How do you know???

As Christians, sometimes we stop at the cliche' and fail to take it further to where it's practical and meaningful. For example: for years, I have heard people say "You must be born again!" Then when you ask them how to do this, it stops being about what God does and about we do!

• You must believe!
• You must be baptized!

Then what? Does it stop there? Are we set for life?

Even if you have read this a million times - stop... slow down... read this carefully again.

Let's take another look at the conversation that Jesus has and see if we've missed any truths:

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named hNicodemus, ia ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus1 jby night and said to him,k“Rabbi, lwe know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do munless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is nborn oagain2 he cannot psee the kingdom of God.” John 3:1-3

In this conversation, Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born again. Nicodemus does what we all do... struggle with understanding what Jesus is trying to explain.

Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” John 3:4 

Jesus responds with the fact that He is not talking about something physical, He is talking about something spiritual!

 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born qof water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 rThat which is born of the flesh is sflesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:5-6 

But Jesus doesn't stop here... as a matter of fact, He almost trivializes this statement. He says "don't marvel at this... this is how you really know.."

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You4 must be born uagain.’ 8 vThe wind5 blows wwhere it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:7-8 

What does that mean???

Here are some examples given to us in Scripture:

• Jesus, who is always surrounded by a crowd, or at least His disciples has a one on one conversation with Nicodemus. Although Nicodemus came to Jesus, the "Spirit" moved Jesus to be there for this conversation to occur.
• Jesus, who is always surrounded by a crowd, or at least the 12 apostles has a one on one conversation with the Woman at the well!

Okay... that's Jesus... what about the rest of us mere mortals?

•  Acts 8:26 - Philip encounters an Ethiopian Eunuch because the Spirit told him to... as a result, he explains the scripture and the Ethiopian is baptized!
• Acts 9:10 - The Spirit of God comes to Ananias and tells him to go to Saul who has been persecuting the church!

If we believe that God is sovereign, and that we are His followers then we must believe that he has a plan! Our job is to listen to His, go where He wants us to go, meet the people whose hearts He has been working in, and we will see great results!

Express your Christianity in Action today - listen to God... follow his wind (Spirit) and be amazed at what God will do!