Member
Pregnant by the Holy Spirit
- excerpts by Nicky Cruz
Have you ever thought about the fact that, as a born-again Christian, somebody gave birth to you in the Spirit? It may have been a close relative or friend, or it may have been somebody who had no idea who you were or where you lived, but the Holy Spirit impregnated them with a burden for you, and they saw it through. You have the gift of new life in Christ Jesus because somebody cared enough about you to pray for you!
The greatest miracle of all comes from the Spirit of God who brings forth the gift of new life from Heaven. The new birth is the most exciting and supernatural miracle that can happen on earth. When a person comes from darkness into the light.when a person is completely transformed by the Power of the Holy Spirit.when a person totally confesses Jesus Christ as Lord of lords.when a person trusts God with all his heart and begins to follow Him - that is the greatest of all miracles.
Comfortable Christianity
I have been converted for forty years. I came from nowhere. I was a loser and a failure. I was a down-and-out criminal, raised by street gangs. Don't take this wrong, but if I had seen some of the Christians I've seen since then, I probably would not be saved today. It scares me to think that some of the 'representatives of Christ on Earth' that I have seen could have kept me from being born again.
You see, America is geared to have "big" things. everything is BIG in America. These days pastors don't need to spend long hours in prayer before God seeking the Holy Ghost as to where they should build their churches. They can just push a button on the computer and find out who to reach and not reach if they want to build a big church.
I saw it happen to a large church right in the heart of Brooklyn. God was moving tremendously. They were reaching out to the community. But there was a split because some of the members wanted to move to a more comfortable district. Concerned, the leadership consulted 'professionals.' The result? They were told they should move out of Brooklyn and into Stanton Island - to get away from the blacks, Hispanics, and minorities - where they could receive much more money every year. What about facing God and seeking the lost!?
We are sitting on a time-bomb in our society between race, economy, social issues, religious beliefs, gangs, drugs, pornography . the list goes on and on. We must be led by the Holy Spirit and never loose the touch to be sensitive to God and to people. We must do the same things Jesus Christ did. He laid His reputation on the line for principals. Jesus didn't die just for the rich person but for the prostitute as well!
We'd better watch out for the set-up. Too many of us are after comfort. We want to walk away from responsibility. We want to give our work to somebody else.
Look, if you want to walk around with the silver spoon of comfort in your mouth you can, but you'll be one of the most superficial Christians that ever walked on the face of the earth. You can go and follow all the favorite "Christian personalities." You don't even have to read the Bible, just listen to all kinds of tapes on how you can have more - without a care for those who have nothing at all.
But if you want to see true accomplishments in life you've got to get down onto your knees and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you His magnificent dimensions. You've got to open up your heart and move with the heartbeat of Jesus Christ. Get involved with His feelings, His emotions, His compassion. The only way we are going to reach this world is to be available. It has to be through person-to-person contact. The only thing God can use is you-your mouth, your feet, your hands, your eyes, and your ears!
Jesus Came to the Valley!
I don't live like I once did, but there's something I will never forget: Where I came from and the miracle Jesus Christ did in my life, and the burden of the man who cried out for me and interceded for me!
But as Christians, we have a tendency to just enjoy ourselves and ride Christianity right up to the mountaintop and stay there, so we cannot be touched or infected by all the sin in this world. From there we look down in the valley and say, "I am glad I'm not down there."
Let me tell you something. Jesus Christ came DOWN from heaven. He humbled Himself, emptied Himself and gave Himself. RIGHT HERE IN THE VALLEY.
You know what I've learned in the valley? Here in the valley you can hear it and you can feel it. You can know what real loneliness is all about. You can know what depression, rejection, hurt, pain, and insecurity is all about. You can feel the fear. You can feel the turmoil.
But it is here in the valley that Jesus gives us power and understanding and wisdom and compassion so that through us He can reach this world with the gift of life!
Being comfortable is not a challenge. It is merely a weakness; a natural sensation. But if you want to know how God feels when people begin to come and love Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, then I urge you in the Name of Jesus, get down onto your knees and begin to pray. Ask God to give you a burden. Don't let this world intimidate you anymore. You have a message to give! Don't sit there in your comfort and expect someone else to take care of the valley - you need to get out and tell others about Jesus!
