...except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. —  John 3:3b

Nicodemus came and asked "How can you do such miracles?  How can you do such mighty works?  Why is God with you and not with us?  We are religious!  We wear the right clothing!  ...eat with washed hands!  ...keep all the rituals and traditions we know!   We pray the right prayers!   We spend hours in the synagogue!   Why you and not me?   Why is God with you and so far away from me?"  Jesus replied, "You must be born again."  It seems here that Jesus avoided the question, that He completely ignores poor Nicodemus.  Yet He was giving him the answer to the question, to the cry of his heart.  Do you, Nicodemus, want to have God with you?  Do you want to do these miracles?  Then you must be born again.   Why?   Because this new birth qualifies you for the signs and wonders and miracles.  Because when you are born again, God is with you.  You may go to a church, you may serve there faithfully–-but you must be born again.  You may be at every church function, you may usher, greet at the door, be an elder in the church–-but you must be born again.  You may be Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, non-denominational–-but you must be born again.  It is the new birth that allows God to be with you, and once with you, His power will also be with you!   What is the key to spiritual living? –-you must be born again!   Are you?   If you aren’t, then what are you waiting for?

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. —  Matthew 10:7, 8

This is a description of the life of a person who has been born again, a person whom God is now with.  He will tell others of the good news.  He will heal the sick, cast out devils, and freely give because he has freely received.  Notice the receiving comes first.  You cannot give anything that you do not have to give.  How did you get it?   "Freely."  The new birth was given to you freely–-but you had to receive it.  It is the same way with the power and presence of God.  God has freely given it to you-–but you must receive it.  When you were born again and received Christ, you received everything you will ever need.  If you still feel like you have come up short or are lacking in anything, it is because you are not understanding that it has already been freely given to you.  "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32)!  When He became with you He brought with Him all things.  Whatever you receive, you will then be able to give.  Receive the power–-give the power; receive the peace, spread the peace; receive the joy, give the joy.  Freely receive, so you can freely give.  Many try to work for or qualify for the things of God–-if you could earn them, they would not be free.  Religious works are not the answer to living with God–-freely receiving His presence and power leads to miracles.  He said He is with you–-so He is!

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.  — Luke 24:49

Even though the disciples had walked and talked and lived with Jesus for three-and-a-half years, He told them not to go anywhere or do anything until they received the promise of the Father, the Holy Ghost.  When He would be sent from heaven He would infuse, endue, arm them with power from on high.  But there is no reason to tarry any more.  He sent the Promise on Pentecost day and you can now, today, receive the Spirit and power.  Still, we see a lot of people in the Church waiting and tarrying for the Spirit to come upon them.  The Spirit has been given, but just like salvation, He must be received by faith.  This generation today will see the power of God on display like no other generation.  Limbs will grow out, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk, and mass salvations will take place.  You can be a part of it! ...but only if you have received the power from on high. Ask the Holy Spirit to come into your life and fill you with His power and glory. Then thank Him for the greatest gift in the earth today.  You are now endued with power!

He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:  —  Luke 3:16b

To be baptized with water is to be immersed or completely submerged in water.  John said, “There is one coming who will not immerse you in water but will submerge and immerse you with the Holy Ghost and fire.”  You have been immersed into the Holy Ghost.  You are soaked with the Person of the Spirit and fire.  You will never be alone in the world again; you are no longer helpless–-the Holy Spirit is now with and in you.  He is not a vibration, not a feeling, not a goose bump–-He is a real Person!  He is the Power from on high; He is now your Guide throughout a life of victory.  Your life has now been dramatically changed.  You possess the power of God, the wisdom of God, the gifts of the Spirit; you possess God Himself.  He has come to you to co-labor with you to reach and touch a dying world with His love and presence.  You have now become the life-line between Almighty God and humanity.  Do not get caught in a daily routine and forget about the Holy Spirit and your call to be the light of the world!  Tell someone today about what Jesus has done for them and let the Holy Spirit loose in your life.  You are baptized with the power to make an impact this day!