Article | - 4:04 pm
Bishop Bira Joshua Holds First Service After Returning From Israel
On Wednesday night, January 22nd, in Brooklyn, NY, Bishop Bira Joshua held the first prayer service after returning from Israel. The Night of the Open Heavens united those who thirst for a sincere and deep relationship with God. Those who prioritize the salvation of their souls and the seal of the Holy Spirit took the opportunity to strengthen their faith through meditation on the Word of God and moments of communion with the Lord Jesus.
This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. (Psalm 34:6)
During the first minutes of the service, Bishop Bira Joshua invited those in pain and anguish of soul to approach the Altar and to lay their burdens down before the Lord. The bishop prayed for the deliverance and peace of those who came forward and invited them to cry out to the Lord for rescue, refuge, and strength.
It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:44)
In meditating with the congregation on the above video and Biblical passage, Bishop Bira Joshua explained the need to surrender the old life, the old ways, desires, and sins to the Lord Jesus through repentance and water baptism. There must be a clear decision and change of life in order to receive a spiritual body—a new life in Christ.
“When we came here, we came as a natural body. We were in the ‘valley of the dry bones.’ He called us to His presence. For us to receive a spiritual body, we need to take the natural body and surrender it on the Altar. We have to take this natural body—which means our flesh, our desires, our old life—and we have to surrender it on the Altar. That’s why we have the water baptism for a person to have this spiritual burial,” explained the bishop.
And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45)
“Adam and Eve were created by God, but only those who surrendered their lives to God, to Jesus Christ, become children of God. Usually, we hear people say, I am a born-again Christian. I have accepted Christ. However, if they have not ‘sown’ their old life, their natural body, on the Altar, this person cannot be a child of God,” explained the bishop.
Bishop Joshua emphasized the absolute need to “bury” the old lifestyle of sin, lies, deceit, and pride on the Altar through sincere repentance and water baptism, abandoning the natural to receive a spiritual body and become a life-giving spirit, a true child of God.
However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. (1 Corinthians 15:46-49)
“Who is the heavenly Man? The Lord Jesus. As we bore the image of ‘dust’ or the image of our parents, now with the Holy Spirit, we need to have the image of God to reflect God wherever we go. No need to say, ‘I am a born-again Christian.’ Your behavior, your conduct, the way you handle things—People see in your eyes that you are different. Why? Because now you have the image of God in you. You reflect the glory of God because now you are a child of God… You are here on Earth but do not belong here because you are a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven,” emphasized the bishop.
Bishop Bira Joshua then invited those who desired to surrender and “sow” their old lives on the Altar for a prayer of repentance and to decide to seek God wholeheartedly and obey His Word to live a new life in Him.
Wherever you are right now, make this prayer, repent, and decide from now on to seek the Lord Jesus with all your heart and strength. The waters of baptism are ready at The Universal Church—do not wait any longer and start a new life with the Lord Jesus today.
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.
