photo credit: h.koppdelaney

I. REGENERATION- The only two times this word is mentioned is found in Matthew 19:28 and Titus 3:5

Matthew 19:28 is in reference to the “Regeneration” (re-creation) of the World and the Millennium Kingdom but it uses the same word in the Greek as the Regeneration of individuals born into God’s Kingdom found in Titus 3:5.

Titus 3:4-5 Read then discuss the words ‘washing,” “regeneration, and “renewing.”

Washing- Greek word (Loutron) = to bath, wash, a cleaning or cleansing from sin.

Regeneration- Greek word (Pallggenesia) = Palin means again and genomai means to become or to become again. Other words are recovery, renovation, washing, specifically of the soul here, re-creation and a new birth.

Renewing- Greek word (Anakainosis) ana = again and kainosis = qualitatively new. Thus a renovation that makes completely new through and through in quality not quantity!

II.                  John  3:3- Read – Then discuss the words “be born and “again

Be Born- we get the understanding in the Greek of the natural conception. However with this word connected to the word,

“Again,” which means, “from above,” we get the understanding of a spiritual and qualitatively new birth from above from God’s own Divine nature imparted in the believer!

Note: Jesus asks Nicodemus “Are you not the Leading teacher of Israel and you do not understand these things?” Here in this statement Jesus is implying that the concept of being “BORN AGAIN,” is an Old Testament concept as well. Let’s look and see!!!

Read – Jeremiah 31:33, Psalm 51:10, Ezekiel 11:19, 18:31 and 36:26

III.                II Corinthians 5:17 also Galatians 6:15 Read- both use the same Greek words – Read and discuss the key words New and Creature.

New – Greek word is (Kainos) and means a qualitatively new as opposed to a numerically or quantity of new

Creature – Greek word is (Ktisis) and means a founding of a new Colonization or a new species of being and existence.

Webster – Species = a distinct kind or class of individuals having certain distinguishing attributes, (Christ Likeness) in common.

Note: Through the new birth there is a new qualitative (quality not quantity) and radical transformation of character, from the inside out, that takes place in the dead or unresponsive spirit of an unbeliever which through this new birth is regenerated, re-created, renovated, through a spiritual washing and cleansing which results in a new birth and a Genesis of a completely new race of people. WOW!

Romans 6:4 reads, Therefore we are buried with Him in baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, EVEN SO WE ALSO should walk in NEWNESS of life.

Walk in the Greek here means behavior or way of life. Thus working to keep your behavior on the right path

Newness Greek is (Kainos) which is related to the word “New” in II Corinthians a New Creation and is identical in meaning as to a qualitatively new life.

Note: We have been given a new and Divine change of character on the inside that is working through the outside which is a work completed by God through His sons finished work on the Cross and by His powerful resurrection from the grave!

NOW, we as those who profess Christ as Lord are commanded here in this scripture that we are obligated to walk in the newness of life since the same power of Christ resurrection is working out from us. We must work along with the Spirit of God as we are carried along in this life to reflect His Divine nature so that the World can continue to witness His resurrection power worked out of our lives!

God’s Word is the instrument and the Holy Spirit

 is the Agent in whom we receive our Regeneration.

His Servant,

Jeff Clay

photo credit: *TreMichLan*

Many who recieved God’s saving Grace spoke of immediate Joy entering their lives. We witnessed Witch Doctor’s, spirit mediators, self-proclaimed Apostles and Prophets confess Christ and denounce their practices with demons! I have never experienced anything more powerful to this point in my faith walk. The prayers of God’s people prior to our visit and during it, was what brought the success. The fruit of souls just fell into our hands when we asked if they wanted to receive this wonderful gift from Heaven.

Thanks to everyone who supported our trip with prayer and finances. You certainly invested in a worthy and successful Mission for the Kingdom of God!

His Servant,

Jeff

photo credit: Dean Terry

I was studying a scripture in God’s Word (the Holy Bible) and I gained great understanding as to the power of thought in our lives and the dire importance of protecting our mind as to what we allow to enter therein. The scripture  I would like to discuss is found in Proverbs 23:7 and it states, “Whatever a man thinks in his heart so is he.” I would like to concentrate on two words in this short but powerful scripture.

First, the word, thinks, does not mean a fleating thought or concept that passes through your mind. This word describes the thought as deep meditation or concentration. It is taking a concept or idea and mulling it over and over again in your mind in a way of workingout a problem.

