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.
When God created Adam there were several things that made Adam special. The first is that Adam was hand crafted by God. the rest of creation was spoken into existence but Adam was made by God shaping dirt and crafting Adam. Eve was created by God remving one of Adam’s ribs and then crafting her from Adam. Humanity was the greatest creation that God placed in this planet.
The second thing that separated Adam was the way he came to life. God breathed luife into his nostrils which gave him spirit. The Hebrew word ruach symbolizes the spirit part of our existrence. No other creature was given spirit. Humanity is unique in this aspect.
The third thing is that Adam and Eve were made in the very image of God. Humanity is three in one just as God is three in one. Humanity is made of body, soul and spirit. God is Father, Son and Spirit. The biggest lie we see being peddled today is that human beings are just another creature on this world. We are the apex of all creation. When Satan approached Eve in the garden, he promised that she would be like God. the fact was that they were already like God becuase he made them that way. Eve bought a lie that she was no different than any other part of creation.
The fourth thing that sets Adam apart is the issue of personal choice. there is no other creature that has personal choice. There is no moral existence for animals or plant life. We would never expect lesser life forms to make moral choices. With animals there is no right and wrong but rather just instincts. Humanity becomes like animals when we try to remove morality from life.
God has invested His creativity, His power, His spirit and His image into you. Since life is an investment of God in you, what exactly are you doing with it? Think about that for just a moment. What are you doing with the life God has given to you? Are you doing what God wants or are you too busy doing what you want?
2.) New Life - Jesus
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. John 3:16
The greatest gift that flows from heaven is related to the first investment. Adam and Eve had been given a perfect relationship with God but they threw it away for some rotten fruit. Sin entered the picture and separated us from the relationship God created us to have with Him.
God understood that we would never be able to make it through life on our own, so He sent us Jesus. Jesus became the sin offering for us all. Jesus gave up His life so you could have yours.
Jesus came so that you could experience new birth. The old life that was ruined by Adam’s sin has been redeemed. The gift of life that God gave to humanity has been resotored. However, there is a choice to make just as Adam had a choice to make. You have to choose Christ to receive the gift.
3.) Empowered Life - Holy Spirit
For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. John 3:34
God gave to Jesus a limitless outpouring of His Holy Spirit. God gave a special anointing to Jesus so that He would be empowered for His ministry on earth. Jesus needed this anointing and empowerment to accomplish His mission of saving the world.
When a person is anointed it means simply that they are set apart for a special task or position. In the Old Testament, there were three offices or positions that required being anointed. The priests were anointed before they could take up service in the Tabernacle or Temple. The prophets were often anointed because they were the spokesmen for God. The kings were anointed before they could take the throne and proclaimed rule of the nation.
Jesus held all three of these offices. He was prophet, priest and king. Therefore, God did not anoint Him with oil but with power through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus became the perfect vessel for the Holy Spirit. Jesus was able to receive a limitless outpouring of the Spirit because He was without sin. Sin acts as barrier to the work of the Spirit and keeps us from receiving all that God wants to give to us.
God desires for us to have this kind of anointing in our lives. God gives us life and then gives us Jesus so we can have new life or new birth. Once our sins are forgiven, He then sets us apart for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God wants us to have an unlimited empowerment through the Holy Spirit.
What kind of return is God getting for His investment in you?
1.) Serve God with your life
2.) Worship God with your heart
3.) Honor God with your actions
Conclusion
What are you doing with the investment that God has placed in your life?
Harold L. Fickett, Jr., wrote about a wealthy businessman who on his deathbed was filled with deep remorse. When his pastor called, he opened his heart and shared the burden he was carrying. He said that 10 years earlier he had been given the opportunity to teach a Sunday school class of 9-year-old boys. Thinking he didn’t have the time, he declined the offer. Now, however, deeply conscious that his life would soon be over, he confessed to the pastor that his most painful regret was that he had missed such a golden opportunity to serve the Lord by investing his life in the lives of those 9-year-olds. He estimated that at least 100 boys would have passed through that class. "My investments in stocks and bonds will stay behind when I leave," he declared. "What a fool I have been."
