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 – John 3:5.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a teacher. The Pharisees were one of the three sects of Judaism in the time of Christ.
The name means separated by special works. The sect included all Hebrews who separated themselves from every kind of Levitical impurity, following the Mosaic law of purity.
Nicodemus came to Jesus by night; he reverenced Him by calling Him Rabbi. Rabbi was a title of respect that the Jews gave to their teachers and physicians. Nicodemus believed in God; he acknowledged that God had to be with Jesus through the miracles He performed, and according to the doctrine of Jesus, he had to be born again of the Spirit.
Millions of people attend church regularly and haven’t been born again. They haven’t had an encounter with Jesus, but with religion. Religion is someone acknowledging God but refusing to live according to God’s instructions. Nicodemus was the ruler of the Jews; he kept the Levitical law of purity, but he hadn’t been born of the Spirit of God.
Many attend church because it’s their Christian duty to attend church on Sunday. Many attend because it’s so much hell in their homes; they need a place to go besides their homes; others attend to find a spouse, seeking a change in their circumstances and situations, and very few attend seeking a change in their mind and hearts.
Although God is God, He’s looking for us to permit Him to abide in our physical bodies, permitting Him to have His will in our lives. God’s will refers to His purpose for the life of the believer. It may imply His guidance or direction in our life decisions. Dedication is an act of surrender or submission to His will for our lives, whereby we become a living sacrifice.
A sacrifice is giving up one thing for the sake of another, such as God’s will being done in you as it is in heaven. We must give up our will and give Him our will so that we will come in line with His will. It’s a blessing, and benefit, to have the Spirit of the Living God abiding in your physical beings, but He only comes in when we permit Him to do so by submitting ourselves to His Word (Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him – John 14:23).
We cannot live according to our old ways of living before accepting Jesus as our Savior; there is a standard of living for the Christian if we do it according to God’s Word (Because strait is the gate, and narrow (difficult or confined) is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it – Matthew 7:14). Christianity comes with restrictions (Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that are in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world – 1st John 2:15-16.
As Christians, we should let love be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kind and affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor of one another, and prefer one another. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.
Distributing to the necessity of saints, given to hospitality. Bless them who persecute you, bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep. Agree with one another. Don’t set your mind on high things but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits—recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as within you, live peaceably with all.
Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, said the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he’s thirsty, give him something to drink (non-alcoholic). Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. All this is our Christian duty according to Romans 12:9-21; it’s not about how much we attend church, but living as the church of God.
For these actions to manifest in us, the Spirit of the Living God must reside in us. The Fruit of the Spirit cannot be manifested in us if the Spirit of God is not living within us. This is why Jesus told Nicodemus he had to be born again; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance will not be manifested through us if we have not received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is what brings these godly actions to manifestation; the Fruit of the Spirit is God’s Spirit. This is what comes out of His heart and will come out of our hearts if we have His Spirit within us.
There are many Christians who have not received the Holy Spirit when it’s a gift to all those who ask Him for it ( If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him – Luke 11:13). Receiving the Holy Spirit comes with a price of dedication and submission to the Word of God. Those who ask for the Holy Spirit are ready to deny themselves and will allow God’s will to be done in them and through them. Everyone receives a portion of God’s Spirit when they truly receive salvation, but to be baptized in the Spirit is when one has been regenerated by the Spirit of God, and he or she will continue to receive refilling of the Holy Spirit as they commit themselves to God.
To enter heaven, one must be born of the Spirit of God; religious actions will not get one into heaven. When one has truly been born of the Spirit, no one has to tell you; the Spirit itself will witness that the Spirit in you is of Him. Your behavior and character will begin to reflect that of the Father and Son. The individual will no longer desire to look, listen, and go places that do not reflect them as being children of God because they have a new nature, the nature of God.
Their thoughts are not to do anything that will displease God; if what I’m looking at is offensive to God, I will not look at it. If what I’m listening to is offensive to God, then I will not listen to it. If what I’m going is offensive to God, then I will not go there. Our nature has been changed to please the Father.
Those who are Spirit-filled focus on the things of the Spirit, but those who just have a religion focus on the things of the world, what’s the newest fashion, how revealing can I be without being naked, what is my favorite entertainer or artist? I can remember the lyrics to their song, but I can’t remember a Scripture.
