April 12, 2018
Celebrate good times, come on!
Good morning!
We all have things we celebrate. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, accomplishments. The Bible has feasts and celebrations from Genesis to Revelation. Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of First Fruit, Pentecost, etc… Gods people have celebrated victories over their enemies and Gods provision.
Psalm 47:1
O clap your hands, all peoples;
Shout to God with the voice of joy.
So, let me ask you a couple questions. Are you celebrating? What are you celebrating?
I am celebrating life today! Grateful for one more year with Pamela. One year ago today, she received the stem cell Transplant. Literally a second birth. Pam now has 2 birthdays… March 12 and April 12 (does that mean she is aging faster? Shhh, dont tell her I said that.) God’s hand has been in this whole process. We do not know why things happen the way they do. But, I do know that God is in control! Celebration and second chances….. Second birth! Which brings me to the main thing.
Being Born Again! I know that’s Christianeze. What does that even mean? Born again?
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
A hard saying by Jesus:
Nicodimus came to Jesus at night. He was a prominent Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin (the ruling body of the Jews) and he was seeking answers.
John 3:3-7
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Born Again! Means born from above, bringing others to Jesus’ way of life, or to convert someone.
Nicodimus, needed a heart change. He needed a spiritual transformation. When we are born again, it’s not by works or anything that we can do, but by grace, the only thing we can do, is believe. To, lean in with every thing you have, body, mind! This brings eternal life… meaning we get to spend eternity in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
But while we are still on this earth, we are a new creation. The old man dies and a new creation emerges.
Additional reading: (Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3; 1John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1-4, 18; John 1:12-13)
We become adopted children of God by trusting in Jesus.
Why? Why must we be born again? Because of our sin nature.
Romans 3:23 says “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”.
We are spiritually dead. New life comes through Christ. New birth… born again. Our sins are forgiven and we have a restored relationship with God.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
So, being born again, we are a child of God because Jesus died on the cross it paid the penalty for our sins. Because of this we have a restored relationship with God. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
If you have never accepted Jesus as your savior or been born again. Can you listen to the Holy Spirits prompting and respond to Him today?
Romans 10:9-13
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
It’s simple… pray something like this:
God, I realize that I need you. I know that I have sinned against you. I have sinned against you, please forgive me. Thank you for sending Jesus to pay the price for my sin. I believe in Jesus and that He was raised from the dead. I put my trust in you for salvation. Help me serve you and share the hope I now have with others. In Jesus name amen!
If you have prayed this prayer. Let me know. So I can get you some resources and walk with you in this NEW LIFE!
Celebrate! Celebrate life! Celebrate the NEW life you have in Christ. Each day is a gift from God. Celebrate about your marriage, your kids, your job, the fact that you can draw a fresh breath. If you call yourself a believer… act like it. Be a Spirit filled believer, share the hope you have with others.
Psalm 47:1
O clap your hands, all peoples;
Shout to God with the voice of joy.
Love God…. Love people… share hope…
Love y’all!
Prayed for you this morning!