Nobody is Ahead of You

Falana I.A. ZionLeave a comment

Be yourself and continually make good use of your time, then you’d feel this kind of peace within you.

You have no competitor, compete with yourself.

Don’t let your goal be “to show people you’re the best, instead, let it be to show yourself you’re your best.

Water and the Holy Spirit Baptism

Falana I.A. ZionLeave a comment 
This article focuses on 
- Water Baptism
- Holy Spirit Baptism
- The relationship between Water and the Holy Spirit Baptism

Note:
The Bible texts are King Jersion Version.

What is Water Baptism
Water Baptism is the full immersion of the body in water which signifies spiritual purification and rebirth. Baptism is a way of physically showing you believe in Christ and a proof of a Christian's total rebirth to a new life and repentance of sin.

Acts 19:4
Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

1 Peter 3:21
And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

(Acts 2:38)
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

From the above texts, Apostle Peter made it known that without this water Baptism (repentance), the promised Holy Spirit cannot come. Without water baptism (sanctification) repentance/turning away from your Sins, the promised Holy Spirit cannot dwell within you. Unless you've believed in your heart (Romans 10:10) and confess that Jesus Christ is LORD; you cannot receive the indwelling of the Holy Ghost.

The Promised Baptism - Holy Ghost
Acts.1.4 - 8
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 - For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 - When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 - And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

John's (water) Baptism is the preparation for the indwelling of the promised Holy Spirit, John baptized all to repentance of sins for them to receive the promised Holy Spirit...and this in alignment with Apostle Peter's word in Art 2:38, without the repentance of sins, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is impossible. 


The indwelling of the promised Holy Spirit is therefore meant for those who have changed from their old ways to the life of Christ (New Birth) - Baptized to the Newness of Life...This indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a gift given to the person who receives forgiveness of his sins and contains the meaning of the fulfillment of God's Promise.

John's (Water Baptism) signifies that you're a new creation saved by grace - It is a proof that you're indeed a son of God saved by grace. Water Baptism doesn't save you - it shows you're saved, it doesn't make you a believer but rather it's a symbol that you're indeed a believer in Christ Jesus. It's a sign that you are dead to sins, and have taken the newness of Christ and thereby ready/have a prepared heart for Jesus' promised Baptism (Holy Ghost).

Romans 6:4
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
 
Ephesians 2:8,9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” 

You are not saved by Water Baptism, but rather you are saved by grace…but water baptism is an emblem that shows that you are indeed saved. That's why baptism is not for those who don't know the meaning and the significance. Water Baptism is the outward move of your inner decision, after believing in your heart, you're baptized as an outward reaction of the inner experience and thereby ready for the promised Baptism.

          Checkpoint
✓ Without the remission and forgiveness of Sin, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is Impossible
✓ The prerequisite to receiving the Holy Spirit is Repentance of sins.

The Promise of The Holy Spirit
Jesus Christ before leaving earth promised his disciples that He (after leaving earth) would Baptize them with the Holy Spirit (Comforter) who would teach them all things. 

John.14: 16-19
16 - And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 - Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 - I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 - Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

Jesus gave His disciples hope that He'd never leave them comfortless, He gave them a lasting assurance which was fulfilled later on the day of Pentecost 

     Checkpoint
The promised Holy Spirit is a Gift To all that Believes.
Jesus didn't only promise the twelve (12) disciples the assurance of the Holy Spirit; the promise stands for all who believe in Him.
The Holy Spirit is not something that can be obtained through the compromise between God and Men but is a promised gift from God.
The Holy Spirit is not something that can be received through prayer but comes upon only those that believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit that Jesus gave us. Acts 1:5 

The Importance of the Holy Spirit
1.Directs our steps and Guides us into All Truth
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.

The Holy Spirit speaks of the Father and says whatsoever he hears the Father say or do. He doesn't leave us clueless on what the Father is doing at every point in time - He reveals the plans of God to us - He is the life of God in us.

2. Gives us Spiritual Gift
1Cor 12:7-11
7 - But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 - For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.

Through the Holy Spirit, we receive spiritual gifts that make us achieve/fulfill the purpose of God on earth. Since the Holy Spirit is the life of God in us, He gives us Spiritual that makes us effective for the Kingdom's purpose.

3. He Gives us Strength/Power
Act 1:8
 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The Holy Spirit doesn't only give us purpose, He gives us the power to achieve the purpose. He gives us strength and power to achieve the purpose of God...A power that's beyond our imagination - when we think we cannot stand, He gives us the strength to stand and to stand out.

4. He is A seal of our Glory in Heaven
Eph.1.13 -14

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 - Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Conclusion
Without the Holy Spirit, we are lifeless and clueless about what God is doing. 

The Holy Spirit only comes into a heart that's ready for His indwelling, without being forgiven of your sins, the Holy Spirit cannot dwell in you. 

Without the understanding of the purpose of John's Baptism (Repentance)and tapping into it - the indwelling of the promised Holy Spirit is not possible. 

For you to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, turn away from your sins and be baptized into the newness of Christ.

Thank God For Love

Falana I.A. ZionLeave a comment

Off my light
I’d still trust you
Bash my heart
I’ll never leave
In your arms
I choose to dream

I’ve made a covenant
With my legs
I’ve bargained,
With my eyes
To take me to the place
Where love lives

If love vows to hide its face
If love knits its heart to fight our age
The flowers
Would swallow their fragrance
The shining smiles
Would lose its power

If you stay afar,
Out of sight
The stars in the night
Would lose its captivating smiles
The moon in the dark,
Would hide its wonderful light

Without love
Your sight would show no hope
Without love
Your smile won’t be a hopeful brow
Thanks to God, for love
And for creating you to cross my path

Thanks, Mr. Hope

Falana I.A. ZionLeave a comment 
Thank you, Mr. Hope
Thanks for the time you said no
That, led me to do things the way I know
Thanks for the time you weighed me down
Then, you gave me chance to dream beyond the ground
Thanks for the day you slammed your door
You taught me not to beg for long
  
Thanks for the day you gave up on me
You taught me to continue dreaming in nothing
Thanks for the day you called me a calamity star,
You gave me the hope that I’m at least a star
Thanks for the lashes on my back
You preached to me how to endure when things are hard
Thanks Mr. Hope
I’m glad you crossed my path
  
Mr. Hope
You’re a hopeful brow
You sang to me the lovely tracks I know
You’re a dot of white on my hopeless night
Mr. Hope,
Indeed,
You’re my hope
  
I love the way you speak without pretense
I appreciate the way you zero your mind
I wish we meet in the afterlife
To walk a mile,
And journey through the colorful sky