Being Born In A Barn Does Not Make You A Cow

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life." John 6:47 Does this mean that every person who believes in the historical Jesus - has everlasting life? No, even the demons know who Jesus is: "You believe that there is one God? You do well, even the demons believe and tremble!" James 2:19 Believing Mark Carney is the Prime Minister of Canada doesn’t make you Canadian. Believing there was a person called Mohammed, who became "the prophet" for the Muslims doesn't make one Muslim. Being born in a barn doesn't make you a cow. There was a man named Merlin Carothers who said that one day the Lord spoke to him, "I have no grandchildren." Carothers was stumped as to what the Lord meant by that, and asked him about it. The Lord told him that no one is saved based on the fact that they grew up in a Christian home. If you think you're a Christian because your parents were, that would make you a grandchild, not a child of God, and God has no grandchildren. No, being born in a Christian home does not make you a Christian. You don’t inherit the born-again experience. Each person must come into the Kingdom of God individually and personally. You're born the first time personally, and you must be born again personally. "Jesus answered, 'MOST ASSUREDLY I say to you, UNLESS one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You MUST be born again.’" John 3:5-7 So how does it take place? First, we have to understand our state at our physical birth. We are born into a fallen human nature, into a fallen world, to fallen parents and teachers ...and Satan is "the god of this world" (2nd Corinthians 4:4.) We are fallen by birth, so to enter into the Kingdom of God we must be born again. This new birth experience takes place when a person recognizes his sin nature, and bows before the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving him as his Savior and his Lord. "...if you confess with your mouth “Lord Jesus,” and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 It's not to confess with your mouth THAT Jesus is Lord as some translations erroneously have it - after all, the demons do that. But it is to confess with your mouth "Lord Jesus." That goes from acknowledging "that" Jesus is Lord, to confessing "Lord Jesus," when he is YOUR Lord. Confessing "that" a historical fact is true is entirely insufficient for salvation. The new birth takes place when you personally surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, when you can finally say, "Lord Jesus," meaning MY Lord. When you surrender to your Creator from the heart and ask for salvation, that is salvation. If this is you, pray with me: Father God, I realize that if I have believed that I'm a Christian because I grew up in a Christian environment, or because my parents were Christians, I've missed it. I realize that Jesus said "you MUST be born again" (John 3:5-7) and I have never understood that before. Your Word says each person MUST be personally born again in order to be saved, so I ask you for that new birth. I am ready to surrender myself and my entire life to you, and I ask you to be my Savior and my Lord. Please receive me and give me life, the new life that is created when one is born again. Father I pray, transform me from darkness to light, from death to life - according to your Word grant to me eternal life. I do now personally surrender all - to you. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2nd Corinthians 5:17 More: Born Again - What Does That Mean?

Do You Know His Voice?

"But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." John 10:2-3 He calls his own sheep by name… How awesome is it that the Lord of the universe, the creator of all that is, he who placed the stars in the heavens, the one who controls the waves of the sea - that he would call each of us by name, that is, he is personally on a one-to-one basis with each us. If you have ever been in an airplane, have you looked down and thought as I did, how small and insignificant the people down below look? From high up in the air, they look like ants. Have you ever seen masses and masses of people and wondered how God can be intimately involved with each one? He knows the number of hairs on your head. He knows you personally, individually, he knows your thoughts, your fears, your hopes, your heartaches - and he cares for you deeply and personally. vs 9: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." Find pasture... The shepherd who knows you by name will lead you to lush green pastures and to still waters. He will not leave you to your own resources, no, he will personally guide you into all the provision needed for you to be healed, to be nourished, and to grow. vs 10: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." But you have to follow the shepherd. There is a thief, an enemy who will try with all his resources to steal you away from him. His purpose is to destroy you. The only way you can be safe from him is to know the voice of the shepherd. vs 4: “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice." They know his voice... That's the only way to be safe - to know the voice of the shepherd. "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." John 6:39 The words of the shepherd are found in the Word of God. When you have a problem, when you have a fear, a doubt, an anxiety, turn to the Word of God, for the voice of the shepherd will answer you there, in a very personal way. If you don't know the Word of God you are a sitting duck for the deceptions Satan will surely speak into your mind. Satan knows you by name too. He knows your weaknesses and that's where he'll approach you. Your only defense is to know the Word of God, to know the voice of the shepherd. If you belong to the shepherd and face an enemy, you can trust the shepherd to lead you - through his Word. To know his voice, you have to know his Word.

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It All Depends On Who Holds The Keys

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off, you comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:1-3 If you were to ask people to express their concept of God, most wouldn’t be able to because they do not know him. For many, God is some kind of power in the skies who is aloof and distant. Satan has deceived them because the last thing he wants is for a person to come to know the Lord. And for most, they’re easy game. The truth is that God is anything but aloof. He knows our every movement, our every thought. And he deeply desires that we know him personally. He wants an intimate, personal relationship with us. When I was first told this, it seemed unreasonable to think that God wanted to play an intimate part in my life or that I could know him personally. I had grown up believing that the only thing God was interested in was in judging me. I had no idea… vs 4: “For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” If God is interested in every word one speaks, how can we think he’s aloof? Vs 5-6: “You have hedged me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is high, I cannot attain it.” And this was my reaction that day when I was told he wants me to know him personally. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.” Yes, it IS high, but it is true. This is the way it was put to me: You are a house of many rooms, and each of the rooms has an individual key. As the owner, you have not done well with this house, it’s pretty much a mess. But the Lord God of heaven wants to purchase the house. The deal is that he wants you to surrender the key to every room in the house. For many rooms, you’re willing to give him the key, but there are hidden rooms, dark rooms, rooms even you don’t ever go into, they’re locked and hidden away. The Lord wants those keys as part of the agreement to purchase this house, and the intent of the Lord is to make changes. He’ll start with the foundation, he will replace that. Then he’ll knock down walls. That will be painful. He’ll gut everything. And then he’ll remake it. He will turn this shack into a palace, gleaming in the sunlight. But it starts with the purchase. Are you willing to let him take over every hidden part of your house, every hidden part of you? When you accept the offer, the purchase price is stated. “A purchase price,” I asked? Yes. It is …the blood he shed for you. Pray with me: Lord Jesus, as lord of my own house I haven’t done well with it. I realize that as my Creator, you are far more able to manage this house and make the changes needed, but the thought of it causes me great fear. When I consider how great a work it would be to renovate it, I’m fearful of the pain that would be involved. Please help me here. I ask you for the grace of surrender, because deep down, I DO want to turn everything over to you. When I think of the alternative, I shudder. So Father God, here are the keys, I’m turning them over to you. Here’s the title deed to my house, I surrender it to you. As you are the new owner, I place my trust in you because I know your intent for this house is to make it a palace fit for the King. Your desire is to make my self and my life something beautiful. I thank you with all my heart for the purchase price, the blood you shed for the forgiveness of my sins, the blood you shed to become the Lord of my life. I surrender all to you, Lord Jesus, with a heart of thanksgiving …that you would care that much for me. More on this: "Born Again" - What Does That Mean?