Born Again

Brought back to life

In the Bible death is described in many ways, not only is carnal flesh, but as in spiritual life. When we are born again, we are brought back to life, because when we were living in sin, we were basically pronounced dead to the Lord. We didn't know him in a spiritual level, we were not only characterized as dead, but we were blind and dead to the truth, until the day we gave our heart to the Lord.

Luke 15:11-24

(The Parable of the lost son)

" And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry."

Ephesians 5:14

"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give the light."It is like Snow white eating of the poison apple, and falling into a deep sleep. She couldn't go anywhere, or do anything because all her sense were turned off. Just like how we are dead in sleep (spiritually) from the Lord, and are deceived by the devil and the world that we live in. But once you give your heart to the Lord, and work solely on him in your life, you are awake and alive, removing the chains and living your life with the Lord freely. He shines His light upon us, and we finally see what we were missing,(our knight and shining armour) we are finally revived back to life.

Isaiah 60:1

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee."

**As you are born again in Christ, you are a new person, brought out of darkness and into marvelous light. No longer partaking of the things that pertain to the darkness (sin: Old life).**

John 8:12

" 12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

**Jesus even has spoken that if you love Him, you would follow His ways and commandments.*

John 14:15

"If ye love me, keep my commandments."

John 14:21

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

**Jesus said that his followers show their love by obeying him. Love is more than lovely words; it is commitment and conduct. If you love Christ, then prove it by obeying what he says in his word. **

Romans 13:11

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."

**Everyday is the day of salvation, for we don't know the time, day, or the hour when the Lord returns. Many are dead in this world (spiritually), and are in a deep sleep, not knowing of the reality that the clock is ticking. But their eyes are spiritually, closed, as well as their ears. But it is not only the sinners, but o the luke warm as well, standing in one place, dormant, comfortable. When we get caught up in our surroundings we get lost, and almost dazed, where our vision and our actions are hazy to what we are supposed to do. And that is doing the works of the Lord. It could happen, one day you are spiritually strong with the Lord, and then gradually we fall away. It is almost like our spirit gets ill, deathly ill, and we are not treating it well with the medicine that is need to make us well (Jesus and His Word), eventually, we spiritually die, and are no longer able to feel the connection with the Lord. **

 

By Dinah Ramos

Jesus needs you!

Jesus Loves you!

Jesus will come back for his people, are you born again?

www.fghconline.com

Our Bodies Belong To God

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

INTRODUCTION

1. The name of a popular book for women is "Our Bodies, Ourselves"...

a. Self-described as "a book by and for women about health and

sexuality"

b. Which among other things approves of abortion and lesbianism

-- The premise is that women are free to do with their bodies as they

wish

2. The Bible contradicts such a premise for both men and women in

Christ...

a. We do not have the right to do whatever we desire with our bodies

b. We belong to God, both body and spirit

-- We are not ourselves, but God's!

I. OUR BODIES ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. IN WHICH THE SPIRIT INDWELLS...

1. Written elsewhere of the church in general –

1Corinthians 3:16-17

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

Ephesians 2:21-22

“In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

2. Applied in our text to our bodies individually –

3. As motivation for holy living, to flee sexual immorality - cf.

1Corinthians 6:13-19

“Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 14And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 15Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

-- The fact of the Spirit's indwelling should affect how we use

our bodies!

B. THE SPIRIT IS GIVEN TO US FROM GOD...

1. Promised to those who believe, repent and are baptized –

 John 7:37-39

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

 Acts 2:38-39

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

2. Received by those who obey God –

Acts 5:32

“And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”

 Galatians 3:26-27

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Galatians 4:6

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”

3. An earnest (down payment) of our ultimate redemption –

 Ephesians 1:13-14

“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, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 4:30

“And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

 2Corinthians 1:22

“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

-- The blessing of the Spirit's indwelling should impact how we

use our bodies!

[To drive the point home that we are not free to use our bodies however

we wish, our text also says...]

II. OUR BODIES WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE

A. WE HAVE BEEN BOUGHT...

1. By the blood of Christ –

Acts 20:28

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

 1Peter 1:18-19

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

2. Both body and soul –

**1Corinthians 6:19-20**

-- God purchased our bodies for both now and the future!

B. WE ARE NOT OUR OWN...

1. As Paul clearly states in our text –

2. As Paul stresses time and again elsewhere –

 Romans 14:7-8

“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”

 2 Corinthians 5:15

“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again.”

 Titus 2:14

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

-- We were redeemed to be the Lord's special people!

[Redeemed by the blood of Christ, our bodies are not our own.  Indeed,

as our text reveals...]

III. OUR BODIES ARE TO GLORIFY GOD

A. OUR BODIES...

1. Are now members of Christ –

** 1Corinthians 6:13-15 **

a. To be used for the Lord, not immorality

b. Otherwise we make members of Christ members of a harlot!

