BLOG TRACTS

 Self is having a strong desire, feeling and concern towards, or for yourself. In other words, it is a high level of engrossment of oneself in terms of well being in every aspect of life. It is a state of totally being engrossed in oneself both internally and externally in a state of self-centeredness and selfishness.  This concept does not embrace the thoughts or activities, or actions which show love, kindness or concern for the next person or neighbor. Rather, it abhors all rational reasoning, and it is alien to the 'selfless' or 'love your neighbour' concept . Self or selfishness is very common in man, and it rules the way he thinks or reasons; the way he talks and what he says; the way he acts which ultimately defines his character. This adeptly describes the unregenerate man or simply put, the unbeliever, who can't walk beyond the concept of self. It is not in his nature to do so. And so, everything he thinks, says or does is self derivative. It must be geared...

 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of flesh sold under sin. For I do not understand my own action; I do not do what I want but I do the very thing I hate. Now, if I do what I do not want I agree with the law that it is good. So now, it is no longer I who do it but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right but not the ability to carry it out.       For I do not do the good I want but the evil I do not want is what I keep doing. Now, if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who does but the sin that dwells within me. So, I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I  delight in the Law of God  in my inner being. But I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Oh, wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this bo...

 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.  And the angel came in unto her, and said Hail, thou art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou had found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of  Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father   David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then  said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, the...

 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us  from evil.  And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;  For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his ...

Now, Jesus had to go through Samaria and he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus tired as He was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “will you give me a drink? (His disciples had gone into town to buy food). The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans). Jesus answered her, if you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.”. Sir, the woman said,, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?  Are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us this well and drank from it himself as did also his sons and his flocks and his herds? Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks...

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him”. In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”. “How can a man be born again when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely, he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of the water and the Spirit, flesh gives birth to flesh, but spirit gives birth to the spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again”. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the   Spirit”. (John 3:1-8). This was the conversation that ensued...