JOHN 3:1-8 | THE WIND OF THE SPIRIT
Notes
Transcript
JOHN 3:1-8 | THE WIND OF THE SPIRIT
JOHN 3:1-8 | THE WIND OF THE SPIRIT
ILLUSTRATION: Growing up I was fascinated with the wind.
ILLUSTRATION: Growing up I was fascinated with the wind.
In particular, I was fascinated with tornados.
I have shared before of my dreams to either be a NBA basketball player, a country music singer, or a Tornado chaser.
When I was in 3rd grade we were given the assignment to write a book about something, and I wrote and illustrated my first book about tornados.
In fact, I still have the little book today and have passed along it’s wonder to my kids who have read it.
From my main characters who were playing at the beach in Oklahoma at the start of the book, to them surviving the tornado chasing them down at the end of the book, it was packed full of action.
To this day, there is still an interest to me about these incredibly dangerous storms.
I even mentioned to Tressa it would be fun one day to take Jayce and go chase tornados for a couple weeks… to which I have only gotten a laugh and eye roll so far.
But a guy can dream!
It’s incredible the power that can come from just a concentrated, circling wind.
My mom shared with me of a time a tornado had passed through and there were pieces of straw that had flown so fast that they had embedded themselves in nearby trees.
I personally drove past the wreckage and damage of these storms.
I remember as a child, a tornado hit the church we had been attending.
I remember walking into the auditorium and seeing where the roof had been ripped off and the building damaged.
There is so much power in the wind.
But the truth is, outside of a tornado, in most situations you can’t see the wind.
It is only the effects of the wind that you notice.
EXPLANATION: That is what Jesus was communicating in v.8 before us.
EXPLANATION: That is what Jesus was communicating in v.8 before us.
As we turn the page into chapter 3, Jesus is met at night by a man named Nicodemus.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee according to v.1
We know from previous messages that the Pharisees were the religious leaders who were more concerned with their appearance as being religious than they were actually having a relationship with God.
But Nicodemus wasn’t only a Pharisee, we find he was also a Ruler of the Jews.
It is likely a reference to his position as a Sanhedrin, the main ruling body of Jews residing in Palestine.
It was the Jewish “Supreme court” or ruling council .
The Sanhedrin was composed of the high priest, chief priests, elders, and scribes for a total of 71 people.
For someone of Nicodemus’s position, to approach Jesus honestly seeking, would have put him in an unfavorable position amongst his fellow Pharisees.
So under the cloak of darkness, Nicodemus approaches Jesus.
Back in John 2:23 John told us
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.
And now we find that Nicodemus was one of those who had witnessed these miracles, and he was on the fence of coming to Jesus and trusting him as Savior.
He told Jesus in v.2, John 3:2
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, 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.
And then Jesus answers Nicodemus’s unasked question:
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.
Based on what we have in the Scriptures, Nicodemus hasn’t asked any questions about the kingdom of God.
He didn’t ask about how to get to heaven.
So where did this seemingly off the wall answer come from?
Jesus knows the unspoken desires of our heart.
APPLICATION: Over in Jeremiah 17:10
APPLICATION: Over in Jeremiah 17:10
I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Shall not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
God knows the deepest heart desire of every person… even deeper than you know of yourself.
And at the deepest part of everyone, is a desire to settle what is coming when our life comes to an end.
That’s why there are so many religions in our world.
That’s why there are at least 11 denomination of places of religion just in our town of Whitehall.
It’s because at the deepest part of every person, there is a desire to know what is coming when you breath your last breath.
Because do you want to know what everyone truly wants… HOPE!
They want to know that when their life comes to an end, that there is something more.
To believe that we simply go into the ground and cease to exist leaves us feeling empty.
In our heart of hearts we want to believe there is something more!
EXPLANATION: And on this night, when Nicodemus approached Jesus, he came to Him with a heart that desired to find HOPE!
EXPLANATION: And on this night, when Nicodemus approached Jesus, he came to Him with a heart that desired to find HOPE!
Hope that was beyond the empty religious rituals that he kept as a Pharisee
Hope that was beyond his personal achievements in his life.
