What does born again mean? Born again means that we have received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes when we accept Jesus into our lives. Jesus offers us forgiveness of our sins, not based upon our righteousness, we don’t work to receive the Spirit, and we don’t work to keep the Spirit, but we must resolve to repent, to leave behind our sins and the dark areas of our life.
Accepting Jesus brings with it much blessing. But we have to be careful how we present the idea of being born again, and the blessing that we receive, that it does not become a ticket for instant, or assured blessing. There are certain things we can believe God for, but equally there are things that we need to allow for God’s will.
As an example, although Jesus said things like:
Mark 11:23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
A person may have a business, and claim that word over their business that they will make a great profit, and there is nothing wrong with claiming such a thing. With the following understanding:
James 4:13-16 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
There is a fine line between claiming Jesus promises, and boasting. We still need to allow for God’s will in all of our prayers. Although we can pray for our needs to be met, as an example, we can’t just pray prayers, for our own pleasures.
James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Also in the area of praying for those who are sick; Jesus would have us pray for the sick, but we can’t demand that God use us. Firstly we must be proved faithful.
1Co 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
If we are not able or willing to present the word of God faithfully, we will not be able to perform a sign.
Mark 9:39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.
This does not mean that if we don’t see healing “immediately” that we are unfaithful? Not at all. It is just a fact that “claiming” a promise does not mean that in all cases we will have it.
God actually assigns the gifts based upon the faithfulness and faith of the messenger.
1Co 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
Note Paul gives an order “first”, “second”, “third” etc. This shows there is a level of trust God gives people. He goes on to say not everyone is a miracle worker, an apostle etc.
1Co 12:29-30 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
He finishes by saying “earnestly desire” the best gifts.
1Co 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
1Jn 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
However we should have great faith, and this is where verses like:
Mark 11:23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
If we or someone else have a heath issue, financial difficulty, emotional issue; we can stand on the word of God, that He will answer us, to bring healing or provision. In many cases God will answer us because of our faith. But again we have seen we can’t demand, but we certainly should not quickly surrender. For God respects faithful, persistence, and faith.
Mathew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
I have heard it preached, that when we receive the Holy Spirit, are born again, we not only become a spiritual new creation, but we receive assured success, in healing, finances, emotions, as a part of the born gain experience. But we can not equate being born again with perfect success.
God certainly does not want us depressed, oppressed, or troubled. And we can stand on His word for personal healing. But we have to acknowledge that there are times when God’s will appears to be to allow us to walk through valleys, where things are not always perfect.
James 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
If everything was always perfect, we could not be refined with spiritual patience. Some time character is more important to God than our comfort.
The bible says that all scripture is God breathed. The scripture tells us that one of the greatest prophets in the Bible died from a sickness. This shows us that being full of God’s power, and having the Spirit does not always mean we are guaranteed perfect prosperity.
2Ki 13:14 Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die.
I think it is dangerous not to look at the whole of scripture; my mother as an example, tried in “faith” to go off her medication, and fast for healing, she almost died. For the rest of her life she advised against such acts of “faith”. I personally, although having prayed for the sick, and seen them healed both instantly, and through fasting, had to have an operation in hospital after I was not healed after many months of faithful believing and at times painful prayer.
Does this stop me praying for the sick? No. Does it diminish my desire to believe for the mountains to be moved? In no way. But if Elisha died sick, we need to allow for such possibilities in the lives of the people we pray for, and the church.