GOD’S WORD FOR SEPTEMBER 7

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin Lutzer  and the late, great D.L. Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our day as D.L. Moody was in his.  Besides his many ministries, and many books, Pastor Lutzer was Senior Pastor at Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus there.  He is  Chancelor and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught Theology and Ministry, and now has numerous radio teachings.

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BROUGHT INTO LIGHT

John 3:3

Jesus answered him, “Truly,  truly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

D.L. MOODY

You can look abroad and see many beautiful trees, but the Tree of Life you shall never behold unless your eyes are made clear by faith in the Savior.  You may see the beautiful rivers of the earth, you may ride on them, but bear in mind, your eye will never rest on the river which bursts out from the throne of God and flows through the upper kingdom unless you are born again.  You may see the kings and lords of the earth but the King of kings and Lord of lords, you will never see except you are born again.  When you are in London, you may go to the Tower and see the crown of England, which is worth thousands of dollars and is  guarded by soldiers; but bear in mind, your eye will never rest upon the crown of life except you are born again.

It is God who says it.  You may see ten thousand beautiful things in this world, but the city that Abraham caught a glimpse of and, from that time, became a pilgrim and sojourner – you shall never see unless you are born again.  (see Hebrews 11:8-16 below).  You may often be invited to marriage feasts here but you will never attend the marriage supper of the Lamb except you are born again.  It is God who says it. (In fact, if you’re born again, you will be part of the bride in that marriage!!).

ERWIN LUTZER

Reread Moody’s devotional printed above.  His sermons had a sense of immediacy and imagination capturing the experiences of life interwoven with the gospel.  Everyone can identify with the images he uses to help us understand that if we want to look beyond this world, we must be born again.  This new birth is a birth from above; it refers to the work of the Holy Spirit giving us transformed desires and a new identity  This comes about by repentance and faith.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for the birth from above; I affirm this  miracle through faith in Christ.

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Hebrews 11:8-16

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;  for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.   By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.  Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.   For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.   And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.   But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

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John 3:1-15

(Jesus telling Nicodemus about the necessity of being born again):

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.  This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

 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?”  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.’  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.  So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? (the reason Jesus said that is because the concept of being born again is spoken about in the Old Testament also, and Nicodemus was a teacher of the Law and should have known that.)     Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.  If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?    No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.    And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,  that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

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