Needed-A New Birth!

               
'You must be born again.' John 3:7 NIV

In 1978 I needed something, a new birth. I remember the day it was July 28th 1978 that the Holy Spirit moved in my heart to accept Jesus as my Savior. Maybe you remember the day you accepted Christ into your heart? Something had to bring you to that place. The Bible says that 130 years after Adam first sinned, he was still fathering children 'in his own likeness'. (Genesis 5:3 NIV) And as Adam's descendants, we have all been born with the nature of fallen man. Sometimes people say, 'He's just like his dad.' Or we say, 'My dad was an angry man, now I've got his temper!' 'My dad couldn't stay with my mom, now I'm going through a divorce.' 'My dad was an alcoholic, now look at my drinking and drug-taking!' 'My dad was a workaholic, now I put in 14 hours a day.' 'My dad wasn't affectionate with us, now I don't know how to be loving toward my children.' History repeats itself over and over through our fallen nature. Here's a fascinating example: 'Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.' (Genesis 20:2 NIV) Abraham was willing to sacrifice Sarah to save his own neck. What would you have done? Before you answer, notice that Isaac wasn't even born when his father did this. Yet years later, Isaac did exactly the same thing in the same place (Genesis 26:7). It's genetic! It's in our DNA. But there's good news. When you receive Christ as your Savior, He breaks that cycle. When you're 'born of the spirit', you get a new Father and a new nature (see John 3:3-6). You don't have to walk in the likeness of your earthly father any longer; you can walk in the likeness of your heavenly Father and become more like Him every day. That's what Jesus does for us! He changes us from the old to the new.

I'm getting excited for what God has for us this weekend. I hope you will come prayed up ready to receive from God. My Message is "Empowered to Impact." We are going to look at the Holy Spirit's impact upon the disciples. Bring a friend and watch was God does. Please remember we have a going away party for Ron & Candace after service. Please bring a salad to share and be ready to bless them. You are loved!