Although I am a gentile, I came into the Kingdom of God when Jesus told me: You must be born again, then I heard Him say, I tell you the truth, Bob, unless, you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom Of God. That day when He spoke those words to me I was so excited as I listened. Then Jesus replied, "I assure you, Bob, 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. (Not beyond anyone's understanding, Bob) 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". (What can I do, Lord Jesus,) Check Out . . . Revelation 3:19-20, and certainly John 3:3-8 These instructions were not given immediate attention, but they enlarged my spirit of understanding, and bless the Lord He never released me till the narrow road became clear.
A Chosen Life Study
Conversations, Scriptures and poemsBy Bob BowmanAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2009 Bob Bowman
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4490-0123-0Contents
Isaiah 9......................................................................................viiThe Dedication of the Temple..................................................................xiiForeword by Pastor Jon........................................................................xiiiSpecial page of interest......................................................................xivThe Greatest Story Ever Told..................................................................xviThe Greatest Story Ever Told-Part two & The Gift With Faith...................................xviiPut On The Whole Armor Of God.................................................................xviiiThanksgiving for the Thessalonians' Faith.....................................................xixThe Dove revealing the Holy Spirit............................................................xxiChapter One: His Church.......................................................................1Chapter Two: His Desire Is For Salvation (New Birth) For All..................................22Chapter Three: Choose Life ... And ... Walk With Jesus........................................31Chapter Four: A Chosen Life...................................................................41Chapter Five: The Trinity.....................................................................63Chapter Six: Convicted And Committed..........................................................73Chapter Seven: Life In The Spirit.............................................................77Chapter Eight: What Happened To The Good News On The Sidewalks Of America.....................82Chapter Nine: A Warning To The Shepherds......................................................90Chapter Ten: When I Was Just A Boy............................................................98Chapter Eleven: This Life In The Spirit.......................................................108Chapter Twelve: His Peace.....................................................................125Chapter Thirteen: The Vine....................................................................128Chapter Fourteen: Faith.......................................................................132Chapter Fifteen: The Beatitudes...............................................................139Chapter Sixteen: Chosen Life Study Testimonials...............................................141Chapter Seventeen: Something Personal.........................................................148Chapter Eighteen: The Heart...................................................................153The Priestly Prayer...........................................................................156Family Gathering..............................................................................1601 Corinthians 13..............................................................................161Spreading His Fame............................................................................162Acts 3........................................................................................163Psalm 96 (New Living Translation).............................................................164The Church's One Foundation...................................................................165John 3 (Today's New International Version)....................................................166Take A Walk With Jesus........................................................................168Do You want to see miracles?>>>>>>>>>>Live With Jesus In Your Heart...........................168Do you want to see Healings?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Give each day to Jesus...........................168Do you want to hear the prophetic word?>>>>>>>Live each day in Jesus..........................168Do you want to preach the word?>>>>>>>>>Examine & hold the Trinity............................168Do you want to see demons cast out?>>>>>>>>>Give all the glory to God.........................168Do you want to see the resurrection ?>>>>>>>> Give all the glory to God.......................1682 Peter 3:10-18 (New King James Version)......................................................169Acknowledgements..............................................................................171A New Heaven and a New Earth..................................................................173
Chapter One
A Chosen Life Study Wonderful Counselor Mighty God Everlasting Father Prince of Peace His Church
Our life in Christ, while being changed from glory to glory in and with Jesus, is connected to one another in Him. It maintains a deep relationship with Jesus and His church. Waverly Open Bible emulates for our family the Word of God, and it keeps us flowing in Him. It is a church in Christ that truly has opened their bible to His love, and His ways. We are rooted and built up in Him, (Col. 2:7) steadfast in the faith that only Jesus can provide. And with that we have committed our lives to establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ on an individual basis. The basic truth with that is loving Him as we reach out to one another in love while sharing His Word, and our lives. It is overflowing, as we partner with Him and with one another.
Knowing who we are is the basis for the above statements, and is the resounding format of Christianity.
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins.
He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross. (You must receive Christ.) Colossians 2:13-15
The basics for understanding this chapter, and book, is knowing what it means to be embodied in Christ, and with that, having been immersed in Him?
So, what is immersion?
For example, in just 5 months my wife and I will have been married for 50 years. Yet I cannot say that all of the time I have been immersed in her, or with her. Yet I have the best wife and mother anyone could want. She sometimes complains about a lack of my attention. The commandments teach us to put nothing ahead of God. He is first in all our ways.
So how can we make Him always first in our lives? Is that a possibility? God says in John 3:3 that we need to be born again. Could it be that He would come into our life and be immersed with us in His Spirit, if only we would ask? Well as we read this book, let's see if Jesus is the God of our ways, and that He fills our days and nights with His presence, our need, and with His desire to create a better life for us, if only we ask. How do we make that happen? Flow through this chapter with the dove, and let Him explain the first step. It's like a song that expresses the words, 'Oh how He loves you and me', then let's ask ourselves if we are always connected in Him? Pray! Be faithfully positive, be honest, and surely be long serving in your mind and in your heart with God in the Lord Jesus Christ.
God is building His church through His Son.
Jeremiah 31:31-33 "The day is coming,' says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife," says the Lord. "But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day," says the Lord.
