Born Again

John 3:3-13 "Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES BIRTH TO SPIRITUAL LIFE. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked. Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven."

• A pharisee, a religious law teacher, just like most "official religious leaders," did not understand Jesus Christ because he relied on the law to save him. He had no faith but only trusted his own abilities in trying to obey; he thought he was righteous, without fault, and felt no need for repentance.

TO BE BORN AGAIN MEANS;

1. HAVING FAITH in Jesus Christ

2. REPENTANCE change of heart; the death of sinful nature

3. TRANSFORMATION turning from darkness into the Light; the Holy Spirit

1. Having Faith

These traits build up Faith:

1. Self-awareness

2. Preference for Truth

3. Bravery & Being Smart

Self-awareness Looking within and at yourself, not others.

Luke 5:29-32 "Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who THINK they are righteous, but those who KNOW they are sinners and NEED TO REPENT.” 1. Those who THINK THEY ARE RIGHTEOUS will not self-reflect to acknowledge their faults but will project them onto others (narcissistic and codependent). They THINK they are perfect and "healthy." They reject the "doctor" because they don't see anything wrong in themselves (only in others).

• Matthew 13:15 "For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’"

2. Those who KNOW THEY ARE SINNERS can self-reflect and admit to their own faults; they know they are not perfect and can humble themselves before the Lord who is perfect (without sin). They KNOW they are "sick" and need a doctor; they accept the correction and get healed. THEY ARE THE ONES GETTING SAVED.

• Matthew 4:24 "News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all."

Preference for Truth ALL are sinners, and the law is made for those who refuse to repent.

1 John 1:6-10 "So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." Romans 3:21-24 "But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him WITHOUT KEEPING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

• Not having Faith = keeping the law and relying on self-righteousness

• Having Faith = being freed from the law by relying on and believing Jesus Christ, who transforms us into a NEW CREATION - BEING BORN AGAIN

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins." Revelation 22:14-15 "Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and ALL WHO LOVE TO LIVE A LIE."

• "Those who wash their robes" = those who acknowledged their sin, and repented. Jesus wiped their sin away, making them clean.

• "Outside the city" = are those who did not repent; they will not enter the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 22:1-14 Parable of the Great Feast "Jesus also told them other parables. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

• "those who were invited" = those whom the law was given (Jews)

• "they refused to come" = they refused to Repent.

“So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.

• Jeremiah 7:25-26 "From the day your ancestors left Egypt until now, I have continued to send my servants, the prophets—day in and day out. But my people have not listened to me or even tried to hear. They have been stubborn and sinful—even worse than their ancestors."

“The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’

• "invite everyone you see;" Acts 18:6 "But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”

So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.

• the proper clothes are "washed robes;" this person did not repent

‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen.” NO REPENTANCE = NO WASHED ROBE = ETERNAL CONDEMNATION Matthew 21:28-32 Parable of the Two Sons “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go. “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.” Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins."

• Hebrews 11:31 "It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies."

Bravery & Being Smart

John 3:20 “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for FEAR their sins will be exposed.”

• ONLY A COWARD IS AFRAID OF ADMITTING THEIR FAULTS; have you ever watched court in session? When you know someone is guilty but lies through their teeth that they are innocent? Yeh. It's like that. All people are guilty of sin.

• Revelation 21:8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

How is it not smart? Anyone who refuses to come into the Light (in private) now will be exposed (publicly) on Judgment Day and for the next 1000 years, way before they are thrown into the Lake of Fire. The embarrassment will be overwhelming, and it will be a part of the punishment. Since it will be exposed either way, isn't it better to do it now and be saved?! It's a no-brainer! Luke 12:2-3 "The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!" To those who rely on validation; Proverbs 26:23-28 "Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot. People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you. They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils. While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public. If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead. A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin." 1 Corinthians 4:5 "So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due."

• Daniel 2:47 "The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.”

