Entry price

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5.19-21

Anyone who is willing to be different and make to a difference in this world - and to inherit the Kingdom of God - has to pay the fair price, which is to behave according to God's Kingdom. Or would it be possible to live by the darkness and still inherit the Kingdom of Light?

Where and when?

"Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him." Malachi 3.18

The promise is crystal clear: you shall discern again. And who made this promise? The Lord of Hosts. Where and when should it be fulfilled? The only place where we could see this difference is right here on Earth, and it has to be now, considering that in the Kingdom of Heaven there will be no wicked people. 
Why the delay in the fulfillment of this promise? Because the surrender to the Lord has been slow.
The difference will only be seen when those who are faithful surrender body, soul and spirit in truth.

Spirit of power

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1.7

Fear is a spirit that dwells in the minds of those who are distant from the Creator. However, this same spirit is empowering those who are possessed by it to do what is evil.
But the Spirit of God gives us power to overcome evil, love to love even our enemies and a sound mind, which means balance, not to be radical.

The outcry

"This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." Psalms 34.6

The poor man from this passage was the Psalmist himself. He cried and was heard, not because he deserved, but because of the faith in the compassion of the Almighty, expressed through his outcry.
That's how it works: God does not take into account the degree of the sin one commits, nor its amount, much less professed religion, but a sincere expression of faith in His Word.

Temperance

"And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown." I Corinthians 9.25

Competitive athletes undergo strict training, dieting and exemplary discipline. They make real sacrifices hunting for medals and the glory of this world. Even so, in time, their glory and accomplishments are forgotten.
The same does not happen to the true glory, which is reserved to the loyal and faithful to the Lord of Eternal Glory.

Sandalwood tree

“How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! Like valleys that stretch out, like gardens by the riverside, like aloes planted by the Lord,Like cedars beside the waters." Numbers 24.5-6

When the Holy Spirit makes His dwelling in the human heart, there is no way for sorrows, disappointments, annoyances and other evils remain. Instead, the person is like sandalwood tree (tree whose wood is fragrant) that the Lord has planted, like cedars beside the waters. That is, they become the perfume of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Stone or flesh

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36.26

This promise relates to the days after the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. But why not everybody receives the Holy Spirit? Because not everyone has been dedicating themselves  body, soul and spirit to receive it. Not all give up sin. Then, it really is hard to receive new heart and spirit.

Which is greater?

"Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? [...] Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?" Matthew 23.17-19

Tithes and offerings carry a revelation in itself: what is in the offering giver's heart.
Firstfruits show faithfulness and offerings reveal love.
While there was no sin in the world, tithes and offerings were not necessary, since the communion between the creature and the Creator was perfect. With sin came the moral and spiritual corruption. Therefore, God established the tithe and offerings to prove the heart of those who approached Him.

Abominable prayer

"One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination." Proverbs 28.9

Those who despise the counsel of God will have no one to turn to when calamity strikes. And then they ask, "Where is the Lord God?"

The Promise

"...that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Galatians 3.14

Abraham was the firstfruits of God to bless his descendants. He typified Jesus, the Firstborn of God, to bless the Jews who believe.
Jesus came to extend the Abrahamic blessing to the Gentiles who believe in Him. This blessing is not limited to material possessions, but above all, to receive His Spirit.

Happy life

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing." Job 8.21

This has to happen to those who receive the heavenly gift, the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Their lives must flow rivers of peace, joy and life so that it overflows to bless others as well.

Firstfruits

"Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." James 1.8

Through the Lord Jesus, the Word, each one of those who are born of the Holy Spirit is God's first fruits, His firstborn, His tithe, His property, holiness to Him, in short, they are children of God.
Do you think this a small thing?
Then, wait until you get to the glorious New Jerusalem to see what the Almighty has in store for each of His own.

Holiness and firstfruits

"Israel was holiness to the LORD, the firstfruits of His increase..." Jeremiah 2.3

Israel had double honour before God: it was the firstfruits and holy. Those who are born of the Spirit of God have the same characteristics: they are the first fruits and the sole property of the Almighty. Therefore, the Holy Spirit guarantees that everyone who is born of God overcomes the world (1 John 5.4).

The Spirit of the Firstborn

"Then you shall say to Pharaoh, thus says the Lord: 'Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.'” Exodus 4.22-23

God demands to have the first place in our lives because He treats us as first priority in a relationship with Him. The firstborn is the eldest son who, in practice, assumes all the authority of the father in the family leadership. Firstborn means first child ...
GOD IS FAMILY. FIRSTBORN IS THE FIRST CHILD IN THE FAMILY OF GOD.

Shunning evil

"There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil." Job 1.1

Three characteristics of those born of the Spirit: they are honest and upright, they fear God and they shun evil.
Honesty and uprightness are related to our conduct towards other people. The fear of God relates to our conduct towards the Lord or the practice of His Word. The rejection of evil has to do with our conscience, when we avoid places and situations that have nothing to do with faith.

Israel was...

