Our Father who art in heaven, let the reader hear your word so they can receive your Son in their hearts, Amen.

Our world is scorched by war, racism, religion, disease and many more daunting issues. Families are split, societies are divided, and even you, your own words that comes out of your mouth is indecisive. Imagine you bought a house and you moved your entire family into your new house. One day you come back from work and no one, not even your gorgeous wife knows nor recognise you. Every word, smile or gesture given is received with a blank face and torturous response by your family. This is the reception Jesus Christ received when he descended from heaven to his own “footstool”, Earth.

John 1: 11 says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not”.

Christ was witnessed by John the Baptist as “the true light” of the world, the light that lights every man that comes into the world. You see, you have been fearfully and wonderfully made by God, His word is what made you. James 1.18 says “of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures”. So as your own words are a part of you so is God’s word a part of him, a part of us.

Can you take the words that departs from your mouth back? Well no. Why do I ask this? Well because God can’t take his words back either. On the Sermon on the mount, Jesus spoke saying, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt 24:35), meaning his word carries on from everlasting to everlasting. In the beginning was the word (Jesus), and the word was with God, and the word was God. His own words were with him in the beginning like your words are with you now. Imagine having all the power and authority to bring life into existence and you have exhibited this power. Now you decide to visit your own creation but once you are amongst them, you find out they are worshipping the creation not the Creator. God’s own (Israelites) did not receive him because they were consumed in darkness which is their own vanity, philosophies, worldly knowledge and fleshly desires that they could no longer recognise the light (read Romans 1: 21-32).

John 1: 12 says, “But to as many as did receive and welcome him, to them he gave authority (power, privilege, right) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) on his name”.

Christ did not come to condemn the world but to fulfil the word of God, his own word. He had two tasks to accomplish, to preach the gospel (good news) so we can be taken away from the old law (Ten Commandments) and to press the reset button on the sins (unrighteousness) of the world. You see, you and I don’t have the self-strength to bind sin or live word for word according to the old law, if we did our world will not be scorched by war, racism, religion, disease etc. Please, do not see sin as a religious doctrine in place to imprison or guilt trip your mind. Sin is what man does without God’s input (unrighteousness). Jesus brought the power of grace through the gospel.

On the other hand, when he resurrected to go back and sit on the throne of glory, he sent down the Holy Spirit (his own spirit) to teach us how to live in this new law, this new covenant in Christ. Paul in Romans 8 says, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh”. Now that is the KJV, instead of me interpreting this for you, I will re-write the same verse but with the amplified bible. Paul in Romans 8 says, “For God has done what the law could not do, (its power) being weakened by the flesh (the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit). Sending His Own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin. (God) condemned sin in the flesh (subdued, overcame, deprived it of it power over all who accept that sacrifice).

The power of Christ has been given to those who call on his name and adhere to his commandments. Matthew 5:14 says “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid” whiles in John 14:12 Jesus says to us, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father”. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7) because Christ our Lord is now sitting on the throne by the right hand of his Father. What wouldn’t he do for you? Just believe.

What is the new commandment you might ask?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And love your neighbour as yourself. All the law (10 commandments) and the prophets hang on these two commandments (Matthew 22:36-40)

John 1:13 says, “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”

God tells us that he is a spiritual being. Jesus tell us that “that which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Everybody knows where babies come from unless you are a baby of course. This fact is known to us because it was explained to us when we came of age to understand. The same principle stands here, Jesus told Nicodemus, “except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God”. Our physiology at birth allows us to enter this Kingdom, this Earth. Again the same principle applies, in order to enter the Kingdom of God you need a different physiology, a spiritual physiology. Paul told the Ephesians of Ephesus, we wrestle (fight, contest, and tussle) not against flesh and blood (physical things you see with your naked eye), but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). To be born of the Spirit of God allows or gives you the identity to enter into spiritual matters.

There are so many philosophies out there these days on how to conquer your fears, amass wealth, to be successful with business or family, relationships etc. But ask yourself, does all those things fill the void in your heart? The heart is where your Spirit dwells hence why Jesus tells us to ask him to come in. All he wants is your heart (Spirit), he wants to swap your heart for His so you can amass the power and authority to “tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you” (Luke 10:19). The man born of God seeks nothing but God because that is where the power of life is. Matthew 6.33 says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” These things are things of the world that everyone wants. Whether it is love, money, a job, education, house, whatever it is that your heart desires, God is saying seek Him first and all those things will be added unto you, in an abundance.

In conclusion, prepare yourselves brothers and sisters. If you haven’t been saved, please, please, give your soul to Jesus. Don’t be the “what if” person. The Earth we live in is influenced by Satan and his minions, everyday. Matthew 4: 1-11 tells us Christ’s first temptation but it is the verse 8 to 11 you should focus on. It reads, “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I (Satan) will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only (1st commandment). Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him”. You don’t know or see what your fellow man/woman is bowing down to in his or her own home, all you know is you. Christ died and resurrected to restore power and authority back to you and I, thus we are no longer slaves to sin. So please, put on your amour of Faith, your helmet of salvation and wield your spiritual sword with God’s word, become a Spiritual being. I don’t wish you “good luck” but I say “stay blessed”, Christ is with you.