. . . For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.  9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven . . . 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:8-10, 31-33 NKJV

What does it mean to be born-again? Who are the regenerated generation? There’s a generation of believers who have shifted to a new identity and new spiritual reality. Unlike the Sadducees who asked Jesus an uninformed question about marriage in the Resurrection, the regenerated generation refuse to miss the point any longer (Matthew 22:29).  With respect to regeneration (rebirth), we often times miss the point.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus outlined the relationship of prayer with the coming kingdom and the kingdom of God with righteousness. He connected answered prayer with the coming of the kingdom here on earth. Ergo, every time you pray, you’re asking for a manifestation of the kingdom of God. And, prayers are consistently answered with (1) the coming of the kingdom (Luke 17:20-21) and in righteousness ( Gen. 15:6; Rom. $: 13-17; 14:17).

That being said, what is being born-again according to John 3:1-7, 12? Let’s not miss the point as Nicodemus did (verse 4). It is seeing and entering the “coming” kingdom (Matt. 6:10); it is dying out to everything that you’re not praying for (Joel 3:10); and, it is dying out to your old fallen identity and being resurrected to a new identity in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17; John 12:24). The shift to the new identity is a spiritual rebirth comparable to the stages of development involved in physical birth (1 Cor. 15:20; Rom. 8:29).  A good analogy is the fable of the bird the Phoenix.

The regeneration (rebirth) is not about religious information but revelation. As Nicodemus discovered, his information about Jesus wasn’t based on correct understanding; it isn’t  reformation, rehabilitation, or retraining of the old nature; nor is it joining the church, shaking the preacher’s hand,  being baptized, or even receiving Christ, in your heart, as Savior. The new birth is not a heaven and hell, life or death issue. It is not preparation to die, but rather preparation to live here on earth in a victorious way that is befitting of a child of God.  A child of God, as part of the regenerated generation, consistently gets their prayers answered. Don’t miss the point!