Following The Word 3

Entering The New Kingdom

Text: John 3:1-8, 16

Introduction

Humorous Story — A father and son went fishing one day. After a couple hours out in the boat, the boy suddenly became curious about the world around him. He asked his father, “How does this boat float?” The father thought for a moment, then replied, “Don’t rightly know, son.”

The boy returned to his contemplation, then turned back to his father, “How do fish breath underwater?” Once again the father replied, “Don’t rightly know, son.”

A little later the boy asked his father, “Why is the sky blue?” Again, the father replied. “Don’t rightly know, son.”

Worried he was going to annoy his father, he says, “Dad, do you mind my asking you all of these questions?” “Of course not son. If you don’t ask questions, you’ll never learn anything!”

Unlike the dad in the story, aren’t you glad that Jesus (the Living Word) has the answers to the greatest questions of your heart?

The individual that comes on the scene is Nicodemus. He was a member of the ruling council; high council or Sanhedrin. He was a Pharisee. He was part of the group that John the Baptist criticized for living in hypocrisy and living a luxurious lifestyle off the back of the poor. Most of the Pharisees became jealous of Jesus due to Him undermining their authority and therefore almost making them obsolete.

Nicodemus was an exception! As we follow the life ministry of Jesus, we gradually see someone who went from being a “seeker” of the truth, to being someone who found the truth in the Living Word; Jesus Christ.

We have to ask, “What prompted Nicodemus to seek out Jesus in the first place?” It is most likely that you would find him in the crowd of people mentioned in John 2:23–25 “23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”

This account is about the proper attitude one must have in order to be taught by Jesus; learn from Jesus. Remember, Jesus is the Living Word and He will give you the truth that you must receive by faith in order to be right with God.

1) You Must Personally Come To Jesus

A. Nicodemus came to Jesus with a very weak faith

a) He approached Jesus in the cover of darkness

In one sense, Nicodemus was probably operating in fear of someone seeing him with Jesus.

In another sense, “night” or “darkness” is a metaphor John uses often to indicate moral and spiritual darkness.

John 1:5 “5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

John 3:19 “19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

John 9:4–5 “4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

There are two pictures displayed here:

First, we see the spiritual darkness of Nicodemus’ soul.

Second. we see the spiritual darkness of the people of Israel.

B. Jesus agreed to meet him right where he was

a) Jesus met him in his curiosity

b) Jesus met him in his confusion

c) Jesus met him in his unbelief

d) Jesus met him in his blindness

2 Corinthians 4:4 “4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Ephesians 4:18 “18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”

C. Jesus will lead you from where you are

John tells us on over in chapter 6 that the Father is continually teaching human hearts about where new life is found.

John 6:45 “45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”

Learning however has different stages depending on ones personal obstacles.

Some have been steeped in false religion.

Some have been persuaded in to some form of atheism.

Nicodemus’ journey to Christ gives great hope to anyone who has much to wade through in order to come to a full trusting faith in Christ.

LISTEN...just keep learning, keep asking, and keep pursuing!

Before long you will find yourself with a broken heart and a willingness to invest your full faith in the Living Word; Jesus Christ.

2) You Must Be Born In God’s Kingdom

A. Where is God’s kingdom found?

a) Jesus disrupted Nicodemus’ view of God’s kingdom.

Remember what Jesus said when He cleared out the Temple?

Jesus once again is teaching how He is the full representation of all former things: sacrificial lamb, the temple, and now the kingdom of God.

The problem Nicodemus had was spiritual blindness.

It was impossible for him to get a clear understanding of what God’s kingdom really is as well as how to enter it.

B. God’s kingdom is the “right now” and the “yet to come”

a) Notice some scriptures that present this reality

Mark 1:14–15 “14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

Luke 17:20–21 “20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

b) While we are waiting for the fullness of God’s kingdom to come down, the Spirit places us in the kingdom at the moment of faith.

God’s kingdom was NOT just some far away future reality to come, but something to experience RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW.

ANYONE who repents and trusts Jesus as Savior and follow Him as Lord has stepped into the kingdom of God.

Quote: “When Jesus annouced that the Kingdom of God was ‘at hand’ he was not saying: ‘Soon and very soon I am coming o set up a Kingdom and to rule from the New Jerusalem.’ Rather, he was emphasizing the immediacy of God’s power to break in and take charge of human lives—to heal, to save, to deliver and redeem—through the person of Jesu and in the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Dwight Pryor)

C. God’s Kingdom must be seen through your life TODAY!

A miss-understanding of God’s kingdom can promote some kind of “spiritual paralysis.”

We are not to view God’s Kingdom as the reason why we get to “bust out” of this world. Rather, the believer is the channel by which God’s kingdom is to conquer this world.

THINK WITH ME...What is God constantly doing through the ages? HE IS COMING DOWN.

Example: Adam, Abraham, Moses, an ultimately through Jesus.

We see this when the Spirit stoops down to dwell within every believer.

Revelation 21:3 “3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

That being said...stepping into God’s Kingdom requires a NEW BIRTH. That is a work of God’s Spirit...

3) You Must Be Reborn By The Spirit

A. Nicodemus is in need of a new birth

a) It is believed that the Jews believe that a person could be born again in six ways:

i. Gentiles were born again when they convert to Judaism.

ii. When crowned as king.

iii. When a Jewish boy reaches the age of 13; bar mitzvah (old enough to obey God’s commandments.

iv. Following his wedding ceremony.

v. After a Rabbi or Pharisee took up a position as teacher.

vi. After become the head of a rabbinical school if Israel.

b) Nicodemus asked a clarifying question.

It is likely that Nicodemus was asking due to his age which then leaves him without options.

c) Jesus explains to Nicodemus that he is need of a far deeper transformation

“born of water and the Spirit”

“flesh is flesh...Spirit is spirit”

A spiritual rebirth is not wrapped up in all the cultural acceptable ways.

Even though being a spiritual teacher of the highest degree, he was not yet in the kingdom.

Only God’s Spirit can “quicken” the human spirit!!!

B. The Holy Spirit leads the soul to repentance and faith

The Holy Spirit is leading each soul to a proper place of humility so they would then surrender fully to Him.

In Robby Gallaty’s book “The Forgotten Jesus,” he mentions how the rabbis illustrated this. He said, “They compared the Holy Spirit to water when it is poured out. In a similar manner, God’s Spirit seeks out the lowest, the most humble person to rest upon. As James reminds us, God opposes the haughty but gives grace to the humble”

Romans 2:4 “4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

Romans 8:9 “9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

Conclusion

Matthew 5:20 “20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”