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.

4. 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
5. 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.