Article | - 5:26 pm
Read the Highlights of the Bible Study from Wednesday, May 14th
On Wednesday, May 14th, at 7 PM at The Universal Church at 1091 Fulton Street in Brooklyn, NY, Bishop Bira Joshua began the Bible study by leading the congregation in prayer for a clean heart, for a new heart. Together, they prayed for repentance and forgiveness, to receive a heart like the heart of the Lord Jesus, a new mind according to His mind, to be like our Lord Jesus. They prayed, asking God for the daily bread of His Word that nourishes their faith, and that the Holy Spirit may speak to each one according to their needs.
When a person leaves one country for another, one kingdom for another, they need a passport and a visa. Much like in this world, irreversibly, to enter God’s Kingdom, one needs a ‘spiritual visa,’ as mentioned by the bishop, “Unless a person is born of the water (water baptism), born of the Word of God, disciplined by the Word of God, unless we receive the Holy Spirit, we cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”
This was the instruction the Lord Jesus gave to Nicodemus, a man very religious and well-versed in Scripture, yet who needed the new birth because he still belonged to this world (John 3:5).
Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. (John 11:25)
Martha had recently lost her brother Lazarus when she received these words from Jesus. Although she was facing the physical death of her loved one, Jesus was referring to spiritually dying to the world, as Bishop Joshua explained.
Those who spiritually die for the world are often misunderstood, criticized, and told they are not enjoying life, as they refrain from partying, smoking, or using drugs, for example, and continually seek to align their thoughts with God’s will. However, the reality is that through the guidance from the Holy Spirit, they find refuge within the Kingdom of God, where true life, peace, and strength are found.
Many are religious or inside of churches, but are not in the Kingdom of God. “They want Jesus, the kingdom of light, but they also want to be on the outside, in darkness… When they are inside the church, they look like Christians. They have the outer appearance of a child of God. However, among unbelievers, their behavior often reveals otherwise: cursing, fighting, stealing, bribing, sleeping around, living in corruption…,” explained the bishop.
In today’s age, with easy access to the internet and technology, some may even know how to preach, recite the Bible, and create sermons. However, their actions do not match their words or what they know—they leading a double life. True repentance and surrender of life are unchanging requirements to be inserted into God’s Kingdom.
Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. (John 14:23)
As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. It is not enough to merely say, “Jesus, I love you,” while engaging in worship in church, but living a double life outside. One must practice the Word of God.
“We have to decide in which kingdom we want to be,” the bishop asserted, emphasizing, “There are no days off or vacations from the Kingdom of God… If we leave the Kingdom of God and go to another kingdom, He is not responsible for us.”
He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. (John 14:24)
“To love the Lord Jesus is not to be religious. It is not just to praise and worship, but to honor Him and sanctify His name wherever you go,” the bishop emphasized before inviting the congregation to pray.
Although we do not decide where or to which family or country we are born, we can choose where to spend the eternity of our souls. Bishop Bira Joshua invited those who had been divided and decided at that moment to surrender their lives to the Lord Jesus and enter the Kingdom of God through a conscious decision to repent, prioritize their salvation, seek the Holy Spirit wholeheartedly, and obey the Word of God throughout their lives.
The church is open daily, and a special meeting occurs every Wednesday to strengthen our spiritual lives and seek the Holy Spirit. All are welcome regardless of religion, background, or circumstances. Come as you are.
Wednesday at 10 AM, 4 PM, and mainly at 7 PM at The Universal Church. For more information on locations, please call 1-888-332-4141 or text 1-888-312-4141.
For those who live in areas without a location of The Universal Church, you may also connect to our Virtual Church via Zoom Conference.
