Tag: BornAgain

April 15, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

The Natural Man Understands Not

Opening Verse

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
—1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)

Introduction

There’s a difference between hearing God’s Word and truly understanding it. Many hear sermons, read Scripture, and even quote verses—but without the Holy Spirit, the truth remains hidden. The Bible tells us plainly: the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit. It’s not a matter of intelligence or education. It’s about the heart.

Devotional Story

A man once walked into a revival meeting, drawn in by curiosity. He had read the Bible before but saw it only as literature, not life. As the preacher spoke of sin, repentance, and the blood of Christ, the man scoffed. “Foolishness,” he muttered under his breath. He couldn’t understand why people around him were weeping, raising their hands, crying out for mercy.

Later that week, a co-worker gave him a Bible and shared her testimony. He tried reading again, but it still didn’t make sense. “I don’t get it,” he told her. She replied gently, “Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes.”

That night, something changed. Alone in his room, he prayed—not with eloquence, but with desperation. “God, if You’re real, show me.” The Word of God, once dull and confusing, suddenly pierced his heart. He saw his sin, he saw Christ, and he wept.

It wasn’t logic that saved him. It was the Spirit of God.

What This Means

Without the Holy Spirit, the Bible will seem strange, even foolish. The “natural man” tries to understand divine truth through human reasoning, but God’s truth is spiritually revealed. That means only those who are born again can grasp the things of God.

This verse is a warning and a wake-up call. If the Word of God feels lifeless to you, ask yourself—have you truly been born of the Spirit? Because until that happens, the truth will remain locked, like a sealed book.

Think About This

Are you trying to follow Christ with a natural mind? Do the things of God seem foolish or boring to you? If so, you must be born again. The Spirit brings light, conviction, and understanding. Ask Him to open your eyes before it’s too late.

Prayer

Lord, I don’t want to live blind to Your truth. If I’ve been walking in the flesh, forgive me. I ask for the Holy Spirit to reveal Your Word to me. Let me not be a natural man who rejects Your wisdom. Change my heart. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit that trembles at Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
—John 3:6 (KJV)

September 26, 2023 Devotional

A Journey from Deception to Deliverance

The Vision

In my dream, a young man in a simple white suit stood beside a beautiful yet deceptive woman. They were isolated in a wild, open field, with no one else around. The man appeared to be in a trance, as if under some sort of spell by the woman.

They walked together toward a hill by a flowing river. When he caught sight of the river and a plain brown basket full of brightly colored balloons to his right, he abruptly snapped out of his daze. Realizing the woman’s deceitful intent, he cursed her and broke off the nearly-made vow of marriage she had tried to trick him into.

He jumped into the basket, and the multi-colored balloons lifted him into the sky. Floating away, he passed over the river and rolling green hills. Along the journey, he noticed a dead tree branch with six faded pink balloons tied to it. However, he kept his focus forward, confident that he was heading toward a better place filled with friends and family.

Interpretation

In the dream, the young man in the simple white suit represents a soul striving for purity, yet vulnerable to deception. The woman symbolizes temptation and the wicked allure of the world. They find themselves alone in the wilderness, much like Jesus was tempted in the desert. (Matthew 4:1-11)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.

9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Matthew 4:1-11

The man’s initial enthrallment with the woman evokes the deceptive allure that worldly temptations often hold. Yet, he wakes from his trance, resisting the temptation, just as James 4:7 instructs,

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7

His waking from the trance is akin to spiritual awakening.

The River and The Basket:
The flowing river beside them can be likened to the “river of the water of life”.

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. symbolizing God’s eternal provisions and blessings.“

Revelation 22:1

The basket with multicolored balloons signifies the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22-24.

” But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
Galatians 5:22-24

Breaking Free:

When the man jumps into the basket, it represents a decision to break free from sin and choose the gifts of the Spirit. He is lifted up and carried away, akin to being ‘born again’ (John 3:3) and carried by the grace of God.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:3

The Faded Balloons:

The dead branch with the faded balloons that he passes symbolizes the dead branches in our life that need be cut by our Holy Gardner in order for use to bear fruit.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the Gardner. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

John 1:1-2

Conclusion:

This journey from deception to deliverance underscores the power of turning away from temptation and toward God. The unknown but promising destination the man floats toward symbolizes the heavenly reward that awaits those who stay true to their faith.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.”

1 Peter 5:8-9