Before David Wilkerson came to New York, he wasn't prepared to deal with hardened gang members who would beat him up and abuse him. But he had a stirring inside like Rachel! The Holy Spirit impregnated him with our souls!
I remember when I finally went to hear him speak. I had punched him and kicked him and even spit on him a few days before. As I walked into that meeting I saw him there, alone with God. He began to share the Word God had given him. He still had two black eyes. His nose was still swollen and hurting. But he shared. I listened to him. For the very first time, I gave God time to hear what He had to say. When Dave talked about the beating and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, I was touched, because I could relate to violence.
Many nights later, I went to see Dave again. That was the night he gave birth to me. He had spent weeks agonizing in prayer saying, "God, why have you put me here? Nothing is happening." He had spent nights in his car and on the floor of a tiny Hispanic church. But finally, Jesus answered his prayer. I was born-again. That man gave up a little comfort and gave birth to Nicky Cruz. I thank God, because I know now where I came from and who I am.
Are You Willing?
People need people. If we are Christians and say we have the truth, we must take the truth to the valleys of people's lives. We must take the light to darkness. Jesus is going to change this world-but He's going to do it through you!
Make an altar where you are right now. If you're not living for Jesus, if you've been living for yourself, if you've been intimidated by this world, repent and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with boldness. He will hear you and answer you. Ask God to really speak to you so you can get pregnant with His burden - pregnant with the souls of the unsaved - so you can be a blessing and bring honor to Jesus Christ.
Pray for souls! God is going to use you to bring children to Him. You are going to give birth! It may be your business partner, your son, your alcoholic husband - God can save them. Will you be willing to give them birth?
Will you be heard praying, "I believe you will do it Jesus! I'm going to share the gospel with that person. I'm going to hold on and cry out until I see that person saved."
I believe with all my heart that this is a supernatural hour. We need the glory of the Lord, the power of Jesus Christ to be manifested in our body and in our life so we can produce for Him. Be vulnerable. Ask the Holy Spirit to impregnate you - so you can feel and hear and touch the cry of so many - by your love.
- excerpts by Nicky Cruz
Have you ever thought about the fact that, as a born-again Christian, somebody gave birth to you in the Spirit? It may have been a close relative or friend, or it may have been somebody who had no idea who you were or where you lived, but the Holy Spirit impregnated them with a burden for you, and they saw it through. You have the gift of new life in Christ Jesus because somebody cared enough about you to pray for you!
The greatest miracle of all comes from the Spirit of God who brings forth the gift of new life from Heaven. The new birth is the most exciting and supernatural miracle that can happen on earth. When a person comes from darkness into the light.when a person is completely transformed by the Power of the Holy Spirit.when a person totally confesses Jesus Christ as Lord of lords.when a person trusts God with all his heart and begins to follow Him - that is the greatest of all miracles.
Comfortable Christianity
I have been converted for forty years. I came from nowhere. I was a loser and a failure. I was a down-and-out criminal, raised by street gangs. Don't take this wrong, but if I had seen some of the Christians I've seen since then, I probably would not be saved today. It scares me to think that some of the 'representatives of Christ on Earth' that I have seen could have kept me from being born again.
You see, America is geared to have "big" things. everything is BIG in America. These days pastors don't need to spend long hours in prayer before God seeking the Holy Ghost as to where they should build their churches. They can just push a button on the computer and find out who to reach and not reach if they want to build a big church.
I saw it happen to a large church right in the heart of Brooklyn. God was moving tremendously. They were reaching out to the community. But there was a split because some of the members wanted to move to a more comfortable district. Concerned, the leadership consulted 'professionals.' The result? They were told they should move out of Brooklyn and into Stanton Island - to get away from the blacks, Hispanics, and minorities - where they could receive much more money every year. What about facing God and seeking the lost!?
We are sitting on a time-bomb in our society between race, economy, social issues, religious beliefs, gangs, drugs, pornography . the list goes on and on. We must be led by the Holy Spirit and never loose the touch to be sensitive to God and to people. We must do the same things Jesus Christ did. He laid His reputation on the line for principals. Jesus didn't die just for the rich person but for the prostitute as well!
