Month: August 2018

Re:Verse reading–John 3:1-21 (day six)

“Now there was a man,”-John 3:1

Some of the most important moments in human history come down to a conversation. This one in John 3 might be one of the most famous, not because of Nicodemus but because of John 3:16. We don’t know the rest of the story of Nicodemus, whether or not he came to faith in Jesus, but he does represent God’s grace to all of us. Jesus gave time and words to this man at night; he challenged his way of thinking, nudged him to see the Kingdom of God.

This is true for all of us. “Now there was this man named Danny” or “Now there was this woman;” everyone of us could exchange our name for Nicodemus’. By the power of the Spirit Jesus engaged us with gracious words, nudging us to see Him and receive Him by faith.

Re:Verse reading–John 3:1-21 (day five)  “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Jesus teaches Nicodemus that “new birth” is a sovereign work of God’s  Spirit.  Birth is the perfect illustration.  We didn’t do  anything to be born (physically).  We can’t do anything to be born (spiritually).  The only way for a person to be “born again” is by the work of the Spirit of God.  There are uncertainties about the wind.  Where?  Why? When? But we do know with certainty, there is evidence of its presence.  Just as in the Christian life, there is conviction, faith, and fruit.

You’re a Christian because the Spirit of God blew where he wished, and he wished to blow inside your soul. He swept through your heart and brought you to life; he made you alive to God.- Matt Carter

Re:Verse reading–John 3:1-21 (day four)

Nicodemus could not understand redemption.  It made no sense to him.  He had seen the miracles that Jesus had done and he had seen the changed lives as a result of Jesus’ work, but he would not accept by faith that Jesus was the messiah.  Jesus explained that until Nicodemus accepted, by faith, that only by God’s grace could he receive redemption, he would be incapable of understanding.

No one knows where the wind originates or where the wind is going.  We can see the effects of the wind and know it is there.  Likewise, we can see the result of a changed life through the power of Christ.  We can know that redemption is real by simply observing its fruit.  Like Nicodemus, we must exercise faith before we can receive redemption.  Redemption is not just a rational decision we make based on facts.  It is understood and received by faith alone.

Redemption is real…look around and observe the results of God’s work and provision!

Re:Verse reading–John 3:1-21 (day three)

The wind blows wherever it pleases.

What about doctrine?  What about order?  What about truth?  What about sin?  What about right-and-wrong?  Usually, questions like these have already been answered a long time ago in the minds of the ones asking.  In fact, they’re not really questions, but signals—signals that we’re the ones standing strong against the howling winds of ungodliness, that others are wrong, and that the fate of the world hangs on whether people will listen to our unbending answers.  What others perceive as good news, the religious establishment always views as threatening, even if Jesus is the one saying it.  Perhaps especially if Jesus is the one saying it.  We reveal that we’re still holding onto our age-old tower-building dreams.  Then along comes the Lord who essentially says to Nicodemus—and to us: You must be blown away.

Re:Verse reading–John 3:1-21 (day two) 

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. Vs. 19

The truth in a nutshell: if you have seen the light and hope of Jesus, and refuse to surrender your life to him, then you love sin more than salvation. We can wrap it in a different package, and make it more palatable, but the reality is what it is. This method of delivery might not be the best form of evangelism coming from any other mouth than Jesus. He was not trying to shame Nicodemus into heaven. He was simply offering an insight only Jesus can provide. To truly know him, is to surrender. Anything else…is sin.

Re:Verse reading–John 3:1-21 (day one)

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”–v. 8

Must have been a delicious idea for Nicodemus.  A life of liberty and power!  Unexplainable but undeniable.

For the past two weeks, Holly and I have been with Madelyn Grey Guthrie.  She is 2 months old.  Our third grandchild.

A sweet, happy baby, Maddie looks (to her grandfather, at least) like Alex.  Shouldn’t surprise anyone.  We all (and always) give birth to some version of ourselves.  What we create is marked by our character.

People who are “born of the Spirit” share His life of liberty and power.  He moves!  He acts!  His children are like the Father in this way.

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty”–2 Corinthians 3:17  Are you born of the Spirit?

Re:Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day seven)

most of them said, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. Mark 9:26b-27

You may look down for the count to everyone else in this world, but Jesus Christ has the authority to raise you up.  Most often our mistake is to take another hand or listen to other voices when the only hand that can help is that of Jesus Christ.  I’m reminded of Peter walking on the water.  Everything was perfect as long as Peter’s eyes were fixed on Jesus Christ, but as soon as his eyes diverted Peter sank until the hand of Christ reached down and saved him.

But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!” Matthew 14:30-32

Re:Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day five) 

Billy Graham used to tell this story…  An Eskimo fisherman came to town every Saturday afternoon. He always brought his two dogs with him. One was white and the other was black. He had taught them to fight on command. Every Saturday afternoon in the town square the people would gather and these two dogs would fight and the fisherman would take bets. On one Saturday the black dog would win; another Saturday, the white dog would win but the fisherman always won! His friend began to ask him how he did it. He said, “I starve one and feed the other. The one I feed always wins because he is stronger.” 

The faith of the father and disciples was weakened because of doubt, struggles, criticism, and cynicism, and hopelessness. Those kinds of circumstances stand ready to attach and weaken our faith each and every day.

The solution for stronger faith??  Feed your faith. Jesus’ admonition to the disciples in this passage- feed/strengthen faith through prayer.  Do we see the need and power of prayer like Jesus?  Will we daily feed our faith through honest conversation and communication with our Heavenly Father?  Our faith depends on it.

Re:Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day four) 

Jesus was known as ‘Rabbi’…a teacher.  He would often sit before His followers and teach them.  He would not always be with them and they needed to know how to lead His church when He was gone.

The Transfiguration had been impressive to the disciples that accompanied Jesus.  They thought it was a good idea to prolong the experience.  Immediately on their return, they are confronted with a need bigger than them.  Jesus sought to teach them how to respond to the vast needs of the church.  When confronted with the demon-possessed boy, the disciples were baffled.  They tried to heal the boy themselves, but they did not have the power.  Jesus (in verse 29) gave them the lesson.  “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”

Are there any ‘demon-possessed boys’ in your life…the seemingly impossible?  Have you tried to meet that need in your own power?  Have you tried in your self-sufficiency to come up with the answer?  Prayer works for us too!