NEWNESS IN TYPE AND QUALITY
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).
The Bible declares in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The Greek rendering of the phrase, “a new creation,” actually means “a new species of being!” It doesn’t just refer to a new life in terms of timing; that’s to say, a life that has just begun. It means newness in type and quality.
A new creation is a new type of man; he’s one of a kind that never existed before! He’s not subject to Satan, and doesn’t need deliverance. This is who you are, if you’re born again. You’re notsubject to defeat, and can’t be disadvantaged. Walk by faith,
because you’ve already been given the measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Romans 6:14 declares, “…sin shall not have dominion over you….” You’re a superior being; you’re no
longer governed by sin or bad habits.
You’re not merely someone who has turned a new leaf or has changed from living the bad life to a good life. No! You’re born anew, to express the righteousness, excellence,
glory, and multifaceted wisdom of God.
AS WHITE AS SNOW
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18).
The Lord Jesus was divine and without sin; yet, He became the sin-sacrifice, offered up for the sin of the world. He took our place of sin on the Cross, so that we might take His place of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
As a result of what Jesus did, we’re declared holy and without blame before the Father. We can boldly stand in the presence of God without guilt, inferiority or condemnation. The truth is that God holds nothing against you. To Him, you’re as perfect as Jesus is, because your righteousness is the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Picture it this way: An amazing prince beckons on you to attend his banquet. Whereas you’re wearing rags—dirty and smelly and wouldn’t want to come close to him or his guests because of your filthy looks—with a warm smile, he signals that you come in and flings open the banquet door.
Noticing your reluctance, he entreats further that you come in so he could introduce you to the others in the hall. But with a look of dejection, you refuse the Leave comments on today’s devotional atwww.rhapsodyofrealities.orgFURTHER STUDY:1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN23John 21:1-25 & 1 Chronicles 26-29Mark 15:33-47 & Deuteronomy 61 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Corinthians 1:30 AMPC; Colossians 1:21-22invitation. Finally, the prince says, “I know how you feel; I’ll not make you ashamed. Can you trust me?” Then, you trust his word, and go in. However, you still can’t imagine yourself mingling with such clean and flawless people.
Knowing your thoughts, the prince says, “Now that you’ve believed, look at yourself again!” Then you did and suddenly, you were as regal and immaculate as the prince and everyone else in the room. This is akin to your righteousness in Christ Jesus. The Bible says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Glory to God!
No wonder He says in 1 Corinthians 6:11 that you’re washed, sanctified, and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Now He’s made you His partner in bringing others into this amazing life of righteousness, to experience the same peace and glory you have in Him. Hallelujah! Don’t keep it to yourself.
A “HEART AND MOUTH” PRINCIPLE
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (ROMANS 10:10).
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 10:8-10, shows us this simple, yet so powerful, principle of salvation. When you confess that Jesus is Lord of your life, believing in your heart that He died for you and God raised Him from the dead, that declaration or proclamation of your faith catapults you into the realms of salvation: “…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).
The confession part is so important, and that’s where some have missed it. In their heart, they know Jesus is Lord, but they’ve never consciously confessed His Lordship over their lives, and without that, there’s no salvation. So, in your evangelical work, explain this important reality to those you minister to. It’s a “Heart and Mouth” principle; you can’t take one and leave the other.
The preceding verse 8 to Romans 10:9-10 that we read earlier says, “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.” If you don’t say it, salvation will never be activated, for salvation is activated by your confession; not the confession of sins, but your affirmation and declaration of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Why do we need to confess the Lordship of Jesus? It’s because when you proclaim His Lordship over your life, you’re instantly translated into His spiritual kingdom and given eternal life, righteousness, protection, and all of the inheritance of the sons of God in Christ. He becomes the shepherd of your life, leading and guiding you through His Word and His Holy Spirit given to all who receive Him. Amen.
AGONIZING FOR SOULS IN PRAYER
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God" (Colossians 4:12)
The Apostle Paul knew how to agonize in prayer for the souls of men. He understood the principles of prevailing prayer---soul travail. For example, in 1 Corinthians 15:32, he said, "...I have fought with beasts at Ephesus..." There, he was talking about something that happened in the spirit. It was a spiritual warfare.
