June 10
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BORN AGAIN
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and 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. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
– John 3:1-8
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In this account of John, we meet Nicodemus who is a ruler of the Jews. It is a fact that the Jews didn’t like to bend rules. They are so legalistic and a stickler to their laws. Interestingly, we hear from this story how Nicodemus pays a visit to Jesus at night. Could it be that he wanted to ensure that no colleagues or any Jews for that matter, sees him going to see Jesus. Most of the religious leaders were beginning to be stirred by Jesus’ teachings, miracles and claims that he is God’s son. Nicodemus even addresses Jesus as “Rabbi” meaning Teacher.
Jesus explain to Nicodemus the importance of being born of water and the Spirit and that it is a requirement to be born again in order to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus explains the difference of natural and spiritual birth to someone who is supposedly a Jewish ruler. The Spirit is not visible, according to Jesus, but His presence can be experienced by the believer.
Isn’t it interesting to see the contrast of what we can do in the natural against what we can do in the Spirit’s work? Only the Spirit of God can make one understand spiritual things. It is not on our own understanding that we are able to gain understanding on spiritual matters. It shows how a learned Jewish leader can miss out a spiritual truth because he isn’t born again yet.
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REFLECTION
• Why is the concept of being born again missed by some Christians?
• When does one become born again?
Tag Archives: born again
ENTRY WAY TO GOD’S KINGDOM Poem Devotional
December 18
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ENTRY WAY TO GOD’S KINGDOM
A poem by ILMA
Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader came to ask Jesus one evening
He said “Rabbi, your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
“I tell you the truth, you can’t see God’s kingdom unless you are born again”
“How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be reborn? he asked.
“Humans can make only human life, but God’s Spirit gives birth to spiritual life
Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going
So you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit” Jesus replied
“How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet don’t know”
“If you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things
How can you possibly believe if I tell you about things that are heavenly?
No one has gone to heaven and come down from it but the Son of Man has.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son
He did this so everyone will be saved and have eternal life
God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world
He sent his beloved Son so that the world can be saved through him.”
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MEMORY VERSE
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,[a] you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”– John 3:3
Read: John 3:1-17
Being Born again is the gateway to enter God’s kingdom. To be born again means to be born in the Spirit. When someone commit their life to Jesu, they receive the Holy Spirit that enables them to be able to live the new life that is given to them by Jesus. Sadly, some believers are not authentic enough to live in this new life they have received.
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REFLECTION
• How can a Christian remain to be “born again” after they have received the Lord Jesus Christ?
EMBRACE YOUR NEW LIFE Poem Devotional
August 26
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For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
-Romans 6:4(NLT)
EMBRACE YOUR NEW LIFE
A poem and essay by ILMA
At that moment you committed your life to Christ
You are a new creation and you are filled with his light
When Christ died, buried and raised from the dead
You also died and was resurrected from what you dread.
You are now a new creation because of Christ’s sacrifice
Don’t waver in your faith, embrace your new life
God gave us his Son, so we can be free and be alive
Don’t go back to your old ways so you can thrive.
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The trouble with some believers is that they don’t realize the depth of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. I understand how some can be clueless about this truth. We humans have very limited minds and I think this is why the Lord himself, though he was God, went to be baptized. When John the Baptist baptized him, it was a symbol of his death and resurrection. Even before he was born, he already knew how his life would end, but his disciples and followers didn’t. Through baptism, he gave us hope for a new life ahead of us. He wants us to embrace this transformed life totally.
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PRAYER
Thank you for changing my life after you sacrificed your life, Lord Jesus.
REFLECTION
What hinders you from embracing the new life Christ gave you when you became a believer?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
A NEW LIFE BEGINS Poem Devotional
October 23________________________________________
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
A NEW LIFE BEGINS
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you ever meet Jesus and fall for him
You will discover that a new life will begin
To all who will commit their lives to Christ
They will come out of darkness into the light.
Your old life will be washed away by Jesus
You become a new person, one who is righteous
You will see everything in God’s point of view
He will transform you and have your mind renewed.
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Spring is one of the greatest season because new life begins everywhere. It is a time when people de-clutter and clean and make things fresh again. It is the season after the cold winter days and when people can get out again and be rejuvenated by the flowers and grass just sprouting out of the ground. It is a season when you can start planting and later on harvest what you sowed.