He was seeking hope in something that would last beyond his life.
And so, when he came to Jesus, Jesus answered a question that wasn’t uttered with Nicodemus’s lips, but was certainly the question that was on his heart.
APPLICATION: Over these next couple of weeks, we are going to walk through this familiar interaction between Jesus and a man that was seeking truth!
APPLICATION: Over these next couple of weeks, we are going to walk through this familiar interaction between Jesus and a man that was seeking truth!
And if you are here today and you are seeking truth, can I encourage you to be present over these next few Sundays so that you can find answers to the same questions that Nicodemus was asking.
EXPLANATION: When Jesus told him he had to be “born again” Nicodemus immediately jumped to a human understanding to Christ’s words.
EXPLANATION: When Jesus told him he had to be “born again” Nicodemus immediately jumped to a human understanding to Christ’s words.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
It’s as if his head was spinning at the mention by Jesus of the subject of being “born again”
This teaching of being born again had never been phrased this way previously in Scripture, however Ezekiel touched on this transformation in Ezekiel 36:26-27
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Jesus would explain this transformation in greater detail in v.5-7
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
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.
There has been much confusion by some with regard to Jesus’s statement in v.5 about being born of water and of the Spirit.
Some have taken this verse and used it as a proof text for the need to be baptized for salvation.
However, we have shown from the rest of Scripture that it is by grace through faith alone
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So based on the numerous other verses that would point to salvation being not by our works or by baptism, why would Jesus say that baptism is a part of salvation… unless that isn’t what He actually said.
You see, the answer to unclear verses sometimes is to read the context around it.
Nicodemus has just challenged Jesus about being born physically a second time.
And the verse immediately following sheds further light on this confusing verse:
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
You see, when Jesus spoke of being born of water, He wasn’t speaking of baptism… He was speaking of a fleshly birth… or physical birth.
Put yourself in the time of Christ, and don’t think with your 21st century mindset.
They didn’t have ultrasound machines
They didn’t have modern technology
What would have been a clear sign that the arrival of a baby was near?
The water would break!
We know today that this is amniotic fluid, but still today we call it the “water breaking”.
Jesus was saying, you have to be born of the water… physical birth… just like what Nicodemus was asking about.
But then Jesus makes clear, you have to be born again… Spiritually!
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
We saw just 2 chapters before in John 1:12-13
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Just like a person was born physically at birth… they must be born again in the Spirit.
APPLICATION: You know, I have had people tell me before that they’ve “Always been a Christian”
APPLICATION: You know, I have had people tell me before that they’ve “Always been a Christian”
Some say, “I’ve always believed”
Now here is the key… no one has always believed or always been a Christian.
You have to be born… and there was a date you were born.
If I asked you here today, what was your birth date, you would tell me a date that you were born into this world.
You wouldn’t say, well I’ve always been…
The only One Who has always been is God.
But physically you have a birth date.
And in the same way, you have to have a born again date.
Now friend… what was that date?
You may not be able to remember the date… but you should be able to remember the moment.
ILLUSTRATION: There are moments in life I vividly remember
ILLUSTRATION: There are moments in life I vividly remember
The moment I got married… it wasn’t a progression of time… there was a moment we said “I do” and we got married.
The moments my children were born… I remember those moments.
The moment I fell off the roof and dislocated my elbow
For some of them I may struggle to recall the date quickly… but I will never forget the moment.
And I can tell you about a moment that I was born again as a 9 year old boy.
For many years I didn’t know the date… but I remembered the moment that I accepted Christ and I was born again.
APPLICATION: Friend, when were you born again as Jesus says it.
APPLICATION: Friend, when were you born again as Jesus says it.
The moment you consciously trusted Christ as your personal Savior?
You may not remember the date, but do you remember the moment that you did what Romans 10:9 says you must do?
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
I am convinced there are many people that call themselves Christians because they grew up in a Christian home.
