Moving to Another Spiritual Level
John 3.1-7
Nicodemus: A ruler of the Jews, a master ("teacher") of Israel, and a Pharisee, was a wealthy, educated and powerful man-well respected by his people and a descendant of the patriarch Abraham. Yet in V-7, Jesus said to him, "You must be born again" The Greek adverb translated again can also mean "from the beginning" (suggesting a new creation) and "from above" (that is, from God). In other words Jesus told Nicodemus that physical generation was not enough, mother and father and other family members are not enough --- nor could his descent from the line of Abraham enable him to be saved. Many folk are affiliated with the church because of mommer or grandmommers religion. . . . It may have been good enough for them – and perhaps it got you where you are now --- but there comes a time when every tub has to sit on it’s own bottom. . . a time when you are responsible for you. . . what Jesus is suggesting here is that -- Only as a person has a spiritual generation ----- a birth from above-will he be able to see the kingdom of God.
In reading the gospel we find that John is the only good news writer that mentions Nicodemus. . . . In John’s recording the reader will find that Nicodemus is watched with deep interest as he grow in grace.
(1) An anxious inquirer. The rich were ashamed to confess Jesus openly, in spite of convictions of the reality of His mission; Careful examination will prove that the poor came to Jesus by day --- but in our text we witness Nicodemus tipping "by night."
Come let examine Nicodemus’ conversation with Jesus (anybody ever talk to Him)
Sometimes after sun down we see Nicodemus made his night visit to Jesus – and said unto him, Rabbi, (Master) -- we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
It is very important that every Christian believer should understand what the scripture as to the two natures. . . Because of the lack of the knowledge of the dual nature of man – many new convert or saint – after rejoicing for a season in his new found hope in Jesus – and then suddenly awake to the fact that the old man is not dead. . . . the old habits are not gone. . . . the old you is still hanging around. Sometimes this motive leads to one to believe that he or she was never converted --- becomes disheartened – discouraged – resulting in church drifting and backsliding. . . .
Listen to Jesus as He told Nicodemus – Nicodemus. . . That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee,
Ye must be born again. For that which is born of the flesh is flesh – and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. . .
My brothers and sisters – what we see here are two lines of Heredity – The flesh line which came by mother and father and the Spirit line that comes by that of Holy Spirit.
The Natural and the Spiritual – the soma verses the pneuma
Eph. 4.18 proofs the natural man as one his understanding darkened – being alienated from God – because of the blindness of the heart. . . . Whereas the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit. . . there is no good thing in him --- that the Ethiopian cannot change his skin – or the leopard his spots --- so the natural man without supernatural help cannot change his character. . . .
Now that we know that the natural man has a human parentage – the Spiritual man has Divine parentage. . . . all life must come from pre-existing life --- there is no such thing as spontaneous generation of life. . . No life can come without parentage . . . There must be a father and a mother. . .
In the “Spiritual World” the Holy Spirit is the Father and your heart is womb into which the seed of the Word of God is dropped. . . .
If the seed in the natural world is lifeless – no plant will spring from it. . . and if the seed of the Word is not vitalized by the Holy Spirit when it falls into the human heart that will be no new life. .. . Because of this men and women find it easy to read the scripture and not be converted….
The Spiritual man is a new creation. . . . but since the old man is still there – one can find difficulty keeping the old man suppressed. .. It will rise up. . .
People will cause the old man to resurrect
Situations will cause the old man to resurrect
Stress will cause the old man to resurrect
The Bible gives us three ways to overcome the flesh. . .
1. By Amputation: Matthew 18.8,9 – if thy hand or thy foot offend thee. . cut it off. . . .
There are some things in your life that you must cut off. . . some things that need to be stopped now. . . some stuff you need to get rid of. .
2. By Mortification: Col.3.5-10 – Mortify your members which are upon the earth. . there are some things we cannot amputate – but must be removed some other way. .. such as being weak. . impatience . . pride. . Here the treatment is more medical than surgical.
Mortification cannot take place by our own efforts – only by allowing God to work in us.
3. By Limitation: Heb.12.1 – Lay aside every weight and sin that so easily beset us. . .
There is a difference between weights and sins. . . all weights are not sins but all sins are weights. . . it is not a sin to be a slave to business, work or social life as to neglect other important duties --- but these things becomes weights when they prevent proper culture of spiritual life. . . theses weights tend to load us down when it interferes with running this Christian race. . .
Jesus here is letting Nicodemus know that there has be a change in his life. . . . has anybody been changed. .
2. We see Nicodemus a sincere but as yet weak believer. The next time in Nicodemus’ spiritual history appears John 7:45-53 where John marks the spiritual advance in Nicodemus by contrasting his first coming "by night" to virtually confessing Jesus. . . There are some sincere believers in the church. . . but because of failure to let some things go. . . you remain weak. . . If it’s holding you back. . . let it go --- if it’s keeping you bound.. let it go. .. if it’s keeping you from Jesus --- let it go. . . .
3. The third stage is (John 19:39) when Nicodemus appears as a bold and strong believer, the same Nicodemus as "came at the first to Jesus by night." Here stand strong for the Lord. . . When even the twelve shrank from the danger to be apprehended from the mob
the once timid Nicodemus shows extraordinary courage at Christ’s crucifixion. . .
Somebody like Nicodemus has come a long way spiritually – and now it’s time to stand up for Jesus…
If you love Jesus – Stand
If He has did any thing in you life you ought to stand
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