Things to ponder:
(1) Regeneration {Ye must be born again}
Jesus told Nicodemas that he "must be born again". Meaning that there is absolutely no other way. And that except a man be born again, he cannot even see the kingdom of God, much less enter into it.
You see regeneration takes place when the one having died for me, now being raised from the grave, comes in the person of his Holy Spirit to take up residence in my human spirit. And by His presence in my life, abolishes that state of death, into which by nature I was born. That’s why Jesus said, "I am come that you might have life." He wasn’t talking about physical life. They had that; he was talking about spiritual life, or new birth.
The new birth is that resurrection that derives from redemption. The coming back of the life of God into the soul of a redeemed sinner that abolishes death by the presence of life. That’s regeneration; that’s new birth; that’s God restoring His fallen creation, making alive that which was dead.
(2) Sanctification
This results in a moral resurrection that is taught in the Bible and called sanctification. II Corinthians 5:14-15 "For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." The Apostle Paul is telling the church at Corinth that {those for whom He died for, should no longer live unto themselves, or should no longer walk after the flesh, that is dominated by our carnal nature!}, but arose again on the third day and gave Himself to us (that’s His life). So now indwelt by the Lord Jesus, through the spirit, we walk in the spirit!This means all of our faculties made available once again, body, soul, and spirit, mind, will, and emotions to the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Christ has come and redeemed us, so that He as God might come and control us. Beloved, let us ponder these truths. Christ did not die simply for you to escape hell and enter heaven. That is gloriously true, but there is more to it than that. It’s not just pie in the sky in the sweet by and by when I die. He died on the cross not just to get you out of hell and into heaven, but to get God out of heaven and into you! And the measure that you are saved is the measure of how much God out of heaven and into you is evident in your life, actually calling the shots functioning within you! (1) Controlling your feet, where they go; (2) Controlling your lips, what they say; (3) Controlling your mind, what you think. As yourselves: How much of God out of heaven and into you is evident in your life. It’s been said and I believe it, we are the only Bible some people will ever read. Sanctification is when the world is able to see Christ in us. Let us remember the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
The model prayer, Luke 11:1-2, teaches us to pray thy will be done. Where? On earth as it is in Heaven. The kingdom of God is a Christ-centered life. Kingdom means government of God. Where is it located - within you. Philippians 2:13. Paul says for it is God that worketh in you. Both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Now if the kingdom of God is in you where should the king be? On the throne of your heart. What should He be doing? Exercising His sovereign will over your life. Let me close with a question. In your life right now, who is in charge? May God add His blessing to these words.