Many who call themselves Christian because they did some religious rituals
Many you call themselves Christians because they have told themselves, “they’ve always believed”
And I believe that because Matthew 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Friend, if you think any of those things are going to get you to heaven someday, you are trusting in the wrong things.
Jesus and God’s Word says there is one way, and it is only through a conscious decision to trust Jesus as your Savior!
If you aren’t 100% that you have done things God’s way, why not get it settled this morning?
Why not make today the day you trust in Christ as your Savior and have the assurance of eternal life.
Now as we wrap up this morning, I want you to leave with one final truth that we find in this exchange between Nicodemus and Jesus and it’s found in what Jesus says in v.8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
EXPLANATION: Jesus tells Nicodemus that being born again by the Spirit is kind of like the wind.
EXPLANATION: Jesus tells Nicodemus that being born again by the Spirit is kind of like the wind.
Once again, take the 21st century glasses off and see this through the lens of the 1st century.
There were no meteorologists.
There wasn’t a weather station that explained the weather patterns.
Their understanding of the wind was very simple:
They couldn’t see with their physical eyes how it happened… but they could see the effects of it.
They could see the flag flapping
They could feel the breeze on their cheek
And what Jesus was explaining to Nicodemus is you can’t see the Spirit saving the one who put their faith in Christ… but you should sure be able to see the effects of it.
APPLICATION: Friend, if you have been born again here this morning, I wonder… can anyone see the effects of it?
APPLICATION: Friend, if you have been born again here this morning, I wonder… can anyone see the effects of it?
Is there anything in your life that shows that you belong to Jesus… because according to Christ… there should be!
ILLUSTRATION: I was speaking to a couple of pastors this past week about situations going on in their churches.
ILLUSTRATION: I was speaking to a couple of pastors this past week about situations going on in their churches.
Problems that were going on between believers.
Problems of Christians who were stirring up things in the congregation
And as I prepared this message, the realization struck me… the reason for the problems is because people aren’t acting like the Christians they say they are.
APPLICATION: Do you want to know why there are problems in your marriage… in your home
APPLICATION: Do you want to know why there are problems in your marriage… in your home
Do you want to know why there are problems in so many churches
Do you want to know what will be the end of God working in WBC?
It’s not some outside influence that will put a stop to God’s work.
In fact, we saw recently that when an outside influence tried to put a stop to someone who was a Christian speaking truth, it resulted in the Gospel being preached to likely the largest audience at one time in all of history!
No, what will stop God working in the church and will lead to more problems in your relationships and your home is when you as a Christian don’t act like you are a Christian.
When you stop allowing the effects of the Spirit to work in your life.
What do the effects of the Spirit look like in your life?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
You see Paul gave a warning and challenge of what a Christian’s relationships should look like in v.13
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
ILLUSTRATION: You see when the wind gets out of control… and it becomes a tornado, it leads to a lot of destruction.
ILLUSTRATION: You see when the wind gets out of control… and it becomes a tornado, it leads to a lot of destruction.
Lives are destroyed.
Homes are wrecked.
APPLICATION: And there are a lot of Christians who it is clear who is in control of your life based on the effects that are coming out of your life.
APPLICATION: And there are a lot of Christians who it is clear who is in control of your life based on the effects that are coming out of your life.
The angry outburst
The bitterness and grudges
The pharisaical perspective that puts you on a different level from everyone else… which is just pride
But when you are truly under the control of the Spirit, there will be evidences of that control!
Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, self control…
Jesus says, just like the wind blowing through… if you’ve been born again… there should be evidences that show everyone else of that decision
If we could walk our way back through your life this past week, what proofs would there be that point to you being a child of God?
Does your relationship with your spouse show it?
What about with your kids?
How about when you were at work?
What about with fellow believers?
What about in your private time when nobody else saw?
You see if there isn’t any evidence, it’s because of one of two reasons:
One, You’ve never truly accepted Christ
Or Two, you aren’t living under His control
For those that it’s the first one, I say with Jesus, “You must be born again”
For those that it’s the second one… let’s purpose this morning to start living today like we are trying to prove our case to everyone else that we belong to Christ!
And may the winds of your life prove that you truly are born again!
