“How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his Mother’s womb and be born?” No matter how silly this question looks, it was asked of Jesus by one of the best educated men alive at the time.
Nicodemus, the educated man who asked the question; had just made the understatement of all time. He had just pronounced to Jesus that, “Rabbi, (meaning teacher) we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no man can do the miracles that you do, unless God be with him.”
In this situation, Nicodemus had committed a myriad of sins. First, he snuck out at night to see Jesus. Nicodemus was afraid of the cost of publicly visiting Jesus. He was a chief priest and had much to lose. He was afraid of what others (his peers, the Pharisees) would think of him. Even though he knew the prophecy’s; and he knew that because Jesus had fulfilled them, that Jesus was in fact God come to earth in the flesh: Nicodemus would not bow down before Jesus publicly and worship him.
It is a fact that if Nicodemus had worshiped Jesus openly, he would have lost his job. He would have lost his wealth. He would have lost his exaulted position and he might have lost his life. He was honored in public places. He wore the finest clothing. He had unlimited wealth. He was admired and respected. He would have lost all of those things.
Have you ever known a person who was more concerned about what others thought of them, than what Jesus thinks? I know people who would never be seen in public allowing a preacher to lay hands on them. I know people who believe in speaking in tongues and do so privately, but never publicly because they do not want people to think that they are insane. I have known people who would rather have a loved one die, than to have that person prayed for by a faith believer. I know many people who are embarrassed by their own beliefs. I know people that would be ashamed to raise their hands in praise to God, in a Church. I also know people who are embarrassed by the teachings of Jesus.
Nick also called Jesus teacher, which was a public denial of Jesus’ deity. Not good for old Nick. Then he had the audacity to try to trap Jesus into an act of blasphemy. Again, not good for old Nick. But let’s put all of this into context.
Nicodemus who was a leader of the people a chief priest and a Pharisee, snuck out to see Jesus at night, and told Him that the priests knew that He was a teacher sent from God. Nicodemus stated that they knew this; because of the miracles that they had seen Jesus do.
Jesus’ response to Nicodemus’ statement was: , “I SAY TO YOU, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN, HE CAN NOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” (John 3:3)
What did Jesus mean? Some people think that to be reborn means to be saved. To be saved, is to believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. Certainly you must be saved to see the kingdom of God. Because Jesus said that He is the Way and the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father but by Him.
Jesus also said, “UNLESS A MAN BE BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT, HE CAN NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH; AND THAT WHICH IS SPIRIT, IS SPIRIT. MARVEL NOT THAT I SAID TO YOU, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN. THE WIND BLOWS WHERE IT LISTETH, AND YOU HEAR THE SOUND THEREOF, BUT CAN NOT TELL FROM WHERE IT COMES OR WHERE IT GOES; SO IT IS WITH EVERYONE THAT IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT.” (John 3:5-8)
Take careful note of what God in the person of Jesus has just taught us:
- FLESH IS FLESH
- SPIRIT IS SPIRIT
- When we are born in the natural way; by water birth, we are born into the flesh world.
- When we are born of the Spirit, we are born into the unseen world and become as the wind, we live in the unseen.
- In order to see the unseen; we must be born of the Spirit.
Read the teachings of Paul, Ordained of God, Sent by Jesus and Instructed by the Holy Spirit to teach us the ways of God:
“WHILE WE LOOK NOT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN, BUT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN; FOR THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN ARE TEMPORAL (of the earth and subject to change); BUT THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT SEEN, ETERNAL.” (2Corinthians4:18)
“FOR THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE FLESH, DO MIND THE THINGS OF THE FLESH; BUT THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE SPIRIT DO MIND THE THINGS THAT ARE SPIRIT. FOR TO BE CARNALLY (flesh) MINDED, DEATH; BUT SPIRITUALLY MINDED………………………………………LIFE AND PEACE”!!!!!!!!!!
