Jesus walked this earth, seeking to save the lost and ministering to people at their point of need. One evening, a religionist came to Jesus. His name was Nicodemus. He had heard Jesus teach and witnessed the miracles of Jesus. No doubt, the Spirit of God is drawing this man to Jesus. Nicodemus tells Jesus, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
"What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?"
Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit (John 3:2-5 NLT)."
Nicodemus knew, and we also know, that a physical re-birth is impossible. The good news that Jesus came to tell us is that we can begin life all over again. We can have a new starting point, a second chance. This is called the new birth. We can be born of God. Each true follower of Jesus is “born of water and the Spirit.”
Do you ever pay attention to how a book begins? What is the opening statement? Paying attention to how the story begins can be very insightful.
Listen to how the Gospel of John begins: “Before the world began, the Word was there. The Word was there with God. The Word was God (John 1:1 ERV).”
The beginning of the Gospel of John is an interesting way to start a story, but it is also very insightful. John is saying that God’s message existed before anything else, as we know it, existed. We know it is true because God’s message is Jesus!
When God wanted human beings to know more about him, when he wanted to show them how he loved and forgave them, when he wanted to give them the good news about salvation, he sent Jesus into our world. Jesus is the good news. Jesus is the message of God to us. This message was with God before the world began. He is by nature God, Immanuel, God with us. Jesus is God who came to us, in human flesh and blood.
by Gregory A. Johnson
We are ALL called to serve God by following Jesus and making a difference in our day for Him. Many confuse attending church with answering that call. Please know that attending church is not fully following Christ, although many who follow Christ attend church. Church will not make us a Christ-follower. To be willing and ready to follow Christ, we have to recognize who He is and what we are not. He is holy; we are not. As we recognize who Jesus is and what we are not, we realize that He must do a work in our lives in order for us to follow and serve Him.
Isaiah had a fresh revelation of God and His holiness that revealed to him his unholy state (Isaiah 6:1-8). Recognizing that God needed to do a work in him before he could serve God, Isaiah cried out, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). God answered Isaiah’s cry for help and sent seraphim from His very presence to cleanse Isaiah. After God cleansed Isaiah, he was willing and ready to go and do whatever God required, in total obedience and service to the Almighty.
When the religionists of Jesus’ day brought a woman to him caught in adultery, they expected he would uphold the Jewish law and condemn her to death by stoning. Instead of meeting their expectations, he used the opportunity to shift their focus from judging others to self-examination when he said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her [the woman caught in adultery]." — John 8:7
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her,
“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” — John 8:9-11
One of the ten commandments that God gave Moses was not to commit adultery. Doing so would be a sin against God. The Jewish law was to stone to death those caught in adultery.
One day religionists brought a woman that was caught in adultery to Jesus. They wanted to see if Jesus would uphold the Jewish law and condemn this woman to death.
This was Jesus' response, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her [the woman caught in adultery]." — John 8:7
It is easy for us to identify the sins of others and focus on those sins instead of the fact that we all are sinners and each of us falls short. Please know that God wants to deliver us from the sin of being critical and judgmental.
Check out this paragraph taken from God’s word, the Bible:
Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NLT).
The last two sentences thrill me the most:
Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:11 NLT).
The key word is “were.” The list of sins that the paragraph begins with is what some of us were. God does not want our focus to be on what we were as much as He wants us to always remember what He has done for us through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. We all were sinners that fell way short of what God designed us to be, but He did not leave us in that state. No, he did something about it. Because He loves us so much, he sent His Son to pay the penalty and take the punishment for our sins.
When Jesus walked this earth, He revealed His Kingdom to us through His words and His actions. The secret to understanding the Kingdom and living as its citizens is found in the life of Christ. Jesus and the Kingdom are the same; He is the Kingdom embodied.
Jesus gave us the first hint into what His Kingdom is all about when He preached His first sermon in His hometown of Nazareth.
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
Because of Jesus, we all have equal access to God. Everyone has access to God's grace and peace, regardless of race, gender, or economic status. Because of His amazing grace, God pours His Spirit into all who will receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. With God's Spirit comes a supernatural peace that surpasses all understanding—peace with God and peace with man.
God loves us so much. Who would not want to receive His grace? Who would not want to receive His peace? Only those who have been blinded by sin and evil would reject God's free gifts. They search the world for peace but will find none. The peace that wars and diplomacy try to bring is costly, fragile, and fleeting. The peace that God gives through His Holy Spirit is free, strong, and eternal.
Not just during the Easter season, but each day, we are confronted with the cross of Christ and the empty tomb. What do they mean? Why are they so significant? In the 1800's Ralph E. Hudson wrote the chorus to the sacred hymn, At the Cross: "At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, and the burden of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day!"
At the cross, we realize how much God loves us (Romans 5:8).
