To be Reborn and Grow    To be Reborn  This writer was radically reborn by the grace of God in such a way that the precipice of despair and defeat in this life was miraculously turned around when the Holy Spirit revealed the beautiful brightly-lit narrow path leading to His Kingdom.  I became one of the chosen generation! Many signs and wonders followed and still occur thanks be to the Wonderful, Councellor and the truth of God's presence in this little life can be linked to the regular prayerful spoken reading of His word. To go into the closet feeling discouraged and worldly and coming out spiritually refreshed is a daily wonder.    For the above reason, I'm not qualified to give advice on any other way to be spiritually reborn; however, the great Bible expositor of our time, Derek Prince, stated that while in the army in WWII he obtained a Bible for philosophical study purposes, and half way through met the Author of the Book, falling on his face in the knowledge of his unworthiness.  His resultant life revealed his inner knowledge of God.  He (his soul) is now with his Lord in paradise.    Many of you reading thus far have a tight feeling inside you now, not so? There is a resistance to read further and you feel "I had better get this over with". Be honest with yourself, how well do you know God's wishes to you through His word?    This is a stone of stumbling that Satan has placed in your Way. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.  (1 Peter 2:5-8) Once you have kicked it out of the way, climbed over it, or walked around it and forced yourself if necessary to speak your Holy Bible on a daily basis, spiritual blessing shall undoubtedly follow.    Ask yourself why it is that the Roman Catholic church suppressed the reading of the Bible, had so many Bible translators and printers martyred, and why there are so many confusing and Non Inspired Versions around - in every written language under the sun?  Who is the god of confusion and deceit in this world? As he said to Eve "Yea, hath God said?"    Think about this - if the Holy Bible is not the main source of spiritual inspiration, learning and growth, why all the concern about muddying the waters?    That is why the Scriptures are so freely used on this web site*; for you to become accustomed to read them.    So, what does the word say about itself? To the believing Jews and to the gentiles: Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  (James 1:16-21) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  (1 Peter 1:1-3) Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  (1 Peter 2:1-3)   So, if you are searching for that strait (distressingly small) gate, on the other side of which is the narrow path to the Celestial City, why not use the Holy GPS?    For a little more of what is meant, go to the teachings on this web site "Refined in the Furnace", and "In Him was Life".    How would you like to be engrafted (joined to) the word, to know God's will so that you can please Him who gave you life and can give you LIFE.    And Grow  Here's a start, the rest will follow as you learn:  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.  (James 1:22-27) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.  (1 Peter 2:9-25) James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  (James 1:1-5)   Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32)   For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.  (James 1:7-8)   But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.  (James 1:25)   My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  (1 John 3:18)   The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.  (2 Corinthians 13:14)   *www.hosanna.org.za   See also " If Ye Continue"