We'd better watch out for the set-up. Too many of us are after comfort. We want to walk away from responsibility. We want to give our work to somebody else.
Look, if you want to walk around with the silver spoon of comfort in your mouth you can, but you'll be one of the most superficial Christians that ever walked on the face of the earth. You can go and follow all the favorite "Christian personalities." You don't even have to read the Bible, just listen to all kinds of tapes on how you can have more - without a care for those who have nothing at all.
But if you want to see true accomplishments in life you've got to get down onto your knees and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you His magnificent dimensions. You've got to open up your heart and move with the heartbeat of Jesus Christ. Get involved with His feelings, His emotions, His compassion. The only way we are going to reach this world is to be available. It has to be through person-to-person contact. The only thing God can use is you-your mouth, your feet, your hands, your eyes, and your ears!
Jesus Came to the Valley!
I don't live like I once did, but there's something I will never forget: Where I came from and the miracle Jesus Christ did in my life, and the burden of the man who cried out for me and interceded for me!
But as Christians, we have a tendency to just enjoy ourselves and ride Christianity right up to the mountaintop and stay there, so we cannot be touched or infected by all the sin in this world. From there we look down in the valley and say, "I am glad I'm not down there."
Let me tell you something. Jesus Christ came DOWN from heaven. He humbled Himself, emptied Himself and gave Himself. RIGHT HERE IN THE VALLEY.
You know what I've learned in the valley? Here in the valley you can hear it and you can feel it. You can know what real loneliness is all about. You can know what depression, rejection, hurt, pain, and insecurity is all about. You can feel the fear. You can feel the turmoil.
But it is here in the valley that Jesus gives us power and understanding and wisdom and compassion so that through us He can reach this world with the gift of life!
Being comfortable is not a challenge. It is merely a weakness; a natural sensation. But if you want to know how God feels when people begin to come and love Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, then I urge you in the Name of Jesus, get down onto your knees and begin to pray. Ask God to give you a burden. Don't let this world intimidate you anymore. You have a message to give! Don't sit there in your comfort and expect someone else to take care of the valley - you need to get out and tell others about Jesus!
Before David Wilkerson came to New York, he wasn't prepared to deal with hardened gang members who would beat him up and abuse him. But he had a stirring inside like Rachel! The Holy Spirit impregnated him with our souls!
I remember when I finally went to hear him speak. I had punched him and kicked him and even spit on him a few days before. As I walked into that meeting I saw him there, alone with God. He began to share the Word God had given him. He still had two black eyes. His nose was still swollen and hurting. But he shared. I listened to him. For the very first time, I gave God time to hear what He had to say. When Dave talked about the beating and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, I was touched, because I could relate to violence.
Many nights later, I went to see Dave again. That was the night he gave birth to me. He had spent weeks agonizing in prayer saying, "God, why have you put me here? Nothing is happening." He had spent nights in his car and on the floor of a tiny Hispanic church. But finally, Jesus answered his prayer. I was born-again. That man gave up a little comfort and gave birth to Nicky Cruz. I thank God, because I know now where I came from and who I am.
Are You Willing?
People need people. If we are Christians and say we have the truth, we must take the truth to the valleys of people's lives. We must take the light to darkness. Jesus is going to change this world-but He's going to do it through you!
Make an altar where you are right now. If you're not living for Jesus, if you've been living for yourself, if you've been intimidated by this world, repent and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with boldness. He will hear you and answer you. Ask God to really speak to you so you can get pregnant with His burden - pregnant with the souls of the unsaved - so you can be a blessing and bring honor to Jesus Christ.
Pray for souls! God is going to use you to bring children to Him. You are going to give birth! It may be your business partner, your son, your alcoholic husband - God can save them. Will you be willing to give them birth?
Will you be heard praying, "I believe you will do it Jesus! I'm going to share the gospel with that person. I'm going to hold on and cry out until I see that person saved."
I believe with all my heart that this is a supernatural hour. We need the glory of the Lord, the power of Jesus Christ to be manifested in our body and in our life so we can produce for Him. Be vulnerable. Ask the Holy Spirit to impregnate you - so you can feel and hear and touch the cry of so many - by your love.