TOPIC : LOVE – THE TESTIMONIAL OF OUR NEW BIRTH
Scripture : 1 John 3: 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Beloved, I welcome you to another Moment of Daily Encounter! It is no longer news that when Adam sinned all were made sinners and also when Adam died all human race become victims of death! So, every one living on earth without the new birth experience is living in death sentence. Death in this context means total separation from God. The day you surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, you were transfer from the realm of death to life. Today we shall be considering the evidence/ testimonials that you have really pass from death to life.
It was on my convocation day, when the Registrar said, ‘having certified the requirements of…,we therefore confer on you….’ And then we filed out to receive a scroll, when I opened it, lo it was just a piece of paper called certificate. I then asked myself a question, is it just this paper certificate I have been labouring for, for five years? All the assignments, test and exams, was it just to collect a scroll with tiny paper inside it? The obvious answer was, it is not just the certificate that we laboured for! However, the certificate is a testimonials that I have truly graduated.
Similarly, when I became born again, something happened in my spirit, no man could see what transpired in my spirit, yet I have been born anew! The spirit of God had made my heart His new home without any iota of doubt, but how do I convince my world of what has happened to me? It is by providing the testimonial/ certificate of my new birth! The certificate that shows something really happened in the inside.
What then are the testimonials of new birth?
1. The testimonial of obedience to Love:
John 13: 34. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Obeying this scripture is still very difficult among the body of Christ. As some seem to love only those who share denomination affiliation with them, while some love those who share the same cultural bias or language with them. But what Jesus is expecting from us is love amongst us irrespective of your denomination, culture, or ethnicity. Until we obey this injunction, our new birth is questionable.
2. The testimonial of walking in love, the agape love;
1 John 3: 13. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
The ‘death’ according to the above scripture signifies your original life of being separated from God. So the testimonial that you have experienced the new birth, that you have cross from the realm of death to life, from natural to supernatural is love! The testimonial that you are no longer in the realm of death where hatred is the order of the day is deliberate attempt to walk in love. The testimonial that you are genuinely born again is walking in love.
It is normal for human beings to love those that love them! But to love those that hate you can only be by Divine love:
Matthew 5: 43. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;*
How can you love those who are outrightly against you? How do you love someone that holds a different value system than yours? I bet you that can only happen by Divine help! This is the testimonial of your new birth experience which is deliberately walking in love.
Beloved, if you are not born again, you can never demonstrate this divine love! No matter how we pretend to be born again, reality will get down on us one day. And it will be a day of showing to the world if truly you are born again or not. Permit me to ask this sincere question. If you are really born again why walking in bitterness and malice? This is a food for thought.
Remember this : Heaven is real and hell is real. If you miss heaven you can never miss hell! So get ready for eternity today.
Prayer points :
– Father thank you for your word to me today
– Lord, I receive grace to walk in love as commanded by your word in Jesus name.
Prophetic Declaration:
– I prophesy your story is changing for good now in Jesus name.
– You will not be a victim of evil circumstance today in Jesus name.
Assignment: Demonstrate your testimonial of new birth by walking out of malice and bitterness today.
From your brother Alex
God bless you.
