Hi! This is Bishop Zachary Kakobe, writing to you, about the Greatest Miracle!
If you ask me if I believe in physical miracles, my answer, will be a big Yes! I believe 100%, in physical miracles. With Jesus Christ, everything is possible - relationship miracles, financial miracles, healing miracles for the deaf, blind, dumb, lame; miracles of cancer or AIDS healing, and what have you! By the grace of God, I have seen Jesus perform countless miracles of this kind, in my ministry. However, today, I want to share with you, the Greatest of all miracles.
All the aforementioned miracles, are not eternal. The blind man Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52, received his sight miraculously, and followed Jesus, full of joy; but where is he now? He later died! In Mark 1:29-31, we learn about Simon's mother in law, who was in bed with a fever, and Jesus went to her and healed her instantly. But where is she? Is she still living? No! She later died!
Where is the woman in Mark 5:25-34, who was subject to bleeding for twelve years, and was miraculously healed by Jesus? Is she still around? No! She later died! Where is Lazarus of John 11:1-45, who was raised from the dead, after being in the tomb, for four days? He later died again!
Physical miracles are not everlasting! They only give you joy for a while, but Salvation is the greatest of all miracles! Healing miracles can only give you temporary life and joy, but Salvation gives you abundant life; that is eternal life and joy! When we receive the miracle of Salvation, we receive a ticket which enables us to go to a place called Heaven; where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4). The miracle of Salvation, gives us everlasting life, and everlasting joy! Financial miracles, cannot give us everlasting joy, but if we die in our sins, without salvation, we leave behind all the financial prosperity and go to a place of eternal torment; where the rich man in Luke 16:19-31, went after his death.
So, how then, do we get the miracle of Salvation? In order for us, to understand how we can receive this miracle, first of all, we need to have a deeper understanding about sin and its consequences.
Sin entered the world through one man, Adam (Romans 5:12), and because of this, every person is born a sinner (Psalm 51:5; 58:3). Because we are born sinners, the sin nature in us, makes us commit sin. None of us can sincerely claim that he has not sinned, since he was born. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8).
What are the consequences of sin? Though God loves us, his holiness and justice, are such that, he cannot live with evil. The wicked, will not go unpunished, stern discipline awaits him (Proverbs 11:21; 15:10). The wages of sin is death. As death separates a person from the world, in like manner, sin eternally separates a person from God. Only one sin is sufficient to separate a person from God. Adam and Eve were separated from God as a result of only one sin! Likewise, because it is so obvious that you have committed more than one sin in your life, you are doomed to eternal separation from God, regardless of how religious you are!
Worse still, sinners are going to spend their eternal separation from God; in hell (Matthew 10:28). Hell fire will be every sinner's portion and the agony will reach its climax when every sinner will be cast into the lake of fire, together with the devil; where he will be tormented day and night, for ever and ever (Revelation 20:10,15). Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
This means, the only way to be saved, or in simple words, to escape from this tormenting fire, is by living a holy life here on earth. Yes, I repeat, here on earth; because there are some people who believe that salvation is after death, and that nobody can be saved and live a holy life here on earth. On the contrary, the Bible speaks of the saints (holy ones) and the excellent ones in whom God delights, they are in the earth (Psalm 16:3).
In God's plan, we are supposed to receive salvation, here on earth; that's why Jesus came (to the earth), to seek and to save what was lost (Luke 19:10). In fact, during his ministry here on earth, Jesus preached salvation to mankind (John 5:34). When Jesus went to Zacchaeus house, he said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house…." (Luke 19:9). If salvation was after death, Jesus wouldn't have used the word "today", and moreover, there could have been no reason for Jesus to come to the earth, to seek and to save what was lost! It is appointed for men to die once, but after this, the judgement (Hebrews 9:27). The rich man who was a sinner, in Luke 16:19-31; went to hell, straight after his death. Behold, Now is the acceptable time; behold, Now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).
OK! Let us now go a step further! Can a person really live a holy life here on earth? This can only be a reality if the person receives a miracle, which can change his sinful nature, and this is the greatest of all miracles! A leopard cannot change its spotted skin and have a zebra's skin; that has black and white stripes. In the same way, a man has no ability to change his sinful nature, unless he receives a miracle from God (Jeremiah 13:23). That's why, when the disciples asked Jesus, "Who then can be saved?", Jesus replied, "With men this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible." (Matthew 19:25-26). Jesus also said, "….for without me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5). No one can live a holy life on earth, except he receives a miracle from God!