2. Are now to be instruments of righteousness –

 Romans 6:12-13

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

Romans 6:19

“I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”

a. No longer instruments of unrighteousness to sin

b. No longer slaves of uncleanness leading to lawlessness

-- Clearly they are not to be used for sin or self!

B. TO GLORIFY GOD...

1. By how we live –

Romans 12:1-2

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not comformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

a. Living sacrificial, holy lives, acceptable to God

b. Demonstrating that God's will is good, acceptable, and

perfect

1 John 2:15-16

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, that love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

By Dinah Ramos 

www.fghconline.com

Tattoos, Alcohol, and Smoking: O MY!!

People say, “well I have a cross or scripture on my body that presents myself a living witness for God. But God says specifically that we do not own our bodies, and that it is to be kept holy, inside AND Out!! What gives us the right to change and corrupt what God has made? Besides as Christians as we are filled with His Spirit we are to shine our lights before men.

((Matthew 5:16))

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

People that simply wear a t-shirt and posting Christian stickers on our cars, and hanging crosses in our homes, think that is professing ourselves only as a Christian. Well, we are to be a living sacrifice for Christ, presentable, holy, see we are the church, we are to keep it holy and clean. The physical building church will not save us, it is what lies in our spirits, and the fruits we produce. All those other things are useless. It is like putting a febreeze sticker over bug spray and saying that it is an air freshner, when it clearly isn’t, God can see through us.

((Matthew 3:10))

“And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast in to the fire.”

((Luke 13:6-9))

“6He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”

(Anybody can say that they are a Christian, but are you living it? God knows our hearts, and were not suppose to conform to this world, because God is not of this world, therefore we are to follow his Words, and follow the ways of Jesus. People also say, “well it doesn’t say we can’t drink, and smoke.” Well those very things do toxic harm to the body physically. The question we must ask ourselves is, would God do those things?)

___Destructive Tools the devil has created in the World____

ALCOHOL’S DAMAGING EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN

(Depressant)

Difficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reaction times, impaired memory: Clearly, alcohol affects the brain. Some of these impairments are detectable after only one or two drinks and quickly resolve when drinking stops. On the other hand, a person who drinks heavily over a long period of time may have brain deficits that persist well after he or she achieves sobriety. Exactly how alcohol affects the brain and the likelihood of reversing the impact of heavy drinking on the brain remain hot topics in alcohol research today.

We do know that heavy drinking may have extensive and far–reaching effects on the brain, ranging from simple “slips” in memory to permanent and debilitating conditions that require lifetime custodial care. And even moderate drinking leads to short–term impairment, as shown by extensive research on the impact of drinking on driving.

Alcohol can produce detectable impairments in memory after only a few drinks and, as the amount of alcohol increases, so does the degree of impairment. Large quantities of alcohol, especially when consumed quickly and on an empty stomach, can produce a blackout, or an interval of time for which the intoxicated person cannot recall key details of events, or even entire events.

****Leads to the many thousands of deaths in this world. From drunk driving, raged fights, and to suicide. ***

Smoking:

Nicotine is the addictive substance in tobacco that causes smokers to continue their smoking habit. Along with nicotine, smokers also inhale about 7,000 other chemicals. These chemicals harm nearly every organ in the body.

Drugs:

Cocaine—Cocaine restricts blood flow to the brain, increases heart rate, and promotes blood clotting. These effects can lead to stroke or heart attack.

Ecstasy (MDMA)—Ecstasy speeds up heart rate and blood pressure and disrupts the brain's ability to regulate body temperature, which can result in overheating to the point of hyperthermia. When this happens, abusers begin to sweat, but can't cool off. In a hot and crowded dance atmosphere, this can be life-threatening if medical care is not delivered quickly. Treatment of hyperthermia requires prompt medical attention, as it can rapidly lead to muscle breakdown, which can, in turn, result in kidney failure.

And many more in the list…..

(Implantation surgeries)

From spike, devil horns, objects under the skin, and many more devilish things that are damaging and defiling the body.

(Jesus says to all that are thirsty and hunger in this world, Come to him, and he will lighten our burdens, and give us rest. These destructive tools that the devil has concocted are things that are leading many people to destruction. If you want to get High, Get High in the Lord. The Lord has a wonderful cure for our problems from this world, and He has the answer to it all. Come to Jesus, and be free from the chains and bonds from the Prince of this world (the devil).)

(Matthew 11:28-30)

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The devil has found many avenues to destroy the many people in this world, Physically and spiritually. Lying and deceiving the many souls in this world. He hates our bodies, because it was created after the image of God. Therefore that is why he has these many tactics to destroy the Lord’s image, through tattoos, drugs, alcohol, and purposefully deforming the body in which God created. 

By Dinah Ramos 

www.fghconline.com 

"FAITH IN THE WORKPLACE"

INTRODUCTION

1. As Christians, we are but pilgrims and sojourners in this world...
   a. We have duties regarding our spiritual growth and development
      - 1Pe 2:11 

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from 
fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 
b. Yet we also have a duty toward those who are still of this world
      - 1Pe 2:12 Having your conversation honest 
among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, 

they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the 

day of visitation.

