INFLUENCE OTHERS WITH YOUR FAITH 2

16 AND IF THESE NATIONS TRULY LEARN THE WAYS OF MY PEOPLE, AND IF THEY LEARN TO SWEAR BY MY NAME, SAYING, ‘AS SURELY AS THE LORD LIVES’ (just as they taught my people to swear by the name of Baal), THEN THEY WILL BE GIVEN A PLACE AMONG MY PEOPLE.
17 But any nation who refuses to obey me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Jeremiah 12:16,17 (NLT)

• The new move of God is always about the improvement of the previous work, and the addition of the new things:
7 FOR IF THAT FIRST COVENANT HAD BEEN FAULTLESS, THEN NO PLACE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOUGHT FOR A SECOND. 8 BECAUSE FINDING FAULT WITH THEM, HE SAYS: "BEHOLD, THE DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL MAKES A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH 13 IN THAT HE SAYS, "A NEW COVENANT," HE HAS MADE THE FIRST OBSOLETE. NOW WHAT IS BECOMING OBSOLETE AND GROWING OLD IS READY TO VANISH AWAY" (Hebrews 8:7,8,13 NKJV).

• Thus, the new move of God is always an improvement of the old!
WHEN the plan of God to reach the whole world, to embrace the gentiles, and incorporate them into His programme was made known to the Jews; they find it difficult to accept:
1 NOW THE APOSTLES AND BRETHREN WHO WERE IN JUDEA HEARD THAT THE GENTILES HAD ALSO RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD. 2 AND WHEN PETER CAME UP TO JERUSALEM, THOSE OF THE CIRCUMCISION CONTENDED WITH HIM, 3 SAYING, “YOU WENT IN TO UNCIRCUMCISED MEN AND ATE WITH THEM!”
4 BUT PETER EXPLAINED IT TO THEM IN ORDER FROM THE BEGINNING . . . . " (Acts 11:1-4 NKJV).

• It was like Paul was the one who spearheaded it, who was propagating it, was being heretic (2 Timothy 1:11,12).

• Now, as a believer in Christ Jesus, do not be myopic. Be flexible in God's hand and allow Him to use you for whatever He intended to do.

• Though, you might not fully understand the details of whatever He wanted to do, you just have to cooperate with Him and allow His plans to be unfolded.
• If God is stirring your heart to reach out to someone or a group of people, or a community, a village, or a town, with the gospel, do not hesitate to do it.
• Whatever you are being moved or stirred to do, to expand God's Kingdom on earth, do not argue with Him on it, nor hesitate to do it.
• Do not try to stand on God's way in His bid to do or carry out a new thing. Yours is to cooperate, inasmuch that the thing revealed or said to do is in line with the Bible—the foundational revelation.

• The Israelites were taught to swear by the name of Baal (Jeremiah 12:16). They were negatively influenced by the heathen nations around them, thus, God was not happy with them.

• Possibly they thought their God, the God of heaven, could not be served or worshiped by other nations except they only.
• Let others know about your God. Jesus Christ died for the whole world. The gospel means the good news!
• The news we, believers, are to proclaim is that Jesus Christ died for the whole world, paid for their sins, and through Him only; the whole human race have an access to God the Father:
  18 NOW ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD, WHO HAS RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, AND HAS GIVEN US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, AND HAS COMMITTED TO US THE WORD OF RECONCILIATION. 20 NOW THEN, WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 FOR HE MADE HIM WHO KNEW NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, THAT WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM" (2 Corinthians 5:18-21 NKJV).
  READ: Acts 4:12; 17:30,31

• It is a thing to be regretted that the believers in Christ Jesus that supposed to influence the people of the world with their faith, their beliefs, are rather being influenced by the world.

• If you shut up your mouth and hide your faith, your believe, you would be introduced to what they, the people of the world, believe. Let the people know your stand in God!
• You are the light wherever you find yourself, as a believer in Christ Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16). You are to shine, give light to those who might be in the same house, room, or place, with you (Matthew 5:15,16; Luke 8:16; 1 Peter 2:12).
• Let them see Jesus through your character, how you behave and relate with others. Believers were called Christians in Antioch because they looked and behaved like Christ (Acts 11:26).
• In sharing with the people about Christ, you tell them or share how your life was before you met Christ, that is, before you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour; then how your life in Christ Jesus is now that you have known Him; and what are the noticeable changes in your life, that is, the significant changes you have experienced in your life since you were reborn? (Galatians 1:13-17; 1 Timothy 1:12-16)
• If the unbelievers are not ashamed to tell others about their gods, idols, what they have as the source of their power; then, Believers should be able to do better.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, such is completely uprooted in Jesus' mighty name.
• You are declared healed in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace.
  TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!