Prayer . . .

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."
(I Timothy 2:1-6)

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,
believing, ye shall receive."
(Matthew 21:22)

Are you in need of prayer for a loved one, that he or she may come to know the Lord? If so write to us.

Please note: the first Scripture above states, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." If you have a personal need, it is ultimately the responsibly of the believer to pray for that need and in knowing that God will acknowledge and answer that prayer (John 14:13-15). As children of the Living God, we are to pray for the salvation of others. Again, if there is someone who you would like for us to pray for that they may come to the Lord in truth, please let us know their "first name". This has nothing to do with getting "dunked" or joining a church thereafter. It is for the gift of God through His Son -- eternal life and salvation.

Are You Born Again?
Are you "truly" saved and born again?

Recently, while walking home from the store, I offered a lady a gospel tract. She took one look at the cover, handed it back and said, "I’m already saved". Now this was not an isolated occurrence. In fact my wife and I have had to almost beg "born again Christians" to accept a gospel tract. "Can you at least then give it to someone else that you know who is NOT saved?", I’ll finally ask them as I continue to hold the tract out to them.

Let’s talk about being "born again" and what the Lord really meant when He said these words to Nicodemus, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:1)

The Apostle John himself had a lot to say on this subject. I’ll not doubt your salvation, Never! -- only God can be the judge of this, His gift to the world. But before you click out of this page and say to yourself, "I’m already saved", please hear me out...and that which the Apostle "that loved the Lord" has to say as well:

No Habitual Sinning

First of all, the Apostle John wrote:

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin..." (1 John 3:9a)

A few years ago I spoke to a Baptist pastor with a "goatee" who made the comment, "Everybody sins...I sin every day!" Well aside from that which was obvious (Leviticus 19:27b), I could only think to myself, "You know pastor, there’s a cure for that." No, a person who is born again does NOT habitually commit sin! In fact, a True child of God abhors sin and anything connected to sin. Even the thought of sinning, which used to be "fun" now becomes, "I can not do that...it would hurt God." The individual might "try" to revive some of those "enjoyable" sins but even as much as drinking a beer, which once brought such great "pleasure", now; because his thoughts are taken away from God and the things of God through alcohol, it becomes utterly disdainful. The new creation in God, wants not to please himself -- but only his Lord and new Father. And now more than anything else on this earth, the child of God wants to tell others of the great gift -- the new life which he has received -- this to the glory of his precious Lord and Saviour. How many church-going Christians have spoken to you about the Lord recently or has anyone even handed you a tract this year?

What would the Apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Believing in Christ

Second, John wrote:

"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God..." (1 John 5:1a)

"Well sure, I believe Jesus is the Christ" ... Every Christian believes Jesus is the Christ...Right? But Jesus Himself said,

"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before." (Matthew 24:21-25)

The Lord was speaking of more than the "Anti-Christ" during the tribulation here, folks. There are very real imitating spirits of Jesus Christ in the churches of those that call themselves "Christian" today. And the spirit of the anti-Christ was alive even in the very early Church that was truly Christian. So who are these "other Jesus’" -- "other Christs"? If it were possible to deceive even the very elect, you might ask yourself this question; If I got saved in a church that holds all the traditions of pagan worship, to include worshipping "another Jesus" on his SUN-god day of worship, might I have paid allegiance to a different Lord -- and in fact, "another Jesus"? Oh, it’s easy to talk about the Mormon church and how they worship "another Jesus". But have you thought about the possibility that Satan has infiltrated ALL the institutionalized "churches" in one form or another? If you call the first day of the week (Sunday), God’s holy Sabbath -- His Fourth Commandment -- you have given spiritual legal authority to an impostor. If the Apostle John met you on the road Saturday morning and invited you to church with him and you said, "Oh No! That’s the Jewish Sabbath! I worship my Lord on Sunday."

What would the Apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Remember this is the same Apostle who "was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day." That Lord was, and is, and will be forever, "the Lord of the Sabbath" -- the seventh day -- the Lord’s day.