2. One arena where we fulfill our duty to those in the world is "the
   workplace"...
   a. Places of employment where we work
   b. Relationships we maintain with those with whom we work

3. What impact should our faith have as members of the workforce...?
   a. What effect should it have on us as laborers or managers?
   b. Should the workplace become a place to evangelize the lost?

4. In 1Th 4:11-12,And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own 
business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye 
may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack 
of nothing.

 Paul gave general instructions concerning Christians
   living in this world...
   a. To lead a quiet life
   b. To mind our own business
   c. To work with our own hands
   d. To walk properly toward those who are outside

[What this entails may be gleaned further as we consider passages which
speak of Christians as laborers and managers.  So let us start by
looking at...]

I. THE CHRISTIAN AS LABORER

   A. SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES FOR LABORERS...
      1. From the epistles of Paul - Ep 6:5-8 

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the 
flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 
6 Not with eye service, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ,

doing thewill of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to 
the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing 
any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond 
or free.

         Tit 2:9-10 

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to 
please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but 
shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour 
in all things.
2. From the epistle of Peter - 1Pe 2:18-20 

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to 
the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thank worthy, if 
a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what  glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it 
patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it 
patiently, this is acceptable with God.
-- Instructions to servants can be easily applied by Christian
         laborers today

   B. SCRIPTURAL GUIDELINES FOR LABORERS....
      1. Obey those who are over you (unless they ask you to do that
         which is unethical or illegal)
      2. Work with proper respect and good will toward your boss
      3. Labor sincerely and heartily, as to the Lord and not to men
      4. Do not work only when the boss is watching, or just to please
         those over you
      5. Demonstrate that you can be trusted with responsibility
      6. Offer such service, not just to good employers, but even to
         those who are unfair
      -- In so doing, you are adorning the doctrine of God our Savior!

[Additional counsel for laborers can be found from the wisdom of Solomon
(e.g., Pr 12:24; The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under 

tribute.Pr 22:29)Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand beforekings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Those who follow such guidelines will not
only please the Lord, but likely be very successful in their work!  Now
let's consider...]


II. THE CHRISTIAN AS MANAGER

   A. SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES FOR MANAGERS...
      1. From the epistles of Paul - Ep 6:9;And, ye masters, do the same things

unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; 

neither is there respect of persons with him.

Col 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing 

that ye also have a Master in heaven. 

      2. From the Old Testament - Deut 24:14-15; Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy,whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangersthat are in thy land within thy gates: 15 At his day thou shalt give 
him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto

thee

Pr 22:16; Jer 22:13-17;

         Mal 3:5
      -- From both Testaments there are principles to guide the
         Christian manager

   B. SCRIPTURAL GUIDELINES FOR MANAGERS....
      1. Remember that you have a Boss in heaven!
      2. Treat employees with justice and fairness
      3. Do not oppress or exploit those who are under you
      4. Don't resort to threatening (seek positive motivation instead)
      
[Managers who so govern will likely be highly esteemed, both by those
they manage and those under whom they serve.  Yet as Christians, our
goal is not just to provide honorable service, but to encourage people
to glorify God.  This raises the issue of evangelism in
the workplace...]

III. THE CHRISTIAN AS EVANGELIST

   A. CONCERNS TO CONSIDER...
      1. As Christians, we are to seek and save the lost - Mk 16:15-16 And he

said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every 
creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that

believeth not shall be damned.
      2. As workers, honorable service demands a proper day's work for a
         day's wage
      3. Adorning the doctrine of Christ requires that we not pilfer
         (including time) - Tit 2:10
      -- The challenge is to properly balance our efforts to save and
         our duty to work

   B. GUIDELINES TO GOVERN...
      1. Don't forget the power of a good example - 1Pe 2:12; 3:1-2
      2. Don't let your speech betray your profession as a Christian
         - cf. Ep 4:29; 5:4; Col 4:6
      3. Wisely consider the best use of one's time on the job - cf. Co
         4:5
         a. Circumstances at work are rarely conducive to substantive
            spiritual discussions
         b. Seek to turn casual conversations related to spiritual
            subjects into opportunities for home Bible studies
      -- Spiritual zeal is no excuse for cheating those who have hired
         us

CONCLUSION

1. Involvement in the workplace is a wonderful opportunity...
   a. To be able to provide for one's self and family
   b. To be able to serve the Lord through making a positive impact on
      others

2. Let your faith in the workplace be an opportunity...
   a. To demonstrate the value of a vibrant faith in Christ!
   b. To reach others for Jesus Christ!

What kind of laborers and managers are we?  Do we encourage others to
glorify God...?

Pastor Rolando Ramos 

www.fghconline.com