Jesus said!
Lord,
When I arise from my bed, are my thoughts on YOU, first?
When I first open my eyes from a long night’s slumber, do I think of my walk with YOU today, first?
When I look into the mirror and prepare my face for the challenges of this new day, do I seriously talk with YOU, first?
Lord, please help me place YOU first above all other things, people, plans, and desires.
Lord, let me take up my copy of YOUR WORD, first, even before I take up the burdens of this new day.
Lord, help me apply YOUR WORD, to everything I do throughout my life. It is YOUR TRUTH!
Lord, remind me daily how YOUR PROMISES are applicable to me as I face temptations and challenges.
Lord, I am so thankful YOUR HOLY SPIRIT dwells deep within me, guiding me, leading me, sustaining me, and sealing me until the day YOU bring me home to heaven.
In the name of JESUS CHRIST my SAVIOR, I ask. Amen.
If you are a Christian, then you live on earth, on a certain continent, within a particular country, and on a piece of ground that has borders, calling it (the land where we reside) by a specific name. We are citizens of this land, but if you are a Christian like me, then we know the truth: We are Citizens of Heaven, and we have received our citizenship because of the work of JESUS upon Calvary’s cross. We know that at the moment of GOD’S salvation, at the moment we placed our belief in JESUS CHRIST, the SON of GOD (at that moment) we received the breath of GOD—HIS HOLY SPIRIT!
We know this truth because the Bible tells us so!
[Nicodemus’ questions:]
(John 3: 5-8 NASB)
How can a person be born when he is old?
He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” (verse 4)
“Jesus answered,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which has been born of the flesh is flesh,
and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I said to you,
‘You must be born again.’
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it,
but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going;
so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”
People across the world believe there is a God—out there—as they point out the window and look toward the sky.
- “There is something beautiful about Christianity,” she said.
- “I want to believe like you believe,” he said as tears streamed down his cheeks.
- “I know there is a God, but I don’t believe in God the way you believe,” he said from across the expanse of the table.
- “I am not believing in Nietzsche’s teaching as I once did,” she wrote through her text.
- “I’m not done sinning yet,” she said as we sat across from one another sharing dinner.
Conversations.
They are the conversations we are to be engaged within each day as we walk upon this earth.
These “talks” are so important as we are walking within the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit.
We are ‘to keep our Lord, the first thing, first’ within our every-breathing moment of every-single day we are given to live.
- JESUS DID AS HE SPOKE WITH NICODEMUS DURING THE COVER OF NIGHT.
- JESUS DID AS HE ANSWERED THE MANY QUESTIONS NICODEMUS ASKED HIM IN THE DARKNESS OF THAT NIGHT.
JESUS DID, SO WHY SHOULDN’T WE?
You cannot explain how people are born of the Spirit.
You cannot explain how God saved your soul.
You cannot explain how Jesus Christ walks in relationship with you.
- BUT WE ARE—BORN OF THE SPIRIT—WHEN WE BELIEVE & ASK JESUS TO BECOME OUR SAVIOR!
- BUT WE ARE—SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD—WHEN GOD DELIVERS US FROM THE BONDAGE OF OUR SIN!
- BUT WE ARE—FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRT—WHEN WE ARE BORN AGAIN!
BUT WE ARE—GOD’S CHILDREN—ONCE WE ACCEPT GOD’S SALVATION, BELIEVE IN JESUS, & CONFESS OUR SINS!
BUT WE HAVE TO TRUST GOD, WALK WITH HIS SON, & TRUST HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO PREPARE THE HEARTS OF THOSE HE LEADS US TO!
- How often do we need to talk with God?
- How often do we need to listen to God?
- How often do we need to open and read the Word of God?
- How often do we need to apply God’s Word to our lives?
How often?
What a friend we have in Jesus!
We have freedom because of what Jesus did!
We have salvation because of Jesus!
We have so much to celebrate because we asked Jesus to come into our heart!
We have so much to praise!
- Jesus, it was Jesus who saved us from who we once were and made us into who we are today!
- Jesus—His Power—could not be contained in a grave!
- Jesus—His Love—could not be conquered by death!
- Jesus—His Truth—could never be buried or forgotten!
- Jesus Has Risen!
- Jesus Makes All Things New!
- Jesus Breathes New Life So We May Live Free!
The Salvation of God is the fog lifting, allowing us to SEE the TRUTH of GOD at His Word!
“For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.”
(Romans 10: 11-13 NASB)
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 “EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
- When we arise from our beds, do our thoughts think of JESUS, first?
- When we first open our eyes from a long night’s slumber, do we think of our daily walk with JESUS, first?
- When we look into the mirror and prepare our faces for the challenges of this new day, do we seriously talk with JESUS, first?
- Do we place JESUS first—above all other things, people, plans, and desires?
- Do we reach for the WORD of GOD, first, even before we take up the burdens of this new day?
- Do we apply GOD’S WORD, to everything we do?
- Do we trust in the PROMISES of GOD as we face temptations and challenges?
- Are we more thankful for GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT dwelling deep within us, guiding, leading, sustaining, & sealing us until the day GOD calls us home to heaven?
- Who do we know who needs to meet JESUS?
- Who will we encounter today who needs to hear the words of JESUS?
“Jesus said, ‘You must be born again.’”
(John 3: 7b NASB)