SUPERNATURAL BIRTH (Part 2)

INTRODUCTION:

Last week we learned that just because someone is religious, a spiritual leader or even a believer in God does not mean they have experienced new.

New birth.is a work of the Holy Spirit.

John 3:5–6 ESV

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

We also saw New Birth is not given based upon our lineage or our will but by the Holy Spirit.

John 1:12–13 ESV

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

TEXT:

John 3:9–14 ESV

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

Nicodemus was not privileged to know all we know in this scientific age about human reproduction.

However, there are some facts which are timeless and even the people in ancient times had figured out.

A Relationship is Required

The Jewish nation had known of a God who was transcendent (High above them)

A God who could not even be seen by man and not die.

They knew of a God who could intervene in their situations as a nation

However, for a being to experience birth, especially a birth which would be accomplished by God, he would have to be near to them, not far above them.

Nicodemus has yet to realize that God has now become Immanuel and it is he who is speaking to Him.

A God who could be touched

A God who could talk with them

A God who would walk with them

A Moment of Conception

Conception in the mother is not something which is immediately recognized.

Change in the mother has begun, but the changes are happening on the inside.

The process of spiritual birth is the same. The Spirit of God begins moving and breaking through to our spirit so that new life can begin.

Remember, life does not guarantee birth.

We can hear the word of God which can bring changes into our lives, but it never brings about lasting change or maturity.

The parable of the sower (Mark 4) The seed was the word, some times it would spring forth and live for a while, but in the end it would die. You see the Christian life is not about just life, it is also about longevity and fruitfulness.

It is wonderful when you can see a person grasp the concept that God is real and he loves and cares for them

John 3:11–12 ESV

11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

There are many who the world of God brings them life, but they are not allowing the Spirit of God to put them in a place where they can grow.

A Time of Maturing

When the spirit begins to work in an individuals life the change may be slow and unrecognizable at first.

Just like we cannot change the maturation rate in human development, neither can we change the maturation rate of people.

Maturation can happen quickly or it can happen slowly or it may not happen at all.

John 3:12 ESV

12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

LLUSTRATION:

Gestation period for mice 19-21 days

Gestation period of human beings 40 weeks

Walrus (456 days)Black Rhinoceros (450 days)

The Sperm Whale (535 days)

The African Elephant (645 days)

A Time of Labor

Spiritual maturation can bring hard times.

Labor is a result of Maturing

Protein SP-A in the lungs of an infant in the woman increases after the 32nd week.

Labor is painful

Labor is intense

Labor pushes us to places we do not want to go

It is something which is not within our control.

John 3:13–14 ESV

13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

We could not go up to heaven

God came down to us

The Son suffered the pain

He went were he did not want to go so that we might become the children of God.

The Joy of New Birth

John 3:15–17 ESV

15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.