God Gave (John 3)

Nicodemus a religious ruler secretively went to Jesus at night because he was curious since he knew these signs he witnessed weren't possible unless God was with Him. One might think he was a coward but God moves with whatever openness we have towards Him. The key to opening people's hearts towards God especially those who are bound in religion is we must go beyond talk. Can people say that the life we live proves that God is with us?

Knowledge about God is not enough. That is why Nicodemus was not satisfied, He witnessed something more and He wanted to know more. Jesus now breaks it down, that unless one is born again they cannot see the Kingdom of God. God is a Spirit and until we are spiritually reborn we cannot enter into the King's domain. Spiritual birth is not like natural birth as Jesus explains, it is invisible, like the wind, how you know it is there is by its effects. Those who have been born again now can understand spiritual things because they have received the Spirit of God within.

In our own natural mind whatever doctrine we create about God will always be wrong.  The Pharisees were those whom people turned to know about God yet when Jesus came on the scene became the enemies of God.  People can do things in the name of God and yet be His biggest enemies.  You can tell who is born again because their nature reflects God.  As Matthew 7:16 says by the fruit you will recognize them.  Nicodemus was drawn to Jesus not just from what He said but more by what He did.  The demonstration of the Kingdom with signs following prove that God is with us.

One of the main characteristics of God is that of a giver. John 3:16 says God gave His only begotten son ....... Those who are born again are givers, religion is more about taking. The use the name of God to take advantage of others while those who are born again are all about giving their lives to others for their better good. God gave out of His love for us. Giving comes from selfless love, taking comes from selfish greed. Those who are born-again release love as they minister, those who are religious condemn others by their self-righteous attitude.

The latter part of John we see his disciples behaving jealous, that people are now following Jesus more than they do John. John tells them that it is his time to decrease and Jesus' time to increase. He reminded them that Jesus is the one that he preached about who was greater than he. What we can learn from this is that jealousy and being caught up in numbers is not of God but of the world. Any ministry that focuses on competing against other churches is worldly and God is not in it. We also learn that we are to draw people to Jesus not ourselves. During this pandemic if the people we lead are panicking because they are not able to meet in buildings we have done them a disservice and will be disciplined by God for being poor shepherds.
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We serve a God who comes from Heaven and now resides on earth in us. The works we do and the words we speak, testify that God is true. As God leads us and we follow His spirit moves through us as it says in verse 34 without measure. It is like drinking something so good that has no bottom too it, it is the continuous more of the Lord! Life in Christ gets sweeter and sweeter as each day goes by.