In Revelation 19:11, the Apostle John tells us, "...in righteousness he doth judge and make war." We judge and make war in righteousness. The phrase "make war" is the Greek, "polemeo" and it means to be (engaged) in warfare, to battle or fight. Instead of "war," It's also sometimes translated "battle."
"War" is also translated from "stratomai," which has to do with war as in soldiers in a warfare. But there's "Agonisomai" (Greek); another word for war which is more about contending for something (Colossians 1:29; 4:12). This time, it's more passionate and intense, and it doesn't necessarily use arms.
That's where the English word "agonize" is derived. That's what we're expected to do in praying for lost souls---we "agonize," because we have an adversary that's warring against us. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
The word "wrestle" is the generic term for war, battle, fight, or struggle; letting us know that all of these have to do with our adversary. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 tells us about this adversary and the extent of his wickedness. It says, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
This is why you must pray intensely for sinners to be delivered from the power of Satan into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Agonize for them in prayer. This is a priority in warring a good warfare (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
THE RAPTURE IS CLOSER THAN EVER
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
By the Spirit, the Apostle Paul got the revelation of the rapture of the Church and said, “Behold, I shew you a mystery…” (1 Corinthians 15:51). This is why many don’t understand the Rapture; it’s a mystery; divine revelation. He said, “…We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
The underlined portion shows how fast the Rapture will happen; it’ll be so fast there’d be no time for those who weren’t prepared, because it’s something for which you should have been prepared all your life.
In our theme verse, we find an expression that’s synonymous with the term, “Rapture”; it’s the phrase, “caught up” which is from the Greek word, “harpazo.” It means to seize, catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take by force.
At the Rapture, it makes no difference where you are, the power of God will snatch you away from this world. Christians who had died will be resurrected, and together with them, we’ll be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord. What a day that will be!
When is this going to take place? It’s closer than ever; it’s going to be anytime soon. Your responsibility is to be prepared by living your life for the Lord, every day. Keep walking in love, and your faith activated to be caught up to be with the Lord at His appearing.
The Bible says He’s coming for a Church without spot, wrinkle, blemish or any such thing (Ephesians 5:27). Live every day, every moment of your life in His righteousness, producing works and fruits of righteousness
The Lord Jesus is coming for a Church without spot, wrinkle, blemish or any such thing, and I’m ready. My faith is activated to be caught up to be with the Lord forever! And while in expectation of this glorious “catching away,” my life and passions are about His Kingdom and its expansion; through me, many more are being enlisted for the Rapture, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
TRAVAILING IN PRAYER FOR THE NATIONS
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession (PSALM 2:8)
The Message translation of our theme verse says, “What do you want? Name it: Nations as a present? continents as a prize?” I first came across this verse when I was 15 years of age, and I prayed to the Lord according to this scripture. In response, the Spirit of the Lord said to me, “I’ve given you the nations!”
At that tender age, I was concerned about the abysmal state of the unbelievers in the nations of the world; they’re in spiritual darkness and alienated from the life of God. They’re hopeless and without God in the world. So, I got the world map (atlas), and many times, I’d place my hands on it, speaking and prophesying over the nations of the world and over men’s lives.
I travailed in prayer for the needy people of the world. I’d pray and cry, broken before the Lord. Oh, how I wept in prayer for the nations of the world! Ever since, I knew that not one nation could shut its doors against me. Today, the Lord is doing many great things through us in the nations of the world.
When He says, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance…,” He’s talking about the souls of men, impacting them with the Gospel and the righteousness of God. That’s what the apostles did, and it’s what we must do today, and nothing can stop us.
When Paul preached the Word in Ephesus, there was a lot of resistance of course, but it wasn’t enough to stop the work of the Gospel. The Bible says, “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed” (Acts 19:20). The key to this kind of result is travailing in prayer. Travail in prayer for your nation, city, town, school, place of work, etc., and surely, the Word of God will grow mightily therein, and prevail. Hallelujah!
IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO BE “GOD-FEARING
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again (John 3:7)
Sometimes, there’re those who are described by others as “godly” or “god-fearing,” even though they’re not born again. But being godly or god-fearing isn’t the same as being born again. In Acts 10, we find a most interesting case of conversion, the conversion of Cornelius, a very “godly” man. In fact, the Bible says he was a “devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always” (Acts 10:2). What an amazing description!
He was benevolent, liberal and “god-fearing”; consistent and persistent in his prayer life. He was a just man (Acts 10:22). And he even saw visions: “He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him…” (Acts 10:3). Yet, he wasn’t saved; he wasn’t born again. An angel had to tell him, “And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter…he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do” (Acts 10:5-6)
In our opening verse, Jesus didn’t mince words when He spoke to Nicodemus. He said, “Ye must be born again.” He didn’t say if you’re “god-fearing,” it’s okay. He used the term, “born again” to express the necessity for man’s spiritual rebirth. Sometimes we encounter such people as Cornelius. They have a good reputation and moral character; but being well-spoken of by others doesn’t merit God’s salvation.
This is why we preach the Gospel. The Gospel is about Jesus Christ; it’s not about what you have done, or what you haven’t done. It’s about Christ and what He’s done for you, which if you’d accept was enough, then salvation is yours. The Bible says, “And by him (Jesus) all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:39)
In case you’re like Cornelius today reading this, you need to receive words by which you can be saved. Those words are in Romans 10:9. It says, “…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” This is the Bible way to receive salvation.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 1
Don't wait for someone else to do what God told you to do.
You will feel the pain of not fulfilling your calling both here on earth and in eternity; it is a pain that will never go away.
One of the things you must make up your mind to do is to be very serious with your Christianity.
In these final hours of the last days, before the Master shows up, you shouldn’t be the one to treat spiritual things with any form of laxity or irreverence.
Don’t play games with the Lord!
Life isn’t about your personal dreams, plans, aspirations or ambitions.
The Bible says, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11).
It makes no difference what beautiful structures you see in this world or the earthly fulfilment of men; everything shall be destroyed.
Luke 9:62 TLB Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.
Never take the Gospel of Christ lightly.
Your priority should be: Jesus first, and everything else afterwards.
Many have lived and died without actuating their potential or fulfilling God’s dream for them; many have died without becoming what He wanted them to be. Nothing could be more miserable than that!
How would you feel if, at the judgment seat of Christ, you’re shown everything you could have been, and the possibilities you could have fulfilled but that were never actuated?
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 2
At the Judgment, some are going to see all that they were meant to be that they never became, all they could have said that they never said, and all they could have done that they never did.
When you face Jesus, He’s going to ask you: “What did you do with the assignment I gave you? Did you do my work?”
Therefore, finish well; finish strong.
Don’t be distracted.
Make up your mind you’d be everything God has chosen you to be.
Refuse to allow anything distract you from serving Him and living for Him as you should.
Be about His business, doing that work which He planned for you before the foundations of the earth.
Like the Master Himself, let your goal, your inspiration and driving force, be to do the will of Him that sent you, and to finish His work.
Prove your love for the Master; do the things He’s asked you to do.
Give Him your love; give Him your heart, and He’ll give you such fulfilment that you could never know otherwise.
Get excited about serving Him and living for Him; and everything else will fall into place.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of [this] calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of [his] goodness, and the work of faith with power:
Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
May the Father help you live to your fullest potential and fulfil your destiny and calling in Christ.
Run your race swiftly, pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, under the inspiration of God's Spirit and guidance of His Word.
Learn about the real you through the Word and stand up to be what the Word has described you to be: one with limitless possibilities and ability to do more and be more.
Trust the Holy Spirit to help you see and live to your fullest potential and fulfil your destiny and calling in Christ.
CONTENDING FOR LOST SOULS
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NKJV).
When it comes to winning souls, we must recognise that we are engaged in a “fight.” The Apostle Paul calls it the good fight of faith, because there’re evil and desperately wicked spirits that seek to keep people away from experiencing salvation.