The second word which I want to spend most of my time on is the word heart. In the Old Testement this word is synonomous with the word soul and not the Cardia of a fleshly organ that pumps blood through our bodies. We now have a better understanding of the soul from the Apostle Paul in his New Testement writings that man is actually a spirit that has a soul that lives in a body. The soul and spirit of a man are so closely connected that only God Himself can differentiate the two. In the book of Hebrews chapter 4 vs 12 the Bible states, “The Word of God is quick (living) and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing between the sould and spirit, joints and marrow and is a diserner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Our spirit is truly who we really are. When God breathed into Adam the Bible says that Adam then became a living being. In simple terms God, who is life, through His breath turned on the power switch in Adam’s soul and he became a living, breathing,  and animated being. Your soul is where your concience and conciousness resides. It is also the seat of your emotions. When we make decisions based soley on our emotions we are making decisions out from that fallen part of our humanity. This is why, as a Christian, we must base all of our decisions on what God says about the situation. We should never trust our emotions. Our emotions or feelings will get us into a mess real quick!

Now, you are asking, “what does this all have to do with the word heart/soul.” Well, when I studied this word, ‘heart,” from this scripture I found that this unique Hebrew word was used only once in all of the Bible in reference to the human heart/soul. In the Old Testement it was used in context to describe a city gate. In the Old Testement era the city gate was where all of the city Elders (officials) met to make legal, civil, propety and even criminal decisions. Here at the city gate travelers would desire to enter to sell their wares so the Elders would decide whether to give them entrance or not. What God is trying to tell us in this scripture is, that our heart (soul) is the city gate to our mind and we must be very careful of the decisions we make as to what we allow to enter that gate as it will infect the whole city! So, accompanied with the word, ‘thinks,” we need to make sure we do not take worldly thoughts and concepts and work them out in our minds because we will begin to allow the Worlds fallen and corrupt approaches to become who we are and how we live. The book of James tells us that, “when lust (personal cravings in the mind) have conceived they bring forth sin, and sin when it is birthed brings forth death.”  (James Ch. 1 vs. 15). In Romans Ch. 12 vs. 2,  Paul tells us as Christians, “be not conformed (molded) to this World (system) but you be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” I would give a word of encouragement here and say that this is NOT saying that you have sinned if you have a sinful thought. I like the analogy I heard and I believe it came from Martin Luther which compares sinful thoughts to the activity of a bird. You cannot keep a bird from flying over your head but you can keep that bird from landing on your head and making a nest and living there. Even Jesus Himself was tempted with sin but He overcame the enemy by the written Word of God!

Finally, Paul wirites in the book of Philippians Ch. 4 vs. 8 says, “Finally Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

What I have found practical in my life is when I find myself having impure thoughts I begin to sing a spiritual hymn, quote a scripture or think about my Lord’s sacrifice for me or His soon return. It turns my thoughts onto things that, if visually displayed, would not bring embarrasment to myself or others around me.

It is my prayer for you and myself that we adopt and apply this teaching and not allow these Worldly thoughts to gain entrance into the citygate of our hearts (soul/mind) but wash them away by consistantly reading and applying the truths of God’s holy and pure Word!

His Sevant,

Jeff

photo credit: Amodiovalerio Verde

I have a unique opportunity to visit Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe this May on a missions trip to take the Gospel message, Jesus’ death, burial and Resurrection, to this Region. 

I will not be visiting as Jumping Jeff, the motivational speaker, but as Jeff Clay the Preacher! I will preach evangelistic meetings in several villages and will speak, one-on-one, with individuals about Jesus Christ. We will also show the Jesus Film in their native language (Ndebele) several nights as well. Other members of our team will be training Pastors and conducting Women and Youth events.

I would ask that you pray for our trip and that God would give us souls for His Kingdom! Their spiritual tribal custom of Ancestral worship is a strong hold on many, even those who believe in Jesus as Lord mix this ancient custom with Christianity. They believe that their ancestor’s spirits continue with them after death and guides them in making their decisions in life. Also their, “witch-doctors,” serve as mediators between the individual and their ancestor’s supposed spirit who, they say, gives them advise. We know that the Bible calls these, “familiar spirits,” (demons) playing the part of their family member. Ultimately this draws them into witchcraft and idolatry.

Please pray specifically that we would be annointed to preach what the book of Hebrews says,” there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.” Again, the Apostle Paul teaches that, “to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ Jesus.”

Jeff

photo credit: Markus Rödder

You were such a blessing to our students and teachers on Friday. Thank you for encouraging them to forgive even when they don’t want to do it.

Thanks also for challenging them to be what God wants them to be.

Thanks for jumping over the podium-that was awesome!

God bless you as you continue to serve the Lord!

Deborah Stromberg

Brainerd Baptist School

photo credit: Aneeye

I really enjoyed speaking to the kids at Brainerd Baptist School today. They were very attentitive and seemed to really get a kick out of someone my age still able to jump over cars. They were thrilled by the video compilation and had many questions at the end of the program. I did share a short segment of my personal challenges as a child hoping they many would connect with me and they seemed to do so. I shared with them that God had a purpose in creating them and they were not just a random act of chance! I shared  the scripture from Jeremiah 29:11 that God has a plan for each of us and a desire to do good toward us.