What it Means to Have Faith

Luke 14:25-33 The Cost of Being a Disciple "A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

• The currency is Faith; if it's too small, a person will go back to their old ways, and others will laugh at their failure

“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own."

• God always sends small groups against big armies to show His power

FAITH AND BRAVERY

Judges 7:2-7 "The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’” So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight. But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.” When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the Lord told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.” Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream. The Lord told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.”

• Judges 8:10-11 "By this time Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with about 15,000 warriors—all that remained of the allied armies of the east, for 120,000 had already been killed. Gideon circled around by the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, taking the Midianite army by surprise."

• Judges 8:21-23 "Then Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon, “Be a man! Kill us yourself!” So Gideon killed them both and took the royal ornaments from the necks of their camels. Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Be our ruler! You and your son and your grandson will be our rulers, for you have rescued us from Midian.” But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The Lord will rule over you!"

NO FAITH AND COWARDICE

When people who were taken out of the slavery of Egypt "could not afford" to take possession of a promised land. Numbers 13:31-33 "But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”

Numbers 14:1-4 "Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”

Numbers 14:11-12 "And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them? I will disown them and destroy them with a plague. Then I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are!”

• God turned them back into the wilderness, where He punished them over the next 40 years; everyone over the age of 20 was destroyed, AS THEY WISHED.

• It's quite pathetic 😒

Matthew 8:23-27 "Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

• all it takes is Faith; obviously, it shows by being chill 😎 🌊 ⛈️ ⚡

REJECTION;

You need to pick one side and reject the other; if you keep holding your foot in the door, it will be cut off, and you'll be pushed to the side you cannot part with; the world. God doesn't compromise on loyalty. Makeup your mind. The sooner, the better. Matthew 10:32-39 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."

• having gone through it, I can only say that this is NOT a metaphor or a parable. This is precisely how it needs to be; word for word, apart from the;

• "take up your cross" means repentance and the suffering that comes with being Jesus Christ's follower

This is the ultimate test; "Who do you want to please?"

God or people? We cannot please both.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 "For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts."

• no human validation needed

1 Corinthians 10:21 "You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too."

2 Corinthians 6:14-16

"Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols?" Matthew 19:21-24 "Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Luke 12:21

“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

2. Repentance

REPENTANCE = SPIRITUAL CRUCIFIXION OF A SINFUL NATURE. The process is 100% Spiritual. The sinful nature must be wholly rejected and killed for you to be Born Again. It requires a private confession to Jesus Christ. (done at home, behind a closed door) Deep self-reflection, admittance to breaking ALL 10 commandments, remorse over it, forgiveness to all who sinned against us, forgiveness for ourselves because we know we are not perfect, and trusting that God will forgive us.

• James 2:10 "For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws."

• Matthew 6:14 "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you."

A part of confession is facing your demons, acknowledging them, exposing them, and rejecting them. Those demons are Fear, Hate, Envy, Jealousy, Unworthiness, Lies, Illusion, Greed, Lust, etc. Those aren't "traits;" they are demonic spirits. People tend to call these demons "shadows," they say, "You need to work on your shadow," or worse - "embrace it." No! You need to expose it, name it, and reject it. You don't "work" with your enemy; you fight and overcome it!

• A physical shadow of a mortal body will always be there (duh!); it's the law of nature, don't get it mixed up with Spirituality.

Isaiah 45:5-7 "I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things." If confession is not genuine, it's done for nothing. There's a big difference between saying "sorry" without any means to change vs. having a broken heart over it and a desire to be different. Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God." James 4:9-10 "Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor." Isaiah 57:14-21 "God says, “Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.”

• the captivity of belonging to Satan (sin)

The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts. For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always be angry. If I were, all people would pass away— all the souls I have made. I was angry, so I punished these greedy people. I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own stubborn way. I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the Lord, who heals them. “But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt. There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God." Galatians 6:7-8 "Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit." Acts 3:17-20 “Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. NOW REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND TURN TO GOD, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah." Matthew 3:7-11 "But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have REPENTED of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize with water those who REPENT of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

• saying, "I'm saved and born again," for believing a story means absolutely nothing without true Faith and Repentance. Most people who say that keep sinning.