This miracle from God, changes a sinner, with a sinful nature, into a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17), and transforms his character completely. He becomes born again, born of God; and for whatever is born of God, overcomes the world (1 John 5:4), that is, overcomes sin. This miracle from God, makes a person to overcome sin. Sin can no longer have dominion over him. Now he has the power to overcome sin. He can no longer be a fornicator, idolater, adulterer, homosexual, sodomite, a thief, a covetous man, nor a drunkard, reviler nor extortioner (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Lewdness, sorcery, murder, lying, cigarette smoking, addictive drugs, and the like; cannot reign again in his life (Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8). He can no longer sin on purpose. He is now a child of God!
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him and he cannot sin because he has been born of God. In this, the children of God and the children of the devil, are manifest. Whoever does not practice righteousness, is not of God (1 John 3:8-10). A child of God, cannot sin on purpose! It is possible for a child of God to sin no more, that's why in John 5:14, Jesus spoke to the man he found in the temple, "….sin no more…"
Now, since a child of God has the power to overcome sin, he is therefore saved from eternal damnation. He has received the greatest of all miracles, the miracle of Salvation. Now, dear reader, examine yourself! Are you really saved, or are you just a religious person, or a church goer? The following question is the acid test! Do you have the power to sin no more, or overcome sin in your life? If your answer to this question, is no; then you are an ordinary sinner, and hell fire is your portion. A saved or born again person is a new creation, his life is transformed.
Saved or born again believers in the Early church had testimonies of changed lives. The Apostle Paul, clearly distinguishes his life before and after he was saved. In Titus 3:3-5, he says, "For we ourselves also were..serving divers lusts and pleasures… but after that…he saved us…" In Timothy 1:13, he speaks of his past life, as one "who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious….", and says he lived that kind of life, in "unbelief", that is when he was an unbeliever. I repeat! Test yourself, if you are saved. Is your present life different from your old life, you used to live, when you were not yet born again? If your life has not changed, and you still do the same sins, you used to do before you started to claim that you are born again; then someone has preached to you "another gospel" (Galatians 1:6-9), and deceived you! You need to start afresh today, and receive the miracle of Salvation. Now then, how can we receive this miracle of Salvation? Please read on!
There cannot be a real new birth or salvation experience, without genuine repentance. Repentance means change of mind! You change your mind about all the sins you used to cherish before, and you now count them as dung (Philippians 3:7-8), and because of this, you want to part with the sins. This is where many people have missed it! He who covers (conceals) his sins, will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them, will have mercy (Proverbs 28:13). God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap (Galatians 6:7).
A person who needs to be saved, must not only believe in his heart, and accept Jesus as his personal Lord and Saviour, but must also confess and repent his sins, with a real intention from the depths of his heart, to forsake them completely, while believing that Jesus Christ, will not only forgive his sins; but will also give him the power to sin no more, in his life. Dear reader, after knowing all this, do you sincerely need this miracle of Salvation? The choice is yours! (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15).
If you sincerely need to be saved, which I believe you do, then take your own words of confession and repentance of your sins; and return to the Lord and pray to Him that He will take away all your iniquity, and receive you graciously (Hosea 14:2), and give you the power to sin no more. If you can't frame your own words in prayer to the Lord, then pray to Him in faith, along these lines, "My God, I confess that I'm a sinner. I have sinned against You, in thought, word and deed. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross on my behalf, and was buried, and on the third day, He was raised from the dead, as He said. With sincere repentance and contrition, I ask forgiveness from the depths of my heart. Cleanse me from all my sins, by the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed on the cross. From today, I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour. Give me the power to overcome sin, and help me by Your Grace, to walk in the way of righteousness, and to do only what pleases you. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen."
If you just said this prayer, and you meant it with all your heart, I believe that your sins are forgiven, and you have just received the miracle of Salvation; because Jesus said in John 6:37, "….the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out." Now that you are saved, what's next?
First of all, you need to fill in the form below, so that I can rush your letter of congratulations for your Miracle of Salvation, off to you, immediately; and moreover, the filled in form will enable me to pray specifically for you; by mentioning your name and your other details. I want to pray for you, so that, you may remain firmly established and steadfast in the faith. Bear in mind that, all information on this form, will be kept strictly confidential; and BZKIM will never share it with external parties without your consent.
Secondly, you need to find a bible-based church, and join other believers of like precious faith; and study God's Word. Once you have found a church home, by following the footsteps of Jesus Christ, in Matthew 3:13-17, I'm sure you will also want to become water baptized. Jesus said in John 13:17, "If you know these things, blessed are you, if you do them."
May the Lord keep you from stumbling (Jude 1:24)
Your Servant in Christ,
Bishop Zachary Kakobe
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