Monday, June 4, 2012

Water & Spirit


John 3:1-17           Romans 8:12-17
WATER & SPIRIT

When you think of Fiesta Hermosa
          What do you think of?
          What comes to mind?

What images/metaphors do you see in John 3:1-17?
          light vs dark
          flesh vs spirit
          creation
          new birth

John 3:5 I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

v Not only does Christ forgive us for past sins when we accept him as our savior, he also gives us a new life
§  a new life to live differently.
v Not only does Christ deal with the guilt of our sins,
§  he also deals with the root problem that causes us to sin.

v In Wesley, new birth is the beginning of the holy life, the beginning of sanctification.

v I wonder:
Ø  We all have physical parents.
§  Those who raised us
§  Those who fed us, supported, and nurtured us.

Ø  But who are your Spiritual parents?
§  Who’s your Spiritual Daddy?
§  Who’s your Spiritual Mommy?

v We must be Born AGAIN.
Ø  “Again” can be translated/understood: “Above”

§  John 3:6  Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.       
§  We still need to grow!
§  We’re not “Mork” (from mork and mindy – who grows backwards, starts old)

Ø  When we are saved:
§  We are not immediately scholars
§  We’re not immediately able to “run the race”

Ø  When we are Saved,
Ø  When we are Sanctified,
§  We must Grow
§  We must take baby steps
§  We must train!

v What does it mean to be “born anew, of the spirit?”

Read Romans 8:12-17
          Shall we go on sinning?
Romans 8:12-14 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,[a] you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature,[b] you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children[c] of God.
        
Romans 6:1-4 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

QUESTIONS:
§  Can we live a “perfect life?
§  Can we live a sinless life?

§  Were Adam & Eve designed to live a perfect life?
§  Was Jesus able to live a sinless life?

§  Why?

Water & Spirit
Ø  2nd work of grace. (we call it sanctification)
Ø  Nicademas – believed in Christ.
§  He needed to be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT
§  He needed to be born anew.

Ø  I was raised in the church.
§  I knew church.
§  I lived church.
§  I knew God
§  I loved God

Ø  But growing up in the church isn’t enough.
§  I needed something more.
§  I needed to go to the next level.
§  Like Nicademous, I needed to be born of water & Spirit.

v You have been Justified – “saved”
    §  Have you been Sanctified?
    §  Have you been filled?
    §  Have you been born again?
    §  Have you been born from Above?
    §  Have you been born of water & Spirit?
                  

 Today, Christ is calling you to be born a new.
          You have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.
          You can live a Spirit Filled, Spirit Led Life.
          You can live as God designed you to live.

Today Christ is calling you to grow in him.
          You no longer are bound to sin.
          You no longer have to eat baby food.
          You can eat solids.
          You can grow, in faith, hope, and love.

Today, Be Born of WATER & SPIRIT.
          Just as God created with Water & Spirit, so he is creating a new within you.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
          Be consumed with God.
                   Be Holy as the one who calls you is HOLY

1 Peter 1:15, 16, 23 Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

Closing Prayer

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)


As you Go, Be Born of the Spirit. Grow in the Spirit. Live in the Spirit.  Go and Love!

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