The bible tells us that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun. I can attest to this experience when God called me and I re-committed myself to him with the hunger to know him more and to follow his word no matter what.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for the new life in you.
REFLECTION
What transformation has God done in your life after you were born again?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
REBORN IN CHRIST Poem Devotional
June 9________________________________________
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn-not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. –John 1:12-13 (NLT)
REBORN IN CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
To anyone who believes in the power of Christ
They will have a renewed heart and eternal life
They are reborn not with a physical birth
They are stronger and cannot easily be hurt.
Believers will be considered God’s children
They will not allow the enemy to hinder
Being born again in spirit will lead to victory
It will equip them with power and authority.
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When I first heard the word “born again” in my early twenties, I thought it was a spiritual movement. Because I didn’t read the bible then, I had no understanding of the actual meaning of it. Until God gave me revelation to discern what it meant in my life, I had no clue what it really meant to be reborn in Christ.
One day, as I was reading my daily bible devotionals, I thought of searching for the meaning of being born again. After much study on it, I realized that I was already born again even before I got a revelation because I have always believed and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. My mind was renewed and I saw things just like how God would see it.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for giving me new life.
REFLECTION
What changes occurred in you after being born again?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
NEW IN CHRIST Poem Devotional
May 20
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This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has now become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun. -2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
NEW IN CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you long to be renewed in your mind, body and spirit?
If you accept Christ as your Saviour, God will do it
When you receive him as Lord of your life
You will be blessed with his Spirit and light.
Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person
There is no room for sin, guilt or condemnation
The old life is gone and the new has begun
God’s children and the Father is now one.
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I lived for so long in condemnation and guilt before I was born again in Christ. I had so many strongholds handed down to me by past generations. Guilt is one of the many of these generational sins. I used to do things out of guilt and to seek approval. It never gave me peace and joy whenever I succumbed to it. When I received Christ as my Savior at a very young age of seven, I didn’t totally understood what it meant to be one of God’s children. When God revealed to me his unconditional love much later in life, I know realized that I am new in Christ and that the old life has gone, a new life begun.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for my new life in you.
REFLECTION
What is in your new life that has changed from your old life?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
ETERNAL LIVING WORD
March 13
For you have been born again but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal living word of God.
-1 Peter 1:23(NLT)
ETERNAL LIVING WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you give your life to Christ
You will be guided in your daily life
The eternal living word of God transforms
It makes you stronger to go through storms.
You have been born again when you received him
As a result, your heart and mind were cleaned
Your new life with Christ will last forever
God sent his only Son to be our Redeemer.
I didn’t totally comprehend what “born again” meant many years ago. Coming from a religion that didn’t explain much about what it meant to be born again, all these things were hazy to me. One day as I was studying in my bible online course about being born again, God revealed to me how much he loved me and why he sent his son to save me and cleansed me from sin. From God’s word, the concept became truth. I realized how much God loves me.
The bible tells us that when we become born again, we will be given a life that will last forever because it comes from the eternal living word.
PRAYER
Lord, keep revealing yourself to me through your word.
REFLECTION
What revelations have you been given lately from God’s word?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
WHO CAN SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD Poem Devotional
Sept 29 The Power of God’s Word
I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God. – John 3:3(NLT)
WHO CAN SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you looking forward to see God’s kingdom?
Are you free from sin and enjoy freedom?
Are you inclined to be good or remain a sinner?
Do you allow the enemy to lose or be the winner?
Unless you are born again, you cannot see heaven
Abiding in his will makes you one of his children
Be like these little ones who are pure in their spirits
If you live by God’s word, you’ll always want to seek Him.
What does it take to see the kingdom of God? Many believers have many views about this. Even the apostles and disciples of Jesus in their time didn’t comprehend what are the prerequisites to enter the heavenly realm. When Jesus was teaching, some of the children were gathered around him, but some of his disciples where shooing away these little ones. So, Jesus told them that unless they become like these little children, they won’t enter the kingdom of God.
The reply of Jesus to his apostles when they asked how to see the kingdom of God is to be born again. They didn’t realize that Jesus was speaking of being born by the spirit.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to stay pure to see your kingdom.
REFLECTION
When were you born again?