ONCE and NOW

ONCE AND NOW

ONCE I was darkness. It says so in Ephesians 5:8.

ONCE I had no identity as a person. First Peter 2:10 (NLT)

ONCE I received no mercy. First Peter 2:10 (NLT)

ONCE I was under the power of Satan. Acts 26:15-18

ONCE I belonged to the devil. John 8:42-47 In John 8:44 the Lord Jesus Christ says, “‘You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire.'”

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

But NOW I am light in the Lord. Ephesians 5:8-10 Now I want to live as a child of light and I want to do what pleases the Lord. What does the fruit of light consists in? The Bible teaches that the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. I am also reading that the deeds of darkness are fruitless.

NOW I am a child of God. First Peter  2:10 (NLT)

But NOW I have received mercy. First Peter 2:10 (NLT)

But NOW I am under God. Acts 26:15-18 I have received forgiveness of sins and I have received a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus.

But NOW I belong to God. John 8:42-47 Now I hear what God says.

I am praising the Lord, that  I have been under God most of the time of my life.

Almost 55 years ago I passed from darkness to light and began a new life. My second birthday was on the 2nd of September 1958.

The Lord led me to a Bible school (Bibelschule Brake) in Germany, and I worked as a missionary in Thailand (WEC International) and here in New Zealand (United Maori Mission), where I live now.

TEACHERS

“Who’s been the most influential teacher in your life?” I am finding the question at the end of an article in a Reader’s Digest. (December 2012, page 83)

It says there also “Join the conversation at readersdigest.co.nz/mag.”

I have been to many schools and I have had many teachers, but the most influential teacher was Ernie Klassen (Uncle Ernie) at the Bibelschule Brake in Germany.

BIBELSCHULE BRAKE IN GERMANY

BIBELSCHULE BRAKE IN GERMANY Picture / Bibellschule Brake

He did not teach the subject PERSONAL EVANGELISM, but he practiced it and he is still practicing it in Canada, where he lives now. He is preaching the Gospel wherever he goes.

MY TEACHER IS ACTUALLY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.

“‘When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.'” – Luke 12:11,12

“‘But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything, I have said to you.'” – John 14:26

“This is what I speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.” – First Corinthians 2:13

“But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true – it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.” – First John 2:27 (NLT)

God the Holy Spirit  is also the teacher  of “Uncle Ernie.”