At the cross, we are justified and saved from God’s wrath (Romans 5:9).
At the cross, we are reconciled to God (Romans 5:10).
At the cross, we experience forgiveness of sins (Luke 23:34).
I am thankful that we are one day closer to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Media has utilized the date-setting false prophets of our day to desensitize society to the reality of the return of Christ, but that does not negate its truth. I feel the Holy Spirit compelling me, more and more, to remind people that Christ is returning as he promised, and we are to always be ready.
So many in our day, both inside and outside the walls of the church building, base what is right from wrong on what feels good, what is socially acceptable, what media and Hollywood suggest, instead of on Scripture. They are not hearing much different coming from behind the pulpits, and they are not reading the Bible on their own. Many go to church and only hear about receiving God's blessings. This bless-me-and-all-that-I-do message mimics many of the books written today by popular television preachers.
Reflecting on 2013, looking forward to 2014, I am thankful for you. I am humbled by the number of people who take time to read what I write.
Writing is not something I do by choice, but something that I believe God calls me to do. He has opened up an audience that spans the globe. I pray for his Spirit to inspire and speak to each reader, finding that he often allows me to be transparent, writing from a life that has experienced pain, hardship, hurt, trials, and tribulations on my journey as I follow Christ. I write what he gives me, realizing he brings me through difficulty, allowing me to help others through the same.
In gratitude to those who read my posts and my books, please allow me to share with you the top ten posts that have been read this year. I pray that one, two, or many of the posts below will draw you to click and read or re-read, allowing the Spirit of God to speak encouragement, pouring upon you waves of joy, covering you with abundant grace, and shielding you with tender mercy.
Those who will receive God’s grace are forever transformed. They cease to do whatever they want to do and begin to do what Jesus Christ has for them to do. They no longer live for self; they deny self and follow Christ.
There is no better example of this transformation than the one recorded in Acts 9:1-9 of God’s word. A dramatic, definable, and undeniable change takes place in Saul, who would later be named the Apostle Paul.
Saul was living for self, believing in his interpretation of Old Testament Scripture and the prophets. Jesus did not fit Saul’s understanding of what the Scripture said of the Messiah. Saul and his religious buddies believed that the teachings and claims of Jesus were radical and threatened changes to the Law and the Temple. Saul was at the trial of Stephen where the frustrations of the religionists with the early Christ-followers came to a violent climax and ended in the stoning death of Stephen (Acts 6:8-7:60).
Some people think that faith is believing that God will do what you want him to do—if you pray and believe, God will act in the way you want him to act on behalf of your situation or circumstance. They have been taught that if you mix some fasting with praying and believing, you can really get God’s attention, and he will do more of what you want him to do.
With this type of thinking, glory is given to the individual who can supposedly move God into action. A true move of God will be in such a way that only God receives the glory.
Faith is believing that God will keep his word, doing what is right because he is in control and loves his children. It is in prayer where we receive more of his grace and mercy in our time of need as we release all of our worries and anxieties to him. Our human nature tries to hold on to them, but his nature is to take them all if we just release them to him.
There is one constant theme throughout the entire Bible—VICTORY! Because of His love and grace, God grants victory for His children. Life here on earth can be a battle as we try to live for the LORD, but we are afforded victory, and our victory is in Him.
Beloved, your victory today is found in Jesus. Follow Him with your whole being and victory is yours.
Scripture:
“No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17).
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the victory you have given us through Jesus Christ. I pray for those today who are facing persecution in the home, workplace, schoolhouse, or wherever they are doing what is right and good as they follow Christ. I pray for those living in lands where their life is in danger because of their faith in Jesus. Encourage each one today, Father. Strengthen us all by your Holy Spirit, giving each of us reaffirmation of the victory that has already been afforded us at the cross of Christ, including our ultimate victory which is to come. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
God is so good to his children, giving us a foretaste of glory that is to come.
Scripture declares: “And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us” (Romans 8:23, NLT).
Life can be difficult at times, but God does not leave us to navigate our journey alone. He has given each Christ-follower the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Spirit living within assures us of God’s constant and unconditional love for us and our future glory with him. The Spirit gives us tiny tastes of glory now, giving needed comfort, strength, and joy, reminding us that we are God’s children.
The Spirit living within also serves as a reminder that the best for us is yet to come. You see, if this is as good as it gets, it would be rather depressing, but we know that this is not as good as it gets. When we receive our new bodies, as promised, we receive our full rights as God’s children. Think about what this means for us:
We will be in the presence of the Lord for all eternity.
We will no longer be where sin is present.
We will never be tempted again.
We will never be lonely, depressed, or sad.
We will not have to remember to take our medicine.
We will no longer experience sickness, disease, or suffering.
We will receive our perfect healing from the Great Physician.
