Born From Above

SERMON STARTER

 

          At my first church there was a very active member who gave her testimony regularly about how she was "Borned Again." Looking back, I'm not sure if Sister Joy turned more people away from God's Kingdom than into it. I remember always wincing when she used the country pronunciation for being "Borned Again."

          As a child who grew up in the Southern Baptist churches of the SouthWest I heard the term, over and over. The ritual I grew up with was answering the "Just As I Am" altar call, praying the Sinner's Prayer inviting Jesus into my heart and being told that now I was Born Again and become a part of God's family. These requirements I now understand as Evangelical Rituals.  (Sacred Acts which may or may not bring me closer to God.)

          According to Gallup Polls in 2005, 48% of American adults claimed a born again experience. Or, they had a turning point in their lives in which they turned their lives over to Jesus Christ.

If this were true why is the traditional church in such a sad condition today?

https://news.gallup.com/poll/16519/us-evangelicals-how-many-walk-walk.aspx

          Personally, I see being Born From Above as more of a transformational process than an instantaneous event. As I keep my eyes on Jesus and follow in His footsteps I will eventually enter His Kingdom of Love.

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.    2 Corinthians 3:18

 

          My sermon today is an in depth look at Being Born From Above by the Spirit of God.                            Pastor Phil  <><<

July 29, 2018 - Sheepfold Ministries

Pastor Phil Roland

 

Born From Above

JOHN 3:1-12

"Spiritual rebirth is the BEGINNING of a Christian's walk with Jesus Christ, it is not the end or completion of things.  It is an entrance to new beginnings with God."                                            Pastor Phil Roland <><<

 

John 3:5

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

BORN AGAIN:

gennhqh  anwqen  - GEN-AY-THAY  A-NO-THEN =  Born From Above

 

Not Yet Born from Above. . .

I. NICODEMUS WAS A RELIGIOUS LEADER - Vs. 1,2

1 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 are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

          A. Nicodemus was a Leader among his people

                    1. He was a respected member of the Sanhedrin

                    2. Possessed religious knowledge and piety

                    3. He could in our time be a Pastor, Bishop, Presbyter, Church                               Board Member

          B. He Likes and Admires Jesus

                    1. He calls Jesus, "Rabbi" a learned teacher

                    2. He sees Jesus as his Peer

                    3. Jesus us much more and Nicodemus is clueless

          C. Nicodemus' thinking is bound by our 3-Dimensional world

                    1. He is stuck with Empirical Limitations

                    2. Limited by Sight, Hearing, Tasting, Feeling, Smelling

                    3. Jesus is speaking of a 4th Dimension

 

Jesus Speaks of Being Born from Above. . .

II. JESUS SPEAKS TO NICODEMUS' HEART - Vs. 3;5

3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
          A. Nicodemus hears an "Oracle," A dark, mysterious saying

                    1. Jesus' words separate sheep from goats

                    2. He speaks directly to the Jewish leader's problem

                    3. Nicodemus is stuck w/human logic and perception

BORN FROM ABOVE, cont. p.2

 

          B. Nicodemus is bound by inductive / deductive logic - V. 4

               4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old?

            Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

                    1. Bound by his Jewish Paradigm

                    2. A Black and White Thinker, only his logic exists

                    3. We are bound by the same thinking

          C. Jesus loves him and sees his heart - 1 Samuel 16:7b

            ". . .For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward

               appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

 

Speaking of Being Born from Above. . .

III. JESUS SPEAKS OF A DIFFERENT KINGDOM - Vs. 3;5

3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
          A. What is the Kingdom we are to be Born Into? - Romans 14:7

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of

              righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

          B. John Wimber, Vineyard Ministries quote,

"The Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of Jesus Christ in this present age."  

                    1. The KOG cannot be a church, building, bricks, mortar,                                        stained glass, pews, candles

                    2. The KOG is more than Church Programs, Singing,                                               Preaching, Board and Committee Meetings

          C. Pastor Phil Roland's quote,

            “The Kingdom of God is the message Jesus preached. It is the rule and

              reign of Jesus in this present age. We can enter into it now."  