When God created the Cosmos the word, ‘created” means that he dispatched it.   He spoke the Worlds into existance. The book of Hebrews says in Chapter one that even the Worlds (ages) were created by the spoken Word of God. In contrast to this when our Lord created man, he personally Got involved and, “formed” man in His image and His likeness. The visual we get from this word picture is God taking a lump of clay, just as a potter would, and personally forming man in His image and likeness, then breathing the spirit of life into him and man became a living soul.  A potter already knows in his mind what that lump of Clay will be and the purpose it will serve. It may be a bowl or a cup but it will serve a specific and meaningful purpose. This shows purpose and not a chaotic, random chance where we crept out of a mirky pond, sprouted legs, jumped into a tree, swung on a vine for 17 billion years then began to walk upright!

God loves you and created you to have a personal relationship with Him and He desires to use us in His perfect plan of Salvation. Today I wanted these children to know that they were not mistakes or some universal collision but they are special, thought of and cared for by their Creator and you are too!

In closing I asked the kids if they had any questions and the number one question came up again. Mr. Jumpin Jeff, would you jump something for us? So, I jumped the podium and then pandamonium broke out! I really enjoyed my time with these young people this morning and I personally challenge each of them to go forward, find their place in this life and change our World!!!

JJC

Testimonial from Brainerd Baptist School: 

Jeff

You were such a blessing to our students and teachers on Friday. Thank you for encouraging them to forgive even when they don’t want to do it.

Thanks also for challenging theM to be what God wants them to be.

Thanks for jumping over the podium-that was awesome!

God bless you as you continue to serve the Lord!

Deborah Stromberg

Brainerd Baptist School

photo credit: voyageAnatolia.blogspot.com

Now, let us not get arragant. I can assure you that everyone of us has fallen into this arena of not being thankful.  When the Lord graciously brought this to my attention I asked for His forgiveness and also requested that He would always make me mindful of His blessings that are around me and to also give me the discipline, in the good times, to pause and give Him thanks and praise when everything seemed to be going right. I believe it really pleases the Lord when His kids take time to praise Him in the good times rather than the Lord having to allow some of the challenges in life come our way so we will bend our knees and fellowship with Him. I believe it touches our Father deeply when we make a dedicated decision to thank Him when all seems well rather than us only calling on Him to fix what is broken or messed up!

It reminds me of the story in the New Testement where Jesus Himself tells of the ten lepers. He lovingly touched and prayed for their healing. All ten were instantly and Miraculously healed! Jesus told them to present themselves to the Jewish priest, which was a custom of the Jews which you can find in the book of Leviticus. All ten of them ran to the Priest but the story tells us that only one of these cleansed lepers came back to Jesus.

As he was running to the city he may have thought about what Jesus did for him. I am not talking about the healing itself. I am taLkng about the restoration to his family and friends. You see, the lepers were put out of the camp because they were considered “un-clean.” They had to leave their family, friends, jobs, and life as they knew it because this disease would spread to others and infect the whole city. Jesus also took away his shame. You see when people would walk close to a leper, th leper would have to yell a warning to the passer-by, “I am a leper, un-clean, turn away from me.” They most likely had not been touched by another human-being in years until Jesus reached out with His loving hands and they felt the warmth of His unconditonal love. While he was running to be “officially” pronouced whole by the Priest the Bible tells us that he stopped, turned and began running back towards our Lord! He went back to worship and to adore the one that gave him his life back! This man was a, “Mountain Top Worshipper!  He could have ran on with the other nine that were healed and continued running until he embraced his family again but he did’nt. Right in the middle of his excitement, his blessing, his healing, his renewed life he made a choice to pause and praise!  God’s Word tells us in John Chapeter 17 verse 15 that this man, “turned back and with a LOUD voice glorified God, and fell down at His feet giving Him thanks.” Jesus went on to tell the leper in verse 19, “arise and go your way: your faith has made you whole.”

I want to be this kind of worshiper. Right in the middle of God’s belssings, right in the center of His favor I want to lift a loud and obvious voice for all to hear how good my Lord is to me! I don’t want my Father to feel that He has to use difficult circumstances to constantly get my attention. I want to shout from the Mountain- Top, that God is so good to me and I will bless Him in the good times and in the difficult times of life!

Surely you  have a desire to be a, “Mountain- Top Worshipper?  Surely you would like to touch the very heart of God?

May the Lord give you the foresight to thank and praise Him when things are going well rahter than a trip through the dusty, hot, lonely and dry desserts of life!

Be a Mountain-Top Worshipper!!!

JJCLAY