Wake up.

We cannot wait to die physically to Repent; it will be too late. It needs to be done while we're still alive and conscious. No one can be helped after they pass away; whatever they have done during their lifetime, their fate is sealed. Isaiah 38:18-20 "For the dead cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise. Those who go down to the grave can no longer hope in your faithfulness. Only the living can praise you as I do today. Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next. Think of it—the Lord is ready to heal me! I will sing his praises with instruments every day of my life in the Temple of the Lord."

• (Do not pray for those who passed away; you cannot help them. Pray for people while they are still alive.)

2 Corinthians 6:2 "For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation."

• don't put it off; tomorrow is not guaranteed

John 11:25 "Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

• meaning; anyone who puts their Faith in Jesus Christ and repents passes from spiritual death to spiritual life. Even after their physical body dies, their spirit will live forever and will never have to live in slavery to Satan. Those who refuse to do that; will exist in "death" and torment. Our souls are eternal.

Ephesians 2:1-10 "Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus."

• again, it's about spiritual death and spiritual life. Not physical.

• 1 John 3:14 "If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead."

3. Transformation

After successful confession and repentance, there will be 3 days of purification. This is the reason Jesus Christ was buried for 3 days. Jesus died a physical death and was raised in Spirit. 🔥 How I experienced the purification; (I have never heard of anyone going through it, so I did not know what was happening to me then.) Right after Repentance, over the next 3 days, I was extremely fatigued, felt sick, and completely shut off from my surrounding. If I could describe death, that was it. I was feeling empty and powerless. I could still hear demons whispering their abuse, but I kept rejecting it (I kept saying, "It's a lie, I reject you, go away"). I only had enough strength to use the bathroom and have a tiny amount of food; no appetite. Isaiah 48:8-11 “Yes, I will tell you of things that are entirely new, things you never heard of before. For I know so well what traitors you are. You have been rebels from birth. Yet for my own sake and for the honor of my name, I will hold back my anger and not wipe you out. I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. I will rescue you for my sake—yes, for my own sake! I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not share my glory with idols!"

• Revelation 1:15 "His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves."

• Hebrews 5:8 "Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered."

• Keep in mind; Jesus NEVER had a victim mentality. ("You" did not "suffer the most," so get over yourselves)

Psalm 66:10-12 "You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs. Then you put a leader over us. We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance." Isaiah 49:9-12 "I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’ They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures and on hills that were previously bare. They will neither hunger nor thirst. The searing sun will not reach them anymore. For the Lord in his mercy will lead them; he will lead them beside cool waters. And I will make my mountains into level paths for them. The highways will be raised above the valleys. See, my people will return from far away, from lands to the north and west, and from as far south as Egypt.”

• "prisoners" - those who live in sin = under the power of death

• the meaning of Egypt is interchangeable with slavery to sin; which is everywhere

🔥 After 3 days; I woke up; did not hear any demons (or "shadows"); felt extremely light; as if I was given a new physical body; lots of energy, a great mood, and very refreshed. I asked myself what had happened. Then suddenly, I paused and felt like I was being held; to be still, and I saw The Light! Extremely bright (yet not blinding). It was Internal (or Spiritual); Pure Love; I recognized it right away and said, "Jesus, it's you!" At that moment, I was filled with His Light. It merged with my soul. Any trace of darkness within me was gone entirely. A moment later, I shouted, "Abba, Father!"

• Galatians 4:6 "And because we are his children, God has sent THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

I was never paying much attention to this verse, I didn't understand it as I do now. It was the first thing God showed me when I reached for the Bible! I could not contain my joy; it's still hard! 🥲 I went to my daughter to tell her what happened, and then we heard the sound of a trumpet outside coming from above (a physical sound; that my daughter also heard). Isaiah 27:12-13 "Yet the time will come when the Lord will gather them together like handpicked grain. One by one he will gather them—from the Euphrates River in the east to the Brook of Egypt in the west. In that day the great trumpet will sound. Many who were dying in exile in Assyria and Egypt will return to Jerusalem to worship the Lord on his holy mountain."