"Israel was holiness to the LORD, the firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; disaster will come upon them, says the LORD." Jeremiah 2.3

To be holy to the LORD means to be His property. To be the first fruits of the harvest of the Lord means to be His tithe. That is how Israel was before the Most High. What is your situation before the LORD: are you or were you consecrated unto the LORD? Are you or were you the tithe of the LORD?

The difference

"Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him." Malachi 3.18

Those who are born of the Spirit are essentially different.

If a person says he or she is a child of God but their behaviour is not different from those who live according to the course of this world, they are deceiving themselves.

Those who are born of the Spirit bear the image of God Almighty, that is, His character.

The only way the world will see and know the invisible God is through His children.

As Jesus said, "Who sees Me sees the Father."

Fear

"The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy." Psalm 147.11

The fear of the Lord has nothing to do with dread, fright or the like. Rather, it has to do with respect and obedience to His Word. And it's the Holy Spirit who does that.

The Spirit and faith

"And Pharaoh said to his servants, 'Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?'” Genesis 41.38

Only those who are possessed by the Spirit of God make a difference. As a matter of fact, even the the children of darkness recognise them. However, in order to have Him, we must pay the price of sacrifice.

Tough work

"For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure." John 3.34

Imagine the joy of achieving the greatest and most important dream of your life. Now, imagine the sacrifice you made in order to achieve it. This is it...
To make His dream of dwelling in us come through, God had to send and sacrifice Jesus, His Dream, to wash us and cleanse us. Only then could He send His Spirit.
Jesus had to do the "tough work" so that we can be possessed by the Spirit.
And what have you been doing to match such a great sacrifice?
The Daniel Fasting of Daniel is not for the curious or adventurous.

At the beginning of your suplications...

"At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved..." Daniel 9.23

Daniel made a purpose of fasting and prayer in search for a revelation and the Lord heard him. In the faith of Daniel, we will also seek, not a revelation, but the Spirit of the One who reveals. And those who engage in this faith will also be visited by the Baptizer, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who follows Me?

"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'" John 8.12

Walking in the Light is living with a clear conscience, detoxified of any impurity of this evil world. It is to live at peace with oneself and especially with the Holy Spirit.
Living in darkness is to be subject to the immorality imposed by the corrupting society.

To trust vs. To believe

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." John 7.38

When you believe in Jesus according to the Scripture, the Holy Spirit must flow. If the Holy Spirit is not flowing, it is because there is no trust, but mere belief.

Believing is like the dating period where there is no commitment from either party. But trust relates to marriage, where both parties commit themselves to one another for the rest of their lives.

Most Christians think they trust when in reality they simply believe.

Invitation

"...but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4.14

Typically, invitations are made for special people. But this invitation is for all, without exception. Even you who are reading this word. No matter what your sinful past has been, as long as you accept the invitation and surrender to Jesus. Join the Fast of Daniel from this 13/8 and be satisfied forever.

Fleshly world vs. Spiritual world

"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." Romans 8.9

Being in the flesh is to be a prisoner of the heart, to cater to the lusts of the soul and feelings.
Being in the Spirit is to live in the spiritual world, the world of certainty, the conviction and of supernatural faith.
If anyone confesses Jesus as Lord but does not live by faith, he has nothing to do with him.

You must be spirit

"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4.24

Because of His holy nature, God rejects the worship of those who DO NOT have the same divine nature.
How could those who are born of the blood, the will of the flesh or the will of man express sublime and profound praises to Someone who is Spirit? Is it possible for the flesh to worship in spirit?
To worship in spirit, you must be born of the Spirit. You must have His DNA, His nature, in other words, you MUST BE SPIRIT!

The letter kills

"...who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Corinthians 3.6

The true servants of the Holy Spirit of God transmit Spirit to those who are thirsty for the Spirit.
The other "servants" are concerned with imparting empty knowledge of life that imposes deadly burdens. One must be born of the Spirit to have this discernment. 

He will teach you

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." John 14.26

The seal of the Holy Spirit guarantees two things: to teach and to remind. To teach the behaviour according to the character of God and to remind the words of the Lord Jesus, to keep the faith alive until His return.
In short: God carefully guides His children so that they are not influenced by anyone.

Living Water

"But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4.14

The water that Jesus gives is invisible, imperceptible and untouchable. But when someone drinks it, everyone notices the difference. The blessed one becomes a visible, tangible and touchable wellspring for the rest of his life.

The Fountain

 "...I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." Revelation 21.6

The Fountain of Eternal Life exists. It is not a mirage. It is not an illusion. It is not a fantasy. It's a fact. However, in order to get to it and drink, there must be more than simply wanting it. Much more than desiring it or dreaming about it... You must overcome yourself, overcome the world and overcome the devil and all hell to get there.

The servant

 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." Matthew 7.21

The service of a servant is not limited only to some miraculous deeds in the name of Jesus. For what good is to perform miracles but do not obey the Word of God?
What really matters is not to do but to be.
Nobody is a servant by half. Either he is a servant in full or he is not.