Do you really want to be saved? Do you know we are all sinners? Are you ready to confess your sinfulness and lead a pure life, accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as payment for your sinfulness? Open, to Jesus and others? It will be answered lovingly in John 3:3-10..... Please read! It is possible, through His Holy Spirit which He offers freely. In John 3:3-10 notice how completely helpless the cripple man was to be cleansed and to be healed, by the water and the word. He had a longing for God's Kingdom. What does Jesus want to do with us as we continue reading below? Needless to say, but, the words below are very important! We also remember that the dove is representing God's Spirit hidden in our hearts.
"I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. They will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, 'You should know the Lord.' For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already," says the Lord. "And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins."
In 1 John, Verse 1, we read: See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know him.
Verse 2: Dear friends, we are already God's children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as He is pure.
Verse 4: Everyone who sins is breaking God's law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in Him.
Anyone who continues to live in Him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know Him, or understand who He is.
Verse 7: Dear children, don't let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the world's beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. (Born again) So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God.
Verse 10: So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. 1 John 1-10
I, Bob, included these verses because they are so outstanding and wonderful to read. If His joy doesn't fill us each day of our lives, we should reread these verses every day of our lives. God is building His church, and He is using His Son to do that.
When He opened His door for me, why did He give me a choice to enter, or to choose my own love song, and enter in my own time? 'This mystery' is for believers only. Others have yet to discover what is on the inside.
Hosea's wife is redeemed as God redeems His children
Then the Lord said to me, "Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them."
How do we forgive a grievous sin? Our Lord has given us that grace!
So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine. (Evangelism begins here:) (I hear His voice through Hosea-command of the Lord fulfilling. In denouncing sin, we lead others to Jesus.)
Then I said to her, "You must live in my house for many days and stop your prostitution. During this time, you will not have sexual relations with anyone, not even with me."
This shows that Israel will go a long time without a king or prince, and without sacrifices, sacred pillars, priests, or even idols!
But afterward the people will return and devote themselves to the Lord their God and to David's descendant, their king. In the last days, they will tremble in awe of the Lord and of his goodness. Hosea 3:1-5
Knowing who we are is the basis of Christianity
Christians know and love one another by the power in His name And the truth about our fellowship adds glory to His fame. It will always be a mystery, how He draws His precious ones To believe and trust in Jesus, while He calls us all His sons. He says it's like the wind that blows; we feel it when it nears, But can't tell where it comes from, or where it disappears. The one thing that believers know: A change has taken place, As our hearts have entered into the witness of His grace. And so we know each other and praise our Lord above, For the earthly view of paradise, in the comfort of His love ... Believe His Holy name, all you children of the Lord, Don't go anywhere with out Him, He's our shield and so adored ... Poem By Bob Bowman
For this reason because I preached that you are thus built up together, I, Paul, [am] the prisoner of Jesus the Christ for the sake and on behalf of you Gentiles.
Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace (His unmerited favor) that was entrusted to me [to dispense to you] for your benefit,
[And] that the mystery (secret) was made known to me and I was allowed to comprehend it by direct revelation, as I already briefly wrote you.
When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.
[This mystery] was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit.
[It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel). Of this [Gospel] I was made a minister according to the gift of God's free grace (undeserved favor) which was bestowed on me by the exercise (the working in all its effectiveness) of His power.
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God's consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out],
Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men] of the mystery kept hidden through the ages and concealed until now in [the mind of] God Who created all things by Christ Jesus. [The purpose is] that through the church the [c] complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere.
This is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and carried into effect in [the person of] Christ Jesus our Lord,
In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).
So I ask you not to lose heart [not to faint or become despondent through fear] at what I am suffering in your behalf. [Rather glory in it] for it is an honor to you.
For this reason [[d] seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].
May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,
That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];
[That you may really come] to know [practically, [e] through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses [f] mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] [g] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and [h] become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]-
To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). Ephesians Chapter three
Prayer
God answers all prayers
He hears us, loves us, and desires to live with us.
Because He wants to protect us, He uses His will in our prayers to protect ours.
So, when we pray, He deals with the issue more than how it is presented or requested ... (His will not ours) That's why we don't always understand why He didn't answer our prayer.
The result.
More perfect than we ask.
Always includes: Mercy, peace, and salvation. Prayer analysis by Bob Bowman
Conclusion: Always pray without ceasing!
This is what my Faithful Lord who cannot lie has declared to me!
If you abide in Me, and my Words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7
Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:24
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Matthew 21:22
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:13-14
Again I say to you that if two of you agree concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. Matthew 18:19
Ask, and it will be given unto you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened unto you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew. 7:7,8
And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them. I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Luke 18:7,8
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15
Does God really want us to be His? Called by His name? To be a shining light? Do my ways reflect His? Do I always abide with Him..... Is my prayer life in obedience to my walk with the Lord?
When I answer a questions within myself regarding the suggested thoughts and verses above I always refer to the Statement of Jesus that He allowed us to build our faith with in 2 Corinthians 13:5 as follows: Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is living in you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.
Do I hold to this thought in my heart? To be sure!
For everyone has sinned! We all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. Roman's 3:23-24
(Continues...)
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