WALKING BY THE SPIRIT part 2
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Seeing and Entering God’s Kingdom
Seeing and Entering God’s Kingdom
As I come forward at the end of worship
SLIDE 1 “WELCOME TO CHURCH”
encouragement from worship
last week we started our message series “Walking By The Spirit”
You know no matter which week we are at in this series.........everyday this will be our struggle
SLIDE 2 “FLESH VS SPIRIT” the struggle is real
Why is that? Because we have a sin nature......because if you are a follower of Jesus Christ here this morning...... satan truly hates you.......and he feels like he has just the right wordly attraction to fire against you......or just the right thought he can plant in your mind........or maybe just the right words he wants you to say to hurt someone else or to hurt your testimony.
SLIDE 3 “WALKING BY THE SPIRIT” seeing and entering God’s kingdom
That is why we need all the help we can get.......from God’s word alone......because who else would know how to teach us to walk by the Spirit better than The Lord....Amen
Jesus will always be the most amazing teacher ......and remember what Jesus said in John 15:5 “apart from Me you can do nothing”
Now that’s just some of the words Jesus said in that verse? Anyone remember what He said before that?.......”I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;..........then its apart from Me you can do nothing.
Today we will see that in action and some of His amazing teaching as well.
Also last week we saw how in the 2nd verse of the bible in Genesis 1 that God’s Spirit was moving and working......over the earth that was void and formless
So maybe your walk has seemed a little formless or has some voids lately........well be encouraged because the Lord’s Spirit wants to move and put some new creation in you and I today....amen?
Lets’s check out some of The Lord’s teaching today and let this be that next building block of faith laid down to give us all more stability in walking by the Spirit.
SLIDE 4
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Okay..... so just another interaction of Jesus with another Pharisee.......well kind of...... but this one is pretty amazing actually.....and perhaps will help us and encourage us for our walk in the days ahead as well
First thing we need to look at is this man Nicodemus and what do we notice? His status in society
Firstly he is a Pharisee, these guys stood out, these guys were noticed, these guys were probably feared by the people, being critical of how others lived so they could report to the priests
Look at what their description is in Strong’s Lexicon.....which would be how their vocabulary would be according to their language in that day.
Yeah like two of us guys hanging around on the corner talking about them in those days.........this is how we would describe them
SLIDE 5
Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (5330 Φαρισαῖος)
5330 Φαρισαῖος [Pharisaios /far·is·ah·yos/] n m. Of Hebrew origin cf 6567; TDNT 9:11; TDNTA 1246; GK 5757; 100 occurrences; AV translates as “Pharisee” 100 times. 1 A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to OT books the Pharisees recognised in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, and such as ceremonial washings, fastings, prayers, and alms giving; and, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good works.
SLIDE 6
They held strenuously to a belief in the existence of good and evil angels, and to the expectation of a Messiah; and they cherished the hope that the dead, after a preliminary experience either of reward or of penalty in Hades, would be recalled to life by him, and be requited each according to his individual deeds. In opposition to the usurped dominion of the Herods and the rule of the Romans, they stoutly upheld the theocracy and their country’s cause, and possessed great influence with the common people. According to Josephus they numbered more than 6000. They were bitter enemies of Jesus and his cause; and were in turn severely rebuked by him for their avarice, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, and affection of piety in order to gain popularity.
Wow! ......have you every known all those things about a Pharisee?
These wouldn’t seem to be of someone walking by the Spirit right
So this would be a description of Nicodemus’s life but wait there’s more
SLIDE 7
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
It also says in verse 1 he was a ruler of the Jews
So that would indicate Nicodemus was also a member of the Sanhedrin
The Sanhedrin was the religious court system of that day
SLIDE 8 “THE SANHEDRIN”
Nicodemus was part of this 71 member court deciding the fate of the accused, more than likely of someone breaking God’s law......only a sentence of death could be sentenced by the Romans
Nicodemus was also known to have been a man of great wealth.
Now why is all this is important for today’s message?
He would seem to be a man that has it all together......has his achievements or goals accomplished.....has his wealth....his status with his people.....but
Look at verse 2 again
SLIDE 9
2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
He comes to Jesus by night....he calls Jesus Rabbi which is showing Jesus respect...... and knows Jesus must be from God by the signs and miracles He is been doing.
So point 1 for Walking by the Spirit
SLIDE 10
“WALKING BY THE SPIRIT”
seeing and entering God’s kingdom
Does Jesus Have Your Attention?
Now think about what the scene may have been like at Nicodemus’s house for the past couple weeks.......expanding on that
He is going by night so his pharisee and sanhedrin buddies don’t know that Jesus has really gotten his attention...... a different way though
He has no idea how Jesus is fixing to rock his world into a whole way to be alive..... and to live
Which in fact this story today will also show us..... or remind us what advantages we have in our access to Jesus and therefore a different way to live according to “walking by the Spirit”
I think its really cool that he finds Jesus at night...
