Divine Investments

Divine Investments

John 3:1-18

August 13, 2006

Morning Service

Introduction

I can remember a friend of mine’s father, Jim was into different investments and was constantly studying different stocks, bonds and real estate. He was extremely good with money and did well in the stock market.

There was one time that he tells a story of choice he had to make with investments. His broker presented him with two different stocks and he only had money to buy into one. The first stock was with Infotech, a rising technology firm, that was making a new type of microchip that would revolutionize electronics forever. The second company was an unheard of company that started by a college drop out that was doing something with software for personal computers. Jim did not want to invest with some fly by night company, so he invested with Infotech.

The good news was that Infotech did well for the first six months. Their mircochips never made it to market and the company went out of business within two years after Jim had invested with them. He regreted investing with Infotech.

You may have heard of the company that Jim chose not to invest with, they are a little computer company called Mircosoft.

Sometimes life works that way doesn’t it. We make te wrong choice and we end up regretting it for a long time to come. God has a way of making the right investments in the lives of his people and this morning I want to take a look at three things God does to invest in your life. If you have your Bibles with you open them to the third chapter of John.

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. " 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. 10 "You are Israel’s teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

What investments has God made in you?

1.) Life

"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. John 3:4-6

The fact that you are breathing is a gift from God. Being alive is a great gift that comes from God but it one that we far too often take for granted. We think that life is something we somehow earned or have some right to. You’re alive for one reason and one reason only, God wants you to live. Are you arrogant enough to think that you would still be living if God wanted it otherwise? Let’s get real for just a moment - you owe your life to the grace of God.