CATCH GOD'S CURRENT

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

John 3

John 3:3–8 NIV

Intro

Introduction

Most anything to do with flying interests me. I love to experience the thrill of it. About 13 years ago, Linda and the kids surprised me with a special birthday gift. I got to be a fighter pilot for a day. It was so cool. We did dogfights, rolls, formation flying. I would do it again anytime. I loved it.

A couple years later they gave me another special birthday gift. This one scared me a little. When they took off my blindfold we were at a desert airstrip in Arizona. They took me into a hangar, but instead of planes, I saw ultralight crafts. My pilot came over on crutches...old skydiving wound. Not real comforting.

We boarded the ultralight, he fired up the engine and taxied out to the runway. Take off was smooth. It was both fun and scary. The pilot took us up to about 5,000 feet, showed me around a little bit, and then shut off the engine. It got real quiet…except for the breeze. He pointed out a hawk below, circling on the wind, explaining how raptors catch thermal currents and let it carry them in circles. He steered us into the thermal and we did the same thing the hawk was doing. I could literally feel us jump into the thermal. I couldn’t see the wind current, but I sure felt it. It was awesome.

In John chapter 3, Jesus used wind as an illustration of the Spirit of God. He moves in powerful ways…like the wind. When the wind of the Spirit blows through a person’s life, they are in for something big.

Big Idea

Step into the wind of God’s loving grace and take flight!

Narrative backdrop:

The purpose of John’s Gospel is clearly recorded in 20:31

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

In chapter 1, Jesus shows up on the scene, with John the Baptist pointing out to everyone around: this Jesus was, indeed, the Christ spoken of by the prophets. At about this time Jesus began choosing His disciples. “What do you want?”

In chapter 2, Jesus performs His first public miracle by turning the water into wine at a wedding in Cana. The people were amazed. Jesus went to Capernaum for a few days and then to Jerusalem for the Passover. He caused a huge stir when He went into the temple courts, made a whip, and drove out the money changers. “How dare you turn my Father’s house into a den of thieves.” The breeze of the Holy Spirit began to show signs of a coming storm. Wherever Jesus is, the wind of the Spirit blows.

Transitional: Jesus let Nicodemus know how important it is to…

CATCH THE CURRENT OF GOD’S KINGDOM (3-8)

I. CATCH THE CURRENT OF GOD’S KINGDOM (3-8)

Nicodemus

CATCH THE CURRENT OF GOD’S KINGDOM (3-8)

Exposition

Important member, Jewish ruling council

Nicodemus: Important member, Jewish ruling council Came to Jesus at Night Showed respect to Jesus by calling Him “Rabbi” and acknowledging the supernatural nature of Jesus’ actions. He didn’t even get to ask any questions at first When Jesus began to speak, Nicodemus had to have been taken back – because Jesus spoke with such authority and resolve.

Came to Jesus at Night

Showed respect to Jesus by calling Him “Rabbi” and acknowledging the supernatural nature of Jesus’ actions. He didn’t even get to ask any questions at first

When Jesus began to speak, Nicodemus had to have been taken back – because Jesus spoke with such authority and resolve.

Jesus went straight to what Nicodemus needed to hear…”I tell you the truth!” What do you need to hear today?

Truth: New Birth is Essential

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“Kingdom of God” – This concept is at the heart of Jesus’ teaching as recorded in John

Life of the age, Eternal Life, Life, Life to Come

“Born again” From above Either way…it is a supernatural experience – something only God can do for a person.

Here’s what we know from what Jesus says: “No new birth, No new life, No hope for eternal life”

Nicodemus didn’t understand what Jesus meant by born again…so Jesus painted a vivid picture for him. “I tell you the truth”

Truth: New Birth is Enabled by the Holy Spirit

John 3:5–8 NIV

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Born of water and the Spirit

Jesus appealed to what Nicodemus would have been familiar with: the Jewish belief that the coming Messiah would cleanse the people and restore them.

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws

Wind cannot be corralled – it has a mind of its own The Spirit of God moves according to His own plan The new birth is from God; it is supernatural and beyond human control – we can’t totally understand it. Just like the mysterious nature of the wind can be felt and experienced even though it’s hard to grasp, it is the same with the new birth

Illustration: My tandem pilot on that ultralight told me all about thermal currents…and then he led me into experiencing them. Jesus’ words to Nicodemus invited Him to experience the wind of the Holy Spirit through new birth

Transitional: The driving force behind the wind of the Spirit is God’s unfathomable grace and love towards mankind.

CATCH THE CURRENT OF GOD’S AMAZING LOVE (16-21)

II. CATCH THE CURRENT OF GOD’S AMAZING LOVE (16-21)

Exposition: (Read verses 9-15)

A. Belief Leads to Life

Belief Leads to Life

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned[1]

John 3:16–18 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. [2]

John 3:21 NIV

But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

God so loved – unfathomable love Gave up His Son – Incarnation/Crucifixion He couldn’t love any deeper than this Jesus came “that they might have life” Jesus is the way the truth and the life Live by the truth – follow Him – accept His grace and love

B. Unbelief Leads to Death

Unbelief Leads to Death

The New International Version Chapter 3

but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

How can anyone overcome their unbelief? How can anyone change in order to be better people? It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit working in them and as they respond with a humble and repentant heart.

John 3:18b–20 NIV

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

Conclusion

Illustration: When my pilot shut down the engine on our ultralight, I was a little scared for a minute…were we going to drop from the sky? But soon I realized that my pilot was very skilled at catching the wind currents. I figured he would turn the engine back on when he was ready to land. But he didn’t. Our landing was thrilling, but it wasn’t scary. We followed the currents down to a safe altitude and then effortlessly landed. It was beautiful to me.

When you catch the current of God’s amazing love and grace, it will blow you away at first because He transforms us into new people…through new birth. But I can tell you this: you won’t have to worry about crash landing – the Holy Spirit will carry you safely from one current to another – one day to the next – by the virtue of God’s love – until one day we safely make it home. In the meantime, the adventure is fantastic.

Challenge

We cannot see the wind…but we can see its effects: full sails, kites flying high, leaves blowing, trees bending, etc.

How do you know God loves you and desires to give life to you?

For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only son, that whoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

I believe the wind is a real thing I believe Jesus is truly the Savior of the World Step out in faith and believe:

Jesus’ loves you He has a plan to transform your life

He wants to fill you with the Holy Spirit and walk in close relationship with you Through the trials and victories of life.

Step into the wind of God’s Spirit - He is inviting you

[2] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[3] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

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