Hey uh ...Rabbi can I talk to you.....
SLIDE 11
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
So we see step one of being able to walk by the Spirit would be .....be born again
And look at the great advantage Jesus will lay out from being born again
He draws that out of Nicodemus right away here as we see in the next verse
SLIDE 12
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”
Now think about this..... how intellectually advanced Nicodemus must be
He has everything in and above society can offer, he knows the Torah front and back, he probably has been a studying learning man all his life....he has power....he has all the friends and favors society could probably offer....and has wealth
And Jesus throws him curve ball right out of the gate
Why is that?....because everything has been about human experience, understanding and learning and Jesus kicks it up to the spiritual level
Jesus has just told him truly truly, I say to you
SLIDE 13
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
What was point 1 has Jesus got your attention? .......I think Jesus has gotten Nicodemus’s attention......we’ll see point 2 soon hang on
Now check this out what seeing the kingdom of God is.....Jesus will bring it up again shortly but the kingdom of God here that Jesus is talking about is this
SLIDE 14
KINGDOM OF GOD (basileai) -
1) royal power, kingship, dominion
2) not to be confused with the actual kingdom
but the right to rule over that kingdom
3) of the royal power of Jesus the Messiah
conferred on Christians
See this is what you and I tap into when we chose to “walk by the Spirit”........big part is choose right?
So Nicodemus is stuck at how can I go back in my mothers womb and be born again?.....human reasoning, very intellectual man
Jesus comes right back and takes the spiritual to another level here at verse 5 & 6
SLIDE 15
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
So now Jesus has taken it from seeing the kingdom to entering the kingdom....still same kingdom definition okay
But now Jesus is laying what that looks like being born again and how that happens.....and the difference there is
Born of water......see text explaining through 5 & 6
Point number 1 in “Walking by the Spirit” was Does Jesus have your attention?
SLIDE 16
“WALKING BY THE SPIRIT”
seeing and entering God’s kingdom
Does Jesus Have Your Attention?
Allow Jesus to Teach You in Your Situation
Point 2 Now Allow Jesus to teach you in your situation......your circumstance.....your outlook for the day.....before you respond in a situation....okay
We see he just told Nicodemus that which is born of flesh is just flesh, that which is born of the Spirit is spirit
Jesus is teaching Nicodemus through the situation he is in
SLIDE 17
7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Jesus is now laying how the Spirit moves in a life that’s been born again
Think about the wind for a minute.......what are you thinking or how would you describe it?
Nicodemus hasn’t been born again...... yet so he still does not understand
SLIDE 18
9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?
Jesus is just confirming here with Nicodemus..... the intellect will never understand the spiritual.... or kingdom of God
And it explains and attempts to move Nicodemus now in his situation.....Jesus’ next words are really amazing
SLIDE 19
11 “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.
12 “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
Jesus is wanting Nicodemus to move out of his earthly fleshly understanding to understanding and to move in the Spirit
Remember also what Jesus said in verse 8
SLIDE 20
8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
So again point 1 in Walking by the Spirit
SLIDE 21
“WALKING BY THE SPIRIT”
seeing and entering God’s kingdom
Does Jesus Have Your Attention?
Allow Jesus to Teach You in Your Situation
Allow Jesus to Move you From Your Situation
WORSHIP TEAM COMING UP
You know what Jesus shares with Nicodemus real soon after this? .....our last verse was John 3:12.. count from there John 3:13..3:14…3:15.......3:16 He shared the gospel....He got Nicodemus attention, He explained and taught him in his situation.....He desired Nicodemus to move from that situation
SLIDE 22 “WALKING BY THE SPIRIT” seeing and entering God’s kingdom
That’s how walking by the Spirit should work in our lives
Everyone knows who Benjamin Franklin was right
He was a great statesman and inventor also.... invented the lightening rod......bifocal glasses.....swimming fins......the urinary catheter.....the odometer........airmonica
One day he received what could well have been the most important letter ever to come to his desk. It was from the well-known British preacher George Whitefield.
“I find that you grow more and more famous in the learned world,” Whitefield wrote. “As you have made such progress in investigating the mysteries of electricity, I now humbly urge you to give diligent heed to the mystery of the new birth. It is a most important and interesting study and, when mastered, will richly repay you for your pains.”
And thats what the re-birth is for you and me also...
Oh and Nicodemus, more than likely was born again, he took up for Jesus in the Sanhedrin before they were trying to sentence Jesus later on......and Nicodemus brought myrrr and other embalming ingredients to Joseph after Jesus was crucified
LETS’S PRAY
WORSHIP
MARK DISMISS