I can talk about my favorite singer, but I can’t find anything to talk about my Savior; something is wrong with this, this is being carnal-minded, and it’s just as bad as being a non-believer. Two things are coming that we know for sure will happen: the coming of Jesus and death. Where will you be spiritually when either one of them comes?
Many profess Christianity, but their lifestyle indicates something different. When we are born again of the Spirit of God, our characteristics will be those of our Father. Christians are in the world, but they are not of the world when they truly have received salvation.
When salvation has truly been accepted, the Spirit of God comes into the individual’s life. They will be baptized in the Holy Spirit as they continue to submit themselves to the Spirit of God. Sometimes individuals will receive salvation and baptism of the Holy Spirit at once.
Christians should not be conformed to this world but conformed to God’s Word, conformed to the Spirit of God.
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Last Updated: November 26, 2025 by Evangelist Carolyn Luke Leave a Comment
Accepting Salvation
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 – John 3:5.
Nicodemus was the ruler of the Jews who secretly came to Jesus during the night. He was a Pharisee and a teacher who, like Joseph of Arimathea, another secret disciple was a member of the Sanhedrin.
Read MoreLast Updated: November 21, 2025 by Evangelist Carolyn Luke Leave a Comment
Seasons
To everything, there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
God has a plan for all people. He has spoken destiny into your life before your birth. No matter what you may be going through or have been through, God has a plan for your life, and His plan will be carried out no matter what it looks like.
Yes, we can stray from God’s plan when we decide to live our lives according to our own plans rather than God’s plan, but if we submit to the Word of God and allow Him to do what He wants in our lives, we will come out victorious. No matter what the circumstance looks like, have peace that God will bring you out; the danger is to doubt or resent God’s timing. This could lead to despair, rebellion, or moving ahead without God’s guidance.
Nothing happens in our life that will be a surprise to God; God’s eyes are in every place beholding the good and the evil, and God knows the number of hairs on your head. God’s thoughts toward you are not evil, but to bring you to an expected end, making you the head and not the tail, you will be the lender and not the borrower. God has your life in the palm of His hand; nothing or no one can default what God has for you.
Sometimes as Christians, we go through so many trials and tribulations and then life brings issues, but God is aware of them, and He has given us the empowerment to overcome whatever comes in our life (I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me – Philippians 4:13). God doesn’t want us walking around with our heads hanging down and our spirit bent over, no, we fight, and we win when we use the Word of God against the attacks of Satan and his co-host.
As long as we’re living in this world, we will have tribulations (Confirming the souls of the disciples. and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God – Acts 14:22). This Scripture is for the past Christians, as well as the present and future Christians; if it were not, it would have stated “that they”, but it “states we”, meaning present and future Christians. God knows how much we can take without losing faith and re-entering into sin, so He will never allow anything to come into our lives that will be detrimental to us physically or spiritually. All we have to do is place our faith in God and His Word and not what we’re seeing or feeling.
Just as we have seasons naturally, we will also go through seasons spiritually. There will be seasons we’re on the mountaintop, seasons we’re in the valley. Seasons when we’re financially stable, seasons when there will be a need or want in our finances. Seasons when it seems as though we’re growing in leaps and bounds, and seasons when it seems as though we’re stagnated.
Whatever season we’re in, be content, and beware that God knows you’re there and He’s just waiting to hear from you. Prayer doesn’t always mean we will be immediately delivered from whatever we’re in, but it will strengthen our prayer life, and prayer brings about victory. God wants each of us to be strong in our faith, this is not just for those who are called into ministry positions, but every Christian. In every season you enter, God has empowered you to come out with the victory!
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Last Updated: November 15, 2025 by Evangelist Carolyn Luke Leave a Comment
You Must Be Born Again
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 – John 3:5.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a teacher. The Pharisees were one of the three sects of Judaism in the time of Christ.
The name means separated by special works. The sect included all Hebrews who separated themselves from every kind of Levitical impurity, following the Mosaic law of purity.
Nicodemus came to Jesus by night; he reverenced Him by calling Him Rabbi. Rabbi was a title of respect that the Jews gave to their teachers and physicians. Nicodemus believed in God; he acknowledged that God had to be with Jesus through the miracles He performed, and according to the doctrine of Jesus, he had to be born again of the Spirit.
Millions of people attend church regularly and haven’t been born again. They haven’t had an encounter with Jesus, but with religion. Religion is someone acknowledging God but refusing to live according to God’s instructions. Nicodemus was the ruler of the Jews; he kept the Levitical law of purity, but he hadn’t been born of the Spirit of God.
