Is your Spiritual cable hooked up? OR What does it mean to be "born again?"

I remember growing up attending church and wondering "When is this going to be over!" It was all mumbo jumbo, get up, sit down, kneel, repeat after me, "Go in peace" then we'd leave.
It was boring and torturous. I got nothing out of it except a slightly reduced feeling of guilt. It was the "thing good families do." There was no joy in it. Yet I knew in my heart there was a God, that there was somehow MORE to this then meets the eye. I had no idea I could get closer to God or even that God wanted that with me. But HOW, I wondered could a Holy God be personal, real, maybe even my friend?

I hear from many people that they attend church or synagogue, pray, are spiritual, maybe even attend a Bible study. Yet, they feel like they are on the outside looking in. How is it others talk of God like he is their Father? They seem to personally KNOW Him! Deep inside they anguish. They feel left out.

Well, you are not alone. You see there was a really pious religious man in Jesus' day wondering the same thing! So he went to talk to Jesus about it. Here's what Jesus told him.


John 3
Nicodemus Comes to Jesus



1 There was a man named Nicodemus who was one of the Pharisees and an important Jewish leader.2 One night Nicodemus came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we know you are a teacher sent from God, because no one can do the miracles you do unless God is with him."
3 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot be in God's kingdom."
4 Nicodemus said, "But if a person is already old, how can he be born again? He cannot enter his mother's womb again. So how can a person be born a second time?"
5 But Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born from water and the Spirit, you cannot enter God's kingdom. 6 Human life comes from human parents, but spiritual life comes from the Spirit.7 Don't be surprised when I tell you, 'You must all be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wants to and you hear the sound of it, but you don't know where the wind comes from or where it is going. It is the same with every person who is born from the Spirit."





So you see, you are born the first time of flesh by your mother. You are made in Gods' image the Bible says. We are body, mind/soul and spirit. God is Spirit. We cannot see Him with our physical eyes. He shows Himself to us in many ways though through his creation, His Word (the Bible) and through people.


I used to try and read the Bible. It seemed dry and hard to understand. I found out that was because I was trying to read the "instruction"book without being plugged in to the "cable". Let me explain it like this.There are thousands of radio waves, microwave's, energy signals we do not see that generate radios, satellite, electronic equipment.


God's Holy Spirit is like somewhat that, like the wind Jesus said, "The wind blows where it wants to and you hear the sound of it, but you don't know where the wind comes from or where it is going. Deep in our inner being there is a desire to know God. We ask ourselves, "What is the reason I am here"," What is life's purpose." As we grow from child to adulthood, we seek that something to "complete us" Some try to fill that God shaped void with, possessions, people, power. Still no real fulfillment. Or we think everything is great we don't NEED God. Then a career fails, a tragedy strikes, an illness, death, then what?


Many of us have heard the Bible verse John 3:16. Or seen someone post it somewhere like at a sporting event. It explains Gods' great love for us. That is true. But if we read a few more verses down you will see that"the wrath of God abides on us".



John 3:16-18

16 "God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. 17 God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.18 People who believe in God's Son are not judged guilty. Those who do not believe have already been judged guilty, because they have not believed in God's one and only Son,"



We must understand that we are separated from a Holy God by sin. We all have missed the mark, made mistakes, sinned. God built a bridge for us by sending His Son Jesus, who set aside His Glory, humbled Himself, was born of a virgin and became a man. He was without sin, but because of His great love for us.He took the punishment that we deserved, and thereby paying our fine. He rose from the dead three days later and is now seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.

We broke the Law and Jesus paid our fine. He redeemed us "for the joy set before Him He endured the cross" and"While we were yet sinners Christ died for us" it is a free gift.


You are given the right to choose, free will. God doen't want little robots. He is a loving Father that wants His children to choose to have a relationship with him.God is a gentleman. He never forces Himself on us. We must make a conscious decision to receive the free gift He offers. It is the gift of eternal life.




John 15:13-15

13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you...




God says we can be called His friend! First we must turn from living for ourselves, (repent) and invite Jesus into our heart (get Plugged in spiritually) to be our Lord and Savior. Be reborn of the Spirit, born again!


It is the answer you are seeking, deep in your heart you know it is the Truth. Sadly, some of you may be so hard hearted you know longer can hear the gentle whisper of Gods' spirit calling you...Come home, come home, you who are weary come home.


Life is but a wisp of smoke. We never know the day we will die and stand before a righteous Holy God with Heaven or Hell awaiting us and answer the Question" Why should I let you in to my Heaven"? It is only because of Jesus my friend. Without the bridge of Calvary's Cross an eternity separated from God in hell awaits you. Today is the day of salvation. Please choose the path of life. Choose Jesus today!


“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."



Love,
Darlene




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