimes many more chances.  So, don’t give up on yourself.  God hasn’t given up on you.  You know why?  Because as this scripture says, God is not willing that any (that means you) should perish.  But that all should come to repentance.  What a wonderful God we serve.

My friends, this message isn’t over yet.  But as our Michigan pastor, John Bullock would often say – we just have to unhook here.  The message of salvation is the most important message you will ever hear.  So come back next week.  Part III of “You must be born again” will be a message you will not want to miss.



God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

JESUS SAID: YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Welcome back everyone to your 24/7, weeklong, online church service.  It is true, everyone is welcome in this place.  I trust that everyone enjoyed the holidays.  It is always fun and enjoyable to fellowship with family and friends, isn’t it?  We have survived another year of life.  All the trials, tribulations, and yes, the blessings of God have brought us to a new year.  2012 Is now upon us.

A new year with new promises.  The Spirit of Wisdom Ministries is glad to be a part of your life as we move forward in 2012.  You know, the start of a new year is a time of new beginnings, isn’t it?  New Years Resolutions abound.  By the way, how many of them have you broken so far?  Our prayer for you is that all positive spiritual resolutions you have made will come to pass.  Let’s make this a time to become closer to God and his son, Jesus.

As I’ve told you before, I always told my children, the closer you are to God, the better your life will be.  The farther away from God, the worse off your life will be.  Let’s go for the better life.  Does that sound good to you?  The Spirit of Wisdom Ministries is also looking forward to this New Year.  Our desire in 2012 is to give forth God’s Word to you in truth and by the Spirit of God.  This ministry is rededicating ourselves to sharing the revealed truth of the Word that God shares with us for you. 

Our New Years pledge to you will cover the following:  Please listen to me carefully, church.  No preacher of the Gospel knows everything there is to know about God.  Our pledge is to only preach from the Bible.  Anything the Spirit of God reveals to us through the scriptures, we will share with you.  Any part of the Bible we do not yet understand, we will not preach to you.

God has made it clear to me what our mission as an online church is.  We are to preach salvation and healing, both physical and mental.  We will also be teaching about deliverance from evil spirits.  Also, this year we will be teaching and preaching on and about the Holy Spirit.  We have not touched that subject much in the last two years, but this year we are ready to preach on this very important subject.  Let me say this, although we have not preached specifically on the Holy Spirit, we have always depended on the Holy Spirit for comfort, guidance and revelation. 

One other very important thing for this New Year:  Church, I am asking you very seriously – please pray for all prayer requests that are now posted and all future requests.  Let it be known your online church is a praying church.  These people are trusting us to lift them up to God for physical and mental healings, and for financial and personal needs.  Join with us as we pray daily for all prayer requests.  We are expecting great results from our prayers.   Yes, it is still true, God does hear and answers our prayers.

There is one other request for 2012.  We need to hear from you.  Please leave a comment after reading or listening to the messages we put forth.  Not every week, just when a message blesses you or you disagree with something we have taught or preached.  This is not just for us.  Other church members need to hear your testimonies or questions.  Let’s encourage each other by two-way participation.  We want to hear from you.

Well, I believe we have covered quite a bit of church business here, don’t you?  I want to start this New Year by touching on the subject of salvation.  God in his infinite goodness saw that man needed a way to be set free from the bondages of sin.  God loves us, ladies and gentlemen.  He desires that we be reconciled to himself.  He wants us to be his children and not just his creation.  This is illustrated beautifully in John 3:1-3.  Jesus in this scripture explains what being born again really means and why it is so important.  Let’s read John 3:1-3 together.

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

You know, Nicodemus sort of expressed what people of today think.  They have heard of Jesus, but who is he really?  Just a good man, or really the Son of God?  Jesus decided to just lay it all out for Nicodemus and for us all.  Once Jesus told Nicodemus he had to be born again, a question was asked.  Let’s  continue with John 3:4-5.  Consider carefully this question and the answer.  It is life changing.

“Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born?  Jesus answered, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

So what did Jesus mean born of water and of the Spirit?  He is talking about your natural birth when you were born as a baby and also about a spiritual birth.  Water?  Natural birth.  Of the Spirit?  Spiritual birth, which is brought about by God alone.  Just for the record, when Jesus speaks of water here, he is not speaking of water baptism as is sometimes taught.  But, isn’t that a natural and normal question Nicodemus asked?  This information is just for us folks. The reason many people make fun of the term born again, is that they have no idea what the Word of God says about the subject.  Jesus goes on with the explanation in John 3:6-7.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I have said unto thee, ye must be born again.”

What great scriptures we have just examined.  We will continue with Part Two of this message next week.   Stay with me, friends.  There are some very exciting things ahead for us all in the year 2012.

God Bless You,

Bro. Bob