Tag Archives: experience

What’s it like being born? (John 3:3-8), January 20, 2017

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Today’s Podcast


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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. Do you remember what it was like being born? I don’t and it’s probably a good thing. But maybe we should remember some of it so we can understand what it’s like to be born again. The Christian life isn’t all fun and games if that’s what you’re looking for.
  3. Scripture
    1. John 3:3-8
    2. Jesus:  I tell you the truth: only someone who experiences birth for a second time can hope to see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus:  I am a grown man. How can someone be born again when he is old like me? Am I to crawl back into my mother’s womb for a second birth? That’s impossible!

Jesus:  I tell you the truth, if someone does not experience water and Spirit birth, there’s no chance he will make it into God’s kingdom.  Like from like. Whatever is born from flesh is flesh; whatever is born from Spirit is spirit.  Don’t be shocked by My words, but I tell you the truth. Even you, an educated and respected man among your people, must be reborn by the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God.  The wind blows all around us as if it has a will of its own; we feel and hear it, but we do not understand where it has come from or where it will end up. Life in the Spirit is as if it were the wind of God.

  1. Devotional
    1. Born again. You’ve probably heard that term all your life if you grew up in the church or around Christian people. Those in the Christian community know what it means. Or at least they think they do.
      1. Dying to self
      2. New life in Christ
      3. Reborn into a new way of life with God’s plan and purpose in mind
    2. Have you ever thought about how this sounds to someone outside the church?
      1. Nicodemus
      2. Question wasn’t unreasonable
      3. How would you explain this relationship you have with God
      4. What is being born again like?
    3. Too often we talk just about the happy moment of forgiveness and forget the rest
      1. Make people disillusioned when they begin their Christian walk
      2. Childbirth is hard for both mother and baby
      3. First breath is great, but come out into a cold, brutal world
      4. Times of joy when held in mother’s arms
      5. Times of fear, aloneness, inability to express thoughts and feelings, unable to communicate
      6. So much unknown
      7. So much to learn
    4. Jesus tells us to weigh the cost
      1. Christian life is a hard one
      2. Costs everything
      3. Misunderstood and hated
      4. Unbelievable reward in the end
  2. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Experience God, you won’t turn back! (Hebrews 6:12), July 9, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Hebrews 6:1-12

Set – Micah 4; Hebrews 6

Go! – Micah 1-4; Hebrews 6

Hebrews 6:1-12
1 So let’s push on toward a more perfect understanding and move beyond just the basic teachings of the Anointed One. There’s no reason to rehash the fundamentals: repenting from what you loved in your old dead lives, believing in God as our Creator and Redeemer, 2 teaching about baptism, setting aside those called to service through the ritual laying on of hands, the coming resurrection of those who have died, and God’s final judgment of all people for all time. 3 No, we will move on toward perfection, if God wills it.
4-6 It is impossible to restore the changed heart of the one who has fallen from faith—who has already been enlightened, has tasted the gift of new life from God, has shared in the power of the Holy Spirit, and has known the goodness of God’s revelation and the powers of the coming age. If such a person falls away, it’s as though that one were crucifying the Son of God all over again and holding Him up to ridicule. 7 You see, God blesses the ground that drinks of the rain and then produces a bountiful crop for those who cultivate it. 8 But land that produces nothing but thorns and brambles? That land is worthless and in danger of being cursed, burned to the bare earth.
9 But listen, my friends—we don’t mean to discourage you completely with such talk. We are convinced that you are made for better things, the things of salvation, 10 because God is not unjust or unfair. He won’t overlook the work you have done or the love you have carried to each other in His name while doing His work, as you are still doing. 11 We want you all to continue working until the end so that you’ll realize the certainty that comes with hope 12 and not grow lazy. We want you to walk in the footsteps of the faithful who came before you, from whom you can learn to be steadfast in pursuing the promises of God.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul’s words seem strange to many today. Many believe you can pop in and out of walking with Me at will. Just do want you want and it will be okay. You can come and go as you please. Salvation really doesn’t work that way. When you come to Me, I will give you the stength to stand up to the temptations you face. I want you to turn from the evil paths you followed and live for Me. I don’t want you to wallow in the sinful ways of your past.

When you turn back to your old patterns of sin, you deny My power in your life and the path I’ve laid before you. You deny the power of the cross and the sacrifice I made for you. You crucify Me again. I have so much more for you than just simply forgiving your sins. I want you to truly live. Once you taste the life I have in store for you, you won’t want to turn back.

That’s why Paul can say what he does in these verses. If you really taste the life I have for you, you won’t want to turn back. Those who really experience the full life in Me never want to return to their old life of sin. It’s like the difference between living in a sewer drain and living in a well furnished house.

The comparison is so extreme, there really is no comparison between the two.

Some, however, never really repent of their sins. You cry a few tears, feel sorry you are caught in the trap of guilt for doing wrong, assage you conscience by telling Me you’re sorry, but get up and continue to do the same thing again. That is not repentance. Repentance is turning away from sin. Repentance is doing an about face. It is turning toward Me and away from the life you were living before heading in the direction I want you to go. And that’s the problem with the watered-down religion many hear today. Just cry and few tears and everything is okay. Say you’re sorry and move on.

Not enough. I didn’t die on the cross for you to do whatever you want to do. I died for your redemption. Redemption means I bought you with My blood. I own you. But I give you a choice as to whether you will let Me own you. You can choose to walk away without experiencing My forgiveness and My abundant life. Or you can allow Me to direct your path.

If you allow Me to direct your path, if you become a slave to My word, if you follow the directions I give you, I don’t think you’ll want to leave. You’ll enjoy the abundant living I promised. You’ll experience the incredible joy that comes from My spirit living in you that the world around you will never understand. You’ll amaze those around you with the new life that springs from you each moment because of My spirit that pours through your actions and your words. You’ll live life through Me.

Really experience Me, you won’t turn back! 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.