Being born again, new birth by the Spirit of God is an unmistakable work of the Lord with joyful results! I recently had the joy and privilege of being at the birth of a precious newborn baby of some dear friends. As this joyful new birth was taking place in the delivery room, many joyful moments were also taking place in the waiting room. With each painful contraction the thoughts of the joyful new birth made the labor of love worth it all! Each loved one that was present was filled with great expectation as God was at work in all the details of bringing this precious new life into the world for a very special purpose!!
Isn’t that how it is when someone is born again by the Spirit of God!!! As we think about a new birth of a precious baby that is a miracle from the Lord, being born again by the Spirit of God includes some of the same miraculous moments. Think about some of the joys of the birth of a new baby and think about some of the joys of new birth in Jesus. The Joy of New Birth is a Miracle from God!!
As the special miracle of new birth of a precious baby was taking place, the Lord reminded me of some life-changing truths that take place when someone experiences new birth in Jesus Christ:
• Prayer! Lives full of prayer are lives full of God’s love and power. Never stop praying – Pray without ceasing! Keep praying for the one that needs the Lord to be “delivered” and experience new birth in Jesus Christ! I have personally prayed for over 20 years for specific people to experience new birth in Jesus Christ. Write down at least 3 names that you are praying for that need the Lord. Do not grow weary as you are praying always while remembering that God is lovingly in Control of every new birth!!
• Promises! Lives full of God’s promises are lives full of powerful Faith in the Lord. God Keeps His Promises! It is impossible for Him to break even one promise! Keep believing God as you walk by faith while trusting in His Word! Write down at least 3 promises from the Word of God for those that you are praying for that need new birth in Jesus Christ!!
• Perseverance! Lives full of perseverance in the Lord are lives that Finish Strong in the Lord. New Birth is just the beginning God’s plans and purpose as He who begins a work in you will bring it to completion! God gives you everything you need to persevere as it is built upon the solid rock of Prayer & Promises! God teaches you everything you need to share your testimony of your new birth in Jesus Christ with others as His persevering witness!! Write down at least 3 areas of your life in Christ that God is calling you to personally persevere as His follower and witness!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m_dP2n-5W8 (Born Again - Third Day)
John 3:1-21 English Standard Version (ESV) You Must Be Born Again
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
For God So Loved the World
John 3 16-21 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