Luke 17:20-21

"One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?”

Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.”

From that point on;

1. I AM A NEW PERSON.

2 Corinthians 5:17 "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" Colossians 3:9-10 "Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him." Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

2. THE VEIL LIFTED UP; I saw the Light.

John 12:44-46 "Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I HAVE COME AS A LIGHT to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark." John 8:12 "Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” 2 Corinthians 3:13-15 "We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand."

• 2 Corinthians 4:3 "If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing."

1 John 1:5 "This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all." Ephesians 5:8-9 "For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true."

Acts 9:3-7

"As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, A LIGHT FROM HEAVEN suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.

And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!”

• 1 Corinthians 9:1-2 “Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle.”

3. THE LIGHT = THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 2:38 "Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

• 2 Corinthians 3:17 "For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

John 16:5-11 “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged." John 16:20-28 "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor."

When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”

• having received the Holy Spirit; I am in Unity with Jesus Christ, who is in Unity with the Father. Jesus Christ and the Father are ONE, and I am joined. I speak directly to the Father; instead of saying "in Jesus Christ's name" as I did previously when I wasn't joined, and I needed Jesus to speak on my behalf. Now Jesus speaks through me.

• Jeremiah 15:19 "This is how the Lord responds: “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!"

Acts 1:8 "But you will RECEIVE POWER when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

• with the internet, it's never been easier! (and I always check the location of anyone who reaches out to me, if available. I've reached people in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Asia; it's amazing!)

4. SPIRIT UNITY; I am married to Christ!

Isaiah 54:5-8 "For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth. For the Lord has called you back from your grief—as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,” says your God. “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will take you back. In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer." Ephesians 5:22-32 "For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. HE IS THE SAVIOR OF HIS BODY, THE CHURCH. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. HE GAVE UP HIS LIFE FOR HER TO MAKE HER HOLY AND CLEAN, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

• John 17:19 "And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth."

HE DID THIS TO PRESENT HER TO HIMSELF AS A GLORIOUS CHURCH WITHOUT A SPOT OR WRINKLE OR ANY OTHER BLEMISH. INSTEAD, SHE WILL BE HOLY AND WITHOUT FAULT.

• 1 Peter 1:15-16 "But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

• Leviticus 20:26 "You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people TO BE MY VERY OWN."

In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives AS THEY LOVE THEIR OWN BODIES. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.

• Philippians 4:19 "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."

As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way CHRIST AND THE CHURCH ARE ONE."

• John 17:25-26 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

Ephesians 2:19-22 "So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit."

5. GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT John 16:13-15 "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’" 🔥 I knew right away that God chose me to teach through me. Everything in the Bible became as clear as day; I see many more layers of meanings and connections within the scripture, but I will preach only what I'm told to. I was told to put away KJV that I always used in the past; I don't belong to King James; I belong to the King of kings; Jesus Christ! I was instructed to use NLT.

• 1 John 2:27 "But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ."

I have received the gift of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding; I discern, and I heal, simply by laying my hands on and letting God do His work. I take no credit for any of it. It's not me. It's the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in me. I am nothing without Him! All glory to God! Forever and ever! Amen! 🙌 My Faith shows through my works, and I cannot withhold it (nor do I want to). I always struggled to find my purpose in life, but it was planned for me long ago! I'm not of this world; that's why I could not find my purpose in this world. This is it, and the feeling of fulfillment is indescribable. John 14:12-14 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!"

6. FREE FROM THE LAW

John 14:15-20 “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be IN YOU. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you." 🔥 I broke all 10 commandments (hating someone = murder), but I love God, and I turned to Him in repentance and grief over breaking them, so now, I don't need to follow them. I follow my Savior; I cannot break the commandments because He is the Perfect Leader who lives in me. Jesus was NEVER a follower of the law (a heresy I often hear from hypocrites and liars who twist the truth). Even though He worked on Sabbath, He remained blameless because the law doesn't work against Love and good deeds;

THE LAW WAS MADE FOR SINNERS.

