May 28th (George Whitefield: Ye Must Be Born Again!)

By admin On May 28th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – May 28th

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George Whitefield: Ye Must Be Born Again!

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Georhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:George_Whitefield_(head).jpgge Whitefield is heralded by many as perhaps, the greatest preacher of the New Testament Church.

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But it’s hard to imagine that this pudgy-faced, cross-eyed man could accomplish so much, having a tremendous impact which still echoes through the corridors of time!

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George Whitefield  GNU Free Documentation License, Wikipedia

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“YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!”

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George was known for his incredible speaking voice, which some said could be heard as far as half a mile, enabling Whitefield to preach to vast crowds of up to 30,000 spiritually hungry hearers! 

george whitefield preaching by John Collet www.wikigallery.org US public domain

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But this devotional is going to focus on just one aspect of Whitefield’s message. And that one aspect is that which Whitefield constantly preached… “Ye must be born again”.

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In fact, Whitefield preached this message so much, that one person could not help but question him, saying, “Why do you preach so much on ‘Ye must be born again?'”

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To this, Whitefield replied, “Because…ye must be born again!”

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And this is the topic that is today’s focus: “Ye must be born again!”

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George Whitefield preaching by John Collet – www.wikigallery.org – US public domain

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JESUS AND NICODEMUS

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Of course, these are the very words that Jesus once spoke to Nicodemus, a ruler https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Brassey_Hole_Nicodemus.jpgamong the Pharisees.

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Yes, Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, because he needed to find out whether or not Jesus was really the Messiah.

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But Jesus, instead of patiently answering Nicodemus’ questions, began to take control of the conversation, going right to the heart of Mankind’s great need… “Ye must be born again”, Jesus told Nicodemus.

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Henry Ossawa Tanner – Nicodemus – Wikimedia – US public domain

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CHRISTIANITY: NOT JUST A COUNTRY SONG!

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And so it is today! Yes, we live in a world in which much of Christianity has lowered the bar, as to what http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PS_Kr%C3%B8yer_-_Hip_hip_hurra!_Kunstnerfest_p%C3%A5_Skagen_1888.jpgconstitutes being a Christian.

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Yes, there are country songs which mention “the Good Book”, and “the Good Lord”, and living by a code of ethics which come from that “Good Lord’s Good Book”. And such messages as this have “dumbed down” just what it means to be a Christian! 

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To this, George Whitefield’s booming voice still cries out today from the centuries past… “Ye must be born again!” 

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PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! Kunstnerfest på Skagen – 1888 – wikimedia – public domain

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PEACE AND SAFETY

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And there are many voices which reverberate through Christendom today, assuring all naive parishioners that… “Come to church each week, and pay your tithes, and live a nice moral life…and…all will be well with your soul!”

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And the vast multitudes of gullible attendees today believe such a lie from Hell! And this is why there is so much worldliness and joking and jesting, and devotion to all the pleasures and pursuits and soul-sapping careers, which are so prevalent in today’s church-world!

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But to this vast throng of lost and misguided souls, the trumpet-like voice of Whitefield still echoes down through the corridors of time, that old familiar mantra… “Ye must be born again!”

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Laughing – (color added) – Fotothek df roe neg – cropped/colored photo – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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EVIDENCES OF BEING “BORN AGAIN”

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Now being “Born Again” is a concept that a person cannot fathom, unless that man, woman, or child truly becomes born again!

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And there are spiritual qualities which should be present in one who claims to be born from above.

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First, the person who has become born again, has received the Holy Spirit. And this Spirit transforms the goals and purposes of the life of the Christian.

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Now that Christian has the desire to follow Jesus with all his or her heart. No longer does the neophyte Believer want to merely go to church once or twice a week, living the rest of the week in the vain pursuit of earthly dreams and worldly affections.

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And his (or her) realization of how unchristlike they really are, causes an inner desire to become Christlike!

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BIBLE STUDY!

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Second, the true worshipper of God (who is truly born again) desires to soak in everything http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-06831.jpgthere is to know about Jesus.

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The Believer yearns more than anything, to become transformed into the image of Jesus!

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And such a passion as this, causes that Believer to study the Bible and pray that God will graciously change that Believer’s heart into the heart of Christ!

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And now, that Believer strives to live according to the “exceeding great and precious promises” which become that spiritual pathway which leads upward and onward to the celestial City of the Lord! (See 2nd Peter 1:4)

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 USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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A HATRED, EVEN FOR “TINY” SINS!

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-081218-M-4507D-001.jpgThird, the born-again Believer begins to loathe all sin. A hatred even for small sins!

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And this loathing causes the child of God to study and pray. Pray and study!

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Yes, the Christian longs to get any and all hateful sin out of the heart, and out of the life, as soon as possible!

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And every unfaithful act fills the Believer with sorrow and grief!

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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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A SEPARATION FROM UNGODLY INFLUENCES!

