John 3

Sunday the sermon was from John chapter 3, the focus was on how Nicodemus a Pharisee, a ruler of  the Jews sought out Jesus at night. How he probably didn't want anyone that knew him to see him going to see Jesus. The Pastor asked us if that is how our relationship with Jesus is? The reason being that many claim to love Jesus, but when it comes right down to it, they don't want to be seen as a Holy Roller, or Jesus Freak, they want the world to love them too. I have encountered a few people like this along the way. They exclaim about how often they pray and they thank Jesus, but then they don't openly proclaim a love for Jesus when around certain people.

I am often worried that people see me as a false lover of Christ, but the truth is, I am not. I have a living breathing, walking miracle that I hug every day multiple times a day. I always tell people who are in doubt that God is true and full of love and miracles do happen because I have my middle son. My middle son who according to doctors would not have a good quality of life. Everything they have said about him is false. There have been bumps along the way, but everyday that he wakes up, everyday that new phrases pop out of his little mouth is a testament to the power of God's healing grace.

I have been a part of two different churches. I once went to an Assembly of God for several years, and I have attended Baptist churches also. I have to say if you ever go to an Assembly of God church for any number of times, their fire and brimstone sermons will stick with you. Because of having attended both types of services, I sometimes get confused and mostly it is on the subject of being saved. I know Jesus has forgiven me of my sins, because I have confessed and repented, but then that nagging thought in the back of my mind that everyday I need to repent every day I need to remain even more focused than the day before because yesterday's sin could send me to hell today. But ultimately I try to live a good life. I try to share the word. I try to stay in the word.

So I decided to share these verses from Sunday's sermon in the hopes that maybe someone who doesn't regularly read the Bible might find something in them that speaks to them.

John 3

1) There  was a man of the Pharisees, named  Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2) The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou does, except God be with him. 3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4) Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5) Jesus answered and, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into 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) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest  the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9) Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10) Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11) Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12) If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13) And no man hath, ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. 15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16) For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17) For God, sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth, not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Ezekiel 36- 25) Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. 27)And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them. 28) And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.