DCLM Higher Everyday 6 March 2023 — Begin at the new birth
DCLM Higher Everyday 6 March 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Begin at the new birth
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TOPIC: BEGIN AT THE NEW BIRTH
TEXT:JOHN 3:1-8
1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (JOHN 3:3).
MESSAGE:
Many are baffled over the mystery of the new birth, so was Nicodemus who was intrigued by the life and miraculous deeds of Master Jesus.
According to Spencer W. Kimball, “When a defiled man is born again, his habits are changed, his thoughts cleansed, his attitudes regenerated and elevated, his activities put in total order, and everything about him that was dirty, degenerate or reprobate is washed and made clean.” To be like Jesus and gain everlasting life with Him in heaven, you must begin at the new birth.
Good works, morality, penance or self-punishment, and new religion, don’t mean being born-again. The new birth or being born-again is a spiritual rebirth where God transforms us from spiritual death to life, making us new creations with new affections. The desire to lie, steal, disobey or indulge in immorality will be removed when you are born again and sanctified.
This happens after one’s conviction of sin, genuine repentance, and acceptance of Christ as Lord and Saviour. The new-born in Christ or regenerated man manifests a Christ-like life and is now gloriously part of the Kingdom of God.
QUOTE: God transforms us.
CHALLENGE: Choose to start a new life with Christ today.
PRAYER:I surrender my life to You, Lord Jesus.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