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Fourth, the born again Christian realizes that he can no longer retain his old friendships.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_040327-N-1261P-058_Navy_Chaplain,_Lt._Marc_Massie_assigned_to_Naval_Mobile_Construction_Battalion_Seventy_Four_(NMCB-74)_studies_his_Bible_for_an_upcoming_service.jpg.

Listen…“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?….Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,” 2nd Corinthians 6:14, 17

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He realizes that all such associations are detrimental to running the Christian Race.

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He understands that companionship with unbelievers only strengthens Satan’s hold in his life.

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So the Christian begins to separate from all ungodly influences.

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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“WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?”

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Braet_von_%C3%9Cberfeldt_woman_with_bible_1866.jpgFifth, the Christian begins to contemplate his or her life, and how to become more Christ-like.

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Now that Christian begins to ask himself, “What would Jesus do in this particular situation? And how can I handle this situation next time, in a more Christ-like manner?”

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God plainly reveals to us…“He that saith he abideth in HIM, ought himself also so to walk, even as HE walked.” 1st John 2:6 

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Braet von Überfeldt – woman with bible 1866 wikipedia US-public-domain

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A SERVANT’S HEART!

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Sixth, the born again Believer increasingly becomes aware, that Christians are to be, “ambassadors for Christ”. 2nd Corinthians 5:20http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ebenezer_Newman_Downard_Morning_prayer_1860-61.jpg

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And so, that Christian takes a responsible attitude toward his or her family, working hard to provide a happy, healthful, and comfortable environment for them.

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Listen…“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law….therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:8, 10 

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That Christian now joyfully receives a servant’s heart, and cares like a faithful shepherd for the needs of others!

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Ebenezer Newman Downard – Morning prayer – 1860 – wikipedia – public domain

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TRIALS & AFFLICTIONS

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Now, last but not least, the believer realizes that he or she must allhttp://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_198722/William-Brassey-Hole/The-sorrow-of-king-Davidow God’s chastisements to assist in the purification of the heart… “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; ” Hebrews 5:8

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And through all such trials, the Believer becomes joyfully and ever-so-gradually transformed into the glorious image of Christ!

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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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WHITEFIELD NOT ALONE!

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And so, ageorge whitefield preaching by John Collet www.wikigallery.org US public domains true worshippers, we must begin to come out of this Babylon of confusion, which is our current condition, and truly become Born Again!

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And then, with hearts anew, we will be able to join George Whitefield, with his booming and echoing voice, as we also begin to cry out to the lost sheep of spiritual Israel… 

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Ye must be born again!”

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“Ye must be born again!”

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“YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!”

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George Whitefield preaching by John Collet www.wikigallery.org US public domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audience_hands_etropolis2014.jpg

TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

“JANUARY 18 (George Whitefield, Ye Must Be Born Again! Part 2: Futile Preaching!)”

Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me the desire to cry out to Thee continually, for that wonderful gift of truly being “Born Again”…

Praying Hands – Otto Greiner – Wikimedia – bassenge.com – Cropped image – Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svgREAD MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “April 14th (John’s Promise!)”, or you can also read… January 5th (The City of Morality)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

.Soldiers of the Cross - Armor-Up!

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

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Then Job answered and said…but how should man be just with God?…Which alone spreads out the heavens…Which makes Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. Which does great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number…Can you bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades? Or loose the bands of Orion?” Job 9:2-10 & 38:31

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.pleiades_gendler-e1358291561622

The photo to the right is the Pleiades Cluster. Does it appear to you like an angel? Well, if it does, then you are encouraged to keep reading.

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The above two verses concerning the Pleiades is what the Bible has to say about the Pleiades. But if you will read this article, you will discover that the Pleiades represents concepts which span much of the Bible. This is partly because Pleiades is a constellation within a constellation. And this double-entendre constellation is perhaps the greatest truth regarding the Church, found in the Bible. And The Heavens Declare.net will attempt to unravel this mysterious phenomenon in the night-sky, and will, hopefully, also interpret these two verses to show just what all this means, and how it might apply to our lives.

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The Pleiades (Above constellation can be seen in colder months in mid sky, traveling east to west through the night. With the eyes alone, it would appear much smaller than this. But with binoculars, it would appear more like this photo). NASA photo by Robert Gendler

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THE TWO SISTERS OF EZEKIEL

.The Pleiades: Mystery Babylon: Mother of Harlots

“The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother: And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity. And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.” Ezekiel 23:1-4 

.Captive Angel Constellation

This story from Ezekiel has had a very great message for God’s people. This story likewise speaks of this Pleiades Constellation. Samaria seems to represent those who claim to have a relationship with God, but simply do not. Jerusalem seems to represent those who are like the Captive Angel, and have a minuscule love for God, but have been carried away captive. God is more upset with Jerusalem (Aholibah), because she should have known better than her totally apostate sister (Aholah) 

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Pleiades: The Captive Angel & Mystery Harlot Constellation”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW:

” May 29th (The Unforgiveable Sin!)”

Moses – Ten Commandments – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth)  ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #146 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo.

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