JESUS CHRIST WAS NEVER A SINNER, SO THE LAW NEVER APPLIED TO HIM. The law is against sinful nature; mine no longer exists. That is how Jesus "fulfilled the law." Galatians 5:22-25 "But THE HOLY SPIRIT produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. THERE IS NO LAW AGAINST THESE THINGS! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." 1 Timothy 1:9 "For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, LIARS, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God." So why was the law given? To convict people of their sin, so they would REPENT! No one is able to follow it without the Holy Spirit! You are lying to yourself thinking that you can! (Lying breaks all 10 commandments! FYI) Romans 3:20 "For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are." Galatians 3:10 "But those who DEPEND on the law to make them right with God are UNDER HIS CURSE, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”

• People who DEPEND on the law will break it

• People who Repent and receive the Holy Spirit will obey it

I could NEVER obey all commandments, so I have put my trust in Jesus Christ, who set me FREE from slavery to the law. NOW, I CAN NEVER BREAK ANY COMMANDMENT! 1 John 3:6 "Anyone who continues to live in him WILL NOT SIN. But ANYONE WHO KEEPS SINNING DOES NOT KNOW HIM OR UNDERSTAND WHO HE IS." Romans 6:14 "Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace." Romans 7:4-6 "So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are UNITED with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit."

7. TESTING

Just as Jesus was tested for 40 days and nights in the wilderness, Noah and his family were tested for 40 days after the world flooded, and God's people were tested in the wilderness after God freed them from Egypt; so was I. The demonic temptation resembled the one Jesus faced. I was showered with "one in a lifetime" offers from random people. They all felt extremely hollow as if they weren't even real people (it was strange). I rejected them all. Compared to temptations before repentance, this was "external" because I am now filled with the Light. It wasn't super easy, but it wasn't that hard, either. But again, it all depends if you can "afford it" by having Faith. After passing that test, I was required to let go of ALL control, even small things like groceries. It was a process, and God has been VERY patient with me.

He leads me and gives me peace. I have nothing to worry about. I used to suffer from panic attacks, but now I have no anxiety about anything. "I'm sleeping in my boat" 😎 🌊 ⛈️ ⚡

I'm free from a lifelong addiction to cannabis. I tried quitting a few times before, but it was a misery and never lasted more than a few weeks. Quitting it with the Holy Spirit was effortless (5 months so far). I canceled and shredded my expensive "medical license" into pieces. I don't need it or crave it. The reasons I was doing it are also gone; Fibromyalgia, Insomnia, and IBS. Whenever I randomly smell it outside, it only brings bad memories; and I know God smiles whenever He sees how much it disgusts me.

I'm filled with joy. The Holy Spirit takes me on a totally different "high." It's out of this world! 😌 Isaiah 55:8-9 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 "But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us." John 15:14-17 "You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other." I am absolutely over my former life in darkness and this wicked world (though I still enjoy nature!) There is nothing that would entice me to go back there. Not a thing, not a person. I would rather die or be killed and be with Jesus. My bank account is empty, but I'm rich in Faith and lack nothing.

• James 2:5 "Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?"

• 1 Corinthians 9:17-18 "If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this SACRED TRUST. What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News."

• Galatians 6:14 "As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died."

1 Peter 1:7 "THESE TRIALS WILL SHOW THAT YOUR FAITH IS GENUINE. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." 1 Peter 4:1-6 "So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit."

• my "former self" is now dead; she no longer exists, BUT I AM ALIVE, FOREVER.

Repentance is a Privilege, and its time is running out. Acts 11:18 "When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.” Luke 5:34-35 "Jesus responded, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

• The Holy Spirit won't be available; all who did not repent will be TESTED.

Revelation 3:10-12 “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name."

Abba Father! 🙌 💕👑