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Volume 9 ... #13
Cannot See Kingdom of God Until You Are Born Again
John 3:3 ... 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.
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A teacher at our church group said before he was born again, the Bible didn't make any sense to him. This man was extremely intelligent with an IQ of 174.
After he was born again, he understood.
I Cor. 2:6 ... Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect:
... 9-14 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love HIM. But God hath revealed them unto us by HIS Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
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A man can join a church and attend church and hear the sermons and read the Bible and still not "see" the kingdom of God, as he tries to understand with his mind.
There have been so many times I have spoken things of God or a scripture to a person who attends a church and have had that person stare at me blankly as if he were dead. He, in fact, is spiritually dead, no excitement over things of God because he cannot see things of God. It is like a blind man trying to visit an art gallery. He has put himself into a church group and tries to do what they say he should do but he is dead, not born again.
Jude vv17-19 ... But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers (imitators) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
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John 3:5-8 ... 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.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The 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.
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The apostle Paul was very religious and highly educated and trained in religion. Paul says of himself:
Phil. 3:1-6 ... Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
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Paul greatly persecuted the church at the time he served the Jewish religion as Pharisee.
Acts 9:1-6 ... And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard A VOICE saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?
And he said, WHO art THOU, Lord?
And the Lord said, I AM Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt THOU have me to do?
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
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Suddenly God revealed HIMSELF to Paul ... and Paul was never the same again.
It is the same with each of us who are born of the Spirit of God.
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Pam Padgett, in our little church group, was raised Catholic and attended Catholic school. Her classmate was killed on motorcycle and Pam realized she could die. She spoke to God asking HIM if there was "any way" HE could please save her.
After that she realized there was something "of God" in her. She didn't know what it was nor how to describe it but it was different than before. It was God "in her."
Then she saw a scripture and she knew what it was that was "in her".
I Cor. 6:19 ... What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God,
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It only takes one word from God to change that person forever ... one act from God whereby God puts HIS spirit in you ... now you are born again by God by HIS Spirit ... now you are alive and can see ...
Until that time, you are a form but without substance inside though you may try day and night to fill yourself with Bible and doctrine.
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Romans 9:6-18 ... Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of HIM that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For HE saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew MY power in thee, and that MY name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath HE mercy on whom HE will have mercy, and whom HE will HE
hardeneth.
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Recently I was thinking of the granddaughter of a woman in our little church group. This granddaughter is swimming in a sea of this world, surrounded with worldly people and worldly thinking. She attends a private school and is now 6th grade. I'm sure she is being taught how to succeed in ways of this world. She is being given every advantage of this world and those around her are given every advantage of this world. She is like, "poor little rich girl", having nothing.
I felt very sorry for this rudderless child.
But one word from God HIMSELF would change everything and separate her from this world.
All she really needs is for God put his laws into her mind and into her heart.
I realized if I were Barbara this is what I would pray for. (I shared this with Barbara and she understood.)
Heb. 8:10-12 ... God says ... For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put MY laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to ME a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know ME, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
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That is what happened to each of us who were born again and given the Spirit of God. God just did it HIMSELF.
And when we have been given the Spirit of God to live in us we have a different Spirit from this world.
Also here is what the Spirit of God does for us:
- teaches us all things (spiritual and secular)
- reminds us of all Jesus has said
- guides us into all truth
- shows us things to come
John 14:26 ... But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13 ... Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of HIMSELF; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.
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Now we have everything we need and God does it all HIMSELF by giving us a new Spirit so we can see things of God through God's eyes!
This is being born again.
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