Sunday June 23, 2019

Well, I want you to know is we are coming to the end of our series? I'm Jesus is the reason to believe. message this morning is you believe by faith by faith and 1st Peter 1 8 through 9 will be

Our main text but our lesson is actually coming. In the Gospel of John as we look at Faith. but I just want you to know that sometimes it's hard to believe. We want to believe. we really do we want to believe I want to believe I want to believe like we shared in a message not too long ago about the father who have a son who had been suffering with a demon possession that that was keeping him deaf and mute and And the demon would throw him to the ground and he would be in fits and foaming at the mouth and the demon wanted to throw him in the fire and throw him into water to drown them in the father in exasperation was coming to the disciples for help and they couldn't help and he was looking to Jesus and Jesus said Do You Believe In? He said I believe but help my unbelief help my I believe but I'm struggling. maybe you can get a little bit of a feel for this and you're going to have to probably push the the volume way up for this little video clip that talks about believing when it's hard to believe.

Do you believe I believe? Sometimes we struggle. Believe in when things don't go with the way that we thought they would when when circumstances present themselves obstacles come our way. It's hard sometimes to hold on to believe in to trust in God and have faith in him. But faith is what we need. We need to believe that Jesus is the reason to believe in you believe what by faith let's look at this story that is presenting itself to us this morning.

Is found in John's gospel to us chapter 3.

Chapter 3 verse 1 through 18 is our lesson this morning. You must be born again. Now that was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus a ruler of the Jews.

This man came to Jesus by night and he said to him Jesus Rabbi or teacher. We know that you are a teacher who is come from God for No One Can Do the signs that you do the Miracles that you do unless God is with him and Jesus answered The Katinas truly truly. I say to you unless you are born again.

You cannot see the kingdom of God.

And they could be missed said to him. How can a man be born once he is old. Can I enter in a second time into his mother's womb and be born perplexity was and Jesus answered truly truly verily verily I say to you unless one is born of water and of the spirit. He cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh that answers your question about the water and that which is born of the spirit is Spirit. You must be born. Naturally and you must be born again through the spirit. Jesus said do not Marvel that I said to you. You must be born again.

The wind blows where it wishes said you hear it sound but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit. Have you ever been a Ted on a day when the wind is blowing Russell e Trees are swaying and sometimes the branches are falling and sometimes that the trees are falling. Do you see the effects of the wind but do you really see the wind? Can you say that you've seen the wind as it is Jesus had with the Holy Spirit. You can tell it's coming. You can feel the effects the breeze upon your face. But you can't tell where it's coming from or where it's going. And so it is with the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus said to him how can these things be? Have you ever found yourself in one of those times? How can this be? Why what's what's with this? I don't understand these things Jesus answered him. Are you a teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things. now in the Jewish community there were the Pharisees and there were the Sadducees in the upper house or the ruling. group of people were 70 leaders made up of Pharisees and Sadducees and Pharisees not too much unlike us. They they believed in a heaven and a hell they believed in Good and Evil. They believed in an afterlife. That we are going to leave this in our spirit and we're going to live in heaven with the Lord.

And they believed in Messiah. They were expecting Messiah to come but they really didn't expect it at that time and to be Jesus and so there was a lot of Doubt but

here he is a leader and a teacher of the law of Moses and helping the people he thought And Jesus tells him argue with teacher and leader a person of influence. It is real and yet you do not understand these simple truths. And he says truly truly I say to you we speak what we know and bear witness to that which we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. later, Nicodemus would believe on Jesus.

And it was Nicodemus. Who was instrumental along with his very good friend, Ben? Play me in the body of Jesus and burying him in a borrowed tomb. But at this point Jesus says but you do not receive our testimony. You do not quite understand and unless you understand these simple truth. You won't get it. But it's Mike my desire really this morning that you get it.

If I told you Earthly things and you do not what believe how can you believe if I tell you Heavenly things no one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven in the Hat the son of man the son of God.

And it's BOCES lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. So must the son of man be lifted up then whoever believes in him may have eternal life. Now, why did he talk about Moses and lifting up a serpent in the wilderness? He's pointing back to a scripture and a time and a passage in numbers 21. and verse 9 where Moses so Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Did anyone who was bitten by the poisonous snakes that were in that area where they were and they were complaining to Moses because they were being bitten and poison and they were dying. And they cried out Moses do something call upon God then God said make Moses a bronze serpent. Put it on a pole lifted high above the camp. And if anyone is bitten by a snake if they look to the pole if they look to that serpent.

There will be healing. And there will be home. Are they both die by the way, did you know that whenever you see this the symbol in the doctor's office of a a snake wrapped around a pole? best of art comes from numbers and 21 and verse 9 the bronze is purity. The snake representing those snakes that were poisonous, but if they trusted in God and look to the pole looked up, that would be hope and there would be healing. And they would be saved and so it is when Christ is lifted up. If the son of man be lifted up if we look to the cross and look to him. We can find Salvation we can find hope we can find healing and we can find new life. Look at this next verse.