 

Speaking of Being Born from Above. . .

IV. WE ARE BORN FROM ABOVE TO SEE THE KINGDOM

3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

 

          A. Born from Above to SEE - Look, Behold, Perceive

                    1. BA gives you the potential to SEE the Kingdom

                    2. Think: Seeing thru a glass darkly - 1 Cor. 13:12

                    3. Being BA doesn't grant you a "Get-out-of-Hell" Free card

          B. Can you be BA and still not be IN the Kingdom of God?

                    1. Yes and No - We have a problem with semantics

                    2. Is a Church a cultural, social, religious organization

                              a. Ruled by a Roberts Rules of Order consensus?

                              b. Ruled by a Board of Elders?

                              c. Ruled by a Congregational Majority?

                    3. Is the Church a Religious Members Only Country Club?

          C. The church is an Ekklesia - "Assembly"

                    1. The church is an Assembly of Believers

BORN FROM ABOVE, cont. p.3

 

                    2. They are the Body of Christ

                    3. They have received Salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ

          D. We can SEE God's Kingdom  - Look, Behold, Perceive

                    1. We have been BA can peer into the KOG with wonder

                    2. We're not yet in it, but looking into it

 

Speaking of Being Born from Above. . .

V. WE ARE BORN FROM ABOVE TO ENTER THE KINGDOM

5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

          A. Born from Above to ENTER - Enter in, Go Through Entrance

                    1. Born of Water - Physical Birth or Water Baptism

                    2. Born of Spirit - Pneuma - Wind, Breath or Blowing

          B. Born of the Spirit to ENTER the Kingdom - V. 8

                    8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot

              tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of

              the Spirit."
                    1. How do you know the Wind exists? You feel it

2. You can Wind's the effect as it moves thru the trees

          C. Being Born from Above involves Spiritual Rebirth

                    1. Similar to Human Physical Birth

                    2. Born helpless, needed a caretaker

                    3. Must feed on the Milk of God's Word

                    4. Must learn to speak a new language - 1 Cor. 14:2

                                        2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God,

                          for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks

                          mysteries.

                              a. Learn to Pray in the Language of Men

                              b. Learn a new Spiritual Prayer Language

                    5. Must accept a new family

                    6. Must learn a new social order and culture - KOG

          D. We begin a new life adventure receiving Jesus' Love

BORN FROM ABOVE

John 3:1-12 (NKJV)
1 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 are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel 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 cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?"
10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Bullfrogs & Butterflies – Closing Illustration:

What Is Meant By the Term “Born Again”?

          It is Sunday night as Paul, the children's church praise and worship leader, led the children in a catchy little song with a very profound message. The song was called “Bullfrogs and Butterflies.” The lyrics for “Bullfrogs and Butterflies” are as follows:

CHORUS:

“Bullfrogs & butterflies We’ve both been born again!” (x 4).

“Old tadpole in a fishing hole, He couldn’t croak or jump to save his soul. But then one day, here’s the funniest thing Why he started growing, turning green! He jumped up on a Lilly-pad And he’s croaking out a song, Gave it all he had! He’s singing…”  CHORUS

“A little caterpillar on a blade of grass. She noticing the days are going by so fast. She a lovely little lady, She’s looking for a room, Shes weaving and spinning out a fine cocoon, Why it didn’t take long ’til she saw the sky Spread your wings you butterfly!”  CHORUS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5q-1KMIRAo

          The theme of the song is that both bullfrogs and butterflies undergo a dramatic transformation. The bullfrog starts out as a tadpole, the butterfly as a caterpillar. It takes this transformation, i.e. “New Birth” to bring them into what God wants them to be. If the caterpillar never enters the cocoon, or the tadpoles never goes through its change, they will never become bullfrogs or butterflies.

 

 

3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

 

LET US PRAY. . .