“BECAUSE THE CARNAL (flesh) MIND IS AT ENMITY (opposition) AGAINST GOD: FOR IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE THINGS OF GOD, NEITHER INDEED CAN IT BE. SO THAT THEY THAT ARE IN THE FLESH CAN NOT PLEASE GOD.” (Romans 8:5-8)
How does this apply to us? I know many Christians, as I am sure you do, who have been saved and are going to heaven. In that sense they have been born again because they have accepted the Spirit of Jesus. This salvation experience, is not however, what Jesus is speaking of in this teaching.
Jesus is talking about the empowerment that comes from a complete Spiritual rebirth. Read the words of Paul on this subject:
“AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD; BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD , AND ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.” (Romans12:2)
Paul is giving us a huge instruction here. He is teaching us that to be transformed is to renew our minds. In other words, we must choose to change our thinking. In order to be re-born, we must flip the switch in our minds. We must choose to believe that the unseen is more real than the seen. We must focus our thoughts on the teachings of Jesus and decide to believe that the Word of God is more true than anything we see or hear.
At this point, those of us who have received the baptism of the Holy Ghost have a natural desire to teach about the difference between the baptisms. Here we want to teach all people about the empowerment that comes from asking God to fill you with the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. However, this is a teaching for another time. For now, it is important to understand that we all need to be reborn, so that we can “SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD”.
Read the teaching of Jesus: And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said,
“VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU THAT UNLESS YOU BE CONVERTED AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN YOU SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, WHOSOEVER, THEREFORE SHALL HUMBLE HIMSELF (become teachable), AS THIS LITTLE CHILD, THE SAME SHALL BE THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. AND WHOSOEVER SHALL RECEIVE ONE SUCH LITTLE CHILD AS THIS IN MY NAME, RECEIVES ME. (Matthew 18:3-5)
How can an adult, become as a child, unless he is reborn? How does an adult become like a child according to this teaching? He humbles himself.
How did Jesus greet the disciples at the sea of Galilee in the 21st chapter of John and the 5Th verse?
“CHILDREN….. HAVE YOU ANY MEAT?”
Think about the characteristics of children. Little children don’t have to be sold on the existence of their parents. Little children don’t of their own, believe that they must earn their daily bread by their good behavior. Children trust their parents to feed and protect them.
Have you ever know a person who truly was re-born? They are not hard to spot, their faith is like a shining light. They always stand on the Word of God. They can’t help praying. They are more focused on the things of God than the things of this world. Jesus is real to a person who is re-born. A person who is reborn relies on God; not earthly things to bring them pleasure. A person who is reborn, sleeps well at night because they know that God is real and that He loves them unconditionally.
People who are reborn are “goofy” by worldly standards. They speak of things that can not be touched or seen. They would rather talk about Jesus than football or television shows. People who are reborn often have conversations with God, Jesus and/or the Holy Ghost. People who are reborn frequently tear up at the mention of Jesus’ name.
People who are reborn love to be called “Jesus Freaks”. People who are reborn, are so childish that people say of them…”they are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.” People who are reborn would rather listen to Jesus in the car than their radio. People who are reborn don’t need alcohol or drugs, they find joy in the Word of God. Reborn folk sometimes get baptized in the Holy Ghost and speak in tongues. Reborn people actually study the Bible.
People who are reborn are to freaky and weird to be in your inner circle until you desperately need prayer for your health, business’s, family, finances or relationships. Then, you can’t get to them fast enough. But, a cell phone call will do. You don’t want those freaky new born’s embarrassing you in front of your cool friends or associates.
Being reborn is so much more than being saved, that the two can not be compared. Many people are saved and are GOING TO HEAVEN, because they have the John 3:16 fire insurance card. Reborn people LIVE IN HEAVEN ON EARTH. They know that they have been given the kingdom of God and delivered from the powers of darkness.
Reborn people walk in Heavenly power on this earth, because THEY KNOW THE SCRIPTURES AND THE POWER THERE OF.
Have you been born again? Are you sure?
It’s is a decision…..
Pastor Allen
www.throneofgraceministries.com