Practicing Righteousness

Third, the Apostle John wrote:

"...everyone that doeth righteousness is born of him." (1 John 2:29b)

So just exactly what is the definition of the word "righteousness" as used in this verse of Scripture?

1. The quality of being righteous; exact rectitude; purity. [note: Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it chiefly occurs, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principals and affections of heart and conformity of life to the divine law.]

2. The state of being right with God; justification; the work of Christ, which is the ground of justification. [note: There are two kinds of Christian righteousness; the one without us, which we have by imputation; the other in us, which consisteth of faith, hope, and charity (the love of God -- Agape), and other Christian virtues Only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.]

Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, 1879

In short, the person who is born again, re-created in the image of God, lives his life in accordance with God’s will, wanting more than anything else to do the things that please God, and detests the things that God hates.

Well, let's name a few of the things that God not only loves, but commands us to do...

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
(Mark 16:15)

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."
(Ephesians 5:11-14)

And things God hates...

"Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen..." (Jeremiah 10:2a)

Examples of things God hates under this heading:

* Christmas
* Easter
* Valentine’s Day
* Halloween
* Thanksgiving Day
* Birthdays ... Or any other of the so-called "Christianized Holidays" that are nothing more than pagan (Satanic) worship celebrations in origin and nature; that were in existence at the time of the Apostle John, and even as they are to this very day. They were NEVER "Christian holidays", nor were they ever intended to be. John would have recognized them for exactly what they were and still are now -- holidays of the occult.
* "Sunday sabbath" ... Resting and having worship for "your Lord" on the first day of the week, instead resting on the seventh day as our Lord God Almighty did and commanded His children to do in remembrance of Him.
Have ye not read that God ordered a man to be stoned to death for gathering sticks upon the Sabbath day (Numbers 15:32)? Fortunately, we are now under grace, BUT if the Sabbath day has changed to Sunday, what should God do...now "apologize" for having that man killed?! -- Think About It!

No, Almighty God will not, need not, "apologize". He is "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever".

What would the Apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Loving other Christians

Fourth, John wrote:

"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren..." (1 John 3:4)

A person who is born again has a special love for all True disciples of Christ.

This is an absolute fact! And if you are a TRUE disciple of Christ our Lord, know that I love you in telling you the truth which I’ve stated here, more than any concern of retribution I might receive from those that otherwise despise hearing the same. I challenge ANY pastor or priest to Biblically refute anything I'm telling you! -- Search the Scriptures!

We are told to pray for the saints (our brethren). The only problem is, in today’s "churches", who exactly ARE our brethren? If you can answer in the affirmative to each of the three aforementioned sub-headings, you are my brethren. Anything short of this, you are following the ways of the world in a "church" governed by the prince of the air. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked", nor will He accept your "excuse of ignorance" through the deception of men. We are all charged to read God's holy word, the same by which we'll be judged.

What would the Apostle say about you? Would he accept or reject you in what you say you are, as opposed to what you display? Or, more importantly, would you reject the Apostle as not conforming to your ideas and beliefs? After all, you are a "Christian", but are you born again? ...You should be thinking harder at this point.

Overcoming the World

Fifth, the Apostle wrote:

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:" (1 John 5:4a)

Men, with long hair, GOAT-ees, and the ever so "convincing" qualities of femininity. Do you know the effeminate shall not inherit the kingdom of God? (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) -- And the word of God is not speaking of homosexual men here either. It is speaking of men who think, speak, and act like more like women than men -- In short, lacking masculine authority, hidden through weakness, softness, and delicacy...now considered by the "church" as desired "Christian male virtues". This is but another deception of so-called "Christian male behavior" when it tries to act out a part that it cannot perform in Truth. And in all of this, the secular expression of "I wonder who wears the pants in that family", brings about a whole new meaning.