Life is full of the unknown. What we know tends to bring comfort; what we don’t know can bring
much anxiety if we allow it to mess with our thinking. I’m convinced that we will be better off emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually if we focus on what we know instead of concentrating on the unknowns of life.
If you make the unknowns of life your focus, it will get the best of you, bringing you down into the gloomy loneliness found in the dark prison of despair, paralyzing your life, and destroying your future. What would happen if you focused on what you know instead of the uncertainty that robs you of your sleep, joy, and peace, threatening to rattle your sanity beyond what is repairable?
I have had the privilege of watching the sun rise from a sandy beach on the East Coast of America, and I have watched the sun set from a sandy beach on the West Coast. Both shorelines are beautiful yet they are completely different, with flat topography on the East Coast and a mountain range hugging the West Coast. Both experiences are breathtaking, causing an awareness of a Creator who inspires awe in all that He has created and in all that He does.
One of the most incredible things any of us can experience is the forgiveness of our sins. The forgiveness of our sins by the Creator is truly wonderful and amazing. If we confess our sins to God, and we run to Him in repentance, He not only forgives us, but He also removes those sins from us. We are guilty but owe no penalty. Why? Christ took the penalty for our sins when He died on the cross for them.
The day in which we live is full of uncertainty and change. We don’t know when our Lord will return, but we watch with anticipation as we move along on our journey of following Him from earth to glory. With each passing day, we realize how fragile life can be; we realize that we need help on our journey. Each of us needs encouragement and people in our lives who will encourage us.
As I was growing up, I always helped my dad when he worked on things around the house or on the cars. I would get his toolbox and be quick to hand him each tool that he asked for. To this day, when I see dad’s toolbox, I remember all the great times I had as I spent time with him working on things. They are memories that uplift and stir me to this day.
As a pastor and an author, I look at myself as one who helps others by handing them the tools they need for their journey as they follow Christ. The Be Encouraged series is a set of encouraging tools that will be of great value in the Christ-follower’s toolbox.
by Gregory A. Johnson Itisduringthosetimeswhenlifedoesnotseemtobeworkingout,feelingasiflifecouldhavebeendifferent,failingtoseeourimpactonothers,wishingwehadnotevenbeenborn,thatweneedtorealizethatittrulyisawonderfullife.
It's hard to see this throughout the entire year, as we deal with the ups and downs of life regardless of the calendar. It doesn't have to be just at Christmas time, as in the climactic scene in the classic movie It's a Wonderful Life when George Bailey, played by the one and only James "Jimmy" Stewart, found himself in a situation that seemed impossible. George was contemplating ending his life, wishing he had never been born, failing to realize that his life had impacted so many in positive ways until he was shown by an unlikely source, Clarence Odbody (Angel, Second Class) played by Henry Travers, that if he had not been born, the people of Bedford Falls would not have had such a wonderful life.
It's a Wonderful Live - Movie Trailer
Through it all, the movie projects that God had a purpose for George Bailey and was working through him to help others in ways that would not have materialized if George had not been born. The Bailey house had a merry Christmas that year because God answered the prayers of people who loved George, and He sent a messenger to show George his worth just in time. It's a Wonderful Life is a great movie recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made.
In our house, my family and I have traditionally watched the movie on Christmas Eve, although it is a good movie to be watched at any time of the year. Because of our tradition, when I think of characters of Christmas, George Bailey is one who pops into my mind.
I wrote the book, The Characters of Christmas: God at Work in our Lives, to encourage people to realize that God is always working in our lives, even if we cannot see it or feel it. The book is not about fictitious characters from a movie, like George Bailey, and it's not just another Christmas book or a book to be read at Christmas time. In the book, I take the real-life characters of the Bible at the birth of Jesus and show how God worked in their lives while making it relevant to each reader by showing how God is working in his or her life, no matter what he or she is going through. It will speak to you during any season of the year and regardless of the season of life that you currently find yourself in. I pray that, as Clarence Odbody, God will use the book as a messenger to show readers and those they recommend or give it to, that God is truly at work in their lives. With some, it will be just in time.
Please know today that you have value; you are favored by God. He allowed you to be born for a purpose. He is working in your life. He is working in your seemingly impossible situation. As you realize this, you will realize that this truly is a wonderful life. Know that you are loved, gaj
![By Rajwinder Singh from Sydney, Australia (Happy New Year !! Uploaded by berichard) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexrofUbSe3cSm3dHRceFOK2u2zGopywYnDBpxIc0S3DL6Qe0OhlIPkvvWdACVjqyEPpPzXvBnCDdztvWKkH7gC4a8Zv2nhll-XP3RJHbYhpQ6xCEYLm8KaChUtO2jH5IzalCqD7wYBqk/s1600/Sydney_Bridge_Happy_New_Year.jpg "By Rajwinder Singh from Sydney, Australia (Happy New Year !! Uploaded by berichard) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