If the sinners don’t receive the Gospel, it’s not because our gospel is difficult or obscure; it’s because Satan has blinded their minds. That’s what we read in our opening verse. Satan is actively working to obstruct their understanding and reception of the truth; that’s why we must intercede for them.
Soul winning is more than just telling someone about Christ; there’s also the fight we fight in prayers. Even when they hear and accept our message, Satan still tries to hinder their growth and progress in Christ, attempting to impede their journey of spiritual maturity. What are we supposed to do? Fight! We contend for their souls in prayer.
It brings to mind what Paul said in Galatians 4:19, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” This is soul-travail! You pray passionately that every resistance to their spiritual growth and progress is broken; and that their desire for the things of the Spirit is sustained in them as they grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Have these in mind as you go forth preaching the Gospel everywhere.Always pray that those with whom you share the message will receive it with faith,and that Satan’s bondage and deception are destroyed Amen.
Say these after Me, 'Dear Father, I am grateful you entrusted me with the sacred task of sharing the message of eternal life with those around me and in distant lands. I’m filled with a deepened sense of zeal for lost souls, and I affirm that the radiant light of your glorious Gospel shines brightly in the hearts of the lost. I declare that this light dismantles the chains of religious bondage and dispels darkness, bringing forth freedom and salvation, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
2 Corinthians 3:6 [It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]. 19 It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).
Matthew 28:19-20 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).
THE INSPIRATION OF THE HARVEST
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest (Luke 10:2).
The Lord Jesus said, “…Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest”
(John 4:35). There’s been such a great harvest of souls into the Kingdom in these last days. The Lord is doing a quick work.
We’ll yet witness a greater move of the Spirit that’ll culminate in an unprecedented harvest of souls in places like China, the Middle East, and other regions that many had thought would be difficult to penetrate. These vast fields of souls are ripe and will be massively reached with the Gospel of Christ.
God has given us the most sublime assignment of all time, which is preaching the Gospel to every creature. He could have used the angels to minister or preach the Gospel for the salvation of men, but He didn’t. He chose us for it instead.
We’ve been entrusted with the most important news and message in all the world, for every generation: the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which He said shall be “…preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14). Hallelujah!
Be fervent in spirit, and preach the Gospel anywhere and everywhere. Let the light of Christ shine through you continually. Lead people to Christ. His message that we bear is filled with divine power to save and transform men’s lives. Therefore, proclaim it with intensity. Challenge, warn, and urge those around you who haven’t received Christ to do so. We’re in the time of great harvest, and the grace of God for salvation has been poured out upon all men.
𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍!
We are going for a party. Yes, a party in Heaven.
Get ready for the Marriage supper of the Lamb. The party will be huge.
Revelation 19:9
9 “Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’“ And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.””
Often, when a sinner is led to Christ, some say there’s a great party in heaven, because of what Jesus said in Luke 15:10: “…there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Even though the Bible doesn’t quite say there’s a party in heaven when a sinner comes to Christ, it does talk about a huge party in heaven that we’re all going to be a part of; it’s the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
We’re all going to a party in heaven.
Don’t you like that?
And it’s going to be the party of all parties!
So, all those who think heaven will be a boring place are misguided; they’re not thinking right.
Read the Bible!
Papa God is organising a big party, and we’re coming from every generation for the massive celebration.
We’re not going to heaven, panting and saying, “Thank God, we barely made it!”
No, we’re going to be “high-fiving” ourselves, excited in ways words can’t describe as we’re celebrated by the Father and the holy angels.
It’s the reason we’re preaching and teaching God’s Word all around the world, so many more can be reached and brought in for this great jamboree in God’s presence; a shindig of praise, worship and adoration.
Read it in the prophetic words of John in Revelation 19:6: “And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!””
Glory to God!
Are you getting ready for the party?
Our work and labour of love aren’t in vain; whatever you’re doing for the Lord, keep at it.
Put your whole life into it, because we’re going to be rewarded and crowned.
Everything you do or sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel is being recorded, and on that day, besides the blessings you’ve received and enjoyed on earth, He’ll say to you, “…Well done, good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:21).
WE ARE GOING FOR A PARTY
HALLELUJAH!