Now Christian ladies, I must ask you, if the Apostle John met you on the street today with your short hair and dressed in men’s trousers, would he turn his head and look the other way in shame and embarrassment? I'm sure he would. But then you might follow him and shout, "Oh, John! I’m a Christian! I’m a Christian!" And at that point, what do you think John’s reaction would be? Would he then accept you because of what you said you are, or would he turn, ready to rebuke a 'demon of religiosity'?

Oh yes, how "Christian" men and women will say we are not to follow the ways of the world, but look how you’ve compromised! The church which you claim as being the church of Christ, could no more be accepted as His true church, than the Apostle John would accept you for that which you claim to be.

When you cannot even lead your own family in the Truth through the word of God, how can you expect to lead another to The Truth in salvation? Hide in your church...you’re safe there. As all the world knows, in this, you are what you say you are...and Satan has you exactly where he wants you.

The churches of the world today and the professing "Christians" therein are no more the church our Lord and Saviour will return for, than a pagan by any other name, would stand as a snowball’s chance in Hell of remaining a snowball.

Overcoming the world? -- Get Real!

And what would the Apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Keeping Oneself Pure

Sixth, the Apostle John wrote:

"...but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not."
(1 John 5:18b)

Are you keeping yourself as a child of God, one He can claim without reservation? Or, are you simply "playing church" in an attempt to fool yourself and those around you? "Resist the devil and he will flee from you", your pastor tells you as you sit as a Prisoner of War in the enemy confines of your church and its pews.

I once heard someone say, "If being a Christian were a crime in this country, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" And if you told the one confronting you, that you can prove you’re a Christian because you go to church, he would let you go free at that point...once he stopped laughing. What would you tell him my Christian friend? Would you give him a testimony of your salvation through our Lord Christ Jesus that would convince him? Would you be able to identify others that you’ve witnessed to that could stand in your defense? Would you even be able to produce a gospel tract?

Or would all evidence point to those things which I’ve already mentioned? Would you have all the signs and appearances of just another sinner with a soft-spoken voice, observing all the holidays and feasts of the pagans. And a 27-inch television screen in your home; all the while complaining that there’s nothing but sex and violence for home entertainment as you flip through the channels in anticipation of the lusts of the world, through your waiting fingers ever ready to find the next thrill? And then you say, "Oh, I can’t bear this! But I’ll not change the channel...yet." And your children tell you about the new cartoon horror movie that daddy has taken them to see on the Saturday that he was off from work. And he himself said, "It wasn’t half bad". And you think, "Well, it couldn’t have been half bad if their father thought so". But my Christian friend, what does your Father in Heaven think even as you sing Jesus loves the little children in your "church" on the day after His holy Sabbath has been superceded by your worldly desires?

And what would the Apostle say about you? Perhaps at this point, you wouldn’t want to know...

The Final Analysis

Do you truly have the characteristics of being born again as described by the Apostle John? Could you be convicted as a blood-bought child of God? And if so, could you be convicted as a decided follower of our Lord Jesus Christ and all that He taught and commanded? Or would the world simply continue to welcome you as one of her own?

You may have doubts as to whether or not you’re truly what you say you are, and if so you wouldn’t be alone; there would be millions of other "Christians" that would join you in a similar conclusion. Must you be the same as them? The word of God is very clear. We are not to be a part of, or in any way associated with the ways of the world. From all outward appearance a Satanist would laugh at you if you told him you were a child of God. And when he stopped laughing, he might then even agree with you. "Indeed," he might say, "you're a child of god alright...MY god, MY lord -- SATAN". And he’d not be alone -- he’d have company, as I’m sure even the Apostle John would agree.

Have you really been born again?

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:"

A prayer for salvation, not unlike one the Apostle John might have said for a Jewish person, follows -- or by simply omitting the last paragraph, the same prayer that the Apostle Paul might have said for a Gentile.

We extend our deepest appreciation to Love Song To The Messiah for providing us with this very powerful prayer.