For God so loved the world. Didn't he forgot so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes and there's that word again believe whoever believes whoever believes in him should not what parish But have what eternal life eternal life is offered to you and to me? If we would but trust in him what Jesus did on the cross God loved the world. He did not want to see it destroyed. He did not want any of us perplexing. We call it a theodicy. If God is all good. And God is all-powerful then why is there evil in the world? And men have wrestled with that and when I went to Seminary we wrestled with that question if God is all good. And God is all-powerful. Why is there evil in the world? Why does it seem to Triumph at times and when CS Lewis was asked that very question the great Theologian that he was and brighter and teacher. Cambridge University in England

He was asked. If God is all-powerful God is all good. Why do people seeing it? Why would they go to health? What is about that? How could a loving God send anyone? to hell Tudor no punishment, why would God do that? And so he wrestled with it and CS Lewis's answer is really become my answer. and that is God loves us this much that he gives us a choice. You have a choice in life. You can choose God or choose to reject him. That's up to you. I can't make you choose God follow. Jesus can't make you It's a C F C S Lewis responded to these questions that said God. Loves us this much that he allows us to choose him or reject him, and we actually choose to go to hell rather than to spend eternity with Jesus Christ. It is our choosing.

Do we trust in him believe in him and Jesus didn't leave it quite there and I like what he said next. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world. But in order that the world might be saved through him if you believe in him if you trust my faith in him, I believe I want to believe I'm choosing to believe and we are saved by grace.

by faith

saved by grace by faith

There is something about faith and trusting in God here and looking to the cross. Like those looked to that serpent on the pole and they were healed and they were made whole as we looked the cross into what Jesus did we find Salvation Burr movie to the next verse and verse 18 kind of brings it all together here, doesn't it? Whoever believes whoever believes whoever believes in him is not condemned. But whoever does not believe is condemned already because he is not believed in the name of the only son. I've got

Paul added a little scripture that I have clung to as a believer in this a pastor that I find in Romans. Apache Bruce, excuse me Hebrews 11:6 And it says this and without faith. It is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek Him cheap reborns you for seeking him he report you in faith by believing in him.

by believing in here by faith we have our salvation

1st Peter Peter can't believe this is I read the scriptures that this was that same fisherman. How did so much and told Jesus get away from me? I'm a I'm an unclean man. And I'm Unworthy of you Lord when Jesus called him, but you had Jesus saw something in Peter and Peter can pain these words to you. And to me today though. You have not seen him and we have. You love him and don't you do not see him now you believe in him, I believe in him. And you rejoice with joy that is inexpressible. I can't even tell you the joy of being saved. If you are saved, you know, the joy, you've experienced the joy of Salvation though. You have not seen him you love him though. You do not see him now you believe in him. And you rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and you are filled with Glory. Obtaining the outcome of your faith. What is the outcome of your faith the salvation? Have your sauce.

It is my hope and it is my prayer for you that you believe. And there's so much that is in this world that would cause you not to believe. Things have happened in your life obstacles of come your way and they are pushing against you to believe I believe like that little girl. I believe I believe I wanna believe I believe. And then she says stop.

Adidas bien Sur

God came through

why do we believe in who do we believe in?

And is your reward the obtaining of salvation for your soul? I hope and pray that it is would you stand with me?

I believe. I hope you believe I want you to believe. But it is your choice. God offers you the opportunity to choose life choose Joy choose a new life in him. The old man is we are baptized is the old man is buried with Christ in the water. And when you rise up out of the water, you are a new creation in him. A new creation a new man a new woman you are new in Christ you feel and I have been there not only if I baptize people and watch The Joy on their face, but I have been baptized. I can't explain it. It's unexplainable the joy of knowing.

salvation The baptism is not.

It's not the Salvation act. It is an outward showing of The inward work. I died to the old man. I've been buried with Christ. And I've been raised a new. And I'm living a new life with new Joy. New excitement everyday is an adventure. As we trust in him and serve him would you bow your heads and pray with me? this morning Heavenly Father We thank you for the story and for the truth of the message. The God love this world so very much that he sent his one and only son. to die on a cruel cross to take the shame. Of a crucifixion death he did that for us and all of our sin was cast upon him. And he carried our sin and our burdens. And he died for us that we might live A New Life in him. Transform renewed our hope that our joy is in him as we believe. And you grant us faith and trust to believe that our hope is not in vain as we trust in you you give us the reward. our salvation

for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world. Now you came into this world or Jesus to save to seek and to save that which was lost. Thank you for salvation through Jesus Christ and your holy spirit that abides in US richly today. If you've never accepted Jesus Christ by simply confessing. I'm a sinner in need of a savior Lord come into my heart cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I want to die to the old person that I have been. I want to live a new and a fresh in you abide in me live in me, and I will live for you all of my days until you come back. May you find me faithful serving you in Jesus name? I accept salvation. amen amen We're going to sing and closing.