Many attend church because it’s their Christian duty to attend church on Sunday. Many attend because it’s so much hell in their homes; they need a place to go besides their homes; others attend to find a spouse, seeking a change in their circumstances and situations, and very few attend seeking a change in their mind and hearts.
Although God is God, He’s looking for us to permit Him to abide in our physical bodies, permitting Him to have His will in our lives. God’s will refers to His purpose for the life of the believer. It may imply His guidance or direction in our life decisions. Dedication is an act of surrender or submission to His will for our lives, whereby we become a living sacrifice.
A sacrifice is giving up one thing for the sake of another, such as God’s will being done in you as it is in heaven. We must give up our will and give Him our will so that we will come in line with His will. It’s a blessing, and benefit, to have the Spirit of the Living God abiding in your physical beings, but He only comes in when we permit Him to do so by submitting ourselves to His Word (Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him – John 14:23).
We cannot live according to our old ways of living before accepting Jesus as our Savior; there is a standard of living for the Christian if we do it according to God’s Word (Because strait is the gate, and narrow (difficult or confined) is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it – Matthew 7:14). Christianity comes with restrictions (Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that are in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world – 1st John 2:15-16.
As Christians, we should let love be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kind and affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor of one another, and prefer one another. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.
Distributing to the necessity of saints, given to hospitality. Bless them who persecute you, bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep. Agree with one another. Don’t set your mind on high things but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits—recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as within you, live peaceably with all.
Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, said the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he’s thirsty, give him something to drink (non-alcoholic). Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. All this is our Christian duty according to Romans 12:9-21; it’s not about how much we attend church, but living as the church of God.
For these actions to manifest in us, the Spirit of the Living God must reside in us. The Fruit of the Spirit cannot be manifested in us if the Spirit of God is not living within us. This is why Jesus told Nicodemus he had to be born again; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance will not be manifested through us if we have not received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is what brings these godly actions to manifestation; the Fruit of the Spirit is God’s Spirit. This is what comes out of His heart and will come out of our hearts if we have His Spirit within us.
There are many Christians who have not received the Holy Spirit when it’s a gift to all those who ask Him for it ( If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him – Luke 11:13). Receiving the Holy Spirit comes with a price of dedication and submission to the Word of God. Those who ask for the Holy Spirit are ready to deny themselves and will allow God’s will to be done in them and through them. Everyone receives a portion of God’s Spirit when they truly receive salvation, but to be baptized in the Spirit is when one has been regenerated by the Spirit of God, and he or she will continue to receive refilling of the Holy Spirit as they commit themselves to God.
To enter heaven, one must be born of the Spirit of God; religious actions will not get one into heaven. When one has truly been born of the Spirit, no one has to tell you; the Spirit itself will witness that the Spirit in you is of Him. Your behavior and character will begin to reflect that of the Father and Son. The individual will no longer desire to look, listen, and go places that do not reflect them as being children of God because they have a new nature, the nature of God.
Their thoughts are not to do anything that will displease God; if what I’m looking at is offensive to God, I will not look at it. If what I’m listening to is offensive to God, then I will not listen to it. If what I’m going is offensive to God, then I will not go there. Our nature has been changed to please the Father.
Those who are Spirit-filled focus on the things of the Spirit, but those who just have a religion focus on the things of the world, what’s the newest fashion, how revealing can I be without being naked, what is my favorite entertainer or artist? I can remember the lyrics to their song, but I can’t remember a Scripture.
I can talk about my favorite singer, but I can’t find anything to talk about my Savior; something is wrong with this, this is being carnal-minded, and it’s just as bad as being a non-believer. Two things are coming that we know for sure will happen: the coming of Jesus and death. Where will you be spiritually when either one of them comes?
Many profess Christianity, but their lifestyle indicates something different. When we are born again of the Spirit of God, our characteristics will be those of our Father. Christians are in the world, but they are not of the world when they truly have received salvation.
When salvation has truly been accepted, the Spirit of God comes into the individual’s life. They will be baptized in the Holy Spirit as they continue to submit themselves to the Spirit of God. Sometimes individuals will receive salvation and baptism of the Holy Spirit at once.
Christians should not be conformed to this world but conformed to God’s Word, conformed to the Spirit of God.
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