John Wesley was an evangelist who often preached on the necessity of being born again.  Someone asked John why he preached so often on that subject, and he replied “because You must be born again.”

This is an excerpt from a conversation that Jesus Christ had with Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.  Jesus had just told him that he needed to be born again and the conversation continued as follows:

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:4-8)

Every single one of us has been born in the flesh, which simply means to be born physically into this world, but Jesus stressed the importance of being born again of the spirit.  In other words Jesus was talking about a “spiritual birth” which must take place for a person to “see” the Kingdom of God.

Jesus compared this “spiritual birth” to the wind that blows, because you cannot see the wind but you can hear it.  We may see the effect of the wind upon the trees as they sway back and forth, but you do not see the wind.  When a person has been “born again” of the Spirit you will see the effect of the Spirit upon that person and you will hear a testimony about Jesus Christ.  When I was born again of the Spirit it was if an internal light was turned on inside my heart and I knew that Jesus Christ was real. That was the Spirit of truth at work inside my heart and I could not put the bible down.  My testimony is on this site.

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)

The Spirit of God is called the comforter because He comforts the weary soul and points them to Jesus Christ, the one who came to rescue us. Nicodemus could not understand the words of Jesus and he said this:

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? (John 3:9-10)

Nicodemus was obviously a very religious man, but he was also a man in need of salvation.  That described myself and millions of others who were “religious but lost” until we were truly born again of the Spirit.  Jesus left us with a promise regarding the Holy Spirit:

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:13-14)

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would “… not speak of Himself” and that the Spirit “… shall glorify me….” Once again we see the focus is put on Christ.

There are probably millions of people who have their names on church rolls but they do not have their names on God’s roll, which is the Book of Life.  Many are trying to earn their way to heaven or sacrament their way to heaven but that is an impossible task.

This is an excerpt from an article from entitled “Pope Assails Marxism and Capitalism” By Victor Simpson (Associated Press Writer) APARECIDA, Brazil (AP)

“… Benedict, speaking in Spanish and Portugese to the bishops, also said Latin America needs more dedicated Catholics in leadership positions in politics, the media and at universities.  He also said the church leaders must halt a trend that has seen millions of Catholics turn into born-again Protestants or simply stop going to church.”

Whenever I read something like this it really makes me wonder what is going on in Evangelical circles and it’s compromise with Roman Catholicism.  The big crusaders work side by side with the Roman Catholic church and remain silent about their false teachings while the Pope has no problem speaking his mind.  The Pope flat out told the bishops to halt the trend of people becoming born-again Protestants!

Where is the prophetic voice within the church today?  How can they remain silent in times such as these? How can they sign documents such as the ECT (Evangelicals and Catholics Together) document of 1994 when statements such as the one from Pope Benedict XVI are made?

This warning from the Jewish apostle Paul is becoming clearer and clearer as the days grow darker and darker:

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Timothy 4:1)