MEMORISE: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17
READ: John 3:3-6 (KJV)
3 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.
4 Nicodemus 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?
5 Jesus 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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Kings 16-20
MESSAGE:
One major sign of a person who has become born-again is the newness of the life he or she lives. This change of spiritual living standards is always obvious. When Zacchaeus the publican encountered Jesus Christ in Jericho, his life did not remain the same. The notoriously corrupt tax collector said:
“…Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” – Luke 19:8
These days however, many people confess that they have become born again but still carry on with their sinful lifestyles as though nothing in them had changed. The thief is still stealing and yet he claims to be born again. The adulterous woman who succeeded in snatching another woman’s legally wedded husband is still living comfortably with the man, yet speaking in ‘tongues’!
When a person truly becomes born again the person’s life must show that a transformation has occurred. John the Baptist, when addressing those that came to be baptized by him encouraged them to bear the fruit of genuine repentance. Genuine repentance leads to a total turnaround from past sinful living. The Bible says:
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:” – Matthew 3:7-8
The religious leaders of John the Baptist’s time humbled themselves and came to him to be baptized for their spiritual growth. This is a lesson for those claiming to have risen through the ranks and files of established Church and ministries: there is an ever present need to seek spiritual growth. This may also account for many of the older generation embracing the Pentecostal experience. Such people should however be sure to “bring fruits meet for repentance”, forsaking their past sinful habits and lifestyles.
A regenerated spirit is one that has undergone a change.
There may be a need to change friends, eating and dressing habits and so on, in order to conform to the image of the Son of the Living God.
A regenerated spirit is one that has undergone a change. There may be a need to change friends, eating and dressing habits and so on, in order to conform to the image of the Son of the Living God.
May the Lord make you a new creature indeed, in the mighty name of Jesus.
ACTION POINT: Examine your life carefully and make all the necessary changes required for you to truly becomes a new creature in Jesus Christ.
Open Heavens 2021 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.
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