Abandoned At Birth-3 Series

ABANDONED At BIRTH-III—John 3:1-21

Concessions For New Birth

Attention:

The environment of the womb—Life there is very different from that outside the womb.

The womb must be abandoned by the baby in order to experience life as intended.

Likewise, when you are saved/born again/born from above, you must abandon everything ‘you’ are holding onto for whatever reason. You must let go in order to be & have what God wants you to be & have. Unless you surrender your hold on the things of earth, you are not allowing God to give you the Kingdom of Heaven.

In God’s scheme of life for mankind, New Birth—being born again— is the only means of...growing close to God, finding power in prayer, being faithful in service, finding God’s purpose in life, becoming dedicated to His direction.

Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus yielded the essentials of being born again.

Being born again is essential to God’s plan.

What is essential to achieve new birth?

What is essential to be born again?

6 Concessions we all must make to achieve a new birth.

6 things abandoned at birth.

‘Concede’—“To admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it.”—“To surrender or yield(something that one possesses)”

‘Concession’—“A thing that is granted, especially in response to demands.”—Something surrendered or given up.

We have already found that

Those born from above, Abandon their previous...

1. POSITION(:1-2)

2. LIMITING WISDOM(:3-7)

3—Those born from above, Abandon their previous...

DIRECTION(:8)

Explanation: (:8)

:8—“The wind blows where it wishes, & you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from & where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.””

In the same manner that the wind blows/moves so is everyone who is re-born of the Spirit. The wind blows without its multitudinous currents & directions being foreseen. Its sound(a tell-tale sign of its presence) is detected yet it can neither be seen by the eye & thus none of its paths anticipated.

The actions(as is the sound of the wind) of those born of the Spirit are detectable yet their direction is unknown & ever changing(“cannot tell where it comes from & where it goes”)as the Spirit Himself drives them inwardly according to His perfect will & not according to the fleshly will of the individual.

The Spirit goes about, apart from the control of man. One can observe when the Spirit goes about & hear His voice, but you cannot determine His starting point or end.

In the same manner, are people who are born again. i.e., One cannot see, with the eye(He is invisible), the Spirit’s starting point in another’s life(one’s being born again) or where He will ultimately lead one in his life(in the Spirit), but one can always see the Spirit’s work/movement/influence on their lives.

Nicodemus didn’t understand that the Spirit works in the manner Jesus described, complementary to the flesh & not separate from it.

‘Certainly the conclusion "of the Spirit" is a direct reference to the Holy Spirit who works his own way beyond our comprehension even as men even yet do not know the law of the wind.’—RWP

Folks, This is very difficult & very very telling, for anyone who gets saved after their flesh-driven commitment to a career path. It will set the tone for one’s freedom in Christ. It will set the tone for one’s commitments in the world. It will set the tone for one’s friendships in the world. It will set the tone for one’s reputation in the world. It will set the tone for one’s involvement in the workings of the church. It will set the tone for one’s love’s in general.

It’s not so much whether you can bring God to your workplace, but rather whether you are doing the work God wants you to do in the first place.

“Wind”(See :5—“Spirit”)—pneuma—Strong—A current of air, i.e. Breath(blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively--A spirit, i.e. human--The rational soul, by implication--Vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or superhuman--An angel, demon, or divine--God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit.

—‘“The Spirit” is the use of pneuma as metaphor’—RWP

“Blows”—pnew—Verb—1) To breathe, to blow—1a) Of the wind. Strong—To breathe hard, i.e. Breeze:-- Blow.

“Wishes”—yelw—1) To will, have in mind, intend. yelw is the stronger word of two. It denotes the active resolution, the will urging on to action, while boulomai is rather to have in thought, to intend, to be determined.

“Hear”—akouw—To hear(in various senses).

“Sound”—fwnh—Strong—A tone(articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication--An address(for any purpose), saying or language.

“Tell”(See :11)—oida(variant of eidw—See :3)—1) To see—1a) To perceive with the eyes, 1b) To perceive by any of the senses, 1c) To perceive, notice, discern, discover, 1d) To see—1d1) i.e. To turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything, 1d2) To pay attention, observe, 1d3) To see about something—1d31) i.e. to ascertain what must be done about it, 1d4) To inspect, examine, 1d5) To look at, behold, 1e) To experience any state or condition, 1f) To see i.e. have an interview with, to visit; 2) To know—2a) To know of anything, 2b) To know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive—2b1) Of any fact, 2b2) the force & meaning of something which has definite meaning, 2b3) To know how, to be skilled in, 2c) To have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to(1Th 5:12). To see with the mind's eye, signifies a clear & purely mental perception.