John 3:1-5 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ⁴ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” ⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (NKJV)

Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, which was the highest religious body among the Jews. As a Pharisee, he was so no spiritual lite-weight. He could read and understand every scroll of the Old Testament without chapter, verses or punctuation. He had memorized prayers for every occasion – from rising in the morning, to reclining in bed for sleep. He tithed regularly, and gave offerings up to half of his income or more. His attendance in synagogue, and Temple duties was without exception. Today many would choose him to be a pastor, elder, or missionary on the foreign field. His credentials were impeccable. His way of life above the average – taking care to keep all matters pertaining to the Law. He was the cream of the crop of Israel. He believed in God, His Messiah, and the supernatural. Not only would he qualify as a pastor in most churches today – he would be seen as a Christian. But there’s the problem. Jesus said he couldn’t see the Kingdom nor could he enter it. What could be missing in someone who possessed all the characteristics of a pastor or Christian? It was simply this: he wasn’t born of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (NKJV) Those who are not born again of the Spirit can’t receive the things that come from the Holy Spirit. This means you can’t understand the Word of God, Jesus, truth, Last Days, the gifts or manifestations of the Spirit. Worship will be a mystery, and puzzle when it’s directed to Jesus, and not centered in emotion or sentiment. Sermons, and teachings will be a boring chore to be endured. Fellowship with other believers will be like sitting in on a conversation with astronauts who have stepped on the moon as they share what Jesus has been doing in their lives. Knowing Jesus personally, and experientially will be as alien to them as, ET trying to phone home, or taking a stroll on the dark side of the moon.

Yet church attenders every where keep trying to break into this alien world not understanding the covenant conditions of Jesus. Sadly, those who are born – again of the Spirit never get passed being made clean. They remain at the foot of Jesus’ cross, never progress into being holy.

Holy is a word that mystifies and alludes us as we seek to grasp its meaning through rules and regulations. But being made clean, and holy are topics just as far away as Nicodemus was from being born-again. For you see without holiness no one will ever see God. We will never progress beyond having been made clean. We will simply remain in the outer court of knowing Jesus.

Essentially when someone or something has been made holy it means they have been set apart. But that definition only scratches the surface. You see to be holy is to be uniquely different from all that is common, ordinary, routine, and average. To be holy requires practicing truth. We define practicing truth as integrity. When a person practices integrity, they experience integration, and become whole. Holiness is wholeness. We can never experience fully what it means to be human until His Holy Spirit makes us whole. Sin dehumanizes us and takes us away from what God declared to be good. The Baptism in the Spirit begins the process of restoring us back to the Garden walk that man enjoyed with His Creator. Why do we seek for the Baptism in the Spirit, or to be Filled again and again in the Spirit? So that we can experience the power of restoration and renewal; so that we can become His whole creation. Are you seeking the Baptism, or Infilling as we approach Pentecost?