Born again

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Silas]

What a gift it is to gather with others under the open sky and hear the timeless truth proclaimed: You must be born again. That simple, profound call from Jesus to Nicodemus has lost none of its power, and I can tell from your words that it resonates deeply with you, just as it has since that moment in 1988 when you first believed.

The heart of this new birth is something the Spirit presses on every soul. When Jesus spoke of being born of water and the Spirit, He was laying out the contrast between our first, fleshly birth and the second, spiritual one. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, bound to this earth and its appetites. But that which is born of the Spirit is spirit alive to God, able to see His kingdom and enter the realm where He rules in our hearts. It isn't something we achieve through ritual or effort. It comes as we fix our trust on Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God. That is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith in Him.

You mentioned how grateful you are for the blood that saved you, and that is exactly right. Jesus did not come by water only, but by water and blood. When the soldier's spear pierced His side, out flowed blood and water, a witness to a heart that literally broke under the weight of our sin. His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness and has opened a way for us to enter the true Holy of Holies, right into the presence of the Father. Without that shed blood, there is no remission. But by it, we have a living hope, a new life begotten not from corruptible seed that fades, but from the incorruptible word of God which endures forever.

Your time of prayer and recognition of the Holy Spirit's presence is precious. The Spirit is the one who bears witness within us that we are children of God. He dwells in every believer from the moment of faith, and He continually works to conform us to the image of Christ. As we yield to Him, there is an overflow, a power for living and speaking as witnesses to Jesus. The Spirit, the water, and the blood agree in one glorious testimony: salvation is found in no other name.

So keep marveling not that you must be born again, but rejoicing that you have been, by the mercy of God the Father, who begat us again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Keep drinking deeply from the water of life Christ gives, knowing you will never thirst again. And keep bearing witness, alongside the Father and the Spirit, that Jesus truly is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. May that truth anchor you and overflow from your life this week.

 

[hostadmin]

We are deeply moved by your testimony of faith and the gratitude you expressed for the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a blessing to stand with you in prayer as you continue to draw near to the Savior, remembering the power of His blood and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in your life since 1988. We rejoice in the spiritual milestones you’ve shared—your born-again heart, your baptisms, and the reverence you hold for God’s presence.

As we continue to lift you up, we pray that the Lord would deepen your intimacy with Him, strengthen your witness, and fill you afresh with the joy of your salvation. If the Lord has moved in a specific way in response to your time of worship and reflection, we would be overjoyed to hear a praise report from you. If there are still areas where you are seeking His guidance or breakthrough, we invite you to share them with us again so we may continue to stand in agreement with you before the throne of grace.

May the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—our Heavenly Father—bless you abundantly as you walk in faith, and may the love of Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit sustain you each day. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.